Chapter 1: The Battle

As she turned around, and opened her eyes, she saw…she saw what had made her friends run. A scream burst out; she saw darkness…and a face…such a beautiful, handsome face. Who was it she wondered? She was on her knees…crying?

"Sailor Moon!"

"Sere-"

Someone or some ones were yelling. But one of them stopped, a girl…what was happening? She felt warm…Raye? That name…who? Raye, that's right!

"Raye?!"

"Serena, I'm here!" And that was all she could say, as a blinding, white light came from the center of the girl Raye was talking to. Everyone stood in awe…some yelling or crying. But everyone still stood there rigid as a board, just as one just stood there, not yelling or crying, but just standing, not knowing what to do.

"Damn!" He could never help her through these things! All he could do was watch and hope she would live. "Why can't I help her?" And he fell to his knees as tears of fear for his love fell from his handsome face.

The girl fell backwards and a swish of a black cape, everyone fell silent, and was still. They looked at the pair lying before them.

Tuxedo Mask had rushed to catch Serena, and appeared to have been pushed back hard, for he was now lying on his side, arms and legs sprawled out in front of him, eyes barely open, about to close any second. He now had on clothes of a knight, sword at his waist and silver shoulder blades that were now cracked down the middle.

Serena was now lying on her back, arms cast out on both her sides, curved out to make the tips of her middle fingers barely touch the end of her waist. What little of her hair that hadn't come out of its tight bonds, still barely formed her odango hairstyle. The rest was strewn everywhere, but it didn't form a complete circle around her and stopped at her arms. She now had on a pure white dress, of the finest silk. Golden beads where were aligned around her a few inches above her waist and just over her bangs. Golden circlets went around the top of her dress, all the way to her back, and then fell in a V shape down to her waist and then connected to a big white bow.

Their princess and prince lay before them and it seemed the battle was over at last. But at what cost? The cost of them, those who had protected them for so long, that they had laid down their life for to serve and love forever? Was it really going to end like this?

"NOO!" a screamed echoed through the cavern like ice as a girl ran toward Serena.

"RAYE! We have to get out here, before it caves in on us!"

"No! We have to take them with us, Lita!" Raye dropped to the floor, shaking.

"There's no way to get them out…even if they're alive!" This time it was another who spoke. She slowly walked toward Raye and dropped beside her, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"Amy's right there's just no way, even teleporting isn't a good idea. We probably couldn't teleport ourselves, let alone them too."

"But we could try, Mina!" Raye would never leave them here; she would not let them die in this place. They were her friends and most important, her Prince and Princess!

"It's too dangerous! We would never make it out!" Lita didn't want to leave them either but, what choice did they have?

"I don't care! How are we going to defeat the rest of the monsters that come after Earth? Huh? Without Serena and Darien we can't defeat them! We have to get them out of he-"

"Se…re…na"

"Darien!?" All the girls followed Raye over to him. "Can you hear me? Darien!"

"Serena...," he said, out passed out.

"He's still alive! We have to get them out, now!"

"I agree," said Lita, "come on there's got to be a way. Help me move him; we need to get him beside Serena."

"Are you sure?" Amy stood up along with Lita.

"Yes, now come on! Help me!"

Raye and Mina stood up and moved Darien with them.

SHAKE!

"It's falling!"

"We know Mina, Hurry up!" said Raye

"Ok, set him down gently about….here."

"What are we going to do, Lita?"

"We're going teleport, Amy."

"WHAT?" the girls yelled.

"Just form a circle around them. Even if we left them here we'd have to get out some how!" And at that the girls formed a circle around them and took each others hands.

Slowly, blinding bright lights formed around each of them, even a faint silver light started to glow around Serena. And just before the cavern caved in they disappeared in a flash of white light.

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Darkness…that was all she could see. "Wait, my eyes…they're closed."

As she opened her eyes she could barley make out the forms of her friends, slouched against the things they had landed by. They were still in the same circle, with Serena and Darien in the middle. Where were they? Had they made it to Darien's apartment? Someone was speaking…

"You guys alright?"

…she was speaking…

"Yah, I think so, Lita."

"Alright, but exhausted and hungry, Amy!"

"Well, I'd expect so Mina, but you're always hungry!"

"Real funny, Raye. Hey, what about Serena and Darien?"

"They're still in the middle of our circle. I noticed them when I first woke up. I wonder how long we were out." Lita tried to sit up the best she could, but found it very difficult and still had to lean against the back of Darien's couch.

