Okay. Since the ML decided to swallow up my fic or some people don't
have it yet, I'm reposting this one. One thing first: This chapter will need
the next chapter to clear up the reasons for this so late an intro to my
fic. Hope you people understand. 
        I just made a few corrections... : )

=====================================
	Now that’s out of the way, this fic could never have gotten through if it
hadn’t been for getting hit on the head and fighting with my parents. Also,
listening to a few anime songs – and repeating far too many times Minmay’s
Do You Remember Love? Battle song.. She’s a damn inspiration all by herself.
	Barry, LaShawn, and Craig helped as well. Hopefully, I won’t find any more
mistakes in this one. If there are any of you who wishes to comment or offer
more than that, let me know. Okay? 
	C&C is very much appreciated.
	BTW: The anime character’s aren’t mine. But the story is. Hope you guys
enjoy it.
==================


Ranma 1/2 :  Anything Goes Misadventures
          Angel’s Chronicles Book One
	       
	   ANGEL’S FOLLY


==================
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: FLASHBACKS

[I just thought this chapter would need a title]

	There existed long ago, in a time forever forgotten in the sands of time,
an age in the history of mankind where they had existed in a sort of utopia.
This was an age when mankind had achieved their dreams of conquering the
vast frontiers of space in a way no one would ever believe. Mankind tamed
the wild energies of their home system, giving life to what we now consider
to be perfectly inhabitable planets. 
	If only we, of today’s era, knew better – or in this case – remembered better.
	This age was called the Silver Millennium. It was also the name the people
used to refer to their civilization and kingdom. This was an age where the
people have found what could only be termed spiritual peace. The peace of
forever. 
	The peace, so delicate in any human power structure, was guarded most
protectively by a band of female warriors known as the Senshi. Known as the
Royal Guards, they were trained in the use of energies of planets their
spirits were attuned to. There were nine planets but strangely, only eight
Senshis. 
	There was a reason. 
	The ninth guardian was none other than the Queen’s Protector and Husband. 
	Queen Serenity – the monarch of that long forgotten era -- was a woman
gifted by the heavens with beauty and wisdom. She possessed of a grace that
remained unrivaled by any other. She was well respected. Her people
absolutely loyal to her. Her husband, she loved dearly. But  alas! Tragedy
struck the royal household when Serenity’s husband died so mysteriously. 
	No one knew it yet, but the death of her husband was the start of
everything that would end the Kingdom of the Silver Millennium. 
	In the end, memories faded and no one would ever remember the Silver
millennium’s existence from then on. As it had been and so shall it be, now
and forever.  
	With its passing, so did all the other remaining pockets of civilization
spread throughout the Sol System. They all perished except for one. And that
was the planet known as Earth.
                  Time watched as the Earth slowly regained part of its
heritage. Magic fell with science and religion coming to take its place in
the world of man. But this was not to be. For the Queen’s dying wish was to
fulfill what had been her daughter’s longing. To be born of the Earth bosom
that had once nourished them and had been so forgotten by them as well. 
                  That time has arrived.  
	So came the time of rebirth as Serenity had so planned long ago as she lay
dying in the remnants of her shattered palace. Her daughter, who had died
during the final battle, was reborn once more. And so were the Senshis.
	Time continued to watch as Serenity’s daughter, appointed protector of
humanity’s last bastion that which is Earth, bumbled her way into greatness
and perfection. 
	So rose the Second Age. The Age of Rebirth had come at last. In the
thirtieth century, the daughter of Serenity rebuilt what had been lost eons
ago. Like the phoenix of legend, the Silver millennium rose once more from
the ashes and into the light. 
	
