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

4. Outings Interrupted

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

Outings Interrupted

Tuesday: Day Two continued...

After reaching her neighborhood Usagi and Mamoru released their transformation and held hands as they walked toward her house.

"What time do you want me to come to your house, so we can go to Elysion?" Mamoru asked, and listened to his girl hum thoughtfully.

"You mentioned early morning, but if we're going to Elysion then you can just come at your normal time or a few minutes early." Usagi said. "After all, I'll only be testing out my tiara. Although I suppose we can do some sword training while we're at it. I always need the practice."

"No problem. If nothing else it will make sure we're awake, and get us some morning exercise." He said.

"True." She agreed.

"I'll come a few minutes early, and we'll go from there." He added, and she nodded before she sighed.

"Rei." She said reluctantly. "First she stares at you during the meeting yesterday, and now she's sticking close to you during a fight."

"She stared at me during today's meeting as well; I could see her from the corner of my eye. Even when I wasn't the one speaking she continued to stare at me." Mamoru told her.

Usagi made an unhappy sound, and was quiet for a few long moments as they walked.

"What do you want to do?" She asked. "You're avoiding her, and as I see it the only thing you can do besides that is not go to meetings anymore. To stay away from her completely outside of participating in fights. There's no way to avoid her there, but I hate that you'll have your attention divided so much in such a dangerous situation."

Mamoru sighed heavily knowing she was right. During fights he was always focused on the attacker, who was around him, and constantly his princess' location.

With Rei's continued feelings and wanting to be close to him during fights he was going to have to be aware of her location as well; if only so she wasn't in his way and potentially being a distraction.

Still, as his princess said, that would only divide his attention more, and he was upset that that was the case.

He was doing all he could to stay away from Rei, but it was obvious that even though he was out of her sight he wasn't out of her mind. She was clearly still thinking about him regularly, which is why her feelings for him continued. If her behavior around him continued or worsened then he was going to have to consider the very real possibility that she was becoming obsessed with him.

Usagi gasped at that, having been following his thoughts, and looked up at him. She had not considered that Rei could become obsessed!

At the meeting where she had given everyone their new communicators Rei had been watching him intensely every time he was around her, and now tonight she was sticking close to him during a fight. And that was only in the two days since she had been able to see him. It made her look at all of Rei's behavior toward him since meeting him and her feelings for him in a whole new light.

All of her jealously over Usagi just knowing Mamoru, of the time he spent with her, all the assuming she had done about the nature of their relationship, and her anger at seemingly any female that he gave his attention to.

Could that really be what that was? Not just feelings coming through from the past, an intense crush, but the beginnings of obsession?

Mamoru looked to Usagi, having followed her thoughts, and saw the concern in her eyes.

"I hope not." He said as he sighed heavily. "But it's something we should keep in mind with her future behavior when it comes to me."

"As for what I want to do, I'll continue to avoid her outside of meetings and attacks. I won't avoid meetings because I still refuse to leave you alone with your Senshi when you don't fully trust all of them, and especially not with what's going on with Rei." He explained.

"Plus, I want to be there to hear the important information as it's relayed and not second hand. The two of us are a pair, a team in our own right, and I won't let Rei come between us." He added.

Usagi nodded and held his hand tighter. We're a team. Rei will not come between us. She repeated to herself. I also won't let her come between him working well with my Senshi. I don't want him going back to working separately from them.

"That won't happen." He assured her. "I'll continue to work with you and your Senshi, but I might very well have to go back to just performing my main duty as Tuxedo Kamen." He added, and she looked at him in confusion.

"Protecting you." He said. "That was what Tuxedo Kamen was for. Protecting my princess before I knew you were my princess or who I was for that matter."

Usagi nodded and then leaned her head against his arm as they came closer to her house.

"I'm not sure about training with you all. Rei will be a distraction for the both of us, and we wouldn't be able to focus on the task. We would be too busy keeping a look out for her and what she was doing and where she was." Mamoru said.

"I can just continue to train with you and Minako. I think I've been working fine with the team, so until the situation with Rei is settled for good I'll stay away." He decided, and she nodded.

"So you'll only see Rei at meetings." Usagi said. He nodded, and she nodded again.

"We'll see how Rei behaves when she realizes she's only seeing you at meetings; and meetings that are infrequent at that since I don't think we'll need to meet very often. Not unless something major is learned about our enemy." She said, and he nodded.

"Yes. Her behavior will be very telling after that, and we'll know if it's obsession or not." Mamoru said.

"Let's hope not." She said. Because that means even if Rei isn't a senshi anymore that would continue. Although, she wouldn't be able to do much since she doesn't know where he lives or where he spends his time since he isn't going to the arcade anymore. She considered thoughtfully.

Mamoru nodded at her words and thoughts, and they walked on in silence until they reached her house. Usagi was just about to reach forward and open the door, but it swung open suddenly to reveal her mother.

"Come in, come in." Mrs. Tsukino said as she waved them inside.

They stepped inside and she closed the door and they all walked into the living room.

"Are you okay?" Mr. Tsukino asked them as they took the seats they had been sitting in before they left.

"Yes." Usagi answered as Mamoru nodded. "The girls got a bit banged up before we arrived, but beyond that they're okay."

"It was just like the last attack. The creature was trying to steal energy from people, it was defeated, and any energy it may have collected was returned to any victims." Mamoru explained.

Kenji and Ikuko looked at each other.

"Okay." Ikuko said. "If everything and everyone is okay then can we return to what we had been talking about before you left?" She added slowly.

"No problem." Mamoru said, and Usagi nodded.

"What did you think of seeing how me and my prince met now that you've had time to think about it?" She asked.

"Did you really sneak down to the Earth when the memory first started?" Ikuko asked her daughter.

"Yes. I wasn't supposed to be there. It wasn't the first time I had gone, but that time he saw me. I guess it was just the right time for us to meet." Usagi answered.

"Were all of your meetings secret like that one?" Kenji asked.

"No. Eventually my mother and our guardians found out about us, so we didn't have to sneak around as much." Usagi said.

"It's so strange to hear you say 'your mother' and know that you're talking about another woman." Ikuko said.

"I can imagine, but I do still see her as my mother." Usagi said honestly, and Ikuko nodded.

"Did your parents know about you two?" She asked Mamoru.

"They didn't." Mamoru answered. "I hadn't figured out how to tell them before the end came, but her mother knew and approved and that was all that had really mattered to me. The Queen could stop me from seeing her, but my parents couldn't."

"Is there another memory we can see?" Kenji asked curiously.

Usagi and Mamoru looked at each other thoughtfully as they went through their memories.

"I have one; the one where you gave me the locket." Mamoru said.

"Ah." Usagi said, and nodded.

This will give me a chance to test if I can use my crystal for showing memories like you can. He said through their link.

I think you'll be able to, and I can't wait to see the memory from your point of view. She replied.

Mamoru summoned his crystal to his hands, the golden crystal floating and glowing, and closed his eyes as he focused on the memory he wanted.

Please project this memory without my internal thoughts. He told his crystal.

His crystal pulsed warmly and in the next moment gold light spread out around them, and Ikuko and Kenji looked around as they found themselves standing in a beautiful nicely lit white and marble room that looked like a sitting room they would see on TV of a show about royalty. There were pale colored couches and chairs, a large white desk, and crystal vases full of red roses.

"This was my sitting room, and the roses are from the sea of roses Endymion planted for me, so I would have a piece of the planet I loved and as a reminder of him." Usagi said.

Kenji and Ikuko nodded as they looked around then turned their heads as one of the doors to the room opened.

A tall woman who looked like an older more mature version of their daughter walked through the doorway. Her hair was up in the same style with the same silver white color trailing all the way down her body and along the floor, but her eyes were a silver color.

She wore a sleeveless floor length dress with a bow at the top center with a golden crescent moon brooch on it, gold dangling earrings, and a gold crescent moon on her forehead.

She was clearly the mother of their daughter's past self; the Moon Queen.

She moved to the side and they watched as Mamoru's past self stepped inside the room before she closed the door.

"Wait here Endymion." She told the prince, her voice light and pleasing. Then they watched her disappear through the second door to the room.

They turned their attention back to Endymion and watched him walk over to the balcony and couldn't help noticing his solemn face. They wondered what was going on; it was obvious that this wasn't a happy visit.

The sound of a door opening had them all turning to see Usagi's past self walking through the doorway the Queen went through. She looked radiant, smiling; clearly happy to see the prince.

"It is such a surprise to see you." Serenity said as she walked toward him, but then she obviously saw his solemn face and asked "What is wrong Endymion?"

"My father is sending me and my generals to deal with an uprising that could lead to war if it is not contained and stopped." He said, and lead her to sit on one of the couches. "Because of this I will most likely not see you for a long time. The fighting may very well take weeks, and dealing with the aftermath just as long." He explained.

"Will you be safe?" She asked, and they all could hear the worry in her voice.

"Yes. I will be fine. I have been trained for this, and my generals will be there to keep me safe. The only thing that concerns me is being away from you for so long. Not being able to see you or hear your voice." He said.

"Perhaps...I may have something that could be of help." She said. "I shall only be a moment." She added before she got up and disappeared back through the door she first came through.

Kenji and Ikuko looked on curiously, just as curious as Endymion, as they wondered what she could have that would help.

"I would like you to have this." Serenity said as she returned and sat down.

They watched as she handed him a gold object. The older Tsukino's moved closer and saw that it was a gold star locket with a gold chain attached that fit in the palm of his hand. They gasped when he opened it and they heard a soft soothing musical melody and saw a soft shining light coming from it.

"I hope it will help you remember me. Always." She said softly.

The scene then began to fade away, leaving them all back in their seats in the living room, and Mamoru put his crystal away. Before anyone could say anything the phone rang.

"I'll get it." Usagi said as she stood up. She walked out of the living room and into the hallway and picked up the phone.

"Tsukino residence." She said after she pressed the button to answer.

"Hey Usagi." The voice said, and she easily recognized Minako's voice.

"Hi Minako. Did you make it home okay?" Usagi asked.

"I did." Minako assured her. "I'm fine beyond having an aching face, which I hope will heal over night instead of bruising up."

"I'm sure it'll heal since we tend to heal quickly if it isn't too serious." Usagi said.

"Yeah." Minako agreed. "Anyway, I called to let you know that Luna is here at my house. Artemis got her this morning while we were on our way to school, and I can tell that he is not at all happy with her; clearly something was said and he didn't like it."

"I'm not surprised; especially if she repeated any of what she said to me after I informed her of the attack on Naru." Usagi replied.

"What did Luna say?" Minako asked.

"She basically said that she had told me that I needed to distance myself from Naru, and that her being attacked was just another sign that I needed to; especially since she hadn't been attacked when we weren't spending time together." Usagi said.

"What?!" Minako said in surprise.

"Yeah." Usagi agreed. "She made it sound like it was my fault that Naru was attacked, and when I pointed that out Luna said yes. That my energy must have latched on to Naru and that's why she was attacked."

"What nonsense!" Minako exclaimed. "If that was the case why weren't you the one being attacked in the first place?"

"I'd thought the same thing, but I didn't say that to her. I simply bid her goodnight and went to sleep; deciding not to argue with her." Usagi said, and then sighed. "If Artemis can't do something about her then she's going to end up going the same way Rei is."

"Oh." Minako said softly. "What will you do?"

"Remove the crescent moon from her forehead, and turn her back into the regular cat she had been reincarnated as." Usagi answered instantly. "Luna is showing more and more that she's no longer worthy to wear the gift my mother gifted her or continue on in the advisory position she had been placed in so long ago."

"Oh wow." Minako said. "It's shocking, but not surprising."

Usagi nodded in agreement. "You can tell Artemis that if you want, but don't let Luna hear. That way he can be aware of what could and likely will happen if Luna doesn't listen to him and change." She said.

"Okay. I'll tell him." Minako said.

"What is that buzzing sound?" Usagi asked suddenly, unable to remain silent about it anymore.

"It's the fan. I'm hiding out in the bathroom so Luna and my parents won't hear me." Minako answered, and Usagi laughed.

"I'll remember that for when Luna comes back. Thanks for letting me know about her." She said as her laughed trailed off. "Hey, do you want to hangout after school; maybe I can get Naru to join us?"

"Sure. I'm all for it. It'll be nice to see Naru again." Minako answered readily.

"Alright. How about we meet up at the arcade?" Usagi suggested.

"That's fine with me. I'll be there as soon as I can after school." Minako said.

"Okay. I'll see you tomorrow." She said.

"Okay. See you then; bye." Minako said.

"Bye." Usagi replied before she hung up the phone. She sighed and returned to the living room and to her seat. "That was Minako letting me know that Luna is at her house." She informed them. "So what did I miss?"

"We just learned that Mamoru was an only child in the past." Kenji said. "We were wondering because going off to deal with that uprising would have been dangerous. He could have been killed and with him being next in line to be King we wondered if he had a sibling to take his place as morbid as that sounds."

"Yeah, both of us were only child's." Usagi said.

"That woman, was she..." Ikuko trailed off.

"Yes she was my mother." Usagi confirmed.

"She was beautiful, and you two look so much alike." Ikuko said.

"Yeah. I've always been proud of that since she was so beautiful." Usagi said with a smile.

"So the locket. Is it the one you mentioned when you first told us who you really are?" Kenji asked the couple.

"Yes. It's the same locket, and that memory is how I had it as Tuxedo Kamen to give to her as Sailor Moon." Mamoru answered, and Usagi smiled.

"I love listening to it; especially after we remembered who we were. The significance made it all the more special." She said.

"Can I see it?" Ikuko asked. "I remember seeing it once before when you were listening to it, but I want to see it up close."

Usagi nodded and gestured slightly with her hand, and her star locket appeared in her palm from her subspace pocket where she had been keeping it, so she could listen to it whenever she wanted.

She handed it to her mom and watched her look at it in awe with her dad looking on with a mix of curiosity and awe. Their reaction was easily understandable; they were looking at something that had clearly existed in a past long forgotten, looking as if no time at all had passed.

Ikuko opened it and instantly the glowing light appeared and the soothing melody began to fill the room. She thought it sounded even better now that she knew the history attached to it. She closed it with a light sigh and handed it back to her daughter.

"Thank you for allowing us to see it." She said.

"You're welcome." Usagi said as she slipped her hand through the delicate chain and rested the locket on her lap; smiling as Mamoru reached over and caressed it as if he was caressing her.

Kenji and Ikuko watched the tender moment; both having similar yet different thoughts.

Ikuko thought it was sweet and just showed how affectionate and loving they were toward each other without even thinking about it. It was a glimpse into how they likely were when no was around to see them, and she was glad to be seeing it because it was a constant reminder that her daughter was truly loved by the young man.

Kenji reluctantly thought the sight was cute, but was thankful the boy was only caressing the locket instead of his daughter's face.

He had accepted their relationship and was making the effort to learn about their past relationship, and was learning more and more about the boy in general, but that didn't mean he wanted to see him caressing and kissing his daughter.

It was simply something he didn't want to see his teenage daughter doing, and he still didn't like the fact that the boy didn't seem to care that he didn't like it. Wasn't even afraid or reluctant to perform such actions in front of him, but the more he learned the more he understood why that was.

He was a prince in the past, was still one in the present despite that fact not being known, and was a warrior on top of that. He was used to getting what he wanted, doing what he wanted, and seemingly wasn't afraid of anything.

He'd flouted the rules of two kingdoms to be with Usagi. Even as a prince that had to be daunting, but he clearly hadn't been afraid, and being her father wasn't going to stop him from showing her affection.

"I think we can continue with our questions, but the two of you should get back to your studies." Ikuko said, and Usagi nodded.

"I do need to finish my homework, and Mamoru has to head home in a little while so he isn't driving sleepy." She said, and her mom nodded.

"Go on, and get to it." Ikuko said.

Usagi and Mamoru looked to each other before they stood up and headed back upstairs, Usagi removing the barrier she placed, to her room and back to their studies and homework.

