This is a work I posted to RAAC a long time ago, long before I came
to ffml.  I have been considering getting back into my work on part 2,
but I need to know if there is a desire for it.  Also, C&C would be
greatly appreciated.

Donovan 'da Darknight' Willett

----------------------

Standard Disclamer:  Sailor Moon belongs to a bunch of people besides
me.  I'm just using it for my own and others amusement.  All original
characters and plotlines unique to Serinity Moon are all mine... mine
mine mine... Bwa-ha-ha-ha.....

=======================================
SERENITY MOON

Part 1: Rebirth

by Donovan Alexander Willett

     Usagi held the Moon Crescent Wand before her.  She looked up at the
monstrosity that had been her greatest foe, Queen Beryl, but was now
just a shell for Beryl�s mistress, Queen Metallia.  In her mind, she
could see her friends dying one by one at the hands of the Dark Kingdoms
warriors.  And she could see the body of the man she loved laying before
her, killed by the vindictive queen.

     Finally Usagi focused herself and called out the words that would
activate her wand.  As brilliant white light shot forth to strike the
being before her, she could feel the presences of the other Sailors
along side her as they too lent their essences to the blast.

     Then she felt it.  As the last of Queen Metallia�s defenses fell
before the onslaught of energy, she could feel the wand in her hand
vibrate.  Then, just as Metallia fell back before the divine light of
the Moon Princess, the jewel mounted on the front of the wand exploded,
and Usagi saw no more.

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Usagi sat straight up in her bed with a gasp.  She sat there
breathing for a moment, then she got up, as quietly as she could as not
to wake up her husband of sixteen years, and walked into the bathroom.
There, she splashed her face with water for a moment, then stood staring
at the reflection before her.  She reached up and ran her fingers
through her short, blonde hair, thinking once again that maybe it was
time to let it grow back out again.  Maybe not back into the silly
ponytails that had marked her childhood, but long and straight like
Minako�s had been.

     �Honey?  You all right in there?� came the voice of her beloved
from the bedroom.

     �Sorry to wake you, Mamoru.�

     Mamoru walked into the bathroom and put his arm around Usagi.  �You
had that dream again.� he said looking at their mutual reflection.

     �Yeah.  It�s been coming more often now.�

     �I know.  Mine has come twice this week.� he replied rubbing the
phantom pain from the wound he had received so long ago.  �I talked to
the others.  They say they have been having dreams of their own.�

     Usagi reached up and took Mamoru�s hand in hers.  �Do think it�s a
warning?  Do you think the Dark Ones have found us?�

     �I don�t know.  I don�t think they have found us yet.  They
probably believe twenty years of no action from us has let us forget
about them.�

     �What about Minako.�

     �I just hope she found her peace.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Usagi looked up as Serenity walked from studying over at Kaede�s.
Her pink haired daughter of fifteen years looked a little troubled as
she held a small white package in her hand.

     �Serenity, dear, what�s wrong?�

     Serenity turned to her mother, the long ponytails that mimicked her
mother�s hair at her age save only the color, waved in the air.  �The
weirdest thing happened.�

     Usagi frowned, then walked over to the couch.  Serenity immediately
sat down beside her, snuggling up into her mother�s warmth.  �I was over
at Kaede�s studying for that test tomorrow when a package arrived
addressed to me.�  She held up the package and Usagi could clearly see
the name �Serenity Chiba� printed by itself on the side.  �I opened it
up and found this and a letter.�  reaching into the box, she pulled out
a large gold broach.

     Usagi�s mouth went dry as she looked at the broach.  It was
circular, with a crescent moon inscribed on it below a sunburst.
Hesitantly, her fingers moved down to the base and the pressed a small
clasp there.  Instantly the broach opened to reveal another crescent
moon, this one silver.  Standing in the moon was a figure of an angel
made of some beautiful indigo crystal wearing an all too familiar gown.
The arms were held aloft and were holding a ring of gold, apparently
awaiting something that was currently missing.

     Serenity pulled out the letter and began reading it aloud.  �Little
Princess.  It is finally time for you to have a small token of your
destiny.  The broach was forged when you were born, and is as much a
part of you as much as the flesh that makes up your body.  Protect it,
especially from the Dark Ones and their Youma.  They fear it, for it
will be their undoing.�

     �Kaede was looking at the broach when she said something about �the
time has come.��  Then, we noticed that there was a new envelope where
we found the package. This one was addressed to Kaede.  She opened and
turned as white as her hair.  Then she told me that she had to go talk
to her mom.�

     Serenity refolded the letter and looked at her mother.  �What is it
Mom.  I can see it in your eyes.  You know what this is about.  Who sent
this?  Only you and your friends call them the Dark Ones.�

     Usagi only looked down at her daughter.  Pulling her closer, she
could feel a tear running down her eyes.  �Tomorrow, my dear, tomorrow.
Just hold me tonight.�

     Serenity felt an aura of sadness radiate from her mother as she
returned the embrace.  As she held her mother, tear of her own ran down
her face.

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Dr. Ami Mizumo walked down the corridors of the pediatrics ward as
she finished her rounds.  She yawned for a second, regretting that being
the junior physician in the pediatrics department meant that she tended
to pull some of the longer shifts.  But she shook off those regrets and
smiled as the satisfaction her job gave her returned.

     Rounding the corner, she walked up the nurse�s station which sat
before her office.  �All quiet for once.� she said setting down the
armful of charts.

     The duty nurse smiled.  �If we wanted regular peace and quiet, we
would be in the adult sections.  Kaede came in a little bit ago.� Nurse
Takeuchi frowned, �She looked a little troubled.�

     Ami walked through the open door of her office to see her daughter
sitting quietly on the couch with her back to her.  Ami stood quietly
for a moment starring at the girl before her.  So much of Kaede reminded
her of herself at that age, with only the stark white hair her daughter
had being the difference.  Kaede sat with her legs on the couch with her
arms wrapped around them, lost in thought.  Ami could see an envelope
and the notebook they had dubbed the �Dream Book� in her hands.
�Kaede?� she said finally.

     Kaede�s head snapped up and she quickly moved to embrace her
mother.  Ami looked down, �What�s wrong, Kaede?�

     Kaede released her mother and sat back down.  �You know those
dreams I�ve been having.  The ones you told me to write down in here.�
she said indicating the notebook in her hand.  �I had one last night.
Serenity was standing in front of me holding some sort of broach in her
hands. I drew it out as soon as I woke up.� she said as she opened up
the notebook and turned to a page showing a familiar design.  It was not
quiet the same one Usagi had worn, but the similarities were enough.

     �Then, in the dream, the broach burst into light, and when it
cleared, Serenity was wearing different clothes.  They were a lot like
the ones in your old school pictures.  In fact, Serenity looked a lot
like this.� she said as she partially pulled a picture out of an
envelope.

     Ami�s heart stopped for a beat as she looked at the picture of
Usagi as the Defender of the Moon with Rei and Minako to her left.
Slowly she reached out and pulled the picture fully from the envelope,
revealing the other two Senshi.

     �That�s you, isn�t it Mom.  You were one of the Sailor Senshi.�

     Ami sat quietly for a moment before getting up and pushing the door
closed.  �When we saw that picture in the papers, we were convinced that
everyone would know who we were.  But even our own families did not make
the connection.  I guess the magical energies that changed us protected
us somehow.  Yes, Kaede, I was Sailor Mercury.  I fought along side
Usagi and the others until just after that picture was taken, when
entered the Dark Kingdom.  We died there.�

     Kaede�s eyes grew large at that news, but her mother continued.
�It�s time I told you a few things.  Me and your father knew this time
would come.�  She sat down beside Kaede and gave her a warm smile.  �Do
you remember what your father said when you asked how he made so much
money when you were a baby?�

     Kaede thought back to that day a few years back.  �He joked that he
looked in the future to say what stocks would do, but that he didn�t do
that anymore.�

     �Your father was not joking about that.  As the five of us began to
have families, we decided to make sure that we would not be financially
stricken, so your father cheated a little so he could make money in the
stock market.  When we had enough, he sold everything and vowed never to
do it again.�

     �What do you mean, cheated?� Kaede said.  The image of her father
doing anything even remotely illegal was foreign to his very nature.

     �Your father, at least when he was younger, could see the future.
Now you are beginning to show the signs of having that gift yourself.
That is why your father and I told you to make your �Dream Book.��  She
reached out and pulled her daughter closer.  �But we knew this was
coming.  Your father�s gifts have almost disappeared, but he saw some
things.  You need to stay with Serenity, for Sailor Moon will need you
beside her, especially since Luna and Artimis never returned from that
final battle.�

     �But, your father and I are a little scared now, for he has seen
nothing beyond this point.�  She held her daughter for a few more
moments.  �Now go home, my dear.  In our bedroom, beside the nightstand,
you will find that one of the wood panels is the door to a hidden
compartment.  What�s in there is now yours.�

     Kaede kissed her mother good-bye and walked out the door.  As she
returned home, an image from a few nights before swam before her eyes as
she realized exactly what she would find at home.

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Serenity sat at her desk lost in thought while unconsciously
fondling the broach which now adorned the front of her shirt.  She had
not originally planned to wear it, but her mother insisted.  That
troubled her a bit.  Her mother had been the kind to just make sure her
outfits conformed with her ideas of good taste, but she had never told
her to wear any one particular item.  Plus, there was the far away look
that was in her eyes all night after she had seen the broach.  And,
there was Kaede saying that they had to talk after school about the
mysterious packages they had received.

     Serenity�s thoughts were broken by the sound of their teacher
walking in.  She looked up and suddenly every fiber of her attention was
centered on one of the two people who followed the teacher.  �Class,
today we have two new students who have just returned to Japan after
living abroad for several years.�

     One of the two, a young woman who looked a bit shy in front of the
whole class stepped forward.  �I am Yukiko Sanjouin.� she said in a
quiet voice.

     Serenity, along with nearly every other girl present, Kaede
included, barely took notice of Yukiko.  Their attention was riveted on
the other new student who now introduced himself.  �I�m Mikado
Sanjouin.� he said in a strong voice.  Then, his eye caught Serenity
and, in a move that nearly caused her to fall out of her desk, he gave
her a quick wink.

     Serenity shook her head, wondering if she had imagined it.  Mikado
was standing there with a warm smile as the teacher said a few more
things about �getting to know everyone� and found them seats.  Something
in the back of Serenity�s mind told her that the extra work she had been
doing to keep her grades up where her mother had wanted them was about
go out the window.

*-*-*-*-*-*

     �I still can�t believe he winked at you.� Kaede said as they walked
to her house to do a little studying.