* * * * * 
	

	Radler woke up as the sun’s morning rays shone through the window close to
where the bed was situated. He grimaced as was his nature whenever he woke
up a tad bit early. This would always happen every day. He was never the
early riser and even Haruka-san had thoroughly given up on making him wake
up early enough for breakfast. He need not look at the clock to let him know
it was already ten in the morning. 
	He sighed; wishing for the nth time to try and find the time to move the
bed somewhere a lot less illuminated. He got out of bed and went directly to
the baths to freshen up. Today was Haruka-san’s birthday. And thus had
Radler the greatest of reasons to make sure he looked his best. And besides
that, he had to do escort duty for Small Lady, a part of his mind reminded
him so helpfully. 
	Radler winced at that particular name. He idly wondered just why Neo-Queen
Serenity had to choose that particular name for her daughter. Small Lady was
Chibi’s true name – except for the other one -- and normally never used
whenever it was possible. 
                  He hated royal celebrations and always avoided it whenever
he could get away with it. This was an exception to his habits. Today was
Haruka-san’s birthday. As to be expected, Serenity had, as always, decided
to hold a banquet to celebrate this or that special occasion.
	And indeed, this WAS a special occasion. 
Especially for him. For of all the Senshi, he felt the closest to Haruka. 
	He fished out the amulet he managed to put together during those spare
times when Haruka-san drove him ragged in the training room or when
Ami-chan, Michiru-san and Setsuna-oneechan dumped a ton of scholarly stuff
for him to do. It wasn’t a bad piece of work considering just how amateurish
his skills were at making stuff. 
	He _was_ pretty gifted in destroying things rather creatively though. 
	He glanced at it for a while; checking if there were any faults in its
make. He loved Haruka-san very much and didn’t want to disappoint her in any
way unless it was on purpose – which he normally did in any given day of the
hour. 
                  The amulet was fashioned out of gold and silver. Gold for
the dragon which was carved with remarkable detail – this thanks to the help
of computers for which he was glad of Ami. Silver for the miniature roses
which made up the chain. It truly was a piece of work – if only he could see
it that way. 
	Radler pocketed it once more as he entered the bath. 
	Upon entering the baths; however, he found himself once more besieged with
the visions.  
	Darkness suddenly descended upon him. It was like someone decided to put
out the sun. This would normally not be a bad thing. Except his instincts
were screaming at him of danger. He groped about, trying to reassure himself
of the solidity of the walls that was supposed to be there. He was
disappointed to find that there was none. Radler swore under his breath.  He
gave a worried glance at where a door should have been. Right now, there was
none. He absolutely hated this. The darkness could easily conceal a lot of
things as he had learned in the past. 
                  Instinctively, he summoned the sword. He never could
understand just how he managed to do such feats when he could barely do
anything with his powers most of the time against Haruka-san or any of the
veteran Senshis during training. More than that, he couldn’t even explain
why he had that sword in the first place. But it was a useful tool to use in
these times. And he knew better than to complain.
	"Aw, man!!" he cursed. "Did this just have to happen?!"
	His senses, honed by countless hours of drills and mock battles – not to
mention those other times he came here, warned him of a great disturbance
[in the force? : ) ]. He tensed, bringing his sword to bear. He did not like
this one bit. 
	The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Definitely very BAD.  
	But, unlike the other times he ended up in here, a shaft of light descended
from the ceiling. 
	"Huh?! Now what?!!" Radler thought. 
	"So, it seems you have come once more, young man." said a strangely,
hypnotic feminine voice from within the shaft of silvery light.
	Radler positioned the sword right in front of him. Now he *REALLY* was
hating this. Every time he was in this place, unspeakable things have had
this habit of popping up from nowhere; eager for his blood or soul or both,
