**please note in this story Sailor Saturn is referred to as Hotaru. Enjoy**
Chapter 25
Allies
Serena felt her heart pounding unbearably against her chest as Fabian's fingers dug into her skin, pulling her farther and farther into the halls of Queen Raven's palace. She could vaguely hear him shouting at her but the sound was muffled as her ears began to pop. She could feel the stones beneath her feet pushing against her, slowing her down as she tried to process everything that had just happened.
"Serena! Serena!" Fabian yelled as he stopped and grabbed her by the shoulders. His eyes were red, tinged with tears that threatened to fall but his expression was rigid with determination. "I need you to keep moving!"
"Nikko… he just… he just…" Serena stuttered as she shook her head back and forth. A sinking feeling overcame her as she felt her body began to tremble. Nikko had saved her life; he had sacrificed himself so that she could live. The thought made her sick. Her stomach lurched dangerously as her knees buckled, threatening to collapse underneath her weight.
"I should never have believed her. She's evil, through and through." Fabian stated as his jaw tightened. His grip on her faltered as they came to a complete stop. "My brother was a fool. I tried to tell him she was unstable, she couldn't be trusted. I did everything I could—"
Serena bit her lip and grabbed his cheeks in her hands, pulling his face within just inches of hers. "I know you're hurting right now Fabian but we need to leave now! Open a portal, get us out of here."
"I can't." Fabian stated as he glanced around them as if he were anticipating Raven to jump out of the walls. "Queen Raven is powerful. This entire palace is protected. You can't open a portal inside. We'll have to find a way out before she finds us." He rubbed his cheek as he spoke, amazed by Serena's strength. "Follow me." He stated as he began to jog down an adjacent hall. "This place is a maze but not a prison. There is a way…"
"You know how to get out right?" Serena asked as she felt her heart begin to race again. She followed Fabian, keeping close to his even jogging pace as she struggled to hold up her skirts to keep from tripping.
Fabian stopped at the end of the hall as they reached a wall of barred iron windows. He took a cautious step forward. "She's trapped us… all of the doors… they're gone."
"What?!" Serena gasped as she ran forward and touched the wall. The stone was hard and the windows were covered with thick iron bars. "Fabian… tell me you know another way out."
Fabian took a step back, leaning against the opposite wall as he ran a hand through his dark hair. His shoulders sank as his knees wobbled once and he slid to the ground. He landed on the floor without a sound but his head slumped forward. "I don't know… I don't know what to do anymore." His voice shook as he spoke. He kept his head down, bent by his knees which he had brought up to his chest. He appeared more like a boy in that moment than a warrior. Serena felt her heart break for him.
"Fabian." She squatted down before him so that they were eye level. "There was nothing you could have done."
"Yes, there was so much more I could've done." He stated as he leaned his head back revealing his eyes which were red and brimmed with tears. "I've failed my family. I couldn't save any of them… not my father … not my brother— "
"You're not a failure." Serena told him as she laid a hand on his knee. Her blue eyes bore into his as she spoke, reflecting her sincerity. "You have been helping us this entire time haven't you?"
Fabian silently nodded as he ran his hands through his hair again. "I did what I could. I never wanted to join the Negaverse, I never wanted any of this. Nikko wanted the power that came with the darkness, I only wanted to remain with my brother. I never truly wanted to harm anyone. I thought that I could work to bring him back to the light and for a moment, I saw a glimmer of the man that he used to be. I could see him changing. His love for you Serena, drove him to darkness, but also brought him back to the light. You were getting through to him, I could see it… and so could Raven…"
Serena felt tears filling her own eyes as Fabian spoke. Nikko had loved her. She never doubted that fact, but his desire for her and anger over his banishment had drove him to make decisions that she couldn't support. Decisions that once he made, he couldn't return from. Decisions that ultimately were the reason she could never be with him even though her heart pined for him after he left. He was her first love, but not her true love. Now he was gone… She moved and leaned against the wall next to Fabian. He put his arm around her as they fell into silence, all thoughts of Queen Raven forgotten.