     �I�m glad you saw.  I was wondering if I had imagined it all.�

     �Serenity, if I was that kind of person, I would be horribly
jealous of you.�

     The two girls laughed as they walked and talked about the two
newcomers, when a noise caught their attention.  Curious, they turned
down a side street and came up on a small shrine.  They knew the shrine,
it�s keeper being a friend of Yuri�s mother, Rei.  But they were
surprised to see him standing at the entrance blocking the way of two
men.

     �Come on, Pops, let us in.  We just want to take a look around.�

     The priest stood his ground.  �No.  You disturb the peace of this
place.  Come back when you are at peace yourself.�

     �Listen.  We will get inside there, whether you like it or not.�

     What happened next left the two girls stupefied as one of the men
began to grow.  His skin began to take a deep red tone as his clothes
faded away revealing a hairy hide.  His partner smiled.  �Now, you can
let us in or they will be looking for a new keeper for this shrine.�

     The priest stepped back in horror for a second, but suddenly his
hand darted into his shirt and pulled forth a ward.  But before he could
wield it against the beast before him reached out and struck him aside.
It then stood over him growling as the other went inside.

     Kaede pulled Serenity into a nearby alley.  Serenity was pale.
�Someone needs to help him.� she said in a scared voice.

     �I know.� Kaede replied grasping the metal cylinder in her pocket.
�Serenity, grab your broach and call �Moon Prism Power, Make Up.�� she
said hoping that the letter she found with the wand in their hiding
place would be right.  Serenity looked at her with a dumbfounded look,
but Kaede grasped her by the shoulders.  �Just do it, Serenity.  Trust
me.�

     Serenity pulled the broach off her shirt and looked at it, then
Kaede, with a confused face.  Then suddenly she apparently decided to
trust her friend and held broach forward and called out �MOON PRISM
POWER, MAKE UP!�

     Kaede blinked in surprise as broached opened up and brilliant white
light shone forth.  Within the light, she could see Serenity surrounded
by bands of energy and the transformation process begin.  Then she
pulled out the Mercury Wand her mother had left her and held it aloft.
�MERCURY POWER, MAKE UP!�

     Serenity had been surprised to feel the energy wrap around her, and
she could now still feel some of it shimmering throughout her body.  She
looked down at herself and gazed upon the Sailor uniform which she now
wore.  She had heard of Sailor Moon, but the few images available were
not detailed enough for her to recognize her mother, so she was
surprised to find the mantle on her.  She looked over in time to see
Kaede�s transformation complete itself.  �Kaede?�

     Kaede looked down at herself.  �Sailor Mercury now.� she said with
a half smile.

     �I don�t get it.�

     �Our mothers were the Sailor Senshi before they lost their powers.
Your mother was the original Sailor Moon.  Now we are the Sailors, and
we have a duty.�

     Serenity froze for a moment as she remembered the poor priest.
Then she turned and ran toward the shrine.

     They found that the creature was now amusing itself by battering
around the priest as it�s dark keeper came out of the shrine.  Serenity
stopped abruptly.  �Hey you, stop that.� she yelled.

     Both Dark Ones turned and looked at her.  �And who are you?� the
human one asked.

     �I�m Sailor Moon.� Serenity replied while she searched her mind for
what the stories told what the Sailor Moon of legend  would say.  �I am
the Champion of Justice here to stop you.�

     The man laughed.  �Go play with those girls.�

     The beast looked back at it�s master, then turned back to the girls
with an evil grin.  Suddenly, it surged forward and was among them.
Serenity was at a loss now, fore she realized that she had no idea what
she was supposed to do.  She looked over at Kaede only to see that she
was just about as lost, before a glimmer of recognition lit up in her
eyes and she yelled out �Bubble Spray!�

     Balls of gray mist sprung forth from Kaede�s outstretched hands and
surround them.  The beast looked around, unable to clearly make out it�s
opponents.  The girls, on the other hand, found each other.

     �What now?� Serenity asked.

     �I�m not sure.� Kaede replied.  �Mom�s letter said something about
your tiara, but I don�t remember how it�s supposed to work.�

     They stood there wracking their brains for something, anything,
when the beast found them.  With a roar it swung and struck Serenity
aside.  Sensing wounded prey, it stood over her and raised it�s clawed
hand up to strike again, but it cried out in pain and spun around.

     Out of the mist, like a ghost in the night fog, came a form of
flowing white.  The figure flung something, and the beast clutched it�s
shoulder where a rose carved from red crystal was now lodged.

     Serenity stared in wide eyed amazement as the figure, a man in the
flowing white garb of an Arabian suddenly drew forth a golden scimitar
and lunged forward, impaling the beast.  The beast stood there for a
moment holding on to the blade imbedded in it�s chest before white light
began to shine from the wound and it was consumed in a flash of
brilliant energy.

     The girls looked around to see that the energy had burned off the
mist.  The other Dark One stood there open mouthed for a moment before
reaching in his pocket and pulling something out.  Holding it in his
fist against his chest, he called out.  �So, there are new defenders.
This round is yours, but the war shall be ours.�  Then he vanished in a
swirl of light.

     The mystery man stood silently for a moment, then sheathed his
blade.  Reaching down, he helped Serenity to her feet.  �You know,
Little Bunny, you should learn to use your powers a little better before
you take on Metallia�s Youma.  But, I am glad to see a new Sailor Moon
arrive.�

     �Who are you?� Serenity asked in a daze.

     He shrugged, then a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes.  �You
can call me the Moonlight Knight.  But you need to get home and get that
taken care of.�

     Serenity looked down and was shocked to see that blood was seeping
slowly from the claw marks the Youma had left.  When her attention
returned to what was before her, he was gone.

     �This is getting weirder by the moment.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Usagi and Ami walked into the Chiba household in deep
conversation.  They had been talking about how they would explain their
teenage years to their daughters when they looked over to see Kaede
cleaning the wound on Serenity�s arm.

     �Good Lord!  What happened?� Usagi cried out as she rushed to her
daughter�s side.

     �I may be Sailor Moon, but I don�t know how to do anything.  Kaede
could make that mist, but I could not do what she said could be done
with the tiara.  If you had told me more last night, maybe I wouldn�t
have gotten hurt.�

     Usagi noted the slight bitter tone that had gotten crept her
daughter�s voice as that last bit was said.  She hugged her daughter�s
head to her chest.  �Moon Tiara Action.  If you say that and focus
yourself at your target, it should destroy it.  You can stop it, but
it�s not easy.  I had to do it once when Naru stepped in front of it to
keep me from blasting Nephrite.�

     Ami looked up from where she had been watching her daughter wrap
the shallow slashes on Serenity�s arm.  �Sometimes you�ll need to wear
them down first.�

     Usagi nodded.  �You can also heal too if you had the Moon Stick.  I
wish I knew what happened to it.  With it, you could heal those who had
been corrupted by the Dark Kingdom.�

     Serenity looked down at her feet, feeling a little ashamed at
lashing out at her mother like she had.  She had always prided herself
on being able to read the moods of those around her, and she could feel
the sadness in her mother�s voice.  �Mom, what happened?  Why did you
stop being Sailor Moon?�

     Usagi sat back for a second, her eyes unfocused as the memories
returned with as much force as they had when they were actually
happening.  �It will be twenty years ago next month.  We were going to
have a little party to celebrate surviving this long, at least those of
us that did survive.

     �Queen Beryl, ruler of the Dark Kingdom, and her minions had
captured your father and were using him against us, hoping that we could
not fight him like we could the others.  They were right, but they had
not counted on him resisting the programming as much as he did.  There
were several times that he could have destroyed us, or let others do so,
but he ended up saving us in the end, only to go back to the Dark
Kingdom.

     �Finally we were able open a gateway to the Dark Kingdom to fight
them on their own turf.�  Usagi sank down a little in her seat and
brought her legs up.  �There, we died.  At least everyone else died.  I
just wanted to be dead.  First Makoto, then Ami, Minako and Rei.
Finally I was face to face with Beryl only to watch your father die in
my arms.

     �But I had to go on.  I remember defeating Beryl once only to have
her return even stronger.  I know now, how I know is a mystery, but I
know now that Queen Metallia, the true ruler of the Dark Kingdom was in
Beryl�s body fighting me.  I held out my Crescent Wand with the Silver
Crystal and let loose with all the power I could muster.  As I let loose
every strand of energy in my body, I could feel the spirit�s of the
others stand along side me putting their very essences into the blast.

     �I thought I had her.  She was falling back defeated.  But then the
Crystal exploded.  I heard Metallia howl in impotent rage as the blast
threw her back, then I knew no more.

     �When I awoke, I was laying in the street in front of Rei�s shrine,
the others around me.  At first, I thought it was some wild dream, but
when we started to talk to each other, we realized that it was all real.

     �That was the last time any of our powers worked.  We all tried to
return to normal lives.  We got married and went about like any other
normal girls, but we were marked by what we had been through.  Then,
about the time when you all were born, we first noticed the Dark Ones.
It was frustrating, we knew what they were, but we could do nothing
about them.

     �Minako and Makoto decided to fight them anyway.  Minako had been
fighting the minions of the Dark Kingdom as Sailor-V long before I
became Sailor Moon.  As for Makoto, she always loved to fight for what
was right.  I don�t know what exactly happened then.  Makoto has not
told me more than a little bit.  All I know is one morning, I got a call
from Ami to meet her at the hospital.  It was that mourning that I
learned that Minako was dead and Makoto had been maimed so badly.

     �It was so confusing.  Here was one of my friends dead again at the
hands of the Dark Kingdom and this time I couldn�t blast them into moon
dust.  Kenichi took Akiko with him to live with his family and I thought
I would never see her again.  You don�t know how relieved I was when he
returned a few years ago.  And Makoto moved into that temple, leaving
Sakura to live with her father.  We were all in a perpetual state of
shock.�

     Ami looked up.  �I think Makoto saw this all happening.  I remember
her noting only how we all had daughters about the same time.  I mean,
Minako and I had sons to, but it was after we had daughters.  But to be
honest, Ryo and I did have a good idea that this was going to happen.
Now the time is here.  His gift has gone and his visions have come to
pass.�

     Usagi once again took her daughter in her arms.  �Serenity,
tomorrow, I want you and Kaede to go talk to Yuri and her mother.  You
will need all the help you can get.

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Jade walked with an easy stride down the corridors of the Palace.
She held herself in a regal manner, totally concealing the mild fear
that overcame her every time she went before her Queen.  But it would
not do to let the ones below her see any hint of weakness.

     Finally she came to a great gate that only a chosen few could
pass.  She composed herself once again and pushed open the doors.  After
taking a few steps forward with her eyes respectfully downcast, she
waited to hear the doors swing shut behind her before dropping to one
knee.  �My Eternal Queen, I have come at your bidding.�

     �Arise my child.� came the whispery voice before her.

