RANNMA DARK MOON

CHAPTER THREE

THE RETURN OF THE PRINCESS

Tendo house: 10:22 AM

Ranma was getting impatient, and that was putting it mildly. She wanted to be in Juban NOW, with her hands around somebody's throat, asking them questions as they lost their air supply. She was so agitated, that she didn't notice how this ran counter to her usual line of thinking. "Are we ready to go yet?" Ranma asked impatiently.

"Yes Ar…" Shampoo began, then Cologne bopped her on her head. Rubbing it, she said "I mean, yes Ranma, I ready now. Sorry took so long."

"Fine, fine, let's go. "Ryoga?" Ranma said, holding out her hand. Ryoga took it. As they left, Ranma told Kasumi "We'll try to get you those autographs you wanted Kasumi!"

"Thanks Ranma! Good luck!" She called back as they left.

After they left, Kasumi went to her room. She still felt uneasy being in here. It seems the Fear Flare had sunk into her bed sheets. "Now that Ranma's gone, it's time to get the stink of fear off my bed." She said, striping her sheets.

Then a wicked idea came to Kasumi. Whom ever had said she was too nice to do anything remotely mean, doesn't know her that well. Which is pretty much everyone. You see, Kasumi gets vengeance very in subtle ways. She's seen the way Ranma has been treated by her sisters, and she didn't think that it was very nice at all. But when Ranma was actually dieing, no one had cared enough to even take a look at him, now her. So Kasumi took the top sheet and comforter off Nabiki's bed, and put her own Fear Flare laced versions on it, and did the same with the bottom sheets of Akane's. As she put her sisters bedding on her bed, she whispered "Pleasant dreams my dear sisters."

In another reality: on the moon in the castle: Queen Serenity's throne room

"You mean to say my dear daughter has yet to show up?" Queen Serenity the First asked in some slight anger.

"Yes my Queen." The Soldier in charge of the troop allotment to the other reality said. He was doing his weekly report, and was afraid this would end badly for him, what with the way the Queen was acting.

"Double the numbers sent in a single attack. Do that for the next three days. If that doesn't attract my daughter, keep the same numbers, and strengthen the Youma sent, but not the soldiers. And if that doesn't work, well you better pray it works, hadn't you?" The Queen said showing her temper.

"Yes my Queen. Your will be done." The Soldier said, bowing deeply, knowing that he had gotten a week's reprieve. If Princess Serenity the Second did not show her self in the next week, he knew he was dead. 'Oh, Please let her show her self.' He thought as he hightailed it out of the throne room with out looking like he was hurrying. A trick you learned for your survival around the Queen and her Senshi.

After he got back to his chambers, he stamped the orders for the next two groups slated to leave, to go immediately. He then sent two of his couriers with the notes to the different groups, and yet another to Lady Pluto herself, letting her know the change in plans, as well as that she'd be sending another group through the portal in about fifteen minutes. Then sighing he hoped the Princess would show herself this time, so he would not have to die.

Rei's Grandfather's temple: Juban: at the same time

The Senshi were exhausted from their daily work out. First they practiced in an empty field outside of Tokyo, then they came back to Juban, where they worked out in the gym that Haruka belongs to. And now they were relaxing in the temple, doing nothing at all. The meeting wasn't going to start for another hour, they just needed cool down time.

All was going well, till the Mercury computer started beeping. All groaned as Ami brought it out of it's sub dimensional pocket, and she the said "It's another attack. And it seems to be a big one." She said.

"What do you mean Ami?" Rei asked before any of the others could.

"Well it seems this group is twice the size as the previous ones." Ami said with a small sigh.

"Well crap." Haruka said with feeling.

"Let's get going!" Usagi exclaimed. Then they all transformed, causing all their weariness to disappear, for now at least.

A street in down town Juban: a little later

The Senshi were in trouble, and they knew it. They had taken out four of the six Youma in a long, hard fought battle, but they still had two more, plus the two soldiers, who were as tough to beat as all three Youma they lead put together. They knew they could take out the other two Youma in time, but by then, they would have nothing left for the soldiers.

"We could really use some help." Ami said softly, as she cast a Shine Aqua Illusion at a Youma, one that nimbly dodged it.

And as she said that, help was coming, in a form she and the rest of the Senshi could never have expected.

A street in down town Juban: a few streets over from the battle: a little earlier

Ranma had been wondering Juban hand in hand with Ryoga, and had been getting sick of the people asking 'How's the date going?" As if she'd ever date Ryoga, or any other man! 'The next person to ask that question is going to get a Möko Takabisha where the sun don't shine!' Ranma thought darkly and in anger. As an old woman walked past them nodding, even she had to admit that it looked like they were on a date, what with them going hand in hand. Cursing Ryoga's lack of direction, and the fact that there were no Youma around to relive her anger on, she continued to mutter obsinities under her breath.

