Prelude to Crystal Eternal

Onlookers
Rating: PG-13


        The goddess Venus sat idly in her throne room, surrounded by
paintings, flowers, and whatnot that decorated the room.  The room
didn't need them, though, her presence alone being enough to make the
room look spectacular.  She looked on down where a small pond was in the
middle of the large room.  In it, she was recollecting the life of her
champion on Earth at present, a stunning young girl who Venus had long
thought had the potential to be every bit as beautiful as the other gods
told her she was.  Her guess was far from being wrong, as the picture
changed to present day.  The same girl was in the image, but she was
three years older than the previous image Venus had viewed.  She had
matured, mentally, spiritually, and physically, but especially so
physically.  Venus began to wonder if maybe she might become envious of
this girl, but reminded herself that the girl was a mortal and that she
really shouldn't be jealous of a mortal.
        "That is indeed a good way to think, Venus," a booming voice
said from the entrance to her throne room.  Venus looked up to see
Jupiter, in all his massive and imposing presence, standing proudly.
        "You're such a mind reader, Jupiter.  For once I should like to
keep my thoughts to myself," Venus told him.
        "My apologies," Jupiter said, bowing.  He then entered the room.
"You do realize, though, that your champion is not just any mortal, just
as my champion."
        "Of course she's not," Venus replied.  "Especially now."
        "I think that applies to all of us, then," another voice said
from the door.  Venus and Jupiter looked across to see the gods Mercury
and Mars entering.
        "All of our champions have grown significantly," Mercury said.
        "Mercury is right.  They have all become very much so worthy of
being our champions." Mars added.
        "What are you getting at, Mars?" Jupiter asked.
        "I think perhaps the time is coming that we should release our
champions' full potential.  They seem responsible enough to handle the
power," Mars said.
        "He does have a point, Jupiter," Venus said, standing from her
throne.  "But still, do you not believe that we should test them first
to make absolutely certain they are ready?"
        "A sound suggestion indeed, Venus," Mercury said.  "What's more
I think we should test them individually in the most appropriate manner
each of us deems fit."
        "Well, what say you Jupiter?" Mars asked.
        "I have to agree," Jupiter said.  "I, too, had begun to wonder
if the time was right.  Now I know it is.  After all, the mortals are
quickly coming to yet another Golden Age in their history, but it will
not come without a great battle.  Our champions must be prepared."
        "Whom shall we start with, then?" Mercury asked.
        "Why not my champion, since I am already monitoring her?" Venus
asked.
        "Very well then, Venus," Jupiter said.  The four gods took their
places around the pond, Venus at the bottom so that she could watch her
champion directly.
        "Come my champion, let us see what the Fates have in store for
you," Venus said softly, as the pool glowed with a strange luminescence. . .



Sailor Moon: Crystal Eternal
by John "P-Chan" Laughlin (MageJohnL@aol.com)
Part One
Introductions and Re-introductions

        Artemis slowly awoke from his catnap on Mina's bed.  He shook
the bugs out of his head, stretched out, and looked at the clock.  It
read 12:00.
        "Well, she won't be back from high school for a while still.
Guess I'll just wander," he said to himself.
        He hopped down and looked around the room.  Mina's room had
definitely evolved from what it was a few years ago.  Before it was
littered with just about anything "cute" you could imagine.  Artemis now
wondered how he ever put up with it all without vomiting.  It still
retained a couple of remnants of her adolescence, a stuffed animal here,
a doll there.  If there's one thing about Mina, Artemis thought, it's
that she's just a big kid inside.
        Artemis walked over to the hope chest in Mina's room, which was
left open for some odd reason.  He hopped onto a chair that sat next to
it and looked inside curiously.  Inside, among the clothes and oddities
there, he saw something sticking up.  After digging around a bit, he
found it to be the mask she wore as Sailor V.
        "She still thinks about it, even now," he said to himself,
sighing. "I feel bad for her.  She gave up the incredible life she had
to become a Sailor Scout, and I'd really hoped she'd make the transition
well.  I wonder if maybe she regrets giving up on being Sailor V?"
        "And why would I do that, Artemis?" Mina said behind him.
Artemis almost jumped to the ceiling, but managed to land on his feet,
looking up at Mina.
        "But the clock says..." he started.
        "The clock is blinking.  Remember, we had a storm last night?"
Mina said, pointing to the clock.  Artemis looked again and now noticed
it was blinking.
        "Oops..." he said, shrinking back.
        "Now then, what were you saying about me being Sailor V?" Mina
asked, setting her bag down.
        "Well, to be honest Mina, I found the mask in your chest here
and I was just wondering if maybe you missed being Sailor V," Artemis
said.
        "Not really," Mina said.  "I liked the attention and all, but
solo work is tough, especially when we fought as much as we did back
then, remember?"
        "Do I ever," Artemis said, beginning to reminisce.
        "Giving up on being Sailor V was a big decision for me, but
because I did it, I met the best friends I could ask for.  So I don't
really regret it," Mina said.
        "All the same, Luna and I have been wondering lately about
something Mina," Artemis said, approaching her.  "When you were Sailor V
you had some different powers than as Sailor Venus.  We've been
wondering if maybe we've missed your full potential in training you."
        "What do you mean?" Mina asked.
        "I mean that maybe you've got more power than we realize, but
just haven't tapped into it yet." Artemis told her.

        "Any ideas on how I can tap into it?" she asked.
        "Not yet.  Luna and I are still trying to figure it all out, but
until we do don't worry about it," Artemis said, sitting back.
        "Sounds like a good idea to me.  Now on to another issue," Mina
said, sitting down in front of Artemis and looking at him closely.  "Why
were you snooping through my hope chest?"
        "Hey, you left it open!" Artemis retorted.
        "Regardless, do you want that saying about curiosity killing the
cat to come true?" she asked sadistically with a smile.  Artemis gulped
and shook his head no.
        "Good, then don't ever do it again,"  Mina said smiling and
patting him on the head.  Then she stood up and opened the door.  "Now
out for now.  I kinda want some privacy while I change." Artemis walked
on out and, as Mina shut the door, he breathed a sigh of relief.
        "I always wondered what staring Death in the face would be
like..." he said to himself.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        "So why are we heading to Lita's place first, Mina?  I thought
you usually walked with Serena to school," Artemis asked as he walked
alongside Mina.
        "Are you getting senile, Artemis?  I promised Lita I'd stop by
and make sure she got going on time today.  Something big is happening
today, I guess," Mina replied.
        "Now I remember.  Geez, I hope I'm not going senile," Artemis
said a bit worriedly. Mina just chuckled a bit, knowing such was not the
case with her companion.
        As Artemis took to thinking about age, he looked up at Mina.
Time had certainly had its effect on Mina, outwardly if not inwardly.
When he first contacted her, she was a girl of fourteen, not yet in
bloom.  What walked next to him now was a young woman of seventeen who
definitely looked the part that Artemis had known she'd grow to be.
Mina had all the ear markings of an absolutely beautiful young woman
back then and she certainly hadn't disappointed anyone.  Even in her
high school uniform, she never failed to get a few looks and glances
from the guys of the school.  Artemis just smiled and wondered if any of
those stiffs would ever become lucky enough to be called her boyfriend,
but then dismissed that idea. Mina had never been serious about any guy
yet, and gave no implication that she was going to get interested now.
        The two eventually came to Lita's house.  Both of them, as well
as the rest of the Scouts, never ceased to wonder how in the world Lita
managed to live all on her own in this house.  Then again, no one ever
dared to touch the subject of Lita's parents too much for fear of
incurring her wrath.
        "Hey, Lita, you all ready for today?" Mina called in as she rang
the doorbell.  A few moments later, Lita answered the door.  She was
dressed in her school uniform, but her hair was still a mess and not yet
up in its ponytail.
        "Oh, hiya Mina, Artemis.  Come on in, I'm almost ready.  You can
sit down and play with Justin," she said cheerily.  Mina smiled, nodded,
and entered, Artemis following.  They went into the living room where
the TV was on playing a kiddy show.  A small, brown haired baby boy sat
playing with blocks and glancing at the TV every now and again.  Mina
sat down next to him.
        "Hiya big guy!" she said smiling.  Justin looked up at her and
smiled wide as he knocked his blocks over.  "Oops, looks like you'll
have to build it all over again," Mina told him.  Justin had already set
to the task.
        Mina sat back and watched the little one, still not able to help
but be amazed.  She was sitting, watching the kid that was the son of
one of her best friends!  This was the thing everyone still couldn't get
over, and was the thing Mina wondered if Lita had truly gotten over yet.
She remembered the situation all too well.
        It had started well over a year ago, just as the girls were
entering high school.  Lita had been playing her usual games with a guy
here and there, still insisting that they all reminded her of her ex.
One in particular took a special liking to her, and vice versa.  The
guy's name was Brad, and he was an upperclassman.  They dated pretty
regularly throughout the first semester, and during that time Lita
gradually started seeing more and more of Brad and less and less of
Mina, Raye, Amy, and Serena.
        The situation took a turn for the worse when the two, on a
completely unthinking and wild lark, had decided to sleep together.
Lita found out two weeks later, after repeated illness, that she was
pregnant.  When she broke the news to Brad, he promised to support her,
but when his parents found out, they at first forbade him to see her and
then moved away for "corporate relocation" of his father, leaving Lita
completely alone, and carrying his child.  She had contemplated an
abortion at first, but felt that she had a responsibility to bring the
child into this world and did so, all on her own, with help from the
other girls as well, especially Mina.
        Mina tilted her head a bit as she watched Justin and smiled,
still remembering that fateful day when Lita had given birth to Justin.
She, herself had been there, giving Lita the encouragement she so
needed.  If Lita had relied on anyone during those times, it had been
Mina.  What Mina continually watched now was the net result: Justin, a
beautiful, energetic boy who was the spitting image of his mother.
        Mina sighed as she came back to the present.  The situation
hadn't turned out all bad. Lita turned out to be a wonderful mother, and
she still managed to fit in all her schoolwork and get decent grades.
Of course, she wasn't available to hang out nearly as much as before,
but she really didn't mind it all that much.  When she did hang out,
Justin was always with her and he always brought smiles to everyone's
faces.  He especially had a liking for Luna and Artemis, almost as if
they were his godparents.  Mina chuckled as she thought about that, but
then saw Justin playing with Artemis and admitted that the two cats
definitely had filled that role.
        Lita emerged just then, straightening herself out a bit more.
She walked over to Mina and looked over her shoulder at her son,
smiling.
        "Hate to ruin the moment, but we've got a first bell to catch,"
she said.  She stepped past Mina and picked up her son, carrying him
over to the table.  She strapped her backpack to her back and then
picked Justin up again.  "Shall we be off?" she asked.
        "By all means," Mina said, getting the door for her.  Lita left,
then Artemis and then Mina, who locked up for Lita.  "Oh, Amy said she'd
meet us at school. She had to get there early for a special
presentation." Mina mentioned as they walked.
        "That girl is a workaholic.  I always keep wondering how she
manages to keep a shred of sanity through all the schoolwork she does,"
Lita said.
        "True, but if she weren't such a workaholic she wouldn't be our
Amy now would she?" Mina noted.
        "You have a point, my dear.  Then again, it seems like you're
always the one who comes up with points like that," Lita said, laughing.
"Man, it's times like today I'm glad the school has a nursery."
        "Yeah, so what's going on today anyway?" Mina asked.
        "I thought you knew, Mina.  We're getting an exchange student
today," Lita said.
        "An exchange student?" Mina repeated.  "From where?"
        "The US I think.  Let me check," Lita said, handing Justin over
to Mina.  She pulled off her backpack and fished through it, coming up
with a three by five card.  "Here it is.  Yup, he's from the US."
        "He?" Mina asked.
        "Yup," Lita said, putting the card away and taking Justin back.
"His name's Trent, and he's going to be a senior next year like us.  I
volunteered to put him up."
        "You sure about that Lita?  I mean, you've got a lot to handle
just with Justin after all." Artemis noted.
        "It'll be fine.  My house is still way too empty, even with
Justin," Lita told him.
        "Well, I hope Serena's ready for this.  Her sense of timing
still isn't great," Mina said.
        "Some things just never change," Lita said.  "You and I know,
though, that if anything the only thing about Serena that HASN'T changed
is her poor sense of time."
        "Ain't it the truth," Mina said.  The two continued to babble
along the way to Serena's house.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Luna was curled up in a ball on Serena's bed, dozing away as she
had taken to lately. Her inner alarm clock, though, wasn't going to let
that continue and she awoke a moment later.  After shaking all the bugs
out, she looked upwards to the rest of the bed.  Serena was not present.
        "Well, that's a good sign," she said to herself.  "I must admit,
that girl has really gotten straightened out."
        "Well gee, thanks for the compliment Luna, but it's as if you
thought I wouldn't," Serena said as she entered the room putting the
final touches on her uniform.
        "If you could go back now and see how you were then you'd
agree," Luna told her.
        "Maybe so, but then again we've had enough trouble with
time-traveling in the past remember?" Serena told her.  Luna winced a
bit, not wanting to remember the whole mess with Reeny and the Dark
Moon.  "Mina and Lita should be here soon, so lets get going."
        Luna nodded and hopped down, following Serena downstairs.  She
shook her head a bit as she looked ahead at the girl.  Three years ago,
the furthest thing from this girl's mind was her immediate future and
preparing for it.  Three years ago, Serena was still a ditzy klutz of a
spastic teenage girl there ever was.  Three years ago there was so much
that had yet to change in her, but then Luna smiled and remembered why
it all had changed
        Three years ago, Serena wasn't engaged to Darien.
        The event had taken place just before she'd entered high school.
Actually, it had happened while she was on her way to her FIRST day of
high school, which may have been the first day ever Serena had been
on-time for school.  Darien met her halfway there and proposed on the
spot and, naturally, Serena had accepted.  Shortly after that, Serena
began changing the way she did things.  It's like being engaged to
Darien gave her something to work towards.  Probably because he told her
he wouldn't marry her until she graduated from high school.  Serena
decided that she was going to do just that, and impress everyone along
the way.  Oh, she still returned to her old silliness every now and
again, but that was only when she was sure she could get away with it.
Her mind was focused and the results were stellar.
        As the two went to the table and got ready for some breakfast,
Luna also reminded herself that Serena wasn't the only of her girls that
had grown up so much.  Mina, Lita, Raye, and Amy all had grown into fine
young women; nonetheless, Serena seemed to stand out among them.  Chalk
it up to being a Moon Princess, I guess, Luna thought.
        The doorbell rang, followed by repeated knocking.  Serena,
mildly annoyed, answered the door.
        "Hello you two.  No need to overdo it, you know," she said in a
low voice.
        "Just making sure you were ready." Mina said with a bright smile.
        "Be just a sec," Serena told her, running back to get her bag.
Luna came following her back this time and, after saying good-bye to her
family for the day, she left with the two.
        "And how is the big boy today, eh?" she said, smiling at Justin.
Justin fidgeted in Lita's arms a bit and reached up, grabbing Serena's
two pigtails like he always would. He seemed to have a certain fixation
with them.
        "Serena, have you ever thought of trying a different, less
painful hairstyle?" Lita asked.
        "With the grip he's getting, Lita, I might," Serena said, wincing.
        "All ready to meet this exchange student, Serena?" Mina asked.
        "You bet.  I hope my English is up to it, though," Serena said.
        "You should be fine.  Languages seem to be a strong suit for
you," Luna told her encouragingly.
        "Well, we'd better get to the school.  We still have to meet up
with the rest of the people who'll be going to the airport," Lita said,
helping Serena to pry her hair from Justin's hands.
        "Maybe another time, Justin," Serena said smiling at him.
        "Mee...baa...hed..." Justin made out, smiling up at Serena.
Serena frowned, looking at Lita.
        "You've been letting Darien teach him how to talk, haven't you?"
she asked Lita.
        "Perish the thought, hon," Lita said, stifling a laugh.
        "Some things just aren't sacred anymore," Serena said with a
sigh. The group continued to walk while Serena tried to teach Justin how
to say her name instead of Darien's pet name for her.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Amy looked at her watch as she stood in front of the school.
She sighed and shook her head, continuing to keep watch for her three
comrades.
        "I really hope Serena didn't sleep in again.  This is the one
day we don't need to be late," she said to herself.  Then she corrected
herself.  Of any of the girls, Amy was the one most used to Serena's old
ways.  Probably because she was the first of the girls to get to know
Serena.  Raye had come along fairly soon after her, but that still gave
Amy seniority.  At any rate, it wasn't really that late yet, so she told
herself to cool it and just be patient.
        If there was anyone who still managed to cling to her old self,
it had been Amy.  Not much had changed in the brainiac genius girl of
the Scouts with the exception of her social life.  With lots of help
from Mina, Amy had managed to find time to actually relax and be an at
least halfway normal teenager.  This had included realizing that her
"friend" Greg meant more to her than what she admitted.  The two now
dated regularly and were one of the "hot" couples around the school,
though they weren't anything like some of the other couples.
        Their relationship was really one of mutual caring and respect,
although if either of them wanted something just a bit more it was Amy.
This came as no surprise to any of the other girls.  They all agreed
that for as conservative and reserved as Amy was usually, there was a
part of her that wanted something a bit more wild.  Any would always
contend that being a Sailor Scout was more than enough to fulfill that
desire in her, which it definitely was.  But she knew that there was
more to life than school, homework, and fighting for peace and justice.
Amy laughed inwardly at herself.  That sure sounds like a strange
grouping of things, she thought.  Nonetheless, she knew it was right,
and she had wanted to take the issue up with Greg.  That's why she had
come to school early.
        Amy sighed a bit.  She felt a bit bad about duping her friends
about this, but she felt that this was one thing she had to handle on
her own.  She had met with Greg a ways away from the school and
discussed the matter with him.  She thought back on the talk they had
had...
        "So where do we go next?" Amy asked him.  "I know we're just
teenagers, Greg, but I can't help what I feel about you."
        "You know, I've been wanting to talk about this too," Greg
replied, loosening his shirt collar a bit.
        "You have?" Amy asked, a bit wide eyed.
        "Well, yeah.  I mean, I am pretty crazy about you know," he
said, blushing heavily.
        "Well...I, um, feel the same...about you, that is..." Amy
replied, blushing as well. There was a long pause, then Greg laughed a
bit.
        "Look at us, two of the smartest people in school and we can't
talk about something like this," he said.  Amy laughed along with him.
It was sort of funny
        "Even so, Greg, this is an important matter.  I really care
about you, but I feel like I want something more in our relationship,"
Amy told him, stepping closer Greg put his arms around her, holding her
closely.
        "We really need to sit down and talk about this, then.  There
isn't enough time this morning to do it," he told her.
        "Let's talk about it on our date this weekend, then," Amy
suggested.  Greg nodded in agreement.  "What time is it?" she asked.
        "About 7:15," Greg replied.
        "Good," she said, pulling a bit closer to him.  "We can stay
like this a little longer, if you don't mind that is."
        "How could I mind it?" Greg said, smiling.  Amy looked up and
kissed him as they just stood embracing.
        That had been earlier.  It was now 7:45, and Amy was still
waiting for her friends.  She smiled as she leaned against the wall,
thinking about Greg and how close she felt to him now.  She felt like a
piece of her life that was missing had been put in place now that she
had him.
        Just then, a hand appeared in front of her face and waved.  Amy
snapped out of her trance and looked around.  Lita, Serena, and Mina had
appeared out of nowhere with Luna and Artemis.
        "Geez, I was beginning to wonder if you wouldn't snap out of it,
Aims," Lita said.
        "How long have you been here??" Amy asked, a bit flustered.
        "Long enough to see that star-struck gaze of yours and deduce
that you weren't really here early for a presentation," Mina said.  Amy
began to worry until Serena put her hand on her shoulder.
        "Chill, Amy," she said.  Amy smiled and looked a bit relieved.
"You can fill us in on the bus to the airport."  Amy face-faulted and
fell over.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        The four girls, accompanied by a few other students, a couple
teachers and the principal, waited patiently at the airport for the
exchange student to show up.
        "When's he getting here?" Lita asked.  "I'm starting to worry
about Justin."
        "He'll be just fine, Lita.  The plane should be landing any time
now," Amy told her.
        "Yeah, but he might be getting hungry!  Or his diaper might need
changing!  Or..." Lita said, starting to panic.
        "Lita, chill," Mina said, putting a hand on her shoulder.  Then
she leaned over to Serena and Amy.  "We've gotta switch her to decaf,"
she whispered. Just then, Serena looked out the window.
        "The plane's coming in!" she cried.  The four girls, as well as
the others, quickly got up and got set, waiting for the exchange student
to appear.
        "Oh man, I'm really nervous now!" Lita said.
        "I hope our English will be up to it," Mina said.
        "Shh!  They're debarking the plane!" Serena told them.  People
began coming off of the plane gradually.  A few minutes later, a young
man with short, brown hair wearing jeans, a T-shirt, a Chicago Bulls
jacket and glasses with a backpack slung over one shoulder came off the
plane, looking around.  He looked over at the group from the high school
who were holding up a big sign saying "Welcome Trent!" and walked over
to them.  Amy approached him, clearing her throat.
        "Are you our exchange student?" she asked slowly, in English.
        "Well, seeing as your sign's got my name on it, and I'm about
the right age for it, yup, I'd guess I'm your guy." Trent said.  "I'm
Trent, and you are?"
        "Oh, I'm Amy.  It's nice to meet you Trent.  And these are some
of my friends: Serena, Lita, and Mina,"  Amy said, introducing them.
The girls just waved.  Trent nodded to them, then turned to Amy.
        "I appreciate the English, but Japanese will be just fine," he
told her, in quite fluent Japanese.  Everyone face-faulted.
        "You...know Japanese?" Amy asked, in Japanese.
        "Well, since I'm gonna be here a while I figured it'd help,"
Trent said with a laugh.  Everyone laughed a bit and came around to
greet him after that.  Then the group went to baggage claim to get his
things.  A short while later, the group was back on the bus heading to
the school with Trent.
        "So, how long will you be with us?" Lita asked.
        "About a year.  I really wanted to get as full of an experience
as I could," Trent said.
        "A whole year?  Won't you miss your family?" Serena asked.
        "Actually, I don't really have a family," Trent said.  Everyone
gulped a bit, especially Serena.  "It's okay, just something I try not
to pay too much mind to. Besides, I have more than enough company right
here,"  he said as he reached around and produced an animal carrier.
The four girls peered inside where a gray and black striped cat lay
sleeping.
        "You have a cat too?" Mina asked.
        "Yup.  His name's Orion.  I've had him for a couple of years
now," Trent said.
        "We have cats too," Serena said.  "Mine is Luna, and Mina's is
 Artemis."
        "Hey cool.  We should get together sometime.  A real furball
festival,"  Trent said.  The group laughed out loud.  Under the seats,
Luna and Artemis just rolled their eyes.
        "Just what we need, a strange cat nosing around everywhere,"
Artemis said.
        "Now don't be like that, Artemis," Luna said a bit scoldingly.
"You'd think you were jealous already, and there's really nothing for
you to get jealous about,"  she said, giving him a little peck on the
cheek.
        "True, very true," Artemis said, smiling a bit.  "Still, I get a
weird feeling about that cat."
        "Yes, I feel it too.  Maybe it's just paranoia, since he is a
foreign cat.  We'll just have to wait and meet with him later," Luna
said.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        After they had shown Trent around the school (a process which
took most of the day for them), the girls regrouped out front for their
walk to the Cherry Hill Temple.
        "What a day!  I don't think I've ever done that much walking
before," Mina said.
        "Please...don't mention walking," Serena said a bit disgustedly.
"I'm trying not to think about how much further it is to Raye's shrine."
        "Well, you're going have to count me out," Lita said as she
carried her sleeping son.  "I've got to get back home and make dinner,
as well as help Trent get settled."
        "See you tomorrow, Lita," Amy said.  Mina and Serena bade her
farewell as well as she walked off towards her home.
        "Poor Lita, I wish it wasn't so rough for her now," Serena said
after they were away a bit.
        "No kidding.  It really ticks me off that she's now 'damaged
goods' to the guys at school," Mina said with a sound of disgust.
        "There's not much we can do to change their minds, Mina.
They're going to think what they want to, but does it really matter?"
Amy asked her.
        "I guess not.  Still, she deserves a better hand in life than
what she's been dealt," Mina said.
        "I wish she'd come see Raye about it.  If nothing else, a bit of
spirituality might be good for her," Serena said.
        "Yeah.  Speaking of which, why wasn't Raye at the airport as
well?" Mina asked.
        "Too much to do between her own schoolwork and the temple she
said," Amy told her.  "I really admire Raye, being able to balance so
much after her grandfather died."
        "At least she's got Chad to help out," Serena said.
        "Yeah, but even with Chad it's still a lot of work," Mina
reminded her.
        "I know.  I guess I agree with you Amy.  Raye's really someone
to look up to," Serena said.  "I admit, I could never manage all that."
        "That's because you've got other things on your mind, like a
certain older man who occasionally appears in a very nice tuxedo," Mina
said teasingly.  What ensued was Serena's scolding of Mina while Amy
tried to pretend she didn't know the two.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Raye took a second to fall back onto her bed, being tired with
the day's activities.  She stared up at her ceiling, wondering why her
life had to be hell right now. Then again, no one else was up to the
task that she faced currently. Her loving, two-foot tall grandfather had
passed away over a year ago, and in his will he turned over all rights,
documents and ownership of the Cherry Hill Temple to his granddaughter,
Raye.  Since then, Raye had been trying desperately to balance school
with running the temple.  Chad was still around, as always, and he took
on double duty there when she was at school, but it wasn't enough.  At
times it was also overwhelming, like today.  Her grades and former
popularity had suffered significantly.  She wasn't little miss center
stage anymore and doubted that she ever could be again.
        On the other hand, she'd realized just how important her
spirituality was to her when this all came down on her.  Her former
dreams of being a star where now just that, lofty dreams to reminisce
about.  Now, more than ever, she knew what she was called to do in life,
and it was what she was now.  She was a Shinto priestess, and a devout
one at that.  She had yet to become a full priestess, but it was already
set that she would be officially recognized as one this summer.
        What's more, Raye began to realize things about Chad, especially
the fact that he was still hiding how he really felt about her.  It was
no secret to anyone that Chad cared a great deal for Raye.  That much
was evident when he risked himself to save Raye when they'd been
attacked by Catsy back then.
        Raye smiled to herself as she thought about it now.  Chad wasn't
that bad of a guy.  Sure he was a bit clumsy and a bit strange when it
came to regular conversation, but he was very much so a down-to-earth
person now, at least since seeking refuge at the temple from his
stardom.  In part, it was his horror stories about his former life as a
star that had convinced Raye that it wasn't the life for her.  At the
very least, he had his priorities straight and he knew that what he was
doing was what he wanted to do.  Such had been the case with Raye for
quite some time.
        She sighed and thought back a bit more to her early days as a
Sailor Scout, thinking about how much of a prima donna she must have
been back then.  She'd constantly nagged Serena, promoted herself as the
one who was "rightfully" the leader of the Sailor Scouts, and had even
tried to force the others to go along with the idea.  At the very least,
she'd gotten Amy's backing, but then again, that was only through a bit
of physical convincing.  Such was not the case when Lita came along.
She and Serena were too alike, and Lita had much more faith in Serena
than anyone else had had at the time.  Mina's arrival had been the nail
in the coffin.  Raye smiled wryly a bit at that thought.  "If anyone
back then should've been leader aside from Serena, it was Mina," she
thought.  Even still, when she became part of the team, Mina's support
went straight to Serena.  She had come to fight with Sailor Moon, not
with Sailor Mars.
        As things had turned out, though, Serena had proven time and
again that she was indeed the rightful leader of the Sailor Scouts.  If
nothing else, her powers alone gave her the right.  None of the other
Scouts controlled as much power as she did.  Oh occasionally one of them
would muster up enough power to be able to destroy a monster, but
usually it was only after a long fight and with a LOT of power.  Serena
could dispatch the monsters very easily and efficiently.
        Just then, a knock came at the front door.  Raye sat up, coming
out of her short reverie, and walked to the door.  She was mildly
surprised to see Serena, Mina, and Amy waiting for her there, then
again, this was where they usually came after school.
        "So what's up guys?  Where's Lita?" Raye asked.
        "She had to go home and take care of some things," Amy told her.
        "Not the least of which is helping Trent get set up," Serena added.
        "Trent?  Who's he?" Raye asked.
        "The exchange student, remember?" Mina told her.
        "Oh, right!  I forgot.  So what's he like?" Raye continued as
she led the troupe to their usual room.
        "Seems like a nice guy.  He knows Japanese really well too, so
we don't have to worry about speaking English," Serena said.
        "There's a bonus," Raye said, laughing a bit.
        "He's kinda cute to boot," Mina added.  Everyone looked at her a
bit strangely.
        "What?"
        "That's something interesting, coming from you Mina," Serena said.
        "Yeah, you've never been interested in anyone," Raye added.
        "Oh come on, you guys.  Just because I say a guy's cute doesn't
automatically mean I like him.  Remember how Serena and Darien first
were?" Mina protested.
        "Yes, but they're engaged now Mina," Amy pointed out.  Mina just
sighed in frustration.
        "You guys are impossible," she said, walking on ahead of them.
The three just giggled and followed her into the room, deciding not to
antagonize her too much further.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Trent smiled as he looked about the small guest room.  He'd
already unpacked all his things, including and especially his manga and
anime collection.  He was worried for a bit that he should've brought
his TV/VCR, but then he saw the system Lita had and was more than happy.
He laughed at himself.  "I'm such a freak," he thought.  He left the
room and went back out to the living room.  Lita was busily cooking away
in the kitchen.
        "Is there anything I can help with?" he asked as he saw her
working.
        "I've got everything under control, no need to worry," she said
happily.  Trent just shrugged and turned to the TV.  Another kiddy show
was on and Justin was at his blocks again.
        "I take it you take care of your little brother a lot for your
parents?" he asked.  Lita laughed a little.
        "That's not my brother, that's my son," she told him.  Trent
gulped a bit.  "It's a long story, Trent.  I'll tell you later," she
added.
        "I hope I didn't touch on something too sensitive, Lita.  I'm
just naturally curious," Trent said apologetically.
        "It's okay.  I didn't expect you to know," Lita told him.
        Trent sighed and continued to watch Justin.
        "Great one, Trent," he thought himself.  "You're here for half
an hour and you've already made yourself look like a complete idiot."
        "So, where in America do you live?" Lita asked as she came out
of the kitchen.
        "San Francisco, California," Trent replied.  "That's why I was
able to get so much manga and anime."
        "I saw it," Lita said, chuckling.  "Is it really that big over
there?"
        "You wouldn't believe it," Trent told her.
        "So why'd you decide to come to Japan for a year?" she asked.
        "I've always wanted to come here and see what it's like here.
It's sort of a dream, I guess," Trent replied.  "What about you Lita? Do
you have any dreams?"
        "Me?" Lita asked, a bit surprised.  She looked down a bit.  "I
used to have a lot of dreams, but they come second now," she said.  Then
she looked at Justin. "Now I have Justin, and a lot more responsibility."
        "I don't mean to pry, but do you have any regrets?" Trent said
cautiously.
        "Yes and no," Lita said.  "I regret I rushed to try and grow up
so quickly.  The price has been a lot of the freedoms I enjoyed before,
as well as losing someone I cared very deeply for.  But I have a
beautiful son, and my friends and I are closer than ever now too.
Besides, someday I'll find Mr. Right, and when I do, everything will
fall into place.  I have faith that it will.  My only hope is that my
friends won't make the same mistakes I did."
        "I didn't think they were involved too," Trent said.
        "Amy's got Greg, Raye likes Chad, even though she won't admit
it, and Serena's engaged to Darien," Lita told him.  "I just hope Amy
knows what she's doing."
        "What about that other girl...what's her name..." Trent asked.
        "You mean Mina?" Lita asked.
        "Yeah, that's her," Trent said.
        "She could have a boyfriend whenever she wanted to," Lita said.
        "So why doesn't she?" Trent asked.
        "She's never wanted one.  At least not openly," Lita told him.
"She's kinda strange that way.  Don't get me wrong, we all know she
likes guys, but she's just never gotten that interested in anyone
before."
        "I don't think that's so odd," Trent said.  "I've never had a
girlfriend, and I've never been that interested in anyone either.  All
I've ever had are my cat Orion and my friends."
        "That sounds a lot like Mina," Lita noted.  Then she had a
brainstorm.  "Maybe I can fix these two up," she thought.  She smiled a
little as she began planning it.
        "Um, is something up Lita?" Trent asked, wondering why she'd
gone quiet.
        "Oh, nothing Trent.  Don't worry," she told him, laughing a bit.
"Well, dinner's about ready."  She went over and picked Justin up,
carrying him to the table.  Trent stood up and walked to the table,
already beginning to worry a bit about what Lita could be thinking
about.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Obsidious looked on sternly at the image projected before him.
He laughed, mildly amused as he watched the bumblings of Beryl and her
flunkies over again.  Then his face took a more stern look as he watched
the Sailor Scouts and how their powers had grown.  The image faded away
as he turned to his four companions.
        Granos: a massive being who was a bit vacant in the intelligence
            department.
        Amber: a strikingly beautiful woman who more than made up for
            Granos' stupidity.
        Turquos: a brilliant tactician and brother to the now deceased
            Malachite.
        Finally, Quarz: an expert of weaponry and defensive technology.
        "Haven't you watched that enough, Obsidious?  It's no longer
helpful since it's so outdated," Turquos remarked.
        "Oh come now, Turquos," Obsidious said with a laugh.  "I'm
always in need of a good laugh.  Besides, if nothing else our dear
departed Beryl has given us an example not to follow."
        "So what do we do now, though?  The thoroughfare from the
Negaverse to Earth has been sealed by the Imperium Silver Crystal, and
without it we have no way there." Amber noted as she reclined against a
wall.
        "Ah Amber, your naivet_ never ceases to make me smile.  Such
charm is rare among Negaverse generals." Obsidious said,  "Besides, one
of us is already on Earth."
        "Huh?  Howzat poss'ble?" Granos asked, scratching his head.
        "I wouldn't expect you to understand it, Granos, but he's there
quite unknowingly.  All we have to do is wait, and our doorway will be
opened for us," Obsidious told them.

