Chapter 1 of Stars of Light (revised) By Adrienne Homepage at http://members.tripod.com/~Elsha/index.html Any comments, ideas, or suggestions would be much appreciated so E-mail me. Chapter 1 "Briiiinnngg" The blaring sound rang loudly. Usagi shot out of bed and slammed her hand on the alarm clock shutting it off. She groaned rubbing her temples with her fingers, attempting to get rid of her non existing headache. Slipping on her bunny slippers she made her way to her bathroom. Usagi splashed cold water on her face and managed to rub the remaining signs of sleep. She searched through the cabinets and found her toothbrush, brushing her teeth she glanced at the mirror and saw her reflection look back at her bleary eyed. "I am definitely not a morning person" Usagi said out loud to herself. Drying her face on a little rough white towel she grabbed her laid out clothes from the bed where Luna sat patiently. "Thanks Luna." She said as she grabbed the white blouse and jeans on. "No problem Usagi, I may as well say merry Christmas, even though we aren't Christians and Japanese people usually don't celebrate it." Luna jumped from the bed and landed gracefully on the floor. "I'll leave you to change, you had better get ready or you'll be late meeting the other senshi." "uh huh," Usagi agreed not listening while she put her clothes on. She walked out of her room and went down the stairs to her parents and where food awaited her. "Morning Usagi-chan" Her dad's head stuck in the newspaper greeted her. While her mother put her breakfast on her plate. "Morning!" Usagi replied stuffing her mouth with a bread and eating at an incredible speed. Usagi after finshing her food without a word suddenly bolted towards the door. She kicked her bunny slippers in the air and slipped her shoes on. Usagi grabbed a bag filled with presents and slammed the door behind her leaving a bewildered father and mother to stare after her. "That girl..." Her father began to say but was cut off when one of the airbone slippers hit his forehead. "Don't even bother, I don't think we'll ever understand her," Ikuko said as she patted her husbands shoulder, taking the slipper that had landed on his lap. Ikuko threw the slippers where they were supposed to go while Usagi's father rubbed his head. * * * *

Haruka ran a hand through her blond hair and sighed in exasperation. She glanced at her watch again and shot a look of despair at her companion Michiru who was snuggled against her. "Those girls are late again," Haruka remarked as she sipped her coffee. "They are young and so full of life, there is so much to do at that age. Sometimes they should be allowed to get away with being late, you really can't blame them," Michiru quietly replied. Michiru reflected on when she had been a child. Her past hadn't been exceptionally great but she knew how much responsibility she felt now that she was older. Being one of the senshi a protector of the Earth didn't exactly help her feel like she was care free. "If they are so full of life like you say, I am sure they would have enough energy to be on time," Haruka grumbled. Haruka looked around to see if there was any sign of them. Still looking furtively around she spotted a brunette with brown eyes. Smiling Haruka gave the girl at the nearby table a wink. The girl blushed and turned away acting as if she hadn't seen him, or at least she thought Haruka was a him. "You shouldn't tease people like that," Michiru scolded slightly cross and frowned. "Who said I was teasing?" Haruka casually said as she brushed her unruly hair out of her face with her fingers. "Haruka..." Michiru began as she was abruptly stopped by a four curious faces looking at them with knowing grins. Sweat drops appeared on both Michiru and Haruka's head. Haruka quickly released Michiru from her arm and the girls began to giggle. Minako, Rei, Ami, and Makoto seated themselves on the opposite ends of the booth. "Hey," Haruka greeted them trying to sound as though nothing happened. "Hi Haruka, Michiru, How are you?" Said the inner senshi together. "Not bad at all," replied Haruka and Michiru nodded in agreement. The small wooden varnished table was streaked with shafts of sunlight and Haruka's keys flashed the bright light around as Haruka played with them. The girls ordered their drinks and chatted amiably together as they waited. "Aiyeeee!" Usagi came rushing in the room screaming sounding like she was doing a very bad imittation of Xena the warrior princess. She screeched to a halt and sat down as she saw her friends and was just in time to put her order in. "Hi everybody!" Usagi said enthusiastically breathing heavily as she unsuccessfully tried to get her breath back. She plopped her bag of presents loudly on the floor and sat herself beside Rei. By now everybody in the small café ¨ad turned to see who had made the strange cry and loud noises, their mouths agape in surprise. Noticing this Usagi's face turned a deep shade of red that couldn't be even called a blush. Her friends all began to have sweat drops and put their faces in their hands while Michiru and Haruka laughed. "Merry Christmas?" Usagi said hopefully trying to shrug off the unpleasant moment of shock, embarrassment, and laughter all due to her expense. She also hoped to begin trading gifts so she could get stuff. "Usagi you only remembered this day because you want presents," Rei teased her. "That isn't true at all!" Usagi said defensively then trailed off as everyone's attention were fixed on two figures approaching. "Hotaru..." Haruka and Michiru said together in shock. "Setsuna..." The inner senshi said in unison amazed. The two had not been seen ever since the battle with Galaxia. The two had disappeared and not a word had been heard from them. Haruka, Michiru and the inner senshi had all agreed not to try to contact Hotaru. For if there was a possibility Hotary had forgotten all they believed it would be best for her not to meet them. They all wanted Hotaru to live a normal life, as they all had wished in the deepest corner of their minds. There was utter silence or so it seemed for their