Usagi's Struggles: Revelations from the Future

by Serena530

Two surprises in one event; one of which forces Usagi's hand, which leads to far reaching changes. Changes no one could have anticipated, and revelations no one could have imagined. Sequel to Usagi's Struggles. Warning: Long chapters inside

3. Meetings and Encounters

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or her characters, and have no right to it except as a long time fan.

Meetings and Encounters

Monday: Day One continued...

Night

"I'll stay in the area and escort you home when you're done." Tuxedo Kamen said.

"Okay." Usagi said before she turned and hurried into Naru's house.

She instantly saw Mrs. Osaka lying on the couch, and moved forward to make sure she was okay. She was positioned comfortably and was breathing fine, so she hurried out of the living and upstairs toward Naru's room. She wanted to make sure she was okay, and knew her presence would be believable since they had been on the phone.

"Naru!" She called as soon as she entered the room and saw her lying on her bed. "Naru!" She called again as she shook her, trying to wake her.

Naru groaned and turned her head from side to side.

"Naru!" Usagi called out again. "Come on! Wake up!"

Naru slowly opened her eyes and blinked the blurriness away before she sat up abruptly.

"What happened to that creature?" She asked worriedly as her eyes darted around her room.

"There was no creature when I got here, but I saw some of the Sailor Senshi leaving." Usagi said, figuring telling her that little truth was okay.

Naru nodded and sighed in relief, but just as quickly looked alarmed when she spotted her damaged bedroom door.

"Where's my mom?!" She asked in slight panic.

"She's unconscious downstairs in the living room." Usagi answered.

Naru got up quickly and the two of them hurried out of her room and downstairs to the living room. Naru saw her mother lying on the couch and she quickly went to her.

"Mom! Mom!" She called out as she shook her, and she moaned.

"Naru?" Her mom said groggily as she opened her eyes.

"Are you okay?" Naru asked, and her mom nodded.

"Yes, and I had the strangest dream." She said and watched her daughter frown.

"That wasn't a dream. That was very real. We're lucky to be alive!" Naru said, and her mom sat up.

"That plant creature was real?" She said, and watched her daughter nod.

"Yes. It attacked me and I guess it went after you after I passed out." Naru said.

"Is it still here?" She asked, looking around in alarm.

"I didn't see any creature when I got here, but I saw a few of the Sailor Senshi leaving. So I guess they must have taken care of it." Usagi said, and the older woman nodded and then blinked at Usagi.

"What are you doing here so late?" Mrs. Osaka asked as it finally registered that her daughter's friend was there.

"I was worried. I was still on the phone with Naru when the creature came into her room, and then I heard her scream before the line went dead." Usagi said, and Mrs. Osaka nodded.

"Thank you for coming, but you should get back home now that you know we're both okay. Your parents must be worried." Mrs. Osaka said.

Usagi sighed wearily, knowing that was more true than the woman knew, and nodded.

"Okay. I'm glad you're both okay." She said.

They thanked her and Naru walked her to the front door, groaning as she saw the condition of the door.

"We won't be sleeping tonight until we at least get this secured." Naru said wearily, and Usagi nodded.

"I hope it won't be too troublesome." She said.

"I'm sure it won't be." Naru said as they stepped outside. "You need to get home quickly. It's clearly dangerous out here." She said.

"I will." Usagi said as she nodded. "I'll see you at school in the morning."

Naru nodded and hugged her before waving her away. "Go on. Hurry." She said.

"Bye." Usagi said with a quick wave before she began to run down the sidewalk back the way she originally came.

She turned the corner and got halfway down the sidewalk before her prince's voice came through their connection.

I'm coming. He told her, and next thing she knew she was being scooped up into his arms and rapidly carried off and out of the area.

Usagi sighed. "Naru's okay." She said as she relaxed in his arms, seeing that he was still transformed.

"I'm glad." Mamoru said. "I hope they don't have trouble fixing their door."

"I don't think they will, but I'm worried they won't be able to secure it properly for the night. The last thing Naru and her mother need is to worry about burglars after what they went through." She said.

"True." He said, and then was quiet as he focused on leaping from one rooftop to the next. "Do you want me to stick around for the talk with your parents?" He asked.

"No. I can handle it, and you staying would only make Luna suspicious if she heard your voice or saw you." Usagi said.

He hummed, reminded that Luna didn't know she had told her parents the truth. Plus, she would have to tell the cat what happened as well.

"I hope you don't stay up too late giving explanations." Mamoru said.

"Me too." She said with a sigh.

A few more minutes passed and they reached her neighborhood. Mamoru continued forward, wanting to make sure his princess made it home but not wanting to be seen bringing her there, and brought her to her backyard.

He placed her on her feet and he kissed her goodbye, enjoying the feel of her arms snaking around him, before he pulled away.

"I'll see you in the morning." He said, and she nodded.

"I'll be waiting. Bye." She said.

"Bye." Mamoru said before he darted away.

---

Usagi watched him until he was out of her sight then sighed and turned toward her backdoor. She turned the handle and was thankful when she found it unlocked even though she knew it shouldn't be.

She stepped in, locking the door behind her, and walked passed the kitchen and through the hallway and toward the living room. She paused just out of sight to see her parents still there, and she knew they were waiting for her.

She moved toward the stairs and used her crystal to block access to the downstairs and sound from reaching upstairs. The last thing she wanted was for either Shingo or Luna to come down and hear the conversation she was about to have with her parents.

Then she released her hold on her power and the casual clothes she was wearing shifted back into her pajamas, but she kept her hair color the golden blonde color. It would stay like that until she was safe in her room.

"I'm back." Usagi said as she walked into the living room, and watched her parents jump up.

"Usagi!" Her father said.

"Are you okay?" Her mother asked.

Both spoke at the same time, and then paused and looked around cautiously as they remembered her warning about making sure Luna didn't hear them talking about her secret life.

Usagi smiled at that. "It's okay. I made sure we won't be interrupted or heard by either Luna or Shingo." She said. "And I'm perfectly fine." She assured them before she walked further into the living room, and dropped into the chair she had been sitting in before she left with a sigh.

"What happened?" Her father asked.

"Are Naru and her mother okay?" Her mother asked almost at the same time he did.

"First, Naru and her mother are also perfectly fine, and second, what happened was that there's a new enemy in the city." Usagi said, and frowned slightly as she wondered if she should tell them about the night before or just about the attack.

You might as well tell them about last night. Mamoru said suddenly, having been monitoring her thoughts since he left since he knew she was going to be speaking about the fight. This is, after all, a benefit of them knowing the truth. They can't get upset with you for doing your job, and you don't have to tell them exactly how you knew about the events that occurred if you don't want to.

Okay. She replied. "Last night we learned of a mysterious living object crash landing in the city, and me, the girls, and Mamoru went out to the crash site to get a look and see what we could find out. The object was gone when we got there, but it was obvious that it was very large, and we learned that whatever it was it was plant based." She began to explain.

"That occurrence told us that it was extremely possible that our new enemy had just arrived, so we decided to be watchful of anything odd or new, and to pay attention to any familiar behavior from what we had seen from the Negaverse." She continued.

"Then obviously tonight Naru was attacked by a creature that had taken both her and her mother's life energy. Thankfully the defeat of the creature returned their energy." She said.

"Had there been anything odd or new you all noticed today?" Her father asked.

"Yes actually. There are two new students at my school; a brother and sister that just moved to the city." Usagi revealed.

"Is there anything strange about them?" He asked.

"No. Not that I saw, but it was only their first day." She answered.

"What did the creature look like?" Her mother asked, and she described it as she remembered it, but they looked unsure; as if they couldn't imagine it right.

Usagi frowned and wondered how else she could describe the creature so they could understand, but she couldn't think of another way.

I wish I had a picture or something. She thought. Oh! I wonder if I can use my crystal to show them the creature. She suddenly thought a moment later.

It will be interesting to see if it will work. If it does then keeping your parents in the loop will be easier, and it can be possible for me to do the same with my crystal. Mamoru said.

True. Usagi agreed before she wordlessly summoned her silver crystal.

"I'm going to try and show you what the creature looked like, but it might not work since I've never tried something like this before." She told her parents.

They nodded and she closed her eyes to better focus. As she was picturing the creature it suddenly occurred to her that she might be able to show her parents the actual fight. After all they still worried about her, and despite knowing she wasn't fighting alone they still wondered about her capabilities.

Mamoru? She said questioningly.

If you want to do it why not? He said. What I said before applies even more if you can show them battle scenes. You can even show them past instances.

Usagi hummed thoughtfully. Her prince was right, and it gave her ideas. She had told them about a lot of her experiences after she revealed the truth to them and even more when they had asked, but it wasn't the same as seeing it. She could show them previous fight scenes, and memories of the past. That is if she could do what she was trying to do.

She sensed confidence and support from her prince and she took encouragement from that as she spoke to her crystal.

Please show my parents the fight I was just involved in, from my arrival to the creatures destruction, minus the inner commentary between me and my soulmate. She asked softly.

Her crystal pulsed warmly between her hands and she saw a bright light behind her eyelids and opened her eyes when the light faded.

Ikuko and Kenji squinted their eyes at the bright light their daughters crystal produced and when it faded they gasped to see that they were no longer in their living room but out on a dark street lit only by street lights. They looked to their daughter standing next to them.

"We're actually still in the living room, but I asked my crystal to show you the fight instead of just the creature." Usagi explained.

She was actually surprised that her crystal had interpreted that as showing the scene as if they had actually been there. She actually preferred that to anything she could have imagined.

Kenji and Ikuko looked back to the scene just in time to see Sailor Moon, their daughter, run by them at a speed reserved for Olympic track & field gold medalists. Somehow they moved along with her, and guessed it was the power of the silver crystal that was the cause.

They turned the corner and saw Sailor Venus land on the second floor windowsill before disappearing inside. Then their eyes focused back on their daughter as she approached a door, and flinched as her hand was almost taken off as the door was blasted down as she was reaching for it.

They watched simultaneously as Sailor Jupiter flew through the doorway, which was why the door was blasted down, with a cry of pain, and their daughter react instantly, spinning away to fall to the ground instead of being hit before quickly turning around as she got to her feet.

Before they could even see if she was okay a creature appeared through the doorway looking like nothing they had ever seen before. Solid green eyes, a muscled female figure, pink-lavender skin tone, clothes that looked like they were made of moss, a large flower blossom for a hand, and actual vampire-like fangs in its mouth.

