Disclaimer: Haha, I wish!

AN: Hmm…I didn't know what to make of this chapter. If it sounds too rushed or confusing, just say so. I felt like changing it a bit.

courtjsonluvr87 returns: Confused you shall be! Exactly what I was going for. You won't get any answers from me. Heheh.

ffgirlmoonie: o.o Speechless?

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Legend:

'Thoughts'

"Normal"

-Dream sequences/Flashbacks-

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Chapter 13 to Dreams and Wishes

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She groaned as she stretched her arms, reaching over to pick up her cell phone. She was glad that she was the only one in the change room or else they would have made some joke about it. She had received a new voicemail message as she was changing back into her normal attire. "Wonder what Steph needs?" Tina knew from the ring tone itself as to whom it was. Activating the speakerphone feature, she listened as she began tying her shoes.

"BFF, how was 'Rate? Kicked BUTT like always?" Tina laughed at this point. "I've got some news to tell you. Would've told you earlier, but you had 'Rate and the power was out. I know, I know, I can call you anytime. But I know how grumpy you can get after staying up late and getting up early the next." There was a momentary pause until her voice went on again. "Since this is a message, I'll tell you that I'm pouting. You know how to reach me! Stepherz out!"

The message quickly ended as she rushed, Tina frowned. "I do not get grumpy. She thought for a second and sighed. "Argh! Darn you, Stephanie! You made me realize I do…" A confused look replaced her frown as she walked outside, saying goodbye to Jessa, and waited outside.

"I wonder what she needed to tell me." She didn't hear the car pull up next to her.

"Talking to yourself again?"

She looked up and glared at her ride. "Oh, shut up." A smirk was received in response.

After making sure she was buckled in, she started her assault. "So did you get your butt handed to you today?" Sophia drove off. After a few minutes of waiting for the expected reaction, none came. "Tina? Hey. What's the matter?" No response. "Tina? Hey!" She pulled into the parking lot of a nearby diner.

And that's when she finally responded. "What if…"

"If what…?"

"Never mind." She started to unbuckle her belt, meaning she was hungry and wanted to eat. Sophia locked the door, keeping in mind to thank the person who created power locks. "Let me out."

She shook her head. "Not until you tell me what's on your mind."

Tina slumped back into the seat, crossing her arms. "It's about this Princess we have to find." A nod in response, so she continued. "Why is it so important? I mean, she's a regular Princess like us."

Sophia knew Tina had left something out, but didn't want to pry. She was tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. "We just have to."

"Because what? It'll be the destruction of the world?" She huffed. "Oooh! Look! It's the apocalypse! We're all going to d-…"

"Shut up!" And so she did. "Just listen. I know Pluto told me not to tell you this till after Christmas, but I'll tell you now."

Tina opened and closed her mouth, then nodded without a sound.

"She affects the future more so than you think." A quirked eyebrow. "She affects each and every one of us, whether you like it or not." She could tell Tina was itching to ask and motioned her say it.

"Why is that?"

A momentary silence as she stopped drumming her fingers.

"She was...is 'The Daughter of Three Queens'…"

And without a second thought, she left the car and headed for the diner. Leaving a very confused Tina in the car.

----

Serena was peeved, to say in the least, everyone could tell. It was a few minutes after the teen had left. No, she wasn't mad at Steph, she was made at what happened after she left.

-

"Little ones, I'm just going back to see Sori-san."

"Can't we come with you?"

"It would be too boring if you listened to what the Doctor has to say. Besides," She gestured to the people in the room. "they may want to spend some time with you since you were with me the entire time."

The girls took one look around the room and nodded. "Only because we never saw them in a long time." They added as an afterthought. "We'll be good, Mama!"

Stephanie smiled, knowing they would. "I'm sorry I can't stay longer, Sori-san is waiting. But I'll be back later." She knew she couldn't escape the conversation concerning where the girls would stay. "So, um, see you later!" She quickly slipped past Darien and went out through the door.

It was silent until Abby yelled out, pointing." Look, Terri!" They all turned to look at what caught her attention.

"Diana!" They squealed and ran over to the cat whom was sitting and waiting for them. The tension seemed to break in the room.