"Fabian, will you help us now?" Serena asked as she met his eyes. "The sailor scouts can't defeat Queen Raven alone. We need your help."
The corner of his mouth tucked into a grin as he leaned back against the wall. "I may no longer be your guardian, but I've never stopped protecting you."
"You brought Queen Serenity to us." Serena stated as she began to think back to everything that Fabian had done, some of which, now that she thought about it, didn't make sense.
"I was the one that attacked Raye. I had to make sure all of the sailor scouts would be prepared for Queen Raven's arrival." Fabian stated as he sighed. "Which you took your sweet time coming here. I almost had to go to America to drag you back myself." He shook his head as he spoke. "But you came… Then I had to make sure you couldn't defeat Nikko on your own so I filled you with dark energy so that you couldn't use the Silver Crystal, which I see, has come in handy, you are able to manipulate the power to use yourself—"
"WHAT!" Serena screamed as her head whipped around so she could face him. "That was YOU?"
"It protected you." Fabian stated simply. "I let Nikko believe that if he filled you with dark energy you would come more willingly. In reality the dark energy protected both of you. You could've ended his life with the Silver Crystal, but if you had used it, Queen Raven would've returned much quicker than she did. I bought us some time in that aspect. If you couldn't transform, then you couldn't use the Silver Crystal. It would also give you time to regain more of your memories, memories that I knew would further be stimulated with Queen Serenity's help…"
"When you gave me that box, how was that not a huge indicator that you weren't entirely on Queen Raven's side?" Serena asked as all the pieces starting to connect. Fabian had never directly attacked them. Rhea and Femi had. The only encounter the scouts had directly with Fabian had never resulted in a battle. Had he truly been protecting her?
"I gave her to you earlier than planned. Queen Raven wants Queen Serenity's death. We would've had to bring her out of that box at some point, I only sped up the process by handing her over to you at the news station, a full two days before Queen Raven was due to arrive." Fabian explained as he ran his hands through his hair again. "What I didn't plan on was for Pluto to interfere as she did… or for Nikko's obsession to consume him and cloud his judgement—"
"WHAT?!" Serena screamed for the second time as she grabbed his shoulders. "Pluto knew? She knew what was going on?"
"You must've had some inclination that she was being dishonest." Fabian stated as he raised an eyebrow though his expression suggested he was shocked at her response. "Pluto is the one that started all of this. She woke up Queen Raven five years ago. She stimulated her rebirth… she saw the future of Tokyo and of this planet. She panicked. She went to Endymion, she thought the only way to save everyone was to keep you separated and in position to encourage Nikko's eventual advances so that he could become an ally and not an enemy in hopes of defeating Queen Raven. Now he's gone…"
"No… no… Pluto wouldn't do that. She wouldn't have betrayed us…" Serena stated as she shook her head back and forth quickly. "She told Darien that she foresaw Raven's return—"
"That part was true at least." Fabian stated with a shrug of his shoulders. "She left out the part where she woke her up…"
"Why would she do that? How?" Serena asked as she tried to sort through the stream of thoughts rushing through her head. Would Pluto truly betray the sailor scouts? Why would she bring someone back to life that was by all means the definition of evil? Serena began to feel herself tremble as her body was overcome with a cold, sinking feeling.
"One word. Saturn." Fabian replied as he leaned back against the wall.
"Saturn? Saturn's dead… she died in a car accident almost six years ago." Serena whispered softly as she remembered. It had been the summer before Darien had left her. Trista had been driving late one night, it had been nearly midnight and the road was slick from a shower that had passed earlier. Trista had been fighting sleep when suddenly she lost control of the vehicle. She walked away from the accident but Hotaru didn't. Her loss was the beginning of a wedge that drove the sailor scouts apart. A wedge that they were now desperately trying to repair.
"Is death ever final?" Fabian asked as he turned his head to look at Serena . "But what if I told you there was no accident? That the real reason Saturn was gone was because Pluto did something she was forbidden to do. What is the one rule the keeper of the time stream is supposed to follow?"
"She interfered." Serena whispered as the realization sank in.