Ikuko cried out in alarm as the creature shot vines at their daughter from its flower hand, but their daughter instantly made a sword appear out of thin air and chopped a chunk of the vines off before they reached her then moved over near Sailor Jupiter as she stood up.

They listened as the creature screamed in pain, and they tensed as it began to step toward the girls. They were surprised when it was suddenly hit in the back with a fireball and they looked up with the senshi to see Sailor Mars standing on the roof.

The next thing they knew Sailor Venus appeared in the damaged doorway and fired an orange-gold beam at the creature, blasting it forward as their daughter and Sailor Jupiter moved out of the way.

They watched as all the Senshi gathered together, Sailor Mercury the only one missing, and listened to their brief conversation before they began to attack the creature. While watching the action they focused on their daughter, especially as the creature shot more vines at her. Once again she sliced into the vines with the sword she held before she pulled off her tiara and charged it up.

The other senshi continued to attack the creature, and they watched in shock as Sailor Venus' attack took the creatures arm off. Right after that, the creature still screaming in pain, their daughter threw her tiara.

It flew straight and true and struck the creature in the chest, and they watched as it screamed again and began to glow before it shrunk down and surprisingly into what looked like a card.

The older couple blinked as the scene around them faded away, and they found themselves back in their living room sitting as if nothing had happened.

Usagi put her crystal away and watched her parents look at each other in shock and awe. They were clearly still reacting to the experience.

It worked. She told Mamoru.

Good. He said. I have no doubt we'll both be using the ability in the future, but I still need to try it myself just to be completely sure it will work for me.

Yes. She agreed. Is there anything you want to show me? She asked, and listened as he hummed thoughtfully.

Actually there is. It's one of my past memories that I think you'll appreciate. Mamoru answered.

I can't wait. She said before she focused back on her parents.

"That was an amazing experience even though it was nerve wracking to watch. More importantly it was enlightening to get to see you in action." Ikuko said.

"Yes." Kenji agreed as he nodded. "When did you learn how to use a sword? Was it something you knew in your past?" He asked, and watched her shake her head.

"I didn't know how to use a sword in the past. I learned from Mamoru and Minako when I was training with them to rejoin the Senshi. I'm actually still learning to use it." Usagi answered.

"Where did you get the sword?" Ikuko asked.

"It was created from the silver crystal in the past in order to protect me. It was used by the Senshi back then, but because I'm now a senshi and can protect myself it belongs to me." She answered before her father spoke up.

"Where was Tuxedo Kamen, I mean Mamoru, and Sailor Mercury?" Kenji asked.

"They were both there. Mamoru was inside checking on Naru and her mother, and if you recall I asked Ami to hang back and get all the information she could on our new enemy." She answered.

"Did she?" He asked.

"She did but we won't find out what she found until we have our meeting tomorrow." Usagi said.

"Can you and the others really run as fast as we just saw?" Ikuko asked curiously.

"Yes." She said as she nodded. "We can run extremely fast, jump really high, and jump from great heights without injuring ourselves. If we had a fear of heights before we became senshi then that disappeared quickly considering we do a lot of running and jumping on rooftops."

"It's eye opening to see you fight." Kenji said. "You have weapons and powers that you clearly know how to use even if you're still learning with the sword. It's already helped a great deal to calm my worry about you being out there fighting as a senshi. The worry will always be there since I'm your father, but my confidence in your ability to keep yourself safe has grown."

Usagi smiled lightly and nodded; that had been what she was hoping for. She considered reminding him that she had guardian senshi to protect her, but she wasn't going to bother considering she only trusted Minako completely.

Makoto and Ami were getting closer and closer to completely gaining her trust, but Rei was out of the question. She could not trust her, and part of her knew that there would be no redeeming her. She was just waiting for Rei to mess up so she could take her ability to be a senshi. She just needed that irrefutable proof, so there would be no questions later from the others.

"I agree with your father." Ikuko said. "It was amazing and yet frightening to see you being attacked, but it also helped us understand that part of your life. It helped drive home that you're a warrior; especially seeing you reacting instantly without any fear."

Usagi watched her father purse his lips and nod in grudging agreement. Clearly not wanting to admit that his daughter was a warrior; after all, warriors could die. She wondered what her father would say if he knew she could die just from using all of her energy while using her silver crystal.

She shook her and sighed. "I'm glad the visual helped you understand, and I'm more than willing to show you more another day." She said, and watched them nod.

"We'll take you up on that." Her father said, and her mother nodded in agreement.

"Okay." She said as she got up. "I'm going to go inform Luna about the attack and then go to sleep, so goodnight."

"Goodnight." Her father said.

"Don't stay up too long." Her mother added.

"I won't." Usagi said before heading up to her room, removing the protections she put into place on her way. Once inside she closed the door to her room with a sigh, releasing the concealment on her hair, and saw Luna sit up.

"Where have you been?! I overheard your parents wondering if you would be okay." Luna said, and she held in another sigh and decided not to give a visual like she had with her parents.

"I was on the phone with Naru when I heard her being attacked." She said as she moved forward and sat on her bed. "All Naru said before the line went dead was that it was a creature. I left the house immediately and contacted everyone to let them know before I transformed and headed toward Naru's house."

Usagi went on to describe her arrival, getting her first look at the creature, and the ensuing fight. Ami had stayed back at her direction and gotten all the information she could on the fight and the creature, which she did and they would learn about at a meeting the next day.

"But more importantly Naru and her mother are both fine. They both had their energy taken, but it was returned once the creature was defeated." She said.

Luna listened in surprise since she hadn't realized anything was going on and was just as surprised at the fact that there really was a new enemy. And that Usagi's friend of all people was attacked.

"This is a clear sign that you need to stop spending time with that girl and keep your distance." Luna said insistently. "If you continue to be around her she's going to continue to get attacked, and we can't afford for her to find out you're a senshi. There's no telling how she would react."

Usagi frowned and simply shook her head, but inside she was very irritated and growing angry with Luna. She talked as if it was her fault Naru was attacked; as if simply knowing her had caused the creature to go after her friend.

"What are you thinking?" She asked her. "I had nothing to do with Naru being attacked."

"This isn't the first time she's been attacked, and she wasn't attacked at all when you weren't friends, so it must have something to do with you. Perhaps it's your energy latching on to Naru." Luna explained patiently as if it was obvious.

Usagi shook her head and got up and turned the light off before climbing under her covers, deciding to end the conversation rather then argue with the feline over her nonsense opinion. She sincerely hoped Artemis could do something with her, because if she continued on her current path she was going to end up like Rei. A lost cause.

"Goodnight." She said and closed her eyes, determined to be well rested for the next day.

Tuesday: Day Two

Artemis' POV

Morning

Artemis walked on the sidewalk in the quiet neighborhood where his princess lived. He had left home at the same time as Minako to make sure he arrived after Usagi had left for school. Now he was almost at her house and moving cautiously to make sure some random person didn't decide they wanted a white cat.

"I hope Luna's at home and didn't go anywhere or I'm going to have to wait for her to get back." He mumbled as looked around.

He still couldn't believe the way Luna was behaving. It seemed she had only taken some of his words to heart. Such as getting to know their princess and supporting her in the things she did and wanted to do.

Aside from that she was slipping back into her previous critical and judgmental ways and pushing their princess away without even realizing it. That didn't even include the lie she was apparently telling herself about everything being fine and well with the girls, and herself and Usagi.

Why was she so intent on assuming the worse with Usagi? Assuming she wasn't doing her homework or studying just because she wasn't seeing her do it, and assuming that she didn't need friends outside of her Guardian Senshi.

What else is she assuming when it comes to our princess? He wondered. Had it even really sunk in that Usagi really was their Princess? That she was the guardian and wielder of the silver crystal, that she was the leader of her Guardian Senshi, that she was the bonded mate of the prince of the Earth?

Did Luna truly understand just how different Usagi was to the girl she had been when she first met her? That remembering her past had changed her even more? Did she even realize that Usagi truly remembered all of her memories of her past as Serenity? Or that she didn't just remember but also identified as Serenity, and didn't differentiate between her identities?

Artemis sighed heavily, and looked around as he realized he had reached the Tsukino house. He walked around the house, not feeling like using his power to go through Usagi's bedroom balcony doors, and found the only open window to be the kitchen window. He carefully leapt up onto the sill and immediately saw Usagi's mother.

"Good morning Mrs. Tsukino." He greeted her quietly, and watched her look up in surprise.

"Good morning Artemis." She greeted in return. "What are you doing here?" She asked curiously.

"I'm here to speak to Luna, and get her to come stay with me and Minako." He answered. "According to Usagi she's not behaving as she should toward her, and I'm hoping spending time with me and talking will help adjust her thinking."

Ikuko nodded understandingly. "Well, come on in." She said and walked over to the door with him and opened it. "Good luck." She said quietly.

"Thank you." Artemis said and made his way up the stairs and to Usagi's bedroom. Looking through the open door he spotted Luna lying on the end of her bed. He closed the door just to keep up the pretense of Usagi's family not knowing the truth.

Luna looked up at the sound of the door closing and was surprised to see Artemis.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, and watched him jump up onto the bed and sit in front of her.

"Is that any way to greet me?" He said as he looked at her.

Luna looked away in embarrassment. "I'm happy to see you; I was just surprised." She said as she looked back to him.

"I'm happy to see you too." Artemis said. "That's actually why I'm here. I was hoping you would come stay with me and Minako for a while, so we can spend time together. It would be nice to finally have someone to talk to while Minako's at school." He explained, and saw that Luna looked interested but hesitant.

"I don't know. I don't want to leave Usagi alone." She said.

"She isn't alone. She has Mamoru, her family, and her friends. Especially her best friend; someone she's known since she was a little girl." Artemis said, and she sighed.

"Both Usagi and Naru would be better off if they parted ways from each other. That's more than clear with the girl being attacked last night." Luna said.

"I told Usagi again last night that she needs to keep her distance from that girl before Naru gets seriously hurt or learns her secret. What will she tell Naru if she learns her secret, and what will Naru do with that information?" She said as she shook her head worriedly.

Artemis stared at Luna in disbelief. Their princess' best friend had been attacked, and the first thing Luna tells her is that she needed to keep her distance from her. As if the attack was somehow her fault.

What was she thinking to say something like that to our princess? And why would she say something like that in the first place? He thought incredulously, and then sighed heavily.

