Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Note: i do not own Sailor Moon, just the story.

Chapter 9

As dawn approached the next day, a dark shadow was creeping across the town. The shadow was not an ordinary shadow but one made by a powerful evil force, intent on taking over Earth and all its inhabitants.

"Things are already going according to the plan," said Prince Diamonds.

"Yes. The pitiful people of Earth don't even realize that their planet is slowly coming under our rule," said Serenity.

"But the only problem that faces us are those dreaded warriors." He said with a scowl on his handsome face.

"Don't you worry about a thing, dearest," cooed Serenity as she trailed a finger down his face, "I will take care of those puny little warriors. By the time I'm through with them they'll be putty for me to mold." Serenity leaned into Diamonds' side.

"That is what I love about you my dear," Diamonds said as he embraced Serenity to his side.

"What's that?"

"Your brilliant, scheming mind."

"Thank you sweetest," She gave him a kiss and a wink and was on her way to 'take care' of the warriors once and for all.

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"Warriors, I have some good news and some bad news about Reni," said Hydra with a grave look on her face. The warriors looked at each other then back at Hydra.

"Well, out with it already," said an impatient Ariesa.

"Okay," Hydra took a deep breath then started again. "The good news is that I've found her! She's here and alive!" At this announcement, everyone gave a huge sigh of relief and had small smiles on their faces except for Hydra who had yet to tell the bad news. She waited a few moments then continued.

"However, the bad news is that I detect an evil aura in her general location."

"That means we have to go look for her now and get her away from this evil aura," said Lia taking charge. "Hydra, where was the exact location at which you had found her?"

"I found her about two miles away from here to the south, in the park."

"Then let's go get her and bring her home," said an excited Terra and began to race off ahead of the pack at break neck speed. Be safe, my heart, thought Darien as he and the girls raced off to find their friend.

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Be safe, my heart. Reni's head shoot around looking for the source of the voice. "Was that Darien?" Reni asked out loud. Reni closed her eyes and focused on the energy. After a few moments, she realized that it was Darien's voice she had heard. "They are coming for me," Reni stated enthusiastically.

Yes, they come just as planned, Serenity thought as she sensed the warriors coming towards her. Your plan won't work, Reni stated calmly inside of Serenity's head. We'll see about that, Serenity retorted nonchalantly as she quickly changed her facial expression from an evil delight one to a scared innocent girl, lay down prone on the ground and waited for them to arrive. I need your help little Reni, Serenity called out. Reni remained silent to the call. I need to know who is who among the warriors. I have their planets but not their names. Be a dear and help me out. Reni glared into the darkness and firmly thought, I will never help you. Serenity was silent for a moment before she appeared before Reni. Reni stood up to face her and whatever she would throw at her. Serenity smiled at her and said "Then never mind. I shall find my own way as I have always done. However, I will give you a gift." Reni took a deep breath.

"What kind of gift would that be?'

"The gift of sight," Serenity smiled. "I shall allow you to see your friends as they come to try to save you. You will watch as I destroy all that you hold dear." Serenity laughed as she disappeared once again.

"NOO!!" Reni cried into the darkness and fell to her knees feeling helpless. The warriors raced into the park 15 minutes later and stopped in their tracks the moment they saw Reni lying on the ground. The warriors were about to run towards her when Ariesa stopped them.

"Wait you guys," Ariesa said. "There is something wrong with this picture."

"What do you mean Ariesa? It's Reni; your best friend," said a confused Terra.

"It's Reni alright, but there is something different about her. Approach with caution this could be a trap." Knowing that Ariesa's feelings were almost always accurate, the warriors approached Reni cautiously and full of concern. When they got to Reni's side, the four girls formed a semi-circle in front of her while Darien knelt down and held her top half in his arms.

"Reni, Reni," called Darien "can you hear me? Wake up." Darien brought his palm up to cup her face. Before Serenity opened her eyes to answer, she called down to Reni. Enjoy the show. Reni opened her eyes just as Serenity did and prayed that her friends would see through her.

"Hey guys," Serenity called out to them in a weak voice, pitched exactly like Reni's.

"Hi, Reni. It's nice having you back," answered a cautious Ariesa.

"How do you feel?" asked Terra.

"Like I've carried a ton of bricks 10 miles," Serenity produced a weak smile and brought her hand to her head. "But otherwise, I'm fine."

"Are you sure you're okay?" questioned Ariesa

"I said I'm fine, Mars. What hoping that I was gone for good?" Serenity asked with venom slightly lacing her voice.

"No," said Ariesa. "I would never wish that…" Ariesa paused in her explanation and stared at Reni immediately on guard.

"What's wrong with you, Mars?" asked Serenity

"You are not Reni." Everyone turned their faces towards Ariesa.

"What are you talking about?" Serenity began to panic. Yes, Pyro, Reni said fueled with hope. It's not me, I'm in here!

"You never call me by my planet name," she said slowly backing away from Serenity, signaling the others to do the same. "You have always called me Pyro when I get on your nerves. You're not our Serenity."