Wednesday: Day Three

Morning

Usagi groaned as she became aware of her alarm going off. She sighed and opened her eyes before she turned the alarm off to silence the annoying sound.

She lay there in her warm covers, her mind blank in her grogginess, before the events of the day before came back to her.

Her tiara hadn't worked at the fight the evening before, and she was going to train with her prince to see if she could figure out what went wrong. Rei might be, highly likely was, obsessed with Mamoru, and needed to be watched for that and for the fact that she had been rejected by the fire.

And the new guy at school is interested in me, and needs to be avoided whenever possible. She thought.

Usagi closed her eyes briefly as her short yet important list floated through her mind before she opened them and pushed herself up. She sat up and pushed her covers away as she looked around her room, and smiled lightly at not having Luna there staring at her.

That notice reminded her that Luna was at Minako's house; hopefully getting a much needed adjustment on her way of thinking from Artemis.

Usagi stretched and then got to her feet and stepped across her room to her vanity where her uniform lay draped across her chair.

She stripped out of her pajamas and into her uniform having taken a shower before she went to bed last night, so she wouldn't have to worry about it in the morning. She grabbed her socks and sat at her vanity table and pulled them on her feet before she grabbed her brooch and secured it to the bow on her uniform top.

She sighed and grabbed her brush and began to brush her moonlight silver hair out before securing it up into her usual style. Then she focused briefly on her silver crystal and watched as her hair color shifted into the golden blonde everyone was used to seeing.

She straightened her locket necklace, checked that her stud earrings were still in her ears, and got to her feet and headed out of her room and to the bathroom. She took her time washing her face and brushing her teeth, enjoying the warm water as she continued to wake up.

She returned to her room and looked out her balcony doors, trying to gage the weather, and grabbed a white zip up hooded sweater before she grabbed her school bag and headed out of her room and downstairs.

Usagi placed her sweater and school bag on a side chair in the living room before she made her way into the kitchen where she found her parents.

"Good morning." She greeted them softly.

"Good morning." They both replied.

"Did you sleep well?" Her mom asked.

"I did." She answered as she poured herself a cup of apple juice, and then went about preparing herself a bowl of cereal before she took her breakfast and sat at the table.

Usagi finished a bowl and half of her cereal before Shingo came stumbling into the kitchen with a mumbled greeting. As she listened to the crunching sound as she chewed she was idly glad that he had gotten used to the sight of her being up and in the kitchen before him.

I'm almost there. Mamoru's voice floated quietly through her head as she was in the middle of her third bowl.

Okay. I should be finished eating by the time you get here. She said.

Okay. He replied.

Almost ten minutes passed and she had finished off two more bowls and was drinking down the last of her apple juice when the doorbell rang.

I'm here. Mamoru's voice floated through her head almost at the same time.

I'm on my way. She said before she got up, putting her empty cup down, and walked out of the kitchen and down the hallway to the front door. Opening the door she smiled at the sight of her prince.

"Good morning." Usagi said as she opened the door wider and stepped back.

"Good morning." Mamoru said as he stepped inside. Once the door was closed he produced a perfect rose and handed it to her without a word.

"Thank you." She said as she accepted the rose. "Everyone is in the kitchen. You can come in and greet them or wait for me out here."

"I'll wait for you here, and greet them when we get back from Elysion." He said, and she nodded.

"I'll only be a few moments then." Usagi said before she returned to the kitchen. She placed her rose on the table and grabbed her cup and bowl and placed them in the sink. Then she returned to the table and grabbed her flower and left the kitchen without a word.

She smiled at Mamoru who was still standing where she left him, and waved for him to join her as she began to walk up the stairs. They headed to her bedroom and once inside she closed the door and placed her morning rose in a vase on her vanity and turned to Mamoru.

"I'm ready when you are." She said as she stepped toward him.

Mamoru wrapped his arms around her, and closed his eyes as he focused on Elysion; he pictured the sacred place and wanting to be there with his princess before he willed them there. A light flashed around them in the next moment, and they were immediately greeted with the fragrance of roses.

Mamoru opened his eyes to the now familiar sight of the white shrine and sea of roses, and slowly let his arms slide away from his girl. Usagi looked around and sighed before she stepped back a few steps from her prince.

"Moon Crystal Power, Make Up!" She said calmly as she touched her brooch, and was surrounded in a bright soft pink light. When it cleared she stood as Sailor Moon with her moonlight silver hair fully on display.

"Alright. I'm going to test out my tiara to see if there's anything wrong with it." She said.

Mamoru nodded and waited; idly noticing Helios walking toward them.

Usagi pulled off her tiara and charged it. It turned into a glowing white disk as it always did, and she threw it off into the distance. It sailed through the air without a problem and curved back around and returned to her. She caught it and looked at it and saw that it looked fine. It was still glowing and ready to be used again.

"It's fine." She said as she looked to Mamoru. "I don't see anything wrong with it, and there was nothing wrong with its flight." She added, and he nodded.

"I'll give you a target and we'll see if that makes a difference." Mamoru said.

"Okay." She said as she nodded.

Mamoru pulled out a red rose and transformed wordlessly in a light red flash of light. When it cleared he stood as Tuxedo Kamen in his black tuxedo and flowing cape.

"Good morning." He greeted Helios as he stopped near them.

"Good morning Helios." Usagi greeted him with a smile; knowing he was watching out of curiosity.

"Good morning Endymion, Serenity." Helios greeted in return, but continued to stay back.

"I'm going to throw some roses, and I want you to aim for them." Mamoru said as he looked back to his princess. She nodded and he pulled out a hand full of roses, and threw one high and far.

Usagi immediately threw her tiara at it, and they both watched as it sailed toward the flower, and sliced through it before she summoned it back to her. They repeated the actions with the rest of Mamoru's roses, and saw that every time the flower was destroyed and her tiara looked fine.

Mamoru hummed thoughtfully. "I want you to aim for me, so we can see if having a living target changes the effect of your tiara." He said.

Usagi frowned but nodded; reminding herself to make sure she lowered the power on her tiara so as not hurt him.

"I'm going to run. You go ahead and do it when you're ready." He said. She nodded again, and he took off in a sprint.

She waited until he was a little farther then the cardian had been to her last night, and threw her tiara at him. She watched as it sailed quickly through the air toward him before it hit him in the back. He yelped and she ran toward him; catching her tiara as she summoned it back to her.

"Are you okay?" She asked as she reached him. "Did I put too much power into it?"

"I'm fine. It was just a surprise even though I knew it was coming. It didn't hurt but it stung enough to let me know I'd been hit." Mamoru said, and she frowned.

"Is your tiara okay?" He asked curiously.

Usagi looked at it, having returned it to its normal form, and saw that it looked fine.

"It looks like it always does." She said as she put it back on. "It still worked when I summoned it back to me. I could have thrown it again. I just don't understand why it didn't work against that cardian."

Mamoru hummed thoughtfully as they began to walk back to where they had been standing; where Helios was still standing and watching.

"Show me what happened when you threw your tiara at that cardian." Mamoru said. "I didn't really see it since I was watching for attacks, and making sure Rei didn't get any closer to me.

Usagi nodded and summoned her silver crystal to her hands; it appeared instantly floating and glowing. She closed her eyes to better focus on the memory and spoke to her crystal.

Please project the memory I have in mind for us to see. She asked it.

Her crystal pulsed gently and in the next moment light flared and spread out around them. She opened her eyes in time to see the scene solidifying around them.

Mamoru frowned as he watched his princess the memory projected as she removed her tiara and charged it. Her form was good, there was nothing wrong with the way she was standing or holding her tiara. Her tiara looked fine as well. It glowed a vibrant white and was perfect in its disk form.

He and the Senshi in the memory attacked the cardian, but he kept his eyes on Sailor Moon. The cardian screamed and she threw her tiara. He watched its flight path, straight and true, when the cardian suddenly swung its arm and knocked it aside like it was an annoying fly.

"What?!" He heard his princess exclaim in shock and surprise before the memory faded away to leave them surround by the red roses in Elysion.

Mamoru sighed as he watched Usagi put her crystal away.

"I didn't see anything wrong with your tiara or the way you threw it." He said as he shook his head slightly. "The cardian might have just been stronger than the previous ones." He suggested.

"If it happens again then we'll have our answer. The Cardians are too strong for your tiara." He added, and she sighed.

"I hope that isn't the case since that would make dealing with them that much harder." Usagi said.

"True, but we'll deal with it then instead of worrying before we have to." He said, and she nodded. "Now that we have that as settled as we can it's time for sword training." He continued, and summoned his sword.

"Weapon out." He said.

Usagi summoned her sword, the Holy Blade, and held it with both her hands in a relaxed yet ready stance just the way she was taught. Mamoru nodded and had her run through the different stances he had taught her with him.

They spent a few minutes shifting their feet, turning, and twisting while lifting their swords at various angles as Helios continued to watch them.

Once they finished Mamoru twisted and brought his sword down toward his princess in a downward strike; initiating their sparring session.

Usagi blocked the strike and moved to the side like she was taught since he was too strong for her to try and push his blade away.

She continued to block his strikes, careful to move away after each time, and only occasionally struck out at him in return. She had to be careful and always keep in mind his strength, his longer reach, and his experience with swords.

Mamoru swung his sword down over Usagi and she blocked it while stepping to the side, and he twisted and swung again at her side.

She blocked it and spun away, moving toward his back, and he turned just in time to block her blade from plunging into his stomach. His girl was smart though because as he pushed her blade away she relaxed her grip, so there was no more pressure for him to block, and shifted to the side before she kicked out at the back of his knee.

Usagi watched her prince's leg buckle as she took a step back and swung her sword down over his head, but his reflexes were quick and he blocked the strike and pushed against her blade. She stepped back from the force and then took a couple more steps back to avoid his retaliating swing. Then she blinked in surprise as he quickly threw a rose at her.

She took yet another step back as she watched the flower and swung her blade down at it once it was close enough, cutting it in half and stopping its progress, but before she could breathe a sigh of relief she found more roses flying toward her. She dodged one and sliced through another, her eyes already tracking the next one before the cut one could fall to the ground.

Mamoru continued to throw roses one after the other as he stood up. He nodded to himself as he watched his princess' reaction to his attack. She was doing very good; had actually done very well since they started sparring.

It's time she spar with Minako. He thought with mental nod. They had trained with Minako recently, but they hadn't used their swords. It had been over two weeks since the last time, and he wanted to see how his princess held up against someone of her own size and strength.

Especially since she's developed some new tricks to use in that time. He thought as he threw a last rose, which she dodged before taking a ready stance, and decided that was enough for that morning.

"Relax; that's enough." He said as he began to walk toward her and put his sword away. "You did very well; I'm proud of you." He said sincerely.

"Thank you." Usagi said as she blushed, and put her sword away.

"I'm in no hurry for you to actually use your sword in the way we're training for, but I can't wait for Ami and Makoto to see you in action since I don't think they were really paying attention at the attack at Naru's house." Mamoru said.

Left unsaid was that Minako of course already know, and he didn't care if Rei ever knew.

"Yeah." Usagi agreed as she nodded. "Especially since neither of them said anything since it was the first time I used my sword in front of them." She added, and he nodded and looked over to Helios.

"Did you enjoy watching us?" He asked the young looking man.

"Yes." Helios answered calmly. "Every time I observe you training together I see Serenity progress more and more."

"Thank you." Usagi said. "I'm glad I'm making progress, and that it's visible at that."

"You are welcome." Helios said gently.

"Come on let's head back to your house." Mamoru said, and she nodded as she stepped closer to him.

"Bye Helios. It was good to see you again." Usagi said as she looked to him.

"Yes." Mamoru agreed. "We'll see you the next time we return."

"Farewell. I look forward to your next visit." Helios said.

Mamoru then wrapped his arms around Usagi and focused on her bedroom in her house, and they disappeared in a flash of light to reappear in her room. They released their transformation and left the room to head downstairs.

Usagi put on her shoes once they were downstairs, and they walked into the kitchen.

"I'm leaving now." She said.

"Good morning Mamoru." Ikuko said, and handed Usagi her lunch.

"Thanks." Usagi said as she took the lunch bag.

"Good morning Mrs. Tsukino, Mr. Tsukino, Shingo." Mamoru said, and Mr. Tsukino and Shingo greeted him in return.

"Bye. I'll see you all when I get home." Usagi said.

"Goodbye." Kenji said.

"Have a good day." Ikuko said, and Shingo just waved at her.

They walked back down the hallway and Usagi paused at the living room and grabbed her sweater and put it on, then grabbed her lunch and school bag, and then returned to the hallway and stepped into her shoes.

"I'm ready." She said as she turned to her prince.

Mamoru smiled and they walked back to the front door. He opened it for her and she smiled in thanks and stepped out, and he stepped out behind her and closed the door before they began to walk to his car.

Artemis and Luna's POV

Artemis looked to the closed door of Minako's bedroom from where he lay in the middle of her bed.

He had given Luna a slight break yesterday so she could get settled in at the Aino household. But now with Minako off to school, her father having left for work, and her mother downstairs he thought it was time to get his discussion with Luna started.

He didn't want to put it off longer because it needed to happen. Luna needed to change her way of thinking when it came to their princess, and she needed to realize the reality of what was going on around her; and further he needed her to understand the situation she was in and what could happen to her if she didn't get her act together.

Especially after his talk with Minako. She had informed him of the conversation between Usagi and Luna from Usagi's point of view, and what she thought of Luna's behavior.

And what she will do to Luna if I can't get her to see reason and change her thoughts. He thought with a sigh.

He was surprised at what she would do to Luna if she didn't change. He didn't want it to happen, but he understood why it would if it did.

Luna was entitled to her opinions, but she couldn't try to push those opinions on their princess and expect her to capitulate and do what she wanted.

It was partly that type of behavior that had started the rift between the girls in the first place, and here Luna was sinking right back into it and not doing her job, which was to advise the girls and especially their princess. Instead she seemed to want to almost mold Usagi into the princess she wanted her to be, and not who she actually was.

Artemis would not tell her about the possible punishment that awaited, just as Usagi wanted, and do his best to figure out her thought process and help her change.

"Luna." He called, and watched her look over from where she lay on the windowsill enjoying the view. "It's time we talk. I left you alone yesterday so you could adjust to your surroundings, but now we need to talk."

Luna sighed and leapt over to the bed and lay down in front of him. She had been concerned about this talk since they left the Tsukino household. She knew he didn't agree with what she had told him, but she didn't think there was anything wrong with what she had said.

"I know you have concerns about our princess and I want to hear all of them. I remember the previous concerns you spoke of, and I know some of them have been addressed. And yesterday you spoke of Usagi's friendship with her best friend Naru." Artemis said.

"Tell me more about that, and anything else that's concerning you, so it's out there and can be dealt with." He told her.

Luna sighed. She knew this was going to be difficult, but she had been holding in her concerns over the past weeks as she watched Usagi. Maybe talking to Artemis could help her sort them out. Even if she did believe they were valid concerns.

"Like you said I have concerns about Usagi's friendship with Naru. I don't want that girl to figure out Usagi's secret, and because of her feelings for one of the dark generals of the Negaverse I'm suspicious that Naru might have a predisposition to evil, and will betray Usagi. That's the last thing we, Usagi especially, need." She began, and sighed.

"Aside from that I think the Senshi are good enough friends for Usagi. I understand that what happened before between the girls has done damage to their friendship, but they've repaired that and are doing better. They're back to hanging out together, and getting along great. What does she need Naru's friendship for?" She continued.

"And I admit that I'm also still concerned about her relationship with Mamoru; not the issue I had before with having only seen them arguing and that being the bases for their relationship." Luna said.

"I understand that they're soulmates, but she's spending a great deal of time with him; too much in my opinion. She seems to be with him almost everyday. I'm concerned that she isn't spending enough time with the girls." She said, and then looked away from Artemis' staring eyes.