"Correct." Fabian noted. "That's what set off the series of events that have left us right here in this moment. There's always a price to the decisions we make. The price of Pluto's decision was Saturn. Saturn scarified herself so that Pluto could live. The only person that could bring her back is someone gifted in dark energy… someone that only needed a little help of their own to come back."
"Why did she do this without telling anyone?" Serena whispered as she felt a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach intensify. Her skin crawled with goosebumps as the temperature in the stone hallway seemed to plunge.
"Pluto may seem like she's part of your team but she's always been a loner. That aspect of her personality has never changed. She was the same way during the Silver Millennium. Cold and distant." Fabian stated as he turned away from Serena to the window where the sun was beginning to set behind a wall of heavy clouds. The last rays of the sunset filtered into the windows, settling on the two of them for a brief moment before disappearing.
"If she can't see the time stream anymore, she doesn't know what's going to happen or if anything has changed." Serena said out loud as she turned to Fabian. "How do we fix this?"
Fabian snorted as he stood, brushing off his pants from the dust on the floor. "We don't fix anything. We can't. We've lost Nikko and without his power, defeating Raven will be almost impossible. Plus add the fact we don't even have your entire team. It can't be done." He reached down to Serena, offering his hand to pick her up.
Serena slipped her hand into his. He lifted her easily but Serena didn't release his hand. Instead her grip tightened as her dark blue eyes settled on his. "Fabian, we can't just quit. We have to fight. Raven can't win. This is our home now."
"Look at where we are. Look at what just happened." Fabian stated with a hard shake of his head.
"We need a damn good plan then." Serena stated as she looked around them. The sun had completely set shrouding them in near darkness in the dimly lit hall. "First we need to get out of here. You can do that right?"
Fabian sighed as he glanced behind them. "Yeah, we can try the basement. We'll have to be quick. Raven intends on keeping us trapped as long as possible." He stated as he squeezed her hand and began to jog down the hall, dragging her along with him. "Stay quiet, stay low and be ready to fight."
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"It's beautiful." Mina whispered as she and Fabian approached the royal palace on Charon. It was midday but the sun didn't reach the chilly surface of Charon. Instead thousands upon thousands of flowers, trees and other plant life were illuminated, giving off nearly as much light as the sun would have. She watched as a field of neon yellow and pink flowers glistened and swayed lazily in the wind. The vibrant green trees seemed to radiate with lights, their leaves clinked together as if they were chimes. The temperature on the surface of Charon was surprisingly mild given its proximity to the sun. Though a light snow was falling, the ground was warm and hot springs and geysers littered the surface, keeping the temperature manageable and livable.
"It's home." Fabian stated as he noted Mina shivering uncomfortably. Venus had been incredibly warm and though Charon wasn't a frozen planet, the princess wasn't accustomed to the change of climate. He shrugged off his cloak and wrapped it around a very grateful Mina. He tucked the cloak around her neck and gently laid the hood on top of her head, careful not to disturb her hair.
"Thank you." Mina whispered, amazed at the care that he took when putting his cloak on her. They pressed on down the desolate dirt path, Mina considerably happier that she had the added warmth of the cloak. "I don't know how you can stand this cold. I can't even feel my face right now."
Fabian chuckled as he kicked a stone from their path that rolled into the vivid blue grass. "It's all I've ever known. It's actually pretty warm today. I've missed this. Venus and even the Moon are much too warm for my liking."
Mina snorted, as if she doubted his words as they drew closer and closer to the palace. She could make out the palace which seemed to be entirely built of dark stone. Several towers splintered off of the roof of the palace, seemingly stretching to the heavens. There were no walls around the palace, just the empty, sprawling fields. "Tell me about your family." She asked as she glanced at him. Already Fabian seemed more relaxed since they arrived. His features had transformed into a charming smile. His shoulders were down and relaxed, even his vivid green eyes appeared brighter.
"It's just me and my brother, Nikko." Fabian stated as they walked. "My mother passed away when I was a baby. I don't remember her. My father raised us by himself. He sent us to Earth to train with their military when we turned seven. When we completed our training we came home." His demeanor changed in that moment. His expression had turned dark as his gaze fell to his boots. "My father was different when we returned."