        "Until then I suggest you all gather your strongest forces.
We're going to need them when we get to Beryl's Earth outpost to
reconstruct the place, not to mention to fight the Sailor Scouts."
        "I don't get it.  Why don't we just do an all out attack with
all our forces and get this over with, Obsidious?!" Quarz asked.
        "First off, don't get hostile with me Quarz," Obsidious told
him.  "Second, that thoroughfare won't stay open long enough for all our
forces to get through.  There won't be enough energy to maintain the
portal.  We take our finest forces through, gather the necessary energy,
and then we'll be able to open a portal strong enough to bring the
entire Negaverse through.  Then this planet, and its universe, will be
ours.  Now go and prepare!  The time is drawing near."
        The four nodded and walked off to make preparations to get to
Earth. Obsidious turned back to where the image had been projected and
smiled.
        "The rest is up to you, my dear brother," he said, smiling
wryly.  "I shall be seeing you again soon.  Sooner than you'd wanted."
Obsidious began laughing maniacally as he looked on at the image of his
brother.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Mina walked home alone that night.  Artemis and Luna had run
off, wanting some quality time to themselves.  Just thinking about it
made Mina smile.  She knew Artemis had always harbored feelings for his
darker furred companion, but had always played second banana to her.  In
addition, Luna hadn't always treated him so nicely.  Thinking about the
two being together made Mina feel good for them, even though she missed
her feline friend.
        She sighed a bit as she got to thinking.  Serena had Darien,
Lita didn't need anyone but Justin, Raye had Chad (even though she
wouldn't admit it yet), Amy had Greg, and even Luna had Artemis.  Mina
cursed at herself silently.  She promised herself she'd never get like
this, but couldn't help it.  For the first time since her return to
Japan, she actually felt lonesome.  She knew she could get any guy to go
out with her, but that meant nothing to her.  She felt nothing for
anyone, and to her unless there was at least a mutual caring between the
two people to begin with, a relationship wasn't worthwhile.
        Unfortunately, Mina didn't have all too much time to feel bad.
A scream came from a nearby street.  Reacting on it, Mina ran over and
peered around the corner.  There, some kind of humanoid shaped rock
creature had hold of two people and was draining their energy.  It
roared in fury and continued down the road, smashing walls and windows
and grabbing people to drain.
        "I've got to notify the others!" Mina said to herself.  She
looked down to her wrist and gasped.  She'd left her communicator at
Raye's!  "Well, looks like I get to do solo work again after all,
Artemis," she said smiling.  She produced her star power stick with the
same magic the others did and tossed it up a bit.  "Venus Star Power!!"
she cried.  The symbol in the middle of the star spun around and
released its energies which swirled around Mina like stars.  Her mortal
form rezzed out as the energy wrapped around her and replaced Mina with
Sailor Venus.
        Around the corner, the monster picked up a car and tossed it
into a wall, sending people running.  He grabbed a couple more and began
draining them.
        "I hope you've got good insurance pal!" Venus said behind him.
"Because you're going foot the bill for fixing that one, big time!"
        The monster dropped the two people and focused on Venus.  It
began lumbering towards her.  Mina took the opportunity to power up her
attacks.  A chain of energy formed at her feet and swirled about her.
        "Venus Love Chain Encircle!!" she cried, directing the chain at
the monster.  The chain hit it right in the chest, but did nothing to
it.  "Uh oh, now what?  Better try some old tricks," she thought.  She
powered up again and focused.
        "Venus Meteor Shower!!!" she cried, firing her beam attack in its
multiple shot form.  The beams hit the monster, but had no apparent effect
on the monster either.  "This isn't going so hot..." she thought.  The
monster drew back its arm and punched the ground.  The tremor made Venus
trip and fall, hitting the ground hard.  She looked up and quickly rolled
as the monster's fist came down trying to crush her.  She jumped up,
bounced off the wall and tried to kick it.  Naturally, it did nothing to
it.  The monster grabbed her by the leg and slammed her into the ground
hard.  The wind went straight out of her and she lay helpless.
        "I...I've gotta...get up..." she thought.  "I can't...end like
this...."  The monster drew its arm back again and prepared to finish
her off.  Just as its fist started coming down, a ball of energy shot
out of nowhere and struck the monster, stunning it and driving it back a
bit. Venus managed to scramble away a bit and looked up.  There stood a
man dressed in black boots, pants, belt, shirt and gloves.  He had a
black bandanna over the upper half of his face, but with eye holes cut
for him to see and he also had a black sheath with a sword in it at his
side.  He stood, arms folded, facing the monster.
        "Are you okay?" he asked, helping her up.
        "Wh...who're you?" Venus asked as she started to recover.
        "I'm here to help you Venus.  I am called Onyx," Onyx told her.
        "How do you know me?  Have we...met before?" Venus asked.
        "How could anyone not know the Sailor Scouts, Venus?" he told her.
        "Hmm, good point.  We are kinda famous," Venus said.
        "Come on, I'll help you fight this monster," he said.  He
stepped forward and concentrated.  Dark energy crackled between his
hands and he fired another ball of energy at the monster.  It was driven
back again, but was starting to move towards them again.
        "Hurry, destroy it!" Onyx told her.
        "I can't!  My powers don't work!!" Venus said frustratedly.
        "Then unleash your true powers!!" a voice said from below.
Venus looked down and there was a jet black cat standing next to Onyx.
it had a little crescent moon on its forehead like Luna and Artemis.
"Venus, do it!" it told her.
        "My...true powers?" she asked.
        "Venus, listen carefully and quickly.  Up until now, at any
given time, you've only been using half your powers.  As Sailor V, and
then as Sailor Venus, you weren't complete.  Now concentrate, through
your Star Power Stick, and bring those two halves of yourself together!"
the cat told her.
        "Okay," Venus said.  She held her power stick tightly and
concentrated.  "Venus, please grant me the power I need to lay this
monster low!" she said.  In her mind came the image and voice of the
goddess herself.
        "Mina, you have made me very proud over the years," the goddess
said. "You have learned what true beauty and love are, and you strive to
have them in your life always.  Now receive what you have waited so long
for...your true power!"
        The Star Power stick glowed and changed its form.  It now had an
orb on the end, the color of the planet Venus and had her symbol encased
inside it, which she could faintly see.
        "Now, Mina, say Venus Power Complete, Transform!" the goddess
told her.
        "I will make you proud, goddess Venus," Venus said.  She held
the stick before her.
        "Venus Power Complete, Transform!!"
        The small sphere began to turn, just like the planet itself
would.  The symbol inside glowed, as did the orb, and a ball of energy
came up from it, with what looked like star dust trailing from it.  The
ball of energy traveled up to her head and began swirling around her,
going down slowly.  Her old Venus look began to change in favor of the
new complete one.  The jewel in her tiara now had her symbol in the
middle of it.  The jewel on the bow on the front of her suit changed
into a heart, and designs of stars dotted her gloves, bows, skirt and
boots.  Finally, the sleeves of her suit flared out with satin
extensions. When it finished, she stood completely transformed and with
knowledge of all her possible powers.  Her aura glowed bright orange
about her as she formed energy in her hands.  The energy formed into a
ball which she held in both hands at her side.
        "Venus Full Moon Beam..." she cried at the energy reached its
maximum, crackling a bit in her hands.  She thrust her hands forward,
firing the blast at the monster.  "CRASH!!" she screamed.
        The monster cried out as it saw the energy racing towards it,
but did no more.  The energy struck it and blasted the rock monster into
hundreds of rocks that then crumbled to dust.  After it did so, Venus
stood in awe of her new abilities.  Onyx came over to her.
        "You performed incredibly, Venus.  I am indeed impressed," he
told her.
        "I couldn't have done it without your help, Onyx," she said.
        "Please...that's what I'm here to do, to help you and the Sailor
Scouts," he said.  "Well, I'm sure you must have a thousand questions to
ask."
        "But you'll go flying away into the night to help out some other
day, right?" Venus asked.
        "Huh?  Actually, I was going to answer any questions you had,"
Onyx told her.
        "Oh," she said.
        "What kind of jerk would help you guys out and then just run
off?" he asked.
        "Um, let's talk about that later," Venus said, sweating a bit.
"Well, why don't we start out with why are you here in Tokyo?"
        "I'm here searching for Princess Serena and Prince Darien," he
told her.  "I am sworn to protect them with my life."
        "Well, I'm neither of them.  Sorry," Venus said.
        "I guessed that you weren't Prince Darien," Onyx said.  The two
laughed a bit.  "For a moment, though, I thought you might have been the
Princess with such beauty.  But then again, as I recall, to some the
Princess could not compare to Venus in overall beauty."  Venus blushed
deeply.
        "Oh come on..." she said, turning away from him.
        "I have never been known to lie, you know, so you have no reason
to disbelieve me," Onyx told her.
        "Ahem!" the cat said.  The two looked down at him.  "I hate to
be a wet blanket, but can we get back to the Q&A session?"
        "Right," Venus said.  "So who're you?" she asked the cat.
        "I'm Orion, Onyx's guardian and companion," Orion said.
        "Well, it's nice to meet you Orion." Venus said.  As she was
about to continue talking to the cat, Artemis came running.
        "Venus, I sensed danger!  Are you okay?" he asked in a panic.
        "I'm fine, Artemis, thanks to Onyx and Orion," she told him.
"Thanks for worrying about me."
        "Huh?  Did you say Orion?" Artemis asked.  Orion walked around
and Artemis saw him.  "Orion, it IS you!"
        "Artemis!  It's been far too long!" Orion called back.
        "You know each other?" Onyx asked.
        "Long time ago in the Moon Kingdom," Artemis said.  "Orion and I
were best friends.  What've you been up to?"
        "Oh don't get me started, man.  Too much.  How's Luna?" Orion
asked.  Artemis blushed a bit.  "Oh I get it," Orion said, chuckling a
bit.
        "Don't start!  It's not like that at all!" Artemis protested.
        "Ahem!" Venus said.  "If YOU two don't mind, can we get back to
the Q&A session?" she asked.
        "She's got your wit, Artemis," Orion told him.
        "Don't get me started," Artemis said, rolling his eyes.
        The conversation continued for about an hour, including Venus
explaining how she changed to Artemis as well as Onyx explaining his
powers.  Apparently, he had been one of Prince Darien's generals back
1000 years ago, but Beryl had only been able to partly corrupt him with
Nega-energy.  He defected from the Negaverse and made it to the palace
just before the attack came.
        "Other than that, I don't remember anything about my past," Onyx
said.
        "I'm sure there's more to it myself, but I can't remember it
either," Orion said.
        "Um, Venus, it's getting a bit late.  We should get going,"
Artemis told her.
        "Right.  I guess I'll see you again soon, Onyx," Venus said.
        "I certainly hope so, Venus," he said.  He produced a violet
magically and tossed it to her.  "I should like to have the chance to
prove to you how beautiful you truly are."  With that, he took off with
Orion into the night.  Artemis was already walking home.
        "Venus, you coming?" Artemis asked.
        "Artemis...I think I'm in love, already..." she said, her eyes a
bit starry.
        "Oh brother, I thought we got through this with Serena and
Tuxedo Mask," Artemis said, sighing.  Venus eventually came down off
cloud nine and began walking home with Artemis, thinking about the
romantic, mysterious Onyx.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Obsidious, Granos, Amber, Turquos, and Quarz stood in the
destroyed outpost at the North Pole, looking about.
        "That my favorite one!  Why Obsidious let destroy?" Granos said,
a bit upset.
        "Worry not, Granos.  Once we conquer this world I'll create
another one just like him for you.  Until then, consider it an
acceptable loss," Obsidious told him.  "It brought my traitor brother
out of hiding finally, and when that happened we were able to slip
through the portal."
        "What a dump.  How could any self-respecting Negaverse leader
live like this?" Quarz said, looking around.
        "Beryl wasn't much of a leader," Turquos remarked.  Quarz laughed.
        "Too true," Quarz said.
        "Enough playing around, you two," Obsidious told them.  "We have
work to do to set up.  Granos, get your minions to work on all the heavy
work.  Quarz and Turquos, see what kind of defense system you can set up
for us.  Amber, I want you to use that brain of yours and see if you can
make this place be a mobile base.  It'll be to our advantage if we're
not in one place all the time.  It'll make it harder for the Scouts to
find us."
        "I think I know just what to do, leave it to me," Amber said
smiling.  She teleported away.  Granos lumbered off to set to his work
and Quarz and Turquos already had begun planning the defense system.
Obsidious looked at the orb that lay on the floor, formerly Beryl's.  He
picked it up and laughed.
        "What you have started, I shall finish.  What you have sown, I
shall reap.  What was to be yours, Beryl...shall now be mine!" he said.
He crushed the orb in his hand and walked off, laughing to himself.



Part Two
Spotlight on Mina

        By the next day, the former ruin of Beryl's Earth outpost had
been restored into a new stronghold on Earth for the Negaverse.  Inside,
Obsidious stood meeting with Amber about her transportation system.
        "So what surprise do you have in store for me, my dear?"
Obsidious asked.
        "What I've developed is a system that will teleport the entire
base to remote regions of the world every twenty-four hours," she told
him.  Then she held up special armbands.  "I also developed these
armbands that are synchronized with the system.  If any of us is outside
of the base while it transports, the armband will be able to bring them
back no matter where the base goes."
        "Amber, my dear, you never cease to amaze me," Obsidious said,
smiling.  "Now go and fetch Granos.  I shall let him tackle the Sailor
Scouts first."
        "At once, sir," she said, bowing. She teleported away to get
Granos.  Obsidious smiled and decided to see how the defense system was
coming along.  he found Quarz putting the finishing touches on
something.
        "How goes it, Quarz?" he asked.
        "Oh, Obsidious, it's you.  I thought maybe you were Turquos for
a minute," Quarz said.
        "Now what's wrong with him?" Obsidious asked, a bit irritated.
        "Probably still sulking about that brother of his, Malachite."
Quarz said.  "Geez, was he a wimp."  Obsidious grabbed him by his shirt
front.
        "Malachite was one of the Negaverse's finest generals, Quarz.
Granted, he was a sentimental fool for going with his dear Zoisite and a
stupidly loyal soldier to Beryl, but he was a fine warrior.  Finer than
you could ever hope to be," Obsidious told him.
        "Okay, okay, geez you don't have to recite history to me
Obsidious!" Quarz said, wrenching away from him.  "Besides, I'd rat her
have a machine do my fighting for me anyways.  Less work, more
relaxation and entertainment."
        "You are impossible, Quarz.  Just finish the defense system and
then report to me," Obsidious told him as he walked away.
        Obsidious made his way to Turquos' quarters and found him
looking at an image of Malachite and Zoisite stoically.
        "For what it's worth, my friend, they were quite a nice couple,"
Obsidious told him with a smirk.
        "Don't remind me, Obsidious.  Thinking about it makes me a bit
queasy still now," Turquos told him.  "Nonetheless, he was my brother.
As foolishly romantic as he was with that blasted Zoisite, I can not
deny my bond with him as his brother."
        "You don't have to convince me, Turquos," Obsidious said,
entering the room further.  "I know that it disturbed you more than
anyone else when they came out about their relationship, especially
concerning your previous rivalry with Zoisite."
        "That arrogant fool Zoisite...had it not been for him Malachite
would still be alive and I would be fighting with him!" Turquos said
angrily.  "But I owe my anger not to Zoisite alone.  He died at the
hands of Sailor Moon.  That is why I will make this request of you,
Obsidious."  Turquos turned to face Obsidious.  "When the time comes, I
will be the one who destroys Sailor Moon!"
        "I have never been one to deny anyone their rightful revenge,
Turquos.  She is yours to do with as you please once we are victorious,"
Obsidious told him.
        "Thank you, Obsidious.  I will make her suffer untold and
infinitely before I kill her, I assure you," Turquos said, saluting him.
"I only wish I had had the change to reap equal vengeance on Zoisite as
well."
        "Beryl beat you to the punch there.  Maybe we can be thankful to
her for at least that," Obsidious said with a laugh.
        "Yes, and Jadeite as well," Turquos added.  The two laughed
hilariously as they thought of the two now long gone generals.
        "Come, my friend, let us see to our first plan of attack,"
Obsidious said.
        "Indeed," Turquos replied, smiling.  The two retired to the war
room to meet with Granos.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Amy, Serena, Raye, and Lita sat with looks of disbelief as Mina
recounted the entire incident the night before with Onyx.  At least,
they were looks of disbelief until she showed off her new transformation
stick.  Then they turned to looks on amazement.
        "And this guy is looking for me, you said?" Serena asked.
        "Well yeah, or at least he's looking for Princess Serena and
Prince Darien," Mina replied.
        "I'm inclined to believe her story," Luna said.  "Artemis, you
said you met up with Orion, is that right?"
        "No doubt, it was him," Artemis replied.
        "Who's Orion, Luna?" Raye asked.
        "He was the guardian of the ultimate powers of the Sailor
Scouts," Luna told them.
        "Ultimate powers?" Lita asked.
        "Long ago, when the Sailor Scouts were formed, it was decided
that they would be granted new powers as they proved themselves.
However, to receive their ultimate powers, they would have to prove
themselves worthy to Orion, the keeper of the secret to unlocking their
true powers.  Apparently, he has already deemed Mina worthy of her
powers," Luna told the girls.
        "So let's go meet this Orion and start kicking some serious
butt!" Lita said.
        "It's not that easy, Lita," Artemis said.  "Each of you has to
prove, on your own, to Orion that you're worthy of your powers.  He
won't just give them to you because you tell him to."
        "At any rate, this is only one of our problems now," Luna went
on.  "It is rather unsettling that there's another fighter for justice
running around who we do not know truly."
        "You mean Onyx, don't you Luna?" Mina asked.  Luna nodded.
        "We must find out who he is so that he may be contacted when we
need his help," Luna said.
        "I have a question, Luna," Serena said.  "Why do we need help
now?  We haven't been attacked for a long time now."
        "That's just it, Serena.  With Onyx's appearance, I am beginning
to sense Negaverse activity once again," Luna told her.
        "But that's impossible!  The Negaverse was sealed away when
Serena destroyed Queen Beryl. They shouldn't be able to come here
anymore," Amy said.
        "I'm as puzzled as you, Amy.  However, I am certain that it is
the Negaverse and we must be ready to fight once again," Luna replied.
        "This isn't going to be as easy as it was before, though, Luna,"
Raye said.  Luna looked up at her.  "I mean, I have to take care of the
shrine now and Lita has a son.  How are we going to manage it all?"
        "I understand your concern, Raye, but we must fight.  We're the
only ones who can," Luna told her.
        The girls and two cats grew silent as they started trying to
think about it.  Their train of thought was derailed when things started
growing dark rather rapidly.
        "I didn't hear anything about thunderstorms in the weather,"
Amy said.
        "And it's only 1:00 PM," Mina added.  Suddenly, there was a
thunderclap that sent everyone panicking, but then they heard something
that sounded like someone falling and hitting the ground.  They all got
up quickly and ran out where they heard the screaming.
        There stood a girl who looked a few years younger than them, but
with a hairdo like Serena's, only pink.  Next to her stood a
medium-sized pink cat with a crescent moon on its forehead.
        "You think Pluto could've set us down somewhere soft!  Geez, I'm
not gonna be able to sit down for awhile," the girl complained, rubbing
her behind.
        "Don't gripe to me about it, Reeny.  I hit about as hard as you
did," the cat said.  The girls face-faulted.
        "Reeny?!?" they all said simultaneously.  Reeny and the cat
looked at them.
        "Oh, hi guys.  Long time no see," she said, smiling.  The girls
fainted.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Awhile later, after the girls had recovered, they were back
inside with Reeny and the cat, whose name was Diana.
        "So what brings you back Reeny?  I thought you were all set and
happy back home," Lita asked.
        "I wanted to come back and see how you guys were turning out.
I've been way bored since I left you guys," she said.  "Mom and dad said
it was okay, just so long as I made sure I came back in one piece.  So
they sent Diana with me to make sure."
        "And Diana is?" Artemis asked.
        "That would be me," the pink cat said.
        "Great, two new cats.  First Orion, now this one," Artemis said.
        "I'd watch who you're complaining about, "daddy"," Diana said.
        "EXCUSE ME?!" Luna yelled.
        "Ow, my ears!" Serena said, covering her ears.  The others were
doing likewise.
        "You heard me right.  He's my pop all right," Diana said,
smiling at Artemis.
        "But I, I mean...that is...I...or rather we...I mean, uh, hoo
boy," Artemis said, beginning to sweat.
        "Artemis, you and I are going to have a talk later on," Luna
told him.  Artemis just shrank away a bit.
        "Well, your timing couldn't be any more perfect, Reeny," Mina
said.
        "How do you figure that, Mina?" Amy asked.
        "Well, since she's here for...um, how long are you here Reeny?"
Mina asked.
        "Probably awhile.  Mom also wants me to get some training from
Luna, Artemis, and Serena to be Sailor Moon in the future," Reeny told
her.
        "Raye, you've got plenty of space here right?" Mina asked.
        "Huh?  Yeah, I guess so," Raye said.
        "She can live here and help with the shrine, as well as baby-sit
Justin for you, Lita," Mina said.
        "Who's Justin?" Reeny asked.
        "I'll fill you in later, Reeny," Lita told her.  Reeny just nodded
        "I guess it could work.  Chad knows most of the ins and outs
here.  That is, if you wouldn't mind the work Reeny," Raye said.
        "No problem for me.  With the amount of boredom I've been
through, I'll take just about anything," Reeny said.
        "One more question," Serena said.  She approached Reeny and
looked her over.  "Just how old are you now?"
        "Fourteen," Reeny said.
        "I'm surprised you didn't come earlier," Serena noted.
        "Well, I kinda got grounded shortly after things got settled
down," Reeny said.
        "For ten years?" Serena asked.
        "It was an off-and-on grounding," Reeny said.  "It's a long story."
        "You can fill us in later.  Right now let's get you set up
here," Raye said.  Reeny nodded and smiled.  Luna dragged Artemis off.
        "Come along, Artemis, I've been meaning to have this talk with
you anyways," Luna said.  Diana followed.
        "Mind if I tag along?" she asked, smiling brightly.
        "Why me?" Artemis asked, on the verge of crying.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Later on, the girls sat in the shrine, Raye dressed in her
robes.  They had been talking about the recent turn of events with
Reeny's reappearance, much older, and Mina's new powers.
        "The main question is, will Serena's powers have an effect on
these monsters?  Mine didn't before I underwent my change, and I hate to
say it, but I doubt anyone else's will either," Mina said.
        "My guess would be that they will work," Amy said.  "Serena's
Moon Scepter nullifies their evil energy, so it should affect these new
monsters.  The extent to which it will work, though, is the major
variable."
        "What do you mean, Amy?" Serena asked.
        "Well, your scepter could have its normal affect, or it could
take multiple tries to destroy these monsters.  In which case, we must
be ready for some real fights coming up," Amy told her.
        "I don't like the sound of this," Serena said.  "Our style is
normally to be able to win quickly and efficiently, thanks mostly to my
powers because I've been the strongest up to now.  If what Amy says is
true, then we may have to look at a major change until we can get back
to our old ways."
        "What do you mean, Serena?" Lita asked.
        "I mean that with my possible lack of power, we may have to have
a new leader for the Sailor Scouts until we figure something else out,"
Serena said.  "And I think we all know who that new leader would be,"
Serena then looked over at Mina, as did everyone else.
        "What?!  ME?!?!" Mina said, going wide-eyed.
        "Come on, Mina, you can't deny that you're just as much a
natural leader as Raye or I are," Serena told her.
        "Besides, no one else has enough power to do it," Amy added.
        "I appreciate the compliments, guys, but let's wait until we see
for certain how Serena's Moon Scepter fares before doing this.  Right
now, I'm not ready," Mina said.
        "In the meantime, we have to try and find the center of all this
new Negaverse activity," Raye said.  "With that, ladies, shall we
consult the fire?"
        "By all means, Raye," Serena said, smiling.   She, Mina, Lita,
and Amy took their places behind Raye as she began chanting, praying to
the fire...
        The god Mars looked on through the fire that roared before him.
Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury stood all about it as well.
        "I must admit, Venus, your champion certainly has the
personality of a leader," Jupiter said, his voice like rolling thunder.
        "Flatter me not, Jupiter, you know very well all of our
champions hold similar potential.  Still, considering how the Fates have
construed her life I would like very much to see her enjoy even a short
period of notoriety," Venus told him.
        "She may very well have that chance," Mercury added.  "The
daughter of the Moon, right now, may or may not realize what her full
potential is yet.  If that is so, your champion will have to step in as
their interim leader."
        "At least until my champion receives her ultimate powers," Mars
interjected.
        "Mars, now is not the time for such haughtiness," Mercury told him.
        "He has a point enough, Mercury," Venus said.  "His champion
indeed is of a more fierce fighting spirit than mine.  Although her
powers may not be as great as my champion's, the fire of her fighting
spirit is nearly as inextinguishable as that of Mars himself."  Mars
smiled at that.  "However, we all know that ultimately the leadership of
the Sailor Scouts must fall to Jupiter's champion."  Mars grumbled a bit.
        "True enough," Mars admitted.  "Even my champion's spirit must
play second to the thunder in that girl's heart and soul.  If she ever
realizes her potential, she will be as unstoppable in war as any of our
previous greatest champions."
        "Enough of this," Jupiter roared.  "We have more important
things to focus ourselves on than bragging of our champions.  Mars, your
champion is next in line to receive her powers.  I trust you have a
suitable test in mind."
        "Yes indeed, Jupiter," Mars said.  "I think it will have a
profound affect on her persona in addition to proving her worthy of her
ultimate powers."
        "How long will it take to bring into play?" Jupiter asked.
        "I must tend to a matter that is integral to this test before
the actual test begins, so it will take some time," Mars said.
        "Then away and do this business.  The sooner our champions have
their powers, the better.  Do not forget the stakes that are at hand
here," Jupiter told him.
        "I understand," Mars said, bowing.  He then looked back to the
fire, in communion with his champion.
        "Fire of Mars, I beseech thee, tell us where and when we will be
attacked again," Raye said, concentrating on the fire.  She received an
image of a nearby park, where many people were relaxing, not thinking
they would be attacked.  Suddenly, from nowhere, the ground erupted with
an explosion and a large monster with drills for arms came up out of the
ground, roared, and then activated its drills, sending out some kind of
wave ray that was draining the people of their energy.  Raye quickly
snapped out of her trance.
        "The park!  They're being attacked right now by a drill monster
of some sort!" she said.
        "Looks like we're gonna find out right now what's what," Lita
said.  She looked over at Serena. "Just give the word, boss."
        "Sailor Scouts, transform for action!" Serena told them.
        "Mercury Star Power!!" Amy called out, using her power stick.
        "Mars Star Power!!" Raye called out, following suit.
        "Jupiter Star Power!!" Lita added in.
        "Moon Crystal Power!!" Serena said, activating the Imperium
Silver Crystal to transform her.  Mina held her new power stick, looking
at it.
        "Venus Star Power!!" she cried, transforming into her
less-powerful form.
        Once all five were transformed, they began running for the
scene.  Sailor Moon ran alongside Venus.  "What's the matter, Venus? Why
aren't you in your powered up form?" she asked.
        "I don't want to use it unless I have to," Venus told her.
"You're still leader, Sailor Moon, and until we really need it, I won't
use it."
        "Let's hope you don't have to use it, then, Venus," Sailor Moon
said with a smile.  Venus nodded and the two picked up their pace a bit
along with the rest of the Scouts.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Granos stood by as he watched his drill monster go to work.  He
laughed as it ravaged the park and drained the bystanders dry of energy.
        "Drill monster good.  Granos get energy, then we take over and
Granos get Rock monster buddy back," he said to himself.
        "Not while we're around you won't!" Sailor Moon called out.  The
monster and Granos looked over where the Sailor Scouts had just arrived
to fight.  "How dare you try and destroy a beautiful, peaceful place
like this park!  We will not allow this to continue!" she added.
        "Sailor Scouts...now you pay for destroy my buddy!" Granos said.
"Driller, destroy Scouts!"
        Driller nodded and tried to use its energy draining wave on the
Scouts.  They quickly scattered around it.  Jupiter took the opportunity
to power up.
        "I'm short-circuiting this bad boy right now!" she said, the
lightning crackling between her hands.  "Jupiter...Thunderclap Zap!!!"
she cried, throwing a ball of lightning at the monster.  It collided
with it, but only served to energize the monster further.  "Uh oh, now
what?" she said.
        "I'll try and blind it!" Mercury said.  "Sailor Moon, get ready
to use your scepter!"
        "Gotcha Mercury!" Sailor Moon said, producing the scepter.
Mercury powered her attack up, the ice, water and cold winds gathering
about her.
        "Mercury Ice Storm Blast!!" she cried, firing it at the
monster's face.  It succeeded in blinding it, but nothing else.  "Now do
it!"
        Sailor Moon had already powered up the scepter and was bringing
it around to bear on the monster.
        "Moon...Scepter...Elimination!!!" she cried, the scepter's
energy flying at the monster.  it struck it, sending the monster
reeling.  It laid on the ground for a moment, not moving.  "Did that get
it?" she asked.
        Just then, the monster flipped up and drilled into the ground
again.  The Scouts ran over to the hole and tried to catch it, but with
no luck.
        "Now what?  It didn't do anything to it!" Sailor Moon said
worriedly.
        "We have to wait for it to show itself and try to gang up on it,
then!" Raye said, already powering herself up.  Just then, the ground
began rumbling.  The Scouts struggled to keep their balance, but were
soon knocked away by an explosion as the drill monster came back up.
Stones also pelted them as they tried to get up.  Venus ended up next to
Sailor Moon.
        "This is hopeless!" Jupiter cried out.  "That thing's too tough!"
        "We're not out yet, guys!" Venus told them.  "Mars, use your
Celestial Fire!"
        "It won't do any good, Venus!" Sailor Moon told her.  "None of
our powers can affect that thing!"
        Just then the drill monster used its ray on Mercury and began
draining her energy.
        "Mercury no!  Fight it!" Venus called out.
        "Venus, there's no other way!!" Sailor Moon said, grabbing her
and looking at her.  "You're the only one who can do this right now!"
        "But I can't!  I'm no princess or anything!  I'm just..." Venus
protested.
        "Listen to me, Mina!" Sailor Moon told her.  "You don't have to
be a princess to be a leader!  It's inside you, the ability and power is
there!"
        "Serena..." Venus said, taken a bit aback.
        "Go on, Mina.  As of right now, until we all get our powers, you
are our leader," Sailor Moon told her.
        "I'll make you proud, Serena," Venus told her.  She stood up
then and faced the monster.  "Okay, pal, times are changing and it's
time for you to go down, BIG TIME!"  She held her power stick in front
of her again.
        "Venus Power Complete, Transform!!" she cried out.  The stick
reacted and, just like before, remodeled her uniform to her complete
form.  She stood looking intently at the monster, ready to fight.
        The monster fired its ray at her now, to drain her energy.
Venus stretched her arms forward, energy emitting from her hands.
        "Venus Energy Shield!" she said.  The energy shield formed and
deflected the energy of the ray, never letting it though to her.  The
monster then growled and rushed at her, trying to use its drill arms on
her.  She simply jumped up over it, then righted herself in mid-air and
powered up an attack.
        "Double Venus Meteor Shower!!" she cried, firing her Meteor
Shower attack from both hands. The multiple beams struck the monster, as
it couldn't possibly dodge them all.  Venus landed and ran towards the
monster.  Along the way, she began powering up her ultimate attack, the
ball of energy forming between her hands.  The monster, damaged and
angry, rushed at her and attacked wildly.  It missed as she jumped right
over it and landed behind it, her attack ready.
        "Venus Full Moon Beam..." she cried, the energy ball crackling
in her hands.  Then she thrust her hands forward, the energy roaring
forth in its blast.  "CRASH!" she finished as the beam erupted from her
hands.  The monster screamed as the beam struck it, turning it to dust.
Venus landed and stood triumphantly  where the monster had been.  Granos
growled at her.
        "Granos be back!  Then you die, Sailor girl!" he said.  He
activated the armband on his arm and teleported away.  Venus sighed in
relief and then looked around at her friends who were now gathering
about her.
        "Man, you whipped that thing good Venus," Jupiter said as she
helped Mercury along.
        "Looks like we made the right choice for a temp leader," Mars
added, smiling at Mina.  Mina smiled a little and looked at them all.
        "I'll do my best, guys.  I'm not used to being leader, but until
Serena gets enough power to destroy the monsters I'll do it," Venus said.
        "You will not fight alone, Venus!" a voice said from behind
them.  The five looked over and saw a man dressed all in black with a
black bandanna/mask on and a sword at his side standing, his arms
folded.  A jet black cat sat next to him.
        "Onyx!  You came!" Venus said.
        "I will fight with you.  Take this," he said, tossing something
to her.  Venus caught it and looked at it.  It was a ring with an onyx
stone in it.  "With that, I will be able to find and help you no matter
where you are."
        "Thank you Onyx!  We'll need all the help we can get to fight
this new enemy," Venus told him.
        "Sailor Scouts, I look forward to testing you all for your
powers," Orion said, looking at them.
        "Why can't you test us now?" Mars asked.
        "I must test you individually, else there would be no point to
testing you." Orion told them.  "Be ready on a moment's notice, Scouts!"
        "We will meet again soon, Sailor Scouts.  Until then, keep
heart! Nothing can defeat you if you do not lose heart!" Onyx told them.
Then he looked to Venus.  "And Venus, until next we meet..." he said,
producing a violet and tossing it to her.  "Farewell." he finished.
Then he and Orion took off.
        "So where'd you pick up a hunk like him, Venus?" Jupiter asked.
        "It's a long story, Jupiter," Venus said, holding the flower and
ring and looking starry-eyed where Onyx had been.
        "Hey, what about that ring?" Mars asked.  Venus looked down at
it and slipped it onto her right hand ring finger.  Almost instantly,
Venus saw a flash of events before her eyes.  The shadow of a man, the
ring she'd just put on, then the Negaverse's attack on the Moon Kingdom
and she thought she heard her name screamed out.  The others gathered
around her.
        "Venus, are you okay?" Sailor Moon asked.
        "I...yeah, I'm fine.  Just a little dizzy from the fight, that's
all." Venus said.  She smiled and looked at the ring.  "It's a really
nice ring. Seems to fit really well," she said
        Mercury looked closely at the ring and gasped a bit.
        "I don't believe it...that ring is a perfect fit on her!" Mercury said.
        "Come again?" Mars said.  She came over and looked.  "She'd
right, it is!"
        "But how is that possible?  He couldn't have known what her ring
size was," Sailor Moon said.
        "Does it really matter, you guys?" Venus asked.
        "Well it definitely raises some questions, Venus," Mercury told
her.  "We'd better consult with Luna and Artemis about this."
        "Okay.  Let's get going, then," Venus said.  As they walked
along, Venus looked down at the violet Onyx had given her and then at
the ring.  She smiled.  "I've known the guy for two days and he's
already giving me gifts...he's a definite keeper," she said to herself,
giggling a bit.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Mina laid on her bed looking at the ring for a long time.  Luna
and Artemis had had no recollection of it or anything about it when they
had regrouped that night.  She thought back to the images that had
flashed before her eyes when she put it on.  It all felt like some kind
of memory, maybe from the Moon Kingdom.  She sighed frustratedly and
took it off, setting it on her nightstand.  As she did, she looked at
the photo of her and her friends that stood there.  She focused on
Serena and reminded herself of how bad she felt.  It was Serena's
destiny to be their leader, not hers, and if there was one thing Mina
had always done, it was to put her friends before herself.   She'd done
so ever since she gave up being Sailor V.
        She realized at that point that her entire life up to now had
been one of personal sacrifice for the sake of others, and that that was
the broader definition of love which had won her the right to wield her
ultimate powers and also the spot as interim leader of the Sailor
Scouts.  Even so, she felt that something was still missing from her
life.  That something was what Serena, Amy, Lita, and Raye were
experiencing or had experienced: the love and devotion of someone very
special to them.  As she thought about that, she slowly dozed off into a
deep dreamworld.
        In her dream, she stood in very fine robes among the clouds.  A
vast throne room opened out before her and a woman was walking around
the fountain that was fixed in the middle of the room.  It was the
goddess Venus herself, who was now smiling at Mina.
        "Don't tell me, I know it needs remodeling," the goddess said
smiling.  Mina laughed a bit, but then corrected herself.  She was,
after all, in the presence of a deity.  "I'm so glad you came, Mina.  It
seems you have a problem to overcome."
        "Well...goddess..." Mina started.  Venus came over to her
shaking her head.
        "Just Venus, dear," she told her.
        "Well, Venus," Mina began again, "for the first time ever I
feel...lonely.  I haven't experienced the kind of love the others have
yet, and I guess that's making me doubt if I'm worthy of my powers
truly."
        "I see, but that's not all, is it?" Venus asked.
        "No...I'm just afraid that, well, this is silly but that I'll
never experience that love," Mina said, lowering her head.  Venus put
her hand on Mina's shoulder gently.
        "My dear, you are still young.  Be patient and love will find
its way to you.  It may be closer than you think," Venus told her.  "As
far as your being worthy, there is no doubt in my mind that you are
worthy, so don't worry yourself about that."
        "Thank you, Venus," Mina said, smiling a little.
        "One last thing, Mina, and this is the last lesson you have to
learn.  Don't be afraid to accept the love of others," Venus told her.
        "But won't I look a bit greedy then?" Mina asked.
        "Not at all, my dear, especially after all that you've done.
What is coming to you now is what you have long deserved.  The love, the
attention, the recognition and the responsibility: all of it has been
due to you for a long time.  Enjoy them," Venus told her.
        "Thank you Venus.  I know what I have to do now," Mina said.
        "Now go, my champion, and face your destiny," Venus said.
Mina's form slowly faded away from the scene.
        Venus walked back to her fountain and looked into it.
        "Now only one more piece needs to be put into place," she said
to herself.  The image of a young man that she'd been watching for a
long time now came into view.  "Come now, my boy, it's time for you to
find who you were separated from so long ago."

