4 Diving the last foot, Moon reached out with her arm, hoping to somehow block the spear. But the combined forces of powers from Zoicite helped the spear slice through Moon’s wrist and continue to penetrate Tuxedo Mask’s skin. “You can’t stop it…” hissed Zoicite, she was slightly disgusted that Sailor Moon had gotten there so quickly. “NO!” the feverate cry sounded empty… so lost… complete grief. The crystal spear disappeared to leave a gasping Tuxedo Mask, he was wounded badly but not dead. “Sere… na?” He asked. “Shh… hush now… it’ll be okay…” Sailor Moon whispered, more to reassure herself as she felt her body tremble. Her shattered and bloody wrist lay in her lap while with her other hand she inspected the wound. “Why?” shaking her head, Moon refused to answer. A yell and a force pushing against her threw Sailor Moon out of her thoughts… ***Flashback*** Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion stood in the rose gardens within the large Moon Kingdom’s palace grounds. “Rena.. I’m worried, I can sense the evil… it’s so strong on earth that I’m worried to go back.” “Stay here then, Endy… you are welcome… my mother will allow you to, y’know…” “Yes I do but… everyone else…” A deep female voice announced, “And everyone else? Why they are all here!” “No! Beryl!” Endymion turned around to face the red-haired sorceress. “Beryl?” Serenity questioned. “Oh look… the petty princess of the moon! Well Serenity… you won’t be here for long! Metallia!” The huge cloud overhead seemingly ‘grew eyes’ as red slits opened and stared at the princess. Dark hands appeared and without warning dark power streamed down. Unable to move, the princess stood in horror until she felt a force push her down…***end*** “No…” Sailor Moon whispered, she knew this scene too well, “NO! Darien don’t do this!” She screamed yet knowing it too late…***Flashback*** the power cleared away, leaving a bleeding prince in the arms of a pained princess. “No… Endy…” “Rena… always remember that I love you…” “Endy…?” the princess asked tentatively, “Endymion? ENDY! ENDY! NO!”***end*** “NO!” the power was clearing, leaving Sailor Moon holding Tuxedo Mask with both arms even though her left wrist was shattered- she ignored the physical pain. “NO! Not again! No!” Tears were streaming down her face as glazed eyes looked at her from behind his mask, “Serena… I’m so… so… very sorry… I never meant to hurt you… in fact… I think… I fell in love with you… promise not to forget me…” Too shocked to speak Sailor Moon just stared at him as he noticeably limped and fell from her grasp. She screamed silently and she knew what had to be done, not aware of her surroundings she didn’t notice the shocked looks on the other scouts’ faces. Suddenly she shouted, “SILVER CRYSTAL… COME TO MY HAND!” White light flared brightly and drew the tears that had fallen from Sailor Moon’s eyes and gathered them together. In her hand formed a palm-sized crystal. The light became bearable to look at again though it did not go away. Wrapped in the light, Sailor Moon’s transformation faded to ribbons of color until a white dress formed around her. The princess-like girl stood there as the crystal’s light penetrated her skin, healing the shattered bone and completing the tissues and skin once again. The aura around this girl was different somehow… the Negaverse generals stood as transfixed as the Sailor Scouts did. Slowly the young woman’s eyes fluttered open to reveal clear sky-blue eyes, she softly whispered, “I won’t let you hurt them again…” a single tear slid down her cheek, she knew now that everything would change and she’d never have the normal life that she wished for. Bright light reached out and flowed into Darien’s body, healing his wounds and filling his lungs. Finally his chest rose and fell as he breathed, his attire changed though to that of a silver and black armor. A large broad sword was attached to the belt. Slowly the light spread over the whole group, the generals let out a cry of astonishment as their bodies were filled with the white, pure, light. The spreading brightness did not stop there, it continued on as reports filled in from halfway across the world of a bright light appearing. Even in the dark caves of the Negaverse the light spread. As the light finally died away, the Sailor Scouts found themselves dressed in rich, silk dresses of different colors. Blinking, they also noticed that only three generals remained… Zoicite had disappeared- into a pile of… dust? “What does all this mean…?” Ami asked in wonderment. The three remaining generals were looking to each other trying to piece together what was going on. Before having a chance to do anything Beryl’s voice hissed, “Nephrite, Jadeite, Kunzite! Return immediately!” “But… who…?” Kunzite looked dazed as he searched for the source of the voice. The faint growling of Beryl was heard