By: Rini
Chapter 3: Visions of Moonlight
" Ok class. Today is Friday and I want everyone to have a great weekend!" Miss Haruna called out to her class as they were all walking out.
Amy, Mina, and Lita packed up the rest of their books and were ready to walk out the door.
" Oh girls!" Miss Haruna shouted.
" Yes?" Amy answered.
" I have word from Mrs. Tsukino that Serena is coming back on Monday. I knew you girls seemed terribly worried about her, but her mother said everything was fine. I know Serena hasn't been to school half of last week and all this week, but she'll be here Monday."
" Thank you for telling us."
" Cheer up! You'll be a group again before no time!" Miss Haruna said as she walked out the door and down the halls.
Lita crossed her arms," A group? Yeah right."
" I wouldn't hold my breath," Amy replied.
" So Andrew, you miss me?" Serena smiled.
Andrew rested his head on his hands," Not really."
Serena smacked his arm playfully," You better be lying!"
" You know I'm kidding. How could I not miss my favorite little sister?"
Andrew ruffled Serena's hair as he walked past her. Serena sat on top of the counter with her legs dangling off the side. She wore a simple pair of low cut jeans and a white tank top. She sipped at her chocolate milkshake and laughed.
" What's so funny?" Andrew asked as he returned.
Serena leaned her head back to rest against him," Realizing how much I missed this."
Andrew hugged her," Man. I was so worried about you. Don't you disappear on me like that again."
" You know I had to do it Andrew."
" I know."
Serena turned her head to watch as the last customer in the restaurant got his takeout order and left. Turning serious blue and silver eyes on Andrew she frowned.
" I couldn't let the other Scouts and Darien see me. It was still too early."
Andrew sighed," I guess you have a point."
It had been a long while now since Serena told Andrew about her being Sailor Moon and the other girls and Darien being the famous Sailor Scouts and Tuxedo Mask. He took it rather well considering he had always had a feeling, but was worried about everyone risking their lives every night, battle after battle. He was really easy to talk to about it. He was easy to convince and never doubted her for a second.
Luna walked in through the doors with Rini right behind her.
" There's my favorite little girl!" Serena shouted.
Rini smiled and bounded up to sit next to Serena. She hugged her tightly and kissed her cheek.
" She wasn't trouble was she Luna?"
" Mommy!"
Luna smiled," Less trouble than you are."
Serena put her hands on her hips, feigning anger.
" Hard to believe you two aren't mother and daughter," Andrew shook his head.
" Try living with the two of them," Luna muttered.
" God bless you Luna."
" Hey!" both Serena and Rini shouted.
" Bless Selene indeed," Luna purred.
" So Serena, is everything working out like you planned?"
" So far. The girls have no idea and neither does Darien. I suppose it's a matter of time now."
" Mommy? Are you sure this is such a good idea?" Rini asked worriedly.
" Don't sweat it Rini. No one is on to it yet. Besides, I've been giving those Dark Moon creeps a run for their money."
" But surely," Luna added," It's a matter of time before you're going to run into more than you can handle and are going to have to run to the Scouts and Mask for help."
" It's only a matter of time before Darien finds out about you running around without him knowing, let alone the other girls," Andrew spoke up.
" Ye of little faith. Patience. It's been over a week and they haven't found out yet," Serena said flippantly.
" What will you do when they find out Serena?" Rini asked.
Serena hopped down off the counter and looked over her shoulder," What I've been doing. Take control."
" We're home Mom!"
" Serena! Rini! Luna!" Mrs. Tsukino smiled.
Mrs. Tsukino wiped her hands in her white apron and walked over to the group just entering the kitchen. She first kissed her daughter's cheek and bent down on her knees to give Rini a big hug and kiss as well. She scratched behind Luna's ear, causing her to purr in delight.
" I was just baking cookies for Sammy's party tomorrow. He wanted me to make them for his friend as a gift."
" Can I help Mama?" Rini asked with bright cheery eyes.
" Of course sweetie!"
" Don't eat too many cookies Rini."
" Yes Serena," Rini replied gloomily.
" So Serena, where you out fighting today?" Ilene questioned.
" Not this afternoon."
" She always has patrol for that," Luna spoke up.
" Oh dear," Ilene sighed.
" I'm sorry Mom. You know I have to do it."
" I know. I am so proud of you too."
Serena found it best to come clean with her parents. After the night with the fight with Emerald and Rubeus, Serena found it best to tell the truth to her family. After what she went through, it was no wonder why. She explained to them slowly about the Moon Kingdom and being Princess Serenity and then Sailor Moon in this lifetime. They were doubtful at first. Who wants to believe that your daughter has been fighting evil at night? But after transforming for them and having Luna, just another shock, validate everything, they were quick to believe.
