HI HI, MINNA-CHAN! Wow, been lots of stuff going on lately. I haven't had much time to write, and I had *a lot* of trouble writing this chapter for some reason. So please enjoy my hard work. I put my blood, sweat and tears (it was very soggy) into this so you have no choice but to enjoy it. If you don't, I'll do terrible, horrible things to you! *maniacle laughter. Doctor comes and sedates Stef- chan.* That was for you Ti'ana! It's a private joke. Well, I'd like to recommend a few authors out there for all you people, k? They either just started out, or they aren't getting a lot of mail and I am begging you to read their stuff. Or I'm being nice to my friends. I'm only giving names. If you want stories, mail me. Mail me no matter what, k? Butterfly Dias Flac Nicole Cherre Mako-chan Lianne Lilac Summers (When you're done reading her stuff, mail her and yell at her to hurry and finish her stories!) Jannz Alicia Blade Lady Starra Ti'ana the Insane...(Uh, leave the last part out when you mail her.) When you're done reading my story, please go check them out! *gives puppy dog eyes* Please? ON WITH CHAPTER THREE! Quote of the Week: "They were at the wrong place, at the wrong time. Naturally, they became heros." Princess Leia; Star Wars Book Episode Four. FINAL AWAKENINGS CHAPTER 3 _________Mars' Burning Justice_________ Darien sighed as he looked at his watch. "Four," he mumbled under his breath as he sampled his coffee again. He chuckled softly as he remembered that Serena used to be like this all the time. She was hardly ever late now. However, in the past... "Hi, Darien," came a masculine voice. Darien looked up and smiled. "Hey, Andrew. How ya doing?" Darien asked, his grin growing wider. "How are things going with you and Mina?" he questioned with a teasing voice. Andrew just blushed slightly at his friends' comment. When Rita had returned from Africa the year before, the two had done nothing but fight. After several weeks of constant arguing and nagging, the two finally broke up. Andrew had been devastated for a long time. However, Serena being the friendly, cheerful, and devious person that she was, set Andrew up on a 'blind date.' Thing was, that when both of them showed up, they knew each other and realized what their friends were attempting to do. Mina and Andrew began to date steadily after that and had been happy on account of it. Before Andrew could answer, a voice interrupted their conversation. "HI DARIEN!" sung a cheerfully sweet voice. Darien smiled broadly. There was no one else in the world that had that voice. Turning in his chair, Darien was greeted by two girls with meatball hair and four others standing behind them grinning back. "Hi, Meatball Heads! Hey girls," he greeted them back. "Andrew!" Mina squealed as she ran to the mans arms and hugged him fiercely. Andrew embraced her back and then pecked her cheek. "Hi, Mina! How was your day?" Andrew asked. The two began to converse as the others took their seats. "OK, who's idea was it again for those two to get together, again?" Lita asked as she glanced over her shoulder at the couple. "Serena's," Darien told her. "Hey, you gotta admit, they are a cute couple." "Gag me," Raye muttered under her breath. Serena rolled her eyes at Raye as Rini did the same. "Just because you're too stuck up to go out with Chad..." Serena started. "How was school today, Rini?" Darien asked before a another fight could break out. It was a safe enough topic. 'Unless she despises school as much as her mother does...' he thought with a grimace. Rini's eyes lit up at the mention of school. Although she looked an acted like her mother for the most part, she did like school. "It was great! And guess what?" she asked. She didn't give anyone time to guess, "Melissa still remembers me! She didn't forget!" The young child began to dance around the booth, clapping her hands. Apparently, Darien's distraction wasn't enough. "I AM NOT STUCK UP! Chad just isn't my type!" Raye told Serena with a sneer. Serena rolled her eyes again, "Raye! It is soooooooooooooo obvious you like him! Jeez! Give the poor man a chance! Besides, you two have gone on a lot of dates lately! I've seen you!" As Raye opened her mouth to protest but Serena cut her off, "Have I ever steered you wrong?" the girl asked innocently. Raye snorted, "I could stay here all day and we would never finish telling the number of times that you've