"Well Ranma, were you just expecting to come down here and have Youma all over the place?" A sharp eared Cologne said, in awe of the creative cursing Ranma could do when she was angry.

Ranma deflated her anger and said "Yeah, I guess I was. Stupid huh?"

"No, just over-eager." Cologne replied.

Ranma saw an American style pizzeria, and asked "Hey, why don't we get a pizza? I haven't had one in months."

"And who's buying?" Cologne asked. Seeing three teenagers with looks that said 'I'm broke' she sighed and said "Fine. I'll buy some Pizza's. But only three for each of you." She told them.

"That barely snack." Shampoo said.

"Deal with it. Those things are expensive." Cologne told her Great Grand Daughter.

They all polished off twelve pizzas, three for each of them, within twenty seconds of getting them. As Ranma sat back, drinking her soda she said "I forgot how long pizza takes to prepare. Good snack though, thanks Cologne."

"You're Welcome Ranma." Cologne told her. As the other expressed their thanks the waiter asked in shock, waving his hands around

"You call that a snack? You just had three! How many more cold you possibly eat?"

"You should not ask questions you do not want answers to, young man. The answers could destroy your sanity." Cologne said in her 'Wise Old Woman' voice. The waiter nodded profusely and left. After he was gone she cackled in glee, saying "I've still got it!"

After finishing their sodas they left the pizzeria, and headed left. One direction seemed as good as another to them at this point. They were just walking along when Ranma felt it, the evil of the Youma. Surprisingly to her, it felt like, a piece of home. Like the dresser in her room.

As Ranma looked to the south with unseeing eyes, Cologne wondered what was wrong, then she heard it. Massive amounts of property damage. You don't live long in Nerima and not be able to tell when and where a huge, high powered fight was going on. And seeing as this wasn't Nerima but Juban, odds were it wasn't a high caliber Martial Arts fight, but those Senshi girls that Kasumi is so enthralled with fighting some Youma. At least that's what Cologne was thinking. She was right too.

"Come on, We've got to get over there, now!" Ranma exclaimed, practically dragging Ryoga behind her.

As they ran towards the fight Shampoo asked "Why we only one's going this way?" She had asked that seeing as everyone else was running the other way, making it difficult for them to make way.

Growling Ranma took to the roofs, still dragging Ryoga behind her.

Cologne, following Ranma's lead told Shampoo "Because they don't want to be in the fight!"

"Oops, did not think that!" Shampoo said, also taking to the roofs.

As they got there, they saw the Senshi were on their last legs of the fight. "Cologne! You and Shampoo protect them! Ryoga and I will take care of the enemies!"" Ranma called out, instantly taking charge.

Cologne saw the wisdom in splitting their forces like that and nodded, jumping down with Shampoo, them placing themselves between the Youma and the Senshi.

The weary Senshi looked surprised when a short old woman and a much younger woman put themselves between themselves and the Youma they were fighting. "Get out of here! You'll get killed!" Sailor Moon cried out.

Cologne cackled, making the Senshi take an involuntary step back, and said "The only ones likely to die are them." She said pointing at the Senshi opponents.

As she said that Ryoga ran up, engaging the two Youma at the same time.

Then Ranma made her appearance. As her black crescent moon was glowing brighter then ever on her forehead, and her power washed over the field, the Senshi as a group realized who this must be and said as a collective group "Oh shit! Not her! Not now!"

Their surprise was complete when this dark version of their Princess asked, "Who are you? What are you doing here? What happened to me?"

As Ryoga finished off one of the Youma by knocking it's head off with a jumping round house kick, and focused on the other one, one soldier, who had not yet made the connection between his Princess showing up, and these strangers who were protecting their targets, snuck up behind Ryoga, and readied his sword to plunge it through his back, Ranma said the first thing that came to her mind "Moon Domination Power!" and suddenly she was in a skin tight black body suit with armor pieces over her chest shins and forearms.

Quicker then thought she was behind the soldier, and had him in a head lock. "I only need one to give me answers, and you just volunteered not to be the one by tiring to kill my friend." She said, then she calmly snapped his neck.

Cologne winced. 'It seems the changes going on with Ranma are getting worse. I hope she can keep control. If she were to lose to this evil influence…" She let her thoughts trail off at that point. No use going there yet, she thought.

As Ryoga finished off the last Youma, he bent over breathing hard. Ranma let the body drop to the ground and said "Good job man, I've got it from here. This guy's going to answer my questions."

Ryoga nodded, wide eyed as Ranma walked over to the remaining soldier, cracking her knuckles.

"Princess! Why do you side with the enemy?" The soldier asked in fear. This was not going acroding to plan.

Ranma seemed to teleport over to him, and punched him in the gut. "You answer MY questions, worm! Who are you? Where are you from? Why are you here? And what's happening to me?" She said twisting her fist in the man's gut.

