~~SILVERMOON~~
 *Awakenings*
  Parts 4-6
  by Immora

based on the manga and anime Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon
______________________________



Author's Notes for Silvermoon:


Hello everyone :) How are you?
Well, here's some notes on my story:

Rating: PG-13 because younger kids might not be able to handle it.
	  The story contains mild language, mild to heavy violence,
	  homosexuality, and mildly suggestive commentary. If you
	  can't handle that kind of content, don't read this story.

This is the second installment of the story; make sure you've read
"Resurrection" before you move on to this.

The characters in this story are from the manga and anime Bishoujo Senshi 
	  Sailormoon, owned by Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Kodansha, and
	  other people whose names I don't know. Sharra, Ka'ina, Akeru, Necros, 
	  Nagera, Lorenada, E'melok, and the various races of Quenholtians and 
	  world of Quenhol are also MINE MINE MINE, so don't use them! If you 
	  couldn't figure it out, the Immora that appears in this story is my 
	  character... not ME. Sailor Moon's new form [Silver Moon] was thought 
	  up by yours truly, so you may not use it in your own fanfic. Also, the 
	  story itself is mine, but was based upon situations appearing in the 
	  manga and Japanese anime. So don't copy/plagiarize my story. If you 
	  wanna base a story on it, TOO BAD! Come up with your own idea. Be 
	  original. You shouldn't bother writing a fanfic if you can't 
	  think of your own plot! 

You can e-mail me at immora@japan.crosswinds.net

That's about it for now. Enjoy my fic!


Visit my page at:
http://come.to/immora
and the Silvermoon section at:
http://www.geocities.com/TelevisionCity/2480/silvermoon.html

Remember, you can ONLY get new additions of Silvermoon from my site!
I do not send it to any fanfic archives anymore.



					 ________

					
					   FOUR

					 ________



Time: a couple weeks later
Place: a breakfast hall, the Palace



Everyone had gone downstairs for breakfast, still wearing their
nightgowns/pajamas, all except Pluto and Usagi (who just got back) 
were very tired. Jupiter had cooked it herself. Everyone complimented 
her on the dish. As they ate, Pluto noticed a silence in the air, as if 
everyone was somehow... afraid of something. She noted this with a frown. 
"Is something wrong?" She pushed her sausage around on her plate.  
"Everyone is so quiet..."

Uranus smiled. "Pluto, you weren't at the meetings recently! You
wouldn't understand."

Pluto raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I wouldn't?"

Uranus nodded. "I don't think you'd be able to... follow...  what is
going on since you haven't been here..."

"So you are saying I'm stupid and wouldn't comprehend?"

Uranus turned red. Neptune touched her friend's hand, then turned to
Pluto.  "I think what she means is that since we've had so many
meetings, covering so many things... she isn't sure if you would be able
to... follow... what is going on since you weren't here for the whole
story."

Pluto folded her fingers together. "The rebellion on the Inner Planet
space platform? I knew about it. The question is, what will we do about
it?"

Mercury shook her head and said softly, "We could fight them... but we
cannot do that..."

The space platform was sort of huge, flat floating platform located
between Earth and its moon. It had man-made structures on it and was the
hub of travel between the Inner Planets. It had tons of space docks,
shops, convention centers, and many places for living. The Outer Planets
shared one between Uranus and Neptune, and then their was another
between the Inner and Outer Planets.

"What if we are forced to?" Jupiter snapped. "I don't mean to jump to
conclusions, but the Dark Kingdom could be involved."

"Well, that's possi--"

Saturn and Mars suddenly snapped up, their eyes blank. The first to
recover, Saturn whispered forcefully, "I... sense an evil presence...
at the Inner Planet space platform!"

"Who is it?!"

Mars searched. "The Dark Kingdom sent someone... they-they've corrupted
the people there! They-they've been turned into youma! The Dark Kingdom
plans to use them to take over the system... you were right..." She
rested her head in her hands. "Why didn't we sense this sooner? They're
building troops up fast... it won't take long for them to be ready to
attack... maybe an hour..."

Serenity bit her lip. "I better contact Mother!"

She closed her eyes and the Moon symbol on her forehead glowed. All the
princesses possessed telepathy, telekinesis, and flight, but the Lunar
were also naturally strong in telepathy.

In only a few seconds, Serenity opened her eyes. "M-mother says that the 
Senshi... need to go there and stop this... ."

Jupiter and Uranus eagerly leapt to their feet. "What are we waiting for?"
Uranus asked.

They all cried out their transformation phrases simultaneously.

"Mercury Senshi Make-up!"

"Venus Senshi Make-up!"

"Mars Senshi Make-up!"

"Jupiter Senshi Make-up!"

"Saturn Senshi Make-up!"

"Uranus Senshi Make-up!"

"Neptune Senshi Make-up!"

"Pluto Senshi Make-up!"

Their nightclothes became their fuku and their symbols turned into their tiaras.

Uranus took charge, issuing orders. "Venus, Mercury, go down to space
dock seven and get a transport ready. Mars, alert the rest of the Palace
of this attack. Neptune, Pluto, Saturn, and I will meet you all down at
the transport in five minutes. We have just enough time to get their and
stop the attack."

The Senshi raced out to comply with Uranus' orders, except Pluto,
Saturn, and Neptune. Usagi still sat there, and suddenly said, "I was a
Senshi too, in the Original Time..."

"Well, transform. You could be a big help..."

Usagi nodded and shouted, "Moon Prism Power, Make-up!"

She transformed into a Senshi with pink and red fuku. "I am Sailor
Neo-Moon!" she cried.

Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune didn't comment on her name. Pluto tapped her
foot. "Why did you want us to wait?"

Uranus sighed. "Well, we four are the most powerful of the Senshi,
right?" They nodded. "I think that we should each try to keep a telepathic
link with one of the other senshi in case they get in trouble."

Neo-Moon nodded. "Yes, in the Original Time, you four were more powerful than
the others. I think the same would hold true now."

Neptune chuckled. "We still don't know how powerful you are, Usagi."

Saturn said softly, "Let's go then!"

Neo-Moon, Pluto, and Saturn started to rush off and soon were ahead, but
Uranus grabbed Neptune's arm, holding her back. "What is it?" she asked
her friend.

"Michiru, I want you to keep a telepathic link with me also. I... want
to make sure nothing happens to you."

Neptune looked at her sadly. "Haruka... does this have anything to do
with why you... kissed me... in the cave?"

Uranus lowered her eyes. "Maybe."

They stood in silence for a moment, before they gave each other a tight
hug.

Neptune smiled almost sadly, then unexpectedly stood up on her toes and
gave Uranus a long, sweet kiss on the lips. "Don't do anything foolish, 
Haruka. I don't want you to get hurt."

Uranus blushed, her eyes wide. "I... I won't." She hugged Neptune again,
then they ran to join the others.



Place: The shuttle



The Senshi nervously waited for the transport to arrive at the platform.
While they sat, they decided who would link with who.

Mercury and Neptune agreed they should, since they had similar powers.
Venus would link with Pluto, and Neo-Moon also. Uranus and Jupiter would
since they were the strongest physically. Saturn and Mars would since they 
both had strong telepathic abilities.

The Inners nervously started talking with each other. Pluto and Saturn
were silent. Neo-Moon muttered a few things under her breath, but that
was all she contributed. Uranus and Neptune sat holding hands, quietly
whispering to each other.

It was quiet for the next ten minutes, before Venus whispered, "Hotaru,
you are the most powerful of us. If... if the rest of us fall...
promise me you will destroy the whole platform."

Saturn bit her lip. "I-I promise."



Place: The space platform



When they arrived, they quickly spread out to the areas Uranus decided
they should go to, pairing up with their link partners.


Venus, Pluto, and Neo-Moon were the first to encounter the youma. There
was no time to heal them, so they had to destroy them.

"Love Arrows Strike!" Venus cried out, firing golden arrows into the
enemy lines.

"Dead Scream," Pluto whispered, firing a ball of powerful energy.

"Moonlight Laser!" Neo-Moon shouted, shooting out a beam of destructive light.

The combined attack ripped through the first wave. "That was easy,"
Venus commented, prepared to head back to the shuttle. She turned
around, and was face to face with several dozen youma. "Uh... oh..."



Saturn and Mars were having a tough time and were being surrounded on all sides. 
"Blazing Inferno... Engulf!" Mars shouted at the same time Saturn shouted, "Death 
Ribbon Revolution!"

The fiery wave and countless metal ribbons ripped through the youma, and the two
senshi whirled around to face the rest. "Mars Flame Sniper!" An arrow shaped flame
launched at them.

"Saturn Silence Shot!" Discs of energy raced at the youma.

The attacks destroyed almost all of the rest. Mars took a hit to the arm, Saturn
to the leg. But they continued fighting.

Soon, the numbers were overwhelming. "Get right behind me and don't ask
questions," Saturn ordered. Mars quickly complied.

"Silence... Glaive...  APPLY!!" She brought her Silence Glaive down, but
stopped it before it could touch the platform. It was a good thing she
did. A huge ripple of energy demolished many surrounding buildings, all
the youma within several thousand feet, and shook the platform roughly.

They heard screams of some of the other Senshi as the ripples passed.
They could hear Uranus shout, "DON'T DO THAT AGAIN OR WE'LL BE KNOCKED
INTO SPACE!!!" Saturn smirked and made a mental note to keep that in mind.


_____



Uranus and Jupiter were having a relatively easy time fighting. They
barely had to use their attacks, preferring punching, kicking, and
jabbing.

It seemed that nothing would go wrong, when suddenly Uranus cried out
and dropped to her knees.

"What's wrong?" Jupiter asked, then she shouted in pain as a force
rippled through her mind, disrupting the mental link and overwhelming
her mind.

Uranus fumbled for her sword. "Makoto! I can't concentrate... you
try to attack..."

Jupiter clutched her head and didn't respond. She couldn't think straight;
the pain was too much.

She was relieved when the pain lifted suddenly, and she turned to see
that Uranus had stabbed a youma with her sword, apparently the one
that had been using the mental attack.

"C'mon, we gotta get rid of these things before another one tries it!"
Uranus shouted.

Jupiter nodded. "Lightning eletrocute!" Several bolts of lightning struck
the youma, then a second wave of electricity from the antenna on her tiara
shocked most of the others.

"Heaven fury!" Uranus shouted, and a large beam of starlight finished
off the rest.

"Not bad for our first time, eh?" Jupiter said, wiping her brow off.

Uranus just grinned in agreement.


_____



"Aqua Possessor!" Neptune shouted, sending a wave of water to
liquify several opponents.

"Ice Wave Freeze!" Mercury shouted, sending a wave of ice to crush
the others.

Neptune attacked the rest with jabs and kicks while Mercury used
her attack several more times.

