"Zach how did you manage to get us this house?" Serena asked.
They had secured residence in a four-story house that contained a lower level underneath the house. It held fifteen different rooms with six full baths and three ½ baths. The living was completely furnished, as were the other rooms and the kitchen.
"I have my connections your highness," Zach replied.
"Stop calling me that. We're back in Tokyo and if they find out where I am then my plans are ruined. I don't want them to find me anytime soon."
"Why is that?" Nathan asked.
"I believe that you already know Nathan. You were conversing with the stars, last night no?" she questioned without turning around.
"That I was princess and they say that bad omens await us."
"There is much we have to overcome, but I know we can. I know you can."
"Such confidence Princess. Are you sure that's wise?"
"It's better to be confident than unsure."
"Sere, you were never unsure. Everything you do in life has been precise and excellently executed," Matthew said.
"But I was Matt. Before I met you guys, I was a whiney crybaby who thought her friends and boyfriend loved her beyond all doubt; that they may have judged her, but loved her despite her flaws. I was wrong. So wrong."
FLASHBACK:
Beep, Beep Beep!
"Serena you have to answer that!" Luna chided.
"I know Luna! Geesh!" Serena yelled. She hit the talk button on the communicator and saw Mars' face.
"What took you so long? Get your butt down to the Juuban Park now!"
"You don't have to yell, I'm on my way."
"Just move it!"
Serena transformed into Sailor Moon and had opened her window to only be pushed back inside. "AHHHH! What do you want scumhag?"
"Your life," Emerald hissed.
"I'm sorry that already belongs to me," Sailor moon said and threw a punch. Emerald caught it and threw her against the wall. "I'm going to enjoy killing you."
With that statement the battle between light and dark began.
ELSEWHERE:
"Where is Sailor Moon?" Mars screamed.
"She's one her way," Venus replied.
"Then where is she! She should have been here by now! Jupiter said as she powered up again.
"I think I have a weakness spOTTEDDD!" Mercury screamed as she was blasted away to land on the other side of the park.
"MERCURY!" All three scouts screamed and turned to run.
"No! We have to fight this thing. She'll be okay," Tuxedo Mask reassured.
The scouts turned back and continued to fight while wondering where their leader and Princess was.
BACK AT THE HOUSE:
Holding her tiara at Emerald's chest, Sailor Moon said, "Leave me now or I will kill you."
Emerald looked at her with hatred in her eyes and vanished from sight.
"Well done, Princess. I'm proud of you," Luna commented.
"Thanx Luna. I gotta go and help the other," she said and left Luna to wait for her return.
PARK:
"Ahhh!"
"Venus!"
"Damn Moon! I swear she's useless!"
"Jupiter duck!"
"Wha-" with a gasp of air she was thrown backward to land painfully on her right side.
"Moon Scepter Elimination!"
The fighter still standing turned around to see Sailor Moon running toward them shouting, "Guys I'm sorry I'm late. I had to…" She realized that she wasn't being paid any attention to and changed the subject to more important matters. "Here let me help you up."
"SAVE IT MOON! HOW DARE YOU COME HERE LATE, WAVE THAT SCPETOR AROUND AND THEN THINK YOU CAN GIVE US SOME LAME EXCUSE AS TO WHY YOU'RE LATE! FORGET IT! I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!" Mars shouted and walked over to check on Venus and Jupiter while holding her arm.
"Mars…Tuxedo Mask, you're not mad at me too are you? If you just-"
"I have to check on Mercury," he said and limped over to her.
"Guys wait! I can help."
"Haven't you helped enough? Look what happened to Venus and Mercury. No less Mars and Tuxedo Mask! What's the use talking to you? Just go home Sailor Moon. We don't need you now," Jupiter moaned out and tried to get up.
"Jupiter let me help you."
"I said NO! Just leave already."
Taken aback Sailor Moon just looked around at her friends in shock.