     She stood up and gazed at her Queen.  Metallia�s possession of
Beryl�s body had not done it well, and now the absolute ruler of all the
Dark Kingdom was frail.  [She looks almost ready to possess another.]
Jade thought as she waited for Metallia to address her.  [I must be
ready for when she makes her move.]

     �What news do you bring me of our efforts, Jade?�

     �Team Alpha has succeeded in confirming that the shrine in question
was not the home of one of the Crystals, but they brought back dark
tidings.�

     �Our enemies have returned.� Metallia stated evenly.

     �Two of them, Your Eternal Majesty.  They do not match the original
descriptions, but the powers were the same.  We believe that these might
be descendants of the originals.�

     �I see.  Very well, what do you have planned for this.�

     Jade readied herself, for if Metallia objected to her plan, she
might end up a host body long before she had made all the preparations.

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Serenity sat toying with her food as she looked across the school
grounds to where Yuri and Sakura sat talking animatedly.  Now that she
had a better understanding of what she had become, a part of her was
hesitant to risk the lives of her friends.

     �I hope that look means you are lost in thought.� came a voice from
above her.  She looked up into the eyes of Mikado Sanjouin.

     �Um, hi Mikado.� she stuttered out.

     Mikado gave her a warm smile that made her relax for a second
before the nervousness returned.  �Why are you eating alone.  I mean, it
seems that you and Kaede are inseparable.  And the two of you normally
eat lunch with them.� he said gesturing toward Yuri and Sakura.

     �Kaede�s talking to Miss Hiruma about some extra credit work she
has been working on, and I wanted to think.  And what did you mean by
that first statement?�  Serenity put on a mock look of indignity to go
with the last statement.

     �Nothing, I was just hoping that that look meant deep thoughts, not
absent ones.�

     Serenity looked away with a slight pout.  �I see, you think a
pretty girl can�t be smart.�

     �I believe a pretty girl like you can be anything you want.�

     Serenity had a rare experience come over her, a complete loss of
words.  The fact that he had acknowledged that she might be pretty
caused her mind to lock for a moment.  Finally it decided that she was
not ready for more of that line of conversation and changed the subject
for her.  �Where is your sister, Mikado?�

     A slight look of resignation crossed his face.  �She likes to eat
alone.  After a few weeks, she will be out here with the rest of us.
She has trouble making friends.�

     �She did look a little shy.�

     �She�s a lot better than she used to be.  Don�t worry, you�ll see a
lot of her eventually.�  Mikado gave her that smile again.  �Speaking of
getting to know people, are you busy after school.�

     Serenity froze for a second.  �Well, yeah, but I�m not busy
Saturday.�

     �How about a walk in the park.�

     �Ah, sure, I would love it.�

     �Good, it�s a date then.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Kaede and Serenity walked happily into the shrine the Hino family
had watched for years.  �You actually have a date with him?  You haven�t
accepted an offer of a date before.  You said you weren�t ready.�

     Serenity blushed, and was glad for the chance to end the
conversation as they turned the corner.  Yuri had come here straight
after school of course, and she was now in the traditional garb of a
priest as she swept the steps.  Her back was to the girls and Serenity
decided to have a little fun.

     Sneaking as best she could, which was helped by the rhythmic sounds
of the broom, she crept up behind Yuri, then suddenly began tickling the
young priestess.

     Yuri let out an ear piercing scream, but could do no more because
Serenity had managed to incapacitate her.  But Serenity had mercy and
quickly quit.

     �Serenity, I�m going to get you for that.� Yuri gasped out as she
finally was able to get back on her feet.

     �Well, you should pay attention more.  I practically stomped up
behind you.�

     �Is that so, Serenity?� came a mature voice behind her as a pair of
hands came down on her shoulders.

     Serenity practically jumped on Yuri�s shoulders as she turned
around to find Rei standing there.  After taking a second to
involuntarily mutter her vowels, she was able to talk again herself.
�Hi, Rei.  We wanted to talk to you both if we could.  In private.�

     It only took a few minutes for a word or two to be passed on the
two part time keepers who helped with the duties.  Finally, they were
all sitting beside the fire that was at the heart of the shrine.
Serenity marveled at how mother and daughter could be so alike and
different.  Rei let her long black hair, with just a touch of gray, flow
free behind her.  Yuri, on the other hand, kept her raven black hair
tied back in a tight braid.  Where Rei once had dreams of becoming a
singer, while Yuri had dreams of becoming only master of her shrine.

     Serenity took a deep breath and composed herself.  She knew from
years growing up with Rei being a bit of an aunt that she like to get to
the point, so Serenity did.  �Rei, we need you to get your wand.�

     The cup of tea in Rei�s hand came to an abrupt halt.  �It has no
power now.� she said quietly.

     Serenity swallowed, finding it hard to confront Rei about this.
�It�s not for you.�

     Rei sat quietly for a moment, then her gaze turned to her
daughter�s puzzled face.  �Yuri, get the tongs and look in the center of
the fire.  There is something that I hid there.  You will know it when
you find it.�

     Yuri got up and began to do what her mother had told her, but the
whole affair had her puzzled.  In all the years that her mother had been
training her to be her heir to the guardianship of the shrine, Rei had
always maintained the fire itself alone, saying that the time was not
right for Yuri to begin the duty of tending it.  So she did not feel
quite right digging around in the fire.

     It did not take her long to find what she was looking for, though.
After only a minute or so, she pulled out a small metal rod, just large
enough to fit in her hand, topped by a star with the stylized emblem of
Mars emblazoned in the center.  On an impulse, Yuri let it drop into her
hand and discovered that despite being in the fire for who knows how
long, it was cool to the touch.  She turned to her mother.  �What is
this, Mom?�

     �That�s your..., it�s changed.� said Rei with a puzzled look.

     Kaede frowned and pulled out her wand.  �What do you mean, it
changed.�

     Rei looked over at the Mercury Wand in Kaede�s hand with the star
on its tip.  �They didn�t have that star before, just a ring with the
Mars sign in the middle.  I had it out of the fire a few weeks ago, and
it did not have it then.�  Rei paused for a moment to compose herself
and looked at her daughter.  Yuri was just standing there looking at the
wand intently.  �Yuri, hold it up and call for the power of Mars.� she
said.

     Yuri looked at her mother for a second with a look that asked if
she had lost her mind.

     �Just say �Mars Power, Make Up.��

     Yuri paused for a second looking intently at the wand.   Then she
raised it up, �Mars...�  She paused again, then smiled as some thought
ran through her head.  �Mars Star Power, MAKE UP!� she called.

     All remained silent as the energies of Mars engulfed Yuri and
transformed her into Sailor Mars.  When it was over, Kaede spoke up.
�Yuri, why did you say �Star Power?��

     Sailor Mars shrugged.  �I don�t know, it just seemed right at the
time.�

     Kaede stared at her wand as Yuri let the transformation reverse
itself.

     �Mom, is this why you didn�t want me tending the fire?�

     �Yes.� Rei replied as she stood and hugged her daughter.  �A few
years back, your father stumbled onto it, and I ended up telling him all
about being Sailor Mars.�  She smiled lightly.  �I�m afraid it lead to
another fight about secrets and trust and he went back to his shrine
early that time.�

     Serenity and Kaede pretended to not hear these last few things.
While it was well known how stormy the marriage of Rei and Yuuichirou
was, everyone was too polite to talk about it.  As it was, Rei watched
over the shrine she had grown up in, while he tended a formerly
abandoned shrine across town.  The two of them found that their marriage
worked when they only saw each other a few days a month.

     Yuri looked over at her two friends.  �So you are also Sailors.�

     Serenity nodded.  �I�m Sailor Moon and Kaede is Sailor Mercury,
just like our mothers were before.�

     �And Sakura and Akiko.�

     �They must be Jupiter and Venus.� Rei answered.  She turned to the
other Senshi.  �Have you talked to them yet?�

     �Not yet.�

     �Okay.  Sakura was here yesterday, and she mentioned that she was
going to visit her mother tomorrow afternoon.  Why don�t you go with her
and talk to them like you did me and Yuri.�  She stood silently, deep in
thought. �I�m not sure how we should handle Akiko.  Kenichi did not know
that Minako was Sailor Venus and he is still a little bitter about her
dying like she did.  It might be for the best that you talk to her
alone.  I just wish we knew what Minako did with her wand.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Usagi had only just wished her daughter good-bye before the young
lady had gone to school the next morning when there came a knock at the
door.  Opening it, she got one of the most pleasant surprises that she
had had in weeks.  �Naru!� she practically screeched.

     Usagi�s former school friend smiled and they hugged in the doorway
for a moment before stepping inside.  �Naru, what have you been doing.
I haven�t heard from you since you went to college and said that you
found a nice guy.�

     Naru�s smile remained as big as ever as she held up a hand adorned
with a ring.  �I married him.  We�ve been traveling around the world
with his job, and have just come back to Tokyo from Saudi.  I just
dropped off our kids at school.�

     �Kids?  You were the one who always said that you would only have
one.�

     Naru gestured to a picture on the wall.  �I see you haven�t gotten
the four you were wanting.  But I didn�t have much choice, twins make
their own decisions.  What have you been up to?  And what have you done
with your hair?�

     Usagi ran her fingers through her short hair.  �I got tired of
fighting with it, but I�m letting it grow back out again.  As for what I
have been doing, I�ve been doing the good housewife routine ever since I
started carrying Serenity.  But now she is in high school, I�ve been
thinking of getting a job.�

     �You having a job?  Scary.�

     �Hey, I was a secretary for a year before I got pregnant, and I was
good at it.  I couldn�t be a ditz forever you know.�  The two women
laughed for a moment before talking again.  �So Naru, when am I going to
meet this husband of yours.�

     �Well, I came over partly to invite you over for dinner Sunday
night.  Of course we would love for Mamoru and your daughter to be there
too.�

     �We�ll be there.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Serenity was nervous again as she and the others entered the
gardens of the Buddhist temple complex.  Makoto had been living here
ever since the incident that had cost Minako her life and left Makoto
near death and a missing arm.  While she had not chosen to become a
monk, she lived by their ways and was treated as an equal by the other
residents.

     But Serenity realized things weren�t too bad.  The temple was not
to far away and Sakura came to see her on a regular basis, and Makoto
left the temple every few months for �conjugal� visits, whatever that
meant.

     They rounded another corner to find her sitting on a large boulder
that was the centerpiece of a rock garden.  Makoto was just sitting
there with the rake she had been using across her lap as she tapped it
lightly with the fingernails of her left hand.  Serenity took a second
to look at the patterns in the white gravel that made up most of the
garden.  It had a graceful, orderly, feel, but had elements of chaos
here and there giving it an interesting balance.