Her parents, Ilene and Ken, were scared that their sweet little daughter was risking her life and had died once, but they were so proud that she was growing up in front of them and not backing down. Sammy was just overjoyed he was related to Sailor Moon. Of course, they had to explain about everyone else, including a certain pink haired child. What Serena chose to leave out was the fact that Rini was her daughter with Darien, but they knew she was from the future.
Serena stood up and stretched," I think it's time for a little training before nightfall."
" Be careful dear. Don't forget to get Sammy! You promised him!"
" I know. Sammy! Let's go!"
" Be right there!" a voice yelled from upstairs.
Sammy, a sweet little twelve-year-old boy, ran down the stairs at full speed, showing he was clearly related to Serena. He had dusty brown hair that was always ruffled looking and soft chocolate brown eyes. His smile was infectious and he clearly couldn't hide his enthusiasm.
" I'm ready Sailor Moon!"
" Then let's get busy!"
" Mars Celestial Fire Surround!"
Mars called on her powers of fire to send out rings to attack the monster in front of her. It had long claws and was at least twice as tall as any monster they had ever fought before. She had dark green hair and a pale blue body. It was made by possessing a suit of armor at a local pawnshop and had armor plating its entire body. Its eyes were dark red and so were the claw like nails.
" Razor Edge!" the metallic voice of the youma called out.
It brought down it claws swiftly, sending out five waves of energy. It collided with the rings and destroyed them.
" No way," Mars sighed.
" Try this on for size! Jupiter Thunder Clap Zap!" Jupiter ferociously yelled.
" Razor Edge!"
" It's no good! It's stronger than we are," Mercury concluded.
" So what do we do?" Venus asked.
" You die!" Emerald laughed.
Emerald floated high up in the air with Rubeus by her side. Rubeus had his arms crossed smugly as Emerald appeared as though she were sitting.
" At least she isn't here," Rubeus whispered to Emerald.
" Yes. She's always here way before those pesky four ever show up."
" She must be planning something."
" She wouldn't!"
" Mercury Shine Aqua Illusion!"
" Blade Boomerang!"
The youma threw out one of its claws and smashed the ice apart. Mercury sighed in frustration. This was hopeless.
" Guys we have to face it. We need Sailor Moon."
" Mercury, haven't you noticed? She's not exactly going to help us."
" Then what about Tuxedo Mask?"
" Blade Boomerang!"
A blur of black jumped in and deflected the blade before it hit Mercury.
" You rang?"
" Tuxedo Mask!" the Scouts yelled.
" Well here's a pleasant surprise," Emerald laughed.
Rubeus scowled.
Just what are you planning in the shadows?
" Where's Sailor Moon?" Tuxedo Mask asked.
" We were hoping that you'd know since you transform when you feel her," Jupiter answered the dashing hero.
" I just heard the fight from my balcony by accident. If I didn't see Mars's attack, I wouldn't have even known."
" So you haven't felt Sailor Moon at all?"
" Not since that last battle you all had when you all fought together."
" Razor Edge!"
" Look out!" Venus screamed.
A silver blur jumped in front of the blast and deflected it with a barrier.
" Diamond Shield!"
" It can't be!" Emerald screeched.
" She's here!" Rubeus bellowed.
" Who did that?" Jupiter asked, amazed and in shock.
The dust started to clear and a lone figure stood still. She had a white sailor uniform. Her collar was a sapphire blue color with two silver stripes. Her bow on the front was light silver near the center and gradually got darker the farther out. A golden brooch was attached to the center. Her bow on the back was the same color as the one on the front and the tails reached out long to the ground. She had a double belt on her waist in sapphire. A silver chain wrapped around her waist and hung lopsided, with charms of crescent moons and stars. She had three skirts, white, silver, and sapphire.
She had a dark blue choker on with a teardrop diamond and crescent moon hanging down low on her chest. Her suit was sleeveless, but three strings of crystal pearls where hanging low on each shoulder, grazing her upper arms. Her gloves were long with sapphire trim, but they only connected around her middle finger, leaving them fingerless and open. Her shoes were sapphire high-heeled sandals that wrapped around her ankle and halfway up her calve before being tied. On each of her upper arms, gold bands wrapped around in a spiral coil and had silver runes inscribed in them.
She flipped back a few ringlets of infinitely wavy and curly silver white hair. Interwoven through her hair were golden highlights and golden waves framed around her face, making her hair two toned. It seemed her hair changed color with each motion, making it impossible to tell which part was silver and which was gold.
" Never learn do you?" her regal voice spoke out.
" You must be kidding?" Emerald yelled as she and Rubeus touched down to the ground.
" I thought you missed me Emerald."
