Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.

Excuse: Miss me? I'm soooo sorry for not keeping my record of a
chapter a week, but school started recently and I'm telling you,
these people are REALLY strict about homework. So that's why I
haven't been here. Please don't kill me if this chapter isn't as
good as all the other ones, because when you abandon a story, it
tends to get a bit rusty. Well, I'm going to attempt a spit
shine. Enjoy!

********* And the day came. It was a gray dawn morning. Serena
stared solemnly in front of the fire and pulled on her armor. She
cast a glance around the cabin. Amy, bending over her chest
plate, shining it. Raye, practicing her sword movements with
Lita, and last, Mina. She was sitting quietly in the corner,
meditating. "Girls?" Serena's voice was cracked. "This may be the
last time we are together, like this. And some of us may die
today. I just want to say that you girls have been there for me
for good times and bad. And I appreciate you for it." Amy nodded
and smiled slightly, then continued her shining. Mina sighed and
slowly stood up. "Well ladies? Are we ready to show them what
we've got? Barendieu said to meet at the Mess Hall shortly." Serena
finished adjusting her armor and helped Amy with hers. She pulled
the mail coif on her head and crossed herself. "Let's just pray
we can get into the action before too many people get killed."
Lita sheathed her sword and stepped out the door. "Yes. We have
to get Beryl before she gets us." They all followed in a straight
line towards the mess hall.
*****************************************************************
     Darien and Malechite waited silently for Barendieu to step
up onto the platform. He caught a glance of Serena with a mail
coif over her head. She was staring silently ahead, just as he
had been. Finally the heavy footsteps of their Capitan could be
heard slowly and deliberately climbing the platform. He cleared
his throat. "As you all know, we are to meet the Enemy today. I
address them as the Enemy because that is what they are. The
enemy. And we can never stop until they are totally gone. Today,
I will lead you into battle. I will be at the front lines, just
as you will be. I will not be somewhere in a tent safe and warm
while my men are in battle fighting for their lives. I'm not
going to deliver any patriotic speeches about dying for honor and
liberty and freedom, because I can't. I know nothing of death.
And neither do any of you. We can't judge whether something is
worth dying for because you can only know when it happens. Today
you will just have to make that choice. You will have to decide
what it is you are fighting for. I know what I will be fighting
for. My life. MY life. Mine and mine only." He paused and scanned
the crowd. "Some of you think me foolish for going up against such
and unnatural creature. You think I have finally gone insane. But
I will tell you that I have reason to believe that this thing can
be beaten. And we WILL beat it. There can only be victory for the
side of good. We do this for France, we do this for all of
Europe. We do this for all the world. But YOU. You do this for
your life." He stopped and slowly stepped off stage. There was no
roar of a victory There was no soldiers hollering for glory and for honor. 
There was only silence. What Barendieu had said had sunken in. 
They all filled slowly out of the doors and the soldier readied their 
mounts and the foot soldiers sharpened their swords and the 
archers restrung their longbows and crossbows. 
     About an hour went by, and Serena heard the trumpet. The
trumpet that would summon them to battle. The trumpet that would
blow the melancholy tune for the dead when everything was over.
Serena rode over to Darien, who was also a mounted soldier. All
of her friends had mounts too. She was about to say something to
Darien when a glint of Sandy blonde hair caught her eye. He was
sitting straight and tall upon his steed, waiting for the order.
Serena saddled her horse up next to his. In an icy voice she
hissed, "What are you doing here?" Sean looked up and grinned.
"Why bonjour Kit! Fine day for a bloodbath, eh?" Serena kept her
voice low. "You should not be here. You do not have all of your
strength." Sean smiled lightly. "I feel wonderful. I swear it
Serena I am fine." Serena angrily turned away and rode towards
her friends. "Sean is here. He is going to fight. Which one of
you healed him?" Mina slowly raised her hand. "I thought it
couldn't hurt." Serena narrowed her eyes. "My best friend who had
been hurt very badly is suddenly going off to fight. Healed
physically or not, he is in no position to fight. What do you
think the odds are that he will come out of this alive?" Mina
got a hurt look in her eyes. "I'm sorry Serena. There's nothing I
can do now." She was right. There wasn't anything anyone could do.
Serena knew that Sean had always been stubborn. He would've gone
to battle even if he hadn't been healed. Serena listened intently
for the sound of the trumpet. Ah there. Slowly, the line started
moving forward. They were all in the front lines. Amy, Mina,
Serena, Raye, Lita, Darien, Sean, and Malechite. Serena held her
breath.
*****************************************************************
     Queen Beryl relaxed in her seat. She had soldiers standing
all around. One of the people that were holding her up must have
tripped for she lurched forward. "Idiots. You'd think they could
learn how to carry me right." She peered through the filmy
curtains and Cain. He was a handsome one, he was. The kind girls
sigh over. Ah yes. My little Cain. You've done me many great
Services, you have. One of my most trusted knights. But after today, I
won't need you, darling. I won't need anyone. After I get rid of
Serena, the world is mine for the taking. Queen Beryl narrowed
her eyes. We shall meet again, Princess. We shall. 
*****************************************************************
     Andrew cautiously parted the dense leaves and looked at the
army marching by. Four big men were carrying what he knew had to
be Queen Beryl. What a way to go into battle, he thought. He
waited for most of the main stream to pass, and then cautiously
worked his way behind a straggler. He was a young man, about his
age, but way more lazy. Andrew winced as he heard a twig snap
beneath his boot. As the man was turning around, he ducked
quickly behind a tree. After a long pause, he could hear the
man's receding footsteps. Wasting no time, he dove for the man
and covered his mouth as he knocked the guy out with a
quarterstaff. He dragged the man into the bush and slid the sword
from the scabbard. I owe them one, he thought.

**********It's late, and that's all you're getting for now. Over
the weekend I'll write really long one that might be the ending.
I don't know yet, but you have to stay tuned!
Jordan