"Different how?" Mina asked as she perked a brow. It was news to her that Fabian and Nikko had both lived on Earth for some time. Did they know Endymion? Did they know the generals?
"He didn't smile anymore." Fabian stated as he shrugged and finally looked back at the approaching palace. "He started to talk about making our military stronger and he was just obsessed with power. He started to pressure Nikko to find a bride, particularly a princess with a powerful kingdom. Nikko started the Shadow Warriors to not only make Charon renowned for our warriors, but also to get away from father's constant pressure. I joined his team as soon as I was able and haven't been home since."
"Then Nikko fell in love with Serena." Mina whispered as she watched Fabian's expression turn grim once more.
"Yes." Fabian stated though his tone sounded strained. "Their union would've pleased father greatly, but it wasn't meant to be." He said as the wind around them picked up. "Perhaps it was a good thing. If Nikko left to be king of the Moon Kingdom, then Charon would've fallen to me and that isn't a responsibility I want."
Mina's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "What? You have no desire to be king?" She was shocked at Fabian's words. Didn't all princes aspire to become kings?
Fabian shrugged as his boots kicked up a cloud of dirt from their path. "It's never been my desire to be king." He explained as he bent and plucked a neon purple flower from the ground. He twirled it around his fingers for a moment before tucking it behind Mina's ear. "I love my kingdom and its people, but I see what the responsibility of a kingdom can do to a family. I want a quiet life. I enjoy working with the Shadow Warriors, traveling and seeing our galaxy as it was meant to be experienced, not just printed pictures in books. I love the feeling of the rocky terrain of Mercury underneath my boots, swimming in Neptune's vast oceans and exploring the endless mountains of Jupiter. There's much to do out there and see, how can I leave a life of freedom to live in a cold, dark palace filled with people who want things from me?"
"You're an adventurer." Mina stated as her eyes shone with admiration. She had only visited Earth and the Moon before, never the other planets. She felt a pang of jealousy resonate through her as Fabian's voice grew with excitement over his experiences.
"I can't do any of those things as a king…" Fabian remarked as he grinned at Mina. "But as a prince or as a warrior, my opportunities are vast."
"What about a family?" She asked as the dirt path transformed into a stone road. "That path seems kind of lonely."
"I've always been alone. All the family I really have left is Nikko. It's hard to imagine sharing my life with someone. Maybe someday." Fabian stated. "Besides, it may be hard to find a wife who is as adventurous as I am."
"You don't have to be alone." Mina stated as she nudged Fabian's side playfully. "There are people out there who care about you, even if it may not seem like it."
"I can't think of many." Fabian stated as he pushed back against her side.
"Oh come on." Mina stated as she turned to face him, pushing her hand against his chest to stop him from moving. "You can't even think of one?"
He stared at her for a moment in silence as Mina rolled her eyes. "Maybe not."
"I can think of one princess who took an extreme risk by sending you to accompany a girl you barely knew so you could get home." Mina stated as her smile grew. "And another princess that took a risk by coming with you to Charon, a place she's never been by the way, and wearing the wrong clothes on top of that, to make sure you're okay."
"You're right." Fabian stated as his eyes widened. "I didn't even realize…"
Mina laughed but Fabian's expression changed. His eyes widened further as he pushed past her, his gaze was transfixed on the palace before him.
She followed his gaze and gasped as she saw a huge hole in the side of the palace. Piles upon piles of stone and debris laid in heaps on the ground, blackened as if they had exploded.
"Father… Nikko…" Fabian whispered and took off, running towards the palace. "NIKKO! FATHER!"
"Fabian!" Mina screamed as she lifted her skirts in her hands and took off running after him, a feeling of dread overcoming her at what sight could potentially greet them.
"FATHER!" Fabian yelled again as he darted past piles of rubble. His boots kicked up clouds of dust and dirt as he ran, charging through the debris laden fields and finally into the gaping hole of the palace with Mina struggling behind him to keep up.