Serena had so many thoughts whirring through her head. Why did they call her Mama? Why did she live on her own? All those thoughts lead to one. Could she be Abigail?

-

"I'm sorry, but it's just not possible."

Serena was broken out of her thoughts. "And why not?!" She sighed and toned down her voice. It wouldn't make a good impression if her future nieces saw her now. Luckily, they were engrossed in talking to Diana by the balcony. "She's the one that matches my sister the most."

Amy didn't want to be stuck up, but she had to get her point across. "In what way, exactly, does she match Abigail?"

She faltered in her rant. "The children called her Mama. Why else would they?"

Rini didn't want to be the bringer of bad news, but it had to be done. "They never met their Mother." Serena felt her heart take a drop, as well as her hope, as Rini continued. "She disappeared the day they were born."

"And Stephanie has brown eyes not blue!" Raye smacked her boyfriend for stating the obvious and he mocked hurt.

Serena wasn't about to give up. "She could've just changed her appearance!" She was running out of things to say, until it clicked. Grinning in triumph, she relayed her revelation. "And what about Cirri?"

"What about her?" Amy was intently staring at her screen while they bantered.

"Haven't you ever thought that Cirri could be Steph's guardian like Luna and Artemis are for Mina and I? And Diana for Rini?"

"…I have."

She jumped for joy inside. Point for Serena!

"It's still not her."

She groaned. Why won't Amy just admit defeat? She's been hearing the same thing over and over for the past few minutes. Wasn't she getting tired of saying it?

For some reason, Darien agreed with Serena. "There's also the fact that we had this peaceful atmosphere with her." He pointed to each of the guys. "And you know what I'm talking about."

They nodded their heads as Malachite spoke. "It was a feeling to protect, very much like how we protect Darien." Pausing, he continued. "Especially in the past."

"See! It's not impossible!" Her hopes went up again.

"It is, Sere, it is." Amy sighed. "It doesn't match."

That drew a confused look, save for Greg. "What doesn't match?"

Amy looked at her Princess and first real friend she made. "Her aura, energy signature, does not match. I compared it to what Queen Serenity provided me with." She showed them the computer screen. "Just like how I proved Tina was telling the truth." Amy pointed out the left side of the screen and then to the right. There was a big, red, X.

(AN: If you want an idea of what it kind of looks like. Go to this link http://img391.imageshack.us/img391/1271/auralr4.png)

"That can't be…" She slumped into a chair and rubbed her face purely out of frustration. It felt so right, but something didn't seem in place. Maybe, just maybe, she'd let time lead her. Haha, fat chance. I'm taking this into my own hands.

"One things for sure…"

She looked at her blue-haired friend. "Which is?"

"She could very well be right about how they arrived here." Nodding to the twins who now were on their stomachs, feet kicking in the air, as they conversed with their feline friend.

----

Serena closed the door behind her, away from prying ears. She kept her gaze on the door, eyes closed. Arms slowly wrapped around her waist and turned her around.

"Why are you so down?" He mumbled into her hair.

"It's just…I really thought we had found her." She hugged him back. They stood there in comfort. "She was just…different."

"…Like she played a special role in all this?" She looked up at him, blinking. "Yeah, I had that feeling. And I think the guys did too." She went silent. "Sere?"

She was gently poking his chest as she stared off to the side, still in his arms. "I…there's something else that's been nagging me."

"And what's that?" He had moved her over to the leather sofa in their room so they were more comfortable. She moved over to the arm rest, away from him, though not by much as it was a two seater.

She stared at the floor, as if it would give her the answer she was looking for. "What was your first impression of her?"

"Of Stephanie?" She nodded. "Well, it was like the time we first met." He grinned. "Minus your test paper hitting me in the head." She lightly hit his arm.

"Darien…"

He wave his hands in front of him. "Okay, okay." Tilting his head back so that his neck rested comfortably against the sofa as he stared up at the ceiling. "I had this weird sense that made me feel…" I can't say attracted, that will give her the wrong ideas, but what? "…comfortable."

"Comfortable?" He nodded. "I guess I felt the same. It was as if I had met her before."

"Is that why you told us you felt she was your sister?"