"This isn't really a concern, but part of me still sees Usagi as she was before she made her changes; and rightfully so since I haven't seen her studying and doing her homework anymore. She's spending so much time with Mamoru, and her insistent friendship with Naru isn't helping that image either." She explained.

"To add to that I'm still a bit disbelieving that she's the Moon Princess since I haven't seen her in her royal form like the girls said they have. I've seen Usagi training with the girls during the past months, so I'm more confident in her fighting skills and have faith in her abilities now, but the rest I can't help worrying about." She concluded as she slowly shook her head.

Artemis stared at Luna in disbelief as she finally stopped speaking. He did not think he could be angrier with her than he was yesterday, but he had just been proven wrong.

He could hardly believe what he had heard. All her concerns were nothing serious. They were just her own private concerns that seemed to have gained the status of being serious in her mind, so she was making them a problem for their princess.

Some of them weren't even concerns at all! They were just things that Luna was trying to make a problem. Usagi having a close friend outside of her Guardian Senshi wasn't a concern, spending time with her soulmate wasn't a concern.

What was concerning was that Luna sounded almost jealous that Usagi wasn't spending all her time with her, that she still saw Usagi as the girl she had been before she had initially quit the team, and even more so was her disbelief that Usagi was the Moon Princess! No matter how small that disbelief was.

He lowered his head to his paws and closed his eyes as he tried to calm himself. How was he going to try to change her way of thinking while he was angry with her.

Hmm...I can use my anger. He thought. Maybe if she sees me, a guardian like herself, angry and disapproving of her thoughts then that might help her look at things differently, and avoid the punishment waiting for her if I can't get through to her. He considered before he sat up and shifted until he was sitting in front of her.

"Your concerns are not concerns our princess needs to deal with in any shape or form." Artemis said angrily. "I can tell you right now that they are your concerns and yours alone. Absolutely no one else has any problem with anything that you just mentioned."

"I think it is extremely outrageous that you have a problem with Usagi being friends with Naru. So what if she liked one of the dark generals!? It obviously happened before she knew who he really was, and she couldn't simply turn her feelings off when she found out. We have a current example of that in the form of Rei with her feelings for Mamoru." He continued.

"In any case, the man is dead now, so it doesn't matter. The fact that she developed feelings for the man at all doesn't mean she has a tendency for being evil and betraying Usagi." He said.

"The fact that she was willing to work on their friendship when Usagi approached her says a lot about her character and her loyalty to a friend she had had for years that suddenly pulled away from her without an explanation of any kind." He added seriously.

"You should be ashamed of yourself for trying split them up, and definitely for insinuating that Usagi was in any way responsible for her friend being attacked! As if just because Usagi knew someone they would automatically be attacked." Artemis told her angrily. "That logic is faulty in the extreme! What about the other people Usagi knows? They aren't being attacked!"

"Usagi can be friends with whoever she wants to be friends with. If she wants friends outside of her Senshi then she can and should have them! She likely worked to reestablish her friendship with Naru, so in the off chance she can't trust her Senshi again she'll have a friend instead of being left alone as she was before." He said with a huff.

"It was lucky Mamoru stepped up and became more of a friend to her or who knows what would have happened to her with her DNA changing, or how long it would have taken them to find out the truth about each other." He added.

"And speaking of Mamoru! Your issue with Usagi spending so much time with Mamoru is ludicrous!" He nearly snapped. "The man is her soulmate, her bond mate, and the one she loves! Aside from that what girl doesn't want to spend all of her time with her boyfriend? Except unlike every other girl she literally has past history with Mamoru that makes them much closer than typical couples."

"They loved each other, were very much in love, in the Silver Millennium. Went against the rules of both their planets to be with each other. The man sacrificed himself for her, died saving her, and heartbroken young woman that she was, surrounded by enemies on top of that, killed herself because she couldn't live without him!" He explained, hoping he was getting through to his fellow guardian.

"Usagi doesn't need to stop spending time with him to spend more time with the girls. She spends enough time with them. I think she's doing well managing her time between all of her friends, Mamoru, and her family. Not to mention the time she allots for training and homework. What more do you want from our princess?!" He asked.

Luna dropped her eyes; if she could blush she would have. She knew the conversation would be difficult, but she didn't know he would be angry with her. She hadn't expected that at all. And what he was saying. It made what she said sound foolish, and he wasn't even done yet!

"And how can you still see Usagi as the girl she was when you first met her, before the changes she made?" Artemis asked. "I suppose I can give you some allowance there, because Usagi is still very much that girl. She simply chose to behave differently." He said, and looked to Luna, trying to catch her eye.

"Did you hear me Luna? Usagi chose to behave differently. Or have you already forgotten that pertinent fact! Usagi has always been the girl she is currently walking around as; she chose to be that girl you first met!" He said.

"All those problems you had with how she behaved were choices. For whatever reason our princess did not want to be the girl that got high marks in school, that studied hard, that was quiet, that was organized, that was neat, and all the other things you and the girls relentlessly complained about." He continued.

"You tried to force her to change into who you wanted her to be, someone Usagi didn't want to be, and whether or not you realize it you are now trying to do it again! Our princess is fine just the way she is! She is doing well in school, she is keeping up with her studies, and she has healthy relationships with just about everyone in her life." He told her firmly.

Artemis closed his eyes briefly and shook his head. "I barely have the words to address your disbelief that Usagi is in fact the Moon Princess, our princess." He said in quiet fury. "And all because of your unreasonable 'concerns' and the fact that you haven't seen Usagi in her royal form."

"All the other evidence you heard and saw aren't enough for you. The words of the Sailor Senshi aren't enough, seeing Usagi in pain from being separated from her bond mate wasn't enough, seeing Usagi teleport herself off planet wasn't enough, seeing the result of her removing Rei's ability to be Sailor Mars wasn't enough, and seeing the result of her providing the girls with the ability to conceal their changed looks wasn't enough!" He listed the examples one after the other in anger.

Artemis paused there and stared hard at Luna, expressing his continued anger and wanting to see if she was understanding and getting the message.

She looked sorry and embarrassed, but that could simply be because he had just given her a severe dressing down. There was no guarantee that his words would stick and she would start seeing things differently.

Luna looked down and closed her eyes. She felt embarrassed, foolish, low, and mightily ashamed. It was clear he was finished now, and the rest of what he had said made everything she had been concerned about sound stupid.

Was she truly the only one that had been concerned about those things? Did no one else see Usagi's friendship with Naru as a bad thing? Ami, Makoto, and Rei had, but then that was before Usagi quit being a senshi and began to act differently; and she couldn't even really count Rei with how she treated Usagi. Was their friendship really not a bad thing?

And perhaps she was wrong with thinking Usagi spent too much time with Mamoru. If the girls weren't bothered by it and thought they saw her enough then she shouldn't worry. Maybe she just wished Usagi would spend more time with her. She did still miss their talks.

They had had some conversations since she moved back into the house, but it wasn't like it used to be and not as often either since Usagi was almost always gone from the house until later in the evening.

Luna suppressed a sad yowl as she thought of Artemis having to tell her that Usagi truly was the princess they had been looking for.

He was right. She shouldn't have doubted it after everything she had seen and heard, but she just wished she had seen Usagi in her royal form with her own eyes. It seemed everyone had except her now that she knew Artemis had seen her.

Artemis sighed heavily, catching Luna's attention.

"You need to leave our princess alone to live her life. Just because you don't see Usagi studying or doing her homework doesn't mean she isn't doing it. She does not need to sit in front of you and perform her responsibilities to satisfy you." He said.

"Usagi is keeping up with her studies and doing her homework. Stop worrying about it because you aren't seeing it. Her parents aren't worrying, why should you?" He continued.

"And our princess is in fact our princess. Usagi is the Moon Princess. I didn't need to see her looking royal for me to believe it, but I have seen her in her royal gown and looking like the princess she is. If you don't believe me then you have more serious problems than nonexistent concerns about Usagi and what is going on in her life!" He said seriously.

"Now, are you going to seriously think about all that I've said?" Artemis asked, and she nodded.

"Yes. I will." Luna said firmly.

"Good. I never want to hear you blaming Usagi for our enemy attacking someone else." He said firmly, a frown clear in his voice.

Luna nodded and dropped her eyes, unable to look into his eyes.

"Now, moving on to other matters. The friendship between the girls and how it relates to them as senshi." He continued. "Usagi spends steady time with Ami and Makoto and their friendship seems to be back on track, but they have yet to earn her complete trust. It is my understanding that it is growing, but there is still work to do there."

"As for Rei, well, there is no more friendship to speak of." He said seriously.

"What?!" Luna said as her eyes snapped up. "Are you serious?"

"Very serious." He said. "After the meeting where Usagi gave the girls their new communicators she confronted Rei, and the result was her ending what little friendship they had after all of Rei's actions and behavior."

Luna stared in shock and surprise. She could hardly believe what she had heard. Usagi and Rei were no longer friends. She thought things were working out between them! Had something else gone wrong?

She narrowed her eyes as she recalled Usagi telling her that Rei hadn't answered her call when they went to check out the site where their new enemy landed. Was that it? Or was that the last straw?

"What does that mean for Rei as a senshi?" She asked quietly.

"It means that Usagi will have nothing to do with her outside of being one of her senshi. She will only see her at meetings, training, and fights. Aside from that if Rei screws up again then Usagi will likely remove her as one of her senshi." Artemis answered seriously.

"It was my understanding that Rei knows this from when Usagi returned her power to her. It was even my understanding that Usagi didn't want to return her powers to her in the first place." He added.

Luna nodded and sighed heavily. She wished their friendship didn't have to end. She couldn't help thinking back and remembering how well they got along when Rei was first discovered as Sailor Mars.

It was sad that this had happened, but Rei was still a senshi, so maybe...but no. There would be no renewal of their friendship. If Usagi went to the point of ending it then that was it, which meant it was likely only a matter of time before Rei was removed as a senshi. She couldn't imagine the team without Rei. It was definitely going to be hard.

Luna then turned her thoughts in a different direction. If Rei wasn't going to be a senshi it meant the Guardian Senshi would be incomplete.

As Ami had often said after Usagi had quit, the senshi couldn't be replaced. What would they do?

Late Afternoon

Usagi and Naru walked down the sidewalk after school on their way to the arcade to meet up with Minako.

The school day was fine and went mostly as usual. Usagi had asked Naru if she wanted to hang out with her and Minako after school, which she had agreed to, she spent the lunch hour with her, Makoto, and Ami, and took notes in class.

As they walked they talked about their homework, which subject they thought would be the hardest for them and which one would be the easiest. Then they moved on to talking about the book, The Host, Naru bought from the bookstore the day before.

She had started reading it to help take her mind off the recently opened wound that was her grief over Nephrite's death. She was still at the beginning, but so far it was turning out to be an interesting book.

Usagi listened and thought the book sounded interesting from what she was hearing, and she was getting more curious to read it but she would wait until Naru finished the book.

Before they could get into another topic they approached the arcade doors and stepped inside as the glass doors slid open. They instantly saw Minako sitting on a stool at the counter sipping on a chocolate milkshake.

"Minako!" Usagi called out as they stepped toward her, and she turned and smiled at them.

"Usagi, Naru. Hi." Minako said as she waved cheerfully.

"Were you waiting long?" Naru asked, and the blonde girl shook her head.

"I've only been here a few minutes; I even just got my milkshake a minute ago." Minako said.

Usagi nodded as she perched herself on the stool to Minako's left side and placed her school bag on the counter.

"So how was school?" She asked Minako as Naru sat to her left.

"It was okay. The usual with classes and note taking." Minako answered. "Talks around school about the volleyball team are starting, and I'm thinking about trying out but I'm worried I won't have time for practices let alone the games." She added.

Usagi nodded and made a sound of understanding. With training and their new enemy it could be difficult to make team practices and games; especially if they were games away from the school.

"I don't suppose they have a tentative schedule available yet?" Naru asked. "That way you might be able to schedule your responsibilities around the practice and game days."

"I haven't heard anything about it, but that's a good idea and I'll definitely be asking. Thanks Naru." Minako said happily, pleased that she might have a chance at joining the team.

"You're welcome." Naru said.

Minako smiled and sipped her milkshake. Naru's idea really was a good one, and it was another reason she liked her. Usagi had introduced them during the summer, and they had liked each other and gotten along well.

She thought Naru was a quiet down to earth girl that could be feisty when she needed to be. It was also clear to her that Naru was a good friend to Usagi. One that was long lasting and loyal. Especially after their friendship had nearly ended due to the interference of Luna, Ami, Makoto, and Rei. Although, she would admit that from her information it was mostly the former three.

A girl wearing a white apron came over behind the counter and took their orders. Usagi got a root beer float, and Naru ordered a strawberry soda.

As they waited for their orders Usagi began to tell Minako about the new guy at her school being interested in her despite her turning him down and letting him know she had a boyfriend.

"He approached me at lunch yesterday when I was eating with Naru, and he did it again today even though this time I was with Naru, Makoto, and Ami." Usagi informed Minako.

"He asked me how I was doing, and how my classes had gone so far; completely ignoring Naru, Ami, and Makoto. I simply said fine in both regards. I remember that I was going to ask him in return just to be polite, but reminded myself that he had already asked me out and I didn't want to encourage him." She explained. Not to mention he could be an enemy.

"Then he asked me if I had any plans for after school, and I simply said the usual; homework and hanging out with my friends. He said maybe he could join me, and I outright said no; that that time was for me and my friends and I truly wasn't interested in getting to know him. Not to mention my boyfriend wouldn't be happy about me spending time around another guy." She continued.

"What did he say to that?" Minako asked.

"He just nodded and said he hoped he could change my mind, and that maybe in the coming days I'll give him a chance." Usagi answered.

"Wow." Minako said as she shook her head. "That sounds crazy." She added. Although, she couldn't help being slightly disturbed since he could potentially be part of their new enemy.

"I think it's starting to get beyond creepy and it's only been two days." Naru said just as her strawberry soda and Usagi's root beer float arrived.

"Yeah." Usagi agreed. "The guy sounds more and more like he doesn't care that I have a boyfriend and isn't interested in getting to know him. I don't know how I can get him to leave me alone."

"Maybe he needs to see you and Mamoru together." Naru said thoughtfully.

"Maybe you need to have Mamoru actually speak to him." Minako added.

"I might have to do both depending on his reaction." Usagi said with a sigh. "I know Mamoru definitely won't mind setting him straight. And everything's been going so peacefully. Well, aside from the situation with Rei."

"Have you seen Rei since you ended your friendship with her?" Naru asked.

"Yes. It was like seeing any other person. I didn't feel any sadness or regret." Usagi said.

"How do you think she's taking the split?" Minako asked.

Usagi was quiet for a few moments as she sipped her root beer float.

"I think Rei's fine. In fact, I think once she got over the surprise of it she likely didn't mind. After all, she hadn't really been trying to be my friend in recent weeks." She said with a slight shrug. "Beyond that I think she'll try to take the opportunity to try and get close to Mamoru."

"Really?" Minako asked with a frown, and Usagi nodded.

"Yes. It won't happen of course since Mamoru is going to continue to stay away from any place Rei is unless it can't be helped." She said, and took another sip of her drink before she sighed. "Mamoru and I were talking last night and he mentioned that he's worried that Rei is possibly obsessed with him."

Naru and Minako gasped, both surprised at the piece of news.

"Do you think so too?" Naru asked.

"I do; especially after considering everything I've seen and heard of Rei when it comes to Mamoru." Usagi answered. "It fits. Rei is jealous of any girl he spends time with or even talks to, the last time she saw him she couldn't take her eyes off him, and Ami and Makoto said she's always asking after him when I'm not around."

Naru shook her head before she sipped her soda. She was honestly not surprised with everything she had learned about Rei. When she first heard of the girl she sounded like someone she didn't want to know and that had not changed with more information.

She was glad that Usagi had decided to finally part ways from the girl. Usagi didn't need that type of negativity in her life. Rei had sounded like an abusive, petty, arrogant, selfish, self-obsessed girl who thought she should be able to have what she wanted.