"Stepping back, and coughing up a bit of blood he said "I'm a soldier in your Mother's, Queen Serenity the First's Royal Army. I'm from your home reality, and we're here to find you you're Majesty and conquer this reality. And I don't know what has happened to you, your Majesty." He said looking at Ranma oddly.

"I'm not your Princess!" Ranma screamed in denial.

"What do you mean, your Majesty? Have you been stuck here so long that you've forgotten yourself?" he said straitening up.

Ranma looked at him, trying to see if those suppressed memories held the answer. She knew it was a bad idea, she suppressed them for a reason, but she had to know. Was she, in a capacity, responsible for these attacks? Was she in a way an evil Kingdom's Princess? She opened her mind to the memories, and clutched her head in pain and screamed. Stamping down on the memories, she got what she wanted to know, at the price of losing a bit more of her self.

"You tell the Queen that she is no longer my Mother. This is my home now, and if she wants it added to her despicable empire, she'll have to go through me!" Ranma screamed. "No get home and tell my so called 'Mother' that!" She said in a sub-artic tone of voice. Nodding, the soldier hit the button on his recall device, and a portal opened up seconds later behind him, as he was about to turn around to go through Ranma said coldly

"And so you don't forget the message." She said, the she kick him hard in the balls, causing him to fly through the portal on the power of her kick.

Now the scouts had had time to get their wind back, with the help of the recovery magic built into the Senshi uniform. But Pluto was worried. All of them together might be able to take out this Dark Moon, but then again, they might not. And she did help them, for some God unknown reason, so as she was about to talk to her, Uranus went

"What the hell's going on? I thought she was supposed to be an enemy! Why'd she just save our assess?" she screamed directly in Pluto's ear.

Pluto winced, in pain, then saw Dark Moon's eyes glow with a black light, she felt a wave of fear hit her, and knew everyone else was feeling it too, but it seemed to have been targeting Uranus. Pluto observed as she was shivering.

Uranus locked up, and froze. "I will not be an enemy unless YOU make me one. All I wanted is some answers. Unfortunately my answers only led to more questions. Now will you be an enemy of mine, or an ally?" Dark Moon spoke in an below freezing voice.

Uranus was paralyzed with what ever this fear attack Dark Moon had thorough at them, Pluto observed. Even she could not find her voice to answer right away. It was Moon who stepped forward and spoke.

"We could be allies, if we knew your intentions." Moon spoke in the rare moments of wisdom she had, and that seemed to come up when she needed them most. Taking a look around at all the news personal, and all the camera's pointed their way, she asked, "Can we take this elsewhere?" waving her arms around, pointing out all the on lookers.

"Huh, you girls sure are popular, sure let's go. You lead." Dark Moon said, Then Ryoga took her hand again.

"Follow us." Moon said, jumping on to a roof. Dark Moon lessened the fear attack, Pluto noticed allowing Uranus to move again, and the others went after Moon, followed by Pluto helping Neptune to steady a shaky Uranus. Then Dark Moon and her allies followed right behind.

In another reality: on the moon in the castle: Queen Serenity's throne room

"You mean to say, my daughter is protecting this reality?" Queen Serenity the first asked in shock. It was the first time she'd been shocked like this in, well since her daughter had disappeared actually.

"Yes your Majesty." The soldier said fighting his pain. He had been dragged in front of the Queen as soon as he got back, with no time to tend to his injuries. "But I think she's suffering from a form of amnesia. She seemed to have to struggle to remember things, and as I said, was asking me strange questions that she should have known the answer to." He said, hoping to help his case.

"Then we'll just have to jog her memory, won't we? Mars?" she said looking over at her companion "Do you know who would be best to jog my daughter's memory?" She asked her long time companion.

"Yes, my Queen," Rei began " I believe that Pluto was quite close to your daughter." Rei said hiding her double meaning, enjoying hiding the truth from her Queen.

"Good. Send her to see my daughter. And send Saturn as back up incase my daughter gets out of hand and needs to be, forced back here."

"Hmm, it will take a few days. Pluto usually does the transfers to the other dimension. She and Mercury will have to set up the machine so Mercury can use it too." Rei told her Queen.

"I realize that Mars! Now you," she said pointing to a random guard, said "Impart my instructions to Pluto and Mercury!" She said signing the note with her orders on them, the handing it to the kneeling guard. "And you two," She said, addressing the guards holding the wounded soldier "Take him to Venus. She hasn't had a play mate in a while!" she laughed. As the man was dragged away screaming "NOOO! Not HER! Have mercy your Majesty!" The queen just laughed.

Minutes latter, the Guard returned, kneeled in front of the throne and said, "They estimate three days your Majesty. And Pluto said she'd shave any time off she could. She seemed, most eager, to see the Princess again." The reported.

"Then in Three days I'll have my daughter back. Excellent." The Queen said in the first true joy she had felt outside of conquering civilizations in eons.