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Darien sat in amazement of all that the girls had just told him
about: Reeny's return, Mina's powers, the new Negaverse activity, all of
it.  It was almost a bit too much for him to handle.  He shook his head
a bit after processing all the information.
        "Man, I leave for a couple days to see a sick friend and
everything falls apart!" he said.  "Serena, the next time you guys meet
this Onyx guy, I'll be sure to show up and we'll show him who we are.
Then maybe we can straighten some of this out."
        "I hope this is a good idea, Darien.  We still don't know that
much about him," Serena said.
        "It'll be okay, Serena," Mina told her.  "We'll all be there
just in case."
        "Thanks, you guys," Serena said.
        "Well, if you girls don't mind, I'm going to steal her away for
the afternoon," Darien said, holding Serena's hand.  "I haven't seen her
in a couple days and I almost lost it."  The girls giggled.
        "By all means, Darien," Lita said.  "Have fun you two."
        "That won't be a problem, Lita," Serena said, smiling as she
left with Darien.
        "I've got to get back to the temple, too.  I have to show Reeny
what her duties are, plus tend to a couple of errands," Raye said,
standing up.
        "I have to go also.  I'm meeting Greg for our date at the cafe
in a half-hour," Amy added, getting her things together.
        "Okay, see you guys later then," Mina said with a smile.  The
two girls waved as they left.
        "Well, guess that leaves us, Mina," Lita said, moving to her
kitchen.  "Wanna help with dinner?"
        "Heck sure.  I'm not too sure of myself in the kitchen, but I'm
willing to learn," Mina said grabbing an apron.  "Say, where's Trent and
Justin?"
        "Trent took him along to the zoo when Melvin showed up," Lita
told her.  "Justin just loves animals."
        "I figured, considering the amount of stuffed animals there are
in his room," Mina said, giggling.
        "You're one to talk.  Remember how your room used to be?" Lita
asked.
        "Hey, I'm not saying it's a bad thing," Mina replied with a wink.
        "You're a piece of work, girl," Lita said, shaking her head.
        "Is that why you're tying to get me hooked up with Trent?" Mina
asked smiling.  Lita gasped and went beet red.
        "Why on earth would you think that?" she asked.
        "First off, from the things you have out it looks like you're
making something really special tonight, not your usual meatloaf," Mina
pointed out.  "Secondly, you asked me to dress nice just in case we
decided to do something tonight, and third, you've never been good at
deceit."
        "Well so what if I am?  I think you two would make a nice
couple," Lita said indignantly.
        "Couple of what?" Mina muttered.
        "You should at least give things half a chance, Mina.  That's
your problem.  You want everything to just fall right into place, but
that's hardly ever the case.  Nobody lives a storybook life.  Serena may
be the only exception," Lita told her.
        Mina was taken aback for a minute as she processed everything
Lita had just charged her with.  It was true, up until recently she'd led
her life like some fairy tale princess when in reality the only Princess
around was Serena.  She sighed and reluctantly agreed with Lita.
        "But is it so wrong to want that, Lita?" Mina asked.
        "It may not be wrong, but it's not realistic," Lita told her.
"I'm living proof of that.  Everything I wanted for Brad and myself was
straight out of some fairy tale.  I was so sure that when I told him I
was pregnant with his child that he'd come to my rescue and we'd live
happily ever after.  His parents weren't going to let that happen at
all, and now that I look at it, I doubt he even thinks of me much
anymore wherever he is.  Instead, my hero turned out to be you Mina."
        "Me?" Mina asked.
        "Well, sure," Lita told her.  "Who else gave up almost all her
free time to help me out around here, be my coach at my classes while I
was pregnant, and when I finally had Justin, who was the one there when
I was in such pain?  It was you the whole time, Mina, and ever since
I've felt indebted to you.  That's why I'm trying to help you."  Lita
continued to talk as she walked around the kitchen, cooking up a storm.
        "Of any of us, you're the one who's sacrificed the most.  You
had it made as Sailor V in Europe, everyone looked up to you and adored
you, you had it all, but you gave it up to become a Sailor Scout and
help Serena.  And ever since then, you've given up everything to help
out your friends.  That's why I thought it was high time you were repaid
for everything you've done," she said.
        "I'm just not used to wanting anything much," Mina said.
        "You can't just give, give, give and not expect to get, Mina.
What goes around comes around, and right now it's coming around for
you," Lita told her.  "So I suggest you relax and enjoy it.  You don't
know how long it'll last."
        "I guess you're right, Lita," Mina finally said.  "But are you
so sure Trent will go along with this?"
        "I don't see why not," Lita told her.  "After all, he's had his
eye on you ever since he stepped off the plane."
        "You're kidding!" Mina said, a bit shocked.
        "I can see these things, Mina.  He'd sure like to get to know
you better," Lita told her.  "Now just sit down and relax.  He should be
back with Justin fairly soon."
        Mina nodded and went over to the couch in Mina's living room,
sitting down and thinking things over.  She admitted to herself that she
was at least a bit curious about Trent when he arrived.  And of course,
she'd admitted to thinking he was cute yesterday.  Then again, that
wasn't anything the others weren't thinking either probably, she
reasoned.  She looked down at her right hand, where the ring Onyx had
given her was on her ring finger.  She still couldn't get over the
images she'd seen when she'd simply put the ring on.  Luna and Artemis
hadn't been able to help at all, and even in her dream where she met the
goddess Venus she had gotten no answers.  Her only hope was to confront
Onyx about it when she saw him next, which she had a feeling was going
to be rather soon.
        As she continued to try and figure things out, the door opened
and Trent came in carrying Justin along.
        "Thanks for showing us around, Melvin!" Trent called as he
waved.
        "I'll see you in class on Monday, Trent!" Melvin called back as
he walked off.  Mina smiled and chuckled a bit.  Good ol' Melvin hadn't
changed that much, except that he'd stopped trying to impress girls and
focused even more on school.  For awhile, it looked like he and Molly
might have gotten together, but they remained just friends now. "Chalk
that up to Molly's still being hung up on Nephrite," Mina thought.  That
was one incident Mina hadn't been around for and, from what she'd gotten
from Amy, one that she was glad she'd missed out on.
        "Man, that guy is weird.  But then again, everyone is, right
Justin?" Trent said.  Justin just laughed a bit as he fidgeted in
Trent's arms.
        "So, you boys had fun today?" Lita asked, coming out of the
kitchen.
        "Oh yeah, it was a blast," Trent said, handing Justin over to
his mother.  "Melvin seemed to enjoy talking about the animals just as
much as Justin enjoyed looking at them."
        "That's Melvin, the human version of Encyclopedia Brittanica."
Mina said, laughing a bit.  Trent looked over, not realizing Mina was
there.
        "Mina, you're here too?" he asked.
        "Yup.  Lita invited me for dinner.  You don't mind, now do you?"
she asked with a smile.
        "Oh no, not at all," he replied.  "Um, I'm just going to get
cleaned up for dinner.  Be back in a sec."  He went off to the bathroom
as Lita sat down with Justin on her lap.
        "Amazing," Lita said.  "He spend an entire day with Melvin and
doesn't bat an eye, comes home, sees you, and he's a nervous wreck." She
looked over at Mina.  "How do you do it??"
        "It's a gift," Mina said, grinning.
        Lita's assessment was pretty on target.  Trent stood in the
bathroom looking into the mirror, talking to himself.
        "Okay, Trent.  Calm down," he told himself.  "Nothing to worry
about.  You're just about to have dinner with probably the most
beautiful girl you've ever seen being over for dinner as well."  He hung
his head and sighed.  "Stuff like this just doesn't happen.  Especially
not to me.  Well, no way out now."  He stood straight, adjusted his
glasses a bit, and went back out.
        A bit later, Mina and Trent sat at the table, on opposite ends
so they faced each other.  Lita served them first.  She'd made her
famous Beef Stroganoff with a nice antipasto on the side.
        "Well, you two enjoy for a bit.  Right now, I've got to tend to
someone else's dinner," Lita said, picking Justin up.  She winked at
Mina as she walked into her bedroom and shut the door.
        "Well...guess we should dig in," Mina said.
        "Sounds like a good idea to me," Trent replied.  The two began
eating dinner, both silently thinking about how to begin some kind of
conversation.  After a little bit, Mina looked over at Trent.
        "Don't you hate long, interminable pauses?" she asked.
        "Despise 'em," Trent replied.  The two laughed a bit, thinking
about how awkward and silly they were being.
        "So why do you find Japan to be so interesting?" she asked,
digging into the antipasto.
        "It's kinda weird to explain.  It's like something has been
drawing me here for years, but I don't know what," Trent told her.
        "Well, whatever it is, it probably isn't in this part of Tokyo.
Things are pretty uneventful around here," Mina said, smiling inwardly.
        "Maybe, but I'm enjoying it here anyways," Trent replied as he
continued to eat.
        "Really?" Mina asked.
        "Well, yeah," Trent replied, his mouth a bit full.  He swallowed
down the food before continuing.  "I mean, Lita's really great for
putting me up, as well as putting up with me."  Mina giggled at that.
"And besides, I've been here only a few days and I'm sitting at a dinner
table eating and talking to possibly the most beautiful girl I've ever
seen."  Mina looked around for a minute.
        "You don't mean me, do you?" she asked.
        "Well there's no one else at the table," Trent replied with a smile.
        "Oh c'mon..." Mina said, turning red.  "You've been to so many
other places."
        "Well, chalk it up to personal taste I guess, but I was
surprised when Lita told me you didn't have a boyfriend.  I know most
guys would go nuts over a girl like you," Trent told her.
        "I know, but that's not what I'm looking for.  I wish people
would understand that," Mina said, feeling a bit down.
        "Hey, I hear you," Trent said.  Mina looked up at him.  "I mean,
there's got to be more to love than the physicality of it.  If there's
nothing else but that..."
        "...then it's not worthwhile," Mina finished for him.  "That's
how I've always felt, too."
        The two smiled at each other.  After a long moment just looking
at each other, Mina had an idea.
        "I know this killer ice cream place nearby.  Wanna go?" she
asked.
        "I'm always up for ice cream.  Lead on," Trent said, getting up.
        "Cool.  We'll also get out of Lita's hair for awhile," Mina
said.  The two left, continuing to talk.  Just as they left, Lita
emerged after having fed Justin and put him to bed.  She heard the whole
thing and was now watching the couple leave.
        "You go get him, girl," she said silently, smiling.  "It's nice
to see her so happy."
        Lita closed the door, wishing her friend luck, and started
tending to the dishes.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Obsidious watched over the battle scene one more time before
turning to face his four henchmen, a look of displeasure on his face.
        "So, does anyone have a suitable plan for tending to this
current turn of events?" he asked.
        "It would appear that Sailor Venus has temporarily taken
leadership of the Sailor Scouts," Turquos noted.  "Since she is the
source of our trouble, I say we single her out for destruction."
        "That's easier said than done, Turquos," Amber said with a
laugh.  "Any idea how to get her alone?"
        "Yes indeed, Amber," Turquos said.  "You're going to fight her."
Amber looked at him angrily.
        "Don't joke around!" she snapped.
        "I'm hardly joking, Amber.  Granos will send down another
monster of his as well.  The two of you will attack two different areas
of the city.  They will have no choice but to split their forces, and
logically, Venus will go after one while the others tend to the other.
And I'm more than certain she would head for the larger danger, which
would be you.  Alone, the monster will destroy the Scouts and you can
personally do away with Venus," Turquos explained.
        "And what of Onyx, eh?" Amber asked.  "He won't stand idly by
while I fight Venus."
        "I'll handle my traitor brother personally, Amber," Obsidious
told her.  "Your focus is to destroy Sailor Venus."
        "However..." Turquos added.
        "However what?" Quarz asked.
        "Attacking them immediately might not have the desired effect,"
Turquos said.  "We must make certain that Venus is comfortable with her
current leadership position.  Therefore, I suggest we continue as normal
for awhile and, once she is comfortable with being the leader and making
decisions such as the one I outlined, we should attack."
        "Turquos, you never cease to amaze me with these intricate
plans," Obsidious said.  He turned to Granos.  "Continue with your
plans, Granos, whatever they may be."
        "Yes Obsidious," Granos said.  He lumbered off to go back to the
city.  Obsidous began laughing to himself.
        "My companions, we may be on the verge of doing what no one has
ever been able to do...destroy the Sailor Scouts!" he said, breaking
into maniacal laughter.  His laughter echoed throughout the jungle
setting that the fortress had been recently teleported to from its
original point at the North Pole.



Part Three
Raye's True Calling

        It was a Sunday morning at the Cherry Hill Temple.  Inside, at
the fire, Raye and Chad were quietly meditating.  Outside, Reeny was
busily sweeping the sidewalk.  She repeatedly would look back to the
shrine for a moment, sigh, and continue sweeping.
        "How long are they going to take?" she asked herself.
"Honestly."
        Eventually, Raye began coming out of her meditation.  She took a
deep breath and exhaled slowly, enjoying her moment of relaxation.  It
was one of the few peaceful moments her days had anymore.  She looked
across the way at Chad, who was still deeply engrossed in his
meditation.  She looked at him consideringly, smiling a bit.  The first,
most noticeable change in him was his hair.  It was cut short in front,
but was kept long in the back and he had it tied in one ponytail that
trailed down between his shoulder blades.  Raye liked this change almost
more than anything else.  To her, he had the nicest deep brown eyes
she'd ever seen.  In addition, Chad was no longer as scruffy as he used
to be and he sounded less like the beach bum that he was when he'd first
come to the temple.  Personality-wise, he'd become a much more alert and
responsive person, not to mention responsible.  Yet through all these
changes, he'd kept one thing to himself: his true feelings for Raye.
        Raye sighed a bit as she turned to the fire, thinking about it.
She couldn't help but admit that she did care about him a good deal now,
but she was just as afraid of looking weak in admitting it as he was.
Thus, any feelings they had went unspoken and unrepresented.  They'd
occasionally exchange a look as if they wanted to say it to each other,
but then refrained and went back to work.
        "The time may come," Raye thought, "that one of us will just
have to admit it, and in that case, I don't know if I'd be able to do
it.  Chad, why won't you tell me how you feel?"
        The fire continued to rage on as Raye watched it, unable to
discern any kind of answer to her question from it.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        As Reeny continued to sweep, Luna, Artemis, Amy, Serena, Mina
and Lita came walking up to the temple.  Lita was carrying a sleeping
Justin in her arms as she walked.  Reeny quickly went over to greet
them.
        "What's up, Reeny?" Lita asked with a smile.
        "Absolutely nothing, which is why I'm glad you guys came by
today," Reeny replied, going over and taking Justin carefully from Lita.
"Those two have been meditating all day and I've been stuck sweeping
this stupid sidewalk!"
        "Would you rather be back in the future and still grounded?"
Serena asked with a laugh.
        "Hmm...good point," Reeny replied.  "So why are you guys here?"
        "We're having a meeting, but we can't do anything until Raye's
ready," Mina told her.
        "C'mon, I've got some cookies ready inside," Reeny said, walking
on ahead.
        Inside, everyone sat around the room while Reeny brought the
cookies in.
        "So what's new with you guys?" she asked, coming in with the
cookies.  "You guys don't tell me anything."
        "Well, the big story is how hot an item Mina and Trent are,"
Lita said, giggling a bit.  "Two weeks, and they're already halfway to
second base."
        "Lita!!" Mina said, trying to shut her up.  "She's kidding, of
course."
        "Then how come I've caught you two kissing in front of my house
about four times now?" Lita asked.  A bead of sweat went down Mina's
head as everyone turned to look at her.
        "Oh come on!  Those were just goodnight kisses!" Mina protested.
        "Don't listen to her, guys.  I came to the door, saw them
kissing, decided to give them a little time, came back five minutes
later and they were still at it!" Lita said.  Mina turned tomato-red in
the face and began fumbling for words after that.
        "Mina, it's nothing to be really embarrassed about," Serena
said, putting her hand on Mina's shoulder, "If you two are really that
close, then what's it matter?"
        "I guess you're the expert here, Serena," Mina said, smiling.
"You're right, though, Trent and I are really close already.  I don't
know why, but everything between us is just clicking."
        "Kinda like you and Darien, eh Serena?" Lita asked.
        "Well, not that far Lita," Mina told her, "We're not quite the
lovers Serena and Darien are."
        "Speaking of lovers, how's things between you and Greg, Amy?"
Serena asked.
        "Huh?" Amy said, taken a bit by surprise.  "Fine," she said
quickly, trying to kill this tangent of the conversation.
        "Just fine?" Mina asked.  "I thought you two were going to talk
last week?"
        "We did," she said plainly.
        "And?" everyone asked.
        "Look, normally I would go on and talk, but this was a very
personal and sensitive issue for us so please don't pry," Amy said.
        "We understand, Amy.  Just make sure you're careful no matter
what you've decided," Serena told her.
        "Thanks," Amy replied with a smile.  The conversation terminated
just in time, as Raye entered the room.
        "Hey guys, sorry I was late," she said.  "So, let's get this
meeting underway."
        "Indeed," Luna said, hopping up onto the table.  "Artemis and I
have found out an interesting thing as we have tried to track down where
this new activity is originating from."
        "What is it?" Amy asked.
        "Well, whenever it seems we have a lock on it, it moves,"
Artemis told her.
        "You mean their base of operations is mobile this time??" Raye
asked.
        "Correct, and this makes it even more difficult." Luna went on,
"They could, conceivably, target parts of the world we can't get to that
quickly.  We've been lucky so far, though, that they've been
concentrating on Japan first."
        "But there's no guarantee they'll continue just as they have
been.  In this case, we have to move quickly to neutralize them,"
Artemis added.
        "That's easier said than done," Lita said.  "So far, Mina's
still the only one who has her full powers.  Even with her powers, we
wouldn't stand a chance against whoever is heading this up this time."
        "Precisely what we realized Lita," Luna said.  "What's more, we
have no way of knowing when the next one of you will get your full
powers, or who it will be for that matter."
        "So in other words, we're up a creek with only one paddle,"
Serena said.
        "Pretty much, Serena," Artemis said.  "And Orion insists that
each of you be tested individually."
        "How do we know we're being tested?" Raye asked.
        "I think the thing is that you're not supposed to know," Luna
told her.  "That's what makes the test so difficult.  He wants to make
sure you are really ready for this transition."
        "Well, until everything starts coming down around our ears, I
wouldn't worry," Lita said.  "I mean, Mina's worked out really well as
temporary leader, and we've been able to destroy the monsters relying on
her."
        "But we don't want it always to be like this, do we Lita?" Mina
asked.  Lita sighed and shook her head no.  "I think the key is to
figure out how to return Serena to her position of power.  She's
traditionally been the most powerful of us, and if she can gain her
powers we'll be a lot better off."
        "Still, there's no guarantee that that's going to happen any
time soon, Mina," Serena told her.   "And until that does, I want you to
remain leader."
        "I just hope we don't get challenged while we're still in this
weakened state," Mina said.  "It could be dangerous right now."
        Mina didn't know how dangerous things were about to get...

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Turquos stepped forward, addressing Obsidious with the respect
he always had.
        "Lord Obsidious, I believe now would be a most opportune time to
put into action the plan I devised a couple of weeks ago," he said.
        "I agree, Turquos.  Go and bring Amber and Granos here and we
shall plan the locations of the attack," Obsidious told him.
        "At once, sir," Turquos replied, bowing.  He turned quickly to
fetch the two as Obsidious turned to his viewing crystal, looking on the
image of his brother Onyx.
        "It has been long since that day, has it not, Onyx?" Obsidious
asked as if her were talking to Onyx.  "I wonder if you remember it
still?  That day you defected to the enemy..."

        It was the hours just before the attack, and Onyx was making his
way out of Queen Beryl's palace after leaving a note to Obsidious that
he was defecting.  He had just reached the door when Obsidious came up
behind him and stopped him.
        "What is this about you defecting, Onyx?!" he asked.  "You're
one of Queen Beryl's finest warriors!  Even Malachite must be second to
you!  When we crush the Moon Kingdom, you will be second in command
under the Queen herself!"
        "I am not in this for power or glory, Obsidious," Onyx replied
calmly.  "There is no honor in this."
        "What are you talking about?  Honor?" Obsidious asked.
        "I supported the Queen when her reasons for rebelling against
the alliance between Earth and the Moon were logical, but now she's been
twisted by the Negaforce.  She doesn't realize that if she is victorious
Queen Mettalia will just do away with her and then will destroy
everything," Onyx told him.  "Is that what we're after?  Total
destruction?"
        "But you must understand that we must destroy our enemies so
that our society may take its rightful place and so that Queen Beryl may
take her proper place on the throne of the Moon Kingdom!  Onyx, think
about it!  The glory our new way deserves is within our grasp and you're
throwing it away!" Obsidious told him.
        "There is MORE to life than glory Obsidious!" Onyx said, turning
and glaring at Obsidious.
        "Don't tell me..." Obsidious said, taken aback.  Then he
approached Onyx again, looking at him with disgust.  "You've been warped
by that girl, haven't you?"
        "I have not been warped, but awakened to what the truth is! And
the truth is that Queen Beryl's cause and methods are unjust and evil!"
Onyx retorted.
        "How dare you blaspheme her so!  You may be my brother, but you
are a traitor Onyx!  A traitor and you will die!" Obsidious yelled.
        "That may be so, but at least I will die knowing that I tried to
do the right thing and put an end to Queen Beryl's madness," Onyx said,
turning away again.
        "Onyx, don't DO this!  We'll spare the girl and you can rule
your own planet with her!  I swear it!" Obsidious pleaded.
        "She would die first protecting her kingdom...and if she is to
die, then I will die with her.  For I love her, Obsidious, and I see
only now what power love can have," Onyx told him.  "Maybe someday you
will realize that too.  On that day, we will be brothers again.  Until
then, farewell Obsidious."
        With that, Onyx stepped out of the palace and warped away.
Tears of rage ran down the cheeks of Obsidious as he watched where his
brother had been.
        "So be it...from here on out, I have no brother!!" he swore
quietly as he clenched his fists.

        "A thousand and more years have passed since then," Obsidious
said, coming back to the present.  "And I still do not understand why
you betrayed me, Onyx.  But it is of no matter.  Soon you will die like
the traitor you are and I will bring final victory to the Negaverse."
        Just then, Turquos returned with Amber and Granos.
        "We await your commands, Obsidious," Amber said, bowing
gracefully.
        "Excellent," Obsidious said, approaching them.  A map of Tokyo
appeared in hologram form in front of them.  "Amber, I want you to
attack in this section of town, near the power plant," he said, pointing
to the area.  "Granos, take your creature Feon and have him attack this
temple," he continued, pointing to it.  "If all goes as Turquos has
planned, the Sailor Scouts will perish and this world will be ours."
        The two underlings saluted Obsidious and then went to teleport
to Tokyo.  Obsidious turned to his viewing crystal to monitor Amber's
progress.  Turquos stepped up alongside him.
        "Mind if I watch?  This could be entertaining," Turquos asked.
        "Oh indeed it will my friend," Obsidious said, "Today will be
an historic day for the Negaverse.  It will see the end of the Sailor
Scouts, and the long awaited death of my traitor brother Onyx."
        The two laughed a bit and turned to the viewing crystal to watch
the carnage begin.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        As the girls continued to talk about what to do about their
current situation, the power cut out completely.
        "Hey, what gives?  The weather's just fine outside!" Serena asked.
        "The Negaverse is at the bottom of this!  I know it!" Luna said.
"They must be attacking the power plant!"
        "Why would they do that, though?  It makes no sense," Amy said.
        "It doesn't matter what sense it makes, they're doing it all
right!" Lita said, looking out the window.  "Take a look!"  She pointed
to the sky where smoke was rising from the area where the power plant
was.
        "I'll take care of this," Mina said.
        "On your own?" Raye asked.  "Are you sure you're up to it,
Mina?"
        "I'm the only one who can fight them right now, Raye.  Besides,
I've got a bad feeling about this and I don't want any of you getting
hurt." Mina told her.  "C'mon, let's do it Artemis!"
        "On my way, Mina!"  Artemis said, taking off with her out the
door.  The others watched as she ran off.
        "Take care, Mina," Serena said.
        Raye watched as Mina ran off, hoping likewise.  Suddenly, she
felt an evil presence very nearby and knew instantly it was the
Negaverse.
        "Guys, look out!" she cried.  They were all caught by surprise
as a rock came crashing into the wall from outside.  They all rushed
outside and saw a giant iron monster standing, looking over at them.
        "This was a trap!" Luna cried.  As she realized that, Obsidious
appeared over the monster and laughed at them.
        "Quite clever of you, kitty.  As we speak, your friend is
running right towards one of my finest generals and a trap that will
mean her demise.  As for you, please have fun with Feon," he told them.
"So sorry I can't be here to watch him crush you all like the insects
you are, but I must tend to another matter."  He teleported away as Feon
charged the girls.  They all scattered as it collided with the wall of
the house.
        "We can't fight this thing alone!  We've got to get Mina back
here!" Raye said.
        "Too late, she's probably halfway to the power plant by now!"
Luna said.  "Scouts transform, quickly!  You stand at least more of a
chance against it in your Sailor Scout forms!"
        The girls quickly transformed and leapt into battle against the
monster.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        A ways away, Mina's transformation into Sailor Venus was
complete and she was making her way to the power plant with Artemis.
She arrived on the scene to see Amber firing blasts at power lines and
apparently having a god time with it.
        "Man, no wonder people worry about their electric bills," she
noted, looking on.  Amber turned towards her, noticing her.
        "Oh good, you arrived.  Now the real fun can begin," she said.
        "You'd better be ready, lady, 'cause you're messing with the
wrong Scout," Mina told her, powering up.
        "Oh?  Then I'd guess my friend Feon is messing with the right
ones then," she said coyly.
        "What're you talking about?" Venus asked.
        "As we speak, your friends are being systematically destroyed by
one of Granos' monsters which they won't be able to defeat without your
powers.  And you have no chance against me, sailor girl," Amber told
her.
        With that, she formed a blast and fired at Venus who quickly
jumped up to a rooftop.  Amber fired another shot at her, but Venus
jumped over it and aimed a kick towards her.  Amber just laughed and
produced an energy field in front of her that shocked Venus as she hit
it.  Amber then moved in, punching Venus in the gut and then flinging
her down, hard into the ground.  Venus hit hard, but managed to roll out
of the way before a blast came down and struck the ground where she had
hit.  She quickly got back up to her feet and ran along the ground.
        Amber lost her in the maze of wires and just started firing
randomly.  Venus managed to find an opening and jumped up to a tower
where she quickly powered up and took aim at Amber, firing her Double
Venus Meteor Shower at her.  Amber saw it coming out of the corner of
her eye and managed to jump out of the way of it just in time.  She
fired at the tower Venus stood on and hit it.  The tower began to fall,
but Venus jumped away from it and fired her attack at Amber yet again.
Amber retaliated with a single, wide and powerful beam that overpowered
Venus' attack and struck Venus herself, sending her reeling onto a
rooftop nearby.
        Venus tried to get up quickly, but was thrown a few feet by the
explosion created by yet another of Amber's blasts that had landed
nearby.  Amber descended, laughing at her prey.
        "Come on, sailor girl, put up at least a halfway decent fight!
Or are monsters the only thing you can fight?" she asked mockingly.
        "Well, you're a monster so I guess I'll fight you!!" Venus
retorted, quickly firing the Double Meteor Shower again.  Amber dodged
again, but this time Venus had anticipated it and intercepted her with a
kick to the side followed by a spinning kick to the face and a spinning
back fist that sent Amber reeling.  Amber regained her composure, wiping
blood from the corner of her mouth and sneering at Venus.
        "How dare you put your hands on me you little hussy!" she said
furiously.
        "Heh, you're one to talk babe," Venus replied, a wry smile on
her face.  She took up a defensive stance.  "Ready to dance?"
        "Yes, by all means," Amber snarled, leaping at her.  As Venus
went into battle again, she prayed that her friends were at least
holding their own.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Unfortunately, Mina's prayers were going unanswered currently.
Mercury was already hurting big time and was leaning against a wall for
support and the others were weakening rapidly.  Mars was the only one
who was still in decent shape.
        "This is hopeless!  Without Venus, we won't even scratch this
thing!" Sailor Moon cried out.
        "Hang in there, guys!" Jupiter said.  She turned to Mars.
"Let's see if we can double-team it!"
        "Allow me to help out!" another voice called from the side.  The
four looked over quickly to see Tuxedo Mask standing, cane in hand.
"Jupiter and Mars, go for it!  I'll cover Sailor Mercury and Sailor
Moon!"
        "Your timing is perfect as always, Tuxedo Mask!" Sailor Moon
told him, making her way over to his side.  "Go for it Mars!"
        "Well, anything's worth a try," Mars replied.  The two powered
up to try and at least slow the monster down.
        "Jupiter...!!!" Jupiter cried, lightning crackling between her
hands.  "Thunderclap Zap!!" she finished, throwing a ball of lightning
at the monster.
        "Mars...Celestial...Fire...Surround!!!" Mars cried at the same
time, her rings of fire flying towards the monster.  Both attacks
connected, but only served to irritate the monster further.
        "It's no good!" Amy said.  "Even our combined powers wouldn't be
able to faze that thing!"
        "We can't just give up!" Sailor Moon said.  She tried to use her
Moon Scepter again, but to no avail.  The monster stepped forward and
swatted at her.  Tuxedo Mask moved to defend her, but it did no good.
The monster ended up hitting both of them and sending them flying into
Sailor Mercury and the wall.  All three of them collapsed unconscious.
        "You guys!!" Jupiter cried, running to their aid.  The monster
caught her up as she ran past it and slammed her into the ground hard.
        "Sailor Jupiter!" Mars cried out, watching her friend get
slammed.  She now stood alone as the monster lumbered towards her.
Jupiter was trying to get up, but the wind had gone completely out of
her.
        Mars backed away from the monster, not sure what she could do.
She then stopped and just faced the monster.
        "Okay, pal, no more running," she said.  "But I'm not going down
without a fight!"
        The monster drew back and punched at her.  She braced herself
but suddenly was tackled to the ground from the side and the punch hit
the wall, shattering it.  Mars looked down and saw that Chad had pushed
her out of the way.
        "Get out of here!  I'll draw its attention!" he told her.
        "Are you crazy?  That thing will kill you!" she told him.
        "I won't let it destroy this place!  It means too much to me and
Raye!" he retorted.  He ran at the monster and tried to kick it, but the
monster caught his leg and tossed him fifty feet away.  A shot of fear
went through Mars.
        "CHAD!!!!" she cried, sprinting over to him.  She carefully
picked him up as he lay, his leg a bit mangled.  "Chad, speak to me!
Please!" she pleaded, feeling tears to well up.  "Just at least open
your eyes, Chad!  Damn it, Chad, open your eyes!!!"  she continued,
almost screaming.  Finally, he came around a little and looked up at
her.
        "R...Raye...that's you...isn't it...?" he asked weakly.  She
gasped a bit, but nodded.  "I...I thought it'd be you...I recognize that
yell anywhere..."  Raye smiled a bit at him.
        "Just be quiet, Chad, you'll be okay.  Everything will be okay,"
she told him.
        "Yeah, just a huge repair bill on this place," he said, trying
to laugh.  He winced heavily as he did though.  Raye held him more
carefully, trying to comfort him.  He looked back up at her after a long
moment.  "Raye...whatever happens...I want you...to know...I've
always...loved you..." he told her.  Raye gasped, looking at him.  "You
showed me a future I could have if I tried hard enough...now I have it,
and I'm happy."  He coughed a bit, and Raye looked at him even more
concerned.  "Just remember...I love you...no matter what..." he said
softly.
        Chad passed out in her arms with that.  She let the tears begin
to flow as she realized now what she had known all along.  She held Chad
close to her for a long moment, crying.
        "I love you too, Chad..." she whispered through her tears.  "I
love you, and I'm going to make sure we get a chance at that future we
want..."
        In that instant, Raye realized finally not what her future was,
but what it could be.
        In that instant, she accepted it completely and willingly, but
as her destiny, not a possibility.
        In that instant, the fire in her heart turned into a
conflagration that consumed her whole being.
        She kissed him gently and set him down just as gently, then rose
and faced the monster, a fire in her eyes like none before.
        "You...you're the cause of all this..." she said, the anger
fueling the fire of her rage.  "My friends...my shrine...and the man I
love..." she continued, her tears uncontrollable.  "I WILL DESTROY
YOU!!!!!" she yelled.
        From a nearby tree, Orion looked on and nodded.  Before Mars,
her transformation stick appeared and change, just as Mina's had, only
resembling the planet Mars on top and had her Mars insignia in it.
Orion hopped down next to her.
        "Now, concentrate and bring the power to you." he told her.
        She nodded and held the stick, concentrating.
        "Mars, please hear me..." she said.  "Help me defeat this evil!"
        In her mind's eye, the god Mars appeared.
        "You have made me proud over the years, Raye.  Finally, you have
discovered what is most worth fighting for: the protection and safety of
your loved ones.  Now I do release your full potential, Raye.  Say, Mars
Power Complete, Transform!" he told her.
        "Yes!" she replied.  She held the stick before herself.  "Mars
Power Complete, Transform!!" she cried.
        The orb at the top of the stick began to glow and turn, the
insignia inside spinning as well.  A ball of energy came from the top of
it and, just like it did with Venus, began to change her uniform.  In
her tiara's jewel was her Mars insignia.  The jewel in her front bow
changed to look like a starburst.  The sleeves of her outfit flared out
in satin extensions.  Her bows and skirt took on the different shades
that flames take: red, orange, yellow, violet, and blue.  Finally,
flames appeared on her gloves, looking like fire came from her elbows
and flared out to her wrists.  She stood, powered up completely and with
a look of hatred in her eyes for the monster.
        "You're mine...!" she said, almost growling and powering up her
prime attack.  A ball of fire formed between her hands in front of her,
becoming almost as bright as the sun itself.
        "Mars...Solar...Flare..." she cried, beginning the attack.  Arcs
of flame began jumping around the ball, just as solar flares do on the
sun.  The flames circled the small ball and began to speed up and grow
until the began to circle Mars herself.  "RAGE!!!" she cried, directing
the flames at the monster.
        The intense flames shot at the monster and engulfed it.  The
monster, even though it was made of iron, began to burn and it soon
incinerated, turning to dust.  Mars stood, catching her breath as she
watched the dust float away in the wind.  In the flames, an image began
to appear.  Mars walked towards it and saw who it was -- her grandfather.
        "Grandpa??" she asked.
        "Hiya honey!" the two-foot tall old man said back as
energetically as he ever had.  "Gosh, if I'da known my granddaughter was
one of the famous Sailor Scouts, I woulda treated you a lot
differently."
        "You didn't have to, grandpa, you raised me just right," she
told him with a smile.  Her face sombered a bit, then.  "You know...I
never got the chance to say good-bye."
        "I know, and I'm sorry honey," he told her.  "But don't worry,
I'm here with your grandmother as well and a lot of my old friends.
Raye, listen...I didn't realize how rough it would be for you to take
care of the temple after I was gone.  But don't worry, everything will
be taken care of."
        "What do you mean, grandpa?" Mars asked.
        "You'll see, honey.  You know, in life I wanted you to realize
your spiritual side as well as give you the morals you needed to grow up
right.  When I left you, I feared that my job went unfinished, but now
that I see that my job is done and now, more than ever, I want you to
have the life you've dreamt for," he told her.  "I don't have much more
time, Raye."
        "Grandpa..." Mars said, reaching out a bit.  She reached back,
stifling a tear and smiled at her grandfather.  "Thank you grandpa...for
everything." she said, smiling.
        "And thank you, Raye, for being more than I ever expected," her
grandpa said, smiling.  "Now go and chase your dreams!" As he said that,
he faded away and the flames died away.  Orion then walked over to her.
        "You did well, Mars, but your work is not finished yet.  You
must go and assist Venus quickly!" he told her.
        "But what about my friends?  And Chad?" she asked.
        "I will remain and tend to them.  Hurry!  Before she is lost at
the hands of Amber and Obsidious!" he told her.
        "Right!  Thank you Orion!" she said, running off towards the
power plant.  Orion turned to the Sailor Scouts and made his way over to
them to aid them.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Amber and Venus stood wearily, each watching the other for the
next move.
        "Had enough yet, Amber?" Venus asked, tensing up.
        "Hardly!  I will not rest until you rest in peace!" she said,
firing her large blast at Venus again.  As the bolt streaked towards
Venus, a ball of dark energy came from nowhere and intercepted it.  The
two combatants looked over to see Onyx standing on a nearby pole.  He
stood, a ball of dark energy in hand, looking at Amber.
        "A marvelous plan, Amber, but I'm afraid I simply can't let you
go through with it," he told her.  He prepared to fire the bolt at her,
but just then Obsidious appeared before him.
        "Is that such a hot idea, brother dear?" he asked, laughing.
        "Obsidious...!" Onyx breathed.
        "Very good, Onyx.  You always were the quick one," Obsidious
said, laughing a bit.  The two girls fighting on the rooftop just
watched the brothers face each other.
        "What's he talking about?  Who's he calling brother?" Venus
asked.
        "Are you that stupid, girl?" Amber asked.  "Onyx and Obsidious
are brothers!"
        A shot of cold fear went through Venus as she thought about it.
She looked up at the two, amazed.
        "Onyx...is this true?" she asked.
        "Yes Venus..." Onyx said a bit sadly.  "Obsidious is my brother."
        "But how...?" she asked.  "You're on our side...aren't you?"
        "How can you not know?" Obsidious asked her.  Then he realized
it.  "Oh, so that's it...she doesn't remember yet, does she?"
        "Leave her and the past out of this, Obsidious.  It's me you
want," Onyx said.
        "That's true, but she is an obstacle as well and must be
terminated as like," Obsidious said.  "But before I send you to
oblivion, brother dear, I think I'll have a bit of fun."
        With that, Obsidious fired a blast of Negaenergy that knocked
Onyx off of the pole he stood on and onto the roof next to Venus.
Obsidious fired another blast that sent both of them flying across the
rooftop and into the bit of wall that jutted up around the rooftop.  He
moved in to fire a more intense blast at Venus, but Onyx rolled in front
of her and took the blast on his back.  Obsidious continued the blast,
looking on in mild amusement..
        "Get out of here Venus...now!" he told her as he tried to resist
the force of the continuing blast.
        "I can't just leave you like this!" she told him.
        "You're too important!  Get out of here!!" he told her.  Just
then, though, the blast became too much for him to bear and he cried
out, falling forward.  Venus caught him, setting him down next to her.
        "Onyx, hang in there!" she told him.  Obsidious hovered just
overhead.
        "Faithful to the last," Obsidious said, mockingly to her, "All
of this seems so fitting, considering the past, you know.  Oh, but
that's right, you don't know who your mystery man is yet.  Well, allow
me to show you, my dear."  With that, he snapped his fingers and the
mask over Onyx's head and eyes came off.  Venus gasped as she looked at
him.  It was Trent.
        "Trent...it's you...you're Onyx?" she asked.
        Trent looked up slowly, things coming into focus again.  For a
minute, he just saw Sailor Venus before him, but as his vision cleared
he saw through her disguise.
        "How do you know my real..." he asked weakly as he looked up at
her.  Then he realized it.  "Mina...?"
        "How touchingly appropriate," Obsidious said, looking over them.
"Separated a thousand years ago so tragically and reunited here on Earth
a thousand years later as mortals."
        "Trent...why did you keep this from me?" Mina asked.
        "My past with the Negaverse is not something I am proud of...I
was afraid you would run from me if you found out," he told her as her
tried to get up.
        "You silly," she told him, helping him.  "You should know by now
that I don't desert my friends...or my boyfriend."  Trent smiled back at
her a bit as she told him that.
        "This is all very touching..." Obsidious said.  "But it's time
for you to die.  Amber, you may have the honors."
        "With pleasure!" she said, powering up a blast.  Just then, Mars
appeared on the scene.
        "You're not touching them, pal!" she said, powering up another
of her attacks.  Multiple flames ignited and began dancing around her.
"Mars Firestorm Strike!!!" she cried, directing the flames at Obsidious
and Amber.  Hundreds of fireballs shot at the two who quickly avoided
them.  Amber looked over at Mars angrily.
        "Impossible!  Feon was to have destroyed you all by now!" she
said.  Orion hopped down next to Onyx and Venus.
        "Not since she got her full powers, Amber!  Your plan failed,
Obsidious!" he said.
        "Amber, retreat now!" Obsidious told her.  She quickly
teleported away to the base as Obsidious looked them over.  "Don't think
you're safe, by any means, Sailor Scouts!  The next attack will be your
final downfall, count on it!" he said in an inhuman voice.  Then he,
like Amber, teleported away.
        Mars made her way over to the rooftop to check on the two.  As
she approached, she recognized Trent and slowed down.
        "You two okay?" she asked.
        "Nothing a little rest won't heal," Venus told her.  She finally
managed to help Trent to his feet and then went over to where his mask
was laying.  She picked it up and walked over behind him, putting it on
for him again.  "So that guy is your brother?"
        "Unfortunately, yes," Onyx said, hanging his head a bit.  "We
had a major falling out when I defected from the Negaverse long ago, and
I have been labeled a traitor ever since."
        "What made you leave?" she asked, stepping around to his front.
        "It wasn't a what.  It was who," Orion said, looking up at her.
        "You mean..." Venus asked.
        "After he left the base, Onyx made his way to the palace to try
and warn Queen Serenity," Orion said, beginning to explain.