"First off, it was not Usagi's fault that her friend was attacked, and it's unbelievable that you would even insinuate such a thing." Artemis said, the frown clear in his voice.

"Beyond that, why are you so worried about her friend finding out she's a senshi? If anything you should be more concerned about Usagi's family learning her secret. Considering all that happened a few months ago they're sure to be suspicious of something, which is bound to increase with this new enemy." He continued.

"And there's really no way to gauge a persons response to learning such a thing, but I'm inclined to think that if her friend learns she'll be supportive and understanding with how long they've been friends." He stated.

"Ironically Usagi's sure to be treated better by her friend then she ever has been by Rei; a fellow senshi!" He added in exasperation.

Luna looked down, understanding instantly that her fellow guardian did not agree with her. She could see that his words made sense. She should be more concerned with Usagi's family finding out she was a senshi since they lived with her and were more likely to see something then her friend would.

She was actually surprised they hadn't found out the night before since they knew she had left the house suddenly. She just thought her family, who was related to her, would be more understanding and accepting then a friend; especially a friend that had been pushed to the side before.

The same friend who had been in a relationship with or at least had strong feelings for a dark general of the Negaverse. What if that revealed some predisposition to evil, and the girl betrayed Usagi?

"You're right of course, but I just worry about what that girl can do to Usagi." Luna said. "You may not know, may not have been informed yet, but Naru had at the very least strong feelings for one of the dark generals of the Negaverse."

Artemis frowned, wondering what she was thinking now in relation to their princess' friend liking one of the dark general's. It was not as if it mattered now since the general was now dead.

They needed to talk. They needed to have a very long talk. He needed to know her thoughts and understand where her mind was.

"We need to have a serious discussion, one that's going to last until I'm satisfied with what I'm hearing." He said as he stood up and began to step toward the side of the bed.

"We are leaving." He said firmly. "Usagi will be more than fine without you lying around on her bed making the occasional comment. The discussion we're going to have is much more important then that; especially when it comes to your relationship with our princess."

Artemis jumped to the floor his crescent moon glowing briefly as he used his power to open the balcony doors, and turned and tilted his head in a gesture for Luna to go first.

Luna went quietly, feeling concerned about the talk he wanted to have, and Artemis stepped out after her and closed the doors behind him. They leapt out onto a thick branch of the tree next to the balcony and easily made their way to the ground.

Artemis couldn't help thinking about the conversation to come as he began to lead the way back to Minako's home.

I also need to tell her that Usagi's officially ended what little remained of her friendship with Rei at some point during our talk. He reminded himself.

Usagi's POV

Usagi waved to Mamoru before she hurried through the campus gate of her school and into the main building. She was almost desperate to see Naru and once again make sure she was okay after the night before; especially with the front door broken down during the fight.

She quickly moved up the stairs and down the hallway toward her classroom, and once she reached the door she saw her best friend there at her desk. She sighed in relief and went directly to her.

"Naru. How are you doing?" She asked as she reached her.

"I'm fine. Me and my mom managed to secure the front door, and we were able to get to sleep." Naru said. "My mom's going to have someone come and fix our doors today."

"I'm glad for that." Usagi said in relief. "I assured my parents that the two of you were okay." She added.

"Thank you. I'm definitely glad to be okay, but the incident unfortunately brought up painful memories." Naru said with a weary sigh.

Usagi made a sound of sympathy as she sat down; recalling the whole incident where Naru was attacked in her bedroom as a means of getting to Nephrite.

"Do you want to hangout after school and talk about it, and then try to take your mind off it?" She asked her friend.

Naru smiled. It was just like Usagi to want to get the issue out there so she didn't bottle up what she was feeling, and then try to distract her with something fun.

"Sure. Do you have any ideas on what we can do?" She asked.

They ended up discussing various things they could do before they would have to get home until their teacher entered the room. Then Usagi got up and quickly moved to her assigned seat.

4 hours later...

Usagi and Naru sat outside in the large courtyard on a short cement wall eating their lunch and chatting about their plans for after school.

Usagi laughed at something Naru said, and out of the corner of her eye she saw someone walking toward them. She turned her head and looked over to see the new guy heading their way.

My prince. Usagi called to Mamoru as Naru looked toward the guy. The new boy is heading in my direction.

Are you alone? She heard him ask instantly.

Naru is with me. Ami and Makoto are elsewhere. Ami is speaking to our teacher and Makoto is speaking to our gym instructor. She explained as the guy stopped in front of them.

"Hello." He greeted them. "I'm Ginga Seijuro." He introduced himself.

"I'm Usagi." She said simply.

"I'm Naru." Naru said, taking her cue from Usagi to only give her first name.

"I saw you in the hallway yesterday, and I've been thinking about you ever since." Seijuro said as he focused on Usagi.

Usagi blinked and shared a surprised bewildered look with Naru before looking back to the guy.

"You're beautiful and have such an attention grabbing laugh, and I just wanted to know if you would go out with me some time?" Seijuro said.

"Thank you for the compliment of your notice, but I have a serious boyfriend." Usagi said. A charming prince, and a loving soulmate. She added for her prince.

I love you too. Mamoru said simply since that's what her words amounted to.

Seijuro frowned slightly and nodded as he stared at her, his eyes flickering around her face.

"Okay." He said before he turned and began to walk away.

Usagi watched him walk away, wanting to make sure he was leaving.

"That was weird." Naru said, and Usagi glanced her way.

"Very." She said.

"He noticed you yesterday and wants to go out with you based on nothing more than how you look and laugh." Naru said quietly.

"It is a bit unsettling." Usagi said. Creepy; especially if he turns out to be an enemy. She added.

True. Mamoru agreed.

"He didn't even wait a few weeks, even a few days, to get to know me first." She added.

"It's a good thing you're not single or you would have to keep dealing with him." Naru said.

I'm not sure about that. The way he stared at me gives the impression that he's not going to accept that I'm not single or care about that fact. Usagi thought.

I agree. Mamoru said. Be careful around him. Avoid being alone with him at school if you can help it. He told her. Left unsaid was that she definitely would not be alone when outside of school.

I will. She said. Oh don't pick me up after school. I want to spend some time with Naru. I'll call for a meeting to discuss last nights attack when I part ways with Naru. She added.

Okay. I'll see you at the meeting. Have a good time. Mamoru said.

Thanks love. She replied.

4 hours later...

Usagi and Naru walked away down the sidewalk talking about random inconsequential things as they moved further and further from their school.

Usagi had told Ami and Makoto that she was going to be hanging out with Naru, and would contact them later about their meeting so they wouldn't worry and try to join them.

They were currently heading for a bookstore since Usagi wanted to get a book she could read that was in English to better help her get used to reading and speaking the language for class. As they walked they passed the arcade, not wanting to stop in there since they wanted to talk without people they knew coming up to them every few minutes.

After nearly twenty minutes they reached a bookstore and went inside and began to search. Naru had decided that Usagi's idea was good and wanted a book for herself. They both decided on a fiction novel.

Roaming through the isles Usagi looked through the romance selection and eventually decided to get a Jane Austen book, Northanger Abbey. It wasn't the most popular of the authors books judging by the sign but she like the description of it.

She began to head for her friend when she decided in a split second to grab herself a manga as an added bonus simply because she liked manga.

A few minutes later Naru found her and showed her the sci-fi romance she had decided on called, The Host. They described their choice to each other as they headed for the cash register, and promised they would tell each other how the story progressed since neither had read the books.

After they bought their books they headed straight for the mall, which was close by, to do some window shopping. They started on the ground floor at one end of the mall and gradually made their way to the other end before taking the escalator up to the second floor.

They looked at clothes, movies, music, and perfumes and lotions before they decided to take a break and grab a snack. The friends walked to the food court and got a small bag each of fresh baked mini cookies and a drink before they found a table to sit at to rest their legs.

Usagi sighed lightly after she took a sip of her drink then looked to Naru.

"Tell me about the memories the attack brought up." She said calmly.

She had deliberately waited until they had somewhere to sit and were in a somewhat private place where they wouldn't be interrupted by anyone they knew before she brought up the subject.

Naru sighed heavily and her expression instantly saddened.

"When the creature came through my window last night it reminded me of the time when three other creatures came through my window, and took me and held me hostage as bait to get to Nephrite." She said quietly.

"They didn't hurt me, they just took me to a rundown abandoned building, and tied me up so I couldn't leave." She added and paused to take a sip from her straw to give herself some time. "Nephrite came and rescued me. I remember his arm being injured in the process and ripping my pajama top to wrap the wound when we were safely away."

"Later that night one of the creatures unexpectedly appeared again, and attacked him with some kind of green vines that went straight through his shoulder. I remember the horror that went through me as the creature said it would take all his energy, killing him, and how I hadn't wanted that." She continued.

"I was determined to help him, to try and stop it from happening, by pulling the vines out." She explained as she recalled the pain of the lightning-like energy crackling around the vines and her hands as she tried to pull one out.

Naru closed her eyes as she remembered Nephrite telling her to stop and to run, to get away, but she had refused; she had wanted to help him, regardless of how useless she was, and hadn't wanted him to be alone with those creatures while he was injured.

"The vines came out a little, and when the creature saw that, it attacked us. Nephrite saved me from it, but was injured further in the process." She said as she opened her eyes. "I felt so helpless. The guy I cared so much about had protected me twice, injured both times, and I hadn't been able to do anything to help him."

Naru pursed her lips together tightly and blinked back tears as she remembered him dying in her arms. That agonizing heart stopping pain of watching someone you love die right before your eyes.

She never thought she would experience such a thing, and when it happened she had broken down into a sobbing mess not knowing what to think or do.

"The attack last night, when that creature came through my window, instantly brought back all those memories. It brought back the helplessness, and reminded me that there would be no Nephrite coming to help me. Reminded me that he's gone and I'll never see the man I loved again." She said.

"I still miss him so very much." Naru said as she looked to Usagi. "His absence still hurts, and now it feels fresh all over again because of that attack."

Usagi looked at her with a sympathetic look completely empathizing with her. Naru hadn't said it out loud but she had been there as Sailor Moon and knew exactly what she was thinking.

She had seen the man she loved killed right in front of her, protecting her, and she had been helpless too. She had been unable to do anything but cry and then kill herself to join him. Even now in this new life the memory of it still had the ability to cause her grief and pain.