"Okay I'll see you guys tomorrow. Bye." And she ran all the way back home in confusion.
PRESENT TIME:
"I thought that maybe if I gave them till morning they would have understood and let me explain. But they didn't. I went home that night and told Luna everything. She thought I had heard wrong or either they were just frustrated and all would be better with sunlight. She was also wrong."
FLASHBACK:
Serena walked up the stairs to the shrine with Luna trailing behind. "They'll understand right? I mean you saw what happened."
"That I did and I will back up your story."
"Thanx Luna."
"None necessary Serena. I could not have been prouder of you than I was last night."
"Really?"
"Really."
When Serena pulled open the doors she stopped because she heard Raye talking with hostility. "She doesn't deserve to be our leader! You know what happened last night. You saw it yourselves."
"But Raye she's the princess…" Amy chided.
"No she's the reincarnated Princess. Serenity is dead along with the other Lunarians. All that we have is Serena," she said with disgust.
"She's still the princess and more importantly our friend."
"But what use is she as either? Do you actually think if the Queen herself saw her 'daughter' she'd be proud? Or even pleased to have her?"
"That's not our place to judge. We made an oath and swore to always stand by Serena. Even if she doesn't act the way we want her to."
Everyone looked around and waited for the next person to speak. Finally, "Maybe Raye is right," a voice said. Out from the shadows came Darien holding a cup of coffee.
"Darien, not you too. Be serious here for a minute."
"I don't know. Maybe. Think about what happened last night. You were unconscious so you didn't see much Amy. Mina you later passed out, but the rest of us saw it all."
"That's right. She came in at the last minute to dust that thing AFTER we had our asses kicked," Lita said.
"She didn't even have a good excuse," Raye imputed.
"Did you even stop to ask?" Amy questioned.
"Are you guys sure about this?" Mina asked. "Because you know that if we do this, there's no going back."
"Mina come on! You know yourself that she's useless. She hardly fights and when she does she is constantly having a klutz attack or crying like baby. Which puts Darien's life in danger when he has to save her."
"Then he shouldn't have agreed to take the job!" Amy shouted and stood up. "Look I understand why you guys want to do this. But think of how this is going to hurt her. She's already lost you Darien over something she can't even understand or figure out. Now you want to take away all that she has left? How can you guys be so heartless?"
"It's for her own safety Amy," Artemis said. "I do not believe that Serena is ready to be a Sailor Scout. She never fought on the Moon, so she wasn't raised with it like you all were."
"What difference does that make? She's our FRIEND! Don't you guys remember what she did for us?"
"That's not the issue at hand Amy. The fact that she's a scout is. I blame Luna for that mishap but that's a different issue too. She's not fit to be the leader of the Scouts, I'm afraid. Or sadly even ready to be a Princess."
"I CANNOT BELIEVE YOU ARTEMIS! HOW DARE YOU QUESTION MY ACTIONS OR JUDGEMENT FOR THAT MATTER!" Luna screamed.
"Luna what are you doing?" Mina asked.
"I'm here with my charge. The one whom you just arbitrarily kicked off this team."
"Serena's here? Where?" Darien asked.
"Right here," she sobbed out. She walked in and wiped the away her tears. She wasn't going to let him see her pain. "Do you all agree to this? Do you really think of me this way? As a useless unfit leader and crybaby of a Princess?"
"I'm afraid so," Raye said first. "You don't deserve to be…"
"SHUT UP RAYE! JUST SHUT UP! I asked for all of their opinion. Not just yours."
"Yes, I do." Lita said and stood up.
"Lita…"
"I'm sorry. You are not the Serenity I swore to protect. The Serenity I knew wouldn't have let her friends almost die in a battle which she could have stopped."
"If you just let me explain…"
"There's nothing to explain. Artmeis is right, you're not ready to be our leader," Mina interjected.
"Amy?"