depending on what he was facing. And now this just _ had_ to ruin the cycle
he had come to know. 
	"What under the heavens are you?" he asked, practically shouting it. "I
really do not need this right now. Not now of all times."
	The woman laughed.
	Radler groaned. "Megalomaniac person at twelve." He muttered, putting a
hand to his face. 
	The laughter suddenly stopped – perhaps hearing what he had said. "I am not
that sort of lady, young man. None many have dared to traverse the paths you
have so blatantly walked all this years. None have made it this far, young
man. Only you."
	Radler was thoroughly lost by now. "Huh?! All I did was try and survive as
best as I could, you know."
	"All the more reason  why only you managed it." the woman in the light
countered. "You chose to seek answers. Am I not correct?" she asked. 
	Radler nodded. "Yeah." He answered a bit hesitantly. He actually did in
more ways than one. Of course, he also wanted to find a permanent cure to
stop these dreams.
	"I can’t help you." she answered back.
	The woman heard the sound of someone hitting the floor – real hard. 
	"WHAT THE HELL?!" screamed an enraged Radler at said woman. 
	"You were thinking about seeking answers." The woman whom Radler could not
see told him once more. "I can’t give you that." Radler was just about ready
to protest. "You have the wisdom. You have in yourself the answers to those
questions. You only just have to think a bit more than you normally do."
Radler started sputtering out comments on that. "You have in you what it
takes to do what must be done. Do not fail in your duty, Radler. Protect the
Child-Princess, Radler."
	"From what?" he asked in an irritated voice. 
	"The Winds of Change shall come. And woe betide this realm from what it
shall herald."
	"What the hell are you talking about?!" He screamed at the top of his
lungs; only to find himself in the bathtub. "Huh?! Wha… How’d I get here?"
	He laid a hand on his head. "Gah!! These nightmares keep getting worse and
worse." He remained silent for some time as his mind processed some other
things. "What did she mean by that?" he wondered; so thoroughly deep in
thought that he failed to notice the person who was sneaking up behind him
with a bucketful of freshly iced water.  
	"Gotcha!!’ someone gloated from behind.
	"Agh!!! C_ O _ L _ D!!!"
	Three sets of voices laughed out loud from behind. 
	A really pissed Radler turned to find Ami-chan along with Minako and
Mako-chan smirking at his obvious discomfort of having been turned into a
popcicle so late in the morning.
	"I guess he’s fully awake now, Doctor Mizuno." A still laughing Minako
observed.
	"But he looks way too scruffy to even be allowed audience with the queen
much less be seen escorting her majesty’s beloved brat, ne?" asked Mako-chan
from her position.
	Radler was puzzled by this little slip. Brat? Since when did anyone ever
consider Chibi a brat? The answer came to him. No one dared call Chibi that
save him whenever she managed to tick him off. But the Senshi? The Inner
Senshi practically doted on the kid. 
	*Protect her at all cost, Radler.* someone whispered in his conscious mind. 
	Radler blinked wondering if he was coming up with something. And yet,
something about that warning was making him real edgy. But what could it be?
As far as he could remember, Neo- Queen Serenity had gotten rid of all the
bad guys ever since she took the throne. 
	"Any suggestions, fellow Senshi?" asked a grinning Ami-chan. 
	"Uh.. girls…" Radler winced. His mind remembered a minor detail.
All three were now staring at him like he was some bug. 
                  "Uh-oh."
                   They hated being called that. It made them think about
how old they truly were. And women were most sensitive about things
concerning their age. All three had pretty smiles planted on their faces.
Such was a bad thing. Normally, they’d try and toast him for saying that. 
	The answer finally came when the water in the tub froze suddenly; trapping
him quite effectively. 
	"VENUS LOVE ME CHAIN!!!"
	Chains made of gold entangled his upper half. He even got a bigger surprise
when lightning hit him full force on the chest. Radler uttered a faint cry
as his chest cavity collapsed inward, ribs crushing his heart and lungs,
instantly killing him. 
	His last thougths was what was happening. What could have caused them to do
this? Was it that ‘girls’ remark he did………………


