Chapter 3

Ami paced nervously inside one of the chambers Usagi and she had created. She had just called the other girls back to what was built of the Crystal Palace. Most days she was exhausted, but a new revelation had perked her up today. Usagi, glad for a break in the seemingly never ending work, was lying down on the floor, sleep quickly over coming her. After each day of building, Ami had programmed the info into her small hand held super computer Luna had given her, what seemed like ages ago. Before they had even started building, Ami had mapped out the floor plan and layout of the Crystal Palace on this small device with the input of her friends. So each day was like checking off a part of list. Last night, though, when she was inputting the newest additions, she had dropped the hand held. When it touched the floor, the crystal beneath it seemed to resonate, interacting with it. She tossed and turned the rest of the night, sleep evading her as thoughts bounced around in her head. Having such a fitful sleep meant Ami had overslept. By the time she had roused herself, the other girls were already gone, going about their daily routine.

Ami heard the voices of Rei and Minako coming down the hall towards her, so she stopped herself from walking back and forth. They had briefly filled her in on what Makoto was doing, so she made sure not to say too much in her message. She saw their reflections in the crystal walls before they rounded the last corner, greeting her with a warm smile. "So what's this revelation you had last night Ami-chan?" Minako asked, long golden blonde trailing behind her as she closed the distance towards her friend. "I'd like to wait until Mako-chan arrives. This is something I think everyone needs to hear. Hopefully if I'm right, we won't need to continue down this tedious road."

Rei looked down at the sleeping figure of Usagi, annoyance clearly written on her soft features. "Wake up Usagi-chan!" She barked. Usagi didn't even flinch. Minako laughed nervously "Just let her sleep until Mako-chan arrives. She isn't missing out on anything right now so where's the harm?" Rei exhaled loudly, nostrils flaring.

Makoto arrived shortly after, looking flushed from running the entire way to her destination. Ami noticed she had a sparkle in her eye that she hadn't seen in a long time. Makoto looked happy for the time being. Ami wanted to ask the brown haired girl why she had decided to let someone stay with her, but the practical side of her took over. "Let's wake up Usagi-chan before we start." Rei stepped forward then with a wicked grin on her face. She walked to where Usagi slept, raised her hand high and brought it down hard on the back of her friends head. "It's time to wake up Usagi-chan!"

Usagi sat up suddenly, being startled out of her peaceful slumber. Her hand went to the back of her head and started to move in a circular motion. "Ow!" she whined. "Rei-chan, you hit me didn't you?" She accused. Rei stood with her arms crossed, lips pursed as she tapped her foot impatiently. "Some of us are trying to save the world, while you lie down and take a nap!"

"Rei-chan is being mean to me again! This is hard work and I'm tired. Ami-chan said I could rest while we waited for you to show up!" Usagi protested, tears forming inside her eyes.

"Well you know what they say; all work and no play makes for a stronger girl" Minako said reassuringly to Usagi. Ami looked at Minako and blinked. "No one says that Mina-chan. The proper saying is 'make for a dull girl'" she corrected. Minako laughed nervously again, cheeks turning a light red in embarrassment. "Well some people say it your way, I suppose."

"Lets get started, shall we?" Ami asked looking for her friend's approval. They all nodded at the blue haired girl. "Last night when I was inputting the latest data, I accidentally dropped this super computer" she held up the small device. "When it hit the floor, the crystal beneath seemed to resonate with it. It's my theory that all this crystal can be used with our existing equipment. I believe that we can interface my device into this" Ami extended her arm towards a small pillar in the middle of the room. It came up to Ami's hip and had a small rectangular alcove carved out of the top. The other girls gathered around the circular pillar, looking on quietly. Ami continued "I think if we place this computer here, and activate it, we can possible speed up the process."

Makoto made a fist and threw it into the palm of her other hand, making a low thud "There's only one way to find out." Ami nodded and carefully placed the hand held into the empty slot. At first nothing happened. Then it seemed to sink into the crystal slightly. A thin layer of translucent crystal formed above the device, encasing it inside the pillar. The pillar itself started to pulse with pink light, then the floor. It wasn't long before all the walls were pulsing with pink light of the Silver Crystal stored within.