Mercury stood breathing hard and commented, "Are we really done? It
didn't seem to take long at all."

Neptune sank to the ground. "I guess so..."

"You alright?"

"All those people weren't really in control of their actions. It's
really unfair that they had to die."

"I know, but it had to be done," Mercury said.

They walked off towards the shuttle, where the others soon arrived. Neptune
ran over to hug Uranus immediately while Neo-Moon ran around leaping into the air.
Running over excitedly, Venus hugged everyone and cheered, "We won! We won!"

Jupiter whooped, "We beat 'em!"

"Yeah!" Mercury cheered, "We were great!"

They all went back into the shuttle happily, and Pluto hung behind slightly,
smiling to herself. They really are as good as they were in the Original Time,
she thought to herself, if not better.



Time: About 45 minutes later
Place: the entrance hall, The Palace



Princess Serenity rushed to hug everyone when they got back. "Oh, I was 
so worried about you all!" she cried. "But look at you! None of you
are really hurt!"

The Queen smiled proudly. "I am very impressed with how well you all
did. You didn't take long at all. I can see that you are more than
qualified for your positions."

The senshi all beamed at the compliment.

"Why don't we all go and get some dinner? I'm sure the battle worked
up quite an appetite."

"Oh boy, I'm starved!" Mars said. 

"Yeah, let's eat!" Princess Serenity agreed. 

Everyone was chatting loudly at dinner, trying to make their
voices heard over everyone else's. The queen also sat there, and
cringed slightly each time someone let out a loud laugh or shrill
giggle. After several minutes of constant noise, she calmly tapped her
glass with a spoon. The princesses fell quiet and turned to look at her.
"Sorry, but it was getting awfully loud. Care to try talking a bit
softer?"

"Ooooops..." Venus said.

Mars turned to Usagi and said, "Hey, I've been wondering, why are you
named 'Neo'-Sailor Moon?"

"It comes from my mother's senshi name Sailor Moon--" Usagi's hands flew 
to her mouth. Pluto rolled her eyes as if to say "good move".

The Queen raised an eyebrow. "And who is that?"

Usagi was silent. Pluto sighed after several moments, and chided, "Just 
TELL them."

Usagi stuttered, "Uh, um, uh, she is... um... Princess Serenity."

The Princess in question's eyes went wide. "Wha---?! Me?! A senshi? Your
MOTHER?!"

Usagi looked away. "In the Original Time, yes, but technically I don't
exist here--"

Serenity suddenly ran over and hugged the young woman. Surprised, Usagi 
hugged her back.  "Wow!" the princess exclaimed. "I can't believe this!"

The Queen gave a sly smile. "And who was your father?"

Usagi grinned. "You know him as... Endymion," she said his name in a
sing-song voice.

"Aaaahhh..." the princesses (except Serenity) said in unision, before
they burst out giggling.

"Well, they are engaged..." Uranus said between laughs.

"Yeah, they're involved... ha ha ha!... so it makes sense..." Mars
chuckled.

After several minutes, they finally calmed down and went back to
eating, before Serenity mentioned, "So, is everyone planning to go to
that huge ball coming up?"

Jupiter had hearts in her eyes. "Yeah! I can't wait! I haven't seen Nephrite 
in months!"

Mars had hearts in her eyes too. "I wanna see Jadeite!"

Mercury sighed. "I would go, but Kunzite... hasn't talked to me in so long."

"Why?" Venus asked.

"I don't even know! He hasn't even tried contacting me! I think he might
be busy working on rebuilding that military base on Earth with, oh, what's
his name again?"

"You mean with Zoisite? Yeah, he just left and didn't really tell me
why!" Venus shrieked.

"Why don't you try to contact _him_?" Neptune asked.

"I tried, but he never returns my messages..."

"Neptune, who are _you_ going with?" Mars suddenly blurted out.

"Wha-- I haven't made any plans to go to it."

"Neither have I," Saturn said.

"Or me... or Pluto," Uranus said with a grin. "I guess the older senshi just
don't know how to have fun, eh?"

"Ugh, it would look awful if any of us went stag," Venus said. "C'mon, at
least _try_ to find someone to go with!"

"Why bother?"

The princesses started up the loud conversation again, while the queen sighed.
"I tried..."

After the meal was finally finished, the exhausted princesses headed back to
their rooms for some much needed rest.



Time: several minutes later
Place: Mercury and Jupiter's room, the Palace





Jupiter lay in her bed, staring at the ceiling as she tried to get to sleep,
while Mercury persistantly was working on a writing something down. Jupiter 
rolled on her side, and tried covering her ears with a pillow, but the constant 
sound of ink on paper prevented her from sleeping. After gritting her teeth,
she grumbled, "Could you _please_ do that later?!"

Mercury looked over to a small, blue, handheld device resting on the desk 
next to her that Pluto had called a "computer". "No, I can't..." she furiously 
moved the pen across the paper before Jupiter walked over, poked her arm, and 
glared at her.

"I really would like to get some sleep, Ami."

"You will... hold on... There, I'm done," Mercury said, setting down the pen.

"What were you writing anyways?"

"A letter to the Mercurian advisory council, officially giving them ruling power."

"What?!"

Mercury held her head in her hands and sighed. "Technically, _I_ am the ruler of
Mercury since my parents are dead... dad was killed in battle when I was very young,
and not long after that my mother died. I can't rule the planet from here, so they 
have to do it for me."

"Um... I really don't know what to say... I'm shocked, to say the least. Mars said
you ruled Mercury, but I never thought you had the authority to do something like
this."

"I do... I hate it. I never wanted to be ruler, especially being this young. There
have been younger rulers than me on other planets though... an eighteen year old
became king of Saturn a hundred years ago, Uranus's dad took power when he was
nineteen, and there have been others, if you want to research them."

"Ugh, I'd hate trying to be queen. There's _so_ many people on Jupiter!"

Mercury laughed slightly. "There's not many on Mercury, but it's hard to try to
get your ideas across since long distance communication is difficult."

Jupiter picked up Mercury's computer and looked at it. "What's this stuff on the
screen for?"

"Those are recent statistics of our economical state." Mercury sealed the letter
in an envelope. "If you hit the key-- that one right there-- you'll see some
readings I took during the battle today."

Jupiter hit the key and looked at the words on the screen. "What does this stuff
mean?"

"It's a readout of power levels, how powerful some people's attacks were, some
other facts... I need to show Serenity it though. I found out some interesting
information about everyone's abilities." Mercury took back her computer and
turned it off.

"Oh really? What about mine?"

"It seems that you have an affinity for trees."

"Eh?"

"Trees can talk with you."

Jupiter lay back down on her bed as Mercury lay down on hers. "That's weird... I
never would have known that."

"It's odd to know, isn't it? I found out some other things... *YAWN* I'll tell you
later."

"Sleepy?"

"Yes... I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Jupiter fell asleep long after that, while Mercury remained awake. "Why?" Mercury
whispered softly. "Why did you have to die, mother? Why did you have to take your
own life?"



Time: around the same
Place: Uranus and Neptune's room



Uranus stared into the flames of the candles sitting on the nightstand next
to her bed. It was strange, trying to adjust to living here. It had been a few
months since the senshi had been called here, but it had felt like longer. It
was almost enough to make her forget home... 

She sighed and looked over at the bed next to her where Neptune was trying to
get to sleep. She smiled a bit wistfully. Neptune had been the first friend she'd
ever had. Until she came to the moon, she'd been alone, with no one to talk to,
no one who would understand her. She sighed softly. If only she had the courage...

Neptune rolled over and looked over at her. "Something wrong, Haruka?" she asked.

Uranus blinked in surprise. "N-nothing. Sorry, I... can't get to sleep..." she 
finished lamely. Damnit, she was supposed to be the strongest senshi, but
when it came to being around people, saying what she felt, she felt stupid.

"I can't get to sleep either. I keep getting these weird premonitions. I don't
know what they are."

"What do you see?"

Neptune tucked her knees under her chin. "I see... people, fighting, a strange
woman... it's hard to put it into words..." 

"Why not try that mirror of yours? Maybe you'd get a better picture with it."

Neptune laughed.

"What?"

She pulled out her mirror. "Sorry... that's a good idea... I can't believe I
didn't think of it... Guess I just have my mind on other things."

"Like what?"

Neptune was silent and just gazed into the mirror. "This is the image... come
see."

Uranus walked over to her bed and looked into the mirror Neptune held. "That's
odd... it doesn't make sense."

"I don't understand what it means either," Neptune said. "I think it might be
important, but I can't figure out what the images mean. It's so frustrating! If
I could figure it out--"

Uranus took the mirror from her and placed it on the nightstand. "Stop worrying
about it, you'll figure it out eventually. Nothing to lose sleep over."

"I suppose."

They were silent several moments, then Neptune asked, "Haruka, what was it like
growing up on Uranus? I heard that it's very different from Neptune."

Uranus sat still, slightly shocked. "D-Do you mean, what Uranus is like, or what
my life was like?"

"Both."

Uranus felt like their was a noose around her neck. Could she tell her, could she
really tell _anyone_ about it? "Ummm... Uranus is alright, I suppose... weather's
alright, everyone's got a pretty nice amount of money... the schools are supposedly
good too. The people are a bit ignorant though."

"Supposedly good? Didn't you go to school?"

Uranus was quiet a bit. "No. I grew up in the palace."

"Did you like living there?"

"No! Um... no, I hated it."

"Nobody to talk to, huh? Just your parents? That would get old. I heard you had a
brother... what happened to him?"

Uranus had that same feeling again. "He... He ran away."

"Why did he do that? Weren't your parents nice to him?"

Neptune sat and waited, but Uranus was completely quiet. "Haruka? What's wrong?
Is it about your parents?" She frowned. "What is it?"

Uranus turned away. "I can't... I can't..." She lowered her head. "Michiru, you
have to promise me... you won't tell _anyone_. I don't care who they are."

"I promise."

Uranus turned away from her and shuddered slightly, then unfastened the clasps
on her dress and pulled the top down around her waist to bare her back.

Neptune gasped in shock. "W-What the-- where did you get all those scars?!"

Uranus pulled her dress up, fastened it, and turned to face her again. "My father."

Neptune sat in shock. "He... he did that to you? Oh god..."

Uranus fought back tears. "Why do you think I was so happy to come here?
To get away from..." she wiped her eyes off and fell silent.

Neptune slowly came forward and hugged her. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have
asked you to tell..."

"I-It's alright... I-I needed to t-tell... someone..." Uranus stopped trying
to hold back her tears and cried on Neptune's shoulder. "It's not fair! It's
not fair! My brother was able to get away, b-but I had to stay... so many
years... my mother didn't do anything... she was too busy drinking... it's
so unfair! I never had anyone... no one cared..."

