Chapter 3“ Seeing Past the Mask ”By Sailor ClearMoon Senshisis@juno.com “C’mon,” Mars was losing her temper, “help them out already!” Everyone jumped at the anger in Mars’ voice. One girl winced, knowing the anger was at her… she watched as Andrew desperately tried to stop the blood that flowed from Lita’s leg. “I don’t know if we can help them!” Dr. Platt sounded desperate and mournful, “Sailor Moon…?” she was stepping forward now, turning her head she swallowed: “Please move back… I can heal them…” gulping she turned to her friends and pulled her moon wand out of her sub-space pocket. “MOON… HEALING…” Dr. Platt wanted to stop her… she was too weak… “POWER!” Sailor Moon held the wand firmly though inside her energy was draining, Ami and Lita closed their eyes and the pure white light flowed through them… all wounds were closing and healing immediately, finally it was over and the room went back to normal. Sailor Moon breathed deeply and refused to fall over, her arms stung… her head spun… she was completely exhausted. “Sailor… Moon…” Ami managed to whisper as she stood up. Everyone turned their eyes to the young girl, amazement apparent on their faces. “What?” she snapped, “Do you seriously think I can’t do anything? Fine then! That was my last time using this thing, Ami, you get it. You can now be the leader! I QUIT!” The moon wand flew at Ami, who caught it quickly, Lita stammered, “No! Sailor Moon- you saved us c’mon! We need you!” Sailor Moon sighed and sat on a counter top, her senses were dulled and she had no idea what was going on… “You guys know that I let you down… twice…” Lita glared at Mars, “Why don’t you ever leave her alone! Rei! You stop bugging her all the time!” Mars replied coolly, “She has put our cause in danger many times. Has almost gotten all of us killed, and she refuses to help plan a way to find the princess-“ “The Moon princess?” Darien asked suddenly, coming out of his shocked state. “Yeah…” Ami shrugged, “What do you know of her?” “Um… nothing… just reminded me of a legend…” Darien again leaned against the shadowed wall and watched Sailor Moon… she looked extremely tired. Dr. Platt was observing the scene quietly but finally took a stand, “Girls, leave your leader alone for the time being. I know I don’t have much of a say in this but as her doctor I must insist that she rests…” “No,” was Sailor Moon’s cool reply, “I will not rest… I don’t need it!” The doctor gave her a wary look, knowing that he didn’t have much of a chance if he stood against her. Sailor Moon glared back at him, refusing to let him weaken her. “Fine, fine…” muttered Dr. Platt. He added, “But still… after using that attack two times and your healing power another, you should apply the lotion. Sailor Moon glared at him, “I told you not to mention that around any of them…” she growled. Andrew and Darien were leaning against a wall the whole time, totally baffled on what had happened, but now they came around again. Andrew asked, “Lotion? For what?” Darien was asking the same thing silently, suddenly he remembered removing the white glove to see black-streaked hands… hand that looked burned, he wondered slightly. “You use that for the burns from your attacks?” Darien asked suddenly, not fully aware he was asking aloud. “How do you know that?” Suddenly he found himself jumped by four Sailor Scouts, one doctor, and his best friend. “um… I heard it from a friend…” that was lame, and he knew it but at the moment he didn’t know what to say. “Oh shut up! Tell the truth now!” Mars hissed. Darien was starting to become worried. The only person who didn’t look about to kill him was Sailor Moon, but then again there was something else in her eyes…** The moment Darien mentioned her burns Sailor Moon stared at him and almost fell off the counter. She suddenly muttered, “There was only one other besides Dr. Platt who knew that…” she trailed off and licked her lips. Finally she said louder, “Shit! Why did I have to be right?!” and so saying, she suddenly lost focus and wavered visibly on the counter. Before she hit the floor Andrew had caught her. Everyone was staring at her, trying to figure out what she was talking about. Darien was pale, He was beginning to feel bad for everything that he’d done. Dr. Platt was cursing under his breath, “I can’t help her at all in this form. And she needs much more than her hands and arms to be healed… c’mon wake up! Serena… come