"We should take care of them. We need to know how bad they are." Mina said this in an attempt to stand, but found it futile.

Raye too in turn tried to stand or even to sit up all the way, but couldn't. "I here you Mina, but one problem…we can barely move an inch!"

"That should where off soon, it's just the after affects from teleporting. Only we've never done it without Sailor Moon and we had two very weak passengers, plus we weren't exactly-"

"in tip-top shape, so its worse…yes we know Amy. Let's just get some sleep (yawn) I'm tired…"

"To tired to eat, Mina?"

"Well, seeing as I can't move Raye, yes! So good night…"

"Let's follow Mina's example and go to sleep. I'm tired too."

"Alright, Lita… night everyone…"

And at Raye's last words they laid down the best they could and went to sleep. Hoping in morning things would be better.

The next morning

"Hmmm…where am I? Oh that's right, Darien's place!" Without thinking she stood up and carefully made her way to the light switch, turning the light on.

She just stood there as her eyes swept over each of her friends, still lying fast asleep on the floor.

"Do I wake them up? I need their help…but they need rest too. I'll do what I can until they wake up." Amy walked quietly over to Serena, thinking maybe she could move her. Slowly she lifted Serena up in her arms, Serena's hair trailing on the floor below.

"This is harder than I thought, but I've got try."

Amy walked in to Darien's bedroom, and carefully laid Serena down on his bed. As she pulled the covers over Serena, Raye, Lita, and Mina walked in.

"How is she?"

"I'm not sure, Raye. I just laid her down." Amy turned and faced them as she talked, only then realizing that Lita carrying Darien on her back."Wow, Lita must be really strong to carry him." "Lay him down on the other side. We don't have any other beds."

"Ok."

Lita laid him down on the bed beside Serena, trying not to look at his or her face. All of them felt responsible some how, for what had happened, although couldn't find a reason why.

"We need to get Luna and Artemis here. They'll know what to do," Lita said as she walked over to Amy.

"I know, I called them while you were laying him down. They'll be here soon. In the mean time let's get something to eat."

"You guys go eat; I'm going to stay here with them until you get back."

"You don't have to do that Raye, they'll be fine now. You'll see, Luna and Artemis will fix them right up."

"I know, Mina. I just want to stay here, just in case they wake up." Raye pulled a chair over by Serena and sat down. "Go eat, I'll be fine."

"Ra-"

"No, Mina…let's go eat. Raye will be fine here by herself," said Lita.

"Ok...call us if you need something though."

"Alright…just eat, I'll be fine."

But even as they left, Amy could have swore she saw tears start to stream down, out of Raye's eyes.

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"Why does this always happen? They haven't done anything wrong…it should be me; I should stop them from getting hurt. Especially Serena, she's always protected us, right from the start. Sure she's a cry baby and really clumsy, but she's strong…stronger than I could ever be."

Tears streaming down Raye's eyes, unable to keep her body from shaking, Raye laid her head beside Serena. Although they fought a lot Serena was her best friend and Raye was determined not to let her or Darien die.

"Princess…"

Raye looked up immediately. "Darien? Are you there? Darien!"

"Serena…."

"Darien, it's me Raye! Wake up…Serena needs you! Darien!" Raye yelled. She kept yelling and yelling at him, trying to wake him up, to get him to understand.

"Raye! What's goin-"

"Serena!"

"Darien!" Raye screamed again. "It's Darien, Lita! He keeps saying her name, but he won't wake up!" Raye cried even harder, her face now covered in tears; make up sliding down her cheeks.

"Oh, Raye…"Amy felt so sorry for Raye, as hard as this was for her, she knew Raye was having it even worse. "What do we do?" she said, Darien still saying Serena's name over again.

"There's nothing we can do. We just have to wait for Luna and Artemis."

"Speak of the devil, Lita! Here they are! Luna! Artemis! What took you so long?"

"Mina we were running as fast as we could!"

"Never mind him girls, we're here now, now what happened?!"

"umm… (silence)"

"Come on! We haven't got all day; please you need to tell us."

"I will…Sailor Moon had just killed the monster, when a lady appeared. She whispered something and something like vines came at us. Sailor Moon wasn't paying attention, we were shouting at her and I tried to grab her arm to move her away…but it got her," Raye explained through tears. "The vi-" Raye choked, unable to finish, and cried even harder.

