"I'm bored...I'm booored...I'm boooooooored!" Azula swayed her head while she sing-sang in the abandoned warehouse she'd been brought to. She didn't even try to get out of the white ropes binding her wrists and legs to her chair. She tried that twice and it resulted in a scary, angry Sailor Hemera threatening her with what she would die of. Irritating the hell out of the girl was better and more fun.
Sailor Hemera walked into the abandoned factory holding a bag of food in her hand. "Seriously?"
Azula smirked. "Seriously. Is that lunch? I'm so hungry!"
"This isn't exactly how it's supposed to work, you know?" Sailor Hemera walked towards Azula. "You're literally kidnapped. I am holding you hostage and I can hurt you to the point of your death."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, just give me lunch," Azula popped her mouth. "I'm really hungry."
"I could kill you—"
"But we both know you won't!" Azula snapped. "I'm your only leverage right now, so I'm willing to bet my usefulness is better if I'm alive."
"You think this is a joke?" Sailor Hemera put the bag of food on a worn down chair.
"Believe me I know this isn't a joke. You're searching for an alien crystal or something and you're probably the only thing that can stop Senka."
"I can't stop Senka," Sailor Hemera said like it should have been obvious.
"That puts a damper on the whole 'hero' thing…"
"You humans can't take anything serious," Sailor Hemera muttered before coming up to Azula. "You know, I once had a soft spot for your kind, a long time ago…"
Azula remembered the little Mamoru had told her about his 'visions' concerning Sailor Hemera. That's had to be what Hemera spoke of. "You mean back in Silver Milenium?" Sailor Hemera stiffened for a second. "Yeah, I know about that," Azula went on. "And I know you're looking for the Prince of Earth but he's gone. You're wasting your time with me."
"Where is he?" Sailor Hemera demanded but there was a hint of concern in her tone. Azula was the way to the prince. If he was gone then...there was no saving them. "Where's Prince Endymion?"
"Gone," Azula repeated. "He's gone just like everything else from Silver Millennium."
"He can't be," Sailor Hemera denied it like her word was law. "He has a duty to my people and he will not get out of it! It's because of him and that Moon princess that I'm here!" Azula watched as Sailor Hemera's eyes grew glossy with looming tears. "It's why my sister and my guardian comrades are awakening in some godforsaken world!"
"Okaaay," Azula swallowed hard. "Look, believe me or not, I would like to help you but...I don't understand you. I mean, you're supposed to be a Sailor Scout and as far as I know they're meant to be good people who don't kidnap others," she nodded down to the ropes binding her.
"This is necessary to reach Prince Endymion. I have no value for you," Sailor Hemera spat.
Azula nodded, pursing her lips together. "Yeah, great, thanks."
"Back then I wouldn't dream of hurting anyone, especially defenseless humans, but they are the cause of all this. And if Prince Endymion doesn't reveal himself then it will be his people who fall this time, and not by me."
"You mean Senka…"
Sailor Hemera gave a curt nod. "She has escaped from her prison and only my Princess can defeat her."
"Who was your princess?"
Sailor Hemera stared plainly at Azula, keeping her mouth shut.
"Oh c'mon, believe me I know a lot of things. I'm not an ordinary human," Azula sighed. "Yeah, I know your 'prince' and whatnot but I also know he hasn't awakened."
"But you know him, and that is all I need to get his attention. He owes me," Sailor Hemera gritted her teeth together. "He owes her this. My Princess helped him even when he was gone so it's his turn now."
Azula detected a somber story behind that rage, one that could probably match Usagi's and the girls'. "What do you mean? Who's this Princess?"
Sailor Hemera sighed. "The Princess of Shadow where I am from, Princess Reign."
Sailor Hemera, along with two other young women stood in a throne room. The exterior was dark with a glow of purple illuminating enough to see the figures of the guardians. Three of the four Sailor Scouts of Shadow were down on one knee while they addressed the Princess of Shadow.
"And so you see, Princess, the Prince of Earth demands to see Queen Nyx in order to discuss our established deal," Sailor Hemera finished telling the story of how Endymion had wandered close to their barrier, thus discovering their existence. "Apparently, he did not know we resided here."
"I don't blame him," went the Princess, "Had this been my planet I would also like to know who lives on it."
"Princess, he wishes to cross the barrier into Shadow…"
"Well, as interesting as that sounds, we cannot allow that. I will speak to my mother about the ordeal and once Sailor Asteria returns from her guard you will bring to the Prince our answer."