	Radler shielded his eyes as he slowly dragged his tired body out of the
soft covers of his XL-sized bed. He was shivering all over as he hop-skipped
his way towards the baths. 
	Today was the day of Haruka-san’s BIG birthday bash. The only time when any
of the Senshi even acknowledged their birthdays anymore. Most tended to
forget about it these days as they’ve practically needed a micro computer to
compute just how old they already were. But Neo-Queen Serenity was the type
to be so bullish about it. She wanted THEM to celebrate their birthdays and
they mostly relented when she put on that long suffering look on her face –
privately, of course. 
	He smiled inwardly. There were times when even the queen showed traces of
her child’s idiosyncrasies. Definite proof that Chibi *WAS* their child.  
	He stripped off his creased, care-worn clothing and dumped it in a basket.
Radler sighed I relief as the hot waters of the tub began to ease out the
cramps in his muscles. He glanced at the digital clock near the sink. 
	10:00 AM 
	Quite early. Enough to take an extended dip in here with just enough time
to get dressed and hunt down the princess. 
Radler closed his eyes once more. His body relaxed as his subconscious mind
submerged him back into the dream/nightmare that was always present whenever
he slept. After nearly so many years, he was used to it but not enough to
shrug off the feeling of dread or fear in his system. 
	"You came back I see." A voice form behind him said in a faintly amused
voice. He turned around to find a ghostly figure standing before him. The
light in the place was enough for him to see that the speaker was female.
The light offered little more than that, however. Somehow, he thought he
should know the voice but the memory kept eluding him. *Didn’t he just went
here?* a voice within him asked. *Huh?* the rest muttered in absolute
confusion. 
	"I really do not know what you’re talking about…. Whoever you are." 
	"You seek answers that you do not have. You seek to understand what you
are. More importantly, you seek to end this nightmare you find yourself in
every sleeping moment." 
	Radler nodded; wondering just how she knew. The woman in the shadows
chuckled. "I know all about you, my dear young warrior. But you are the one
who must unlock the mysteries surrounding yourself."
	"What are you talking about?!" he wanted to know quite badly. 
	"The danger grows daily, young warrior of the moon. In here, this land of
dreams, you have honed your abilities to the fullest. I now unlock that part
of yourself to guard against what is coming in the waking world. Protect the
Child Princess, Moon Guardian. Protect her with all your life….."
	"What?!!!" 
	"Seek the answers within you…."
	He woke up, spitting out water in his mouth. 
	Unlike the other times he slept, this time, he remembered quite clearly the
dream. 
	"What the hell did she mean by that?" he wondered.
	The door behind him burst suddenly open to reveal Setsuna. Radler gaped at
the wound on her chest. He recognized it as being a sword wound. But here?!!
Violence in the Silver Millennium was nil. So who could…
	Radler decided to halt that train of thought as he leapt to aid Setsuna.
Cursory inspection proved his worst fears. The wound had struck a vital
blood vessel. Setsuna was dying – fast. He was about to find help when
Setsuna grabbed hold of his hand. 
	"R…rad…radler…. the… prin….princesssss….. troubleeeeee……" With that,
Setsuna closed her eyes as she slipped into oblivion. 
	Radler stared at the now lifeless body of the Mistress of Time. He sat
there, stunned at what had just happened.
	"Setsuna….." Radler cried out in alarm. 
	"…. has died." Continued Rei from behind him.
	Radler turned to gaze at her. What he saw made him want to puke. Rei’s
sailor fuku, which was normally white and red, was splattered with blood.
Crimson blood. The type found only in mammals or in this case, humans. 
	"Na….nani?!!!" 
	Rei laughed a bone chilling laugh. Radler could not help but shiver at the
sound. Rei NEVER laughed like that. Well, almost. Radler stared deeply into
her eyes and found the answer. Something was wrong with her. Her and the
other Senshi right behind her. 
	Radler gulped. Setsuna was dead. The time staff was near enough but far too
distant to grab before any of them tore him apart. He knew they would. Only
a fool would say otherwise. His mind began to categorize his problems to
helpfully aid him in decided upon the best alternative course.
	First off, these Sailor Senshi definitely did not appear as sane as they
should be. Secondly, each had blood all over their pristine white sailor
fukus. His mind noted this to be bad. No doubt some sort of bloodshed had
occurred in the palace while he slept in the tub. Third, each was grinning
very maniacally at him. Not a good sign. His mind noted that Rei and
Ami-chan were displaying their hands for some reason. Radler quickly found
the reason. Fourth was the fact he was trapped. VERY trapped. And unless he
could blow holes in six feet thick walls, he’d never get away.
	He decided to use the only option safe enough for the time being. 
	"Uh… hi?" he replied, a bit unsure as to what he must do. He certainly was
not prepared to talk to deranged women who had the power to grind him to
dust if he so much as breath in the wrong way. 
	"What shall we do with him now, sisters?" Rei asked cheerfully. 
	"Uh-oh…"
	He was in definite trouble. 
	"You aren’t going to kill me, are you?" Radler winced. It was such a stupid
question to ask. Of course they were going to kill him! It was just the
matter on how they were going to do it that was being decided upon right
now. Staying here any longer would not be good for his continued life.
	Radler knew his options were more than nil. He wasn’t going to survive if
he didn’t do something right then and there.                   But what was
he to do against these women whom he considered his foster parents? No
answers. Not like he was expecting any. He could really use some help just
then. 
                  Something within him opened up once more. It felt much
like the time he had performed that weird attack he made against Haruka-san
during one of their training sessions. 
                  This one was different. 
                  The power flowed through him, surrounding him in an
orange-yellow glow. Radler did not know what he was doing or how he was
doing it. Whatever it was he was doing, he was somehow relying on memory.
The Senshi gaped in surprise at what they were witnessing. Radler was
suffused with power. Power that rivaled any the Senshi’s possessed and still
growing at a phenominal rate. The aura around him began to shift colors;
turning into a dazzling blue-white then red then white-gold. Radler knew
without a doubt something else within him was controlling now. His mind –
the part which held the complete portion of his jumbled memories – was in
control. He didn’t care about that. He cared about nothing anymore. Not when
those he cared very much for had become his enemy. 
                  He knew he had to make a choice. 
	He screamed in rage. His aura blazed all around him; like fire dancing in
the wind. Tendrils of white light snaked all across the room as they tried
to search for a place to unleash their pent up power. Radler stared the
blood-soaked Senshi who stood rooted to the ground as they stared at him. A
part of him wailed in grief at what he was about to do. To kill them would
mean losing the only people he loved. To let them live would mean to doom
the whole world into the madness they had sunken in. 
	Radler sighed. Inwardly, he swore to get the one responsible for what had
happened to these women. And when he did find the person, there was HELL to pay.
	If only he knew who had truly done this to them….
	It was time. To fight was the only option. 
	"Nova Death Burst!!!!" he screamed. 
	He hated to kill…..