"Fabian!" Mina hollered again, praying that he would stop. What if he was running into a trap? What if there was an army just lying in wait or worse, the bodies of his family? She panted as she ran, holding her heavy skirts up to keep from tripping. She felt the debris tear at her legs, her slippers and even the edges of her dress but she pressed on, determined to catch up to Fabian.
She came to a screeching halt as she came to the hole where Fabian had entered the palace. The area was deserted. She turned a slow circle, her eyes scanning the remnants of what looked to be a ballroom. The polished marble floor was black with soot and chunks were missing. The glass in all the windows had shattered and pieces of crystal and metal littered the floor, appearing to be the remains of heavy chandeliers that had met their demise against the ground. "Fabian?" She whispered again as her voice echoed off the walls. The temperature outside continued to plunge as the winds picked up, bringing down heavy amounts of snow that covered the rubble behind her.
"And who are you?" A voice said to Mina.
Mina jumped as a woman slinked into her view, appearing from a doorway at the end of the ballroom. She was dressed in a strapless sapphire gown, the skirts were thin, almost transparent and a slit went almost to her hip, revealing a slender pale leg. Her long white blond tresses hung freely down her back, the ends curling just above her waist. A sword was sheathed at her side, seemingly out of place.
"Fabian's never brought a girl home." Another voice said as another woman appeared. This woman was on the second-floor balcony that overlooked the ballroom floor. A grand staircase was just to her right, crumbling and missing the lower half of its steps. Her short auburn hair sat just above her shoulder blades. She wore black pants that were tucked into knee high black leather boots and a bright pink shirt that hung loosely around her. She held a long staff in her hands that she tapped softly against the marble floor. Her dark eyes were settled right on Mina.
Mina took a step back as a shiver ran up her spine. She wasn't sure who these women were, but she knew from the way the goosebumps were popping up along her arms, that they were not friends. "Where's Fabian?" She asked softly, attempting to keep her voice from quivering as her eyes scanned the room once more. There was no sign of Fabian anywhere.
"I asked you a question." The blond woman stated as she approached Mina. "Who are you?" She drew her sword out, pointing it right at Mina's chest.
"She's with me." Fabian stated as he appeared behind the blond woman. "Femi… put away your sword."
"Prince Fabian!" Femi remarked as she did a small curtsy however her gaze remained cold and hard. She lowered her sword but didn't sheath it. "I'm simply protecting our palace, we have an intruder."
"Nikko never mentioned guests would be coming." The auburn-haired woman stated as she jumped from the top balcony and landed cat-like on the ground.
"Rhea." Fabian stated with a nod as he took a few cautious steps towards Mina. Femi remained in his path, her light blue eyes narrowed at him. "Tell me what's happened here. Where is my father? Where is Nikko? What happened here?"
Mina felt her heart rate climbing as Femi took another step towards her. She bit her lip, attempting to keep her resolve. She met Femi's cold gaze with a hard look of her own, not allowing her to see the fear that was slowly seeping through her.
"Nikko is well enough." Rhea replied with a shake of her head. "The king however, has fallen ill. He was injured during the attack, he is not healing as he should. It won't be long now until we can declare Nikko king."
"No!" Fabian stated as the color drained from his face. "Where is he? Who attacked Charon? Why isn't anyone telling me anything?!"
"You don't have permission to be here." Rhea stated as she moved to block Fabian from the doorway to the remains of the palace. "Go back to the Moon." She warned though her gaze softened.
Mina's eyebrows lifted in surprise as she detected a twinge of sympathy in Rhea's voice. She wasn't ordering him to go home... she was pleading with him to leave.
"Femi?" Fabian stated as he turned to the blond-haired woman who lifted her sword again, pointing it at Fabian this time. "Go." She stated simply but her eyes lacked the coldness that they had held earlier. "You shouldn't be here."
"Brother." Nikko's voice called from behind Rhea.