been wrong!" "OH YEA-" Serena was cut off by a new voice, "Hi girls! What's going on? Am I interrupting anything?" Everyone at the table stopped and looked up to the new voice. There stood a very pretty girl with long black hair in a braid down her back. Her eyes were a piercing beautiful blue that held a certain wisdom. She was dressed as the others were, in the dark blue and white sailor suit uniform for Crossroads High, and was about five foot four. (This is the Juuban high school uniform in the anime and manga.) Serena and the other girls who attended Crossroads grinned at the new arrival, "Hi, Rose!" Serena squealed. "What are you up to?" she asked as she made room for her at the booth. Rose smiled gratefully and sat down next to her new friend. "Well, you told me about this place and that it had great food. Not to mention Mina kept boasting about her boyfriend, who is supposed to be incredibly cute." She raised her eyebrows and smiled mischievously, "Is he?" The others couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah he's cute," Serena agreed with her own grin. She turned to her own boyfriend, "And he doesn't feel that studying should be considered a date!" Rose glanced at the man Serena was looking at. She drew a sharp intake of breath as a flash of light burst into her eyes. <:Vision:> She was walking down a long corridor with a man who she felt very close to. "Are you nervous?" she asked him. The man looked at her. "No. It's just another meeting with royalty. Even if they are from the moon, they are still royalty. Nothing we haven't handled before." She smiled, "I hear the Princess is 'beautifully angelic.' Or that's what the Nobles are saying." "After looking at your face for so long, a youma would look heavenly." She gaped at him and then ran after him, threatening to bean him over the head with her staff. <:End Vision:> Serena waved her hand in front of Roseanna's face. "Hey ROSE! Are you alright?" she asked. Rose's sight came back into focus and she shook her head of the last cobwebs that the dream had caused. "Yeah, I'm ok. Just thinking..." she trailed off. Raye eyed her suspiciously. 'She is different. Her aura...what is she?' "Well, if you're sure you're fine...Anyway, I'd like you to meet Andrew Furuhata." Serena pointed to a guy with blond hair who had his arm around Mina's shoulders. "He's the 'totally cute' boyfriend of Mina's. And," she jerked her thumb to a girl with long raven black hair, "this is Raye Hino. And last but-" "Certainly least!" Lita said with a grin. Darien shot her a look that could freeze a youma in its tracks. Lita still grinned, but didn't say anything. "*NOT* least," Serena corrected her friend. "This is my boyfriend, Darien Shields," she pointed to Darien and he smiled at Rose. "Guys this is a new girl at out school, Roseanna Shilds; or Rose." A course of 'Hi' and 'pleased to meet you' rang from the table. A small girl with pink candy hair in the same style as Serena, Rose noticed, tugged at Serena's skirt and looked to her with puppy dog eyes. Serena patted the little girls' head affectionately, "I would never forget you, Sweetheart," Serena told her. "And this is my cousin Rini." "Hello, Rini!" Rose said in a happy voice. Rini smiled, a wave of sadness washing over her eyes for a moment. "Hello...Rose" she whispered. Serena could feel some tension coming from Rini and gave her a squeeze. "But, you can call her spore, fungus, rabbit, brat, and-" she was cut off by Rini giving her an infuriated look. Serena sighed in submission, "Just call her Rini. Little spoiled bunny!" "I always get what I want!" Rini told her with a smile. Darien looked at Rose for a moment and narrowed his eyes at her. She was so familiar... <:Vision:> He was walking down a long hallway with a girl. "I hear the Princess is 'beautifully angelic.' Or that's what the Nobles are saying." His reply was witty, "After looking at your face for so long, a youma would look heavenly." He then laughed and ran off. "WHAT?!?!?!?! You're gonna get it for that! You hear me, you imbecile?! YOU'RE GONNA DIE! DIE!" the girl yelled and screamed while waving a staff over her head. He just laughed and kept running. <:End Vision:> Darien glanced at Rose again, "Excuse me, Rose," he began. "But, have we met before?" he asked her seriously. Rose looked startled, but shook her head. "I don't think so. I have a bad memory though. It's