Chapter 3-Rei the Confidant

I stepped in as Usagi's bodyguard for the night. Ami was taking care of the injured Mako. Mina was handling the PR nightmare outside. The citizens of Tokyo had just witnessed an attack. An attack right in the palace. Panic must be rising among them…Poor Mina.

I escorted Usagi back to her bedroom suite. She was quiet the entire way. I didn't ask, as I knew that face too well.

I sat down beside her on the bed. I stared at the woman beside me. Usagi. The crybaby. The ridiculously annoying crybaby. My respect for her grew as I got to know her. Battle after battle, I looked at Usagi with more and more awe. She used love as a weapon, cutting through the darkness of evil and lighting up everyone's heart. She was just too amazing. We sure teased each other a lot, but it was our way of communicating.

Tears started to roll down Usagi's cheeks. I put my arms around the queen and gently begged her to tell me what was the matter.

"We haven't fight in a long time. And the first fight we are back, Mako is hurt because she protected me. Will this ever end? You and everyone else will always try to protect me and you will always get hurt. I can't go through it again. Seeing you die. Seeing everyone die….."

I put my arms around Usagi and just let her cry. Just for a little while…

"Usagi, believe in yourself. We will always be here and like always, we will help to save the world. You are stronger than you think." I gently patted Usagi's back. "And all the people in the world, they believe in you. Plus, if we ever die again, just bring us back with your silver crystal."

Usagi wiped the tears from her eyes and turned to look at me. "Sorry, I am a crybaby still. I promised to cry less when I turned Queen."

"Yeah, it is getting annoying," I said teasingly.

Usagi chuckled and said, "You are so mean, Rei-Chan."

I turned off the light in the bedroom and turned on the moon lamp beside the bed. Usagi had asked Michiru to designed a room for each of the scouts. For her own room, she asked her walls be painted with a giant moon and all the planets in the solar system.

I was about to closed the door when Usagi said, "Rei-chan, what do you think Mamo-chan is doing now?"

"I don't know. It's day time in Mexico right now I think."

"Rei-chan, thank you for tonight. Good night."

"Good night, Queen Usagi." I smiled and closed the door.

"GOOOOOOOD MORNING!" Her loud voice rang through even before she opened my bedroom door. Mina came bursting through like a fireball on crack. She dropped the box of donuts on the table and then flung her jacket next to it. "I have so much energy."

I was afraid to ask how many cups of coffee had she had last night. Judging by her energy level, I would guess at least four cups. I got up and put my arms around my girlfriend.

"Told you not to drink so much coffee." I nagged as I noticed how shaky her hands were.

"I just need some breakfast to soak up the coffee." Mina grabbed a donut from the box. "So I told the world about the attack last night. I simplified it. As far as they know, we have taken care of the enemy. We will keep an eye out for any more attacks in the mean time. So no massive panics from the crowds anymore. "

I frowned at Mina. The dark energy I sensed last night was way more powerful than the minion we encountered.

"I know we lied, Rei. I know the worse is yet to come." Mina looked down at her half-eaten donut, suddenly losing her appetite.

"Did Ami find out anything yet? Those snow dancers looked exactly like the snow dancers that came with the ice queen. We burnt them all. Why and how are they back?" I asked Mina.

Mina shook her head without answering. She opened her mouth to say something, but she changed her mind and stayed silent.

"Just say it, Mina. What else happened last night?" I looked at Mina with worry. Whatever she discovered, it couldn't be good news.

"Some people have continued to spoke out against Queen Serenity. Last night, I found out that the extremists groups called themselves the Dark Moon. And the symbol they used for their group was…."

"An upside down black crescent moon."

I finished Mina's sentence. Dread washed over me, as I realized what we have to face next.