CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Once the communicator went off Lita shot Amy a look. Amy gave her a slight nod in return and then said, "I'll meet you guys outside"

Lita turned her attention back to Serena. She didn't seem as pale as she had a moment ago but she was still clutching her right shoulder. She shot a quick look over at Damien to see how he was responding to Serena's odd behavior but Lita could detect nothing from his expression other than concern. She had to get Serena out of here and then find out what was wrong.

"Serena lets go." Lita said softly reaching for her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Serena are you alright?" Damien asked quietly his green eyes assessing everything.

Still shaken Serena could only nod. She didn't understand what just happened but the pain in her shoulder was beginning to fade. One minute she had been sitting there talking to Damien and the next a sense of dread filled her. She couldn't explain it. But she also sensed danger not for herself but for someone else she just didn't know who it could be. Oh no didn't the communicators just go off. She looked up at Lita in earnest "We should get going Darien will be home soon and I need to lay down" she cast a swift apologetic look at Damien before rising from the booth. "I'm sorry we have to leave but I'm really not feeling so well I guess I'm not completely recovered from my illness as I thought."

Damien smiled at her "Its alright I know they'll be another time."

Serena nodded absently mindedly not really hearing what he said "Bye" she called out before rushing out of the café. Once outside Amy came running over to them "What took you guys so long? I was about to come in after you." She looked around to make sure no one was listening "Hurry up and transform. That was Artemis on the communicator Mina needs us right away. They were attacked on their way back from the arcade. Mina was the target. The attack took them completely by surprise and she didn't have a chance to even transform. And now she's out cold and completely helpless."

"Right. Lets do it" Lita cried heading for the back of the café when she suddenly stopped to look back at Serena with concern "Are you sure your up to this?"

Serena nodded I'm fine will figure out what happened later right now Mina needs us. She turned to Amy "Did anybody inform Raye."

Amy shook her head "I wasn't able to contact her she's probably in to deep in her mediation."

Serena nodded "Well lets do this." Once in the back and out of sight all three of them transformed.

……………..

Damien watched them from the roof of the café but he didn't follow them when they speed off down the street. He knew where they were going. He couldn't believe it but he had to except the fact that Serena might have picked up on what was going on with her friends through him.

He was aware of what Sasha was up to in fact he knew it was her thirst for revenge against Serena that made her attack her friends. Although Sasha thought he didn't know what she was up to the truth was he had known all along but he just chose not to interfere with her fun. And if she knew it or not this plan she had conceived was a perfect scenario for his next test. But this time the stakes will be much higher. For Serena and Sasha. If Serena past the test he would be very pleased despite the cost and if she failed then one or more of her friends will die. Either way he'd win.

…………………..

The further they ran and the closer they got to Mina the more Sailormoon uneasiness grew. Something wasn't right she could feel it. But what was it?

(Trust yourself. Use the Crystal)

Sailormoon heard the words echoing in her head and knew what she had to do. She stopped suddenly "Wait" she cried to the others

"What is it?" Jupiter cried anxiously looking her over from top to bottom searching for any signs as to why she had suddenly stopped especially when she knew that time was of the essence. What she hurt again? Why didn't she insist that Serena stay behind and wait for Darien at his place considering what happened in the cafe.

"Something's not right" Sailormoon gasped, "I can feel it. I have to find out what it is."

"Sailormoon Mina needs us" Mercury cried worried that she was going to space out on them again. What ever was going on with her they needed her to snap out of it. They couldn't do this without her.

Sailormoon didn't say anything. After all what could she say? She just had a feeling that something wasn't quite right. She couldn't explain it but she knew she had to listen to what ever was telling her that something was wrong. She needed to use the Crystal. She took off her brooch and starred down at it. What now?

Mercury and Jupiter exchanged a look. They had to get going but they couldn't just leave Sailormoon behind. Something was going on with her and it might be just as dangerous as what Mina was facing.

"Mercury you go get to Mina I'll stay here with Sailormoon don't worry we'll be right behind you."

Mercury nodded and with one last worried look at Sailormoon took off running

…………….

When Artemis got off the communicator he looked around. Their attacker was no where in sight he didn't know whether to take that as a good sign or a bad one. He bent down to nuzzle Mina who was still unconscious after taking that blast head on. "Don't worry helps on the way. Mina can you hear me?"