when suddenly dark power surrounded each of the generals and they disappeared. Once that distraction was over with, the four girls turned to the princess-like girl that was “Serena”. They found her kneeling over the armored Darien. Suddenly the male figure sputtered and sat up, “What just happened? I thought… but then… this light…” as he turned he came nose-to-nose with the girl sitting beside him. He gasped, “You’re her!” “I’m Serena Tsukino… an ordinary girl- at least I wish. But that is not the point, I must explain to you now-“ “You better believe that girlfriend!” Venus exclaimed. Frowning, Serena continued on, “We will go to the docks- they’re usually deserted at this time. I’ll also bring Luna and Artemis.” Just as Venus started, “HEY! How do you know-?” she broke off as the small group was surrounded in bright light. When their vision cleared the Sailor Scouts (in the new dresses), Darien (in armor), Serena (princess-like), Luna, and a white cat found themselves sitting on a building’s rooftop near Tokyo Bay. “…” Luna’s eyes were wide as she looked around to realize where she was. “How did we… end up here? And…” the cat’s eyes grew larger as she saw the other cat sitting next to her, “Artemis!” The white cat jumped before smiling, “Hey Luna!” “Whoa… whoa, whoa… time out here!” Lita cried, waving her hands to settle everyone down, “What the hell just happened? I mean seriously!” Everyone turned to the girl dressed in white. She stood peacefully looking out at the water. Suddenly she ordered, “Please, Endymion, your sword…” when no one answered she rephrased, “Darien… your sword…” “Oh…” he looked confused as he lifted the large, heavy sword, “Um.. Serena I think it’ll be too heavy for you.” “It isn’t. I feel more comfortable with it in hand… you would not remember that though, would you?” Serena took the sword in one hand with little effort. She swung it twice before testing the edge with her thumb. Smiling wearily she stated, “Still sharp as always… always a clean cut…” she trailed off, remembering another time. Finally Luna and Artemis looked closer at the white-clad girl. Finally Luna whispered, “Oh thank the gods! It was you all a long…” tears brimmed Luna’s eyes. Fed-up with having no idea what was going on Rei demanded, “Will someone PLEASE clear this up? Who the heck are we supposed to be now? Why is Serena dressed like that?” “How can Serena have the silver crystal when not all of the rainbow crystals are collected?” Ami added. “WHAT?! The Silver Crystal!” Lita asked. Before Ami answered, Serena broke in, “This is my job to explain. Let me introduce you all… please do not interrupt, there is much that I need to say. Rei you are Princess of Mars; Ami, you are Princess of Mercury; Lita… Jupiter’s Princess; Mina… Princess of Venus and leader of the Sailor Senshi, now known as the Sailor Scouts.” Sounds of confusion and protest arose but Serena settled it, “Hush. I will explain everything within a minute. Darien, you are the last heir known to the Earth’s throne- Prince Endymion. Luna and Artemis here are advisees from the Moon Kingdom…” “And you are…?” Mina inquired. “I am…” Serena faltered but then gripped the broad sword tighter as she faced the water, continuing she said, “I am daughter of Selene… goddess and queen of the moon. I am known as Serenity… princess of the Moon…” “WHAT?!” Only Luna and Artemis did not cry out. “But- but…” Ami started. “Why didn’t you say anything?” “Did you know?” “I knew… yes…” was Serenity’s reply. “But then… if your mother was a goddess…?” Ami trailed off. “I am one too I guess, known as Artemis… goddess of the hunt and moon.” “A goddess…” “Serena? Yeah right!” “Shush up Rei! Give her some credit here…” As the questions continued to flow Serenity shook her head slightly and ignored them. Finally when she had had enough she shouted, “Silence!” Everyone quieted and again she took the floor, “I understand you have many questions… and now my tale should be told, correct?” Not waiting for an answer, Serenity began: “A thousand years ago all planets were joining together to form the Silver Millennium. The Moon was the ‘headquarters’-you might say- of this alliance. The planets were joined by each letting the female heir come to the moon and train to become one of the Sera Senshi- the Sailor Scouts. The only problem with this set-up was that in our era, the Earth had no female heir. Before anything could break out my mother gave in…” Serenity halted and shook her head, “the only other thing she could do was join the earth and moon in marriage. Still, mother would never allow me to marry without love… that’s another part of the story though-“ Serenity broke off, remembering everything again. “Anyhow… it seemed that the Earth would be joining the alliance until the fateful day… the day that Beryl rose with the others of brain-washed earth and