on…” Andrew almost dropped her, he hadn’t really thought about Serena as Sailor Moon… even though there was the obvious clue of her friends being the other scouts. Slowly light blue eyes opened, the surrounding area was fuzzy to the girl that was still exhausted. She blinked once as the voices made their way to her ears. The whole time she just watched Darien’s face, pretty much unaware of anybody else. Suddenly she stood up and leaned against the counter for support. She had surprised everyone and they looked up at her from their kneeling positions on the floor. Doctor Platt stood up and came closer to her, “Please power down. You know you need help, and I can’t work with you still morphed.” Tears stung her eyes but they disappeared, “You mean I’ll die without help?” She asked, not even close to being unnerved. “It could be possible…” “I don’t care.” Lita, Ami, and Andrew gasped, “Serena!” Ami shouted, “Stop it! Snap out of it, will you?” “I don’t care,” she repeated. Lita grabbed her shoulders, “I refuse to let you give up like this! We need you!” “Yeah..” she stated glumly, “for finding the precious princess!” “It’s not like that!” Lita snapped. She softened, “Serena… you have some great friends right here… you can’t go… who would be there to laugh everything off? Who would make us run all over town checking out the ice cream shops? Huh?” Sailor Moon looked hopefully at her friend, “you really mean it? You really like me for me?” “Of course,” was all Lita and Ami could whisper. “Alright then…” Sailor Moon slowly raised her hand to her broach. Before squeezing it she held Lita’s arm tightly, knowing that she’d black out after losing the transformation. A bright light enveloped Sailor Moon and once it was gone a scary sight stood before them. Serena was there but her lower arms and hands were black and blood-streaked. Her face looked in pain and suddenly she fell back the last thing she heard was a familiar gasp, “MY GOD!” **~ Serena’s POV ~ Darkness was all around me but slowly my senses were awakening. Warmth of sunlight spread across my face and slowly I forced my eyes open. I yawned and realized how sore I was… what had happened? I reminded myself of the events. Turning bitter I wondered what had happened and how long I had been out of it. Sighing I was about to rest again when I froze. Next to the bed I was in I saw a single form. It was not one of the girls or even Dr. Platt… amazingly enough it was a black-haired man, and even though he was asleep I knew of his piercing blue eyes… I remembered those eyes from so long ago. ~~ flashback ~~ Walking through the gardens on my morning break, I sighed wistfully. The day was beautiful and I was happy to have a break from my studies. As always, Princess Mercury forced me into an extra half-hour study time. Laughing lightly I made my way to my own special part of the gardens. My area was filled with the Earth roses. They were so beautiful and I smiled thinking of the one who had brought them to me originally. Smiling, I made my way to the white bench in the center of the multi-colored roses. I glanced beside me and wished that he was there… but that was not likely to happen. Things had not been improving between our planets… only worsening… My smile faded and I glanced to the sport in the sky where you could always spot the beautiful blue and green planet. It was almost as gorgeous as my home. I strained to see clearly the earth’s colors until I realized something horrible… something that had only been predicted… without thinking I ran from my gardens. As I passed the entrance I gained speed holding my skirts high and running, frightened tears trailing down my face as I screamed, “It has begun! It has begun! Mother! Senshi!” ~~ end ~~ Now I lay in my bed and watched the one that had once been my love hundreds of years ago. I watched the raise and fall of his chest, signaling him asleep. I closed my eyes as the tears started, though only one single tear fell. I could not be with him again. I just couldn’t… I wouldn’t let them all go through the pain that they had to go through before. but in my mind another voice whispered, ’But you do love him… no matter what you say. He is the one you love.’ Softly I whispered, “I can not love you this time… no matter how true it is.” I slowly sat up only to feel my head throb forcefully. “Oh…” I moaned, a bad move on my part since Darien’s figure awoke beside me. Muttering to myself I lay down again before he said anything. “Serena?” he asked, he seemed slightly worried. I couldn’t bear to see him actually start to care for me. That’s why I had always bickered with him no matter how much it hurt, I could never let him love me. Trying to change the mood to ‘normal’ I remarked dryly, “Oh goodie, look who’s here… Darien…” He looked slightly upset. He frowned and replied, “Why do you have to act like that? You FINALLY wake up and this is the thanks I get!” “Well excuse me!” I retorted, “But you’re not the welcome committee that I was expecting!” “Ha! Welcoming committee? I thought you didn’t have that many friends!” That stung, I reeled back… I’d never meant for this type of thing to get serious. But it was true… I wouldn’t let anyone get so close to me anymore. But it still hurt… I turned my head away from him and faced the wall. I heard him sigh behind me and I could feel his guilt… sometimes I hated that, when I could tell what he felt. But… how could he still care for me? I mean all I’ve ever done is just totally fight with him… haven’t I proved that I hate him? tears came them and I hated myself for them but they came never the less. “Serena…” his voice sent shivers down my back and I lay as still as I could as I hid my soft sobbing. “I’m… really sorry… I never meant… I just wasn’t thinking… I never think about what I’m saying…” Being my stubborn self I shook my head, “No, no… it’s okay. Besides… it’s true. All my friends have pretty much abandoned me. Only Lita, Ami, and Andrew have stayed by me. But how long will that last?” I was starting to think aloud. Suddenly I froze as I felt a hand on my shoulder and suddenly I remembered his tender touch and how I missed it…~~ flashback ~~ Giggling I ran to hide behind a tree, only to be tackled as another person jumped out at me and pushed me to the ground while tickling me. Laughing and crying at the same time I cried, “Endy! Endy! Please stop… that… that… tickles!” I broke into more fits of laughter but my stomach started to hurt. Finally he stopped and we lay side-by-side on the green grass of the moon. His fingers traveled up my left arm slowly and finally he reached my face. He was sitting up now and looking over me. Though his face was shadowed I knew his looks by heart: black, black hair; piercing midnight blue eyes; strong build; tanned skin. He had a playful smile in his eyes and he slowly lowered his face down while lifting me up with his arms behind my back. Giggling again I whispered, “Better hope no one else is around!” “I don’t care,” was his response. I loved his voice… the voice that lingered in my dreams every night and even everyday. Slowly we met in a quick kiss. But before we started again my prince stopped suddenly and looked up. I felt it too… at that moment our small ‘link’ acted up and we both felt the same thing. There was evil somewhere… what was it? Our eyes suddenly went to the sun and we spotted a very black spot that slowly broke free before disappearing. Frowning I asked, “Endy… what was that?” “I have no idea… none at all…” (Author’s view for this little part): In the shadows, a tall dark woman stood silently and watched the young couple. She sighed inwardly, the prince and princess had quite a destiny and only she knew how hard it would be. “Take care… it is possible to change the future. You get to shape it yourself… just know that you will always end up together. It is one fate that can not change.” The figure moved then and stepped through a porthole.~~ end ~~ I shrugged off Darien’s hand, not comfortable to feel him so close to me again. I felt his confusion and I felt like shaking our entire link out of my head. Why did he have to be from long ago? Why did we have to meet again? I didn’t want him to be hurt again… I would never be able to bear it. Finally I whispered softly, “How long has it been since the battle?” I could tell he was just gathering himself together as he answered, “About three days.” “Oh… THREE DAYS?!” I jumped up and immediately regretted it but I was panicking. What would my parents think? What was happening at school? Was anyone worried? Strong hands pushed down onto the bed again. “Serena sit and calm down!” Darien ordered, I have no idea why I obeyed but I did. “Now let me tell you what’s happened… as long as you stay put for more than a second!” I nodded still looking confused, “Okay… Lita