"Yes." She sighed. "It was really different. Most of my first meetings I just become all perked up in making a new friend."

"I hear a but coming along."

"With her I just felt content. And that was it."

He placed an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in so they could snuggle a bit. She obliged. "I think I can relate to that."

Serena was thinking of other things, mainly what Darien actually thought of Stephanie. She had noticed how he hesitated in his answer earlier. This was, after all, the first girl, after herself, to cause such a reaction from him. Sure, the other girls were his good friends, but they had not gotten that close to him till after they saved him from Ann and Alan's doom tree, and regained his memories.

"I wonder who Hans is in this time…"

She agreed. "Me too. Then we could at least say we found one of them."

----

He pinched the bridge of his nose. Holding his breath, he frowned. "You know, you have to let it out to get the germs out of your body." He looked in front of him. A tissue was being held out in front of him.

"Thanks, I think." He grabbed a hold of it with his other hand and covered his nose with it, waiting. Nothing. Well that's strange. "Huh? What did you say?"

His companion shook their head and sat down next to him. "I said that someone was probably talking about you." She looked around the waiting/lounge room. "So what are you doing here anyway?"

"I could ask you the same thing." He saw her quirk an eyebrow and couldn't help but chuckle lightly.

"What's so funny?" Her arms crossed, she now held a slight pouting look, though she didn't realize it.

He cleared his throat to get rid of the laughter bubbling inside him. "Ah, never mind. And as to why I'm here, I'm just visiting my old Doctor before I moved away from here."

"You have a Doctor?" He looked into her brown eyes and took the worry in her eyes as disbelief.

"Yes, I do. What of it?" Frowning slightly, he looked across at the receptionist that had told him it'd be a few minutes before they could take him in.

She caught onto his sudden change of mood. "I didn't mean for it to sound the way it did, sorry." He blinked. Did she just say sorry? "I just thought that-…never mind. It's not important." She stood up and had her back faced to him.

"Hey…wait."

"I'm looking after someone important to me right now. I guess you could say she's one of the few family members I have right now." She glanced back at him once. "I guess I'll be seeing you around?" She provided a small smile and he could only nod in response.

When she was gone from her line of vision, he released the breath he didn't know he was holding. "What the heck was that all about?" He sighed. Just why am I acting like this?

"Ah, Jan, my boy! How're you doing, Lad?"

He looked up and smiled. Though thoughts of what had just happened still fresh in his mind. "I'm good, Old Man!" They laughed and gave each other a quick man hug and headed off into his office.

----

"Thank you, we'll keep a closer eye on her. I will inform my friends of this." She shook the Doctor's hand as he left.

"Are you going to have them watch over me now?" Ms. Sori stated sarcastically from her bed.

The teen laughed. "I would, but I don't think they would allow them to do so." She helped the old woman up into a sitting position, her feet dangling over the side.

"That is true." Ms. Sori poked the girl's arm. "Don't you dare be thinking about doing that." Stephanie could only smile, causing the elderly woman to puff her cheeks up with air.

She laughed at that face. "It's a good thing I picked up from Baa-chan how to resist that. Otherwise I'd definitely fall for it, Baa-san."

Ms. Sori didn't have time to respond as they suddenly couldn't see each other's face anymore. Stephanie still had a grip on the woman's arm. "What's happening?" Every light had gone out, as well as the machines.

"Another power outage?"

"No, I can see a lot of lights outside the window."

"If the whole hospitals power is out…"

"Go."

"What about you? I can't just leave you here!" Thoughts of a back up generator flooded out of her mind.

"I may be old, but I can defend myself. There's nothing attacking us anyway."

"I know I shouldn't worry. It's just that you just came out of another faint attack."

"Just go! I'll be fine." Ms. Sori gave a quick kiss to the girl's forehead, their eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and pushed her toward the door.

"That's a promise, Baa-san." She whispered and ran off down into a corridor.

She sighed. She sure can get worried.

"Indeed."

Ms. Sori didn't jump, but stood by the bed, not in the least bit surprised. If she was right, the voice came from right about…There.

"Right as usual, Mother." Arms wrapped around the woman, a hug.

