Yes! Sailor Stars! The end of our journey. The episodes will turn into chapters, so less writing here..or more, it depends. Himeko-KeykaMiyafuji was a little absent-minded lately. She had a huge paper due today; it was assigned on Thursday, but she started last nite. Oh, well. Common sense is one of the most important things. Let's start!!

Birthday Bash

Once again, she was all alone. No one to talk to...no one to boss around...just emptiness.

Far deep in space, probably in an alternate dimension, Nehellenia hummed sorrowfully as she floated around in her dream mirror. The circus was destroyed, her minions were gone, and her dream to stay beautiful forever was lost.

Nehellenia "I guess this is how it should be. The Moon Kingdom gets it all: power, wealth...and beauty."

As she drifted farther, Nehellenia heard a faint chuckle in the distance. Her eyes switched back and forth to find its mysterious origin.

Nehellenia "Who's there!?"

"Look at you. Poor Nehellenia, banished to suffer for eternity while your enemies are living peaceful lives."

The realization angered Nehellenia. She searched frustrated through the visible area she could see.

Nehellenia "What's your purpose for torturing me!?"

"You want revenge on the sailor scouts, right? For trapping you there in that accursed mirror. I can release you and bring you back to your original world, where you once ruled as princess."

That was right. Nehellenia left her world to seek pure beauty. And now she couldn't return forever.

Unless...

Nehellenia "What must I do?"

"Make them suffer like how you suffered. Take all your pain and release it into them. Ruin the perfect life they have."

Nehellenia "Yes..."

Her eyes grew fierce. The dream she longed to fulfill wan't all lost. She could still make it a reality. And she wouldn't be alone anymore.

Nehellenia "YES!!!"

CRASH!!
The shards of glass evaporated as she slowly emerged from the broken mirror. Her hair flowed freely while Nehellenia floated in space, wondering what to do next.

Nehellenia "It's so good to be free..."

"It's even better if you make them suffer."

A fire glowed in her eyes. The thought of revenge was so sweet to her.

Nehellenia "They will pay."

A black mirror suddenly appeared before her. Nehellenia questioned what it was.

"The Black Mirror can help you teleport to any realm or dimension. Use it wisely."

She placed her hands on the rim and chuckled.

Nehellenia "This is going to be fun."

The day was August 17. School would have started soon. But Anna was confused at what the surprise could have been.

Anna "Aoshi, what's going on? Where are you taking me?"

Aoshi "You'll see."

He led her by the shoulders and helped her through unknown obstacles. Aoshi covered Anna's eyes with a mysterious blindfold. Everything was jumbled in her head. What made the day so special??

Aoshi "Careful, there are some steps."

Anna "What steps?"

Suddenly, her body fell forward and her elbows crashed into a set of stairs. Anna fumbled to get up and rubbed her elbows.

Aoshi "Those steps."

Anna "Can I just take off the blindfold?"

Aoshi "All in due time."

With his guidance, Anna made her way up the stairs carefully. She began to grow irritated and growled with frustration. The moment she finished dressing after her morning shower, Aoshi wrapped a blindfold quickly over her eyes and led Anna through Tokyo. What could make August 17, of all days, such a special day!?

Anna (growling) "Aoshi..."

She felt a slight tug and the blindfold fell off. It took a few seconds for her eyes to adjust, but Anna made out some balloons, streamers, confetti, and a delicious cake. Gifts were stacked on one table, surrounded by familiar friends. Everything was contained in the Fruit Parlor above Game Crown. The scenery reminded Anna something she should have never forgotten.

"SURPRISE!!"

August 17 was her birthday. Not only that, but Anna turned the most popular age among teenagers: sixteen.

She clung onto Aoshi, who stood right next to her. He placed a hand on Anna's shoulder and chuckled.

Aoshi "Happy birthday."

Her eyes produced tears as Anna looked up at him. A huge smile spread across her face to signify her happiness. Immediately, she wrapped her arms around Aoshi and squeezed tightly.

Anna "Thank you so much!! Oh, hell! I completely forgot my own birthday!"

She walked towards the party guests while having an arm around him. Among the guests, Anna saw Darien and the scouts, even the Outer Senshi. She was so delighted that they came to celebrate. Other guests included Molly, Melvin, Andrew, and Elizabeth. They closed the building to celebrate the special day for Anna.

The greetings and congrats were cut short when her cell phone began to ring on of her favorite tunes: "The Meaning of Peace" by Koda Kumi and BoA. Sliding it out of her back pocket, she flipped it open and answered.

Anna "Yeah?"

She waited for a reply, but no one came. Anna waited a while longer, but no one answered. Looking a little confused, she checked the phone to see who called on the caller ID. But her heart rate rose faster when she saw a certain reflection on her phone. It was only for a quick moment, but she was sure she saw those snakelike eyes, the wavy dark hair, and the sadistic evil grin of the leader of the Dead Moon Circus. Her image floated off the screen as Anna shiverd with dread. It was Nehellenia.

Anna (W-Why did I just see...HER!?)

It didn't make sense to her. Why did Nehellenia suddenly appear out of the blue? She was too far away in space to come back quickly.

Anna immediately slammed her phone shut. She looked around to see if anyone noticed her frantic movement. She saw Darien glancing at a poster on a window far from the group. Anna tried her best to walk casually to him.

Anna "D-Darien."

He looked towards her and smiled. His kindness always made Anna made better.

Darien "Hey. Happy Sweet Sixteen. You've gotten older, but you and the other girls are still three years younger than Aoshi and I."