gathered group of senshi. Hotaru jumped up and gave Haruka and Michiru a hug. "Haruka papa Michiru mama" She cried happily. "Daddy Tomoe allowed me to come and visit you all, Setsuna mama is taking care of me while I visit. We also brought gifts for you all." Haruka and Michiru smiled happy to see Hotaru but there minds were on dark thoughts. Hotaru had only showed up when there was trouble coming, for she was the most powerful of the senshi. The girl had never used the full extent of her power, they wondered what trouble could be big enough in the peaceful days they had to bring Hotaru to them. Even the inner senshi who looked happy and greeted Hotaru enthusiastically all looked at each other worriedly. All except Usagi of course who saw the bag of gifts and immediately perked up her mind on more gifts. "More presents!" She crowed in delight, fixing her stare to the bountiful bag. "So glad to see you both," she said serenely a greedy glow in her eyes. Everybody sweat dropped as they brought out their bag of gifts. Nothing could be accomplished until Usagi was assuaged of her great curiosity. Rei was first and opened her bag of presents and passed them to their owners as did the other senshi. The gifts of the inner senshi were of course nothing compared to the gifts that the outer senshi gave. But Haruka and Michiru didn't mind at all and they seemed pleased with the gifts bestowed upon them. Setsuna and Hotaru gave each of the Senshi little boxes and told them to open it. The small silver boxes revealed to their eyes coloured crystals with their planet signs on them all except one. "Wahhh!!! What's the deal here? Why does everyone have a pretty crystal except me?" She cried as she felt the form of her present through the white paper tissue which definitely did not feel anything like the round crystal everyone seemed to have. She pushed aside the tissue and was suddenly captivated by the small silver ring encased in a small glass case. Every one Oohed and Aahhed as she held it up for everyone to see. "I don't think you should be complaining," Rei said looking at her own gift slightly smiling. "The gifts we received from them are obviously connected to each of us specifically," she glanced up at Setsuna and Hotaru for confirmation. They both nodded acknowledging Rei's silent query. "The gifts that we give you are linked to you and will augment your power when you are mentally ready," Setsuna replied. As she uttered the words the senshi's power sticks appeared and the crystals were absorbed into them. Nothing seemed changed at all in there sticks although they could feel the power of the henshi sticks were far more powerfulwith potential energy. "You won't be able to see the change since you're Henshi sticks already contain Crystals, as you know crystals are see through. The crystals I gave you magnetize the power found within your already powerfull henshi sticks. However you cannot use the power they are not activated yet." Setsuna continued. The senshi grabbed their sticks and put them away. "Why hasn't the ring gone in my brooch?" Usagi complained. "Oh well I guess i'll just have put it on my finger it looks much better there any ways," she stuck her tongue out at Rei and they argued. Haruka and Michiru and the rest of the senshi except for Usagi who was busy admiring her ring turned to Setsuna for further explanation and answers. It was Haruka that voiced their thoughts. "So is this to say that there is a new enemy abroad and is our peaceful days over?" queried Haruka. Usagi turned and paid attention. "Our peaceful days over???" Usagi said and quieted down upset. "I actually don't know, while I was guarding the gates of time I saw twists that I have never seen before, big enough to mean serious trouble for us" Setsuna informed. A man dressed in a greean jacket over a black turtle neck and black pants made his way to their table. He placed his hands over Usagi's eyes. "Guess who?" The man asked laughingly. "Mamo-chan!" Usagi jumped and gave him a big hug "How are you?" she asked enthusiastically. He was beginning to answer her when he noticed Setsuna and Hotaru. He gave a questioning look at the severity and depression of the rest of the group. He asked what was going on, the senshi explained the gravity of their situation and the near ending of their new found peace. Suddenly there was a loud scream and every body was running down the streets. The girls marched to the bathroom and transformed into their suits while Mamoru took off to the guys bathroom. "Where is a good private place to change when you need one?" Complained Haruka sweat dropping as they ran out of the bathroom. She had received many screams from girls who had been in the bathroom who had called her a Hentai and much worse. The Senshi ran out into the streets to meet their unknown enemy. The inner senshi all stopped their mouths agape as they saw their foe. "I am Kelsara and I will conquer this puny earth," screamed a lady with blue hair and a short black mini dress. The Inner senshi were shocked. This foe actually looked normal. Usually weak enemies who looked nothing like a human or at least wore crazy gaudy jewellery were thrust upon them first, Kelsara however was very strong, so strong that all the senshi could sense the power emanating from her. Of course another factor to their shock could have been the fact that Kelsara's mini dress was extremely short. Even shorter if it could be deemed possible than their sailor skirts! "Not while we're around! I am sailormoon!" said sailormoon as she moved her hands around. The rest of the Senshi introduced themselves. "I am sailor Mars" "I am sailor Venus" "I am sailor Jupiter" "and I am sailor Mercury" "For hurting these innocent people," Usagi pointed at Kelsara. "We will punish you!" They all cried. However the outer senshi didn't bother to introduce themselves but instead attacked. Their powers combined into a mesh transforming into a glowing ball of power headed for Kelsara. Kelsara laughed at their puny attempt and waved the energy away and the massive ball turned heading directly at Sailormoon....