" Finish her now!" Rubeus growled.
" Razor Edge!"
The mysterious Sailor jumped high in the air and delivered a swift kick to the youma. The youma went flying through the air and tore up pavement as it skidded along the ground. The Sailor then clapped her hands and put them to the ground, sending out a pulse of silver energy through a fissure directly towards the youma.
" Blade Boomerang!"
" Moonlight Faint!"
Drawing her hands to her side, the moonlight started to amass into a ball of pure silver light. She waited as it gathered more light into her hands before placing it in front of her.
" Immobile!" the girl commanded.
The girl jumped up into the air. The ball of light stayed exactly where she left it. The girl ducked down, missing the boomerang the youma sent out to her. Jumping up, she kicked it into the ground where it got lodged in the concrete.
" Moon Mirage Vanish!"
The girl disappeared and reappeared all over the battlefield. The youma couldn't lay a hit on the girl as she kept vanishing and coming back in a new place.
" How is she doing that?" Mars questioned.
" It's Instant Transmission!" Mercury awed.
" What?" Mask yelled.
" Instant Transmission. She's moving at the speed of light. She's moving so fast from location to location that you can't see her until she stops."
" Speed of light?" Venus said.
" Like moonlight," Jupiter replied.
" Sharp Cyclone!"
The youma started to spin in a circle until it created a twister of wind and blades.
" Come on guys! Let's help her! Mars Celestial Fire Surround!"
" Mercury Shine Aqua Illusion!"
" Venus Love Chain Encircle!"
" Jupiter Thunder Clap Zap!"
" No!" the girl shouted.
The cyclone gathered in all the Scouts attacks and sent the back out.
" Diamond Shield!"
The mysterious Sailor jumped in front of the other Scouts and Tuxedo Mask and held her hands up. A crystal shield wrapped around them and protected them as the attacks pounded into it and then disappeared.
" Enough of this!"
The girl ran full sprint at the youma. The youma stopped spinning and drew its claws out in one final strike at the Sailor Scout. The girl jumped high in the air and drew out a long scepter. Holding it high above her head, the moon started to glow bright.
" Angelic Desperado Requiem!"
Pointing the scepter down at the youma, moonlight started to be absorbed into the scepter. The faint outline of wings sprouted on her back. A stream of silver and gold energy with sapphire stars burst from the scepter and flew towards the youma. The wings on her back exploded in a flurry of radiant feathers that spiraled around the attack, completely destroying the youma. Landing softly on the ground, the wings disappeared.
" Damn you!"
" Like you stood a chance Emerald," the girl said with a toss of her hair.
" Emerald Dark Star Burst!"
" Ruby Light Storm!"
" Mobilize!"
The ball of silver energy collided with the green and red energy and blocked it. Rubeus and Emerald flew up before they were hit with the powerful attack.
" Had enough yet?"
" We'll get you Sailor Celestial Moon. Mark my words," Rubeus growled before both he and Emerald vanished completely.
" Doubt it."
" That was incredible."
The silver Scout turned around and greeted the amazed faces of the Inner Scouts and Tuxedo Mask.
" You've seen nothing yet."
" You really beat that youma. You had such control," Mars spoke.
" Such speed," Mercury said.
" Such grace," Venus replied.
" Such strength," Jupiter added.
" Such power," Tuxedo Mask said forcefully," Who are you? What are you doing here? Where's Sailor Moon?"
" I am the guardian of the purity of light and hope. I am the guardian of the ever vigilant and shining Moon. I am the guardian of the heavens above. I vowed to protect this world and the dreams and lives of all those in it. I am the sentinel here to preserve the balance of good."
" Do you not see it Tuxedo Mask?"
" Luna?"
Luna appeared from around the corner. Her crescent moon glowed on her forehead. The tiara on the girl's forehead disappeared and her birthright glowed. The crescent moon on her forehead was undeniable.
" Sailor Moon?"
" I am no longer Sailor Moon. I am Serena as she is and Princess Serenity as she ceased to be. I am the Imperial Sailor Celestial Moon. The combined powers of Serenity and Sailor Moon."
" Imperial Moon, you did well," Luna praised.
Moon smiled.
" Serenity and Sailor Moon? I don't understand," Mercury said confused.
" And you never will," Moon replied.
" Come. We leave Imperial Moon."
" Yes Luna. I've done what I needed for tonight."
Moon reached down and picked up Luna in her arms. Running off, Moon leaped up and dashed from building to building.
" Serena," Mask whispered.
Tuxedo Mask raced after the new Imperial Moon, off into the moonlight.
" Tuxedo Mask!" Venus called out.
" It's too late Mina," Jupiter sighed.
" It just might be," Mars whispered.