Anna "Heh heh...yeah. Anyway, there's something I wanna talk to you about. I saw..."

Anna's voice trailed off as she saw what he was glancing at. An airplane was printed on a poster and heading towards a familiar country. Anna scanned through the information and one word aloud.

Anna " 'America'..."

She looked at Darien, who looked away from the party.

Anna "...You're flying to America?"

Darien "...Not for a while. My school signed us up to go to a different country for a study group."

Anna felt a little proud of him, but suddenly felt deceived that Darien had yet to tell anyone.

Anna "...And you were planning to tell us when?"

Darien looked back at her. Anna's keen eyes wanted a truthful answer from him.

Darien "I was gonna tell Serena eventually. Sonner wasn't the right time."

Anna couldn't believe it. Darien, her best friend, was going to suddenly leave after staying close for almost two years. She knew she would feel alone and depressed when her old roomate would be gone for a long time.

Darien "Don't tell her about this. I'll tell Serena myself. I'm sorry for dropping the bomb on you, especially on your birthday."

She closed her eyes for a moment. Anna wanted to be proud of Darien, but the sadness was trying to come out. In all her effort, Anna smiled at him for encouragement.

Anna "It's all right. I'm rootin' for ya to do your best. Just come back safe and sound once it's all over."

Darien still felt a little miserable for leaving everyone. He promised to make everything up to them once he returned.

Anna "Come on. Let's go back."

Anna turned around and began to head back to the party. Darien was about to step forward until something laid on his shoulder. He looked at it and saw a scraggly hand with sharp fingernails.

Darien "Huh?"

It suddenly tightened its grip on Darien and slowly pulled him back. He looked behind and watched with fright. An arm stretched out from the window and grabbed tightly onto him. Another arm surfaced and wrapped around him abdomen.

Darien "What the...?? Anna!?"

She turned around and saw Darien being pulled towards the window where the arms protruded.

Anna "Darien!?"

The others heard a commotion where Darien and Anna stood. Andrew was next to a window while following everyone else's reaction.

Andrew "What's going on??"

As he tried to get a better view, he didn't notice another arm coming from the window closest to him. It clenched onto his arm, catching Andrew by surprise.

Andrew "Hey!!"

It tugged and jerked him closer to the window. Andrew tried to break free, but he had no avail.

Lita "Andrew!"

Raye "Save him!!"

The team almost ran to his aid until a frightful scream came from the bathroom. Amara and Michelle ran towards it and slammed open the door. Elizabeth was being tugged into a mirror by an identical arm. They rushed towards her and tried to free her from the grasp.

Amara "What's going on!?"

Melvin "AAH!!"

At a mirror displayed in the Fruit Parlor, Melvin and Molly were dragged against their will by the same arms.

Mina "What's happening!?"

Serena "Darien!!"

Lita, Amy, and Mina grabbed onto Andrew's free limbs and tried to overcome the grip of the mysterious arm. Raye, Trista, Hotaru, and Rini sprinted for Molly and Melvin to rescue their pitiful souls. Serena and Aoshi ran to Anna as she held on desperately to Darien's hand.

Anna "Hang on! Don't let go!!"

But the arms were too strong. It began to drag both Darien and Anna into an unknown vortex, the same as the other guests. Anna tried her best to pull him out, but the other side was formidable. Aoshi wrapped his arm around Anna's waist and pulled her back, trying to add strength in her hold. Serena latched onto Darien's arm, doing all she could to make him stay in the world.

Serena "Don't leave, Darien!! Come on, pull!!"

Anna became worried over her future. If Serena was this agonized about his capture, how would she feel if he left intentionally?

All three tried, but their efforts were futile. Anna's grip began to slip.

Anna "NO!!"

But he was already gone. His grip loosened as Anna, Aoshi, and Serena fell back.

The arm gave a final haul and Elizabeth disappeared. Amara and Michelle rammed into the mirror as she slipped through the vortex.

Lita, Mina, and Amy lost their strength while Andrew sank into the strange portal.

Raye, Trista, Hotaru, and Rini fell to the ground as Molly and Melvin passed the threshold and entered a new dimension. Anna growled in frustration at the loss of Darien. Serena looked towards the window and gasped.

Serena "No...it can't be!!"

Anna and Aoshi looked up. The sight scared the wits out of her again. Wavy dark hair, snakelike eyes, and an evil grin revealed Nehellenia in the reflection.

Anna "...you..."

Nehellenia "If you want your dear ones back, come to the realm where you banished me! I'll be waiting...to give you your final judgement."

Nehellenia looked at Anna with sneering eyes. The young girl's eyes were filled with pleading and fear, but she scoffed and remembered something.

Nehellenia "Oh, and...happy birthday."

She turned and walked away, slowly disappearing in the window. The team regrouped and watched the window with utmost fear. Anna ran her fingers through her hair before grabbing a handful of strands and shaking with sheer chagrin. Serena shook her head with confusion, but she understood one thing: Darien was gone.

Anna "NO!!!"

Serena "DARIEN!!!"

A lot of frustration here. Originally, it was only supposed to be Darien taken away, but I decided there needed to be more guinea pigs/bait, so everyone got taken. I really didn't understand this season in the anime, so I'm kinda twisting the plot...a lot.

Next time on Sailor Galaxy Chronicles:

Amara "It's a trap and Darien's a pawn."

Anna "You said you needed Darien to help you protect it."

Neptune "Sailor Mini Moon!!"

Galaxy "Behind?"

"Neither."