	Radler screamed himself into waking. The darkness outside told him of how
early it still was. The sun had yet to reveal its brilliant splendor amongst
the inhabitants of this world. His mind alerted him once more to the dreams
he just had. He knew he had just awakened form something. Yet, like any that
he had, his mind could not hold on to the memory of the dream save for what
his emotions were telling him now.
                  Fear.
                  Of what, he never could tell. 
                  This would happen now and again. But this time, the dreams
came to him almost every night. Lucky for him he decided to move somewhere
where no one could hear it. He did not want any of them worrying over him. 
	He decided it was useless to even try to remember anything from his dream –
it was useless anyway. No matter how hard he tried to remember them, it
always slipped away from him. He got up from bed, cursing the heavens for
getting him up so early. And if he read the digital clock nearby, it was
only 3:00 AM. Definitely waaay too early for him. So, why did he feel as if
he’d slept for a whole week. He never felt his body so invigorated before. 
	*Wonder how that happened?* After a bit of pondering, *Ah, hell! Like I’m
supposed to care. No doubt, Haruka-san would change that later on.*
	Radler walked around the now darkened halls of the palace. He knew from
memory that the palace itself was a virtual city of crystal and stone. It
was also BIG enough to house all the people of Crystal Tokyo should the need
arise. He walked past the corridor leading to the audience chambers and
veered off towards the kitchens. He was wide awake and could feel the hunger
gnawing at him.  
	Considering just how early it was, he doubt anyone would mind if he
ransacked the pantries for some food. Someone would mind – just as soon as
they found out about it. For now, he was safe.
                   What he did not expect was what came next. Something was
wrong. His eyes searched for any sign of this ill feeling he had. He walked
towards the general direction of the throne room. With every step, the
feeling increased. Whatever it was, it was evil. Evil in the purest of sense. 
	Caution warnings rang inside his mind with alarming intensity. 
                  This was BAD. 
                  And when things were this bad, he knew he had to find the
other Senshi for help. But, like any other human born, curiosity got the
better of him. He decided a little peek was in order. What he saw was enough
to make him choke. Serenity stood on her throne. Nothing out of the ordinary
there. What made him gape was the crucified forms of the Inner Senshi. Each
was trapped in a crucifix of pulsating black crystal. All four were bleeding
badly as was evident from the crimson stained sailor fuku. Even worse was
the fact that the emanations of darkness came from the queen herself!! And
if he was right, it was also slowly taking root in the Senshis as well.
	Radler watched in horrified fascination as Serenity, garbed in the pristine
white gown stepped down the dais. She made a sweeping motion of her hands
and the four Senshi collapsed on the floor, the black crystal melting into
nothingness. 
	"So, my beloved Guardians, have you made your decisions?" she sneered at
the women who lay on the floor. She leveled the foot of her obsidian staff
on Mercury’s chin as she knelt down to stroke her disheveled hair. "So, my
dear Ami-chan, what _is_ your decision?"
	Ami-chan, to Radler’s intense fear, nodded. He did not know what they were
talking about, but he could hazard a guess at it. He did not like where his
guesses were taking him. 
	He could not see the smile that crept on Serenity’s features. He was lucky
– very lucky. 
	She rose once more and climbed the dais. There she awaited for the other to
give their fatal answer. 
	Time stood still. Radler feared the silence that permeated the hall. He
could hear his heart beat like hell had bust loose in it. The chill at the
base of his spine intensified as he watched the scene unfold before him. 
                  What hurt even more was that he could do nothing but watch.
	All four rose mechanically. From his vantage point, he could see just how
bad off they all were. But something about their blood stained clothing
tickled a part of his mind. That prompted him to burst into action. He ran
as fast and as quietly as he could towards Haruka-san’s room. She had to
know and the others as well. 
	*Keep her safe.* 
                  But first…. He had to get Chibi. 