        Onyx ran through the halls of the palace, trying to locate the
queen.  Artemis and Orion intercepted him as he patrolled the halls.
        "Onyx?  What are you doing here?!" Orion asked.
        "There's no time for explanations!" Onyx said.  "Artemis, get to
the queen!  Tell here!  The Negaverse is about to attack!"
        "What?!" Artemis cried.
        "You heard me!  Now where is Venus?" he asked.
        "In the garden with the rest of Princess Serena's court.  I'll
go tell the Queen, you'd better go get her!" Artemis said. Just then, an
explosion rocked the palace.
        "We're too late!" Onyx said, running for the garden.  "Hurry,
Artemis!"
        Artemis made his way to the great hall as Onyx and Orion ran out
into the gardens.  They saw bolts of energy raining down on the palace,
destroying whole sections at a time.  He began running through the
gardens.
        "VENUS!!!" Onyx cried out as he ran.  Eventually, he found her
trying to fight off a wave of monsters with the other Sailor Scouts.
        "Venus!!" he cried out.  She looked over and saw him.
        "Onyx!!" she cried out.  The two tried to run to each other, but
just then a wave of energy overcame them all and they were paralyzed.
        "No, Onyx!!!" she cried out.
        "I'll come for you, Venus!  I swear it!!" he cried out to her.
That was the last he uttered as another wave overcame them and silenced
them along with the other citizens of the moon.  They were then sent to
Earth to be reborn 1,000 years in the future.


        "And ever since then, I've searched for the Prince and Princess
to enter their servitude and protect them as I should have," Onyx said,
realizing at that point why he had traveled the world so much.
        "And also to find me," Venus added.  She then looked down at the
ring on her finger.  "And this ring...?"
        "Was the ring he gave you a thousand years ago...when he
proposed to you," Orion told her.
        "How come I didn't remember any of this earlier?" Onyx asked.
        "You were to be given a new chance at a peaceful life, Onyx."
Orion told him.  "I didn't think we'd ever encounter the Sailor Scouts
again, so I never told you.  But once you discovered your identity as
Onyx, it was only a matter of time."
        "I understand, Orion," Onyx said.  He then looked at Venus.
"Well, I guess you won't want anything more to do with me, then.  I was,
and still am technically, the enemy after all."
        Venus turned his face to look at her.  She smiled at him.
        "Just what are you talking about?" she asked him.  "I don't care
if you were a Negaverse General...the Trent I know and care about is the
one that exists now, not the one that existed a millennium ago."
        "You do know, though, that we will never be safe as long as my
brother continues to come after me," Onyx told her.
        "We'll take care of him," Mars said, standing by Venus.  "Now
there's two of us with our powers, and we're really gonna start kicking
some Negaverse butt."
        "Thanks, Mars.  I owe you one, big time," Venus said as she
hugged her.  Mars smiled and hugged her back.
        "That's what I'm here for," Mars said.  "I have the chance to
chase my dreams now, and I'm going to make sure nothing gets in my way.
That includes trashing some major Negaverse scum."
        "We'll do it together," Venus told her.  "And once the others
get their powers, they'll help us to, I just know it."
        "So, I guess you two are a real item now, eh?" Mars asked.
        "Oh yeah, that reminds me," Venus said, grabbing Onyx by the
shirt.  "Now that I know who you are, Onyx, I get to pay you back for
all the times you've saved our behinds."
        Onyx was about to protest, but Venus cut him short by kissing
him, hard.  He swore he was melting as she kissed him.  Orion rolled his
eyes as Mars giggled a bit as she looked on.  A long moment later, Venus
released the kiss and Onyx about fell over.
        "Does he always react like that when you kiss him?" Mars asked.
        "Nope.  Usually he just stands there wide-eyed," Venus told her.
        "You mean like he is now." Mars said, pointing.  Venus looked
over and, just as Mars had said, he stood there his eyes almost as wide
as golf balls.
        "Yup, that's about right," she said, laughing.  The two went
over and started trying to bring him out of it as the sun set in the
distance.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        The next day, Serena, Amy and Lita were laying on futons in the
living room of the Temple as Reeny served them soup.
        "This stinks.  It's a beautiful day out there and we're stuck
being patients to Dr. Flamingo," Serena complained.
        "Pipe down unless you want those meatballs on your head in this
soup!" Reeny retorted.
        "That's no way to talk to your mother!" Serena came back.
        "Yeah, but you aren't my mother yet so shut up and lie down!"
Reeny came back.
        "Now I know why I ground you in the future," Serena muttered.
        "Hey, chill out Serena," Lita said.  "I overheard Raye on the
phone with Darien, and he'll be on his way over once the hospital checks
him over one more time."
        "Oooo, goody!" Serena said, giggling away.
        "Well, at least I can get some reading done while we're stuck in
here." Amy said, going through yet another book in her stack.
        "Sure you don't want Greg to come over and read to ya?" Lita
asked.  Amy just sighed and shook her head.
        "Hey, where's Mina and Raye?" Serena asked.
        "Mina's out with Trent, again," Reeny said.  The three groaned a
bit, nodding.  "As for Raye, she said she needed to take care of some
personal business."
        "Wonder what's up?" Lita asked.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Raye sat next to Chad's bed in the hospital, looking over at
him.  He sat up in bed, looking over the tray of food he'd just been
served by the nurse.
        "Is this stuff supposed to be, um, edible Raye?" he asked.
        "Hey, I'm not the one who it's for.  Don't ask me," she said,
looking it over.
        "I'll give my stomach a minute to get ready for it," he said,
putting his fork and knife down.  "You sure you wanna stay here all day?
I'll be okay."
        "Reeny's got everything under control.  Besides, I figured this
way we could get some quality time together, alone, and quiet," she
said, smiling at him.
        "So where do we start?" he asked, leaning over towards her.
        "How about here?" she asked, leaning to him and kissing him.
She pulled back a second later, smiling at him.  Chad smiled back at
her.
        "Hmm, looks like a good way to start to me," he said, reaching
around her head and pulling her in for another kiss.  After that, Chad
sat back in his bed smiling.  "With therapy like this, I'll be out of
here in no time."  Then he tried some of the food and almost gagged.
"But with food like this, I think I'm gonna die..."
        Raye just laughed and helped him eat some of the food that was
more edible.
        "You said something about some good news before?" Chad asked in
between bites.
        "Oh yeah, my aunt and uncle are coming to take care of the
temple.  We talked it over on the phone, and they want to get the papers
and rights to own the place as well," she told him.
        "Will they still need help?" Chad asked.
        "Of course, silly.  Besides, I'd insist you stayed anyway," Raye
told him, smiling.
        As Raye continued to help pick out the most edible parts of the
meal, the two continued to talk about all the things they felt they
needed to tell each other about.  Things that they'd meant to tell each
other a long time ago, but only now had the courage and opportunity to
actually say.



Part Four
Mercury's Boiling Point

        The dream appeared to her almost as clear as a show on TV.
There stood Serena, only as Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom, looking
as lovely as only she could.  She stepped to the side, then, and a
shadowy figure came forth.  The mysterious person was obviously female
even though she was shadowed.  Her dress was very similar to Serena's,
yet different in many subtle ways.  She seemed so familiar as
well...like it was someone she knew very well.
        "Who are you?" she asked.
        Before there was any reply, a small symbol of a double crescent
moon shone through the shadows.
        "Where have I seen that sigil before?" she asked.
        As she reached out to touch the sigil, it emitted a bright light
and brought Raye out of her dream.
        She sat up in bed quickly, gasping for air and in a cold sweat.
The memory of the dream was still fresh in her mind, as it had been
since she started having that dream after gaining her full powers just a
few days ago.  Ever since then, her psychic powers had been increasing
exponentially.  Along with her increased powers, though, had come this
mysterious dream.  It would always end before Raye could find out who
the girl in the shadows was.  The only clue she had was the double
crescent moon sigil that shone through the darkness.  She knew she had
seen that same symbol before, and many times, but she simply could not
place it.
        Raye sighed and got up, looking out of her bedroom window.  It
was still dark outside, and she knew she should get more sleep, but the
more she thought about the dream, the more it bugged her that she
couldn't figure out who the mysterious woman was.  She thought for a
moment maybe it was Queen Serenity, Serena's mother from the Moon
Kingdom, but she quickly dismissed that idea.  The mysterious woman had
a different hairstyle than Serena's, and by now Raye knew that hairstyle
so well, she could pick Serena out in a stadium full of people.  That
also, then, ruled out Reeny since her hair was just about the same as
Serena's except the modified meatball style.  Raye laughed to herself,
thinking maybe they actually looked more like eggs than meatballs and
then thinking about how Reeny would react to being called "egg head".
        Eventually, Raye sat back in bed and turned her thoughts to more
calm things, like her newly founded relationship with Chad.  She felt so
much more free since they had finally been honest about their feelings.
Of course, the presence of her aunt and uncle tending to the shrine
helped things even more, but that was besides the point.  Raye relaxed
back in bed as she continued to think about how incredibly lucky she
realized she actually was.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        "And that's the whole story up to now, I guess," Serena said,
sitting back next to Darien.  It was the next night, and the group had
gathered at Amy's place to meet with Trent and Orion and set everything
down for him to process.
        "So you're Princess Serena and Prince Darien?" Trent asked, just
to make sure.  "Man, I don't know where to begin...probably by
apologizing."
        "Apologizing?" Darien asked.  "For what?"
        "For not warning you sooner about the attack," Trent told him.
"If I'd have been a bit quicker, I could've warned you all about the
attack on the Moon Kingdom and the massive death and destruction that
followed would have been averted."
        "Trent, I seriously doubt we could have won so long ago even
with any kind of warning," Luna told him.  "The fact that you tried,
though, shows your true nature."
        "Thank you Luna," Trent said with a smile.  "It's true, Beryl
tried to manipulate me like the rest of Prince Darien's officers, but
for some reason, she did not complete the task with me."
        "We can't really pin all of the blame on Beryl, though.  She
didn't start out as an agent of Queen Mettalia, but she let herself be
manipulated too easily," Orion said.
        "Queen Mettalia?" Serena asked.  "Who's that?"
        "It's rather hard to explain, but in a nutshell, she IS the
Negaforce," Orion told her.  "She is the source of all evil in the
Negaverse and is also its supreme ruler.  However, she had been sealed
away long ago by the ancestors of the Moon Kingdom and was unable to do
anything.  At least, until Beryl released her."
        "How could she do it?" Raye asked.  "Most magical seals can only
be released by people of the same bloodline."
        "Precisely, Raye," Orion said.  "Beryl was a direct descendant
of the people who had sealed Mettalia away.  When Mettalia was released,
Beryl gained incredible power and turned it on the unsuspecting Moon
Kingdom."
        "And since she had manipulated all of Darien's men, they
wouldn't warn him of any danger," Mina reasoned.  "But still, why didn't
she manipulate you completely?"
        "Well, I hate to say it and sound mushy, but you were the reason
Mina," Trent told her.  Mina began blushing as she remembered the story
while Trent continued.  "See, I was in love with Venus back in the Moon
Kingdom.  I knew what was going to happen in the attack.  No one was to
be spared.  I couldn't bear the idea of her dying by what I felt would
be my own hand, and since I knew there was no way she would desert her
princess, I deserted Beryl and her forces.  But it was all for nothing."
        By this time, Raye, Lita, Reeny, and Serena all were starry eyed
and sighing.
        "What a romantic story...!" they all said.
        "Snap out of it!" Luna said firmly.  The four girls caught
themselves, giggled a bit and went back to their places.
        Mina, meanwhile, was still having severe trouble processing the
story.  She still couldn't fathom it at all, even though it had now been
told to her by both Orion and Trent multiple times.  Granted, at first,
she hadn't thought about it much, but the more it preyed on her mind the
more she realized just how serious a situation is was.  Here she was the
one member of the group who had never been romantically involved with
anyone and yet in her former life on the Moon, the love she'd shared
with Onyx was comparable to that shared between Princess Serena and
Prince Darien.  She knew that was a bit of a vain comparison to make,
but as Trent told the story she could feel, deep inside her being, the
feelings that had been locked away for so long flood forth.  The one
thing that sealed it all was that since Queen Serenity had wanted them
all to have a second chance on earth, that meant that she and Trent had
been destined for each other just as Serena and Darien were.  All of
this made Mina feel a bit dizzy and she fell back against t he wall, her
eyes still wide as she came to full realization.  Amy was quickly over
by her.
        "You okay, Mina?" she asked.  Mina came around a second later.
        "I'm...yeah, I'm okay," she replied, sitting up against the
wall.  "Just a lot to think about."  Then she looked over at Trent.
"And a lot we'll have to talk about."  Trent just nodded to her and gave
a small smile which she returned.  Trent then turned back to everyone
again.
        "However, our present problem is just as dangerous as Beryl was
back then, or maybe even more dangerous,"  Trent said.  "My brother,
Obsidious, is still after me and he has gathered up enormous power and
forces to eliminate me, and all of you."
        "How was he able to create monsters that we couldn't defeat with
our normal powers, or even with Sailor Moon's Moon Scepter?" Amy asked.
        "He's been watching you all fight for some time now.  He was to
be next up after Malachite to fight you, but Beryl got cocky and took
you on herself," Orion told her.  "He watched you through the fighting
you did against those aliens and the people from the Dark Moon as well,
and he was then able to create monsters that were not only immune to
your powers, but that could predict every one of your possible moves
against them."
        "How was he able to break out of the Negaverse, though?" Lita
asked.  "I thought we sealed that place up for good when we dusted
Beryl."
        "That was my fault," Trent said, lowering his gaze a bit.  "Even
though I defected, I still have a great deal of Nega-energy left inside
me.  That's what fuels my powers.  Obsidious used to remark that I was
even more powerful than Malachite and just a bit less powerful than
Beryl herself.  What Obsidious needed was a flare up of Nega-energy on
this side so that he could draw his forces through to our world.  He got
that chance when I saved Venus from that first monster as Onyx."
        Lita whistled, impressed by what Trent had said about his
powers.
        "To think that someone else exists that's as powerful as Beryl
is something else, Trent," she said.  "I'm just really glad you're on
our side.  I really wouldn't like to go through what we went through to
toast Beryl again."
        "I'm glad to be on your side, Lita, believe me," Trent told her.
"But still, it's my fault that all of this is happening."
        "It's okay, Trent," Artemis told him.  "If you hadn't have done
it, Venus would've been lost."  Artemis, then, turned to everyone else.
"At least now we know what we're dealing with. What's more, we have two
Scouts at top power now."
        "But two's not nearly enough," Orion said, stepping up alongside
Artemis.  "I still have yet to judge Mercury and Jupiter.  Until that
happens, I suggest that we not go after Obsidious.  Otherwise, I can't
promise that you'll all come back."
        "Wait a minute, you said Mercury and Jupiter,"  Mina said.
"What about Sailor Moon?"
        "I was only entrusted with the powers of you four Scouts.  I
have no control over Moon Energy," Orion told her.  He faced Serena.
"I'm sorry, Serena."
        "It's okay Orion," Serena said.  "I'll figure something out
eventually.  Until then, I know Mina will do a good job leading us."
        "Still, there's got to be some way to bring Serena's powers up
to speed," Amy said.  "I'll work on it with my computer."
        "Orion, Luna, and I will help her out," Artemis said.
        "Me too!  Me too!" Diana said, hopping up and down.
        "Oh, okay," Artemis said, rolling his eyes.
        "Um, who's she Artemis?" Orion asked, looking over at Diana.
"She looks kinda like..."
        "Don't say it," Artemis said, interrupting him.  "I'll tell you
what I know later."
        "Well, you can tell him right now, Artemis," Amy said, smiling.
"I can't begin tonight."
        "Why?  What's up Amy?" Artemis asked.
        "I'm meeting Greg tonight for a study session," Amy replied,
getting her books together.
        "Is that all?" Lita asked, leaning across the table and looking
at her.
        "Even if it weren't, it's none of your business Lita," Amy told
her with a smile.
        "Of course it is, Amy!" Serena told her.  "We're your friends,
and it's our responsibility to find out what each other is doing."
        "You mean you feel obliged to pry every time any of us does
something involving a guy," Amy said.
        "You've always had a thing for hitting the nail on the head,
Amy," Mina told her with a giggle.  "Admittedly, you have a knack for
doing so rather bluntly, but you do hit it."
        "Well, whatever.  I'll contact you tomorrow Artemis when I'm
free so we can begin," Amy told him.  She then got up and began cleaning
up.
        "I'd better get going too," Lita said, getting up.  She went
over and took Justin from Reeny, who had been holding him during the
meeting.  Justin was sound asleep in her arms. "Someone needs to be put
to bed.  Thanks, Reeny."
        "No problem!  Drop him off any time," she said smiling.  "He's
such a nice baby."
        "You coming Trent?" Lita asked, looking over at him.
        "I think Mina and I are going to talk for a bit," he said,
standing over by her.
        "Yeah.  We have some things to address, big time," Mina said,
taking hold of his hand.
        "I getcha," Lita said.  "I'll leave the light on for you just in
case." She said her good-byes to everyone and made her way home with her
son.
        "We're going for a late night prowl, Serena," Artemis told her.
"We have some planning to do as well."
        "Just make sure she's back by curfew," Serena told him.  The
four cats just groaned in disgust.  "Just kidding!" she said a moment
later.  The cats just left, Orion already asking about Diana.
        "Come on, Reeny, we'd better get back to the temple before Chad
goes nuts,"  Raye said.  "Besides, my aunt and uncle will be here
tomorrow and we have to finish getting things ready."
        "Okay.  See you two lovebirds later!" Reeny said, leaving with
Raye.
        "I guess that leaves us alone Darien," Serena said, leaning
over, trying to sound sexy.  She meant to lean against him, but ended up
falling on the floor.  She looked up and saw Darien at the door.
        "Sorry, hon, but I've got exams tomorrow," he said.  "I'll see
you later this week for sure, though."  He smiled and winked at her as
he left.  Serena got up and sighed.
        "He always leaves at the most opportune times, no matter what
form he's in." she said to herself.  "Need any help Amy?"
        "No, I'm pretty much finished.  You go on home," she said,
smiling.
        "Okay.  Have fun with Greg," Serena told her, leaving.  Amy saw
her to the door and then watched as she walked away.  Then she went back
inside, closed the door, took a deep breath and let it out.  "Finally,
they're gone," she said.  She went over and sat down next to the phone
and answering machine, hitting the replay button on the machine again.
There was only one message on the machine, from her mother.
        "Hi, Amy, it's mom," it started out.  "Look, honey, there's a
special seminar being held in London tomorrow and I was elected by the
hospital to go to it.  Dad and I'll be out of town for a few days.  I'm
sorry this is such short notice, honey.  There's plenty of food in the
refrigerator for you.  I know you'll take care of the house.  See you
soon!"
        She smiled as she regarded the message again and relaxed even
more into the chair.  She checked the clock: it read 6:15 PM.  Greg
would show up in about fifteen minutes.  She felt a bit of nervous knot
in her stomach and thought back to the conversation she'd had with him a
few weeks ago during their date.
        "I don't know, Amy," Greg said as he sat across the small table
for two, looking at her.  "I mean, I care about you and I'd love to b e
even closer to you.  I certainly can't deny that I'd like to do this,
        and with no one else but you.  But still are we, or rather are
you, sure that you're really ready for this?"
        "I know the risk involved, Greg," Amy told him.  "But I've
worried my whole life about risks, and I feel it's time I just took one."
        "I know how you feel, Amy, but is this the right risk to take?"
Greg asked.  "We're both still so young."
        "Greg, I don't care about the risk," Amy told him.  "I care
about you.  I love you."
        "And I love you, Amy!" Greg told her.  "That's why I'm so
worried for you."
        "I understand, Greg, and it makes me feel even more sure about
how I feel about you that you do worry," she told him.
        "You're absolutely sure, then?" he asked.  Amy just nodded.
"Well, I won't try to talk you out of it anymore, then.  But we have to
be careful about when we decide to go ahead with this."
        "I know.  We'll figure out something," she said.
        "Mom's timing couldn't be any more perfect," Amy said to
herself.  The nervousness she felt, though, wasn't about wondering if
she really was ready.  She knew she was.  She was nervous thinking that
this might be the time.  She didn't have enough time to think about it,
though, since the doorbell rang just then.  She answered the door, and
it was Lita again with Justin, who was now awake.
        "Hi, sorry to do this, but we lost his pacifier somewhere here."
she said.  "Mind if I look around real quick?"
        "Oh, come right in Lita," Amy said, letting her in.  She took
Justin from her and sat down with him in her lap as Lita started hunting
around for it.
        "You know, Amy, you don't have to come up with excuses to be
alone with Greg," Lita said as she looked around.  "You could just say
you're spending some personal time with him."
        Amy started to try and play innocent, but Lita stopped her.
        "Don't start, Amy," she told her.  "First off, it's Saturday
night and there's absolutely no reason for anyone to study on a Saturday
night.  Second, I don't remember seeing any textbooks anywhere when I
got here.  Finally, it was obvious by how you're dressed that studying
school stuff isn't what you have in mind for this study session."
        Amy blushed a bit as she looked down at herself.  She had made
the mistake of dressing a bit more nicely than usual, being in a sky
blue silk blouse and a dark blue mini-skirt.
        "It's not that obvious, is it?" Amy asked.
        "Well, it wasn't completely apparent to me until I also figured
out that you aren't wearing a bra either," Lita told her.  Amy really
blushed at that.  Lita had a very strange attention to those kind of
details.  "So like I said, there's no need to lie to us to be alone with
him.  Just tell us."
        "Believe me, I'd like to just do that, but I always worry about
what you'll all think about me," Amy told her as she held Justin on her
lap.
        "Amy, we're your friends.  We're here to support you, not berate
you," Lita told her.
        "Oh really?  Then explain Serena and Raye," Amy told her.
        "That's the exception to the rule," Lita told her with a laugh.
She then stood up from her search, holding the pacifier up.  "I found
it."
        "Thanks for the talk Lita.  It means a lot to me to know you
guys are there for me," Amy said.
        "There is something else I wanted to talk to you about, though,"
Lita said, sitting down across from Amy.  "I can see where you and Greg
are headed."
        "What do you mean?" Amy asked, looking at her strangely.
        "You're heading down the same path Brad and I did a couple years
ago," Lita said.  "And frankly, I'm worried that you're making the same
mistake I am."
        "Lita, you're worrying about nothing.  We've already talked this
over," Amy told her.
        "And what did you conclude?" Lita asked.
        "Well we...that is, we're ready," Amy said.
        "You're ready?" Lita asked.  "Do you have any idea what you're
ready for?"
        "Of course I do!" Amy said.
        "Really?" Lita asked.  "Well take a look in your lap, Amy.
That's what you say you're so ready for."
        Amy looked down at Justin, who was laughing and reaching towards
Lita, waving to her a bit.  She became lost in thought as she looked at
the child.
        "That's what you're heading for right now, Amy," Lita told her.
"And I can't guarantee that you'll end up any better than I ended up.
So are you really sure this is what you're ready for?"
        "Ready or not, I want to do this Lita," Amy told her.  "This is
a risk I'm more than willing to take."
        "Really?" Lita asked.
        "Don't give me that, Lita!" Amy snapped back.  She stood up and
handed Justin back to Lita, then continued.  "My entire life has been
one big, intricate planned out occurrence!  There are times that I feel
like a robot created by a monstrous machine that has known all along
what I'd be and what my life would be like!  I'm sick of my life being
so definite, so safe, so risk-free!  I'm sick of feeling like a robot! I
love Greg, and I want this with him!  And if I end up having a baby,
maybe that'll help me out more.  It'll tell me that I am a human woman,
and not some damned machine."
        "I understand, Amy, believe me I do," Lita said, setting Justin
on the chair and going over to her.  "But this isn't a healthy way of
going about this.  It's only self-destructive and it's going to end in
ruin for you and for the love you have with Greg."
        Amy looked at Lita, beginning to cry a bit.  She put her hands
on Lita's shoulders and looked at her.
        "Lita, please tell me...tell me I'm not a machine," she told
her.  Lita hugged Amy as she just broke down and cried.
        "You're no machine, Amy," Lita told her softly.  "You're a
human, you're a young woman, and you're a young woman very much in love.
The fact that you do love Greg means you're human.  More human than many
people, in fact.  There are so many people who don't believe in love
anymore.  They think love is all in physical pleasure.  They're the
machines, Amy.  They're machines that can't fathom of love being
anything else.  You're in love, Amy, and it's real love.  Just like Mina
and Trent, and Serena and Darien, and Raye and Chad."
        "What about you?" Amy asked, sniffling as she looked up at Lita
again.  Lita just smiled, let go of Amy, and picked Justin up again.
        "I've got a very special young man in my life now," she said,
smiling and holding her son up.
        The doorbell rang again and Amy gasped.  That was Greg for sure.
She quickly straightened herself up, thinking she was a mess.
        "You look fine, girl," Lita told her.  "Come on."
        Amy opened the door.  Sure enough, Greg stood there, his
backpack over his shoulder.  Lita walked on out with Justin.
        "Hiya Greg," Lita said, walking by.
        "Evening Lita," Greg said back.
        "I wish I could stay longer, but I can tell someone here's
getting really sleepy," Lita said.  "Take care, you two."
        "Lita..." Amy called after her.  Lita looked back.
"Thanks...for everything."
        "You'll be just fine, honey," Lita told her, nodding.  She then
walked off with her son.
        "What was that about?" Greg asked.
        "Oh, just girl talk," Amy told him.  "Come on in, I've got tea
and cookies ready to fuel us as we study."
        "Sounds good, you know I love your mom's cookies," Greg said,
going on in.  Amy smiled and let him in.  She looked out where Lita had
been and silently thanked her for helping her learn the lesson of wisdom
she'd learned just in time.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Obsidious stood and watched the fight in replay yet again,
seeing how Sailor Mars thwarted the plan.  He laughed a bit and then
turned to face Quarz, who was the only one in the room.
        "As I expected, Turquos' plan failed," Quarz said, laughing a
bit.  "However, I believe I have something that will work and be much
more direct than one of Turquos' silly schemes."
        "Let me be the judge of that, Quarz, and don't try to turn me
against Turquos either, it won't work.  I'm not as gullible as Beryl,"
Obsidious told him.  "Now go ahead and show me your new toy."
        "Yes sir," Quarz mumbled.  He then turned and opened a small
portal.  "Come out, my Scout Slayer."
        A robotic creature, whose form was perfectly humanoid only
devoid of skin, stepped out of the portal and stood at perfect attention
facing Obsidious.
        "This is my Scout Slayer, sir," Quarz told him.  "I've
programmed it with all of the recordings of the Scouts' fights including
the latest fight.  Its processors are, as we speak, figuring tactics to
use to neutralize and destroy each of the Scouts.  I guarantee you,
sir, allow me to let it loose and you will not be disappointed."
        "For your sake, I hope not Quarz," Obsidious told him.  "We have
more than enough to deal with now that Sailor Mars has her full powers.
We don't need any more of them becoming so powerful.  You may proceed."
        "Yes sir!" Quarz replied.  He turned to the robot and addressed
it.  "Scout Slayer, go!  Seek out and decimate the Sailor Scouts and do
not return until each one of them is utterly destroyed!"
        The Scout Slayer just nodded and teleported away to begin its
attack.  Obsidious and Quarz then turned to the viewing crystal to watch
the Scout Slayer's progress.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Amy lay in bed that night, looking up at the ceiling, unable to
sleep.  She was alone, having taken Lita's advice to heart.  It all
seemed to sit a lot better with Greg as well.  He certainly hadn't
wanted to rush into anything that the two of them might have regretted
in the long run.  Still, the whole incident made her realize something
that kept her wide awake.  For as bright and intelligent as she was, it
all meant nothing if she couldn't use that intelligence.  Knowledge
alone, she concluded, was not power, but the ability to put knowledge to
use is.
        This bothered Amy as she began to wonder just how smart she
really was.  She worried that all of her awards of excellence in school
and superb grades were all for naught if she couldn't use them later in
life.  As she drifted off to sleep, she began to worry that all her
thinking was going to give her a nightmare, but someone else had a
different use for her dreams that night.
        She appeared, in her dreamworld, dressed in a toga, much like
how she would have looked in the Moon Kingdom, 1,000 years ago.  She
looked out in front of her.  Clouds ran underneath her and above her,
yet she was standing up just fine.  She knew this was an impossible
feat, but nonetheless began walking.  As she walked, a voice began
speaking to her from thin air apparently.
        "You think you're so smart?" it asked.  "You think you can
figure it all out, don't you?  Well let me tell you something."  The god
Mercury then appeared before her.  He had been the one speaking.  He
smiled at her.  "I know you can, Amy."
        "I'm not so sure I can anymore," Amy said, bowing her head a
bit.  "I almost made a hasty decision that could have cost me
incredibly."
        "Amy, not even us gods are infallible," Mercury told her.  "All
sentient beings make mistakes, you've seen that time and again.  Just be
thankful you have such great friends to help you out when you happen to
make those mistakes.  Above all else, remember that logic never applies
to matters of the heart."
        "Thank you, Mercury," Amy said, smiling a bit.  "I feel more
confident now, but still these new enemies we're fighting are so tough
that there isn't room for making mistakes.  And we aren't strong enough
to do this yet," Amy told him.
        "I have faith in you, Amy," Mercury said.  "You haven't
disappointed me yet, and you still never cease to amaze me either.  Now
come here and receive my gift to you, your true powers."
        "You mean..." Amy said, gasping.
        "Yes.  Orion has been monitoring you since Lita came back to get
her son's pacifier," Mercury told her.  "He and I agree, you have been
ready for this change for quite some time now, you were just unwilling
to take the step.  The time is upon us now,  receive your powers, and
use them as only I know you shall Amy."
        Amy's power stick appeared before her and changed so that the
planet Mercury was on the end with the Mercury symbol locked inside it.
It floated over into her hands, and she accepted it gratefully.
        "Now go, my champion," Mercury told her.  "Your friends await."
        "I will.  Thank you so much, Mercury!" Amy said, smiling.
Things seemed to fade out for a minute, and then she awoke in bed,
looking up at the ceiling.  She sat up, remembering the dream, and then
looked in her hand.  Her new power stick was there, just as she had
received it from the god Mercury.  She smiled at it, thanking Mercury
again, but then noticed that her communicator was summoning her.  She
quickly grabbed it and flipped it open.  Mina was on the other end.
        "Amy, finally!" Mina said.  "Get over here quickly!  We're under
attack here and this thing is trashing us big time!"
        "Mina, I'm on my way!" Amy told her.  "I'll home in on your
position, just get back to the fight!"  Mina acknowledged her and signed
out.  Amy jumped up out of bed, and stood holding her power stick.  She
knew what to do and was ready for it.
        "Mercury Power Complete, Transform!" she cried, extending the
stick out in front of her.  The orb at the end glowed with energy and a
sphere of energy came from it and spun about her, letting energy that
looked like snowflakes fall around her.  She transformed into Sailor
Mercury and then was modified into Sailor Mercury Complete.  In her
tiara's jewel appeared the symbol for Mercury.  The jewel in her front
bow changed to look like a snowflake and her bows and skirt took on
different shades of blue.  Snowflake designs dotted her gloves and boots
to finish the transformation.  It didn't end there, though.  Her
computer appeared in front of her and began to glow a bit.  After a
bright flash, it changed into a small orb that hovered near Amy's head.
        "Greetings, Sailor Mercury!" it said.
        "My computer...what happened to it?" she asked.
        "I AM your computer, silly, only now I've got a new form.  I'm
Binary Information Technology, or BIT for short," BIT told her.  "I'm a
computer many times more powerful and smarter than your old one."
        "So I can see.  Well, BIT, lock in on the Scouts' location.
We've got a monster to take down," Mercury told it.
        "I'm on it!" BIT said, zipping off.  Sailor Mercury followed it,
hoping she would get there in time.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        "Jupiter Thunder...Crash!!" Jupiter cried, firing another
lightning bolt at the robot.  The energy just bounced off of it as it
rushed at her , knocking her over.
        "This is crazy!" Mars said.  "We can't pin the thing down!"
        "Mars, let's double team it!" Venus told her.  "Maybe we can
trap it.  Sailor Moon, when we trap this thing, let loose on it with the
Moon Scepter!"
        "I don't know what it'll do, Venus, but I'll try!" Sailor Moon
said, producing the Moon Scepter.
        "Let's go, Mars!" Venus told her.  She powered up for her
attack.  "Venus Double Meteor Shower!" she cried, firing hundreds of
laser beams at the robot.
        "Mars Firestorm...Strike!" Mars added, firing dozens of
fireballs at the robot as well.  The robot was caught right in the
crossfire of the two attacks.  Sailor Moon then took her attack.
        "Moon...Scepter...Elimination!!!" she cried, firing the
scepter's moon energy at the robot.  All three attacks appeared to
connect and resulted in quite an explosion.  The four Scouts touched
down around where all the dust was settling.
        "Did we get it?" Sailor Moon asked.  Her question was answered
when suddenly multiple cables came flying out from the dust, wrapping
around the four Scouts.  The robot stood there, unscratched, being
protected by a hexagonal force field.
        "Let go of us!!" Jupiter said, struggling against the cables.
Just then, Quarz appeared overhead laughing.
        "Looks as though my Scout Slayer will be earning its name after
all," he said.  "And here I was hoping you'd at least put up a fight.
Oh well, such is how superior technology works.  Scout Slayer, finish
them off!"
        The robot's eyes glowed and it sent a high electric charge
through the cables, shocking the four Scouts.  Quarz was so busy
gloating, however, that he failed to see Sailor Mercury come upon the
scene behind them.  She silently powered up, starting as if she were
doing her bubble attack.  The bubbles then froze over as they hovered
before her.
        "Mercury Hailstorm Blast!!!" she cried, firing the bubbles like
icy bullets at the scene.  The bubbles shot right through the cables,
snapping them, and also knocking Quarz out of the sky.  He stood and
faced Mercury, angered.
        "How dare you deem yourself worthy to strike me!" he screamed.
"Scout Slayer, annihilate her!"
        Unfortunately, the robot was beginning to short out as a number
of the ice bullets had also hit it.  Mercury, meanwhile, powered up her
final attack.  Icy winds gathered around her as well as a fine, icy
mist.
        It swirled about her as she spread her arms wide, bringing it to
a peak.
        "Mercury Sub-Zero Cold..." she started, the winds intensifying.
She then brought her hands together quickly in front of her, directing
the frigid forces around her into one concentrated blast.  As she did
this, she yelled, "Snap!!!" finishing off the attack.  A blast of wind,
water, and ice shot just past Quarz and struck the robot.  A moment
later, it stood frozen as if someone had poured liquid nitrogen over it.
It then just crumbled into icy dust before Quarz's eyes.
        "My beautiful Scout Slayer!!!" he cried.  He didn't have time to
bemoan his loss, though, as the Scouts surrounded him.  "Uh, bye for
now!" he said, using his armband to teleport back to base.
        "Excellently done, Sailor Mercury!" BIT said, hovering by her
head again.
        "Mercury, what is that thing?" Sailor Moon asked.
        "This is BIT, my new computer," Mercury said.  "It used to be my
old computer, but then I got my new powers and my computer changed into
BIT."
        "This thing's pretty cool looking," Jupiter said, leaning over
and looking at it.
        "Please be careful around me!" BIT told her.  "I'm fragile!"
        "Your timing was perfect, Mercury," Venus told her.  "Then
again, perfection is nothing new with you."
        "Oh come on, Venus," Mercury said, smiling slyly.  "No one's
perfect."