And apparently one of those things was Mamoru. So it was no surprise that she might be obsessed with the guy. She wanted him, but he didn't want her, and she didn't care about what he wanted only what she wanted.

Yes, she was definitely glad that Usagi was no longer friends with someone like that, and was also glad that Mamoru was a guy that knew what he wanted and didn't let anyone deter him from it.

Minako sipped her milkshake as she considered what her princess had revealed. Usagi's thought of Rei trying to get close to Mamoru now that she and Rei officially weren't friends anymore made sense with the information that she could be obsessed.

Rei would no longer feel like she needed to hide her feelings to try and please Usagi. Of course she thought it was something Rei thought in her own mind since it was clear to anyone looking that she still liked Mamoru, and she thought it would become even more so during fights with their new enemy. She would not be able to help herself. She would need to be near him.

She thought that was bound to make fights with their enemy more dangerous for him. She knew that he focused on their enemy and Usagi's whereabouts, but with Rei trying to be near him it would be like when Zoisite was disguised as Sailor Moon and trying to get to him all over again.

And I remember quite well how that turned out. She thought quietly.

Minako decided to be even more cautious and diligent in protecting Usagi, and if she could then she would try to keep Rei away from Mamoru as well so he could focus and not be worrying about what Rei might do. Although, she thought Rei would deserve whatever Mamoru said and/or did to her.

"Yeah. Mamoru and I will both be staying away from Rei. The only place she knows where to find him is here at the arcade, and he's already stopped coming here and has absolutely no problem never coming here again." Usagi explained. "Staying away is all we can do. That and being together."

Minako and Naru nodded in agreement. That really was all the couple could do. Although, Minako thought it would be better when Rei finally screwed up and got herself removed from the Senshi. Then they really wouldn't have to worry since they would never have to see her again.

"What does Mamoru think of Rei possibly being obsessed with him?" Naru asked. "He can't be happy about that."

"He isn't happy at all. He's angry and concerned. He still can't understand why she has any feelings for him in the first place, and on top of that he's still angry with her for the way she's treated me." Usagi said.

"And he's concerned because obsessions can become dangerous." She added. "Rei has already shown she can be jealous just for a girl talking to him; what will happen if those feelings intensify? If it finally dawns on her that he doesn't want her and never will, if she grows upset that she can't have him?"

Minako nodded. She understood perfectly why he was still angry. She was sure he hadn't forgotten a single thing Rei had done toward him, as Mamoru and Tuxedo Kamen, and especially toward Usagi.

And Rei had already proven she could be dangerous, and that was only when she thought Usagi was cheating on Mamoru and couldn't attack her directly. She'd turned her anger and violence toward the closest person she could get away with attacking. It was completely wrong of her, and had just been her bad luck that it was actually Mamoru she had attacked.

Naru nodded in understanding. She could see how the situation with Rei could turn dangerous. For both Usagi and Mamoru. Rei might try to attack Usagi to hurt her, to get her out of the way, hoping that when she wasn't around Mamoru would see Rei and fall for her like she wanted. Or she could attack Mamoru somehow in a 'if I can't have him no one can have him' type of situation.

The three of them lost themselves in thought as they all considered Rei and what she might do if she really was obsessed, and they gradually began to realize it was getting louder as more teenagers showed up.

It only took a few moments for them to decide to leave since it was getting too loud for conversation.

So they finished off their drinks and left the arcade, deciding to head to the closest park since it should be quiet there. That way could continue to talk and enjoy the day.

Unknown Location

In a massive dark room the silhouette of a male with long light blue hair wearing a dark blue full bodysuit sat on a large thick green raised root with one of his legs resting in front of him on the root. He raised his hand and spread a number of tarot sized cards out in a fanned even formation.

"Pick one." He said without looking around.

Higher up above him resting on a different root a female with long pink hair and wearing a full dark red bodysuit hummed and gestured with a finger. A card off to the left side of the group lifted and hovered a few inches above the male's hand.

The male put the remaining cards away without a word before he pulled out a flute from nowhere. He lifted it to his lips and began to play. A soothing yet lifting melody drifted and echoed throughout the room, and the floating card began to glow.

It grew brighter and stretched, limbs pushing out and stretching, until a fully formed figure floated in its place.

"Go gather energy." The male told the figure as he stopped playing and lowered his flute.

The female gestured with her hand in a careless move that caused a round portal to open showing bright sunlight and a blue sky.

"Reci." The figure said in a soft feminine tone before moving toward and through the portal.

The portal closed and the male put his flute away before getting to his feet.

"Where are you going?" The female asked as he began to walk along the root.

"There's something I want to do while the cardian is doing her job." He replied without pausing.

The female frowned slightly but didn't say anything as she watched him leave the room through the sliding door.

Meanwhile...

While Usagi, Naru, and Minako were hanging out together Makoto and Ami headed to Rei's place to talk to her and see how she was holding up after Usagi ended their friendship, and after the fight last evening. The three of them settled in the room they usually used for studying and meetings.

"I'm actually fine with Usagi's decision to end our friendship." Rei said calmly. "My efforts to try and fix it weren't working, and I can admit it was because I still somewhat see Usagi as the clumsy, klutzy, crybaby she was in the beginning of our friendship."

"Are you going to find it difficult to protect her as our princess without having a friendship with her?" Ami asked.

"I don't think so." Rei said thoughtfully. "I don't have to be her friend to protect her. It will be like how police officers don't have to personally know someone to protect them."

Rei really meant that. She fully believed that she didn't need to be friends with Usagi to protect her. She didn't want her hurt. She didn't want to be her friend, believed herself to be the better senshi, but she didn't want her to get hurt or killed.

Makoto thought that was all well and true, but thought there was a bigger issue that would get in the way of her being able to protect Usagi.

"Do you still have feelings for Mamoru?" She asked outright.

"No." Rei answered quickly. "I've finally gotten over my feelings for him. That was clear to me when I saw him at the meeting the other day."

Makoto nodded even though she knew Rei was lying to her. She decided then that she would start to distance herself from Rei.

She didn't like that she had just lied to her face like that. She would have been fine knowing that Rei still liked him, having feelings for someone wasn't something you could help, but she denied still having them when it was obvious that she still did.

Maybe Rei had forgotten how much they had hung out and the times she had asked after Mamoru or maybe she just thought she was good at hiding her feelings.

Makoto had been preoccupied by the fight last evening, but this conversation reminded her to be more watchful of Rei and aware of her own surroundings. Not to mention to keep a closer eye on Usagi during fights. She didn't believe Rei would protect her if Mamoru appeared to be in danger at the same time; or at least in danger to her own mind.

It was her duty, and she knew Mamoru wouldn't expect anything less. He would want Usagi protected above his own life. But of course she would watch his back as well since he was Usagi's soulmate. She wouldn't ever forget seeing Usagi in agonizing pain from being separated from him.

Ami blinked and looked down so her eyes couldn't be seen since she too knew Rei was lying. She was very observant, even more so after the ordeal of Usagi quitting the team and working on their friendship, and had seen all the signs and clues that Rei did still in fact like Mamoru.

She had even seen evidence of it at the last meeting. She could barely take her eyes off Mamoru. And actually one of the first things that entered her mind when it was revealed that they could contact Mamoru with their new communicators was when Rei was going to contact him, and if she would wait until the next day to do it.

Rei's words just emphasized what Minako had reported to them yesterday. Rei wasn't interested in being friends with Usagi and her behavior toward her hadn't changed enough. And if she was being honest with herself she thought it was slipping back into what it had been.

She would need to be more watchful and extra careful when there was an attack, because Rei might not protect Usagi or her powers might not work.

Ami held in a sigh as she glanced to Makoto and looked back to Rei. She thought it was only a matter of time before she messed up, and Usagi took away her ability to be a senshi.

It was time she started pulling away.

Usagi quitting the team had given her a taste of what it would be like to have a friend that wasn't a senshi. Having to leave to deal with attacks while they remained behind, having meetings without them. It had felt like she was abandoning her friend, and she didn't want to feel that way again.

And once again if she was being honest with herself Rei didn't feel like much of a friend to her. Hadn't since that day during training when she had shrugged off her achievement of gaining attacks from her powers like it was nothing.

That had let her know that Rei didn't care about her as much as she thought she did; especially since she had never apologized. She didn't want or need a friend like that. She knew from experience that having no friends was better than having one that didn't truly care.

"Well, how are you doing after last evenings fight?" She asked Rei, wanting to change the subject.

"I'm all healed up, and thankfully woke up with no pain." Rei answered readily.

She hadn't had any bruises either which was also something she was grateful for. She wouldn't have been able to hide that when she went to school, and definitely wouldn't have known what to say about it.

Sometimes she was still surprised at how rough being a senshi could be. When she first became a senshi she hadn't imagined that she would be knocked around or bruised or injured to the point of bleeding. She supposed she should be glad that she hadn't broken anything.

I'm going to have to be more careful because I don't particularly want to be injured again, and certainly not in a way that will mar my looks. She thought as she ran her fingers through her hair and flipped some of it over her shoulder.

"Sometimes I wish I could wear my hair with my natural color, without the concealment on it. I think it would look nice with my school uniform and some of my clothes." Rei said thoughtfully.

"Can you imagine how much attention I would get from guys if I didn't have to conceal my looks?" She said as she sighed dreamily, looking at nothing as she imagined just that.

Rei couldn't help imagining how Mamoru would react. He'd seen her with her red hair and eyes before, but not in a situation where there was no danger and she could dress nicely. She would have to do that some time in the near future. She had to show him how much better she would look with him than Usagi.

And we would definitely look good together. She thought. My red hair and his black hair, and our respective heights. We could coordinate our style of dressing, and look that much better together.

Yes. She would have to show him. Of course she would have to figure out where he was spending his time since he wasn't going to the arcade anymore.

Makoto and Ami exchanged a look at Rei's words. She didn't even ask if they were okay or if the others were okay. Nowhere in her rambles did she express concern for anyone.

Ami knew that Usagi had checked on Rei during the fight last evening just from what she had told her when she checked on her. Despite not wanting to be friends with her Usagi had cared enough to check on her, and Rei couldn't or didn't even think to do the same for her or any of them after the fact.

She didn't like that one bit. If she couldn't even care enough to enquire after their health then she doubted Rei would be able to protect Usagi like she claimed she would be able to.

Makoto held in a sigh at how self-absorbed Rei was sounding; not to mention her words and her behavior just confirmed her continued feelings for Mamoru. She certainly wasn't thinking about other guys giving her attention if she didn't have to conceal her looks.

The more Rei talked the more Makoto felt like she was truly seeing her. She sounded the same way she had spoken and behaved before and after Usagi had quit the Senshi, but now Makoto was really hearing the way it would sound to someone who wasn't a friend.

She didn't like it, and it furthered her desire to start to distance herself from Rei. It wouldn't be hard since they went to different schools and when it came down to it she and Ami were the ones that sought out Rei not the other way around.

How long will it take her to contact one of us to talk or to get together? Makoto wondered. I guess after today I'll start counting the days.

Mamoru's POV

Mamoru raced through the secluded park he and Usagi had been using as their personal training ground throwing roses up at random leaves on trees or at tree trunks.

He had studied after his classes and when he couldn't concentrate anymore he decided to take some time to train since he had the time with Usagi spending time with Minako and Naru after school.

He and Usagi had already agreed that to further keep his distance from Rei he wouldn't join the girls for group training, so when he didn't have plans to train with Usagi or her and Minako he needed to train on his own.

Now here he was transformed into his tuxedo and mask dodging trees, jumping over bushes, and avoiding imaginary foes as he threw his roses.

So far beyond throwing his roses and working on his aim he had practiced seeing through the Earth. He worked to try and do it while standing and only using the connection of his feet, which turned out to use a lot of concentration especially with his shoes on.

He'd managed to look in on his princess and saw that she was in class obviously listening to a lecture, it was the same with Minako when he tried to see her, and he'd even looked in on Artemis and found him in what must have been Minako's bedroom.

Beyond that he had practiced with his sword, going through different stances and movements, and sparring against imaginary foes attacking and blocking their imagined movements.

As he ran, and threw his roses, he thought that what he had practiced was all he could and he didn't like it one bit.

I should try and think of something else to use for offense besides my roses since there's the very real chance that I'll need something more with our current enemy. He considered. After all if my princess' tiara is possibly of no more use then the same can quickly become true of my roses.

Mamoru considered how he had his sword, but that was for up close situations and only with certain opponents. He needed something else; something more useful.

What I need is an energy attack or rather energy attacks. He thought.

He had his crystal, but he needed to put it in some type of form and not just push out the power. That could be dangerous, to himself and to those around him, if he didn't control it right, and it would also give away the extent of his power to his enemy.

I don't have anything like my princess' wand, and judging by how winded she was the last time she had used her wand it wouldn't be a good idea even if I had something similar. He thought with a sigh. I'm obviously going to have to make up some attacks.

He didn't have anything in his list of abilities to base it on, so he was going to use the Senshi's attacks as inspiration. Aside from that what he did have was his golden crystal and his roses, so he would form his attacks with them in mind.

Mamoru continued to run, moving in a zigzag fashion, as he pictured all of the Senshi's attacks. He recalled the colors, the elements, the shape, and even the names of the attacks. The girls had stopped using the names, at least out loud, after Minako had arrived, but he still remembered them.

With those images in his mind he thought of his crystal and roses, and gave his imagination free reign as he tried to come up with something that would fit him and be effective.

He paused in his run and began to throw roses, turning in a quick tight circle as if he was surrounded. He took off running in the next moment in a different direction as if he had cleared a path for himself.

Slowly ideas for attacks began to come to him. First names, and then images of what those names inspired.

He slowed to a stop, still very much surrounded by trees, and focused on his internal power. He gestured with both hands and an open red rose blossom appeared in each palm. Almost immediately they burst into golden flames, the fire warm and comfortable against his skin.

"Burning Rose Illusion." He said before he threw them at a thick tree trunk several feet away. They slammed into the tree like little flame bombs and burst into large flames, the golden rose petals scattering.

He knew instinctively that the rose petals would land on his opponent and help spread the fire that was sure to be painful for them where it had been warm comfort to him.

That's one down. He thought as he watched the small fire put itself out and the remains of the flowers disappear.

Mamoru closed his eyes and took a deep breath and let it out as he once again focused inward. He gestured slightly with his hands and a rose appeared in each hand. He opened his eyes and watched with concentration as they morphed into red glowing rose petals before they began to spin around his body.

"Spinning Rose Evolution." He said and thrust his arms and hands out in front of him. The glowing petals rushed forward, gathered together, and sped forward as a beam toward a tree trunk.

The beam slammed into the bark harmlessly, but he knew it would cause his opponent serious damage.

He sighed and thought he would come up with more since it would be good to have some variety depending on the opponent and the situation. He decided to stick with the rose theme he had going, but take a different direction with it. He took out a hand full of roses and narrowed his eyes slightly as he willed them to turn black.

"Deadly Rose Petals." He said as he threw them. They shattered mid flight into black razor sharp rose petals as they flew forward. They slammed into the same tree he had aimed his other attacks at and sliced into the bark up and down the tree.

Mamoru nodded to himself and decided that now that he had his new attacks he needed to practice them so he didn't have to think so hard to launch them.

Over and over again for the next few minutes he launched his attacks back to back and in different orders. He needed these attacks to be on point. These attacks needed to be able to keep his princess safe; especially with the possibility of her tiara not working at the wrong moment.

He nodded as he watched his black rose petals cut up the bark of a tree before he took off running. He was pretty confident launching them while standing still, but he was used to running and throwing his roses and he wanted to be able to do the same with his attacks.

He did that over the next few minutes, even launching his attacks while perched up in a tree to practice firing off his attacks from a high place. Once he was satisfied with that he thought he should try launching his attacks without speaking their names. After all, if the Senshi could do it then he should as well.

He started off by speaking his attacks quietly, making sure it wasn't the volume of his voice that determined the power output of his attack. Thankfully it wasn't and the attacks came out as they had before.

He continued this, speaking lower and lower, until he was only thinking the words in his mind, and thankfully when he reached that point his attacks continued to come out as was becoming usual.

Mamoru slowed his run to a stop and sighed as he looked around. He had been practicing for a while, and figured now would be a good time to take a break. This way he could let what he had practiced settle and see if he could still do it the next time he trained.

I'll go to the arcade and visit Motoki, but first I need to check and make sure he's working today. He told himself before he closed his eyes and focused. Gradually images and scenes began to flow through his mind. He narrowed his focus down to the city and then to his friend.

The figure of his friend entered his mind bright and clear. He was dressed casually but had on a white apron. He was currently holding a little booklet and writing in it, so he knew his friend was at work.

He released his focus as well as his transformation and began to jog through the park and head home. It didn't take long and soon he was inside his apartment and showering to clean off the dirt and sweat from his training.

When he finished he dried off and dressed into a pair of khaki pants and a v-neck navy blue long sleeve sweater. He then pulled on his socks and shoes and grabbed his keys before he left to begin to make his journey.

Over 20 minutes later...

Mamoru walked down the block as he grew closer and closer to the arcade. He passed a lot of junior high and high school students, all in uniform, and he hoped he didn't run into Rei.

That was the last thing he wanted, but he wanted to see his friend and talk to him. Plus, he needed to burn time since Usagi was hanging out with her friends. He wished he'd thought to check Rei's location when he had checked to see if his friend was at work, but he just hadn't thought of it.

He also hoped he didn't have a run in with that new girl in Usagi's class. She had been quick to ask him out after only laying eyes on him. It reminded him uncomfortably of the beginnings of Rei's developing feelings for him.

He was very concerned about a repeat, because he hadn't done anything for Rei to like him. He hadn't treated Usagi all that well in the beginning of their acquaintance, definitely not when Rei had come into the picture, and that said a lot about her that she would like him based off of nothing but that and his looks.

I don't need the new girl going in that direction. One girl possibly being obsessed with me is more than enough. The only girl I want to be completely focused on me is my princess. He thought as he looked around.

Mamoru realized he was just about to walk pass the entrance to the arcade. He paused and waited a few moments for the glass doors to slide open then stepped inside and moved to sit at the front counter. He looked around as he sat and was very thankful that he didn't see Rei or anyone wearing her school uniform.

He was there for a few minutes when a female worker walked up to him from behind the counter, and asked what she could get for him. He ordered some fries and some orange juice. He needed to put something in his stomach after his training session.

Despite the crowed his order arrived only a few minutes later. He thanked the young woman and immediately started snacking on his fries. Only a minute later Motoki finally spotted him. He waved at him but continued taking the order from the group he was standing in front of.

Mamoru didn't mind. His friend was working, and he had no problem sitting there eating while he waited for him to have a break.

As the minutes passed he steadily worked on his fries and realized that he was actually hungry. He was going to have to eat something more later, likely after he finished visiting with Motoki.

"Hey Mamoru." Motoki greeted as he finally came over to him. "How are you?" He asked just as he was taking a drink of his orange juice.

"I'm fine. How are you?" Mamoru asked as he put his cup down.

"I'm doing good. It's been a pretty busy day as you can see." Motoki said.

"I can see." He said as he nodded and looked around. "I stopped by to give you an update since I'm likely to forget. I'm free today since Usagi is spending time with some friends." He explained as he looked back to his friend.

Motoki nodded. "I'm all ears." He said.

"First, Usagi's decided to end her friendship with Rei. Partially because she doesn't see it as worth fixing anymore with Rei's behavior not improving enough, and because Rei still has feelings for me." Mamoru informed him, and his friends eyes widened.

"Really?" Motoki asked, and he nodded.

"Recently I've seen Rei in a group setting with Usagi and her friends for the first time since me and Usagi decided I would stay out of her sight, and Rei was unable to keep her eyes off me. Beyond that Ami and Makoto told Usagi that Rei usually asked if they had seen me and that every time they were here, it was clear she kept looking around as if she was looking for me." Mamoru explained, and his friend nodded slowly.

"Well, I think it's for the best. Usagi doesn't need that type of negativity or friendship in her life. I know it's been months and months since Rei learned you two were together, and nearly as long since you've been out of her sight so she shouldn't still have feelings for you. Clearly she hasn't tried to get over you." Motoki said as he shook his head.

Mamoru nodded. "That's what me and Usagi thought, and what makes it worse is that only yesterday we began to think she might actually be obsessed with me. We aren't sure, but we feel it's highly likely." He said.

"Obsessed." Motoki said in shocked hushed tone, and Mamoru nodded sadly. "Then it's even better that Usagi ended that friendship; such instances can be dangerous."

"True." Mamoru agreed. "Usagi's already informed Makoto and Ami not to bring Rei around her. That way neither of us should have any contact with her if we can help it."

Of course he couldn't mention Usagi's role as a senshi and his as Tuxedo Kamen, and how that hindered their ability to stay away from Rei.

He could not wait for Usagi to be able to remove her as one of her senshi. She would be down a senshi, but he was sure she would be safer as a result. He could help her figure out what to do about her incomplete Guardian Senshi then, but she would be safer in the meantime and that was what really mattered.

Meanwhile...

"I don't envy you and Mamoru right now." Naru said, shaking her head as the three of them walked. "Rei is highly likely obsessed with him, and the new guy in school is uncomfortably interested in you." She added.

"Yeah." Minako said as she nodded in agreement. "That has to start getting stressful at some point, but you two are still a couple that I look up to. I hope to find something like that one day."

"Me too." Naru agreed as she nodded.

Usagi looked over to her and saw her face shift into an expression that was half envious and half mournful. She reached over and grasped her hand and squeezed it in sympathy before she began to talk to try and distract her from thoughts of Nephrite.

"What I've learned so far is that the key is trust and communication. Mamoru and I talk about everything, and it started before we started dating. When we did start dating nothing changed except how we treated each other." She said. "There's no shyness or awkwardness when we talk and show each other affection."

"So communication." Minako said with a sigh.

She knew that was going to be next to impossible for her what with being a senshi. She would have to find herself a guy that could be told her secret, and therefore the entire teams secret. If she couldn't talk about her senshi life then she would be lying to the guy all over the place, and that wouldn't do anything for the relationship but end it.

Naru closed her eyes briefly and squeezed Usagi's hand. When it came to relationships her mind was nowhere near even the possibility of a new guy. Her mind and heart was still very much centered on Nephrite.

She and Nephrite had not communicated well, but she knew that was because of who he really was. Toward the end she had begun to understand that he was apart of the people who were sending out the youmas that were attacking all over the city.

Of course he couldn't be truthful with her given his circumstances, but by then she had developed strong feelings for him and would have done almost anything for him. So when he asked her to find out who Sailor Moon was for him she had agreed to try.

Although, at the same time she knew she had no way of knowing who the heroine truly was or how to even find out. She remembered being sad that she couldn't find out as hard as she tried for him, but at the same time she had been relieved because who knew what would happen to the heroine if she did find out and tell him.

Naru sighed heavily. "Well, it's good to know that communication and trust are the keys to a strong relationship. It's obvious from watching you and Mamoru that you have a strong relationship so those things must work." She said quietly.

"Yes." Minako agreed. "If I find a guy someday I'll make sure to talk to him, and develop a friendship and communicate and see where it goes."

Naru nodded but remained silent since she knew it would be some time before she got pass her feelings for Nephrite enough to find another guy attractive to want a relationship.

They reached a park and saw that there were a lot of people walking around, which wasn't a surprise since it was a nice day if a bit cool. So they exchanged a questioning look before they headed in to enjoy the area with the rest of the people walking around.

They walked around enjoying the grass, trees, and sun. Eventually they picked an empty spot in the grass with the sun shining down and sat down. They still had time before any of them wanted to head home, so they decided to start on their homework.

"Uh oh." Naru said as they began to open their school bags, and Usagi and Minako looked up.

"What?" Usagi asked as she looked at her.

"The new guy is headed our way." Naru informed them.

Usagi groaned quietly but refrained from looking around, so the guy didn't think she wanted to see him.

Minako on the other hand did look; remembering that he could possibly be part of their new enemy.

"What does he look like?" She asked as her eyes flickered to every guy that was walking in their direction.

"Short orange hair down to his neck, purplish blue eyes, and an earring in one of his ears. He's wearing the school uniform for boys at our school." Naru described.

"Ah. I see him." Minako said as she spotted the guy.

She thought he had an interesting look, but he was in no way attractive, which was good. She'd dealt with attractive guys who turned out to be an enemy back when she was just Sailor V. They were distracting, and made dealing with them all the harder.

"Hello Usagi." Seijuro greeted as he stopped in front of their group, but ignored the others beyond a simple glance at them.

"Hi." Usagi said as she looked up at him, keeping it short and simple without saying his name. She didn't want him to hear her saying his name; didn't want him to have that memory.

"How are you doing? Have you been enjoying your time since school let out?" He asked.

"I'm doing fine, and I've been enjoying my time since I'm with two of my closest friends." Usagi said. "The only thing missing is my boyfriend. His presence would have made this sunny afternoon the best."

Seijuro nodded slowly. "When am I going to meet this boyfriend?" He asked.

"I don't see a reason you need to meet my boyfriend at all." She replied as she raised an eyebrow.

"I'm only interested in getting to know you better, and your supposed boyfriend is part of that." He said.

Minako raised a surprised eyebrow at his words, and looked over to her princess in time to see Naru doing the same thing. Clearly both of them wanted to see her reaction.

"That isn't necessary." Usagi said with sigh. "I'm not interested in getting to know you, and definitely not interested in exposing my boyfriend to you. My boyfriend has more important things to deal with when he isn't with me, and when he is with me I guard our time together jealously."

"Don't be that way Usagi." Seijuro said lightly, but before he could say more a feminine scream echoed through the area.

They all looked around, trying to find the source as the three girls got to their feet, and eventually spotted a woman trapped in the hold of some kind of tree-like female that appeared to be hanging halfway out of a tree trunk. The woman's body glowing as she slowly stopped struggling.

Seijuro stared in surprise, Naru frowned as she recognized the being as something similar to what had attacked her in her bedroom, and Usagi and Minako recognized it as a cardian.

It was a female with long blue black hair, a white demonic face that looked like some kind of hell cat, had arms and hands made up of brown tree branches, and wore a loose lavender and red kimono with long sleeves.

It dropped the woman's limp form that was either unconscious or dead and emerged from the tree revealing that where legs and feet would be were brown branch-like roots. It sped forward and quickly grabbed a running woman that screamed in terror.

Usagi looked to Minako and she nodded slightly, and Usagi did as well before she turned her attention to Naru and Seijuro.

"Everyone run; scatter so you aren't targets." She said urgently before she looked to Naru. "Go home if you can. I'll call you when I make it, so we know the other is safe okay." She said, and her friend nodded.

"Be careful." Naru said.

"You be careful as well." Usagi said.

Naru nodded, and they all picked a direction and began to run.

Usagi ran, making sure she was alone and wasn't being followed by Seijuro, and got herself to a secluded spot between a group of trees that had thick bushes nearly surrounding it. She crouched down and put her school bag in her subspace pocket as she looked around. Others were running, but luckily no one was headed in her direction.

"Moon Crystal Power, Make Up!" She said as she reached up and touched her brooch.

She was instantly surrounded in a bright soft pink light, and when it cleared she sat crouched as Sailor Moon her moonlight silver colored hair coiled behind her in the green grass. She summoned her communicator watch, and opened it and pressed the button for Venus and waited.

Minako ran in the opposite direction as her princess and only stopped when she came upon a slight bridge. She walked beneath it and stopped as she looked both ways to see if anyone was coming. Seeing no one yet she put her school bag in her subspace pocket, and pulled out her transformation pen.

"Venus Power, Make Up!" She said, and was instantly surrounded in bright orange light, and when it cleared she stood as Sailor Venus.

A moment later she heard her communicator and gestured with her hand and watched the white and orange watch appear in her hand. She opened the communicator portion and pressed the white button with the gold crescent moon on it.

"Venus here." She answered.

"Are you okay?" She heard her princess ask.

"I am." She replied as she looked around.

"Good. Can you contact the others? I'm going to contact my prince." Her princess said.

"I will; no problem. Venus out." She replied before she ended the connection and pressed the buttons for Jupiter, Mars, and Mercury and waited.

Sailor Moon closed her communicator and put it away as she focused slightly inward.

My prince? She called to Mamoru.

I'm here. He answered quickly. What's going on? I sensed your transformation.

There's a cardian attacking in the park that's close to the arcade. She told him as she moved out of her hiding spot. Minako and I are here. We split up since Naru and the new boy were with us, but Minako is contacting the others. She informed him as she made her way back toward the cardian.

Okay. I was at the arcade so I'll be there soon. None of the girls were there, so they'll arrive after me. He said.

Okay. She said, and paused for a moment as she listened to try to see if she could hear the cardian. Did you see Motoki, because we were there earlier and didn't see him?

I did. He answered. It was pretty busy but I was eventually able to talk to him. I let him know about you ending your friendship with Rei and her possibly being obsessed with me.

How did he react to that? She asked.

He was surprised, but thought it was a good thing you ended the friendship; especially in light of Rei possibly being obsessed with me since the situation can turn dangerous. Mamoru said.

Minako and Naru reacted the same way to the news; although I'm sure Minako took the news and added it to what's happening with Rei in terms of being a senshi. She replied.

Of course. Mamoru agreed. She's responsible like that; taking in all the aspects of situations so she'll now how to react. That's one of the things I like about her.

Usagi hummed in agreement and paused as she spotted the cardian, who was draining a man of energy not far from where she had last seen it. She sighed quietly and reminded herself that her tiara may or may not work, so she might have to pull out her sword during the fight.

You should pull it out anyway. Mamoru said, hearing her thought. That way you'll be prepared to react to whatever the cardian does.

Okay. Usagi said as she nodded and gestured with her hand, and watched as the hilt of her Holy Blade appear in her gloved hand. She gripped it as she took a breath and sighed quietly before she began to step forward.

She began to walk forward when she saw a bright golden orange flash from the corner of her eye. She looked over to see Sailor Venus sending her Crescent Beam attack at the cardian.

The beam hit the cardian causing it to drop the man and look around sharply. The creature spotted Venus and then her and narrowed its large eyes before speeding toward Venus. The cardian moved so fast that it left a deep trailing gouge in the grassy ground and dust in its wake.

Venus stepped back in surprise at the speed before she threw herself to the side and rolled into a crouch and launched her Crescent Beam attack again. The golden orange beam streaked through the air and clipped the cardian in its side.

"Reci!" The cardian yelled angrily before turning around, its long hair swinging around with it, lifting its branch hands.

They quickly shifted and morphed into a group of vines that began to blossom until there were two large thick bunches of pinkish white cherry blossoms. In the next moment cherry blossom petals were shooting in each of their directions and exploding as they touched the ground.

Sailor Moon and Venus ran as fast as they could, not at all eager to be hit with those dangerous petals, until they stopped.

"Reci!" The cardian shouted in irritation. "Reci!" The cardian suddenly screamed in pain this time and jerked forward as it was hit in the back with a red beam of glowing rose petals with enough force to knock it to the ground.

What was that? Sailor Moon asked her prince from her position as she watched the cardian.

That was my Spinning Rose Evolution attack; one of three new attacks I created earlier while I was training. He answered. I figured I needed something more than my roses but less than my crystal to fight with; especially if my roses stopped working for any reason.

Smart. She replied as she glanced his way, seeing him staring at the cardian. I should probably do the same. She added as she looked back to the cardian. The three of them had formed a wide triangle around the cardian as it began to struggle to its roots.

I'll tell you how I did it after we finish this fight. He replied.

"Reci!" The cardian shouted angrily before she could respond, looking at each of them, and suddenly energy columns were shooting up around them.