     Before Sakura could say anything, Makoto�s eyes flashed open and a
wide smile crossed her lips.  With practiced ease she stood and leaped
from the boulder to a walkway a few feet away, then she ran over and
embraced her flame haired daughter.  After a minute, she stepped back
and took in all present.  �Have I become this popular?� she asked with a
silly grin.

     Serenity stepped forward to stand beside her friend.  �Actually,
Kaede, Yuri and I wanted to talk to you and Sakura together.�

     The smile on Makoto�s face lessened ever so slightly.  �What
about?�

     �The bond you shared with our mothers which we now share.�

     Sakura gave Serenity a �what the hell are you talking about� look,
but her mother merely nodded.  �Come on, I�ve got to gather my stuff up
in my room.�  She looked over and saw the head of the temple
approaching.  �Sensei,� she called, �I�m afraid it�s time for me to
leave now.�

     The elder man nodded and looked at the assembled girls.  �Very
well, I regret that you did not choose to join us permanently, but I
respect your wishes.  Do you now feel everything is in its proper
place.�

     �Not quite, Sensei, but I can help with those final steps.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     �Supreme.......Thunder!�

     Energy crackled around Sakura as she let loose with a blast of
electrical energy under her mother�s guidance.  She, along with the
other girls, was in an old cave that Makoto had found in the small stand
of woods near the temple.

     �Very good Sakura.  Remember to keep tight control so that you
don�t fry the others.� She turned to where the others were standing in
their Sailor guises.  �Yuri, have you tried Fire Soul?�

     Yuri was briefly surprised, then answered that she had not.  �I
figured I would be able to use when I needed it.�

     Makoto shook her head and gestured to the bandages on Sailor Moon�s
arm.  �You all need to get some practice before you fail in combat.  The
five of us were lucky, but inexperience nearly cost us a lot.  I just
wish I knew who that Moonlight Knight guy was, but he sounds cute
though.�

     Serenity blushed hard at the fact that she had thought much the
same thing.  But a lingering soreness in her arm reminded her of what
Makoto was saying.  She pulled off her tiara and concentrated for a
moment.  �Moon Tiara...Action!� she called as the energies she called
forth infused the tiara making it into a spinning projectile.  She
opened her eyes and flung the energy disc toward the stalactite that
Sakura had been abusing.  The result was surprising in that the top half
of the stalactite was sheered off.

     �Fire Soul!� Yuri called out and she too added to the destruction
as flames scorched the remains of the ancient stone.

     �Good.  Both of you.  Now, has Rei been teaching you how to use
wards and such?�

     Yuri actually looked mildly offended at that.  �Of course.  It�s
part of the training.�

     �All right, how about your visor and computer Kaede?�

     Kaede reached up and tapped the side of her tiara.  Instantly a
blue visor sprung up across her eyes.  �Mom taught me how to do this,
but the computer was given to her by Luna, and we don�t know what
happened to it.�

     �Very well.  Now, for the near future, I want all of you to come
over to our place, no, better yet, the shrine, it has more room, for
practice and training.  I�m not going to let you make the same stupid
mistakes we made.  And that applies to Akiko as soon as we figure out
how to tell her without her father knowing five minutes later.�

     They thought on that.  If nothing else, Akiko was extremely
attached to her father and to their knowledge, held no secrets from him.

     �Well, Ryoichi should be here by now with the van to pick us up.  I
just hope the two of you haven�t destroyed the house, Sakura.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Serenity walked in a mild daze as she approached the park.  This
was Serenity�s first anything that could be considered a date and she
was not entirely sure how to act.  Of course the hour long lecture she
received from her parents just before hand did not help ease her mind in
any way.  After a while she stopped and waited beside an old tree near
the center of the park.

     She did not have to wait long.  �Funny finding you here at this
spot.  This is a special area of the park to my family.� Mikado said as
he came up behind her, startling her.

     Serenity gathered her wits.  �What kind of significance?�

     �Nothing I want to get into right now, but maybe we can talk about
it in the future.�

     Serenity shrugged and began walking toward the lake.  �So Mikado,
why did you want to meet me here?� she said with a small smile.

     �Oh, I thought it had plenty of hidden places we could molest each
other in.�  A wide smile crossed his lips as she began to blush deeply.
�But seriously, I enjoy places of lush greenness like this.  I spent the
last few years living in a desert.  Plus, I just like spending time with
a lovely young lady.�

     Serenity looked up at him.  �Just how many young ladies have you
spent time with.�

     �I admit that I have had a few dates in the past, but none of them
worked out.  They just did not have that special something that I am
looking for.�

     �And I do have that something?�

     �That�s what I would like to find out, but I do have a good feeling
about you.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Sakura and Yuri edged up closer from behind the bushes in an
attempt to hear what Serenity and Mikado were saying.  While neither
would admit it, the were both a little jealous of their friend, although
they would never do anything to wreck things.  But they sure as hell
weren�t going to be satisfied with only Serenity�s account of things.

     The couple had just entered a small snack bar in by the lake when a
hand came to rest on each of the girls shoulders.

     �Who! What! Kaede!!� was Yuri�s surprised reaction.  Sakura was
still too startled to talk.

     �I see I caught you.� replied a smiling Kaede.  �Spying on our
friends now?�

     �We were not!� Sakura replied, �We were...Hey, what are you doing
here?�

     Kaede�s blue eyes got big for a second as a blush rushed across her
face, but she composed herself quickly.  �You know I like to walk in the
park before settling down and studying on weekends.�

     �You usually come to the park on Sunday�s.  So you�re a day early.�
Sakura replied with a wry smile.  �You were out here for the same reason
as us, admit it.�

     �Nonsense, I would never spy on my friends like that.�

     Sakura pressed her advantage.  �Oh, I�m sure.  Where were you
watching from, the lakeside?  I thought you hated coming down by the
lake because of your allergies.�

     �Those flowers are not in bloom right now.�

     �You mean these?� Sakura said holding up a small white wildflower.

     Kaede let out a small sneeze and retreated a foot or so.  She did
not have a major allergy to them, but it was enough to be quiet
annoying.

     Sakura stood up and started pulling both of them from the side of
the building.  �Come on, lets get out of here before they come out and
find us.  I doubt they would believe us anymore than we believe each
other.�

     Reluctantly, the threesome made their way across the park.  They
were talking animatedly about everything from boys to the math test that
was coming up when Yuri came to a dead stop.

     �What is it, Yuri?� Sakura asked.

     Kaede was afraid she knew what the answer was.  She had a dream a
few nights ago.

     �Dark Ones.� was Yuri�s reply.  Over the years, Rei had been
teaching her daughter how to sense the spiritual aura of people and
things, and as such, just being around a Dark One was enough to send a
chill up her spine.

     After a moment, they came up beside a fountain and found a trio of
men standing around.  They seemed to be looking for something and
Kaede�s sharp eyes picked out a crystal in at least one of their hands.
Then, with a gasp leaving lips, recognized one as the partner of the
thing they fought in front of the old shrine.  Listening carefully, they
would just make out what they were saying.

     �Are your sure that one of the crystal bearers fell here?� one
said.

     Another shook his head vigorously.  �Yes, I sense the after images
strongly here.�

     �You better be right.  I ended up wasting a lot of time at that
shrine.�

     �I�m sure Hematite.  The shrines are hard to read.  Too much native
energy.  Here I can read the energy clearly.�

     The girls were content with just watching when another couple came
walking up to the fountain.  Hematite looked up.  �Beat it.� he ordered.

     The guy shook his head.  �Hey, this is a public park.�

     The silent Dark One came up to the couple.  �He said go away.� he
said in a dark voice.

     Perhaps the man was just trying to impress his date, or maybe he
was just overly macho, but he punched the man who was looming up over
him.

     The result caught everyone by surprise as the Dark One stumbled
back and began to grow.  His skin became midnight black and his hair
took an electric blue tone.  His clothes shredded as he grew in size and
he looked down and laughed as electricity shimmed up and down his arms.
�We warned you, little human.�

     The man fell back in shock, but recovered enough to interpose
himself between the Youma and his date.  They began to back off, but the
Youma did not seem to care now.  Hematite shook his head.  �Lectric,
come back here.�

     The Youma looked back.  �They know us now.�

     �Only because you revealed yourself.�

     The Youma stood looking back and forth between his master and his
prey, then came to a decision.  But he did not have the chance to pounce
on the hapless couple.

     �FIRE SOUL!!�

     The beast stumbled back under the fiery blast generated by Sailor
Mars.  The other Dark Ones reacted quickly to the situation.  Hematite
pulled a new crystal out of his pocket and a gateway opened beside him.
His partner, the finder, wasted no time jumping through the gate back to
the Dark Kingdom.  As soon as he was clear of the gate, two more Youma
came tumbling out.  Unnoticed to all, though, the poor couple who had
stumbled into the Dark Ones were setting a land speed record out of
there.

     Hematite turned to his adversaries.  �Ah, the new Sailor Senshi.  I
give you this one chance, run.  I watched with great pleasure when the
last batch of Sailor died twenty years ago, and I would not mind slaying
you just as easily.

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Serenity and Mikado came running up to the scene as soon as the
sounds of battle reached them.  The stood in shock for a second as one
of the new Youma clapped his hands together letting loose a deafening
clap of thunder that knocked Kaede off her feet.  Serenity cringed,
remembering her childhood fear of storms that she was still trying to
get over.  But the danger her friends were in made her concentrate on
the situation.

     �Mikado, there has to be a police officer around here somewhere.
If we split up in two different directions, maybe we can find one.�

     �I don�t know, Serenity.�

     �We can�t just stand here, and splitting up will make it easier to
find one.  Besides, they are staying right there fighting, I�ll be
safe.�

     Mikado looked at her, then at the battle, then back to her.
Suddenly he smiled and gave Serenity a quick kiss, then he raced off to
find a cop.

     Serenity just stood there for a moment, the kiss having
disorientated her.  But then a cry from Sakura brought her back to
reality.  She looked over to see that one of the Youma, a big white
skinned beast, was flinging ice shards everywhere.  Then all became
indistinct as Mercury�s bubbles flooded the area.

     �MOON PRISM POWER!� Serenity called and she felt the energies
infuse her to become Sailor Moon.

*-*-*-*-*-*

     �BUBBLE SPRAY!�

     The battlefield filled with gray mist as Kaede, Yuri and Sakura
tried to decide on what to do now.  They didn�t have much of a chance
though, for they heard one of the three beasts laughing and suddenly the
mist began freeze.  They looked around at the fine mist of snow that had
started to fall when another clap of thunder resounded and the force of
it dispersed the snow.

     �What now, Kaede?� Yuri asked.

     Sakura answered that herself.  �SUPREME THUNDER!� she called and a
blast of lightning shot forth striking the first Youma.

