This is the same every time I do not own Sailor Moon and it makes me sad. I don't own the lyrics or song below either.

Anyway, this chapter is special for several reasons. 1. It's shorter than the others. 2. I wrote these chapters a long time ago, before I could use and this the last prewritten chapter. The next chapter will be written fresh, so it might be less edited. 3. I think this will be the end of Serena's OOCishness (yes that is a word) due to depression. By next chapter, she's going to be herself again, I think but I make no promises (I may want to torture her some more. I'm evil I know) 4. I've never written a scene with actino in it before so this is very much an experiment.

Chapter Three

Stand my ground, I won't give in, no more denying, Igot to face it, won't close my eyes and hide the truth inside

If I don't make it, Someone else will stand my ground.

It's all around getting stronger, coming closer into my world I can feel that it's time for me to face it can I take it?
- Stand My Ground by Within Temptation

"Sure," Serena said, wincing as her she got up. With a crimson blush she realized a long robe was her only covering her. Luckily, it flowed down to the ground and pooled unto the ground, revealing no flesh but he red face. Serena tried not to think about who might have taken off her cloths and dressed her. If it was Darien, he would have to pay with his life.

"Where are my cloths?"

"Here," Lita handed them to her. An odd silence wrapped around them like invisible chains. They all watched Serena's back disappear into the bathroom down the hall.

"Something definitely is wrong," Amy declared. They all tried not to look at Darien as he brooded in the corner.

"I think we should take her out to the shop then ice cream. Let's just cheer her up," Mina said. She eyed the bathroom door, praying Serena wouldn't overhear. Darien barely listened. Ripples of self-loathing spread throughout every fiber of his being.

"Who are we kidding?" Raye stormed, fires igniting in her eyes, "Darien, this is your fault!" Darien looked up, startled out of his thoughts by her jarring voice. This was the moment Serena chose to emerge. Everyone (except Darien who had a lot of experience hiding his emotions from Serena) morphed into statues except their eyes. Horrified, they stared at their friend.

"I'm ready," She declared, clearly confused at their actions.

"Um … yeah, let's go," Quick on the uptake, Amy managed to be the only one to respond. Serena's mind imagined a thousand horrible events that occurred when she was gone. They flashed before her eyes, Darien telling them all how pathetic she was, the scouts congratulating him on dumping the klutz…. In a worry induced daze, Serena followed the girls out of the apartment complex. Outside, they seemed to be caged in by the close grey sky. It would definitely rain soon. Serena watched it for a minute. Nothing could stop it. "Serena, come on. It's going to rain!" The group cried, wary of her fear of thunderstorms.

"Whatever, there's nothing I can do"

These words were met by a shrill silence. This wasn't Serena. Some alien must have invaded her body. Somehow, using magical powers stronger than theirs, Reeni started jabbering to Raye.

With idle chatter to fill the silence, they continued walking as the cosmetic shop came into view. It was a very edgy building. Sheets of spotless glass from the floor to the ceiling displayed shelve upon shelve of make up. Customers lined up like cattle herded into a pasture. It already appeared to be over capacity. Unless they were all shrunk, there was no way in.

If this was not bad enough, a drop of water landed on Serena's cheek. Another dived unto Raye's nose. The rain began to pelt them like liquid machine gun fire. Running under an umbrella, Serena eyed the sky. Maybe it had had its heart broken, too. Crack! Streaks of light shattered the gray sky. The rain, if possible, pounded the earth harder. The scouts plowed all the way into the store, escaping one storm and going into another. The people slumped to the ground, eyes closed and motionless. The girls stared around, shocked and suspicious. A lady sat cross-legged on the counter. To say it kindly, she was a … sight. Her dark rebellious hair both swirled down her back and also formed two cat ears. She wore a pinstriped pink shirt and voluminous tutu. Clearly, she was not "of' this world.

"Oh, Rubeus will be so pleased," She crooned into a silver caste mirror oblivious to the girl's presence. "After the last droid's destruction, he was so angry but now after my success, he'll be happy again. Finally we'll be together!" The now transformed Sailor Scouts exchanged glances. The most ridiculous droid was better than this.

"Not unless you lose the tutu," Serena cried, acting the hero, "I am Sailor Moon. In the name of the moon, I will right wrongs and triumph over evil, especially those as fashion challenged as you"

"My tutu is very stylish!" She screamed, summing up her energy sending it towards Serena. For the second time in two days, a strong blast hit her chest. With a pained cry, Serena crashed through the window. She lay unmoving surrounding by shards of glass and puddles reflecting the dark sky. The woman flicked her wrist sending make up shelves crashing down unto the scouts. Only Sailor Jupiter managed to dodge the attack. The other scouts lay struggling beneath the weight of beauty products.

"You're going to pay for that," Sailor Jupiter cried, already revving up for her thunder attack.

"As if you Sailor Brats can beat me," the woman cackled. She didn't seem so ridiculous after her attack. LIta/Sailor Jupitar wasn't frightened, though. "I'm Catzi, one of the negamoon sisters."

"We'll see about that, Jupiter thunder crash!"

"Dark Fire!" The blasts met in the air, missing their targets but causing a huge explosion Serena was only dimly aware of what was happening. The rain poured down onto her, turning her blonde hair the color of mud. Somehow, her hair had come undone. The dark tendrils partially shielded her from the water droplets. She didn't care. The repeating pound numbed her. She liked the feeling. The cold cement bit at her cheek. The cold trickled into her blood stream, causing her to shiver. However, she didn't mind enough to get up.

"So this is the great Sailor Moon, the best the universe has to offer," The familiar drawl of Rubeus hit her ears. He leered from above, a triumphant smile on his face. "I'm not getting up for you," Sailor Moon/Serena declared.

"That's fine. You're friends have failed. All I need is the rabbit and the crystal. Come on, you've failed, too. You're a soldier. You war is lost. You get back to your life," Rubeus said, confidently. Suddenly, Serena came to life. Rage as she had never known before filled her every breath.

"I am not just a soldier. I have not failed. It isn't over." Using everything she had she got up, and slugged him. It was a strange powerful feeling that shook inside her. She had never hit anyone before like that. Part of her craved to do it again. "I refuse to let you win."