attacked us on the moon. We had no chance…” Swallowing, Serenity continued on knowing what all was to be told next, “you guys… we all died… no one survived except my mother, Luna, and Artemis…” “What?” The cats stood by silently as the girls and Darien figured out exactly what was going on. “So… why are we here now?” Lita asked. “Reincarnation…” Serenity stated grimly as she finally faced them, “Beryl killed you all at different points of time, I am still not sure when- I was… was… someplace else. Mostly what happened was that my mother sent us all in the light of the silver crystal to this time on earth. If the Negaverse ever broke free the senshi would be revived: I’d pose as a senshi too, Sailor Moon also acting as leader. Of course Venus is the true leader and if I had not needed to call upon the silver crystal she would have been acting as the moon princess…” sighing Serenity sat down with the sword at her side. The earth prince, who had been quiet the whole time finally asked, “I’m still in the dark on a few things… why did I see you in my dreams all the time?” Stiffening Serenity whispered, “It is not important…” “It is to me!” he exclaimed. “Endy…” Serenity said softly, “if you remember what had happened long ago you can know… but no- I won’t tell you straight forward.” Seeing the hurt inside him she came closer to him, making a decision she wrapped her arms around him in a hug, “I know your life has been hard… never doubt that. I’m so sorry that in this life time you did not get to have a family, it should not have been…” “WHAT?” Darien was shocked at the girl hugging him, and as she stated something that he had only told partially to Andrew. Standing up briskly Serenity told him, “I know more about you than you think. Our link…” she waved her hand slightly, “it’s just something shared… never mind it…” As she seemed about to head off Darien grabbed her wrist, “What happened in the past…? In the… Silver millennium?” Head shaking as tears brimmed her eyes Serenity whispered, “No… I just can’t… let it happen again…” suddenly she couldn’t hold her control anymore, being in the moon princess form and next to the one she had loved… and did love she couldn’t stand it. Serenity threw herself into his arms and cried onto his chest, “Endy… why? Why did it have to be like this? It was all so perfect before…” Too dazed, everyone stared as the two enemies held each other tightly. Darien didn’t understand any of it yet he felt himself drawn to her, knowing that she had really been the one he’d been looking for. “What do you mean Rena?” A sob broke from her throat and Serenity backed away, “No.. please don’t call me that again…” “Why?” “It was used long ago… but… that was when I was able to hold onto my love… now it’s different. Please don’t… it hurts me…” tears fell down her cheeks. Darien thought of who she could mean ‘my love’… who was she talking about? His blood turned cold as he thought of her with another. Not wanting to be hurt more he replied coolly, “I see…” “No you don’t…” Serenity said shakily, how could she explain without giving away what they once had? “Endymion… promise me this: never leave me again… we were parted once before and even today I lost you for a minute… you cannot leave me again… promise me…” when he didn’t answer she cried, “Promise me!” He looked into her eyes which were desperately searching his soul, finally he whispered, “I promise…” And suddenly she was in scout form and was leaping from rooftop to rooftop away from the small group. “What the-?” Lita started. “So…” Rei started, too dazed to think. “Luna… Artemis? You know anything else?” Ami asked, sensible as usual. The black cat bowed her head, “We do… but it is for Serenity to tell… not for us. What she left out was her own life and we do not deserve to tell it for her.” Darien was unconsciously missing the warmth of the girl he had held to him only moments before. finally he told himself the truth, AN: so how does everyone like this? I haven’t worked on this for WEEKS so I need some comments otherwise I’ll leave this off for ages. Anyway, I have a new first season being worked on right now some maybe that will be out soon. -Sailor ClearMoon a.k.a. Princess Lionna Thank-you’s: Liz-chan: you’re one of the best e-mail pals! ^.- girl keep up your writing! I love your stories- as you know! Meg-chan: Howdy girl! You do know that you’re one of my Best Friends right? If not let me tell you now it’s true! She’s a beginning author and is right now working on her first fic. Maybe someday she’ll post it! Shalom: truly a great friend, she’s really a great person and has helped me through so much. (Just like Liz!) Will: one of my absolute Best Friends… I’ve missed him a lot and man I’d give a lot to see him again. Well minna-chan, that’s all for now! Suggestions, comments, flames, ANYTHING goes to: senshisis@juno.com