has already called into your parents… I know the first day she used the excuse that you were staying over… I don’t know about the other days. Ami’s been by a lot- same with Andrew though he has work at the arcade, y’know.” “I’ve been here… well… when I can. I guess it’s the best I can do at the moment to make up for the times… that I wasn’t there…” I noted that he mentioned nothing about Rei- what was happening between me and her? I stopped him there with a sharp shake of my head, “We didn’t need Tuxedo Mask. You should realize that by now.” I know that I was being hard and untruthful but I just didn’t want him hurt… no that couldn’t happen… He stared at me, “What are you talking about? You’re the one who always wanted Tuxedo Mask there!” “Well I learned to deal without you! Is that just so bad?” I demanded. He reeled back. I winced, knowing that I had hurt him. “Listen En- um… Darien, it’s really okay. We’ve been handling it… really… it’s okay…” Why was I being so nice? ’Because you don’t want to hurt him directly…?’ I brushed the thought away. “Serena?” His voice called me back, I wondered how long I had zoned out. I looked at him: “Hmm?” I wasn’t up to asking anything more. “I was just wondering when you were going to come back from your own little world meatball head!” I rolled my eyes, “Sheesh… If I had known I’d wake up to something like this I would have stayed asleep! Well maybe I should rest again… G' night!” I heard him sigh before I slipped under the sheets again and fell asleep. ~ Author’s view ~** ^^Another lazy day and a group of four girls gathered around a glittering fountain. The first was a blue-haired girl, the princess of Mercury. Next was the fire-tempered black/purple haired girl, the princess of Mars; the third was the brown-haired princess of Jupiter; and the last was the blond princess of Venus. They waited patiently for the last member to join them. “Sheesh… again late!” Rei, Mars’ princess, exclaimed. Lita, princess of Jupiter, laughed lightly, “Oh Rei… you should be used to it! You know that she loves to have time with Endymion!” Mina, Venus’ princess, agreed, “He is dreamy but I’d rather have another guy. Besides-“ “Those two are soul mates… we know Mina, we know!” finished the exasperated blue-haired princess. Mina sniffed, “I was just reminding you guys. Don’t hafta be mean Ami!” Another voice entered the group, “Jeez… you guys really need a love life so you can talk about someone else!” “SERE!” was the chorus that arose from the girls. Everyone pounced her with a million and one questions: “What happened this time?” “Did you kiss?” “What did you do?” “Is he still being good to you?” The Moon Princess raised her hands in defense and smiled, “Hold it!” Everyone quieted. The princess smiled and tucked a loose strand of slivery-white hair behind her ear. “Who says that I must answer all of these questions?” “WE DO!” was the shouted response. Covering her ears, the princess giggled: “Just asking!” ^^ As Serena woke up again she heard faint voices… well faint from the room which she was in. Slowly she sat up and noticed that it was dark outside. She was fully refreshed now and ready to find out what had passed. She got up and slipped out into the hallway, no one had been sitting by her bed this time, which she was silently thankful for. She heard voices coming from one of the rooms and she listened from the crack in the door. Inside she could pick out three voices: Ami’s, Lita’s, and Rei’s. Rei… “So what do you know about the Moon Princess and how do you know her?” Was Lita’s question. Immediately interested, Serena pushed the door open and walked int. “SERE!” The three girls cried. (Well… two of them yelled enthusiastically… the third seemed ashamed and withdrawn.) “Oh!” Was the blonde’s statement as she noticed the other person in the room- Darien. “Um… hello again…” “Yeah, again.” He said. “WHAT? You mean she was up earlier?” Ami demanded. “You didn’t tell them?” Serena asked. Darien nodded to Ami’s question and shook his head to Serena’s. Sighing, Serena pushed her friends back to a sitting place while she took up a cushioned chair. “Continue on with the conversation, I’m interested.” “Um… okay…” “Yeah,” Ami agreed, “She should know too since she’s our leader.” Serena let her thoughts trail off. The others were still staring at her but finally Darien tore his gaze away and started off about his small information on the Moon Princess.3B “Pretty much the only reason I know of the ‘Moon Princess’ is because of these strange dreams…” Darien started, not quite sure what to say. “Dreams?” All the girls stared at him blankly. Serena sighed softly. “I never get to see her face though I think sometimes I’ve seen her hair and eyes… yet when I wake I don’t remember at all. She always says: ‘retrieve the imperium crystal.’