Ami looked around in wonder. "This must be some kind of stand-by mode. I think its waiting for us to activate it. Come, let's hold hands and try what he did when we first awoke." Ami said holding her hands out to her friends. They all gathered round, and reached out towards one another, clasping hands. As they channeled their powers in unison as they stood around the pillar, a pink light surrounded them and slowly spread outward. Suddenly the light got bright and intense, amplified by the crystal all around them. A roaring torrent of energy rushed passed Ami's ears. She squeezed the hands of Usagi and Rei respectively, and they returned the encouraging action from their friend.

-/-*-\-

Sol had followed the mysterious Sailor Jupiter into a crystal like building. He made sure to keep his distance as his reflection was bouncing all around him, like being inside a house of mirrors on a fair ground. Most the corridors led to dead ends, so it didn't take him long before he could hear voices talking amongst themselves. He kept low as he followed the voices. When he was close enough to hear what they were saying, the walls began to pulse in a pink light. He looked at the glowing walls in astonishment. What is this place? Then the walls shone bright with pink, no longer pulsing, but shining steadily. He could hear what sounding like wind coming from around the corner. It grew louder with each passing second, a blindly bright light bouncing off the crystal that surrounded him. He turned the corner then, curiosity overcoming his fear of the unknown. A blast of this strange pink energy surged forward as he rounded the corner, throwing him back into the hard crystal, knocking him unconscious.

-/-*-\-

A giant column of pink light shot into the sky, energy flowing outward from it. The mapping of the super computer having been interfaced with the powerfully crystal structure began to build itself. Columns and hallways erected themselves, rooms and courtyards materializing. As the Crystal Palace grew, so did the beam of energy shooting from its center, growing in diameter. Once the last part of what the girls had mapped was completed, the pink light shooting into the sky began to spread outward, blanketing the horizon. Ice began to melt, and people closest to the Crystal Tower started to wake from their peaceful slumber. They heard the voices of the Sailor Senshi as they were roused, calling them from their eternal slumber. The light spread further and further, over oceans and countries, cities and homes, eventually encircling the Earth. People were shown images of the Sailor Senshi fighting and defeating Queen Metalia and Queen Beryl. Of Chibiusa traveling back in time, and helping defeat The Dark Moon Clan. They began to understand what had happened to them, realizing the Sailor Senshi were saving them. Some people immediately felt love and warmth from these images. Most accepted Usagi as their new queen, Neo Queen Serenity.

But what no one could have known is that darkness had entered some people`s hearts while they slept. The darkness slowly spread through them, overcoming their will to fight. After a thousand years, tearing down their resistance. It spread like a disease inside of them, consuming their very soul. When they were awakened and saw these images, their first feelings were of sorrow from being pulled from their darkest, deepest nothingness. That sorrow quickly turned to hate. They loathed the images they were seeing, denouncing Neo Queen Serenity as a fraud, an intruder. These people did not like this turn of events, and started to plot their revenge.

-/-*-\-

"Sol?" Did someone just say my name? He drifted through space peacefully. "Sol, wake up! Are you ok?" Who keeps talking? Where is that voice coming from? He started to recall that he was like this for a long time. So long I had slept, so long I had drifted. And then... And then he was awoken. His memories rushed back to him abruptly and his eyes shot open. He was greeted by the concerned and familiar face of Sailor Jupiter. The other two from when he was awakened stood behind her, along with two he didn't recognize. "Sol, what are you doing here?" Sailor Jupiter asked him

"I... I followed you here. Something told me that was what I needed to do." He replied honestly. Sailor Jupiter's look of concern turned soft. "Are you ok? You've been out for about 10 minutes now."

"Yeah, I'm alright" he lied. His head was pounding and body aching from being thrown violently into the crystal wall behind him. And there was an unknown, strange feeling inside of him he couldn't place. A warmth that seemed to spread from the center of his chest, easing the pain. Whatever it was he was grateful of the alleviation it provided. Sol stood up slowly as Sailor Jupiter and the rest gave him room to maneuver. Once on his feet, the pounding in his head subsided, but the strange warmth remained.

"C'mon, I'll walk you back to my apartment" Sailor Jupiter offered, extending her hand towards him. He looked at her offered hand for a moment. Then he remembered his mother and father. They were probably wondering where he was as he had snuck out on the night everything froze over. He looked up at the familiar eyes of Sailor Jupiter.