possible because, you seem very familiar to me, too," she told him thoughtfully. Darien nodded and then his watched beeped. "Darn. Guys, we gotta go." The girls looked at him confused. "Remember, *study* group today!" he hinted them. "OH! Right! The *study* group!" Serena exclaimed in a not so subtle way of saying that it *wasn't* a study group. "Sorry guys! We do gotta go!" The girls gathered their things quickly, and practically ran for the door. Serena stayed behind a moment longer and smiled at Rose and Andrew. "Hey Rose, why don't you come to the Cherry Hill Temple tomorrow and study with us? We can become better friends that way!" Rose nodded an affirmative and smiled in reply. "Great! Bye guys!" she called as she took Rini's hand and followed the others out the door. Andrew started laughing the moment they were out. Rose looked up at him strangely. Catching her look, Andrew gave his reason for laughing at her. "Up until about two years ago, Serena hated to study and wouldn't do it unless she was forced to. When she started dating Darien, he was a big influence on her and she started to study more. It's still hard to imagine or believe that Serena willingly studies with her friends almost everyday!" Rose smiled and looked to the door that the others had left through. 'What is it about Darien that inspired such a vision? I'll have to talk to Terry about it.' ************************************************************************* The six girls and Darien ran as fast as they could to Raye's home. They were *very* *late.* Something that rarely, if ever, happened anymore. Even with Serena. "Oh! Luna *huff* is *huff* going to *puff* kill us!!!" Serena yelled as she ran faster. "No kidding!" Mina yelled as Serena caught up with them. "Come on!" Darien yelled to them as he picked Rini up and held her close. "We've gotta hurry!" "RIGHT!" everyone yelled as they picked up more speed. ************************************************************************* Meanwhile, Luna and Artemis were *patiently* waiting for the girls and Darien at the Temple. Well...*some* were waiting patiently. "Where in the world can they be?!" Luna bellowed at the top of her lungs. "I mean, *Jedite* is back! He's back! Somehow he has survived along with Rubeus! Who knows how many more there could be! It figures that they would start being late when the Negaverse showed up again! And even Dar..." Artemis sighed and dropped his head, somehow managing to tune Luna's yelling out. 'I hope for their sakes that they either get here soon, or not at all!' The door to the Fire room was thrown open and in stumbled six girls and one young man, all of them breathing hard. "Sorry we're late, Luna!" Serena started to explain. "But-" "No excuses today, Serena. Or any of you. You can get away with it today, but I expect all of you to be on time from now on." With that, she turned away and walked to Serena; plopping herself down next to her. Artemis just shook his head. 'And then she doesn't discipline them... THE WORLD *MUST* BE ENDING!' "Well," Amy began as all of them took their respective places around the Great Fire. "We all know why we're here..." "Yeah," Lita snorted. "To figure out why some Nega-punks who have been dead for years are suddenly finding life interesting again." Rini looked up at her parents and noticed that they were mirroring the expressions of everyone in the room. They were angry. She had been told about what had happened at the school, and how long Jedite had been dead. She knew that there was some higher power at work that was causing this. There had to be. "Rini," Serena began quietly. Rini snapped out of her thoughts and turned to her mother. "Yes, Mommy?" she asked timidly. 'Don't ask! Don't ask! Don't ask!' Serena pulled her little princess into her lap and stroked her hair gently. "When you came back here," Rini gulped, "what did your parents tell you about what was going on in the future?" Serena looked down at her daughter and held her breath. Rini hadn't told them anything at the meeting yesterday. Only that the future was in danger and she had been sent back because the others felt she was in more danger at home then in the past. Serena had seen through her daughter's lies and knew there was much more to the story then what she was admitting. The only question was 'What?' Rini kept her eyes away from her friends and family. All of the Sailor Scouts had always been able to read a person's thoughts and feelings through their eyes. If they looked into hers', they would know that she was deceiving them. "They didn't tell me anything. I was only told that I would be safer in the past. I didn't even know who was really attacking. I had only seen Rubeus. I'm sorry, but I don't know anything." 