"I see you haven't lost your touch in reading minds." Ms. Sori smiled, returning the hug.

"Nope, this time I took a quick guess."

Her Mother, Ms. Sori, frowned. "You know you're not supposed to be here."

She feigned hurt. "What? Can't I say hi to my Mom?" She took a step back. "Even in that attire?"

"Shh! Someone might hear you!" She looked around the room in darkness and sighed in relief.

"I'm sorry…" Her face went grim. "I never got to spend time with you before…" Her chin was lifted and was staring into a pair of cobalt blue eyes, very much like her own.

"Do not worry, my dear child, we will get our time." They embraced once more.

"Stephanie can take care of herself, I should know." She smiled a sad smile. "I guess I'm looking forward to seeing them again."

"Hurry, they'll be here soon."

Before the daughter 'fazed' out, she whispered one last thing. "They call me Hakuya."

----

"So you're saying that they went ahead of us?"

The dog guardian nodded. "The ones in gray suits already went after them." A pause. "And they left a trail for you to follow them. That can be followed by your sensory vision, Princess of Mercury." Ciriana, had turned back into her large, but cute, dog-like form.

The Scouts and Darien transformed. "Where's the attack?!" Raye bellowed.

"At the hospital, Health Sciences Hospital. The same one where you were all sent to after your first battle here."

"That's good to hear." Mina murmured.

"Make sure you familiarize yourself with the area and how to get there."

She was confused. "Why?"

"Better now than never." Ciriana started glowing, signifying her body was changing back to normal. "It is Hospital to Manitoba as Park is to Japan." And changed back to her puppy form, her current state still continued to drain her energy, as her body had not yet aged to the proper stage.

Darien gently picked her up and placed her on the couch to rest. He sighed, that was some riddle. The Park was the main attacking base back in Japan. So the hospital was basically their base here. His eyes fell on his nieces as they whispered to each other. They seemed a bit frantic. He took off his hat, but left his eye mask on.

"Is there something wrong? Abby? Terri?" He kneeled so that he was at eye level with them.

"Um…"

"Should we tell him?" Abby stared at her twin.

Inside, they knew it was wrong to keep a secret, but they didn't know what to do. Although, their concern won them out. The twins grabbed onto his arms as they chorused together. "Uncle Endy! That's where our Mama is!" Their eyes began filling with water, but none dared to escape.

He snapped his head and caught Serena's gaze. Unspoken messages were sent through their eyes as they nodded to each other.

"We have to go." Her stare was now directed at Amy. "Now."

"Northwest and then keep heading that way until I tell you to turn."

Serena took Darien's place in front of her nieces, kneeling. "You two stay here with your Nee-chan, okay?"

"But we want to see Mama!" pleaded Terri.

She gave her a heart warming smile to calm them down. "She would want you two to stay safe, right?"

"Yes…"

"That is true…"

"Stay here with your Nee-chan." She didn't hear anymore arguments from the two and sent Rini a silent message.

"You can count on me…us." Rini meant by us as in her and Diana, and possibly the sleeping Cirri. Luna and Artemis were already heading out the window.

"Lead the way, Mercury."

Mercury went first, followed by Raye, Lita and Mina right behind her. Darien and Serena took up the rear.

He noticed her troubled look. "I'm sure she'll be fine." He took a hold of her hand as they continued to jump roofs, which she gratefully accepted with a smile.

"I don't know…I just have this strange feeling that something is going to happen again."

He had no answer for that. Whenever they had that sense of, well, not foreboding, but tingling, it always meant something.

----

They had talked about how he was doing lately and any new changes to his condition. "Sorry, but there has not been any changes."

"That's not peculiar, it's quite common, you'll most likely regain them when a certain event from before that time triggers your memory."

"The only thing I have to go on is this white rosebud." They stared at the flower he now placed on his desk. It had not bloomed and it still was as perfect when he had received it.

"Is it the same one?"

Jan nodded. "Yeah, I guess I started taking it with me." Or more like it's appearing wherever I am… "What could it mean?"

He leaned back into his chair, contemplating. "Do you remember that little girl that used to come and visit you everyday?" A nod. "Did you ever get her name?"