"I'm sorry, but I remember where I live now. I need to go make sure my parents are ok." Sailor Jupiter looked disappointed, casting her eyes down to her feet, nodding in understanding. Sol gave his thanks to the others and departed at a slow jog. The structure he was in was now enormous. It took him some time to find an exit, but when he did he realized he wasn't far from home.

He couldn't believe how good he felt now. His eye sight seemed sharper, ears picking up sounds he had never heard before. He was full of life and energy. He felt like he could run a mile at a full sprint and not even be tired. So he did just that, taking off at full speed towards his house. People milled about the streets now, talking amongst themselves as he ran. His house was in view, and he picked up the pace, pushing himself forward. When he got to the three steps leading to the front door, he jumped, anticipating to land in front of his door. Instead he rocketed into it, slamming the thick solid door hard with his shoulder. What the hell? He wondered, rubbing his arm where it had slammed into the wooden door. How had he jumped so high, and hard? If his house wasn't here, how high would he have gone? He put his hand to the door knob and turned, ushering himself inside.

"Mom? Dad? Where are you?" He called out for his parents. From the living room he heard his mother's panicked reply. "We're in the living room Sol, hurry something is wrong with your father!" He rushed around the entry way hallway, turning into the living room. His mother was hovering over his father, her hands on her head, not knowing what to do. He could hear his father mumbling something incoherently. He crossed the room towards him, fear welling up inside his chest. "Dad, what's wrong? Are you-" as his hand touched his father's shoulder, black tendrils of smoke rose from around his fingers. His father wailed in pain and reeled around to face his son, hate burning deep inside his eyes.

"YOU!" He screamed at his son, his face contorted in rage. "You did this! I know it was you! I can feel it!"

"Dad, what are you-"

"Did you think you could just come here and finish me off?!" His father interrupted. Suddenly his hands shot out and he wrapped his fingers around Sol's throat, effectively cutting off his breathing. Sol choked as his mother screamed. His grip was iron tight, squeezing harder making Sol's eyes bulge out of their sockets. Sol reached for his father's arms; clawing away trying to loosen their grip as his face distorted, eye's turning black. He felt his strength being sucked out of him as his lungs burned for more air.

Just then a chair came hurtling through the air towards his father's head, crashing into him hard. The chair smashed to pieces, as he grunted in pain. His hands finally released their grip in his wind pipe, and Sol fell to his knees, coughing and gasping for air. "What the hell do you think you're doing!?" His mother screamed, gesturing towards her gasping son on the floor. "This is our son Tom! Are you trying to kill him!?" His father turned his black gaze towards Sol's mother. The darkness from his eyes spread into his face. Opening his mouth as teeth turned into fangs, protruding outward wickedly. His skin was turning black all over, muscles rippling with dark energy. Sol's father's arms and legs grew longer; his torso grew wider, claws sprouting from his finger tips. His whole body began to shake, a low growl emitted from his now huge frame.

"If you're not with me, you're against me" came the deep low rumble of what was now Sol's father. His mother looked on in horror at was now staring down at her. He took a step forward and lunged his arm out towards her throat. The large hand and crushing grip wrapped itself tightly around her thin neck. The monster picked her up off the floor as she kicked in protest. She grabbed the thick black arm and clawed desperately trying to pry herself free. A grotesque smile spread across this beasts lips and with his other hand plunged it deep into her chest, claws tearing through flesh and bone indiscriminately. Sol's mother's eyes went wide, lips moving soundlessly as blood poured from her wound onto the floor. The monster ripped his hand out and threw her to the corner, satisfied she wouldn't interfere again. This can't be happening!? Sol thought in horror as he stared at his mother, now a crumpled heap on the floor, crimson red blood pouring out around her.

The monster grabbed Sol by the shoulders then, forcing him to the floor. "Now it's time for you to die as well" it hissed. It opened its mouth as hot spit oozed out and fell onto Sol's face. The fangs grew even more as its mouth closed the gap between them. Sol thrashed and kicked but to no avail, the creatures grip was iron strong. Inch by inch the monster drew its gaping mouth closer, drool spilling off its tongue. Sol turned his head to the side in pure horror, thinking this was the last moment of his life. He could feel the sharp points of its fangs starting to dig into his face as it seemed to purr in satisfaction.