All three of them were surprised at this turn of events and tried to step away from the energy column, but quickly found that they could not move away from the seemingly solid energy surrounding them. Sailor Moon even tried her sword, but it wouldn't go through.

Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen looked over and saw Venus try to use her Crescent Beam attack, obviously to try and bust out, but even that didn't work.

"That's not a bad idea." Sailor Moon mumbled. She hummed and looked to her sword and channeled the power of her silver crystal to it, and watched as it took on a white glow.

She plunged it into the energy wall of the column in front of her and smiled as it easily pierced through. She spun in a tight circle, slicing through the column, and watched as it dissipated quickly.

She then looked over to Venus and aimed her sword toward the column trapping her and fired off a beam of white light intent on freeing her friend and senshi. It slammed into the column and coated it before exploding outward. She stopped the beam and watched as the light cleared leaving Venus standing there perfectly fine.

"Thanks!" Venus called with a wave before she turned her attention back to the cardian.

Tuxedo Kamen seeing what his princess had done, and thinking it was a good idea, summoned his sword and focused the power of his golden crystal to it.

It was instantly surrounded in the golden energy, and he plunged the tip of it into the column wall in front of him and began to cut his way free. It only took moments for the energy column to dissipate, and he quickly put his sword away and gestured with both hands.

An open red rose blossom appeared in each palm and almost immediately they burst into golden flames, the fire warm and comfortable against his skin just as it had been during his earlier practice.

Burning Rose Illusion. He thought as he threw the fiery blossoms at the cardian. Despite the distance they slammed into the cardian's chest and exploded against the creature setting its kimono on fire.

"Reci!" The cardian screamed in pain as the flaming rose petals spread to its roots and branch arms. It dropped to the ground and began to roll, clearly hoping to put out the fire.

Venus launched her Crescent Beam attack at it and the golden orange beam slammed into the cardian's head.

"Reci!" The cardian screamed in pain although it didn't stop rolling.

Tuxedo Kamen gestured with his hands again and this time a rose appeared in each hand. He concentrated, more than he usually would but it was still a new attack, and watched as they morphed into red glowing rose petals before they began to spin around his body.

Spinning Rose Evolution. He thought as he thrust his arms and hands out in front of him. The glowing petals rushed to gather together, and sped forward as a beam toward the cardian's downed figure.

Reci got the fire put out but was still in pain as she began to get to her feet.

"Reci!" She cried out in surprised pain as she was hit with an attack in her chest that sent her falling back onto the ground.

Sailor Moon seeing this decided now was the time to try and finish the cardian off. She pulled off her tiara with her free hand, and charged it until it was a glowing white disk hovering above her fingertips.

She threw it hard at the cardian and watched intently as it flew straight and true as always, but grimaced as the cardian spotted it and flung its branch arm at it knocking it aside like it was nothing.

You have your answer. Tuxedo Kamen said through their link.

Yeah. She agreed with a sigh. Her tiara was no longer strong enough to use as a weapon.

She summoned her tiara back to her and put it back on before she gestured for her Crescent Moon Wand. It dropped lightly into her hand and she gripped it firmly; ready for action as she held it at the ready with her sword in her other hand.

"Reci!" The cardian screamed as it began to float up into the air. Its cherry blossom hands glowed before the cardian began to spin sending cherry blossom petals flying in every direction which exploded when it hit a surface.

Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Kamen, and Venus all moved back quickly to avoid the exploding petals flying toward them.

The cardian stopped spinning and firing off exploding petals, and seemed to growl at seeing none of them injured.

"Reci." The cardian said angrily as it landed back on the ground, and then sped toward Sailor Moon once again leaving a long deep gouge in the ground and a trail of dust.

Sailor Moon backed up as her breathing quickened and quickly shoved the handle of her wand down the front of her sailor top. She wrapped her free hand around the hilt to join her other hand, and backed up a few more steps before she swung hard at the speeding cardian.

"Reci!" The cardian screamed in clear pain as its branch arm and the sleeve fabric of its kimono came flying off and fell to the ground.

Venus and Tuxedo Kamen looked at each other before they returned their eyes to the cardian as it stopped moving and turned around to look angrily at Sailor Moon who was taking the time to back up.

Crescent Beam. Venus fired off as she lifted her hand sending her golden orange beam at the cardian.

Tuxedo Kamen quickly gestured with his hands and watched as a rose appeared in each hand before he concentrated and watched as they morphed into red glowing rose petals before they began to spin around his body.

Spinning Rose Evolution. He thought as he thrust his arms and hands out in front of him sending the glowing petals speeding forward as a beam toward the cardian.

Both beams struck the cardian nearly at the same time. "Reci!" The cardian screamed as it jerked in different directions as the attacks hit.

Sailor Moon grabbed her wand out of her top as she watched the red and golden orange beams continuing to assault the cardian.

She took a breath as she aimed her wand at the cardian, and focused on her silver crystal and wanting to defeat the cardian before it could recover or attack. Almost instantly a beam of thick pure white light shot out of the crescent of her wand, and through the air before it struck the cardian in the chest.

"Reci!" The cardian screamed, and began to glow before the scream stopped abruptly and its figure began to shrink.

Tuxedo Kamen and Venus stopped their attacks, and Sailor Moon cut the flow of her power as they all watched the cardian continue to shrink and grow smaller and smaller.

They heard running footsteps and looked over to see Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Mercury, and Sailor Mars arriving. They slowed as they realized they were too late to be of help.

Sailor Moon, Venus, and Tuxedo Kamen looked back to the cardian as it stopped glowing to reveal a tarot sized card stuck upright in the grass. The image of the cardian on the card quickly faded away leaving a blank space.

Sailor Moon sighed heavily and collapsed to a knee, the tip of her sword stuck in the grass to help keep her upright. She put her wand away in her subspace pocket and did the same with her sword a moment later.

Usagi? Her prince called out to her through their link, and she looked over to see him hurrying toward her.

I'm fine. Just winded and a bit weak since it took a lot of energy just like last time. She said and sighed. I have to come up with something else, because I can't keep doing this.

Yes. He agreed. Especially since we have no idea how many Cardians we'll have to fight before dealing with the two beings sending them out.

And of course they're sure to be stronger than the Cardians. She added.

The Senshi walked toward them and gathered around as Tuxedo Kamen help Sailor Moon back to her feet.

"Are you okay?" Venus and Mercury asked at the same time.

"I'm fine." Sailor Moon assured them. "It just like last time; it took more energy to defeat the cardian using my wand, but it's what I'm going to have to do for the time being since my tiara isn't a strong enough weapon to deal with them." She explained and they nodded.

"I'm sorry we got here too late." Jupiter said apologetically. "We were together when the call came, and ran as fast as we could, but clearly we were too far away."

"It's okay. We managed fine without you, and it's something we likely need to get used to. There's always the chance of some of us not reaching an attack scene in time or there can be more than one cardian attacking in different locations." Sailor Moon said.

They nodded thoughtfully knowing it was true now that the thought had been presented to them.

"Alright! I'm going to take Sailor Moon to get some rest." Tuxedo Kamen said suddenly before he swept her off her feet and lifted her up into his arms as if she weighed nothing.

"Hey! I can walk just fine." Sailor Moon said in amusement.

"Of course you can, but I like holding you, so you should be kind enough to let me." He said, and she laughed softly.

"Okay." She said as she relaxed further into his arms. "You can carry me around all you like." She added before she looked to her Senshi and waved.

"I'll see some of you tomorrow unless something happens before then." She said.

"Bye." Most of them said, and Tuxedo Kamen took off running so he could get his princess out of there and able to rest as quickly as possible.

.:xXx:.

Just over twenty minutes later found Mamoru and Usagi inside his apartment and relaxing on the couch after the fight with the cardian. Usagi was in her royal gown, her moonlight colored hair and crescent moon royal insignia on display, since Mamoru wanted to see her that way.

"So I got the inspiration for my attacks from the attacks the girls use." Mamoru said as he explained how he had come up with his attacks.

"I obviously didn't have any elements to base my attacks on, so I used my golden crystal and my roses. I let my imagination do the rest and came up with three attacks. The two I used against the cardian, and one that takes on the form of black sharp rose petals." He explained, and she nodded.

"I'm glad that the two I tried worked against an actual cardian. They worked in practice, but against an enemy is an entirely different matter." He said.

"True." Usagi agreed. "I'm going to have to set aside some time to do the same, because using my wand like that is leaving me vulnerable after the Cardians are defeated. And that's if I don't have to use it to weaken a cardian before destroying it." She added and he nodded.

"I'll help you whenever you're ready, and don't forget about Elysion. We can go there and no time will pass." Mamoru said.

"Thanks." She said gratefully since for some reason she hadn't remembered. "In that case we can do it in the morning like we did when testing out my tiara, and you can also use the time to get in more practice with your new attacks." She said.

"Sounds like a plan then." He agreed as he nodded. "We'll go as soon as I arrive to pick you up." He said, and she nodded.

"With that out of the way how about we plan a date for after you get out of school. We can use it to try and unwind from the stress of what's been going on with Rei, the new enemy, and the new guy at your school approaching you all the time." He suggested.

Usagi nodded in agreement but grimaced at the thought of the new guy, Seijuro, and how he had come out of seemingly nowhere. Mamoru raised an eyebrow, and she explained what happened before the cardian attacked.

"Of all the parks he had to pick that one to walk through and just happened to spot you." He said as he frowned, and she nodded.

"I don't like it, but I also don't like the alternative, which is that he followed me there. If he had then none of us noticed." Usagi said.

"I don't like the alternative either, but I don't think that happened because you and Minako would have noticed if you were being followed." Mamoru said.

Usagi nodded and chose to believe that, and decided to be more aware of her surroundings even when she was with friends.

"So where should our date be?" She asked.

They began to toss suggestions back and forth, teasing and flirting with each other, and wound up wrapped in each other's arms kissing by the time they had decided on one.

Mamoru's hand slid slowly up and down the exposed skin of his princess' back as he held her to him, and Usagi ran the fingers of one hand through his hair before sliding it forward to gently caress his face.

"How about we continue this in your room?" Usagi suggested as she broke their kiss, and he raised an eyebrow curiously.

"I'll do my homework here, so I won't have to worry about it when I get home. So if we continue I'll be nice and relaxed before getting to it." She explained softly, and he smiled.

"Alright." Mamoru agreed, and lifted her into his arms and carried her back to his room with Usagi kissing his neck and running her fingers through his hair.

Thursday: Day Four

Early Morning

Usagi slowed to a jog as she reached the park she had been headed for. The morning was very cool and foggy, but the conditions were perfect for training.

Minako had contacted all the girls the evening before and called for a training session for that morning before they went to school along with providing them with the training schedule she had come up with.

There was to be group training twice during the school week and individual training the remaining days; then every day on the weekends. Saturday late night and Sunday early morning to avoid being up late when they had school the next morning.

Usagi was fine with the schedule and was glad the others were as well, and now she was transformed into Sailor Moon and nearly to the location they had agreed on.

She yawned suddenly and blinked her eyes rapidly to further wake herself since the cold air hadn't done the job completely. The night before she had started on the English language version of Northanger Abbey, and had a hard time putting it down to get to sleep since it was so good.

Still, she had eventually put the book down after fifteen chapters and set her alarm so she would wake up in time. Even with her alarm going off she had a hard time waking up. She knew she was going to need a nap at some point during the day, and considering her schedule for the day it was going to have to happen after the date she had planned with her prince.

I'll have to talk to Mamoru and see if he minds if I nap in his bed. She thought quietly.

Usagi slowed to a walk as she spotted some of her fellow senshi. Ami and Minako were standing together, already transformed, in a space between the numerous trees filling the park.

"Good morning." She said with a wave as she grew closer.

"Good morning." They both said quietly.

"Did you sleep well?" Ami asked.

"For the the time I managed to sleep I did, but I went to bed late because of a book I was reading." Usagi said.

"It must have been a good book." Minako said.

"It is so far." Usagi said. "It's a book I bought for my English class to help me get used to reading material in English."

"Good idea." Ami said. "I hadn't thought of that. Do you think it will help toward writing?"

"I don't know but I think it will since it will get me used to seeing the words and help me know which word to use in what context." Usagi said, and Ami nodded thoughtfully.

"So how do you want to start?" Minako asked, changing the subject.

"I think we should start with physical sparring, but I don't want to fight Rei. It will only bring forward anger on my part and it's too early in the morning for me to be dealing with that." Usagi said.

Ami and Minako nodded, understanding the situation, and Minako for her part heard what wasn't said. That her princess didn't want to chance Rei becoming violent with her, because of her jealousy and possible obsession with Mamoru.

Ami frowned slightly as she wondered if Rei would participate in the training session properly or if she would avoid Usagi or try to use it as a means to take out her frustration on her over her relationship with Mamoru.

"Well the rest of us can spar together and you can watch us." Minako suggested. "If you don't want to participate in the spar you don't have to, and no one should question you if you want to see your Senshi fight and evaluate them."

Usagi nodded as she raised an eyebrow. That was good idea and now that Minako had put it out there she thought she actually should evaluate them. It had been a while since she had seen them spar without her in the mix.

"After you all finish sparring we should work on coordinating our attacks and dodging since those are the things we use most with the Cardians." She said.

She considered that everything else was fine. After the Negaverse had been defeated they all had worked on and perfected attacking without shouting out their attacks or speaking them at all, coordinated attacks, dodging, and attacking moving targets.

Even with their coordinated attacks and dodging perfected they still needed to work on it, so they remained fresh in their mind and their actions were on point.

Makoto and Rei showed up together right after Usagi finished laying out how their training session should go. They all greeted each other with a 'good morning' and Usagi began to tell the new arrivals what was going to happen.

"So I want to start our session by watching the four of you spar physically since it's been a while since I've seen you. I'm not sure if we'll actually have to physically fight any of the Cardians, but I want us all prepared just in case we do." She said.

"After that we're going to work on coordinating our attacks so we become better at hitting the Cardians all at the same time in any given situation. Lastly, we're going to work on dodging. The last cardian was extremely fast, too fast to think about running, so we need to be able to get out of the way without thought." She explained.

"Did everyone get that?" Usagi asked as she looked to each of them, and watched them nod. "Is there anything else you all think we should work on in the allotted time we have?" She asked, and the girls looked at each other thoughtfully.

"No. We're going to be doing enough." Minako said. "And don't forget to do your individual training when we don't have group training." She added, and everyone nodded.

"Alright let's get started." Usagi said.

"We aren't all here yet. We have to wait for Mamoru. Where is he?" Rei asked as they were walking toward a slightly more open area.

Makoto and Amy exchanged a look remembering their talk with her yesterday. Minako didn't bother looking at Rei or acknowledging that she had even heard her. She hadn't wondered why Mamoru wasn't there because she knew it was obvious. He was avoiding Rei.

"He won't be joining us this morning." Usagi said simply without looking at Rei.

"But he needs to train just like the rest of us." Rei said, and Usagi held in a sigh.

"He is perfectly capable of training on his own, and he has something more important to do this morning." She replied. Like sleep. She thought.

His sleep shouldn't be interrupted just so Rei could ogle him and stay too close for comfort. Besides, they had already decided he would stay away from group training sessions.

She refrained from shaking her head and moved to stand leaning back against a tree.

"I'll leave you to organize yourselves. If you want to fight as a group or in one or two pairs at a time is up to you." She told them.

3 hours later...

Usagi sat on her bed with a light sigh as she began to pull on her ankle socks.

She had eaten a breakfast of cereal and orange juice when she first returned from training, so she wouldn't have to worry about rushing to eat before Mamoru arrived. After that she had showered, brushed her teeth, and gotten dressed.

She glanced over to her clock and saw that she had only been back a little over half an hour. The training had gone well. The girls had decided to spar one pair at a time cycling until they had all fought against each other. They had looked good. There was no hesitation in their strikes or blocks, and they had all moved smoothly.