However, unlike Naru she was lucky enough to have the man she loved with her in this life.

"There's nothing I can do or say to make the pain go away, and I wouldn't even if I could." She said. "You loved him, still love him, and that is enough to keep his memory alive. The fact that he risked his safety and life for you proves that he cared for you as well, and he deserves to be remembered."

"I imagine that even though that pain and grief won't go away it will get easier to handle over time. You should allow yourself to think about him, to grieve, but not stop living your life. You've done well coming to school today, although I imagine even if you wanted to stay home it would've been hard with the memories just being there would bring." Usagi added, and Naru nodded.

"I considered staying home but the memories are too fresh, and seeing the doors damaged didn't help." Naru said. "And being at school distracted me and took my mind off the constant ache of his loss."

"I hope our impromptu outing helped a little." Usagi said, and she nodded.

"It did, and so did the cookies." Naru said as she grabbed one out of her bag.

"Sweet things always help." Usagi said as she laughed lightly.

From there they moved on to talk a little about school, and how the new guy had approached Usagi.

"Will you tell Mamoru?" Naru wondered.

"I absolutely will; especially since he reacted oddly when I said I had a boyfriend." Usagi said. "He either didn't believe me or he didn't care, and I think he'll approach me again."

Naru blinked in surprise and thought back to that encounter at school, and remembered the way he looked at Usagi after she'd said that.

"You're likely right. He might even think he has a chance with you despite having a boyfriend since you didn't outright reject him." She said.

Usagi sighed heavily. She hadn't considered that. She hadn't wanted to be rude or mean, and thought saying she had a boyfriend was rejection enough.

"Maybe whatever he's thinking will change when he sees me with Mamoru." She said as she shrugged lightly.

Naru nodded and they decided to continue walking around the second floor of the mall to visit the stores they had yet to go to. Looking at things they might come back for when they had a little more money.

As they walked Usagi's communicator suddenly went off, beeping like an alarm, and she glanced at it briefly and knew she had to make up an excuse quickly; one that didn't leave her friend feeling abandoned.

Usagi sighed in frustration that she even had to do that. "It's a reminder that my mom needs me home soon." She said, and her friend nodded.

"It's fine. I should get home as well to see if the damaged doors have been fixed from what that creature did." Naru said, and Usagi nodded and hugged her friend who returned it readily.

"I'll call you later to find out if they've been fixed okay. And you be safe." Usagi said.

"You be safe too." Naru said.

"I will. Bye." Usagi said.

"Bye." Naru said, and watched her turn and run off.

Once Usagi was at a safe enough distance that Naru couldn't see what she was doing if she was looking she opened her communicator, and saw the blue Mercury button flashing.

Rei's POV

Rei walked up the long stairs to her home with a sigh; happy to finally be home. She hadn't been able to really think about all that had happened yesterday with the meeting and beyond after it had happened, and had forced herself not to think about it while at school, but now she was home and felt free to do so without any distractions.

After talking to Minako the meeting hadn't relayed any new information about the enemy she, and the others, now knew was really here. She would have to wait for the next meeting to see what Ami had discovered.

Beyond that and getting a new communicator there was the issue with the great fire. She didn't know why the fire reacted as it did. Was it because she had been distracted? She frowned as she thought back on what she had been thinking.

She had been thinking about Mamoru's new abilities that had gotten them the information that a new enemy might have arrived, and what it must be like to have those abilities. She had also wondered if Usagi could use those abilities because of their bond, which led her to wish she had that connection with Mamoru.

Which spiraled into thoughts about Mamoru, and how nice it was to see him after the months that had passed since the defeat of the Negaverse. She thought, and wondered if that was it; if that was why the fire had flared up out of control, because she had been distracted by thoughts of Mamoru.

She didn't see what was so wrong with that. She had been thinking of how he shouldn't stay away from their group training, so he could get used to working with them all and make it easier for him to be protected.

It wasn't wrong to want his safety, so the fire couldn't have objected to that. It must have just been her distraction from what she was supposed to have been looking for.

Rei looked around at the few scattered visitors as she walked toward her house. After she entered she greeted her grandfather before she made her way to her room.

She placed her school bag on her desk, and began to change out of her school uniform as she turned her thoughts to Usagi confronting her about ignoring her call, and ending their friendship.

She had already acknowledged that it was wrong of her to have ignored a call; especially since it had been a reaction to seeing Usagi's symbol flashing. She had let her previous feelings, the feelings she was still trying to get pass, surface in an instant, without thought, and it was obvious it hadn't been without consequences. Never mind the fact that in ignoring Usagi's call she had ignored her princess' call; a call that could have been a request for aid in an attack.

Usagi knew the actual reason why she had ignored her call, had known it from the moment she didn't answer, and had actually ended their friendship because of it.

That still surprised her. It hadn't been the best friendship, for a long time now, but she still hadn't expected Usagi to go that far. Especially since she hadn't after Rei had unknowingly attacked Mamoru.

Still, she supposed it was the build up of events that did it. Her attitude toward Usagi, what she had been saying to and about her, not answering her communicator, and her feelings for Mamoru.

Because she did still have those feelings. Rei could admit that to herself. She had tried to move pass her feelings once she learned that Usagi was the princess she was supposed to be protecting and he was the Earth Prince she had loved in the past.

But her efforts didn't last long. Watching him get pulled into Metalia and her fear for him had told her it was a losing battle that she wasn't going to waste anymore time fighting. She had just tried to keep her feelings to herself, and not let anyone know she still had them. But judging by Usagi's words she hadn't been fooled, which meant Mamoru knew as well.

As Rei finished changing her clothes she sighed and sat on her bed. She could hardly describe seeing Mamoru again; for the first time since the Negaverse had been defeated for good. He was still so good looking, and still displayed that quiet calm that she had come to expect; though she knew now he could be passionate.

Obviously he and Usagi's relationship was fine judging by how close they looked at the meeting, which reminded her of the exact nature of their relationship.

Princess of the Moon and Prince of the Earth, in a strong relationship in the past, Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen, soulmates, and bonded mates. She listed.

Despite that pertinent knowledge Rei still cared for Mamoru, still wanted to be with him, and still wanted him to like her. She was rapidly coming to not care about his relationship with the princess she was supposed to protect, and trying to find a way around it.

But she couldn't do that if he didn't like her. How could she get him to like her? What did she have to do? Was he still angry with her for assuming there was more to their few dates, for how she treated Usagi, for attacking him and causing him to be captured by their enemy?

How could she get answers to those questions when he was clearly staying away from her? He hadn't even looked at her during the meeting!

Rei didn't know the answer to that question, but she did know being friends with Usagi wasn't helping her to get what she wanted. And now that she was really thinking about it she decided that she was fine with Usagi ending their friendship. Over the past months she had grown uninterested in being her friend.

After all, you couldn't really be friends with a girl if you both seriously liked the same guy, and Rei still thought she was the better girl for Mamoru. She still felt she was smarter and more sophisticated than Usagi and could relate better to him.

Still, despite believing herself to be better than Usagi and not wanting to be her friend anymore, she was still her princess and she didn't want her dead. She could still protect her, and turn Mamoru's affections toward her.

And of course being the better fighter, and the better senshi will help. She thought. Especially since she now knew she really was the better senshi with Usagi needing to be protected. She hadn't been a fighter in the past, being the Moon Princess, and knew nothing of fighting.

So of course I'm the better fighter, and I'll help Mamoru see that. She thought, but before she could continue she heard her communicator beeping like an alarm going off. She pressed the button to open the communicator, and saw the green button for Jupiter flashing.

Mamoru's POV

Mamoru sat in the living room of his apartment reading through a section of one of his textbooks. After school he had driven himself home and decided to do some reading and studying.

He put the book down and stretched before looking to the clock on his wall. It had been a few hours and was nearing the time Usagi would get out of school, so he decided to get himself something to eat since he didn't feel like making anything.

After that I might go visit Motoki since it's been a few days since I last saw him. He thought as he got up.

Mamoru grabbed his keys and wallet from the side table by the door and left his apartment. A short elevator ride later and he was exiting the building on foot since he didn't have to pick up Usagi and didn't plan on being gone long.

Plus it had been a long time since he had walked any real distance since he was always picking up and dropping Usagi off.

As he walked he looked for a restaurant, cafe, or fast food place before eventually deciding to eat at the arcade since nothing was looking appealing. He walked another two blocks, heading closer to the arcade, and paused suddenly as he was passing a small clothing store.

He turned to face the window and saw a white blouse on a mannequin. It was a v-neck wrap top that tied in the front off to the side with sheer quarter sleeves that stopped just after the elbows.

It instantly brought a memory of the past to the forefront of his mind.

---

Endymion sighed as he sat alone at the desk in his sitting room looking out the window at the bright day. He hadn't been able to see Serenity in a few days and it was grating on him.

The only thing he could do was remember her, picture her in his mind, down to the last detail; although he knew he was supposed to be working on the mock battle plans in front of him.

He started with her crystal like blue eyes, the current color of the sky strongly reminded him of her beautiful blue orbs. Always when she looked at him it was with honesty, admiration, and recently love.

The beautiful golden crescent moon that sat perfectly centered on her forehead and framed by the bangs of her hair. Her beautiful moonlight white hair was something else about her that always stood out to him. It was such a unique style, those twin buns on top of her head, and the trailing streams of tresses so very long.

Her petite yet full figure. The top of her head barely reached his shoulders so short was she, and yet her figure was full, her curves hidden by her silk gown. Her gown; the gorgeous white gown that blended with her hair and made her eyes stand out. The tight perfectly fitted elaborately yet tastefully decorated bodice that led back to a large bow, the off the shoulder assents, and silk that trailed down her body and hid her feet.

He loved her in her white gown, and thought she should always wear that color. He closed his eyes and imagined her in a white dress, something formal and yet casual, something she could wear with heels in a ballroom or barefoot on a beach. It would have to be modest and show her innocence, and yet show off her lovely figure.

He imagined a fitted bodice around her bosom in a crisscrossed wrap fashion, decorated elegantly with small white pearls and delicate gold beads; beads that trickled slightly down the fabric from her bodice.

Thin yet strong barely visible straps, more for decoration than actually helping to hold the dress on her figure, and silk fabric flowing down her body just pass her ankles but not covering her feet.

He sighed at the image his Serenity made in his mind, and decided in that moment that he had to see her in that dress. He didn't think she would be able to wear it, but he was fine with just seeing her try it on.