* * * * * 



                  Neo-Queen Serenity  gazed at the bloodied forms of her
Inner Senshi. This was it! The time was now ripe for her old friends to see
the light of her reasons. She wanted them in this. And now was the time for
their baptism of evil. She sat on her throne as she awaited her Senshis’
answers.  And she knew what they would answer. She made sure of that!!!
                  All four Inner Senshi knelt before their new queen. A
queen who mirrored the warpness of mind and soul as the one who had been
responsible for it all. All four Senshi gazed at their queen as they took
the oath to serve her once more. An oath that bound all five of them to
darkness….
                  She laughed as lightning etched the skies above with its
hot light as dark clouds began to gather in the city. The other Senshis
would soon fall. 
                  [Why am I feeling suddenly Kodachi-like whenever I read that?]

* * * * * 


                  Time passed. 
                  Radler gazed sadly upon the remnants of the once glorious
city of Crystal Tokyo. Now, little of what should have been the capital city
of the world remained. Only desolation could be seen of the land. Radler
sighed as he flew back to the Forest of Silence. There they were safe.
Setsuna-san made sure of that. And even now, after nearly sixty years of
constant battle, he had not forgotten the oath he swore when this had all
begun. 
                  He would find out who was responsible and they would pay!!! 
                  It had been close to a century now since that fatal day he
had witnessed the Inner Senshis’ terrible conversion. No longer were the
Inner Senshi the same women he had known since he was a kid. They were now
servants of an Evil that only humans could ever create. Radler seethed every
time he even thought about it. But how could he not as he and the Outer
Senshi were all that was left to guard Chibi. Worse was the fact that the
Outer Senshis’ powers had visibly weakened ever since the fall of the Silver
Millennium.	 
                   Setsuna had explained that everything about themselves
mirrored Neo-Queen Serenity. Everything that was Serenity was split evenly
amongst the Senshi. And the same was true vice versa. They all teemed it as
a life link. Radler felt it prudent not to even mention something that the
Outer Senshi knew themselves. If that was true, then whatever corruption
that had twisted Serenity could also do the very same thing to the Senshi.
This explained a lot on how Serenity was able to even break one Senshi. She
had used her link with the Senshi to further her own twisted ends. 
                  Radler hated this. He could never reveal to them that he
had dreamed about this for so long. He could not bring to tell them this
since even he could not remember his own dreams until that fateful day back
at the palace for fear of what it might do. How he wished he could have
forgotten it. It would have been better that way. 
                   He gripped the sword that was fastened to his back. The
sword was easily recognizable as the same one he had summoned in his dreams.
He had fashioned it himself. Ironic that the dreams – or nightmares as he
called it – had stopped since that time. 
                  Even now, so many things about this new memories that had
flooded his mind a century ago troubled him. So many of them still did not
fit. He was so afraid. A century of fighting this unending war for
domination. He had lost too many friends. Close friends. 
                  The only useful thing about those memories were the skills
he had harnessed to efficiency in his dreams. 
	The world under him shook violently; a testament to the pain the world was
feeling at the loss of her queen. It was dying just as surely as Serenity
and her Guardians were reveling in their depravity of morality and spirit.
Everything they touched turned rotten to the core. A legacy of the darkness
that had consumed all of humanity. 
	Radler glanced up.
                   The skies were a steal gray in color. No doubt, it would
give way to heavy clouds filled with torrential rain. He glanced at his
watch. Radler grew nervous. This was not like his wife, Reimi, to be this
late. She was supposed to have reported a few minutes ago! An uneasy feeling
crept up his spine. The thought chilled him. 
