Listen there are two phantom files that means that the sights says there are two more chapters than their actually are. And sorry for the long wait. Computer problems you know how it is. And for those of you who read The Heart Remembers don't worry a new chapter will be out in a few days. Enjoy

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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Sailormoon knew the minute everything changed. Once the mist had touched her she knew it was like ringing the dinner bell for the beast who lived in the mist. She was quickly running out of time and she still had to locate Mercury and Venus and get them out of here.

Every survival instinct in her body screamed at her to flee. He was close. The thing that inhabited the mist. She had felt the change in the air the minute he had entered the mist. She knew that he was coming for her. To finish what the mist had begun. And it was only a matter of time before he found her. This was his domain and she couldn't elude him forever. The longer she remained the more likely he or the mist would catch her. But she couldn't abandon her friends. The heartbeats she had detected were growing weaker. She didn't have anymore time to waste. She'd save her friends and then she'd worry about the rest later.

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She knew she was awake because of the pain. And she knew she lay on her back because she felt the ground beneath her. She might as well have had her eyes closed. The view was the same either way. She couldn't see a thing.

And she couldn't move at all. This was just great. What ever had been attacking her had obviously stopped because the pain was more bearable and not so mind blowing. But if she couldn't move than she couldn't escape. So basically she was just a sitting duck until that thing came back.

She couldn't give up. She wasn't about to die in this place. Although the thought had occurred to her that she was dying. And although the thought should have horrified her, the truth was she was too tired to really care. It was becoming harder and harder to stay awake. But what about Mercury? she thought suddenly snapping out of her stupor. Had she escaped? Or was she trapped in here as well? Perhaps dying as well? Mercury her heart cried even as she felt herself drifting off.

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Mars didn't have to wait long for a response. She watched Sasha's eyes narrow. It didn't seem to have occurred to her that since she and the other Sasha were basically the same than it could be said that Jupiter was kicking her butt as well. And Mars wouldn't have thrown it in her face if she hadn't feared that this Sasha would interfere with the fight. And this seemed the only way to make sure that that didn't happen.

"If we were one you and your friend wouldn't be standing here now" she hissed through clenched teeth

Mars shrugged her shoulders and fixed a bored expression on her face. "Sounds like an excuse to me." Mars knew she was baiting her and she waited to see if was going to work.

Sasha's eyes flashed angrily. Who did this human think she is? She was nothing. Less than nothing. She needed to learn as lesson and she was just the one to teach it too her. She thought with a chilling smile.

Mars felt herself stiffen at that smile. It didn't bode well. But at least her plan seemed to be working. And it appeared as if she were no longer thinking about Jupiter and the other Sasha. Now if only she didn't have this handicap she'd feel much better about her chances. The fact was her arm was a mess. She just hoped that this Sasha had no knowledge of her condition. And unless the two Sasha's had away of communicating with each other telepathically than she doubted that this one knew of the damage her counter part had done to her arm. And if that was the case she couldn't afford to let her find out. Something told her that she wouldn't hesitate to use her weakness against her.

"Perhaps" Sasha smirked "we should have a battle of are own?"

Mars glanced quickly over at Jupiter and the other Sasha who were still rolling around on the ground exchanging blows and winced. Their was no way she could take Sasha on with this bad arm in that kind of hand to hand combat.

"Well" Sasha drawled "will you fight me or should I just end your pathetic existence now?"

Mars flushed angrily her own temper rising. "I accept" she bit out. She couldn't handle a brawl but that didn't mean she was finished yet.

"Good" Sasha smiled cracking her knuckles. This was just what she needed to get her mind off her master and how he was going to react when he learned that we allowed Sailormoon to enter the mist. "Shall we?" she enquired getting into a fighting position.

Mars answer was a surprising one. Instead of fists Sasha found herself dodging rings of fire. But the shock quickly wore off and she responded with an attack of her own. And the battle was on.

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Mercury knew she was losing the fight to stay alive. She was so tired all she wanted to do was to close her eyes and sleep. Yet it was the thought of her friends that made her renew the struggle. She didn't know why she was fighting so hard or what she expected. Maybe that they would come for her. It was a slim hope but for the moment it was all that kept her going.

They had always come through for her. She wasn't about to give up so easily. They'll come for me. They'll…come…for me.

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Sailormoon doubled over at the pain that struck her heart. "Mercury" she gasped "Mercury No" she cried with the realization that her friend was leaving her.

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Mercury felt herself floating. Of course her logical mind denied the fact even as she experienced it. She was hardly aware of her surroundings but she was aware that the pain had faded. It wasn't until she felt herself jerk to an abrupt stop that she felt anything but peace and serenity. And for a split second it felt as if she were being pulled in two directions. She became afraid unsure of what was happening

Then she felt her body once more becoming heavy and the pain that had for awhile been absent returned in full measure. Where as before she had been to drained to even cry now it appeared that, that was no longer a problem as she felt the proof of her tears slide down her cheek. But she was soon distracted from the pain when she felt the slight touch of something on her forehead. She didn't know what it was but it filled her with warmth and a feeling of security. She opened her eyes expecting to see nothing but the same black void and was shocked when she saw what looked to be a glowing Sailormoon leaning over her. Mercury let out a soft cry at the sight of her.

"Shh" Sailormoon whispered pressing another soothing kiss to her forehead "It's going to be alright. I'm transferring some of my energy to you. You'll be able to move soon and then we'll leave this awful place."

Mercury felt a fresh onslaught of tears coming on. Now she knew why the pain had returned. She hadn't felt it before because she had been so close to death. Closer than she had realized. But Sailormoon had brought her back by supplying her body with much needed energy. When she felt the life coming back in the hand Sailormoon was holding she found herself squeezing hers in relief and gratitude. She felt Sailormoon's answer when she returned the pressure and when her tears mixed with her own.

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Damien roared his rage when he felt Sailormoon's energy leaving her body. How dare she. She had no right. It belonged to him. He had denied himself for far too long. He would have her energy. All of her energy and nothing will stand in his way of getting it.

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Once Sailormoon discontinued the energy transfer their world was once again plunged into darkness. But because of the dark energy inside her Sailormoon was able to see fairly well in the dark. No it wasn't the dark that had her anxious. It was what lived in it. He was close she had heard his angry yell and was just thankful that Mercury had still been a little out of it and hadn't heard. They had to move quickly their time and their luck was running out.

"Venus?" Mercury croaked still not a hundred percent. But was extremely thankful that she could stand on her own two feet.

"She's close." Sailormoon assured her but didn't share the news that her heartbeat was slowing down drastically.

"How can you tell?" Mercury enquired she couldn't see a thing. How had Sailormoon found her and how did she hope to find Venus.

Sailormoon shrugged her shoulders not yet prepared to share what had happened. How in order to save them she had made a choice. That she allowed dark energy to enter her body how the result ended in her being able to see in the dark. Than she remembered that Mercury couldn't see in the dark and responded "I just do. Now we have to hurry. Were no alone"

Mercury found herself stiffing. She didn't want to go through that again. She couldn't go through that again. She actually jumped when she felt Sailormoon's hand slide into hers.

"Hold on to me and don't let go. Ok" she whispered.

Mercury found herself nodding then immediately chided herself. Sailormoon couldn't see in this blackness either.

"Good" Sailormoon whispered shocking Mercury. Had Sailormoon actually seen her. If that was so than their was only one reasonable explanation. And remembering the last time Sailormoon's senses had been heightened she tightened her grip on her hand.

They had to find Venus. And when they did and they were out of this awful place then she'd see if her suspicions were correct and if they were find away to reverse it.

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Jupiter let out a curse as another fist connected with the side of her face. She quickly retaliated with one to her jaw and let out a grunt of satisfaction as she watched her eyes roll in the back of her head. Oh yeah that was a good one. She had to smile at that despite the pain it caused to her split lip.

She hadn't been so tough to beat. She thought with no small amount of smugness as she rose to her feet. But her smile soon turned into a grimace as her body protest the movement. Ok maybe she hadn't been that easy to beat after all. She thought as the world around her started swaying. And for one horrifying moment she thought that she might actually pass out. But thankfully that feeling soon past.

She was getting soft. She surmised while absentmindedly wiping away the blood that had trickled down her chin from one cut or the other. She was gonna have to get in shape. And that meant training. Something she was sure Luna would be glad to hear. While thinking about ways to improve her fighting skills she wasn't aware of what was going on around her until a blast of energy lifter her off her feet and sent her flying. She landed hard and her bruised body immediately protested to such a harsh treatment. She cried out in pain and a second later let out a hiss of anger as she raised her head to see what hit her.

That was when she saw Mars and the other Sasha trading attacks. What was Mars thinking she wasn't going to last long fighting Sasha like that. Then she remembered Mars arm.

"Mars" she gasped and stood up although not quite as steadily as she would have liked. She started toward them only to stop when she caught sight of the mist out of the corner of her eye. Sailormoon? Oh no what was she to do? She thought frantically Mars was wounded and needed her help and the others who were trapped in the mist needed her help as well. She had to make a choice. And quickly. She just prayed that she made the right one.