"I don't agree with them Serena. But looking at this situation from all the angles. My decision is with them too because I don't want you to get hurt. It's for your own safety."
"But you haven't heard my side. Why I was late to the…"
"What's the point? You were probably stuffing your face with food and playing some video game." Raye said.
"Raye that's not fair."
"Serena just stop. We've decided on this," Mina replied.
Serena turned away from them and said, "Darien I know we aren't together anymore, and you say that you don't love me but…I mean are you on their side too?"
Without looking in her eyes he said, "My Princess died a thousand years ago," and walked out of the temple.
Trying to control her emotions she took deep breaths. Once she felt like she could speak again she said, "I see. Well is there anything else I should know?"
"We'd like your Scout stuff now," Raye said.
"Wait a minute. You girls cannot be serious about this. She's you're Princess and leader. She has saved your lives numerous times and given it up so that you could have yours. You can't be thinking and doing what I see." Luna questioned.
"Yes we are Luna and I for one don't see why you haven't." Lita replied.
"Unlike you six I do not betray my Princess. I will not become a traitor to all that I stand for or commit treason against my people or those that I love."
"So you don't love us? And you're going to betray us by siding with her?"
"She is my Princess! I made an oath a long time ago to her. I vowed to protect and watch over the Queen's daughter all of my life. No matter what shape or form she or I was in. I will not be breaking that vow today or ever for that matter."
"The Princess is dead! Serena's just a cheap imitation," Raye cried.
"I can't believe you!"
"Stop it." Serena whispered.
"We can't believe you! You see her everyday and you know how she is."
"Stop."
"That I do. I was the one was raised her from infant to whom she was back in the Silver Millennium. I am the one who has guided her these past couple of years since I found you girls."
"Stop it!"
"Not much good it's done."
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY!"
"STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT!" Serena screamed. "You want me out? FINE. Here's my communicator, wand, scepter, and transformation pen. I hope you guys have fun on your own," she said and turned to leave with her dignity.
"Where do you think you're going?" Raye asked and moved in front of her.
"Home with my family. Unlike you I actually have parents who care about me."
"You can spit out all the vile words you want, but you're not leaving here with that crystal."
"Yes she is! That crystal belongs to her family line. The Moon family," Luna stated.
"Well she's not fit to hold on to it. With her ditzy mind she may forget and leave it somewhere for who knows to find. It's safer here with us."
Serena looked at Raye and smiled. "You want my crystal. Go ahead and have it," she said and took off her broach.
"Serena no! That belongs to you not to them."
"She wants it Luna. Who am I to stop her from taking what she desires? Here have it."
"Smart move Meatball head," Raye said and grabbed for the crystal. Before she could touch it, Serena dropped it and said, "Oops. I'm sorry you know how klutzy I am."
Raye bent down to pick it up off the floor and instead was thrown back against the far wall.
"Serena what did you do!" Lita exclaimed and rushed to Raye's side..
"I didn't do anything Lita. The crystal did. Like Luna said it belongs to the royal family of the Moon. Those who have betrayed it or have darkness within their heart cannot hold it within their grasp."
"Unless she's dead," Artemis said. "Or willing hands it over."
"And I highly doubt that any of you want to go up against the Silver Crystal," she finished and called the crystal back to her. It floated from off the ground and connected back onto her shirt.
"Fine. We don't need it. We can handle the monsters on our own," Raye said when she got back up.
"I would hope that by now you would have realized…It doesn't matter anymore I suppose," Luna said and walked out of the temple leaving Serena alone.
"I hope you girls know what you are doing. This world is now in your hands and the lives of its inhabitants rest solely on your shoulders. I pray that your intelligence Amy will help them to figure out all obstacles, that Lita's strength and perseverance will continue to empower you all, Mina may your light always shine bright so that they will never be left in the dark, and Raye I hope your fiery temper benefits this group more than it benefits you," and walked away never to grace those steps again.
END OF FLASHBACK
"You never told us the whole story. I can't believe that Raye did that," Jason said in shock.
"She's not the same Raye from 1000 years ago or at least she wasn't then."
"How could they have done that? Abandon their Princess as if she was nothing?" Zach questioned.
"And Darien. I never thought he would-" Nathan began.
"Well obviously he did. And if our Princess has plans for them or for this town, we will honor them as her guardians. Is that clear?" Matt finished.
"Thank you, Matt. I never thought that I would get past that day, but my family helped me. When they agreed to let me go off to America and live with my grandmother I could not have been happier."
"How exactly did you get them to agree?" Jason asked.
"Well,"
FLASHBACK:
"Mom, Dad we need to talk," Serena said when she came downstairs after dinner.
"What's wrong sweetheart?" Ilene asked. "You seem worrisome since you came back from the Shrine yesterday."
Sitting down next to her parents she calmly began her pitch. "I had some time to think about things these past couple of days. The three of us know that my grades are not improving as much as we would like and nothing seems to be helping."
"We told you that we would get you another tutor," Ken replied.
"I know that Dad. But none of the other ones have helped to your expectations and I do not want to continue to disappoint you."
"So what are you proposing Serena?"
"I was doing some research on your laptop Dad and found out that the average test score rate here in Japan is lower than what they have over in the States."
"The States? America?" Ilene asked.
"Yes, Mom. I know that it's very far from being here and a new experience for me, but I do believe that it would be good for me. I could go to a better school that can meet my needs and help me to achieve what I want. And what you want for me. I can better concentrate on my school work without any distractions from my…from kids who I know here."
"Where would you stay? Have you picked a school yet? Who would take care of you?" Ken and Ilene asked.
"I was thinking about Grandma. She just moved out to Massachusetts remember so that she could live in one of those brick townhouses? I could live with her and go to school in the area."
"I don't know Serena. Who knows if you're Grandmother would want-"
"I do. I already called her and asked her to make sure that it was okay. But don't think so much about me being away. Concentrate more on the fact that my grades will improve. I can get into a better college than I could if I continued to go here. I could work more on my English and become more worldly in my cultural studies."
"I suppose it would be a good idea. We'd have to talk some more with your Grandmother though."
"Here talk to her now. She's holding on the phone," she said and handed them the phone.
"You've been planning this?"
"Actually we planned it. Grandma thinks it's a great idea too. She wants me out there with her and I want to go. She said that she can order the ticket online and have it waiting for me by tomorrow morning."
"Give us a minute Serena," Ilene said and Serena went upstairs.
END OF FLASHBACK
"Less than an hour later, they came back upstairs to tell me that my flight left the next afternoon at 1:25pm. Twelve hours later I entered into Massachusetts airspace. But unfortunately, we have another problem," Serena stated.
"What's that?" Jason asked.
"You four. Beryl cloned you four 1000 years ago remember to fight for the dark side. Then those clones were reincarnated also with us. They fought us some time back when we were first Scouts."
"What you mean is that if they see us they'll go for the kill," Zach rephrased. "Much like you did if I remember correctly."
FLASHBACK:
"Serena if you could please come downstairs for a minute," her grandmother said.
"I'm trying to finish up this paper Grandma. I only have three pages left," Serena replied.
"Oh you can finish that later darling. I need you downstairs. I have some gentlemen I would like you to meet."
"Not again Luna. Why does she always try to play matchmaker with me," Serena asked her cat.
"She's only being the sweet woman that she is. She doesn't want to see you alone and sad," Luna replied.
"I'm not. I have you, my work and her. How could I ever be sad?"
Luna just stared at her and waited for her to answer her grandmother.
"Can I meet them tomorrow after I get in from tennis practice? I promise I'll be home early," Serena called from outside her room.
"No, young lady. I would like you to meet them now if you please."
"Yes, ma'am," she said and went back into her room. "You're coming down there with me kitty. If I have to suffer through another introduction than so do you." She closed her door and descended down the staircase. "I hope you're not trying to hook me up with another of your friend's grandsons Grandma."
"Of course not dear. I would never do something like that. This is much more important. Now I want you to promise me that you won't overreact when you see these young men."
"Why would I overreact? It's not like one of them tried to kill me or anything."
"I wouldn't be so sure," her grandmother whispered.
"Did you say something Grandma?" Serena asked when she reached the bottom floor.
"No darling. Here walk on into the dining room and say hello to those young men."
Walking into the room she looked over her shoulder and said, "Grandma, you're really worrying me with all this." She turned around to open the dining room doors and asked, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm just peachy now that everyone is here. Serena say hello to my friends' grandsons."
Serena turned around to only let loose a gasp. "Luna," she whispered.
"I know I'm seeing it too, but it can't be," Luna whispered in her ears.
"Don't just stand there silly child come and meet them. This young man is Jason Specter," she said pointing to the young man who had short blond hair with light blue eyes.
"Hello Serena it's a pleasure to see you again," he said.
"Again?"
"Did I say that? Must have been a slip of the tongue," he said with a smirk.
"I bet."
"Serena, over here darling. This handsome gentleman is Matthew Hearth. His father owns all the tanning beds on the East Coast."
"How lovely for your skin," Serena replied tightly.
"I wish I could say the same to you," Matthew replied.
"Excuse me?"
"Pay attention dear. This is Nathan Pathfinder. He actually helped design the new astronomy buildings on your campus."
"Should I thank you now or write you a check?"
When he didn't reply back, her grandmother went on to the last gentleman in the room. "This young man is Mr. Zachary Coldstone. He's working at the college as an intern in the science department."
"I bet you get to cut up a lot of things in there huh?"
"The sights are too numerous to recall."
"I'm going to go into the kitchen and make something to snack on. Get to know each other. Don't hurt her," she whispered to the four men.
"Luna, what is going on?" Serena whispered.
"I don't know but you're Grandmother is acting strange."
"Who are you telling? What do I do?"
"Do you have your brooch on you?"
"No, I left it upstairs in my safe."
"You know you don't have to whisper to your cat. We know that she can talk," Jason said.
"Well that shows that not only are you not interesting to me but you're also crazy."
"Well haven't you gained a backbone?"
"Damn right I have. So we all know who you are and who I am. So why don't we quit the chit chat and you just tell me why you're here?"
"That's simple. We're here to take care of you," Zach said.
"Take care of me? Do you really think I'm going to let you kill me that easily? With my grandmother right in the other room?"
"Well nobody said that we wanted to kill you," Nathan said.
"Yet," Jason added.
"If you could just sit down," Zach started and went toward her. Before he could get his hand on her Luna attacked his face while Serena tripped him up. With him being stunned, she grabbed a knife off the table and bent down to hold it to his throat. "If any of you move, he's dead."
"Serena, he's a he," Luna replied.
"What!"
"Zoicite was a she, remember?"
"They must have used dark magic or something," She said while dragging him up from the floor. "All I know is that I'm not going to let you hurt those that I love again. I'll kill you myself first."
"Stop with the dramatics dear. It's truly unnecessary in this situation," her grandmother said from behind her.
Startled she turned around to look at her and dropped her guard. Zach spun out of her hold and grabbed her arm instead. Jason jumped in to help force Serena into the chair while Matthew held her down.
"Grandma! Help me!"
"Oh darling it would be so much better if you didn't scream."
"Grandma what's wrong with you? Do something, they're hurting me."
"If you would only accept your fate this could be less messy. I'd hate to stain the carpet with anyone's remains."
"Remains! Grandma if they brainwashed you I can fix it. My powers can turn you back to normal."
"I am very normal Serenity."
"What did you call me?"
"Why your true name. The one that your mother gave you when you were born."
"My mother named me Serena."
"Not that one dear. You're real mother from the Silver Millennium."
"Serena, she must be brainwashed," Luna said as she tried to get out of Nathan's grasp.
"I assure you that I am not brainwashed. Now Serena I want you to listen to these gentlemen very carefully. Please don't speak or we will have to gag up."
Serena looked at her grandmother and almost wanted to cry. She couldn't believe that they had gotten to her family all the way across the globe and trapped her in this mess. 'I have to remain calm and think this through. If I need any help, I can just call upon the crystal.' "What do you want to tell me?"
"Whomever you think that we are Serena, we aren't," Nathan began.
"We would never hurt like you think we would," Jason continued.
"We swore allegiance to you and your kingdom the day that our prince promised himself to you and you alone," Matthew stated.
"We're the past Earth generals," Zach finished.
Looking three of them in the face she could only stare. Then out of nowhere she fell out laughing. "Wait a minute you're telling me that you're Darien's generals? That has to be the most hilarious thing I've heard all day and I've heard enough," she said and flipped out of the chair to land on her feet behind Matthew. She swung out her leg, which connected with his back to cause him to cry out in pain and fall on the ground.
"She still doesn't listen to anyone does she!" Jason yelled and went towards her.
She threw out her hand to block his attack when an energy blast shot from her palm. Before Jason could move, he was thrown back against the couch in the other room.
"I thought you said she hadn't come into all her powers," he groaned.
"She hadn't until now," Zach commented.
"What have you guys been keeping tabs on me?" Serena asked.
"It is our job ya know." Jason muttered.
"I'm so sure. Put my cat down now."
"Why so you can blast me to the next section? I don't think so. She's my protection," Nathan replied.
Becoming frustrated she picked up two knives and threw them at his head to only have them land a mere inch away on each side. "Next time I won't let you by so easily. Now put my cat down."
"Okay this is definitely not going how I planned," her grandmother said.
"You planned for this? Are you even brainwashed or are you from the Negaverse too?"
"Neither my daughter. She is who she says she is," a voice said.
Serena turned around to see her crystal bring about a flash of light and her mother-Queen Serenity- appeared before them.
"Mother? I don't understand what's going on?"
"I thought that I could leave your grandmother here with the generals and it would be explained to you. I thought that once you heard their story it would bring back memories so that you could not doubt the truth."
"They didn't exactly tell me a story."
"You didn't give us a chance!" Jason shouted.
"Maybe if you hadn't attacked me, pushed me into a chair and threaten my kitty I would have!"
"Good excuse since Mommy is here!" Jason shouted back
"Oh and what's your excuse? Being stupid!" Serena screamed and made her way toward him.
"At least I would have listened if someone told me something like that!"
"Yeah and you'd be dead too."
"That's only your warped mind spinning out scenarios again."
"Warped! You're the one who's in love with a pyromaniac! No wonder you're so crazy around everyone! I'd be too if she scorched me every five seconds!"
"And now it begins," Serenity said.
"What-wait a minute, how did I know that he was in love with Raye? You're in love with Raye? Jadiete?… A Negaverse General? No, an Earth General…I-I think I need to sit down."
"My beautiful daughter. I understand that all of this is hard for you to comprehend right now, but in time you will understand. These young men are the Earth Prince's generals reincarnated. Just like you and the girls were. I know that they look like the minions you fought against Beryl but they are not. They are men true of heart and who want nothing more than to continue their destiny in life. During my time it was fallen in love with your guardians and protecting the Earth Prince. In this time it will be different.
"These men are now yours, daughter. They will be your new guardians who have promised to watch over you as I cannot. I know that you are already beginning to receive your past memories and it will take some time for all of them to return. You will know when they have because you will have come into all of your powers. I trust these men with my life and yours Serenity Do the same," she said and caressed her daughter cheek. "I must go now, but I will see you again. I love you my daughter," she finished and with another flash of light she was gone.
END OF FLASHBACK