	Reimi, birthed under the shinning glory of the star of Orion, was the final
Senshi. No one else would come after her and until all the Senshi died,
there were little chance at rebirth. But considering their present
condition, Radler doubt, rebirth would do that much good. He feared for his
wife. Radler’s love for her rivaled his affections for the Child Princess.
Both, he protected with all his heart, mind, and soul. For if anything
untoward happened to any of them, he could never forgive himself for his
laxness. And now, his wife had yet to answer his summons on the commlink.  
	His mind was screaming warnings at him. He knew that there was some basis
to it but hoped against hope that it would not be so. Finally, after close
to an eternity of waiting, the commlink bleeped. 
	"Radler here."
	The comm was filled with the hiss of static. But the voice was undeniably
Reimi’s!! 
	"Thank the heavens you’re okay, Reimi-chan!!" he burst out. 
	"Sorry to disappoint you, husband, but the Reimi of old had just had a
startling revelation onto herself." The voice, belonging to Reimi, dripped
with malice. Radler felt his body freeze up. His mind went through dozens of
seizures in no less than a nanosecond. He could not believe it was possible!! 
	"R..Reimi? What… What happened to you?" he wanted to know. His voice was
strained and definitely trying to sound calm. 
	The laugh on the other end of the commlink confirmed his worst possible
fears. The rage within him grew and opened once more the powers that had
been so long denied of him. The area around him melted to slag as his
white-hot aura blazed to life. 
	"Noooo!!!!!’ he shrieked to the heavens. 
	With that, he flew towards the Palace. His face a mask of rage at what had
been done to his wife. His mind seethed with anger. All rationality left him
at that moment. All that he could think of was to exact terrible vengeance
upon the Shadow Moon. To hell with the fact that he was out to kill someone. 
                  Anyone!! 
                  He did not care so long as his thirst for vengeance was
slacked. 
	He knew it was a damn trap. Like hell he cared! 
                  He was pissed real bad but a part of him remained calm and
collected. That part began the preparations that would be needed for the
upcoming battle. He was one and they were many. But what they did not know
was just what power lay dormant within this vessel. He might even have a
chance. The barest of chance. Still, even this analytical part of him was
mad at what had happened. He should have seen this coming! Reimi, Sailor
Orion, bore powers never before unleashed in the universe. Her powers easily
outstripped Saturn at her best. And now, with the fall of the final Senshi,
what hope was there at all? 
	*Trust in your own power, my child. For in you lies the hope that you
seek.* a voice within him spoke. 
	*Who are you?* he asked, slowing his flight down a bit. No sense hitting
anything while he was flying with his mind preoccupied this way. At the
speeds he was traveling, he’d make a great impression on what he would hit. 
	*My identity is of no concern to you for now. Do not lose hope. EVER!! You
must see that the Child Princess live long enough to go through the Time of
Ascension. Only then will any of you stand a better chance to do battle with
the Shadow Moon.* The voice in him paused a moment before it continued. *Do
you still wish to go through with this plan of yours, my child?* 
	Radler nodded grimly. *They took away my wife. And they will pay.* 
	*Be careful. For dying right now will help very little. Remember your oath.
Remember.* 
	Radler stopped in mid-flight. If he didn’t know any better; he could have
sworn that voice was damn too familiar. He looked back towards the city he
had just left as the more rational side of him re-exerted its control over
him. Having done so, Radler was making sulfurous curses in the air. 
	"Okay. They wanna play rough. Fine!!! But I’m not gonna play." 
He knew they were waiting for him. Like he cared right now. No! The oath was
more important. He would exact the vengeance he wanted someday. Not now.
	The knowledge within him closed once more. The power that had flowed out
from within the depths of his being withdrew; there for him to summon when
he most needed. The power that was his birthright. 
                  But, he knew he could not kill with it. 
                  Not now or ever.
	


