The Sailor Senshi stared in astonishment at the two self-proclaimed Animamates.

"Phantom… Galactica?" Sailor Moon mumbled. "But… why!? Galaxia is no longer under the influence of Chaos!"

"That's right! We are what's left of Shadow Galactica, united under new leadership!" Pewter Fox declared.

"It can't be…" Sailor Moon whispered.

"Who is your new leader!?" Uranus suddenly asked. "What is your goal!?"

"Are you guys deaf? We told you already. We're here for your Sailor Crystals," Kerokko replied.

"So you're just recycling the old Shadow Galactica's plan huh. Not very original," Neptune taunted.

"You don't need to know our goal. Just surrender that Sailor Crystal over there!" Fox exclaimed, pointing towards the unconscious Mars.

"Never!" Venus cried out.

Mercury's attention was suddenly focused on Kerokko.

"That green hair, and that size… you must be the one who attacked Nyanko-san!" Mercury accused.

"What does my size have to do with it!?" Kerokko exclaimed, annoyed.

"Sailor Animamates… leader?" Crow suddenly came out from her torpor. "Tsk, don't make me laugh! I was the Animamates leader! Who the hell are you!?"

"That's what's bothering you!?" Jupiter let out.

Fox laughed at her comment. Kerokko on the other hand seemed wary of Crow, even hiding behind Fox.

"Pleased to meet you, Sailor Lead Crow. We never had the chance to meet, but I actually joined Shadow Galactica way before you did. In fact, I was the original Sailor Animamates leader," Fox revealed.

"Huh!? I don't believe you!" Crow exclaimed. "I never heard of you before!"

"There's so much you don't know, and it's best it stays that way, Lead Crow… or should I say, Red Crow?" Fox sneered.

Crow's eyes widened in shock.

"Red… Crow?" Sailor Moon mumbled.

"How… do you know that name?" Crow muttered.

"I know more about you than you think. Enough to know we are alike, you and I," Fox continued. "How about you join us? Come back to the Animamates, Sailor Lead Crow. This is where you belong."

Crow glared at her with such intensity.

"Don't mess with me! As if I'd ever go back to Shadow Galactica! I don't have any reason to-"

"Phantom Galactica," Fox corrected. "I must admit, I'm surprised, coming from Galaxia's most devoted follower. Well, it's not like I would actually allow you to join us, so you can just die with the rest of these Earthling pests. Galactica Mirage!"

Pewter Fox suddenly shot a beam of flashing light, blinding the Sailor Senshi and blasting them away.

"Arghhh!"

"Serves you right!" Fox sneered. "Kerokko, get the Sailor Crystal!"

"Right-o, nee-san!"

The green-haired girl rushed towards the unconscious Sailor Mars, but before she could get her hand on her starseed, someone got in her way.

"Non non, I don't think so, mademoiselle."

Standing between Kerokko and Mars was Shigekane.

"I'm sorry, but I can't let you take that crystal," Shigekane said.

Kerokko stopped, staring at the model agent.

"Oh, is that so?" Kerokko grinned.

"Shigekane-san, that's dangerous! Run!" Venus yelled.

"I'm responsible for this photoshoot! I won't allow any more disturbance in my studio!" Shigekane proudly declared.

"There she goes again, with that misplaced honour of hers," Neptune commented.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"

Mercury's sudden attack forced Kerokko to back down.

"Tsk, how annoying!" Kerokko let out. "Fox nee-san, get rid of them!"

"Don't boss me around, you tadpole!" Fox exclaimed.

"Don't call me a tadpole, you dumb mutt!"

"What!?"

As the two Animamates were bickering, the Sailor Senshi recovered from the latest attack and regrouped.

"They don't get along?" Sailor Moon questioned.

"Never mind that, let's attack while they're distracted!" Jupiter exclaimed. "Supreme Thunder!"

"Eek!?"

Both Fox and Kerokko jumped out of the lightning's trajectory, narrowly dodging it.

"Woah, that was dangerous! You're gonna pay for this!" Fox let out. "Galactica-"

But before she could finish casting her attack, Fox was suddenly struck by a whip.

"Ack!"

"Don't forget about me!" Crow exclaimed. "I'm still not over you being supposedly the leader of the Animamates while I never heard of you!"

"You're still stuck on that!?" Venus cried out.

Blood dripped from Fox's arm, where she was hit. She furiously glared at Crow, who was now grinning.

"You're starting to piss me off!"

"I can't wait to make you bleed more," Crow replied with a sinister glare.

"Eh… I guess you do deserve your nickname, Red Crow!" Fox sneered. "I'd love to play with you more, but we are on a tight schedule."

"As if we are going to let you escape!" Uranus declared. "World-"

"Not so fast!" Fox said.

The canine Animamate had suddenly grabbed Shigekane, holding the model agent in front of her.