"It's ok…I'll finish," said Lita as Mina put an arm around Raye. "The vines had broken the ground, there was dust everywhere and we couldn't see her. Before everything cleared, I saw a white light come out of the center of her chest, she had transformed into Princess Serenity. I saw Tuxedo Mask's cape and the next thing I knew, Serenity and Darien were passed out on the floor"

"I see….so you transported here and put them to bed. I'm amazed you could transport them and yourselves, good work scouts."

"Yes, Luna, we didn't know what to do so we called you."

"Well Amy, the most we can do is give them lots of bed rest. We shouldn't move them either."

"Artemis is right, I can mix up a solution to give them too…but I don't know if it will do much."

"What do we do about Serena's family? They'll want to know, but we can't tell them without telling them we're scouts. They'll want to take her to a hospital."

"Yes, but Lita, that's probably the best place for them right now."

"But Amy, we can't take them to one. What would we tell them? That we're sailor scouts and we got attacked by giant vines? We'd sound crazy."

"All very valid points girls, but we can decide all this later. You guys look wiped, why don't you go get some rest and let us worry about them for now."

"Yeah, I guess you're right Artemis. We should go finish eating too."

"But…" Raye started, still crying a bit. "Will you come and get us if they wake up?"

"Sure…but go get some rest now."

"Ok…" and they walked out.

Down an alleyway somewhere

"So…do you want me to help? You know I can….I might be the only chance Serena and Darien have."

"We know…but the girls don't know you. And they don't take kindly to strangers. Especially when it comes to their Prince and Princess."

"Prince and Princess ay? Are you pulling my chain or are you for real?"

"We're for real alright and they've learned not to trust people. It's because of the Sailor Wars. They've been hurt too much….seen to much war and pain. The sad thing is…it's only just begun."

"Geez….well…Do you want me to help or not? I promise to be nice. I won't bite."

"Help them…but don't get in too deep. Help them and move on."

"Alright…that's my specialty."

"Yes…we know that all too well…"

"Haha…"

In Darien's Apartment

"AUGHH!!!!" a scream ran out.

"Raye! What's wrong?"

"WHAT'S WRONG? DON'T ASK ME THAT! YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S WRONG MINA!" It had been a week since the battle and still no improvement on Darien and Serena. No one was taking it well, but Raye was just terrible (poor Raye!).

"Raye, calm down! We're all hurting and concerned for them, but don't take your anger out on us."

"Shut up, Amy! You wouldn't say that if you cared!" Raye ran out of Darien's apartment, crying.

"sigh I didn't think she'd do that, but seriously. I know she's hurting, but so are we…"

"Yea, but Amy…where in the world did that come from?" said Lita.

"I don't know….but I'm tired of her yelling. She's not the only one not taking this lightly."

"Ya, I-"

"GIRLS WE'VE GOT TROUBLE!!!" yelled Artemis.

"What! Where?" they all yelled.

"Down at the park, hurry and where's Raye?"

"Somewhere having a nuclear meltdown….we'll find her on our way. We're going to need all the help we can get." Lita said.

Inside Raye's head (italic for thoughts)

"They're so stupid…who cares. Amy doesn't understand anyway. Do I though? I mean Serena and I are always fighting…so why am I going off about it? Because she's your best friend that's why. Then why do we fight all the time? Because she's annoying…and that's what makes our friendship stronger. Guess so…huh? Mina?"

Far away Raye heard someone that sounded like Mina yelling her name. So she yelled back. "Mina! Is that you? I'm over here!"

"RAYE! Geez….I found you, there's a battle going on at the park! We need your help, NOW!"

"Okay, come on let's go!"

"Follow me…"

At the park

"Oh good Mina, you found her! We were getting worried."

"You mean you were getting worried, Lita."

"Ya, something like that. Anyway…as you can see, it's the same monster as before."

Mina and Raye quickly transform.

"Ya…what do we do? If Serena can't defeat them, how do we?"

Dodging a swinging vine Amy said, "I don't know. I've calculated its weak points. It's got one in the center so it's chest and knees. Maybe if we hit it there it would at least weaken it."

"K, here goes," Raye said as she fired her arrow. "MARS FLAME SNIPER!"

The monster screams in pain as Raye's arrow hits it. "Bull's-eye!"

"Not yet Raye, it's coming back for more!" Mina screams in terror.

"Damn it! How are we EVER going to defeat this thing!"

"I don't know Raye, but we better think fast, it's getting stronger with every attack we throw at it!"

"Thanks for brightening our day, Amy….we greatly appreciate it!"

"Don't be a snot, Raye…just fire!"

"Whatever! Lita, your turn!"

"Why me? Geez….here goes." Lita quickly shouts, "OAK EVOLUTION!" The attack failed. "What now, Amy?"