'I'm sorry, Mommy. Daddy. Please forgive me.' Serena sighed. 'She's lying again. What happened?' "It's ok, Rini. Don't worry, we'll figure this out eventually." "Right!" the others agreed. "It's gonna be tough, but we can manage!" Mina chirped happily. "Yeah!" Raye agreed. Darien smiled and ruffled his daughters' hair. "We won't loose!" he told her. "Now," he turned to Luna, "did you find out *how* this could be happening, Luna?" Luna sighed. "No, unfortunately. Well, anyway, we need a plan. That's what we're here to discuss." The others nodded in agreement and began to formulate strategies. ************************************************************************* Rose sighed and closed her math book. 'No wonder no one likes Ms. H except when she has a date! She gives so much homework!' There was a soft rapping on her door as she finished putting away all of her books. "Come in!" she called. A round and aged face peaked into her room. "Hello, dear!" Mrs. Jackson said cheerily. "How was school? I heard about that youma attack yesterday that you didn't tell me about; you're not hurt are you?" she questioned as she gave Rose the once-over. Rose smiled at the older woman. She was about fifty years old with a slightly aged face and brown hair with streaks of grey in it. Mrs. Jackson always insisted on wearing shorts or pants. Never liked dresses. 'Puts me at a disadvantage!' she had told her once, when she was younger. (AN: Ok, I know that Alicia Blade created a character called 'Dorothy Smith.' Though Dorothy is older, there may be many similar characteristics of Dorothy and Mrs. Jackson. This is not intentional. I wrote what Mrs. Jackson was supposed to be like a long time ago. Before Alicia even posted "Saying Goodbye to Dorothy Smith." That is a very good story that I suggest you read!) "No, ma'am! Wasn't hurt! Barely even saw the thing. I made new friends yesterday too!" Rose exclaimed, trying to change the subject. "Really?" Mrs. Jackson asked interested. "YEP!" Rose proceeded to tell Mrs. Jackson about her day and how she had met Serena and the other girls. She left out the part about having to fight the youma and transforming into Sailor Earth...she just didn't think Mrs. Jackson would believe that. "She also introduced me to her other friends, Raye Hino, Andrew Furuhata and Darien Shields-" "Did you say Darien Shields?" Mrs. Jackson interrupted. "Well, yes. Why?" Rose asked. Mrs. Jackson smiled. "Why, he used to live here! When he was six, he came to us with amnesia. Never did get back his memories. Lost both of his parents. You read the letter I wrote you, right? Well he was the young man who was always lonely and shut the world out," she explained. "He was?" Rose asked wonderingly. "He sure seemed open and friendly to me...but then again, Serena is his girlfriend. You can't stay inside of a shell with her around!" Mrs. Jackson laughed. "I suppose not. Well, if you see him again tell him that I said 'hello' and would like to see him again, alright?" "Yep! I'll do that!" Mrs. Jackson thanked her and left. Rose watched her leave and sighed. "We could have problems with talking here, Rose. We need to be careful." Rose gasped and whirled to the voice. "GOD TERREN! Don't scare me like that!" she yelled to him. "Sorry, but I'm just telling you. Also, it's gonna be hard for me to hide here, so I may spend my time in other places, ok?" "Yes, I suppose," Rose answered. "HEY! I've got some extra money, let's go shopping!" Terren opened his mouth to protest, but it did little good. Rose grabbed her purse and her guardian and ran out the door with both of them. ************************************************************************* "A rather nice place to attack, don't you agree, love?" asked a man hidden in the shadow of a dark alleyway. The woman beside him smiled wickedly. "Yes. There is plenty of energy here. Humans apparently love to waste their energy on such foolish activities." The man nodded. "They are quite foolish. However, we must reawaken the gateway to this realm. And to do that, we need energy. Care to do the honors?" ************************************************************************* Raye aimlessly wandered the streets of the downtown Tokyo shopping district. The meeting had ended about an hour ago and everyone had left Raye's house to do what ever. Having a bit of spending money, Raye went shopping. 