"Shigekane-san, what are you still doing here!?" Uranus exclaimed, immediately cancelling out her attack.

"That idiot…!" Neptune exclaimed.

"Unhand me right now, you ruffian…!" Shigekane said, struggling in Fox's grip.

"Urgh, she's using her as a human shield!" Mercury exclaimed.

"How despicable!" Jupiter said.

"Kerokko, I'll let you have the honour," Fox said.

"With pleasure, nee-san!"

Kerokko pointed her bracelets at the group, readying to blast them.

"Your Sailor Crystals are mine-"

Ring-a-ling.

"Tinkle Resonance!"

A sudden sound wave hit Kerokko, interrupting her attack.

"Argh!" Kerokko let out. "Who's there!?"

A feline figure stepped out of the shadow.

"I don't know who you two are, but you better surrender!" Nyanko warned. "You're outnumbered!"

Both Fox and Kerokko stared at Nyanko before glancing at one another, then stared back at Nyanko.

"What are you talking about, Nyanko?" Fox asked.

"Yeah, don't you recognize us, Nyanko nee-san?" Kerokko added. "And what's up with the new outfit- white really isn't your colour."

"...eh?" Nyanko said, baffled. "Do I… know you?"

"... I guess this answers our question," Fox replied. "I guess your memory didn't come back after she killed you, and then revived you."

"What… what are you talking about…?" Nyanko asked, even more confused.

"Well, not that it really matters. Just stay out of our business, Sailor Tin Nyanko," Fox warned. "It'd be best for you."

Nyanko immediately glared at her.

"Don't…! Don't call me that-"

"NYANKOOOOO!"

A sudden powerful punch to the face sent Nyanko flying through the room.

"...huh?" both Fox and Kerokko were surprised.

"Woah! C-Crow-san, what are you doing!?" Sailor Moon exclaimed.

Crow was walking towards Nyanko, fist still clenched.

"I finally found you, you backstabbing bitch!" Crow let out. "Stand up! I'm not done with you…"

Nyanko whimpered, blood dripping from her nose and mouth.

"W-wait, Crow-san…! Let me explain-"

Crow kicked her down before she could finish her sentence.

"Ack!"

Fox and Kerokko exchanged a glance.

"I don't know what's going on, but here's our chance!" Fox said. "Let's get out of here."

"Yes!" Kerokko nodded.

Suddenly, a telephone booth appeared and the two Animamates rushed inside it.

"Oh no, they're escaping!" Mercury exclaimed.

"You'll have to excuse us, but we don't have time to play with you, Sol System Senshi," Fox taunted.

"But we will be back for your Sailor Crystals!" Kerokko sneered.

Before the Sailor Senshi could stop them, the booth's door closed and it disappeared, bringing with it Fox and Kerokko.

"Shit, they escaped!" Jupiter exclaimed.

"Crow, what are you playing at!? They escaped because of you!" Venus let out.

"Shut up! I don't care! That has nothing to do with you! This is between me and Nyanko!" Crow said. "Come on, stand up already, you double-crossing cat!"

Nyanko weakly stood up, wiping down the blood that had dripped down her chin.

"I don't want to fight you, Crow-san!" Nyanko cried out.

Crow grinned at that.

"I wouldn't want to fight me either!"

Crow rushed towards Nyanko, ready to punch her again. Jupiter jumped right in front of her, catching her fist.

"What do you think you're doing!?" Jupiter

"Out of my way!"

Crow grabbed Jupiter's wrist and threw her away. But before she could take a step further toward Nyanko, a sword suddenly blocked her path.

"I understand the desire to punch her, but now is not the time," Uranus warned. "You really need to calm down."

"Ugh! You people are annoying! Why do you keep defending this pest!? This has nothing to do with you!?" Crow let out.

"Unfortunately for you, she's now our ally, so it does concern us," Neptune said.

"Then I'll have to beat you all up-"

"Do you really think you can defeat us all?" Uranus taunted.

Crow found herself surrounded by the inner and outer senshi alike. She clicked her tongue, annoyed.

"You…!" Crow muttered between her teeth. "... Fine. You get away this time, Nyanko. But I won't be satisfied until I beat you into a bloody pulp and rip you apart limb by limb!"

"Eek…!"

Right after saying those words, Crow popped out her wings and flew out the window.

"Tsk! What a troublesome woman…" Venus said.

Sailor Moon reached out to Nyanko, concerned about her injuries.

"Nyanko-san, are you alright?" Sailor Moon asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Much to her surprise, Nyanko slapped her hand away.

"Nyanko-"

"What's the point of playing nice if I keep getting beaten up!?" Nyanko let out. "I'm tired of being everyone's punching bag!"

Nyanko's sudden outburst had taken everyone by surprise. None really knew what to say.