…” Darien trailed off again. Serena sighed inwardly. She knew that the Rainbow Crystals were a decoy- not really creating the silver imperium crystal. Though if all crystals were collected, the power emitted could be dangerous since the crystal s really did hold the shadow warriors. “Well… is there more?” Lita asked. “No… not really… there’s so much I can’t remember from those dreams. She always acts as if she knows me well though… it’s so strange.” Ami turned to the girls and started to talk as if Darien wasn’t there, “Well what do you guys think? I mean why would Darien be having all these dreams?” “Yeah, is he tied into our past too?” Rei added her question. Serena just answered their questions mentally. Darien was sitting back, exasperated, when through the open window came a shadowed figure. “There you girls are! Thank goodness I could track you through central…” suddenly the black cat stopped dead in her tracks. “Meow..?” she offered to the extra person in the room. Serena looked at her cat, “Luna what do you mean you were able to track us?” The cat looked at her skeptically and Serena realized she’d have to explain, “Obviously you haven’t been informed of the past events? Well…” she started to tell briefly of the battle and of how they needed to come to where they were now for medical help, “And Luna, Darien knows all of our identities.” Turning to Darien, Serena gave him a firm-questioning look, he nodded and she finished, “Everyone… meet Tuxedo Mask.” As everyone stared at Darien, Serena closed her eyes and shook her head, sometimes her friends were SO slow… “Tuxedo…” “Mask..?” “You mean he’s the one?” Serena lightly rolled her eyes, at least they understood now. Suddenly Rei jumped Darien and asked him a million-and-one questions, “Why the heck didn’t you ever tell us? And why don’t you ever help us out any more than you do? What about-“ “Hold,” Serena’s voice was firm. “Rei, he has already explained himself- or at least what he knows. Now…” she started before smiling and leaving behind her worries. “Can we please go to get something to eat? I’m afraid sleeping for three days does not improve one’s appetite…” Everyone stared at her, Lita finally asked, “Uh… how long have you been hanging out with Ami?” “Really Meatball head…” Darien added, “Those are some pretty big words!” “Oh shut up for once!” Serena stood up and stormed off, “I’m going to the arcade and anyone interested can come!” Ami and the others followed soon after, knowing that they wanted to know what was happening with Serena lately.** As the bells rang, Andrew looked up from the newspaper that he was reading. His face lit up as he saw who it was, “Hey Serena! Good to see you up and about!” She smiled slightly and slipped onto a stool, “Yeah… well I think I had enough rest…” “Oh…” quieter he asked, “you sure you’re fine? That doctor guy said that it seemed you lost a lot of energy.” Serena shrugged him off, “Nothing a little food can’t cure!” She smiled brightly as Andrew pretended to groan: “Okay ‘O Great One’ what may I have the honor of serving you?” Serena couldn’t help but to giggle as she answered: “First off a nice chicken sandwich with everything… a sprite… um… and then also I’ll deal with a piece of cheese cake for the moment!” Someone remarked- laughing- behind her, “Well she must be better! She’s surely excited about food!” “But…” added the all-too-familiar voice, “She hasn’t ordered quite enough…” Sticking out her tongue, Serena replied, “Oh quiet Darien, as I said before- if I’d known you were the type of ‘awakening committee’ I would have sleep for another ten years!” Ami, Lita, Rei, Darien, and Luna strolled over to the counter and sat next to Serena. Luna jumped into Serena’s lap while on either side of her, Lita and Ami slid onto stools. There was a heavy atmosphere between all of them even though small conversation came up. Most couldn’t place what it was, but they could tell that something was amiss. Finally Rei sighed, breaking a stretch of silence as