Endymion opened his eyes and got to his feet and quickly left his sitting room in search of an artist. He found one of the artists that assisted the official palace painter, the one who painted the portraits of all the royals, and then described what he wanted.

They were soon sitting down together in the man's room and he was drawing what Endymion described to him. It took three tries, because a single detail was off with the others, before Endymion was satisfied with the drawing.

He thanked the man and took the drawing to the royal dressmaker knowing that the woman would be able to make the dress since she had been making his mother's dresses for years.

---

"Hi." Mamoru suddenly heard a feminine voice say, and he blinked rapidly and looked over, annoyed at having his reminiscing interrupted.

He saw a girl who was wearing the same school uniform as his girlfriend, so he knew right off that she went to that school. She had pale skin, red hair just pass her shoulders, and brown eyes.

Is this the new girl Usagi was talking about? He wondered since she fit the description, but had no way of knowing without his girlfriend being there, so he looked back through the window at the blouse that had caught his attention.

"I'm Natsumi." She said, and he glanced at her briefly and nodded, uninterested in giving this girl his name. "Will you go out with me to get something to eat, so we can get to know each other?" She asked boldly, and he turned and looked at her smiling face.

"I have a girlfriend." Mamoru said firmly before he stepped around her and into the store to buy the white blouse for Usagi.

He found the exact blouse hanging on the racks, and shuffled through them until he found the size he believed would fit his princess. He grabbed it and walked up to the register and paid for it after it was scanned and placed in a small pale orange thick plastic bag.

He thanked the cashier and left the store, happy to see that the girl was gone, and continued on his way to the arcade his friend worked at.

I wonder how hard it would be to get that dress made. He wondered as he walked along the sidewalk.

Halfway down the block his new communicator began to go off. He paused and looked around before he opened it and saw the orange button for Venus flashing.

Unknown location

In a massive dark room the silhouette of a male with long blue hair walked forward with a slender female with long pink hair in his arms. He leapt gracefully up onto a large green root before leaping to another and another until he reached a high one and lay the female on the thick root.

He frowned as she lay unmoving, and looked up to the massive tree with its reddish pink leaves. It trembled lightly before a vine wove its way toward them, and as it reached them it stretched over his companion and a flower blossom grew and opened before raining down a light of energy on her.

She stretched languorously and sat up as she opened her eyes, and both watched as the vine withered and dropped on a root and further to the floor with a thud.

"We need more energy." The male said as he frowned, and the female nodded and watched as he pulled out a hand full of familiar cards.

He held them up, spread out, and lifted an eyebrow as he looked to her.

She raised her hand, pointed a finger up toward his hand, and flicked her finger causing a card toward the right side of his hand to rise up into the air.

The male put the remaining cards away and pulled out a flute, and lifted it to his mouth and began to play. A soothing yet lifting melody drifted from the flute, and the floating card began to glow. It stretched and grew longer and grew protrusions until a figure floated there.

"Go collect energy." The male commanded after he stopped playing and lowered his flute.

The female waved her hand, and a portal like hole opened behind the figure showing daylight.

"Minotauron." The figure said in a quiet tone, feminine and intelligent, before it leapt through the portal hole.

Meanwhile...

Minako walked up to the building that housed Makoto's apartment and pressed the doorbell for hers. A few moments later she saw Makoto through the window and the next she was opening the door to the building.

"Hey. Come on in." Makoto said as she waved her in. "Ami's here; we've only been here about twenty minutes." She said as they walked up the stairs, and Minako nodded.

"I'm glad you haven't been waiting long. I hurried over here to make sure we had as much time as we need to talk before the meeting is called." She said.

"It will probably be a while since Usagi's hanging out with Naru." Makoto said as they entered her apartment.

Minako nodded and made a sound of understanding before she stepped further into the apartment. "Hi Ami." She said as she spotted her sitting on the couch.

They settled down in their seats on the couch, and Minako sighed as she put her school bag on the coffee table in front of her and then looked to her friends and fellow senshi.

"What I have to say is about what I learned after the meeting yesterday. Usagi wants you to know, and I volunteered so she can do what she wanted to today." She said, and Ami and Makoto nodded.

"First is what happened during the meeting with the fire. Apparently it didn't happen because Rei was distracted. It happened because of Rei herself." Minako informed them.

"Usagi explained that being Sailor Mars connects Rei to fire, not being a priestess, and the fire flaring up the way it did means that it's rejecting her and refusing to grant her guidance and knowledge." She explained, and Ami and Makoto's eyes widened and she nodded at their surprise. "The fire was reacting to something going on inside her that she wasn't showing us, which is very serious."

"That being said you're to keep this knowledge to yourselves. Me, Artemis, and of course Mamoru know, but Usagi doesn't want Luna knowing because she might tell Rei, and that would lead her to try and fix herself to make her ability work." Minako said seriously, and Makoto and Ami shared a look.

"Why would that be so wrong?" Ami asked.

"It's wrong because Rei shouldn't need to fix herself for her powers to work properly." Minako answered firmly. "She's a senshi, guardian to our princess, and needs to be on point at all times. There should be no breakdown in her abilities like that. It means there's a deeper issue; a mental breakdown."

"Her behavior toward Usagi isn't changing, she isn't interested in being her friend or close to her, and she still has an attraction and feelings for Mamoru. Those things can cause Rei to neglect her duty toward Usagi, and if we aren't careful we could end up with an injured or dead princess as a result." She continued seriously.

"I actually don't want her being a senshi anymore in light of the issue with the fire, but Usagi's giving her a last chance to improve. That means from now on the three of us are going to have to be extra vigilant when it comes to protecting Usagi, because Rei might not, or her powers might desert her in the middle of a fight." Minako explained. It went without saying that Mamoru would watch Usagi's back.

Ami and Makoto understood and nodded firmly. They would protect their friend and Princess.

Minako sighed and took a breath before continuing.

"Now the second thing I need to tell you. Usagi ended her friendship with Rei. She's going to stay away from her, and doesn't want you bringing her around her." She informed them.

"Why now? Why is Usagi ending their friendship? What happened or was it about the fire?" Ami asked.

"It's for the same reason I mentioned earlier. Rei's behavior toward Usagi isn't changing, she isn't interested in being her friend or close to her, and she still has an attraction and feelings for Mamoru." Minako said. "Add to that Usagi confronting her about not answering her call last night, especially since she tried calling her twice, and knew that Rei had deliberately ignored it because it was her contacting her."

Ami and Makoto were surprised to learn that Rei had deliberately ignored Usagi's call last night, but it was obviously the only reason there could have been considering the situation for her to not have met up with them last night.

"Are you going to end your friendship with Rei too?" Makoto asked after a slight stretch of silence.

"I don't really have a friendship with her. I tried to get to know her, and what I found I didn't like." Minako said. "You may not have noticed but I have deliberately kept my distance from her. I don't like her as a person and even less as a senshi. I don't trust her and want nothing to do with her."

"Now I don't have to outside of Senshi business, and in regards to that I'm just waiting for her to mess up again because I have no doubt that as soon as she does Usagi will remove her as one of her guardians." She added seriously.

Makoto and Ami blinked their eyes wide. They couldn't imagine Rei not being a senshi, even after seeing the two examples of her power and ability to be a senshi taken from her.

It was still hard to imagine, and it raised questions. If Rei did get removed then the princess', Usagi's, Guardian Senshi would be incomplete. They couldn't be replaced, so what would happen?

"Does Usagi not trust Luna?" Ami asked after she shook her head to clear it of her previous thought, and listened to her sigh heavily.

"I'm not sure, but when it comes to the situation with Rei she definitely doesn't." Minako said, and explained how Usagi believed Luna was living in a fantasy where everything was back to how it was when they had first been awakened as senshi. As if they were all getting along and trusted each other completely; there were no problems.

Ami and Makoto frowned in surprise and confusion, but before either of them could say anything Ami's computer went off. She quickly pulled it out and saw that there was an attack happening at that very moment.

"I've got the location narrowed down to a room inside a television station." She said as she typed on her minicomputer.

Minako immediately lifted her wrist. "I'll contact Mamoru." She said before she opened her communicator and pressed the gold button with a dark blue Earth symbol on it.

"I'll contact Rei." Makoto announced as she lifted her wrist, and opened her communicator and pressed the red button with the Mars symbol on it.

"Then that leaves Usagi for me." Ami said while she closed her computer and put it away before she opened her communicator, and pressed the white button with a gold crescent moon on it.

The three girls got up and quickly left the apartment, Minako and Ami putting their school bags in their subspace pocket, and the building altogether as Rei, Mamoru, and Usagi answered. They quickly informed them of the attack and location, and said that they were already on their way.

Usagi, Mamoru, and Rei said they would be there as soon as possible, and the girls ended the connection and focused on finding a location to transform.

They found it a few minutes later in a back alley behind some restaurants. They made sure there were no cameras, and the windows either closed or covered up, before they pulled out their transformation pens.

"Jupiter Power, Make Up!" Makoto called out.

"Venus Power, Make Up!" Minako said firmly.

"Mercury Power, Make Up!" Ami said calmly.

Orange light and beams, green light and electricity, and blue light and water flowed out of their pens and surrounded the girls for long moments, and when it cleared Sailor Mercury stood, her blue eyes and hair blending in with the blue of her sailor uniform, with Sailor Venus next to her with her yellow-orange eyes and golden-yellow hair, and Sailor Jupiter next to her with her green hair and eyes on display.

They checked each other over before they nodded and ran off; continuing on their way to the television station.

.:xXx:.

The Sailor Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen made their way through the building, many getting directions from Mercury through their communicators, until they were all gathered outside a closed door that said 'Audition Room'.

Sailor Jupiter opened it, being the closest, and they all quickly filed in and spread out before they noticed they were seeing some kind of stage set, and women were lying around on the floor unconscious.

Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus, and Tuxedo Kamen grimaced as the set looked uncomfortably similar to what the ruins of the Moon Kingdom had looked like.

Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Mercury began to move among the downed women to see if they were actually unconscious or worse. Mercury activating her visor immediately to aid her as well as obtain information.

The others moved further into the room keeping a lookout, for the creature that had obviously been there, so their distracted comrades wouldn't get blindsided.

Mercury and Tuxedo Kamen checked each woman, and soon confirmed that they were only unconscious and in all likelihood had their energy taken. They got to their feet and they all continued to move forward into the set; cautiously looking around for the creature responsible.

