Hehe...long time no see, ne? I didn't really write anything in the way of author's notes in the last part so here I am to make up for it. I apologize for not continuing with this for a while. I've kinda hit a brick wall and haven't been doing very well in continuing this. If you've seen my page then you've head me talk about coming up with another story. Well as of now I have two on stand by. One needs to be transfered to the computer and the other is still in the works. ( Lianne if you're reading this, it looks like *my* story is gonna have to wait some more. Way to many questions. ) Anywho, If you don't see another story in this weeks update, I hope to have it out there for you next week. Check out my page anyway...it'll have updates before A Sailor Moon Romance does. Thanks to the people who send me emails, I appreciate every last one of them. Also if you asked me to post my stories on your page, please send me the URL so I can link you from my page. One last thing before I leave you to read my story. I've started a sort of Fanfiction Review site. It's probably more like a suggested reading list, but I like to call it my review page. Everyone should check it out. It's really snazzy looking with all sorts of graphics made by ME! You can find it at: http://members.tripod.com/~Rain_Ayo/reviews.html Happy Reading, Rain The Rewriting of a Legend By Rain Ayo ( stardreamer@white-star.com ) Rei opened her eyes and felt a stray tear fall down. 'So close and yet who knows what could possibly happen. It's too soon. It's too soon,' she thought. 'Usagi'll want to know, but no one else. Not when they're so happy.' She stood up and quietly left the fire room. Everyone was already there. They were waiting on her. She walked out of the building. "I'm sorry it took me so long. Would anyone like some tea before we start?" she asked. After a few nods she turned to Usagi. "Would you give me a hand with the glasses?" Usagi nodded and followed her back inside. Rei started the tea while Usagi gathered enough glasses for everyone. "What's wrong Rei?" she asked when she finished. "You wouldn't have asked me to help without some other motive." Rei tried to push the growing lump back down her throat. "I thought you should know," she said softly. "I was doing a fire reading when you arrived." "What did you see?" Usagi asked as fear welled up in her heart. "We don't have much time left. I wouldn't doubt that the battle begins tomorrow," she said. She couldn't hold back her tears any longer. "I don't think we'll come back." Usagi rushed to embrace her friend. "Don't say that. Of course we'll come back," she said as she forced her tears back with all her might. "I know you will come back. Mamoru too, but I'm not sure about the rest of us," Rei said sobbing loudly. "No. No Rei, that can't be true. All of you will come back safe and sound. You have to. I need you guys. Who else will laugh when I do something foolish, or teach me how to fix all my faults, or tutor me when I come close to failing? You are going to come back." she said in frustration as her tears could no longer be contained. "You all are coming back." "We'll try. You know we will," Rei said. She sniffled a bit. "We still haven't gone on the shopping spree we planned." "Or gone to the Bahamas or watched each other walk down the aisle," Usagi said as she smiled a bit. "So you don't have a choice." Rei smiled a bit and wiped away some tears. She looked at Usagi's face and nearly gasped. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying. "You look like Hell," she said. "You don't look all that hot either," Usagi said. "We better compose ourselves before going back out there." They quickly did their best to freshen up. Rei laughed as she looked at her friend. "You'll never be able to fool Mamoru," she said. "Oh he knows already," she said referring to their link. "You won't be able to fool Jadeite either." Rei blushed at that comment and Usagi giggled. "I can tell only two people as crazy about one another, as much as I'm sure you are, can fight like that." Rei laughed. "Oh do I have stuff to tell you," she said still giggling. "It'll have to wait till lunch though. They're probably wondering about us already." "You're right so let's go," Usagi said as she took one of the trays Rei has set up. The training session went smoothly. Everyone was getting better little by little. The mood was a lot warmer than it had been in the previous session. Usagi could see it in all of her friends. They had each found someone who made them happy. She was glad that her friends had found love as she had. Ami and Zoicite seemed to be the only ones who didn't share in the moment. They isolated themselves away from everyone and especially each other. It was strange, but she decided to think about it later. Too much to do and little time to do it in. At the end of the practice, they split up in their