A PITTED ASTEROID ORBITING THE EARTH'S TALE

Chapter 2: Guard Down

A Sailor Moon/Lord of the Rings crossover… and perhaps a bit stereotypical?

SUMMARY: Serena Usagi Tsukino is tired with the plans of Fate and Destiny and rebels, paving a path of her own filled with many uncertainties. A SM/LOTR Xover.

AUTHOR'S NOTE (short and sweet):

Here's the second chapter, the crossover part will be soon…

Thanks to all those who reviewed! To specific people:

Lin-Chan: Thanks for getting that… it was fixed! Plz let me know in the future… thanks for reviewing!

Legolasluvr: Awww… so swt!! You're gonna have ta wait for the pairing thought! Moohaha! I'm evil!

PrincessSerenaXavior: Thanks for reviewing! Review again

Daughter of Death: Here is the new chapter! Hope you like it and plz review again!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Sailor Moon or Lord of the Rings. I do, however praise Naeko Takeuchi and JRR Tolkien for they are my saviors. Furthermore, sue at your own risk, all that you shall gain is embarrassment for suing a poor person like me. I now own two well-rubbed pennies and some lint! (now on sale for one penny!)… IE: buy the lint, and I'll have three pennies so you CAN SUE!!! (and get my 3 pennies and no story)

:::KEY:::

Italics means thoughts

"blabla" means speech

[blabla] translation of some sort to English

A/N: To clarify, all Inners and Serena are 16 years old. Mamoru is 20 as are the Starlights. Pluto's age is indeterminable, her human form is 22. Uranus and Neptune are 20 and 19 respectively. Chibiusa appears to be around 9 or 10 years old, but according to the manga, she is really 900, which is what I will be using. Hotaru is currently a baby, but her age can change subject to the need of her powers as Saturn.

I will be using Japanese names as far as possible; Serena's middle names is Usagi, and is her Japanese name, which everybody in Japan calls her by. Her given name is Serena though.

And without further ado… *drum roll please* THE STORY!!!! *Insert flashy music and imaginary drawing of curtains* DUN DUN DUN DDAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!

A Pitted Asteroid Orbiting the Earth's Tale

Chapter 2: Guard Down

Serena collapsed into her usual seat at the Crown Arcade. She had moon dusted the youma alone. She had fought the youma alone. She then fought the youma's demon lackeys. All alone. All because she had forgotten her communicator at home.

You'd think by now I'd get the hang of my dimensional sub space pocket and use it once in awhile, she grumbled to herself, before proceeding to take a nap on the counter of the Crown Arcade.

It was just before noon. The fight had lasted two hours and she had gone home to bandage a few of the scratches she had gotten in to. With the help of the silver crystal, they should be healed in a few hours, nothing major.

Sighing contentedly against the cool counter, Serena drifted off into the wonderful world of dreams…

*Flash* A little girl in blonde pigtails was running through a field of flowers towards a cave, playing an impromptu game of hide and seek with her mother. "Dear, where are you?" the woman called out, while child giggled and continued to run towards the cave. The weather turned gloomier and the child bit her lip in nervousness. A crash of thunder and lightning sent her yelping at a faster pace to the cave. "Who's there?" she called out, getting a familiar sense of being watched, "Who's there?" she called out again, before a dank hand clamped over her previous mouth. Mother! Was her last thought, before succumbing to the darkness.

Serena started, head jerking out of her arm-made pillow, only to look at the beaming face of Motoki Furuhata, caretaker of the Crown Arcade.

"Hey Usa-chan, you don't look so well. Daijoubu desuka? [You okay?]" Motoki asked, a concerned frown donning his face.

"Kon'wa [Good day] Toki-chan, I'm fine, thanks for asking. Just a little tired; you know how tough high school is!" Usagi responded, "In fact, could ya ring me up a strawberry milkshake please?" [A/N: from now on, she will be referred to as Usagi, b/c she's in Japan… see notes after the Disclaimer for further explanation].

"Sure thing princess," Motoki joked, before retreating to the back rooms. Moments later, he returned to the dazed blonde, and handed her the milkshake, "I put an extra bit of chocolate in there, just to cheer you up Usa," he said softly as he handed her the drink, "You look like you could use a pick me up."

