Hey, guys. Sorry this took so long to get this out but I've been with my brother all day (not to mention my writer's block). It's his birthday ^-^ ...sniff...they grow up so fast. But anyways, here's Chapter 7!

P.S. Thank you all for great reviews! They were the only things helping me work without my muse. ^-^ Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much!

Don't forget to RRTAB: Read, Review, and Tell A Buddy!

Disclaimer: Naoko wouldn't even let me have Sailor Moon for my brother's birthday...maybe for my birthday...

We landed in a clearing surrounded by a tall barrier of trees. Perfect battlefield. There was a brief roar and the flaming griffin stepped out of the teleporter.

"What is that?" Venus asked nervously.

"My pet," Mars replied with anger.

"Pet?" we cried at once.

"So Usagi has a cat and I have two crows and a flaming griffin. Big deal."

The griffin let out another mighty roar. "Every person to his own," Sailor Cosmos said. "How do we beat him?"

"Distract him," Rei took leadership, "Venus, come with me."

"Easy for you to say," I sulked as the two senshi disappeared into the forest.

The griffin stepped forward, charring the ground beneath his paws. "I'll go first!" Mercury offered. She jumped into the air. "Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!" Some of the fire on the griffin's body went out only to be replaced by more flames.

"My turn!" I volunteered next. "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" The griffin dodged my attack. "Any day now, Mars!"

As if that was a special cue, Venus suddenly leaped out of the trees. "Venus Love-Me Chain!" She wrapped the chain of golden heart around the beast's neck like a leash. Using every ounce of her Sailor strength, Venus pulled the griffin to the ground. "Now!"

"Mars jumped from the trees and landed on the griffin's flaming head. She placed a hand between its eyes and traced the symbol of Mars. The flaming beast immediately calmed dowon. "Usagi! Now!"

I nodded. "Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!" The griffindidn't try to dodge my powers this time.

The power collided with him and he let out another roar. There was a flash of light.

When the light cleared, instead of a flaming griffin, there was a baby tiger in Rei's arms. She glanced at us then looked back at the cub. "This is Sainto's true form," she explained. "He only transforms when I ask him to or he's in serious pain."

"Let me guess," Mamo-chan spoke, "you didn't ask him."

"I asked the guards to take care of him when we learn of Beryl invasion. Good to know they were abusing my baby."

"I officially announced a firing frenzy," I said, "would you like to join me?"

Rei walked towards the group and I swear I could see steam coming from her ears. "Definitely. When I get done with them, they'll be nothing but piles of ashes."

"You, uh, know I don't mean catching them on fire, right?"

"Quiet, Usagi. Don't ruin my fun."

Makoto led us out of the forest and onto a path. "Mako-chan," I broke the silence, "where are we?"

"We're already inside the palace gates," she replied. "This path will take us directly to the kitchen." She gulped. "Well, what's left of my beautiful, clean, not charred kitchen."

"Sorry, Usagi. I just wish that you would learn to stay away from my kitchen."

A large building with a flickering bright light coming from the window came into view. When we got a closer, we could tell what the light was. A fire.

"My kitchen!" Makoto rushed towards the flaming building.

We ran after her. The sound of popping glass emanated. "Mako-chan!" we tried to call her back to no avail.

Makoto sat under a large window and we soon joined her. "Shine Aqua Illusion," we heard.

"Don't you know a stronger attack, Mercury-chan?"

"If I did, don't you think I would have used it?"

"Sere-chan, can't you use the Silver Crystal?"

"Mom didn't teach me how to stop fires!"

"You'd think with as many fires that you cause, that would be the first thing on her list!"

"Mars, you meanie!"

"They need help," I said to my friends, "we can't let them die yet."

"This will be a great time to earn their trust, too," Mamo-chan added.

"Let's go, Usagi," Ami stood up.

We jumped into the kitchen. "Now, Sailor Mercury!"

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"

The fire was nothing compared to the griffin. I was surprised the senshi couldn't handle this on their own. It went out immediately. "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!" The room returned to its original state.

The five girls stopped bickering long enough to see what happened to the room around them. "But how?" Serenity asked in awe.

That was their cue. The rest of my team jumped through the window and stopped beside Ami and me.

"Oh my goddess!" Venus gasped, "They look exactly like us!"

As soon as she said that, Ami collapsed. "Ami!" I cried. I kneeled beside her and supported her weight. "What happened?"

"I-I just feel a little weak," the blunette replied.

I looked at our past incarnates. "D-do you have an extra bedroom that we can borrow?"

Jupiter noticed our concern and nodded. "This way."

Minako and I came out of the room that Ami vacated. "Well?" Makoto asked impatiently.

"She just fell unconscious," tears streamed down Minako's usually bubbly face. "I don't get it. She was just fine ten minutes ago."

"Maybe I can help," Mercury volunteered.

"No," Neo-Queen Serenity said, her voice a bit louder than a whisper, "there is nothing you can do. Not even my Silver Crystal can help her."

"Y-your Silver Crystal?" Mercury questioned. "Who are you?"

"We'll explain later," I said.

"This is the first step in fading," Cosmos went on. "My senshi fell asleep and they slowly faded away soon after."

"Oh my god," I whispered hoarsely. "Ami's fading?" Cosmos closed her eyes and turned away. "No! No! It's not time! We're suppose to have five days! Why is she fading?"

"We have five days to correct the time line," Rei said, "meaning the process of fading starts now and will be complete and permanent in five days."

Now I was mad. My friend, my future, my time were all disappearing right before my eyes. I turned to Mercury. "Where's Serenity?"

"You can't address my princess so informally!"

"My friend is DYING and you're worried about formality? This is how you repay her save you?" I snapped. "Tell me where she is!"

"You will not learn the whereabouts of her highness, Princess Serenity, until my teammates and I are told everything."

I had to admit, this Mercury was much more strong-willed than our sweet Ami-chan. Rei bared her teeth. "Why the h—."

"Fine," I interrupted. "We'll tell you everything. Serenity, too. Gather in the living room and we'll explain everything in ten minutes."

Mercury briefly nodded and walked away to tell her friends. "Usagi!" Rei hissed. "What do you think you're doing?"

"We'll tell them eventually anyway. The sooner, the better. Then we'll be able to help Ami-chan. And if they decide to attack, it's obvious that we're stronger than them."

I de-transformed and everyone else did after. We made our way to the living room to spill our guts out to our past incarnates.

Well? Yes? No? What do you think of Mercury? What do you want to see in the next chapter? Will you leave me reviews? Please?

~Koneko~