Neptune stroked her short hair back. "I know it isn't fair, Haruka, but you're
safe now... no one's going to hurt you..." She gently kissed her forehead. "You
have people here who care for you deeply, never forget that. You will never be 
alone again."

"Y-You mean that?" Uranus sniffled and wiped her eyes again. "Y-You'll be here
for me, right?"

"Of course I will," she whispered softly. "Haruka..." she paused before raising
her voice slightly. "I love you. Never forget that."

Uranus looked up at her with surprised eyes. "You... you do?" she lowered
her head to hide the slight blush on her cheeks. "Michiru... I... I love
you too."

Neptune smiled softly at her. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"

Uranus managed a weak smile. "Not really..." She laughed slightly. "Well...
I guess we both know why we kissed each other then..."

Neptune laughed. "I guess so! Why don't we try to get some sleep now? You've 
made enough confessions today."

Uranus stood up to walk back to her bed, then turned around with a quizzical
look on her face. "Michiru... you just admitted your feelings for me... and
now you want me to go to sleep?"

Neptune blushed. "We can worry about it later..."

"You're just nervous," Uranus teased.

"I am not," Neptune retorted. "I'm just sleepy."

Uranus came over and knelt next to her bed. "Goodnight," she whispered.
"Sleep well."

"You too," Neptune whispered back.

Uranus leaned forward slightly, paused, then slowly moved forward and gently
kissed Neptune's lips. Neptune returned the kiss, running her fingers through
the other girl's short hair as their mouths pressed together. After several 
seconds Uranus pulled away and stood up. "Hope you have sweet dreams."

Neptune looked up at her and smiled. "Oh, I definitely will."

Uranus blew out the candles and started to lie down.

"Haruka?"

"Yeah?"

"Ummm... oh, nothing."

"Well, why don't you just tell me anyways and I'll decide if it's 'nothing'?"

There was a pause.

"Don't take this the wrong way... but I think I'd sleep better... in your
arms..."

For a few moments, neither said a thing, then Uranus came over and lay down
next to her. They wrapped their arms around each other, and Neptune smiled
slightly. "That's much better," she said softly as she drifted off to sleep.


					 ________

					
					   FIVE

					 ________



Time: the next morning
Place: a breakfast hall, the Palace



Queen Serenity woke up with a start after a frighteningly realistic nightmare.
She sat trying to calm herself down and realized that the nightmare was a
premonition. "I have to wake up the Senshi..." she mumbled. She threw her
clothes on and ran to the hall where the senshi's quarters were. She knocked
on the room her daughter shared with Usagi. 

"Uhn... who is it?" came a sleepy call.

"Your mother," she said as she pushed open the unlocked door.

She couldn't help but laugh at the sight. Both her daugther and her grandchild
were lying in their beds in pretty much the same position. Like mother like
daughter, she thought to herself. "Get up," she told them. "Go to the breakfast
hall. I need all the senshi there."

She went to Mercury and Jupiter's next. Upon opening the door, she was surprised
to see the two already awake and dressed, sitting and talking. "Oh, Queen Serenity,
hello," Mercury said. "Do you need something?"

"Yes, go down to the breakfast hall. I'll be their shortly."

The two women looked a bit confused but obeyed.

Queen Serenity, while walking to Mars and Venus's room, suddenly wondered why no
one bothered to lock their door anymore. Shrugging, she walked in. It took a few
minutes to wake them both up, but she finally got them going. They didn't look
too happy about being woken up though.

Saturn and Pluto were also already awake when she arrived, and seemed a bit curious
as to just why they had to go, but didn't ask questions and went downstairs 
immediately.

The queen was quite a bit shocked when she walked into Uranus and Neptune's room
and found them cuddled in the same bed. She shook them awake. "Oh! Serenity, um,
hi..." Neptune blushed deeply when she saw her there.

"Just... go down to the breakfast hall as soon as you get dressed," she told
them before walking out. _That_ was a surprise she wasn't expecting.

After everyone had gathered, she told them about the premonition of the 
Dark Kingdom massing on Uranus to prepare for an assault. She told them 
the senshi would most certainly be needed. When Venus questioned her, Mars, 
Saturn, and Neptune all mentioned having premonitions of fighting, which
confirmed the queen's decision.

"Mother, if the Dark Kingdom is there, how can just the nine of them stand
up to them?" Princess Serenity asked.

"Hey, we can handle it!" Jupiter scoffed.

"Just in case, we _should_ have extra support," Mercury commented. "Maybe if
we could get the Uranian army to work alongside us... ? Uranus, do you think
they would?"


She shrugged. "Dunno. You could try. You'll have to talk with General Toren and
see if he's willing to."

"Well, if there are no further questions, transform," the queen said.

The senshi nodded and did so.

"I still don't think it's enough..." Princess Serenity said softly.
"Mother? I want to help them, but what can I do?"

"There's not much you _can_ do..."

Pluto interrupts, "In the Original Time, Serenity was Sailor Moon. She
was a powerful Senshi and she was a good ally. Serenity should still
have that power. I think that if you give her the ginzuishou she can
regain that power."

Queen Serenity was doubtful. "Pluto, I trust in your wisdom, but you must be
mistaken.  These ARE all the Senshi. There are no more."

Pluto's crimson eyes narrowed. "Give her the ginzuishou."

Queen Serenity sighed and handed the ginzuishou to her daughter.

Princess Serenity stood with it and watched in shock as she was enveloped in 
a beam of light. A sailor fuku formed on her. Her collar and choker were baby 
blue, the bow on her chest carnation pink. She had three layers of skirt, the 
top baby blue, the next lavender, and the one underneath carnation pink. Her 
sleeves were petal shaped like Saturn's were. The bow in the back was silvery 
with long tails. The piping on her gloves was carnation pink. She had thin ribbons
of baby blue, lavender, and carnation pink lining the top of her skirt instead of
piping like the other senshi. The ginzuishou lay in the center of her bow, with 
a thin band of silver around it. Her tiara was thin and silvery. Pink discs were
attached to her odango and she had pearl decorations in her hair. Her high-heeled
boots were pale-blue and laced-up. She had a silver crescent moon on her choker, 
and dangling silver crescents for earrings. 

All but Pluto and Neo-Moon stared at her in disbelief. "Technically, this form is
called 'Sailor Silver Moon'," Pluto commented.

"Nice fuku," Mars commented.

Silver Moon teased, "Much cooler than yours, isn't it?"

Mars fumed at her. "Serenity!"

"Silver Moon, you are the leader of the Senshi," Pluto told her. The Senshi 
seemed a bit surprised-- Serenity, their leader? Pluto continued, "It is your 
duty and your responsibility to lead us into battle. Do you fully accept the
responsibility, as well as the risk that follows?"

"I-I accept," Serenity said in a wavering voice.

She was about to ask Pluto what to do next when Saturn let out a terrified
shriek.  She almost collapsed, but Jupiter caught her before she hit the 
floor.  "Powerful... presence..." the small girl whispered, "from another
galaxy... far... great evil... great danger..." she coughed hard and closed
her eyes tight.

"Senshi!" Silver Moon shouted to them. They all snapped to attention, surprised. 
"Here's the plan... we head to the transport the MOMENT I finish telling you 
this. We are going straight to Uranus. We don't have time to worry about 
alerting anyone, so Mother, swear to me that you will do this for us. We fight
when we get there. I don't expect anyone to do anymore than they have to, I 
don't expect anyone to push themselves to the limit, but damn it, people are 
counting on us so you give it what you can without killing yourself! I don't 
want to lose anyone! We all go and we all come back, you hear! We're going
to WIN too! So let's win this war, people! The whole system is counting on us! 
Let's move!"

We can win, I know we will, Silver Moon thought to herself as they raced for the
transport.

Queen Serenity sadly watched them go. A black-clothed figure joined her. "So,
they're off to battle?"

Serenity turned in surprised. "What the-- oh. It's you."

"Yes, it's me."

Serenity turned away again. "What are you doing here?"

"Things are changing. I decided to visit."

"You should be here... don't you have students to attend to?"

"They can manage without me. They've gone hundreds of years without me before.
I'm sure several minutes won't matter."

"And that brown-haired lady that's usually with you?"


"I don't trust her anymore."

"Oh."

The two stood in silence for a moment. "Whatever happened to that Oriental woman?"

"Who? I don't know who you mean."

"Has that memory wipe spell kicked in again? I can't believe you would have forgotten
_her_."

"Hmm... I suppose it has. Now that I think about it, I can't remember the last few
years all that well." The figure turned and started to walk away, then stopped. "You
do realize that your senshi will face a very dangerous foe on Uranus?"

"Yes, I do."

"Pray that they win."

With that, she disappeared.



Time: about ten minutes later
Place: the shuttle



The Senshi sat gathered around a large piece of paper where Uranus was
furiously sketching a map of the Palace on her home planet. She made
scant conversation as she talked, but would occasionally comment
something like, "I don't think my father would have changed anything
since I was last there; he likes things to stay the same.", "The troops
will be easier to convince that Beryl is the enemy than it will to
convince my father.", and "We have to make sure that we avoid direct
confrontation with the Dark Kingdom until it is necessary." Pluto stood 
behind the others as everyone squeezed in trying to get a good view,
Saturn and Neo-Moon sitting on the ground with Neptune kneeling next to 
Uranus.

Uranus finally finished the map and handed it to Silver Moon. She glanced over
it. "Thanks, this is really thorough... hmmm... Uranus, I just thought of
something. Is it possible that..." she coughed slightly. "Well, maybe your
father is _letting_ the Dark Kingdom come here, if he accepted a bribe...
do you think he'd do something like that?"

"Yes," Uranus answered firmly. "Without a doubt."

"Somebody's going to need to try and reason with him then. I think you should
do it."

Uranus froze. "You can't expect me to do that!"

"Why not? I'm the leader, and the lives of everyone in this galaxy is more
important to me than your own personal agenda. Unless you have a really good
reason not to, you're going to do it."

Uranus hung her head. "Neptune, please go with me," she said softly.

Neptune nodded to her.

"The rest of us will try to get the Uranian army on our side and, if necessary,
take care of any Dark Kingdom troops."

Neo-Moon curled up on the cushioned bench and tried to rest up for the
battle, but she found that she was too nervous. What was it that Saturn
had sensed? Silver Moon was next to her, thinking of Endymion, worried
about what might happen to her daughter in the battle ahead. Pluto was 
quietly discussing the vision with Saturn. She was careful not to reveal 
anything that might lead her to learn what happened to the Original Time, 
but she couldn't help but worry. Could it be Mistress Nine? Venus, Jupiter,
and Mercury all sat talking with each other, trying to calm each other's
nerves. Neptune and Uranus sat to the side, holding hands, whispering softly
to each other.