separate little groups, with the exception of Ami and Zoisite, who parted alone. Usagi clung tightly to Mamoru's hand the whole way to his apartment. When they went in, Mamoru swept Usagi into his tight embrace. She gasped in surprise at the sudden move. "Shh..." he said softly. He smiled at her warmly and she felt like she would simply melt in his gaze. "You amaze me more and more each day. One minute I think I know you inside and out. The next...poof! You show me something about you I never knew about." Usagi blushed. "I had to," she said. "I have to be strong. If I get worked up. So won't they." "I'm so proud of you," he said. The love she felt from him was so powerful it was overwhelming. He kissed her gently. "I love you so much I could burst. My wonderful Usako...I don't know what I'd do without you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. When they parted she said, "Let's not find out." Everyone gathered at the Temple again the following day. Rei and Jadeite seemed a bit tense and Usagi couldn't blame them. Everyone else seemed oblivious. Why did she have to ruin it for everyone? "Guys," she said when she finally got the courage to speak. "The fun is over. Beryl...she's coming." Everyone froze and stared at Usagi in shock. She couldn't bare the stares and she turned away from them. Rei and Jadeite were the only other ones who weren't staring at Usagi. Rei stepped forward and said, "It's true. Yesterday morning before we started I had done a fire reading. Today is the day...I know it," she said softly. "Today," whispered Makoto. "Why today?" She threw herself into Nephrite's arms and began to cry. Minako's eyes glistened with tears for Makoto, her brave Princess, and for herself. "Then we will fight and we will win," she said trying to call upon her courage. Ami nodded. "We can't let Beryl win. The whole world is depending on us," she said. "Whatever happens we'll have done our best," Kunzite added. Usagi slowly turned back to face them all. "I'm sorry that your happiness has to end like this. You don't have to come if you don't want to. I won't force you to fight with me," she said. "Usagi we'll never abandon you. Do think that the first time real trouble hits us that we'll run away?" Minako asked. Makoto stopped her sobbing and turned to Usagi. "We're not about to let you go in there by yourself," she said. The others nodded their agreement and Usagi smiled. "Thank you everyone," she said. "*ENOUGH OF THIS!*" a booming voice cried. A huge whirlwind formed around them. "*IT'S OVER FOR YOU!*" "We've got trouble," Minako said, the hatred in her voice obvious. The voice cackled loudly and the whirlwind tightened around them. An illusion formed over their heads. It was a woman with long curly auburn hair. She wore a skin tight dress and had long nails that resembled claws. She smirked at them all trying to stand on their feet. "You most certainly do Princess Venus," the woman said. "I wouldn't underestimate us. That's what destroyed you the first time, Beryl," Minako said angrily. "We'll see," she said slyly. He tone became commanding and ruthless. "Come to the Black Tower. We'll see how well you do." Beryl vanished along with the whirlwind. Things cleared and it was obvious they weren't in Tokyo anymore. The whole world looked as if it had been burnt. They were in the middle of a forest. The trees hung all around them, their branches bare, looked more like claws. The sky was red as if the sun was stuck permanently in a setting position. "This is creepy," Minako said. "To say the least," Zoisite said. "Where's the tower?" Nephrite asked. "This way," Ami said pointing south. They all looked in that direction. The Black Tower stood ominously on the horizon. It was fairly simple, just a single tall cylinder that came to a point at the top. In front of them it had a large doorway. It was the only visible opening on the tower. "Oh isn't that pretty," Rei mumbled sarcastically. "What are we waiting for?" Minako asked everyone. "Transform and let's get busy!" The girls nodded and shot up their hands to call out their transformation phrases. "Mercury Power!" "Mars Power!" "Jupiter Power!" "Venus Power!" "Moon Prism Power!" Venus took charge. "All right everyone. Beryl's undoubtedly going to send anything and everything she's got at us," she said. "So I think it would be best for us to split up. Five targets are harder to hit than one. Mars, you and Jadeite sweep west and then head towards the Tower. Jupiter, you and Nephrite will go east. Mercury, you and Zoicite will head out first. You can warn us ahead of time if we're running into something big. I'll take the rear with Kunzite. The Prince and Princess will stay in the middle. This way we can make sure you are protected on all sides." "Certainly knows how to take control," Jadeite whispered to Mars. That got him an elbow in the ribs. "Everyone know what they're doing?" she asked. Everyone nodded. "All right then, let's get going. Beryl's had her last laugh." Mercury and Zoicite took off towards the Tower. Mars and Jadeite headed west. Jupiter and Nephrite to the east. Mamoru squeezed Sailor Moon's hand and then they followed Mercury and Zoicite. Kunzite eyed Venus worriedly. "Venus, are you all right?" he asked. "I just have a bad feeling about this. Come on, we should get going," she said. They rushed to follow the others. They quickly lost sight of the others as they looked around for any enemies that might pop up around them. It happened in the blink of an eye. They didn't even know what hit them. Jadeite and Mars stood back to back clinging tightly to each others hands. The number of creatures around them grew. They were all hideous things with no definite shape, except for their huge mouths and dripping fangs. "This looks bad. It's now or never, love," Jadeite said trying not to show his fear. Mars nodded. "We have to protect the others any way we can," she said with a slight quiver. "I love you," he said. "I love you too," she said. All at once they gathered their power. "Fire!" they yelled in unison. Their power exploded in a flash of white light. At that moment all their memories became clear as day and for one moment they relived the past. -*- Silver Millenium -*- "Hello there Princess Mars," someone said coyly. She turned around with a wave of relief. "Jadeite, is that you?" she asked. From out of the shadows, he appeared. It was Jadeite in every way except for his eyes. They were completely black. Mars gasped at the sight. "I've come to do my Queen a service. To destroy you," he said with an evil laugh. "No, this can't be," Mars cried. Jadeite jumped into the air with his sword high above his head. He was going to split her in two, but she dodged out of the way. "Please Jadeite don't do this," she pleaded. "Why? Beryl would only be too pleased," he said charging at her again. This time Mars pulled out an anti-evil charm from out of her dimensional pocket. She flung it onto Jadeite's forehead. He gasped as he was locked frozen in place. Mars was in tears. "She's changed you. I can't even sense what you used to be. You're gone completely," she cried. "I can't let you hurt the Princess though." She went up to him and placed her hands on his cheeks. "We'll be together again, I promise." She kissed the frozen Jadeite as a white light exploded from her. When the light was gone all that remained was Mars's dead body and ash from one of Beryl's youma. The real Jadeite had heard Mars's last words. He rushed over to her. "Oh if only I'd gotten here sooner," he cried. "It's not fair. I'm the one who should be dead not her." He looked up with rage in his eyes. "Don't fear my love. You shall be avenged," he said oddly calm. "Beryl you are mine." He jumped up and ran into the fight only to be killed like the rest. Not even seeing Beryl. -*- Present -*- 'Jadeite,' her mind softly cried. 'I'm so sorry,' he said. 'Usagi you've got to beat her!' Rei cried. The realization hit Usagi like a brick to the head. Her legs wobbled and she nearly fell to the ground, had Mamoru no caught her. Tears coursed down her cheeks. "No! Rei! Jadeite!" she screamed. Mamoru wrapped his arms around her in hopes of calming her. "Usako, shh," he whispered in her ear. "You have to be strong. They died to keep you safe. They would want you to keep fighting. You can't let them down." Her screaming stopped. She stayed, shaking, in his arms for a moment. "They knew the danger, but they still fought. They wanted to protect you. Just like the rest of them. Fight for them, it's what they'd want you to do," he said softly. "Oh Mamo-chan, they're all going to die though," she said. "It's all right to morn for them, but you can't right now. Beryl will kill you too if you don't fight," Mamoru said. "We all need you to win. You can do it. If you couldn't do you think that they would have come with you?" She looked up at him, the tears had stopped falling, and she wiped away the remaining tears. "They've helped me so much," she said. "If I hadn't met them, I would never have found you. I'll be forever grateful to them." He kissed her forehead and let go of her. "Let's go," he said. Venus gulped audibly. "Rei. Jadeite. They're...dead," she said. Kunzite nodded sadly. They didn't stop though. It wasn't something they could do. Not with their goal so close. "We'll be gone soon too," Kunzite said. "Isn't there any way to avoid this? We're leaving Usagi all alone," she said. "She won't be alone. Mamoru will be with her and we'll all be with her in spirit," Kunzite said. "She'll never have to be alone." "You won't leave me?" Venus asked. Kunzite stopped all of a sudden. He grabbed her hands and stared into her eyes. "I would never leave you. Never doubt that," he said. She flung herself into his embrace. "I could once see into men's hearts and read their most secret desires. The powers that came from being in Aphrodite's line," she said. "I know I still have them. They're just hidden, but I don't have to use them to know." "I love you with every ounce of my being," he said as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. "Never fear that I don't." An awful cackling filled the air. "What sentimental mush. This is what you left us for, Kunzite?" someone called out from the surrounding darkness. "Azurite," Kunzite hissed angrily. He immediately pushed Venus behind him inn a defensive position. "So you've come to gloat about your abrupt promotion." "Haha. Kunzite you know me only too well. It's a shame you weren't in better shape. We might not have been such enemies," a man said as he stepped out of the shadows. He wore the ugly dull gray uniform the others had before they'd been cured. He had short black hair and piercing black eyes. He resembled Mamoru a bit as well. "I see you still enjoy keeping the false face. You should know that she will have nothing but the real thing," Kunzite said. "We'll see. Endymion won't last long after the Princess is dead. Beryl won't take him by force like she took you. She wants his mind, body, and soul. It's all or nothing for her," Azurite said. "Kunzite, who is that?" Venus asked. Azurite bowed deeply to Venus. "I am General Azurite, the highest in Queen Beryl's command," he said. "And the only man in her army who sold his soul for something he cannot have," Kunzite said. "We shall see about that. As soon as I take care of you, Endymion is next," Azurite said. "You can try, but you won't succeed," Kunzite said. Azurite just laughed and sent out a sphere of dark energy at them. Kunzite pushed Venus out of it's path as he dodged the attack. He sent his own sphere at Azurite. It was smaller and silver unlike Azurite's had been. Azurite waved a hand, and the sphere exploded in a flash of light. "You little parlor tricks can't stop me," he said. "You can't dodge me forever either." Venus cried out as an invisible force knocked her into one of the nearby tress. It knocked the wind out of her and she saw stars. "Venus!" Kunzite cried out. He rushed towards her only to be knocked into the tree beside her. He pulled himself up and looked at her. "Are you all right?" "He's too strong. There's no way we can stop him like this. You were right," Venus said sadly. "I'm not going sown without taking him with me," Kunzite said. "Not with the Prince and Princess unprotected." Venus's eyes widened as she realized what he meant. She nodded and said, "We have to protect them at all costs." "Enough chatter!" Azurite yelled. "This ends now." Kunzite and Venus stood up, moving closer to one another. "You're right, Azurite. This ends now," Kunzite said. A powerful white light escaped from their bodies. Azurite knew what this meant. There was no escape for him. "We shall meet again Kunzite. I shall welcome you to *HELL*!" he screamed just before turning into ash. Memories flooded into Venus's and Kunzite's minds as it had for Mars and Jadeite. For a short moment they relived the past. -*- Silver Millenium -*- Venus paced around the garden nervously. She was supposed to be defending this entrance to the palace. It was nerve racking to listen to the sounds of battle and not be able to fight. She wouldn't go against Uranus's plan though. Suddenly someone grabbed her from behind and held her around the neck. "Hello there little Princess," someone said as whomever it was tightened his grip around her neck. Venus knew that voice. She would know it anywhere. "Kunzite," she gasped. He laughed. "This is the end of the fair Venus," he said. With one hideous *CRACK*, he broke her neck. Kunzite laughed again as he let go od her, watching her body crumble to the ground. "Venus!" someone yelled. The real Kunzite charged at Beryl's illusion. "You killed her!" A gleam of silver was al it saw before Kunzite sliced the mirage in half. It turned to ash and vanished in a solar wind. Kunzite fell to his knees beside Venus. He lifted her up and cradled her head to his chest. "Oh gods Venus I'm so sorry. I didn't get here in time. I never got to tell you how much I really do love you. I...I never got to say...goodbye." In the end Kunzite was killed in one of the great shadow being's blasts, still clutching the lifeless form of Sailor Venus. -*- Present -*- 'It wasn't you,' Minako said as a great weight was lifted off of her heart. 'I've only had to fight you once,' Kunzite said. 'Good luck Usagi you can do it. I know you can,' Minako said. 'Keep an eye on her Endymion,' Kunzite said with unusual formality. 'She needs you now more than ever.' Tears once again coursed down her cheeks. 'Oh Mina-chan. You take care of Minako, Kunzite,' she thought. Mamoru took her hand looked at her worriedly. "They're still with you," he said. "I know," she softly. "Let's keep going." "I know," she said softly. "Let's keep going." They continued on towards the ever growing tower. 'Rei, Jadeite, and now Minako, and Kunzite. If they didn't survive, what chance do I have?' Mercury thought as she and Zoisite headed silently towards the tower. 'We're being knocked off execution style.' She stopped dead in her tracks. She was more than terrified. She felt like the entire world was slowly crushing down on her. She was never the fighter of the group. She was alone. Everyone thought she was emotionless. She wasn't anything. A rustle in the trees stopped Zoisite. He turned to see that Mercury wasn't beside him anymore. She was a short way behind him. Out of the trees came a creature carrying a long knife. He was coming up from behind Mercury. "Mercury!" Zoisite yelled as he ran towards her. Mercury turned around to see the knife gleam for a moment before connecting...with Zoisite. He fell to his knees clutching the knife that was in his chest. Mercury screamed. 'He...oh gods!' This was too much for her to take. A man she may have known in another life, suddenly appears in her life just as things seem to be unable to get worse. Being forced into accepting things that don't contain any logic was hard enough. Hearing from a near stranger that she was emotionless and cold hurt her deeply. She doubted he would ever realize how much he hurt her. All the strain was just too much. She didn't know what she felt anymore. Everything was so confusing. She'd never told anyone what was going on and now all that had reached a breaking point. Her scream acted as a trigger. All her pent up frustrations fueled her power and a bright blue stream of ice water headed straight for the creature. It was so powerful that it left a gaping hole in it's chest. The creature turned into ash and vanished in a breeze. Mercury crumbled to the ground as her transformation faded away. "Zoisite, I..." she whispered. "Ami I feel like such an ass. This is all my fault. If I just hadn't opened my mouth in the first place," he said as he tried to sit up. The knife still protruded from his chest. "What are you talking about?" Ami asked as the tears began to fall. "I have this ability to sense people's feelings. It's not very strong or reliable, but it was different with you. With you everything was intensified. I could feel my words hurting you when I said them. I felt your pain and your sorrow. I was too proud. Why couldn't I have just apologized when I had the chance? I'm so sorry Ami. I was wrong," he said. "Ami, you're different from most people. You're really special. We all have our problems, but that's only because we are humans. Don't think that you're incapable of anything. I know that..." he gasped a bit as he could feel the last of his strength wavering. "Ami please forgive me. I..." He fell into Ami's arms. She tried to help him back up. He looked deep into her eyes and finished softly, "...love you." His eyes closed heavily and he slumped down to the ground. "No!" Ami cried. She desperately searched for a pulse only to find none. "NO! Zoisite don't leave me. You can't leave. Not now." She held his slowly cooling body close to her as she rocked. 'He said he loved me. He loved me. What am I supposed to say? I...I think I loved him too. That's why it hurt me so much. He said the truth. It was something I needed to hear. I do let my curiosity get the best of me. Nothing can get in my way when I'm on my crusade,' she thought. 'I was the one who was wrong. I'm the one who should have taken the dagger. You are the better person. I don't want to be in a world where people like you die before people like me. It's not fair.' She laid Zoisite down gingerly and kissed his forehead. She gripped the dagger in his chest tightly. She pulled it out of his chest with a quick yank. Blood escaped the opening turning his shirt slowly red. She stared at the dagger with morbid fascination. Blood dripped down onto her legs. "Princess...I'm so sorry...what good am I to you?" she said softly. "I just wish I was dead. Take my power Princess...use it to kill Beryl and save the world." She raised the dagger above her head in one hand the other held her henshin wand. "Please don't morn for me. I don't deserve it." She brought the dagger down upon her chest in a quick stroke. Her henshin wand fell to the ground and from it shot a blue light that went out into the darkness searching for it's new owner. "Goodbye..." she said softly. Usagi stumbled and fell to her knees. This was the worst of all. 'Ami...she...oh gods!' her mind cried. Mamoru pulled her into his embrace. He was disturbed by Ami's actions as well, but was more worried about Usagi to think of it at that moment. A small blue orb descended in front of her. She reached out to touch it. As she did it entered her body filling her with a new strength. "Ami," she cried softly. "Be strong. Please Usa. If not for me but for Ami," he said. She could see in her mind Ami with the dagger poised over her. All because Zoisite died. All because that thing killed Zoisite. All because Beryl sent that thing to kill Zoisite and Ami. One word reappeared forcefully over and over in her mind. *BERYL!* Beryl sent that thing to kill Ami and Zoisite. To kill Minako and Kunzite. To kill Rei and Jadeite. Rage and fury filled her mind and heart. Mamoru nearly fell back at the force of her emotions. She wanted to avenge her friends. She wanted to rid the world of the cruelty that killed her friends, the closest and most important people in her life. She wanted Beryl to be stopped at all cost. "Mamoru," she said seriously with anger hidden behind her voice. "She's killed them. She wants to destroy my home. She's destroyed my life. There is little more she can take away from me. I'm going to stop her before she can take the rest away." She got up and ran towards the tower. Mamoru rushed to follow her. He didn't know what to think of this sudden change in Usagi. A small part of him was proud of her new found courage, but mostly scared to death over what 'cost' would be deemed necessary. "There's just four of us left. Beryl's trying to destroy the Princess's spirit," Nephrite said. "She's more determined now than ever. She's...she's terrifying," Jupiter said as she tried to block out the feelings she sensed from her Princess. Nephrite gripped Jupiter's hand tightly. "I...I never had a chance to say...I love you," he said. "I know. I love you, too," she said. He placed a hand on her cheek. "There's so much I wanted to say to do..." he said trailing off. A rustle from the bushes made Jupiter jump slightly. "We'll get the chance someday. I swear," she said. Beryl's creatures surrounded them. "Are these the last of them?" Jupiter asked. "Probably. We're the only ones left that she wants to kill," Nephrite said. "She must want to take care of the Princess personally." "So let's make sure there isn't any left-overs," Jupiter said with a determined look. Nephrite nodded. He charged at the creatures, blasting a few to dust. Jupiter did the same with lightning. The other creatures attacked and were not doing well. Soon enough they had destroyed all the creatures. "That was a little too easy, wasn't it," Jupiter said. "Where's the real trouble?" "The real trouble is just around the bend," a voice said from out of no where. "Say goodbye." Up from the ground shot electricity. Nephrite and Jupiter cried out in pain as it slowly became too much for their bodies to be able to take. They collapsed and Jupiter fell on top of Nephrite. "Goodbye my love..." Nephrite whispered. "...I will always be with you," Jupiter finished. The visions of the past came to them... -*- Silver Millenium -*- Nephrite stood over Jupiter with his sword held high. He wore a sadistic grin on his face and laughed. "Say goodbye Princess of Jupiter," he said. "NO!" someone cried. Nephrite was suddenly violently shoved aside and lay on the ground with a gapping hole in his side. Jupiter turned to see who it was only to see Nephrite. She blinked and realized just what that was that had tried to attack her. 'It wasn't Nephrite. It was just a fake,' her mind cried with pure elation. The fake Nephrite pushed himself up to a sitting position and looked at the real Nephrite with the same sadistic grin. "You think you could just save her like that. Think again. I always have a back up plan," he said. Jupiter arched her back and cried out in pain. The tip of a long knife could be seen sticking out of her chest. The fake Nephrite laughed. "I may have been destroyed, but not without fulfilling my mission," he said before turning to ash. Nephrite rushed to Jupiter's side. "Oh no. I'm so sorry," he cried as he wrapped his arms around her. "It's all right Nephrite. There was no way you could have known. I'm just happy that it wasn't you who attacked me," she said softly. "I love you so much Nephrite. I'm sorry I have to leave you like this." "No! Don't leave me," he cried clinging to her as tightly as he could. "Gods no, Jupiter you can't leave me like this." When the last of the life in her escaped her body he laid her gently down onto the ground. 'I'll avenge you my love,' he thought. He charged into battle dying similarly to Jadeite. -*- Present -*- 'I'm so sorry, Makoto,' Nephrite cried out in sadness. 'Don't be. I love you no matter what,' Makoto said. 'Good luck Usagi. We're with you.' 'Don't worry Makoto. I'll destroy her. For all of you and for everyone on Earth. I have to protect the people I care about,' she said silently. 'Beryl has had her last laugh. She isn't going to take my home and kill all these innocents ever.' The Black Tower grew as they drew closer and closer to their destination... ***************************************************************