Mercury looked around carefully, even turning around as she walked to look behind them, to see if her visor could pick anything up.

The set itself was normal; made of man-made materials and set up professionally, so she ignored that. What she paid attention to was that everything was sturdy and solid. If they were hit with one of those tall pillars then it would definitely hurt. If they ran into a wall they would not go through it, unless they were slammed into it extremely hard.

"You guys. All of these surfaces are sturdy and solid, so if we get hit by them or knocked into them it's going to seriously hurt." She warned, and everyone nodded silently and continued to walk, slightly spaced out to give themselves room to move.

Jupiter looked up and her eyes widened at what she saw.

"Look up!" She quickly alerted everyone.

They did and easily spotted the creature they were looking for standing on a tall pillar. It was tall with a feminine figure, had large white horns on its head, short dark reddish brown hair, red eyes, and light blue tinted skin.

It wore an orange long sleeve halter top bodysuit with a cut out exposing its stomach with attached gloves, and a thin tail with a tuff of white fur at the end. It had exposed shoulders, an orange collar around its neck, a thick gold arm band on its left forearm, white armor on its shoulders, and some kind of white things attached to the sides of its thighs.

The creature leapt off the pillar and landed perfectly on a lower one before it bent over and lowered its head.

The Sailor Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen were confused, but quickly moved as they watched the creatures horns quickly extend down toward them. The horns shortened just as quickly and they decided not to wait and see what it would do next. They just attacked.

Tuxedo Kamen threw a hand full of roses up toward the creature, while Sailor Venus fired off her Crescent Beam, and Sailor Mars launched her Fire Soul.

The red roses soared through the air almost in a circle, and just behind them the orange-gold beam flew straight with a fireball right behind it.

The creature jumped down, avoiding the attacks as they passed over its head, and landed on the ground with a thump.

"Minotauron." It said as it narrowed its eyes.

They surrounded it cautiously in a loose wide circle and watched it for sudden movements. The creature bent over slightly, its legs spread apart to the width of its shoulders, and repeatedly slid one of its feet back along the ground like a bull readying to charge.

They shifted in a way that declared their unease, and readiness to move in any direction, at the creatures movements.

Supreme Thunder. Jupiter silently fired off; green lightning bolts shooting out of her hands.

Mercury Ice Bubbles. Mercury followed up sending blue transparent bubbles quickly racing toward the creature with the lightning.

The creature crouched down, avoiding both attacks, then leapt back away from a pair of roses before it kicked back at Venus who quickly leapt back herself to avoid the blow.

Crescent Beam. She called internally as soon as her footing was stable, and nailed the creature in the back.

"Minotauron!" The creature cried out and flew forward.

Tuxedo and Jupiter who were near each other quickly moved to the side to let the creature fly between them and straight into a wall. The wall crumbled around it, nearly burying it, and they all shifted until they were facing it, looking for any movements.

Suddenly horns extended out from the rubble, shooting toward them rapidly, and those in their path sidestepped or jumped out of the way before the horns withdrew.

"Minotauron!" The creature yelled as it burst up from the rubble, and charged toward them in anger.

Crescent Beam. Venus shot at its legs from where she stood off to the side causing it to trip and skid.

Mercury Aqua Rhapsody. Mercury launched at it before it came to a stop.

Meanwhile Sailor Moon took off her tiara and charged it as she watched Mercury's attack hit the creature. By the time the water cleared the creature was frozen, and she threw her tiara at it.

It hit the frozen creature in the middle of its back and it began to glow brighter and brighter. There was no scream as the creature remained frozen, but as Sailor Moon's tiara retuned to her the creature began to shrink. It grew smaller and smaller until all that was left was a tarot sized card with an image of the creature on it before the image itself faded away leaving the card blank.

"We knew someone out here was destroying our Cardians, but we had no idea there were six of you." They heard a male voice say before they could breathe a sigh of relief that the creature was gone.

Tuxedo Kamen and the Sailor Senshi looked up and saw two beings, a male and a female, standing on a tall stone wall off to the side of the walkway they stood on. Both had light green skin and pointy elf-like ears.

The male had dark blue eyes, light blue hair with hot pink highlights on the longer bits of his fringe, one ear pierced, and wore a dark blue bodysuit that covered his entire figure. The female had dark hot pink eyes, long pink hair with blue highlights, pierced ears, wore what looked like blue lipstick, and wore a snug dark red bodysuit with heeled boots.

"You won't be so lucky next time." The female said. "We won't forget about you."

The beings disappeared, appearing to teleport away, and they all looked at each other.

"We need to get out of here. Head directly to Mars' place so we can have our meeting." Sailor Moon said.

Everyone nodded and turned and began to rush back through the stage set heading for the door they used to get in there.

Minutes later...

The girls and Mamoru all sat around the large floor table they had used for the previous meeting as they finally allowed themselves to relax after the fight they had just been through. The only ones missing were Luna and Artemis, and Usagi didn't bother calling them to inform them about the meeting.

For one, they weren't needed there; two, she didn't want to have to wait for them to arrive to get the meeting started; and three, they could be informed about everything that was discussed later.

Usagi sighed lightly and looked to Ami.

"Can you tell us what information you gathered from last night's fight as well as what the fight we just had could add to that?" She asked, and Ami nodded and pulled out her computer.

"From today's fight I picked up the fact that the creatures are called Cardians, so I'll refer to them by that name." She said, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Both cardian's stored the energy they stole inside their bodies, and used a single part of their body to gather the energy. For the cardian from last night it was the vines from the flower blossom attached to its arm, and from the cardian earlier it was its horns." She continued.

"So far the cardian's don't have any attacks only the ability to gather energy by a single method, and their only purpose seems to be to gather human energy. They don't seem to be able to speak beyond the one word they spoke, which I conclude is their name." She said.

"The cardian's are, as you can guess by the name and what we've seen so far, actually cards. Something is transforming them into the creatures we've fought, which is likely some ability by the ones controlling them." She reported.

"I can only guess that the ones controlling them, and sending them after energy, are the two beings we saw today. Who are also highly likely to be the two signatures my computer managed to pick up after the fight was over last night. They disappeared before I could even get a glimpse of them, so I can't be one hundred percent sure." Ami informed them before she checked her computer.

"And as we have seen destroying the cardian releases the energy they stole back to the victims." She finished.

"Thanks for that thorough report." Usagi said to Ami. "Did anyone else notice anything about our enemy?"

"From the way those two beings spoke I believe they're the main enemy. I don't think there's anyone above them ordering them around." Mamoru said.

As he spoke he was trying to ignore the fact that Rei was staring at him. He still refused to look at her, but he could see her from the corner of his eye. Even if one of the girls next to her spoke she still looked at him as if he was the one talking.

Minako nodded. "So just them and the cardian's they sent out to gather energy for whatever purpose they have." She said, and he nodded.

"That's what I think." Mamoru said.

"That's better then worrying about who the unknown leader is while dealing with those two beings and the cardian's they send." Makoto said.

"We should still be cautious just in case that isn't the case, and there is someone or something more than just those two and the cardian's." Usagi said, and everyone nodded in agreement.

"Was anything else noticed?" She asked, and everyone shook their heads. "Then we should all head home or back to whatever you were doing before the attack."

Everyone nodded and began to get up and head for the door.

---

Usagi and Mamoru held hands as they walked down the street, having just farewelled and parted ways from the girls, and talked about what they had been doing before the attack.

"I was with Naru spending time with her and trying to distract her from the memories the attack brought up." Usagi said, and felt curiosity flow through their link. "She remembered the attack where she was kidnapped, and rescued by Nephrite before he died." She added.

"She admitted that she still missed him and loved him, and was still upset that she had been helpless to save him." She said, and he nodded his understanding.

"I'm sorry for her pain." Mamoru said, remembering that particular evening when the general found out that Usagi was Sailor Moon.

"I was on my way to get something to eat and visit Motoki since I haven't seen or spoken to him in a few days." He revealed. "I thought I could chance going there since it was just before your school let out, and I figured after yesterday there was a good chance Rei wouldn't be there." He explained and she nodded.

"It's possible but it was probably a good thing you didn't make it there in case she did show up. And that reminds me I need to call Naru since I said I would." Usagi said and he nodded.

"I also had a run in with the new girl from your school, Natsumi, and she tried to ask me out." Mamoru added, and she blinked in surprise.

"What are the chances that the new siblings in my school would focus on us? Considering all we went through with the Negaverse I think that alone makes it highly likely they're part of our new enemy." Usagi said.

Mamoru nodded in agreement with a sigh.

"What were you doing while I was at school?" She asked.

"I was at home studying." He answered, and listened to her hum.

"Do you want to continue studying at my house with me and have dinner there, so we can spend time together and you can eat without having to make yourself something?" She asked.

"Sure. We can swing by my place to get my things and my car." He said.

30 minutes later...

Usagi and Mamoru pulled up outside her house and he parked the car and turned the engine off.

After making their decision the couple had transformed and raced across the city toward his apartment to save time, and once they were close they released their transformations and went inside. Minutes later Mamoru had collected his books and notes, and they were driving to Usagi's house.

Now they exited the car and walked up to the front door. Once she opened the door they greeted her mother, let her know Mamoru was staying for dinner, and were quickly settled in her bedroom.

They spread their things on Usagi's bed between them, her sitting at the head of the bed against her pillows while he sat at the end.

As Mamoru was flipping through the textbook he had been reading earlier he suddenly remembered what he bought Usagi. He quickly pulled it out of his subspace pocket, where he had stored it before heading to the fight.

"I got this for you before I got the call about the attack." He said as he handed it to his girl.

Usagi opened the bag and pulled out a white something. She shifted it around until she realized she was holding a blouse. She blinked in surprise and smiled as she realized she had a few skirts and a pair of pants that it would go with nicely, and she realized it was her size as well.

She put it back in the bag and got up, and hugged and kissed him.

"Thank you. I'll wear it on one of our next dates." She told him.

"I can't wait to see it on you." Mamoru said with a smile, and watched as she placed it on her vanity table. "Don't forget you're supposed to call Naru." He reminded her as she was walking back toward him and her bed, and watched her eyes widen.

"Thanks!" Usagi said before she changed direction and headed out of her room and downstairs to the phone. She grabbed it and quickly dialed Naru's number and listened as it rang.

"Osaka residence." She heard her friend answer after two tings.