Andrew came back with Serena’s order. “Hey, you guys are way too glum for this nice day! Gee, I thought everyone would perk up once Serena was up and about again! I didn’t think I’d be wrong…” Andrew stated. Serena started to eat as Andrew talked to the small group since not many people were in the arcade. The blond girl’s thoughts wandered away from the real world until she was thinking and replaying battles in her mind- contemplating what Rei had said a few days earlier, ‘it’s your fault! They almost died! You could have protected them! She’s always endangering our cause…’ “Hello! Earth to Serena!” Lita called. As Serena blinked and turned her head to face Lita her friend asked, “So where’d ya go? The moon?” Serena frowned slightly before turning away, “No… just thinking…” “About?” Ami promoted. “Nothing important to you guys… don’t worry about it.” The others frowned but from experience they knew that she wouldn’t break her silence. “Well…” Rei trailed off, she was getting bored. “Go Rei, you have chores at the temple to do,” Serena finished for her, not realizing at all what she was thinking- or rather- saying. “Huh? Serena are you psychic or something?” Rei asked. “Hmm? No…” she trailed off, “oh… it’s just that I know you usually have chores and figured that’s what you’d be doing.” “Um.. okay…” as Rei stood up she paused to bend down and whisper to Serena, “please… can we talk later? I need to tell you some things…” Nodding her head in reply Serena waved good bye. The remaining group talked for a while longer as Serena was informed on excuses and such. Luna finally talked and practically made Andrew faint, but after recovering Luna talked about where’d she’d been: “Well, a few days ago I was finding some incredible information from central! I couldn’t retrieve all of it- however- during that first day. So I went back the next and stayed for quite some time. Yesterday I finished and went back to Serena’s house, I couldn’t find her and couldn’t figure out where she was. After going to all of the girls’ houses I went back to central and try to track you down…” “Huh? Luna…?” Lita asked, “how did you track us?” “A week ago Ami and I installed tracking devices in each of your communicators so we can find each other in case of an emergency.” “Good planning!” the brunette nodded. “Oh- thank Serena! She thought of it…” Ami smiled and turned to Serena. “It wasn’t much, I didn’t have to do the technical things!” Darien raised his eyebrows, “Sure doesn’t sound like the meatball head I know! She doesn’t even know how to open a soda can let alone come up with the idea for a tracking device! Though wait a sec, maybe she needs that device to find friends and new battle tactics?” That stung, that hit her straight on since only moments before Serena had been thinking about a similar topic. Turning away and getting off her stool Serena said hoarsely, “Luna, I’ll see you at home… good day everyone…” and before anyone could stop her she was running down the street, tears streaming her face.***Flashback*** Tears streamed down the princess’s face. It hurt her so much when he teased her, she was overly sensitive when around him because she did not wish to embarrass herself. “Why do I have to love him? What nice thing has he ever done…?” Serenity sobbed one last time before lying down on the bench and falling asleep. When she again awoke she was aware of a figure beside her: male; tall; dark… opposite of the petite and light princess. “Serenity…” he started, “I’m so very sorry… I don’t know what reason you could ever have to forgive me for all that I’ve done but…” he took a breath, “if you can ever find your heart can forgive me, will you please?” Shakily the princess asked, “Endymion, let me ask you this. Why does this mean so much to you? And you, not the earth, not your parents, not my mother… only you.” He looked at her with completely serious eyes. She was surprised to find the hint of love and loyalty there, “Because, Rena, I love you more than anything…” She smiled suddenly, “Endy… no matter what I’d never be able to stay mad at you… I love you too… I love you too…”***End Flashback*** Serena’s tears flowed down her cheeks again as she sat in a dark alley. “Why did Beryl have to be revived? We never needed HER! It’s not fair… if we weren’t needed as the Sailor Scouts Darien and I could be together… if he loves me in this time…” She trailed off. Truth to