"Sparkling Wide Pressure!" He heard suddenly. There was a loud crack, like lighting, and then a bright light formed behind the monster. It screamed in pain as something bright plunged itself into its shoulder. The creature jumped up then, releasing Sol from its strong clawed hands. Turning to face its new assailant, it screamed and surged forward. Sol had time enough to see that it was none other than Sailor Jupiter who had saved him. The creature quickly closed the gap, crashing through the open door with Sailor Jupiter in its grip.

Sol stood then and rushed to the lifeless body of his mother. "Mom?" He pleaded, tears welling up in his eyes. "MOM!" He screamed, shaking her gently. Faintly he heard the battle roaring on outside of his house. "Venus Love Me Chain!" came a familiar voice. He turned his mother so she would face him, limp body offering no resistance. There was a huge hole in the center of her chest. Sol knew there was no way anyone could have survived a blow that traumatic. He gently raised his now blood soaked hand towards his mothers face, slowly closing the lifeless eyes that stared back at him. He took his mother in an embrace then, holding her close. "Why? Why did this happen to you?" He wept, cradling her limp head into his chest.

"Burning Mandela!" He heard from outside. Anger began to well up inside him. He knew why his mother lay here in a pool of her own blood. It was that... Thing! He carefully placed his mother down, and slowly stood, rage overcoming his sorrow. He ran towards the open door, balling his hands into fists. Standing in the doorway, he looked at the scene unfolding on his normally quiet street. His front lawn was torn apart, long strips of grass pulled out revealing dirt beneath. A car was on its side, a large dent in the passenger door. He recognized the faces of the girls from that crystal structure he had just returned from. They all looked focused and ready for battle, standing close to each other. Somehow, Sailor Jupiter seemed completely unharmed, a look of determination in her eyes. Finally Sol's gaze came across it. It had taken some damage, flesh hanging loosely off its right arm exposing bone. Its laboured breathing indicated the creature wasn't faring so well against these five girls.

Sol couldn't contain his rage any longer. He rushed out the door at full speed, legs pushing him forward, moving him faster. He heard a horrible scream then, and realized it was coming from his own mouth. The monster turned its black, hateful stare on the boy running at full speed, recklessly. Sol closed the gap quickly and dropped his shoulder, driving it hard into the creature's abdomen. The both tumbled to the ground, Sol on top. One clawed, black hand reached for his face, and he smacked it away, as his other hand came down hard into the monsters gaping mouth. He cut all his knuckles on the creatures exposed fangs, but he didn't care. He pulled his hand back to rain down another blow when he was suddenly kicked in the chest. He was sent flying back, crashing into a parked car on the street. The force of the impact lifted the car off two wheels, the other two wheels squealing in protest against the lateral movement. Somehow the creature had been able to kick Sol off its chest, even though Sol had mounted it above the hips. What the hell is this thing? Sol grimaced in pain. Sailor Jupiter came to his side, brow furrowed in worry. "Are you alright?" Sol nodded having the wind knocked out of him from the force of the impact. He thought for sure he would have some broken bones from this, but he felt relatively good considering what had just happened to him.

"Moon-"The skinny blonde girl with the long ponytails raised a scepter and brought it to one side

"Princess-"She waved it from side to side as the end started to glow bright.

"Halation!" She pointed the scepter at the creature still lying on the ground. Sparkles spiraled out away from the rod in her hand. It glowed more brightly and a crescent shaped golden disc shot out towards the monster as it returned to its feet. The crescent plunged itself deep into the monsters chest as it screamed a horrible wail in agony. It thrashed around, limbs flailing, crying out in pain. Suddenly it went quiet, and fell to its knees, as it started to turn to dust. The black was overcome by grey, crumbling away to nothing. All that remained was a small pile in the street. The wind picked up slightly and scattered what was left in the breeze.

The other girls gathered around Sol then. He looked from one face to the next, finally resting on the sad, knowing eyes of Sailor Jupiter. He could see she was about to cry herself. Absently he wondered why she would be crying. He was the one who had just lost both parents after all he thought. They're both gone now. I'm all alone. Alone. He hung his tired head in his hands and began to weep, body shaking with sobs that overcame him. He felt the warm embrace of Sailor Jupiter, she held him close and tight as he cried into his own blood soaked hands.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed it