Imperfect Reincarnation

by Serena530

AU. The Guardian Sailor Scouts must be awakened, protect the Earth from a familiar evil, and find and guard the Moon Princess, but what will happen when more scouts arrive and memories begin to surface of a past far different then some remember. Continuation of The Perfect Match. Warning: Long chapters inside.

14. Chapter 14

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

Imperfect Reincarnation
Chapter Fourteen

Serenity's eyes fluttered and slowly opened to immediately see she wasn't in her bedroom. In fact, she was in a completely unfamiliar location. She blinked her eyes in alarm, and was about to start panicking until she saw Endymion sitting in a chair next to the bed she was lying in.

He was asleep so she took the opportunity to look around. It looked like they were in a stone cabin. The walls, floor, and even the doors looked like they were made of dark gray stone blocks. There was the bed she was lying in, two chairs, a fairly large fireplace with a fire crackling merrily, and three doors.

It was definitely a place she had never been before, and she wondered how she had gotten here. To make it worse she still didn't feel well, and on top of that she was confused and wary about where they were.

She sighed and began to sit up, and watched as Endymion's eyes snapped open, obviously having heard her, before he sat forward.

"Are you alright?" He asked tiredly, worried.

"Yes; aside from being sick." Serenity answered as she leaned back against her pillow. "Where are we? I remember falling asleep in my bed."

"I went to check on you, and when you did not answer my knocks I opened the door and found your bed on fire." Endymion said seriously, and her eyes widened.

Serenity frowned in confusion, not understanding why something like that would happen.

"Where are we?" She asked as she looked around again.

"We are in a special room within your castle." He answered seriously, and her eyes widened. "The Queen of the Moon directed me here when she learned of what happened to you."

"I did not know I had a personal castle." Serenity said in surprise, and he nodded.

"I did not either. The Queen said you would have come upon the information on your own in time, but that this situation called for the knowledge immediately." He explained.

"I understand." She said tiredly, but she was still confused about why she was here. Did someone set her bed on fire while she was in it, and she was here for her protection?

Serenity blinked her eyes open slowly to find herself in the same position she had first awakened in. She hadn't realized she had fallen back asleep. She blinked as she looked around and saw that Endymion was still here, but now the Moon Queen was here as well.

She was dressed as she always was in a white sleeveless strapless gown with a bow on top adorned with a gold crescent moon brooch at the center of the bow on her chest. Gold dangling earrings, a golden crescent moon on her forehead with a string of tiny white pearls trailing away on both sides from it into her hair like a delicate tiara.

She had bright silver eyes, and her silver white hair was styled up in twin buns with a stream from each flowing down her body and onto the floor. Her bangs covered her forehead and perfectly framed the crescent that showed her royal descent from the Moon.

"How are you feeling?" The Queen asked from the chair she sat in at the side of the bed opposite Endymion.

"Decent. Tired and weak, but still decent considering my illness." Serenity said as she rubbed an eye, and watched the woman nod.

"Since you are feeling ill I will relay my information so you may focus on resting." The Queen said gently. "The reason you were removed here to this specific room inside your castle is because your sailor powers are awakening."

"I have not known this to happen before. The other scouts powers have always simply been there, and they only had to learn how to use them." She continued. "For you Serenity it seems yours have awakened; now you will have to learn how to control and use them. And quickly to avoid a dangerous situation like what Endymion described happening."

"As far as I am concerned I believe that if your powers are awakening now it means that your body can handle them, which likely means your powers are greater than that of the other scouts." Endymion commented.

"If you are right then I definitely would not have been able to control my power when I was first chosen as Sailor Earth like the other scouts would have been." Serenity said.

oOo

"Endymion!" She cried out and hurried toward him, quickly dropping to her knees at his side as she placed a hand on his shoulder and grabbed his hand with the other.

"Why?! Why did you do this?" She asked, angry and sad. "It is my duty to protect my princess!"

"No. It is not your duty and never has been." Endymion said weakly. "You were never supposed to be Sailor Moon. Your destiny was taken from you."

"I do not understand." Sailor Moon said in confusion.

This man had just saved her life, taking a clearly mortal wound for her, and it was clear from his words that he did it for her and not her princess. She had already admitted to herself that she loved him, but seeing him so hurt and knowing he was dying shattered something deep inside her.

They heard a scream and she looked up to see her princess being attacked by an earth soldier. She moved to get up but looked back to Endymion as she felt him squeeze her hand.

Sailor Moon looked frantically between Endymion and her barely struggling princess. She knew she needed to protect her, but her body was already settling back at his side and it made her abruptly aware that his life was more important to her then her princess' was.

"I do not want you to die. You cannot die. I love you too much for you to leave me." She said sadly as she gently ran her fingers through his hair.

"I love you as well my Serenity. I will find you again, and you will remember what we had." He said quietly.

---

Serena's eyes opened slowly and she stared at the far corner of the ceiling in her bedroom feeling incredibly sad and unable to explain it. So sad in fact that she could feel tears trailing from the corner of her eyes down to her ears.

She remembered her dream, another memory, but she also knew for a fact that that memory was not the cause of her sadness and tears. It was that mysterious part that she could never fully remember aside from the tiny bits here and there, and while the sadness had been intense those times they were nothing to how she felt now.

This sadness was deep, heartbreaking, heartrending, and echoing if that made sense.

Like maybe..grief? She wondered as the tears trailed silently. She wiped them away, and felt more taking their place.

As she lay silently in her bed, blinking out tears, something seemed to drift to the surface of her mind. Dark red spreading on a white marble floor. Blood. She realized. Long fingers with a strong grip.

Those two things along with something about love, and this sadness is all I'm getting from the part I can never remember from these memory dreams. She thought, trying to be rational and not fall apart with the sadness, the possible grief, she was feeling.

Suddenly she felt a weight moving along her bed and covers until it stopped at her side to reveal Artemis and his concerned blue eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked quietly, having smelled her tears and now seeing them.

"I don't know. I just feel incredibly sad. Like…like I lost something." She whispered as she gasped in her effort to breathe through the sadness. "I don't know why. I didn't dream of anyone dying or breaking up with my boyfriend. I don't understand this." She said as her tears continued to come.

"Has this happened to you before?" Artemis asked. He hadn't seen evidence of such a thing since he had been with her, but that didn't mean it hadn't and she had simply not said anything.

"No. I've felt sadness before when I woke up, but nothing like this." She said as she sniffled a little.

"And it was never from something you dreamed about?" He asked, wanting to be sure.

"No. The dreams were never about anything bad or sad or anything that could cause sadness, but…" Serena said, but hesitated, not sure she wanted to tell him about the part she couldn't remember.

"It's okay Serena. You can tell me." Artemis assured her at her obvious hesitation. "I won't tell anyone. I want to understand, and try to help you understand."

"Whenever I dream of a memory I wake up feeling like I'm not remembering something." She revealed quietly. "It only happens with the memories that come when I'm asleep, and never the flashes I get when I'm just going about my day and see something or hear something that triggers a memory."

"I must be seeing something in my sleep that my mind is keeping from me when I wake." She said as she wiped her tears away.

"That is unusual." He admitted. "Perhaps it is something significant that happened to you that you are not yet ready to remember."

"Why wouldn't I be ready?" She asked as she sniffed. "What could be so bad that I'm not ready to know? Here, now, in another lifetime?"

"Something especially painful to have you waking up in tears." Artemis said quietly.

Serena hummed softly, thoughtfully, remembering the blood and the strong grip of long fingers.

Likely a man's hand. She thought uneasily.

"I think you should try to put it from your mind." He suggested. "You will remember when you are ready to. Instead, you should focus on the here and now. You have plans for the day correct?"

"Yes. My double date." She said, trying to do like he suggested and put the sadness out of her mind, which was easier said than done. "I've got some time." She said as she looked over to her clock.

"I can figure out what to wear and start getting ready, and then eat something." She added, listing what she needed to do to better help her focus through the sadness she was feeling.

"Good. Focus on those things. It should help." Artemis said with a nod.

"Thanks for listening, and the advice." Serena said as she began to sit up.

"You are very welcome." He replied.

Serena smiled a little and got out of her bed, pausing to pull her loose hair from under the covers, and stepped over to her closet. She opened it and began to halfheartedly riffle through her clothes. This wasn't going to be a romantic double date, as in formal wear, flowers, and fancy restaurants. It was going to be more like a meet and greet hangout type thing.

And I should check the weather too. She thought as she twisted around and looked out her balcony doors.

There was a bright blue sky visible and the sun was already out, so she thought it would be a nice day out. With that determination she turned back to her closet, and began to move her hanging clothes to the left and right as she searched for something suitable for the weather and where she was going.

Eventually she pulled out a few items and then a few more from little drawers that had her folded clothes, and left her room and headed to the bathroom. After brushing her teeth she twisted and pinned her hair up and out of the way before she took a quick shower.

She dried off thoroughly and dressed before she let her hair down then grabbed her clothes littering the floor and headed back to her bedroom. She put her clothes away in their proper place before she sat at her vanity table and began to brush her hair.

Once she finished brushing the entire length she parted it down the middle and arranged the two half's up into her usual style. When the two buns were secured in place she stood up, and grabbed her hoody and pulled it on before she stood back from her vanity to try and see as much of herself in the mirror as possible.

She wore loose charcoal gray yoga pants and a matching zip up hoody and a baby blue tank top underneath it. It was comfortable and cute, at least in her opinion, and light enough to be able to move around in it.

Serena moved her streams of hair out of the way and went to her closet and picked out a purse small enough to only hold her essentials. She placed her brooch inside along with her communicator and keys as well as a little money.

She dropped her purse on her bed and quickly picked out the shoes she was going to wear before she left her room. Walking down the hallway she nearly skipped down the stairs as she wondered what Darien would be wearing.

Hopefully something casual and comfortable like when we train. She thought as she headed for the kitchen.

"Good morning." She said as she pushed open the door and saw her mom sitting at the table.

"Good morning." Her mother said as she sipped some tea.

"Where's Sammy?" She asked as she got herself a cup of juice.

"Probably still sleeping." Her mother answered. "Did you see when you passed his room?"

"I didn't look, but I don't remember his door being open when I went to take my shower." Serena said, and her mother nodded.

"So what do you have planned for today?" Her mother asked.

"I have a double date." She said before she took a drink of her juice.

"Wearing that?" Her mother asked. There was nothing wrong with it, but it didn't look like a date outfit.

"It's a casual double date. We're picnicking in a park." Serena said, understanding her mom's tone. "It's really more like a meet and greet. Darien will be meeting one of my friends for the first time." She added.

"Which friend?" Her mother asked curiously.

"Keiko." She answered.

"You haven't mentioned her in a while." Her mother said.

"That's because we hadn't talked in a while, but we ran into each other during my last class field trip and we've been staying in regular contact since then." Serena explained before she moved toward the food her mother had made for breakfast.

"She's the only one of my close friends that haven't met him yet." She added as she sat at the table with her juice and a sausage and egg toast sandwich.

"And of course her boyfriend will be there. I'm looking forward to that since I haven't seen him since longer than the last time I saw Keiko before I reconnected with her." She said before she took a bite of her sandwich.

"Well, I hope you have a good time, and I hope she and your young man get along." Her mother said before she took a sip of her tea.

"Thanks. I hope so too." Serena said after she swallowed her food.

"How are things going with your young man? Darien right?" Her mother asked curiously.

"Yeah, and it's going great!" Serena answered instantly. "He's great. He's respectful, caring, and fun. He's smart, ambitious, and protective. He has no problem helping with my studies just to spend more time with me, and he gets along with all my friends. Well, the friends he's met anyway."

Of course he was more than those things, but that was all she could tell her mother. She couldn't tell her that he was strong, both physically and emotionally, that he was supportive in her secret life as well as encouraging, or even the extent of his protectiveness.

"He's understanding, considerate, and he likes to do the things I do. He's just great!" She gushed before she took another bite of her breakfast.

"I'm glad for that, and I'm glad things are going well." Her mother said. "Have you met any of his friends?"

"I already knew his best friend when we first met, and I've met a new friend he made at school, and a couple others he met outside of school around the same time. Oh and he and Kagome's boyfriend are becoming good friends, and we were introduced to him at the same time." Serena said after she swallowed her mouthful of food.

"He doesn't sound like he has many friends." Her mother commented thoughtfully.

"Neither do I." Serena countered. "It's the quality of friends that mean more to us than the quantity."

"Good point." Her mother said as she nodded.

A few moments later her little brother came stumbling in tiredly with a wave for a greeting and collapsed into a chair at the table.

"Good morning." Serena and her mom said at the same time.

"Why are you so chipper?" Sammy asked as he squinted at his sister.

"Because I've been awake longer than you, and because I took a shower to help wake myself up." Serena said with a raised eyebrow before turning back to her breakfast.

She tried not to let her mind drift back to how she had awakened. There was nothing she could do about it, and she didn't want those unexplained feelings to ruin her day. She was going to spend the day with her boyfriend and one of her good friends, and she was going to have a good relaxing yet fun time.

Hopefully a monster attack doesn't interrupt. I'm not sure how Darien and I would explain why we had to leave so suddenly. She thought as she ate her breakfast.

When she finished she took her dishes to the sink and placed them inside before she left the kitchen and made her way back up to her bedroom. She closed her door after she walked in and sat on her bed and began to put her shoes on.

"How are you feeling?" Artemis asked gently as he moved over to her side.

"I'm better." Serena said as she glanced at him. "The sadness is gone, but I still remember it."

"That is alright as long as it does not dominate your thoughts." He replied, and she nodded and finished putting on her shoes.

She moved her ankles around to make sure the shoes were comfortable and not loose and then moved further onto the bed and rested back against the pillow so she could be comfortable as she waited for Darien to arrive.

"Do you know when your young man will arrive?" Artemis asked as he moved to sit at her side.

"Not exactly, but it shouldn't be too long from now since we're meeting my friend at a specific time." She answered. "I can't wait for that meeting. I'm so happy that Darien gets along with all of my friends so far, and I'm hoping that continues today."

"Which friend is it?" He asked since he remembered her telling him about each of the friends she had in her life before she was awakened as a scout.

"Keiko Yukimura." Serena answered easily.

The smart one. Artemis thought as he nodded. Serena had relayed that she believed all of her friends were smart, but that Keiko was particularly intelligent and that was reflected by her choices in choosing a university.

The two schools were very good and she would be getting in, if she was accepted, on her smarts alone and not on the fact that she could afford the school or had someone high up putting in a good word for her.

"Her boyfriend's name is Yusuke, so it's them that we'll be hanging out with." She said.

"Have you met her boyfriend before?" He asked, and watched her nod.

"He's a bit of a bad boy, but still smart when he wants to be. Otherwise Keiko wouldn't have anything to do with him." She said. "He likes to fight, brawling type, but apparently he's good at it. I don't know if he's ever had any formal training in any other style or type of fighting."

"Well he certainly sounds interesting." Artemis said.

"Yeah." Serena agreed. She wondered what it would be like to see him again; especially now that she could fight. I wonder if we'll get the chance. She thought before she mentally shook off the thought.

"I had the thought yesterday that I should apply to more schools to have a better chance of getting into one in case the school I really want doesn't accept me." She said, changing the subject.

"I talked to Darien about it and he thought it was a good idea and helped me look up some more schools, so now I just have to go through the ones we chose and narrow down my options." She explained.

"What schools did you pick?" Artemis asked, and listened as she listed all the schools her friends had applied to and a few others.

"Can you not apply to all of them?" He asked curiously. "That would give you a better chance of being accepted to a least one of them."

"True." Serena agreed as she nodded. "I could do that, but it would be a lot of work."

"It would be worth it though." Artemis encouraged. "And you would be at school with at least one of your friends, so that would be someone you already know and can take classes with."

"Also true." She agreed. "Then I guess I'll be spending the next few days applying to those schools."

Although, I think I'll leave out the ones Keiko applied to. I might have the smarts for those schools, but I don't need the stress of trying to keep up that level of expectation. Especially with my role as a guardian scout. She thought.

There was also the possibility that she could still end up with guard duty, and that was yet another level of stress that could get in the way of her school performance.

She then began to tell Artemis what she knew about each school, including the one she really wanted to get into, as the minutes passed.

After a while the doorbell rang and Serena stopped mid-sentence and popped up from her bed, and went and looked out her balcony window and smiled to see Darien's car.

"That's Darien! I'll see you later Artemis." She said as she snatched her purse off the bed and hurried toward the door.

"Have a good time." Artemis called.

"I will." She called back before she opened the door and rushed along the hallway and jogged down the stairs as she slipped the strap of her purse over her head and settled it across her chest.

She had been so quick to rush out of her room and down the stairs that her mother was only a few steps out of the kitchen.

"I've got it mom. It's Darien." Serena assured her, and watched her nod and slow to a stop.

She stepped quickly toward the door as soon as she reached the landing and opened it. There Darien stood as she knew he would, and the first thing she noticed was the flattish rectangular box he held flat in his hands. The second thing she noticed was what he was wearing. He had on gray sweat pants, a gray and navy blue shirt with quarter sleeves, and white shoes.

"Hi!" She said, and tilted her head as she looked at the box that was wrapped in slightly sparkly gold paper.

"Hello Serena." Darien returned the greeting with a light smile, taking in and enjoying the gray and sky blue outfit she was wearing. "This is for you." He said as he presented the gift in his hands.

"Thank you." She said as she accepted the box. "I can open it now?" She asked.

"Yes. That would be ideal." He replied, and stepped inside as she stepped back.

He closed the door behind him and stepped toward her as she sat on the second to last step on the stairs. He watched her weigh the box in her hands and shake it slightly before she smiled up at him.

"Any hints?" She asked as she smoothed her hands along the top of the box as it lay across her thighs.

"No. You'll see as soon as you open it." He said in amusement. "Hello Mrs. Tsukino." He finally greeted the older woman standing not too far away.

"Hello Darien." She greeted in return before she turned her attention curiously to her daughter and the gift she was beginning to unwrap.

Serena tore into the wrapping paper and pulled large and small strips away, careful to keep the box in the same position she started in in case there was a chance of disrupting whatever was inside.

She dropped them on the stairs, not caring that some were sliding down to the floor, and once it was completely free of the paper she carefully felt along the bottom edges of the box. It wasn't taped so she slipped her fingers between the sides and carefully pulled the top of the box up and off.

She gasped loudly as she moved the top away and got a look at the contents of the box. Inside was a bow, quiver, and arrows.

"Oh my!" She heard her mother say, but paid her no more attention as she focused on her surprising gift. She blindly put the top aside and reached inside for the bow.

The bow was rounded in shape, blue green with a white grip, and a white string. It also had a planetary symbol above and below the grip in white with a white vine design weaving around them and trailed a little above and below the symbols respectively.

If I'm remembering right then those are the Earth's symbols. She thought as she shifted the bow to see it from all angles.

She carefully placed it back inside and reached for one of the arrows. The stem was white with blue green feathers at the end, and a white arrowhead at the tip. Doing a quick count let her know there were eighteen arrows in total.

She placed the arrow back with its companions and pulled out the quiver. It was white in a slightly long tube shape with a white sling strap attached to it. At the top center just beneath the edge were those same Earth symbols only this time they were combined into one in blue green with matching vines winding around it and wrapping around the top of the quiver.

The bow is beautiful. Serena thought as she carefully put the quiver back, and she loved how the bow, quiver, and arrows all matched each other. The bow was smooth and sleek, the arrows were all uniform and perfect, and the quiver sturdy.

It was also not lost on her that the colors were a perfect match to the sailor outfit her past self wore as Sailor Earth. It had to be some kind of coincidence. She had never described the uniforms she wore in the past. He could have only assumed they were the same with the Sailor Earth one possibly being in different colors. He definitely wouldn't have known what colors.

Unless he knew me as Sailor Earth in the past. She considered as she lightly touched the bow.

"Did you have these custom made?" Serena asked as she looked up at her boyfriend.

"I did." Darien answered. Of course he had made them himself, but she couldn't know that yet. "The bow, arrow stems, and the bottom of the quiver are made of wood. The quiver body is made of leather, and the arrowheads are made of metal."

"Wow." She breathed. "These are Earth symbols right?" She asked, wanting to be sure and unable to ask the question she really wanted to ask with her mother watching and listening.

"Yes." He confirmed. "The one above the grip on the bow is the Earth's secondary symbol, the one below it is the Earth's primary symbol, and the one on the quiver is a combination of the two." He explained.

Why the secondary symbol on the top and the primary on the bottom? She wondered, and decided to ask him later with her other question.

"Thank you so much." Serena said with a bright smile. "They are beautiful. I can't wait to try them."

"I'm glad you like them." Darien said happily, pleased that she approved of his gift to her.

"Let me put these away in my room and we can go." She said as she looked up to him, and watched him nod.

"I'll take care of the paper." Her mother said as she stepped forward. "You go ahead and put your gift away."

"Thanks mom." She said as she put the top on the box so it was only partially closed.

She stood up with the box in her hands and turned and hurried up the stairs to her bedroom. She slipped inside and placed the box on her bed.

"What is that?" Artemis asked quietly, having heard her coming and heard the talking coming from downstairs.

"Look what Darien got me!" Serena said excitedly yet just as quietly before she lifted the top off the box.

"Oh!" He breathed in surprise as he saw the bow, quiver, and arrows. They were a handsome set, and it clearly was a set with the matching colors flowing through all the items.

"I gotta go. We'll talk more later." She said as she drop the top and rushed out of her room.

She headed back down the stairs, clear of the ripped wrapping paper, to find her boyfriend still standing where she left him.

"All ready!" She said as she stopped at his side.

"Then let us go." Darien said before he placed his hand gently yet firmly on her lower back and guided her toward the front door.

They headed out of the house, making sure the door was securely closed behind them, and walked over to the car where he opened the passenger side door for her. Once inside with all her hair he closed the door and casually made his way around the car to the driver's side.

"Thank you again for the wonderful gift." Serena said, buckling her seatbelt as he sat in his seat and closed the door.

"You are very welcome." Darien said as he started the car and began to put on his own seatbelt.

"I have questions." She said as she looked to him.

"I'm listening." He replied as he pulled away from the curb.

"I noticed that the symbols were the Earth's planetary symbols." She said. "I was wondering why on the bow the secondary symbol was on top and not the primary symbol?"

"Because I believe the secondary symbol to be the more important symbol for the bow." He answered as honestly as he could at this point.

He couldn't very well tell her that it was because it was her symbol, and deserved to be in a primary spot on her bow. Just as her colors were what he used to decorate the bow and arrow set with.

"Do you believe it instinctively or does that mean you remember knowing the Sailor Earth version of me in the past?" She asked. "I couldn't help noticing that the colors of the bow, arrows, and quiver matched the sailor outfit I wore as that scout."

"I know it, and I remember it." Darien answered since it was true on both fronts.

"You remember?!" Serena breathed in surprise. "None of the others have given even a hint that they remembered a scout of the Earth or that she looked like me. And Luna said there was no such scout, but you..you really remember? It's not just me?" She asked almost frantically.

It wasn't until that moment that she realized how much it bothered her that she had returning memories of a life as a scout that she had been told didn't exist in the past, and no one else appeared to be remembering.

Darien had been great with listening to her relate the memories she remembered, calming her fears about what different things in the memories could mean, but it was different to know that he remembered her as this supposedly nonexistent scout.

If he really remembered then it was really true that she had lived as Sailor Earth in the past. She had come to believe it before, but she was always looking for further proof that she hadn't been imagining those memories.

"Yes I remember." He reassured her, sensing that she needed to hear his words. "I remember you standing in a garden on a bright day. The sun shining on your loose hair making the golden color shine like jewelry."

"The sleeveless bodysuit you wore was white with a dark green bow on the chest with a simple gold circle at its center, a white collar with a single dark green stripe around the border, and a white skirt that transitioned from dark grass green to deep blue at the end." He described as he drove.

"A deep blue medium sized ribbon belt wrapped around your waist just above the skirt, and connected to a deep blue bow at your lower back with thick ribbons trailing from it. You had on knee high dark green high heel boots, short white gloves with gold bands around your wrists, a dark green choker around your neck, and a tiara that matched your skin color with a golden gem." He continued.

"And completing the look was a solid white cape that trailed from your shoulders, beneath your collar, down to the ground. You looked poised and elegant as you stood enjoying the fragrances around you." Darien said with a smile as he remembered coming across her many times in such a habit.

Serena stared wide eyed as she listened to his description of her as Sailor Earth. It matched down to the last detail. The only thing missing was the earrings she had worn, and he likely didn't think that detail mattered.

"I can't believe you remember." She said in surprise. "But I'm really glad you do. I didn't realize how much it would mean to me to have at least one other person remember, so I know these memories are real."

"Then I'm glad I told you." He said as he held in a frown.

He knew she had questions about remembering seemingly two different lives, but he hadn't realized that it bothered her to be remembering an existence that no one else could. The only proof she would have that the memories were real was the instinctive knowledge that came to her and couldn't be linked to her past life as the scout of the Moon.

He had been so busy trying not to mention remembering or confirming outright that he remembered or even alluding that he remembered all of his past, so he didn't have to explain who he had been in the past that he didn't realize she would need some kind of proof outside of herself that Sailor Earth had been real and that the scout had truly been her.

"Your memories are real." Darien said firmly. "I did not see any Earth symbols on you, but I still know that the secondary one was important to have in the prominent position."

That was all true without letting on that he had seen the planetary symbol glowing on her forehead many times in the past. She didn't have any symbols on her scout uniform, so that was the only way he would have known that it was her symbol. That and the fact that the primary symbol was his own so it couldn't be hers.

"And speaking of memories have you remembered anything more since the last memory you spoke of?" He questioned, wanting to take her mind off his memories and truly wanting to know if she had recalled any more memories.

"Yes." Serena said. "I was Sailor Earth, but I wasn't transformed. I was sick, like I had a cold, and I woke up in an unfamiliar room that looked like a stone cabin."

"The prince was there and he told me that he had gone to check on me and found me in my bed with it on fire. He told me that the Queen of the Moon directed him to my personal castle, which neither of us knew I had before then, and we learned that I had apparently come into my scout powers and that was why I was sick and why my bed had been on fire." She explained as she remembered back on the memory dream.

That memory had been pushed to the side in the wake of the extreme sadness she had woke up feeling. She hadn't forgotten it but she hadn't wanted to think about the memory since it would bring the sadness back to the front of her mind.

Now that she was thinking about the memory she was surprised at it. It seemed the powers she had as Sailor Earth had taken their time to manifest. Her past self had to be ready for them in order to get access to them.

That was definitely different to how she had just been able to use her tiara right from the start of becoming Sailor Moon in the present.

I wonder how long I had been a scout when that happened or rather how long I had been able to transform since I had the impression I was able to do that and just didn't have those powers during that time. She wondered.

As Darien drove and listened to his Serenity he could picture the memory clearly from his point of view. He recalled the shock of finding her bed on fire while she was unconscious to the world, and then the surprise of learning that she had a castle.

It had surprised and amazed him that there was a special room inside of it apparently especially for the purpose of containing the burgeoning powers of the scout of the Earth. Her powers had been a surprise as well. Before that they had all thought she would simply be as physically strong as a sailor scout, and use the weapons she had trained with since she hadn't showed any sign of being able to use any powers.

It had been a surprise, but he had been happy as well. Her powers meant she would have more to use to fight with and protect herself. She would also be liked him and his Generals since they all had powers to use and aid them aside from the weapons they could use.

"That is fascinating." Darien said as he drove. "It's amazing. I am sure you looked amazing using your powers." He added. Of course he knew for a fact that she did look amazing.

"I guess I did." Serena commented, remembering back to the memory dream where she had worked with air and water. "It would be nice if I had those powers now. It definitely would have been helpful during that fight at that swimming pool."

I would have been able to free myself from that monster on my own. Maybe I wouldn't have even been trapped in the first place. She thought as she held in a sigh.

"That is true." He agreed. He would have been able to sit back and simply watch her back as he watched her perform, because that's what it would have been in his eyes. She would have been graceful and elegant as she manipulated the water and defeated that monster.

I cannot wait to see her in such a manner in this life. He thought as he sighed lightly.

"I wonder if all the scouts had their own personal castle." Serena said suddenly, curious to really know that.

Darien didn't know the answer to that since he hadn't been close to any of the scouts. The one he had had any meaningful interaction with aside from his Serenity was Sailor Venus, and castles and palaces hadn't come up in conversation.

And if Serenity had learned then she never said anything to me about it. He thought as he drove.

"I don't know." He answered honestly.

"What would my Sailor Earth self have done with a castle?" She asked. "I mean the stone room I can understand, but the rest of the place, assuming it was as big as I imagine a castle to be, I'm not sure."

Darien remembered quite well what she used it for. They had gone there to get away from his parents and his Generals when they wanted more privacy than their rooms provided, they had gone when they wanted a break from their duties, and Serenity had gone when she wanted to practice something new with her powers without risk to the environment around her.

There had been more reasons, but those were the main ones.

"Perhaps you used it as a place to relax away from your duty." He suggested, and listened to her hum thoughtfully.

"Do you think I had one as Sailor Moon?" She asked, the fact that her castle as Sailor Earth could still exist not occurring to her.

"It is possible." He said, although he doubted it considering the Moon Princess wouldn't have thought of that, and he actually doubted she knew if the sailor scouts had their own personal castles. With what he recalled of Venus' personality she certainly never would have told the royal girl.

She likely would have been jealous; upset that her guardians had castles or palaces they didn't have to share and that they had them at all. He thought as he refrained from rolling his eyes.

Serena considered that as she gazed out the window. If she had had one as Sailor Moon where would it have been? Would it have been somewhere on the Moon sharing space with the Moon Palace? Or would it have been further away from the home of the Moon royals to give it some distinction?

Where would my castle as Sailor Earth have been? Was it on the Earth hidden away somewhere or…I don't even know where else it could have been. She thought with a light frown.

While she was contemplating that little mystery Darien drove them through the streets away from her neighborhood and to the first grocery store he saw.

He parked and they both went inside and began to look for foods and drinks suitable for a picnic, which meant easy to eat and drink while sitting in the grass. Once they had what they wanted they checked out and brought their bags back to the car before heading toward their destination.

Nearly thirty minutes later found Darien parking in an open space along the sidewalk next to a park that was in the center of Tokyo. He helped his soulmate out of the car before they grabbed the bags of food and drinks. He secured the car and they began to head for the main entrance to the park where they would be meeting her friend.

"I can't wait for you and Keiko to meet." Serena said as they walked.

"Do you think I'll like her?" Darien asked curiously as he glanced to her.

"Yeah I think so." She replied thoughtfully. "She's different than Molly, Kagome, and even Mina. She's more quiet, and studious, she likes to read, but she's up for having fun when she has the time."

"And what of her boyfriend? Will I like him?" He asked.

"I don't know if you'll like him." She answered honestly. "Yusuke is smart. Keiko wouldn't be dating him if he didn't have some intelligence. He's the bad boy type though; likes to fight and act tough."

"We're actually meeting them at the park because Yusuke didn't want to ride with someone he didn't know. I even had to suggest she tell him that we both knew how to fight and might spar with him since he was reluctant to even come. I don't know if that tells you anything." She said.

"Hmm…then this meeting will be interesting." He said thoughtfully as they walked.

He was sure he would like Keiko since he liked Molly, Kagome, and Mina just fine. He also loved his soulmate and she definitely had to like Keiko to count her as such a good friend. That alone made him positive that he would get along with her.

Her boyfriend on the other hand was a mystery in terms of how he would like him or get along with him. He did not mind the fact that the male had been reluctant to ride with them or to come on this casual date, he was probably slow to trust strangers, but he did not have any male friends that were 'bad boys' as his soulmate had termed Yusuke.

Neflite had liked to fight in the past before the 'great change', they all had, but that was sparring against each other not trying to fight some random person who looked at them wrong or said something they didn't like. They were too disciplined, controlled, and dignified to behave in such a way. However, he didn't know if Yusuke was the type to want to fight random people or other 'bad boys'. Describing him as liking to fight and acting tough though would suggest he did.

I suppose I shall know if I shall like him soon enough. He thought as the main entrance to the park came in sight with two people standing off to the side.

They were a young woman and a young man around the age of his Serenity. The young man was leaning with his back against a fence railing with a foot resting on a soccer ball wearing black sweat pants and a white t-shirt with the sleeves cut off. The young woman stood next to him wearing a large green pullover hoody sweater and tan form fitting yoga pants holding a large tote bag.

As they drew closer to the pair he could see that she had brown eyes and her dark brown hair was pulled back into a ponytail with bangs covering her forehead, and that the young man had short jet black hair slicked back and reddish brown eyes.

"Keiko!" Serena called out suddenly, waving a hand at her in greeting as they moved closer to the pair.

"Serena!" Keiko called back with a smile and a wave as she watched her friend and who she believed was her boyfriend walk toward them. They were both dressed comfortably with Serena in smoky gray yoga pants and zip up sweater, and him in gray sweats and a gray and navy blue shirt.

She looked at the guy curiously, struggling not to blush and not understanding why she would, as she took in his tall height, dark hair, and blue eyes. He was just as her friend had described, at least his physical appearance was, but there was something about him that drew her attention. She wasn't worried that she was attracted to him, because she wasn't, but it was like his very presence was drawing her attention to him.

I wonder why. She thought quietly.

"Hey Yusuke." Serena said with a wave as they reached them.

"Hey Serena." Yusuke replied before he moved away from the fence and picked up the soccer ball.

"Keiko, Yusuke. This is my boyfriend Darien Shields." Serena said before she looked to her boyfriend. "Darien, this is my good friend Keiko Yukimura and her boyfriend Yusuke Urameshi."

"Pleased to meet you both." Darien said politely.

"It's nice to finally meet you." Keiko replied before she looked to her own boyfriend.

"Yo! Nice meeting you." Yusuke said.

"Alright! Let's head in and find a spot so we can get settled and relax." Serena suggested as she gestured toward the entrance to the park.

The small group walked through the entrance and began to move along one of the paths of the large park. Once the entrance was no longer in view they moved off a path and into the grass, and eventually placed themselves away from people and paths in an open grassy meadow-like space surrounded by trees.

Keiko pulled out a blanket she had brought and she and Yusuke spread it out on the grass. They all sat down on it and Serena and Darien began to pull out the food and drinks they had brought and spread them out between the two couples. Once everyone was settled and had a drink and a snack in front of them they began to talk.

"Serena said you two are the same age, seventeen." Darien said to Keiko, and watched her nod before he looked to Yusuke. "Are you the same age as well?" He asked.

"Yeah. I'm seventeen too." Yusuke said. "How old are you?"

"I am twenty-one." Darien answered. "What school do you two go to?" He asked before he took a sip of his drink.

"I go to Dai-ichi School for Girls." Keiko said before opening a small bag of chips.

"I go to Gai Tech High School." Yusuke said.

"What school do you go to?" Keiko asked curiously.

"K.O. University." Darien answered.

"That's the school you want to go to isn't it?" Keiko asked Serena.

"That's the one I want," Serena said as she nodded. "but I'm going to apply to some other ones just to make sure I get into a university. Kagome and Molly have applied to the same school among others. Even my friend Mina has decided to apply."

"You want her there too huh?" Keiko said as she looked to Darien.

"Definitely." He replied firmly. "We have already been on a tour of the school. I very much hope she is accepted. I want her to be accepted into all the schools she applies to, but I want her at my school so we can spend more time together even if it realistically wouldn't be much more since we will be taking different classes."

Keiko hummed thoughtfully. "It isn't too late for me to apply. It can be my third choice." She said.

"What are your first and second choices?" Darien asked curiously.

"My first choice is Dai-ichi Sakuragi University, and my second choice is S.N. University. Both are in Japan, but Dai-ichi Sakuragi University is out of state." She answered before she took a sip of her drink.

"I've already told her I hope she gets into the one she wants, but that I also hope the second school is the one that accepts her so she'll still be in the state and we can see each other." Serena said.

"If you're going to apply to K.O. then I hope you get into that one so we can go to school together. Actually if we all were accepted into K.O. it would be the first time you, me, Kagome, and Molly went to the same school." She added before she opened her drink and took a sip.

"That would be nice." Keiko said as she imagined that.

Darien smiled at the image, which he could manage now that he had met all of his Serenity's friends. She would have an easier time hanging out with her friends, at least outside of their classes, and wouldn't have to schedule it based on the schools they went to and other friends that they went to school with.

"Are you going to continue going to school after you graduate or do something else?" He asked Yusuke as he looked to him.

"I've applied to some schools, but I don't have one I really want to go to. I'm not even sure I want to continue going to school." Yusuke answered honestly.

"What will you do if you ultimately decide not to continue your schooling?" Darien asked without missing a beat.

Yusuke shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe work in a dojo or open my own dojo." He said.

"Do you know what you plan to study?" Darien asked Keiko as he looked to her.

"I'm going to study to be a doctor." Keiko answered as she grabbed a couple of cherries.

"I'm still trying to decide between creative writing, Japanese literature, and world literature." Serena said as she pulled off a small branch of grapes from the bunch and pulled one off with her teeth.

"What about you?" Yusuke asked as he nodded at Darien.

"I am studying to be a doctor." Darien answered, and Keiko smiled in surprise, which he returned understandingly.

"It's nice that we all know or have some idea of what we want to do." Serena commented before she began to finish off her grapes.

Darien and Keiko nodded in agreement.

"So Serena told me about how you two met." Keiko said as she looked to Darien, changing the subject.

"Did she tell you about how I was a jerk at first?" Darien asked, smiling a small smile at Serena, and watched her blush but grin back at him.

"Of course I did, because you were!" Serena said.

Darien shrugged. "You're the one who threw a ball of paper at my face." He said before he took a sip of his drink.

"I didn't know you were there!" She countered.

"You did not know anyone was there or if no one was there. You just tossed it over your shoulder without a care." He replied in amusement.

"I would've said sorry if you hadn't been a jerk." She said as she rolled her eyes.

"That's okay. You said it later anyway." He said.

"You did too!" She replied quickly.

"True," He agreed, and looked at her softly. "and look what I got out of it; a great relationship. Clearly it pays to apologize."

Serena blushed, but laughed and nodded in agreement.

"How did you two meet?" Darien asked Keiko and Yusuke.

"We've known each other since we were little kids." Yusuke said.

"Yeah." Keiko agreed. "We went to the same elementary and junior high schools."

"Like me and Molly; except we didn't end up dating." Serena added with a smile.

"What can I say?" Yusuke said with a shrug. "I'm irresistible." He added.

Darien raised an eyebrow, Serena snorted in amusement, and Keiko blushed.

"It's just because you wouldn't leave me alone." Keiko said.

"Clearly you liked my persistence." Yusuke replied with a smirk.

"Blah!" She replied as she shoved him, and then took a sip of her drink.

Serena chuckled and grabbed some cherries.

"So Yusuke, Serena tells me you like to fight." Darien said. "Am I going to get a demonstration of that?"

"Yeah, Keiko said you two can fight, but I don't know if either of you can keep up with me." Yusuke said skeptically.

"You want us to prove it?" Serena said as she paused in eating her cherries.

"Yeah!" He said bluntly. "I don't want to hurt you guys."

"Well my lady, he wants a demonstration from us. Let us give it to him." Darien said before he stood up and held out a hand to help her up.

Serena put down the rest of her cherries and accepted Darien's hand. Once she was standing she took off her sweater and tossed it on the blanket where she had been sitting and followed her boyfriend about a dozen feet away to give themselves plenty of room to maneuver.

"So just like training?" Serena asked as they moved to face each other and began to stretch.

"Yes." Darien confirmed as he stretched his arms. "We will show him a little of what we can do to convince him to spar with us."

Serena nodded and focused her mind as she stretched out her limbs. She prepared to imagine her boyfriend was one of those men in the gray uniform she had fought before. It was only a demonstration spar, but there was no reason she couldn't treat this as a mini sparring training session. Practice was always good after all.

The couple finished stretching and stood facing each other at a distance watching to see who would make the first move.

Serena rushed toward her boyfriend intending to punch him in the face but Darien had other plans. He spun into a back kick when she was close enough, and Serena quickly jumped high rather than risk trying to duck and not managing it or being stuck in a position to be kneed in the face. When she landed she continued her plan and launched a straight punch at his face.

Darien blocked it and swept it aside before launching a punch of his own toward her face. She blocked it and kicked him in the side causing him to stumble to his right before he turned it into a spinning back kick.

Serena quickly backpedaled to avoid his move, and then jumped back for good measure. As she adjusted her feet she watched him face her and prepare himself, but as she watched him standing there relaxed and yet ready to move the sound and images of a scene began to play through her mind.

oOo

Sailor Moon took a steadying breath and tried to ignore the Earth soldiers surrounding them at the edges of the training ground as she stared at Endymion standing across from her.

He was only wearing his uniform, having taken off his armor, cape, and sword and put them aside before they began. It was the first time she had seen him without the items that identified him as a warrior and not just a prince, and she could admit if only to herself that it was a little distracting.

It also didn't help that his Guardian Generals were watching them, but she was also trying to ignore that fact.

Instead she forced herself to focus on what they were doing. Endymion had suggested they spar physically and she had easily agreed. She had only ever sparred against her fellow scouts and a few of the Moon soldiers, so this was another opportunity to get experience against a different type of fighter.

She took in his stance; very relaxed yet ready to move. It displayed his confidence in his ability to react and defend himself.

That was good. She was confident in her own ability to do the same, but she was concerned about the fact that he was a prince. He was without a doubt a warrior, but he was also heir to the throne of the Earth and she did not want to be responsible for some injury that could incapacitate him.

"Come Sailor Moon. Stop worrying, and come at me with your full intent." Endymion said seriously.

Sailor Moon nodded firmly and took a step and then another before she was sprinting the short distance toward the prince, and launched a straight punch toward his face.

He blocked it and launched a straight punch of his own at her face, and she ducked under it and twisted around his side and swung her leg around to kick him in the back. But he twisted away before she could make contact, and launched a front kick at her chest.

Unfortunately she wasn't in the best position to block or avoid the strike since her leg was still in the air, and she was hit; his booted foot pressing against the brooch on her chest and sending her sprawling backward.

She landed hard on her back and she grunted in pain, but she rolled with her momentum until she was in a crouch before she pushed off the ground and dashed toward him.

They exchanged punches and kicks, avoiding and blocking all of them, and she couldn't help wondering if he was holding back since he got in that first kick. She hoped not since that wouldn't very well help her improve.

oOo

Serena blinked rapidly as the scene faded away and reality came back into focus. Her boyfriend was still standing there relaxed and ready, and she had just been reminded with their near identical stances that he resembled the Earth Prince in her memories.

A very strong resemblance. She thought as she blinked at her boyfriend. Even their voices seem to sound the same, but it's all just a resemblance. Nothing more. It's the height, hair, and eyes. That's all. She told herself firmly, feeling that had to be all it was. The thought that her boyfriend could possibly be a reincarnated prince was too outrageous; even with what her life currently was.

Darien had seen that his Serenity had just remembered another memory, but he couldn't very well stop what they were doing and ask her about it since they weren't exactly alone. Instead he sprinted toward her to resume their spar, and swung an aggressive punch at the side of her head.

Serena blinked and took a step back before ducking under the fist flying at her head, and came back up with an uppercut ready for his jaw. Seeing this Darien twisted backward and away from the coming blow then kicked out in front of him as he faced his soulmate again. Serena twisted to her side, just avoiding his foot, and grabbed his leg before she pushed it up and back away from her. Darien hopped on one foot before he fell backward and rolled with the motion until he knelt in a crouch.

The couple stared at each other for a few moments before they rushed toward each other.

From the sidelines on the blanket Keiko and Yusuke watched the couple. Keiko was surprised even though her friend had informed her that she and her boyfriend could fight. She obviously hadn't actually seen evidence of it, and was only told so she could pass that on to her boyfriend to get him to come to the outing.

When did she learn? How long has she been able to do this? She asked herself, wishing she had thought to ask when her friend first told her she could fight. Has he always been able to fight? She wondered as she turned her attention to her friend's boyfriend.

Darien Shields seemed like a good guy. She had watched him as they talked, and watched his behavior with her friend. He was a gentleman as Serena had described him, which was refreshing since guys just weren't like that in her experience, and there was this air of dignity about him.

Even the way he spoke sometimes seemed so proper and natural, like he was from another time, but it also didn't seem out of place for him. Serena had to notice and she didn't seem to mind or pay it any attention.

Aside from noticing those things she saw that he was friendly and respectful, making an effort to get to know her and her boyfriend, and he clearly made her friend happy. Serena had smiled more brightly than she had when she first told her about her boyfriend.

She was happy about that since her friend deserved to be happy and Darien seemed to make her happy. She also liked that he seemed to be enamored with her; smiling and looking at her softly whenever she spoke.

Yusuke for his part could admit that Serena and her boyfriend could fight. It was obvious that they were not pulling their punches or any of their blows, and weren't shying away from seriously trying to hurt each other even though they were dating. Keiko had no problem slapping him if he ticked her off, but that was all she did.

Serena looked like she was trying knock her boyfriend flat on his ass and keep him that way, and Darien looked like he was trying to do the same even though it was obvious, even to him, that he cared about her a lot. They were also moving fast, bending this way and that to avoid blows, twisting and spinning out of the way, and even rolling in the grass; clearly not caring if they got dirty.

That's what I'm talking about. He thought in approval. To him you weren't really fighting with your all if you were worried about getting dirty or even hurt. If you were fighting with a proper opponent then you were going to get hurt, so why shy away from it?

He also noticed that they didn't land hits often but when they did they acted like it didn't hurt; either that or they were really good at ignoring the pain to continue fighting and not show weakness. He could respect that since he didn't like showing weakness either.

It was only a few more minutes before Serena and Darien stopped their spar and began to head back toward them.

"Alright. Have we proven ourselves?" Serena asked as they reached the blanket.

"Yeah." Yusuke said before he popped up onto his feet. "So who am I fighting first?" He asked excitedly.

Serena and Darien looked at each other and she nodded at him, and he nodded in return.

"Me." Darien answered before he stepped back.

His Serenity looked at him significantly and he nodded seriously. It didn't take much to understand what she wasn't saying. He would need to hold back with Yusuke, because it was one thing to spar against each other or even to fight monsters it was another altogether to fight a normal civilian.

He, Serenity, and his Generals had learned that the hard way in the past when they were young. They had grown stronger without realizing it and had nearly killed a couple of soldiers when they were simply sparring against them. The last time it happened they agreed to only fight against each other at full strength.

He and Yusuke moved back to where he and Serena had just been and stood across from each other. Darien waited for a few moments, but Yusuke didn't stretch. He himself didn't need to since he was still warmed up from his spar with his soulmate, but Yusuke hadn't warmed up in any way whatsoever. Instead he dashed at him with his fist raised in a clear intent to hit him with it.

Darien blocked the incoming blow and pushed it aside then backhanded him across the face before plowing his fist into his face and kicking him away. Yusuke fell onto his back with a grunt but quickly got to his feet rushed at him again. This time he kicked out at him, and Darien watched his approach critically before he sidestepped his incoming foot and kicked him in the stomach with his shin.

Yusuke stumbled back but turned the motion into a spinning back kick, which Darien avoided before he stepped forward and moved to punch him in the face. Yusuke blocked the blow and tried to elbow him in the chin, but Darien leaned his head back before he quickly kneed him in the stomach.

As he grunted and unconsciously leaned forward with the blow Darien punched him in the back of the head and then knees him in the face sending him stumbling back before he fell on his back.

He looked a bit disgruntled as he opened his eyes, but that wasn't surprising. If Darien had to guess Yusuke was used to winning, but Darien was essentially a trained soldier. It would take more than a brawler to beat him.

"You know, if you do decide to continue your schooling you could study business." He suggested conversationally as if he hadn't just knocked the younger guy around. "It would help you with the financial and possibly the marketing side of running a dojo. A friend of mine is doing so since he wants to open his own company."

"I'll think about it." Yusuke said as he got to his feet.

"Please do. Perhaps you can speak to Keiko about it at some point for a second opinion." He suggested as well, feeling like he needed a bit of direction.

Yusuke had potential. He was smart since he knew the school he was currently going to was a university preparatory school. That on top of dating his girlfriend, who was smart herself and likely needed intellectual conversation, showed that he could be serious about his education if he wanted to. Beyond that he thought it was a good goal to open his own dojo; especially with his interest in fighting.

Yusuke nodded before he suddenly dashed toward him. Darien decided to follow suit, and the two exchanged and blocked punches and kicks of various kinds. Yusuke was moving around furiously yet focused while Darien remained calm yet equally if not more focused since he needed to moderate his strength during the fight.

Despite his furious movements Yusuke was frustrated and yet excited that he wasn't landing a single hit. It had been a long time since he had come across someone who could stand up to him and best him. He respected him for that, and already anticipated fighting him again after today.

Keiko and Serena looked away from the guys, leaving them to their fighting, and focused on each other.

"So what do you want to do while the guys are fighting?" Serena asked as she plopped down on the blanket and grabbed a cherry.

"I brought the rackets and birdie for badminton." Keiko said as she reached into her tote bag for the items. "We don't have a net, but I thought it would still be a fun game and something to do."

"Let's do it! I play it sometimes in gym class, and I like it." Serena said cheerfully. This could actually be a form of training for my hand eye coordination. She thought, happy that she was secretly getting in a little training during this casual date.

Keiko handed Serena one of the rackets and they both got up and moved off to the side and away from where the guys were sparring.

"So what do you think of him?" Serena asked as they walked.

"I like him." Keiko answered easily. "He's just as you described before, and very respectful and polite. I also like that he's taking the time to get to know me and Yusuke."

"Yeah I like that about him too." Serena said. "He did the same thing with Kagome and her boyfriend, and Molly and Mina. He takes it seriously when I introduce him to my friends."

"Is he the same with your family?" Keiko asked curiously.

"He asked all about them, and I've had no problem telling him." Serena replied. "He's met my parents but not my brother. My mom likes him, and my dad is acting like he's the worse thing that's ever happened to me." She said as she rolled her eyes.

"Let me guess. No boy is good enough for his little girl." Keiko said knowingly.

"Exactly. Although, he hasn't said that; at least not to me." Serena said.

"My dad's the same way even though he's known Yusuke for years." Keiko said as she rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Well, soon we'll be in university, and we at least won't have to see their reaction to our guys regularly." Serena said optimistically.

"True." Keiko agreed as she nodded.

Deciding they were far enough from the guys not to get in their way the two girl friend's distanced themselves from each other slightly and began to hit the white birdie back and forth to each other. They started off simple and slow before they began to pick up speed and hit harder to the point where they felt almost like they were playing tennis.

oOo

At the same time Serena was on her double date with her friend and her boyfriend Susanna, Lita, Amy, and Raye were all hanging out together at Raye's house.

Mina and Serena had been invited, but both had plans already. Mina had a mandatory volleyball game she had to play in, and Serena was going on a double date with one of her friends and her boyfriend.

"Serena and Mina should be here." Amy said, not particularly happy that neither one of them were there to spend time with their princess and getting to know her.

"They already had plans." Lita said with a sigh. "Mina had a game she had to play if she wanted to stay on the school team, and was Serena supposed to cancel her plans?"

"Yes! It's just a date." Amy said with a slightly disgruntled frown.

"Does that mean if we have plans and a little get together is decided on after the fact by some of us, not a meeting, but just a get together to hangout then we're supposed to instantly cancel them?" Lita asked with a frown.

She thought all of them, their princess included, were only here because they didn't have anything planned for the day or at least this time of day.

Susanna listened on and watched warily. She certainly wouldn't be here on a Saturday where the weather was great if she had other plans. She likely would have made up an excuse anyway, but she had thought Serena would be here, and she could once again try and get her to leave her boyfriend so she could have him.

"No." Amy said as she shook her head slightly. "But Serena could have rescheduled; or better yet just breakup with him so Susanna could have him."

"Or have him until the Earth Prince comes along." Raye added idly.

"Tell me more about this prince." Susanna suddenly said, wanting to know more about this royal guy. "What did he look like?" She asked as she looked around at them.

"I haven't remembered anything yet." Lita said with a shrug, although she was curious to know too.

"He was actually attractive." Raye admitted. "He had short black hair and blue eyes. I don't know if he was tall since the memory I saw him in he was seated, but he likely was. He also wore a dark uniform, armor, a sword, and a black and red cape."

"I haven't seen him in any memory yet. Just memories mentioning him. That's how I know Serena's past self was seeing the prince." Amy said. "Admittedly, from what I have remembered, the prince is the one who always approached her, and your past self had not ever met him."

"Yes. I remember that as well." Raye said as she remembered back on a fairly recent memory she had dreamed about. "You would sneak down to the Earth and watch him when he was sitting in a garden."

"Too shy to approach, and being handsome probably didn't help." Lita commented as she leaned her chin on her hand.

Raye simply nodded, keeping her thoughts on how the princess had looked like she was stalking him to herself.

"We all seem to look like we did in the past, so I know I haven't come across him yet." Raye added.

"Really?! I look exactly as I did in the past?" Susanna said in surprise.

"Well, you do aside from your hair color and hair style. In the past your hair was moonlight colored, and in the same style Serena wears hers now." Raye said, and the princess frowned.

"Why does she wear her hair like my past style? When did that start?" Susanna asked. Was Serena trying to copy her?

"She's been wearing her hair that way since I met her, even before that since I remember seeing her around school, and she wore it that way in the past as well." Amy said.

Susanna nodded and relaxed at that. There was probably a reason she wore it that way in the past and it carried over to the present.

So back to the prince. She thought, switching up the subject in her mind. He sounds cute, kind of like the cutie Serena's dating, and Raye's right. He probably was tall, which would have only added to his appeal.

"I suppose none of you remember having met and talked to him yet?" She half said half asked.

"No." Amy said as she shook her head along with Raye and Lita.

"I don't know about Mina or Serena, but Serena likely has remembered something." Raye said, remembering how she had told them the princess seemed to have been obsessed with the prince.

Maybe she was right about that. She thought. After all, stalking did go hand in hand with obsession. But then again maybe she just had a serious crush on him and couldn't get up the nerve to talk to him. At least before he approached Serena's past self.

"Yeah. She only speaks about what she remembers if there are details we need to know." Amy said.

"Looks like you'll have to ask her." Lita said as she looked to their princess. She wondered how that would go with her having already tried to demand she break up with her boyfriend.

The prince was a past relationship so she didn't think Serena would mind on that account, but the princess had already made her interest in her boyfriend clear so Serena might not be willing to answer.

Which brings to mind how much we're supposed to answer to Susanna. Lita wondered. She was their princess and they were supposed to protect her, but she was not a recognized royal in this life outside of their group, so could she really tell them what to do? Could she order them around?

Luna and Artemis gave us our transformation pens so she couldn't take that ability away from us. Or can she? She considered thoughtfully. They were her protectors after all. If she didn't want them or they turned on her then she had to have the ability to take away their power or suppress it or something. Right?

If she can't then the only thing keeping us loyal to her to want to protect her and comply with her words is our own free will. She thought.

"Then I'll ask her." Susanna said firmly. She wanted to know more about the prince, and since it sounded like Serena's past self wasn't supposed to be with him she shouldn't have a problem giving her the details she wanted.

Especially since she has a boyfriend now. She won't care about the prince this time. She thought, pushing from her mind for the moment the fact that she was trying to get Serena's boyfriend for herself.

"So do any of you remember what I wore back then?" She asked as she looked at them since she knew she couldn't get any more useful information on the prince from them.

"A white silk dress with an elaborate fitted bust and a large sheer bow on the back with the ribbons trailing down, off the shoulder puffs that sat on your upper arms that matched and lined up perfectly with the bust, and white high heel shoes." Raye answered as she thought back to the memory of her watching the Earth Prince.

"Any jewelry?" Susanna asked as she pictured that outfit with Serena's hair style in moonlight instead of blonde.

"Um…gold dangling earrings and a string of pearls around your wrist." Raye described.

Susanna hummed and nodded. She could see herself wearing that dress with that type of jewelry. It sounded royal to her.

But I wish I could remember it. If it was really good I can have it made. She thought as she played with a strip of her hair. The shoes too. She thought as she wondered what else she could ask.

oOoIRoOo

Neflite shifted his covers around him with a sigh early Sunday morning as he idly looked around the dark hospital room he was still in. He had been able to think during the day, but late night and early morning was really the only time he could think uninterrupted. Thankfully he would be going home tomorrow, or rather in a few hours, so he wouldn't have to worry about it after tonight.

It had been a few days since he had been freed from the Dark Kingdom and spoken to his prince, but he was still reacting to the things he had learned. Not only was he horrified; he had started to feel angry.

The Moon Princess had been responsible for cutting their lives short. For cutting off his time with his friends. He had still been close with Endymion, at least until he had been brainwashed, and his fellow generals, but it had been different. They hadn't been as friendly; had been more like close companions and close charge instead of fellow soldiers and friends.

And with Serenity that had been gone entirely. He had known of her as Sailor Moon, but it hadn't been anything more than knowledge that she was one of the guardians to the Moon Princess and the woman his prince was strangely courting.

Serenity had simply no longer existed. Their friend, their fellow soldier, their Lady Earth had been taken from them. And they had been taken from her as well!

And it was even worse to know that her identity had been taken from her. She had always believed that she had been born and raised on the Moon, and been chosen, selected, or however it happened to be Sailor Moon and guardian to the Moon Princess.

She had not remembered any of them except as the prince of the Earth and his Guardian Generals, and like nearly everyone else she had memories of Endymion being a few step below being a womanizer.

It angered him that Serenity had those memories, and that she had been taken, stolen, from her destiny as guardian of a planet to being one of five guardians to a spoiled princess; and worse, to be her protective double.

He remembered her hair being styled like the royalty of the Moon, and now he knew it was clearly so she could be comfortable and used to the style, and more easily change her overall appearance to look as close to the princess as she could if it became necessary.

Necessary in that if the princess was in danger of being kidnapped, physically assaulted, or even sexually assaulted Serenity would be ready to take her place before it could happen.

Had she been trained for such occasions?! He wondered in angry horror.

Neflite frowned as he also considered the other ramifications of what the princess had done to Serenity. She had erased the position of Sailor Earth altogether. The Earth had been without her guardian, and because of that evil had been allowed to come secret itself away and corrupt her citizens. Because it had to be an evil influence that could alter his mind, and that of his fellow generals the way they had been.

And it has to be the same evil that's in the Dark Kingdom now, because my fellow generals and I were found and brainwashed yet again. He thought.

Now it all seemed to be steadily on its way to coming to a head. The Dark Kingdom was active again, and trying to obtain human energy. Beryl had kidnapped and brainwashed him and his fellow generals to force them to once again do her bidding, she once again wanted Serenity and the Moon Princess dead, and likely still wanted Endymion for herself.

The Guardian Scouts were all active and likely becoming aware of the changed past, the Moon Princess had been found but didn't yet remember anything from the past as far as he was aware, and Serenity was steadily remembering both versions of the past.

And in addition to that Sailor Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto remember everything from the past, and have given their loyalty to Endymion and Serenity. They have even given clear proof of that by helping to free me. He thought, which he very much approved of.

He was very much hoping his fellow generals could be freed before they were killed, because he knew from experience that just because Serenity didn't yet remember that she was Sailor Earth she was still a strong serious fighter, and intent on defeating them permanently every time she faced them.

Looking back on his last fight with Endymion he knew his prince had been content to drive him away, but he also knew that would not be the case going forward if Serenity was in danger, which she was since the Generals all had standing orders to kill her.

If he sees that she's in serious danger of being hurt or killed then he will do the same to Jedite, Malachite, and Zoycite. Serenity is his priority, after all, being his soulmate, so it's a good thing Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus are trying to help. Otherwise Endymion might not have all of his guardians. He thought.

Suddenly there was a flash of golden light at the side of his bed, out of sight of the window and the door, and when it cleared his prince was standing there looking comfortable in a t-shirt and a pair of sweatpants.

"Endymion!" Neflite said in surprise as his eyes widened. "I mean Darien."

"Good evening Nicolas." Darien said with a slight smile. "Or perhaps I should say good morning given the time."

"That would be appropriate." Neflite agreed since it was just after one in the morning.

"How are you doing?" Darien asked as he sat in the chair that was clearly available for a visitor to sit in.

"I'm doing good, very good." Neflite answered. "They're actually releasing me tomorrow; or rather in a few hours." He added with grin.

"Excellent." Darien said as he nodded. "It has only been nearly a week, so hopefully that will be the time frame for the others once they are freed. Or lesser time."

"Any news with them yet?" Neflite asked.

"No. Unfortunately nothing yet." Darien answered with a light sigh. "However, I do have other pieces of news."

"Oh let's hear it." Neflite said as he made himself more comfortable.

"So the Moon Princess has apparently seen me and is already after me, and that without even remembering who I really am." Darien said.

"Really?!" Neflite said in surprise.

"Yes. We've concluded that she must have seen me when Serenity and I were together at a cafe we spend time at." Darien said. "Apparently she wanted my Serenity to introduce her to me, and then breakup with me so she could have me instead."

"Unbelievable." Neflite said in disbelief. "Has she been told about you from the past?"

"She has by Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars." Darien answered. "Apparently those two have strong opinions when it comes me in the past and present. Mercury had originally believed Serenity would dump me when my past self showed up, depriving the princess of me again apparently, and now she thinks Serenity should do what the princess wants just because she is their princess."

"Mars believes she should give me up so the princess could have her pick between my present and past selves since Serenity had deprived her of my past self." He continued.

"What of the other two guardian scouts?" Neflite asked curiously.

"Sailor Venus was just as incredulous as Serenity, and apparently Sailor Jupiter had no opinion at the time." Darien answered.

"How did Serenity respond?" Neflite asked.

"She told the girl she wasn't going to breakup with me just because she was attracted to me. She wasn't going to let the spoiled girl make demands like that, and also because she thought the princess would eventually dump me for my past self if she actually did do what the girl wanted." Darien said.

"Then she let loose some of her anger on Mars because of what she said and informed her, and the others since it was a meeting, that she had not deprived the princess of anything, and that my past self had approached her with the full knowledge of the princess' feelings for me." He continued.

"She further said they acted like my past self didn't have a mind of my own and couldn't make my own choices and decisions, and that she couldn't help that my past self wasn't infatuated with the princess just because she felt that way about my past self." He finished.

"Wow." Neflite said as he shook his head. "At least she's not willing to roll over for the princess just because she believes she's supposed to protect her."

"Oh I had helped her clear up her thoughts on that before the princess was found." Darien said. "I told her to remember that she was only supposed to protect her physically, and not do what the girl wants when she wants and however she wants. I hated to say it since she's not even supposed to protect her, but for Serenity's current understanding I had to say it."

"I understand." Neflite said as he nodded. "So Serenity is definitely not forging an attachment to the Moon Princess."

"Definitely not." Darien said firmly. "That girl has already gotten on her bad side, and I get the sense that she is just as spoiled and entitled as she was in the past."

"Well I hope I never have to see the princess." Neflite said seriously. "Glimpses of her in the past, regardless of which version you go by, were more than enough."

"I agree. I was upset at having to see her when she was first found. I am hoping I never see her again, but I know that it will likely happen since she has taken a liking to me. And if she is at all like she was in the past she might try to stalk me if I give her the opportunity." Darien said unhappily, and Neflite nodded.

"Moving away from that, Serenity has remembered my golden crystal." He revealed with a light smile, still pleased about that.

"Really?" Neflite said.

"Yes. She said it came to her like her instinctive knowledge of her weapons. It flowed with her thoughts when she was thinking of something like it was knowledge she already had." Darien said.

"That's good news. Another piece of knowledge remembered; another piece to add to the rest." Neflite said as he nodded.

"Yes. Darien agreed. "Beyond that I made her a bow and arrow set. I wanted her to have it, to go along with her sword and spear, but I also hoped using it would help trigger more memories."

"So it matches her Sailor Earth uniform?" Neflite asked.

"It does." Darien answered. "It is in her colors and has the secondary and primary Earth symbols on the bow and quiver."

"Do you think she'll use them as the scout she is now?" Neflite asked.

"No." Darien answered. "I don't think she'll want to explain why they are littered with the Earth's symbols instead of the Moon's, and likely wouldn't want to have to tell them that I gave them to her just in case it leads into other questions."

Questions like why would he give her a weapon, why it had Earth symbols on it instead of Moon symbols or why it had symbols at all, or how long had she known how to use a bow, because I have no doubt it is not the type she could carry around during her civilian life or use in a competition. Neflite thought as he nodded.

"Now that you have had time to think about everything do you have any questions?" Darien asked after a few minutes of silence.

"No. Not really." Neflite answered. "I've just been horrified and angry about what happened in the past, and what's been happening now. You know with being kidnapped and brainwashed, Serenity still being a guardian to the Moon Princess, the princess being found."

"What in the world are they going to do with her? Are they just going to be guarding her?" He wondered. "It's not like in the past where she was to become Queen of the Moon. That can't happen now even with her having the silver crystal. Can it?"

"I imagine she could try to make that happen after she remembers the past, if she remembers it." Darien answered thoughtfully. "However, as we have learned from the past she does not know how to use the crystal properly. Should she attempt such a thing she is liable to kill herself in the process."

Neflite nodded and considered how that would not be such a bad thing. It may be callous to think that way, but it would solve the problem of her existence, because he believed she was a problem or would become one given enough time.

Especially once she has the silver crystal in her possession. He thought with a frown.

"What do you plan to do about her?" He asked seriously, certain his prince had considered the same thing he just had.

"I am not yet certain." Darien answered with a light sigh. "I would like to wait until Serenity fully remembers herself before deciding so that she can participate in the decision planning. Although, I do not anticipate having to do anything about her at least until the Dark Kingdom has been wiped out."

"That makes sense." Neflite said as he nodded. "What will happen now with me and the others if they're able to be freed? I know I'm going to be training once I leave here, but aside from that."

"You will resume your duty as one of my Guardian Generals, and you will fight with me and Serenity to protect the Earth." Darien said firmly. "Although, I do not want you or the others out fighting until Serenity fully remembers who she really is. That way there will be no confusion on her part or danger to anyone should she feel the need to attack who she believes is her enemy."

Neflite nodded seriously in understanding. The last thing he wanted was to seriously fight against Serenity now that he remembered everything.

"What will you do if the other guys aren't freed in time?" He asked.

"I..am not sure." Darien admitted. "If that should happen I may need to find replacements for whoever does not make it."

Neflite immediately wondered who Endymion would pick as those replacements since he knew for sure that he would be working with said replacements being the only guardian general currently free.

"So what's the overall plan now that we're in this modern time and remembering?" He asked. "In the past you were to be King and be married." He added, wondering if such a thing could still happen. Obviously he could be married, likely would once he and Serenity were ready, but there was no longer a kingdom ruling over all of the Earth.

"I will marry Serenity as soon as we are able. Beyond that I fully intend on bringing my kingdom back, and fulfilling my destiny and birthright by becoming King." Darien said seriously. "You and the others, should they survive, will continue to be my Guardian Generals, Serenity will be my Queen, and Sailor's Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus will be her scouts to do with as she pleases."

Neflite nodded thoughtfully. So if the others managed to stay alive then it would be the four of them as it had been in the past plus three sailor scouts. He wondered if Serenity would assign the three scouts as her guardians or to some other role.

Of course it didn't even occur to him to doubt his prince. Endymion would bring the Golden Kingdom back, and he would be there to help in any way he needed him to.

"Understood." He said firmly with a sharp nod. "So let's talk about ourselves. I need to get to know you in this life. How old are you? I'm twenty."

"I am twenty one." Darien answered easily.

"Who are your friends?" Neflite asked. He figured he should know about them if his prince planned to have them in his life.

"Well, there is my best friend Andrew Foreman. He's my age and we go to the same school, K.O. University. When he's not in school he works at the place Serenity and I like to hang out at after she gets out of school." Darien said.

"What's the place?" Neflite asked.

"It's an arcade with a cafe above it. We usually spend time in the cafe portion." Darien answered, and Neflite nodded. "What you really need to know is that I told him the truth about me and therefore all of us."

"Oh really?" Neflite said as his eyes widened in surprise. "What made you do that?"

"Andrew, being my best friend, knew me better than anyone, so I knew he would noticed the differences in me after my memories returned. Beyond that I wanted to keep him as my best friend, and I knew that wouldn't happen if I put distance between us and kept half my life a secret." Darien explained.

Neflite nodded. That made sense to him, and if his best friend was trustworthy then he saw no problem with it.

"When I did tell him I also decided to eventually tell any new friend I made since if I was bothering to make friends they would be lifelong friends, and would need to know in order to remain in my life given my goal to bring my kingdom back." Darien added seriously.

"And have you?" Neflite asked curiously.

"I have not." He said as he shook his head slightly. "I have made two other friends. Sesshomaru Taisho and Itachi Uchiha. Both go to my school. Itachi is nineteen and we have a couple of classes together. He's quiet and observant and I like him. Sesshomaru is the same, which is why I like him. He's twenty two, and I met him through Serenity. He's actually dating one of her friends."

"Have I even told you Serenity's present name?" He asked suddenly.

"No actually." Neflite said with a raised eyebrow.

"I am sorry." Darien said as he shook his head slightly in bemusement. "I simply like being able to refer to her as Serenity whenever I can since I have to hold back when I am with her. Her name is Serena Tsukino."

"Serena. Very close to Serenity." Neflite said.

"True. Sometimes I have to think before I speak, so I do not call her by her past name by accident." He said.

"So do you think you'll tell those two the truth sometime soon?" Neflite asked.

"I believe so, but not yet." Darien answered. "I need to observe and spend some more time with them before I decide when the time is right."

"Understandable." Neflite said as he nodded. "Have you met all of her friends yet?"

"Yes actually." He said. "She introduced me to her best friend, a girl named Molly who goes to her school. Then there's another girl, a friend named Kagome, she's the one dating Sesshomaru, and then later on she introduced me to Sailor Venus' reincarnation, a girl named Mina."

"And she knew this girl was Venus' reincarnation by this time?" Neflite asked.

"Yes. This was after Venus had been awakened, so it is actually possible that she might have recognized me for who I am if she has started to remember the past." Darien said.

"That introduction actually proved to me that she plans to continue her friendship with her from the past even though she doesn't remember yet, because she only seemed to be introducing me to her close friends. Meaning she hasn't even mentioned the reincarnations of Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter. She has only mentioned them in their role as scouts." He explained.

"It sounds like she doesn't get along with them." Neflite said.

"I do not believe she does, and I certainly have not encouraged it or been inquisitive about them." Darien said, and the general nodded. "Only yesterday she introduced me to her last friend, a girl named Keiko. All the girls except Mina are her longtime friends and have known each other, and all of the girls are the same age."

"Which is?" Neflite asked.

"Seventeen." Darien answered.

"Do all of her friends go to the same school?" Neflite asked.

"No. Only Molly and Mina go to school with her. Kagome and Keiko go to two different schools." Darien explained.

"So they're all set to graduate this year judging by their age." Neflite commented.

"Yes, and Serena and I are hoping she will get accepted into my school so we can spend a bit more time together." Darien said.

"Do you think she'll get in?" Neflite asked.

"I certainly hope so, but I do not know for sure." Darien said. "I recently took her on a tour of the campus, and she really liked what she saw. I have been tempted to make sure she gets in, but I do not want her to think she was not accepted on her own merit."

The general understood his prince meant that he would use his crystal to influence things with the application process to ensure she got into the school, but he could see how she might not be pleased about that once she found out.

But if she knew… He considered.

"What about after she remembers?" He asked. "Then she might be okay with it."

"That is certainly an option, but the problem with that is that she might not remember in time. She could be accepted or rejected in the time before she remembers." Darien said, and Neflite nodded.

"What about you? Did you have friends before the Dark Kingdom came along or a girlfriend?" He asked.

"I didn't have a girlfriend at the time, and I definitely had friends, but of course they've likely all moved on with their lives." Neflite said with a sigh. "Plus, now that I remember the past it's probably for the best."

"I'll introduce you to my friends. At least with Andrew you can be your complete self." Darien said. "Oh, I forgot to mention Amara and Michelle. Amara is Sailor Uranus and Michelle is Sailor Neptune. And Trista; she's Sailor Pluto. I'll introduce you to them as soon as I can, and you'll be able to talk to Amara and Michelle openly as well."

"I appreciate that." Neflite said.

"Did you have any plans for school or work before you were attacked?" Darien asked.

"I had been set to go to a university, but obviously that acceptance would be void and that spot gone to someone else." Neflite said, and his prince nodded his understanding.

"Do you still want to go to school?" Darien asked.

"I do actually, but I'm not looking forward to the application process." Neflite said. "Do you think it'll be difficult for me with my circumstance?"

"No I don't think it will be." Darien said thoughtfully. "You were finished with high school, and not much has changed in two years. I would think all you need to do is apply, and be truthful about your circumstances if it is asked."

Neflite nodded. "Then I guess along with training I'll start looking up schools." He said with a shrug. And maybe rethink my major. He thought since before he had been strongly considering astronomy.

"So do you have anything interesting going on?" He asked, changing the subject.

"Yes. I have an upcoming formal date with Serena." Darien said, and then took the time to happily explain where he was going to take her and what color he had asked her to wear and the jewelry he had recently gotten her and couldn't wait to see on her.

Then he went on to explain about the double camping date they had planned to go on with Sesshomaru and Kagome hopefully next weekend, and how it was still in the planning stages but he already couldn't wait for it.

oOoIRoOo

Sailor Jupiter knelt on the ground in one of the gardens behind the Moon Palace as she planted some flowers. She was unconcerned about getting her gloves dirty since she knew a quick release of her transformation and transforming again would have her as pristine as before.

She glanced up idly and did a light double take as she spotted Sailor Moon walking a dozen or so feet away from her side by side with a man she easily recognized as the prince of the Earth. She had had no idea her fellow scout even knew him.

At the distance they were walking at she couldn't hear what they were saying to each other, but she noticed that the prince looked happier than she had heard he had been in a while.

Rumor had it that he had been unhappy and depressed, but also that he was very familiar with many ladies and didn't stick with only one.

That last part made her wonder why her princess even liked him, but she supposed Selene was attracted to his physical appearance. It probably helped that he was a prince as well; her equal so to speak. Maybe she even thought she could change him.

That salient fact also made her wonder why Sailor Moon was hanging around him. She hadn't heard her mention him or any guy for that matter. She was always reading or training, and didn't want to be bothered with much of anything else outside her duties.

Of course none of them could mention any guys or rather have any kind of meaningful relationship with a guy since they were meant to be lifetime guardians to Selene. Men didn't fit into that simple equation.

Maybe Sailor Moon was just passing some time with him. It was always possible, but then again her fellow scout didn't have the personality to do that. She would not pursue a relationship or even a flirtation if it was not going to go anywhere. She would see that as pointless and a waste of her time. Not to mention there was the potential of getting her feelings hurt. Why chance that?

Perhaps the prince was not giving her an option. He could be being stubborn and wanting what he couldn't have. After all, he did have a reputation as a ladies man. Maybe he saw Sailor Moon as an irresistible target, and found the pursuit all the more exciting for the challenge she represented.

An attractive young woman that was not supposed to be in a relationship because of a lifetime commitment to another.

But if that was the case what was Sailor Moon thinking? To be spending time with him? She knew nothing long lasting could happen with him, and the prince should know that as well. If she recalled correctly he had protective guardians as well, and she was sure they couldn't be in relationships either. He had to know his interest, if that's what it was, was pointless.

---

Lita's eyes snapped open and she blinked rapidly as she looked around her room. She was not in a garden behind a palace with a black starlight sky above her, and one of her fellow scouts and a prince casually walking near her.

I'm in my bedroom alone, and it's bright outside. She thought as she squinted toward her window to see sunlight coming through.

So that's the prince everyone seems to have remembered. She thought as she sat up and leaned back against her pillow. Or at least everyone aside from Artemis, Luna, and Susanna. And I suppose Amy as well since she said she hadn't seen him in any memory yet, just heard him mentioned.

She could admit that he was attractive with his tall figure and dark looks, so she could understand why the princess had liked him back then.

And with his commanding figure I wonder if Serena's past self was unable to say no to him. She wondered. He was a prince after all, and not just any prince but the heir to a planet. He was probably used to getting what he wanted, and didn't expect to be rejected or denied.

And the reputation of a ladies man! Lita thought incredulously. No one has mentioned that so far. If he had such a reputation why in the world would the princess want him, and why would Serena's past self even get in a relationship with him? She wondered in bewilderment.

But apparently her past self had also wondered about those very same things, and she didn't yet remember if she had found the answer to those questions.

Could the reputation be fake and nothing but rumor? She wondered thoughtfully, looking for some kind of explanation. Then again how well did my past self know Serena's past self to judge why she would be with a guy if he truly had that reputation even if he was a prince?

Her past self seemed to only know her enough to know that she was only into reading and training. She didn't even know if Serena was like that now. None of them trained. Well, she didn't train. She didn't know if the others trained since no one had mentioned it.

Were we even friends? Were any of us friends or just coworkers that got along for the sake of doing our duty? She wondered. It would make since if they at least tried to get along since they would be working together for the Moon Princess' lifetime if her memory dream was to be believed.

Lita sighed and ran her fingers through her loose hair.

Should I tell the others about this memory? She wondered. I'm sure Susanna at least will want to know about the prince's description.

After all, she had gotten a good look at him in the memory, and he was just as Raye had described him. Short black hair, blue eyes, and he was definitely tall. He had on a dark blue uniform and tall black boots, armor, sword, and the black and red cape Raye had mentioned.

He had definitely looked confident and commanding with the way he held himself.

I'll tell Susanna the next time I see her. She thought, since she didn't see the reincarnated princess every day. Now what to do with the day ahead? Hmm..I'll stay in and do the last of my homework so I don't have to scramble to finish it tonight for school tomorrow.

With that decision made she got up from her bed and headed for the bathroom to refresh herself and make herself ready for the day.

oOo

Meanwhile, Serena walked down the sidewalk, having just got off the bus, on her way to Kagome's house.

She had called her friend the day before and asked if she was free, and told her that Darien had given her a bow and arrows as a gift that day. Kagome was free and all for practicing together, and couldn't wait to see what her bow looked like.

So here she was walking, her bow and quiver of arrows in a large duffel bag so they wouldn't get damaged while she was traveling since she didn't have a proper case for them. She was excited to use it and really see how it worked aside from the small test she had done yesterday evening in her backyard.

I wonder if I'll remember anything while using it. She thought, considering what happened the first time she had used Kagome's bow. Nothing had come to her while she was toying with her own new bow, but that didn't mean she wouldn't remember anything new.

A few minutes later Serena reached the long set of stairs leading up to the Sunset Shrine and began to jog up them, her duffel bag bouncing slightly against her hip. Once she reached the top she walked across the grounds, idly looking at the few people there to visit as she passed by, and knocked on the door as she reached the house.

A few long moments later it was opened by an older woman with short hair.

"Hi Mrs. Higurashi." Serena greeted. "Is Kagome here?" She asked.

"Oh yes. She's out back." Mrs. Higurashi said.

"Okay. Thank you." She replied as she stepped back. "I'll head over there now."

"Alright. You two have a good time." Mrs. Higurashi said.

"We will." Serena said before she waved and headed for the back of the house.

As she turned at the corner of the house she immediately spotted her friend holding her bow and aiming an arrow at a tree with a target attached. She could tell even from her distance that it was a real arrow, just as she had used back during their camping trip, and not a ceremonial one.

"Kagome!" She called after her friend released the arrow, and watched her turn and smile at her.

"Serena!" Kagome called as she moved toward her. "I'm glad you were able to make it."

"Me too." Serena said as they stopped in front of each other.

"Alright! Let's see it." Kagome said excitedly. "I've been trying to imagine what it looked like since you called."

"Well, let's not keep you waiting any longer." Serena said as she lifted the strap of her duffel bag over her head and knelt down as she placed it on the ground. She unzipped it and carefully pulled out the bow and heard Kagome gasp.

"It's beautiful." Kagome said as she knelt down to get a better look.

"Here." Serena said as she handed her the bow, and watched her take it and put her own bow down.

"I love the colors." Kagome said as she turned the bow this way and that way.

"Me too. They're so vibrant." Serena said as she pulled out her quiver with her arrows in it.

"Ooh! And matching quiver and arrows too." Kagome said as she looked at the items.

"Yes! Darien was very thorough in his gift." Serena said as she swung the strap of her quiver over her head and tossed her duffel bag aside.

She took her bow back and Kagome picked up hers, and they moved to where Kagome had been standing when she arrived. They both stood side by side holding their bow with their quivers on. Kagome had hers on her right shoulder, and Serena had hers slung across her back so the feathers reached her right shoulder.

"Let's see what it can do." Kagome said excitedly.

Serena nodded just as excited, and pulled an arrow from over her shoulder before she notched it against the string. She pulled back on the string even as she shifted into a stance, that she could feel was perfect, and aimed at the target that her friend had been using. She released the arrow and they watched it streak through the air and hit just off the center of the target.

"Not bad." Kagome said as she nodded.

"Yeah." Serena agreed. "Your turn." She added, and watched Kagome nod and take her stance.

"So Sesshomaru and I are both free next weekend to go camping." Kagome said as she pulled an arrow and notched it.

"Oh! Me and Darien too." Serena replied as she watched her aim her arrow. "Now we just have to figure out where we can go. Do we want to go to a cabin like last time or rough it in a tint and sleeping bags around an open fire?"

"We did the cabin last time." Kagome said before she released her arrow. "Let's rough it this time. I could use some snuggling in a sleeping bag with Sesshomaru, and cooking over an open fire should be interesting."

"Very interesting." Serena agreed as she pulled an arrow. "Let's hope we don't burn the area down."

"Yeah." Kagome agreed as she watched her notch and aim her arrow. "Now where exactly are we going to rough it?"

"I don't know. Maybe we should have the guys pick." Serena said before she released her arrow.

"Then I'll let Sesshomaru know and he and Darien can talk it over." Kagome said as they watched her arrow move through the air and hit the target.

"Alright. I'll give Darien a heads up when I get home." Serena said as she nodded. "So, Darien took me on a tour of K.O. University on Friday."

"Oh really?! I hadn't even thought of going on a tour!" Kagome said as she was in the middle of pulling an arrow from her quiver.

"Yeah. It looks really good." Serena said as she watched her. "They have a campus bookstore where you buy your textbooks and even sell them back when you're done with them. They have paper, pens, and pencils. You know, all the essential school things."

"It also had a clothes section with shirts, sweaters, and sweatpants with the school name and mascot on them." She added.

"I would get that just to show off that I made it into the school." Kagome said as she notched her arrow and pulled back on the string as she aimed it.

"I told Darien something similar." Serena said in slight amusement. "He showed me the cafeteria, which was like what we're used to but they also had small areas where you could buy meals from fast food restaurants and diners. It actually reminded me more of a food court at a mall."

"That sounds cool." Kagome said before she released her arrow.

"He also showed me the student union, which he said was a place for students to hang out at and buy snacks and other things without leaving campus, and meet for important matters." Serena said as she pulled an arrow from her quiver.

"He pointed out where the library was and the dorms, the gymnasium where the basketball and volleyball games were held, the swimming pool where the school team practiced and had swim meets, and a few other buildings as we walked around." She continued as she notched her arrow and pulled back on the bow string as she aimed her arrow.

"Were you able to go inside the dorms?" Kagome asked as she looked from the bow in her friend's hands to the target and back again.

"No." Serena said before she released her arrow. "Only students who live there have access, but from the outside I saw that they were almost like high rise apartments and had small windows that didn't look like they opened wide enough; at least for my tastes."

"Hmm…maybe Sesshomaru knows someone living there." Kagome said thoughtfully.

"Darien didn't. Everyone he knows lives off campus." Serena said as she lowered her bow and relaxed her arms.

"You didn't go into the library did you?" Kagome asked as she pulled out an arrow and began to take her stance.

"No. He just pointed out the building and I didn't feel the need to go inside." Serena said. "Looking back on it now I can say another reason is so I can have something new to see if I get accepted."

"That's understandable." Kagome said as she notched her arrow against the string and lifted her bow.

"Since I just mentioned the possibility of not getting into the school have you applied to other schools?" Serena asked curiously.

"I'm in the middle of applying to another school after having finished my application to K.O. University." Kagome answered as she aimed her arrow.

"I hadn't even thought about it until Darien was giving me that tour." Serena said with a light sigh as she watched her friend release her arrow. "He helped me look for different schools, and I've decided to apply to almost all of the ones that made our short list. I'm really hoping they won't be necessary and I'll get into K.O. but I need to be responsible and have options."

"I feel the same way." Kagome said as she nodded, watching her arrow move through the air. "And don't feel bad about not thinking about having options. It hadn't occurred to me at all. Sesshomaru suggested it after I told him I had sent in my application to K.O.."

"I guess that just means we really want to go to K.O. and nowhere else." Serena said with a shrug as she pulled an arrow from her quiver.

"We're optimistic and have our eyes on the prize!" Kagome said in amusement as she watched Serena notch her arrow.

"A good school, and more time with our guys!" Serena said as she lifted her bow and aimed her arrow.

"Yeah!" Kagome exclaimed before dissolving into giggles.

It was contagious and Serena quickly lowered her bow and the arrow so she didn't accidentally release it and hurt someone.

After their laughter tapered off Serena once again lifted her bow and pulled back on the string as she aimed her arrow at the target. After a few quiet moments she released it and watched it streak through their air and slam into the target just off from the center.

"So do you have anything interesting going on this week?" Kagome asked as she pulled out an arrow.

"Oh! I have a formal date tomorrow." Serena said with a grin.

"Do you know where you're going?" Kagome asked curiously as she notched her arrow against the string.

"I only know that it's going to be either a play or an opera singer performance." Serena answered.

"Do you know what you're going to wear?" Kagome asked.

"Yes." Serena said as she nodded. "Darien requested that I wear blue, and I managed to find a dress on Thursday that I like and I really think he's going to like. I'm even going to do my hair differently."

"Do you think you'll take pictures?" Kagome asked as she finally raised her bow and pulled back on the string as she aimed her arrow.

"I hadn't planned on it, but I can." Serena said as she watched her release her arrow.

"Please do. I want to see what you look like." Kagome said.

"Alright. I'll ask my mom to take pictures. I think Darien will like having copies. In fact, he probably would have liked to have pictures from our last formal date with the way he was looking at me." Serena said.

Kagome asked what she wore then, and from there Serena described her attire and the entire date including their first kiss and how romantic it was. Kagome then countered with one of her romantic dates with Sesshomaru, but included how they hadn't gone on a formal date yet which she really wanted.

oOoIRoOo

Monday afternoon found Serena and Darien at the cafe as they usually were sitting at the booth they always sat in. They had been talking since she got there from school, but Serena had been mostly focused on doing her homework so it had been off and on chatting.

She had gotten most of her homework done at school during lunch, and she was determined to get the rest done now so she didn't have to worry about it later. She wanted absolutely no interruptions this evening.

She finished the last sentence of her last piece of homework, and carefully looked it over before shifting her eyes to flicker over her spread papers and books to make sure she was done. When she was sure she smiled widely and threw her hand up in a fist pump.

"All done!" She exclaimed.

"You are sure?" Darien asked, enjoying her excitement.

"Yes." She said with a firm nod and a grin.

"Excellent!" He said with a light smile.

"Do you think it's too early for us to start getting ready?" Serena asked as she began to put her books and papers away.

"Eager are you?" He said as he watched her.

"I can't help it. I can't wait for you to see my dress." She said.

"In that case I can't wait either, so we might as well go and start to get ready." He said as he watched her finish putting everything in her school bag. "At least we will be able to take our time. I certainly want to look my best for you."

Serena blushed and smiled as they began to slide out of their booth, both ignoring the watching eyes of the Moon Princess and her friends. They had been aware of when she had arrived, both having taken their decision to pay closer attention to their surroundings seriously, but hadn't acknowledged her in any way.

They walked toward the door, Darien's hand on the small of her back, and out the cafe and down the stairs. It took only a few short minutes to make it to his car, and they were inside and on their way toward her house.

oOo

Susanna watched Serena and her boyfriend leave their booth seat and walk out of the cafe with jealous eyes.

When she had arrived the couple had already been there, which she hadn't liked. At least she hadn't liked the fact that Serena had been there. They had appeared to simply be hanging out and talking with Serena likely doing her homework, but she still hadn't liked to see them together.

Still she had watched and wondered if the guy spent a lot of time at the cafe, and figured if he did then she could see more of him and talk to him without Serena around.

Yeah. That's right. I need to figure out how to get here quick to spend time with him without her around. I'm sure I can turn his attention to me easily if I just have the chance. She thought as she finally looked away from where they had disappeared out the door.

"What are you going to do about him?" One of her friends asked.

Of course her group of friends was with her as they usually were unless she decided they shouldn't be. She had managed to ditch Raye after they left school when she tried to follow her.

I mean really! I was doing perfectly fine before I met them. I don't think I need protection now just because they suddenly know who I am. She thought with a huff.

"I need to get to him when he's alone." Susanna said. "That way I can talk to him without her getting in the way."

"You're going to try to get with him even though he has a girlfriend already?" Another friend asked.

"Yeah why not?" Susanna said with a shrug. "He's cute and if I can get him interested in me then that just means he's not all that into her anyway."

"He looks older than us." One friend said thoughtfully. "I wonder if he's in high school or university."

"I think he might be older than us." Susanna said thoughtfully. "He definitely looks it."

"What are you going to do if he's not interested in you even if he isn't looking to keep his girlfriend?" One of the previous girl's asked.

"Keep trying until he gives me a chance." Susanna said. "I'm sure when he does he'll see that I'm the only girl for him, and that it was the best decision he ever made."

The girls all nodded, some agreeing with her and the others not willing to openly disagree, and then proceeded to tease her about liking the tall dark haired guy.

oOo

Serena sighed as she gazed out the window. She truly could not wait for their date. Had been happily anxious for it since Darien had first told her that he wanted to take her out on another formal date.

And even better Luna won't be there to nag while I'm getting ready. She thought.

Since the princess had been found Luna had been staying with her, and Serena was perfectly fine with that. Actually hoped she would stay with her permanently since she was supposed to be her guardian and advisor.

I'm actually surprised Artemis hasn't done the same thing. She thought with a mental shrug.

Him she didn't mind staying with her since he didn't nag her and disapprove of the things she did. With Luna she seemed to think she needed to be on her case all the time. Like she wasn't a functioning person before she came along and told her she was a scout.

But today I won't have to deal with her asking why I'm going on my date, where I'm going, if I should really be going on the date? What if there was an attack? Didn't I have homework to do? What if Susanna needed me? She thought as she rolled her eyes slightly.

In the next moment her brow furrowed as dark tendrils teased her mind. She turned her head toward the window at her side, trying to pinpoint what direction the dark energy was coming from, and realized the energy was coming from her right.

"I'm sensing dark energy." Serena said quietly.

"Which direction?" Darien asked looking around to see where he could park.

"To our right." She answered as she mentally traced the dark tendrils of energy.

He turned right at the corner and his eyes flickered around as he looked for an open space to park. On the next block he slid into the first open space he saw, which was halfway along the street.

"If you can't come back to the car with me I'll bring your school bag with me when I come to pick you up." Darien said as he turned the car off and unbuckled his seatbelt.

"Okay." Serena agreed even as she frowned at him while she unbuckled her own seatbelt. It was possible that the other scouts would show up even though she had no intention of contacting them, and she obviously wouldn't be able to leave with him with him being Tuxedo Mask and Raye trying to link them together.

They both got out of the car and closed the doors securely before Serena began to walk down the sidewalk. They had gone to the right, and her senses were still leading her in that direction toward the dark energy so she was looking for a place to transform in that direction.

"Here!" Darien said suddenly before he placed a hand on her arm and guided her into a narrow alley between two tall buildings. There were no windows or cameras making it a good place to transform.

"Let's hurry before someone passes by and sees us." He said quickly.

"Right." Serena said as she blinked and focused outside her senses before she reached up and touched the brooch secured to her uniform top. "Moon Prism Power!" She said seriously, and narrowed her eyes as bright pink light flared from the brooch and surrounded her.

Darien, meanwhile, focused on his masked persona, picturing the mask and tuxedo in his mind, and instantly felt the familiar and welcome warmth of his golden crystal pulse in his chest before he was engulfed in bright golden light.

When the light cleared both of them stood in their secret personas of Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask.

"Come. Let's go deal with this dark problem, so we can go get ready for our date." Darien said seriously; not wanting them to be late for what he had planned.

"Absolutely!" Serena said with a firm nodded. She definitely wanted to get this done as quickly as possible so they could get home and start getting ready.

"Then lead the way my little scout." He said.

Sailor Moon nodded, making the mental switch from her civilian life to her scout life at his affectionate nickname for her, and turned and lead the way out of the narrow alley. She focused on her senses and dashed to the right since her senses were still indicating that was the direction the dark energy was coming from.

They ran down sidewalks, skirting around surprised and shocked people, and dashed across street after street before they made their way up to a rooftop. They traveled from rooftop to rooftop, racing along the flat asphalt surfaces, as they moved closer and closer to the source of the dark energy.

After over ten minutes she slowed to a stop on a rooftop of a four story building, and Tuxedo Mask did the same at her side before they stared at the institution in front of them. From the number of buildings and the look of the place it was clearly a university campus.

"It is in there?" Tuxedo Mask asked.

"Yes." Sailor Moon confirmed before she moved to the edge of the rooftop.

She looked down and after quickly taking in what was below she leapt off the edge and plummeted through the air before she landed lightly on the ground. A few moments later her masked companion landed at her side, and they took off across the street toward a path that lead further into campus.

They passed men and women of various ages going about their business yet surprised to see the two fighters. The further in they went, Sailor Moon following the dark energy she was sensing, the less people they came across.

Eventually they reached the gymnasium and she led the way around it and slowed as she reached the back. A few dozen feet away were four outside tennis courts. People were spread out, oddly inside large green tennis balls with only their arms, legs, and head sticking out. Some were quiet, lying limply, and others were screaming and crying out.

Standing among them was a female with pale white skin, solid yellow green eyes, and blonde hair. She seemed to be wearing a dark blue full body uniform that looked almost black and extended down her hands and fingers with gold bracelets around her wrists.

She had a red pendant in the center of her chest, and her shoulders were covered by a red pointed collar that was attached to her uniform. Beyond that she had large pointed bat-like ears with red dangling earrings in them, red lipstick on her lips, and claws painted red.

Beyond her physical appearance was the tennis racket she was holding. It looked like it was made of fire with a black energy ball in its center where the netting would be.

As they slowed to a walk they watched the people who were struggling, screaming, and yelling slowly began to stop struggling and quieted before going limp one after another. It was clear their energy was being drained.

Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask shared a look before they nodded and focused on the monster ahead of them. They were set on the silent goals. Defeat this female so they could go home and get ready for their date, and do it before any of the other scouts show up.

"Let's divide its attention shall we." He said as he tapped into his connection with the Earth, so he could be aware of anything that happened in the area outside of this monster.

Images and scenes filled his mind and he focused on the area he was in, and they began to flash rapidly before slowing to show the university campus and eventually stopping on the tennis court where he and his soulmate walked.

"Yes; let's." She replied as they grew closer to the court where the monster was.

The monster finally looked their way and narrowed her yellow green eyes before she raised her fiery racket and swung it hard at them sending a black energy ball flying in their direction. They instantly dodged to the side in separate directions while preparing to attack.

Tuxedo Mask pulled out a hand full of roses and threw them sharply at the monster while Sailor Moon took her tiara off and charged it up until it was a glowing white disk hovering above her fingertips.

She threw her weapon as she watched the monster swing her racket at the flowers and send a large fireball at them, incinerating them on contact. Then the monster turned her head and looked sharply at the spinning disk and dodged to the side closer to her, and swung her racket sending a softball sized ball of fire streaking toward her.

Sailor Moon dodged the heated fireball, as well as an unconscious woman stuck in one of those large green tennis balls, avoiding the attack, and making sure to keep the monster somewhat between her and her masked boyfriend. She then grabbed her tiara, after glancing up and seeing it hovering above her, and threw it hard at the female aiming for its knees.

The monster jumped up high and back, avoiding the spinning disk but moving back toward the masked man.

Tuxedo Mask, seeing that the monster was closer to him, further away from his soulmate, and distracted, raised his gloved hand with his palm facing the monster as he focused on his chakra, and willed his attack forward. Sharp red rose petals instantly came spraying out spinning rapidly through the air toward the monster.

As he pulled out a hand full of his exploding roses he saw through his connection to the Earth that Neptune and Uranus had arrived and were watching them from the vantage point on top of the roof of the gymnasium.

He threw the roses at the monster quickly wanting to bombard the female so she couldn't attack, and to give his Serenity time to finish her off if the opportunity came.

The monster cried out in pain as the rose petals hit her, and she tried to turn and swing her racket at them or the masked man, but she screamed as she was hit again by something else that blasted her back.

Sailor Moon seeing the female flying back in her direction ran toward the monster, leaping over a man trapped in a tennis ball, and jumped up and kicked her in the back, stopping her movement and dropping her to the ground.

She landed back down herself and as the female was struggling to her feet she twisted into a spinning back kick, and hit the female monster in the back sending her flying back toward her masked boyfriend.

Tuxedo Mask focused on his chakra as he held his hand out palm up as he watched his soulmate kick the monster and send the female back in his direction. A moment later an open red rose blossom appeared, and he threw it hard at the female.

It hit her in the chest, exploding with enough force to stop her in the air, and caused her to scream and begin to fall to the ground.

Seeing this Sailor Moon reached up and grabbed her tiara, and threw it hard at the monster as she hit the ground. It hit and the female screamed again before her body began to turn gray and gradually break down. Her screaming stopped and she began to crumble into a pile of dust on the ground.

Sailor Moon grabbed her tiara as it returned to her and released the charge before placing it back on her forehead and stepping toward her masked boyfriend.

Tuxedo Mask sighed lightly as he looked around and saw the tennis balls fading and disappearing from around the people who had been trapped. As his Serenity walked toward him he focused on his connection to the Earth.

Uranus and Neptune were still there, which was not a surprise. Then he shifted his view outward and saw Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Mercury coming in their direction, but he ignored their approach as he saw Zoycite suddenly appear and raise his hand toward him and his soulmate.

Sailor Moon suddenly sensed a spike of dark energy behind her, and she looked back sharply to see the green eyed man in a gray uniform from a while back as well as the same guy from her memory dream.

He had his arm raised and his hand pointed in her and her masked boyfriend's direction with a green glow beginning to come from his palm, but before she could react a scene began to play through her mind nearly blocking out the present around her.

oOo

Serenity and Zoycite rode their horses as they walked along a wide dirt road lined with numerous tall trees as it wound through a forest. She was on her white horse with black stockings on the lower part of its legs, and he was on his sandy light brown horse with white hair.

It was a warm day with the sun shining and the sky blue with not a cloud in sight. Serenity had her long golden hair pulled up in a high ponytail, and she wore a white half sleeve tunic with frilled edges, a forest green over dress with a lace-up bodice and decorative gold vines winding along the sides, brown tight pants, and tall brown lace-up boots.

Zoycite had his long blond hair in his usual low ponytail, and wore a navy blue v-neck long sleeve tunic top with a black belt cinching it around his waist, black pants, and tall black boots.

"So, are you ready to be married, to be a princess?" Zoycite asked.

"I am very ready to be married." Serenity said happily. "All the plans are complete and the invitations have been sent. All is ready for when the day comes."

"However, to be a princess is another matter." She said with a sigh as her horse walked side by side with his. "It has been many years since the Earth had a princess. What am I supposed to do? I cannot do what Endymion does. How do I balance being a princess with being a scout?"

"Of course you can do what Endymion does; you already do, and you do it very well." He replied confidently. "You will have no problems balancing being a princess and a scout officially. The only time I can see that you may have an issue is when you accompany Endymion to an occasion off planet or if you happen to need to attend a scout meeting slim chance that is."

"And I believe if you are attending an event such as that then more than the safety of the Earth will be at stake." He added.

"True." Serenity said as she nodded. Such a meeting had never happened as far as she knew, and if it did need to happen then that meant they would be facing something so powerful it had the potential to takeover or takeout every planet in the solar system.

"You will be fine Serenity." Zoycite said as they veered their horses off the dirt road and into a field once the trees ended. "Do not worry. I believe you will find being a princess and a scout will be easy. The transition from Lady Serenity to Princess Serenity will be seamless. The only thing that is likely to change is your form of address."

oOoIRoOo

Raye huffed with a frown as she stopped walking and looked around as if that would tell her what direction to go in.

She had intended to join her princess after school to provide protection while she was doing her thing, but when she went to do so she had found the girl leaving with her friends. She had told Susanna during school that she would be guarding her after school, and the girl had tried to leave without her! Then when she went to catch up she and her friends had walked faster!

Raye could have caught up but that would have drawn attention that she didn't want to bring to the princess. Still, she had continued to follow from a distance, but much to her embarrassment they had managed to give her the slip. Since then she had been walking around trying find the princess and her group of friends with no luck.

It doesn't help that I don't know much about the girl. She thought with a sigh.

She had spent time with her during the weekend but overall since the princess had been found it wasn't enough time to get to know her. That meant she didn't know what the princess liked to eat or drink, what she liked to do with her free time, nor really what she liked and didn't like.

Except her interest in Serena's boyfriend. She thought as she walked toward a bus stop shelter.

Once she had some type of privacy she pulled out her communicator and pressed the buttons with the blue Mercury symbol and the green Jupiter symbol since she was closest to those two of her fellow scouts.

"Amy here." Her blue haired friend answered.

"Lita here." The tall girl answered a few moments later.

"Hey you two. Have either of you seen Susanna in the last hour or so?" Raye asked. "She managed to give me the slip after school with her group of friends."

"No. I haven't seen or heard from her since we were together Saturday." Lita said.

"I haven't either." Amy said. "Have you tried contacting her on the communicator?"

"No. I wanted to check with you two before I went that route. Hold on a minute; I'll do it now." Raye said before she looked around to check that no one was coming then pressed the newly added button representing the princess.

The three of them waited in silence but there was no answer after almost two minutes, and Raye huffed and pressed the button again to end the connection.

"Well clearly she isn't going to answer." Lita said sarcastically.

"Yeah; definitely not good." Raye agreed.

"We'll have to speak to her about that. If we have to speak to her about something important we need to know that she'll answer." Amy said. "But for now I'll try to find her with my minicomputer."

"Thanks Amy." Raye said before she heard the soft click click of typing on a keyboard.

After a few long minutes they began to hear what sounded like a series of urgent beeping.

"What's that?" Lita asked.

"There's a monster attack happening." Amy answered seriously. "And Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask are already there. Their energy signatures are right with the monster's so they must be fighting it."

"Where's the fight at?" Raye asked urgently.

"It looks like a school with how big the campus is; really big. Ah, it's a university campus!" Amy said before she proceeded to give them the school name and directions.

"Alright I'm on my way." Raye said seriously.

"Me too. Lita out." Lita said.

"See you there. Amy out." Amy said, and Raye ended the connection before she put her communicator away.

She looked around before she took off running down the sidewalk looking for a place to transform. A few minutes later she found a small alley that was only big enough for a few home owned garbage cans. Thankfully there was only one there, so she dashed in and paused at the end before she pulled her transformation pen from her shirt pocket.

"Mars Power!" Raye said as she held the pen out in front of her, and squinted her eyes as red light and fire streamed out and began to swirl around her.

When it cleared she opened her eyes to see that she was dressed as a scout as she was supposed to be and her school bag was gone. She didn't worry about that since she knew it would be with her once she released her transformation.

Raye took a quick steadying breath before she jumped onto the end wall of the little alley and took off running toward the university campus, following the directions Amy had given her.

Minutes passed as she ran toward her destination and once she reached the campus she found to her dismay that she had to actually find where on the large campus the fight was taking place. Thankfully she saw some people running away from one particular direction and looking shocked and scared so she headed in that direction.

On her way she spotted Lita coming from a different direction and then Amy from yet another direction. They spotted her and each other in turn, and they angled their path toward her and the three of them continued on together toward where the monster likely was.

However, when they arrived they saw the tennis courts with a few people lying around unconscious with no monster in sight, and a blond man in a gray uniform literally appear a few dozen feet away from them looking ready to attack Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask who were standing among the tennis courts.

oOoIRoOo

Michelle stood in the living room of her apartment her music stand set up in front of her with sheet music spread on it, and her violin in her hand and settled under her chin as she played. Soothing notes passed through the air as she practiced a new piece for one of her classes, her wavy teal hair swaying with her every move.

Suddenly a different set of soothing notes began to sound through the air, and she paused and looked over to the coffee table in front of her couch. The reflective surface of her Deep Aqua Mirror was glowing so she lowered her instrument and walked over to it.

She gently placed her violin and bow down before she picked up her mirror and gazed into it. Immediately she was shown a female that was clearly a monster with her paper white skin, solid yellow green eyes, bat-like ears, and claws.

And that does not even include that fiery tennis racket. She thought softly before she willed the image to zoom out and show the area around the monster.

Attending a university herself she recognized a university campus when she saw one, and she looked around for a location she and her fellow scout could settle to watch the fight and anything else related to it that may happen.

Once she had located an ideal spot she gently put her mirror down and raised her wrist and looked to her communicator watch. She opened the cover before she pressed the navy blue button with a white symbol for Uranus on it and waited.

"Amara here." A feminine voice answered a few moments later.

"There's a monster attack happening at a university right now. I have already located a place for us to watch the fight." Michelle said seriously.

"Alright. I'll be with you in a few moments. I just need to get away from this area." Amara said.

"Okay. Michelle out." She said before she pressed the navy blue button again and closed her communicator. In the next moment she gestured with her hand and watched her transformation rod appear in her palm.

It had a light blue stick with a small gold knob at the bottom end of it, and above it in the middle of the rod was a hot pink frame heart with golden sides and light blue on the inside and a small gold circle on top of the heart. At the top of the rod was a thick turquoise crescent with a matching disc that passed through the center in a diagonal angle. On top of that was a six-point gold star with the symbol of Neptune engraved on it.

As Michelle wrapped her fingers around the stick there was a flash of navy blue light a few feet in front of her as Amara appeared. Seeing that her companion already had her transformation rod out she gestured with her hand and watched hers appear in her palm.

It had a light blue stick with a small gold knob at the bottom end of it, and above it in the middle of the rod was a hot pink frame heart with golden sides and light blue on the inside and a small gold circle on top of the heart. At the top of the rod was a blue orb with two intersecting rings that formed a v-shape. On top of that was a six-point gold star with the symbol of Uranus engraved on it.

Amara and Michelle shared a look before they nodded firmly.

"Neptune Planet Power!" Michelle said firmly.

"Uranus Planet Power!" Amara said firmly.

Aqua teal and navy blue light came out of their rods respectively before they were surrounded in the light. Michelle spun in a circle with her arm outstretched and her hand holding her rod as it created a wide aqua blue liquid circle around her feet. She spread her arms out to her sides and a wall of water shot up encasing her in a column of water.

When it cleared she was nearly completely transformed in her scout uniform, earrings, choker, gloves, and strap high heel shoes. She then ran the fingers of one hand through her hair and her tiara appeared on her forehead in a flash.

Amara spun in a circle with her arm outstretched and her hand holding her rod as it created a wide bright circle of yellow wind around her feet. She crossed her arms over her chest and a wall of wind shot up briefly encasing her in a column of wind and instantly her sailor uniform, earrings, and choker appeared.

She then swiftly lowered her arms down and spread them slightly out to her sides and her gloves and high heel ankle boots appeared. All wind cleared away and she ran the fingers of her hand through her bangs and her tiara appeared in a flash.

Michelle picked up her mirror and stretched her hand out to Amara who didn't hesitate to grasp her hand. She then focused and willed them to the ideal spot she had picked out for them.

The pair disappeared in a flash of aqua teal light and reappeared on the roof of the gymnasium of the university. They released each other's hand and lowered until they were kneeling on the roof and looking off in the slight distance toward the tennis courts.

The monster was there along with what were clearly victims encased in green tennis balls, but more importantly Prince Endymion and Sailor Moon were there; and alone at that.

"No Guardian Scouts." Sailor Uranus noted.

"Sailor Moon must not have contacted them." Sailor Neptune replied.

They watched as the monster attacked the couple, and how they easily dodged the attack despite the people scattered around encased in tennis balls. It was clear in this instance that Prince Endymion was doing the most attacking while Sailor Moon attacked when she had a good opportunity.

It was also clear why that was. All she had was her tiara as a weapon. She threw it and if she missed for any reason she had to wait for it to come back to her before she could use it to attack again. Otherwise the only other thing she could do was attack physically, but that involved getting up close and risking being hit by an attack at close range.

Still, the two of them managed on their own, quickly defeating the monster and freeing the trapped people, and all without the help of the Guardian Scouts.

From their vantage point on the roof of the gym they saw three of the guardian scouts coming as well as the moment a man arrived. They hadn't seen him yet, but it was clear by his uniform that he was another general, and by his physical appearance that he was the general Zoycite.

Sailor Neptune immediately focused on the blond haired man, and aimed the back of her mirror directly at him. She wanted to make sure she was ready to follow him regardless of where he went.

"I'm focused and locked on the general. I'll be able to follow should he teleport away." She informed her companion.

"Good." Sailor Uranus said firmly. "We won't lose this chance to capture another of Endymion's Generals. Hopefully he manages to get away before he's killed or we might have to step in."

"Hopefully Prince Endymion is aware we are here and will ensure the general decides to flee instead of continuing to fight." Neptune replied.

Uranus hummed in agreement as she watched Sailor Moon just standing there looking at the general, and Prince Endymion begin to race toward her without looking around. As the general began to send an attack it was clear their prince had somehow known he was there and about to attack.

oOo

Tuxedo Mask blinked and looked to his soulmate, and his heart started to beat faster to see her just standing there staring at Zoycite over her shoulder. He raced forward without another thought as a blast of green energy burst from his unaware general's hand.

He leaned over as he reached her and wrapped his arms around her thighs as his shoulder pressed into her stomach. He lifted her off her feet as he ran and saw through the Earth as the green attack just missed hitting them both.

Sailor Moon gasped and blinked rapidly as she looked around, and placed her hands on her masked boyfriend's cape covered back. Obviously the man was still there, and she could see Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Mercury run in their direction.

Again. This Zoycite guy again! She looked comfortable with him; especially since she wasn't transformed. Plus, with the conversation they were having. She thought of her Sailor Earth past self as she looked at the man with green eyes glaring angrily at them before he spun around.

She watched as he sent a rapid series of green energy blasts at each of the coming scouts. Jupiter dodged to the side to avoid the one coming at her, Mars jumped over the one streaking toward her, but Mercury was unable to move in time and was hit in the chest and sent flying back with a cry.

"Are you okay?" Tuxedo Mask asked as he gently lowered his soulmate back to her feet. "What was that back there?" He asked as he straightened, fighting not to show any obvious outward affection, and suspecting she had been caught in a memory.

"I'm fine. It was a memory." Sailor Moon said as she glanced up at him as she settled back on her feet and then looked back to the green eyed man who had gone by the name Zoycite in the past.

"You'll have to tell me about it later." He said as he turned to physically look at Zoycite and the guardian scouts as he pulled out a few roses in preparation.

"Supreme Thunder!" Sailor Jupiter shouted, and sent lightning streaking toward the man.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" Sailor Mars yelled, and sent a fireball flying toward the man from her fingers.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" Sailor Mercury called out once she had recovered, sending a stream of bubbles in the man's direction as she rushed forward to rejoin her fellow scouts.

None of them had seen the green eyed blond haired man before, but they all recognized him from Sailor Moon's description as the first man in a gray uniform that showed themselves out of the four they had seen so far.

Zoycite sidestepped each attack instead of dodging wildly and waved his hand from left to right creating a large arch of green fire that went rapidly sailing toward the three scouts before he turned back to Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask.

"I told you you wouldn't get away with interfering with my plans again!" He yelled angrily at them. "Now I'll make sure it never happens again!"

He threw his hand out toward them and a blast of green energy wrapped in green fire came streaming toward them.

They both jumped away in opposite directions, and carefully dodged the people who were lying on the ground still unconscious. Sailor Moon pulled off her tiara and began to charge it, and Tuxedo Mask threw the roses in his hand at Zoycite.

Meanwhile, Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars had managed to avoid the fire, and didn't need to think to decide to take advantage of his focus on Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" Mercury shouted as she aimed her hands at the man's back and watched her bubbles stream out of her hands.

"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter yelled as she sent her lightning at the man.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" Mars called out as she sent a ball of fire streaking from her fingers at the man.

Zoycite sidestepped the roses and glanced back and teleported away as he saw three separate attacks headed his way. He reappeared behind the three women and watched as the flowers collided with the lightning and exploded causing the other two attacks to be caught in the blast radius.

He lifted his hands and silently sent three energy blasts with one hand and then waved his other to send a stream of fire right after in a wide arch at the females.

When the explosion cleared Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask could see that the man was now behind the scouts and attacks were already headed their way. Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter were looking around to see where the man went or if he was actually gone.

"Behind you!" She called out. She didn't particularly like Mars and Mercury, and the jury was still out on Jupiter, but they were still her fellow scouts and she didn't want them to get hurt.

The three scouts spun around but it was too late to counter or dodge the attacks headed for them. The green energy connected with each of them, blasting them back and the fire only exacerbated it and sent them flying further back while burning them.

Sailor Moon saw her fellow scouts hit the ground hard, their uniforms singed in places and burned in others, even their skin a bit from what she could see. Still, she turned her mind from them and focused on the man instead since there was nothing she could do for them; she didn't have the ability to heal as far as she knew.

How am I going to fight him when he's able to teleport to avoid attacks? She wondered. She had never been able to sense when the men in uniform teleported. She knew she couldn't sense dark energy unless he used his power; especially since she hadn't sensed his initial arrival.

But isn't teleporting a form of using their power though? That ability is a power. Maybe it's just so small that's why I can't sense it, but maybe I can if I concentrate harder. She considered thoughtfully. If I can do that then I'll be able to tell when he will teleport and where he'll reappear.

With that in mind she focused hard on the man, tuning out her fellow scouts groans, and trusting her masked boyfriend to watch her back if something happened while she was distracted.

Tuxedo Mask looked to his soulmate even as he kept a mental eye on Zoycite through his connection to the Earth. She looked thoughtful as she stared at Zoycite. He didn't know what she was thinking or if she was planning something, but either way he would keep her safe.

He pulled out a single rose and looked away from his Serenity and to Zoycite. He would keep her safe at all costs, but he also recognized that this was a chance to free his general. He knew Uranus and Neptune were already waiting in the wings. He simply had to make sure Zoycite was not killed and managed to get away from this confrontation.

Zoycite sent a blast of green energy in their direction, and Tuxedo Mask countered by throwing his rose, which caused a mini explosion when they impacted each other.

Sailor Moon threw her tiara through the explosion toward where she had last seen the man, and continued to focus on him; anticipating he would teleport if her aim wasn't off.

Zoycite saw the glowing disk fly out of the fireball and rapidly toward him, and teleported away. He reappeared off to the side in the far tennis court, and was slightly surprised to see the masked man sending what looked like rose petals speeding his way and Sailor Moon looking like she had turned in his direction just as he was reappearing.

He dodged to the side, flipping over the net stretched across the middle of the court, and sent a blast of fire toward the masked man.

Sailor Moon, keeping her focus on the blond haired man, focused on the delicate glowing white thread that was her connection to her tiara, and aimed her hand at him as she guided it toward his back from behind him.

Zoycite sent a blast of green fire at the flower petals instead of wasting energy dodging them, and watched as they caught fire and fell to the ground before they could even reached him. But then he cried out suddenly as a sharp pain spread in his back as something hit him hard.

He moved away and looked over painfully to see the glowing disk flying into the air. He glared at Sailor Moon and teleported away, determined to get her out of the way.

Sailor Moon immediately ducked down and as soon as she began to get a sense of the man behind her she spun around and swiped her leg out at his shins. She connected and watched his legs buckle, and he tilted sideways as he lost balance. She stood up quickly and swung a kick at his side stopping his fall, but sending him flying slightly in the opposite direction.

Sailor Jupiter groaned in pain and rolled onto her hands and knees.

"Are you guys okay?" She asked as she looked over at Mercury and Mars.

"I'm fine." Sailor Mars said as she began to get up, but she was surprised she was as hurt as she was. The only times she had really been hurt enough to ache was when she was possessed by the shadows that maroon haired man had used.

This time though she was in pain. She had burns on her thighs, her skirt and gloves were singed, and she worried her hair had suffered too.

"I'm as well as I can be given what just happened." Sailor Mercury said as she began to get to her hands and knees.

She looked around and saw Sailor Moon kick the blond haired man and send him flying sideways, and Tuxedo Mask throw a number of roses at him. As she managed to make it to her feet she saw the flowers make contact just before he hit the ground causing him to cry out as mini explosions blasted along his body.

"I believe it is time to contact Pluto." Sailor Neptune said as she watched general Zoycite lying on the ground and shifting in obvious pain.

"Right." Sailor Uranus said, and gestured with her hand for her communicator. It appeared in her gloved hand and she opened the cover, and pressed the magenta button with a white symbol for Pluto on it and waited.

"Pluto here." The time scout's mature feminine voice answered moments later.

"We have eyes on a general and are waiting for an opportunity to secure him." Uranus informed her as she watched Zoycite.

"Understood." Sailor Pluto said firmly. "I will be monitoring your fight, but contact me once you are ready for Endymion's presence so that I can alert him."

"Will do. Uranus out." She said before she pressed the button to end the call. "All we need is the general now." She told her companion as she closed her communicator and put it away.

"Perhaps the guardian scouts will be disruptive enough in their fighting to allow him to get away." Neptune replied as she watched the group on the ground.

"That does seem likely." Uranus said as she glanced to the guardian scouts before retuning her eyes to the general.

Tuxedo Mask hurried forward as he focused on his chakra and gestured with his hand for another rose then willed it into the form of a whip. He wanted to be closer to his soulmate, and if he could drive Zoycite away before she figured out how to seriously injure him or worse than all the better.

He flicked the tip of his whip at Zoycite's chest, but he had recovered enough to see it coming and teleported away.

Sailor Moon watched the man disappear from where he lay on the ground, and then spun around as she sensed him and willed her tiara where she anticipated him being once he fully appeared.

"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter called out, now on her feet, as soon as she saw the blond man appear between her and her view of Sailor Moon.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" Mars yelled, following up behind Jupiter and sending a fireball flying toward the man as well.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" Mercury shouted, sending cool bubbles streaming at the man to join the nearly straight row of attacks flying toward him.

Zoycite, seeing the glowing disk headed for him and hearing the attacks announced, teleported once again. This time he reappeared off to the side, but closer to Sailor Moon hoping to catch her off guard, and not give her enough time to send her weapon at him.

Unfortunately for him Sailor Moon was getting the hang of sensing him and she had dashed forward and was already in front of him swinging her fist at his face.

Her fist connected and she listened to him grunt even as she felt a crunch beneath her knuckles before she followed that up with her other fist to his mouth. He cried out in pain and she grabbed his head, and pulled it down sharply as she brought her knee up and slammed it into his already broken nose.

He cried out again as the momentum of the blow sent him stumbling backward and away from her. She concentrated on her connection to her tiara and summoned it to her. As soon as she sensed its closeness she glanced up and reached up to grab it.

She looked back to the man and saw that he was still stumbling back with his hands up covering his face and moaning. She narrowed her eyes and began to dash toward him, ready to shove her tiara into his chest.

"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter yelled, sending her lightning at the man, not realizing that her fellow scout intended to get up close to the man instead of just throwing her tiara.

Her eyes widened after her attack was on its way, and she gasped in horror as she realized what was about to happen.

"Sailor Moon!" She called out urgently in warning, hoping she could dodge in time.

Mercury and Mars could only stare in shock, unable to look away or speak, at what was about to happen.

Tuxedo Mask swore his heart was about to beat right through his chest at the sight of an attack headed for his soulmate. He didn't know if she saw the attack, but even if she did he knew she didn't have the time to react and get out of the way.

But I do. He thought as he flung his whip toward her, and focused on his chakra as he willed the vine to extend rapidly. He watched it speed through the air and begin to wrap around her as it reached her, but he saw the lightning attack Jupiter had sent was nearly upon her.

Sailor Moon heard Jupiter's voice, heard the urgency in it, but she wasn't about to look away from her target. However, she could still use her eyes and she saw crackling light coming at her from the periphery of her left eye.

She knew instantly that she couldn't avoid the friendly fire, so she gritted her teeth and stared into the vibrant green eyes of the man as he lowered his hands and looked into her eyes. All he had time to do was widen his eyes as he registered the glowing disk that was her tiara coming at him as she began to shove it into the center of his chest.

Even with Jupiter's attack coming at her, and the distraction of shoving her tiara into the man, she still felt something thin wrap around her waist. It felt familiar and she tried to hurry and push her tiara further, knowing what was about to happen, even as she listened to the man start to scream in obvious pain.

She was able to register the flash of pain in his eyes before she was suddenly yanked backward with a forcefulness that sent her flying back with a slight cry at the intensity; her focus on her tiara broken.

Everyone watching saw that just as Sailor Moon was pulled to safety Jupiter's lightning attack connected with the man, and he screamed louder as he was engulfed in the crackling energy.

Sailor Moon huffed loudly, the air knocked out of her, as she hit a firm warm body, and was instantly wrapped in firm strong arms. She opened her eyes, not even realizing she had closed them, and looked up into the concerned eyes of her masked boyfriend.

Tuxedo Mask's heart was only now slowing with his soulmate in his arms. He would never begrudge having to save her, but he wished he hadn't needed to. She wouldn't have needed him to save her if she remembered her true self. She would have been able to teleport and avoid the attack or block it with her abilities if she hadn't want to stop her own attack in progress.

"I'm okay." Sailor Moon said with a light smile, and watched his face relax with relief before he looked over to the man.

She did as well as she felt his arms loosen and slide away from her, and saw the lightning crackling around the screaming man. She tried to put out of her mind the fact that that could have been her as well, and that this was the second time she had nearly been hit with friendly fire.

And saved by my masked boyfriend. She thought in irritation.

Zoycite collapsed to his knees as the attack ended, and panted and cringed in pain as he brought a hand up to his bleeding chest where Sailor Moon had been in the process of shoving her glowing weapon.

He looked around and saw Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask standing next to each other and her reaching up to grab that glowing disk, and he saw the other three scouts standing together and looking his way.

He narrowed his eyes at the lot of them before he coughed, and then cringed as pain rippled through his entire body but mostly his face and chest.

I can't keep this up. I can't fight like this without risking my life. He admitted reluctantly to himself, so instead he focused on getting to safety so he could get some healing. And then report this encounter to my Queen.

Before anyone could move toward the man or attack him they saw him disappear. Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury, and Sailor Jupiter looked around rapidly, expecting him to reappear, but Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon relaxed.

She didn't sense him anywhere, and he didn't see him reappear through his connection to the Earth. However, he did see Neptune and Uranus leave moments after Zoycite did.

"You are sure you are alright?" Tuxedo Mask asked his soulmate as he released his chakra and watched his rose whip disappear.

"I am," Sailor Moon replied as she released the charge from her tiara. "and I'll be ready later." She reassured him softly before she placed her tiara back on her forehead.

"Then I will see you later." He replied softly before he turned and took off at a light run toward the gymnasium. He needed to find a place where he could teleport back to the area where he had parked his car.

"Are you okay?" Jupiter asked anxiously as she and the others reached Sailor Moon.

"Yeah. I'm fine." Sailor Moon answered before glanced around worriedly at the people that were still lying on the ground unconscious. It's a miracle none of them were hit or stepped on. She thought as she looked at them worriedly.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't expect you to get up close with that man." Jupiter said.

"Well, for future reference I have no problem getting up close to those men to fight them or use my tiara. I did the same thing with the maroon haired man." Sailor Moon said.

"Really? I don't remember that. When was this?" Mars asked curiously as she looked away from the direction Tuxedo Mask had disappeared in.

"That was just after Venus joined the team; the fight with that wolf monster, so you would have been possessed at the time." Sailor Moon said. "You were aware of what was happening around you right? Despite the possession?"

"Yeah." Mars said as she nodded, remembering that fight with Venus and being unable to control herself.

"Since he wanted you focused on your fight with Venus you wouldn't have been able to see my fight. I was up on the roof of a building with him when this happened." Sailor Moon informed her, remembering how she had nearly killed the man.

Sailor Mars nodded and then looked around before she sighed heavily.

"I have to go." She said. She still needed to find their princess, and make sure she was safe.

The others nodded, and Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter took off running in the same direction. Sailor Moon on the other hand moved around the courts and began to check on the people.

She wanted and needed to head home to start getting ready for her date, but she also wanted to make sure these people were okay.

oOo

As the fight continued Sailor Neptune made sure to keep her focus on the image of Zoycite in her mirror, which she kept trained on the general regardless of where he moved to. Sailor Uranus kept her eyes flickering around to everyone, but mostly kept her focus on the attacks exchanged between the general, Sailor Moon, and Endymion.

They both held their breath as they saw Sailor Jupiter's attack headed for not just the general but also Sailor Moon, but breathed again when they saw Endymion pull her to safety with his rose whip.

Then they narrowed their eyes as Zoycite was hit with the attack, and wondered how injured he would be when the fight was over or when he decided to flee. If he was as injured as Neflite had been then they could probably catch him off guard with their sudden appearance, and not give him a chance to fight, which would be best.

When he disappeared from the tennis court Uranus looked to Neptune's mirror, and they watched the surface turn black for a few long seconds before his image reappeared against a black flat stone background.

Neptune willed the view to widen and it showed that he was standing in what looked like a large bedroom. It was just as it had been with Neflite, but the room was arrange differently and appeared a little larger.

"There's nowhere to appear behind him." Uranus noted as they watched him collapse in a chair. "We may have to fight him."

"That could bring attention to the room he's in; something we do not need." Neptune replied. "It would be best to act in a way where they believe he never returned."

Uranus hummed thoughtfully as she considered their options as she took in the room around the general.

"Appearing to him will surprise him. Perhaps in his surprise we'll be able to simply grab him and teleport away." She said. "We would have to be quick and take him somewhere where there would be room to actually fight him."

"True, and it would be best to attack him quickly so he cannot teleport away." Neptune said seriously. "We should also have a location in mind to take him to."

"Why not simply bring him to the same secluded park where we brought Neflite once he was unconscious?" Uranus suggested. "It says nothing about us, including Endymion, and it will mean we won't have to move him once he's injured to the point of not being able to move or unconscious."

Neptune considered it for a few moments as she looked at the view of the room general Zoycite was in.

"Alright. I'll bring us right in front of him while facing him. You grab him and go to the park and I'll be right behind you. Hopefully I'll be able to appear behind him and attack him from behind." She said.

"Okay. Let's get to it before he decides to get himself healed." Uranus said as she stood up.

Sailor Neptune stood as well and took hold of her arm with her free hand, and willed them to the spot a few feet in front of the general's seated form so they would be facing him upon arrival.

Instantly they disappeared in a flash of aqua teal and reappeared in the dark room directly in front of Zoycite. She quickly released Uranus' arm and aimed the back of her mirror at him even as her companion reached for him.

Just as it had with Neflite the reflective surface showed what looked like a white blank faced human-shaped dummy instead of Zoycite. Behind the white dummy was the transparent image of Zoycite dressed in a uniform that he must have worn in the past as Endymion's guardian.

As before with Neflite, and just as alarming, his transparent self was blindfolded, gagged, and his hands appeared to be tied behind his back.

Zoycite's eyes widened at the sight of two scouts he had never seen or heard about, but before he could do or say anything Uranus grabbed his arm and disappeared with him in a flash of navy blue light.

In the next moment they reappeared in the middle of the park where she and Neptune had brought the last general, and she leapt back and away from the man to put some distance between them.

"General Zoycite. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." She said as she caught sight of her companion appearing behind him in a flash of aqua teal light.

"What?!" Zoycite said in confusion as he struggled to get his balance after going from being seated and slightly reclined to standing in grass. "Who the hell…?!" He began to ask, but never got to finish.

Sailor Neptune looked at the back of general Zoycite's blond head before she lifted her mirror and aimed the reflective surface at him.

Submarine Reflection! She thought firmly, and watched as a strong blast of seawater burst from her mirror and crashed into his back, cutting off what he was saying, and sending him flying forward.

Sailor Uranus leapt off to the side and watched as Zoycite crashed into the grassy ground and remain unmoving as he lay face down. She walked over to him and cautiously nudged him with her booted foot but he remained limp and unmoving, so she reached down and grabbed him under his armpits and turned him over before dragging back to the middle of the area where they had originally appeared.

She gently lay him down and stepped back as she looked at his soaked figure. He was still bleeding, green liquid visible despite how wet he was, but he was alive and unconscious, which is what they had wanted.

The two scouts shared a look, and Uranus nodded firmly before she gestured with her hand for her communicator. It appeared in her gloved hand and she opened the cover, and pressed the magenta button with a white symbol for Pluto on it and waited.

"Pluto here." Their fellow scout's mature voice answered quickly.

"We have General Zoycite." Uranus said seriously as she down at the man. "We're in the same park as before with General Neflite."

"Very well. I will contact Endymion. Provided he is not busy he should be there momentarily." Sailor Pluto replied.

"We'll be here waiting. Uranus out." She said before she pressed the button to end the call. "Now all we have to do is wait for Endymion to show up."

Neptune nodded and looked down at the unconscious general.

oOo

With his connection to the Earth remaining open it took Darien only seconds to get to his car after leaving the university tennis court and releasing his transformation. Once inside he spotted his Serenity's school bag and reminded himself to bring it to her when he picked her up.

Since he no longer needed to drop her off at him it only took him minutes to reach his own apartment building. He wasted no time hurrying up to his apartment. He got his clothes and shoes out and ready, laid out on his bed, before he went into his bathroom and stripped before getting into the shower.

A few minutes later he was finished and drying off. He then started to get dressed and stopped to brush his teeth while he was only partially dressed in light gray formal pants, socks, and a black long sleeve button up shirt that he didn't bother to button up yet.

Once he finished he walked out of his bathroom, but paused just outside the doorway as he saw an elaborate white marble doorway appear in the corner of his bedroom between his bed and the balcony. The double doors swung open and Sailor Pluto appeared out of the dark interior and calmly stepped through the doorway.

Sailor Pluto took a couple of steps before she knelt on the floor, and bowed her head to her prince. She didn't bother looking around, having seen that she would be appearing in his bedroom before she had come to him. After getting word of General Zoycite's successful capture she'd had to wait until Endymion arrived home, and then further after he got out of he shower and was presentable since he went in so quickly.

"Rise." Darien said firmly, and watched the scout as she stood up straight. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"Uranus and Neptune are at the park you use for training. They have captured General Zoycite, and are awaiting you." Sailor Pluto said seriously.

"Very well. I will be there soon." He said, feeling pleased that another of his general's would soon be free of the dark organization keeping him unknowingly trapped.

"Understood. I shall return to my post now." Pluto said.

Darien nodded once and watched as she turned and walked toward the doorway and disappeared into the darkness inside. The double doors closed in unison before the elaborate doorway disappeared as if it had never been there.

He sat on his bed and began to put his shoes on as he focused on Amara and Michelle and wanting to see them since he had never released his connection to the Earth. He had very much hoped they would be successful but he had not expected them to be so quick.

Images flickered briefly through his mind before stopping on the transformed young women. He widened his view to include the area around them and saw Zoycite lying unconscious in the grass, but also that a large portion of the ground was covered in water.

Will have to avoid that, so as not to ruin my shoes. He noted as he glanced down at his shiny dress shoes.

He stood up and focused on the area of the park that didn't appear nearly soaked in water and willed himself there. He disappeared in a flash of gold light, and when it cleared he was standing outside in the park exactly where he wanted to be.

Looking around he could see, now that he was there in person, that the water was from an attack, because the rest of the park was dry. He hummed as he walked over to where the women stood guard over Zoycite, and paused as he looked down at the general. He was soaking wet, and still bleeding that unnatural green blood from his chest.

Darien looked over at the water covered ground and decided to leave it instead of doing away with it. The Earth would absorb it and the park would benefit from it.

Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus watched their prince after his arrival, surprised at his appearance. He was half dressed in what looked like formal wear, and they couldn't help wondering what he was going to be doing after this.

"I hope we are not delaying you from being somewhere." Neptune said as she watched him carefully kneel down next to the general.

"I was simply in the middle of getting ready for my date with Serenity. I still have plenty of time to accomplish this and finish getting dressed." Darien assured her before he focused on Zoycite.

"Is there anything I should know before I start?" He asked as he placed a hand on his forehead and the other over his heart.

"My mirror showed me the same display of a blank white human-shaped dummy with the general standing transparently behind it. He was dressed just as General Neflite had been, in the uniform I assume they wore in the past, and also blindfolded, gagged, and his hands were tied behind his back." Neptune informed him.

"Well, that along with the green blood is proof that this body is a creation." He said before he focused on his crystal.

Darien glowed a bright gold before he willed the power into Zoycite to begin the process of freeing his general.

As before with Neflite he understood from the information being relayed to him that the body was indeed not a real human body birthed by another human. Focusing on Zoycite's mind he immediately discovered darkness covering and surrounding his mind like a thick storm cloud.

Analyzing the dark taint he understood that it was suppressing his memories of life before he worked for the evil organization just as it had with Neflite. It was keeping him loyal, and prevented any chance of him remembering the past.

I suppose it will be the same with Jedite and Malachite. He thought as he carefully cleared away the storm cloud.

Once the dark cloud was gone he removed any remaining traces of darkness that could be running throughout his body before he turned his attention to unlocking his general's past memories; both before and after the 'great change'.

Darien narrowed his eyes as he came across a muted white light in Zoycite's mind. The silver crystal's influence was clearly still present, and though it was weak and dull it was still working to hold back his memories of the time before the 'great change'.

He wasted no time forcing the crystal's power to break down completely with a combination of the power of his golden crystal and the Earth's power to boost his crystal to make sure there was enough force.

The enhanced power worked quickly and expunged the muted white light. Once it was completely gone he released the power of the Earth, and allowed his crystal to do the delicate work of bringing forth the many memories locked away.

A few long minutes passed before his crystal pulsed warmly in his chest and he sensed that it was finished, so he allowed the power to drift back inside him causing the golden glow to disappear.

Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus watched Endymion and Zoycite glowing with the golden light that was the Earth Prince's power. They were just as awed to see him at work as they had been with the freeing of the last general.

To know he was removing the darkness that was keeping the general trapped and loyal to their enemy as well as removing the influence of the silver crystal was amazing. Especially since they knew not just from the past but also the present just how powerful the silver crystal was.

That his power was capable of that showed that it equaled the power of the silver crystal at least. Who knew what it could do at most.

Aside from that they were pleased that their second attempt at freeing a general had worked. They'd had to move him to another location and use an attack on him, but it had been no more difficult than it had been to capture Neflite. Hopefully the other two generals would be as easy to capture.

"He should awaken soon." Darien said as he stood and dusted off his pants and made sure there were no stains.

"Was he brainwashed like General Neflite?" Uranus asked.

"He was." He answered as he looked to her. "It was all the same. Brainwashed, his memories of this time suppressed, the silver crystal's power suppressing his past memories, and the created body."

"Hopefully you can get his name from him before this body breaks down." Neptune said as she looked down at the general.

"Yes." He replied, but before he could say more Zoycite suddenly took a deep breath.

They all looked down at him as he let it out in a gusty sigh. His fingers twitched as they watched and his eyelids fluttered before his eyes slowly opened. He blinked a few times and shifted his eyes around as if confused before he looked at them. He stopped on each one for a few long moments, as if trying to place their face, but recognition only came with the male of the group.

"Prince Endymion." Zoycite said slowly with a frown, unsure he was remembering right.

"Zoycite." Darien said calmly, acknowledging that the general was right by addressing him by his past name. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired. Confused." He replied as he blinked up at the sky as if he had never seen it before.

"Then continue to lay here and relax." Darien said as he knelt next to him. "What do you remember?" He asked, and watched his general look at him blankly for a few long moments.

"Everything, but..I think everything." Zoycite said as he frowned lightly. "It..it's confusing, but I remember you."

"It is good that you remember me. The rest will come in time, so do not worry about your confusion." Darien reassured him. "Do you recall Malachite, Neflite, and Jedite?" He asked.

"Yes." He answered slowly, and then blinked just as slowly. "Why am I so tired?" He asked. He hadn't even moved since he regained consciousness.

"Because this is not your body, and it is failing to contain you now that you are free." Darien answered seriously.

"I'm dying?" Zoycite asked in confusion and alarm.

"No. You will be returning to your real body." Darien reassured him. "What is your name in this life? Knowing will allow me to find you, so that we may speak later."

"Xander." He answered as he blinked his eyes closed. "Aubrey. Xander Aubrey." He said with a sigh that seemed to expel all the air in his lungs.

He took another breath but after he breathed out he didn't take another breath. As they watched Zoycite's current body slowly began to turn gray, as the monsters did when they were defeated, and crumble to dust leaving a glowing ball of white light hovering where he had been.

It bobbed lightly for a few long moments before it suddenly flew into the air and took off speeding through the trees and out of sight.

Darien immediately focused on his still open connection to the Earth. He pictured Zoycite in his mind and concentrated on the name he had been given: Xander Aubrey and wanting to find his general.

Images flashed rapidly through his mind's eye and after a few moments they slowed to a stop on the image of Zoycite lying in a bed in a room. He willed the view to zoom out so he could see more, and saw that he was in a private room with some medical equipment just as had been the case with Neflite.

Another hospital. He thought as he took in the details of the room. Please show me the outside of the building. He asked the Earth.

Instantly the view changed to a slight bird's eye view of a couple of large buildings that were clearly a hospital complex. He searched the image of what looked like the main building until he came upon the name and zoomed in on the large lettering.

Azabu-Juban General Hospital. He read. Now that I know where he is I'll go see him later. After my date with my Serenity. He thought as he allowed the image of the building to fade away.

"He is in a hospital, a separate one from Neflite, and appears to have been there for a while." He informed the scouts as he stood and looked to them. "I'll go see him after my date to make sure his transition went well."

"Then we will let you get back to your date preparations." Neptune said as she once again took in his half-dressed state.

"Yeah. Don't keep her waiting. Better to be early rather than late." Uranus said.

"Yes. I'll show up early, and enjoy her father's glares if he's home." Darien said in amusement. "I'll be seeing you ladies." He said before he willed himself home, disappearing in a flash of gold light.

"Well, I'm off too." Uranus said as the light of Endymion's teleport disappeared.

"Yes. I need to get back to my violin practice." Neptune said. "See you the next time we get together."

"Count on it." Uranus said with a wink, and watched a light dusting of red appear on her cheeks.

The two sailor scouts disappeared within a few moments of each other in flashes of aqua teal and navy blue respectively like they had never even been there.

oOoIRoOo

In the late afternoon outside Azabu-Juban General Hospital cars pulled in and out of the parking lot, ambulances occasionally pulled up directly outside the doors to the emergency room, and sirens could be heard coming closer to the medical buildings.

People walked in and out of various entrances; some arriving for work, some leaving after their shift ended, others visiting family and friends, and many others arriving for help or scheduled procedures and leaving after receiving them.

A bright ball of light, unnoticed by humans and cameras alike, flew through the air at a high speed. It rapidly approached the hospital and made a hard left just before it would have hit the outside wall, nearly skimming along said surface, and flew toward a connected building.

It slipped through the side wall of that building, and streaked unnoticed on a direct path through walls, rooms, and hallways as it moved around and sometimes through people until it reached a quiet room with the curtains open and light filling the room.

Inside the space was a single occupied bed. Under the thin-looking covers was a young man with long blond hair weaved into a braid that lay over his shoulder with his slightly long bangs swept to the sides of his forehead. He was completely still, save for his breathing, with his eyes closed and his body relaxed.

The ball of light moved toward the young man, and paused to hover over his body before lowering and passing through the thin covers and slipping through his chest.

Instantly the young man's eyelids started to flicker, and his eyes began to move beneath his eyelids as he began to regain consciousness.

---

"Prince Endymion." Zoycite said slowly with a frown, unsure he was remembering right.

"Zoycite." Darien said calmly, acknowledging that the general was right by addressing him by his past name. "How are you feeling?"

"Tired. Confused." He replied as he blinked up at the sky as if he had never seen it before.

"Then continue to lay here and relax." Darien said as he knelt next to him. "What do you remember?" He asked.

"Everything, but..I think everything." Zoycite said as he frowned lightly. "It..it's confusing, but I remember you."

"It is good that you remember me. The rest will come in time, so do not worry about your confusion." Darien reassured him. "Do you recall Malachite, Neflite, and Jedite?" He asked.

"Yes." He answered slowly, and then blinked just as slowly. "Why am I so tired?" He asked. He hadn't even moved since he regained consciousness.

"Because this is not your body, and it is failing to contain you now that you are free." Darien answered seriously.

"I'm dying?" Zoycite asked in confusion and alarm.

"No. You will be returning to your real body." Darien reassured him. "What is your name in this life? Knowing will allow me to find you, so that we may speak later."

"Xander." He answered as he blinked his eyes closed. "Aubrey. Xander Aubrey." He said with a sigh that seemed to expel all the air in his lungs.

oOo

Zoycite blinked at the bright flashes of colorful light that suddenly appeared in his room, and then his eyes widened at the sight of two scouts he had never seen or heard about.

The one in white and aqua teal was holding a mirror, but before he could even note the colors of the other one she grabbed his arm in a surprisingly strong grip before they disappeared in a flash of navy blue light.

In the next moment they reappeared in the middle of what looked like a park. The scout leapt back and away from him, which gave him the chance to see that her colors were white and navy blue.

"General Zoycite. It is a pleasure to finally meet you." She said.

"What?!" Zoycite said in confusion as he struggled to get his balance after going from being seated and slightly reclined to standing in grass. "Who the hell…?!" He began to demand, but was hit in the back by something before all went dark.

oOo

Zoycite sat in a chair in his room with a sigh as he idly looked around the space. He had just learned of Neflite's disappearance and suspected death, and he was in disbelief.

He couldn't believe the Guardian Scouts or the masked man had been able to kill his fellow general. He had only encountered Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask, so he didn't know from personal experience what the other scouts were capable of.

Sailor Moon had only thrown her tiara at him, and Tuxedo Mask had thrown a bunch of roses at him. However, he knew from hearing about it that those flowers could be dangerous if they connected.

He had heard from his fellow generals about Sailor's Mercury, Mars, and Venus, and it sounded like the ones they had really needed to worry about was Sailor Moon, Sailor Venus, and Tuxedo Mask.

He couldn't help remembering the one time Neflite had returned so injured he had to be healed before he could report to their Queen. His injures had been so severe that if he hadn't gotten away when he did he would have been killed.

Apparently Sailor Moon had done all that to him.

He wondered if that could have happened to him if he had stayed and given her the opportunity the one time he had been in her presence or if she had just gotten better since their encounter.

Then he wondered if it was possible that Neflite hadn't been killed but kidnapped instead, but in the next moment he dismissed the thought. He didn't think those scouts and Tuxedo Mask were the type to take prisoners.

It was more likely that one of those fighters had gotten off a lucky shot that connected with Neflite, and injured him to the point where he could be finished off.

oOo

Zoycite teleported and appeared in an instant on the roof of the small building on top of the radio station, and saw the two fighters Jedite had spoken of. Sailor Moon, and the masked man. They were just as he described, but he didn't care about that right now.

"You! You ruined my plans!" He yelled angrily, and watched as they quickly turned and looked up at him.

"Who are you?" Sailor Moon asked.

"Dead people don't need to know my name." He replied haughtily as he stared down at them.

The masked man suddenly threw a handful of roses at him, and he jumped over them and down to the main roof at their level. Then Sailor Moon threw her tiara at him, and the masked man threw roses at him in a way that would prevent him from dodging the spinning weapon.

Zoycite narrowed his eyes at the weapon and flowers, and decided his best bet was to teleport and avoid them altogether. He focused and disappeared from their sight, and reappeared to the side closer to the metal railing bordering the roof.

"I'll remember this! You won't get away with interfering with my plans again!" He said angrily, his green eyes flashing before he teleported away.

He reappeared in his room, and sighed gustily as he tried to let go of his anger so he wouldn't take it with him when he went to report to his Queen. That was the last thing he needed; especially since she was going to be angry at his failure.

He couldn't believe they had defeated Flau. She had been doing so well with gathering energy, and suddenly they come along and ruined it!

He cemented in his mind that they really wouldn't get away with interfering with his plans again. Assuming his Queen didn't injure him to the point where he couldn't make any further plans when she learned of his failure. Or worse.

With that ominous thought running through his mind he walked over to his door and took a deep breath before he let it out slowly. He opened the door and stepped out, closing the door behind him, before he began to head toward where he sensed his Queen.

oOo

Xander shifted his school bag on his shoulder as he walked down the sidewalk to his house. He was getting back home late, but it wasn't something that was unusual or would get him into trouble. He wasn't far and could see that the house was dark. With no lights on he figured his parents were either out late themselves or had gone to be early.

He shrugged and pulled out his keys and unlocked the front door before he went inside and closed the door behind him. All was quiet and nothing let him know if his parents were home or not, so he walked toward the stairs to go check their bedroom and see for himself.

He slipped his keys into his pants pocket and shrugged his bag off his shoulder and held the strap in his hand as he lifted his foot to the first step. Suddenly he was rammed in the back and slammed down face first on the stairs.

He groaned in pain and shifted his head so he could look to the side and see what had hit him, and was alarmed to see sets of glowing yellow, orange, and purple eyes staring back at him. Before he could do more than gasp in shock and fear something hit him on the side of his face, blocking his view of the three beings with the glowing eyes.

Pain echoed through his face and head before all went dark and he knew no more.

oOo

Xander sat off in a back side room of the theater stage pulling on his shoes and lacing them up to complete his costume change for rehearsal. When he finished he sighed and shifted his feet to make sure his shoes weren't too tight then he stood and made his way out of the room.

As he walked down the hallway he spotted a girl walking out of a doorway up ahead of him. He recognized her instantly, having been crushing on her for months. He quickly caught up to her and smiled, and watched her blush. He couldn't help taking in her short brown hair styled in a pixie cut and her light hazel eyes. She was so pretty.

"You ready for this?" He asked as they walked together toward the stage.

"Oh yeah. Although I'm a little nervous." She said.

"That's alright. You'll do just fine." He said reassuringly. "That's what this rehearsal is for; to make sure we know what we're doing, and to help push pass the nervousness."

"Right! And we have more rehearsals to do before the big day." She said.

"That's the spirit! Your nerves will be gone in no time." He said with a smile before they turned a corner and walked onto the stage where their fellow theater students were preparing to start rehearsing.

oOo

Zoycite watched his prince move across the large green and white drawing room after he had enjoyed a beverage and took in the room.

He and his fellow generals had accompanied their prince to Jupiter for a meeting of royal heirs, and at the moment they were gathered for a long lunch break. Every royal's protective guardians were in the room on the sidelines keeping watch on their charge.

As Endymion walked he greeted his fellow royals who addressed him, but he continued to move in a direct line until he reached the side of one of the Moon Princess' guardians where she stood next to a window.

He watched as his prince spoke to Sailor Moon, and she in turn replied before turning her eyes back toward the room and presumably her princess.

Part of him was still surprised that his prince was attracted to and showing a marked interest in the guardian scout. Of all the females that he had shown an interest in, in any way before her, none of them had been a soldier or fighter in any way.

All of them had been…ultra-feminine; always looking their best with makeup and hair in place, and not a single wrinkle in their gowns.

He had never seen Sailor Moon in anything other than her sailor uniform, never had a trace of makeup on her face, and seemed to only have the hair style she did because her hair was long enough to mimic the style of the royals of the Moon.

Still, the other part of him was not surprised since he always thought his prince needed someone strong at his side. Beauty was a nice addition, but more importantly he needed someone who could not only handle ruling at his side but someone who could understand and relate to him.

Zoycite looked to the Princess of the Moon, and immediately saw that she was staring hard toward his prince and Sailor Moon. Judging by her expression she clearly didn't appreciate what she was seeing.

That was not surprising considering her apparent attraction to his prince. He knew Endymion was not concerned about the princess or her attraction for him, but he wondered how Sailor Moon was dealing with the young woman's reaction to his prince's constant attention to her.

He knew it couldn't be comfortable. If the princess reacted this way in public then he could only imagine what she did in her own home.

He shook his head slightly and looked around to see if he could note any reaction in the other guardian scouts to the sight of their fellow scout standing together with his prince.

Sailor Venus didn't seem to mind when he saw her glanced their way, Sailor Jupiter seemed undecided as she looked to them before looking back to her princess, Sailor Mars looked as if she disapproved every time her eyes landed on them, and Sailor Mercury didn't seem pleased in any way as she outright watched them.

oOo

Zoycite stood against the side of a tall hedge as he kept an eye on not just his prince but the intruder that was watching him.

He had accompanied Endymion on his walk, but dropped back to give him some privacy once they reached his personal garden. From there he walked a dozen steps behind him, and when his prince paused in his walk to enjoy the garden he paused as well.

The second time it happened Endymion walked into an open area and he stopped next to the tall hedge, and that was when he spotted the intruder; who just happened to be the princess of the Moon.

She was standing behind a tall white pillar with vines wrapped around it, and it was clear to his discerning eyes that she was trying to hide from his prince.

As his prince moved further in the area he remained where he was to watch the young woman secretly watching him. She was so focused on watching his prince that she didn't notice him watching her; didn't even notice his presence.

He wondered how many times she had done this; how often she watched his prince.

Zoycite looked to Endymion as he sat down on a bench, and wondered if he knew the princess was watching him. His prince was an excellent soldier, so he was inclined to believe that he did know and didn't care because she was keeping away from him.

As he turned his eyes back to the princess he wondered exactly how Endymion would react if she tried to approach him.

oOo

Zoycite skipped and ran lightly along the sturdy thick branches of the trees in the forest that was the personal training ground of he and his fellow generals.

It was large and surrounded by a low stone wall that signaled to anyone walking in the forest near it that a training ground was exactly what was beyond the wall.

He was moving swiftly yet silently as he used the high ground to search for one of his fellow generals as they trained together.

Spotting his straight white hair he slowed to a stop, and carefully crouched down, balancing on the branch, as he pulled an arrow from his quiver. He notched it in his bow and pulled back on the string as he took aim. He released the arrow after a moment, and pulled another out as he watched it fly through the air.

Malachite suddenly turned around, his dark brown and dark blue cape swirling, as he flicked the wrist of the hand holding a whip.

The tip of the whip slapped against the arrow dropping it to the grass, and Zoycite quickly released another arrow in his direction.

His fellow general used his whip to slap that one out of the air as well before he raised his free hand up toward him. Immediately short arrows made of ice came flying out of his palm in his direction.

Zoycite waved his free hand at the coming arrows to send a heat wave at them and they melted instantly. In the next moment he focused and gestured sharply down at his fellow general. Thick green vines shot out from the canopy of trees and rapidly moved through the air down at him.

Malachite put his whip away and quickly pulled out his sword, and sliced the vines into pieces as they came at him. Then he threw his hand up in his direction and snow came flying out of his palm before it form into birds that came flapping his way.

Zoycite jumped off the branch he was crouched on, avoiding the cold birds, and landed lightly on the ground not far from his fellow general. Immediately the grass began to grow rapidly and snake up and around Malachite's legs and body.

Malachite froze the grass and shifted his body sharply, shattering the long twisting blades, before he dashed at him with his sword poised to strike.

Zoycite put his bow away, pulled out his sword, and raised the sharp blade to intercept the coming blow.

oOo

Zoycite crouched in the grass in front of a withering bush, a number of its leaves dry and brown while others looked healthy and vibrant, and examined the damage to locate the cause.

He placed a hand on the ground, his fingers spread in the grass, and closed his eyes as he focused on what was happening beneath the bush in the soil. After a few brief moments he opened his eyes and gazed at the troubled bush.

The soil was fine, healthy, moist, and full of nutrients, which meant the bush was receiving enough moister. That told him that while the bush was getting enough water it wasn't getting enough sun.

He looked up toward the canopy above him and waved his hand lightly, and watched as the branches shifted apart slightly, allowing the sun to get through and shine on the bush.

He then focused and waved his hand at the bush, and watched in satisfaction as the bush healed before his eyes; the brown and withered leaves turning green and vibrant as purple flowers sprouted.

He stood up with a light sigh and turned around, his dark brown and dark blue cape swirling lightly, to see his prince sitting at the base of a tall tree leaning back against the trunk. Endymion looked at him and then glanced up to the canopy with a smile.

Zoycite looked up as well and huffed in amusement to see Lady Sailor Earth sitting on a branch high in the tree with her legs dangling and swaying as she looked down at them.

She smiled and parted her lips, and suddenly a gusty breeze was blowing down at him ruffling his bangs and making his ponytail and cape flutter behind him.

"So it is like that is it?" He said, and watched her grin and stick her tongue out childishly at him.

Zoycite went back over to the bush and plucked a petal from one of the purple flowers, and blew on it as he turned around looked up toward her. He let it go and watched as it multiplied and swirled up in her direction like a tornado before swirling and circling around her.

Lady Earth laughed and he grinned as he watched her try to get the purple petals under control. Then he saw a flash of color out of the corner of his eye and looked over to see Endymion holding a golden rose made out of his chakra.

His prince grinned at him and blew on the energy flower, and sent golden petals flying at him. They circled around him so thickly that all he could see was gold, and then moments later he laughed as he started to see streaks of purple mix in it.

---

Zoycite's eyes opened slowly and the first thing he saw was a white ceiling. He stared up at it blankly as his mind adjusted to the memories that filled his mind. Memories that were new and yet not new. Memories that were his.

Confusion was his dominant feeling right now.

He had been serving the Dark Kingdom, but he knew he wasn't supposed to be with them. Although, at the time he thought he was. He had also thought he had always been with them, but now he knew he hadn't. He had a family and a life before they came and kidnapped him.

Now he was free from that servitude. Freed because of Prince Endymion. His Prince had returned his memories to him, and given him back his identity; given back his identities.

They were slowly settling and becoming clearer and easier to understand, but he remembered not just his present of being kidnapped and clearly brainwashed he also remembered the past.

That, however, was a whole separate confusion, because he had two sets of memories of the past. In one set he had betrayed his Prince, and in the second set he had not. It was shocking to recall his betrayal, unwilling as it was, but it was in his memories so he knew it had happened.

Still, he didn't understand the betrayal, didn't understand where that whole set of memories even came from, but he knew they were real. He had lived them, remembered them very well now that his memories were back where they belonged, but he didn't understand.

How was it possible to have two sets of memories? They hadn't happened one at a time, so different lifetimes were out. He could tell by the contents of the memories that both sets happened during a single lifetime.

Right away he could tell they were similar, but there were plenty of differences. In one set of memories there was a scout of the Earth while in the other there was no scout of the Earth. One set had a scout of the Moon, and the other had no scout of the Moon.

His Prince Endymion had been in both sets of memories, the King and Queen also had been in both sets, he and his fellow generals had been in both sets, and even the princess of the Moon had been in both sets of memories with her Guardian Scouts and her rabid obsession with Endymion.

The difference there was that in one set of memories the Moon Princess had only four guardians, and in the second set of memories she had five guardians. Sailor Venus, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Mars were not unexpected, but Sailor Moon was an unexpected scout and one he recognized.

She was Serenity. Serenity who had been with them on the Earth in one set of his memories, and in the second set of memories had been absent. Not just absent, but not in existence. There had been no Serenity in their lives at any point, and no Sailor Earth to protect the planet.

Having both memories at hand he now knew that she had existed, just not on the Earth. She had somehow ended up on the Moon as a fifth guardian scout to the Moon Princess.

How did that happen? How could she have gone from the duty of protecting a planet to being one of five to protect a princess from another planet?! And one she hadn't liked at that! He knew just as he, his fellow generals, and his Prince knew that she didn't like the princess. They hadn't liked her either for her spoiled attitude, her constant intrusion on their planet without permission, and most importantly for her obsession with Endymion.

It just didn't make sense.

A second set of memories with Serenity not Sailor Earth, not even on the Earth, but on the Moon as Sailor Moon guardian to the princess. Zoycite thought with a frown.

Of course that second set of memories also showed a difference in his Prince and in himself. Endymion had of course been heir to the throne in both sets of memories, but his behavior and personality had been different in that second set.

His Prince had been happily engaged to be married, completely committed to his soulmate and ready to begin the next phase of his life, but in that second set of memories he had been single and mingling wildly to the point that he had been known throughout the solar system to like the ladies.

The only thing that didn't seem to mesh with that view of him was the intense shift in his mood. He had been going between extreme anger, to sadness, to extreme depression, but that had all stopped once he met Sailor Moon.

Which means he probably recognized her as Serenity, and knew that she had been missing from his life unlike the rest of us. He thought. But did he know he was just missing someone and it just clicked and he felt better when he saw her or did he actually remember her and know that she was missing from his life and the Earth?

As for himself, he didn't particularly like the change that had come over him. It hadn't been a big change, but he knew now that he had been more uptight and less mischievous. He didn't have much fun or encourage his fellow generals or Prince into taking breaks from their duty and having fun as much as he had in his regular, main, set of memories.

Of course I had Serenity to help with that, and it was easier since everyone had been willing to take breaks and have fun. It was our bonding time. He thought fondly before he turned his mind from the past and back to the present.

In the present he was Xander Aubrey, high school student. He had friends, played sports, and even had a girl he liked. He had also been more relaxed and up for mischief; as he had been in the past that made sense with Endymion and Serenity being engaged, and he and his fellow generals being as close as brothers and yet serious in their duty to protect their Prince.

Then the Dark Kingdom came along. He thought as he looked around the room he was in.

Zoycite didn't know how long he had been with them, which meant he didn't know how much time had passed since they had attacked and kidnapped him. He didn't know how old he was, if he would be able to continue his schooling, or even if his family was alive.

I suppose the silver lining is that my friends have likely moved on with their lives, and that girl I liked wasn't a girlfriend since the life I will be living now wouldn't support them. I would have to hide at least half my life and keep secrets from them. He thought with a sigh.

But maybe I'll find new friends or they might even be waiting for me already. He considered.

After all, he was free now thanks to his Prince, and he hadn't been alone. There had been those two scouts with him. He hadn't seen them during his time with the Dark Kingdom, but with his memories in place he recognized their physical appearance from what he had learned in the past as Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus.

And since Sailor Uranus had been in front of me in that park Sailor Neptune must have been the one to attack me. He thought as he remembered the pain in his back.

He knew neither of them had been guardians to the Moon Princess, but from what he remembered they had been loyal to the Moon Kingdom. He didn't understand what they were doing with Endymion. What had changed from how things were in the past?

Endymion clearly knew them since he hadn't seemed concerned about them when he was talking to him, and they obviously knew his Prince with how calmly they had been standing with him.

So I might be meeting them and getting to know them, so that would be two possible friends that I wouldn't have to lie to. He thought. And considering what happened to me I can guess that Neflite was freed as well and not killed. That means I'll have my fellow general and brother too.

Beyond them there was Malachite, Jedite, and Serenity. His fellow generals were still unknowingly trapped in the Dark Kingdom, and Serenity was obviously somehow Sailor Moon again.

I'll need to talk to Endymion to find out what the story is with her at this point. As well as what happened with Neflite, and why I have two sets of memories. He thought, but until that conversation could happen he would focus on his life as Xander Aubrey.

First he wanted to know what medical facility he was in since he didn't know if he was actually in a hospital. He also wanted to know if he was okay. Was he injured or had been? Was he healthy now? Just lying here he didn't feel like there was anything wrong with him.

Where were his parents? Had they been attacked? Were they okay? Were they alive? Were they taken like him and still trapped in the Dark Kingdom?!

He wasn't too sure about that last one. With his memories now in place he knew he hadn't seen or heard of them being there. He also knew the Dark Kingdom was the type of organization that would have taken pleasure in presenting his parents to him and watching in amusement when he didn't recognize them.

I need answers. He thought as he looked around again. The only way that's going to happen is if someone comes to check on me, and that might not happen for a while if I've been here for a long time.

Zoycite could clearly feel all parts of his body, but he didn't want to try getting up in case he was injured in some way that he wasn't aware of. However, he could see that he was hooked up to a heart monitor, something he had ignored since waking up in the room, so he snatched it off him.

That should bring someone running just to make sure I didn't suddenly die. He thought with a sigh as he began to wait.

oOoIRoOo

Meanwhile, Serena had raced home after checking to make sure the victims of the monster were okay. To her relief they had all been alive, and finally started to come to when she touched them to check their pulse.

When she reached her neighborhood she released her transformation in a secluded area before rushing home. Once she got to her house and was standing in front of her front door she paused as she realized she didn't have her keys. They were in her school bag, and that was back in Darien's car.

She tried the door handle only to find it locked, so she knocked rapidly on the door hoping someone was close enough to hear it. A few moments later her mother opened the door and blinked in surprise.

"Where are your keys?" Her mother asked as she stepped inside.

"They're in my school bag, but I forgot it in Darien's car." Serena answered.

"Well, what about your homework? How are you going to do it?" Her mother asked as she closed the door.

"It's already done. I have a date with Darien tonight, so I made sure to work on my homework during lunchtime and when I was with Darien earlier." She explained as she headed for the stairs.

"Oh! Can you take pictures of me when I finish getting ready?" She asked. "My friend asked if I would, and I like the idea of having pictures to have and show off."

"Of course." Her mother agreed. "Is this a formal date?"

"Yes." Serena answered.

"Ahh. This is the date your new dress is for." Her mother said in realization.

"Yup! Now I'm headed up to get ready." She said with a grin before she ran up the stairs and to her bedroom.

She pushed open her door and pulled her brooch off her uniform top and placed it on her vanity table then took off her shoes and socks. She put those in their proper places before she gathered her robe and underthings and headed to the bathroom.

Over half an hour later Serena had finished her shower, put her underwear on, and returned to her bedroom. She closed the door behind her, put her clothes away where they belonged, and sat at her vanity table wearing her robe as she began to take her hair down.

She had twisted the streams up to keep her hair from getting wet during her shower, so now it was taking a bit of time to take it all down and get it loose. Once it was completely loose she set about brushing the long tresses from the top of her head down to the ends, and after a few long minutes she began to arrange it up in the style she had been thinking about since she had gotten her dress for this date.

Once she finished she put her brush aside as well as her extra hair pins, and reached for the little gift bag that held the jewelry her generous boyfriend had gotten her. She reached in and pulled out the little boxes, searching for the set she planned to wear, and when she found it she returned the two boxes back to the bag and set it aside.

She put on the delicate dangling gold earrings with a rose and a delicate gold leaf hanging from a tiny three link chain from the rose, and then slipped the matching rose pendant necklace with its attached gold leaves around her neck and secured it closed.

With that done she returned the jewelry box to the gift bag and then stood up and moved toward her closet and pulled out the dress she had gotten for this evening.

Artemis, meanwhile, was watching Serena from where he reclined slightly in the middle of her bed. He had wondered what her rush was when she practically burst into her room and began to pull off her socks and shoes, put her brooch aside, and gather clothes before rushing back out.

Since she had left the door wide open he had been listening closely for anyone coming in his direction so he would know to move out of sight. When she returned to the room wrapped in a robe he watched her quickly close the door, and then move about putting her belongs away before sitting at her vanity table.

He watched curiously as she took her hair down until it hung loose down her back and pooled on the floor then she started brushing the entire long length; even going so far as to pull it across her lap to make sure she reached every inch of it.

Then he watched her arranging her hair differently then she normally wore it and putting on jewelry, and figured she likely had a date with her young man. Seeing her pull out something covered in a long bag had him curious, but when she uncovered an evening dress he knew he was probably right.

"Is all this for a date with your young man?" Artemis asked. "Oh! Is it that formal date you mentioned?" He asked as he recalled her saying her young man wanted to see her in blue. The dress appeared to be a very dark blue color.

"Yes to both questions." Serena answered as she carefully lay her dress across her bed next to Artemis.

She returned the hanger and attached bag to the closet and took off her robe and put that in there as well. She wasn't worried about Artemis seeing her in her underwear. He had seen her getting dressed a few times before, and it hadn't made her uncomfortable.

She went back to her bed and pulled the dress up her body before she slowly and carefully slipped the supporting strap over her head. She slowly pulled her hair free so the strap rested against the back of her neck, and zipped the dress closed so it fit her snuggly.

Serena moved to stand so she could see herself in her vanity mirror, and straightened the dress and made slight adjustments to how the fabric lay against her before nodding in satisfaction. She then grabbed her shoes and sat back at her vanity table, and began to slip them on.

They were the same black strap shoes with a medium heel that she had worn for her last formal date. Standing up she allowed her dress to settle, and saw that she couldn't see her shoes. That didn't bother her since she knew they would be visible when she walked; especially with the design of the dress.

"You look beautiful Serena." Artemis said as he took in her complete look with her dress in place, shoes on, hair done differently then he was used to, and her jewelry on.

"Thank you." Serena said with a smile before she grabbed her black clutch purse.

She unzipped it and began to fill the purse with the essentials she would need to bring with her; including her brooch and communicator.

The wand, however, is definitely staying here. She thought firmly. She was willing to cut her date short to fight a monster, especially since her boyfriend would be joining her, but she was not interested in having to try and hunt down a rainbow crystal.

---

Darien pulled his car up alongside the curb in front of his Serenity's house and turned off the engine. It was a few minutes before he said he would be there to pick her up, but he didn't worry about that. There was plenty of time to get to their destination, but he had wanted some time to take in her appearance.

Something I can barely wait for. What color blue did she pick for her dress? He wondered as he unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the door.

He grabbed the bouquet of roses he had gotten her and her school bag off the passenger seat before he got out of the car. He closed the door and slipped his keys in his pocket before heading to the front door of the house.

He pressed the doorbell when he reached the door and calmly waited. The door opened a few moments later, and he was greeted by his soulmate's mother.

"Mrs. Tsukino." Darien greeted respectfully. "I am here to escort Serena out this evening."

"Please come in." She said as she opened the door wider and stepped back.

"Thank you." He replied as he stepped inside.

"I believe she is still getting ready. I'll let her know you're here." Mrs. Tsukino said as she closed the door.

"I brought her school bag." He said simply as he lifted the bag in his hand.

"Oh! She mentioned that. I'll bring it up to her." She said as she took the bag.

Darien nodded and watched as she disappeared up the stairs. He looked down at the bouquet he brought, making sure each flower still looked fresh and vibrant, but hummed internally as he heard footsteps behind him. They were light yet heavy, so he figured he was about to be greeted by his soulmate's father.

"You." He heard a masculine voice behind him, and turned around to see the father of his soulmate, as he had initially surmised, walking out of the living room.

"Mr. Tsukino." Darien greeted the older man respectfully even as the man stared at him sternly.

"What are doing here?" Mr. Tsukino lightly demanded to know.

"I am here to escort Serena out this evening." He answered even though he was sure the man had heard him tell his wife just that.

He was sure the man would have said more, but his wife returned holding a camera.

"Serena will be down in a few moments." Mrs. Tsukino informed the young man. "She asked me to take pictures, so would you mind?" She asked with an excited smile.

She had seen her daughter and she looked absolutely beautiful, and he did too so she wanted pictures of both of them; separately and together.

"Of course not." Darien instantly agreed. He very much liked the thought of a picture of his Serenity in her formal wear. He hoped he could have a copy. "Where would you like me?" He asked.

Both of them ignored Mr. Tsukino, and his frown, as she directed Darien to stand at the base of the stairs. He did as instructed and posed elegantly, gazing into the camera with a slight composed smile while holding the bouquet of roses so they would be visible.

"I don't see why that was necessary." Mr. Tsukino said grumpily, glaring at Darien; much to his amusement as he moved away from the stairs. "Why would she want pictures of him?"

"Because he's her boyfriend, and I'm sure she wants a memory of this evening." Mrs. Tsukino answered.

"Who knows how long he'll be her boyfriend! They could be broken up next week! She wouldn't want a memory after that." He said seriously.

Darien just raised an eyebrow at the man since it sounded like he wanted them broken up that very night. Of course neither of those options would ever happen. He and his soulmate were together and that was not going to change. Never again would they be parted. Not by a spoiled princess with too much power, and not by his soulmate's over protective father.

"It's what she wants now, and I certainly want a picture of them together regardless of what may or may not happen in the future." Mrs. Tsukino said. "I'm also sure he wants a picture of her."

"Definitely!" Darien said firmly before he glanced up the stairs, and did a double take at the sight of his Serenity standing at the top.

She wore a navy blue dress of a stretchy-looking material that appeared to sparkle. It criss crossed over her chest and the straps continued up and wrapped around the back of her neck. The bodice was fitted to her perfectly, and the skirt trailed smoothly down and covered her legs completely.

As she began to walk down the stairs he saw that there was a split in her skirt that started around her lower thigh and flowed down to her ankles, and that she had on black strap high heel shoes that matched the black clutch purse that hung from her hand on a tiny strap.

As she reached the bottom he saw that her hair was styled in a way he had not seen on her before. It was a slightly high ponytail with some of her hair braided and twisted around the base of it, and she was wearing the white-gold rose set of jewelry he had given her.

She looked absolutely beautiful. Her lovely long hair in a ponytail that was reminiscent to how she wore it occasionally in the past, and as she turned in place he saw that not only was it glitter that made her dress sparkle, but while her entire front was covered the dress left her shoulders and back completely bare.

Beautiful. He thought as he ran his eyes up and down her body, taking all of her in. The dress hugged her figure nicely, and the slit was hidden unless she took wider steps, which he liked very much.

He loved the color of her dress. It reminded him of a night sky, and he absolutely loved that she put her hair in a style other than those horrible buns.

And the jewelry looks better on her in reality than it did in my imagination. He thought as he smiled at her, and watched her blush and smile in return as he reached for her hand.

"My lady." Darien said as he grasped her hand, and brought it up to gently kiss the back of it.

However, before he could do so he watched as her eyes lost focus, and knew that she was experiencing another memory. He wondered which one it would be, but focused on continuing his actions so her parents wouldn't think anything was happening.

oOo

Sailor Moon stood on the side of the ballroom against the wall keeping an eye on her princess and watching her dance.

She and her fellow guardian scouts were currently on Venus accompanying their princess to the celebrations being held for the Venusian Prince's birthday.

She was sure her princess was enjoying herself, she certainly looked it, at least from the back, but she thought Venus was happier since she had gotten the chance to spend time with her family since it was her brother's birthday.

She glanced to her sides and paused briefly in the direction to her left as she watched the Earth Prince walking in her direction. She looked back to her princess to see that she was still swirling with her current dance partner.

"How are you this evening my lady?" Prince Endymion asked as he stopped to stand at her side against the wall.

"I am well your highness thank you." Sailor Moon answered as she looked to him. "And yourself your highness?"

"I am well now that I am here at your side my lady." He answered in return, his tone intimate.

Sailor Moon blushed and looked away.

"You could be bestowing those words on others instead of me your highness." She said as her eyes found her princess among the dancers.

"That is true that I could. However, I wish to bestow my words on you, and you alone my lady." Prince Endymion replied calmly.

"You are quite the charmer your highness." She said.

"Only for you my lady." He said with a smile.

oOo

Serena blinked rapidly as the memory scene faded from her mind, and blushed at the fact that Darien was kissing her hand and what she had seen and heard in the memory.

The prince really was a charmer. She thought before she pushed it aside.

Darien had called her by that endearment before, but it had triggered a different memory at that time. In fact, he had called her that many times before, since that memory, and another memory hadn't come through since. She wondered what was different this time.

Maybe the situation? She wondered thoughtfully before her boyfriend's voice brought her back to the present.

"You look just beautiful; simply beautiful." He said caressingly as he pulled back from her hand.

"Thank you." Serena said as she blushed in pleasure. He's a charmer too. She thought. "You look so very handsome." She said as she gazed at him.

She had looked him over thoroughly as she walked down the stairs to him, and thought he looked captivating in his chrome light gray suit. The shiny metallic color stood out against his black button up shirt, matching tie and shoes.

"Thank you." Darien replied with a small smile. "These are for you." He said as he released her hand and presented her with the bouquet of fresh red roses he brought her.

"Thank you." Serena said with a smile as she accepted the bouquet. She didn't even need to bring them up to her nose to smell their lovely fragrance.

"Picture time!" Mrs. Tsukino said after the moment had finished. She knew they would be leaving right afterward so she wanted to get these pictures quick.

"Oh yeah! I forgot!" Serena exclaimed. She had been so focused on getting ready, and then when she saw him and remembering that memory it was just nowhere in her mind.

"You first Serena. Stand just here in front of the stairs." Mrs. Tsukino directed.

Serena moved where her mother wanted her and she stood poised with her back to the stairs holding her bouquet up and slightly to the side of her chest. Then she smiled confidently and happily at the camera.

"Okay, now you and Darien together." Mrs. Tsukino said after she took the picture. "I already took one with Darien by himself, so don't worry." She added when her daughter began to open her mouth.

"Alright." Serena said before she looked to Darien, who was already stepping toward her.

She moved over a couple of steps and he stepped into place at her side before he wrapped his arm around her lower back. They smiled at each other and turned to face her mother as one while angled toward each other. Serena held her bouquet, only angling it slightly to the other side of her chest, and Darien slipped his hand in his pants pocket.

oOo

Artemis had leapt off the bed on the side with the balcony to avoid being seen when there was a knock on Serena's bedroom door. Then he listened as her mother informed her that her young man had just arrived, which explained the doorbell, and that he brought her school bag.

"Thanks mom! I'll be down in a few moments." He heard her say before the door closed.

He jumped back on the bed and watched as she dug through her school bag and pulled out some keys before placing it on her desk and putting the keys in her little black bag.

"Have I forgotten anything?" She asked as she looked around.

"The wand, but that bag isn't big enough, and I don't think you plan on taking it anyway." Artemis said.

"You're right." She said. "I have no problem cutting my date short to go fight a monster, even bringing the wand with me almost everywhere, but I draw the line at date night. I can't imagine trying to find a rainbow crystal in the formal setting I'll be in."

Artemis nodded. That was a reasonable statement, and he thought she deserved the time away from that duty and just time away in general.

When she had any free time during the weekend she had worked on applying to the different universities on her list. He knew she had finished two of them, had even continued on late into the night to make sure she did, and was aware that her parents didn't know she was applying to different schools.

She deserves to relax and have some fun. He thought quietly.

"Well, I'm off. I'll see you when I get home." She said.

"Have a good time." He replied.

"I will." She said, and he watched as she walked to the door, opened it, and left out.

Artemis waited a few long moments before he jumped off the bed and followed her. He crept out the door and down the hallway until he reached the top of the stairs. He cautiously leaned his head around the wall and looked down at the scene below.

Standing there were obviously Serena's parents, her unhappy looking father and excited looking mother, and a few steps away from the bottom of the stairs off to the side was a tall young man in a shiny light gray suit. This was clearly Serena's young man.

He took in the deep blue eyes, short black hair, and calm face, and didn't at all recognize him. He was not a male he had seen before, and he wasn't triggering any past memories so he doubted he had coincidentally been in the past.

Then again seeing the girls and Luna for the first time didn't trigger any memories. He allowed as he watched the young man's face.

He had a look of adoration and affection in his eyes as he watched Serena descend the stairs. He was clearly pleased at the sight of her in her formal dress and accessories, which he could completely understand since she did indeed look beautiful.

Watching as he was he could see that the young man was just as Serena described; confident and a gentleman. He seemed completely unfazed by her father's glares and frowns, and he thought the bouquet of flowers, kiss on the hand, and compliment were good manners and a nice touch.

Seeing them together Artemis couldn't help noticing that they looked good together. Their formal clothing complimented each other, and they looked dignified in a casual way if that made sense.

I wonder where exactly they are going to have to be dressed that way. He thought as he watched them taking pictures.

oOo

Mrs. Tsukino lifted the camera and happily snapped the picture.

"Okay." She said as she lowered the camera. "One more without the flowers and your purse. I want one with a good view of your back and hair." She told her daughter.

Serena nodded and walked into the living room, ignoring her father's frowning face as she passed him, and placed her bouquet and purse on the couch before returning to Darien. She moved to his side and lifted her arms and placed her hands around the back of his neck.

She grinned up at him and he huffed in amusement as he placed a hand on her hip in view of her parents and the other to slide around to rest on her lower back.

"How is this?" She asked her mother as they both looked her way.

"Perfect." Mrs. Tsukino breathed as she lifted the camera to take the picture. "Alright you two. I'm sure you want to get going, so go on." She said after she took the picture.

Serena and Darien nodded and she moved into the living room and grabbed her purse and the beautiful bouquet.

"Mom can you put these in my room please?" She asked as she walked out of the living room. She didn't worry about Artemis being seen. She knew he would be able to hide himself.

"Of course." Mrs. Tsukino said before she gently took the flowers. "Have a good time you two." She added.

"We will." Serena said before turned to her patiently waiting boyfriend.

"Not too good of a time." Mr. Tsukino grumbled. "And make sure you get back before it gets late!" He added firmly.

"Don't worry dad. I'll be back in time to get a full night's sleep, and be up in time to get to school on time." She reassured her father as she walked toward her boyfriend.

"I will have her home at a reasonable time. After all, she is not the only one who has school in the morning." Darien said calmly to the older man before he looked to his soulmate. "Are you ready?" He asked.

"Yes." Serena answered as she nodded.

"Then let us depart my lady." He said as they stepped toward the front door.

He opened it for her and held it wide as she stepped beyond the doorway and into the slightly cool evening air. He joined her, closing the door behind them, and guided her toward his car with a hand on her lower back.

As they reached the car Darien opened the passenger side door and watched his Serenity elegantly slip into her seat, and made sure her dress was inside as she swept the long length of her ponytail over her shoulder and down her chest.

Once he double checked to make sure all of her hair was inside the car he closed the door, and walked around to the driver side before he opened the door and slipped inside. Closing the door behind him he started the engine and pulled his seatbelt on as he looked over at his soulmate.

"I know I have said it before but I simply love how long your hair is." He said with a pleased sigh, happy to see her hair styled so similar to the way she used to wear it occasionally in the past.

"Well, I'm glad you're loving it. The years it took to get it this long are turning out to be worth it for that alone." Serena said with a grin as she adjusted the strap of her seatbelt across her chest.

She didn't bother mentioning the discomfort she had felt arranging her hair in a style that wasn't her usual buns and streams. She had forced herself to ignore it, and continue what she was doing; determined to have the style she had been envisioning since not long after she got her dress.

Darien laughed lightly as he pulled away from the curb, and began to drive away from the Tsukino household to start their date.

"Did it take you long to make it home after I left the tennis court?" He asked conversationally as he drove down the street.

"No not really." Serena answered as she looked over to him. "I stayed transformed and raced home to make sure I had enough time to get ready. What about you?"

"I had to get back to my car and then drive home, but that didn't take as long as you might think." He answered. "So I had plenty of time to get ready." He added. Even with the freeing of his general he had had plenty of time.

"Good." She replied.

"I'm curious." He said after a few silent moments. "I noticed Sailor Venus wasn't at the fight scene."

"Yeah I noticed that too, but I didn't ask the others about it. I assume she either couldn't come or none of them contacted her." She said with a shrug.

"If she could not come I wonder if they will be or are upset with her as they were with you when we were camping." He replied as he drove.

"Probably not since they seem to only have a problem with me." She replied as she raised an eyebrow at him, but before she could add anything else she heard her communicator beeping.

She sighed heavily, closing her eyes briefly, before she opened her purse and pulled out the device, hoping mightily that whoever was contacting her wasn't going to say there was a monster attack.

Especially since I'm not sensing any dark energy. She thought before she pressed the flashing dark pink button with the blue Mercury symbol on it.

"Serena here." She answered calmly as she watched Amy's face appear on the tiny screen.

"Raye's called for a meeting at her place. We're going to have a serious talk with the princess." Amy said seriously.

"When is it?" She asked as she glanced up. At least it's not a monster attack. She thought as they slowed to a stop behind a car at a red light.

"As soon as everyone arrives." Amy answered.

"Ah, well I can't come." Serena said as soon as she heard the words. "I'll get the details about it later."

She didn't particularly care why they were having a talk with the princess. She wasn't going to cut her date short before it really started, and she definitely wasn't going to ditch Darien for Susanna; princess or not.

Whatever the talk was going to be about it obviously wasn't going to be about the rainbow crystals since that was her job, and if it was about the silver crystal then Amy would have said that from the start. Clearly the princess hadn't been attacked or been kidnapped or that would have been stated from the start too.

Plus, they wouldn't be having a talk with Susanna if she had been kidnapped. They likely would have still been trying to get her back. That is a meeting I would have cut my date short for. She thought. She didn't like the princess, but she didn't want her hurt or in enemy hands.

"What? Why can't you come?!" Amy asked incredulously.

"I just can't." Serena said before she glanced out the window to see they were getting on the freeway. "Look I have to go. Serena out." She said before she pressed the button with the Mercury symbol to end the connection.

"I suppose they, or at the very least she, will be upset with you for missing that meeting just like she was when you missed the fight when we were camping." Darien commented as he drove toward the freeway, having recognized her voice from that previous communication.

"I have no doubt she and Mars at least will be." Serena said as she shook her head lightly and put her communicator away. "I don't exactly know what they plan to talk about, but from what wasn't mentioned it didn't sound like it was going to be especially important. Definitely not to the point of me running out on our date."

"Well I am pleased that you decided to stay with me and continue our date." He replied as he glanced her way with a small smile. He was especially pleased that she didn't feel the need to drop everything to go simply because the royal female was in attendance.

"Me too!" She said as she grinned over at him. "And speaking of camping, I can't wait for our next camping double date with Kagome and Sesshomaru."

"Me as well." He agreed. "Come Friday we will be on our way and spending the weekend in sleeping bags, sitting around an open fire, and surrounded by nature."

"Sounds great!" She agreed with a longing sigh. "You know you never mentioned where you and Sesshomaru decided we would go."

"And I won't anytime soon. You'll learn when we get there." He said with a smirk as he began to head onto the freeway.

"Ah, a surprise." She commented as she nodded and watched as they sped along one of the lanes of the highway.

"Indeed." He replied.

"Is this a secret from Kagome too?" She asked.

"Yes. Sesshomaru and I agreed on it." He answered as he carefully changed lanes. "We wanted there to be some mystery to it."

Serena hummed and nodded, and for the next few minutes they drove in comfortable silence. Eventually Darien began to shift around cars until he reached a far lane and pulled over onto the exit ramp and began to drive down the street. He drove along a few streets and turned a corner twice before he pulled into a large parking garage. He parked up on the third floor in a spot with the elevator within sight before he turned off the engine.

He unbuckled his seatbelt as he pulled his keys from the ignition and opened the door before he got out of the car. Closing the door he walked around and opened the door for his Serenity and offered his hand and helped her out of the car. He closed the door as he watched her straighten her dress and sweep her long ponytail over her shoulder to hang down her back.

"Shall we my lady?" He said as he offered her his arm.

"Yes." Serena said as she accepted his arm, wrapping her own around his and grasping it with her hand.

The couple walked to the elevator and took it down to the ground floor before they walked out of the garage and headed down the sidewalk. A few blocks later they began to see other people dressed formally and headed in the same direction they were. A few minutes later they reached a large light gray rectangular building.

Serena eyed the building curiously as they walked. Just looking at it she couldn't tell how many floors it had but it looked big. Although, not as large as the concert hall they had gone to on their last formal date. With the time of evening it was the windows and some of the outside were lit nicely with a soft warm-looking amber light.

It wasn't until they got closer to the building that she caught sight of the name of the building. The New National Theatre, Tokyo. Were they going to see a play after all or something else? Just because the building name had theatre on it didn't mean that was all they featured.

"Are we going to see another musical orchestra or were you still thinking of a play or an opera singer performance?" She asked as she looked to her boyfriend.

"You'll see." Darien replied as they walked.

Serena hummed and they continued on their way in silence. When they reached the doors Darien pulled open the door and lead her inside and guided her through the large brightly lit lobby. They passed what she thought was the desk where either information was given, tickets were purchased, or both without stopping, and she strongly suspected that just like last time he had their tickets already.

They walked up one set of wide stairs before they followed a hallway and moved up yet another set of stairs, this one narrower than the last, and turned down a slightly narrow hallway. She looked around intently throughout their walk, but saw no advertisements of what was being played or performed in sight; only some costumes displayed nicely on single wide ledges.

In the hallway however, there was a woman dressed very smartly with her hair done nicely standing at the first visible door in their path.

Darien reached inside his jacket and pulled out two tickets, presumably from a pocket, and presented them to the woman who was clearly an usher. She examined the tickets closely before returning them with a smile and a nod before gestured toward the open doorway. Serena tried to see what the tickets said but he put them back in his pocket too fast for her to even get a glimpse, and smiled at her while he did it.

He guided her through the doorway and she gasped as she saw that they were stepping into a balcony of seating in a large brightly lit theater with light brown wood paneling everywhere. Even the seats were light brown; although the cushions were white.

Everything had an amber-like glow to it with the way the lighting was that made it look soft and inviting. It was just as amazing as the place they had gone before to listen to the musical orchestra.

They moved down the side isle between the wall and the seating until they reached the front section where the rows of seats began with only two seats side by side. Her gentleman boyfriend gently gestured for her to take the seat next to the balcony railing and she did so, placing her purse in her lap, and watched him sit beside her before she looked around.

Their seats were facing a vibrant red curtain that looked like it was hanging further out than she thought it should be and she wondered what that was about. She looked down and saw the seating on the ground floor and glanced up briefly to see that they were on the balcony lowest to the ground floor and likely to give them a good view of whatever it was they were going to see.

"I can't see the ticket yet?" Serena asked as she looked away from the sideways row of seats in front of them.

"No." Darien said with a small smile as he shook his head lightly. "I'll give your ticket afterward. I don't want to ruin the surprise before the performance begins."

"Ah." She sighed in resignation before she began to look around again.

While she was doing that Darien was watching her fondly and anticipating her reaction at the start of the show. He thought she would be surprised and enjoy it; especially if it played out as he imagined it would, which he thought it very likely would considering where the curtain was hanging.

It's covering up the orchestra pit. He thought, remembering back to the layout he had looked up as he looked to the curtain, which was hiding the entire stage.

Beautiful. He thought as he returned his eyes to his soulmate.

Once again he took in her dress that looked like the night sky and the way it settled around her figure. His eyes skipped down to her legs where he knew the slit was that would reveal one of her toned shapely legs, and then back up to admire her long hair and the ponytail it was pulled up into.

So much better than those horrible buns. He thought as his eyes traced the braid that wrapped around the base of her ponytail making it look like that was all that was holding it in place.

In the next moment his thought was quietly interrupted by the usher that had seen them at the door. She handed him two small booklets that reminded him of large pamphlets, and as he registered what they were he quickly hid them before his Serenity could see them and quietly thanked the woman. He looked away from her as she walked away and saw that his Serenity hadn't noticed what had just happened.

Good. It will remain a mystery until the show begins. He thought as he silently watched her. She hadn't even noticed the name of the theatre they had entered since she had been so busy looking for signs of what they were there to see.

Yes; the Opera Palace would have given it away somewhat. He thought as he watched her tilt her head this way and that way as she looked at the seating below them.

Serena settled back into her comfortable seat and just as she looked to Darien the lights began to dim causing the general murmur of conversation to quiet down through the theatre. She looked toward where the curtain was since she could no longer see it in the dark, and a few long moments later watched as a muted light was revealed as the curtain parted to the sides.

The first thing that caught her eye was a large old-looking chandelier sitting in the middle of the stage, and off to the side was a man standing at a desk looking as if he was writing something down. Beyond that there were people walking around in early 1900s clothes. She couldn't tell what country the style was from, but she knew it wasn't Japanese.

The people were walking from one side of the stage to the other from both directions as if they were just casually walking down a sidewalk. Then there were some that stopped and were looking at some other smaller items that were on the stage, and others appeared to be waiting around and talking amongst themselves.

She couldn't hear what they were saying but she could actually hear the murmurs. Then from the far side from the man at the desk a man was pushed into view in a wheelchair looking bundled up as if to protect him from the cold and suggesting he might be elderly.

The man at the desk eventually stopped writing and picked up what looked like a hammer and banged it on the desk drawing the attention of everyone on the stage before he began to speak.

As the man spoke Serena realized he was conducting an auction, and then she realized with a small jolt a few moments later that he was speaking in French. She glanced to her boyfriend in surprise. Not only were they watching a play, but it was in French at that!

"Lot 666, then: a chandelier in pieces. Some of you may recall the strange affair of the Phantom of the Opera: a mystery never fully explained." The auctioneer said.

Serena gasped and covered her mouth with her hand to stop the rest of the sound, and looked to Darien in wide eyed surprise as she realized what performance they were about to watch. She'd only ever seen commercials advertising this musical before and had never seen the movie, so this was going to be new and interesting.

He grinned in returned, having already been looking at her, and she smiled before she focused back on the stage.

"We are told ladies and gentlemen, that this is the very chandelier which figures in the famous disaster. Our workshops have repaired it and wired parts of it for the new electric light, so that we may get a hint of what it may look like when fully reassembled. Perhaps we can frighten away the ghost of so many years ago with an illumination. Gentlemen?" The auctioneer said before he gestured to his assistants.

They did something and suddenly there was a flash and the chandelier flickered to life, and began to rise from the stage and into the air as music began to play, from what sounded like an organ piano, and things and people on stage began to move around to an entirely different setting from the dreary auction as the chandelier continued to rise until it shone and glittered brightly from where it stopped at a sloping ceiling above the stage to hang over the first couple of rows of the audience on the ground floor.

Serena thought she heard other instruments, drums, violins, trumpets, and suspected there was an actual live orchestra somewhere behind the stage. There was so much organized activity on the stage showing young women in custom practicing something. It was all so amazing, and the show had just started!

Darien listened to the lead female character, Christine Daaé, sing the lyrics to the song 'Think of Me' as the replacement singer for the leading female, Carlotta, who dramatically refused to perform.

It was a nice song and he paid attention to what was happening on the stage, but he found himself watching his soulmate just as much as the musical played out simply to enjoy her facial expressions as she reacted to the scenes.

Her eyes would grow wide and she would lean forward slightly before she eventually realized she had moved forward and settle back against the seat cushion. Then she would gasp quietly or smile lightly or part her lips in surprise or shock.

It was fascinating. Especially since the entire performance was in French. He didn't even think she had noticed the projected words in English and Japanese at the far side of the stage from them.

His Serenity was either better at understanding the language then he had originally believed when she first revealed that was the foreign language she was learning in school or her true identity as the scout of the Earth was helping her to understand easier; maybe even to understand completely without her realizing since she didn't appear to be struggling to understand.

"No more talk of darkness
Forget these wide eyed fears
I'm here, nothing can harm you
My words will warm and calm you
Let me be your freedom
Let daylight dry your tears
I'm here, with you, beside you
To guard you and to guide you"

"Say you love me every waking moment
Turn my head with talk of summertime
Say you need me with you now and always
Promise me that all you say is true
That's all I ask of you"

"Let me be your shelter
Let me be your light
You're safe, no one will find you
Your fears are far behind you"

"All I want is freedom
A world with no more night
And you, always beside me
To hold me and to hide me"

"Then say you'll share with me
One love, one lifetime
Let me lead you from your solitude
Say you need me with you here, beside you
Anywhere you go, let me go too
Christine, that's all I ask of you"(1)

A beautiful song. One I can relate to. Darien thought as Christine and her romantic lead, Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny, sang to each other. However, I think at this point I am no longer satisfied with a single lifetime with my Serenity. We have already had part of one and are still at the beginning of our second, but I believe I will want her in every reincarnation we have. Although, hopefully in this lifetime we live longer than we did in the last.

Serena watched in interest as the Phantom appeared from behind a statue as Christine and Raoul sang and hurried away from the scene after having heard them and realized she had, in his mind, betrayed him.

"You will curse the day you did not do

All that the Phantom asked of you!" He sang dramatically and angrily before the curtain closed and blocked him and the scene from view.

The lights slowly came back on and she blinked as she realized this must be a break in the show. She turned to look at her boyfriend only to see he was already looking at her.

"Are you enjoying the show so far?" He asked.

"I am." She answered. "I can't believe we're watching it in French. That was unexpected."

"I'm glad I was able to surprise you." Darien said before he shifted slightly and grabbed something at his side. "Now that you are well aware you can have this."

Serena grabbed the thin booklet and straightened it as she looked at it. It was black with a white masquerade mask in the middle and a single red rose lying just under it. At the top in dramatic font that was white in the middle and faded into light blue was the title: The Phantom of the Opera, appearing broken as if it was shattered, and at the very bottom was the name and address of the theatre in the same color.

She opened it and realized it was a program of the performance. It gave the title of the musical, the names of the characters and cast playing them, a synopsis of the performance, a list of the acts and scenes along with the characters that appeared, and the running time of the show.

"There are surtitles available?" She said in surprise as she read how they offered English and Japanese lyrics and dialogue projected above the stage to go with the French singing.

"Yes they do, and your French is so good you didn't even notice." He replied proudly with a light smile, and watched her blush.

"You're right I didn't notice. I didn't realize I was that good. Thank you." Serena said, hearing the compliment, and closed the program after she saw that the intermission would be fifteen minutes. "Are you enjoying the show so far?" She asked.

"I am." Darien answered, especially since he found he was slowly starting to understand the dialogue, which wasn't a surprise since the same had happened in the past. "It has been interesting to watch, and to watch your reactions."

"Of course you're watching me." She said blushingly as she looked down and fiddled with her program.

"Well I cannot help it. I like watching you." He replied easily, having no problem admitting that.

Serena smiled happily, pleased that he couldn't take his eyes off her, and began to talk about the musical so far. They spoke of what they liked most and their enjoyment that it was being entirely sung and spoken in French.

Sooner than expected the fifteen minutes passed and the lights began to dim before going dark altogether. Moments later the red curtain opened and act two began with a masquerade ball that was taking place at the opera house six months after the events in act one.

During the ball the Phantom appeared dressed in all red and announced he had written an opera, and demanded it be produced and performed with Christine in the lead role.

Raoul found out the truth about the Phantom, and decided to use the premier of the Phantom's opera to trap him and end the terror he had been causing. The night the musical premiered Christine and the male who was supposed to lead with her began the show, but it was apparent that the Phantom had replaced that man and was performing in his place.

"Past the point of no return
No backward glances
Our games of make believe are at an end
Past all thought of "if" or "when"
No use resisting
Abandon thought and let the dream descend

What raging fire shall flood the soul?
What rich desire unlocks its door?
What sweet seduction lies before us?

Past the point of no return
The final threshold
What warm unspoken secrets will we learn?
Beyond the point of no return"

"You have brought me
To that moment when words run dry
To that moment when speech disappears
Into silence
Silence

I have come here
Hardly knowing the reason why
In my mind I've already imagined
Our bodies entwining
Defenseless and silent
Now I am here with you
No second thoughts
I've decided
Decided

Past the point of no return
No going back now
Our passion-play has now, at last, begun
Past all thought of right or wrong
One final question
How long should we two wait, before we're one?
When will the blood begin to race?
The sleeping bud burst into bloom?
When will the flames, at last, consume us?"

"Past the point of no return
The final threshold
The bridge is crossed
So stand and watch it burn
We've passed the point of no return"(2)

During the performance Christine calmly pulled off the Phantom's mask, revealing his deformed face to the horror of the audience. Everyone screamed and he dragged Christine to his lair while the opera house descended into chaos at what was revealed, and the discovery of the lead male having been murdered. An angry vigilante mob formed, determined to get revenge on the Phantom for the murders that he had done.

Raoul found out how to get to the Phantom's lair and rushed off to rescue Christine, but was captured by the Phantom before he could be of any help. The Phantom offered Christine, now wearing a wedding dress, an ultimatum: stay with him and Raoul would live, but refuse and he would die. She seemed to choose neither and told the Phantom that he wasn't alone and willingly kissed him.

Having experienced that compassion for the first time he freed Raoul and told Christine that he loved her before sending the couple on their way out of his lair. He remained behind waiting for the angry mod that was audible, huddled on his throne beneath his cloak, but when the cloak is pulled away there was only the Phantom's mask lying there.

With that the curtain closed, signaling the end of the show, and everyone in the theatre began to clap. A few moments later the curtain opened again to show all the performers lined up before they bowed their thanks to the audience. Everyone, including Serena and Darien, stood up and clapped in appreciation for their performance.

After a few long moments of clapping Darien escorted Serena out of their balcony seating, and they made their way back through the building and to the exit and into the cool fresh evening air.

Darien wrapped soulmate's arm around his and silently guided her along the sidewalks back to the parking garage and to his car where he helped her inside. He made sure her dress and hair were all inside and settled properly before he made his way around the car and joined her inside. He started the car and they both put on their seatbelts before he began to pull out of his parking space.

"Where are we going now?" Serena asked curiously as they left the parking garage.

"To have dinner." Darien answered readily as he drove down the street.

Serena hummed and looked out the window as they passed trees, buildings, and cars on their way to wherever her boyfriend had decided they would have dinner. She wouldn't mind them having dinner at his place but she doubted that's what he had in mind, and she couldn't imagine them going to some fast food place with how they were dressed; although she thought that would be interesting and the reactions they would get were sure to be entertaining.

Nearly twenty minutes later Darien pulled into a six level parking garage and parked in the first space he found on the ground floor before turning the engine off. He got out of the car and helped his soulmate out like the gentleman he was, and began to lead her out of the garage and down the sidewalk. He glanced to his Serenity a few times as they walked, wondering what she would think of the reservation he had made for them.

I hope she enjoys it. He thought as he focused on where they were going and guiding her safely there.

Serena looked around curiously and couldn't help noticing they were in a pretty nice part of the city. Fancy expensive looking restaurants, hotels, and clothing stores. She had definitely never been to this part of the city unless she had unknowingly passed by during her patrolling.

It wasn't long before her gentleman boyfriend was leading her up to an extremely tall building that looked like it was at least twenty stories. The sign, in glowing flowing letters, named the building Ruminasu Tokyo Tower.

A uniformed man opened the door for them as they approached and she had to hide her surprise. That was clearly why the man was there, but she had never been anywhere where someone in a uniform opened the door for her.

They walked into and through a large well-lit lobby, passing what was clearly a reception desk since there were a few people standing there with a small hand held bag and small luggage, and headed toward the elevators.

The people were dressed casually, but it was more expensive looking casual then she had ever seen outside of TV shows and movies. She looked to her boyfriend, but he just smiled lightly at her and looked back toward the elevators.

As they reached them he guided her over to the last one and pressed the button next to it. It came within seconds which surprised her with how tall the building was, and she wondered if it had already been there waiting or had just stopped one floor above so it didn't have far to travel.

Darien led his soulmate inside the spacious elevator and pressed one of the only three buttons available and watched the doors slide close. He couldn't wait to see her reaction to the restaurant. He had already been there to make the reservation and to pick out a table since after finding out about the layout he had a specific area and spot he wanted for their date.

Only a couple of minutes later the elevator slowed to a stop and the doors slid open. They stepped out to the sound of the low murmur of many people talking and piano music playing. There was a small booth slightly off to the side ahead of them and beyond that was the restaurant with an open floor plan. Nearly all the tables were visible; two seaters, three seaters, larger tables, and a bar were all situated nicely.

"Good evening." The hostess, a soft spoken woman, said welcomingly from her position behind the booth.

"Good evening. We have a reservation." Darien said.

"Name please?" The hostess asked.

"Darien Shields." He answered calmly, and watched as she typed on what must be a little computer in the booth.

"Ah yes Mr. Shields. Please follow me." She said as she grabbed two menus.

The couple followed the woman as they walked into the restaurant. There were antique-looking chandeliers hanging from the ceiling that gave the appearance of holding dozens of candles each, thick white round pillar candles inside clear cylinder glass pillar holdings, and in the corners on the floor were tall rectangular clear glass lanterns with round pillar candles inside.

The place had dark brown wood paneling along the walls and the bar that looked like tree bark, the floor was black marble, and the tables and chairs were a dark reddish brown that also looked like wood. The whole look made the place look warm and intimate, and of course everyone was in formal wear so clearly it was a mandatory dress code.

The hostess guided them through the restaurant to a large balcony with wide open glass doors where the warm intimate decor continued outside.

The walls were black to match the marble floor, and there was a black solid railing with glass paneling enclosing the rectangular balcony. The tall glass lanterns sat in the four corners casting enough of a glow to walk comfortably, and on the walls to the left and right of the doors were wall mounted chandeliers that matched the ones inside the main restaurant.

There was a two seater table in the middle of the balcony framed by the doorway, and when they walked out onto the balcony there were two more identical tables to the first; one to the far left and one to the far right. The middle table was occupied, but the other two weren't.

Serena and Darien were lead to the empty table on the far left, and Darien waited for his Serenity to put her purse down and shift her long hair out of the way so it wouldn't get caught up on anything. She sat down and he pushed her chair in for her, silently accepting her smile of thanks, before he moved around the table and seated himself.

Once they were both comfortable the hostess handed them each a menu, and informed them their waiter would be with them momentarily. They thanked her and opened their menus to see what was available to order.

Just like before Serena immediately noticed that there were no prices and despite her experience with Darien she was still wary about that. Beyond that the dishes had names that were very fancy but didn't tell you anything. She was able to tell that some were steak dishes, chicken dishes, and some were seafood dishes, but she had no idea what to get.

"Can order for me?" She asked as she looked up from the menu with a sigh. "I have no idea what to get."

"Absolutely." Darien agreed easily. "I will make sure it is something delicious and not complicated." He assured her before he returned to examining the menu.

A few minutes later the waiter arrived, an older man in a uniform, and took their orders before collecting their menus and leaving them to put in their order.

"How are you enjoying the evening so far?" Darien asked as he gazed at his soulmate.

"It's been great." Serena answered with a smile. "The play performance was incredible, and I'm still surprised it was in French and I didn't have trouble understanding."

"Yes. I'm still glad I was able to surprise you with that, and still proud at how good your French has become." He replied.

"Thank you." She said as she looked down, trying not to blush. "You've been great too; such a gentleman. How did I get so lucky?"

"By simply being you." He said honestly. "You deserve the best. You deserve all I can give and more." He added truthfully.

Serena blushed brightly but smiled in pleasure at her boyfriend and his romantic words. She didn't know about deserving things as he said, but she liked that he had said it.

"Are..are you enjoying the evening so far?" She asked, moving away from his blush inducing words.

"I am." Darien answered. "The performance was all I hoped it would be given the reviews, and from what I could tell the spoken language was flawless especially with the singing. And this restaurant is just as I hoped it would be since when I first saw it it was during the day."

"Oh yes! This restaurant is beautiful, with the chandeliers and candles, the live piano music, and especially this view." She agreed as she looked around. The view really was amazing with how high up they were. "I like this spot as well. It's a little cool out but not uncomfortably so, and I like the privacy it gives." She added as she looked back to her boyfriend.

"That was what I intended, so I am pleased you came to that conclusion." He replied, and watched her smile. "Another thing I am enjoying tonight is how beautiful you are. You look absolutely amazing in that dress and in that color. You fit perfectly in our surroundings out here."

"Thank you." Serena said as she blushed in pleasure at his compliments.

"And your hair style is so different than you usually wear it." He commented as his eyes shifted along the slightly high ponytail, remembering the braided detail from earlier. "I definitely like it, and the jewelry looks as beautiful on you as I imagined it would. I cannot wait to see how the other colors look on you."

"Thank you." She said before she lightly touched her heated cheeks with her hands. "If you keep this up my face will be red all night!"

"I do not mind. Red looks good on you. I am enjoying the view." He replied with a gentle smirk.

"Darien! Too many compliments!" She said as she tried to stop her blush.

"Nonsense! It is not enough compliments." Darien countered lightly yet seriously. "I already told you you deserve the best, all I can give and more, and that includes compliments."

"Oh my!" She said, embarrassed yet so pleased.

Before she could say more their waiter returned with their drinks, and she was distracted from embarrassment by noticing that just like during their first formal date they were having champagne.

She watched as the tall glasses were gently placed on the table in front of her and Darien before the older man opened the champagne bottle and poured the bubbly liquid until the foam reached the edge of the glasses.

Darien decided to give his Serenity a break from his compliments and began to discuss the play they had watched as they slowly sipped their champagne. They talked about the various costumes, the props, and the backgrounds that individualized different scenes.

A little while later their waiter returned with their food and carefully placed their plates in front of each of them. After thanking him Serena took a look at what Darien had ordered for her.

On her plate was a single skinless chicken breast with creamy sauce on it and thinly sliced mushrooms, and sprinkled on top were vibrant green leafy bits that if she had to guess she thought might be parsley. It looked delicious and she couldn't wait to see if it tasted so.

"What is this called, and what did you get?" She asked curiously as she looked over at his plate. There were five round white..things in a perfect circle drizzled with some kind of yellow oil or juice and sprinkled in vibrant green bits that looked different than what was on her dish but she wasn't sure.

"You have creamy parmesan mushroom chicken, and I have scallops with lemon and herb butter sauce." Darien answered readily.

"Oh, I've never had scallops before." Serena said slightly wide eyed.

"We can share. I've never had creamy mushroom chicken before." He said as he shifted his champagne glass aside so it wouldn't be in the way of either of them.

"Neither have I." She said as she moved her glass as well and shifted her plate closer to the middle of the table as he was.

They picked up their knife and fork and began to sample their own dish. It was delicious and combined with the champagne it was even more so. Then they tasted each other's dish and agreed that it was delicious as well.

As they ate their dinner, and occasionally sampled each other's dinner, they spoke about the food, wondered what they had available for desert, and what their next date would be.

They knew right away that it would be casual and relaxed, and happen after she got out of school, so they ran through the options of going to the movies, hanging out at the mall, having a picnic in a park, hanging out at the arcade, or just hanging out at his place.

All of those options were fine with them and they actually wanted to do all of them, so they decided to do one a day until Friday when they could leave for the camping double date and then maybe continue doing them next week.

When they finished their dinner their waiter returned minutes afterward and collected their dishes before returning with desert menus and giving them a few minutes. After looking over the selection Darien ordered their desert and the waiter took their menus and left to put in their order.

Only a few minutes later he returned with two small plates and placed one in front of each of them with hopes for them to enjoy their desert.

Said desert was a triangular three layer slice of cheesecake. It had a thin light brown crust, a thick white layer on top of the crust with a thick lavender layer on top of that, and a thin dark purple jelly layer on top of that with three medium sized drops of decorative purple frosting at the thicker end of the slice and a single blackberry on top of them.

It was very visually appealing, and they lifted their forks and dug into the cake. It was delicious and with the champagne added to it it was even more so. They took their time polishing off their desert and drinking the last of their champagne.

They had only had the one glass each, and they had taken slow small sips throughout their meal since they didn't want be tipsy or drunk since a monster attack could happen and they both had school in the morning.

When the waiter returned their plates and glasses were empty and their stomachs were full. He took their dishes and returned a few moments later with the check. Darien paid the bill and soon they were back in the elevator and returning to the ground floor of the hotel.

They walked through the lobby and the uniformed man at the door opened it for them as they approached. Once they were outside they began to make their way back toward the parking garage.

Serena looked around as she held on to Darien's arm with one hand and held her purse in her other hand. It was a nice night out, still cool, but it didn't look like there was anywhere to go for a walk around here like they had on their last formal date. It was a shame, because she didn't want this night to end yet.

"Is this it for the night?" She asked as she looked up at her boyfriend.

"Yes. I don't have anything else planned for the night." Darien said as he looked down to her. "Why? Are you not ready to go home yet?" He asked.

"No. I don't want this night to end yet." She said. She knew if this was any other night she would either be doing homework or out patrolling, but tonight all her homework was already done and she could always patrol later tonight after she parted from Darien.

Not like he won't show up to join me, so we would be together again anyway. She thought.

"Then it will not end yet." He said seriously. He would take any excuse to remain in the presence of his soulmate; especially when that was what she wanted. "What would you like to do?" He asked as they walked.

"Umm…" Serena hummed thoughtfully. Walking somewhere and enjoying the evening air would be nice, but that would involve driving somewhere where they could do that.

And if we're going to do that we might as well drive to his place where we can be comfortable, and I don't have to worry about my dress getting dirty. She thought.

"Can we go to your place?" She asked hopefully as she looked up at him.

"If that is what you desire then of course we can." He answered easily.

With that decision made the couple continued on to the parking garage and made their way back to his car. As he had before Darien helped Serena into the car before getting in himself and starting the car. Once they both had their seatbelts on he began to pull out of the parking spot and made his way out of the garage.

The drive was quiet aside from low music playing on the radio. At first Serena gazed out the window, but as Darien drove onto the freeway she switched her gaze to him. He was so very handsome, especially in his suit, but in general her boyfriend was just a very fine looking guy.

He was seated so of course she couldn't enjoy his height like she could when they were walking, but it didn't stop her from remembering and knowing that she liked how tall he was. His beautiful deep blue eyes were also a pleasure to look at, and his dark black hair looked so silky and soft that she wanted to run her fingers through it right now.

It might not be too uncomfortable to make the attempt, and I seriously doubt it would distract him. She thought quietly as she stared at him then she reached over and ran her fingers through the back of his hair.

Darien leaned his head toward his Serenity slightly since he couldn't close his eyes driving as he was. He loved it when she touched him spontaneously, and he had no problem admitting he enjoyed having her eyes on him. He wasn't looking her way, but he could see her from the corner of his eye and knew she was gazing at him.

He wanted to stare at her in return; especially with the way she looked tonight. His soulmate always looked beautiful to him, but right now she looked absolutely amazing. That navy blue sparkly dress that fit her like a glove looked beautiful on her, and he very much wanted to take advantage of the split in the skirt and her bare back.

Then there was her hair. He could never get enough of the length of her hair, and tonight she had styled it reminiscent to how she had worn it in the past.

I cannot wait to get my hands in it. He thought with a light sigh. And on her. It looks like we have something to do when we get to my apartment. I only have to make sure we stay away from my bedroom.

Fifteen more minutes found them off the freeway and through the streets leading to his neighborhood before he pulled into the parking garage of his apartment building. He parked in his usual spot and they rode the elevator up to his floor, his arm wrapped around her back as she leaned against him.

When they got off the elevator they walked down the hallway to his apartment and he pulled out his keys and opened the door. He flipped on the light and tossed his keys on the side table as he closed the door and watched his soulmate.