     That was a mistake as it just took the shot and smiled as the
energy began to gather in his raised fist.  �I am Letric!� it yelled.
�I am lightning.�

     Before he could return Sakura�s favor, a new voice cut across the
area.  �When we are done, you�ll be better known a Sparky.   MOON TIARA
ACTION!�

     The golden disk of magical energy shot across the clearing around
the fountain and smashed into the midnight black Youma, causing him to
loose control of the electricity he was wielding.  In seconds, the
uncontrolled energies reduced him to a pile of ash.

     But, before Serenity could recover the returning tiara, the slate
gray Youma clapped his hands together and a solid wave of sound crashed
into Sailor Moon as she was nearly deafened by the clap of thunder.  He
began to laugh as he approached the fallen Senshi, but a flying kick to
the side of his head stopped his advance.

     Sakura rolled back to her feet and took a ready stance, glad that
her mother had taught her the skills of unarmed combat.  While she was
no martial arts master, she had great skill.  But skill learned against
human opponents was not necessarily good against a beast eight foot
tall, and massing over six hundred pounds of muscle.  The flying spin
kick she had performed was powerful enough to kill a man, but only
briefly stunned the Youma.

     The other Youma, looking like a seven foot tall woman with pale
blue skin, had no such blow to slow it down.  It moved quickly and
seized Kaede.  �You think you control water, little one.  Chryos will
freeze your blood.�

     Yuri tried to help her friend, but Chryos shifted her eyes toward
Sailor Mars and suddenly frost began to form on the edges of her fuku.
�You too shall feel the frost, fire child.� it said.

     But before the cold that had brought Yuri to her knees could get
worse, a beam of golden light lanced out and struck Chryos in the side.
Chryos gasped in pain as she dropped Kaede and looked in the direction
of the blast.

     �If four of a kind is a winning hand, then five must be even
better.� called a new addition to the fray.  Fray looked over and stared
at the new addition.  She was garbed in a fuku of the same style as the
other Senshi, but hers was golden.  Blonde hair in a pageboy cut topped
the golden tiara, while eyes of Jade stared out with the intensity of
one who is ready to fight to the finish.  �I am Sailor Venus!� she
called out, �And together we will defend the innocent from the likes of
you.�

     She leapt down from the park bench she had been standing on, and
ran towards the others, but then a wave of darkness rolled over the
battlefield.  The assembled gasped and fell to their knees as they felt
their energies being leached from their bodies.  Silence reigned, only
to be shattered by a man�s deep laugh.  From the air above the fountain,
where he now stood on nothing, Hematite spoke.  �So, you are the Sailor
Senshi that Jade was so worried about.� he said holding forth a gem
pulsing with dark energies.  �I thought you would have been strong
enough to resist this crystal.�

     �We aren�t defeated yet.� gasped out Serenity looking up at him.

     Hematite smiled and drew a wicked looking blade from across his
back and began to float down to her.  �On the contrary, you will die
now.  Chryos, Rumble, kill the others, I will take this one back to our
glorious queen.�

     Serenity tried to move, to defend herself against this man, but she
was paralyzed.  But then something flashed by her eyes and the crystal
he had been wielding shattered as he cried out in pain.  Dropping
abruptly to the ground, he shook his left hand and Serenity looked at
the couple of drops of blue blood that fell to the ground around the
crystal rose that he had dislodged from his hand.

     The question of the rose�s origin was answered with a flash of a
golden blade and Hematite found himself in close combat with the
Moonlight Knight.  With the dark crystal shattered, strength flowed back
into the Senshi and the fight began anew.

     Anger radiated from Yuri�s eyes as she turned back to the Ice
Youma.  �FIRE SOUL!� she cried out again and flames washed over the blue
woman.

     Meanwhile, the combined attacks of Sakura and Sailor Venus began to
push Rumble back.  Soon, the two Youma stood back to back.  They began
to feel more confident as they returned to the teamwork that Hematite
had drilled into them.  But they did not have the chance.

     �MOON TIARA ACTION!� Serenity called out once again and the golden
disc shot forth striking both Youma, destroying them utterly.

     They turned to look at the battle raging between the Moonlight
Knight and Hematite to see the man in flowing robes pressing an
advantage against the minion of the Dark Kingdom.  Hematite looked up to
see his servants had been destroyed and grasped a crystal on his lapel.
�Another time, Sailor fools.� he called as the gate suddenly formed
behind him and he vanished before any could do anything to stop him.

     For a moment, nobody moved.  Finally Sakura looked over to Sailor
Venus.  �Akiko?  What are you doing here?�

     Akiko plopped down on the edge of the fountain.  �I thought I was
saving you guys.� she said, a little out of breath.  �That bozo sucker
punched us all.�

     Yuri pulled herself to her feet and tried to shake off the cold
from Chryos� attack.  Hating the cold as much as her mother did, she
spent a few moments muttering under her breath before speaking.  �I�m
just glad that Moonlight showed up again.  Where is he?�

     �Disappeared into the night, just like Mom said Dad would do.�

     �We better disappear too.� Kaede replied rubbing the areas on her
arms that Chryos had been holding.

     �All right.  I�ll meet you guys at the shrine.� Serenity said,
getting to her feet and dusting herself off.  �I�ll be there as soon as
I can talk to Mikado to let him know I�m all right.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     �By the park fountain.� Makoto said to herself as the gathered at
the shrine.

     �Isn�t that where that Christian preacher got changed by Zoecite?�
Rei said, her head coming up from the meditative pose she had been
holding.

     Yuri scratched her head.  �Hemi-whatever his name is said something
about a crystal bearer.�

     Mamoru stopped the pacing he had started as soon as all the Senshi,
past and present, had gathered.  �Yeah.  The preacher had a shard of the
Silver Imperial Crystal in him.  Zoe pulled it out of him and the
bestial side of him came out.  There were six others.  Kaede�s father,
that fat cat, a guy that hung out at the arcade all the time and some
others.�

     �Daddy?�

     Ami pulled her daughter closer.  �Yes, Kaede.  We think that is how
he got his powers so strong and they lingered after he lost the
crystal.�

     Yuri nudged her friend.  �Hey, Kaede.  How does it feel to be the
daughter of a Youma.�

     Rei looked at her daughter disapprovally.  �He was as much a Youma
as your great-grandfather.�  A smile suddenly came across the priestess�
face.  �Now that was an interesting battle.�

     The girls all looked at her with their mouths open.  Then Kaede�s
eyes shot open.  �That�s why they were at that shrine that first
battle.  They did not know which shrine it was.  They must have been
checking them all.�

     Serenity looked around the room until her eyes fell on Akiko, who
was sitting there with a lost look on her face.  �I�m sorry, Akiko, you
must be wondering what is going on here.�

     Akiko blushed with embarrassment briefly.  �Well, yes.  All I know
is that I got a weird package and note yesterday.�

     Kaede stepped over to her.  �Can I see the note?�  Akiko nodded and
pulled a folded piece of paper from her blouse.  �It�s the same
handwriting as the notes Serenity and I received.�

     Kaede handed it to her mother who read it outloud.  ��Golden One.
It is time for you to receive your inheritance as the daughter of
Venus.  This wand was your mother�s, and now you must take it up and
fight for love and justice.�  It�s signed, �The Walker of Time.��

     Yuri scratched her head.  �That explains the wand, but how did you
know to get to us?  And you knew how to use your powers.�

     Akiko still looked a little embarrassed about the attention she was
receiving.  �I was at the library doing some studying when I heard mom�s
voice.  I wasn�t sure at first, I was only a little girl when she died
in that accident, but I heard her telling me how to become Sailor
Venus.  When I hold the wand, I can still feel her in it.�

     They stood thinking on this development, only to have the silence
broken by a yelp from Usagi.  �Oh my god!  We�ve got to go.  I told
Naru-chan that we would be over there tonight and we have to get
going.�  And with a flurry of action, she, Serenity and Mamoru were out
the door.

     The others barely moved during that, but sat and watched the show.
Finally, as the dust settled from their hurried passage, Rei spoke.
�It�s good to see some things never change.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Hematite reeled from the blow.  Jade was not a large woman, but her
backhanded slap had nearly put him on his rear.  Gathering his wits, he
pulled himself back up to his full height.  �My Lady.  It is clear that
this Moonlight Knight has powers outside those demonstrated by the
original Sailor Senshi or their guardian, Tuxedo Kamen.  The power gem I
was using should have kept any from entering or leaving it�s aura.�

     �That is well and good.  But that was not your failure.  Your
failure was that you sought to engage him in personal combat.  Instead
of withdrawing and preserving two of our finest Youma, you exercised
your bravado and nearly lost your life.�

     �My Lady, his strength was greater than our estimates.  I should
have...�  Another vicious backhand cut him off.  Once again, he was
forced to regain his balance, but he resisted the urge to reach up and
touch the split lip from which a thin line of blue blood was beginning
to trickle.  Composing himself, he once again took up a position of
respect.

     �Overconfidence nearly destroyed the Dark Kingdom once.� Jade said
in a quiet, even tone.  �This is not Beryl�s reign.  We cannot waste the
resources we have on personal vendettas.  You have one more chance to
redeem yourself against the Senshi.  You will not return a failure.  Am
I understood?�

     �Yes, My Lady.  I shall not fail the Dark Kingdom again.�  Hematite
executed a brief bow, and marched from Jade�s presence.

     Once he was gone, Jade allowed herself the luxury of flexing her
hand to work out the lingering pain she had inflicted on herself against
his jaw.  Letting go the false rage she had shown Hematite, she turned
and strode to Queen Metallia�s chambers.

     Entering the ancient throne room that had been seat of  power up to
Beryl�s time, she found the ruler of the Dark Kingdom in the throne she
occupied nearly full time, day or night.  For now, Metallia was content
to rule from the shadows until all was ready for her to step forth.
Until then, the weakness of her current body could not be seen by her
subjects.  When the time came, she would exit Beryl�s frame and seize
the body of another.  Jade absently fingered the pendent she had worn
for nearly all her life and hoped that her preparations would be right
if Metallia choose her as her host.

     �He has failed again.�  Metallia stated with a raspy voice.

     �Yes, My Queen.  But his actions have brought us valuable
information.�

     �It is good that his destruction had some use.�

     �I did not destroy him, My Queen.�

     A flicker of fire flashed in Metallia�s eyes.  �Why did you not?
He has failed us twice.�

     �My Queen.  Hematite still has a use.  With the specter of failure
over him, he will push himself to the limits.  If he fails, we will be
spared the effort of destroying him ourselves and any effort by him will
weaken the Sailor Senshi.�

     Metallia�s eyes narrowed, but she did not counter Jade�s decision.
�What is the information that is so valuable.�

     �All of the enemy�s forces have been gathered.  Now we can destroy
them all at once.  But I believe we should wait.�

     �Wait?� Metallia stated coming to her feet.