When they had moved on to coordinating their attacks it had also turned out very well. They had worked on making sure two of their attacks hit their target at the same time, then four, and then all five of them.

It was something they had practiced many times before but it had taken them some time to get into the rhythm, likely because they had been cold, but that too was the point. They needed to know how to fight in all kinds of conditions.

After that had been dodging practice. They had all used their attacks on low power and launched them at each other. If they didn't move in time or all the way then it didn't hurt, but it gave a sting to let them know they hadn't succeeded as they should have.

The cold might have played a factor in that as well, but they had kept going because it was something they needed to be able to do.

As she finished pulling on her socks she looked around to see what else she needed to do. She had her brooch on, her communicator watch, her everyday jewelry, which consisted of her white stud earrings and locket necklace, and made sure her natural hair color was concealed.

Her school bag was packed and on her floor desk, so all she needed was to pick out a sweater or jacket since it was a cold morning.

After looking through her closet she decided on the same white hooded zip up sweater she had worn the day before.

I'm here. Her prince's voice floated through her mind as she was placing her sweater on her bed.

Okay. I'm headed downstairs. She replied as she left her room and began to quickly move down the stairs.

She stepped off the last stair and moved over to the front door, and unlocked it and pulled it open to see her love walking toward her.

"Good morning." Mamoru said as he reached her before he kissed her forehead.

"Good morning." Usagi said as he stepped inside. "Let's head up to my room." She said as she closed the door.

Mamoru nodded silently and followed her upstairs to her bedroom and closed the door behind them. He presented her with her morning rose, and she accepted it with a smile and thanks before she put it away on vanity table.

She returned to him and wrapped her arms around him, and he wrapped his arms around her in return before he closed his eyes and focused on Elysion. He pictured the sacred rose filled place, and wanting to be there with his princess before he willed them there.

Light flashed behind their eyes and the scent of fresh roses filled their noses. When they opened their eyes they saw the familiar sight of the white shrine and sea of roses. They let their arms slide away from each other and stepped back a few steps.

"Moon Crystal Power, Make Up!" Usagi said as she touched her brooch, and was surrounded in a bright soft pink light before it cleared to reveal her transformed as Sailor Moon for the second time that morning.

Mamoru pulled out a red rose and transformed wordlessly in a light red flash of light, and stood as Tuxedo Kamen when it cleared.

Usagi looked around and saw Helios headed their way, stepping lightly through the roses, and waved at him as she wondered if he ever slept or just woke up early.

"Good morning Helios." She called, and Mamoru turned and waved.

"Good morning Serenity, Endymion." Helios called back.

"Time to get started." Usagi said as she looked back to her prince, and he nodded.

"Remember the girls attacks and what they look like; the colors, the elements, the shape, and even the names of the attacks." Mamoru said. "Recall what happens when those attacks hit their target. Also, use your imagination and base the attack or attacks off of elements of yourself, so they'll fit you as the senshi of the Moon."

"Okay." Usagi said as she nodded her understanding.

"I'll be over there practicing my attacks, but I'll keep an eye on you." He said as he gestured off to a slight distance to his side.

"Okay." She said again, and watched as he walked off. She sighed lightly and closed her eyes as she focused her mind on her task and tuned out the sound of her prince practicing.

As she pictured all of her Senshi's attacks, Jupiter's lightning, Mars' fire, Mercury's water, and Venus' light, she decided quickly that she only needed one attack, and that one attack needed to have some serious power behind it.

If it was the right kind of attack she may be able to add the attack to her tiara, and make that a stronger weapon because she was good at throwing her tiara and wanted to keep using it.

It can possibly work in place of my wand until I can come up with another solution, because I know that I do need a new weapon for finishing off my enemy. She thought. There was always the possibility that she wouldn't have time to combine her attack with her tiara, and then she would be back to her wand.

Her prince had said to think of something that would fit her, so she considered what made up her as a senshi. The moon and her silver crystal, and with those two aspects in mind she let her imagination flow.

Quicker than she thought images of the moon, at various stages, the comfort of moonlight, and her silver crystal flashed slowly and clearly through her mind. Ideas of how to combine them came after that, and combinations of words and names followed.

Her silver crystal pulsed warmly and comfortingly inside her, and she opened her eyes suddenly knowing what to do.

She lifted her hands and cupped them together just below where her brooch sat on her chest, and watched as white light bubbled up like liquid and an image of a silver blue tinted waxing crescent moon and a waning crescent moon fused together back to back appeared in the light in the palms of her hands.

"Infinite Moonlight Illusion." She said softly as she thrust her hands out away from her, and watched as silver blue tinted crescent moons went scattering, rotating rapidly in every direction away from her before dissipating in the air without a target to focus on and hit.

Congratulations. Mamoru said through their link, and she smiled over to him, seeing him headed back toward her.

Thanks. She said as she watched him. I think if I focus hard enough I can come up with a focused version of it.

I'm sure you can if you put your mind to it. I know you're determined enough to make it happen if that's what you want. He replied confidently.

Thanks. She said as he reached her, and took a breath and let it out in a whoosh before she focused.

She began to launch the attack again, making sure she could do it again, and nodded in satisfaction when the silver blue tinted crescent moons scattered away from her.

Again and again she launched the attack, speaking softer and quieter at Mamoru's suggestion until she could launch it without speaking out loud. She launched it silently a few more times, watching it carefully until she had its movements memorized, and was reasonably sure how the attack was supposed to injure an opponent.

She then took a breath and cupped her hands together in front of her chest, just as she had each time she had performed her new attack, and watched as white light bubbled up like liquid and an image of a silver blue tinted waxing crescent moon and a waning crescent moon fused together back to back appeared in the light in the palms of her hands.

"Infinite Moonlight Illusion Beam." She said calmly to help her focus, and thrust her hands out away from her, launching an infinite repeating image of the silver blue tinted crescent moons within a beam of white light.

The beam shot straight out in front of her, bright and forceful, and she was sure it would be damaging to the Cardians they were fighting.

"Congratulations! I knew you could do it." Mamoru said.

"Thanks!" Usagi said happily before she started the process of launching the attack over and over again, making sure she was comfortable with it and able to launch it silently.

This one took longer for her to be able to launch silently, but she continued to work at it since she knew she had all the time in the world there in Elysion.

"I'm going to try and combine it with my tiara." Usagi said; finally having launched the attack without speaking after nearly ten long minutes. "I think if I can manage it then it will be something I can use to defeat Cardians again." She explained, and he nodded.

"That's good idea. I hope it works." Mamoru said. And he truly meant it because he didn't like seeing her weakened from using too much energy to finish off the Cardians.

If this idea doesn't work then I'll help her defeat the Cardians or do it myself. He decided.

Usagi nodded and took a breath before she pulled off her tiara and charged. Once it was a glowing white disk she threw it high into the air, and then focused on her internal power.

She silently launched her Infinite Moonlight Illusion Beam, and carefully aimed it at her tiara. The beam shot away from her hands up into the air and struck the speeding disk, and wrapped around it giving it a blue tint.

She stopped her attack and watched her tiara sail through the air before summoning it back to her. She unconsciously slowed it and guided it down until it hovered over her hand.

"It looks stronger, and the energy it's giving off feels stronger against my hand, but I don't know if it will do anything against the Cardians." Usagi said, and she released its energy, turning it back into the simple jeweled tiara.

"Can you try your attack with it; the beam you used yesterday?" She asked as she looked to her prince.

"Okay." Mamoru said as nodded and summoned a rose to each hand. "I'm ready when you are."

"Okay." She said before she once again charged her tiara until it was a glowing disk hovering above her fingertips. Then she threw it hard and high into the air.

As soon as she threw the tiara Mamoru concentrated and watched as his roses morphed into red glowing rose petals and began to circle and spin around his body.

Spinning Rose Evolution. He thought as he thrust his arms and hands out in front of him sending the glowing petals speeding as a beam up toward the tiara. It slammed into the tiara and surrounded it until the disk was a bright red.

He stopped his attack and they watched the glowing tiara sail through the air aimlessly without a target. Usagi eventually summoned it back to her and once she had it hovering over her hand she could feel the strength of the energy.

"It feels stronger just like it did when my attack was surrounding it." She said as she looked to her prince, and he nodded.

"But there's still no way to know if it will work against a cardian." Mamoru said.

Usagi nodded and sighed heavily as she looked back to her red tiara, and released its energy before placing it back on her forehead.

If the combination of an attack with her tiara doesn't work against the Cardians then I'll start helping her get rid of them or just do it myself. He decided firmly before he released his transformation.

"We should head back." He said.

Usagi nodded and released her transformation before she wrapped her arms around him. She looked over to Helios, who had stood back watching curiously as they practiced, and waved at him.

"Bye." She called.

"Goodbye." Mamoru called. "I hope you enjoyed watching us."

"I did indeed enjoy watching you." Helios called. "Farewell. I hope the two of you have a good day."

Usagi smiled and rested her head against Mamoru's chest, and he held her and closed his eyes and pictured her bedroom. Moments later they disappeared back to her bedroom in a flash of light.

Late Afternoon

Usagi opened the passenger side door and slipped inside the car and settled into the seat before she made sure her hair was inside and closed the door.

"Hi." She said with a soft smile as she looked over at her prince and put on her seatbelt.

"Hi." Mamoru replied before he kissed her cheek. "How was your day?"

"It was fine as usual; nothing interesting or exciting happened." She answered as she looked him over, noticing that he was wearing a long sleeve forest green shirt and gray jeans with black shoes.

"Alright." He said as he started the engine and pulled out into the street. "Let's get you home, so you can change and we can get started on our date."

"I can't wait. We're going to have so much fun." Usagi said as she smiled.

"So did the new guy approach you again?" Mamoru asked as he drove them down the street.

"He did; at lunch time. He said he wanted to make sure I was okay after what happened at the park yesterday." She answered. "Actually I think I might have seen him walking toward me as I was coming out to meet you, but the flow of students kept him from getting to me."

Mamoru frowned as he turned onto a different street. He didn't like that the boy was so fixated on her after just arriving at the school days before. It was bad enough that he had a girl that was possibly obsessed with him; she didn't need a guy becoming obsessed with her too; especially since he might be part of their enemy.

Usagi sighed, having heard his thoughts. "I wish there was something I could do to get him to leave me alone." She said.

"You're doing the same thing I am; staying away from him when you can. You're also letting the guy know you aren't interested. It's all you can do." He said.

Usagi nodded but still wished there was something else she could do. She supposed if it turned out that he was actually part of their enemy then when they defeated them she wouldn't have to deal with him anymore.

Mamoru nodded at her thought. If that was true then she would be rid of him at some point. And if he turned out to be a regular guy then he would find out quick that her boyfriend was possessive and had no intention of letting him continue to hound her.

Nearly twenty minutes passed before he pulled up outside her house and cut the engine.

"It won't take me long to change." Usagi said as she unbuckled her seatbelt.

"I'll be right here waiting." Mamoru replied.

Usagi smiled and kissed his cheek before she grabbed her school bag and opened the door. She got out of the car and closed the door before she hurried to her house and inside.

"I'm back!" She called out as she hurried up the stairs and to her room.

Once inside she closed the door and tossed her school bag on her bed and pulled off her sweater and tossed it on her bed as well.

She went to her closet and pulled out the outfit she had picked out the evening before after she had gotten home and put it on her bed as well. She pulled off her brooch and put it in her subspace pocket and then stripped out of her uniform.

She quickly pulled on her outfit, and freed her hair, before straightening her clothes. She checked her hair in the mirror to see if she needed to redo it; idly wishing she could let her natural hair color show since it would look nice with her outfit.

Once she was satisfied with how she looked she grabbed her keys and put them in her subspace pocket, and grabbed her shoes and headed out of her room and down stairs. She stopped in the hallway outside the living room, and saw her mom sitting in there watching TV.

"Hi mom." She said as she slipped a shoe on and tied the laces.

"Hi." Her mom said as she twisted around. "You're looking nice."

"I have a date with Mamoru; he's waiting for me outside." Usagi said as she slipped her other shoe on.

"I hope you have a good time." Her mom said.

"Thanks. I intend to." She said as she finished tying her laces, and straightened as she waved at her mom. "Bye. I'll see you later."

"Bye." Her mom said, and she opened the door and stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

Mamoru shifted slightly in his seat as he waited for his princess to come back to him. He couldn't wait to start their date. He intended for them to relax and have fun and forget everything that was stressful in their lives in the process. Then find something to eat before going home.

He wasn't hungry yet so he didn't know what he was going to be in the mood for, but he supposed he could leave that up to his princess. She was sure to pick out something good.

He sighed lightly as he imagined them flirting and kissing and doing lots of cuddling despite the activity they planned on doing. He felt the need to have lots of affection from his princess today, and he intended to have and give it in return no matter what.

He heard a sound and looked over to see his princess coming out the front door. He hummed appreciatively as he took in her outfit. She was wearing a long sleeve teal sweater dress that reached the middle of her thighs, white tights, and white tennis shoes. And the necklace he gave her was still sitting clearly on display around her neck and on top of the fabric of the dress she wore.

He watched her walking, enjoying the sight of her hair swaying behind her. He wished her natural hair color was showing but it was okay. The length was there and that was what mattered more than the color.

She reached the car and opened the passenger door and slipped into the seat as she held her hair in front of her and closed the door. She smiled over at him as she grabbed the seatbelt and began to pull it on.

"It didn't take me long right?" Usagi said.

"It didn't take long at all. I passed the short time imagining the fun we're going to have." Mamoru said.

"We're going to relax and have fun." She said as she buckled her seatbelt. "I'm determined. We're going to make some good memories. I should have brought a camera."

Mamoru laughed and started the engine. "We'll have to make do without a camera. We'll have to rely on our memories. Next time we'll bring a camera." He said, and she nodded.

"By the way you look gorgeous love." He told her as he looked over at her.

"Thank you." Usagi said happily, and he hummed thoughtfully.

"Maybe we can find a photo booth somewhere and still take some pictures. They might not be as good as with a personal camera, but we would have a physical memory." He said.

"Then I'm determined to find a photo booth. We can have fun with that as well. In fact, I'll keep on the lookout for one during the drive." She said with a nod.

"Then I'll leave you to it while I focus on the road." Mamoru said as he pulled out and began to drive.

"Was anyone at your house?" He asked after a few quiet minutes.

"My mom was home." Usagi answered. "I told her we were going on a date, and my mom said she hoped I had a good time."

Mamoru nodded, pleased that there was no problem with them going out on a date without any prior notice. He knew her mother liked him so it wouldn't be a problem, but it likely would have if her father was at home.

The man was accepting of him and their relationship, but he still likely would have asked a lot of questions and tried to make up a reasonable excuse why she shouldn't go out. Of course, if her father knew their relationship had long since turned physical he highly doubted the man would be at all accepting of him let alone of their relationship.

Usagi snorted lightly. "That's why it's none of his business, and he'll never know." She said; clearly having heard his thoughts. Although, I'm slightly curious to know what his reaction would be to learning that it started in order to save my life.

"He likely would accept it but still be unhappy, and think all the intimacy after the first time shouldn't have happened." Mamoru answered her thought.

"True." She agreed, but laughed lightly at the thought. Like she was really going to pass up the chance to experience her prince's physical affection after the first time. She doubted anyone could or would resist when there was absolutely nothing stopping them.

He chuckled but didn't say anything as he watched the road. Almost twenty minutes later he pulled off the street and into a parking garage, paying for a four hour time limit, and continued on eventually finding a parking spot on the fourth floor of the six floor structure.

They got out and he locked up the car before they walked hand in hand toward the elevator. It came quickly after Mamoru pressed the button, and they rode the elevator down to the ground floor and began to walk toward their destination.

"It's a shame I didn't see a photo booth on our way here." Usagi said with a sigh.

"We can still look for one after we finish what we're going to do." Mamoru said.

"But we might be too tired by then." She replied.

Before he could reply she gasped.