Serena stepped toward the living room area and placed her clutch purse on the side chair as she looked toward the balcony and the view beyond. She was slightly blocked by the glare of the light on the glass but she could still see through it.

She stepped forward in front of the couch and smiled as she felt Darien's arms slip around her waist as he stepped up behind her. She looked down and saw that he had removed his suit jacket leaving him in his black shirt.

Smiling she covered his hands and arms with her own and leaned back against him. He kissed her cheek and she hummed as he leaned down and kissed the side of her neck. She smiled again before she slowly twisted in his arms and slid her hands up his chest to rest on the back of his neck before they kissed.

Darien slipped his tongue into his soulmate's mouth and thoroughly enjoyed their kiss as he stroked his hands up and down the warm skin of her back. He listened to her hum before he moved a hand to run his fingers through the thick stream of hair hanging down her body. His Serenity shivered and arched her body into his, and he wasted no time helping to keep her there by wrapping his arm around her.

He broke their kiss and moved his lips down to her neck and pressed his lips up and down the smooth column while occasionally tasting her skin with the tip of his tongue.

He hummed in a way that came out like low light moan. He wanted more. He wanted to run his hands up and down her curves and explore the texture of her dress, run his fingers through her hair, and kiss every inch of skin he could reach.

But let's get comfortable before that. He told himself before he pulled back and looked to his side.

He pulled away and sat down on the middle of the couch and looked up to his soulmate. He watched as she raised an eyebrow before she took a single step and then took advantage of the slit in her dress to put a knee on the couch beside him and then carefully straddled his legs and settled herself on his lap.

Serena grinned lightly as she slid her arms around his shoulders and leaned over to kiss him. However, before her lips could make contact with his a scene began to play through her mind.

oOo

Serenity paused as she was leaving and looked at her sleeping Prince.

She had awakened that morning before him, and had quietly prepared for the day without waking him since she didn't like waking him if he didn't need to be up. She had finished getting ready and had transformed before heading for the door, but looking at him had stopped her in her tracks.

He looked so peaceful, but he also looked so very handsome. His hair was messy, the covers were pushed down laying across his hips, and he was shirtless as he always was when he went to sleep.

She watched his bare chest rise and fall with his every breath, and her eyelids lowered as desire began to creep into her belly.

He is always saying I should wake him if I awaken first, so we can spend as much time together. I shall finally give him what he wants, and more. She told herself before she stepped over to the bed.

Serenity slowly pulled the covers back until they were pass his feet and at the end of the bed, then she slowly got on the bed and straddled his hips until she was sitting on him. She stroked her gloved hands along his stomach and chest her desire rising with the position she had put herself in.

She wondered how he would react to waking and finding her straddling him. What would he do?

It is time to find out. She thought as she leaned forward.

She moved her hands to rest on the bed next to his shoulders, and kissed his soft relaxed lips. Again and again she pressed them to his until he shifted and groaned lightly. She pulled back and watched his eyes blink open slowly, and saw the surprise spark in his eyes along with a flash of gold.

He brought his hands up to her face and pulled her back down, and kissed her sleepily yet deeply before he slid his fingers back into her soft hair and rocked his hips up into hers.

Serenity hummed and rocked her hips in return, pleased at the pleasure beginning to trickle into her body. She eventually pulled back and sat up, still slowly rocking against him as he rested his hands on her hips

"What a pleasant surprise." Endymion said quietly as he looked her over.

His little scout was completely transformed and straddling him. Her short white, blue, and green skirt left her legs nicely on display, and her bodysuit hugged her in a way that left little to the imagination from his angle.

"I thought you would like it. After all, you are always telling me to wake you if I awaken first." She said.

"And what a nice way to awaken." He said, and then paused and tilted his head slightly on his pillow. "Is that all you intended to do my little scout?" He asked.

To emphasize his feelings he lifted his hips into her steadily rocking hips, feeling himself growing hard.

Serenity smirked, feeling exactly what he wanted her to feel with only her thin bodysuit covering her, and ground her hips hard against him. He groaned in response and she moaned along with him.

"I had more in mind, but you needed to be awake for it." She finally replied.

"Well my lady, I am very awake, and know exactly what I want." Endymion said.

With that he pulled her down and kissed her deeply as he rolled them to her side of the bed, uncaring that her hair and cape were draped over his legs, and thrust his hips hard as he settled on top of her and between her legs.

oOo

Serena gasped and sat up straight as she blinked rapidly back to the present around her.

"What's wrong?" Darien asked.

He had just been about to close his eyes when she leaned toward him, but when she paused and did nothing more he knew something was up. Either she was caught up in a thought or some memory had come to her.

Serena blushed brightly and cringed back as her hands almost kneaded his shoulders. She hadn't meant to react since she hadn't wanted him to know about such memories.

How embarrassing! She thought as she looked away and toward the balcony to try and regain her composure.

"What's wrong my lady?" Darien asked again as he rested his hands on her hips. "You must have remembered something." He said, taking a guess after a few moments of silence and watching her red face.

He was very curious about what she could have remembered with them being in such a position. He knew it had to be her as Sailor Earth, because he had never been in such an intimate position with her as the scout of the Moon.

"It's embarrassing." She said as she shifted uncomfortably.

"It does not matter." He said as he rubbed her legs reassuringly. "I will not judge you or laugh at you."

"Mmm..alright." She said with a reluctant sigh. "It was me as Sailor Earth. It was early morning, and I was in the Earth Prince's bedroom or the bedroom I shared with him I don't know. I was about to leave the room and start my day, but I stopped at the door and decided to give him a wake up call."

"I pulled the covers off him, straddled him, and kissed him awake. He was surprised but seemed to be happy about it, and we pretty much started to make out before the memory ended." She explained quickly.

Darien nodded and continued to rub her legs reassuringly. His Serenity had only done such a thing a handful of times, but if he had to guess he would say she had just remembered the first of those few times.

Ah that really was a very nice surprise. To awaken to my little scout straddling me and looking so very beautiful and alluring. He thought with a sigh of longing, wishing mightily that he could have his Serenity transformed into his little Earth scout and straddling him at this very moment.

"Sounds like you and the prince had an interesting morning." He said as he reigned in his emotions.

"Yeah." She said as she nodded slowly, and then took a breath and continued since he didn't react badly. "I experienced a couple more like it before. One as Sailor Earth, and the other I couldn't tell."

"Tell me about them." Daren said curiously.

"Well the one as Sailor Earth was the day we went on a tour of K.O." She began as she glanced at him shyly. "It was similar to what did when we came here afterward, we were even on a couch too, only he and I were in his private sitting room and I was transformed."

Darien nodded encouragingly. He didn't know that exact memory specifically since they had engaged in such activities on the couch in his private sitting room often, but he could easily remember multiple instances of them finding pleasure as they had done on this very couch after touring his university.

"The one where I couldn't tell if I was Sailor Earth or Sailor Moon happened when we were on our camping trip. It was a dark memory, I mean it was dark in what I assume was a bedroom since I felt like we were on a bed with covers." Serena explained.

"We were making out and..you know…doing the same thing we did on that camping trip, but I remember seeing glowing gold eyes. I thought that was a little strange given what was happening. Well, I didn't think it at the time, but later on when I thought back on the memory that came to mind." She said with a shrug.

Darien was subtly amused that she couldn't describe or even simply say that they were heavily making out or using their bodies to give each other pleasure. Still, he recalled instances of such times where he and his Serenity came together in the night for pleasure. It was usually when one of them woke from a dream, which was why her memory took place in the dark.

And of course that memory was not of her as the scout of the Moon. We were never in such a position while she was that scout. He thought, and then sighed internally. And I cannot tell her that without revealing that I am the prince from her memories.

"See? There is nothing to be embarrassed of." He said reassuringly, and then looked at her thoughtfully. "Try to think of such memories as a situation where you had a previous boyfriend, and you engaged in intimacies with him. You would not be embarrassed about what you had done right? You would probably think it was none of my business, but not be embarrassed by it."

"You're right." She said as she nodded slowly. "It'll probably help me to think of those memories like the prince is a previous boyfriend. Since technically he was; at least when it came to me as Sailor Moon. As Sailor Earth he would be a previous fiancé."

"There you have it. No need to be embarrassed of such memories or of speaking about them." He said as he finally focused on the feel of her dress. Just as he had thought before it felt as stretchy as it looked.

"Now are you going to finish what you started?" He asked as he moved his hands back to her waist.

"Yeah." Serena said before she leaned forward and kissed him hard.

Their lips parted before returning and adding their tongues to the mix. He tightened his grip on her waist and she moved an arm back around his shoulders and slid her other hand up into his hair as their tongues twisted and slid together.

Darien slid an arm around her back and pulled her flush up against him, causing her dress to scrunch up her thighs and leaving her legs bare to the air. Serena moaned at the contact and automatically began to rock her hips to try and increase the pleasure she was beginning to feel in her body.

Darien moaned lowly into his soulmate's mouth as he enjoyed the feel of her hips moving against his. He curled his tongue around hers and slid against it before he slowly pulled away and planted kisses across her face and down her neck. He paused to gently pull on her delicate necklace with his lips before he released it and latched onto her neck instead.

Serena moaned lightly and tilted her head back, thoroughly enjoying the feel of her boyfriend gently sucking on her neck, as she continued to rock her hips. As pleasure flowed through her body she slowly rolled them in a circle, and listened as he groaned and lifted his hips up into her rolling motion.

Darien cracked his eyes open and looked over and down to see one of his soulmate's high heel shoes as she shifted her foot. The strap around her ankle made his desire spike and he knew it was because he remembered the way the shoe looked on her foot as she walked down the stairs in her house to him. The shoes had helped to make her legs look great aside from making her look even better in her dress.

He moaned and moved his lips back to hers as he lifted his hips up into the rocking motion of hers. As his tongue slipped into her mouth he slid his hands up and down her bare back before he moved one to slide over her hip and along one of her bare thighs.

He wanted to roll her onto her back like he had the last time they found themselves in such a position, but he didn't want to chance ruining her very nice dress. Instead he began to push the skirt of her dress further up her thighs and up around her waist.

Serena moaned, blushing at how lustful it sounded, as she felt her boyfriend's hands stroke over her bottom and squeeze as she rocked against the evidence of his desire for her. A few moments later she felt him shifting her back and she broke their kiss and looked down to see that he was undoing his pants.

She hummed and moved back on his legs before she stood up, making sure to hold her dress so it didn't slid back down from where he had pushed it. She watched him lift his hips and push his pants down pass his knees and out of the way before she stepped back to him and straddled his lap again.

Her lips pressed to his and she wasted no time rocking her hips slowly sliding herself against the evidence of his desire for her. She could feel him so much better than she had before, and it sent amazing sensations traveling through her body.

A pleased hum traveled up her throat, that sounded like a low moan, at the feel of her boyfriend lifting his hips into her slow motion. It felt so good and definitely helped that he seemed to know the exact moment to move to create the most pleasure.

It was not long before their kisses grew in intensity. Their lips locked together and their tongues twisted and swirled around each other for long moments before they broke apart, and engaged in open mouth kisses before locking together again.

Their hands and arms clutched at one another and they moved their hips against each other as they worked to build their pleasure higher and higher, wanting to end their date on the best note.

Their hips moved slowly at first, wringing out and building the pleasure as if they were not fully clothed and were making love, but soon they were moving faster and faster and pressing and grinding against each other harder and harder as the pleasure built higher and higher.

They sighed, panted, moaned, and groaned in various pitches at the pleasure they were feeling and the feel of their hands gripping and moving over each other.

Suddenly Serena tensed and broke their kiss with a loud gasp before she moaned as pleasure exploded through her body. Her body arched, her chest pressing against her boyfriends, and her head tilted back in her pleasure as she tried to move her hips faster to keep the pleasure coming.

Darien moaned himself, the sound rumbling in his throat, as his body stiffened and his hips jerked hard and fast against his soulmate's as his own release claimed him. Pleasure flooded his body and that terrific sensation along with the feel of her breasts pressed against him and her hips moving against his had his eyes sliding shut and his own head tilting back.

They continued to moan, the sound lowering, their movements slowing, as they gradually came down from their pleasure high.

Serena collapsed against Darien, resting her head against his shoulder, and panted as she caught her breath. Darien panted for breath and slowly rubbed his hands up and down his Serenity's back to soothe her and simply because he wanted to touch her.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Darien asked in the silence as he continued to rub her back.

"Mmhmm." Serena hummed positively without lifting her head.

Just like the times they had shared intimacy before the pleasure had felt so good. She was also just as speechless after that release, but the position she was still in, straddling him and pressed tightly against him, helped to make her want to experience that pleasure again.

"What about you? Did you enjoy yourself?" She asked softly, finding her words, though suddenly too shy to look him in the eye.

"I did indeed." Darien answered readily.

"Enough to experience more?" Serena asked just as softly as before as she gently kissed his neck.

"Absolutely!" He answered as he let one hand travel down to stroke along her bottom. "We have time."

Instead of replying Serena lifted her head and pressed her lips to his, and Darien quickly returned the kiss and just as quickly turned it passionate. He would never deny his soulmate what she wanted; especially if it was what he wanted as well.

oOoIRoOo

Darien sat on his couch late at night watching late night world news. He had been sitting there for a few hours after taking his Serenity home. He had done so at a reasonable time, just as he had said he would, so she could get enough sleep; especially if a monster attack happened. That way she could either get enough sleep before that potentially happened or be able to go back to sleep after it was dealt with.

He still wore the suit he had worn for their date. He had only taken off his jacket, having put it back on to take her home, as well as his tie, and unbuttoned the top few buttons of his shirt and his sleeve cuffs before rolling them up so he could be more comfortable.

He would have simply changed into something more comfortable but he was going to be going back out soon, and not only didn't feel the need to change but didn't see the point. Until that time, however, he was watching the news and wishing his Serenity was here with him.

He closed his eyes, blocking his view of the TV, and sighed. He could hardly wait for her to remember her true self. He had absolutely no doubt that when she did she would be spending a lot of time here in his apartment.

Of course he was also still very much hoping that she would remember her true self before she made a firm decision on her living arrangements for when she started her university education. He wanted her to live with him. He missed that constant togetherness they had in the past, and he missed having her sleeping in his arms.

Longing for that is simply one reason why I cherish our time together during our camping trip. He thought. It was the first time I was able to hold her sleeping figure in my arms since she was stolen from my arms in the past and our lives changed.

I'm looking forward to our camping trip this weekend for that privilege alone. He thought as he opened his eyes and looked at the time.

It was a few minutes after one in the morning and he decided it was a good enough time to go see Zoycite. It was late enough that there should be no risk of any nurses or doctors interrupting their conversation.

From his seated position Darien tapped into his connection with the Earth and searched for Zoycite/Xander Aubrey, so he could make sure he was alone in his room before he headed over.

Images and scenes flashed through his mind rapidly before they slowed on the familiar young man lying in a bed in the same hospital room he had seen him in earlier when he first freed him. He was thankfully alone in the dark room, but to his slight surprise he appeared to be wide awake and looking toward the only window in his room.

He stood up and picked a spot out of sight of the door and the window and willed himself there. He disappeared and reappeared inside the hospital room in a flash of golden light. Looking around visually he could see that he was alone with Zoycite, and double checking through his connection to the Earth revealed the same.

Zoycite gasped but he ignored it as he focused on the hallway outside the room door, so he could keep watch in case someone looked like they were going to come into the room to check on Zoycite. If that should happen then he could quickly leave before being seen.

Once the area was firmly within his mental vision he looked to Zoycite and sat in the chair next to the bed and made himself comfortable.

"Endymion." Zoycite said in surprised welcome.

"Zoycite." Darien greeted with a small smile. "Should I refer to you as Zoycite or Xander?" He asked in the next moment.

Zoycite sighed thoughtfully. "Xander for a little while if you don't mind. I need to get used to hearing it again."

"Very well." Darien agreed. "My present name is Darien Shields, so you should refer to me by that name."

"Alright." Zoycite agreed in return. "What's with the outfit? Did you do something special today? Uh..yesterday?" He amended after looking at the clock on the wall. "Celebrate freeing me or something?" He joked lightly, knowing that wasn't the case since he recalled seeing him in those clothes earlier, and wanting to delay the serious talk to come for a few moments.

"I had a date with my Serenity, and did not feel the need to change before coming to see you." Darien answered simply.

"How is Lady Earth?" Zoycite asked with a light frown.

Now that he remembered he recognized that she was Sailor Moon, and he wondered if she remembered everything yet. Although, he didn't think so since he highly doubted she would be out fighting as the scout of the Moon when that wasn't who she truly was.

"She is fine aside from the fact that she has yet to remember who she truly is." Darien answered.

"Oh. Are you just waiting for her memories to return to her? Or will you at some point do what you did for me and presumably Neflite as well?" Zoycite asked curiously.

"It is not so simple to unlock and bring forth her memories like I did with you and indeed Neflite as well." Darien said with a light sigh.

"Aside from being her boyfriend she currently only knows me as the masked man she affectionately dubbed Tuxedo Mask. Beyond that she has been remembering both her lives in the past in pieces in dreams or sometimes when she sees something or hears something that triggers a memory." He explained.

"She currently remembers being courted by me as Sailor Moon, and being engaged to me as Sailor Earth. However, she also recalls the Moon Princess' feelings me, and she is confused all around. She's concerned that she was essentially dating the guy her princess wanted, and also that I could have been cheating on her as Sailor Earth with her as Sailor Moon." He elaborated.

Zoycite gasped and frowned at what he was hearing. He was surprised and saddened that Serenity was so confused by her returning memories, and was very grateful his Prince had brought all his memories to the front of his mind at once so he didn't have to go through the confusion of remembering pieces here and there in and out of context.

"I suppose this is part of why I have two sets of memories." He said, still frowning. "What's up with that? How did that happen?" He asked.

"All of your memories are present?" Darien asked, wanting confirmation, and watched him nod. "In your second set do you recall me asking after Serenity? Asking where she was, where Sailor Earth was?"

"Yes." Zoycite said as he nodded. He could not forget Endymion's almost frantic search for a woman none of them had any knowledge of.

"Everything you remember before my questioning started was created, manufactured, by the power of the silver crystal." Darien said seriously.

"The silver crystal?!" Zoycite said in surprise, his mind immediately thinking of the Moon Queen and her daughter.

"Yes. Apparently the Moon Princess found Venus' invitation to the wedding and decided to take action." Darien said. "She used her connection to the silver crystal and a crystal tower inside the Moon Palace, and altered reality to try and make it the way she wanted."

"The princess wanted Serenity, in her role as Sailor Earth since that was all she knew her as, away from me and under her control. She wanted Serenity unable to get to me and for me to forget all about her, so that the princess could have a chance with me. She believed she would be the only one to catch my romantic attention." He explained calmly.

"Her actions effected the entire solar system aside from myself, the Moon Queen, and the Outer Sailor Scouts. Everyone else's memories of before were suppressed, and they were given new ones." He continued. "Even she was affected by her own actions. Although, that was apparently unintended."

Zoycite stared at Endymion and shook his head slowly in shock. The Moon Princess had changed their reality because she didn't like that Endymion was getting married and wouldn't be within her reach. Regardless of the fact that her reach had been limited to zero in the first place.

Her obsession was deeper than I thought. He thought as he tried to push his shock away.

"How did you, the Moon Queen, and the Outer Sailor Scouts escape the fate the rest of us suffered?" He asked.

"I believe the Moon Queen was not affected because she was the holder of the crystal and it could not affect her. The Outer Sailor Scouts I am unsure of, but I believe it might be as simple as them having stronger minds to resist the manipulation or their powers were strong enough to protect them." Darien answered. "As for myself my crystal protected me."

"Well, I know now that myself and the other guys were different, and I have memories of you that are different, in more than one way, but what about Serenity?" Zoycite asked after a few moments of silence. "How was she affected by the change?"

Darien sighed heavily and closed his eyes as he recalled learning the disturbing news of what happened to his Serenity.

"Serenity believed she had always been a citizen of the Moon. Believed she had always been one of the five Guardian Scouts to the Moon Princess." He said in a quiet angry tone. "Worse she believed she was the specific protection of that female! Her protective double should she be in danger, so my Serenity could be taken or killed in her stead!"

Zoycite stared in stunned horror as he understood the full truth of what had happened to Serenity. Unlike the rest of them she had been taken from the Earth and made to believe she had never been on the Earth, had never been born there, and had always been on the Moon.

She had been made to believe she had been chosen to be one of the Moon Princess' guardians, to be her protection and take her place should something happen to cause the need for a switch.

The girl, who had become a young woman, who had been one of his playmates, one of his training partners, one of his friends, one of his fellow soldiers had been stolen from her planet, from her life, and made into a completely different person.

Serenity had gone from being the guardian scout to an entire planet, from having that honorable duty, to instead being one of five protective guardians to a spoiled princess. A spoiled princess who was jealous of her, for a number of reasons, who wanted to have her under her control, and who wanted her away from the prince she was obsessed with.

Zoycite grimaced as he realized what was just as bad if not worse was the fact that the princess had erased the position of Sailor Earth from existence! She apparently didn't even have the wherewithal to put another young woman in that role to keep the planet safe!

And now that he understood what had happened he could make connections, and he could see pretty easily the consequences of the decision to eliminate the position of Sailor Earth.

If Serenity, Sailor Earth, had been there then Beryl wouldn't have been around. She wouldn't have been able to work her way into the palace and spread her evil influence. He and his fellow generals would never have been brainwashed. War would have never been brought to the Moon. No one would have died, and their way of life wouldn't have ended.

Of course it has to go deeper than that. He thought. She had to get her power from somewhere in order to brainwash us, and especially to continue her madness in the present.

"Why…not that I wanted that to happen, but why didn't the princess replace Serenity with another young woman as Sailor Earth? Why get rid of the position altogether?" He asked as he continued to see the consequences.

"The first time Serenity and I met the princess she was under the impression that the only sailor scouts were her guardians. Therefore if one was a sailor scout they were a guardian to her, and had to do what she wanted; follow her orders and her commands." Darien explained.

"What kind of nonsense?!" Zoycite said incredulously. Even he knew that was a load of bull. The Outer Sailor Scouts certainly hadn't been her guardians, and Serenity definitely hadn't been!

"She was actually serious?" He asked, feeling disbelief that the heiress to a planet could be so ignorant.

"She was very serious, and did not like when my Serenity rightly corrected her ignorant assumption." Darien said.

"Ugh!" Zoycite groaned and shook his head as he plopped it back on his pillow and gazed up at the ceiling as he took in that surprising fact. "So Serenity still believes herself to be Sailor Moon and one of the guardians to that princess?" He asked as he lifted his head. "I mean I remember seeing her and fighting against her in our last encounter, but…"

"Yes unfortunately she still believes it." Darien answered with a heavy sigh. "Even with her memories returning and seeing that she had been Sailor Earth in the past. She just now believes she was somehow both scouts, and it does not help that she has been told that there was no Sailor Earth in the past."

"Did she not believe she had been both at some point?" Zoycite asked with a frown.

"She had been wondering if she had somehow imagined the memories of being Sailor Earth, if it was just her mind producing dreams to go with the memories she was remembering of being Sailor Moon." Darien said.

"The more memories that came the more she began to believe; especially since she began to recall skills she had as Sailor Earth like her use of weapons." He said. "I have done what I can to clear up any confusion, and counter any negative or disbelieving thoughts that crop up."

"The power of the silver crystal holds her true self back, but I believe its influence is breaking down or she would not remember anything of her life as Sailor Earth or her instinctive knowledge." He said.

"Still, this is part of why I cannot simply unlock her memories and bring them forward." He continued with a frown. "Right now I have two options. Wait for her to remember everything on her own or complete our bond and use my crystal to free her from it."

"I have opted for option two, but I have to make her fall in love with me for that to happen." He concluded.

"And that is what the date was about?" Zoycite said.

"Well that and simply because I wanted to spend time with her." Darien admitted. "She looked absolutely beautiful tonight. Her mother took pictures, and I can't wait to see them." He added with a smile, and Zoycite shook his head with a slight smile.

"Is there a chance she may remember on her own? That the silver crystal's power will break down entirely before her feelings grow to love?" He asked.

"I believe there is." Darien said as he nodded. "As I said she is remembering, seemingly dreaming of a new memory every night, but it seems to go back and forth. One memory of her as Sailor Earth and the next her as the scout of the Moon."

"I certainly hope the silver crystal's power completely breaks down and she remembers soon, but at the same time I do not want her to go through what I went through when I remembered." He added.

"Do I want to know?" Zoycite asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Let us just say it was agonizing pain that I would not even wish on that royal wench that caused all of this." Darien said bluntly.

Zoycite grimaced; thankful his Prince had spared him that pain and had been gentle in bringing his own memories forward to the front of his mind.

"Can I ask how things are going between you and Serenity?" He asked delicately.

"I am pleased to say it is going very well." Darien answered before he began to explain how they came together in this life.

Zoycite listened closely as his Prince told him of meeting Serenity again and how that first encounter had gone before he had remembered his true self. Then he told of their next meeting and getting to know each other before they started to date.

How he had only taken his masked persona so he could fight at her side without revealing the truth or having it revealed before she herself remembered it, training with her, meeting her friends and introducing her to his. Serenity figuring out his masked identity was the guy she was dating, and the upsetting fact that she was being made to find the pieces of the silver crystal.

Apparently the only bad things to happen, aside from having to find the pieces of the crystal that had put her in the position she was in, was her confusion over her returning memories and the Moon Princess' appearance in her life.

"Well, I hope all continues to go well between you and Serenity." He said, and then frowned slightly. "What's her present time name?"

"It is Serena, Serena Tsukino." Darien answered with a smile.

"Alright. I'll remember that." Zoycite said.

"How are things going with you since you awakened here?" Darien asked, moving their conversation along.

"Well I know nothing is wrong with me health wise or mentally. Aside from the fact that I've been in a coma for nearly two years." Zoycite said with a heavy sigh. "My parents are alive and well, and very happy to see me finally awake and aware of what's going on."

"Can you tell me what happened when you were taken? Do you remember it?" Darien asked.

Zoycite pursed his lips together before he began to explain the evening he got home from being at school late and seeing the house was dark. He figured his parents were either out late themselves or had gone to bed early, but before he could find out which one it was he was attacked from behind.

He remembered the pain of being rammed in the back and slamming down on the stairs before he could start up them. He recalled turning his head to see glowing eyes from three different beings before being hit in the side of his face and then nothing. After that there was only life in the Dark Kingdom.

"Since waking up here I've learned that I've been here since my parents found me crumpled on the floor at the bottom of the stairs in our house." Zoycite said. "They hadn't been attacked, had actually gone to be earlier like I had wondered, and had slept through the night only to wake up in the morning and find me as they did."

"They had apparently thought I had fallen down the stairs, but after getting me to the hospital they saw that the bruises on me didn't match that happening." He explained. "They used to visit me almost daily hoping I would wake up, but once it was confirmed that I was in a coma they eased back to once a week and then every couple of weeks."

"At least they were not touched nor killed." Darien said when he was finished.

"Yes I'm grateful for that." Zoycite agreed. "When I first woke up I worried they might have been attacked and taken too, but then I thought the Dark Kingdom was the type that would find pleasure in presenting my parents to me and being amused when I didn't recognize them."

"What else can you tell me about the Dark Kingdom Xander?" Darien asked quietly.

"Obviously you know what they call themselves. Their base is a large black castle in the North Pole in the Arctic. It's dark inside lit with green flame torches; no electricity in sight, but power flows throughout the building. There are dozens and dozens of monsters of all shapes and sizes, and all of them have different abilities though some are the same or similar but used in different ways." Zoycite said.

"You remember the sorceress Beryl?" He asked, and Darien nodded. "Well, she calls herself Queen Beryl now and that's how everyone addresses her. She has everyone afraid of her, bowing, kneeling, and standing at attention when they're in her presence. Everyone waits until they are spoken to before speaking to her."

"And she looks the same as I remember her from the last time I saw her in the past. Altered and evil-looking. Long red wavy hair, red eyes, long purple dress, pointed ears, horns coming out of her shoulders, and claw-like nails." He described.

"She made me and the guys her generals to do her bidding. Our orders were to send out monsters to gather human energy for an unknown reason. We only knew that we needed to gather human energy and failure was not an option." Zoycite explained.

"More recently she added that we not only needed to gather and collect human energy, but we were also supposed to kill the Guardian Scouts, Sailor Moon specifically, and your masked persona so none of you could interfere in her plans. In addition to that we were also supposed to capture or kill the Moon Princess." He continued.

"Did she give a reason for wanting that female dead?" Darien asked, wanting to know if he knew more than Neflite had.

"She claimed the princess was a threat to the future of the Earth, but could be useful if her thinking could be changed hence capturing her if possible." Zoycite answered. "Beryl thought she was a threat because of her feelings for you; her wanting you."

"And her reason for wanting my Serenity dead?" Darien asked calmly, wanting to know if the woman's reason had changed at all.

"According to Beryl Sailor Moon had managed to gain your affection and would convince you to marry her, which would make her your future queen and give the Moon a guaranteed foothold into the Earth's monarchy." Zoycite explained.

"That's what she told us anyway. I have no idea if she actually believed that or still does. She could have just been using that as an explanation to get us to do what she wanted without question. Not that we would've been foolish enough to question her in the environment she's created." He said.

Darien nodded slowly, thoughtfully, as he took in Zoycite's words. Of course this was the second time he was hearing it and Beryl's thinking was true in the sense that he definitely would have made his Serenity his future queen.

The rest was all a lie, her own delusional creation. The Moon Princess' feelings for him had been irrelevant and would have lead to absolutely nothing, and his marrying his Serenity would not have given the Moon Kingdom any foothold within the Earth's monarchy or its sovereignty. She would have become an Earth citizen, and had nothing more to do with the Moon directly.

"Neflite basically said the same thing, so that is more proof that she remembers the changed past but not the true past." He said.

"Do you think it's possible she'll remember the true past?" Zoycite asked curiously.

"I do." Darien answered. "My Serenity is remembering which shows that the power of the silver crystal is breaking down, and the fact that the Dark Kingdom is active at all is further proof of that since they were likely sealed away."

"I believe if she does begin to remember she will be confused and then in denial." He continued. "After all, she would not have had feelings for me. She would have only known me as the heir to the throne, and if she had seen me at all it likely would only have been a glimpse at a distance as I was passing through the area where she lived."

"It seems with the changed past she grew obsessed with me and became what she did in an effort to try and have me and the Kingdom to herself. Learning the truth would be hard for her to accept with everything she has done." He said.

"So instead she would deny it and simply continue on her current path since that is easier and means she hasn't wasted her time and changed herself for nothing." Zoycite said.

"Yes. That is what I think." Darien agreed as he nodded.

"So what's the deal with Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune?" Zoycite asked after a few long silent moments. "I remember seeing them with you when you freed me, and them attacking me."

"Yes. They had the idea to work on freeing you and the others before any of you were killed, so I wouldn't have to worry about it while I focus on Serenity and she hopefully wouldn't have to have the memory of being responsible for your deaths." Darien said. "They decided on this because they have given Serenity, and by extension myself, their loyalty."

"So is it just those two or all of the Outer Scouts?" Zoycite asked as he considered this news.

"Sailor's Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto only. As far as I am aware Sailor Saturn has not been awakened and there are no plans to awaken her." Darien answered.

Zoycite nodded, remembering from his studies in the past that Sailor Saturn was only awakened when she was needed.

"Still, I thought they were all loyal to the Moon Kingdom. What happened with that for them to change their stance in this time?" He asked.

"As I said before they were not affected by the Moon Princess' actions in the past, so having been awakened in this time they fully remember what she did and want no part of her because it." Darien answered.

"They didn't want to take a chance on someone so irresponsible and immature; especially given she will have the silver crystal at some point. They know she can be dangerous with it in a completely ignorant and irresponsible way. She could even try to repeat what she did in the past even if she doesn't remember the true past." He continued.

Zoycite nodded his understanding.

"And Neflite knows all of this too?" He asked.

"He does. I visited him just as I have with you, and informed him of everything." Darien confirmed. "He is even out of the hospital now."

"Oh! That's good." Zoycite said. "I can't wait until they release me. Although, it shouldn't be long since they've declared me physically and mentally fit."

"Let us add to that fitness shall we." Darien suggested as he stood up and moved closer to his general.

He placed a hand lightly on Zoycite's chest and focused on his crystal. Instantly he began to glow a bright gold and he willed the power into his general as he concentrated on healing his body.

Zoycite was right. He was physically fine aside from the same issues Neflite had. Slight undernourishment, and weakened and slightly withered muscles.

With that in mind Darien began to guide the power up and down his body making sure not to miss a single area just as he had with Neflite. He was especially careful to pay close attention to the muscles in his arms, back, legs, and feet since he would need those if he intended to continue on as one of his Generals.

Once he finished completely healing Zoycite he moved on to something just as important as his general's health. He lifted both hands and placed them on the sides of Zoycite's head and concentrated on what he wanted.

Zoycite lay calmly in his bed and relaxed as his prince healed him. This was an experience he was familiar with from the past, so he was comfortable and not at all alarmed with what was happening. He enjoyed the pleasant warmth moving through his body.

However, he was surprised when his prince put his hands on his head. Again he felt the pleasant warmth of the golden power, but this time instead of moving throughout his body it circled and focused on his head.

The warmth went round and round and swirled before it settled deeper in his head around where he imagined his mind might be if it was a physical thing.

My brain? He guessed in slight confusion as he lay quietly. But the doctors said I'm mentally healthy, so what's this about?

After a few long moments Endymion stopped glowing and moved his hands away from his head. He returned to his seat, but before Zoycite could ask his question his prince was already answering it.

"Your movements should be easier with your muscles healed now, and I have made your mind protected as well." Darien informed him seriously. "The Dark Kingdom will not be able to brainwash you again, and the silver crystal will not be able to affect you again either."

Zoycite's eyes widened as he heard that his mind was protected.

"Thank you for that." He said sincerely. "I hadn't even had a chance to consider that, but I'm glad I won't have to worry about it."

"Beryl or whoever in that organization found you before can still find you, but they will not be able to tamper with your mind. Now, however, should they manage it you will be able to fight back with all your memories in place." Darien explained.

"I'll be sure to remember, and start my training as soon as I possibly can." Zoycite said seriously.

"When you do I'll train with you, and of course Neflite will as well. Plus, Neptune and Uranus I'm sure. I'll introduce you to them when you get out of here." Darien said.

"Alright." Zoycite said, and then sighed. "I guess it'll be a while before we can train with Lady Earth."

"Yes." Darien agreed with a nod. "At least for everyone except for me. Although, to my knowledge she has remembered at least one memory involving you as Sailor Earth."

"Really? Do you know what it was about?" Zoycite asked curiously.

"She was training with you in the middle of a forest." Darien answered. "Sparring with swords."

"Oh wow." Zoycite breathed. He was happy to be remembered by her. Of course he didn't know which memory that was since they had sparred on their own a number of times in just as many forests.

"Of course with her having fought against you in the present and remembered you from the past you'll have to stay out of her sight until she remembers all of herself." Darien cautioned.

"I'll remember." Zoycite said with a firm nod.

"Very well then." Darien said before he glanced at the time. "There is more to talk about, but it will have to wait for another time. I think I have filled your head with enough for tonight."

"I'll come visit you either here or at your home if they release you before I can visit again, but not out in the open until we can engineer our "first" meeting." He added.

"Alright." Zoycite said with a nod, understanding that they needed to have a way to have met each other away from the hospital before they could be seen together by his parents.

"I'll bring you updates if anything happens." Darien said as he stood up.

"Okay. I'll see you next time." Zoycite said.

"Until then." Darien said, and willed himself away and back to his apartment.

Zoycite watched his prince disappear in a flash of golden light then looked around before he sighed and relaxed and let his eyes drift close. He was tired now and wanted to sleep. Hopefully when he woke there would be news that he was being released and he could get started on living his life again.

I especially need to start training, and I would very much like to meet Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. I owe them my thanks for helping to free me from the Dark Kingdom. He thought. Plus, it would be nice to see Neflite now that we're both free.

oOo

Serena, Darien, Amara, and Michelle walked casually in the mall late Tuesday afternoon.

Serena had met up with Darien at the cafe after school as usual, and found that Michelle and Amara had joined him at some point. It was quickly decided that instead of staying at the cafe they would go do something, and they eventually settled on window shopping just to hang out together.

They all piled in Darien's car, Amara leaving her car parked near the cafe, and went as a group so they didn't have to worry about the cars keeping up with each other and the possibility of being separated.

So far they had checked out a few clothing stores, jewelry stores, and wandered around a department store. Now they were just walking along looking for the next store to catch their eye or for hunger to hit.

They were in a loose group with Amara and Michelle walking in front of Serena and Darien. Serena and Darien were holding hands, and they were all talking about something they had spotted in a window of a store they had just passed.

Suddenly Serena stopped abruptly outside a store, and with their hands linked Darien stopped as well. He looked through the window and open doors and saw musical instruments displayed on the floor and hanging from the ceiling and on one wall.

He looked over to see that Michelle and Amara had stopped a few feet ahead of them as they realized they were alone and looked back to them. He shrugged lightly and looked back to his soulmate to see what was going on with her.

Serena stared at a shiny black piano through the large window. It immediately brought to mind the memory dream she had of her past self as Sailor Earth playing the instrument.

I wonder if it works. She thought softly since it could be a display model with no innards. But if it is functional I can try and see if I can play since I was able to as Sailor Earth. If I can it would be more proof that I was this talented scout and not just Sailor Moon in the past.

She let go of Darien's hand absentmindedly and stepped into the music store and moved directly to the piano. It wasn't the only piano there, but it was the one her eyes had settled on, and there were no signs or ropes to indicate that people couldn't touch the instruments.

She moved her hand forward and pressed a finger down on a key and her eyes lit up as a soft note came from it proving that it actually worked. With that discovery she sat on the bench, and settled herself so she was facing the white and black keys and brought her hands up. She rested her fingers lightly on the white keys, but paused since she had no idea what to try to play or how to play.

But I want to try. She thought insistingly. Darien remembers me as Sailor Earth in the past, but I still wonder why no one else seems to. Not to mention why I was told there wasn't a scout of the Earth.

Serena closed her eyes and listened to the song that was playing softly through the store speakers, and before she knew it her fingers were moving confidently across the keys repeating the notes of the song as she heard them.

Darien, Amara, and Michelle had followed Serena silently, and when she sat at the bench the two young women stood to the side of the instrument and listened appreciatively as she began to play. Michelle in particular was enjoying her impromptu performance being a musician herself.

Why didn't she ever mention she could play? She wondered curiously as she listened.

Darien, meanwhile, was standing behind Serena and immediately brought his hand up to his mouth to stop any possible sound he might make.

The song that was playing softly through the store was in English, and he knew of the four of them he was the only one who understood the lyrics.

…We were walking on moonlight, and you pulled me close
Split second and you disappeared and then I was all alone

I woke up in tears, with you by my side
A breath of relief, and I've realized
No, we're not promised tomorrow

So I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you
I'm gonna hold you like I'm saying goodbye

Wherever we're standin', I won't take you for granted
'Cause we'll never know when, when we'll run out of time
So I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you (Lose you)
I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you

In the blink of an eye, just a whisper of smoke
You could lose everything, the truth is you never know
So I'll kiss you longer, babe (Hey), any chance that I get
I'll make the most of the minutes and love with no regret

Let's take our time to say what we want (Say what we want)
Use what we got before it's all gone (All gone)
'Cause no (No), we're not promised tomorrow

So I'm gonna love you like I'm gonna lose you (Lose you)
I'm gonna hold you (Hey), like I'm saying goodbye
Wherever we're standin' (Yeah), I won't take you for granted
'Cause we'll never know when, when we'll run out of time…(*)

The song fit the situation with him and his soulmate perfectly. He hadn't dreamed of her disappearing on him. She actually had disappeared in reality. He had gone to sleep with her in his arms, and had awakened to find her not just gone, but not in existence on the Earth at all.

Once he had found her on the Moon he had definitely not taken any time with her for granted. He had spent every available moment he possibly could with her, and now in their current lives he was doing the same thing. It was one of the main reasons he had taken on his masked persona and joined her in fighting monsters.

He loved her when he first met her just because she was his soulmate, and since that day when she unfortunately became the scout of the Moon he had only grown to love her more. He wasn't exactly loving her like he was going to lose her, but he was doing so as much as he could without risking revealing anything she wasn't yet ready for.

So this song truly did fit for them, and on top of that the fact that she was playing the piano at all was making him more emotional than he had ever been since he remembered his past, because he knew Serena didn't know how to play any instruments. However, this still wasn't surprising because he knew she could play very well in the past.

It was clear to him as soon as she started playing along with the song that this was instinctive knowledge, a past skill, coming through just like with her skill with her weapons.

Her skill wasn't something that was known outside of their family circle within the palace, and he remembered showing her a piano as Sailor Moon but she hadn't reacted as if she knew how to play it.

He also remembered that his Serenity could sing. It was something only he knew, and she only sang for him. He had overheard her when he entered her room unannounced and found that she was bathing. He had simply sat on her bed, waiting, but her bathroom door was slightly open and he could hear her.

He had understood why she didn't want anyone else to know. Since she had learned to play the piano his parents had sometimes asked her to play for certain guests, and he knew she didn't want to be asked to sing in front of an audience.

He had not had any problem with that. He had guarded her singing voice jealously; not wanting to share it with anyone even if she hadn't minded singing in front of others.

Darien closed his eyes and turned around, to avoid his Serenity looking over her shoulder and seeing him so emotional when he couldn't explain. It was not until that moment that he realized he missed not only hearing her play but hearing her sing.

I can barely wait for my love to remember herself. He thought solemnly. Once she does I will be able to hear her sing and play the piano to my heart's content. Well, I will when she gets a piano; even if I have to get it for her myself.

Amara and Michelle were enjoying the music Serena was playing, awed that she appeared to be playing by ear, but that didn't stop them from noticing Darien's reaction to her performance. He wasn't crying but he looked like he wanted to and was clearly lost in thought.

The two young women shared a look as they wondered at his reaction. Then they looked back to Serena and saw to their surprise that she was starting to cry even though her eyes were still closed.

"What do you think is going on?" Amara asked her companion quietly.

"I'm not sure about Serena, but Darien looks like he might be remembering something." Michelle answered thoughtfully.

Serena's fingers slowed to a stop as the song ended, and she sat silently as another song began to play over the speakers.