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        A bit later on that day, the girls talked as they walked home,
focusing on Amy.
        "So you and Greg are going to keep things on hold for a while
then?" Mina asked.
        "When it came down to it, I realized that in wanting to risk
everything I also wanted to try and show that I wasn't the absolutely
perfect person everyone thinks I am," Amy said.  "I should've listened
to Greg from the beginning."
        "What did he think when you told him?" Lita asked.
        "He was actually quite happy with the idea," Amy told her.  "He
cares about me far too much to put me in any danger, and now that I
realize that, I think I love him even more."
        "So what are you going to do to bring excitement into your life
now, Amy?" Serena asked.
        "I was thinking about a party at my house tonight with just us
girls," Amy said.  "Are you all available?"
        "I guess I could let Reeny take care of Justin tonight," Lita said.
        "Yeah, and my aunt and uncle are here now taking care of things
so I'm free," Raye added.
        "Count me in, definitely!" Serena added enthusiastically.
        "Ditto on that, Aims." Mina said, rounding things out.  "But
won't your folks mind?"
        "They're away on a business trip for a few more days, and what
they don't know won't hurt me," Amy said with a wink.
        "You are so devious, Amy..." Lita said, chuckling a bit.
        "I try," Amy said, smiling as they walked along.  She felt a lot
more relaxed as she already was trusting her instincts more.  She had a
feeling her life was going to become a lot more interesting very soon.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Quarz was groveling before Obsidious, apologizing for his
failure.  Obsidious just looked on in disgust, not of Quarz's failure,
but of how absolutely pathetic he was.
        "Just please give me another chance, sir, I won't fail again!!"
Quarz pleaded.
        "Oh enough already!" Obsidious said angrily.  "Quarz I will give
you another chance at the Scouts, but this time I want you to take them
on yourself."
        "What??" Quarz asked.
        "You heard me," Obsidious told him.  "We've been going far too
easy on those Sailor Scouts with our monsters.  It's time they found out
just what they're dealing with, and I figure you're the best one to s
how them.  Do whatever you feel necessary, but no matter what, destroy
the Sailor Scouts."
        "You will not regret this, Master!" Quarz said, rising.  "I will
decimate the Scouts and bring you their heads!"  With that, Quarz
teleported away.  Obsidious just shook his head and turned to his
viewing crystal.  Turquos stepped out from the shadows to join him.
        "I don't like how this sounds, Obsidious," Turquos told him.  "I
want to destroy Sailor Moon myself."
        "Oh come on, Turquos," Obsidious told him.  "Do you actually
think I'm planning on Quarz being able to defeat the Scouts?  He's so
pathetic, I'm surprised that he didn't end up as one of Beryl's lackeys.
Besides, this all falls into my plan."
        "You do also realize that only one more of them needs her
ultimate powers," Turquos said.  "She may develop them and destroy
Quarz."
        "I'm well aware of that possibility, Turquos," Obsidious told
him.  He began to laugh as he considered the possibility.  "In fact, I'm
actually counting on it."  Obsidious broke into a maliciously evil
laughter as he contemplated the imminent demise of his most inept
lieutenant.



Part Five
The Things We Do For Love

        Sailor Jupiter stood back and watched with Sailor Moon the
battle that currently raged before them.  It was a scene the two had
gotten used to recently.  For weeks now, Quarz had been sending robots
of all kinds to try and destroy them, and for weeks now Venus, Mars, and
Mercury had been creaming them without batting an eye.  This one was no
different.  Jupiter smiled to herself and wondered if maybe the three
had started a system of taking turns as to who got to waste the robot
next time.  This time it was Venus decimating the thing with her Full
Moon Beam.  Naturally, Onyx and Tuxedo Mask had appeared on the scene,
but only to watch on just in case things happened to get out of hand.
Jupiter wondered if that was the role she was fading into now also, and
sincerely hoped not.  She longed to get back into the battle more than
anyone else, but without her powers up to speed, she was like a fifth
wheel - not really of much use, but good for support anyways.
        "Well, just another day at the office I guess," Sailor Moon said
after Venus had blasted the robot.
        "I really hope you're not becoming complacent with this, Sailor
Moon," Orion said, walking over to her and meeting up with Luna,
Artemis, and Diana.
        "Not at all, Orion," she told him, "But you still haven't
figured out any way for me to fight without me risking everything yet,
so I can't do anything."
        "Yes, I know, and I apologize," Orion replied.  "Even with Amy
and BIT's help we just cannot figure anything out."
        "You know, I've been thinking," Amy said, walking over after
changing back to normal.  "Maybe if we examined the Imperium Silver
Crystal we could figure something out."
        "It's worth a try.  After all, it is Sailor Moon's power
source," Luna said.  "That is, if it sits OK with you Serena."
        "We've tried everything else, so we really don't have a choice,
do we?" Sailor Moon asked, transforming back.  She then handed the
modified locket that held the Crystal to Amy.
        "That done, I think we should address something," Mina said.
"Hasn't anyone noticed how strange this series of attacks is?"
        "Yeah, I mean these things are hardly able to touch us," Raye
added.  "So why are they even bothering?"
        "Because they're probably just using them to watch your fighting
style," Trent said as he leaned against a lamppost.  Everyone gasped a
she said that.  "I wish I'd have realized it sooner, but it only now
just dawned on me.  These robots are just cannon fodder.  Pretty soon
they'll probably hit us and hard, so we'd better be ready."
        "Should they really worry that much, though, Trent?" Darien
asked.  "I mean, any challenge they've been given has always been met
and overcome."
        "These guys aren't to be underestimated, Darien," Trent told
him.  "I used to be one of them, remember?  Granted, Quarz isn't the
most powerful of them, but he's still more lethal than any of the
Negaverse agents you've faced before."
        "What's this guy Quarz like anyways?" Lita asked.  "We only saw
him once and that was almost a month ago."
        "He's a psycho," Trent said.  "He's got a genius intellect, and
he uses it to come up with the most dangerous weapons technology's ever
known.  What's even worse, he loves to personally test his devices.
Case in point: he invented a battlesuit during his period under Queen
Beryl that he used to absolutely annihilate an entire civilization that
existed on this tiny asteroid in space.  It's rumored that he
slaughtered every single member of that race personally and in a
different manner."
        "How many people are we talking about?" Mina asked, gulping a
bit.
        "About 12,000," Trent said.  Everyone gasped in utter
astonishment.
        "How could any one person be that malicious??" Amy asked.
        "Quarz is, and he would absolutely delight in inventing the
perfect technology to destroy all of us," Trent said.
        "We'll all have to be on guard, then," Mina said.  She turned to
Serena at that point.  "So, think your folks would mind if I stayed with
you Serena?"
        "They wouldn't mind, Mina, but why do you want to stay at my
place?" Serena asked.
        "Well, I'm betting that Quarz probably knows who we are when
we're not Sailor Scouts and he just might try to attack you or Lita at
night when you're alone.  If I'm with you, you'll be safe," Mina told
her.
        "What about Lita?" Serena asked.
        "She'll be safe with Trent around.  He's more than capable of
protecting her," Mina said.  She looked over at Lita quickly, giving her
a knowing smile.  "Just so long as she doesn't take advantage of the
situation."
        "Girl, if I'd have wanted to, I would have a long time ago,"
Lita told her with a wry smile.
        "It'd probably be best for all of us to pair up until this blows
over, so why don't you stay at Amy's place, Raye?" Mina asked.
        "I don't mind if Amy doesn't," Raye said.
        "Fine by me.  My parents are still out of town anyway," Amy
added.
        "I'll be ready on a moment's notice for whenever this all comes
down," Darien told them all.
        "But you've got exams to study for, Darien," Serena reminded
him.  "We'll be fine."
        "Hey, I can't spend all my time studying," he told her,
"Besides, I can't let my fiancee just get killed by some psycho, not
after everything I've done so far to make sure you stay safe."
        "That was beautiful, Darien, but you don't get to stay over,"
Mina told him with a smile.
        "Oh come on, why not Mina?" Serena asked.
        "Because I don't trust you two alone in a room," she told them
plainly.  Both of them turned beet red in the face.
        "Gee, we know what's on her mind tonight," Lita muttered to
Trent.  "Maybe it's a good thing you're staying at my place."  Trent
declined to respond to that and, instead, took on the same shade of red
in the face that Serena and Darien had.
        "Lita!!!" Mina said, having heard her.
        "Don't even try to deny it babe," Lita told her.  "I do have a
bit more experience when it comes to this than the rest of you after
all."
        Diana and Orion, who had been watching and laughing, now began
looking around and noticed they were less two cats.
        "Hey, does anyone know where my dad went to?" Diana asked.  Mina
looked around quickly as well.
        "Artemis!" she called out.  "Now that's odd.  He usually tells
me when he's going somewhere."
        "Hey, Luna's missing too!" Serena noted.
        "I wouldn't worry about them, Serena," Orion told her.  "They're
grown-up cats, they can take care of themselves. Besides, I think I
heard Artemis talking about a candlelit dinner for two in this nice back
alley that I've heard about."
        "Well let's go meet up with them there!" Diana said
enthusiastically.  "I'm kinda hungry too!"
        "Kitten, you've got to drop the cheerleader mentality and take a
hint when it's given," Orion told her.
        "What're you talking about?" she asked curiously.  "And I'm no
kitten!"
        "I can tell from your response alone, yes you are.  Trust me on
this one," Orion told her.  "Just come with me.  I'll explain a couple
of things to you.  The rest of you should try and get a good night's
rest and be ready for tomorrow.  I'd expect Quarz to strike any time
now."
        The others nodded in agreement with Orion and left their
separate ways in the pairings that they had just made.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        "Thanks again for letting me stay here!" Mina said to Serena's
mom as she stood at the bedroom door.
        "Oh, we're always happy to have you over Mina.  Well, you girls
have a good time, but get some rest.  You do have school tomorrow,"
Serena's mom told them.
        "We will, Mom, thanks," Serena told her.
        "By the way, where's Luna?" her mom asked.
        "Oh, probably just out prowling.  She'll be fine, Mom," Serena
said quickly.
        "Oh, okay.  Well, goodnight you two," she said, closing the
door.  Mina then walked over and dropped down onto the bean bag chair in
the middle of Serena's room.
        "Man, I hate to think what those two really are up to," Mina
said.  Serena shivered a bit.
        "Please, it's a bit much for me to consider too," she told her.
"Speaking of love lives, how are things between you and Trent?"
        "How indeed," Mina said, sighing happily.  She just looked up
and seemed to stare off into space.  Serena looked at her staring at her
ceiling and knew right away.
        "It's nice having a boyfriend, isn't it?" she asked.
        "I never thought it'd be this nice." Mina said.  "He's just such
a great guy...it's like we were destined to be together."
        "You were, remember?" Serena told her.
        "Oh, right," Mina said, remembering.  "Well, you know what I
mean, Serena."
        "Yeah, I do," Serena said, looking down at the engagement ring
she had slipped on again just now.
        "When do you think you're going to tell your folks, Serena?"
Mina asked.  "It's been almost two years now."
        "They'd both freak if I told them now," Serena said, sighing.
"I figure I'll tell them after I get out of high school.  Sort of a
graduation present for us all."
        "That'll be a Kodak moment," Mina said, laughing a bit.  A
moment later, though, she took on a much more serious look.
        "What's wrong, Mina?" Serena asked.
        "I keep reminding myself of the fact that no matter how much I
care about him, Trent's still technically with the Negaverse," Mina
said.  "I'm not afraid of him, mind you.  When I'm with him, I feel more
safe than I ever did before."
        "So what are you worried about?" Serena asked.
        "What if they still have some control over him, Serena?" Mina
asked.  "I don't want to lose him like that.  I don't want to lose him
at all!"
        "Mina, I know better than anyone what it's like to lose the one
most important to me.  It's happened to me more times than I want to
think about," Serena told her.  "What I've learned is that no matte r
what, you have to have faith that everything will work out right in the
end."
        "Even still, Serena...I don't wanna lose him!" Mina told her.
She looked away a bit, beginning to cry a bit.  "Not ever," she added,
quietly.
        "Mina...you love him, don't you?" Serena asked.  Mina, by now,
was trying to control herself, but ended up letting out a few sniffles.
        "It's crazy, I know," she said slowly, her voice shaky.  "I
mean, we haven't even been together two months."
        "Hey, Darien and I were an item pretty much right after we found
out about our past together, so don't think about it like that Mina,"
Serena told her.  "Just think about it like this: you're picking up
where you left off a thousand years ago.  That's how Darien and I look
at it."
        Mina cracked a small smile and looked up at Serena who got off
the bed, came over and sat by her.
        "Thanks Serena.  I think I feel better about it now," Mina said,
clearing away her tears.
        "You're more than welcome, Mina.  You've helped us all out so
many times, that all we know is that we owe you big time.  Like you've
shown us so many other times, that's what friends are for," Serena told
her.  Mina smiled and hugged Serena, who hugged her back.  "Now come on,
we've got a test tomorrow in math and I want at least eight hours of
sleep."
        "Hearing you say that is still so weird, you know," Mina told
her as she slipped into the sleeping bag she had on the floor.  Serena
smiled as she sat on her bed.
        "I know.  It's fun freaking people out every now and then," she
said with a giggle.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        "Are you sure you don't need any help?" Lita asked as she sat on
the couch with her son.  Trent had decided to cook that night for
everyone, giving Lita a break.
        "I'm fine Lita, I know my way around a kitchen too," he called
back.  "Besides, you deserve a break once in a while."
        "Heh, if you say so Trent," she replied as Justin laughed at the
TV which was playing an episode of his favorite show.  She looked down
at her son at first smiling, but then somberly as the memories came
flooding back...
        She remembered the empty, cold feeling that filled her heart and
soul as she stood, soaked in the rain.  Tears flowed down her cheeks
incessantly as she screamed the name of the one she had loved and shared
that most intimate aspect of herself with...the man who was the father
of the child who was growing within her even then.  It was to no avail
as he rode off with his parents for an unknown destination, never to
return.
        She put a hand to her stomach where that new life was growing
and made her decision.  If it would not be their child, it would at
least be hers.
        Lita snapped out of it as Trent put his hand on her shoulder.
She quickly looked up at him, his look one of genuine concern.
        "You okay, Lita?  You seem lost," he said.
        "No, I'm fine Trent," she replied.  "I was just remembering
something I just can't forget because the reminder is always here."
        "I understand," he said, sitting down on the floor in front of
her.
        "I probably don't have to tell you this, Trent, but you've got
quite a girl in Mina," she told him, faking a smile.
        "I know.  She's incredible," Trent replied, smiling a bit.  Then
he looked up at her.  "You know, if I didn't know better I'd almost say
you're jealous of me, Lita."
        Lita just laughed and set Justin on the couch next to her.
        "No need to worry Trent," she reassured him.  "First off, I most
definitely prefer men, and second I doubt I could get her away from you
any more even if I wanted to.  She is incredibly fond of you, you know."
        "The feeling is quite mutual, believe me," Trent told her.
        "That's good to know," Lita said, sitting back.  "It's good to
see Mina so happy."
        "Lita, you can stop playing the martyr any time now," Trent said
quickly.  Lita looked down at him completely puzzled.
        "What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.
        "You're still hurting from that guy who left you," Trent said.
"And you think that seeing everyone else you know in love will help make
you feel better when all it does is make it hurt even more."
        "I don't have much of a choice," Lita replied, her face
darkening.  "I've been forced into a spectator position because the word
around school is that I'm `damaged goods' since I have a child."
        "Do you believe that you're `damaged goods'?" Trent asked.
        "I don't know what to believe anymore," she replied.
        "Well, then, let me ask you this," Trent said, standing up.  "Do
you think you deserve a second chance?"
        "I don't know if I do, but I'd like one," Lita replied.
        "Then you've got to give it to yourself, because no one else
will," he told her.
        "That won't change how everyone thinks about me, though," she
said.
        "Any why should you care?" he asked.  "If they don't know you,
then who are they to judge you?"
        Those last few words from Trent made something snap inside of
Lita.  She realized how right he was.  The effect was so liberating for
her that she froze for a long moment before getting up, bursting into
tears, and hugging Trent fiercely, thanking him as she cried.  Justin,
as if he sensed the problem with his mother, crawled across the couch
and reached up to her.  She looked back after a moment and picked her
son up, hugging him gently.
        "Thank you so much, Trent..." she said, almost in a whisper.
        "Hey, whadya say we eat and celebrate?" Trent said.  Lita nodded
and sat at the table with her son as Trent fetched the dinner he
prepared.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Amber watched in mild amusement as Quarz toiled away on the
battlesuit he claimed would destroy the Sailor Scouts once and for all.
She approached his work area and leaned against a wall as she watched.
        "For your sake, I hope that thing lives up to your expectations,
Quarz," she said.  "Obsidious is becoming quite impatient with you.  You
have, after all, expended a good deal of energy sending your robots to
gather information on the Scouts."
        "For your sake, Amber, shut up," Quarz snapped as he tinkered
with the suit.  "You just watch.  Once I personally destroy the Scouts,
Obsidious will have more energy at hand than he ever imagined."
        "At any rate, I will give you one piece of advice," Amber said,
folding her arms.  "Sailor Jupiter has not yet gained her full powers
yet.  If I were you, I would anticipate the possibility that she might
develop them soon and include appropriate defenses into the suit."
        "Will you quit telling me how to build my battlesuit, Amber?!"
Quarz said angrily.  "I am well aware of that possibility and that is
why Sailor Jupiter will be the first to die by my hands.  And I know
just how to get to her."
        "Oh?  Do tell," Amber said amusedly.
        "Simple.  I will take from her the one thing she values more
than her life: her son," Quarz said, smiling maniacally.  "Once I have
him, she will surely give her life for me to spare his."
        "Quarz, that's going too far," Amber said, approaching him.
        "I will make her suffer before she dies...it will be so
delicious," he said, laughing madly.  He then turned and snarled at
Amber.  "Now leave, I've seen enough of you today!"
        Amber left Quarz's lab promptly, the doors shutting behind her.
She stormed away, amazed at the amount of audacity Quarz had.  To go
after Sailor Jupiter alone was one thing, but to involve a defenseless
child was, to her, too much.  She quietly fumed to herself as she made
her way to her quarters.
        Obsidious and Turquos watched on via the viewing crystal.
Turquos turned to his companion.
        "This is bad," he said.  "Not only is Quarz resorting to
terrorist methods to achieve his goal, which is totally dishonorable,
but I am now seeing signs of weakness in Amber."
        "Worry not about Quarz," Obsidious said.  "I have a feeling he
will receive exactly the fate I think he has in store for himself.  As
for Amber, you may be right.  Keep an eye on her, and Granos as well.
She has him wrapped around her finger, and she could easily get him to
help her."
        "What if she should attempt to interfere with Quarz's plan to
destroy the Scouts?" Turquos asked.
        "Take no action against her unless I say so, Turquos," Obsidious
told him.  "If she does attempt to stop Quarz, I will deal with her
personally later.  For now, let us just watch and see how things
unfold."
        "As you wish," Turquos said, bowing slightly.  The two turned
back to the viewing crystal to continue their surveillance.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        The next day for Lita was like the first day of the rest of her
life, literally.  She came to school with the same energetic personality
she had way back in her freshman year, and people took notice.  There
were some that still chose to talk about her, but she simply didn't care
anymore.  She couldn't change how they were going to think, and she
wasn't about to try.  The only people whose opinions mattered to her
were her friends and loved ones.
        Halfway through the day, Lita and Serena were on their way to
their next class.  They were chattering away as they were prone to do
when they had time alone.
        "So what's the situation with Raye and Chad?" Lita asked.  "It
seems any free time they have anymore they run off."
        "That's pretty much it," Serena told her.  "Those two have
become quite a hot item anymore."
        As Serena droned on about Raye and Chad, Lita happened to look
up and see a young man looking back at her.  She sort of tuned Serena
out as she looked over at him.  She recognized him immediately.  His
name was Craig, and he was one of the premiere athletes in the school,
captain of both the football and wrestling teams.  He was just a bit
shorter than Lita and was of stocky build with short brown hair and
brown eyes.  She personally knew that he was much smarter than the
average jock since she'd been in a couple of study groups with him.  He
was the kind of guy who was liked by everyone, and who was now walking
over to Lita specifically.
        Serena, by the time Craig got there, took the hint that she
wasn't currently needed.
        "I'll, um, see you in class Lita.  Later!" she said, quickly
slipping off.  As she walked off, she crossed her fingers and hoped for
the best f or her friend.
        "Hi," Lita said shyly.
        "Hi," Craig replied, a bit nervous himself. "You're Lita, right?"
        "Yup, or at least the last time I checked," she told him with a
smile.  "I definitely know who you are, Craig."
        "Hey great, we've already got something to work with," he said
with a laugh.  "You know, I've kinda wanted to get to know you better
for a long time."
        "How long?" Lita asked.
        "Since first day of freshman year, actually," he admitted.
        "You may not want to now," Lita told him.  "I am, after all,
`damaged goods' around here."
        "Really?" Craig asked.  He took a moment and walked around Lita,
looking her over.  "Hmm, all I see is a really pretty girl.  No damage
visible."
        Lita giggled a bit and smiled at him.
        "You're silly.  I like that in a guy," she told him.  Craig just
smiled even more brightly.
        "You, um, wanna walk to class?" he asked.  Lita didn't have to
think for long.  She stepped beside him and took his arm.
        "I'd love to," she told him.  Craig just smiled a bit more as
the two walked together to class, talking about miscellaneous things as
they went.  Inwardly, Lita thanked Trent again for setting her straight.
She felt that her life was taking a turn for the better again, and
what's more, this time she felt she was in complete control.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Later that day, it was almost a small party at the Cherry Hill
Shrine.  The girls were behind closed doors in a meeting with Orion,
Artemis, Luna, and Diana while outside waited Darien, Trent, Greg, Chad,
and Craig.
        "What're they doing in there?" Craig asked.
        "Girl talk, Craig," Darien told him.  "Trust me, if you're
hanging with Lita, it'll get to be normal."
        "It can't be anything I haven't overheard from my sister and her
friends, why can't we go in?" he added.
        "Trust us, it can get pretty ugly in there really quick," Trent
told him.  Darien just nodded in agreement.
        "Besides, are you really all that interested in that kind of
stuff Craig?" Greg asked.
        "You've got a point there," he noted.
        Chad leaned over to Greg quickly.
        "Um, he doesn't know about Lita yet, does he?" he asked.
        "I'm guessing you're right," Greg told him.  "We ought to confer
with everyone else first about it, though."
        "Gotcha," Chad replied.  Then he addressed the group.  "Well,
guys, why don't we grab the TV room and see what's on?"
        The others agreed and retired to the TV room while the meeting
went on.
        "So what did you find out about the Crystal, Amy?" Mina asked.
        "It's incredible," Amy said.  "It's as if there is a crystal
within the Crystal itself.  What's more, that second crystal is
radiating an intense amount of power.  If we could determine how to tap
into it, I'm certain Serena's powers would be more than adequate."
        "So how can I use it?" Serena asked.
        "That's the difficult part," Luna said.  "The thing is, you
should be able to control all of the powers of the Crystal since you are
the Moon Princess.  The only thing I can say is that perhaps there is
some sort of secret to that part of the crystal that Queen Serenity did
not want anyone to have access to."
        "But that doesn't make any sense," Raye added.  "Why would Queen
Serenity not want Serena to know how to use the Crystal fully?"
        "She may have a very good reason, Raye," Artemis told her.
"Remember, we still aren't completely sure of how the Silver Crystal
works.  Its powers can be unpredictable and dangerous.  It could be that
she limited Serena's control over the Crystal for her own safety."
        "So we've got two choices," Lita said.  "Either we figure out
how to get Serena complete control over the Crystal, or we have to find
a new power source for her."
        "The latter of those two isn't very likely," Orion said.  "There
aren't any other known sources of Moon Power than the Silver Crystal."
        "Well, at this point, the first of those two isn't very possible
either Orion, so what do you suggest?" Mina asked.
        "Frankly, Mina, I'm drawing as much of a blank on this as any of
you," he told her.
        "So what can I do until we figure out what to do?" Serena asked.
        "I hate to say it, Serena, but there may not be much you can
do," Luna told her.  "Look at it this way, though, you know that you
won't always be a Sailor Scout.  Someday you will assume the role of
Neo-Queen Serenity and rule over Crystal Tokyo.  It may be best if you
start preparing for that responsibility now."
        "No way, Luna!" Serena retorted.  "I'll always be a Sailor
Scout, no matter what.  I can't just give it up like that!"
        "Right now, Serena, there's not much other choice," Orion told
her.  Serena felt about ready to cry, but Mina put her hand on Serena's
shoulder.
        "Cheer up, Serena," she said reassuringly.  "We'll figure out
something.  And even if everything doesn't work out, you'll always be
one of the Sailor Scouts."
        "Thanks Mina," Serena said, smiling a bit again.  "I just hate
to let you guys down."
        "That's a bit hard for you to do, Serena," Raye told her.
"You've been a lot to all of us."
        "She's right, Serena," Amy added.  "You've been there to help us
all out as Sailor Moon or just as yourself."
        "Right, Serena," Lita added.  "No matter what, you're always one
of us."
        The five shared a quick group hug as Luna, Diana, and Orion
watched on.
        "That's so beautiful...!" Diana said, tears in her eyes.  Luna
just rolled her eyes and looked over to where Artemis was, but found
that he was not there.
        "Orion, where did Artemis go?" Luna asked him.
        "No idea, Luna.  I thought he was sitting next to you," Orion
replied.
        "Now where could that old tomcat have gone off to?" she thought
to herself.
        On the roof, Artemis watched the sunset and sighed.  He wished
he could share the secret he had, but knew he was under the strictest of
orders never to reveal it to anyone.  It was times like this he wished
Queen Serenity hadn't confided so much in him, for this was one secret
that he was finding to be incredibly hard to keep anymore.  Especially
since so much had happened recently to act as clues to what the truth
about the Silver Crystal was...