Saturn and Mars both got a startling realization at the same time.
Without explaining what was going on, Mars cried, "Mars Flame Sniper!"
and Saturn shouted, "Saturn Silence Shot!"

The fire arrow and the flat, circular purple disc rammed into an
apparently invisible object. The moment they struck, the man standing
there became visible.  "Kunzite!" Mercury cried.

Kunzite sneered, "Took you people long enough to find me. I've spied on you
many times these past several months. I know all your plans... there's nothing 
you can do to stop us." 

"Correction," Uranus said calmly, unsheathing her sword. "There's a lot
we can do!" She leapt at him in one fluid motion and cried, "Space Sword
Blaster!"

The attack ripped through Kunzite, causing him to weaken. "I didn't
think... the Senshi had so much strength in them..." he said as he
dropped to his knees and spat out blood.

Uranus narrowed her eyes and raised her sword to slice through him.
Neptune grabbed her arm and pulled her back. "We can get information
from him!" she hissed.

Uranus nodded and sheathed her sword, but struck Kunzite on the side of
the head with the hilt, knocking him unconscious. "Mars, enter his
mind."

Mars nodded and pressed her hands to either side of his face. She closed
her eyes in concentration and reeled as the swarm of images came to her.
"He and the other four Generals were corrupted and brainwashed. They
have more abilities now, as he demonstrated, and they are loyal to
Beryl."

"So what is their plan?" Silver Moon asked her.

Mars explained carefully what Beryl's plans of attack were. The other Senshi
visibly paled. "I see," Silver Moon whispered. "Well, there's no way we
are going to let that happen! Let's put a stop to this!"

"Right!" they all responded.

"We'll send the Dark Kingdom to Hell and back if we have to in order to
teach them not to mess with the Sailor Senshi! They are going to pay for
attacking us!"



Time: two hours later
Place: Uranus



The rest of the trip was fairly uneventful, except for the fact that
upon awakening, Kunzite teleported away.

The Senshi split up and quickly moved to their posts. Silver Moon,
Jupiter, and Mars quickly went to where the troops supposedly resided,
Uranus and Neptune headed for the Throne Room, and Pluto led the rest
to circle the Palace. According to Kunzite's information, about half
and hour from now is when the Dark Kingdom would strike.

Silver Moon got lucky and ran into the General of the Uranian Army. She
recognized him from meetings at the Palace he'd attended. "General
Toren!" she exclaimed.

"Eh?" The man didn't recognize her at all. "Who are you? A new Sailor
Senshi?"

"It's me... Princess Serenity. Sailor Silver Moon. Look, I need to talk
with your troops. Beryl plans to buy out the army from the King and turn
them into Dark Kingdom slaves."

"That's crazy! Our king would never to that!"

Jupiter cut in rudely, "Obviously you don't know him as well as his
daughter does."

Toren paled. "The Princess is _here_? She came _back_?!"

"Just for the battle," Mars assured him.

Toren let out a sigh of relief. The Senshi glanced at each other and
shrugged. "Look, can we talk with your troops?" Silver Moon asked.

Toren thought for a moment. "Give me five minutes to round them up.
They'll listen to you, I guarantee it."

Mars nodded as he led the way.


___



Pluto, Saturn, Venus, Mercury, and Neo-Moon were all circling the
Palace, separate from each other, but wary of the danger. If one of them
got a surprise attack, who knew if they could send out a telepathic
warning quickly enough?

Mercury carefully scanned the starry skies with her minicomputer. On
this planet, the sky was always black and starry, making it nearly
impossible for them to know what time of day it was. Neo-Moon searched
with her eyes only.  Pluto was carefully allowing her mind to access the
information her abilities provided. Venus used her Love senses to search
for a lack of it. After all, the only feeling the Dark Kingdom seemed to
feel was hatred. Saturn was allowing her mental powers to do the searching, 
hovering slightly over the ground.

About five minutes later, Mercury's computer picked up the attackers. She
alerted everyone to join her.

At that moment, Silver Moon finished her talk, and the troops were just
in time to see the threat and help out.

Uranus and Neptune had finally tracked down the King and barely noticed
the warning.

"Silence Glaive Apply!" The silent attack was able to knock several
troops out of the way.

This section of the Dark Kingdom's army, led by Zoisite himself, was
skilled in battle. They carefully avoided the attacks launched at them
and responded with their own. The Uranian Army possessed very skilled
fighting prowess as well, but lacked any special magical talents.

Pluto was the first to notice this setback. "Time Threads Encircle!" she
shouted. A large section of this part of the Army found themselves
entangled in the millions of black threads and disappeared from the
timeline. Pluto ignored the fact that this was against her duties as the
Keeper of Time to remove anyone from the timestream.

"Ginzuishou Cleansing!" Silver Moon shouted. A burst of white light was
able to heal some of the Dark Kingdom's troops and restore them, but Silver 
Moon promptly sank to her knees.

Mars ran over to protect her. "Blazing Inferno Engulf!" she shouted, and
a large wave of fire appeared around the army, burning many.

Zoisite was seething with rage. He lifted a long black sword up and
shouted, "Powers of darkness, charge this sword with energy!" The sword 
was glowing a black color now as he lifted it over his head and leapt at 
Neo-Moon.

Neo-Moon was barely able to shout, "Moonlight Laser!" before Zoisite was
too close, and as it was the sword clipped her arm and charged her body
with dark energy.

Saturn quickly rushed to her side and thrust her glaive point neatly
through Zoisite's body.

Suddenly, everything seemed to stop and hush. Zoisite trembled and slid
off the glaive, landing on the ground at Saturn's feet. Saturn's face
was cold and devoid of emotion as she gazed down at the shuddering form
at her feet. "How... could... you..." Zoisite rasped, coughing blood.

"I am the Silent Messiah, Sailor Saturn. I will defend the life of my
comrades at all cost. You, pitiful man, made a mistake in attacking
Princess Serenity's heiress."

Zoisite shuddered one last time and died.  

Venus watched on with eyes wide with horror. She mouthed "no", tears welling
up in her eyes, but didn't have time to cry.

Seemingly out of nowhere, Kunzite appeared again, Nephrite and Jadeite at 
his side. They all unleashed their own attacks at the present Senshi.


___



Uranus finally found her father seated at a dinner table, feet dangling
over one side of the large chair he sat in. She shivered slightly, afraid
to approach, then Neptune sent a telepathic message to her. "Don't be afraid,
he can't hurt you. I won't let him. Let's get this over with, alright?" 

Uranus nodded slightly and the two walked into the throne room. The King, 
startled, quickly sat up. "What are YOU doing here?!" he demanded.

"Stopping you from making a mistake," Uranus said coolly, trying to control
the wavering in her voice.

"The only mistake I've ever made was not killing you before you could grow
up enough to run off," he sneered.

"She's talking about Beryl," Neptune snapped.

"Touchy, aren't you?" he said sarcastically. "What're you, her plaything?
Besides, Beryl and I have finished the deal already. In exchange for a
healthy sum of money, she gets to keep troops here."

Uranus clenched her fists. "Why did you ever agree to do _that_?! You're 
dooming our people by letting that demon stay here!"

"Maybe I am, maybe I am not. They're my subjects to do what I want with.
I'm the king. I control all their lives." He stood up and glared at her.
"And I still control yours."

Uranus took an involuntary step back. Neptune placed a hand on her shoulder
to steady her. "Don't listen to him," she warned. "He's just trying to bait
you."

"Do you still have the scars?" he taunted. "I hope so. I'm looking to add
a few more. You're a very disobedient child. I might just have to take out
my gun again." He reached into his robes and pulled out a pistol.

Uranus started shaking. "Leave me alone!" she whispered.

He laughed as he lifted it and tighted his finger around the trigger.

Uranus dashed forward and slapped the gun from his hands before he could
use it. His foot connected with her ribs a moment later. She gasped
and clutched her stomach, sinking to her knees. He raised his hand to strike
her.

Neptune was quicker though. She grabbed him and surprised even herself with
her strength as she threw him onto the table. She helped the shuddering Uranus 
to her feet in time to here a chilled voice say, "Did I miss anything?"

Neptune and Uranus whirled around to see a crimson-haired woman in a
purple dress standing there. Beryl. Without thinking, Uranus quickly
unsheathed her sword and leapt at her. "Wait, DON'T!" Neptune shrieked.

Beryl's hastily thrown up forcefield threw Uranus back, and the
navy-clad Senshi skidded across the floor from the impact.

"Aqua Possessor!"

The attack that should have liquefied Beryl was repelled, and Neptune
had to throw herself onto the ground to avoid her own attack. She sent out
to the other senshi. "Uranus and I are fighting Beryl here! We need help!"

"There's no time!" someone responded. "We have our hands full with three
of the Generals here!" The signal was cut off.

Neptune was relieved when Saturn showed up though. "The other Senshi
didn't want me to leave, but you need help," was her reason.

A second figure emerged from the shadows. Her long black hair cascaded
over the floor, her purple eyes narrowed, the pearl-lined navy top worn
with a long white skirt seeming to flow from her, the black star on her 
forehead glowing faintly. "Who are YOU?" Uranus gasped.

The woman gave a light laugh. "I am known as Mistress Nine, from Tau
Ceti." Without further explanation, her hair shot out and wrapped around
Uranus' neck.  Uranus gasped and tried to pull away as the hair wrapped
tighter.

"Harukaaaa!" Neptune screamed, running at the woman.

Saturn remained frozen as her eyes locked with Mistress Nine's. Neptune
stopped in her tracks as she noticed their gaze and Uranus gave a sigh
of relief as the hair unwound from her neck. "Y-you! It's you!" Saturn
whispered, stepping back.

Mistress Nine's eyes flickered with a seeming recognition. "Ah! Hotaru,
my puppet!" Her hair raced at the small woman, wrapping her arms and
legs. "Come to me... I need your abilities..."

"No!!" Saturn cried.

Taking advantage of the distraction, Beryl slipped behind Uranus and
Neptune and started to draw out their energy.

"Stop right there!" a voice shouted loudly.

Seven figures clad in Sailor fuku immediately appeared. In the center,
clad in pastel and silver tones, was Sailor Silver Moon. "Agent of love 
and justice, I am the beautiful sailor suited soldier... Sailor Silver 
Moon! In the name of the Moon, I will punish you!"

Before either of the evil women could respond, Jupiter shouted,
"Lightning Electrocute!"

Beryl was hit by the attack, but she quickly recovered to fire a blast
of red light at Jupiter. Silver Moon shoved Jupiter away and took the
hit.

"Love Arrows Strike!" Venus launched her arrows at Mistress Nine,
forcing her to release her hold on Saturn momentarily, giving her enough
time to strike.

"Death... Ribbon... Revolution!" Sharp, metallic ribbons appeared and
shot at Mistress Nine, but before they hit, she repelled them. 