"Let's try combining our attacks. I don't know what else to do."

"Ok, here we go!" Mina screamed.

"MERCURY AQUA RHAPSODY!"

"MARS FLAME SNIPER!"

"OAK EVOLUTION!"

"VENUS, LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!"

The girls stood and watched as their attacks hit the monster in a beam of light.

"WHAT!? It's gone!"

"Do you think we blasted it to smithereens, Raye?"

"WHAT? Mina…geez…When have we EVER done that!?"

"It was just a guess! Geez Raye, don't have to be so harsh!"

"Come on Raye, Serena's not here so you have to pick on the next best friend? Chill…"

"a-" Raye was speechless. "How could she say that!?" Raye thought as her head bowed and warm tears fell from her eyes.

"Raye don't cry…I….I didn't mean it…"

"Oh yes you did, Lita….you always mean what you say."

"Raye-"

"DON'T TALK TO ME!" Raye screamed as she ran off into the darkness of the night.

"Did you have to be so HARSH on her?"

"I meant it as a joke Amy. She's been so sad lately….I know that…Serena….well….isn't in very good shape right now….and neither is Darien, but still….a laugh once in a while wouldn't kill her."

"I know…let's go find her."

Inside Raye's head (italic for thoughts)

"Geez why did she have to say that…I mean…how could she understand? Fighting's just what we do!"

"Raye? Are you ok?"

Raye looked up to find Chad's face, full of worry. "It's nothing, Chad."

"Don't give me that Raye, I know you well enough to know it's something. You don't cry for no reason, so spill."

"Chad…I can't…."

"Yes you can…please? You're obliviously upset about something. What happened? Did you and Serena get in another fight?"

"I wish…" Raye mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing Chad! I…I…just…" Raye thought about it. She could just tell him part of the truth. What would it hurt? "If you go into details on accident…that's what will hurt! " "I….she…..Serena got hurt!" Raye blurted loudly.

"Serena? She got hurt? Is she ok?"

"no….she…we…they don't know what's wrong."

"Is she in a hospital? She probably needs care."

"I wish she was in a hospital…her and Darien…"

"Darien?"

"Shoot…you said it out-loud!" "Ya…" Raye said shakily. "Darien's with her…you know him…always by her side no matter what!" Raye lied while starting to smile. She knew WAY better than that and if Chad knew her at all (which she was pretty sure he did or they wouldn't be talking right now), he'd know she was lying too.

"Oh…good…I mean…good that he's with her." "She's lying threw her teeth. I bet Darien's hurt too." Chad thought.

"Damn! He knows…" "Yep….well…I'll see ya later Chad. Thanks for talking to me. I'm going to go see Serena now, bye!" Raye got up and started to walk away waving.

"Ya..umm…bye I guess. See you back at the temple!"

Back with the girls

"Where could she be!?"

"I don't know Lita. We've been searching for an hour now. Why don't we go back to Darien's apartment? She's probably already there anyway."

"That's the first place we looked Amy!"

"Yes Lita, but that's also the first place she WOULDN'T go. So let's check again. Besides it's completely dark now and we're all hungry, even if you won't admit it."

"Argh….fine….but…"

"But what, Lita? Amy's right I'm STARVING!!"

"Your always 'starving!' Mina and 'but' nothing….let's go."

Mina - sticks tongue out behind Lita's back

Back at Darien's Apartment

"K, we're here…now what?"

"We search and find her, dummy."

"Keh…whatever Mina"

(5 minutes later)

"Amy! Lita! I found her!"

Lita and Amy followed Mina's yell into Darien's bedroom and sure enough, there was Raye with her head lying right beside Serena, asleep.

"What should we do?" Mina asked.

"Wake her up and teach her lesson about running off at night with out telling us where she's going!"

"No, Lita. Let's just leave her be and let her sleep."

"Ya, Lita" Mina said as she wrapped a blanket around Raye.

"Well…I guess we could do that. But in the morning we still need to talk to her. I was really worried she got hurt."

"aww…you really do care!"

"Of course I care, Mina! I just…don't want anyone else getting hurt."

"Neither do we…let's go to bed."

"K, Amy…see you in the morning!" Mina said as she walked out and slipped into her sleeping bag on the living room floor.

Hope you like it so far. I'm really writing blind here, so if you have ANY advice or suggestions feel free to tell me. Please no rude or nasty comments. I'm sure anything you have say can be put nicely. I'm really having a lot of fun writing this. Again, any advice helps greatly!

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