Disclaimer: I DO, I DO, I DO, I DO, I DO! (Sailor Moon policemen rush up and shoot her with a tranquilizer gun, then cart her off to the asylum where she spends her time laughing maniacally for no particular reason)

A/N: Review, or I shall be forced to sic Luna on you! Mwhahahahahaha beware, her claws are sharp!

Self Destruct

Sailor Mars landed with a tired exhaling of breath. The unconscious Serena had become a heavy burden about ten minutes into the run, and dripping as if you'd just exitted the lake was not a pleasant feeling. Mars was soggy and chilled to the core, but her primary concern had been for Serena rather than herself. They'd probably been out, without proper protection, for at least half an hour now. Finally, though, the red warrior and her fallen comrade had reached the Hikawa Shrine. It had been the only place Raye could think of as a suitable area where she could heal Serena using her powers.

She swiftly crouched behind a tree and detransformed back into her civilian form. Raye looked around, making sure Grandpa and Chad were absent, then bounded into the Temple, wasting no time sliding the door open and then closed. She laid Serena down on her bed and felt the girl's forehead. She was deathly pale and burning with fever.

Raye summoned her charms and anti-evil scroll. She whispered the incantation and stuck it on Serena's forehead. That would help rejeuvinate her strength. Then she produced her herb tea and cautiously poured it down Serena's throat, carefully so she wouldn't accidentally choke. That would help with the fever.

Raye sat back on her heels. Now, it was all a matter of waiting.

-Beep! Beep!-

Her red communicator was flashing on her wrist. She extracted it from its spot and tapped the button. Amy's face came into view fuzzily.

"Raye? Have you found Serena?" Her voice was distorted, due to the fact that if someone were to accidentally find the communicator, if they didn't already know the person, they wouldn't be able to trace their voice. The same went with if someone were eavesdropping.

"Yes. I'm at the temple. Hurry over; she's not doing too well! Serena's burning with fever and seems sick. I'm doing the best I can, but this is more your expertise, Amy!"

"We'll be right there. Just keep doing what you're doing."

Then the connection was cut. Raye slapped the communicator down onto the table beside her bed and felt Serena's forehead. It was still very warm, but seemed to have gone down in the last couple minutes. There seemed no immediate danger leaving the room for a minute or two; Serena was reviving steadily with her powers. The raven haired miko stood up, stretching her legs, and departed the room to the bathroom. Her long black hair swished softly as her feet just barely padded across the floor. She wet a towel and filled a small bucket with ice.

Back in the room once more, she applied the cool cloth to her best friend's sweaty forehead, then let it sit to provide cool. Serena made a little sound and the bed made a tiny rustling sound as she twitched, but then she was quiet once more.

"Come on, Sere, wake up," Raye prayed softly, stroking her friend's bangs. "We all need you so much... you're our leader... or Princess... our best friend... wake up, please, for us..."

She sat there like that for a long time, until the door slid open and her friends sidled in from the rain, a mournful, sad air about them. They shook the water from their coats and hung them on racks to dry.

"How is she?" Lita questioned.

"Better," Raye shrugged. "Her fever's gone down, at least. But she hasn't woken up yet."

"Oh Sere," Mina mumbled, gazing sorrowfully at her friend. "Look what you're doing to yourself..."

Raye cleared her throat awkwardly, unsure what to say. "Um... do any of you want tea?"

"No thank you," Lita and Mina responded in unison, sitting down at the table to watch for any signs of life from Serena. Amy took pity on the raven girl and said she would.

"I'll be back in a minute. Call for me if she wakes up, kay?"

The trio nodded, and Raye departed, only to reappear a few minutes later with two, pipping warm mugs of tea, steam pouring from their innards. She set one in front of Amy and the other sipped herself. Her tongue burned, but she ignored the feeling. Its heat calmed her; distracted her from her feelings of utter sorrow. She liked it best that way.

Outside, the rain poured on and on, weeping woe for its slowly fading Princess. And inside, tucked away from the weather, were her Guardians, in wait for her revival. They had saved her and stood by her through countless evils. Now they only wished they could save her from herself.

A/N: And so ends chapter 3. Sorry it's not really long; not much is happening yet... (evil grin). Hint Hint.

I'll update ASAP; for now, review! The more I get, the more inclined I'll be to update sooner!! ;-)

AngelMoon Girl