'There's nothing else to do,' she thought. Raye's mind began to drift to previous battles, and what had happened then. It was obvious that somehow their enemies were stronger then before, but Raye didn't know how it was possible. Raye's mind was violently jolted out of its train of thought as a wave of dark intentions slammed into her full force. Her body stopped moving and she turned and looked in every direction. Then she saw it. It hadn't made itself know to the populace yet, but from experience, Raye knew it would. And soon. Ducking into a nearby alleyway, Raye raised her hand into the air. "MARS STAR POWER!" When the offending light faded, Sailor Mars could hear people screaming. 'It's started!' she thought. Quickly, Mars pulled out her communicator and called the others for back up. ************************************************************************* Rose swore under her breath. "Another one?!" Rose ran down the street with Terren, keeping out of the way of the youma's path. "What?" Terren called. "You expected them to give up?!" A bright flash of red light attracted her attention while she was running. Suddenly, a girl in a red Sailor Suit ran out of an alleyway. 'Sailor Mars! She must have just transformed.' Rose ran into the alley she had abandoned and put her hand to the sky. "EARTH STAR POWER!" ************************************************************************* Sailor Mars watched her prey with a keen eye; analyzing it in Mercury's absence. The creature was another female. She was made of what appeared to be hard glass. Raye could see the reflection of her surroundings in the glass. Whenever it attacked, it shot spikes of glass at the people, pinning them down. Mars was through analyzing. Time to attack. "MARS CELESTIAL FIRE SURROUND!" The rings of fire missed their intended target, as she had sensed that someone was behind her and jumped to avoid the blast. "Who dares?" she hissed. "I dare!" Sailor Mars yelled as she stepped from her place in the shadows. "And so do I!" called a new voice. The other two looked up to see Sailor Earth standing on the roof of a nearby store. She jumped down and landed next to Sailor Mars. "What are you doing here?" Mars hissed at her. Sailor Earth was in shock. A long time ago, Sailor Mars was one of her best friends. But not now. She didn't remember anything. Swallowing hard Earth answered in an emotionless tone, "I am hear to help you, Sailor Mars. I do not wish to fight you or your friends, so please, allow me to assist you." Earth turned to Mars and looked her deep in her eyes. The demon gave an inhuman roar and through several spears at the two of them. Sailor Mars and Sailor Earth directed their attention back to the youma and gasped as the weapons came closer... "MOON TIARA MAGIC!" A spinning disk of energy was flung from out of nowhere and cleanly sliced the spikes into dust. "Disturbing happy people on a day of relaxing and shopping! I will not forgive you! I stand for love and justice and in the name of the Moon, I will punish you!" "Quit making speeches and just get down here and help, Sailor Moon!" Mars called to her meatball headed leader. Sailor Moon landed in-between Sailor Earth and Sailor Mars, along with Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Mercury. "What's the scoop on this one?" Moon asked her friends. Mercury pushed one of her earrings and her visor appeared on it. After a moment of analyzing the thing, which was very still suddenly she had a slight answer. "I believe that it will be weakened enough with fire attacks." "So that leaves Mars and you too, Sailor Earth," Sailor Moon told them. Sailor Mars shot a look at Earth's' direction. "Alright." "EARTH MAGMA BOIL!" The attack slammed into the demon, but again, did little damage. "NOT AGAIN!" Sailor Earth yelled. "What's happening to me?!" An evil, and very annoying, laugh sounded through the area. "Mirra**! Stand down! We would like to teach these brats a lesson!" a female voice called. Sailor Moon froze at the sound of the voice. "Zoisite!" she hissed under