"What?" He asked, and she pointed just ahead of them, and he looked up as they walked only to see a hanging sign that said Photo Booths.

"Lucky." He said as he guided them toward the door where the sign was. He opened the glass door and saw that it was a smallish interior with four large photo booths inside.

They looked at each of them and picked the one that had different photo size options. They sat on the bench inside and began looking at the various options.

"Regardless of what other options we pick I want four of the 6x4 option." Mamoru said immediately. "Two with your hair color the way it is and two with your natural hair color; one of each hair color with you by yourself and one of each hair color with you with me."

"No problem, but I want the same size with you by yourself, and two with us together with each of my hair colors." Usagi said.

"Alright." He agreed, and then looked at the options again. "We should also get a 6x2 strip each."

"With three or four poses?" She asked as she looked at the options.

"Four." He said with a grin. "That will give us more to look at."

Usagi laughed and nodded then picked the black background since it would look best with their clothes, and he pulled out some money and began to feed it into the booth as she closed the curtain. They started with the strip option and posed, cuddled up, and kissed as the camera took their pictures.

Once that finished they picked the 6x4 option and posed together for each of their copies with her releasing the concealment on her hair when it was time, then Usagi left the booth and Mamoru took his solo picture and then she took her turn; making sure her hair color was right for each picture.

When they finished they took the printed glossy pictures and looked at them, spreading them out on a table that was provided toward the back of the room. They had all come out nice. Neither of them had blinked at the wrong time, and they were happy with the way they both looked in each of them.

"I want one more." Mamoru said as they separated the pictures for each of them. "Another 6x4 of you by yourself with your natural hair color and your crescent moon visible."

Usagi smiled as she put her copies in her subspace pocket and simply walked back to the both and sat inside on the bench. She released the concealment on her hair, leaving it the color of silver moonlight, and brought her royal insignia out so it sat visible on her forehead.

"Whenever you're ready." She said after she had situated herself.

He nodded and closed the curtain then put in the money and pressed the option and background he wanted.

Usagi saw the countdown begin and smiled softly, thinking of her love for her prince, and looked at the camera. The camera flashed and she waited for her prince to let her know if he liked the picture.

A few moments later he pulled the curtain open and smiled as he showed her the picture. It looked good to her. She looked pretty and regal. The only thing missing was her royal gown, and she suspected that was why he had that smile on his face. It came out the way he wanted.

She put the concealment back on her hair, and he added the picture to his subspace pocket, and they left the building to continue on their way; pleased that they got the pictures they wanted.

A few minutes later and two blocks from where they had taken their pictures they arrived at their destination; a virtual reality theater. It was still a new attraction so there was no surprise that there was a slightly long line to get inside.

They took their place in line and Usagi wrapped her arms around her prince and leaned against him as she watched cars drive by. She smiled as he wrapped an arm around her and gently played with one of hair odango's with his free hand.

Long minutes passed by as they gradually moved up in the line before they finally entered the building. They put on the required equipment to play the game; knee and shin guards, forearm guards, a chest and back plate, and red transparent visor-like goggles with a head set. Attached by a cord to the chest plate was a laser gun that sat secured to one of the shin guards when it wasn't being held.

"Are you ready?" Mamoru asked with a grin after they finished gearing up.

"Definitely." Usagi said as she grinned back at him.

With that they walked through the door and into a room where a few other people that were suited up waited, and after a few more people joined them they were given instructions on how to play and the basic storyline of the theater. Once they heard everything they began to be let in in the groups and pairs they had arrived with.

After the first four groups and pairs went in Mamoru and Usagi were ushered in and they found themselves in a dark hallway. They drew their laser guns and began to walk forward cautiously, their eyes flickering all over the place like the warriors they actually were.

After a few moments they both spotted a virtual monster to their right, and they both shot at it; hearing the music and sound affects in their ears, and seeing the laser fire through their visor goggles.

They smiled at each other and began to move quicker through the hallways, firing at every monster they saw, looking from left to right, to the ceiling, then forward and even twisted around to look behind them.

They reached another hallway and as they turned the corner into it Usagi made a surprised sound and fired at a monster that appeared almost instantly above them before she could even think about it.

Mamoru wrapped an arm around her as he leaned into her back and laughed at her feeling her heartbeat racing even through the VR armor.

Shut up you! She said through their link, knowing he knew she had been slightly scared at the sudden appearance of the monster.

It's okay. He said as he kissed her cheek. You always do better against the real thing.

Usagi twisted around in his hold and stood up on her tip toes and kissed him soundly. It's nice to know you think I do better against the real thing. She told him.

Mamoru kissed her again and released her before they continued on firing at more monsters as they appeared.

"Usagi!" They heard a masculine voice call out, and they stopped and looked back only to see Ginga Seijuro and Ginga Natsumi in their school uniform.

Usagi groaned quietly. That's the new guy, and she's his sister. She told her prince.

She's definitely the same girl that tried to ask me out the other day. Mamoru said as he watched the siblings approach.

"Hey handsome." Natsumi said, looking at Mamoru as she and Seijuro reached them.

Mamoru ignored her words and instead watched the guy that had an uncomfortable fixation on his princess.

"This is a surprise seeing you here." Seijuro said as he looked to Usagi. "Why did you decide on this venue?" He asked, and Usagi held in a sigh.

"Because I wanted to relax and have fun with my 'supposed' boyfriend." She answered, repeating the word he used at the park the day before as she gestured to Mamoru. "This is my boyfriend." She said as she smiled gently up at him.

Mamoru smiled and leaned down and kissed her lips. He would have kissed her forehead or cheek, but this guy clearly needed to see that they were more than friends.

Yes. Usagi agreed, hearing his thought. But I don't think it would stop him.

True, but at least now he can't think you were lying about having a boyfriend. He said, and as he pulled back she caressed his cheek gently and looked to the guy who was fast becoming a nuisance.

"You'll have to excuse us; I would like to get back to my date." Usagi told Seijuro before looking back to her prince. "Let's go love."

"Of course." Mamoru said as he smiled, and they took off running, firing off at a virtual monster before they were out of sight.

"So, you like her huh." Natsumi said as she looked away from where the couple disappeared to her brother.

"Yes." Seijuro said easily. "She has a nice smile and even nicer laugh, and she's beautiful on top of that with a unique hair style."

"And she's apparently taken." Natsumi pointed out, her tone a little bitter. She didn't like that the cutie had ignored her or the fact that she still didn't know his name.

"I noticed you called her boyfriend handsome." Seijuro said as he raised an eyebrow.

"Well it's true; he is handsome." She said with a careless shrug. Unfortunately he was telling the truth about having a girlfriend. "So, are we going to do what we came here to do?"

"You aren't changing your mind just because Usagi's here?" Natsumi said when he hesitated.

"You don't mind that guy being here?" Seijuro countered.

"There's no guarantee that anything will happen to him." She replied quickly.

"Then let's do it." He said with a nod.

She nodded and they walked forward after the couple that neither wanted to see together.

Usagi and Mamoru eventually reached a section where they came upon little two seater cars and other people already sitting in the cars. They put their laser guns away and sat in the last available car. As soon as they sat down the cars began to move forward, and Mamoru and Usagi belatedly noticed the joystick.

I'll leave the joystick to you. Usagi said through their link, and he huffed in amusement but grabbed the stick and kept his eyes pealed for monsters.

As they moved along Mamoru fired at monsters and hit them left and right, the activity easy for someone who threw roses long distance at real moving monsters and creatures.

After almost ten minutes the ride came to a stop and everyone got out of the cars. Most everyone started to race down the various hallways that branched off, but Usagi and Mamoru took their time choosing a hallway and kissing since they had some privacy.

Eventually they picked a hallway and took out their laser guns as they walked looking for more virtual monsters.

They found some and had a blast shooting at them, but they began to hear screams that sounded a bit more intense then the startled and surprised screams they had been hearing since starting the game.

Those screams sound real. Usagi said.

Very real. Mamoru agreed; his tone sounding slightly grim, and she nodded. We should be cautious and carefully check corners before turning fully.

Right. She agreed, and they continued forward, still shooting at monsters, but looking around more seriously then they had before. With those real screams there was a very good chance that there was a cardian there.

They passed two corners without incident, but the screams had stopped on their way, and when they got to the next corner they peeked around only to see what they had feared.

People were lying around scattered, unconscious or worse, in a large round room. Standing at the other side of the room from them with their arms crossed over their chest was clearly a cardian. A female, as all the Cardians had been so far, with olive green skin, thick brown hair styled in three sections, red eyes and lips, wearing a skimpy crimson and white outfit.

Do you want to call your Senshi? Mamoru asked as he stared at the cardian, and she hummed thoughtfully.

Do you think we can take the cardian on our own? She asked, and he smiled lightly.

It has been a while since we've fought alone, but I think we can do it. He answered. And you'll be able to try out your new attack against the cardian without the others seeing.

Alright, we'll fight alone. There's no guarantee that the girls would be able to get to us in time anyway. Usagi said with a firm nod. We should get to transforming before the cardian starts to wander around.

Yes. Mamoru agreed.

They carefully backed away and moved further back down the hallway before they began to transform. He pulled out a red rose and transformed wordlessly in a light red flash of light.

Usagi gestured for her brooch, and watched it appear in the palm of her hand.

Moon Crystal Power, Make Up! She thought, not wanting to alert the cardian by speaking, and was surrounded in a bright soft pink light.

When the lights cleared the couple stood as Tuxedo Kamen and Sailor Moon.

The warrior couple nodded to each other before they moved back down the hallway and entered the large room confidently. The cardian looked at them instantly and narrowed its eyes.

"Hell Ant." The cardian said in a soft yet confident carrying tone. Then it suddenly sent thin tentacles flying at them from its hair and back.

Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen instantly parted away from each other and ran from the approaching tentacles.

Tuxedo Kamen gestured with his hands as he ran, and an open rose blossom appeared in each palm before they burst into golden flames an instant later.

Burning Rose Illusion. He thought as he threw the fiery blossoms at the cardian.

Sailor Moon cupped her hands together and white light bubbled up like liquid before an image of a silver blue tinted waxing crescent moon and a waning crescent moon fused together back to back appeared in the light.

Infinite Moonlight Illusion Beam. She thought calmly as she slowed to a stop, and thrust her hands away from her. The beam of white light with the image of the silver blue tinted crescent moons inside shot straight toward the cardian.

The green olive skinned cardian watched as the attacks came her way. She didn't move for the burning blossoms, simply flicking them away with the tentacles coming out of her hair, but with the white beam headed her way she had to jump back out of the way.

"Hell Ant." The cardian said in irritation as she was forced to flick her tentacles at more burning blossoms.

Sailor Moon lifted her hands to attack again but had to jump back and then dash off to her right, skipping over the bodies of downed people, as the cardian used the tentacles from its back to continuously flick at her.

She frowned as she noticed every time the cardian missed her the floor or wall ended up cracked and chipped from the force of the strike.

It was even more reason to not get hit by them, but she knew she needed to stop those tentacles. She considered using her sword, but didn't want to risk missing and getting hit. Then she thought of her tiara, and figured this was as good a time as any to try out the combination and see if it worked.

She pulled off her tiara as she dodged the tentacles and charged it before throwing it toward the tentacles. In the next moment she brought her hands up and launched her Infinite Moonlight Illusion Beam attack and aimed it at her flying tiara.

It slammed into the tiara and surrounded it, giving the glowing disk a blue tint, and she stopped her attack as she watched her powered up tiara slice through all the tentacles the cardian had waving around.

"Hell Ant!" The cardian screamed in pain as it looked toward Sailor Moon, but before it could do anything it was forced to dodge Tuxedo Kamen's Spinning Rose Evolution attack.

Tuxedo Kamen quickly followed up simply launching a hand full of roses at the cardian.

Sailor Moon took that time to summon her tiara back to her, and as soon as it was hovering above her fingertips she threw it straight at the distracted cardian. It flew straight and slammed right into the cardian's chest as it dodged away from the speeding roses.

"Hell Ant!" The cardian screamed in pain as it fell back grasping its chest.

Sailor Moon summoned her tiara back to her, but was unhappy at the results of her attack. Her tiara combined with her attack turned out to be a good weapon, it damaged the cardian good, but it obviously didn't defeat it.

And what's worse is those tentacles appear to be growing back. She thought with a frown.

She threw her powered up tiara again, aiming for the tentacles, and immediately launched her Infinite Moonlight Illusion right after.

She watched as silver blue tinted crescent moons went scattering, rotating rapidly, in every direction away from her before converging on the cardian.

At the same time Tuxedo Kamen took out a hand full of roses and willed them to turn black.

Deadly Rose Petals. He thought as he launched the attack, the flowers shattering and sending black razor sharp rose petals flying toward the cardian.

"Hell Ant!" The cardian screamed as first its growing tentacles were sliced off again, and then louder as the energy crescent moons and sharp rose petals struck it at the same time.

Sailor Moon summoned her Crescent Moon Wand to her hand as she caught her returning tiara with her free hand. She sighed quietly as she put her tiara back on, unhappy that she was going to have to use her wand as she had the last few times to defeat the cardian.

Don't worry love. I'll help you defeat... Tuxedo Kamen began, but his words trailed off as he spotted the two beings behind and off to the side of the injured cardian.

She glanced over and saw that they looked the same as they did the last time they had seen them. Light green skin and pointy elf-like ears, a dark blue bodysuit for the male and a snug dark red bodysuit for the female, dark blue eyes for the male and dark hot pink eyes for the female, and light blue hair for the male and pink hair for the female.

Never mind. You finish off the cardian and I'll distract these two. He said seriously.

No problem. Sailor Moon said as she returned her eyes to the fallen cardian that was struggling to its feet.

Please help me defeat this cardian before it can recover. She asked her silver crystal as she pointed her wand at the cardian.

She felt a warm pulse inside her, and a moment later a beam of thick pure white light shot out of the crescent of her wand, and through the air before it struck the cardian in the chest.

Tuxedo Kamen kept his eyes on the two beings, leaving the cardian to his princess, and gestured slightly with his hands. A rose appeared in each hand before they morphed into red glowing rose petals that spun around his body.

Spinning Rose Evolution. He thought as he thrust his arms and hands out causing the rose petals to quickly gather together before speeding forward as a beam toward the silent pair.

He watched their eyes glow and flash slightly before his attack seemed to hit against an invisible shield.

"Hell Ant!" The cardian screamed in agony, and began to glow before the scream stopped and its figure began to shrink.

Sailor Moon cut the flow of her power, silently thanking her crystal, as she watched the cardian continue to shrink and grow smaller and smaller. It stopped glowing and, as was becoming familiar, revealed a tarot sized card stuck upright in the floor. The image of the cardian fading away until the surface of the card was blank.

She turned her attention to the pair, gripping her wand, as she took deep slow breaths to fight off her weakness.

"So you're still destroying our Cardians." The male said.

"Only this time there's only two of you." The female added.

"We'll simply have to pick better next time." The male said.

With those parting words the two beings teleported away leaving the warrior pair alone aside from the unconscious people lying on the floor.

Sailor Moon dropped down and sat on her folded legs as she put her wand away in her subspace pocket.

"Are you okay?" Tuxedo Kamen asked as he came to her and knelt down in front of her.

"I'm feeling weaker than I did the last time." She admitted. "This cardian took more energy to defeat, so I had to pour more through my wand."

"I don't like this. I intended to help you, so you wouldn't have to use so much energy but those two beings arrived." He said solemnly.

"I understand." She said as she nodded. "You couldn't help me and keep your eyes on those beings at the same time."

"Yeah." He said with a nod. "But what if this happens again and there turns out to be another cardian waiting to attack while we're distracted with the defeat of the first one or if those beings decide to attack?"

"Then you can help me then, but it'll be better if I can find some new way to defeat the Cardains without losing so much energy. After all, you said you would be going back to protecting me, so you need to be focused on that and not defeating the cardian." She said, and he nodded and sighed.

"Let's get out of here before the authorities show up." He said as he began to help her up.