Rhea and Femi fell into a deep curtsy as Nikko emerged into the ballroom. Silence fell over the ballroom as Nikko's boots seemingly thundered against the marble. Mina had never seen Nikko before but she could tell instantly why Serena was attracted to him. His movements were graceful but strong as he crossed the ballroom to them. His long white-blond hair was held back with a simple tie. He wore a sharp vibrant navy soldier's uniform that Mina could only guess was that of the Shadow Warriors. His heavy sword was sheathed at his hip, the hilt of which was covered in gold that matched the design of the simple crown that was nestled on top of his head.
"Nikko, what has happened here? Who attacked Charon? What happened to father? Why haven't any of you been responding to my letters?" Fabian questioned as his emerald green eyes settled on his brother's.
Nikko laid a hand on his brother's shoulder and gave him a firm squeeze. "I'm glad you're here, I need your support now more than ever brother. Charon was visited by the Negaverse. The damage you see was father's response to their intrusion. He resisted receiving them and in his resistance, he cost the lives of thousands of our people and soldiers. After he was injured I was able to negotiate a treaty. Now our kingdom is safe once more."
Fabian's eyes widened as his brother spoke. He glanced at Rhea and Femi, both of which were staring straight at him, their expressions surprisingly vacant. "There are no treaties with the Negaverse Nikko, you know that. They're evil, they serve no one but themselves!"
"They will give us the strength and support we need to stake our claim in this galaxy!" Nikko growled as his rich lavender eyes flashed with annoyance. "Too long has Charon been pushed around and forgotten amongst our neighbors. We will be a powerful kingdom!"
Mina felt her blood run cold at the mention of the Negaverse. She had only heard rumors back on Venus and the Moon of a dark force slowly overcoming the kingdoms within the galaxy. Most of the rumors were dismissed as impossible theories, but here was the proof before her. If Charon had fallen to the Negaverse how much longer before Pluto, or Neptune? What if their reach extended to the inner planets of the solar system then what? She felt her knees begin to tremble as Fabian took a step back from his brother, pushing his hand off of his shoulder.
"Nikko, do you hear yourself? We have never desired power! We are content with our home and our people. You didn't enter that treaty for our kingdom or for our family. You did it for yourself. The Negaverse will give you the opportunity to claim Serena without her mother interfering and that is your true goal." Fabian stated as he glanced back at Rhea and Femi. Their expressions were no longer vacant. Rhea appeared to be angry at his words but Femi gave him a knowing look, as if she were silently confirming his theory.
"Serena is only part of my goal!" Nikko yelled as he threw up his hands in frustration. "When I am king, Serenity will have to respond to my requests. When the Negaverse takes over, there will be no one to stop me from taking the woman that rightfully belongs to me!"
"I will be there to stop you!" Mina shouted as she felt a burning rage begin to seep through her chest and expand to her arms. She threw off Fabian's cloak as everyone's eyes fell on her.
"You?" Nikko laughed as he crossed his arms. "And who are you? How will you stop the might of the Negaverse and Charon? You're just a silly little girl."
"No! I'm a Sailor Scout." Mina stated as her hands balled into two tight fists. Her forehead crinkled with determination as her sapphire eyes flashed dangerously. "I am one of Princess Serena's guardians and I will not allow you to threaten her or the Moon Kingdom!"
Nikko's laughter grew as Rhea and Femi joined him. Femi clutched at her sides while Rhea's shoulders shook as their laughter only intensified.
Mina took out her transformation pen but Fabian caught her wrist, stopping her from transforming. He gave her a sharp look before turning back to his brother.
"Nikko, is this what you truly want?" He asked as the room fell back into a dead silence.
"Yes." Nikko replied. "Join us Fabian. I need my brother at my side. I can trust no one else but you." He extended his hand to his brother, his eyes encouraging him to step forward.
Fabian hesitated for a moment as he bit his lip.
Mina watched as his eyes darted back and forth from Femi to Rhea to Nikko. She could feel his confusion and distrust. His shoulders were tense and his nails dug into the skin of her wrist, turning it white.