     Jade exerted every bit of will she had to stand fast.  �My Queen.
They will begin seeking the very things we are seeking, the seven shards
of the Imperial Crystal.  With that power, we can rule the universe, and
we can let them find them.�

     Metallia sank back into the throne, the effort of standing having
been too much.  �Can we insure that they cannot gather all seven and
recreate the Crystal themselves?�

     �We will strike them every time.  There is little doubt that we
will be able to get some of the shards first.  And if we can utilize
them effectively, we could harness enough of their power to take the
rest.  The key is to ensure that Moon does not consider drawing the
energies herself, so we must be willing to surrender the advantage at
times to prevent this.  But we can do this.�

     Silence reigned.  �Very well, my servant.  What other news did
Hematite bring?�

     �It appears that this Moonlight Knight is not a reincarnation of
Prince Edymon.  We must test him to see what his limits are.  He is now
the wild card in this situation.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     At the shrine, the gathering broke up leaving only Rei and her
daughter going back to their duties in the shrine and a trio of women in
the courtyard.  One, looking a little nervous, cleared her throat and
approached the eldest.  �Makoto-sensei?�

     Makoto looked of from her discussion with her daughter and turned
to the speaker.  �Yes, Akiko.�

     Akiko stood silently, shuffling her feet slightly.  �Your arm...my
mother...it wasn�t a freak accident like everybody told me as I grew up,
was it?�

     Makoto stood in silence for a moment absently rubbing the folded up
end of the sleeve that ended just below her right shoulder.  Phantom
pain lanced through the area, but it was a common pain and no sign
escaped her face.  A side look at her own daughter let her know that the
question had been lingering in her mind as well.  �Akiko, I am so sorry
we kept so much from your father.  Minako did not think he would
understand.  Your father is a good man, but he has trouble believing in
the supernatural, and that is the best way to describe the Dark
Kingdom�s minions.�

     She guided the girls over to a bench and wearily sat down.  �But it
is time the two of you heard the whole story.  After we fell, we thought
that the Dark Kingdom had been completely defeated.  But after all of
you were born, we started to see their agents running around.  Neither
me or your mother could just sit back and let them have their way, so we
sought to harass them in every way we could.

     �It wasn�t that hard, really.  These new agents were much more
subtle than the Youma they had thrown at us before, but their activities
were far from than legal.  So the two of us would watch for them to
commit crimes, then lead the police by the nose to them.  I remember the
newspapers talking about the rash of mysterious escapes from the jail as
the Dark Kingdom would rescue their people.  But, the constant
harassment was enough to disrupt their plans.�

     Makoto sat silently for a moment, stood and turned to look out at
the sunset through the gate of the shrine.  �Then that night came.  We
could tell some of the more powerful Dark Ones just by the aura they
projected.  It wasn�t something you could see, but I guess we were extra
sensitive to their presence.  This one made our blood run cold.

     �We followed her to an apartment on the North side of town.  We
figured we could get inside and take a look around to see what we could
find to blow her cover.  We got in all right, but suddenly Minako
disappeared when she tried to go onto the balcony.  I ran after her and
as soon as I reached the glass doors, there was a flash of light and I
found myself alongside of Minako in the Dark Kingdom.  The Dark One was
ahead of us, her disguise gone now.  She turned and looked at us and
laughed.

     ��Looks like some fools have made their last mistake.� she said as
she pulled these discs off of her hips.  When she threw them, I could
tell we were in mortal danger, so I grabbed Minako and pulled back.  But
before we got there, I felt the pain as one of the disks bit into my
arm.  Then the explosion of noise as the gate collapsed around us and
the glass of the balcony doors shattered, throwing us over the railing
to fall five stories to the ground.

     �I woke up in the hospital a week later  with the others around
me.  They told me that the police had concluded that we had gone through
the glass and that had caused the injuries.  How they could say broken
glass could do what that disc did to Minako, I don�t know, but I think
someone at the Police Department suspected that we were the ones helping
them and ran a bit of a cover-up.  All that I knew was that I was minus
an arm.  It was a full day later that they told me that Minako had been
killed......that her head had been taken off by the disc.  It was then
that I realized that I could not fight alone, and I had to wait till the
time was right.  The time is now with the five of you ready.�

     Akiko and Sakura had sat there quietly Through the story.  Tears
glistened from Akiko�s eyes as she heard the full story of what had
happened to her mother.  She had been told as a child that there had
been an accident at a party her mother attended and she had fallen out a
window.  The story about the broken glass explaining how she had died.
She had always knew that the whole story wasn�t there, but she could
tell that it was all her father would tell her.  Finally, she wiped off
her face and looked up to Makoto.  �What did she look like, the one who
did it.�

     �Akiko, running off to hunt her down will only get you killed too.�

     �I know, but I need to know if see her.  Because, if I see her, I
will be the last thing she will see.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Serenity adjusted her dress for the umpteenth time as they walked
through the lobby of the apartment building that evening, an action that
brought some amusement to her mother.  �Don�t be so nervous, they�re old
friends.�

     �Well, mom, I hardly know anything about her other than the fact
you two were friends in school.�

     Usagi giggled softly and shifted the package in her arms as they
reached the elevator.  �Well, to be honest, the poor girl had a lot of
activity during our war with the Dark Ones.  For some reason, poor Naru
was always around just in time for the latest Youma to show up.�

     Mamoru chuckled too now.  �Sometimes I�m surprised she had the
energy to do anything considering how many times she had her energy
sucked out of her.  But it is too bad what happened....�

     Serenity looked at her father.  �What happened?�

     Usagi�s smile faded.  �One of the Dark Kingdom�s generals fell in
love with her.  It took him a while to recognize it himself, but he
found himself attracted to her.  In the end, one of his rivals used her
to destroy him right in front of Naru.  She tried to put on a good face
about it, even flirted with Umino for a bit, but she never really fell
in love again through the rest of school.�

     The elevator doors opened and they began walking down the hall as
Usagi continued her story.  �After we fought Metallia, Naru and I
drifted apart a bit.  We were still friends, but not as close as
before.  The pain of her losing Neflyte and the bond that I and the
other former scouts held simply stood in the way.  To be honest, I was
surprised when she wrote that she had found the �man of her dreams� a
few weeks after we graduated.�

     Reaching the door of Naru�s apartment, Usagi took a second to shake
off the gloom she felt.  Giving her husband and daughter a warm smile
she knocked on the door and waited.  She did not have to wait long.

     �Usagi!� came Naru�s voice as the door opened and she stepped
through to give her old friend another hug.  They embraced for a moment,
then stepped apart.  �Mamoru, it is so good to see you again.  And you
must be Serenity.  You look so much like your mother when she was your
age.  Right down to that broach.  It reminds me a lot of one your mother
wore.�

     Usagi paled slightly at that, but Serenity caught a slightly
mischievous glint in Naru�s eye.  �It�s something that I received a few
days ago from an old friend of mom�s.�  It wasn�t really a lie, she
thought, for certainly it was a secret ally of mother�s who had sent the
mysterious packages.

     Naru smiled and composed herself.  �Come on in and sit down.  My
darling is in the kitchen making the finishing touches on dinner, but
you can meet my two little angels.�

     �You never told me your husband�s name, Naru-chan.�  Usagi said as
they filed through the door.

     �I guess I didn�t.� Naru replied as they walked into the livingroom
of her apartment.  Serenity noted that the mischievous glint had grown
stronger and that Naru had a wicked little smile now.  But suddenly her
observations of Naru came to a screeching stop as she laid eyes on
Naru�s twins.  In fact, she came to such a sudden halt that her mother
stumbled into her back.

     Mikado merely smiled, �Good evening, little bunny.� he said.  Then
he and Yukiko gave Usagi and Mamoru a  short bow of respect.

     Usagi recovered her composure and managed not to drop the gift she
had brought for Naru.  �You know them already, Serenity?�

     �Yeah, mom, Mikado and Yukiko Sanjouin.  They are in my class.  It
was Mikado that I went to the park to see this morning....�  Serenity
suddenly silenced herself, for she had not told her mother the real
reason she had gone to the park that morning.

     But Usagi was not even paying attention to her daughters words
anymore.  Instead, she stood there staring at Naru, all color in her
face drained away.  �Sanjouin...........�  Suddenly she ran to the door
of the kitchen and looked in.  The package she had been carrying fell to
the floor when she looked in.  �But.....you�re dead........� she
muttered.

     Serenity stared at her mother in confusion as Naru�s husband
stepped through the door.  A tall handsome man with long burgundy hair,
he smiled to Usagi as he bent over to pick up the fallen gift.

     �Neflyte!!�  Mamoru snapped.

     The man smiled and bowed to Mamoru before handing Usagi back the
package.  �No, Neflyte did indeed die that night.� he said.  �But, one
does not exist in the court of Queen Beryl without making a few
contingency plans.  Especially with the likes of Zoecite as rivals.�

     He strolled over to his wife, and she laid her head against his
chest as he draped his arm around her shoulders.  �I made arrangements,
when I began to operate in Tokyo, that would bring me back if
something.....terminal, happened to me.  But by the time I reawakened,
Beryl had fallen and my powers were a thing of the past.  I had a few of
the resources I had created as part of my cover identity in place, so I
stepped fully into Masato Sanjouin and let Neflyte become but my past.
After that, I simply looked for and found the one thing that mattered to
me above all else, and married her.�

     Serenity stood there, taking in what she had heard.  But something
else that had been said that evening echoed in the back of her mind,
just out of reach.

     Usagi recovered herself slightly.  �What do you remember and know?�

     Masato nodded to her.  �I remember full well what I learned that
night, that you were Sailor Moon.�  He turned to Mamoru, �And, I believe
it is safe to assume that you were her guardian angel.�

     Usagi looked down.  �Naru, I�m sorry I hid things from you like I
did.  We were friends for so long before it all started, and I always
felt bad for keeping secrets from you.  But I didn�t want you to get
hu.....�  Usagi suddenly felt herself get cut off as Naru wrapped her
arms around her.

     �I know, Usagi.  I am not now, and I�ve never been mad about you
hiding that.  I�m not even sure I would have believed it even if you had
told me.�

     Usagi took a deep breath and returned Naru�s embrace.  �Thank you
Naru-chan.  After all these years, it feels good to know that you are
not mad.�

     Naru stepped back and looked at the gathering.  �Well, it is
obvious that the kids know each other, but these are my twins, Usagi,
Mikado and Yukiko.�

     The two once again bowed to Usagi and Mamoru, reminding them of
their youths when such signs of respect were so common, unlike today.