The Senshi quickly combined attacks at the two women. "Ice Wave Freeze!"

"Love Arrows Strike!"

"Flaming Inferno Engulf!"

"Moonlight Laser!"

"Ginzuishou Cleansing!"

"Lightning Electrocute!"

"Silent Scream!" [note: this is Saturn's attack; not the same as Pluto's
dead scream]

"Heaven Fury!"

"Aqua Possessor!"

"Time Threads Encircle!"

An enormous explosion occurred as the attacks combined, rocking the
Palace and collapsing the ceiling. The Senshi were thrown to the floor
with the force.  After the dust settled, Beryl's form was visible under
a pile of rock, a huge pool of blood around her, the King of Uranus was
also bleeding, obviously dead... but Mistress Nine...

Her form rose from the dust, her dress torn and her eyes burning red.
"You DARE to attack ME?!" Her hair billowed around her as she raised her
arms over her head, and a huge black electric ball coalesced with white
lightning over her head. "I shall kill you all!"

The attack rushed at them. In a last-ditch effort, Saturn shouted,
"Silence Block!" just as Pluto shouted the forbidden, "Time Stop!"

The ball of energy froze. The world froze. The people standing in the
Throne Room, however, were still able to move. "What is this!?" Mistress
Nine gasped, her shock clearly apparent. She paled in fright. "You
cannot be... no! This is not possible!"

Pluto stood slightly apart from the other Senshi, her eyes narrow
crimson slits. "I am Sailor Pluto, the Guardian of Time, and believe me,
it IS possible."

She lifted the Time Key. "This is a timeline caused due to a time
fracture... Saturn caused it, but YOU are the direct reason. And now you
have the gall to interfere with our lives again." The Garnet Orb glowed
a bright magenta, and the Talismans of Uranus and Neptune appeared. A
triangle of light formed, and the Holy Grail was formed. It floated
above her hand, as Sailor Pluto sneered, "Well, Mistress Nine, there is
no more reason for me to allow you to exist."

The grail hovered over to Silver Moon. "Take it," Pluto said coolly,
gesturing to the other woman.

Silver Moon grasped it in her hands.

"And now," Pluto said simply, "I think it is time that Mistress Nine
leaves this universe FOREVER."

"Puu--wait!" Neo-Moon cried. "You can't just destroy her!"

Mistress Nine cackled, "Yes... listen to the child... there is something to 
her words!"

The Inner Senshi held their ground with determined looks on their 
faces, the two Moons trying to decide what to do, and the other Outer 
Senshi were trying to decide if they should let Pluto continue with 
this.

Mistress Nine was about to strike again when she was knocked away by 
Uranus. Her eyes flashed red, and as she moved to strike Uranus, Silver 
Moon launched an attack at her. A bright burst of silver light knocked 
the woman off her target, giving Uranus time to scramble away.

Mistress Nine shrieked as the beam stuck her. She swiped her arm out, 
her nails extended as claws, and struck Silver Moon's cheek, making a 
deep gash. The Moon Princess cried out and clamped her palm to her 
bleeding wound, knocked to the ground by the momentum of the swipe.

"Mars Flame--"

"JUPITER OAK--"

Mistress Nine recognized the voices, and with a snarl, sent discs of 
energy towards Mars and Jupiter. The two held their screams in, managing 
to keep their footing under the blast. Pluto had an angry look on her 
face, the likes of which Neo-Moon had never seen cross the immortal 
woman's face. Pluto's Garnet Orb burst into light, and she screamed, 
"TIME THREADS ENCIRCLE!!!"

Millions of tiny black threads rushed at Mistress Nine, designed to 
remove the object they surrounded from existence.

Which is why Pluto was very shocked to see Mercury hurl the body of 
Uranus's father into the threads. Instead of removing their intended 
target, the corpse was removed instead. Pluto quickly recovered from the 
shock, and was about to call upon her powers again, when Venus hurled 
her body against the older woman, knocking her to the ground. The heart 
shaped object with the Garnet Orb upon it was jostled from the Time 
Staff, and time resumed.

Beryl moaned from underneath the rubble, alive despite her injuries. 
Mistress Nine cast her a furious glance at her weakness in battle. 
Beryl's form slowly rose, her crown having been knocked from her 
forehead and her dress torn. With her glowing eyes and slightly wild 
auburn hair, it was obvious she was planning to make up for her previous 
downfall.

Mistress Nine whipped around to face the Senshi again, hands glowing. 
Beryl had her claws ready. "It was fun to play around," Mistress Nine 
taunted, "but the real battle begins now!"

She called several dozen daimons to aid her. As they approached, the 
Senshi took no notice, being too busy dueling with the evil women. 
Saturn sensed them coming but didn't have time to warn the others... 
except... "Mercury! Don't ask questions, just step aside and scan the sky 
with your visor!"

Mercury immediately obeyed. To her dismay, quite a lot of daimons were 
detected. But maybe... these seemed to be based upon computers. She 
quickly glanced to her fellows as she furiously typed in the code for a 
virus into her computer, directing it at the daimons. She hid it as a 
simple Camish program [a Silver Millennium game similar to Solitaire]. 
They never knew the difference and simply absorbed it. Mercury smiled 
and continued to battle.

Just when the daimons burst in, the virus took effect. Their bodies 
twisted and soon were infected beyond repair. They disappeared with a 
final scream of, "Lovely!" Saturn shouted to Mercury that she did a good 
job.

Neptune called Mercury over to help her and Uranus fight Beryl. Beryl 
was swiping with her claws at the two, releasing bursts of deadly energy 
every now and then. Uranus was able to hold her claws off with her Space 
Sword, but the energy bursts were fast weakening her. Mercury cried, 
"Ice Wave FREEZE!" at the same time that Neptune screamed, "AQUA 
POSSESSOR!!!"

Due to the nature of Neptune's attack, one which absorbed the target and 
thus liquefying it, combined with the wave of ice, formed a formidable 
attack that would paralyze Beryl before she could negate the effects. As 
it rushed at her, Mistress Nine planted herself in front of it with a 
chuckle. The ice soaked into her body, but strangely, to no effect. As 
Neptune's attack spread through her, she seemed to absorb it instead of 
the other way around.

The two Senshi were startled by this, and were about to counterattack 
when Uranus cried her attack, "Heaven Fury!" The beam struck Mistress 
Nine, and since her body was now absorbing anything thrown at it, the 
beam was soaked in. Mistress Nine trembled slightly as the pure energy 
mixed with the dark energy within her, but she soon recovered.

Silver Moon pulled out her ginzuishou and released her own beam at 
Beryl. The evil queen screamed in pain and moved to strike back. Silver 
Moon reached outs and grasped the Holy Grail tightly.

Suddenly, it was still. The combatants stopped their fighting. As Silver 
Moon held the Holy Grail tightly, Mistress Nine bit her lip and glanced 
around. Unlike the other people reincarnated into this galaxy, she knew 
about the previous time. This Grail had enabled Super Sailor Moon to 
destroy her master, the entity known as Master Pharaoh Ninety. Mistress 
Nine was not stupid; this thing was powerful! She coolly narrowed her eyes. 
"Well, you have it, what will you do with it?"

"I will not destroy you," Silver Moon whispered through pale, cold lips. 
She was terribly afraid though. She didn't want to destroy this invader, 
but Pluto... should she listen to her?

Mistress Nine gave a crooked, bitter smile. "Pity, I wouldn't think 
twice about harming you! Here, let me share what I can do!"

Mistress Nine invaded their minds then, drawing out their most 
emotionally painful memories. As she did so, their fuku dissolved, 
leaving them clad in strange ribbons of their aura color that seemed to 
billow around them but cover them at the same time. Their symbols burst 
into light on their foreheads as they screamed in unison.

Mistress Nine smirked as the Senshi lay on the ground, ribbons flailing 
around them, as they cried with the agony of their previous experiences. 
"An ingenious plan," Beryl commented to her. "Leave them unable to think 
straight, and kill them whenever you feel ready."

"As soon as this is finished, Saturn will be mine to possess," she murmured.

Beryl shrugged at watched the Senshi writhe.

Suddenly, for a brief moment, it seemed that Mistress Nine wavered. 
Their minds slowly awakened again.

They stood up, the ribbons that clad them billowing around them as they
lifted their weapons.

"P-P-Perhaps you made a mistake," Beryl stuttered. Mistress Nine glared 
at her at fired several sharp ribbons (similar to Saturn's) at Beryl. 
The ribbons tore through her painfully, and as Beryl gasped and dizzily 
fought the pain, she slipped to the ground on all fours, coughing hard. 
Her vision dimmed. "N-no! You can't do this!" she gasped, wiping blood 
from her mouth. She spit out some blood and moaned, weakly falling 
against the floor in a pool of her own blood.

Mistress Nine pulled her head up by the hair. "I don't appreciate being 
talked back to, Beryl. Apologize and I'll consider healing you."

Beryl moaned and summoned her remaining Generals. Jadeite and Kunzite 
appeared with smirks on their faces, Nephrite with an unsure expression.

Mistress Nine didn't pay any attention to them and sharply kicked Beryl 
in the side. "I take it back!" she cried. "I'm sorry, Mistress--" she 
shuddered slightly.

Mistress Nine healed the woman, but Beryl remained dazed. "So, Sailor 
Senshi," the woman from Tau Ceti said, coolly watching the Senshi. "Do 
you really think you can defeat me?"

Pluto narrowed her eyes. "We have more than enough power, Mistress 
Nine." She gave the Senshi a slight gesture.

Serenity paled slightly, but nodded. She lifted the ginzuishou high. 
"Silver Moon Power!" A burst of silver light coalesced with a streak of 
pink in front of her.

At the exact same time, Neo-Moon lifted her own ginzuishou high. "Neo 
Moon Power!" A burst of pink light with a streak of silver merged with 
the silver one.

The Senshi went in to action simultaneously, all the motions being done 
and the words spoken at the same time. Mercury lifted her Aqua Harp 
above her head. "Mercury Ice Power!" A burst of soft blue light merged 
with the others, forming a ball of light.

Venus lifted her Love Chain up. "Venus Love Power!" A beam of gold light 
merged with the ball.

Mars lifted her Flame Bow in one hand. "Mars Fire Power!" A beam of 
bright red light merged with the ball.

Jupiter lifted her lightning bolt triumphantly. "Jupiter Storm Power!" A 
beam of  rich green light merged with the ball.

Saturn slowly lifted her Silence Glaive. "Saturn Silence Power!" A beam 
of royal purple light merged with the ball.

Uranus raised her Space Sword high. "Uranus Heavens Power!" A beam of 
indigo light merged with the ball.

Neptune held her Aqua Mirror over her head. "Neptune Ocean Power!" A 
beam of turquoise light merged with the ball.