"Nonsense," Queen Nyx made an appearance in the throne room. The three Sailor Scouts in the room gave a bow before returning to their knees. "Sailor Hemera, you may tell Prince Endymion he and I can definitely speak. It is my duty, as I once promised, to protect him and his people shall they ever need it. To do so, I need to establish a relationship with him."
Princess Reign stood up from her throne chair and regarded her mother with concern. "You should not be out of your chamber. And you are foolish if you think I am letting you out of this palace in the state you are in."
"That's funny, I seem to recall me being the Queen and you the princess," Queen Nyx went straight to her own throne and sat down.
Princess Reign turned to face her mother again. "This has nothing to do with royal status. I am your daughter and I am beseeching you to keep your health, please."
"Someone needs to speak with Prince Endymion and he may not cross over to this world. It is unsafe for humans."
"Then allow me. I know the rules of our establishment and I know how to speak with people despite you locking me up," Princess Reign knelt down beside her mother. "Please, let me do this for you."
Queen Nyx regarded her daughter quietly. "Reign, it is no secret that you wish to leave this palace. You feel that I lock you up for my benefit when in reality it is to protect you from foreign eyes. Allowing you to cross over to the Earth kingdom could jeopardize your safety. Do not forget why it is that we hide behind an invisible barrier on a foreign planet."
A heavy silence fell over the entire room. The Sailor Scouts kept their gazes down for they knew this secret was the Princess' most painful burden.
There was a lot that ran through Mamoru's mind when he held his star-shaped pocket watch. Serenity.
Even though there were still sporadic pain in his head, the memories were rushing back like a damn breaking down. His memories had been cleared by Usagi herself and unintentionally returned by these foreign Shadow people. Had Usagi ever meant for them to find each other without memories once more? We're the truly doomed to repeat the same story over and over?
"It's like a weird, cosmic, love story," Azula remarked with some amusement once she understood the jist of the situation between Usagi and Mamoru. By the looks of it, she seemed fascinated. "A bit sinister but tasteful for me. I could write a book off you guys."
"That's not funny," Mamoru scolded but the giggle beside him downgraded his scold.
"You could write a book!" Usagi said with a beaming face.
Azula smirked at Mamoru. "See? But anyways, your little secret is safe with me. Besides it's not like anyone would believe me if I ever said you guys were a reincarnated prince and princess."
"That's not what you said when you blackmailed me to meet Sailor Moon," Mamoru reminded.
"And you were the idiot who believed me," Azula shot back. "But you guys know that I'm being honest. I'd never sell you out, even if it killed me."
"We would never let anything happen to you," Usagi promised.
"I know," Azula shrugged but smiled impossibly wide. "It's like I've got my own personal heroes to look out for me."
Heroes or not, Azula remained a true friend till the end and now she was in trouble. Mamoru now knew she had kept his identity away from Sailor Hemera - a Scout he was now sure he had met in his previous life - and was taken as a result. He didn't understand much right now seeing as new memories were being added to the ones he already had.
He couldn't finish understanding how it was he remembering new things about his previous life. He thought it was done. What else was there?
A new princess, Sailor Scouts, a world, a crystal…
Mamoru shook his head. "I need to find her…" he looked down at his pocket watch and wondered if Usagi even knew what happened to Azula. But the answer was a clear no.
There was no Sailor Moon. There were no Sailor Scouts.
~0~
"So Princess Reign was the reason you guys had to flee from your planet?"
Sailor Hemera regarded Azula with a condescending look. "No. There was a Sailor Wars that ended up destroying our planet Shadow. There was so much chaos that it was impossible for people not to fall in temptation with Reign's power."
"But you said she was a baby when you fled…"
"A baby and yet one who held impossible power. The Shadow Crystal."
"What does that Crystal do? I mean it's got Senka going mad searching for it which by the way I still don't understand why she would think that a human has it now."
"Because she also knows, like me, that Princess Reign was reincarnated," Sailor Hemera spoke above Azula. "And with her reincarnation comes the Shadow Crystal. Senka can easily destroy Princess Reign if she has not awakened. And if she gets ahold of that Crystal then she could open up the door to a dark world."
"What world…?"
"Not a world, a realm: the Shadow Dominion."