I can play. She thought in surprised awe. I can actually play, and play really well too. Like I've been doing it my whole life. I followed the notes of that song and replicated them easily, without a mistake and without slowing, and all with my eyes closed. This is real; just like with the staff and bow and arrows.

She opened her eyes and looked down at the piano keys and in turn saw little wet spots on her uniform top. She wiped at her face and realized she was crying, and as she blinked she realized she was still crying, and she didn't understand why.

This can't just be because I've discovered that I can actually play the piano. She thought, and that's when she realized she was sad; almost the way she was when she woke up after dreaming of a memory.

"Are you okay?" Darien asked and she looked up at his concerned face.

"I am; I think." Serena said hesitantly as she stood from the bench and moved away from the piano. "I don't know why I'm crying." She said as she wiped more tears away.

Darien simply hummed as he placed his hand on the small of her back off to the side, nearly wrapping his arm around her waist. He was not sure why she was crying either, but he suspected some part of her must have understood the words to the song and it resonated with the part of her that was sealed away.

"Do not worry about it my lady. The reason will come when you are ready for it." He said as he guided her to the exit and led their small group from the store.

"Okay." Serena said as she nodded, accepting his words as she wiped her face of her remaining tears.

Darien paused not far from the entrance to the store, bringing his soulmate to a stop as well, and cupped her face in his hands and began to plant kisses all over face to bring her out of her sadness.

His lips pressed against her left cheek, her right cheek, the tip of her nose, her chin, her forehead, and over each of her eyes as she laughed. Finally he pressed his lips to hers and kissed her properly, stopping her laughter.

"Thank you for the beautiful performance." He said as he pulled away from her lips.

"You're welcome." She replied with a blush. "I surprised myself with that performance." She confided.

Darien nodded knowingly as he lowered his hands from her face having already known she had never had any musical lessons in this lifetime.

"Just add this knowledge to the other instinctive skills you've remembered." He advised, and she nodded.

"But I can't practice with this one." She said, remembering how he had suggested she practice with the weapons she had instinctive knowledge of.

"We will simply have to acquire you a piano, and figure out where to put it." He said seriously as he grabbed one of her hands and linked his fingers with hers as they held hands.

His apartment wasn't very large. It was a comfortable size for just him, and his soulmate if he could get her to move in with him, but there was no space for a grand piano like she had in the past.

Perhaps a baby grand piano could fit in the corner of my living room between the balcony and the television. He considered thoughtfully. Of course an electric keyboard would fit as well as an upright piano, but she and her skills deserve a grand piano. However, if the baby grand cannot be done then an upright will do.

Serena raised an eyebrow at his words. Her occasionally masked gentleman boyfriend sounded like he was going to buy her a piano just because she suddenly had the skill to play. It sounded outrageous and over the top, but this was the same guy that had gotten her a personalized bow and quiver of arrows after they discovered that she had real skill with the weapon.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, but I am. This would be a lot more expensive then the weapon. She thought as she squeezed his hand in hers. At least he hasn't gotten me a staff. I don't know where I would put that or what I would tell my parents. I'm thankful my mom hasn't asked about the bow and arrows yet!

Amara and Michelle watched all this and listened to the couple silently. Serena's words were causal, as was Darien's reply, but because they were in the know they understood what both of them meant. She had never played the piano before; at least not in this life.

They were also not surprised that he sounded like he was ready to buy her a piano. He had already bought her expensive jewelry and who knew what else, so what was a piano despite the expense? Especially if it was brand new, which seemed like his preference.

It seemed like their prince was wealthy even though he didn't particularly look it, and it was his prerogative what he spent his money on.

The small group began to walk again, and had only gone three stores down when they saw a group of school girls, all in the same uniform, headed in their direction.

"Ugh! It's Susanna." Serena said unhappily.

Darien looked and was unhappy to see that his soulmate was right and the royal wench that he couldn't stand was headed their way.

Michelle and Amara looked on curiously and intently, having learned the Moon Princess' current name was Susanna, and shared a brief look as they wondered what would happen next.

oOo

Susanna walked confidently down the wide corridor on the second floor of the mall with her friends and Raye enjoying herself as she usually did with her friends.

She didn't particularly want Raye there with them since she wasn't exactly a friend and her actual friends didn't know her. She'd had to laugh a little and put her friends off when they asked why she was coming along, because she didn't know what to tell them.

On top of that she couldn't exactly tell her to go away, and she had already been spoken to about ditching her to keep from having her around her.

oOo

Susanna stood leaning against the wall next to the open sliding door that led outside the house while some of her Guardian Scouts, she was still getting used to that, sat around the large table in the room.

All except Serena was there, and she didn't know why she wasn't. Even the two talking cats were there.

"Where's Serena?" Luna asked as she looked around.

"She said she couldn't come." Amy said with an irritated huff.

"Why not?" Lita asked curiously.

"I don't know. She didn't say." Amy said.

"She couldn't come because she's out with her boyfriend." Artemis said.

"So she ditched a meeting to go on a date." Raye said with a frown.

"She was already out on her date, and I would have told her to go even if she hadn't been once I knew what this meeting was about." Artemis said firmly. "The topic of this meeting is serious, but not so serious that she needed to be here for it. Especially since it will only take a few minutes. I will inform her of what is said when she arrives home."

"That makes sense." Mina said before anyone else could say anything. "So let's get on with this. I still have homework to do."

"Right." Raye said. "I called for this meeting because Susanna thought it would be amusing to ditch me after school even though I told her I was going to be guarding her today."

"I tried to follow her from a distance to avoid calling attention to her by catching up, but she managed to get out of my line of sight and disappear." She continued as she looked over to their silent princess and back to the group. "On top of that she didn't answer her communicator when I tried to contact her."

"Why did you leave school without Raye?" Luna asked her princess.

"I didn't know what to tell my friends." Susanna said with a careless shrug. That was true, but she also just didn't want Raye hanging around her and her friends.

"That's it? Only because you didn't know what to tell your friends?" Artemis said. "You could have told them anything as long as Raye was with you."

"Yeah. It's not like I was going to join you and whatever you were going to do. I was just going to follow you, and make sure nothing happened to you." Raye said with a frown.

"Nothing's going to happen to me." Susanna said in exasperation.

"You don't know that." Amy said.

"Anything could happen at any time." Lita said reasonably.

"Look I just don't see a point in having to tell my friends some story just so Raye can follow me around like some stalker. I've been fine all my life. I don't see why I need anyone following me around now." Susanna said.

"You don't see the point? You don't see why?" Mina said before she got up and walked toward her. "Then I'll tell you why so it can finally sink into your head, so we never have to have this conversation again."

"You have us as your Guardian Scouts because you are the reincarnation of the Moon Princess." She said firmly. "Once the silver crystal is found you will have the duty to guard that crystal like the world depended on it, and while you do all you can to keep the silver crystal safe we will do all we can to keep you safe."

"Surely you have not forgotten how we met?! Your little friends were less than useless, and you were alone with that monster. Had we not showed up that doll woman would have turned her attention to you." She continued just as firmly as before.

"That monster was obviously defeated, you saw that, but what none of us know is if there was anyone else from our enemy there, concealed, watching to see what happened. It is extremely possible that the enemy is aware that you have been found, and is looking for you at this very moment!" She said seriously.

"Should they find you they can force you to find the silver crystal for them, and if they find you after you have the crystal they can force you to use it for them. And that's just what I can think of. Who knows what they can do or how creative they can be in what they want with you." Mina said.

"You need one of us with you when you are out on the chance that the enemy locates you. You would have one of us there to protect you, and the ability to contact the rest of us for further aid." She continued.

"Don't let what you saw with that doll monster fool you! The enemy could also look just like you, me, or any other normal looking person. They can even control people to do their bidding, and you would never know until they acted and by then it could be too late!" She said seriously.

"So try to be a little more considerate princess. This is all of our last year of high school. Realistically we have better things to do then follow you around while you hang out with your friends, but we will because protecting you and keeping you safe is our duty, and none of us wants the world as we know it to change because the enemy gets their hands on you and gains access to the silver crystal and unimaginable power." Mina said intensely, nearly snapping.

oOo

She would not be forgetting that talk. She didn't like it, but she understood what had been said. The girls, her Guardian Scouts, were here to protect her, to keep her safe from this enemy that was sending out monsters. They hadn't heard anything yet, but they were acting, operating, like this enemy knew about her and were searching for her and the silver crystal.

And even though they all talk about all of them guarding me, so far it's only been Raye. She thought.

Although, when she brought that up she had been told it was just because they went to school together so it was easier for Raye to do it. The rest of them would have to schedule when it was their turn so they could meet up since they all went to a different school than her.

Susanna suddenly gasped as she saw the cutie that Serena was dating walking in her direction. She didn't like that Serena was with him, but she didn't care.

This is my lucky day! I'm finally going to talk to him. She thought as she eyed him.

Raye was bored out of her mind. Window shopping was all well and good, but she was discovering it was pointless without people you actually knew with you.

I know Susanna, but not enough that I would have come here with just the two of us. She thought.

"Hey isn't that the guy from the cafe?" She heard one of Susanna's friends ask.

"The one you like?" Another friend voiced.

"And his girlfriend is with him." Yet another said.

Raye decided she needed to have a look since she only knew of one guy Susanna liked. She shifted to the side and peered around the girl in front of her, and saw Serena with a guy and two girls walking behind them.

That's Serena's boyfriend? She thought as she took in the sight of her boyfriend for the first time. She took in his dark short hair, deep blue eyes, and his height. Wait! He looks just like the Earth Prince in my memories!

Is he the reincarnation of the prince? If he is, does he know it? Or is he unaware? Does Serena know that he looks like the Earth Prince? She wondered. Serena remembered that her past self had been in a relationship with him, but that didn't mean she had seen him yet in her memories.

Although, it's clear Susanna doesn't remember the prince yet or she would have been more vocal and much more persistent about getting Serena's boyfriend. She thought.

Serena held in a groan and forced herself to keep a straight face as she watched Susanna stare at her boyfriend as they got closer. She looked away from her and to her friends, seeing that they were the same girls that had been unconscious around her when they first met the princess, and then she spotted Raye.

Clearly she was there to protect Susanna, but she was unhappy to see her staring at her boyfriend too. She hoped Raye wasn't becoming attracted to him as well or this would make for an even more uncomfortable encounter than it was already going to be.

And I'm definitely not going to introduce her to Darien or Amara and Michelle. She thought firmly. After all, she had long since made it clear that they weren't friends, so Raye didn't need to know any of her actual friends and definitely not her boyfriend.

"Hey cutie." Susanna said as the two groups reached each other. They all stopped, and she took a few steps toward him. "I'm Susanna. What's your name?" She asked, completely ignoring Serena.

Darien looked at the royal wench calmly, expertly concealing his loathing for her like the prince he was, and remained silent; judging it best that he keep his silence rather than risk expressing his fury. He hated the very sight of her, and couldn't stand to hear her voice.

She looked the same as she did in the past aside from her attire, hair style, and hair color. She also acted the same way she did in the past, but without the official royal title to make people overlook it.

It made the rage in his veins flow hotly, and he could feel his body heating up. He needed to distract himself before the Earth was affected, and before his powers decided to reveal themselves in response to his emotions.

He looked down to his soulmate and reached over with his free hand as he turned to her, and put his hand on the side of her face to gain her attention before he kissed her. Normally he wouldn't do such a thing so blatantly and out in the open, but the royal hussy needed the obvious shoved in her face.

Serena struggled to hold back a moan as her boyfriend kissed her with all the intensity of a guy who wanted more than a kiss. Instead of reacting that way she did the only thing she could do, and leaned against him as she stood on her toes and steadied herself with her free hand on his side.

Amara huffed in amusement and chuckled lightly as she watched the couple, and looked to Michelle before she looked to the reincarnated princess.

"Is that clear enough for you?" She asked the girl sarcastically as the couple slowly pulled away from each other. "He's in a committed relationship, and uninterested in changing that fact. Go find a man who's single, and wants you."

"Come on you guys; let's go." She said to her little group.

Darien and Serena calmly moved away from Susanna and her little group, and walked around them, still hand in hand, with Michelle and Amara following right behind them.

None of them bothered to look back at the embarrassed royal girl, and Serena hadn't glanced in Raye's direction after she had initially noticed her presence among the group. They were more than ready to put the encounter behind them and continue on with spending time together.

oOo

While Serena and Darien were having an unexpected and unwanted encounter with Raye and Susanna, Luna decided to take advantage of the fact that her princess was not home to go and see Artemis.

She had decided it was time he come and live with their princess like she was to better advise her. As far as she knew he was still staying at Serena's house.

Living in secret no doubt. She thought in disgruntlement.

She was still a bit upset about that, being kept a secret, and was glad she didn't have to worry about that anymore. She didn't know what if anything her princess had told her parents, but she didn't have to conceal her presence in that household.

She didn't know if Serena would be home, but she decided quickly that it didn't matter. She would be speaking to her fellow guardian and advisor, and she had every right to do so regardless of Serena's presence or lack thereof.

It took only a few more minutes before she reached the neighborhood where Serena's house was, and a few more after that before she reached the house. She looked around carefully before she scaled the tree in front of the house, and jumped onto the balcony leading to Serena's bedroom.

Immediately Luna spotted Artemis laying across the end of Serena's bed seemingly asleep. However, his ears were moving too much, so she guessed he was listening to whatever was happening in the house since the door was ajar.

She tapped on the glass with her claws and watched his ears twist toward the balcony before his eyes opened and he lifted his head. His eyes widened slightly before he got up and moved toward the edge of the bed.

Artemis glanced back at the slightly open door, wondering if he should join Luna outside or have her come in. He decided after a few thoughtful moments that it depended on why she was here.

He focused on the balcony doors and a few moments later a beam of light shot from the crescent on his brow and struck the doors. A clicking sound was heard and one door swung open slightly.

"Hello Luna." He said as he jumped to the floor on the side of the bed and watched her slip inside.

"Hello." Luna said as she sat down, and then looked in the direction of the door and back to him. "Still hiding your presence." She said.

"I'm still concealing my presence yes." He said as he nodded.

He shrugged; he honestly didn't mind. Them not knowing about him meant he didn't have to pretend to be a mindless feline, and submit to petting whenever they felt the urge. He didn't think Luna had taken that into account with her quiet outrage at being unknown to the family.

"Serena hasn't returned home yet." He informed her, wondering if that was why she was there.

"Susanna hadn't either before I left." She said as she nodded. "Our princess is actually why I'm here."

"Oh. Is anything wrong or is there a new development?" He asked.

"Neither of those." Luna answered. "I'm here because I think it is time you come to stay with our princess. Visiting her is all well and good, but seeing her daily, seeing how she lives her life, and conversing with her would be best."

Artemis sighed. This pattern of Luna's was getting irritating and old. She seemed to want things to be done and beings to act the way she wanted them to.

He supposed he could understand the sentiment of wanting him to come live with their princess. He was one of her guardians and advisors, and he could do that better if he lived with her day in and day out, but that wasn't what he wanted.

In the past they had lived in the palace with the Queen, but they had not lived in her private rooms. They had had their own space, and they hadn't had to hide what they were.

Their princess currently lived in a large expensive house that was just short of a mansion, or maybe was a mansion, and he was not comfortable there. Her parents were sometimes there, but usually gone more often than they were there, so he wouldn't have to pretend to be a regular house cat if he wandered the house.

That was a plus, but their princess' personality and attitude was not one he wanted to live with. He didn't know about Luna but he had recalled that he had felt the same way in the past. Had in fact dreaded the day she ascended to the throne, and they had to deal with trying to advise her.

Already he had been able to see that she was arrogant, selfish, wanted things her way, and wanted what she wanted.

Beyond all that he was enjoying living with Serena. She, along with the other guardian scouts, lived in a more modest home, but she was the only one that seemed to have a life outside of school and being a guardian scout.

She went out with friends, had a young man in her life, got along well with her family, and had fun and relaxed in her free time. The only other one of the girls that came close to that type of social life was Mina.

Even her scout life seemed more filling since she didn't just focus on guarding their princess. She went out patrolling, she trained occasionally with Mina, and he suspected she trained more often on her own, she had the rainbow crystals to find, of which she had found two, and she was a serious strategist fighter.

"I understand living with our princess would probably be for the best in order to guide and advise her," Artemis finally said. "but I don't see a need for the both of us to live with her at this time."

"It is good that you're there with our princess and can provide instant advice should it be needed, and she will likely feel more comfortable speaking to you about any concerns she has." He continued. I'm not sure about that, but it is possible. He thought.

"I also think one of us needs to be free to travel around to all of the Guardian Scouts to guide them and advise when needed. And you know they need guiding." He added seriously.

They had already had to advise the girls not to call serious meetings for frivolous matters and concerns that could be talked about during a casual get together. They had also had to speak to Amy about her conduct as a scout, and the use of her powers after learning of her refusing to fight against her fellow scouts while they were possessed and spreading her fog to the detriment of her fellow scouts.

It was actually more him speaking to her about it since Luna had thought it was a good thing she didn't want to hurt her fellow scouts. He had strongly berated his fellow guardian and advisor for that. All the guardian scouts needed to be willing and able to fight against each other in case of possession or in the highly unlikely event of betrayal.

Amy hadn't been happy to hear that, but he hadn't cared since she needed to hear it and Luna clearly wasn't going to say anything.

"I do know it." Luna said with a sigh.

She too remembered the talk they had had with the girls, and the private one they had with Amy. She hadn't believed the issue with Amy had been a concern, just Serena being petty, but listening to Artemis' explanation of why Amy couldn't refuse like she had made her understand that it was a serious concern. It was also brought home when she had later asked Mina about it and heard her anger over the situation.

oOo

"That situation with Amy during your last encounter with a monster was simply about Serena being petty wasn't it?" Luna asked as she sat on Mina's bed in her bedroom.

"That wasn't about Serena being petty." Mina said with a frustrated sigh. "She didn't bring up what happened as some way to get back at Amy. In fact, as far as I'm concerned this situation isn't about Serena at all! It's about my safety and comfort fighting with my fellow scouts."

"I was up against Raye and Lita, both completely possessed and able to seemingly use their powers better than they could when they weren't possessed. On top of that I had to concern myself with avoiding the shadows, so I didn't end up just as possessed." She continued.

"All of that and I had Amy off to the side refusing to fight, refusing to do anything! That angered and offended me! Especially since Amy herself had experienced being possessed. She knew what it was like and what I was up against." She said angrily.

"Amy didn't even try to take a different route. Like switching with Serena to fight the man in uniform with Tuxedo Mask if she felt she couldn't fight against her fellow scouts, but she didn't!" She said.

"The only reason Serena was involved in the situation at all is because I had to call her for help! She took on fighting Lita while I focused on Raye. We were lucky Tuxedo Mask was able to handle that man on his own or we would have been in trouble!" She continued, frustrated as she remembered.

"And then when Amy finally did do something she ended up making the situation worse! Spreading her fog so I couldn't see Raye or any attack coming; more importantly so I couldn't see any shadows coming!" She said angrily.

oOo

"The girls do need guidance and advising," Luna said with a sigh. "but I'm able to travel away from our princess' home just as I did today. You can do the same." She pointed out.

"That is true on both accounts, but with you living with our princess you are able to see what is happening with her, at least when she is home, and with her parents. I noticed that her parents are often away, but when they are there it is important to note what their behavior is and what they notice about their daughter." Artemis said.

"Beyond that when our princess is home you need to be there to see her behavior, and make sure nothing negative has influenced her without any of the girls knowing it. When that is happening you need to be there and cannot freely travel." He continued.

"Living away from Susanna will allow me to do that, and keep up with the girls' behavior and make note of any activities they will engage in that could have them unable to make it to a fight or guard her on a certain day." He concluded.

Luna nodded thoughtfully, seeing his point. It would be good to keep an eye on their princess' parents. Who knew if they could somehow become corrupted, and end up turning on their daughter and handing her over to their enemy. As well as to see if she was possessed or negatively influenced herself.

After all, the only one that went to school with her was Raye. She could guard her and keep an eye on her, but realistically their princess was used to doing what she wanted, and that didn't include having a girl that hadn't been her friend one day following her around and hanging out with her the next like she had always been there.

So if anything she herself might actually need to follow her princess around like she had tried to do with Serena just after she had awakened her just to be sure that there were eyes always on her.

And doing that means I won't have time to travel around to the other girls to make sure all is well with them. She thought.

"You do have some good points, and there is always the possibility that one of us will need to follow our princess around when she isn't at home just to make sure that one of our group always knows where she is and what she is doing." Luna said.

"That's a good point as well." Artemis said as he nodded. Particularly since Susanna is spoiled and appears to be the leader of her group of friends from what I've picked up so far. He thought.

He knew she wasn't happy about having any of the girls hanging out with her and following her around, so he wouldn't put it pass her to try and avoid that if she could manage it.

Realistically he knew that with only Raye going to school with her she would be the first one to know if something happened to her or could happen to her, and be her first line of defense, and she wasn't enough with their princess' attitude.

He unfortunately thought it would take Susanna being in real serious danger for her to truly understand and accept why she had guardian scouts in the first place. Clearly her brush with danger when she had first been found wasn't enough; likely because the threat hadn't been toward her specifically.

"So you will continue to live with our princess and monitor her and her parents, and I will remain here in Serena's home to monitor her and travel around to Lita, Mina, Amy, and Raye's homes to look in on them. This way we will have everyone covered, and be able to compare and share notes on anything significant." Artemis said.

"Yes." Luna agreed as she nodded.

Artemis nodded in return; pleased that he had gotten his way, and wouldn't have to worry about dealing with their princess any more than he had to.

oOoIRoOo

Serena hurried through the hallways of her school Wednesday afternoon as she made her way through the building to leave.

She had stayed after the last bell of the day to speak to her teacher about one of the college applications she was working on and intended to try to finish that day. Needless to say that conversation, as well as the fact that she hadn't left right away, meant she was going to be late meeting Darien.

That was the last thing she wanted; especially with Susanna having seen them at the cafe and having taken a liking to him. She didn't want to chance leaving him alone with her. She had no doubt he could protect himself from her possible advances, but she didn't want him to have to even deal with that.

So now she was power walking through a hallway, and skipped down the stairs until she reached the ground floor before she continued power walking through the hallway toward the closest exit.

Suddenly she heard beeping echoing through the quiet empty hallway and she stopped in surprise. She looked around quickly to make sure the hallway really was empty before she opened her school bag and reached inside.

She pulled out the Crescent Moon Wand, having been keeping it with her when she went to school for just such an occasion. Although, she had been imagining possibly finding a rainbow crystal before or after school, not while she was still at school!

She looked at the cluster of gems on the pink stick and saw them glowing and pulsing with each beep. Sighing she looked from one end of the hallway to the other, and began to walk back the way she came.

However, by the time she reached the stairway that she had come down from the beeping had stopped, so she reversed directions and walked back in her original direction. Immediately the beeping started again as soon as she reached her previous point in the hallway, so she continued to walk and by the time she reached the end of the hallway the beeping had stopped.

So it's in one of these rooms. She thought as she turned around and looked back down the hallway. Either that or it's on the floor above me. She thought as she began to backtrack down the hallway.

As soon as the beeping started again she stopped and found herself standing in between a classroom door and a boy's bathroom door. She was hoping mightily that the rainbow crystal was inside the classroom and not the bathroom.

But I have to check. She thought reluctantly, but quickly stepped toward the door anyway because she needed to get the crystal while the hallway was empty and she still needed to hurry to Darien.

"Hello? Anyone in here?" She called out as she opened the door a little more than a crack.

No one answered and she closed the door with a sigh of relief before she stepped toward the other side of the hallway toward the classroom. The door was closed but there was a narrow window in the door, and she peered through it to see a guy standing at a table in the middle of what was clearly a science classroom with his back to the door.

He had short dark brown hair and wore the white shirt and blue pants of the male school uniform but wasn't wearing the matching jacket top. She didn't recognize him but he obviously went to school with her from his uniform and presence alone.

Now to get the crystal he has before he notices me standing here, and before someone comes and sees me holding and using this wand. She thought seriously before she lifted the beeping wand and pointed it at the door, aiming it in his direction.

I want to get the rainbow crystal without hurting this guy and without him knowing anything is happening. She thought clearly as she focused on the wand yet stared at the guy's back. I need this to happen, I want it to happen, and quickly! She told the wand.

Moments later the crescent of the wand began to glow a bright white before a beam of light shot off it and passed through the door like it wasn't there and headed straight for the guy. It struck him in the middle of his back, but he didn't react at all just continued to do what he was doing.

Serena watched intensely, yet kept her ears peeled for the sound of anyone coming into the hallway, as the beam of light stayed with the guy, and then her eyes narrowed slightly as a yellow object slipped out of the guy's back, his shirt rippling like it was liquid.

Just as had happened the previous times the beam of light began to retract back toward her with the object at its end. It moved through the air and easily passed through the door, the solid surface rippling like it was made of liquid as well, and as it reached the crescent of the wand she grasped it out of the beam and the white light disappeared.

She glanced back through the window and saw the guy was still busy with what he was doing, and nodded before she turned her back to the door and looked at the yellow crystal. It looked just like the other two only with a different color.

Three down, and who knows how many more to go. She thought as she opened her school bag and placed the wand and crystal inside at the bottom of the bag.

Serena looked up and down the hallway, seeing that she was still alone, before she hurried toward the exit. She burst through the door and sprinted for the opening in the gate surrounding the campus, and began to run; not wanting to keep Darien waiting at the cafe any longer than necessary.

Long minutes passed as she ran and before she knew it she was within sight of the Crown arcade. As she reached it she ignored the establishment's doors and continued up the stairs to the cafe. She opened the glass door and stepped inside the quiet eatery and immediately looked toward the booth they always used.

There sat her boyfriend already looking toward her and in the process of standing up. She hurried toward him and fell into his arms with a sigh.

"I'm so sorry I'm late!" She apologized before she could even get a greeting kiss.

Darien heard his soulmate's words, knew she had taken a little longer than usual to arrive, but that wasn't going to stop him from getting and giving her a greeting kiss as was their habit. He didn't want either of them to miss out, so instead of replying he leaned down and brought his lips to hers in a kiss that was sure to let her know how much he missed her and was glad to see her.

"Wow." Serena breathed as he pulled away, and he grinned.

"So what kept you?" He asked as they parted and took their seats. "Not that you were very long in getting here."

"I spoke with my teacher about one of the college applications I'm working on. The conversation took a little longer than I thought but not too long." She said. "As I was leaving the wand started beeping so I had to figure out where it was. When I did I..extracted the rainbow crystal from the guy I found in a classroom, and then I raced here to meet you."

Darien nodded slowly to indicate he understood.

It wasn't surprising that she would have a discussion with a teacher about one of her college applications considering the time of year it was and how many applications she was planning on sending in.

Questions always popped up about a question on the application or exactly what the university meant by something they were asking, so why not speak to a teacher about it since she was already at school?

He also perfectly understood what she meant about the wand, and wasn't at all pleased about it. Her words indicated that she had clearly found yet another piece of the silver crystal that belonged to that wench, which meant the girl was a piece closer to having the powerful object.

"So what do you want to do now?" He asked, trying to pull his mind away from the Moon Princess and onto something more pleasant.

"Can we go to your place?" Serena asked. "I want to simply enjoy our time together without interruption, and I would rather not chance running into Susanna again. I think she would interrupt us if she finds us here."

"Of course we can go to my place." Darien said instantly. "I certainly have no wish to see that girl again or have her interrupt our time together. In fact, I do not like anyone interrupting our time together unless they are invited to join us."

"Same here." She replied softly before she looked around. "Let's go before she shows up."

Darien nodded and the two of them got to their feet, and he gently yet firmly placed his hand on her lower back and guided her through the cafe and opened the door for her as they exited the building. Their walk down the stairs was quiet and uninterrupted and their walk to his car was the same.

They both smiled in relief as they made it into his car without coming across the reincarnated princess, and he started the car as they put their seatbelts on. Within moments he was carefully pulling away from the curb, and they were soon talking about their day as he drove them to his apartment.

oOo

Andrew arrived at the Crown cafe to work the evening shift, and as he was putting his things away and putting on his apron he found himself once again thinking about all that he had learned since he had spoken with his best friend.

All the Guardian Scouts had now been found, and so had the princess of the Moon. He found himself a bit worried about the reincarnated princess. What would she do when she remembered the past? Would she remember the past she had changed or the past before she interfered? Or would she remember both? Would she continue to pursue his friend, and try to get Serena out of the way?

Oh! What will happen if the reincarnated princess remembers before Serena does? He thought in mild horror. Did that mean Serena would be in danger? Would she be able to protect herself even if she didn't remember?

He didn't know but he was worried about such a thing happening. He would ask Darien. His friend was sure to have a plan in place for the possibility of that happening.

Aside from the princess and scouts, one of Darien's guardian generals being freed was on his mind as well. He had been thinking about that piece of information a lot, and it surprisingly didn't make him reconsider his thoughts on possibly being a general to his friend.

He knew it would be dangerous and scary, but he wanted to help his friend. He also wanted to do something to convey his thanks for trusting him with his secret, and he couldn't see another way to do it. At least not now. In the future if his friend was successful in bringing back his kingdom then he imagined he could work in his palace or castle or whatever he would live in.

Actually, now that the thought has occurred to me I know I don't like that option. He thought. He liked to take action, liked to do things, and working with paper work or standing around as some guard didn't appeal to him.

Andrew sighed. He knew he was going to have to speak to Darien to see if his idea of helping could even be done. Until then he figured he would actually research Generals to hopefully better understand what he was trying to take on.

He heard the sound of the cafe door opening from his spot behind the counter and looked over to see a group of school girls rushing in like they were in a hurry to eat or sit. To his surprise one of them looked like the description Darien gave of the Moon Princess' reincarnation.

He did a double take at the sight, and double checked her appearance. Gray blouse with a dark gray sailor collar with a red stripe on it and a red bow connected that hung on the chest, a dark gray short skirt, knee-high white socks with a red stripe around the top, and black shoes.

Pale blue eyes and white blonde hair styled up in two high ponytails that trail pass her back and almost to her knees. Yeah that's her. He thought, and was even more sure when he overheard what she was saying.

Susanna paused not far from the front counter after she and her friends entered the cafe and scanned the room, eager to see the cutie that Serena was dating, only to find that he wasn't there.

"He's not here! Not even Serena's here!" She whined, and stomped her foot in frustration.

"Is that the name of his girlfriend?" One of her friends asked.

"Yeah. I overheard him say it." Susanna lied. She had barely heard the murmur of his voice the times she had seen him.

"Maybe he hasn't gotten here yet." Another friend suggested.

"He might be down in the arcade." Yet another friend suggested. "We bypassed it on our rush to get up here."

"You could be right." Susanna admitted to the last friend. "Let's hurry back down and see if he's there. If he's not then we'll come back up here to wait."

Andrew watched as the group of girls left, now certain that the one seemingly leading them was the reincarnated Moon Princess.

It wasn't surprising she knew Serena's name since she would have learned the true identity of her guardians when they introduced themselves to her. It was good to know though that she didn't know Darien's name, but troubling that she had already taken a liking to him without even knowing he was the Earth Prince. At least he thought she didn't know.

He was glad Darien wasn't here or he was sure that girl would approach him regardless of if Serena was with him or not, and he wasn't sure how his friend would react to that; especially with Serena being present. Would he react the way he wanted or would he have to restrict himself so Serena didn't become suspicious?

He didn't know and likely wouldn't know until such a situation happened, but he sincerely hoped it never did happen.

As Andrew took an order from a pair of young girls he heard the cafe door open and he glanced over and saw the reincarnated princess and her group return. She looked disappointed so it was obvious they didn't find his friend down in the arcade.

Now they're here to wait for him, but the fact that he's not already here means he either didn't come today or he and Serena went elsewhere after she arrived. He thought as he began to make drinks for the two customers he was tending.

That last option wouldn't at all surprise him. One way for his friend to deal with his possible reactions to being around the princess was to avoid just that. Not chance being around her and therefore not have to deal with her.

If that's the case let's hope that solution lasts for as long as he needs it. He thought before he focused completely on his job.

oOo

Serena and Darien sat in the middle of his couch watching TV. Serena was resting against him with her legs curled up against his, and Darien had his arm resting around her shoulders.

The drive to his place had been surprisingly quick, but they had talked about everything about their day before meeting up with each other before they arrived at his apartment. Once inside they had decided to just do something simple before they got to their homework and studies.

Now they were enjoying being together and just relaxing. They had watched a TV show and then had found a movie to watch, which they were nearing the end of from the looks of it.

Serena suddenly blinked as she began to detect the familiar disturbing sensation of dark energy. She slowly uncurled her legs until her feet sat on the floor and placed her hand on Darien's leg as the dark tendrils of energy flicked at her mind as if to make sure she was aware it was there.

"I'm sensing dark energy." She said softly as she stared blankly at the TV, focusing inward on her senses. "At the moment it's coming from my left."

"Very well." Darien said before he reached for the remote and turned the TV off. "We can transform here and leave from the balcony."

Serena nodded and they both stood up and moved around and behind the couch, neither of them bothering with putting their shoes back on.

Darien focused on his masked persona, picturing the black tuxedo and white mask in his mind, and instantly felt the familiar and welcome warmth of his golden crystal pulse in his chest before he was engulfed in bright golden light.

When it cleared he stood transformed into the familiar mask, tuxedo, and cape he had been wearing for months now, and then he took a few moments to tap into his connection with the Earth so he would be ready to see what was happening around him during the monster encounter they were about to have.

"Moon Prism Power!" Serena said softly yet seriously as she touched the brooch on her chest, and narrowed her eyes as bright pink light flared from the round piece of jewelry and surrounded her.

When the light cleared she looked herself over and then looked to her boyfriend and saw that they were both dressed appropriately. She lifted her eyes to his and raised an eyebrow, silently asking if he was ready.

"Let us go my lady." Darien said as he nodded firmly. "It is yours to lead."

Serena nodded and they stepped over to the balcony, and Darien slid the glass door open and let her step out ahead of him before he joined her and closed the door behind them.

Immediately they leapt over the balcony railing and began to descend the high rise apartment building. Once they were low enough to reach the next building they jumped to the roof, and began to run across it before jumping to the next as Serena stretched her senses and followed the trail of dark energy.

oOoIRoOo

Amy sighed before she pulled off her glasses and rubbed her eyes then she stretched back in the chair she sat in at her desk. She checked the time and saw that she had been home and studying for nearly half an hour now.

After school she had gone to the public library to get in some research since she didn't have class at her Crystal Seminar Cram school that day. She'd spent an hour there before quickly making her way home so she could organize everything she had found and start on an outline to a multiple page paper she needed to write.

Of course on top of that she was also studying for a test she had in the coming week for a different class. She didn't have a problem with that. She was good at multitasking and it helped that she was home alone, which meant all was quiet and the perfect environment for her to study in.

Maybe I should take a little break and make a sn… She considered as she put her glasses down, but her thought was interrupted by the sound of her minicomputer beeping.

She quickly picked it up from where it sat off to the side on her desk and opened it and started typing. She understood that there was an attack happening right that moment at a park, a large park from the look of it, with one monster.

That snack will have to wait. She thought, noting the location of the park as she stood up from her desk.

Amy practically ran through her apartment and hurried out the door and made her way down through the building and outside. She raced down the sidewalk and dashed into the first suitable discreet empty spot she could find and pulled her transformation pen from her pocket.

"Mercury Power!" She called out, and watched as blue light and streams of water came pouring out of the top of her pen and swirled around her.

The blue light flashed and when it cleared she stood transformed into her alter ego of the scout of Mercury.

She quickly pulled out her communicator and pressed the dark pink button with a red symbol for Mars, then the dark pink button with a green symbol Jupiter, the dark pink button with an orange symbol for Venus, and lastly the dark pink button with a white symbol for Moon and waited as she took off running toward the park.

oOo

Lita stood in her kitchen at her counter with a number of ingredients lined up in front of her. She had decided to take a break from her homework because she had gotten hungry. It had been hours since she had lunch at school so it was no surprise.

She was just going to make herself a snack, something to tie her over until it was time she start preparing to make her dinner, but decided she wanted something sweet as well so she was about to mix up the ingredients to make herself a small cheesecake.

She already had the oven turned on and preheating, and her cake pan off to the side waiting to be greased.

Humming she grabbed a medium sized bowl and began to put her ingredients in one at a time and mix them together based on the recipe she had memorized long ago.

Lita was going to enjoy this cake because she felt she deserved a little treat. School was starting to get a bit stressful with her last year gradually coming to an end. She had applied to a couple of universities that had good culinary programs, but she was still considering also applying to a stand-alone culinary school.

She wanted to be either a chef or a baker, maybe both, but she was also aware that she probably needed to think of some kind of backup plan, so she needed to think of something else to study as well, which is why she didn't just go with the culinary school only.

Maybe I should study business, so I could open my own business at some point. My own restaurant or bakery. She considered as she mixed the ingredients. Will being a guardian scout get in the way of that? She wondered with a light frown.

She couldn't imagine running out on her own business to fight a monster or guard her princess, but then she hoped mightily that there would be no more fighting to deal with by the time she reached that point in her life and that she could guard the princess on her days off.

That's probably wishful thinking, but still studying business is likely a good idea. She thought just as she heard her communicator going off.

She frowned as she looked up and over toward it where she left it with her books and papers then hurried toward it. As she reached the table where she had set up to study she saw the dark pink button with the blue Mercury symbol flashing.

She quickly picked it up and pressed the button as she stared at the tiny screen.

"Lita here." She said.

oOo

"Bye Mina!" A feminine voice called out.

"Bye! See you tomorrow!" Mina replied cheerfully to her fellow teammate who had finished changing and was heading out.

Mina sighed and pulled the top of her practice uniform off over her head as she stood in the locker room.

Volleyball practice had run for nearly two hours straight after their warmups but she thought they had got a good practice in. She was slightly charged and yet also a little tired, but not as tired as she imagined she would be if she wasn't the scout that she was. She was still fully capable of going out to train if she wanted to.

She was not going to do that though. She planned on heading home to relax and do her homework and work on some university applications.

Mina finished changing back into her school uniform and was just sitting down to slip her shoes on when she heard her communicator beeping.

She sighed and quickly put her shoes on and grabbed her school bag before she slammed her locker closed and hurried out of the locker room. She looked around as she speed walked and pulled the device out, and saw the dark pink button with a blue Mercury symbol on it.

"Mina here." She said seriously after pressing the button, her mind already moving away from home and relaxing to the possibility of a monster fight.

oOo

Raye closed the front door behind her with a sigh as she arrived home from escorting her princess to her own home, and began to head for her bedroom.

She'd had a pretty boring time following her princess around after school, but wasn't quite sure how to feel that Susanna had tried to search out Serena's boyfriend. Although, it hadn't been much of a search since it was just an arcade and its attached cafe, but she clearly knew the couple spent enough time there that she had been disappointed that he wasn't there.

And she was definitely disappointed after we spent an hour sitting in that cafe waiting to see if he would show up. She thought as she rolled her eyes.

Obviously neither he nor Serena had showed up, and Susanna had been disappointed enough to dismiss her little group of friends and head home.

Susanna's behavior reminded Raye a little of her behavior from her returning memories. It looked like the beginning shades of stalking, and she was concerned that it wasn't already full blown only because she didn't have enough information about the guy aside from the fact that he was Serena's boyfriend and seemed to like the Crown arcade and cafe establishment.

Of course she also hadn't informed Susanna about the guy looking like the Earth Prince in her memories. She hadn't told anyone, hadn't even questioned Serena to see if she was aware, because she wasn't sure how to do it or if she even should.

Despite that she still thought Serena should breakup with the guy so Susanna could pick between him and the Earth Prince if he showed up.

But then again considering the way her boyfriend looks it's very possible the Earth Prince has shown up. She thought as she reached the hallway where her room was located.

However, before she could reach her bedroom door she heard her communicator going off. She frowned lightly and paused as she looked around to see if her grandfather was around, and not seeing him she pulled it from her pocket and saw the dark pink button with a blue Mercury symbol flashing.

"Raye here." She said quietly after pressing the button.

oOo

Sailor Moon ran with her masked boyfriend at her side as she followed the dark energy she was sensing. She could see multiple buildings in their path, but she also thought she saw a park beyond them.

About ten minutes into their travel she heard her communicator beeping from wherever it went when she didn't have pockets, and she slowed to a stop on a tall rooftop and gestured with her hand as she concentrated on wanting the small device.

It appeared in the palm of her gloved hand as her masked boyfriend moved to stand in front of her to make sure he was out of sight of the little viewing screen. The dark pink button with the blue symbol for Mercury was flashing, and she pursed her lips briefly before she pressed it.

"Sailor Moon here." She said calmly yet firmly as she watched Sailor Mercury's face appear on the tiny screen.

"You guys there's a monster attacking at a large park." Sailor Mercury said seriously, and she could see on the screen that her fellow scout was running.

"I'm already on my way. I'll see you all when you get there. Moon out." She said before Mercury could give the location of the park, and pressed the button to end the connection before she put her communicator away.

"To the park?" Tuxedo Mask said as he moved back to her side.

"To the park." Sailor Moon confirmed with a firm nod since that appeared to be where her senses were leading her.

The couple took off running across the rooftop before they jumped to the next one in their path and continued on. As they ran Sailor Moon vaguely wondered if she and her boyfriend could manage to defeat the monster before the others arrived.

Since Amy is already transformed she'll likely get there before the others. At least if none of them are already transformed. She thought, and that was something she doubted since they would only be transformed if they were training.

The only one of them that trained, and could possibly be transformed already, was Mina, and she already knew she wasn't since she had volleyball practice after school. It didn't take any thought to know that Amy had clearly transformed before contacting anyone and was already headed to the park.

Still, Sailor Moon knew she preferred being able to fight with only her boyfriend at her side, although she was more than willing to fight with Venus' help. The others were just too wild, obvious, or hesitant in their fighting. She knew that if they were all fighting at once then the fight would take longer since the monster would dodge the majority of their attacks since they loudly announced them.

I guess we'll see what we can do when we get there and see what the monster is capable of. She thought as she focused completely on following the trail of dark energy she was sensing.

They raced along the rooftops and leapt and jumped from one to another, and when they began to run out of buildings they leapt onto light poles, electrical poles, and street sign poles before making their way to street level.