"Hey Naru it's me." Usagi said.

"Oh hi Usagi." Naru said. "Did everything go okay with your mom?" She asked.

"Yeah it did. She just wanted me to help her with some things at home." Usagi said, and Naru made a sound of understanding. "Yeah. I can't stay on long though because Mamoru is here and dinner will likely be ready soon, but I wanted to know if your doors have been fixed."

"Yes they have. The front door was fixed by the time I got home, and my bedroom door was finished only a few minutes after which I was happy about." Naru explained.

"That's good. I'm glad it didn't take long." Usagi said.

"Me too." Naru said. "Well I'll let you go so you can get back to Mamoru, and I can go back to my homework since I was in the middle of doing that."

"Ah, that's what we're doing too." Usagi said. "I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Okay bye." Naru said.

"Bye." Usagi said before she hung up the phone.

She hurried back up to her room, and smiled at Mamoru as she sat on her bed, making herself comfortable, and picked up her history textbook to read one of the chapters. It would be no problem to do the short answer questions at the end.

As Mamoru read and took notes to help him remember Usagi managed to finish reading the chapter in her history book and answer the questions at the end. Then she moved on and was able to finish fifteen of the twenty problems from her math homework. She decided to come back to the last five later, and hope they weren't as hard after a break from them.

The last of her homework for that day was for her English language class, which reminded her to take out the books she had stored in her subspace pocket. She took them out and placed them on her nightstand, thankful she didn't have much homework; especially no science homework.

Usagi sighed and opened her English textbook and looked for the right chapter, so she could see how complicated her assignment was going to be. As soon as she found it her mother appeared in the doorway.

"Dinner's ready you two." She said.

Mamoru and Usagi wasted no time getting up and following Mrs. Tsukino since they were both hungry after fighting the creature earlier.

Natsumi and Seijuro's POV

Evening

Ginga Natsumi and Seijuro were in the living room of their high rise apartment lost in thought. Natsumi lay stretched out on the couch and Seijuro stood next to the window idly looking out at the view.

Seijuro still found his mind full of the beautiful girl he now knew was called Usagi. Looking at her up close, face to face, proved that it wasn't just his fanciful imaginings. She really was beautiful.

Her unique hair style and the golden blonde color in addition to its length drew his eyes. Then there were her eyes; a beautiful blue that he could stare at all day. He had heard her laugh but now he had spoken to her and found her voice pleasing to his ears.

He held in a sigh. He really wanted to get to know her, but she was not like the other girls that had been squealing and following him around. She showed absolutely no interest in him, and on top of that she had said she had a boyfriend.

He didn't know if she had only said that to get him away from her since he had seen no guys around her that acted like a boyfriend. And he had been watching her closely.

Seijuro decided he would try again. Perhaps she had just said she had a boyfriend because she didn't know him. He needed to spend time with her. She would get to know him and he would be in her presence. He would end up happy in the end.

Natsumi sighed lightly as she thought back on the guy she had come across earlier that day. She didn't know his name but as soon as she saw him she thought he was so handsome and mysterious.

He had said he had a girlfriend, but who knew if he was telling her the truth. Actually she hadn't believed him and was going to try and get him to talk to her and tell her more. He had walked into that store and she had tried to follow him inside, but she had suddenly felt weak and dizzy. She had decided it was better for her to rest for a bit before heading home.

Now she was well rested but she didn't know the cute guy's name, and had no idea when she would ever see him again. That irritated her.

Seijuro stepped away from the window and began to walk toward the hallway leading away from the living room. Now that he had made a decision about Usagi he could focus on more important things.

"Where are you going?" Natsumi asked.

"Where do you think?" He said as he glanced to her.

She rolled her eyes but got up and followed him since it really was something that needed to be done. Hopefully they would have better success then they had earlier that day.

Meanwhile...

The Tsukino family, including Mr. Tsukino who had arrived while they were studying and doing homework, and Mamoru were just finishing dinner. The food had been delicious and the conversation interesting.

Mamoru, Usagi, and Shingo had each talked a little about their day at school. Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino spoke of their day, mostly Mr. Tsukino about interesting tidbits from work.

As the last bites were being taken Shingo scooped up the last of his food into his mouth and took his plate and cup into the kitchen before hurrying back up to his room. Everyone else finished and brought their dishes to the sink in the kitchen, and Usagi and Mamoru began to head back upstairs.

"Can you two join us in the living room for a little while?" Mrs. Tsukino asked them before they got more then a few steps toward the stairs.

Mamoru and Usagi looked at each other and shrugged before they headed into the living room and sat on the couch.

"We've been talking and wondering about your past. You said you remembered, and we wondered if you could tell us about it." Mrs. Tsukino said quietly to the pair.

Usagi and Mamoru were fine with that and Usagi got up and went into the hallway. She used her silver crystal to block off the stairway with an invisible barrier that also blocked sound from coming up the stairs so her brother couldn't come down and see or hear anything. She returned to the living room and her seat next to Mamoru, and turned her attention to her parents.

"Living on the Moon was my life." Usagi said. "I was born and raised there so it was expected. It was always dark, no blue skies and sun like we're used to living with, but we were still able to grow greenery and flowers."

"I took my studies seriously considering I was going to be Queen when my mother stepped down, but it had been tedious when I was younger. I traveled at regular intervals once I reached my mid teens. Back then there was life on the planets, each one with their own royals and society, and I had to go to them for various functions." She explained.

"Like her I was born and raised on the Earth. The air was fresher and purer back then, the grass was greener, and the colors of flowers more vibrant." Mamoru said, taking his turn.

"As next in line to be King I also took my studies seriously, and in addition to that I had training in horse riding, sword play, and warfare. I also traveled once I reached my mid teens; sometimes with one or both of my parents and sometimes alone." He informed them.

"I was fascinated with the Earth for years before I snuck down to the planet for the first time. I had studied everything I could find about the planet, and spent hours staring up at it in the dark sky." Usagi said.

"I remember being chastised and scolded by my Guardian Senshi when I would be lost in thought about it or staring when I should have been studying." She added fondly.

"Were your guardians really the same girls that are your friends and Senshi now?" Her father asked.

"Yes, and they all look the same as they did back then; except for their hair and eye color. In the past the girls looked like they did before the DNA change happened." Usagi said.

"Why?" Her mother asked.

"So they wouldn't stand out while they were guarding me." Usagi answered.

"Did you have guardians as well?" Mr. Tsukino asked Mamoru.

"I did. I had four Guardian Shittenou; all males who had been my guards since I was a child." He answered.

"They weren't reincarnated like you all were?" Mrs. Tsukino asked since they had never mentioned his guardians before in their talks.

Mamoru pursed his lips. Do you you think I should tell them the truth of what my guardians became in this life? He asked through their bond.

You might as well. Usagi answered.

"They were reincarnated, and we have seen them. Unfortunately they somehow ended up working with the Negaverse." Mamoru explained, and Mrs. Tsukino gasped.

"The man from the message in the sky. Was he one of them?" She asked, and he nodded.

"Yes. His name was Kunzite and he was the leader of my Shittenou." Mamoru said.

"That's not fair." Mrs. Tsukino said with a frown. "I wonder how they ended up with your enemy."

"I agree. It is unfair." Usagi said. "I wish I had been able to do something about it when all the men were alive."

"How did you meet?" Mrs. Tsukino asked after a few long moments of silence.

"My fascination with the Earth led to a fascination with the prince, and I would look at him on a screen in the palace that would show me any place or person I wished to see." Usagi said.

"When that wasn't enough for me I began to sneak down to the Earth to catch a glimpse of him and watch him. One time I went to see him, and he saw me. I was surprised and uncertain about what to do since I wasn't supposed to be seen; especially when he started to approach me." She explained.

"I was surprised as well since it was my private garden and no one should have been there." Mamoru said. "On top of that instead of being cautious that there was an intruder on the palace grounds I had instead been curious."

"Can you show us like you did last night?" Her father asked her.

"Sure." Usagi said, and summoned her crystal into her hands.

She closed her eyes and focused on the memory, from the point she arrived on the Earth to just before she left, and asked it to project the memory without her inner thoughts. Her crystal pulsed warmly and a bright light filled the room before it faded leaving the four of them standing in a beautiful garden under a blue sky and bright sun.

Ikuko and Kenji looked around in wonder before their eyes landed on the figure of their daughters past self, Princess Serenity. She looked identical to their daughter when she transformed into her royal form for them only a bit older.

They watched her open her eyes and look around before they heard a sound. She moved pass them and stood behind a tall pillar, and look around it only to make a surprised sound. They all moved forward and saw Mamoru's past self looking identical to what he had showed them before except he too looked a little older.

"Hello." They heard him call out questioningly as he turned and walked closer toward them. He stopped near her but not too close as if he was trying not to frighten her. "If I may ask my lady, who might you be?" He asked, and they watched her look away uncertain.

"Ah! Where are my manners? I am Prince Endymion." He said with a smile and a bow.

After a moment of hesitation they watched the princess gracefully step out from behind the pillar.

"I am Princess Serenity, and I am pleased to meet you." They heard her say softly with a curtsey.

They looked on as he asked her to walk with him, and her hesitation and response that she shouldn't be there and wasn't supposed to be seen. But he reassured her and they began to walk.

The watching couples followed along listening to their conversation; one pair in curiosity as they took in their mannerisms, formal speech, and facial expressions, and the other in fond remembrance.

"Will you come see me again?" They listened to the prince ask the princess as the couple stood up from the bench they had been sitting on. "You will not be seen if you come to this side of the garden. We could meet at the same time as today, and you need only stay for half an hour to avoid being missed." He tried to reassure her when she hesitated.

"Very well my lord." She finally agreed.

"Thank you." They heard him whisper as he kissed her cheek.

The scene began to fade away, and once it was gone Usagi put her crystal away.

Kenji and Ikuko blinked as they 'returned' to their living room and out of the memory with the sunlight.

"That was informative." Kenji said.

"That was sweet." Ikuko said.

Before they could say more beeping sounded around them in an echo, and Usagi and Mamoru looked at each other wide eyed, surprised that there was another attack happening; that the enemy was moving rapidly. They lifted their wrists and opened their communicator to see the Mercury button flashing, and pressed the button and answered.

"Usagi here." She said.

"Mamoru here." He said.

They heard Makoto and then Rei answer before Ami spoke; they assumed that Minako had already answered.