her breath, but loud enough for the others to here. "Aren't you forgetting someone?" asked a man's voice. "Malachite..." Tuxedo Mask whispered vehemently . "It's not possible!" "Hey guys! Sorry we're late, but-oh sh-!" yelled Jupiter. "It's impossible!" Venus protested as she took her place next to Jupiter. "Nothing is impossible!" Zoisite told them. "Only unlikely." Mars rolled her eyes. "And when did you become the voice of reason, Zoisite?" she asked sarcastically. Zoisite glared at Mars. "I'd watch my tongue if I were you, Mars. You'll never be able to win!" "Do you two have any idea how many times we've heard that?" Tuxedo Mask asked. "You should have stayed where Beryl and Serenity put you. In hell!" "Hmm...That's where you and your precious princess will be going!" Zoisite said with a sneer. Sailor Earth felt her blood boil. These people had been dead for years, according to Terren. And now they were threatening her princess. "Not in this millennium, Witch!" "EARTH TSUNAMI SPLASH!" Zoisite and Malachite screamed as the raging waters slammed into them full force. Malachite looked Sailor Earth straight in the eye, "Mirra! Change that! Kill them all, except for-" Jupiter butted in, "Wait, let us guess...Sailor Moon and the Rabbit?" she asked mockingly. "Really, don't you know that we're never going to give them up to you guys!?" Zoisite and Malachite didn't answer. But Mirra did. With a cry she flung thousands of two-inch spears at the Sailor Scouts. Tuxedo Mask covered himself and Sailor Moon with his cape; though it did little good. The shards of glass went thorough his cape and pinned Sailor Moon and himself to the ground, along with Mercury and Venus and Jupiter. Sailor Earth used her staff to block the shards from hitting her, and Mars jumped out of the way. Mars narrowed her eyes. Remembering Mercury's words, she powered up. "MARS FIRE IGNITE!" Followed by that was her other force. "MARS CELESTIAL FIRE SURROUND!" Both attacks hit Mirra, but didn't do any damage. Malachite laughed. "This is good. You never give up do you, Sailor Mars? Going to keep trying to protect them even though you can't! You have no power!" Sailor Mars froze and looked at Malachite. 'No...It's not possible! I have power, but why isn't it working? Is he right...? I've always been alone. And now...' An image of a girl with meatballs on her head flashed through her head. Her best friend would die if she gave up! "YEAH RIGHT! EAT THIS NEGA-TRASH!" "MARS..." Sailor Mars placed her palms together and felt fire burning between them. "FLAME..." She pulled her hands apart and flames danced within them. The fire spun in circles around her, as it did when she transformed. She, herself, began to twirl in a dance like turn. "WAVE!" Sailor Mars stopped abruptly. The fire stopped spinning and went to her palms. She flung the inferno at Mirra with all her might. The other Sailor Scouts watched in awe as the new power of Mars flew towards the youma. An inhuman scream erupted from Mirra as the flames hit her. When the flame was finished burning, all that was left of Mirra was a small piece of glass. Malachite and Zoisite became furious. "That's not possible!" Zoisite yelled. "That was one of our strongest youmas!" "Guess you should have traded it in for the new model!" Sailor Moon yelled to them as she stood up. "MOON SCEPTER ELIMINATION!" Malachite gabbed Zoisite by the hand and teleported to the other side of the street. "This isn't over! You'll never beat all of us. I highly doubt that Serenity and Endymion will be able to save any of you. Or themselves!" he called as they teleported away. Sailor Earth ran and helped the others up. Sailor Moon was right behind her. Mars came up from behind them. She watched as Earth began to pull the spikes out of the ground around Venus. "Thanks, Sailor Earth," Venus told her with a grateful smile. "Man, that thing was weird! Not to mention it was Malachite and Zoisite..." "I agree," Sailor Earth whispered. The others turned to her in slight surprise. "I was told that they were dead. I don't remember them really, but-" She realized what she was saying and put her outer mask back on. "Good bye." Tuxedo Mask turned his head and saw Earth rush off. He hurried forward and grabbed Sailor Earth's arm in a vice like grip. "Let go," Sailor Earth whispered quietly as she struggled with all the strength she had. Tuxedo Mask did as he was