"Thanks Toki-chan! You're the best!" Usagi smiled in thanks, grateful for the kind gesture. She could always rely on Motoki to cheer her up. Sipping her shake in contentment, Usagi did find it to be an improvement over her foul mood. Swinging her legs lightly, Usagi swirled in her bar stool, satisfied at the time being as she watched Motoki and his sister as well as the other workers go on about their normal lives.

Spotting the old Sailor V game, Usagi decided to hop on over and play a game, for old times sake. She hadn't played the game in awhile, being so busy lately. Making her way over to the old game stand, Usagi popped in the appropriate coins and began to play.

It was wonderful to be back with the old controls, going over youmas that were predictable. A swish here, jump there, kick and duck here. It was so safe and comforting. Usagi wistfully thought of what life would be like if all youmas in her life were like that. Shaking her head, Usagi brought her mind back to the game, her tongue slightly peeking out of her mouth in concentration.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" came a rich, deep, masculine voice behind her, "Looks like a rabbit, all alone and with no one to play with," whispered the voice, directly into her ear.

Usagi started at the sudden sound and made to turn around. Two strong hands unfortunately snaked around her, trapping her where she was, her back to the unknown man. "Uh, uh, uh. Can't have the rabbit going so soon now can we little one? It just wouldn't be polite," clipped the voice sarcastically.

Usagi hissed at the voice. Who could it be? The voice struck a chord, deep down inside of her. She reached at the very depths of her memory searching for a clue, a sign, something! But to no avail.

She quickly tried to gain a sense of rationality and desperately tried to calm herself down. She was trapped, in a corner of the Arcade. Motoki had moved the game to a more solitary part of the Arcade as it grew less and less popular. Nobody would be coming back here for awhile and the din of the front of the arcade from other customers was too loud for anyone to hear anything suspicious.

Meanwhile, an unwanted hand ran up her leg, to the edge of the skirt of her school uniform, pausing lightly before tracing its way slowly upward. Usagi growled and tried to wrench herself from his grasp, "How DARE YOU!" she cried, lashing out to the best of her ability.

"Now, now little rabbit, play nicely. Can't have you screaming now either, pet. Wouldn't want the world to find little miss moon harmed, now can we?" ridiculed the patronizing voice as it forced her back to her original position, locking her in place.

Usagi sucked in her breath. So he knew who she was and was threatening her. This was not good. She was alone, with no communicator in the gloomy end of the Crown Arcade. Knowing she had to act fast, before the situation escalated out of control, Usagi resolutely willed herself to stay calm.

Everything would be ok, she silently chanted to herself. Straightening her back, she spoke in a firm voice, "Release me now and tell me who you are and what you want. Perhaps then you may walk away from this unscathed." She had to stand firm, no matter what the cost, and sound much more confident than her current state of mind.

"Now where's the fun in that, rabbit? Here I am, having caught a feisty little warrior unprotected and unaware, it's not something a person in their right mind could truly let go, now is it? That would be folly sweet," drawled the voice in a sickening manner. His hand, thankfully had been removed to keep her in place and was no longer upon her bare skin.

"You will unhand me sir," Usagi spat out, her anger now growing, "Or you shall find yourself in for much more than you bargained." She hoped she sounded convincing, yet part of her knew that there was much more to this occurrence than it appeared to be.

The stranger chuckled. Usagi had yet to see his face. "Such strong talk coming from such a tiny person," came the voice, apparently quite amused, "I wouldn't be talking that way if I were you, pet. In fact," the sound came closer to her ear, in a dangerously menacing whisper, "I don't think you're in any position to command me at any point, little rabbit."

Usagi tried to struggle out of his grasp one last time in a burst of frustration. Not knowing any other way out, Usagi cried out, but was struck in the face as soon as she voiced her reaction. Black dots dotted her vision as she found herself faced down on the floor. Unbidden tears sprung to her eyes as she quickly forced them away.

"Oh dear me, is the little rabbit hurt? Please tell me it isn't so," jeered the taunting voice as Usagi found herself unable to move another inch as he once again restrained her.

"State your business," she weakly demanded from her compromising position on the floor, hating herself for letting her guard down. What was she to do?

AN: Hope you liked it! Now as a reward for me, or not, either way, click on the purple button screaming REVIEW! REVIEW! Or no updates for you!! (that rhymed.. perhaps I should go into poetry? Any thoughts?)