A few more minutes passed before they reached the outer edge of the park, and Sailor Moon didn't hesitate before continuing in and onto the grass as she followed the trail of dark energy she could practically see in her mind.

Tuxedo Mask followed along silently monitoring the area around them through his connection to the Earth. He wanted to be fully aware of who and what was around him and his soulmate as they headed toward the park and the monster in it.

He also wanted to be ready for when they reached the monster, so he could check if there was another monster or one of his generals hidden from view watching and waiting.

It will be good to know when the Guardian Scouts arrive as well, and if Uranus and Neptune have already arrived or not. He thought as they raced through the quiet park.

He and his Serenity ran further into the park, ignoring the different pathways, as she followed an invisible trail he couldn't see and he in turn followed her. They had yet to come across or see anyone and he found that disquieting. It was a nice sized park and it was late in the day but it wasn't night time. There should be people around.

Either they had fled the area or the monster had done something to them.

Soon Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask came around an almost wall of trees and bushes into an open area. They slowed to a stop and continued at a calm walk at the sight of a young man standing in the middle of a slightly large glade-like area with trees with a winding path through them off to one side and open space and benches off to the other.

He had short black hair and brown eyes and wore a black work suit with a long black trench coat open over it. More importantly his arms were outstretched, his hands splayed, and red glowing strings were stretched out from each of his fingers and thumbs and were wrapped around people who were lying unconscious on the grass or crying out and struggling.

As they grew closer they realized that it wasn't red strings but rather tendrils of fire, and they knew for certain, beyond Sailor Moon's senses, that this guy was the monster.

Sailor Moon reached up and pulled off her tiara and charged it up until it was a glowing white disk hovering above her fingertips. She threw it sharply toward the monster and then focused on the delicate glowing white thread that was her connection to her tiara, and aimed her hand at the tendrils of fire wrapped around the people.

The glowing disk flew through the air in an arched angle and sliced through one tendril of fire after the other, freeing the unconscious and conscious people.

Tuxedo Mask, meanwhile, focused his chakra to his will and pulled out a few red roses and threw them at the male to injure him or at the least distract him from what his soulmate was doing.

The male dodged the roses and they landed harmlessly in the grass behind him. He gazed at the two of them and then lifted his hands toward the both of them, and released a stream of fire at each of them.

Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask dodged the streams of fire, moving away from each other, and returned fire so to speak. She guided the glowing disk that was her tiara toward the monster disguised as a regular young man, and he pulled a few more roses and threw them hard at the male.

The male moved swiftly aside from the roses and they exploded against the grass on contact, and spun away from the glowing disk streaking toward him before he settled back into his casual stance and gazed at the pair.

Tuxedo Mask narrowed his eyes at the male monster. From his body language alone he could easily tell this monster was confident and probably arrogant. He also wouldn't put it pass this monster to be the type to engage in sneak attacks.

And that is to be avoided. He thought as he widened his mental view of the glade, and pulled out two more roses.

He saw not only the area he and his soulmate stood in, with the monster and its victims, but also further back in the trees off to their side was Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. He wouldn't be surprised if they had gotten to the scene before he and his Serenity did.

That was a good thing as far as he was concerned since that meant they would see everything from the beginning, and be on hand should either Malachite or Jedite make an appearance.

This on the other hand is an appearance I can do without, and I am sure my soulmate feels the same. He thought as he saw Sailor Mercury running toward the area they stood in.

Sailor Moon caught her tiara as it returned to her and threw it at the disguised monster again even though he was watching her. He easily avoided it but she began to subtly guide it around and toward his back.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" A feminine voice shouted.

Everyone in the immediate area heard the shout, and to the dismay of the two fighters the disguised monster dodged the stream of cool bubbles, and in doing so also avoided the glowing spinning tiara that had been headed for its back.

The disguised monster lifted his arms and aimed his hands at the fighters and sent streams of fire at them, shifting his arms to reach all three of them.

All three quickly dodged the fire streams. Tuxedo Mask ran to his right moving closer to the tree line and lifted his hand before he focused on his chakra and sent a loose stream of sharp rose petals spraying at the male.

Sailor Moon ran to her left moving further out into the open area, and focused on the delicate white thread connecting her to her tiara and willed it toward the disguised monster.

Sailor Mercury slid to a stop from where she had been coming up between Moon and Tuxedo Mask, and rushed off to her left toward Moon as she brought her hands up.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" She yelled, and sent a stream of cool bubbles flowing rapidly through the air toward the normal looking monster.

The disguised monster cut off his streams of fire and quickly backpedaled out of the way of the flower petals and spun away from the bubbles. Doing that caused him to see the glowing disk heading for him, and he ducked under it before he aimed one hand at the masked man and sent a stream of fire at him.

He then aimed his other hand at the female with the long hair and sent a stream of fire shooting at her before shifting his hand to guide his fire at the female with short hair.

"Supreme Thunder!" Came a feminine shout from behind the male.

The disguised monster ducked down until he was almost kneeling as he spun around in the grass, avoiding the lightning, and sent both streams of fire at the new female to arrive.

Sailor Jupiter gasped at the sight of the fire heading right for her, and allowed herself to fall back so she ended up sliding in the grass with her momentum. Once she stopped she wasted no time rolling away to her left, and climbed to her feet to find herself standing a few feet away from Tuxedo Mask.

The disguised monster calmly looked around at them, and they looked at him in return while some glanced around to see who would attack first.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" Mercury yelled, deciding she would go first as she sent a stream of bubbles at the monster.

Instead of avoiding the attack the disguised monster simply raised his arm and sent a stream of fire to counter her bubbles. The two attacks hit and steam rose up into the air where they connected before the attacks stopped.

Tuxedo Mask raised his own arm as he shifted his position slightly to avoid possibly hitting his soulmate, and willed a loose stream of sharp rose petals out of the palm of his hand toward the monster.

"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter shouted as she sent a streak of lightning sailing toward the monster.

Sailor Moon took the opportunity while her masked boyfriend and Jupiter were attacking to reach up and grab her tiara from where it hovered faithfully above her, and threw it hard at the disguised monster's legs hoping to incapacitate him while he was busy with their attacks.

The disguised monster stepped back and out of the way of the spinning flower petals and leaned down and under the lightning before he spun away from the glowing disk heading for his legs. He then stretched his arms out and spun on his heels as he sent streams of fire flowing out of his palms toward the fighters around him.

Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Moon, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Mercury quickly moved back and away from the swirling fire flowing toward them.

Meanwhile, Sailor Mars ran through the trees of the park as she headed for the sounds of blasts she had picked up. She could see flashes of light through the trees up ahead of her, and she put on a burst of speed wanting to see what she would be dealing with.

She could see three of her fellow scouts and Tuxedo Mask, but Venus wasn't there yet. Then her eyes widened as she saw the guy she assumed was the monster shooting fire out of his hands.

I wonder if my fire will even work on him. She worried as she ran, dodging and swerving around trees as she came closer and closer to the fight scene. I guess I'll find out. She thought as she lifted her arms.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" She shouted just before she reached the tree line, and sent a ball of fire speeding toward the monster.

The disguised monster immediately stretched his arm in the newcomer's direction, and shot a blast of fire at the fireball headed for him, completely negating the attack before he looked in the opposite direction and quickly stretched his arm toward the female with long hair and shot a stream of his fire directly at her.

After all, judging by her appearance she was the one he was supposed to kill more than the rest of them.

Sailor Moon glanced away from the disguised monster as Mars was attacking him and toward her tiara as it was returning to her. She was about to start guiding it toward him when she glanced back to him and saw a stream of fire heading her way. Her eyes widened and she abandoned her tiara and quickly stepped back and then spun away.

She was just in time to avoid the fire, the attack reaching her so quickly she felt the heat as it passed her by. She stopped and immediately brought her eyes to the disguised monster who looked like he was about to attack her again, but was distracted by her masked boyfriend attacking him with his sharp rose petals.

Her heart was still racing at the close call as she took the time to reach up and grab her tiara. The monster seemed to be starting to focus his attacks on her, and she didn't understand why.

Not just this one but some of the ones before too; even that Zoycite guy in the uniform focused on me. She thought with a light frown before she looked to her tiara.

Ugh! I wish I had some weapon other than this. Anything that could make me less vulnerable. She thought as she looked back to the disguised monster, a nagging ache beginning to develop in the back of her head as she threw her tiara at the monster's side.

In another area, Sailor Venus ran hard as she moved through the park looking for her fellow scouts and the monster that had been reported to be here, and finally heard the sound of blasts and shouts. She recognized the voices of Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Mars, and knew from their voices and the blasts that she was close to where she needed to be.

She ran on a walking path that just happened to be winding in the same direction she was going, and when she rounded the trees ahead of her she found herself staring at the fight scene. Her eyes flickered here and there as she took in the situation.

Everyone was already there, even Tuxedo Mask, and the guy they were attacking was obviously the monster, and he was unfortunately doing a good job avoiding their attacks. Fire streamed from his hands so she knew he could use fire like Mars, differently from her, but still just as dangerous.

She also quickly saw that she had the advantage. The monster could see everyone even though they were spread apart from each other, but his back was to her. She quickly moved off the path and onto the grass. She hadn't been making any noise during her approach, but she wanted to make sure not to lose her advantage.

Crescent Beam! She thought as she raised her arm and pointed her finger directly at the monster's back.

The beam of light flew through the air silently and nailed the disguised monster straight in the back causing him to cry out at the unexpected pain.

Tuxedo Mask quickly took advantage and briefly focused on his chakra, and willed a few exploding rose into existence before he threw them all hard at the distracted monster. They slammed into him causing mini explosions all over his body and making him scream in further pain.

Sailor Moon wasted no time guiding her tiara through the air, her arm outstretched toward the monster to better her focus, and willed the glowing disk toward the disguised monster's chest. It slammed into him and he cried out loudly in pain as he arched forward and stumbled back simultaneously.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" Sailor Mars shouted as she sent her fireball flying straight toward the monster.

"Supreme Thunder!" Sailor Jupiter cried out as she threw her arms toward the monster, sending her lightning streaking through the air toward him.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" Sailor Mercury yelled out, sending a stream of cool bubbles racing for the monster.

All three attacks hit the disguised monster nearly at the same time, and he screamed loudly in pain and collapsed to his knees before he suddenly yelled in anger and started to glow a bright red.

The glow brightened and pulsed again and again until it expanded, covering his figure from sight, and surrounded him in a sphere that lifted off the ground and floated a few feet up into the air.

When the light sphere cleared the monster was no longer disguised. He was still dressed in a black work suit, but his long trench coat had turned a vibrant red. His brown eyes were now bright red and glowing, his short black hair was now bone white, and he had two red horns sticking up through his hair a few inches.

Beyond that he had large red and white dragon wings that were leather-like with a white bone talon sticking out of the top of each of them, and a long thick red and white tail with sharp looking bones sticking out of it like thorns. Even more worrying was the literal whip of fire coiled on the side of his hip.

The male was still floating slightly in the air, and he also no longer looked like he was injured.

Within moments his glowing red eyes began flicker and flash as he stretched his wings out so the white webbing could clearly be seen. Then the appendages began to glow red and flash just like his eyes.

To the shock of all the fighters what looked like small cat-sized red and white dragons began to fly out of his glowing wings and land in the grass lined up in front of him.

There were six in total and there was no doubt in anyone's mind that they would each be facing one of them. They couldn't help wondering how they were going to fight the dragons and the monster without being overwhelmed by one or both of them.

Everyone stared, looking from the dragons to the monster and back again, as they considered their options. Some looked on calmly as they decided exactly how and which one, dragon or monster, they were going to attack, others wondered if they could possibly destroy the monster quickly and get rid of the dragons as a result, but one was not thinking of attacking at all.

Sailor Moon narrowed her eyes. This was similar to the doll monster and the copies she had made of herself and sent after each of them. That time Mercury's fog had prevent her from doing anything, as well as all of them from doing anything as a group, but this time she hoped to get rid of the newly arrived little dragons before they separated and came after all of them.

My tiara should be able to handle them as long as they don't have any warning. She thought as she glanced up to her tiara, and prepared to guide it at an angle to go through each of them since they were conveniently lined up.

"Mercury Bubbles Blast!" Sailor Mercury called almost in a panic, hoping that the little dragons wouldn't be able to fight them if they couldn't see them.

Sailor Moon's eyes widened as she stared in disbelief at the swiftly moving bubbles turning into fog, the ache in the back of her head spreading as her frustration with Mercury grew. Her tentative plan had been destroyed before she could even get started!

Sailor Venus groaned quietly as the fog reached her position, and visibility of the monster and his little dragons disappeared.

Tuxedo Mask simply narrowed his eyes in disgust and focused on his mental view of the area, noting everyone's position; specifically his Serenity's.

"Shit!" Sailor Jupiter cursed loudly as she stared at the spot where the monster and his little dragons were.

Sailor Mars sighed heavily as she tried in vein to see through the fog.

Sailor Moon refocused and focused on her senses, and instantly pinpointed each dark energy signature. There were seven in total, including the monster, and the little dragons from the position she sensed them in were starting to spread out; moving away from the monster and in their direction.

"They're spreading out!" She called out warningly, and grimaced as the loudness of her own voice aggravated her headache. Ugh! What a time to get a headache.

oOo

Tuxedo Mask watched as the dragons began to spread out just as his Serenity had warned, and they were moving unerringly toward each of them proving they could either see through the fog or their senses were strong enough to be that accurate.

Then he watched in surprise as the dragons began to grow in size, gradually getting larger until they were the height of a human. That was completely unexpected. He had been expecting to have to deal with a small dragon not one that was as tall as him.

That definitely changed how he had been considering dealing with the creature; especially if it had the ability to grow further. And worse, he couldn't inform the others that the dragons could grow; at least not until he could see it with his own eyes, and by that time the others could very well be being faced with their own larger dragon.

I have to end this quickly, and get to my Serenity. He thought as he watched the dragon heading through the fog toward him. He also wanted to end it quickly so he didn't give it a chance to show the possible rang of what it could do.

He called on his chakra as he watched the dragon, focusing on what he wanted, and waited for the exact moment before the creature would become physically visible through the fog in front of him before he sent two chains toward the approaching creature.

The medium sized golden chains burst from his chest and flew through the air and began to wrap around the dragon, immediately trapping its wings so there would be no chance of flight, then he lifted it off the grass and willed the chains to bring the creature to him.

It happened so fast all the dragon could do was roar its shock. He ignored it, but paid close attention in case it decided to breathe fire, and took a deep breath in through his nose, focusing on converting his chakra, and breathed out sharply through his mouth. Transparent gold water, as opposed to clear blue liquid, streamed out pass his parted lips toward the dragon and slammed into it.

The dragon would have been blasted back if not for his chains, and roared as it was soaked from top to bottom.

Tuxedo Mask then raised his hand and sent a bolt of golden lightning streaking through the air toward the creature as it roared again. The lightning flew between its open jaws and into its mouth, and the creature roared and cringed in clear pain as golden electricity crackled in its mouth and around its body.

The dragon wreathed from its trapped position and roared again before it trailed off into silence as its body began to crumble.

He waited until its body crumbled to the point that his chains were pointless, and allowed his chains to dissipate back into chakra and absorbed them before he turned and began to make his way toward his Serenity.

He was concerned that the monster would try to attack her again, and while she was distracted, and worried since he had seen her grimace. He thought she might be in pain; either from when she was avoiding the monster's attack or for some other reason.

She was either hurt from when she was avoiding the monster's attack or for another reason altogether. Regardless I do not like seeing her in pain. He thought as he used his connection with the Earth as his eyes to avoid Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury's fights since both had been to his left, and that was the direction he needed to go in to get to his soulmate's position quickly.

oOo

Venus sighed lightly and reconsidered the loose plan she had been thinking of before Mercury decided to spread her fog.

She tried very hard to push back her anger at Mercury so she wouldn't be distracted by it, but she could not believe her fellow scout! She couldn't believe she had done this again. After informing Luna about the incident when she was up against a possessed Mars and Jupiter she had thought she and Artemis would speak to Mercury about using her fog appropriately and carefully during monster fights.

She didn't know if the felines had spoken to her about it, but she had assumed they had since it was so important. Either she was wrong in her assumption and they hadn't spoken to her or they had, and Mercury had just discarded what they said and decided to do what she wanted to do regardless of how it affected the rest of them.

Maybe we need to have a meeting and confront her directly for it to finally sink into her head since our reactions aren't enough. She considered as she scanned the foggy area in front of her.

She decided to move back to put some more space between her and the monster and coming dragon since she was still behind him and wouldn't put it past the monster to attack while she was busy with his dragon.

Suddenly she began to see a dark shape in the fog moving toward her. She couldn't make out much definition but it looked too bulky to be the monster, and it looked much too big to be the little dragon.

Did he call on something else to fight us? She thought as she stared at the shape getting darker as it got closer to her. Am I going to have to fight this thing and the dragon, plus worry about the monster possibly attacking me?

As these questions swirled rapidly through her mind she readied herself to attack, lifting her arm and pointing her finger at the dark shape, but gasped in shock as the dark shape finally appeared through the fog.

What is this?! She thought in shock and surprise. Standing there was the red and white dragon. No longer was it tiny and cat sized; now it was as tall as she was, and she didn't even want to think about how big it was; especially if it stretched its wings out.

It rumbled a growl at her as it stared her down, its sharp white fangs clearly visible, and then roared loudly at her as fire came spilling out from between its jaws at her.

Crescent Beam! She thought quickly, and sent a beam of light streaking through the air from her finger to meet the stream of fire.

oOo

It still surprised Jupiter that those thin bubbles Mercury produced could turn into such a thick fog; so thick that she couldn't see anyone. Not the monster, not the little dragons, not her fellow scouts, and not even Tuxedo Mask and he had been standing nearly right next to her!

How am I supposed to fight like this? She thought as her eyes flickered from left to right. What if the little dragon is coming at me from a different direction in this fog now that I can't see it?

With that in mind she slowly began to turn in a circle just to see if anything was coming out of the fog at her from any other direction than the one she had last seen the dragons in, but she thankfully saw nothing and was soon facing the original direction again.

Ugh! What's the point of being a good fighter if I can't use my skills?! She wondered in frustration. Maybe I should go after the dragon instead of waiting for it to come get me. Or go directly after the monster and bypass the little dragon altogether. But then I can't see where the monster is to even do that. Still, I can move toward the last direction I saw the dragon in.

Nodding to herself she began to walk forward cautiously determined to deal with the dragon head on instead of waiting to be attacked like a sitting duck.

Jupiter was slightly concerned with what she was and wasn't hearing as she walked. She could hear Mars and Mercury voicing their attacks, letting her know the dragons had reached them, but she didn't hear the others. Sailor Moon, Venus, and Tuxedo Mask were silent.

She was used to that by now, clearly they didn't need to shout out their attacks, but because of that she couldn't tell if they were being attacked or not. She couldn't even see a flash of color from their attacks.

I can't even tell if they've been attacked and are unconscious. Damn this fog! She thought with a frustrated frown.

Silence was expected from those three, but it was still unnerving in this fog. And then there was the worry in the back of her mind about Tuxedo Mask. He had of course done nothing but help at every fight she had been present for since she had become a scout, but she still had Luna's warning words in her mind.

"He appears helpful, however, we have no idea who he is, where he comes from, or what his motives are. We simply cannot trust him."

She didn't like that she couldn't see him just as much as she didn't like that she couldn't see the monster or the dragon coming for her.

Suddenly she saw a darkness in the fog in front of her and she rushed toward it, figuring it was the monster since it looked too large to be the dragon, and gasped loudly, stumbling to a stop before she ran straight into it, as she saw that she had been very wrong.

It was actually the dragon, and it was a dragon that was no longer little. Now it was as tall as her and much wider!

Her eyes widened at what she was now dealing with, and she was practically standing in the creatures face!

It roared loudly and she cried out unconsciously at the sound and the sight of it parting its jaws.

"Supreme Thunder!" She cried out as quickly as she could as she brought her hands up.

oOo

Damn it Mercury! Mars thought quietly as she scanned the fog in front of her. How am I supposed to fight like this? Especially with the dragons moving around?

She had no doubt that they were moving toward each of them just like with those copies of the doll monster, and just like that time they were hindered by Mercury's fog.

At least there's no chance of tripping over anyone this time. She thought, trying to find some optimism in her situation. And at least all of my fellow scouts are here, and we don't have to wait for anyone to arrive; and not have to worry about them arriving into an area covered in fog. She thought as she took a cautious step back and then another as she looked around.

At least our princess isn't here; lost in this fog trying to be somewhere she doesn't belong. She told herself. It's a good thing I got the call for this monster after I had already escorted her home or I think I might still be trying to convince her to stay at home instead of coming with me.

Suddenly a thought occurred to her and she turned around, concerned the dragon could be sneaking up behind her in the fog, but then she heard a loud roar from behind her and she spun back around quickly only to see the dragon bursting through the fog, much larger than it had been before, and bright light in the back of its mouth.

Before she could do more than notice all this the bright light turned into a stream of fire coming at her, and she cried out in surprise and just managed to get her hands up.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" She cried out, sending her own fire back at the creature and the fire coming at her.

oOo

Mercury sighed in relief as her fog began to spread and conceal them from the monster and little dragons. She knew her fellow scouts and Tuxedo Mask couldn't see through her fog, had been warned and cautioned about using it by Artemis, but she had deemed it necessary, and in the case of Tuxedo Mask she didn't particularly care if he could see or not since he wasn't part of their team as Guardian Scouts.

He was an unknown, a potential enemy, a possible threat to their princess, and if the monster got him while her fog was spread then that was one less thing for them to worry about when it came to protecting their princess.

Then she heard Sailor Moon's words and her panic began to rise as she realized abruptly that this was now going to be like what happened with the copies of the doll monster.

For some reason that had not occurred to her when she spread her fog. She knew she could be skeptical of her fellow scout's words and double check, but last time she tried that the copy of the doll had attacked her before she could verify the warning.

She didn't want to risk that even though the dragon was little. She had seen that it had wings so it could still potentially fly, and that could be a serious problem with her fog all over the place. Sailor Moon's warning also meant that the little dragons could see or sense them through her fog and were heading directly toward each of them.

And none of this even counts toward the monster. That male could probably also find us in my fog and attack us, which means my fog is hindering us instead of helping like I hoped it would. She thought with a heavy sigh as her eyes shifted along the fog directly in front of her.

Before she could think of anything else she heard Mars loudly calling out her attack to her right and she looked over automatically but didn't see anything. Not Mars and not the red flare of her fire attack.

From the corner of her left eye she did see something and she quickly looked back in front of her, and her eyes widened as she spotted a dark shadow back in the fog. She took a step back and raised her hands as she stared at it, and watched it become a large silhouette. Immediately she thought it was the monster, but then she gasped as it pushed through the fog like a curtain to reveal a red and white dragon.

Not one of the small dragons she had seen before she spread her fog, but a large one that looked taller than her! And it was big; and that without spreading its wings!

The dragon roared and parted its jaws before a steam of fire came flowing out.

"Ah! Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" She screamed frantically, and aimed her stream of cool bubbles at the fire.

oOo

Sailor Moon tried to ignore her aching head as she looked around at the fog surrounding her. She instantly decided to back up a few steps to give herself some more room to maneuver, and hopefully some time before the little dragon reached her.

She couldn't believe Mercury! Hadn't she learned from the last time she launched her bubble fog and made it so she and Venus couldn't see their opponents and the attacks coming their way?! Why would she do this?! Especially knowing no one could see through it!?

She glanced up and then reached up and grabbed her tiara, so she would be ready to use it the moment she spotted the little dragon coming in her direction. She closed her eyes, blocking out the frustrating fog, as she focused on her senses, and monitored the dark energy signatures as they moved around.

One was stationary, and she knew that one belonged to the monster. The rest were spread out as they made their way toward her fellow scouts and masked boyfriend.

It wasn't long before she heard Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars shouting out their attacks with Mercury's voice being the loudest since she was the closest to her. She wasn't too worried about Venus since she expected silence from her, and the same went for her masked boyfriend.

Just like me they don't need to announce their attacks for all to hear. She thought, opening her eyes with a wince as her head pulsed in pain. She lifted her free hand and rubbed the side of her head with her gloved fingers to try and ease the pain.

Still, even though Sailor Moon could hear her fellow scouts she couldn't see their attacks with how thick the fog was, and she absolutely hated that she couldn't see the dragon coming at her. Sensing was all well and good but she also liked to use her eyes!

Ugh! She thought as her eyes flickered around, sensing the dragon getting closer and closer to her. I have to do something! I can't just stand here waiting for it to come get me, and I definitely don't want it to have the first move! She thought as she racked her brain for some idea.

Maybe..maybe I can do what I did with that Zoycite guy. Use my senses to target the dragon. She considered just as she sensed the energy signature of one of the dragons furthest from her disappear.

Hopefully it worked and she could destroy the creature before it had a chance to attack her. Then she could focus on the monster, and maybe help everyone else if they were still fighting by using the same method.

She lifted her hand as she looked at her glowing tiara and willed it to rise up into the air. It did and she narrowed her eyes as she focused on the dark energy of the dragon coming at her, and stretched her arm out in front of her and willed her tiara toward the vile energy signature.

Before her tiara could get far she saw a large shadow in the fog then suddenly it pushed through revealing the much larger form of the dragon. No longer was it as small as a house cat; now it was as tall as her and wider than she cared to think about.

Her eyes widened in surprised but she continued to will her tiara forward, and watched as it slammed into the creature's wide chest just as it roared out a stream of fire.

It roared again, in obvious pain, but that didn't stop the fire coming at her. In fact, the stream seemed to thicken as it streaked toward her.

Suddenly she was slammed into from her right side and she huffed as the breath was knocked out her, and cried out lightly as she was lifted off her feet and carried out of range of the flame.

---

"I've got you my little scout." Sailor Moon heard a familiar masculine voice, and looked up to see her masked boyfriend glancing down at her worriedly.

"Thanks." She said with a light smile.

"You are very welcome." Tuxedo Mask replied before he stopped and placed her back on her feet. "You are fine are you not? You were not hurt?" He asked.

"No I'm fine. I wasn't hurt at all." She reassured him as she shook her head, but stopped quickly with a slight wince as the pain in her head pulsed.

The secret prince of the Earth narrowed his eyes as he watched his soulmate's aborted move.

"I just have a headache." Sailor Moon said, noticing his expression. "And my frustration with Mercury hasn't helped." She added with a sigh. "What about you? Are you okay?" She asked in the next moment as she looked him over, taking advantage of the fog still concealing them.

"Yes. I am fine." Tuxedo Mask answered, reassuring her this time, though he was still concerned about her being in pain. "The dragon that came for me was dealt with before it had a chance to do anything."

Sailor Moon nodded, figuring the dark energy signature that had disappeared must have been the one he was up against. She looked around and noticed the fog was finally starting to thin, and figured it would be gone soon so she would only have enough time for one of her tentative plans.

"Watch my back?" She asked her masked boyfriend even as she turned and closed her eyes.

"Of course." He replied.

Hearing his answer Sailor Moon lifted her hand, focusing on the delicate thread that connected her to her tiara even as she once again focused on her senses and pinpointed the dark energy signatures around her. She raised her hand and guided her tiara toward the closest moving dark energy. A loud roar announced her success, and when that one disappeared from her senses she moved on to the next one.

She continued to guide her tiara through the thinning fog, and three more times a loud roar sounded to announce the destruction of the dragons.

Tuxedo Mask watched through his connection to the Earth as his soulmate's tiara sped through the air and slammed into one dragon after the other, their bodies crumbling just as the one he had destroyed had done, until they were all destroyed.

He could also see through the Earth and with his own eyes that the fog was thinning more and more with every passing second; to the point where he was starting to see the Guardian Scouts and the monster.

The monster had not moved an inch since it had taken on its true form, but he suspected that would change once the fog was gone. He also could not tell by its expression how it felt about its dragons being destroyed so quickly. He knew that he was proud of his Serenity for being innovative and using what she had to quickly deal with not only her dragon opponent but the other dragons as well.

Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Mercury looked around in surprise as the large dragons they were trying to fight were destroyed. They looked around, some in surprise and some only slightly so having been distracted by their fights, to see the fog was nearly gone and they all were visible to each other again.

Unfortunately this also included the monster.

Still, they were able to see that it was actually Sailor Moon's tiara that had destroyed the dragons. It was currently sailing back to her, and she caught it easily from where she stood slightly in front of Tuxedo Mask and immediately looked to the monster.

All of them, though some more than others, wondered how the masked man had made his way to her side through the fog without running into any of them, the dragons, or the monster.

Sailor Moon narrowed her eyes to better focus on the monster, and pass the pain in her head, as she held her tiara and watched for any move on the male's part.

She was glad her idea had worked, and she would definitely be remembering it for the next monster fight and the ones to come after it.

And of course this one as well if I have the chance. She thought quietly as she idly noticed her masked boyfriend stepping up to stand at her side.

oOo

Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus sat concealed from sight back in the trees up high watching the fight and occasionally looking through Neptune's Deep Aqua Mirror. They had arrived before everyone else and saw the monster with his victims, taking their energy, and watched as Prince Endymion and Sailor Moon arrived together.

They both nodded in approval as Sailor Moon instantly acted to sever the connection the monster had with his victims, using her tiara to cut the fire tendrils, and then watched as she and Prince Endymion attacked the monster.

Soon after they really got started Sailor Mercury arrived and shouted her attack, which obviously made the monster dodge but also caused it to avoid Sailor Moon's sneak attack with her tiara. An attack that might very well have injured the monster enough for Prince Endymion to land an attack and possibly finish him off or allow Sailor Moon's follow up to finish him off.

Attacks were exchanged and avoided from Prince Endymion, Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, and the monster, and they watched as Sailor Jupiter arrived and announced her presence by shouting out her attack from behind the monster; destroying a perfectly good opportunity to land an attack on the monster's back and potentially injure him enough to be destroyed.

Uranus shook her head as she watched. Two missed opportunities to seriously injure the monster and defeat it quickly.

They all seemed to watch each other for a few long silent moments before Sailor Mercury decided to loudly attack, which was easily countered by the monster. Everyone else then attacked, but the male avoided all of their attempts and sent streams of fire at them while spinning in an attempt to reach them all.

Sailor Mars arrived and Uranus sighed in frustration as she shouted out her attack, drawing the monster's attention and allowing the male to easily negate the fireball with his own fire.

"Yes. If only they would attack silently this fight would have been long over." Neptune said, and then narrowed her eyes as the monster attacked again, this time specifically targeting Sailor Moon.

"That looked too close for comfort." Uranus said quietly as she watched Sailor Moon finish dodging the stream of fire, and then she narrowed her eyes as it looked like the male was going to attack her again but thankfully Prince Endymion distracted him.

"Yes it did." Neptune agreed as she continued to watch Sailor Moon.

Sailor Venus arrived on the scene and they were both pleased that unlike the other three guardian scouts she took advantage of being out of the monster's sight and attacked silently landing the first hit on the male since the fighting started.

Prince Endymion was quick to take advantage of the monster's pained distraction, and Sailor Moon was just as quick to follow up. Then the rest of the guardian scouts attacked, and everyone's attacks hit the monster and brought him to his knees.

Unfortunately instead of the combination destroying the monster it caused the male to reveal his true form. He was still humanoid, still dressed nearly the same, but now he sported wings and a tail and was floating slightly in the air.

"Oh!" Uranus breathed as they watched the monster somehow produce what looked like little dragons out of his wings. "And of course she would do that." She added in disgust as Sailor Mercury launched her bubble fog, and blocked their visibility of what was happening.

Neptune was already looking in her mirror and had it focused on Sailor Moon, and watched her grimace after she warned about the dragons moving. As always the figure of Sailor Earth appeared behind her with her eyes closed as if asleep and surrounded by muted white light. However, this time there was a very important difference; the white light was pulsing brightly and dimming around her figure.

"Something is wrong with Sailor Moon." She said as she continued to watch her.

Uranus looked away from the fog into Neptune's mirror, and saw the muted white light around Sailor Moon's true self pulsing brightly and dimming over and over again. Then she looked at Sailor Moon's figure and saw her wince and rub her head.

"You're right." She agreed with a frown. "I wish we could warn Prince Endymion."

"Perhaps it is only a headache judging by her facial expressions." Neptune suggested.

"Or it could be the beginning of what Prince Endymion said happened to him when he remembered; especially with the way the light around her true self is acting." Uranus countered with a worried frown; she had not forgotten the way he had described the pain.

Neptune zoomed the image out so they could see what was happening around Sailor Moon and watched as she began to seemingly guide her tiara up into the air and toward the fog straight ahead of her. However, before it could reach the fog a large dragon appeared.

She was clearly surprised but that didn't stop her from continuing to guide her tiara forward and into the dragon. Unfortunately it sent out a stream of fire at the same time directly at her, and it looked like she didn't have enough time to avoid it.

Thankfully Prince Endymion arrived just in time to snatch her out of the way, but despite the close call she still managed to destroy the dragon.

"He's noticed." Neptune said as she watched Prince Endymion's eyes narrow at the sight of her wincing in pain.

"Good. Now there'll be three of us paying close attention to her in case something happens." Uranus said as she watched what was happening.

The fog had thinned to the point where they could see everyone with their own eyes now, and they caught the end of what was clearly Sailor Moon using her tiara to destroy all the other dragons who appeared to have grown larger as well.

oOo

The monster looked around at the crumbled piles of his dragons, and narrowed his eyes angrily before he lifted and stretched his arms out, and let fire stream out of his palms as he spun in a circle in the air; wanting to burn these fighters opposing him and getting in his way.

The Sailor Scouts and Tuxedo Mask quickly moved back and out of range of the streaming fire swirling at them, and positioned themselves to attack the winged monster.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" Sailor Mars yelled as she aimed her hands toward the monster.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" Sailor Mercury called out and sent a stream of bubbles toward the monster.

Crescent Beam! Sailor Venus thought as she aimed her finger at the monster's back between his wings.

"Supreme Thunder!" Sailor Jupiter shouted as she threw her hands toward the monster sending lightning streaking toward him.

The monster aimed his hand at the fireball coming at him and sent a stream of fire to intercept it before flapped his wings slightly and shifted sideways, avoiding the cool bubbles and unexpectedly the beam of light that had come from behind. Then aimed another stream of fire at the female in green and white as he avoided the bright lightning she sent his way.

As the monster was attacking Jupiter Tuxedo Mask lifted his arm, and aimed his hand at the monster as he focused on his chakra and sent a loose stream of rose petals spraying at the male.

Sailor Moon also took the moment of the monster's distraction to throw her tiara sharply toward the monster's side, hoping it would slice him in half and destroy him.

Unfortunately the male turned his head toward their side and, seeing the attacks coming his way, shifted until he was facing them and flapped his wings hard a couple of times.

Sailor Moon's tiara went flying off course and away from him, and Tuxedo Mask's rose petals were sent scattering through the air back in their direction. They both covered their faces and heads from the super-heated air blowing against them and shifted their feet to keep themselves from being blown backward.

Sailor Moon turned her face away from the heated air and tried to see if her tiara was coming back to her or even still in the air, and found that it was at a distance behind her in the grass with its charge dissipating as she watched to leave it looking like a piece of jewelry.

Damn! She thought and lowered her arms when the heated wind stopped blowing her way.

Before she turned to go get it she looked back to the monster to see he had his fire whip in hand and flung it in her direction. Her eyes widened and she quickly back stepped out of the way as the tip of the red hot flaming whip slammed into the grass where she had been standing.

Tuxedo Mask narrowed his eyes and quickly focused on his chakra, and summoned a rose to his hands before he willed it to grow and extend into his rose whip. As soon as it was coiled in the grass at his side he expertly snapped his wrist and flung it toward the monster's face to attack and distract him.

"Go! Go ahead and get your tiara." He told his soulmate, glancing at her before he focused back on the monster.

"Supreme Thunder!" Sailor Moon heard Jupiter shout as she turned and hurried toward her downed tiara.

The monster targeted me again! It's a good thing I looked at him to check his actions or I wouldn't have seen his fire whip coming right at me. She thought as she moved across the grass. And none of this would have happened if I didn't have to go after my only weapon! Ugh! She thought in frustration.

If only she had more to use besides her tiara! All the others had attacks they could use in an instant without having to worry about their weapon returning to them before they could attack again. Even her masked boyfriend had attacks he could use that didn't involve a physical weapon he had to worry about getting lost or taken from him!

I wish I had another weapon! Another power! Anything that would make me less vulnerable! She thought as she reached her tiara.

Sailor Moon looked over her shoulder to make sure she was still clear from being attacked before she reached down and grasped her tiara in her gloved fingers.

She turned around with a heavy sigh as she looked at her tiara and then suddenly winced as a sharp pulsing pain, different than her earlier ache, seemed to reverberate from one side of her head. It happened again and she flinched at the pain, one of her eyes squinting nearly closed, as she brought her free hand up to the side of her head.

Is this what people who have strokes feel before all goes dark and they wake up in the hospital; if they wake up at all? She wondered worriedly as she slowly began to walk back toward the fighting, and charge up her tiara until it was a glowing white disk hovering above her fingertips.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" Mercury yelled and sent her bubbles streaming toward the monster, but unlike before he flapped his wings at her sending a blast of super-heated wind that scattered and dissipated the bubbles and knocked her onto her back with a cry.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" Mars shouted, hoping her fireball would distract the monster and get his attention off of Mercury while she was down.

The monster flicked his fire whip at the oncoming attack, countering the fireball's flame with his own fire, and then sent a stream of fire with his free hand toward the masked male before he could attack him again.

Crescent Beam! Venus thought as she aimed her finger at the monster.

"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter shouted as she threw her hands toward the monster.

Sailor Venus grimaced as she heard Jupiter's shout and watched lightning streak toward the monster nearly at the same time as her light beam. The monster flapped his wings and moved higher in the air, avoiding the lightning and consequently her beam of light, before she watched in surprise as his tail extended and smack into Jupiter's chest and sent her flying back toward the trees with a cry.

Tuxedo Mask saw through his connection with the Earth that his soulmate was charging her tiara, but he also saw that she was still in pain from her headache.

This monster needs to be ended soon. He thought in determination. He needed to get his soulmate back to his place so he could help ease her pain, and figure out where her headache had come from since he had never seen his soulmate sick or in pain from an ailment since he had met her in this life.

He stretched his arm up toward the monster and willed his attack toward him, and watched as sharp red rose petals went spraying silently through the air.

Venus seeing Tuxedo Mask attacking stretched her arm up toward the monster and attacked while the monster still couldn't see her, sending her Crescent Beam attack flying at the male like a laser.

The monster cried out in pain and looked away from the female in green to see that the masked male was attacking him, but before he could do anything he cried out in pain again as he jerked forward from a force hitting him in the back.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" Mars shouted and sent a fireball flying up at the monster while it was distracted by its pain.

The monster growled and sent fire down at the fighters attacking him while he flew higher, hoping to get out of their range so he could get ahold of his pain.

Sailor Moon, silently dealing with her own pain and frustration, wanted this monster destroyed as soon as possible so she could take something for her headache.

She focused on the glowing thread that connected her to her tiara and willed it to rise into the air. She watched it lift from her fingertips and, looking through one eye having completely closed the other in her pain, raised her hand and aimed it toward the monster as she guided her tiara where she wanted it to go.

She didn't want the monster to see it and avoid it as he had before, so she shifted her position, stepping sideways, until she was off to the side and behind the male. She focused on his back and opened her closed eye as much as her pain would allow so her aim wouldn't be off and guided the glowing disk toward the area where his wings connected to his back.

She carefully willed it to shift sideways so it would get as close as possible, and miss his flapping wings, and watched grimly as it sliced through one and then the other moments later. The monster screamed loudly and began to fall toward the ground with his severed wings, and she switched her focused and guided her tiara in arch back toward the falling male even as her head pulsed in pain to the point where she had to close her eye again.

Crescent Beam! Venus thought as she aimed her finger at the falling monster.

"Mercury Ice Bubbles Freeze!" Mercury yelled as she aimed her hands at the monster as he hit the ground.

"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter shouted as she threw her hands toward the monster.

"Mars Fire Ignite!" Mars called out as she aimed her clasped hands at the monster.

Tuxedo Mask focused on his chakra and gestured with his hand, and watched a rose blossom appear. He threw it hard at the monster as the other attacks connected with the male causing him to scream again and again.

Sailor Moon winced as the pain pulsed in the back of her head, but continued to guide her tiara toward the monster as she watched everyone else's attacks hit him as he hit the ground. The male was still somewhat upright as he was on his hands and knees, so she guided her tiara in a way to make sure this fight would end when her attack hit.

The glowing white disk flew through the air at high speed down at an angle toward the monster and sliced right through his neck causing his screams to stop abruptly as his head dropped into the grass. The monster's body collapsed and started to turn gray and crumble one limb at a time until it was nothing but a small loose pile of gray debris.

Sailor Venus, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Mars began to walk forward toward each other to make sure they were okay. Tuxedo Mask for his part turned his attention to his soulmate as he turned in her direction; still concerned about her being in pain.

Sailor Moon stood where she was and waited for her tiara to come to her. As soon as it reached her she grabbed it out of the air and released its charge, and placed it back on her forehead with a heavy sigh.

Now that the fight was over she once again wished she had something else to use to fight with. The very sight of her tiara reminded her that she needed something else, something more reliable, because her tiara had become a liability.

If her reflexes were at all off then she could be seriously hurt trying to get her hands on her only weapon. Or as she had seen earlier it could be prevented from returning to her or she could be attacked before it could return to her.

She was frustrated and in pain and her frustration had probably caused her headache in the first place, so it wouldn't have happened if she just had something better to work with that she wouldn't have to worry about!

If only I had something like the sword, staff, or bow and arrows that I could apparently use in my past life! She thought as she began to walk toward the others.

Before she could continue her ranting thoughts the pain in her head pulsed more intensely than it had before and she stumbled. She caught herself from falling and was about to bring a hand up to try and soothe her pain, but suddenly screamed piercingly instead. Intense sharp pain rippled through her head and seemed to increase dramatically by the second.

All she could do was grab the sides of her head, and scream.

---

(*) Like I'm Gonna Lose You by: Meghan Trainor (feat. John Legend)
(1) All I Ask of You by: Christine and Raoul
(2) The Point of No Return by: Christine and the Phantom