told but spoke anyway, "Ignore Mars, she doesn't trust people she doesn't know." "I've noticed," Earth spat bitterly. Tuxedo Mask sighed and continued, "But know this, I trust you. I trust you...Sailor Earth." Sailor Earth lifted her head in shock and turned to Tuxedo Mask, only to find that he and the others were already gone. "Why do you trust me is all I want to know. I have barley proven my loyalty to the Princess and yet you trust me." "From what I hear, Sailor Moon is always the trusting one. Tuxedo Mask scarcely used to trust them, but I guess he's gotten a lot better now," said a familiar voice. Sailor Earth sighed and detransformed. "Terry, do you always have to do that? It's a good thing I'm semi used to it now! You'd probably drive me crazy!" she told him in exasperation. Terren grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, Rosie. Come on, let's go home. I'm hungry!" Rose laughed heartily and picked him up. The two chatted away the rest of the walk home. ************************************************************************* Serena sighed as she leaned back and nestled herself in Darien's embrace. At that moment, the world seemed so peaceful, so right. She did have to wonder how long it would last. Rini had opted not to come with them on the date, saying that they needed 'quality time.' 'For being only eight years old, she sure is a smart child!' Serena thought. Things were moving so fast now, and Serena felt as though she were lagging behind in some great race. I was a race she wasn't aloud to loose. She sighed again. "Penny for you thoughts, my love?" Darien asked her after he heard her sigh again. Darien looked down at her face and smiled. She looked calm, even though she wasn't. He brushed some loose bangs from her delicate features and kissed her forehead. Serena looked up at him as he continued to stroke her hair. "I just- I- oh, I don't know! I'm confused, I guess. All of these old enemies are coming back, and the future is in danger and our daughter-" Darien didn't let her finish her statement. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her with all the love he had in him. When they finally broke apart for air, Serena gazed up at him with a love struck look. "Wow...I love it when you do that." Darien couldn't help but laugh and press his forehead to hers. "Serena, everything is going to be alright. Just see. I promise that I will protect you, the Sailor Scouts and Rini." Serena smiled and kissed Darien tenderly on the cheek. The two snuggled together for a moment longer. "Darien..." Serena whispered quietly into his ear. "What did you talk to Sailor Earth about today?" he asked her. Darien hesitated for a second, "I...really didn't talk to her. I just told her that even if the others didn't trust her, I did. I know that the others don't." Serena tilted her chin up towards him, "I think you're right, Darien. Even if we don't know her, she doesn't seem to be an enemy. After all, she did save us." Darien simply nodded. 'But then, why does she feel so familiar?' The two watched the moon steadily rise over the lake without another word spoken between them. ************************************************************************* Rose sat on the windowsill of her room. She couldn't get what Tuxedo Mask had said to her out of her mind. 'But know this, I trust you. I trust you...Sailor Earth...' For some reason, though she had never really spoken to him, she felt so close to Tuxedo Mask. A closeness she had never felt with anyone before. It felt so right, somehow. She sighed. 'Why are things so damned confusing? Ever since I got here, nothing has been easy.' She glanced up to the full moon, "Serenity, what am I supposed to do? Where is your daughter?" ************************************************************************* Raye sat, meditating, in front of the sacred fire. "Great Fire. I seek your guidance. Tell me of Sailor Earth and our enemy. Who is the new warrior and how are the enemies returning?" Raye's head snapped up. She gasped at the site she saw before it died in the flames of Mars. "The Moon Kingdom? What does it have to do with Sailor Earth and our enemy?" To be continued... **Mirra- as in "Mirror." Got it? So, how was it? Like? Hate? Want to ban me from 200 countries? Either way, I want mail people! Thanks to all you wonderful people who have been writing me! You are all too sweet! Stef