"... Sorry. I shouldn't have lashed out at you," Nyanko apologized. "Not when you have bigger issues at hand."

As she said that, Nyanko pointed at the still unconscious Mars, starseed floating above her head.

"Right, Sailor Mars!" Sailor Moon exclaimed, pointing the Eternal Tiare at her companion. "Starlight Honeymoon Therapy Kiss!"

Pink light flared at the top of the Tiare and streamed toward Mars in multiple waves with healing properties. The star seed returned inside the flower sitting atop their head, which closed up, before going back inside her body.

Mars' body lowered down to the floor and she suddenly opened her eyes, gasping. Sailor Moon immediately rushed towards her, helping her friend get up.

"What… what happened?" Mars asked.

"Two Sailor Animamates showed up and extracted your starseed," Sailor Moon explained.

"Huh!? Which ones?"

"Two new ones… we don't know them…"

"But someone here might…" Uranus said, turning toward Nyanko.

"I never saw those furries in my entire life," Shigekane suddenly declared.

"I wasn't talking about you!"

"I really have no idea who those two were," Nyanko continued to claim.

After the attack during the photo shoot, the inner senshi regrouped at Rei's place. Haruka and Michiru had left to go investigate the recent event on their own.

"But they acted as if they knew you," Makoto insisted. "They even called you by your name…"

Nyanko scratched her head.

"I'm really at a loss here," she said. "I don't know why they acted as if they knew me…"

"They did know Crow-san's name too, so it wouldn't be unlikely they simply know about the previous Animamates," Ami proposed. "This might all be a ploy to confuse us and make us doubt Nyanko-san."

"That's a possibility… though they mentioned something about Nyanko dying and being brought back, and that it might have caused a loss of memory… does it ring any bells?" Minako asked.

Nyanko suddenly tapped the bell tied to her choker, making it ring.

"That's not what I mean and you know it!" Minako exclaimed.

"Sorry. All I can think of is when Galaxia killed me and I was brought back, just like all the other fallen senshi… but I don't think I have any lost memories from that… not anymore at least."

"Is it possible that not all of your memories came back?" Ami asked.

"Hmm… I suppose it is possible, but… I don't know, thinking I could have forgotten two people and not realize there's something wrong with my memory is weird."

"What do you remember exactly then? From the time you joined Shadow Galactica to now?" Makoto asked.

"That's… uh… something I'd rather not reminisce about…"

Nyanko looked down, apologetic. It was understandable that she'd rather not think about her time in Shadow Galactica. The inners knew that very well and felt guilty about pressuring her, but at the same time, there might be something important in those memories regarding the new enemies.

"I understand how you must feel, but if you remember anything that could help us-" Rei began.

"Rei-chan, don't," Usagi suddenly interrupted her.

Usagi stepped toward Nyanko, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"If it's too hard for you to think about it, we won't force you," Usagi said, comforting. "You said you didn't remember those two, and I believe you."

Nyanko seemed hesitating, looking away for a moment before she sighed.

"There isn't much to say," Nyanko began. "After Mau was attacked, Galaxia coerced me into wearing her bracelets, and it messed with my mind… then the rest you already know. I attacked Earth with the others, until… Galaxia disposed of me."

"And… nothing happened in between?" Minako asked.

"Huh?" Nyanko reacted.

"Like, after Galaxia corrupted you, you went straight to Earth, if I understand correctly?"

"Hmm… I guess so?" Nyanko said, seeming confused. "now that you mention it, it does seem… improbable. I mean, I don't recall Crow or Seiren being already part of Shadow Galactica, so I can only assume they joined after me, and yet…"

A sudden headache interrupted Nyanko, and she winced.

"Urgh…!"

"Nyanko-san!?" Usagi exclaimed, worried.

"When did… Crow and Seiren join?" Nyanko mumbled. "It doesn't… make any sense. Something's wrong. It's like… something's missing…!"

Nyanko suddenly fell to her knees, gripping her head.

"Arghhhh!"

Her mind went blank. the more she tried to remember, the more her head hurt. Everything went fully black around her until images she couldn't quite recall began to appear in her mind.

Everything was still quite dark and blurry so she couldn't quite see well, but it seemed like she was facing Crow, possibly even fighting her. The first thing Nyanko noticed was that her wrists were naked. Standing next to Nyanko was a greenish figure that seemed vaguely familiar.

"Galaxia-sama…"

Those words had come out of Nyanko's mouth.

"...Help us!"

That voice… it wasn't Nyanko. It was that other person with her, the green girl.

"Are you really soldiers of my galactic empire?"

An intense feeling of dread overtook Nyanko instantly. She knew that voice oh so well. It was spoken with such condescension, as if they were nothing more than trash. As soon as she had spoken those words, Galaxia raised her arm, pointing her bracelet at them. A shining light came out of it, aiming at them. Galaxia didn't even bother looking at them one last time before obliterating them.