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Quarz stood proudly in his finished masterpiece: Harbinger v2.5.
It was a modification on a battlesuit he'd used in many battles before
for Queen Beryl.  It was decked out with missile ports, lasers, and
even packed a couple of blades for one-on-one combat.  He made his way
to the takeoff pad of the compound where Turquos and Obsidious waited
for him.
        "Remember, Quarz, do not return until all of the Sailor Scouts
are destroyed but do not harm a hair on my traitorous brother's head.
His death shall be by my hand alone," Obsidious reminded him.
        "Rest assured, my Lord, that today will be the last day for the
wretched Sailor Scouts!" Quarz said, saluting.  He quickly activated the
boosters on the Harbinger and flew off towards his destination.
        "Now the game begins," Turquos said.
        "Indeed," Obsidious said, looking and pointing down.  "Look down
there."
        Turquos looked down to see Amber and Granos run out of the
compound and then quickly teleport, going after Quarz.  He couldn't help
but laugh at the situation.
        "This should be amusing to say the least," Turquos said.  He and
Obsidious just laughed as they walked back inside to watch the story
unfold.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Amber and Granos appeared in the park just moments after they
had left the compound.
        "Good, we're here a good deal before Quarz." she said.
        "Why we do this, Amber?" Granos asked  "You no want Scouts
destroyed?"
        "I already told you, Granos, the means by which Quarz wants to
destroy Sailor Jupiter are absolutely cruel," she told him.  "No one
should have done to them what he plans to do to her."
        "What he do?" Granos asked.
        "He plans to destroy her by using her own baby son as bait," she
told him.  Granos gasped.
        "No hurt little one!  Granos stop!" he yelled, running off.
        "Granos, get back here!!" she called after him.  He was already
well on his way, though, so she had no choice but to try and chase him
down.  Without his help, it would be almost impossible for her to stop
Quarz before he got to the child.  She could only hope, though, that
they would be able to locate the girl and her child before it was too
late.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Everyone stood outside to watch the sunset, Reeny included.
Lita had Justin in her arms as she stood looking at it.  Craig stepped
up beside her, looking at the boy.
        "So he's the lucky one that gets to call you 'Mommy'?" he asked
with a smile.  Lita just laughed a bit and turned so that Craig could
see him.
        "Justin, this is Craig.  He's a friend of Mommy's," she told her
son.  Justin looked up at Craig who was waving to him a bit.  He grabbed
one of Craig's fingers tightly and began laughing.
        "Kid's got an incredible grip.  We could use him as a running
back on the team," Craig said joking.
        "Maybe in a few years," Lita suggested.  "I'm kinda amazed.
Most other guys get really nervous or intimidated about the fact that I
have a son."
        "Oh, I've had to look after my two sisters and brother when they
were little too," Craig told her.  "Honestly and truthfully Lita, any
guy who'd pass up the opportunity to go out with a girl like you just
because you have a son should have his head checked.  You're something
else in my book."
        It was indeed a beautiful moment there in the sunset, but it was
ruined in the next instant by multiple explosions that knocked everyone
off balance.  Quarz stood laughing, looking over the scene in the
Harbinger.
        "I had hoped you'd at least put up a decent fight, Sailor
Scouts!" he announced.  "I mean, really, how pathetic can you get
letting your guard down like that?"
        Craig was first to his feet as he moved to protect Lita and
Justin.
        "What's this guy talking about?" he asked, looking over at
Darien who was helping Serena up.
        "Craig, just get out of here!" Lita told him.  Craig was
already, however, rushing Quarz.  Quarz simply drew back and punched
him, sending him reeling.  Lita started to get up to help him, but Quarz
was quick to knock her down again and grab Justin from her.
        "Justin!  No!!  Let go of him you monster!" she cried.
        "If you want him back alive, come to the docks tonight and
surrender to me!" Quarz told her.  "Otherwise, your son will pay for
your crimes against the Negaverse!"  With that, he took off, Justin
crying and screaming as he left.
        Lita felt like her heart had just been torn out.  Justin meant
more to her than anything, and now his life was in danger, and she
currently didn't have to power to defeat Quarz.  Still, she would
not...she could not stand for this.  Tears began to flow from her eyes
as the rage built up inside her.  By now, Craig was up again and was
moving towards her, but Trent was quick to stop him.  Craig was about to
ask what Trent was doing, but Lita answered his question for him.  She
looked to the sky.
        "Jupiter, I beg you, give me the power I need!!!" she cried out.
        Orion, watching on, just gave a silent acknowledgment and a
smile, knowing his mission was now complete.  Lita's power stick
materialized before her, changing like the others' had. Now it had an
orb on top resembling the planet Jupiter with her symbol inside of it.
The god Jupiter spoke to her in her mind.
        "The time has come, my champion, for you to feel the full power
you possess.  Now, my proud champion, let loose the thunder in your
heart and use your full powers," he told her.  Lita knew she didn't need
to thank him.  His thanks would be seeing her use her powers to bring
Quarz to his end.  She grabbed hold of the power stick and invoked its
power.
        "Jupiter Power Complete, TRANSFORM!" she cried.  The symbol
inside the orb began to spin and a ball of energy shot from it, circling
her and transforming her.  In her tiara now was her Jupiter symbol.  Her
uniform's sleeves reacted just like the others' had.  The stone in her
bow changed to a pair of lightning bolts, crossed.  On her gloves came a
design of forked lightning bolts which started from her elbows and
forked out down the length of her arms.  Finished, she felt the power of
her thunder coursing through her veins with each beat of her heart.  She
was ready now.
        "You just wait Quarz," she said aloud.  "I'm coming for you, you
horrible bastard.  And when I find you, you will pay for this!"  She ran
off without the other Scouts, heading for the docks.
        "Scouts, transform quickly!  We've got to help her!" Mina told
them.  Raye and Amy just nodded.
        "Mars Power Complete, Transform!" Raye cried out, producing her
power stick.
        "Mercury Power Complete, Transform!" Amy cried, doing likewise.
        "Venus Power Complete, Transform!" Mina said, rounding the group
out.  Once transformed, they took off after Jupiter.
        "Serena, you'd better fill Craig in on what's going on!" Venus
said as she ran.
        "Think you're going somewhere without me?" a familiar voice
asked alongside Venus.  She looked over and saw Onyx running alongside
her.
        "I wouldn't dream of it," she said with a smile.  "Just make
sure you keep up, hon!"  She began running past him.  Onyx just laughed
and picked up his pace.
        Craig was still flabbergasted at what he'd just witnessed.
Serena walked over and helped him up.
        "Craig, I think you'd better come with me and listen to what I
have to say," she told him.  She looked over at Darien.  "I think we' d
better both help him out."
        "I was hoping we could do this a bit more gently, you know,"
Darien told her.
        "Has anything ever been gentle when it came to this aspect of
our lives?" Serena asked him.
        "You've got a point there, meatball head," he told her.  She
just smiled and led the way inside.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Quarz stood waiting at the docks, Justin laying in a coil of
rope behind him crying because he was scared and wanted his mother.
Quarz just turned and looked at the child with disdain.
        "Be quiet you little imp, it will all be over shortly," he
snapped at him.  "Soon Sailor Jupiter and the other Scouts will be no
more.  Besides, if you're a good boy, I'll even send you along with your
mother."
        "You'll do nothing of the sort, Quarz," Amber told him, standing
nearby.  Quarz looked at her, Granos behind her.
        "Well, well, I thought you would show up sooner or later," he
said.
        "Quarz let baby go.  Not right hurt little one," Granos told him.
        "So eloquently put, Granos.  Has Amber been teaching you how to
speak again?" Quarz said mockingly.
        "Enough, Quarz," Amber said.  "We don't care about the Scouts,
but we're taking the child.  He is an innocent one and should not be
used as a means to this end."
        "Such a touching speech, Amber, but I'm afraid my answer is no,"
Quarz told her.  He pressed a button on his suit as he said this and
suddenly both Amber and Granos were trapped in a pyramid-shaped force
field.  "I'll just have to tell Obsidious that I had to do away with a
couple of traitors along with the Sailor Scouts."
        Granos and Amber struggled to get out of the entrapment, but
couldn't even move it.  Quarz slowly made his way towards them, readying
his lasers.  As he started to lock on, though, a bolt of dark energy
collided with the entrapment and freed Granos and Amber.  Quarz looked
in the direction it came from and saw Onyx standing, staring him down.
        "The game ends here and now, Quarz," he told him.  "Give me the
child or else."
        "Bold words, Onyx, but words aren't enough against me any more,"
Quarz said.  A couple of panels flipped open on his suit and he fired a
concussion blast that knocked Granos, Amber, and Onyx down.  Amber and
Granos went tumbling into a stack of boxes which fell on them.  Onyx
managed to stop himself before he went sliding off the pier.  Quarz
stood laughing.
        "No one can touch me now, or ever!" he proclaimed, laughing.
        "Mind if we contest that theory?" a voice called from behind
him.  Quarz spun and saw Sailor Venus, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Mercury
standing poised for battle.
        "Well, it looks as if my primary target just couldn't find it in
her to show up," Quarz said.  He quickly brought a laser up and locked
onto Justin.  "Then, as promised, the boy dies!" he cried.
        "Think again, asshole!" Jupiter called out as she came diving
down at him.  Quarz looked up just as Jupiter's boot connected with his
face.  He staggered back a bit from the kick, a moment later looking up
and seeing Jupiter in her complete form.
        "I..Impossible!  You can't have..." he said, beginning to panic.
        Jupiter stood staring him down, the wind playing with her hair
as her icy stare met him.  She felt nothing short of total hatred for
the being that stood before her clad in powered armor...the one who had
dared to take form her that which was most precious to her: her son.
She took a deep breath and, with complete contempt in her voice, told
him,
        "I've never wanted to kill anyone before.  I've always thought
everyone deserves a chance to live.  It's even in our code as Sailor
Scouts not to kill.  But you have dared to attempt to do something so
incredibly horrible, not even I can ever forgive you.  So in your case,
Quarz, I'm making an exception!"
        Quarz just backed away, completely catatonic at this point.  In
Jupiter's eyes, it looked as if tendrils of electricity were writhing
with the rage building inside her like the eye of a horrible,
uncontrollable storm.
        "You dare to involve my son in this, and then plan to kill him
after me?  Then you'd better be ready to fight for your life, Quarz,
because if you believe in an afterlife, I'm sending you straight to
Hell!!" she said, charging him.
        In a panic, Quarz fired all his missiles and lasers at once.
Venus quickly moved to protect Justin.
        "Venus Energy Shield!" she yelled, forming her energy shield to
protect herself and Justin.  Mars and Mercury managed to dodge the
assault and powered up.
        "Mars Firestorm Strike!" Mars cried, firing her myriad of
fireballs.
        "Mercury Hailstorm Blast!" Mercury yelled, adding her hail to
the fray.  The combination managed to intercept most of the missiles and
kept everyone safe.  A few missiles locked on Jupiter.  She stopped
quickly and raised her arms high, powering up.
        "Jupiter Thunderclap Shockwave!" she cried, bringing her arms
down quickly.  There was an earsplitting clap of thunder around her so
powerful that it destroyed the missiles before they got to her and also
knocked Quarz off his feet.  Quarz quickly started to scramble to his
feet, but Jupiter was ready for him.  She charged in and began
assaulting him with carefully aimed and measured kicks and punches, the
impact of each one sounding like a thunderclap.  Quarz's armor simply
couldn't withstand the force of her blows, and he started taking some
severe damage too quickly for him to be able to respond.  Jupiter had
become pure rage, and nothing was going to stop her until she obtained
her goal.
        A jumping spin kick sent Quarz flying a ways away, and Jupiter
took the opportunity to power up another attack.  Lightning crackled
between her hands intensely.  It all formed into her right hand.
        "Jupiter...Extreme...Voltage!!" she cried, firing the lightning
bolt at Quarz. It struck him dead on, shorting out all his systems and
frying him severely.  He screamed out in pain as the blast seared his
body.  He stood frozen in place, unable to move.  The only thing he
could do was watch as Jupiter powered up her final attack.  Wind started
to pick up and swirl around her intensely as multiple lightning bolts
circled her.  The winds intensified into a cyclone, the lightning bolts
lining it and running all through it.  Everyone else had taken cover,
watching from afar the spectacle.
        "SAY HI TO BERYL IN HELL, QUARZ!" Jupiter yelled at him.  She
let loose the fury of the lightning-laced cyclone  as she yelled it out,
"JUPITER CYCLONE THUNDERSTRIKE!!!"
        Quarz could only scream as the cyclone surrounded him, tossing
him about and wracking him with massive shocks from the lightning.  The
pressure and shocking quickly became too much for his suit to bear and
it exploded, sending him up in a ball of fire.  As the winds died down
and the dust settled, Jupiter fell to her knees, exhausted from using so
much power.  Mars was quickly over to help her up.  Venus and Mercury
came along a minute later, Venus carrying Justin.
        "Here, I think he belongs to you," she said, handing him to her.
Jupiter whispered a thank you as she took her son into her arms, crying
as she held him.  Justin was overjoyed to be reunited with his mother
and said so in one word.
        "Mama..." he said.
        Jupiter's eyes lit up as he spoke.  She started dancing around,
celebrating her son's first word with Mars and Mercury.  Venus just
smiled on and then turned to Onyx, who was facing Granos and Amber.  She
joined him promptly.
        "The child is safe.  We must return," Amber said, beginning to
turn away.
        "Amber, wait," Onyx said.  She paused for a moment.  "You came
out tonight to save that child's life.  That's not something someone
from the Negaverse normally worries about doing."
        "He's right, Amber," Venus added.  "Why don't you join us? We
can protect you from Obsidious."
        "It's too late for me to think about defecting like you, Onyx,"
she said, her voice grim.  "I've been with the Negaverse too long.  If
I'd have wanted out, I would have left long ago like you did."
        "It's never too late to give yourself a second chance, Amber.
Look at Sailor Jupiter, after all," Onyx told her.  Amber looked over at
the girl who was still dancing around with her son, laughing and
smiling.  She smiled a little.
        "Maybe so, but then again maybe some of us deserve that second
chance more than others," she told him.  "Enough, I must return to the
compound.  Come, Granos."
        Granos just nodded and teleported away with Amber.  Onyx sighed
and shook his head.  Venus stepped around in front of him.
        "We at least got through to her a bit, Onyx," she told him.
"There's still hope for her."
        "I know, Venus," Onyx said.  "I just hope that she realizes that
someday soon as well."
        With that, the two turned and jogged over to join in the
celebration still going on.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        The next day, Craig and Lita were walking to school on their
own, taking a different route than she normally took.
        "Let me get this straight, then," Lita said as she carried
Justin.  "You're not intimidated by the fact that I am number one: the
karate maniac of the school; number two: a mother; and number three:
Sailor Jupiter?'
        "First off, I've always wanted to learn karate," Craig said.
"Second, I love kids, and third, at least now I know which Sailor Scout
is my favorite."
        Lita just laughed and took him by the arm, holding Justin in the
other.
        "I think I could end liking you a lot, Craig," she told him.
        "Likewise, Lita," he told her.
        A ways behind them, Trent and Mina walked along to school,
watching them.
        "You certainly can work miracles, babe," Mina told him.
        "Hey, I try," Trent said.  "Speaking of miracles, all four of
you have your full powers now.  We're just about ready to go after
Obsidious."
        "Yeah, we're ready, but Serena isn't," Mina said.  "I still
don't like the idea of her not being with us if we attack them."
        "It may not be able to be helped, Mina," Trent told her.
"Unless we find out about the secret behind the Silver Crystal and get
her powers enhanced, she wouldn't stand a chance against Obsidious or
his forces."
        "Can't we just hold off and try to find her powers?" Mina asked.
        "The longer we hold off, the more powerful Obsidious could
grow," Trent said.  "It'd be dangerous to let things go for too long."
        "What's a little danger to us considering what we've faced so
far?" Mina asked.  Trent just laughed.
        "You never quit, do you?" he asked.
        "Nope, and that's one of the things you love about me, isn't
it?" she asked teasingly.
        "You don't hear me complain, do you?" Trent replied.  Mina just
smiled and gave him a quick kiss.
        "Me either," she said.  She leaned against him as he put his arm
around her, the two of them walking along to school.

        *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        "So now what?" Turquos asked.  "Quarz is gone, and Amber is
showing definite signs of weakness."
        "I think perhaps it's time for you to get involved in this, my
friend," Obsidious told him.  "We have toyed around with the Sailor
Scouts for far too long, and that mistake has endangered our mission
severely now.  I therefore charge you, Turquos, with the task of
obtaining the energy we need and destroying the Sailor Scouts."
        "I shall do so, my Lord, and I know just the point to strike
at," Turquos said.  "If I eliminate Sailor Moon, the Scouts will fall
into complete disarray and will be easily finished."
        "A sound plan, Turquos, but do not underestimate them by any
means," Obsidious told him.  "Sailors Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter
are all formidable adversaries.  Just make sure you don't get in over
your head."
        "Fear not, my Lord, I am not intending to go the way of Quarz,"
Turquos said, bowing.
        "That is good to head, indeed," Obsidious said, laughing.
        Later, Turquos stood watching the sunset on the African savanna
where the compound was currently located.  He recalled his brother,
Malachite, once again and laughed aloud.
        "Prepare yourself, Sailor Moon!" he cried.  "You shall indeed
pay for my brother's death!  You SHALL pay!!!!"



Part Six
The Point of No Return

        Amber sat alone in her quarters, head in her hands as she
continued to play the scene over and over in her mind.  It had all
happened in such a short amount of time, she failed to realize what
exactly she was doing.  All she knew was that Quarz had struck something
in her when he decided to target Sailor Jupiter's son in his malicious
plan.  She knew she shouldn't have let something like this bother her so
much, but for some reason it did and she just couldn't explain why.
What's more, it had been almost a week since Quarz had been destroyed at
the hands of Sailor Jupiter and the whole thing still bothered her so
much she found it difficult to even leave her room.  She thought for a
moment, recalling Onyx's words to her.
        "It's never too late to have a second chance," she repeated to
herself.  Thinking about those words only sent her into more of a
depression than what she was already in as she cast her mind back long
ago, long before the attack on the Moon Kingdom, even before the
appearance of Queen Beryl and the Negaforce.
        She had been a member of the Royal Court of Earth and an advisor
to the Queen, mother of Prince Darien.  She had also been a close friend
of Onyx's back then.  They had known each other since early childhood
and had pretty much grown up together.  At that time, though, she was
beginning to have other feelings for Onyx.  He had grown into a handsome
young man and one of Prince Darien's most skilled generals alongside
Malachite and Nephrite.  She kept her feelings to herself, though,
hoping that with time he would develop feelings for her as well.
        After she had become part of the Negaverse, she became advisor
to Queen Beryl, but still retained her feelings for Onyx.  It was then
that she decided to admit her feelings to Onyx, but her action came too
late as Onyx had taken to slipping off at opportune times.  Whenever she
did get to see him, he was too busy to talk much personally.  Finally,
one night, she trailed him as he was slipping off and, as he neared the
gate, she heard him say,
        "Tonight, my darling Venus, I shall pledge my love to only you."
        Her heart shattered that night.  She realized that he had been
slipping off because he had been courting Venus, one of the girls in
Princess Serena's court.  For a long time after that, she had hurt
deeply.  She had refused to come out of her quarters for several days,
insisting that she was working on something important.  Once, Onyx had
even stopped by to try and get her to come out, but she still refused.
She knew his worry was genuine, but it was worry for her as a friend,
not out of the love she wanted to have with him.
        Gradually, she realized that she had no one to blame but
herself.  She knew it could be all too easy to blame Venus and say that
she stole Onyx from her, but she knew that would do her no good.  Onyx
loved her and would stand by her no matter what.  What's more, neither
Venus nor Onyx could have known any better because she had never made
her feelings known.  After that, she met with Onyx and wished him well
with Venus.
        After Onyx's defection, Amber felt more betrayed than ever.  She
had been friends with him for longer than she could remember, and now
here he was running away from everything they had wanted to work
towards.  That was when she sided with Obsidious and swore she would
bring him to justice.  But now, after he had shown her the same kindness
he had so many years ago, she began to wonder if he really had betrayed
her so long ago.  The main questions that Amber kept asking herself were
about why Onyx defected.  What was so special about what the world of
light that his Venus lived in?  What made it so much more preferable to
the Negaverse?  It was not a world of powerful entities or strong
warriors.  Just humans.
        Amber knew that these questions were going to go unanswered
until she did something to figure out an answer.  One certainly would
not just present itself to her.  She would have to infiltrate the human
world and try to find out what was so special about it.
        As she stood to prepare herself for her excursion, Granos
entered the room.
        "Where Amber going?" he asked as he stood in the room, looking
down at her.
        "Granos...I'm leaving for a while," Amber told him.  "I have
something I must tend to.  When I am done, I will return and will be
able to function at my normal level of ability, but for now I must go."
        "Granos come with Amber," Granos said, lumbering over towards
her.
        "No, Granos, I must go alone," she told him.  "Besides, there is
no reason for you to endanger yourself."
        "Amber in trouble?" Granos asked.  "Then Granos must come to
protect."
        "Granos, enough!" she snapped at him.  "I can take care of
myself, and I'm not in any trouble.  Now get out of my way."
        Granos just stood in her way, unmoving.  She tried to push past
him, but she quickly realized that she'd have a better chance pushing
past a brick wall.
        "It Granos duty protect Amber," Granos said.  "No let leave
without Granos."
        Amber just sighed, knowing this would be a lot more difficult
with this juggernaut of a Negaverse warrior tagging along, but she
realized that as simple-minded as Granos was, he was also fiercely loyal
and would carry out his orders as best he could, and he had been ordered
by Queen Beryl long ago to act as Amber's personal bodyguard.  He had
never received orders to cease this activity and would not take other
orders unless they were from someone of the same rank as Beryl or of
higher rank.
        "Very well," she said with a sigh.  "But we'll need to disguise
you properly."
        "Where we going?" Granos asked.
        "You'll find out when we get there, just try to move around
quietly," she told him.  She knew this was an almost impossible thing to
ask him to do, but she didn't want to make it too obvious that she was
leaving.  Still, she moved past Granos and led the way out of the
compound where the two promptly teleported away.
        From the shadows of a corner, Turquos emerged, having seen the
entire exchange.  He smiled to himself as he watched the two teleport
off.
        "Very curious," he said to himself.  "I may have to keep an eye
on them, just in case."

     *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Trent sat on the couch in the living room of Mina's house,
waiting for her to finish getting ready for their date that day.  He
looked across at her parents, always feeling incredibly nervous around
them.  Sure, they knew him by now and even liked him, but he still felt
nervous about it all.   Mina's mother sat before her canvas working on a
landscape while her father sat at the piano, playing a few notes and
then writing some down on paper.  If there was one thing about Mina's
family that was exceptional, Trent concluded, it was their skill in the
fine arts.  Mina herself was no exception, being a protege of both of
her parents.  She had a fabulous singing voice, an incredible skill at
the keyboard, a fine eye for photography, a skillful hand at the
canvas...
        Trent stopped himself there.  If he'd tried to think of
everything Mina had shown him she was good at, his brain would probably
go into overload.  He chalked it all up to the influence of the goddess
Venus on her and her family's line from way back in the Moon Kingdom.
Of course, he never said this to anyone, and it's not like he minded at
all.  Besides that, he too was adept at a few of the fine arts himself
being somewhat of a writer and actor.
        "So where are you two headed today, Trent?" Mina's mother asked
as she looked over at him serenely.  Trent's nervousness disappeared
after the silence was broken.  He was glad it was her mother who spoke
up first.  She seemed to be such a peaceful woman, not anything like
Mina.  Then again, few people were like Mina anyways.
        "We're going to meet up with Serena and Darien and catch a
movie, then we're going to stop by that cafe just across the street for
something to eat," Trent told her.  "After that, we might walk in the
park for a bit before she has to come home.  It depends on how long
everything takes."
        "Well, we trust you son," Mina's father said from his piano.
"Just remember, 11:00 PM."
        "Of course sir," Trent replied.
        "Geez, won't you guys ever bend on that?" Mina said from the
stairway.  Trent looked over and, seeing her, stood up to get ready to
go.  As he did, Mina came the rest of the way down the stairs.  She wore
a soft white blouse with a long, pink skirt, but mainly what Trent
noticed was that Mina quickly held her hands in front of her, right over
left.  He kept quiet for the moment, not wanting to get either of them
in trouble.
        "We agreed on this, Mina," her father told her.  "Next school
year it can go to midnight."
        "You guys are just too protective of me," Mina told them as she
sighed and moved over to Trent.  "Well, we'll get going.  Take care you
two!"
        "Have fun tonight!" her mother called after them as they left.
She then turned and smiled at her husband.  "Our daughter has found
quite a nice young man, hasn't she?"
        "Indeed, dear," he replied.  "And here she always let on she
wasn't interested in anyone."
        Once outside, and a safe distance away from her house, Mina
breathed a sigh of relief, glad to be out of the house finally.  She
looked over at Trent.
        "Sorry I took so long.  I just had a horrible time trying to
find this skirt," she told him.
        "No prob.  Your parents are pretty cool, really," he told her.
"Then again, I'm not one to judge parents."
        "Now don't start that again," she told him.
        "I'm not," he replied with a smile.  "By the way, what're you
hiding on your left hand?"
        "Huh?  How'd you know?" Mina asked.
        "You were making sure your parents didn't see your left hand,
Mina, I noticed that much when you stood at the bottom of the stairs,"
Trent told her.
        "You sure do have an attention to detail, babe," she told him.
        "Chalk it up to Negaverse training," he replied with a wink.
"So, what's up?"
        Mina just smiled a bit and showed him.  Trent's eyes widened.
The ring he'd given her before to wear so he'd find her, which had been
their engagement ring back in the time of the Moon Kingdom, was on her
left ring finger.  She'd worn it on her right hand before.
        "But..." Trent started to say in protest.  Mina quickly quieted
him.
        "Don't think of it as us being engaged, Trent," she told him.
"I know we're both still way young for it.  Just think of it as my
little way of saying that I never want to be with anyone else but you."
        "And I don't wanna be with anyone but you either, Mina," he told
her as he took hold of her hand as they walked.  She leaned against him
a bit as they walked.
        "You know, maybe we picked the wrong movie to see today," Trent
said, thinking to himself.
        "Oh that's right, you and Darien chose the movie for today,"
Mina said.  "What'd you guys choose?"
        "Well, maybe we should've picked something a little more
romantic or something..." Trent said, sweating a bit.
        "Trent..." Mina said, wanting to know.  Trent just laughed
nervously.
        "C'mon Mina, don't you like surprises?" Trent asked.
        "Why do I have a really bad feeling about this?" Mina asked
herself, rolling her eyes.  Trent just continued to laugh a bit
nervously as they walked along to meet up with Serena and Darien.

    *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Amber walked inconspicuously along the streets of Tokyo, having
disguised herself to just look like any other young woman.  She wore an
orange blouse with black slacks and shoes, her long brown hair tied in a
ponytail that trailed down her back.  Granos walked along behind her in
a muscle shirt and black shorts that looked like they just barely fit
him.  He wore a pair of boots, since no tennis shoes could fit him.
        "What we look for?" Granos asked.
        "Not what, who," Amber said.  "I have to find Onyx and Sailor
Venus."
        "Why find them?" he asked.
        "Only they can answer my questions," she told him.
        "Where we find?" he asked.
        "For once, Granos, your guess is a good as mine," she admitted
with a laugh.
        Granos looked up and around a bit.  Down the road a ways he saw
a large group of people around some building entrance.  He pointed up
ahead at it.
        "Many people there.  Maybe they be there," he said.
        Amber looked where Granos pointed.  She recognized it as being a
movie theater, and a lot of people were lining up to go in and get
tickets for movies.  Granos had a point, in that mass of people they
might find them.  But then the question was, what movie would they go
see?  There was only one answer.  They'd have to check every movie until
they found them.
        "Well then, Granos, let's go to the movies," Amber said.  Granos
smiled and followed Amber over to the theater.  A total of ten movies
were playing including The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Mission: Impossible
and Phenomenon.  Amber quickly did a probability equation in her head of
the ten films and, going on titles and what people were talking about
seeing, she made a quick guess as to which one the two would go see if
they were there.
        "Two tickets for..." she said as she stepped up to the booth.
She quickly looked at the title of the movie again and then continued,
reading it.  "Courage Under Fire."
        The lady behind the window took her money and gave her the two
tickets for the movie.  Once inside, Amber and Granos took a seat in the
very back so that they could see everyone who entered to see the movie.
If Onyx and Sailor Venus came to see this movie, there was no way they
wouldn't see them.
        "You sure this right movie?" Granos asked.
        "Of course," Amber said, confidently.  "The title of the movie
sounds just right for those two to see."
        A couple of hours later, Amber and Granos emerged from the
theater having seen everyone who entered as well as the entire movie.
There had been no sign of either of the two.  Amber was dumbfounded.
        "Well, maybe they didn't come to this theater after all," Amber
said to herself.  She was about to declare that they were back to square
one when she looked over and saw the two emerging from another theater
along with the two other humans who were Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask.
"But...but that makes no sense!" she said as she saw the name of the
movie they saw.  She didn't know how right she was.
        "What on earth possessed you two to take us to see Independence
Day??!" Serena asked as they walked out of the theater.
        "Hey, you gave us the job of choosing the movie!" Darien told
her.
        "Yeah.  Give us some credit," Trent said.  "At least we didn't
pick The Hunchback of Notre Dame."
        "I would've preferred that to watching that nonstop special
effect of a movie," Serena said.
        "Well we at least know never to let you two pick a movie again,"
Mina added.
        "Why's that?" Trent asked.
        "One word: testosterone," Mina said.
        "Oh, blame it on the fact that we're guys," Darien said.
        "But dear, it works," Serena told him.
        "That's beside the point!" Trent protested.
        "And just what is your point, babe?" Mina asked.
        "Just because we didn't pick a nice, mushy movie doesn't mean we
did it because it's a guy thing," Trent said.  "Besides, I thought it
was a really interesting movie."
        "Yeah, me too," Darien agreed.
        "Oh come on, Darien," Serena said.  "That was about as
unrealistic of an alien invasion of Earth that I've ever seen."
        "She's got a point, Darien," Mina added.  "Remember, we're
experts on this topic too."
        Both Trent and Darien groaned and looked at each other.
        "They've got us there," Darien said.
        "Time for Plan `B' then," Trent told him, leaning over to him.
"`B' as in `Be' Romantic."
        "Good call," Darien said with a nod.
        As the two couples split up for the evening, a third couple
moved in a bit to follow one of them.  Amber and Granos looked on, being
as inconspicuous as possible.
        "We find them, now what?" Granos asked.
        "I've got to meet with them.  Quickly, we can't afford to lose
them now," Amber told him, moving ahead quickly.  Granos just followed
along without a word.

       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        At the cafe Trent and Mina just talked and laughed.  Mina had a
mocha latte and Trent had an espresso.  They joked about the movie as
well as more past experiences.  After a bit, they both turned a bit more
serious as they held hands across the table.
        "This is all happening so insanely fast, you know, Trent?" Mina
told him.  "But I can't help feeling that this is all right."
        "I feel the same, Mina, no doubt about it," Trent said as he
squeezed her hand slightly.  "I just hope this isn't a dream."
        Mina smiled and, resisting the urge to pinch him, instead leaned
across the table and kissed him gently.  She sat back, then, smiling at
him.
        "Did that feel real enough?" she asked him.
        "Yes indeed," Trent told her with a smile.  "But you know, this
is all almost so unreal you might have to keep reminding me that it's
real."
        "You're terrible," she said, giggling a bit.  "But I don't think
I'll mind it that much."
        "Gee, I hope not," Trent said, laughing as well.
        The two were having such a good time they didn't seem to notice
the two figures that were sitting a little ways away watching them and
listening to them.
        At that table, Amber listened intently to what they said and
watched them carefully.  She was still confused by how the two were
acting.  She turned away, looking at Granos who sat trying to read the
menu.
        "I just don't get them at all," she told him.  "They're
warriors, aren't they?  Then why aren't they practicing or planning or
anything? It makes no sense at all."
        "Love isn't supposed to make sense, dear," a woman said from a
nearby table.  Amber looked over at her.  She was a rather elegant
looking lady wearing a dark green, full-length evening gown which
matched her hair color.  She was currently sipping her cappuccino when
Amber looked over.
        "And just who are you to tell me about love?" Amber asked.
        "You're not very good at making new friends are you?" the lady
asked, looking over at her.  "Then again, I'd figure that much from
someone from the Negaverse."
        Amber gasped as she almost fell out of her seat.  Her disguise
was perfect!  How could this woman know what she was?!
        "How did you know?" she asked.
        "Just trust me, I can tell these things," the lady said.  "So
what 's your name?"
        "Amber," Amber told her.  "And you're?"
        "My name's Prisma," Prisma told her.  "And who's your companion
here?"
        "That's Granos, my bodyguard," Amber told her.
        "Well Amber, and Granos, do you take to spying on couples in
love often or is this a special occasion?" Prisma asked, finishing off
her coffee.
        "How can that be love?" Amber asked.  "I know what love is, and
it's nothing like that."
        "Are you so sure, honey?" Prisma asked, leaning over towards
her.  Amber just fell silent.  Prisma, then, stood up and looked down at
her.  "Look, come with me.  I think I can help you out some.  Besides, I
don't think they'd appreciate it much if you just followed them around
while they're trying to be romantic."
        Amber just nodded and left with Prisma, Granos following along
mindlessly.  As they left, Mina looked over and saw them leaving,
recognizing Prisma.  She waved to her.
        "Hi Prisma!" she called to her.  Prisma turned and, seeing Mina,
smiled and waved back.
        "Hi Mina," she said.  "I wish I could talk right now, but
there's something I must tend to.  Come over with your boyfriend
sometime for tea.  I'm sure the girls would love to meet him."
        "Just remember, hands off the man," Mina told her.  "He's all
mine."  Prisma just laughed.
        "Perish the thought, dear.  I'll see you later!" she said,
walking off.
        Trent knew he should be worried about this and was about to say
something when he noticed the two people who were with Prisma.  He
didn't have to try very hard to see that it was Amber and Granos in
disguise.  His first instinct was to leave quickly, transform into Onyx,
and find out what Amber and Granos were doing in Tokyo, but knew that
his chances of being able to pull that off while on a date with Mina
were so small that it wasn't even worth trying.  Still, he kept the
scene in mind to tell Mina about later.  He relaxed and turned his mind
back to lighter thoughts.
        "She's a friend of yours?" he asked Mina, sitting back.
        "Yeah.  It's a long story," Mina told him.
        "You can tell me as we go for our walk," Trent said, getting up.
"I figure now's as good a time as any, and we can also find a spot to
watch the sunset."
        "You know, for being so new to this, you're a very romantic
person Trent," Mina said as she stood up and took his arm.  "Not that
I'm complaining at all."
        "I knew you wouldn't," he said with a smile.  The two then
walking to the park, leaving their cares and worries far behind.

 *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Amber sat holding a cup of tea in the living room of the house
Prisma had brought her to.  It was rather extravagantly decorated with
tapestries, oak furniture, and a rug imported from India.  Amber
concluded that Prisma must be quite successful at something to be able
to afford such luxuries.  She sipped the tea a bit as she waited for her
hostess.  She recognized it as Darjeeling from the unique taste of it.
Amber smiled to herself a bit.  If there was one thing she had gathered
a taste for in her days on Earth long ago, it had been tea.  She looked
up as Prisma entered with a tray of muffins.
        "Hope you enjoy them," she said, sitting them down on the table
in front of Amber.  "Avery's always proud of her muffins."
        "Who's Avery?" Amber asked.
        "One of my sisters.  There's four of us.  The other two are
Birdie and Catsy.  I wish they could be here right now, but they're in
Paris attending a fashion convention.  However, Avery should be home
soon," Prisma told her.
        "Where's Granos at?" Amber continued.
        "I showed him where the workout room was.  He's down there
apparently having the time of his life," Prisma said with a laugh.  "Any
more questions, dear?"
        "Just the most important one," Amber said.  "Why'd you bring me
here?"
        "Because, little one, you look like you need someone to talk to
who knows what it's like to serve the dark side," Prisma told her.  " My
sisters and I were originally from the far future, from the NegaMoon.
We came here to the past with an evil man named Rubeus to make sure the
city of the future, Crystal Tokyo, never rose.  However, with the help
of Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts, we saw the error of our ways.  We
found that this wasn't a world we wanted to destroy, but a world we
wanted to help protect and live in peacefully."
        "That's what I want too!" Amber said.
        "Yes, but at what cost are you willing to achieve that world?"
Prisma asked her as she seated herself across form her on the sofa.
"You know, I'll bet you've still not taken the time to see what world
you're actually trying to conquer and possibly destroy in the process.
If you had, you'd see what a place of beauty, love, and serenity this
world is."
        "I have no place for those things in my life," Amber said
insistently.  "Especially love."
        "Then how have you managed to survive, child?" Prisma asked her.
"No one can survive without love."
        "Love only hurts.  And don't tell me I don't know what I'm
talking about this time, because I know firsthand," Amber told her.  "I
loved a man that I let slip away from me because I didn't have the
courage to tell him how I felt."
        "And it's been eating you up inside, hasn't it?" Prisma asked.
Amber just nodded.  "Let me guess, it was that fine young man sitting
with Mina wasn't it?"  Again, Amber just nodded.
        "I had wished them both well in the past, but then he turned
traitor and left our side for her and her princess' ideals.  Now I'm
supposed to hunt them down and kill them, but I still keep asking myself
why he defected," Amber told her.
        "Tell me...what is a good definition of love?" Prisma asked
sitting back a bit.
        "Love?" Amber asked, a bit puzzled.  "It's a state of...."
        "Wrong," Prisma told her, cutting her off.
        "But I didn't finish," Amber said.
        "You were wrong to begin with because you tried to define love,"
Prisma told her.  "Love isn't something that's definable, and that's
what your problem is.  To you, everything is black and white.  Cold,
hard logic.  Love is about the most illogical thing there is.  What's
between Mina and that young man is love in its most pure form, honey.
That's why you didn't understand it.  If what you felt for him really
was love, you would fight to protect him and those who have either not
had the chance to find it yet, or who have it as well."
        "It's too late for me to think about changing my ways," Amber
said.  "I shouldn't even be here.  Obsidious is probably watching me and
planning my extermination as we speak."
        "Then don't go back!" Prisma told her.  "If there's ever the
perfect time for you to start over and give yourself a second chance,
it's now."
        "Onyx said the same thing to me," Amber noted.
        "It's a sign that he at least still cares about you.  Even
though it's not the love you once wanted, after all the time that's
passed and all the things that have happened, he does care about you and
he wants to see you come out right."
        Amber sat thinking deeply about it all.  What Prisma had said
made sense.  It would explain why he didn't attack her that time she was
fighting Venus.  It also explained why he'd said what he did to her.
Her train of thought was derailed when Prisma took her hand, helping her
to her feet.
        "Come with me, dear.  Let me show you something," Prisma told
her.  Amber just nodded and followed her out behind the house where a
lavish garden spread out before her.
        "It's like the garden at the palace long ago," Amber said, amazed.
        "Birdie takes great pride in her garden," Prisma told her with a
smile.  "But this is only a taste of how beautiful this world is Amber.
Is this what you want to destroy?"
        Amber began to cry a bit as the memories flooded back to her of
her time in the court of the Queen of Earth.  She would run through the
garden playing with the others as a child, and she remembered the
suitors who would try to court her with flowers they'd found in the
garden.  She wanted those times again, and realized what her only choice
could be.
        "I...I think I want to try to change," Amber said, choking back
her tears.  Prisma put her hand on Amber's shoulder, comfortingly.
        "You have chosen wisely, child.  Now you can join the light,"
she told her.
        "But where do I start?" Amber asked.
        "Find Sailor Moon," Prisma told her.  "She can help you get
started on the path."
        Amber nodded and took a deep breath, trying to regain her
composure.  She straightened herself up a bit and smiled at Prisma a
bit.
        "Thank you Prisma," Amber said.
        "My pleasure, but please don't leave without a few muffins.
Avery wouldn't want them to go to waste," Prisma told her.  Amber nodded
and, as they walked back through the house, she took a few, sure that
Granos would eat most of them.  She met up with her massive companion in
the exercise room.  He was bench pressing about 450 pounds like it was a
box of feathers.
        "Come on, Granos.  There's a change in plans," Amber told him.
"We're going to find Sailor Moon."
        "What we do when find?" Granos asked, standing up after setting
the weight down.
        "We start over," Amber told him, handing him a muffin.  Granos
just shrugged and ate the muffin, quickly developing a taste for the
pastry.  Amber led the way as the two began their quest for a new life.

     *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Turquos just watched the scene with a good deal of disgust, but
he was hardly surprised.  He had always suspected Amber of being weak,
and now he was sure of not only that, but that she was just as much of a
traitor as her once beloved Onyx was.  He knew he needed no permission
from Obsidious to do what he had in mind, so he quickly called up his
most reliable servant: Phalanx.  Phalanx was known throughout the
Negaverse as being one of the most lethal and efficient warriors.  He
had been one of the Negaverse's first agents to Earth, but had been
recalled early due to other plans from Queen Beryl.  He had long pledged
his service to Turquos and now appeared before him, dressed in his
traditional futuristic dark green colored samurai armor.
        "Yes, My Master?" Phalanx asked in his low tone.
        "I have a special mission for you to tend to, Phalanx.  I think
you'll find it quite amusing," Turquos told him.  "Go to Tokyo, find and
hunt down Amber and Granos.  They have now turned traitors just as Onyx
has.  When you do locate them, your orders are to kill them both by any
means necessary.  From there, you will proceed to locate and destroy the
Sailor Scouts one by one except for Sailor Moon.  I will deal with her
personally."
        "It will be as you wish," Phalanx said, bowing.  He then
teleported away to tend to his mission.
        "This world will soon be ours, once and for all," Turquos said
to himself, laughing as he thought of the demise that awaited Amber.