"Correct, little warrior," Serenity laughed as she picked herself up off the ground. "So sue me that I don't have your names straight, but it won't matter once you're dead." Serenity laughed at them while she changed back into her black dress. "You can now address me as Queen of Darkmoon and soon to be ruler of this entire planet."

"Not if we stop you first," said Darien. They quickly transformed and then prepared to do battle with Serenity.

"You puny warriors can't stop me."

"Yes we can Reni," said Mars, "and we'll turn you back to your regular self."

"If you mean to turn me back into that pathetic little runt who could barely walk let alone fight, you've got another thing coming. My new powers from the planet of the Darkmoon have given me more strength than I could've achieved with my old self." Serenity retorted. "DARK... ENERGY...TORNADO!!" A column of black instantly formed above Serenity before swirling towards the warriors; they moved quickly out of the way.

"Reni we won't let you do this," said Jupiter.

"We really care about you Reni and we'll help you," said Mercury beginning a scan of Reni.

"I don't need your help. DARK...WAVES...CRASH!!" A wall of black waves formed and crashed towards the warriors who once again scrambled out of the way.

"Hey, guys," said Mercury bringing their attention to her. "I've finished my scan and have found that our Reni is trapped."

"So let's destroy this copy and go and get her," said Jupiter turning back towards Serenity.

"Wait Jupiter that's not what I meant," Mercury said stopping Jupiter in her tracks.

"Well then what did you mean?"

"Reni is trapped within her own body." The warriors gasped at the news and turned back towards Serenity.

"Is there a way to help her get free?" asked Moonlight Warrior.

"Yes. We need to weaken the influence of the dark energy that has formed this persona."

"But won't that hurt Reni?" asked a concerned Mars.

"No the dark powers are insulating her from everything. We'll only be hurting the darkness."

"Well, then what are we waiting for?" asked Jupiter. "Let's go get her back."

"You warriors are nothing to me. In fact, you all are things of the past. DARK...MOON...SONIC ...BLAST!!" Please STOP! Yelled Reni from inside as the energy went spiraling towards her friends.

"MARS...FLAME...COLUMN...SURROUND!!" Bands of fire pulsed around Mars' body then gathered in her hands. Once all of the bands were in her hands she shoot then out towards Serenity.

"JUPITER...THUNDER...CLOUD...CRASH!!" A storm cloud gathered above Jupiter's head as she raised her arms up towards the sky. Once it was at its peak, Jupiter directed her hands towards Serenity and the lightning went streaking in that direction. Their combined powers neutralized Serenity's power and crashed against her like a thousand knifes being stabbed into her simultaneously.

Serenity was dazed as she lay there. How could those puny warriors hit me? She thought. She was invincible. She was the Queen of the Darkmoon. They could not do this to her. Yes they can, Reni said in a calm confident tone. They are my friends and they will do anything for me, just as I would do anything for them. "We'll just see about that," retorted Serenity weakly and began to rise but found that her powers had severely weakened by the blast.

The warriors surrounded the unconscious Serenity praying that Mercury had been right about their attacks not being able to harm her good self. A few moments went by when Reni began to open her eyes. The warriors gazed at her cautiously but full of concern as Reni came to full awareness.

"Reni, love," said Moonlight Warrior bending down to brush her cheek. "Are you alright?"

"Yes," Reni said weakly, "I'm alright just exhausted. Thanks for asking Darien." Reni looked around at all of her friends and smiled. The other warriors let out their held breaths. This was their Reni.

"Reni thank goodness you're alright," said Ariesa. "I would have hated to have to really hurt you."

"Yeah right Pyro," said Reni sitting up a bit. "We all know that you've always wanted a crack at me."

"You know it was the only way I could," said Pyro as tears were streaming down her smiling face. Everyone laughed at the joke but also to release the tension of the battle.

"I'm really sorry about attacking you guys," Reni apologized. "I was trying to stop her."

"We know that it wasn't really you doing those things so there's nothing to forgive," said Darien holding her up in a seated position. Serenity sat there and stared at them all, loving them all the more for saving her. She began to stand up when she felt a cold shock go through her body. You think this is over? Serenity questioned from inside of her clasped her hands to her head and shut her eyes tightly. Her head felt as if it was splitting open. She screamed from the terrible pain and backed away from the warriors.

"Reni!!" They called out in desperation while coming towards Serenity.
She opened her eyes slightly. She knew that they reflected the conflict going on inside of her and for a split second her eyes were that of her old self. She called out to them as she felt her dark self coming to the surface.

"Help me please." The warriors ran towards her to help but suddenly a powerful blast of dark energy hit the ground in front of them sending them flying back 10 feet. At the feel of the blast, Reni fell to the ground, exhausted from her inner battle only to find that Prince Diamonds had caught her.

"You'll pay for this, warriors," He said looking down at Serenity before they disappeared.

"We'll get you back Serenity," stated Darien. "I promise."

Just when you think they got her...

R&R let me know what you think. more to come soon.