"I've just been alerted to an attack. It's in the downtown area, and I've narrowed it down to a section of streets lined with restaurants and stores." She said before she quickly gave them the location of a restaurant the cardian was currently at.

They all said they were on their way, and ended the connection.

Mamoru and Usagi got up and quickly headed for the door.

"We'll be back after everything has been handled." Usagi called to her parents as she headed out the door.

.:xXx:.

Sailor Jupiter raced and leapt across rooftops on her way to the location she had been given for the current attack. She still could not believe another attack was happening so soon, but maybe that was exactly why it was happening.

They had stopped the last two attacks, so energy had not been collected; at least not permanently. It made sense that the enemy would try again. She just hoped they would be able to defeat the cardian as easily as they had all the others.

As she reached the area she began to hear screaming and see people running. She leapt a few more rooftops and stopped on a three story building as she saw the street and sidewalks covered in fog.

Clearly Mercury had already arrived. She had likely spread her fog to aid people in leaving the area without the cardian seeing them. But she realized it was blocking her view as well since she couldn't see the cardian.

"Gigaros!" She heard a feminine voice say in an indignant tone as soon as her thought finished before wind suddenly blew all the fog away.

Jupiter leapt to a closer roof and looked down on the cardian, getting a good look, and saw that as its voice suggested it was female. It wore a light blue toga-like outfit down to its thighs cinched at its waist with a bronze colored belt, bronze shoulder armor and wristbands, had thick dark orange spiky hair, red eyes, large pointy ears, and large white angel-like wings on its back.

She watched it lift its arm and extend its fingernails straight out like pointy popsicle sticks. Really?! She thought outrageously, but then in the next moment realized Mercury was being attacked.

Sailor Mercury dodged left and right, her visor activated and compiling information, as the sharp nails came at her over and over again obviously trying to impale her.

"Gigaros!" The cardian screamed in the next moment as it was struck in the back by a bolt of lightning.

Mercury Aqua Rhapsody. Mercury called internally, taking advantage of the cardian's distraction. Her watery harp appeared and streams of water shot toward the cardian, and blasted it back causing it to fall and skid slightly along the ground.

"Are you okay?" Jupiter asked as she dropped down next to her.

"Yes." She answered.

"What have you seen of it so far?" Jupiter asked as she looked toward the cardian.

"When I got here it was attacking people coming out of one of the restaurants with its wings, creating strong miniature tornados, and it looked like it could gather energy with just a touch. If you saw it attacking me then you know it can extend its nails, and they are sharp!" Mercury said.

"Right." Jupiter said, but before she could say anything else the cardian was back on its feet.

"Gigaros." It growled out as it lifted both arms and aimed its sharp nails toward each of them.

Jupiter dashed off to the right, and Mercury to the left, both dodging this way and that way as they frantically avoided the sharp nails that kept extending to the lengths of poles.

"Gigaros!" The cardian cried out in pain as a ball of fire suddenly smashed into its chest.

Mercury and Jupiter paused and looked to the cardian before they looked around and spotted Sailor Mars jogging to a stop before she launched another fireball.

"Gigaros!" The cardian cried out again as the ball of fire slammed into it.

Supreme Thunder! Jupiter launched her lightning at the cardian, taking advantage of the cardian's distraction, and a moment later an orange-gold beam struck the cardian from behind just as Jupiter's lightning connected.

"Gigaros!" The cardian screamed.

Mercury launched her Mercury Ice Bubbles at it from its other side as Sailor Venus ran closer to them from behind the cardian and launched her Crescent Beam once again. Moments later a fireball and lightning joined the attacks hitting the screaming cardian.

"Gigaros!" The cardian suddenly shouted angrily, and the Senshi were unexpectedly blown backward away from the cardian.

The Senshi cried out in surprise as they went flying. Venus' back hit the ground and she tumbled backward slightly and slammed onto the ground face down with a pained groan. Mercury flew backward and slammed painfully through the glass window of a restaurant and onto a table, which immediately broke under the force of her impact.

Jupiter's surprised cry abruptly cut off as her back and head unfortunately slammed painfully into a solid wall. Mars flew backward and landed hard on her back then, to her misery, skidded slightly on her side before she rolled, her arms taking a beating, before she ran into the back wheel of a parked car.

Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen arrived at the scene to see what was obviously the current cardian standing in the middle of the street, and Venus, Mars, and Jupiter down, and Mercury missing.

Tuxedo Kamen instantly started launching roses, and Sailor Moon went to check on Mars since she was the closest. She saw her starting to sit up, and she hurried over and knelt down and helped her.

"What happened?" She asked.

"The cardian can use its wings to send a massive gust of wind. That's what it did while we were attacking it at the same time. It blew us all back." Mars said. "When I first arrived it was trying to impale Jupiter and Mercury with its nails, which can extend really long." She added.

Did you get all that? Sailor Moon asked her prince.

Yes, and I'll be prepared. He replied.

"Okay. Are you okay? Is anything broken or sprained?" She asked her downed senshi.

"No. Just some serious scrapes and aches." Mars said.

"Okay. I'm going to go check on Jupiter since she's the next closest." Sailor Moon said, and Mars nodded.

Sailor Moon stood and glanced to Tuxedo as he dodged the nails Mars had mentioned as she hurried over to where Jupiter sat on her knees stretching, and moving slowly as she gingerly touched the back of her head.

"Are you okay?" She asked as she knelt next to the lightning senshi.

"Yeah. I'm just in some pain, and a bit dizzy after slamming into that wall." Jupiter said as she gestured to the wall behind her.

Sailor Moon grimaced. She might have a concussion. She heard her prince tell her, and frowned.

"You might have a concussion." She told her.

"I hope not." Jupiter said with a groan, and Sailor Moon sighed heavily.

"Rest as much as you can in this situation we're in." She said before she stood up.

She could see that Mars had joined Tuxedo and was shooting off her fireballs, and Venus was standing and rubbing her face as she pointed her free hand toward the cardian.

"Where's Mercury?" She asked as she looked to Jupiter.

"She was on the other side of the street from me before I went flying into the wall." She told her.

Sailor Moon looked over there, weaving her head to see around Tuxedo and Mars, and saw the large glass window front of a restaurant gone. She huffed and moved forward, skirting cautiously around the fight, and carefully stepped through the empty window frame.

She saw Mercury facing away from her on her hands and knees next to a broken table, and she scrunched up her face as it became clear that Mercury had landed on that table after crashing through the window.

"Are you okay?" She asked for the third time in just a few minutes as she knelt down next to her, and watched as she grimaced at her.

"I just had the wind seriously knocked out of me, and will surely have a painfully bruised back in no time." Mercury said with a pained moan.

"You're not the only one judging by Jupiter and Mars' condition." Sailor Moon said. "On my way to come check on you I saw Venus rubbing her face, but you all were down by the time Tuxedo and I arrived."

"Are they okay?" Mercury asked before she groaned and pushed off her hands.

"They are." Sailor Moon said as she helped her up. "Although Jupiter might have a concussion. I didn't check on Venus since she was farther away behind the cardian, but she was on her feet as I came to you."

"That's better than all of us being seriously hurt and unable to get up." Mercury said.

"True." She agreed. "How are you doing now that you're standing?" She asked.

"I'm hurting, but I can breathe easier now. So I'm good to get back out there." Mercury assured her.

Sailor Moon nodded and they began to move around the still standing tables and out through the window frame and took in the scene. Jupiter, Venus, and Mars were all on their feet and shooting off attacks and Tuxedo was tossing his roses and dodging nails.

Mars is sticking uncomfortably close to me; even as I move around to dodge the cardian's nails. Tuxedo Kamen said in a disgruntle tone. He had noticed it quickly, despite the situation, since he was making sure to keep his distance whenever he had to be around her.

Sailor Moon sighed heavily in frustration. You don't need that kind of distraction; especially right now. She said as she took off her tiara and charged it.

Mercury moved forward and fired off her Mercury Ice Bubbles at the cardian. Venus shot her Crescent Beam, and Jupiter added her lightning as Tuxedo threw a series of roses, and Mars quickly shot a fireball at the cardian to help further weaken it.

"Gigaros!" The cardian screamed in pain as the attacks hit it.

As the smoke cleared Sailor Moon threw her tiara at it. The white glowing disk flew straight and true, and was unexpectedly knocked off course as the cardian swung its arm at it.

"What?!" Sailor Moon said in surprised shock, but quickly dodged out of the way of the sharp nails headed her way.

What happened? She heard Tuxedo ask as she summoned her tiara back to her.

I don't know. I threw my tiara like I always do, but it obviously didn't work. She replied as she frowned. I want to try again, but I think I should end this since the girls are all hurting.

That's probably for the best. He said.

Sailor Moon looked at her tiara and saw that there was no damage, so she didn't know what had gone wrong. She put it back on her forehead and pulled out her Crescent Moon Wand before she aimed it at the cardian.

Tuxedo and the other senshi were keeping it distracted with their attacks, so she took a breath and focused on her silver crystal and wanting to defeat the cardian in front of her. A beam of thick white light shot out of her wand toward the cardian and struck it in its side.

"Gigaros!" The cardian screamed and began to glow brightly before the scream stopped and it began to shrink.

Sailor Moon cut the flow of her power from her wand, and they watched as the cardian shrunk smaller and smaller until there was nothing but a tarot sized card stuck in the asphalt of the street. The image of the cardian on the card quickly faded until there was nothing but a blank space.

Sailor Moon sighed heavily and leaned forward on her knees before she put her wand away back into her subspace pocket.

"Are you okay?" Tuxedo Kamen asked, instantly at her side, as he lightly placed a hand on her back.

"Yes. I'm just feeling a little weak after using my wand since it took more energy to defeat the cardian." She answered. He frowned but nodded his understanding.

I want to train with you in the morning to see what's going on with my tiara. She said through their bond.

No problem. We can do it early in the morning at Elysion or would you rather do it out in real time? He asked.

Elysion is fine. She replied and watched the girls circled around them, curious and concerned, as she stood up straight.

"I'm fine. It just took more energy to do it that way than it usually does with my tiara." She assured them. They nodded, and she looked around at the area. "We should all head home and rest and heal." She added and they nodded once again as they looked around.

"Be careful and take your time getting home if you're hurting too much to go faster." She told them.

With everyone's agreement they all began to leave the area, and carefully make their way back home or in Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen's case, back to her house.