 *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Raye concentrated harder this time, trying to delve even deeper
into the Silver Crystal that sat before her now.  She could only go so
far until she was repulsed by some force that nearly threw her across
the room had Lita not caught her.
        "Are you sure this is a good idea, Raye?" Lita asked.  "You keep
getting hit harder by that thing every time."
        "I have to keep trying, Lita," Raye said, getting up and taking
her place again.  "Have you found anything yet Amy?"
        Amy was sitting on the opposite side of the Crystal, checking
and analyzing all sorts of readings and measurements that appeared
before her via BIT.  She had been trying to analyze the Crystal and the
energies it was letting off as Raye tried to penetrate it psychically.
She looked across when Raye addressed her.
        "I keep on only getting this image that you talked about, Raye.
That shadowy figure, then the double crescent moon sigil, and then
nothing," Amy told her.  "My only conclusion is that someone, or
something, doesn't want anyone at all to know who that person is."
        "Who would want to keep a secret that badly, though, and why?"
Lita asked.
        "There's only one answer as to who wants this secret kept," Amy
said.  She looked at the two with a look of dead seriousness.  "Queen
Serenity."
        "But what kind of secret would she want kept so badly that she
wouldn't let anyone, not even Serena, know about it?  And what does it
have to do with keeping Serena from gaining the full power of the Silver
Crystal?" Raye asked.
        "I'm still not sure about any of that," Amy said.  "But I have a
feeling that the key to the whole thing is finding out what this double
crescent moon sigil is all about, and who that shadowed figure is."
        "Oh, where have I seen that sigil before?!" Raye asked herself,
almost pulling her hair.  "I don't get why I can't remember it!!"
        "Don't kill yourself over it, Raye, we'll figure it out," Lita
said, comforting her a bit.  "I just wish Mina were here to help out,
but she 's still on her date with Trent I guess."
        "What about Serena?" Amy asked.
        "She and Darien were going out to the movie with Mina and Trent,
but as far as where they went after that I have no idea," Lita said.
"She said she'd be within communicator range if we needed her, though."
        "Well, I suggest we pack it up for tonight," Amy said as she sat
back down.  "We've exhausted enough energy for one night, and we'll need
a good night's rest if we want to tackle this tomorrow.  BIT, save all
readings to file, and then put up the force field around the Crystal."
        "Roger Amy," BIT said, complying with her wishes.  There was a
slight whirring noise and a pyramid force field appeared around the
Silver Crystal.  BIT then took its position next to Amy quickly.  "I'm
picking up two unknown beings approaching the temple.  One rather large,
the other female.  High readings of Nega-energy from both," it said.
        Lita was first out the doors to the entrance of the temple.
Raye and Amy caught up quickly and the three saw Amber and Granos
standing at the gate, Granos munching on a muffin.
        "Greetings, Sailor Scouts," Amber said.
        "Back for another round, Amber?" Raye asked, producing her power
stick.  Lita and Amy did likewise.
        "Please, no fighting," Amber pleaded.  "I've come to ask for
your help."
        "Why should we help you at all, huh?" Lita asked.  "Like you've
been a real saint towards us."
        "Because we have nowhere else to go now," Amber said.
"We're...traitors."
        Raye stepped forward and motioned to Lita to calm down. She
continued forward and stood in front of Amber.
        "Come on inside.  You can fill us in on what's going on inside,"
Raye told her.  "Amy, you'd better contact Serena and Mina.  We may need
their help."
        "I'm right on it, Raye," Amy said, having BIT help her contact
both girls at the same time.
        As Raye led Amber and Granos in, Lita looked over at Granos.  He
was carrying quite a few muffins which she recognized.
        "Hey, those are Avery's muffins aren't they?" Lita asked with a
bit of a smile.
        "How'd you know?" Amber asked.
        "I taught her that recipe myself," Lita said proudly.
        "Well, they're very good, aren't they Granos?" Amber said.
Granos just nodded as he had a mouthful of muffin.  Lita just chuckled a
bit.
        "I think you two will fit in just fine around here," she noted.

    *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        "So we came here, knowing that we'd at least find Sailor Mars
here," Amber said, concluding her explanation.  The whole thing had
taken a little more than an hour once Serena, Darien, Trent, and Mina
had arrived.  "My desire is sincere.  Prisma helped me see the right
way."
        "You've done the right thing, Amber," Serena said, smiling.  "I
think we can go ahead with healing her.  Any objections?"
        "This won't hurt, will it?" Amber asked, a bit afraid still.
        "Not at all, Amber," Amy told her as she had BIT lower the force
field around the Crystal.  "Your move Serena."
        Serena walked over and placed the Silver Crystal back into the
locket and was about to transform when Phalanx appeared outside the
shrine.  Lita saw him out of the window.
        "Guys, we've got company!" she said.  Amber was quickly over to
the window.
        "I should've known Turquos would be watching me," she said.  "He
sent Phalanx to do away with me and Granos."
        "Phalanx?!" Mina said, her eyes going wide.  Everyone turned to
look at her.
        "You know him?" Raye asked.
        "He was the cause of all the trouble that I took care of over in
Europe as Sailor V," Mina told her.  "He's really dangerous, guys, so
watch out."
        "We're ready for him, Mina," Lita assured her, producing her
power stick.  "Serena, finish healing Amber and then meet us out there."
        "Right.  Good luck you guys," Serena said.
        Mina, Lita, Amy, and Raye quickly produced their power sticks as
they ran out on the scene.  Phalanx stood there, clad in his black armor
and with sword in hand, looking over at them.
        "Long time no see, Sailor V," he said.  "Were that we could
finish our business, but I'm here for the traitors Granos and Amber.
Stand aside if you do not wish to join the fools that have fallen before
me in the past."
        "Still singing out the same tune, eh Phalanx?  Well things are
quite a bit different this time, and this time I'm making sure you go
down hard, pal!" Mina told him.  "Sailor Scouts, Transform!"  Each of
the Scouts sounded off in turn.
        "Mercury Power Complete, Transform!"
        "Mars Power Complete, Transform!"
        "Jupiter Power Complete, Transform!"
        "Venus Power Complete Transform!"
        "Amusing," Phalanx said, holding his sword before him.  "But
haven't you learned yet?  You cannot compare to the power of the
Negaforce!"
        The Scouts stood ready to do battle with their opponent, who
charged his sword with dark energy and struck the ground, releasing
bolts of energy into it.  The four Scouts jumped away to different
positions and began their attack.
        Inside, Serena was preparing to heal Amber.  She raised the
locket above her and opened it.
        "Moon Crystal Power!" she cried, using its energies to transform
into Sailor Moon.  She stood, moments later, with the locket in hand,
the Crystal exposed.  "Are you ready Amber?"
        "Yes," Amber said, closing her eyes.  She calmed herself, glad
that she at last understood what Onyx had done and why.
        Outside, the battle raged on.  Mars and Mercury had tried to
catch Phalanx in a crossfire with their Firestorm and Hailstorm attacks,
but Phalanx fended the attacks off with a shield of dark energy and was
now charging Venus.  Jupiter cut him off with her Extreme Voltage attack
and moved in to strike, but Phalanx brought the hilt of his sword around
and connected with her gut, knocking the wind out of her.  He then
grabbed her and held her in front of him.
        "Go ahead and attack now!" he said, holding his sword to her
throat.
        "Now what do we do?  We can't risk hitting Jupiter!" Mercury
said.
        "Go for it guys!  Get this no good Negatrash no matter what!"
Jupiter said.  Phalanx brought the blade a bit closer to her throat.
        "Only one chance," Venus said.  "I've got to concentrate all my
energy into this one beam!"
        "Venus, you can't use the..." Mars said as she began to turn.
She was afraid Venus was talking about the Full Moon Beam.  She was
wrong.
        The next sequence of events seemed to happen in slow motion to
Mars.  Inside, she could hear Serena calling up the Crystal's healing
powers as she watched Venus power up her attack.  Her original attack.
        "Venus...!" she cried, summoning up the power.  And then Mars
saw it.  Right there, as Mina summoned her attack, was the double
crescent moon sigil from her dream.
        Inside, Serena had activated the Crystal.
        "Moon Crystal Healing Activation!" she cried.
        And then everything seemed to chain react.
        The Crystal flashed brightly.
        Venus' Crescent Beam surged with power as she fired it.
        "...Crescent Beam Smash!" she cried, finishing the attack.  The
beam streamed forward, right past Jupiter's head and connecting with
Phalanx's shoulder.  The force made him let Jupiter loose and almost
blasted his arm off.  He recoiled in agony, dropping his sword.  Venus
looked more than a bit surprised.
        "My Crescent Beam never did damage like that before," she said.
        "Who cares, let's finish the job!" Jupiter said, recovering
after Phalanx had let her go.  She rushed back into the fray as did
Venus.
        Inside, Amber and Granos were now healed of all their dark
energy.  What's more, Granos was no longer as huge as he used to be.
        "What happened to me?" he asked.  Amber looked at him.
        "Granos...you said a full sentence, and correctly I might add!"
she said amazed.  "My guess is that the dark energy inside you was
impairing your mental abilities while enhancing your physical
abilities." Granos looked at her strangely, but then she put it simply.
"The dark energy in you was making you stronger, but dumber."
        "Well, at least now I can do what I've always wanted to," Granos
said, looking at her.  "And that's tell you why I stayed as your
guardian, Amber."
        "What are you talking about, Granos?" Amber asked him.
        "At first it was because Beryl ordered me to," he began.  "After
her defeat, I could have gone elsewhere, but I stayed because...I like
you."
        Amber knew this was something that should've come as no
surprise, but still she found herself blushing and looking a bit down.
She smiled and then looked back up at him.
        "Maybe now we can get a chance at it," she said, smiling.
        Serena just looked at them, smiling.  She then looked down at
the Silver Crystal and noticed that it was still reacting to some
strange force.  She held it and felt its power all throughout herself.
She began walking out to where the other girls were, still holding it.
All four of the Scouts were taking turns taking shots at Phalanx,
knowing he wouldn't be able to fend off their shots for long.  Tuxedo
Mask and Onyx watched on, making sure Phalanx didn't run away.
        "Something's happening!" she said.  Everyone quickly looked
towards her.  "I feel power...like nothing I've ever felt before!  I..."
Suddenly, the locket changed so that it looked like a pair of hearts
linked at the ends so it looked sort of like an infinity symbol.  What's
more, the Crystal seemed to have split as there were crystals inside
both of the hearts.  She raised the locket with the Crystals high again
and called out, "Moon Crystal Eternal Power, Transform!"
        The Crystals flashed brightly, kicking into overdrive as they
released their energy, transforming Serena yet again.  Her tiara faded
away, and her crescent moon sigil appeared on her forehead.  The sleeves
of her uniform flared out as the others' had.  Her boots and gloves
lengthened and the boots changed to white from red.  Finally, a long,
midnight blue cape unfurled behind her, fastened with a chain of what
looked like crescent moons in front of her.  She casually pushed the
cape aside a bit as the transformation finished, and she looked intently
at Phalanx who was gripping his shoulder, screaming in pain.
        "Now I'll end your suffering, Nega-scum!" she told him.
        She closed her eyes, summoning up her power into her hands.  She
traced the outline of the moon with the light, which then came down
again, collecting into her hands in the symbol of a crescent moon.  She
then raised it above her head as it began to spin in her hands.
        "Moon Glorious Revolution!!" she cried.  An almost blinding
light fired from her hands straight at Phalanx.  He could only scream as
he felt it disintegrate him, neutralizing all of his once great dark
power.
        Serena stood smiling after Phalanx was destroyed.  Everyone
quickly gathered around her.
        "Serena, you did it!" Lita said triumphantly.
        "Looks like we're back to business as usual," Amy added.
        "Yeah, and she didn't even need the Moon Scepter," Mina noted.
"This is gonna get good, I can tell."
        "Hold on guys," Raye said, stepping up.  "Something weird is
going on."
        "What do you mean, Raye?" Mina asked.  "Serena just got her
powers and kicked that guy's butt for all eternity!"
        "Yes, she did," Raye said, facing Mina.  "Just as you showed
that double crescent moon symbol."
        "What're you talking about?" Mina asked.  "I don't know anything
about a double crescent moon symbol."
        "I saw it when you used your Crescent Beam," Raye said.  Amy
gasped.
        "That's it!  That's where that symbol is from!" she said.
        "What does this all mean?" Serena asked.  Amy's eyes slowly
widened as she came to the realization.
        "The Crystal reacted when it sensed the double crescent moon
from Mina," she said, wide-eyed.  She looked at Mina as everyone else
did.  "That means...that there is some link between her and the Silver
Crystal!"
        "But how can that be?" Mina asked, stepping back a bit.  "The
only one who could have an effect on the Silver Crystal..."
        "Is someone of the bloodline of the Royal Family of the Moon
Kingdom," Serena finished for her, suddenly realizing it herself.
        Mina suddenly felt like someone had fired a 12-gauge shotgun in
her head.  Serena's words rang in her head as it all hit her.  It became
too much for her to bear and she fainted.  Onyx quickly caught her as
everyone still stood in awe of the discovery.

   *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        On the rooftop of the Shrine, the four cats sat and were also in
awe, having seen the entire scene.
        "This can't be happening!" Artemis said, panicking.  "No one was
ever supposed to know!"
        "Know what?" Luna asked him.
        "Artemis...don't tell me..." Orion said.
        "I'm sorry everyone," Artemis said, lowering his head.  "I've
been keeping a secret."
        "What kind of secret?" Diana asked.
        "One no one was ever supposed to find out, little one," Artemis
told his daughter.  "And one I was to guard with my life, along with
Mina."
        "I have a feeling you'd better explain this to everyone,
Artemis," Luna told him.  "Especially Mina."
        "Yes, you're right as usual Luna," Artemis said.  "It's time she
knew the truth about who she really is."

  *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Far away from the scene, Obsidious had witnessed the whole scene
through his viewing crystal as well.  He smiled as he considered the
same realization the Scouts had come to.
        "How very curious indeed..." he said amusedly.  He continued to
watch the scene, completely intrigued with the current turn of events.



Part Seven
Revelations

        Mina awoke slowly, a damp cloth on her forehead.  She focused
her vision and saw Trent sitting next to her, trying desperately to stay
awake even though he was almost out of it.
        "Trent..." she said softly, realizing that he'd been watching
her all night.  Trent quickly shook off his sleepiness, seeing that she
was awake.
        "You okay?" he asked.
        "Yeah...was last night a dream?" she asked.
        "Afraid not, Mina," he said.  "Listen, Artemis wants to see us
all as soon as you're strong enough to move.  He said he had some
serious explaining to do."
        "Okay," Mina said, nodding.  She slowly sat up, still a bit
woozy.  Trent helped her to her feet and began helping her down the
hall.  She smiled as she walked along with his help.  "You're way too
good to me, you know."
        "That's because you're way too good for me, so I'm trying to
make things break even," he told her with a smile and a wink.

      *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Everyone sat in the living room of Raye's house.  The doors were
closed and locked, and all the shades drawn.  Trent sat behind Mina,
supporting her as she wasn't 100% yet.  Darien and Serena sat similarly
on the opposite end of the table in the middle of the room.  Raye, Lita,
and Amy sat on yet another side, with Luna, Orion, and Diana sitting in
front of them.  They all looked to Artemis who was sitting on the middle
of the table.  He looked around at them all, a look of grave seriousness
on his face.
        "Before I begin, please understand me everyone," he began.
"This is something that was never meant to be known to anyone.  It's a
secret I've been keeping for over 1,000 years.  No one else must ever
know what is told to you in this room.  Am I understood?"  Everyone just
nodded in acknowledgment.  "Very well, then.  I must begin with a bit of
history on the Moon Kingdom."
        "Long, long ago, before the Age of the Silver Millennium that
lasted as long as its name implies, the most powerful and good sorcerers
of the Moon drew together all of their knowledge and wisdom and created
the Imperium Silver Crystal.  They entrusted in it the knowledge of the
ages, of the universe and its ways, and they entrusted it to a young
woman.  That woman was the first of the bloodline that would become the
Royal Family.
        "She was a beautiful and wise young woman, much like Queen
Serenity, and she married a noble man with whom she had many children.
When those children were all old enough, she told them all of the Silver
Crystal and that it would only be entrusted to one of them.  What ensued
was total chaos.  Brother and sister slaughtered the like, all for the
right to be the keeper of the Silver Crystal.  It was a war that
eventually involved the entire Moon Society and threatened to destroy
everything that had been worked towards.
        "Once the fighting stopped, only one child of that woman, a
girl, was left.  She was the only child of the woman who had chosen not
to fight.  She looked at the destruction that had ravaged her home and
was overcome with grief.  When her mother passed on, finally, that girl
was entrusted with the Crystal.  Upon receiving it, she vowed to make
certain that never again would there be such a war that would result in
such destruction.  This was the beginning of the Silver Millennium, and
that girl was the first Queen Serenity.
        "The first act she passed became the one rule that the Royal
Family was bidden never to break.  It was her way of ensuring that that
war would never happen again.  By right of this law, the Queen could
only bear one child.  Any other children of hers after that one were to
be killed immediately so that they would never be tempted to kill their
siblings for the right to inherit the Silver Crystal.  This is the way
things went for centuries.  Until the last Queen Serenity.  It was then
that something happened that never happened before in the history of the
Royal Family."
        "Why wasn't I aware of this when it happened, Artemis?" Luna
asked.
        "To be brutally honest, Luna, you did have a nasty tendency to
let things slip back then," Artemis told her.  "Besides, you weren't
there when it happened.  You were in another part of the castle."
        "I don't understand," Luna said, still puzzled.
        "This is where the secret begins," Artemis told them all.  "I
have to take you back now.  Back more than a thousand years ago..."

  *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        The castle was buzzing with activity and preparation.  Word
spread quickly that Queen Serenity was in labor and that it was only a
matter of time before her child would be born.  As per tradition, the
gods and goddesses were present in Serenity's room as she went through
her ordeal.  Nearby as well were her two advisors, Artemis and Luna.
        "I've got a tuna that says it's a boy," Artemis whispered to Luna.
        "Heh, you're on.  I'll bet it's a girl," Luna said back.
        No sooner had they placed their bets when Serenity cried out
once more in pain, and then there was the sound of a baby's crying.  The
two cats raced over quickly to see.
        "Your Majesty, it is a girl," the midwife said, holding the baby
girl up for her to see.  The little girl had a crescent moon sigil on
her forehead as well.  Serenity just smiled as she looked at her
daughter, trying to catch her breath.
        "Hah, I win Artemis!" Luna said triumphantly.
        "Yeah, yeah," Artemis muttered.  "You'd better go and spread the
word."  Luna just nodded and raced off to tell everyone.  And then it
happened.
        Serenity screamed out again as another series of contractions
set in.
        Artemis' eyed almost popped out of his head as he looked over to
se Serenity in labor again.
        "Nurse, what's going on?!" he asked panickedly.
        "I'm not quite sure, sir!" the midwife said, quickly getting
back to her position.  A few minutes later, their question was answered.
Serenity cried out in pain again and there was the sound of a baby's
crying yet again.
        "It's another girl!" the midwife pronounced.
        "It...it can't be!" Artemis said, staggering back.  "Impossible!
There's never been twins born into the Royal Family!!"
        "Let me see her..." Serenity said weakly.  The midwife held the
girl up for her to see.  This girl bore a double crescent moon sigil on
her forehead.  Serenity smiled a bit, but then began to cry, knowing
what would become of the child.
        Artemis, regaining his composure, knew that this child was
special and knew something had to be done.  He ran over to where the
gods stood watching.
        "We cannot let this girl die!" he said.
        "She must, by order of the Royal Law," Jupiter said.
        "But she is the twin daughter of Queen Serenity's!" Artemis
protested.  "And I sense something special about her!"
        "The law is the law," Mars added, stepping forward.  Serenity
looked at him as she held her second daughter, tears flowing from her
eyes.
        "Please...don't..." she pleaded.
        "Mars, hold," Venus told him.  She walked over to Serenity and
looked at her.  "You wish the child to live?"
        "Yes," Serenity said.  "I want her to have a chance at life, and
to grow in light and love as my first daughter whom I have named
Serena."
        "I can make it possible," Venus said.
        "This is against the Prime Law!" Mars protested.
        "If nobody ever finds out, then it will not be so," Venus told
him.  "No one in this room must ever tell of what I am about to do, or
you will face the same punishment as I."
        The gods only nodded in agreement and let her work.  Venus
leaned down and placed her fingers on the double crescent moon sigil.
It was covered up and replaced with her own sigil.
        "She will grow under my protection and guidance, Serenity,"
Venus told her.  "You will never have to worry for her.  She will grow
to be just as beautiful as your Serena."
        "Thank you Venus," Serenity said.  "But please...allow me to say
good-bye to her."
        "As you wish," Venus said.  She stood ready to take the child.
        Serenity held the newborn girl in her arms, crying as she looked
upon her.
        "This is for your own safety my beloved daughter," she said
softly.  "May you grow in strength, in love, and in peace...my little
Mina."
        She then turned the child over to Venus, who left with her.  The
other gods filed out one by one, then the midwife.  Artemis was about to
leave as well.
        "Artemis, wait," Serenity said, sitting up with her daughter
Serena.  Artemis turned to face her.  "I will be charging Luna with the
duty of watching over Serena, but I feel someone must watch over my
other daughter Mina.  I am charging you with that duty."
        "But Your Majesty...!" Artemis protested.
        "Please, Artemis..." Serenity pleaded.  "I must be allowed to
know how she is,"  Artemis just nodded.
        "It will be as you wish, Your Majesty." Artemis said.  He
promptly left after that.  Serenity sat, holding Serena.
        "Please take care of Mina, Artemis.  Someday maybe she and
Serena may be united as sisters again..." she said quietly as Serena
fidgeted a bit in her arms.

       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        "You were then given to another family as an abandoned child,"
Artemis said to Mina.  "And I have watched over you since then.  I am
proud to say that Venus lived up to her promise to Queen Serenity.  You
have grown in light and love just as she wished.  It's all true Mina.
You are the long lost twin sister of Princess Serena," Artemis said,
finishing.
        Mina just sat in full astonishment.  She almost fainted again
had Trent not been there.  He squeezed her hand a bit, bringing her back
to reality.  She leaned back against him, her eyes still wide with
wonder.
        "What about the dual structure of the Crystal?" Amy asked.
        "The Crystal is geared to be able to serve multiple masters if
there are such," Artemis said.  "Normally, if there were just one person
to inherit the Crystal, she would have complete control over the
Crystal, but because there are two people who can control the Crystal,
it has reserved half of its powers for Serena and the other half for
Mina."
        "Then when her Crescent Beam became more powerful, it was
because the Crystal was reacting to the double crescent moon as a call
on its power," Raye reasoned.
        "Now wait a minute," Lita said.  "If half of the Crystal's
powers are Mina's then does that mean we've got two Sailor Moons now??"
        "Potentially yes, but not really," Artemis said.  "Having access
to half of the Crystal only means that if Mina should find that she
would need to call on the Crystal she would have access to some of its
powers to boost her own."
        "Besides, I'm more than content just being Sailor Venus," Mina
added.
        "But if Mina and Serena only have access to half the Crystal,
how did Serena change into a more powerful Sailor Moon?" Luna asked.
        "Because I've wanted her to for a long time," Mina said.
Everyone looked over at her as she spoke.  "So when the Crystal reacted,
it did exactly what I wanted it to.  It boosted Serena's power."
        "Even so, from my scans it seems that you are both still equally
powerful," BIT said from its position next to Amy.  "My scans also
indicate that Mina and Serena's powers and potential are not only equal,
but nearly the same."
        "That's because the forces and powers the goddess Venus
represents are very similar to the basis and principles of Moon Energy,"
Artemis said.  "Love, goodness, happiness, and beauty."
        "But my transformation doesn't take up all of the Crystal's
power," Serena said.  "What happens with the rest of the power?"
        "It boosts Mina's power as Sailor Venus even more," Artemis told
her.  "It keeps everything in balance, though.  You are equally strong
in battle."
        "Man, we're gonna be kicking some major tail now," Lita said as
she sat back and laughed a bit.
        "This is all really unbelievable," Mina said.  "I mean, if
there's a definition of what a princess is, then I'm whatever is exactly
the opposite."
        "First off, I don't think there is a definition of what a
princess is, so I think you're safe," Serena told her.  "Second, even if
there was one, do you think I'd exactly measure up either?  Third, it
makes sense, Mina.  It explains why I mistook you for being the Moon
Princess when you first came to us, and it also explains why your powers
are different than the others'.  Besides, it also just makes things that
much cooler, don't you think `sis'?"
        Mina smiled a bit and laughed at the thought of the two of them
calling each other "sis".  Still, Serena had a point, and it's not like
she minded being related to Serena in some oddball way.  The two always
had been great friends since they'd met.  This also meant that Serena
could go back to being their leader again, and that took a lot of
pressure off of Mina.
        "Why not?  Let's do it, `sis'," Mina said, smiling.  Serena just
smiled and hugged her.  Everyone else just smiled as they saw the two
"sisters" reunited.

    *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Obsidious and Turquos stood facing the viewing crystal, grim
looks on both of their faces.  Neither of them had anticipated the
events that had taken place in the past few days, let alone the
appearance of a second Moon Princess.  They currently watched over the
events again, taking full consideration of their new predicament.
        "I am afraid to say that it appears we are at a severe
disadvantage now, Obsidious," Turquos said.  "We have now lost three of
our team and have expended extreme amounts of energy all for naught so
far.  Queen Metallia must not be pleased."
        "No need to remind me of the double jeopardy we're facing right
now, Turquos, I knew we would be facing this when Amber and Granos
left," Obsidious said.  "I realize now that we've been going about this
all wrong."
        "How so?" Turquos asked.
        "Our primary focus coming here was to destroy the Sailor Scouts,
but in doing so we only speeded up the completion of their powers and
training," Obsidious said.  "A campaign more focused on obtaining the
energy needed would have led to a more favorable current situation.  In
addition, we've been focusing our efforts at only one very small section
of this vast planet.  That was also a problem that Beryl faced; however,
thanks to the earlier efforts of Quarz and Amber we have the capability,
through this mobile and heavily defended base, to attack other sections
of this world that the Sailor Scouts will not be able to reach in time.
Therefore, I think it's time we went on a bit of a tour, my friend."
        "An ingenious plan, my friend and Lord," Turquos said.  "But we
cannot let the Scouts become suspicious of this activity.  One of us
must stay behind to continue to wage a false campaign against them.  I
will do so."
        "This is dangerous, Turquos," Obsidious told him.  "Their power
was enough to completely obsolete Phalanx's former power.  You may be in
for more of a challenge than we first anticipated."
        "I am aware of the danger, Obsidious, but I will do anything to
help the Negaverse gain the glory it deserves," Turquos replied.  "I
will also go to any length necessary to exact my revenge for my
brother."
        "Go then, Turquos, and may your battle be glorious and
successful," Obsidious said, dismissing him.  Turquos bowed to him and
then teleported away.  Obsidious turned to face his crystal which now
projected an image of the planet.  "And now, the true work begins..."

      *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        "So I guess the real question is, where do we go now?" Mina
asked Trent as they walked along towards her home.
        "We have to locate Obsidious' base of operations and attack.  We
can't afford to waste any more time," Trent told her.  "We'd best
consult with Amber about finding it.  If anyone will know the ins and
outs of that place, it'll be her."
        "I don't know, Trent..." Mina said, stopping in her tracks.
        "Mina, what's wrong?" he asked, turning to face her.
        "We haven't been that successful when it comes to full frontal
attacks," Mina told him.  "When we fought Beryl, we all ended up getting
toasted and it took a lot of power from the Silver Crystal to just bring
us back without our memories.  We didn't exactly have it easy against
Ann and Alan or against the Dark Moon.  What's to say we're all going to
be able to make it back from this one?"
        "It's very dangerous, I'll admit that right now Mina," Trent
told her.  "I have no idea how strong Obsidious will be now, but at the
leas t I must face him.  I must see if he will listen to reason, for if
he doesn't it'll mean the destruction of everything."
        "It's not the danger I'm worried about, Trent," Mina told him.
        "Then what are you..." Trent began to ask.  It dawned on him
then.  If this turned out to be another affair like what happened
against Beryl, then that means that if they were brought back by the
Crystal none of them would remember anything again.  That included what
was between him and Mina now.
        "I don't want to lose you again, Trent," Mina said quietly.
        "It's a risk we must take, Mina," Trent said, lowering his gaze.
Mina looked at him, a bit shocked.  "The entire universe this time is
counting on our success.  If Queen Metallia is let loose in this
universe, she will make short order of anything and everything that
exists here.  What happened to the Moon Kingdom was only a minute
fraction of her destructive power."  Trent, then, looked Mina straight
in the eyes.  "Would we really condemn the entire universe just to save
ourselves?"
        "You're right," Mina said, accepting it finally.  She then
stopped Trent and pushed him against the wall, pressing close to him.
"Well, seeing as we might not have much more time together, and there's
no one out at this time of the morning..."
        "Mina, please...I have enough to worry about thinking how I'm
going to explain to your parents why I didn't get you home yesterday,"
he told her.  Mina quickly got her mind out of the gutter, realizing the
deep trouble she was in.
        "Knowing my parents, they're probably still up too.  Maybe you'd
better not come in then," she told him.
        "That'd probably look even worse," Trent told her.
        "Hmm, good point," Mina noted.  "Well, gotta face the music
sometime."
        Trent just sighed as he started going over good ideas for
excuses as the two made their way to the door.

    *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Reeny laid on her bed in the guest room of Raye's house, looking
at the ceiling, completely bored.  The only real training she'd managed
to get in was martial arts practice with the girls when they practiced
at the temple.  She hadn't yet received any powers and she hadn't seen
any real action.  Sure, everyone told her that at this point it'd be far
too dangerous, but at this point she'd take anything over the utter
boredom she'd sunk into.
        Serena knew that, and she took the opportunity to help lift
Reeny's boredom.  She entered the room, holding her hand behind her
back.
        "Well you look absolutely thrilled today," she said, closing the
door behind her.
        "You always have had a knack for the obvious, Serena," Reeny
told her.
        "And you have a knack for wanting to bite off more than you can
chew, Reeny," Serena told her.  "But despite that, I have something for
you."
        With that, Serena tossed something to Reeny who quickly caught
it and looked at it.  It was some kind of gold brooch with a crescent
moon in it.
        "That was the first item I used to transform into Sailor Moon,"
Serena told her.  "For a long time I thought it had lost all its power,
but now with this whole thing with Mina and the Silver Crystal it seems
to have been recharged.  I don't need it anymore, so it's all yours."
        "You...you're joking," Reeny said, looking at the brooch.
        "If I were joking I would've started off by asking if you'd ever
heard the one about the priest, pope, and rabbi playing golf," Serena
told her.  "But I'm not joking.  We're going to need all the help we can
get with the fight coming up, and even though you haven't got the
experience we do, a sixth Sailor Scout would be more than welcome."
        "Serena...thank you!!" Reeny said as she jumped up and hugged
her.  "I won't let you down."
        "You haven't yet, kid," Serena told her.  "Now go on outside.
Luna, Artemis, and Orion are waiting to help you train.  I'll be out in
a little bit to help out.  That tiara can be tricky at first."
        Reeny just nodded and ran outside with the brooch.  Serena stood
and watched her, smiling.  She suddenly felt strange as she watched the
girl run off.  She was suddenly reminded that the girl who was now going
outside was her future daughter.  She smiled as she considered that
motherly moment, but was startled a bit by someone's hand on her
shoulder.  She looked back and saw that it was Darien who had watched
Reeny go running off as well.
        "I hope they're not too rough on her," he said.
        "They can't be much worse than they were on me," she noted.
"Besides, she's starting off with the enthusiasm I should've.  She'll
probably end up being better at this stuff than I could ever hope to
be."
        "Perhaps, but just remember that she can only do these things
because of you, Serena," Darien told her.
        "Well, you're a bit responsible too from what I understand,
muffin," Serena told him with a smile.
        "I guess so," Darien said, a bit mystified.  Serena just giggled
a bit.
        "That's not what I meant, Darien," she said teasingly as she
walked away.  Darien just followed, shaking his head.
        "And since when did your mind decide to hit the gutter?" he
asked as they went outside to help train a new Sailor Moon.

     *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Trent was on his way back to Lita's place after facing Mina's
parents.  He sighed as he tried to put the whole ordeal out of his mind.
He, at one point, tried to remember the number of times he apologized,
but his mind had a hard time grasping a number that large.
        "I think I'd rather face my brother than that scene again," he
muttered to himself as he walked along.
        "Afraid he's a bit busy, so will I do?" a voice said from above.
Trent looked up and saw Turquos hovering above him.  "Long time no see,
Onyx."
        "And to what do I owe the displeasure of your presence,
Turquos?" Trent asked, backing up a bit.
        "I thought perhaps you might be able to help me out," Turquos
said as he landed.  A sword materialized in his hand as he landed.  "You
see, I need bait for a trap for the Scouts, and you'd do just nicely."
        "I appreciate the offer, Turquos, but I'll have to say no,"
Trent said with a laugh.  He quickly created a temporary blinding blast
of light with his power and, after Turquos recovered his vision, Onyx
stood before him, arms folded and staring straight at him.
        "But you see, it wasn't an offer," Turquos told him as he took
an offensive stance with his sword.  Onyx drew his, standing ready as
well.
        "You never were good at taking hints, Turquos," Onyx told him.
"Let's see if your swordplay has improved any since the last time we
sparred."
        The two started into a high speed sword fight in which the
advantage changed hands several times.  At one point, Onyx had Turquos
disarmed and had his sword at his throat.
        "Looks like I overestimated you, Turquos.  That was the same
mistake you made last time," Onyx told him.  Turquos just slimed.
        "But you see, my friend, a good tactician never makes the same
mistake twice...unless he has a reason for doing so," Turquos told him.
He clenched his fist behind his back and, from underneath Onyx, an
energy net appeared and enveloped him, sending jolts of energy
throughout him.  He struggled, but then fell unconscious.  Turquos stood
and, concentrating a bit, levitated Onyx up before him.
        "I wonder how you will take realizing that you will be the
reason the Scouts are destroyed, my friend Onyx?" Turquos asked him
mockingly.  "Perhaps now you'll realize the mistake you made in
betraying us."
        Turquos just laughed as he teleported away with Onyx to prepare
his trap.

   *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Mina jolted awake, sitting straight up in bed and accidentally
tossing Artemis across the room.  She quickly got out of bed and started
getting some miscellaneous clothes together.
        "Mina..what gives?" Artemis said tiredly.
        "Trent's in trouble!  Big trouble!  I've gotta help him!" Mina
told him as she was putting her shoes on.
        "How do you know?" Artemis asked.
        "Don't ask me how, I just know it!" Mina told him.  "Now come
on!"
        The two crept out of the house and started running along,
Artemis following Mina having no idea what was going on. Mina knew
exactly how she knew.  The energy she'd taken from Trent had somehow
linked them.  She not only knew he was in trouble, but she knew where he
was as well.  She flipped open her communicator to contact whoever she
could.  The first one to respond was Lita.
        "Mina, what's going on?" Lita asked.
        "Lita, Trent's in trouble!  I'm already on my way to the scene,"
Mina told her.  "Meet me at the bridge as soon as possible!"
        "Got it.  I'll let the others know also," Lita said as she
signed out.  Mina just picked up the pace a bit more and produced her
transformation stick as well.
        "Gonna have to do this on the run," she said.  "Venus Power
Complete, Transform!"
        Her powers complied and transformed her as she sprinted to the
scene, her mind racing with worry for Trent.