"What's the matter kitty has your friend decided to take a little nap? Doesn't she realize it's rude to fall asleep in the middle of a battle?"

Artemis froze the sound of that voice sending chills down his spine.

………………

Sailor Mars dove behind a tree barely managing to evade the attack. She had been luring her attacker away from the temple little by little but now she felt they were far enough away for her to go on the defensive.

It was time to call in the cavalry. She raised her communicator but all she got was static. It must have been damaged in the fight and now she had no way of contacting the others. She was on her own.

"Come out come out where ever you are. It will be much easier on you Sailor Mars if you'd just accept you fate. Theirs no way you can win. And if your waiting for your friends don't bother they couldn't help you even if they wanted to. I've taken means to dispose of them as well"

"What have you done with them?" Mars cried stepping out into the open

"The same thing I'm going to do to you"

………………..

Darien stood facing Sasha and contemplated his next move. He was at a crossroad. He knew he had a better chance of surviving this battle if he transformed into tuxedo mask. But if he did that than his secret would be out there were to many people around one was bound to see him transform. And if people learned his secret than there was a good chance they'd figure out who the Sailor Scouts were. It was no secret to all of Tokyo that Tuxedo mask and Sailormoon are a couple. And anybody who knew him would know that he loved Serena and would never cheat on Serena. So the only possible explanation was that if he was Tuxedo Mask than Serena had to be Sailormoon. It was a possibility and one he wasn't willing to risk. He just had to face Sasha as Darien or figure out some way he could transform without being seen.

"This will be a great victory for me." Sasha taunted "Your death will haunt her for the rest of her days."

Serena his heart cried he couldn't bare the thought of what this would do to her. No what was he thinking it wasn't over yet. He flexed his right shoulder and although it was still sore the pain wasn't so bad as it was before. He still had a chance if he could get her away from all these people.

………..

Sailormoon didn't know what to do. Should she just activate the crystal? But then what? The voice said to trust myself and use the Crystal. Sighing she closed her eyes and concentrated. She needed to know why she was filled with such dread that was increasing with ever step she took towards Mina.

Jupiter was really starting to worry as the minutes ticked by and Sailormoon just stood their holding her brooch as if they had all the time in the world. What was wrong with her? She knew that Mina needed them. She was about to grab Sailormoon by her arm and shake her until she snapped out it when the Imperial Crystal flashed. Jupiter stood back as it flared and engulfed Sailormoon.

Sailormoon gasped and her eyes flew open as she was engulfed by the power of the Crystal. What was going on?

(Its alright Serena trust yourself believe in the Imperial Crystal)

"Mother" Sailormoon cried, "I don't understand what's happening?"

(Use the Crystal. Search out for what is troubling you that you can't see.")

Sailormoon took a deep breath trying to relax their was nothing to fear she was the keeper of the Crystal it would never hurt her. Closing her eyes she concentrated on the feeling of dread she had been experiencing searching for the cause.

She didn't know how long she stood there before the images started arriving. She saw Mina lying on the ground unconscious. Than she saw Sailor Mars diving between trees and than she saw Darien crashing through a window getting to his feet he clutched his right shoulder. Sailormoon cried out at these images but worst of all was the image of their attacker. It wasn't possible "No" she cried as the power of the crystal faded and images along with it.

"What? What is it?" Jupiter cried.

Sailormoon looked at her with horror filled eyes. Mars and Darien they're being attacked as well.

"What? How do you know that?" Jupiter gasped in disbelief unable to understand how Sailormoon could know this.

"The Silver Crystal showed me" She explained "but that's not the worst of it. It's whose attacking them." she looked at Jupiter with wide disbelieving eyes as if she couldn't believe what she saw. "It's Sasha."

At first Jupiter didn't understand what she meant. Did she mean that Darien and Mars was already at the battle? Had Artemis manage to get a hold of Raye. Was that what she was saying

"Than we should go" Jupiter cried, "If their all at the battle and their fighting Sasha than they definitely need our help"

"You don't understand" Sailormoon stated desperately grabbing Jupiter's arm "Mars is some where near the temple and Darien is at his apartment. But Sasha is at all three places."

Jupiter paled at that information they couldn't handle one Sasha and now their was three. What were they going to do?