     Serenity squared her shoulders and looked to Masato.  �So, if you
were one of the generals of the Dark Kingdom, then you can help us.  How
do we find them?  What can we do to stop them?�

     Masato smiled and walked up to Serenity.  �I, unfortunately, have
no connection whatsoever with the Dark Kingdom now.  Without my powers,
I know of no way to enter or leave it.  And with Beryl and my peers
gone, I have no way to know what kinds of strategies they might use.
But, I have given you.......�  He suddenly stopped as he got within arms
reach and his eyes became riveted to the broach she was wearing.
�Serenity, may I please see your broach?�

     Serenity hesitated, then looked at her parents.  After a moment,
they nodded and Serenity handed it to him.  He held it in his hand for a
moment, then touched the clasp that opened it.  �My crystal....� he said
quietly.

     Usagi looked up in surprise.  �Your crystal?�

     Masato looked back at her for a second, then returned his gaze to
the purple crystal figure inside the broach, running his fingers along
it�s contours.  �This is my crystal.� he said.  �The one I was using to
find the shards of the Imperial Crystal.  The one that Zoecite killed me
for.�  He stared at it for a few moments, then looked back at Usagi.
�Based on what I heard, you recreated the Imperial Crystal.  What
happened?�

     Usagi looked to the floor again.  �It shattered when I took on
Metallia.  That�s when I and the others lost our powers.�

     Masato looked at broach hard.  �There is a space for it here, I
think.  How did you get this?�

     Serenity answered this time.  �I found it about a week ago with an
unsigned letter.�

     �Then this means the Imperial Crystal is recoverable.  They gave
you this in part so that you may find it.  If you concentrate on it, you
will find a pull towards the nearest shard.  The Dark Kingdom must be
tearing the world apart trying to find this and the shards.�

     �That makes sense, they seemed to be looking for something when we
fought them.�

     Usagi walked up to them.  �Then we need to the other girls together
tomorrow afternoon.  I just wish we could find that guy that�s been
helping you.�

     Suddenly Serenity turned white as a couple of words she had heard
earlier came slamming back into her mind.  �Little Bunny.......�  She
turned suddenly to Mikado.  �You�ve never called me that before.  Only
Moonlight.......�

     Mikado bowed and smiled.  �While dad may have lost his powers, I
apparently have some of my own.�

     Serenity looked over at Yukiko.  �And you?  Do you have any powers
too?�

     Yukiko blushed and lowered her eyes.  �No, Serenity, I do not.  In
fact, with my heart condition, I can�t do much of anything athletic.�

     Usagi looked at Yukiko, then Naru.  Naru nodded and answered the
unspoken question.  �While we were in Saudi, she caught a rare from of
desert fever.  She still has some of the aftereffects following her.�

     �I�m so sorry, Yukiko.�

     Yukiko smiled to Usagi.  �It is all right, Usagi-san, I have
learned to live with what I have.�

     Silence hung over the room for a few moments.  Then Mamoru cleared
his throat.  �Well, the food smells good, and we have a lot to talk
about, so why don�t we sit down and discuss things of import at the
table.�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     It was late Sunday evening when Serenity looked around the small
room which held the fire that Rei had been tending for nearly all her
life.  Five young ladies, a young man, four worried mothers and two
concerned fathers filled the room to capacity.  Only the fact that it
was the beginning of winter helped make the room more bearable.
Suddenly, she realized that all eyes had fallen on her.  Yuri eventually
broke the awkward silence.  �Well, Serenity, what now?�

     Serenity sat there and looked at Yuri for a moment, then she
realized that by being Sailor Moon, she was the leader.  The sudden
realization of something she felt she should have figured out a while
back shook her for a moment.

     �Well, it seems we need to find the pieces of the Imperial
Crystal.�

     �I figured that, Serenity.� replied Yuri, but a thump on the back
of her head by her mother stopped any further comments along those
lines.

     �Will finding it do any good?� asked Sakura.  �I mean, our mothers
had it, and it failed them.  Will it do any good if we use it and it
fails us?�

     The man who once sought the Crystal himself responded to that.
�The mere fact that the Dark Kingdom is apparently seeking the Crystal
for themselves is enough that we need to stand in their way.  While I
can�t say why the Crystal failed before, it is still the greatest
artifact available to fight the Dark Kingdom.�

     �Well, how do we find it?�  Asked Akiko as she looked around.  She
was obviously a bit uncomfortable with the fact that she had no elder to
stand behind her and advise her, despite Makoto�s efforts to be just
that.

     Usagi spoke up.  �Nef... Masato said if you concentrated while
holding the crystal, it would lead you to it.�

     Serenity removed the broach from the front of her shirt and looked
at it for a moment.  Then she opened it and held it so that her thumbs
would rest upon the lavender crystal.  Closing her eyes, she began to
concentrate on the stories of the crystal and a desire to know where it
was.

     Silence reigned for several minutes as she did so, but finally she
opened her eyes.  �I felt something, but nothing strong.  Just a vague
feeling.�

     Masato cleared his throat.  �Perhaps it requires you to be Sailor
Moon to be able to get the full sensation.�

     Serenity thought on that for a few moments, then stood up.
Quickly, all the adults moved against the walls of the room as the other
girls stood up to stand beside her.  She held the broach out before her,
closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then with a look of determination,
opened them ready for the task ahead.  �MOON PRISM POWER!�

     Immediately, she felt the power of  the old Moon Kingdom rush
through her and begin to coalesce around her.  At the fringes of her
consciousness, she could hear the others call forth the powers they had
been granted, and when she opened her eyes again, she stood among the
Sailor Senshi.

     She looked over and noticed that Mikado standing there, eyes
closed, his hands appearing to be holding something before his face.
Suddenly, a nimbus of light formed in his hands and stretched down to
just beyond his belt line.  Meanwhile, rings of light traveled from his
hands, down his arms, and to his body where they washed over him in a
matter of moments.  Where the light passed, his clothes were transformed
into the flowing Arabic garb he had worn before.  Finally, the nimbus of
light in his hands flashed and when the afterglow cleared  the eyes of
everyone present, a golden scimitar glinted in the firelight.

     Serenity looked around again and became conscious that everyone�s
eyes were once more upon her.  She removed the broach from her breast,
where it had deposited itself during the transformation, and reopened
it.  Closing her eyes again, she concentrated once more.  Suddenly her
eyes flashed open.  �This way!� she said as she suddenly dashed out the
door.  Immediately, the other Senshi and Mikado followed, leaving their
parents standing there.

     �I hope they are ready.� Makoto said quietly.

     Rei stepped to the door and out into the courtyard beyond.  She
came back immediately.  �They�re gone!� she said.

     �Well, we all figured that, Rei.� Usagi replied in a tone of voice
reminiscent of the days they had been Senshi.

     �No, I mean gone.  There is no way they could have gotten out of
the courtyard that fast, yet they were nowhere to be seen!�

     Masato spoke up.  �It is possible that the crystal in her broach
allowed them to teleport to their destination....�

     Rei looked at him, ready to make a scathing reply, but she fell
silent and hoped that they would all return safely.

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Hematite�s head snapped up from where he sat in the chamber he had
built to focus the energies of the world for him to sense.  Then he
smiled.  �Yes, my time has come.....�

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Yuri suddenly came to a stop, followed by the rest of the group.
�Where are we?�

     They all looked around, then Akiko spoke up.  �Kobe.� she stated.
�We are in Kobe, east side.  I lived only a few blocks from here.�

     They all looked around at each other with faces full of confusion.
�How did we get to Kobe?� Sakura asked.

     Serenity looked around, then at the broach in her hand.  �When we
all got to the courtyard, I felt power surge through the broach, then we
were here.�

     All eyes fell on the broach, then Mikado spoke.  �Can you still
sense the shard?�

     Serenity returned her thumbs to the crystal.  �Yes, that way.� she
said gesturing towards an antique shop a few dozen meters down the
street.

     They began to move that way, passing by people confused by the
appearance of the small gathering until they stood before it.  �Well now
what?�  Yuri asked.

     �The store�s open.� Kaede stated.

     They all stood there looking at the door, then Sakura moved forward
and opened the door.  Looking at each other, the others went to follow
her into the store.  But, they froze in their tracks as a familiar voice
called out behind them.

     �Thank you.  I must really thank you for leading me to the first
shard of the Imperial Crystal.  And, now that I know how you found it,
any need we have for you is over.�

     The Senshi turned to look at Hematite.  He stood in an alleyway
across the street from them, a small Youma standing beside him.

     �Just like you to lurk in alleys like a thief.� called out Sakura.

     Hematite just laughed.  �My dear Jupiter, every military strategist
knows the value of a good ambush.�  Suddenly several more Youma came
from other alleyways.  �As you can see, you are quite surrounded.  It
would be best that you surrender now.  Who knows, maybe Metallia and
Lady Jade could use you....if you can survive....�

     Before another words could be spoken, the Youma attacked.   Ten
beasts, smaller than the ones they faced before, but just as vicious,
swarmed at them.  Immediately, they began to fight back.

     �Crescent BEAM!� Akiko cried out as a beam of golden light shot
from her fingers to strike one.  It fell down, but scrambled quickly to
his feet.  Before Akiko could strike it again, another had wrapped its
massive hands around her head from behind, its fingers interlacing over
her face.

     Sakura recovered from launching her Supreme Thunder at another and
saw the predicament her teammate was in.  She struck with a savage jump
and spin kick, it fell back, releasing Akiko and turning its attention
to her.

     �MOON TIARA ACTION!� Serenity called out, as she let loose the disc
of energy and sent it on its way.  It spun through the air striking down
two of the Youma.  But as she guided it, she was struck aside by
another.  She recovered her wits and rolled away from another blow
before Mikado�s blade pierced its body, destroying it.  She turned to
see that while they had been pushed hard, they were triumphing against
the Youma.  Reaching out to catch the tiara as it returned to her, she
turn to Hematite.  But a deep laugh chilled her blood.

     Hematite smiled as the Youma who had stood with him held up its
hands and a ball of energy formed as it chuckled with a bass laugh.
Then its hands came together and the world flashed.  When the Senshi
looked around, the ten Youma they had been fighting once again stood
around them.

     �Ah, my dear Sailors, let me introduce my friend, Chronolog.  No
matter how many times you win against my servants, Chronolog will bring
them back as good as new, while you will be worn down further and
further.�

     Then, it began again.  Kaede stood back and let loose with a stream
of misty bubbles, blinding the Youma.  Taking advantage of that, the
others moved forward and struck at them.  Once again, the Youma were
beaten back, but the world flashed again, the air was clear, and Kaede
and Akiko were on the ground, dizzy from blows.

     �Why don�t you save yourselves, little girls?�

     Despite the rising feeling of despair that Serenity felt, he answer
came quickly.  �Never!�

     The Youma came at them again.  Akiko tried to get up, but one
backhanded her down only to be incinerated by Yuri.  Another fought in a
vicious hand to hand fight with Sakura.