Pluto simply held the Time Staff at arms length and whispered, "Pluto 
Time Power." A beam of nearly black light merged with the ball.

"What the--"

Mistress Nine didn't have time to speak as the ball slammed into her. 
She gave a shriek as her body seemed to stretch and rip apart into 
nothingness. A burst of dark light appeared; the essence of her.

Serenity lifted the Holy Grail and shouted an unintelligible phrase. The 
dark form was sucked in and destroyed. Serenity then collapsed, Jupiter 
catching her before she hit the floor. The Senshi's stares moved to 
Beryl now, but Beryl had seen what happend to Mistress Nine and she
teleported away.

The Outer Senshi were about to direct it for the three Generals when 
Jupiter shouted, "STOP!!!!" Everyone turned to stare at her now. "Um... 
Neo-Moon, Serenity, one of you just _heal_ them."

Neo-Moon nodded. A warm pink light ran over them, and they slumped 
slightly. For a moment, it wasn't apparent whether or not they were 
truly healed. Then, Nephrite whispered softly, "Mako-chan?" The pain was 
clear in his eyes as he held his arms out to her.

With a sob, Jupiter flung herself into his arms. He stroked her hair and 
kissed her gently, tears shimmering in his own dark eyes. Kunzite 
blinked slightly as he lifted his head. Mercury shyly walked up to him. 
"Hi," she whispered. He hugged her gently as her tears trickled down her 
cheeks. Jadeite and Mars ran to each other, hugging tight and kissing, 
apologizing for all that they'd done in the months Jadeite was 
possessed.

Serenity smiled and hugged Neo-Moon tightly. Venus smiled at the 
reunions taking place and danced around a bit. Saturn gave a sigh of 
relief and leaned against her Silence Glaive thankfully. Uranus held 
Neptune tight, making soft jokes about the couples in front of them. 
Pluto just stood.

'This isn't the end, not yet,' she thought to herself. 'There's 
something else we have to do before I can repair time for good. But what 
is it?'


					 ________

					
					   SIX

					 ________



Time: a little while later
Place: the shuttle heading back to the Moon of Earth



Everyone packed into the shuttle, thankful that they'd finally stopped Beryl.
Mars handed out bottles of water to the other nine Senshi and three Generals
present. They all quickly drank them down. Pluto hung on the fringes of the
group, gazing out the window with a strangely angry look on her face.

"I'm sorry about Zoisite," Saturn apologized to Venus. "But I had to ki--" She
suddenly broke down crying.

Venus came over and hugged her. "Hotaru, it's not your fault," she whispered. 
"I was there. He tried to kill Usagi. Serenity would've been devastated. You did
what you had to."

Saturn sniffled and wiped her nose on a handkerchief Kunzite handed her. "I
guess I should apologize to you too, Kunzite. You were good friends, weren't
you?"

The pale-haired general laughed. "Not that close. We were on-and-off friends,
but he got on my nerves sometimes. Still," he said, his voice dropping a bit.
"it is a shame he had to die."

"I recovered his body," Jupiter said softly. "I think the mages can bring him 
back."

"I think that would be best," Jadeite said, holding Mars's hand. "He told me
before the attack, 'I don't think I'm ready for this. I don't want to die'."

"No one ever _truly_ wants to die," Pluto murmured from her corner.

"While everyone is in a sorry fest," Mercury said lightly, "Um, sorry about
throwing your dad's corpse into Pluto's attack, Uranus," she said meekly. "I
mean, we could've reincarnated him if I hadn't done that."

Uranus chuckled. "No, no, it's not a problem! Really."

"You sure?"

Uranus gave a nervous laugh. "I think... it is for the best... um, I really didn't
like him...."

Neptune changed the subject, seeing Uranus's discomfort. "Serenity, did you tell
your mother we were coming back?"

Serenity nodded weakly, lying on a bench. The fight had taken more out of her
than had been apparent earlier. "I sent a transmission a few minutes ago."

Everyone except Pluto nodded in response. She still was gazing out the window.

"Hey, I think you look at Pluto, everyone!" Mercury cried.

And everyone did. A telltale glow was forming from the sigil on her forehead.
Her brow was furrowed in concentration.

Mars softly said to the others, "She is trying to communicate with someone. I am
not sure who, or where they are, but she seems to be trying pretty hard. The
person is in another time and reality, actually, according to my computer."

Some of their eyes widened. "That is beyond the rest of the Senshi's abilities,
if I am correct," Nephrite said from his position next to Jupiter. "How is it
that she can?"

"I... I just...  I really don't know," Mars finished lamely, sinking back into
Jadeite's arms.

A flash from Pluto's forehead lit up the cabin they were in, before settling
into a lighter, softer beacon. "She got through," Mars whispered.

'Are you there?' Pluto sent out.

'I _just_ got back from your reality and I was about to start a lesson,' a stubborn, 
soft female voice snapped. 'This had better be important!'

'Would I have attempted to contact you from this far if it wasn't, old friend?
This takes a lot to communicate from this far with this sort of power.'

'My my, not for me, Setsuna,' the woman remarked dryly. 'You should practice
more. I can handle another apprentice in magic.'

'Even your apprentices have apprentices! That's a bit odd, mage.'

Silence for a moment. 'Sorry, I had to answer a question. A teacher's work is
never done,' a soft chuckle was heard. 'Particularly when they can think clearly
again.'

'The spell has been removed from you?'

'Yes, Guardian, now stop wasting your energy and get to the point. Something's
happened over there, I can sense it. I feel something gathering there, a great
power. What is going on?'

Pluto related the battle to her.

The woman seemed to pause to think. 'Do you want me to come there? I can manage
it. It'll be easier on your mind. You're going to be terribly weak when you
finish this communication.'

'Fine, we'll discuss this when you get here,' Pluto said. As soon as she broke
her transmit off, she sank against the wall with a flash of light, breathing
hard and feeling terribly weak like the woman had predicted.

A few of the Senshi quickly hurried to her, helping her up and trying to ease
her. She couldn't focus on the faces, but she saw flashes of red, aqua, and
purple, and knew which Senshi were helping her. Saturn was chanting a soft
mantra to heal her mind, while Mars was scanning her for any damage. Neptune
helped her sit up and passed a glass of wine to her. Pluto sipped the wine
before pushing it aside. The rest of the Senshi hovered around her too.

The doors slid open, and no one noticed for a moment. Kunzite was the first to
realize someone was there. A figure wrapped in a black hooded cloak, with the
hood pulled low, stood there. Apparently a woman, he realized, glancing over her
black dress with the low v-neckline. She remained in the shadows, observing the
swarm of people around Pluto. "Hello there," she said softly.

They turned. "Who the he--" Uranus started before Neptune nudged her ribs with
her elbow.

The black-clothed woman didn't reply and slipped next to Pluto, dropping to her
knees beside her. She pressed her hands to the other woman's temples and a soft
white glow formed, lighting up the mage's pale-skinned face and dark blue eyes
with narrow slits like a cat's or a reptile's for pupils, eyes which were
glowing a bright blue. The light faded from her hands and eyes and the mage drew
back. Pluto sighed. "That's much better. You are getting quite good, you know.
Don't need to speak the words anymore?"

The mage shrugged. "It isn't necessary anymore for someone of my power to say
the words when they are able to concentrate and make it happen. I know I got
here quicker than usual, but I used a portal this time. It's easier since
teleportation magic can sometimes mess up my fragile sanity," she said with a
wry smile. "After all, who knows when something will go wrong for my mind to
slip back into the spell?"

The Senshi continued to eye her skeptically. "Does she have a name?" Uranus said
dryly.

"Not important yet," the mage said with a chill to her tone. "I don't plan to be
here longer than is needed." She sat down on the bench and crossed her legs. "Of
course," she mused, "I do not know what I am needed _for_, or how long it shall
take..." She puzzled over this a second before shrugging her narrow shoulders.

"Are you a mage or something?" Venus asked, confused. "What did you do?"

The woman in question chuckled. "An archmage, if you want to be exact. Much higher
up than just a regular mage. We don't need to use special words for spells and have
access to a wider variety. I personally don't have as much power in healing arts as 
defense and offense-type spells though."

"A mage is a type of sorceress, right?" Usagi asked.

The archmage seemed almost offended for a moment. "Oh no, no Usagi! There is a
difference between magic and sorcery--subtle though, not worth explaining right not."

"How can we believe what you've said?" Serenity said, struggling to sit up. "And how 
did you know Usagi's name?"

"Don't bother her," Pluto said, her voice strong again. "We don't need her
identity revealed in this timeline yet. I have enough trouble trying to fix it
as it is."

The archmage chuckled again. "Pluto, I've been dropping in wherever I want for
years now--"

"And wrecking havoc with the timeline!"

The archmage shrugged with a light laugh and her eyes seemed to flash. "Pluto,
Guardian of Time, never ceasing to meddle with the affairs of mortals or
immortals. I think that I deserve to do as it pleases me..." her voice dropped
lower and colder, "and besides, Pluto, for all you know, this reality is
_supposed_ to go this way! Have you noticed that your precognitive abilities are
not working correctly? You don't see time right! You cannot read the future
correctly, and unless you have the information already, you can't scan the
timeline to learn about someone! You're so wrapped up in your precious time
even though, and you refuse to let anyone take over the responsibilities
even if they are better qualified--"

"SHUT UP!!!" Pluto suddenly shrieked, and everything fell silent. There was a
larger light from the archmage's eyes than before. "I am sick of your little
manipulations and trivial games! Don't you get tired of tormenting me?!"

The archmage narrowed her eyes to slits. "Wasn't the last realty all a result of
your manipulating, your little cosmic game to make the universe perfect? Isn't it
true that you are too afraid to let someone else take over the Time Gate. I offered
to and you refused. I think you've grown to be insane, Setsuna."

Pluto lifted her Time Key and swung it hard at the archmage.

It passed through her.

Saturn suddenly stood and lifted her Silence Glaive. It whirled around and
stopped inches from Pluto's neck. Uranus was directly behind the archmage, her
Space Sword pressed close to the archmage's throat. "You can remove that now,
Uranus," she said coldly. "I won't attack."

Pluto lowered her Time Key, and Saturn lowered her Silence Glaive afterward. "If
you EVER push me like that again, I swear that I will find some way to make your
life a living Hell, or at least send you there!"

"Been there before. Quite warm there, and if you don't belong there, the people 
don't bother you. I think you'd like it there, once you get on Lucifer's good side,
which could take a bit of time--"

The door slammed shut hard as Pluto left the cabin.

The Senshi and the three remaining Generals fixed their eyes on the archmage.
"Hmmm... I seem to have made her angry," she murmured.

The shuttle docked, and Pluto was the first off, storming to her room.

