Author's Note: I don't owe Sailor Moon (but wish I did). Please read and review.

Thank you,

Nightfire

Chapter One: Alone

Sailor Star Healer looked up at the clear night sky, brushing a strand of silky silver hair from her sharp lime green eyes. It had been over a year on Kinmoku since the defeat of Chaos and Kinmoku was flourishing once again under the rule of their beloved Princess Kakyuu.

She should have been happy. But she wasn't.

The other two starlights, Star Fighter and Star Maker, seemed happy and content. Seiya had finally gotten over Usagi with the Princess's help and Healer had seen Seiya flirting around with others. Taiki was straightening out records and the huge palace library, seeming dedicated to her work.

Yaten was left with a void in her life. She had her duty as Sailor Star Healer but other then that, she had nothing. Seiya had admirers, Taiki had her books, and Yaten was left alone.

Healer sighed as she stretched, yawning. She hadn't realized how long she was sitting there looking at the sky but now her legs ached from the long period of sitting. She walked down the long dark corridors that were deserted back to her rooms. Her footsteps echoed loudly on the stone floor.

Upon reaching her rooms, she changed out of her senshi form and just fell into bed and was asleep in moments.

Yaten woke late that morning, blinking at the bright sunlight coming through her window. She got up and padded over to her closet, rubbing her eyes. She had a long day ahead of her, standing behind Princess Kakyuu during Court. It was boring and she hated doing it but there was no getting out of it.

She pulled out the first gown that came into her hand, a dress of light green silk that showed off her shoulders. Before Galaxia had come, she had been proud that the lords of the Court were all over her. But now…she didn't care. She wanted something more. She knew something was missing in her life but what that was she didn't know. So she kept busy with her duty, not thinking of it.

The day seemed to never end. Her feet ached from the long period of standing and pretending that she didn't think most of the people who came before the princess to settle their cases were complete idiots with too much time on their hands. She glanced over at Seiya whose eyes were grazed, obviously from boredom. Seiya had a very short attention span, not able to sit or stand in one place for very long without being restless. Taiki on the other hand could sit motionless for hours reading, not taking her eyes off the text before her. Yaten could not understand what was so fascinating in the books Taiki read.

But it was the princess who Yaten admired. Kakyuu sat on her throne, smiling that same, never changing kind smile to even the most annoying idiot. She managed to pass judgment that both people were agreeable to. Yaten could never understand how the princess did this.

But once Court was over Yaten was free for the day. Seiya vanished the instant Kakyuu dismissed them and Yaten saw the other Starlight head in the direction of the stables. Yaten couldn't stand getting sweaty or the smelly horses.

So she decided to go to the city. She went to her room and dressed as a normal woman of Kinmoku in flounced, colorful skirts, a loose white top, and sturdy boots. She tied her hair up and looked at her reflection. No one would be able to tell who she really was- she would blend right in with the rest of the people.

She walked out of the castle and into the crowded streets. No one looked at her, no one even saw her. The city was noisy with merchants crowding the street, shouting out their wares and prices or haggling with buyers. Musicians and dancers were performing on almost every street corner, competing for the crowd's attention.

Yaten smiled to herself, enjoying being a normal person for once. Her eyes passed over the glittering jewels, shimmering silks, strange food from around the galaxy, and other assortment of goods that came to Kinmokuian streets from many places in the galaxy. She felt strangely hot even thought it was not even midday yet and she moved to the shadows that the surrounding buildings cast. She pressed her hand to her forehead to wipe off the sweat, shaking her head.

She ducked out of the traffic of the street into a small allyway to rest, leaning against the wall to catch her breath. A movement out of the corner of her eye caught her attention.

Three huge men with dark hair shadowing their small eyes were gathered at the end of the ally way in close discussion. They waved hands that clutched money. But it was the girl and a small child that sat chained at their feet that caught Yaten's attention. She knew those men were slavers. Slavers traveled the galaxy, taking people to sell. It was illegal in most kingdoms, such as it was in Kinmoku.

She quietly changed into Sailor Healer as she silently approached the men.

"You disgusting swine!" she spat at them. The men slowly turned to her, a mixure of amusment and greed in their faces. They had no fear of senshi.

As two lunged for her, one staying in front of their wares, she drew upon her powers.

There was nothing there.

She swore violently, feeling dizzy. Something was wrong-she couldn't use her powers and she was starting to lose her energy.

Her world went black as the two men lunged at her.