"Well…" He thought back to the time he stayed in the hospital and recalled every visit. "No, actually, but what has that got to do with my memory?"

He received a smile in return. "Perhaps if you look for her, you may find your answers."

"Are you implying that I knew her from before those days?"

"I never said that."

"But you implied it."

He chuckled. "Getting a bit anxious now, aren't we? Funny." He did a thinking pose. "You were never this riled up as a youngster." A glint appeared in his eye. "So who's this girl that's got you acting this way?"

"What?"

"Aw, c'mon, something must be bothering you. I can see it in your eyes." He laughed in triumph as Jan rubbed his face in frustration. "I'm assuming it was that girl you were speaking to earlier. Seeing as you still have…that."

The teen looked and followed the Doctor's gaze, which led to his own hand. It held the tissue. "Oh."

Their conversation was cut short, much to the Doctor's dismay, as the light flickered and then went off. He immediately grabbed the phone, but the line was also dead. "That can't be right…there's still power in the building next to us." He sighed. "Here we go again…"

Jan was confused. "Uh, Old Man? What's going on?" They heard a screeching sound, much like nails scratching a chalk board, coming from just outside the office door.

Raymond Daniels, the Doctor, brought his finger to his lips, but found it made no difference in the dark. So he just voiced it out. "Be quiet." His eyes adjusted to the dark and could make out where his patient and grandson-like figure was. But what he saw wasn't what he was expecting to see.

"Rgh…ah…" Jan was bent over in obvious pain. "Old man…it's…" And he fell to the floor, unconscious.

He immediately ran over and examined the boy quickly. "This is not good." His eyes darted over to his door, then back at the boy. "It seems you haven't lost it yet, boy." Hoisting the unconscious teen over his shoulder, with little effort, he ran for his closet, locking it from the inside.

Footsteps neared the closet. "I smell…a human." The human-like creature had pried the door open at the same time he locked the closet's door. But the bird hybrid was not paying attention to the closet, not at all, it was rather staring at the figure perched in the chair the Doctor had once occupied. "You. Who are you?"

"Someone you need not know the name of." Within a few seconds, it was silent once again.

The Doctor was about to head out through the connected passageway with the boy, but heard a voice from outside the room.

"Dr. Daniels, it is safe to come out."

Raymond could hear the ragged breathing coming from their savior, as he should say. "I say, I must thank…you?" He looked around the room and saw nothing. It was empty. The only indication that someone was there was that his window was open. The window let in the light of the moon, casting a pearly glow around the room, making it seem less dark.

"Wh…at…happened?" The teen stood on his own feet, but with one arm still over Raymond's shoulder. He didn't receive a reply. "Old Man?"

"Nothing. Just stay here and don't go anywhere." He rushed to the door after placing Jan into his office chair. "There's supposed to be an operation going on right now! We could lose this patient!" And with a blur, he was gone.

"Yeah, like I have someplace else to be." He rolled his eyes as he talked to nothing.

Hans…

He looked up and around the room. It was just him. "Must be my imagination."

Hans…why?

He stood up, walking around the desk to view the whole room. "Who's there?!"

You promised…Hans.

"Why do you keep saying Hans? My name is Jan!" He took in a deep breath to calm himself. Letting his temper get the better of him wasn't the best thing to do right now. "What's this about a promise?"

…A promise to remember me.

"To remember you?" Now he was confused again. "Show yourself!" He waited about two minutes for a response. Nothing. Whatever that was, it's gone now. "But…who's Hans? It does sound familiar, in a strange way."

Shrugging his shoulders, he sat back in the chair in darkness, only the light of the moon fighting the dark.

"A promise to remember…" Jan placed his head on top of his arms which were crossed on the desk. Argh! And I thought life would be easier when I came back here! "What kind of a promise is that? A promise to remember something you'd forget to remember, but promised anyway." He groaned. "I'm showing more of my grumpy side lately." Moving his arms, he bashed his head against the desk in frustration.

He would soon regret that action. His eyes glanced over at the untouched rose.

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AN: There were so many things I revised with this. There were a few parts I didn't think of until tonight. Yes, I'm winging some scenes, but I won't tell you which ones. Hehehe. R&R!

B-chanz