Queen Serenity came up and hugged her daughter and granddaughter tightly,
before briefly embracing the Senshi and Generals. Endymion came running up the
path with Luna-P trailing after, and he quickly lifted Princess Serenity into
his arms and kissed her. The Senshi all giggled while the moon princess blushed.
Luna-P bobbed around Usagi, and the two cat advisors came, darting between the
Senshi's legs and voicing their greetings.

The archmage hung behind during the reunion, observing in silence with the
slightest hint of a warm smile on her face. 

"Hello there," a voice said to her out of nowhere.

She gave a start, then turned to see Saturn standing beside her. "Oh, hello,
Saturn. Do you remember me?" Saturn nodded. "Good. Don't tell the others yet
please. It is important that you don't." Saturn nodded.

Queen Serenity walked up and appeared surprised and a bit fearful. "Why, hello
there, my old friend. I haven't seen you since my childhood and you still look
the same."

The archmage smiled and gave her a brief, awkward hug. "May I stay awhile,
please? I seem to have some business to attend to here and--"

"Of course, of course, there's an empty room next to Saturn's. Go right ahead."

The archmage bowed and walked off towards the palace, and paused to call over
her shoulder to the Senshi, "Since I will be staying here for a bit, I think you
should know my name. It's Immora." With that, Immora headed off to her room.



Time: a few hours later
Place: the dining hall, the Palace



Mars ate her food in silence, as did Pluto. The other Senshi were all talking
eagerly, the Generals also talking. Zoisite would be brought back later that
evening. Queen Serenity sipped her tea as she talked with some members of her
army. The table was very long, so it held many people. Mars glanced to Saturn,
chattering away with Usagi. Saturn seemed happier than usual, and her pink-haired 
friend seemed to be too. Mars squeezed Jadeite's hand, who was sitting next to her. 
He seemed surprised at the sudden gesture, for he'd been in the middle of talking 
with Mercury, sitting across from him. He smiled down at Mars and kissed her 
forehead before going back to his conversation. The Inner Senshi were all talking 

across the table to each other and the Generals. Princess Serenity was talking with 
anyone willing to listen. Uranus and Neptune ignored everyone else as they talked, 
but Mars noticed Uranus would sometimes cast a cold glance in Immora's direction. 
Uranus didn't trust the archmage, and neither did Mars. She noted Pluto, sitting 
in silence, was studying Immora seemingly, as if trying to figure something out 
about her. Immora was laughing and smiling, talking with Kunzite about some obscure 
things Mars didn't follow, probably magic-related. Kunzite seemed to have a talent for
magic, and Immora seemed to be trying to help him with it.

Mars didn't feel safe in here. She could sense the power radiating from each of
her fellow Senshi, which was a familiar thing to her. Saturn and Pluto gave off
the greatest amounts, along with Princess Serenity. Saturn and Serenity seemed
pretty evenly matched in power, but Mars could feel that Saturn's was a bit
stronger. Then she could sense the power from the Generals, pretty strong too.
What was unnerving her was the amount that Immora gave off. Her power levels
were very high, almost smothering to Mars's senses. Immora seemed perfectly at
ease with this power, and didn't flaunt it, but Mars still didn't feel right
about the archmage. She listened to Kunzite's conversation with her. "--yes, but
how do you form the object? I can create energy projectiles, shields, light, et
cetera... but how do you make a _solid_ object?! It doesn't seem possible!"

Immora laughed. Her laughter seems a bit odd, Mars thought. I don't think she
laughs a lot. She seems almost sad. I'd probe her mind further, but she'd
undoubtedly be able to wipe my mind clean as a slate if I do!

"Kunzite, you are limiting yourself," Immora chuckled. "With energy, you can form it, 
shape it, control it how you will. There is no real limit with energy-related objects. 
_Solid_ objects have to be formed with the mind more so than the energy. With the 
energy, it springs forth at your command, you shape it with your thoughts, simple as 
that. With a solid object, you must form the image in your mind first, then construct 
it in the physical world. You have to bind all the pieces together with your power. 
You can't just call upon an object, you have to _make_ the object. After you form it, 
you must keep your thoughts on it or else it will collapse. If you wish for it to remain, 
ou have to use the proper incantation to make it a true part of the physical world, or
else it simply _exists_ in this world, but it resides in your mind still."

A few of the Senshi had tuned in to the conversation and were listening with
some confusion at her words. Pluto, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mercury had all taken
interest in it, along with the queen and her daughter, and Endymion.

Kunzite puzzled over Immora's words. "Could you demonstrate for me?"

"Ah... I could, but may I finish eating first? I don't eat much, but this food is
simply wonderful!"

Kunzite chuckled. "Go right ahead."

As soon as Immora finished wiping her mouth after eating, she nodded to Kunzite. 
She then stood and called to the table, "Excuse me, I'll be casting a spell in
a moment... those of you who might be mages aligned with the afterlifes might have 
an unusual reaction to my energy."

Several people left the room. Mars sat and wondered what she could have meant by
that.

She didn't have time to consider. Immora's eyes glowed with bright blue light.
A sphere of white light appeared in front of her, and winds seemed to blow from
it for her hair blew back as did her cloak. "This, Kunzite, is a simple energy
construct, like the ones you use." Immora's eyes widened slightly and Mars saw
that she was concentrating hard on the light. It started to take the shape of a
bouquet of roses. They started to color green and red, and soon a glowing
bouquet was floating in front of her. Kunzite reached for it and his hand passed
through it. "They aren't solid yet. I formed it much slower than is needed so
you could see the process." She then narrowed her eyes a bit. Shadows and
highlights appeared on the rose petals and leaves. Their scent could be smelled
around the table. They flashed, then the light was gone and they dropped onto
the table. Immora sat down.

Kunzite grabbed the bouquet and examined them with surprise. "This is amazing!
You just created them from light!"

Immora laughed. "You can look at it that way, if you will. That took much
longer than I would have liked. I wanted you to see them form. I can do it much
quicker though..." There was a brief flash, and a bouquet appeared right in Queen
Serenity's lap.

The queen started, then laughed and breathed in their scent. "Why thank you,
old friend. They are quite lovely."

Immora smiled. Mars suddenly wanted to pull her hair out. How the heck did the
queen know Immora?! And Pluto---how did they meet?

Immora looked over at Mars now. Her voice came to Mars's mind. 'Is something
troubling you, Senshi of fire? I noticed you observing my spell with some
unease.'

'How do you know the queen and Pluto?'

Immora just looked away and went back to talking with Kunzite.

Mars fumed. I'm gonna wheedle it out of her if I have to delve into her
subconscience to find it out!!! 

Immora stood and walked over to stand in a dark corner. What a wacko! Mars
thought to herself.

Everyone was chattering again, and someone asked Serenity, "Are you and Endymion
_ever_ going to get married?"

The two in question laughed. "Eventually! We just can't decide what the best day
would be!"

Nephrite teased Endymion, "C'mon, why don't you two just run off and elope so
you don't have to worry about it?"

"It's not as romantic though," Serenity said. "Besides, I want all my friends there.
It wouldn't be the same."

"Do you guys think you'll ever marry?" Endymion asked the generals.

"I hope so," Nephrite said and he and Jupiter smiled to each other. "I think it'd
be nice."

"It would be, wouldn't it?" Jupiter said with a smile.

"Hey, do you think you'll _ever_ hook up with anyone?" Venus asked Uranus and Neptune.

All the senshi and the generals turned to look at them. "Yeah, Haruka," Neptune teased. 
"Do you consider yourself to be in a relationship right now?"

Uranus coughed. "Do _you_?"

"I do. You?"

"Yup."

The others looked at them quizzically. "Well, who are these guys?" Serenity asked. "Do
we know them?"

The two women laughed. "Oh yes, you do!" they chuckled.

"Well, who are they?"

The two pointed at each other and smiled.

"Oh... my..." Mars breathed. "I had no idea that you two were le--" she turned bright 
red. "NevermindwhatIwasjustabouttosay!"

They both laughed again.

"I don't see anything wrong with it," Jupiter commented. "I think you two look
cute together."

"'Cute'?" Uranus grimaced. "I hate that word... makes me think of those little
puppy dogs..."

Neptune poked her in the arm. "I see nothing wrong with the word... even if it
is innaccurate."

"Oh really? Well then, what am I, hmmm?"

"She's gotcha there," Venus teased. "Now what do you do?"

"I think you're incredibly beautiful," Neptune said.

"I am, aren't I?"

Neptune bopped her on the head.

"I think the correct response," Mercury said, "is 'so are you'."

"Ah well, I know she is, she knows she is, everybody knows she is, so why
reiterate it?"

The group continued talking for the next several minutes.

When everyone was finished eating, Queen Serenity stood and read a letter that
she'd received. The government of Uranus conveyed their thanks for solving the
problem of the Dark Kingdom on their planet. However, with the king dead, the
queen an alcoholic, and the prince missing for over a decade, they had no ruler.
They asked for Princess Uranus to return and take the throne. Queen Serenity
looked up from the letter to judge Uranus's reaction. Uranus paled with anger.
"How long will it take to establish communications with them?"

"Hmmm... I am not sure. Many of their communications systems are down..."

Immora suddenly piped up, "You do use crystals for communications, correct?"

Uranus cocked an eyebrow. "Yes, but my planet has an unusual rotation and sometimes
the signals cannot be aligned correctly--"

"I can establish a link for you. We use crystal spheres for communicating in my
school too. I can get through even if your crystals can't."

She opened her closed fist and a ball of glass about as big around as her head
appeared. She handed it to Uranus, who carefully held it. "Can you get me
through to General Toren?" she asked. "He is in charge of the army and knows me
well."

Immora nodded. A face appeared in the ball; Toren. "Who the hell is using
this---huh? Princess?"

Uranus narrowed her eyes. "Yes, it is. What _idiot_ decided that _I_ had to come
back and take the throne?"

Toren turned an angry red. "It was I. Look, we don't have a ruler and the people
are panicking. They think we're going to be attacked again. We need someone here
to restore order. Things are too chaotic to vote on a ruler, so we need a member
of the royal family to take over."

"Why don't you track down my _brother_ then?!"

"He's been gone forever! We tried to, but we couldn't find him. Must've changed
his name or something."

Uranus gave an exasperated sigh. "Why not get my mom sober for once and give it to 
_her_!"

Toren rolled his eyes. "You don't seem to understand, Princess. She can't
possibly lead. She's too weak and we're probably going to lose her any day now.
Too much alcohol in her system. How the heck did she get started on that?!"

"Don't ask. Look, I don't want to rule! Why not _you_? You lead the armed
forces, you should be capable of it."

Toren was fuming. "Haruka!! I explained this to you already! You get your ass
over here and take the throne! Your mother is dying so you should be here with
her! If you don't get over here, I have full authority to arrest you--"

"Fine!" Uranus snapped, and she hurled the ball at the wall. It shattered into
millions of tiny shards. A few glanced off her but she didn't seem to notice.