"Fabian." Mina whispered. "You don't have to do this. There are people that care about you back on the Moon. There is another life for you, one that is better than this. No one can be happy living in the darkness, especially if you are pressured to do something that is not your choice. You are not that person Fabian. You are not cruel and you are not evil. You are adventurous and strong and you protect those that need it." Her eyes filled with tears as Fabian turned to her. "We need you… I need you…"
He took her hands in his for a moment and brought them to his lips. His features curled into a sad smile as he watched tear after tear trickle down her cheeks. "Mina, you are an extraordinary person. You possess a strength that I do not. Never lose your optimism, never lose your faith or your determination to do what is right." He whispered and took his thumb, wiping away the tears from her cheeks tenderly. "I like that you think me capable of being a stronger man than the one that is standing before you. All I have is my brother, I cannot break that bond, not yet, maybe not ever. Maybe if things were different, you and I could've gone on a few adventures of our own— "
Mina's lip trembled as her shoulders shook with sobs. She could see the fear in Fabian's eyes but she knew from his dark tone that his decision was made. Before she could stop herself, she grabbed his shoulders and lifted herself onto her tip-toes. Her lips brushed against his cheek as she felt his strong arms circle around her waist, lifting her up and against his chest. Their lips met in a tender kiss.
"I will do what I must. Sometimes that means making sacrifices." Fabian whispered to her as he ran his fingers through her thick blond hair once their lips broke. "Go home Mina, go back to the Moon. This isn't the end." He set Mina down on the ground and grabbed his cloak that she had discarded. He wrapped it back around her and fixed the hood so it covered her ears just right.
"I hope you find happiness." Mina whispered back to him. "I hope you find your way to the light. I will be waiting for you there…"
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"Good evening Tokyo… This is Shelly Rose. Tonight I have several special guests who have requested to come on air to send a message to all of you and the dark forces that threaten our great city and our planet's very existence." Her light gray eyes bore into the camera which panned out to show two rows of chairs, the second of which was slightly higher than the first.
Mina, Amy, Raye, Lita, Michelle, and Amara were all seated, dressed in their regular clothes and not their sailor scout uniforms. Mina wore a short red dress with black stilettos. Her golden blond hair was loose around her shoulders, slightly curled to give it more volume. Next to her sat Amy who was dressed in a pair of gray pants and a white button down shirt. Her deep blue hair which was combed back behind her ears was accentuated with a small silver headband. Lita sat next to her seemingly more relaxed as her arms were crossed casually. Her thick chestnut hair was up in its usual ponytail but she wore jeans and an emerald green sweater that fell off her shoulders. Behind her Raye sat wearing a deep purple dress with a vivid red print. Her hair was held back in one long braid that nearly reached her waist. Michelle and Amara both wore jeans but Amara wore her leather jacket while Michelle wore a sleeveless blue shirt. None of the scouts were smiling at the camera but their expressions were a mix of concern, determination and sincerity.
Mina looked straight into the camera lens, ignoring the gaping camera crew and the news station crew that were all standing, immobile behind the cameras. "People of Tokyo… My name is Mina Aino but you have only recently come to know me as Sailor Venus, one of the ten sailor scouts that has fought for years to protect our city and planet from darkness. I am joined today by some of my team. We have revealed ourselves because we have come to realize the dangerous of hiding. Our enemies have worked in many ways to break down our allegiance to each other in hopes of destroying us. We are here today to reassure all of you that we will continue to fight this new enemy and together, we will triumph against it."
Behind the cameras the crew broke into cheers and applause as Shelly Rose grinned encouragingly to the sailor scouts.
Mina ignored them as she continued. "We have a message to all of you. Leave the city. Our enemy has taken residence here and will only threaten those that remain. Take what you can and leave, do not run or panic. We will get through this safely together."
Amara leaned forward, pressing her elbows against her knees as the camera zoomed in on her. "As for our enemies… we know you're listening… and we know you're watching. We know that you think you have an advantage against us. We also know you think we are faltering. Nothing could be further from the truth. We are ready to fight. We are ready to end this now. Tomorrow… at sunrise… we will be waiting at the Cherry Hill Temple. No more tricks or gimmicks. The Sailor Scouts are ready to fight. This is our home now. Earth belongs to the people that live here, not to darkness. You came here looking for a fight. Now you've got one. See you at sunrise Raven."