===============
	Sigh. Well, this is it. The best I could do for a backgrounder on the
events leading up to the current power struggle. The Guardian Sisters were
thus born, with Dark Queen Serenity as the leader. I hoped you all liked the
explanation regarding the way the Inner Senshi were corrupted. 
	I know its brief. Live with it ^_^ (unless someone wants to help expound on
it ) 
	Also, the Outer Senshi are in no way invulnerable to what had happened to
the Inner Senshi. Since the link between the Outer Senshi and Serenity were
mostly a lot more distant, they will be affected. The link all the Senshi
share with Serenity is too strong. It just takes time, that’s all.
	BTW: A little reminder. Both Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune are dead as I
have explained this last chapter. Their deaths will be discussed – some time
soon.  Also, I’ve tried hard not to reveal too much of the story in this
chapter. Another thing would be that mine character has taken the lead here.
Yes, it had to happen. But not really. Please understand that Radler is not
much of a main character. And so Ranma and co. (most of them anyway) are the
ones in the lime light of this. Radler is what is called ‘a character of
convenience.’
	C&C, flames, etc. are needed very much..
	Note: This is the BETA-3 version. I ain’t finished revising this yet. But I
very much doubt too much would change. 

	PS: All characters of recognizable anime origin belong to their respective
creators. Radler and any other unfamiliar characters with all those kwel
powers are mine. 
	No one better sue me…. I hope…



===================================
Radler
      
   Eternal Worshipper of the Red-Haired Goddesses
	Nene Romanova and Icer-2   
   All praise their names!!!! Or else.....  ^  ^ 
                                           
===================================	    		 

 "What am I doing this for??"  ^_^