Immora sadly walked over and made the shards float in the air, and they s
himmered into nonexistence. The other Senshi were frozen in shock. "How long
will she have to stay there," Neptune whispered.

Queen Serenity kept her eyes facing the floor. "I don't know. It could be days,
it could be months. I have no way of telling."

A healer walked in and said softly, "Zoisite is awake now. He'll be very weak
from now on, but he's alive."

The Senshi and Generals silently walked into the healer's room. Immora,
unnoticed, went out into the gardens.



Time: a few minutes later
Place: the healer's room



Zoisite struggled a bit, but he managed to sit up. "Well hello," he said
weakly. "Minako?"

Venus walked over and gave him a tight hug. Zoisite kissed her forehead and 
smiled up at her. "Do you forgive me for what happened? I sorry if I hurt
you, but I _was_ under their control."

She nodded. "Of course I forgive you."

Saturn was standing motionless. They could barely tell she was breathing, and
she wasn't blinking. Jupiter waved a hand in front of her face. "Are you okay,
Saturn?" she asked in concerned tones.

Saturn blinked once. "I... that Immora... something's happening!" She suddenly
rushed out and headed in the direction of the gardens.

The Generals stayed behind as the Senshi rushed after her in surprise. She was
moving quite fast and didn't seem to be about to tire.

They were shocked and quickly stopped in the gardens. Saturn was several feet
in front of them, a look of horror in her eyes. "Saturn Senshi Make-up," she
said softly, transforming into Sailor Saturn. She held her glaive in front of
her, not moving. The other Senshi transformed, but stood behind.

Immora was in the very center of the gardens, which lay in the center of the
palace grounds, tears trailing down her face. Her eyes were glowing bright
white; her irises and pupils couldn't be seen. She hovered above the grass,
wearing a strange black outfit that appeared to be all one-piece, covering her
from neck to fingertips to feet, wearing black leather boots over that. Her hair
billowed around her as she floated. The sky went red and suddenly a chill gale
blew through the palace grounds. The Senshi shivered and quickly huddled
together to share body heat. Immora's eyes flashed red a moment, and the debris
swirling around didn't even touch her. "I'm so sorry," she said in a choked
voice, to herself. "I have to destroy it all. I-I never wanted to, but I have
to!" She crossed her arms over her chest, her hands resting on their opposite
shoulders. A bright flash started to spread through the Palace.

"NOOOOO!!!!!!!" Saturn screamed. She dove forward with the Silence Glaive and
plunged the blade into Immora's chest. Immora stood stock still, her feet
touching the ground. Blood trickled down her and she gave a little gasp. Saturn
slid the blade out.

Immora stood shaking a moment, the awful wound plainly visible. She closed her
eyes, still shaking. The wound slowly closed up, the only sign it was there was
the blood still on her skin and the tear in her clothing that bared some of her
pale skin. "W-why?" she whispered. She lifted her hands and a burst of energy
pulsed through the air, forcing Saturn's footing back. "LEAVE ME ALONE!!!"
Immora shouted, increasing the energy.

"SILENCE GLAIVE... APPLY!!!" Saturn shouted. She didn't use enough power to
destroy the grounds around her, but the resulting energy caused Immora to slide
across the ground on her back, crying out in pain.

Silver Moon was about to rush to help, when Pluto held her back. "We can't hope
to beat her. She's most powerful archmage in existence. Saturn could possibly 
stand a chance on her own though."

"Wouldn't she have a better chance if we helped?"

"No, not really. It has to do with magic. I'll explain later."

Immora held her hands out again, and a burst of metal shards appeared, racing
for Saturn.

"SILENCE BLOCK!!!" she shouted just in time to block them from hitting her. Her
eyes went red and a burst of black energy appeared, rushing to Immora. Immora
crossed her arms over her chest again, and the energy swirled around her. She
flinched slightly, and it slowly disappeared.

"Amazing," Pluto said in awe. "Mistress Nine's abilities were transferred to
Saturn when she was possessed in the Original Time. Somehow, she forced them to
be dormant, but a latent ability has given her access to them again."

"Anta shurru jasida kariman!" Immora shouted. A large fire swirled around here,
spreading through the grass quickly. Saturn screamed in pain and tried to douse
the flames.

Suddenly the Generals appeared with Uranus and Neptune by their side. The
flames died down as Neptune sent a wave of water skimming across the flames. The
Generals stood by the Senshi, not offering any more help.

"She's weakening!" Pluto called. "She's using incantations now; she can't
concentrate enough to use her magic without them!"

"Arrrggghhh!!" Saturn's eyes glowed with red light as she sent another wave of
energy at Immora. Immora flinched and was forced back. "What do I have to do to
stop you?!" Saturn shouted as a burst of energy from her Silence Glaive knocked
Immora onto her back.

She stood, blood trickling down her lip. Her eyes were blazing in light, and
she looked frighteningly powerful as she stood, clothed in black, with an amazingly 
calm look on her face. An aura of blue and silver swirled around her. "Spirit of 
death," she started, "come to me. Aid me in my battle. Spirit of death, go to her!" 
A small black form appeared near her, surrounded in smoke. It suddenly shot at Saturn, 
then stopped. "I am your master, why do you stop?!" Immora snarled. The spirit 
disappeared.

Saturn smirked. "I am the Dark Messiah, whether possessed or not. I am aligned
with creation, destruction, death... It cannot harm me because _I_ am the master."

Immora sneered, "You cannot defeat me! You _will_ not!" A burst of light around 
her surrounded both her and Saturn. Saturn screamed in pain, and sweat trickled 
down Immora's forehead. "Nanu ast sheira killisa!" Saturn was forced to her knees 
screaming as the sky blackened and she was writhing in pain.

Suddenly she reached out with her glaive, glowing white now, and slammed it
against Immora's side. The light connected with Immora and her eyes lost their
bright glow, her wide eyes with their strange pupils appeared. "No!!!" she
shrieked. "Manna tarra carnasonu shiva!" Saturn fell to her side, unconscious,
her face twisted in pain. Immora moaned and fell over on her belly, face
sideways. Her face was white as a sheet and her breathing ragged.

The sky turned it's regular color. "Saturn!!!" Silver Moon shouted, quickly
rushing forward. She gather Saturn up in her arms and started to heal her.

Pluto went over to check on Immora. She was bloodied less than Saturn, but
Saturn had burn wounds also. Pluto carefully lifted Immora. Her breathing was
too shallow and her heartbeat low. "Poor thing," Pluto whispered. "She can't
die, and unless she is healed, she will remain in pain forever. She doesn't even
have the comfort of death's release to look forward too."

Immora coughed, blood trickling down her face. She slowly opened her eyes. Dark
circles lined them, and she flinched at the bright light of the sun. "pl-pluto?
please... call sharra here... i need her help..."

Pluto nodded.

Saturn opened her eyes, healed. "Why did you fight her?!" Neo-Moon shouted.

"She was going to destroy the entire palace... destroy the moon... kill us all... I
don't know why she would, but I had to stop her."

A woman suddenly appeared in a flash of light. An elf. She had brown skin, long
purple hair, and slanted ice blue eyes. Her pointed ears went out to the sides
[think Ail and Ann]. She wore a simple purple dress. She came forward and lifted
Immora into her arms carefully. "I am terribly sorry this happened. This should
never have occurred. I am very sorry and apologize for anything she's done. We
should have never let her come." She disappeared with Immora.

Jupiter helped Saturn to her feet. "Uhnnnn... I ache all over," she moaned.
"She's pretty powerful! I'm gonna go take a hot bath." She stumbled off to her
room.

"That was awful," Mercury whispered, face pale. "She could have been killed!"

"She apparently knew what she was doing," Uranus said, clothed in her princess
dress. She was carrying some bags with her. She looked down sadly. "I have to
leave for my home planet in half an hour. I guess I should go ahead and say
goodbye to you guys."

"Not yet," Venus chirped. "We're gonna go to the shuttle with you and see ya
off!"

The Generals went back to their rooms as the Senshi followed Uranus to the
docking bay to wait for her shuttle. She didn't say much, but she told them,
"I'll try to come back in a couple of weeks. Don't wanna miss the ball," she
said with a wink. 

The Senshi smiled and hugged her. The shuttle landed and called for passengers
to get aboard. Uranus handed her bags to a man there who put them away. "Well,
see you later," she said with a sad smile to them. "Hope I don't cause the
economy to crash or anything. I'm not good at leading a bunch of people unless
it's a battle."

They smiled, a couple wiping tears away. Neptune came forward and gave her a
long hug, then they kissed briefly. "Bye," she whispered. "I love you."

"I love you too," Uranus said with a smile as she walked up the ramp. The door
closed and the shuttle left.

"This sucks," Usagi commented dryly.



Time: a bit later
Place: somewhere in another reality



"OWW!!! THAT HURTS!!!!" The scream echoed through the whole building.

"Well stop moving!" Another voice shouted.

Immora winced as Ka'ina, poured hot water over her and rubbed balm over her arms. 
Immora was in one of the large baths [public bath style]. Ka'ina brushed her long 
dark hair behind her ear as her eyes, a swirl of silver, green, and blue, fixed on 
Immora's. "You shouldn't have gotten into that fight. Now you're magic is going to 
be weakened for awhile."

Immora snarled, "You could at least heal me with yours!"

Ka'ina cupped her chin and forced Immora to look at her. "Look, the way I see
it, you got into this fight and got hurt, you deserve this. You shouldn't have
tried to destroy the palace. Why the hell were you going to anyways?!"

"I don't know," Immora moaned. "I don't know! That insanity spell is coming back I
think! Argh! Too many spells are on me, I can't tell which spells are active or
not!"

Ka'ina sighed and scrubbed Immora's back. "Did you _ever_ apologize to Pluto
for that little incident several hundred years ago?"

"I only cracked a _tiny_ part of the Time Gate when she refused to let me take control! 
Not enough to mess anything up!"

Ka'ina sighed and walked out, leaving Immora to seethe in the water. "Doesn't
anyone believe me anymore?" Immora whined.

"Don't whine," Ka'ina scolded her. "You are much too old for that!"

"I am not! I might be old in years, but I sure don't FEEL LIKE IT!!!"

Ka'ina sighed as she shut the door. 'I feel awful, using this spell on
her... she doesn't even know about this one...' Tying a robe around
her waist, she started to walk to her room. 'I used my magic in the
wrong way. She _forbid_ me from using this type of magic... but I
still did it. I hate myself sometimes...' She walked into her room
and flopped down on the bed. 'But I love her. And this spell makes
her return that and forget about that Akeru person. She's mine now,
and unless she breaks my spell, she'll STAY mine!'



					**********

			END AWAKENINGS ~~~ NEXT: ENCOUNTERS