As everything faded away, the last thing Nyanko saw was the consterned and surprised look on Crow's face.

"-san… anko-san… Nyanko-san!"

Nyanko slowly came back to her senses. She realized that she was now lying on the ground, panting and in cold sweat.

"What… what happened…?" Nyanko asked.

"You suddenly cried out in pain and collapsed for a moment," Ami explained, concerned. "Take it easy. You probably had a panic attack."

Nyanko took a few seconds to collect her thoughts, remembering what she had just experienced.

"I… I think you were right," Nyanko began. "My memory… is incomplete. There's a blank, from the moment I joined Shadow Galactica, and when I came to Earth."

"What do you mean?" Minako asked.

Nyanko tried to get back on her feet, struggling to rise up. Usagi helped her by letting her lean on her shoulder so she could stand up.

"What I'm saying is that I probably did know those two. Just as they said, I forgot them after I died." Nyanko revealed. "It's just that, unlike what I thought, Galaxia didn't dispose of me only once, but twice!"

At that reveal, the inner senshi stared at her, flabbergasted.

"You mean… Galaxia killed you once and brought you back already!?" Makoto reacted.

"That would explain what they said, about you being killed and revived," Ami said.

"Exactly. It seems it's my memory from between initially joining Shadow Galactica and my first death that's missing," Nyanko explained. "And I think Crow-san might know about that first death…"

"Why did you stop me from taking that Sailor Crystal, Papi-chan?"

In the secret backroom of Hoshi Agency, Kerokko was confronting Sailor Heavy Metal Papillon, the latter still under the disguise of Shigekane Hirari.

"Hey! Don't speak so casually to Papillon-sama!" Fox scolded her.

Papillon chuckled. "I don't mind. It was just not the Sailor Crystal I was looking for."

"Aren't we just looking for Sailor Crystals in general?" Kerokko asked.

"More or less. I'm specifically looking for one in particular. I know it's hidden somewhere on Earth, in a person. And only Sailor Senshi possess Sailor Crystals," Papillon explained.

"So that's why we're targeting the Sailor Senshi of Earth," Fox understood. "But then, how are we going to recognize the Sailor Crystal you're looking for?"

"Oh, trust me, once you find it, you will," Papillon smirked. "It's a very special star seed, unique among its kind. It's of all colors, and at the same time, colorless, like no color you ever witnessed before. And it's no ordinary shape either. Its brightness is beyond what you can imagine too. You will know it's the right one once you see it."

Fox and Kerokko exchanged an uncertain glance.

"Alright then... I guess if it looks too normal and ordinary, it's probably not the one we're looking for," Fox concluded.

"Hehe, you can see it that way," Papillon concurred.

"Just as you expected, Nyanko didn't recognize any of us. I was actually surprised," Fox admitted.

"Me too. I can't believe onee-chan forgot about me!" Kerokko whined.

"It can't be helped. Galaxia didn't want her obedient puppet to remember she was once disposed of," Papillon shrugged. "Poor Nyanko-san. Her mind had been messed with more than she realized."

Kerokko shivered at that, being way too familiar with that fact. Everything she had, she owed it to Papillon. Same for Fox.

"Anyway, how is your cover going, Kerokko-chan?" Papillon suddenly asked. "You're not having too much trouble blending in with those Earthlings?"

"Ah, no! Everything is going smoothly. I even made a friend!" Kerokko declared proudly.

Fox scoffed at that.

"Pff, a friend? You really are a kid huh," Fox commented. "We aren't here to have fun and make 'friends' with these primitive life forms. You should take this more seriously, tadpole."

"Eh!?"

"Come on now, Fox. Don't be too harsh on her. There's nothing wrong with mixing pleasure and business. You have to enjoy your work after all. And making connections with the people of Earth can be quite valuable for our mission."

As she said that, Papillon softly patted Kerokko's head, almost in a motherly fashion. Fox pouted, seeming jealous.

"Well in that case, you won't mind if I'm having some fun too," Fox grinned. "Lead Crow ended up being quite the interesting opponent. And I can't wait to see Nyanko again."

Kerokko shivered once more.

"Crow... is scary..." Kerokko mumbled.

"That rotten senshi..." Papillon muttered. "If it wasn't for Seiren-san... anyway, I have work to do. I expect you two to be on your best behaviour. Especially you, Fox-san."

"Why single me out specifically!?"

Kerokko sighed, glad that Papillon didn't scold her for making a friend. She knew it was silly to desire friendship in this situation, especially from a mere Earthling. But it was rather understandable with a partner like Pewter Fox.

Deep down, she really wished Nyanko could remember her.

For those who might have seen the musical Eien Densetsu, there is a short reference to it within the chapter.