tell, even after everything she loved him for who he was that day, that time, that era… she loved him for the person he was in this lifetime. For how he acted, how he hid his fears, how he managed to keep everyone away. “Oh Darien… if only it hadn’t been this way…” Serena brushed her tears away as they started to water at her next thought, The blonde’s head turned up as a scream was heard, ** Three scouts gathered at the opening to a theme park that was being quickly emptied. Sailor Moon rushed up, “Sorry guys, I was off on the other side of town!” “That’s fine, you up to the fight?” Mercury asked with slight worry. Giving a cocky grin and a V-for-victory sign, Moon replied, “I’m prepared for anything!” Jupiter shrugged and said, “Then let’s go!” “Right!” The four girls jumped their way through the park until they reached the large youma that was seemingly destroying rides and taking peoples’ energy. “That’s it! JUPITER… THUNDER… CRASH!” the lighting went straight through the youma and into one of the rides. “What the-?” Mars started. Mercury flipped on her visor, “You guys! This has got to be a trap! This monster’s only an illusion!” “We need to get out of here! We’ll not be able to make it… they planned it this way! Come on girls!” Sailor Moon cried while taking the lead as they rushed towards the nearest exit. “Not so fast…” Mercury, who was running behind Moon, suddenly slipped forward into the person who had stopped in front of her. Sailor Moon was standing still to avoid colliding into Jadeite. “Jadeite… Kunzite… Nephrite… Zoicite…” Sailor Moon muttered. “Ah yes, and let me see now… Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Moon… and who’s that you have there Zoicite? Oh yes… Tuxedo Mask.” Jadeite smirked as the scouts turned to find Zoicite pushing Tuxedo Mask into the middle with the scouts. “Shall we play?” Kunzite asked, with not an answer attempted he powered up and stuck out with a dark beam of energy. “MERCURY BUBBLES BLAST!” “Old school Merc…” Nephrite yawned before countering the attack. “My turn! MARS… FIRE… IGNITE!” “JUPITER… THUNDER… CRASH!” Kunzite collected the energy that Mars and Jupiter shot off and formed it into a dome. He sent it crashing over Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter… Moon was only left out because Mars pushed her out at the last minute. “No!” Moon yelled as she attempted once to break her companions free. “That’s not all Sailor Moon…” Zoicite’s voice turned Moon’s head to find Tuxedo Mask hat and mask-less as Zoicite threw him hard against a tree. “Your turn Sailor Moon… and then it’s time to hand over your two rainbow crystals…” Jadeite grabbed Sailor Moon from behind and held her struggling form. The rest of the scouts watched painfully as their alleys were captured. “Come on Sailor Moon! You can do it!” Mercury cried. “Sailor Moon!” Suddenly the blonde stopped struggling as she felt a familiar aura… brightening her hopes, Moon heard the new voice come, “Sailor Moon… duck! CRESCENT… BEAM!” A beam sliced through Jadeite’s mid-section and Sailor Moon was lucky to miss the blow, as she jumped completely out of the way as the new girl landed beside her. “Phew! Need a hand girl?” “It’s me who should be asking you… leader…” Moon stated. “Huh?” the new scout looked confused. She wore a mostly orange traditional Scout garb and had blonde hair slightly lighter than Serena’s. A big red bow collected part of her hair in the back. “Sailor Venus, you are the true leader but all that will explain in time… right now let’s kick some Nega- butt!” Again Venus looked confused but agreed, “Alright then Sailor Moon, let’s go! CRESCENT BEAM…” “MOON… TIARA…- No!” Suddenly Moon stopped, “Tuxedo Mask! Watch it! Darien! Darien! NO!”***Flashback*** The intense black beam hurled at her only to be stopped by a different form who blocked it from her… it was him… her prince… and as he fell into her arms she screamed…***End*** “NO! Darien!” Sailor Moon’s movements seemed to slow but she ran as fast as she could, “NO! I won’t let you go again! ENDYMION!”***Flashback*** “Endymion! Endymion! Endy! No! Endy!” the screaming echoed through the kingdom, shaking every soul until they all felt the young woman’s pain… ***end*** The dark beam of energy and crystal spear combined were a strong power, and was very quick. Sailor Moon knew she wouldn’t save him from being hurt, but if she planned she could save his life…