Princess Reign emerged from the royal hallway designated for her mother and herself. Her three Sailor Scouts were dutifully waiting in the throne room. "My mother has agreed to my crossing to meet with the Prince. But I must have all my guardians with me."
"Of course," Sailor Hemera gave a nod first followed by the other two Sailor Scouts.
"While it is tedious, I suppose holding the Shadow Crystal did make me a target," Princess Reign said with a small sigh afterwards.
"If I may, princess," Sailor Hemera took a step towards her, "I spoke a good deal with Prince Endymion and he does not appear to be a danger. I hardly think his people even know about the existence of the Shadow Crystal."
"Those are my thoughts too," Princess Reign nodded. "I have been in this palace for so long, hidden, and so I doubt anyone would remember. But it is still my sacred duty to guard and hide the Shadow Crystal lest we want the seal of the Shadow Dominion to be broken."
"Never," spoke the three Sailor Scouts together.
"The Shadow Dominion is home to all the souls of this world. It would be truly the end if the seal that keeps them locked up was broken."
"Which is why we must be cautious when you cross over," Sailor Hemera understood.
"Yes, but…" a sneaky smile spread across Princess Reign's face, "...Earth, I believe, holds a lot more beauty than danger."
And something about her face warned she intended in seeing that beauty with her own eyes even if it killed her.
Rei sat in her room dead focused on only one thing. "Where is she, where is she?" she would mumble with her eyes squeezed shut.
The fire in front of her crackled but no image came to Rei's mind. Azula had been taken right in front of her and she hadn't been able to do anything. Obviously calling the police was out of the question considering a Sailor Scout like Hemera wasn't exactly thoroughly believed in.
"Show me where Azula is…" Rei prayed to anything that would hear her. The fire in front of her snapped and with a gasp Rei looked up. For a split second, she saw a flash of herself...throwing a blast of fire…
"Azula, watch out!" Sailor Mars got over to where the red-haired girl was cowering away. She was able to pull Azula out of the way just seconds before a purple strike of energy hit the area.
Azula breathed in hard but Sailor Mars acted fast. "Burning mandala!"
A creature was struck by raging fires that left its corpse to burn to ashes.
Rei put a hand to her head and shut her eyes again. "What was that?" she whispered. It looked like a vision but it felt like she had lived through it.
~ 0 ~
In Mamoru's apartment all that was heard were groans as he survived one raging headache after the next. Memories were coming and they were coming fast and painful. He supported himself against a his bathroom sink and tried steadying his breathing at least. He faced his reflection in the mirror and suddenly everything around flickered between his apartment and a grassy field
"You will show your respect," Sailor Hemera warned Prince Endymion as she emerged from the invisible barrier.
"Or you will face my wrath," spoke a woman with a light blue hair and white tips, whom Endymion could only assume was yet another Shadow Sailor Scout. Two more scouts walked through the barrier, each holding stern expressions on their faces.
"Ladies, please, no dramatics," finally spoke the woman of the hour.
The blue-haired scout moved to the side so that Princess Reign could be seen. The woman was dressed in lavender gown with the skirt covered in twinkling lights that resembled the silver stars sometimes seen in the sky. Her bell long sleeves were lavender laced and see through but had sparkling dark purple crescent moons and flowers. By her waist, she had an attached train layer around her that flowed like a cape in a darker shade of purple.
What drew Endymion was the fact that as much as he wanted to look her in the face, he couldn't. His eyes gazed right over her face, or to the sides, even when he tried his best to focus. All he could make out was a black M-shaped crown fitted around the corners of her face. It had a light, glowing purple essence.
"It is impossible to look at the Princess' face," a black-haired Sailor Scout said. "There is an enchantment cast around her. Your attempts will be in vain no matter what."
"I am Princess Reign of Shadow—" the princess did a courtesy bow and because of it her Sailor Scouts did the same behind her, "—and these are my Sailor Guardians. Sailor Hemera—" she made a gesture to the brunette at the end of her right side, "—and her sister Sailor Asteria," she moved her arm to the next Sailor Scout in tow, the light blue haired woman with pale skin, "And Sailor Circe—" Reign directed her left arm to the black haired scout, "—and Sailor Siren," she motioned to the last scout with platinum, blonde hair.
Endymion acknowledged the introduction with a nod and, out of politeness, gave his own bow for the Princess. "I am Prince Endymion…"
Princess Reign let a small chuckle out. "I know who you are. I've known everyone of the royal Earth family. I've lived a very long while. So much that I believe no one even remembers me," Princess Reign said, although she didn't sound very sad about it. "I understand you have questions about my people and why we reside in secret on your world."
"Yes, I want to know what are you doing here? How did you...get here?"
"Of course," Reign nodded her head. She began to walk in the direction that would inevitably lead towards human civilization.
"Princess," Sailor Asteria's stern voice stopped Reign for a second, "you must not leave the barrier's proximity. Queen Nyx would not—"
"My mother doesn't have to know anything," Reign calmly said. "Unless the Prince here has some objection I would like to take a walk, not actually crossing to his kingdom of course."
Endymion didn't need to see her face to know she was intently staring at him, waiting for his approval. "Y-yes, of course," he glanced at Sailor Hemera, "She will be alright. I promise."
Sailor Hemera gave a curt nod. As the Princess and Prince walked away, they could hear Sailor Asteria continuing to disapprove and remind everyone of the threats that surrounded this idea of crossing over.
Azula watched silently as Sailor Hemera returned from the outside. She could tell by the windows that the sun was setting and she could also feel the shivering wind creeping in from the open door.
"It's been nearly a whole day and he's still not coming," Sailor Hemera huffed.
"Because, as I told you, he doesn't remember who he is," Azula grew tired of repeating. "This whole thing is a waste of time."
"He owes me this!"
"Yeah, I got that the first ten times you said it," Azula rolled her eyes. "What exactly does he owe you anyways? I thought you said he owed the Princess."
"I trusted the Prince with my Princess. He gave me his word he would protect her should danger ever come for her," Sailor Hemera grew closer to Azula, and for the first time Azula was properly scared. There was a new rage in Sailor Hemera that spelled danger for anyone caught in it. "In the end, he died for another Princess…"
"Yeah, I know that bit…" Azula tried leaning her head away from the brunette.
"And my Princess was left defenceless in the middle of a new war!"
Azula fitting in that story with what she already knew about her friends' previous lives and the new Princess with her Scouts. "Things aren't adding up here. You said that Princess Reign was kept in her palace. Why would she need Endymion's protection if she wasn't even in his Kingdom?"
Sailor Hemera backed away, her rage simmering for a bit to be replaced with bitterness.
Princess Reign kept her word to explain to Endymion the situation that led the people of Shadow to Earth and how it was that they set up a new world just beside the humans'.
"But the Sailor Wars...my understanding is that happened centuries ago," Endymion stole a glance from Reign. "How old are you in reality?"
"About 200 years old," Reign had no trouble answering. Endymion stopped in his tracks and gave a wide eyed look. Reign laughed. "Well don't stare. You'll make me self conscious."
"Sorry," Endymion quickly looked away. "I've never met someone like you...who doesn't age…"
"Well, most Sailor Scouts have an elongated life. My mother was once a Sailor Scout, you know."
"And are you?"
"Yes, of course. But I do not practice. My powers are...taboo, I believe the expression is."
"Taboo?'
Reign nodded, suddenly serious. "My powers are dangerous, you see. They can turn anyone's head, no matter how noble they are. It is why my mother locks me up in a palace. My people, as noble and kind as I believe them to be, cannot be trusted."
"So you're just locked away all the time?" Endymion thought that mad.
"Even though I have my guardians with me, I don't have friends," Reign said sadly. "I was cursed and gifted but to me it feels like a curse all the time."
"And your powers are part of the reason why your entire world hides within mine?"
"Yes."
"I don't know how to feel about this…" Endymion took a step back, really examining the hidden princess. She was only a couple inches smaller in height compared to him, yet older and probably wiser. She had lived for so long and yet hadn't really lived at all.
Reign turned her head to the side and caught site of the overview of the human kingdom. "Is that your Kingdom? All..sunny and lively?" She could hear the birds chirping, the rustling of everyday human life, and machines clanging as they all worked. There were carry overs of music somewhere. "It's more beautiful than it would be."
There, Endymion found the confidence to be sarcastic. "Thank you."
Reign laughed shortly. "Sorry. My social skills are not exactly the best. That's what happens when you're locked away all your life."
"Have you truly never been out?"
"Never. It is difficult to trust people who know your secret."
"And yet you trusted me enough to tell me…"
"I don't have friends, I was hoping maybe you could be my first," Reign's smile was unfortunately hid behind her enchantment.
Rei wasn't sure if she was doing good or not but there she was, knocking on some stranger's door. She knocked and knocked until, two minutes later, the door opened.
"You?" Mamoru wondered if he was seeing things in the present day now too. His head was throbbing and the last thing he needed was a stranger coming to bother him.
Rei could sense the state he was in and additionally incremented her concern. "I-I don't know if you remember me? I was with you and Azula earlier when she...she was taken…" she trailed off though when she saw her words were barely registering with him. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, yes, I'm fine. Did you need something?" Mamoru couldn't wait to close the door on her.
Rei was startled by the brazen attitude but she suspected it was because he was not, indeed, alright. "Well Azula is still missing and I-I imagine that her parents don't know about it."
"I'll get her back!" Mamoru said so sure and attempted to shut the door but Rei was quicker and stuck a foot between the doorway.
"How do you plan on doing that!?"
"I don't know! Now can you please leave me alone!? I'm trying - ah!" Mamoru fell to his knees with a loud yelp.
"Are you alright!?" Rei went to help but she truly had no idea what was going through his head.
"Shadow is a rather quiet place. Our people are much focused with meditation and overall reservation," Princess Reign explained as she and Endymion walked back to the invisible barrier. "We're generally a serene kingdom."
"I can't imagine a place so quiet…" Endymion tried to think about it but found the mere thought sounded incredibly boring.
Reign sighed. "It's better if you don't. I would love nothing but to be in a place such as your Kingdom. I love my people but after centuries of being kept in the palace...I want a change."
Those were her last words before they reached the invisible barrier. All of Reign's Sailor Scouts were waiting for them.
"Princess," Sailor Asteria spoke first and stepped forwards, "are you alright?" she threw the Prince a suspicious glance.
"Yes, of course I am," Reign responded, sounding weary yet accustomed. "We talked, not battled. And we remain on the same terms as before. We do not interfere with human affairs so long as the royal line remains protected and we keep our safe haven. Yes?"
Endymion nodded. "It seems fair."
Sailor Asteria remained with a straight face. "Then it is time you return to the palace. The sooner the better."
A loud, audible sigh was heard from the Princess. "Back to my room I suppose."
Endymion could feel the despondency radiate off Reign. He truly could not imagine what sort of solitary life it was that she lived. Although he didn't know her enough he was sure that she was kind and overall yearning to live. He couldn't let anyone who needed his help leave. It's not what he did.
"Hold on," he stopped the three Sailor Scouts and Reign before they could disappear through the barrier. "It seems rather unfair that I have to keep returning all the way to this spot just to talk with your people. I demand a relocation-"
Sailor Asteria scoffed. "We can't relocate an entire kingdom—"
"I'm not asking for the Kingdom," Endymion smirked. "I'm asking for someone just as valuable to relocate to my Kingdom."
It took only a minute for the five when to understand.
"You want me to go to the Earth Kingdom?" Reign gaped behind her visor. Her heart hammered at the possibility of a new life.
"Absolutely not!" Sailor Siren nearly shouted. "The Queen would never allow that!"
"Then your safe haven will be no more," Endymion didn't hesitate to warn. He smiled a brief smile at Reign, letting her know he was only trying to help her.
Behind her enchantment, Reign smiled back.
"Tell the Queen of my demand. Princess Reign relocates to my Kingdom where she will be protected my own royal guards should she ever need to be. I need to know what happens in this other world that lives on my planet."
Reign had never felt so happy.
Rei had barely managed to move Mamoru to the couch. She ran a hand through her hair and looked around for anything useful. Of course there was nothing.
"I don't know how to help you!" she frantically cried. She tried to at least make him more comfortable but the moment she touched him again, they both saw images of the past.
There stood Sailor Mars arguing with Sailor Moon (whose back was to his eye); flashes of the Silver Crystal followed perfectly in suit; many battles involving Youmas came rushing through; Princess Serenity garnering the Silver Crystal and letting it be absorbed into an unconscious Tuxedo Mask; Tuxedo Mask being taken away by Queen Beryl; Sailor Mars dying in battle against the Dark Kingdom.
The last scene made Rei pull her hand from Mamoru's arm. Her face was horrified. "I died!?" How quickly she accepted it was true even though she understood nothing of what she saw.
For Mamoru, on the other hand, it was the last revelation he needed. The pain in his head had vanished into nothing. No longer was his mind clouded. He knew who he was, who he had been, and who he loved. All he didn't understand was how he had come to lose his memories in the first place.
"Wh-where are you going?" Rei barely got back to the present when Mamoru was already halfway to the door. "What just happened!? What did I see!?"
"Listen Rei—" Rei picked up immediately on Mamoru's friendlier, casual tone towards her, "—I don't know how but we've all been living a lie again. I'm going to get Azula back and then we're going to figure things out. You, me, and Azula."
"But—"
"Stay safe, Sailor Mars. I know you're still in there," Mamoru gave a brief smile before he rushed out of the apartment.
"What does that even mean!?"
~0~
"Okay, seriously, it's getting dark out and I have a curfew," Azula said rather boredly again.
Sailor Hemera fumed at her casualness of her situation. "You're not leaving. What part of that do you not understand?"
"The part where you think this is all useful," Azula didn't hesitate to say, her face completely blank of any fear now. "I'm just a techy girl, not a princess detective. And your prince is gone."
"He owes her!"
"Yeah, I know, but really, what did he do? You said he brought her to live with him in the Earth Kingdom and?"
Sailor Hemera was close to fuming. "You don't understand! Princess Reign was a dangerous existence. I lived to protect her but to also protect the very existence of this world."
Now this made Azula stop. "What do you mean?"
"Princess Reign was locked away for the safety of herself and the world. She was, by no fault of her own, given one of the highest tasks: to protect the seal that keeps the Shadow Dominion locked away. If that seal were to be broken then we would see our world invaded by Shadows of the foulest creatures."
"And with her death…"
"The seal was marred. Senka was able to finally work around it."
"Oh, now I get it," Azula leaned her head back against the wall, sighing deeply. "But listen, keeping me hostage isn't going to help you. You're just wasting time-"
Sailor Hemera growled and garnered her sword out of thin air to brandish at Azula. "BE QUIET!"
Azula blinked and this time kept her mouth shut. There came that fear again.
"You have thinned my last line of patience you little-" Sailor Hemera's threat was cut off by a razor sharp, red rose that cut through her wrist. She yelped and dropped her sword and Azula did not think twice to kicked the sword away.
"Sailor Hemera, we need to talk," Tuxedo Mask grabbed the blonde's attention instantly. She growled at the sight of him up above on an old crate.
"Hey, your climbing skills are back!" Azula exclaimed before she realized what his presence truly indicated. Her smile vanished when she got the memo. " Your climbing skills are back…"
He remembered. Azula's stomach churned.
"Who the hell are you?" Sailor Hemera demanded.
"You know me, Sailor Hemera," Tuxedo Mask remained right where he was. He had no intention on fighting this time. After all, this wasn't a matter of battling, it was a matter of talking and living up to his word.
"I would remember something like you," Sailor Hemera promised, narrowing her eyes on him. She moved her hand to her head, indicating what her next move would be. "Glimmering boomerang attack!" Her golden boomerang slung forwards but Tuxedo Mask jumped off the crate in time.
"I don't have time for this!" shouted Sailor Hemera. She went running for her sword and caught her boomerang on the way.
"Are you okay?" Tuxedo Mask quickly reappeared beside Azula, startling her.
"Yeah, yeah, just get me out of these things!" she motioned to the binds on her wrists. "How did you even find me?"
"Uh, well, with the memories the abilities come back," and he truly thanked the ability to see through the lands of his planet. It was a simple reconnection.
"And I am so happy about that! Really," Azula flashed a warm smile. "It's been lonely. But, um, Sailor Hemera? Yeah, she's crazy and-"
"I'd finish those words carefully if I were you," Sailor Hemera had reacquired her trusty sword and aimed it menacingly at the two. "Without my Princess or my sister I can't guarantee my morals are intact."
Tuxedo Mask blocked the way to Azula. "Sailor Hemera I know who you're looking for-"
"And? Your loudmouth of a friend over there wasn't able to help me so tell me," Sailor Hemera slowly walked up to them, holding the sharp end of her sword to his chest. "I'd make your words good…"
"You don't have to…" Azula whispered to him from behind.
"I do," Tuxedo Mask nodded, fairly certain of himself. "Because I made a promise...and I didn't keep it." Sailor Hemera raised an eyebrow as he took off his mask to reveal his face. "I don't remember much yet, except that I think I was Reign's first friend...and I want to help find her. Whatever you need from me, I'll do it."
Sailor Hemera was awed and yet fascinated as she lowered her sword. "Hello...Prince…"