 *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        As Onyx came to, he saw that he was suspended high above the
ground, bound by rings of energy that he couldn't break out of.  Turquos
stood below, watching for the Scouts.
        "Turquos, they're not your concern!" Onyx yelled down to him.
"Just take me and be over with it!"
        "I have already completed my main mission in capturing you,
Onyx," Turquos told him.  "This is revenge now."
        "It won't happen, Turquos!" Onyx told him.  "You're outnumbered
and out powered!"
        "I only want revenge on one of them, and believe me I am more
than capable of accomplishing my task!" Turquos told him, snarling.
        "Let him go!" Sailor Venus called out as Turquos spoke to Onyx.
Turquos turned to face her.  The other Sailor Scouts were now present as
well.  "You're outnumbered, pal, so turn him loose!"
        "Well, so nice of you to come, Sailor Scouts.  Allow me to
introduce myself, I am Turquos," Turquos told them, bowing.
        "You look familiar..." Mars said.
        "I should, considering that you are all responsible for the
death of my brother, Malachite!" Turquos told them.
        "You're Malachite's brother?!" Mercury said, surprised.
        "And you're supposed to be the smart one," Turquos said with a
laugh.
        "Enough of the chitchat, you gonna hand him over or do we have
to convince you?" Jupiter said, stepping up as she cracked her knuckles.
        "But you see, it's not that simple," Turquos said.  He snapped
his fingers and sent a bolt of Nega-energy through Onyx, slowly
torturing him.
        "Leave him alone!!" Venus pleaded.
        "How very touching., Turquos said as he stopped frying Onyx.  "I
have a bargain for you, then, Sailor Scouts.  I will release Onyx, if
and only if, Sailor Moon faces me in one-on-one combat to the death!"
        "Don't you dare involve her, Turquos!" Onyx told him.  Turquos
just fired another blast of energy at him.
        "She involved herself when she killed my brother!" he told Onyx.
he then turned to face Sailor Moon.  "What'll it be, Sailor Moon?  Face
me, or watch your friend's lover destroyed by my hand?"
        "I'll fight you, Turquos," Sailor Moon said, stepping forward.
        "Sailor moon, no!" Venus said, standing in her way.  "Let me
fight him!  You don't have to do this!"
        "Yes I do, Venus," Sailor Moon told her.  "Don't worry.
Everything will be okay.  It's time I stood on my own two feet, and not
leaned back on you all."
        Sailor Moon stepped forward, in front of Turquos, powered up in
her complete form.  The wind played with her cape a bit as she stood
staring Turquos down.
        "I've waited too long for this moment," Turquos told her.  "Fear
not, Sailor Moon.  My revenge shall be swift and complete!"
        Turquos charged her and fired a blast of Nega-energy at her
which she dodged, but was then slashed on her arm by Turquos' sword.
Turquos then fired a concussive blast that knocked her off of her feet
and made her lose all sense of balance.  He followed up by firing a ball
of energy underneath her that he then intensified and fired upwards in a
pillar of force that threw her into one of the support beams of the
bridge.  He then just started assailing her with multiple blasts of
energy, until she was on one knee, severely weakened and clutching her
bleeding arm.  Turquos brought up all of his reserves of Nega-energy and
focused on her.
        "Now feel the wrath of my ultimate power, Sailor Moon!" he
cried.  He brought the energy into his hands and prepared to finish her,
but then felt an incredible pain in his hand and lost his concentration
o n his shot.  He looked down at his hand.  A red rose was stuck through
it.  He looked up above and, standing above where Onyx was tied, was
Tuxedo Mask.
        "A good tactician takes all possibilities into account,
Turquos!" Tuxedo Mask told him.  "You forgot about me!"
        "And you underestimated me...!" Sailor Moon said, standing up.
"Now it's my turn!"
        She touched the crescent moon sigil on her forehead and multiple
discs formed, just like her Moon Tiara used to.  "Moon Tiara Illusion!"
she cried, firing the discs at Turquos.  The discs arced out and came at
him from two sides, slashing him across his chest and the backs of his
knees.  He fell forward onto his knees in pain.  Sailor Moon then
charged up her moon energy as she had before, holding the crescent moon
above her.
        "Moon Glorious Revolution!!" she cried, firing its energy at
him.  Turquos managed to avoid some of it by rolling, but still got hit
somewhat.  He grabbed his sword and rushed at her, preparing to cut her
down.
        High above, Onyx managed to wriggle free a bit and dropped his
sword down to her.
        "Sailor Moon, use it!!!" he cried.
        Sailor Moon didn't have enough time to think about it.  She
grabbed it quickly and slashed with it.  Her power seemed to kick in,
energizing the sword so that as she slashed it arced, looking like a
crescent moon, and cut through Turquos' sword as well as through him.
He fell to one knee, holding his chest where he had been slashed.
Sailor Moon stood over him, trying to catch her breath and in disbelief
of what she'd just done.  Mars was quickly over to her, comforting her a
bit.
        "It's okay, Serena," she told her.  "He deserved it for doing
what he's done."
        "So much for your revenge, Turquos," Sailor Jupiter told him.
"Those who live by the sword, die by it."  The other Sailor Scouts
gathered around him as well.
        "Looks like you're definitely back in action, girl," Venus told
her.
        "Yeah.  Obsidious will be no match for us now," Mars added.
Turquos, with the last of his life energy, just laughed at them all.
        "You'd like to...think so...wouldn't you?" he said weakly.
        "What's that supposed to mean?" Mercury asked.
        "As we speak...Obsidious is getting the energy...he needs...from
other nations of your pathetic planet.  Soon...he will have enough to
let Queen Metallia loose...then, revenge will be paid to all of you...!"
he told them.
        "He's kidding...right guys?" Sailor Moon asked.
        "No he's not!" Mercury said as she had BIT analyzing the
situation.  "This analysis I'm receiving says that several countries in
Africa and Asia have all been drained of their energy!"
        Turquos just laughed as his form began to shimmer.
        "Final vengeance...will be ours...your universe will...cease to
exist...and there will only be...the Negaverse!!" he told them.  Then h
e cried out as his form faded away from this plane of existence.  Onyx,
then, fell from his place of captivity.  Venus caught him and set him
down carefully.
        "There's no time to lose," Onyx said, standing up slowly with
Venus' help.  "We must stop Obisidious now, before it's too late!"
        "But how?  We don't even know where he is." Mars asked.
        "Amber might be able to help us," Onyx told her.  "We must find
her quickly.  If we don't stop him, then everything will be destroyed,
and nothing will be able to stop Queen Metallia ever again."
        The Scouts nodded and, with Onyx and Tuxedo Mask, they ran off
into the night to find Amber, and hopefully, a way to Obsidious' base so
that they might put an end to his plans once and for all.

 *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Obsidious stood alone in the portal chamber of the fortress, the
energy he'd taken from the nations of the world stored in the hundreds
of crystals that lined the room.
        "Soon...very soon...this universe will be blanketed in
darkness," he said to himself.  "Nothing can stop me now.  I will
accomplish that which Beryl was never able to do. I will release Queen
Metallia and the Negaforce, and when that happens I, Obsidious, shall
gain ultimate power and will rule over all!  And then, my traitor
brother, you shall know my vengeance!!"
        Obsidious laughed evilly as he began to prepare the energy for
its job...to create a portal powerful enough to set free Queen Metallia,
the ultimate evil force in the entire universe.



Part Eight
The Alpha and the Omega

        The Scouts stood in a circle around Amber, Onyx, and Tuxedo Mask
nearby.  They had filled her in on what had happened with Turquos and
what Obsidious was planning.  She had brought with her two armbands, the
ones she and Granos had used to teleport to and from the fortress.
        "These will allow two of you to teleport directly to the
fortress and past its defenses, but I only have two of them.  How will
the rest of you get there?" she asked.
        "Give the armbands to Tuxedo Mask and Onyx," Venus said.  "We
can use the Sailor Teleport to get there."
        "How?" Mercury asked.  "We don't know where the base is."
        "Once Onyx is there, I'll know where it is and we can get
there," Venus told her.
        "And how's that possible?" Jupiter asked.
        "I think I know," Onyx said, stepping forward.  "The bond
between Mina and I has strengthened to the point that we can sense where
each other is and if they're in some kind of trouble.  That's how she
knew where to find me.  There is a downside to this, though."
        "Which is?" Sailor Moon asked.
        "Through this link, she now has some of my Nega-energy," Onyx
told her.
        "That's no problem.  I can just heal her," Sailor Moon said.
        "I don't want you to, Serena," Venus said.  Everyone looked at
her, shocked.  "Look, if it comes down to us having to fight Queen
Metallia, then there's a chance that if we defeat her, Trent might die."
        "Mina...you love him that much?" Sailor Moon asked.  Venus just
nodded a bit, tears falling down her cheeks.
        "You can't tell me you wouldn't do the same if it were Darien in
his place, Serena," Venus told her.
        "But what about us?" Jupiter asked.  "We don't want to see you
die on us, Mina!"
        "There's no turning back now," Venus said.  "I'm so sorry,
everyone, but please understand.  I don't want to live without him.
Just trust me.  I know everything will work out...somehow."
        "We trust you, Mina," Mars told her.  "Now let's get going."
        "Hold on a sec!" a voice said, running up.  Everyone turned and
saw a familiar figure running up towards them.  It was Reeny, only she
was transformed into a form similar to Serena's original Sailor Moon
form.  "You guys aren't going anywhere without me."
        "Glad you made it, Reeny!" Jupiter said.  "You ready for this?"
        "Wouldn't miss it, Jupiter," Reeny told her.
        "Then let's go.  We haven't any more time to lose," Onyx said,
strapping the armband on.  Tuxedo Mask did likewise and the two
teleported to the base.  Moments later, the Scouts used the Sailor
Teleport to meet them there.

  *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        In the portal chamber, everything was going according to
Obsidious' plan. He had already set into motion the proper spells and it
would only be a matter of time before the portal was opened.  He now
just watched and waited as he saw the Scouts, Tuxedo Mask, and Onyx
arrive at the gates of the compound.
        "And now the pieces are in place," he said to himself.  "I
certainly hope they're dressed for the occasion.  Queen Metallia will be
arriving soon, after all.  Still, I must not allow them into the portal
chamber until everything is complete.  Therefore, it is time I took
matters into my own hands."
        Obsidious walked out of the portal room into the main room of
the  compound and sealed off the doors to the room.  He then turned and
began chanting, raising his powers to create his perfect traps...

   *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        "Man, this is one place I never wanted to come back to," Jupiter
said as she looked up at the familiar structure that once was Queen
Beryl's compound.  It loomed over them with an ominous presence even
stronger than the last time they'd been there.
        "At least we're not at the friggin' north pole this time," Mars
added. Jupiter just nodded in agreement.
        "The chitchat is nice to break the tension, girls, but we've got
to get down to business," Tuxedo Mask told them.  "Onyx, lead the way."
        "I'll do my best, but please feel free to take the lead at any
time, any of you," Onyx told them as he walked through the gates.  Venus
followed right behind him, then Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Moon, and the rest.
        The interior was lined with images of darkness, horror and
destruction.  It reminded Lita of a couple scenes of an anime she'd
watched with Trent called Vampire Hunter D.  As she remembered it, she
remembered that it was quite a freaky movie, but also remembered that
Trent seemed to enjoy it heavily.  She shook her head, telling herself
not to think about it.  Understanding otaku from Japan was something she
tried not to do, and understanding otaku from America was something she
didn't even want to consider doing.
        "Nice decor," Sailor Moon said.  "Looks sort-of like something
out of one of Salvador Dali's nightmares."
        "No, I think it might actually look less disturbing if it were
done by him," Venus said.  "This looks more like a nightmare caused by
listening to Nine Inch Nails."
        "That's pretty close to home," Onyx told her.
        "I should hope so, I've had quite a few after listening to
them," Venus said.
        "I'll remember not to ask you why you're so twisted sometimes
anymore Mina," Mars told her, rolling her eyes.
        "They're not that bad," Mercury said in defense of Venus.
        "I'm going to pretend you didn't say that, Amy," Mars said.
        "Oh come on, Raye," Jupiter said.  "Just because we don't all
worship the ground Hootie and the Blowfish walk on doesn't mean we're
twisted, maniacal deviants or anything."
        "Speak for yourself, Lita," Mina said with an evil giggle.
        "Um, is this something I should worry about?" Onyx asked.
        "More importantly, is this something we should really worry
about talking about right now?" Tuxedo Mask added.  "I mean, it's not
like we're trying to save the entire universe from total annihilation or
anything."
        "Hey, it's a tension breaker," Sailor Moon told him.  "Can't go
fighting for all mankind if we're all worked up, nervous, and worried,
now can we?"
        "All the same, try to be a little more focused?" Tuxedo Mask
said.
        "Okay," they all said in unison.
        "Back onto the musical note..." Onyx said.  Everyone just
giggled at the pun, but he just rolled his eyes and remembered not to
use that one in the future.  "...what do you all listen to anyways?"
        "We don't really listen to much Japanese pop," Raye said.  "We
do like several American groups."
        "Like who?" he asked.
        "Nine Inch Nails, Hole, Nirvana, and the like," Venus said.
        "Anything really hard, but mainly White Zombie," Jupiter said.
        "Classical mostly, but I also like George Michael and Alanis
Morrissette," Mercury said.
        "A little of everything, really.  No favorites," Sailor Moon said.
        "Hootie and the Blowfish, The Dave Matthews Band, and Blues
Traveler," Mars said.
        "You've got Alanis' CD, Amy?" Venus asked.  "Could I borrow it
sometime?"
        "Sure.  I've got just about all the lyrics memorized," Mercury
replied with a smile.
        "That's our Amy, a closet rock fan if I ever did meet one,"
Jupiter said with a laugh.
        "You might like her stuff, Ray,." Venus told her.
        "Thanks but no, I'll stick to my stuff," Mars said.
        "Suit yourself," Venus said, shrugging.
        "So what about you, Trent?" Lita asked.
        "Anything but country," Onyx said.  Everyone cheered as he said
that.  "Man, you guys surprise me.  I thought you'd be more into the
more romantic stuff like Boys II Men."
        "They're okay, but we like more alternative stuff really,"
Sailor Moon said.  "And we all like Techno."
        "Hey, we should all go dancing some time then," Onyx said.
Everyone again cheered as he said that.
        "Why, why, why are we having this conversation now??" Tuxedo
Mask asked helplessly.
        "Like Serena said, Darien, it's a tension breaker," Onyx said.
"So what do you listen to, my caped friend?"
        "Pearl Jam," Tuxedo Mask said, with a sigh.
        "There, now, doesn't that feel better?" Sailor Moon said with a
smile.
        Tuxedo Mask just shook his head and smiled at her.
        "I'll never get you guys, you know," he told her.
        "That's okay.  We forgive you," Sailor Moon told him, giving him
a quick kiss on the cheek.   "I hate to take away from the lighter
atmosphere we've created, guys, but why haven't we been attacked yet?"
Mars asked.
        "She's right, I'm surprised we haven't met up with an army of
monsters yet," Jupiter added.
        "That's because my brother is probably saving all his energy to
fight us personally," Onyx said.  "And believe me, he might actually be
capable of pulling it off at this point."
        "Time to get serious, then," Venus said, as she started being
more alert.  She noticed that she was being quite a bit more serious
than she normally was, and especially that she was paying attention to
details that she hadn't before.  She chalked it up to the influence of
the Nega-energy that was inside her now, though being leader of the
Sailor Scouts had also contributed.
        The group continued to walk in silence as they began to prepare
for the fight that was now not too far ahead of them.

       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Obsidious looked up from where he stood to see the group of
warriors emerge from the main entrance.  He parted his dark cloak and
stood tall before them, clad in black body armor with shin and shoulder
protectors.  The rest of his body, as well, was clad in black, right
down to the gloves that covered his hands.  He smiled as he watched them
all fan out to surround him in a semicircle, his brother right in front
of him.  Once they were all in the room, the main doors closed behind
them and were sealed.  It was no concern to them.  They weren't planning
on turning back at this point.
        "My, my, what a pleasure it is to finally have such honored
guests in my humble home," Obsidious said to them in a mock-gracious
style.  "I deeply apologize for being such a poor host, but you see,
I've been making other preparations for our final guest of the evening."
        "Obsidious, don't tell me you've already started it!" Onyx said,
realizing what he meant.
        "Oh but I have, dear brother," Obsidious told him.  "The portal
is being energized as we speak in this room right behind me.  I'd say
it's only a matter of a few minutes before Queen Metallia is with us."
        "You're mad!" Onyx told him.  "She'll destroy everything,
Obsidious!"
        "No, my brother, I will," Obsidious told him.  "Once she is
released, I will gain infinite power.  Then I will personally destroy
this poor excuse for a universe and pave the way for Queen Metallia to
create a new universe and rule supreme!  And the greatest part is, I
will have my final vengeance against you, my traitorous brother!"
        "I sincerely hope you're not forgetting us here," Sailor Moon
told him.  "If you think we're just going to stand by and let this
happen, you've got another thing coming pal!"
        "Oh, but my dear Princess, that's all you'll be able to do,"
Obsidious said with a smile.  He then invoked the traps he set with a
clench of his fist and a spark of Nega-energy.  Immediately, everyone
except Onyx was caught in a rectangular box of energy.  Jupiter powered
up to try and break out.
        "Jupiter Thunderclap Shockwave!!" she cried, producing the sonic
force attack.  The force bounced off the inside and hit her even harder.
She fell down to her knees from the impact.
        "Jupiter!!" Mars cried out.  Obsidious just laughed.
        "Worried for her, Mars?" he asked.  "Go ahead and try to use our
powers against the reflector field.  See if you can survive your own
powers reflected at you and intensified twice over!"
        "We can't let this happen, you guys!" Sailor Moon called to them
as she pushed against the field.  "Mercury, can't you scan these
things?"
        "I'm trying, but all my readings are scrambled!" Mercury said as
she tried to use her VR visor.
        "Face facts, Sailor Scouts, the only thing you can do now is
pray that I decide to just leave you in there instead of do away with
your pathetic lives," Obsidious told them.  He walked over to Venus,
smiling at her.  "And if anyone should pray, it should be you my dear.
Oh yes, I have grand plans for you once I've done away with your lover
over here."
        "Leave her alone, Obsidious!" Onyx told him angrily.  "She has
nothing to do with this!"
        "She has everything to do with this!!" Obsidious retorted.  "It
was because of her that you betrayed us so long ago!  It was for her
that you left behind everything that you had gained being a part of the
Negaverse!  And worst of all, it was for her that you abandoned me! Your
own brother, of the same mother and father, of the same flesh and
blood!!  And for that, I see, she is an even worse criminal than you and
thus is deserving a punishment far worse than death!!"
        Obsidious turned to the box that Venus was contained in and
clenched his fist at it, summoning up more power.  The box shrank to the
point that it fit exactly around her and began jolting her with bolts of
Nega-energy.  She screamed out with each shock, never having felt such
incredible searing pain before.
        Across the way, Sailor Moon began to scream out as well as she
felt the pain that was shooting through Venus.  She fell to her knees,
unable to stay up from the pain.
        "Serena!!" Tuxedo Mask called out as he tried to force his way
through the box.  It only shoved him down with a greater force than he
hit it with.  Obsidious just laughed.
        "Twice as much fun, and at the price of just one of them," he
said.  "I must say that when I finally figured out that the two were
twins, I didn't realize how absolutely amusing this would be.  But now
look, I'll not only have my revenge, but revenge for Turquos as well!"
        Onyx, now angry beyond any words, drew his sword and began
stalking towards Obsidious.  He stopped right in front of him and
leveled his sword to Obsidious' throat.
        "Let...her...go!" he said in a voice just above a whisper.
        "As you wish," Obsidious said, releasing Venus from the torture.
The box returned to its normal shape, and she collapsed to the ground.
"But just keep in mind, that's only a bit of what I have in store for
her once I am through with you."
        "I will not let you go through with this plan, Obsidious," Onyx
told him.  "Brother or not, I will not let you destroy this world."
        "Brave words, brother," Obsidious told him.  "But don't make
promises you can't keep."
        With that, he seized Onyx's sword by the blade and sent a
searing bolt of energy through it, forcing him to let go of it.  He then
tossed the sword aside, grabbed Onyx by the shirt, and then hit him with
a full force bolt of Nega-energy at pointblank range.  It threw Onyx
back into one of the pillars of the room.  He gasped as he felt the
impact and the air driving out of him, but had no time to try and draw
it in as Obsidious flew across the way and connected with an elbow to
his ribs with high impact.  Onyx felt his ribs crack and yelled out at
the pain.  Obsidious then pulled him away from the pillar, essentially
peeling him from it, and picked him up with one hand.  He blasted him
upwards with a bolt of energy, then flew up above him and fired another
full force bolt at him, shooting him into the floor below with a similar
effect as the pillar.  As Onyx struggled to keep consciousness, he
suddenly felt a sharp pain in his side and his eyes widened.  Obsidious
had come down on him with a sword into his side where his ribs had
cracked.  Obsidious withdrew the sword and then picked his brother up
from the floor by his shirt, looking him over.
        "Pitiful that you were ever considered one of our finest
warriors," he told him.  "Now you at last learn, brother, the price of
high treason."
        Obsidious prepared another full force blast right in front of
Onyx's face.  He smiled as he considered the final, imminent demise of
his traitorous brother.
        "Farewell, my dear brother Onyx," Obsidious said, preparing to
fire the bolt.
        "You...leave...him...alone...!!!" Venus said as she rose from
the ground.  Obsidious looked over the way at her.  She was singed badly
all over her body from the torture, but was now somehow standing.  She
put her hands to the sides of the box and, using the Nega-energy inside
her, she dispelled it, and stood free.  Obsidious lost concentration of
his bolt and also dropped Onyx who slumped to the floor near his feet.
        "How could you have broken the spell unless..." Obsidious said
as he realized that she now had Nega-energy inside her.
        "You said yourself this is my fault," Venus told him, sneering
at him.  "Then take it out on me, not him.  Or aren't you man enough to
fight a woman?"
        "It's your choice if you want to meet the same fate as him,"
Obsidious told her.  "Now feel the full force of the power you think you
now understand, bitch!!"
        Obsidious summoned up a great deal of power and fired two full
force bolts at Venus.  Both appeared to connect as there was a giant
explosion.  Everyone else cried out for her.  Mercury broke into tears
as the rest just stood in disbelief.  Obsidious just laughed and turned
away from the scene.
        "Such shall be the fate of this entire world," Obsidious said.
        "I shall not let that happen," Venus said in a softer tone.
Obsidious spun and looked where she was.  She stood floating in midair,
her tiara gone and her Venus symbol shining on her forehead.
        "Impossible!!  You should be dead!!" he said in disbelief.
        The Venus sigil on Mina's forehead suddenly faded away and was
replaced by the double crescent moon sigil that was originally, and
rightfully, hers.
        "Your power fails you now, Obsidious," she told him.  "Now
understand what true power is.  The power that comes from within...that
comes from love."
        She spread her arms wide and, suddenly, the boxes that contained
everyone else shattered, freeing them all.  Sailor Moon's locket opened
on its own and from it appeared the Imperium Silver Crystal.  It floated
over to Mina and then, by her command, began showering its light on both
Obsidious and Onyx.  Obsidious shielded his eyes, then there was a
bright flash that turned everything white.
        Obsidious stood in some sort of garden, decorated with flowers
of all kinds.  Behind him, there was a fountain where a small boy was
crying.  He recognized the boy.
        "That...that's me!" he exclaimed.
        "Obsidious!!" someone called out.  The black-haired boy looked
up at another boy who came running up to him.  It was Onyx, also when he
was a boy.
        "Were they picking on you again?" young Onyx asked.  The young
Obsidious just nodded as he cried.  "Don't worry, let's take `em on
together!"
        "You...you'd help me out?" young Obsidious asked.
        "Sure!  I'll always be there for you, brother!" young Onyx told
him.
        "No matter what?" young Obsidious asked.
        "No matter what," young Onyx repeated.
        "But he lied," Obsidious said.  "He left me behind to be with
her!"
        "I left, but I was still there for you," Onyx said, stepping up
alongside him.  He looked completely healed.  "I was waiting for you,
always hoping that you'd change your mind.  I worried about you too,
hoping you didn't get killed in the battle."
        Obsidious just shook it off, turning away from Onyx.
        "This whole mess is still her fault!" he said angrily.  "You
left to be with her!"
        There was another flash of light, and the two stood in a
different place in the garden.  The sky was lit with stars, and the
whole scene of absolute beauty.  Across the way, a young man ran along,
carrying a bouquet of flowers.  Obsidious gasped.
        "That's me again, but where am I running to?" he asked.
        "You don't remember?" Onyx asked.  "You sure let everyone know."
        The young Obsidious finally reached his destination, the same
fountain as before.  A beautiful young woman stood there, apparently
waiting for him.
        "O...Ophelia..." Obsidious whispered as he saw the scene unfold
just as it had.  "I remember..."
        "Sorry if I'm late, Ophelia," the young Obsidious said.  "But I
had to finish picking these."  He presented the flowers to her, which s
he graciously accepted.
        "You're far too good to me, Obsidious," she said with a coy
smile.  "Next thing you know you'll be asking me to marry you."
        "And I did," Obsidious said as he turned from the scene.  "And
she accepted...but then she died just a week before we were to be wed
from sickness."
        "You're forgetting the most important part, brother," Onyx said,
pointing to the scene again.
        "I'll accept, but on one condition Obsidious," Ophelia told him.
"Please...give up fighting and the military!  I couldn't stand to have
you die in a battle!"
        "Ophelia...you know I would give up anything for you my love,"
the young Obsidious told her.  She then embraced him, weeping tears of
joy.
        Obsidious just walked away a bit, trying to forget the scene.
        "Why am I being shown things that happened hundreds of years ago
that mean nothing now?" he asked.
        "Obsidious, don't you get it?" Onyx said, walking over to him.
"You answered your question years before you began asking it because no
matter how deeply you bury the memory, you were in love too! You too
were willing to give up everything you had worked for just for the love
of someone whose life you treasured more than your own and whose love
you simply couldn't live without."  He then put his hand on Obsidious'
shoulder.  "And when she died, and nothing seemed to matter, remember? I
was there for you again.  Love is a bond that transcends blood, space,
or even time, Obsidious.  And the incredible power of love is that it
can never be truly destroyed.  It can be denied or turned away from, but
in the end it cannot be destroyed.  Only created."
        Obsidious stood looking at his brother, tears in his eyes.  He
finally realized everything Onyx had told him to be true, and he
realized what he had done wrong.
        "My...brother..." he said as he began to break down.  He
embraced his brother, crying uncontrollably and saying over and over,
"What have I done??"
        The light receded a bit and the two brothers stood embracing as
everyone looked on.  Mina settled to the ground and wavered a bit, but
Sailor Moon was there to keep her on her feet.
        "You okay, Mina?" she asked.
        "Yeah.  Just a bit of a head rush," she said.  "That thing packs
a whallop."
        "It takes some getting used to...sis," she told her.  "Remind me
to teach you sometime."
        "So I take it everything's patched up now?" Jupiter asked.  Onyx
nodded and let Obsidious step back to regain his composure.
        "I can't begin to express how sorry I am for this.  I shall, of
course, terminate the portal now," he said.  As he turned to the door,
though, there came a rumble that began to shake the entire compound.
        "What's going on??" Mars asked.
        "Oh no...we're too late!" Obsidious said.  "Queen Metallia is
coming through the portal!!"
        "Quickly, we've got to get in there!" Tuxedo Mask said.  He ran
past Obsidious and threw his rose at the door, but it just bounced off,
the seal in place firmly.  "It's no use, how do we get in?"
        "Moon...Tiara...MAGIC!!" Reeny cried out, throwing her tiara.
It collided with the door and broke the seal, the doors flying wide
open.
        "Nice shot, kiddo!" Sailor Moon told her.
        "No time for congratulations!" Onyx yelled.  "Everyone, inside
the portal room!"
        Everyone rushed into the room and saw the chaos going on.  The
portal was wide open now and in moments Queen Metallia would be through.
        "We've gotta shut this place down!" Jupiter said.  "Start
trashing everything!"
        "No, that won't work!" Obsidious told her.  "Our only chance is
to try and block the portal!  There won't be enough energy to hold the
portal much longer, so we've got to prevent her from coming through!"
        "Hit it with everything you've got, Scouts!!" Venus cried out.
        "Mercury Sub-Zero Cold....SNAP!!!" Mercury cried, firing her
attack.
        "Mars Solar Flare...RAGE!!!" Mars cried, adding her attack to
the fray.
        "Jupiter Cyclone THUNDERSTRIKE!!!" Jupiter cried, adding her
attack as well.
        "Venus Full Moon Beam...CRASH!!!" Venus cried, firing her beam
at the portal.
        "Moon Glorious...REVOLUTION!!!" Sailor Moon finished out, firing
her attack at the portal.
        The five Scouts poured it on, with Obsidious and Onyx adding
their blasts to the fray.  Tuxedo Mask, as well, kept tossing his roses
at the focal point of the attacks on the portal.  As they did, a shadowy
figure began to materialize in the portal.  There was an incredibly
fierce shockwave and everyone was knocked away from the portal, their
attacks being cut off and, as they all began to stand again and looked
to the portal, just in front of it now stood a woman with long,
steel-gray hair, skin, and dress, her eyes as black as coal.
        "I AM FREE!!!" Metallia cried out.
        "You are DUST!!!" Sailor Moon said, powering up again.  She
concentrated more, trying to draw on more power for the attack.
"Moon...Glorious...REVOLUTION!!!"
        The attack only served to irritate Metallia as she reached
towards her and, with incredible dark force, blasted her into the wall
where she fell unconscious.
        "There is NO stopping the destruction I will bring upon this
universe!!" Metallia cried out.
        "Think again, bitch!" Jupiter cried at her.  She had powered her
attack up behind her back.  "Jupiter Cyclone THUNDERSTRIKE!"
        "Mars Solar Flare...RAGE!" Mars cried out moments later adding
her intense flames to the cyclone.  The cyclone smashed into Metallia
and threw her off balance a bit, but she brought down a terrible force
that not only dispelled the attacks, but went ripping through Jupiter
and Mars as well.  Both of them fell, hurt badly.
        "Mercury Sub-Zero Cold...SNAP!" Mercury cried out.  The attack
took Metallia off guard and froze her solid.  "Quickly, Tuxedo Mask!
Onyx!  She won't stay frozen long!"
        Onyx nodded and powered up, firing a bolt of his energy at
Metallia while Tuxedo Mask took aim and threw his rose.  Just as both
were to connect, a shield came up and reflected both attacks right back
at them.  Metallia then broke free and fired a wave of energy through
the ground that blasted the three, along with Obsidious, back into the
wall and out cold.  Metallia then turned to face Venus.
        "Well, little girl, will you make yourself sacrifice to my
eternal dark power as well?" she asked, her dark power gathering into
her hands again.
        "No, I will not," she said.
        "Good choice, my dear," Metallia said, laughing.
        "But Princess Mina will," she told her, her double crescent moon
sigil glowing with power.  Her uniform glowed and changed into a full
gown similar to Princess Serena's, only more daringly cut.  She extended
her hands before herself where the Crystal levitated.
        "Now, Silver Crystal, shine your light on this world in this,
our darkest hour," she said.  The Crystal shone brightly in response and
a field of energy began building up around her.  As it did, Sailor Moon
rose up, coming to again.  She transformed into Princess Serena and
joined her sister in front of the Crystal.
        "Let us combine our powers, sister," she said.  "For the future
of the entire universe."
        Princess Mina just nodded with a smile as Princess Serena
unlocked the energy of her part of the Crystal.  Metallia lashed out
against them, trying to destroy the Crystal.  As light and dark clashed,
everyone else began coming around and getting to their feet.
        "Everyone, combine your powers with the Crystal's!!  It's the
only chance!" Onyx cried out, realizing what needed to be done.  He and
Obsidious concentrated and let their powers flow into the Crystal.
        "Mercury Power Complete!!!" Mercury cried out, contributing her
power to the crystal.
        "Mars Power Complete!!!" Mars cried, adding her power as well.
        "Jupiter Power Complete!!!" Jupiter cried, following suit.
        "Venus Power Complete!!!" Princess Mina cried, adding her other
powers to the Crystal.
        Prince Darien now also stood behind the two girls, concentrating
and letting his strength join the Crystal's power.
        Metallia, in desperation, fired a bolt of her power at the group
now gathered around the Crystal.  The Crystal flashed in response,
though, and countered her bolt with an immense blast of its own that
then collided with Metallia.  She screamed as she tried to resist it,
but could not, its force blasting her back through the portal.
        The light then encompassed the entire compound, the roar of the
explosion that ensued heard for hundreds of miles.
        Then silence...

       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Mina slowly opened her eyes, seeing the beautiful night sky
above her.  She took a deep breath and slowly checked to make sure she
had all her limbs, which she did.
        "Did we die again?" she asked aloud.  Her question was answered
by Trent who came over and leaned down, kissing her on the lips.
        "If we did, then we're in heaven," he told her.  "But I don't
think we're dead."
        Mina slowly sat up and saw everyone standing around her, looking
relieved that she was finally up.
        "What happened to Metallia?" she asked.
        "Blasted back to the Negaverse," Serena told her.  "And it's
been sealed up again, like before."
        "Then...we won?" she asked.
        "Well, call it what you want," Trent told her.  "Truth be told,
I don't think anyone's supposed to destroy the Negaverse.  Balance of
powers and all that."
        "So that means you've still got Nega-energy in you," Mina said.
        "Actually, he doesn't," Amy told her.  "And neither do you.  I
ran scans on you and found that during the fight, the Crystal healed you
both of all the Nega-energy in you."
        "What about Obsidious?" Mina asked.
        "I'd prefer it if you called me Maxwell from now on, Mina," he
said over a ways.  Mina looked over and saw him dressed in clothes
similar to Trent's.  She only now noticed that the two looked quite
alike, except that Obsidious, or Maxwell rather, had black hair instead
of brown.
        "How about Max for short?" Mina asked.
        "That'll do," Max replied with a small smile.
        "So I guess you two are through with the fighting business now,
hmm?" Mina asked.
        "He may be, but I'm still in it," Trent said.
        "But you lost all your power," Mina said.  "How can you fight?"
        Trent just smiled and, producing a violet, transformed yet again
into Onyx.  He stood smiling in front of Mina.
        "The power of my love for you enables me to transform and at
least be a supplementary fighter," Trent told her.  "In short, I have to
make like Tuxedo Mask now, but I'm still there to help out."
        "I always wanted my own version of Tuxedo Mask," Mina said with
a smile.
        "Especially since you knew you'd never have mine," Serena told
her with a smile as well.
        "Yeah, well whatever," Darien said.  "This had been one day to
remember, but let's go home now."
        "Works for me, muffin," Serena said, stepping over to her honey.
        "Yeah, does anyone have any ideas on how to get home?" Lita
asked.  "Our powers are too strained for today to use the Teleport."
        "Allow me, ladies," Max said.  They all looked at him strangely
as he began chanting.  Suddenly, in a flash of light, they were all
shooting through the air and, minutes later, set down at the Cherry Hill
Temple.
        "I thought you didn't have any more power," Mina said to Max.
        "I can still cast a spell or two, can't I?" he said innocently.
"That doesn't require Nega-energy."
        "I won't argue," Mina said.  "Thank you, Max."
        "No, Mina, thank you for finally showing me the way," Max told
her.  "Now I can live in peace.  I have to go for now.  I have to find
Amber and Granos and get their help to adjust.  Much must have changed
since the last time I was here."
        "Just stay away from Granos' muffins," Trent told him.  "He's
very possessive."
        "I will, thanks for the advice," Max said with a laugh.  "See
you all soon!"
        The group waved and called out good-bye to him as he walked
away.  As he turned the corner, he bumped into a girl who was just
rounding the corner.
        "I'm terribly sorry, miss," he said, helping her up.  "I didn't
see you there."
        "It's okay.  I should've watched where I was walking," she said,
looking up at him.  Max saw her and, for a split second, he thought he
recognized her as being Ophelia.  He shook it off and just finished
helping her to her feet.  He noticed that she'd dropped some groceries
and he quickly helped her pick them up.
        "I can take care of it, thank you," she said.
        "No, please, let me," Max insisted.  "The least I can do for
knocking you over like that."
        "Well, now, and I thought chivalry was dead," she said, smiling
at him.
        "Not dead, just badly wounded," he told her with a smile.  He
stood with the bag well in hand.  "Lead the way, um...what is your
name?"
        "Ophelia," she told him.  "And you're?"
        "Maxwell, but please call me Max," he said with a smile as they
began walking.
        "You know, call me crazy Max, but why do I feel like we've met
before?" she asked him.
        "Maybe it's just deja vu," he said with a shrug.  The two just
laughed as they began to laugh...as well as start over.

      *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        The gods and goddess stood around the fountain, watching the
events conclude and their champions go on with their lives.
        "Well, it looks as if our work is complete now," Jupiter said.
        "Yes indeed," Mercury said.  "I doubt our champions will need
divine intervention to lead the rest of their regular lives in peace."
        "But most certainly there will come a time that their powers
will be needed again," Mars noted.
        "And when that happens they'll be ready, Mars," Venus said.
"Because they are not children anymore, but strong, young women and men
who do not need our help."
        "So you're saying that there's no place for us immortals in the
universe anymore?" Mars asked.
        "Perhaps, and perhaps not," Venus said.  "All I mean to say is
that perhaps we should not concern ourselves with the affairs of mortal
men and women any longer.  They are wise enough that they can live
without having to seek our help every time a problem arises."
        "And is this a favorable situation?" Mars asked.
        "I think so indeed," Venus said.  "For it means that perhaps one
day we shall all be equal as gods and goddesses.  Then perhaps a new
Silver Millennium may rise.  But for now, let them enjoy their existence
without our interference."
        "As always, you are right Venus," Mars said, bowing to her.
"But what do we do in the meantime?"
        "I don't know," Jupiter said.  "Maybe we can ask Neptune if we
can borrow his Playstation."

 *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *       *

        Much later on, Mina stood on the bridge that overlooked the bay
with Trent, watching the sunrise.  Reeny had gone back to the future
again, confident that she could be the future's Sailor Moon now, and
everyone else had opted to try and get some more sleep.  Mina and Trent,
though, had stayed up all night, walking, talking, and just being
together.  Now they stood, Mina in front of him and securely in his
arms, as the sky began to go ablaze with the colors of the rising sun.
        "A new day, and a new beginning for us all," she said.
"Especially us."
        "I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us, Mina,"
Trent told her.  "Sometime you'll have to tell me about Crystal Tokyo."
        "Yeah, but not now," Mina told him.  "That's thousands of years
off.  Let's just take it one day at a time."
        "If every day is like this, then I think the next eternity is
going to be absolute heaven love," Trent told her.
        "I know it will be, because now everything has come full
circle," Mina said, turning around in his arms to face him.  She put her
arms around him as well.  "And there's nothing to come between us now."
        The two met each other with a deep, loving kiss as the sun kept
rising behind them, turning the whole sky to the color of the blaze that
was the fire of their love.

The End