     Serenity looked at Hematite and Chronolog.  She knew if she could
take them out, they could win.  But she also knew that the moment she
tried, Chronolog would simply shift time back again.

     Then she heard it.  The sound of a key turning in a lock.  A lock
the size of a city.  One look at Chronolog, and she could tell that he
had heard it too.  Heard it, and now feared it.

     Ignoring the battle around her, she acted.  �MOON TIARA ACTION!!�
she called out again.  This time the golden disc shot straight and true
for its destination.  Chronolog tried desperately to use his power, but
to no avail as the disc struck him, reducing him to a cloud of dust
blowing in the wind.

     Suddenly, the battlefield was stilled.  The only action being the
return of Serenity�s tiara.  The warrior Youma, who had fought with he
conviction of those who knew their immortality, wavered, then they broke
from combat.

     Serenity looked around, but did not like what she saw.  Akiko,
Kaede and Mikado were on the ground, trying to stand, but failing.  She
felt pain from her ribs and a soreness behind her ear where another had
struck her.  A glance at Yuri and Sakura told her that they too were
barely standing.

     Hematite looked around in a brief panic.  Then his eyes lit up.  He
rushed forward at Serenity and reached out, grabbing at the broach upon
her chest.  �I may not have defeated you, but I shall have the key to
the Imperial Crystal!�

     Then, as his fingers wrapped around  the golden disk, white fire
shot out and engulfed his hand.  He fell back, still grasping the broach
in his hand, but the fires spread down in his arm.  He screamed out in
agony, but that was cut off as the fire enveloped his body.

     Then, it was over, and the broach fell down into a pile of ashes.

     Serenity walked to the pile, hesitant to reach in to get the
broach.  But, as she approached, it rose from its ashen resting place
until it hung in the air before her.  She reached out and grasped it,
then turned to her friends.

     All the others had their eyes riveted on her and the broach.  All
but Kaede, that is.  For she was staring at a rooftop a short distance
away.  It was empty now, but she could have sworn she saw a woman
standing on that roof.  A woman holding a staff.....no, not a staff, but
a massive key.

*-*-*-*-*-*

     While it took them a few moments to gather their wits, they
returned to their task at hand.  They had found that the store owner at
the door, his attention gathered by the sound of combat.

     Serenity stepped forward as the others got to their feet.  �My good
sir.� she said, trying to project a soothing smile, �Do you have a
item?  A crystal, or something with a crystal in it.  One that is
unusual in some way?�

     The store owner looked around at the remains of the combat zone.  A
combat zone that had cost him one of his windows during the fight.  But
then he looked in her eyes and seemed to realize that something on a
higher order was going on.  �Yes.  There is a statue that was here when
I bought the store.  This way.�

     They walked, or limped, into the store to a back corner.  There,
sitting on a shelf was a golden statue of two cats reared up with a
crystal gem sitting like a toy between their upraised paws.

     �Now I can see why it sat on the shelf so long.� Sakura muttered.
Yuri shushed her, but Sakura shook her head.  �It�s tacky....�

     Serenity ignored her as she stepped closer.  As she approached, the
broach opened, and the crystal within  and the crystal on the statue
began to pulse with energy.  Slowly Serenity reached out and grasped the
Crystal shard.  Suddenly all was light.

     Then all was darkness.

     When she could se again, Serenity found that she was not in the
antique shop anymore.  She stood in a ruined city, a city she could tell
had not been inhabited in a very long time.

     She looked at her hands and saw the crystal she had found and the
crystal inside her broach, both glowing and pulsing in sync with each
other.  Then she noticed that she was no longer wearing the uniform of
Sailor Moon.  What she wore now was a gown of the same design as the one
in the broach.  A gown in deep royal blue with gold moons across the low
neckline.

     Looking around in a brief panic she saw the others a short distance
away.

     She was about to call to them, when Akiko suddenly cried out and
pointed at the sky.  Serenity, like the others, looked up, but was taken
aback by what she saw.

     She saw the Earth hanging above her.

     For a split second, panic nearly washed over her.  Then a movement
caught her eye.  A figure was approaching from across the ruins.  A
figure of a woman with long flowing silver hair done in the same style
as her own surmounted by a fragile crown.  A figure dressed in similar
dress of soft gray.  A figure with the wings of an angel.

     �Who are you?� Serenity said in almost a whisper as the figure
reached her.

     The figure smiled, soothing the fear that Serenity felt, and
spoke.  �I am the one your mother named you for.  I am you grandmother,
Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom.�

     Serenity stood silently for a moment.   Her mother had told her of
the history that she knew of the Moon Kingdom.  Had even told her of
meeting her mother shortly before her final battle.  But Serenity was
not prepared to meet her here and now.

     Queen Serenity seemed to know that and she leaned forward and took
her face in her hands so that she could give her a kiss upon the brow
like a blessing.  �It is all right dear one.  I understand.  When I felt
your mother fall, I despaired briefly, but then I knew that you would
come.�

     �I only have a few moments to talk to you, but I just wanted you to
know that you have found the right path.  Follow that path, no matter
the hardships, and you will triumph.�

     The Queen turned and Serenity saw that the rest of the Senshi and
Mikado were right there now.

     The Queen smiled.  �Akiko.  I�m sure you realize that you are not
alone now.  You will never be alone in your times of need.

     �Sakura, you have inherited your mother�s strength, both of body
and of will.  But you must know when that strength needs to be flexed,
and when you need to bend.

     �Kaede, the mists of time have been opened to you.  But remember,
time is a river.  You may change the path of a single eddy, but the
river flows one eternally.

     �Yuri, you stand with the path of tradition.  But, remember that
any path that only takes the easiest routes can become the deadliest.

     �Mikado.  Your father fought for the darkness, but found the light
through his heart.  You have inherited that light.  Hold it, cherish
it.  But know that if you keep it all for yourself, the darkness will
surround you.

     �Serenity, you that bear my name also bear a deep responsibility.
You have just begun to feel that burden.  But, with wisdom and strength,
the burden is light, and well worth the effort.�

     The Queen held out her hands and motes of light streamed to them to
form a long scepter, gold and red, with a crowned heart upon it�s apex.
�Take this, Serenity.  The Moon Wand your mother wielded is gone, but
this scepter is a symbol of all the Moon Kingdom stood for.  When the
time comes you will know what to do.�

     The Queen stood up straight and stepped back.  �Our time is coming
to a close, but know this.  There are more Senshi.  One already works
for your benefit.  Two more know each other, but do not know their
potential.  And one has the power to save, or destroy, the world.�

     Stepping back, she spread her arms and wings.  �Go now, return and
be ready for the tasks before you.�  Then all was light again.

     When Serenity�s eyes cleared, she was once again in the antique
shop.  She was surprised to see that he two golden cats that had been
the statue had become real cats, one black, one white, with crescent
moons upon their brow.  Almost instinctively, she cradled the black one
in her arms as it slowly awakened from a twenty year sleep.  As she
wondered about the two cats, she looked to her broach where the crystal
shard they had found was now resting in the golden ring inside.

     Then she heard a woman�s voice.  �Usagi, what have you done to your
hair?�

     Poor Luna barely avoided being brained against the ceiling when
Serenity realized the cat in her arms had talked to her.

*-*-*-*-*-*

     Jade strolled swiftly down the hallways of the Palace.  She knew
what was about to happen, now she only hoped that her preparations were
good.  Finally she reached her destination.  She took a deep breath,
composed herself, then opened the doors to Metallia�s chambers.

     �The fool failed us!  And took one of my most powerful Youma with
him!� came Metallia�s voice from the deceptively fragile form of Beryl�s
body.

     Jade knelt before her queen.  �Yes, he has failed and is gone now.
But we will still triumph.�

     Metallia smiled darkly.  �Yes, WE will triumph.  It is time, and
I�ve chosen you!�  Fear clutched Jade�s heart, despite all her
preparations as Metallia stood, an aura of energy surrounding her.
�This body is spent.  I will have yours!�

     Then the aura flowed from Beryl�s body like smoke down her arm and
towards Jade.  But, as the aura began to surround her, the medallion she
had worn since even before Beryl�s fall began to glow.  Soon, the aura
began to flow into the medallion until it was no more.

     Jade lifted it from her chest and looked into the gem at it�s
center.  �My Queen!  Are you all right!?�

     From within the gem, she could hear and feel Metallia�s response.
�What is this treachery!!??�

     Jade calmed herself.  �My Queen, when I first came into your
service, I had a rival.  She specialized in taking over other�s bodies.
I created this amulet to protect me from her.�

     �Let me out!!�

     �My Queen, think of this.  Feel the gem, your energies are stable.
You will not grow weak.�

     �LET ME OUT!!�

     Jade took the gem in both hands, fearing that Metallia�s anger
might succeed in breaking it.  �I can give you a better body.  In there
you can wait until I can give you the perfect body.�

     Silence was the only reply.

     �Yes, my queen, I can give you the body of Sailor Moon, who is
descended from Queen Serenity.  My Queen, I can give you the Moon
Kingdom.�

     Once again, silence settled across the room.  Then she felt the
response from the gem.  �Yes.....give me the body of Sailor Moon.  But
fail me, and I will free myself.�

     �Yes my Queen.�  Jade lowered the gem to her breast, and then, with
a gentle mental command, pushed her Queen into a sleep.  �Yes, my Queen,
you will be there until I am ready to release you.�

     She turned to the door and began to exit, when she felt something
catch the helm of her dress.  She looked down and  felt surprised by
what she saw.  �Beryl.  You still live.�

     The fallen Queen looked up at Jade.  �I know your plan.  It can
work.  But you cannot do it alone.  I can help you.�

     �And what do you want?�

     �Only to stand by your side.� she replied, the effort of doing so
draining her.

     Jade frowned.  �Yes, stand by my side until you get your strength
back.   What guarantee would I have that you wouldn�t try to usurp me?�

     �You have my word.  The word of the former Queen of the Dark
Kingdom.�

     A wry smile crossed Jade�s lips.  �The word that you did not keep
when you were Queen.  No Beryl, you have failed.�

     �I will rise, Jade....�

     �No you will not.  Beryl, I�ve never told anybody what happened to
my rival, Diamond.  It is simple, after I trapped her soul in this gem,
I destroyed her body.�

     �I am not scared of you...� Beryl said as she began to draw her
knees underneath her.  �My strength is beginning to return.  I will not
submit to your weak attacks...�

     Jade smiled as she watched as Beryl brought herself to a kneeling
position.  �No, Beryl, you underestimate me.  For I have a secret.  A
secret I shared with Diamond as I allowed her to watch her body burn.
Yes burn.  For I am pyrokenitc.�

     Despite her weakness, Beryl�s eyes shot open, then she screamed.  A
scream that would last for the rest of her life.




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