As this is my first fanfic posted to the web, be easy on me and it. As to time line, this takes place after SMS but before SS. I believe, the Senshi are fifteen and in their senior year of Junior High. Some of you will be wondering about the Guardians knowing the Senshi from before. I'll explain how in flashbacks through the story but, briefly, I wrote a fiction, a couple years ago, called "Beyond the Reach". In this story, the Guardians meet the Senshi for the first time. The story, however, is long gone. This WAS a while before I joined the Internet. Since I don't need to introduce the Senshi to Sailor Moon fans, I'll limit myself to brief intros of the Guardians and let the Story develop them further. Special Thanks: "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl for editing, good ideas and comments, and providing me with Sailor Moon stories to enjoy! Thanks Will! Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Sailor Senshi and all terms, names etc associated with the series are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi and Kodansha. The Guardians and everything pertaining to the Star Kingdoms are MINE! On with the show: Sailor Moon: Guardians of the Star By Eric den Biesen (greywolf@eagle.ca) Prologue: Eclipse of the Sailor Senshi The room was quiet, the gentle silence that was common in the early morning. The rising sun lightened the room as time went by, illuminating the two sleeping on the bed. The girl was almost completely hidden by the covers, while the black cat slept at the very foot of the bed, out of the way of careless feet that had knocked her off the bed more than once in the past. Usagi woke up and sleepily glanced at her clock: 7:30 AM. She sat up and yawned. She looked at the foot of the bed and saw that Luna was awake as well. "I'm too awake to go back to sleep," Usagi complained, "Third time this week I'm up on time and it's only Wednesday! I must be ill or something." Luna looked up at Usagi with a smug look on her face. "If gaining a sense of responsibility is a sickness, then you are indeed ill," she answered, "And thank heavens you finally caught the right disease!" Before Luna could so much as blink, Usagi grabbed her pillow and clocked her with it. "Very funny!" Luna's muffled voice came from under the pillow. Usagi smiled gently as she suddenly remembered why she was up on time for the past three days, why her homework had been done on time for the past week, and why she had studied so long for that stupid math test. She couldn't help it. She had to smile everytime she thought of the way Mamoru had snookered her, and she fell into the trap, hook line and sinker! A little over two weeks ago, she and Mamoru were in the park, sitting under some trees. She had thought that Mamo-chan had looked a little pensive. "Is something wrong, Mamo-chan?" she had asked worriedly. He had looked at her thoughtfully. "Usako?" he asked, "Would you do something for me?" He looked so worried, that she answered immediately without thinking. "Of course Mamo-chan!" she exclaimed, "You know I'd do anything for you!" CLANG! The trap sprang shut! She knew something was wrong as soon as Mamoru's expression changed from worried to smug. "Good!" he had said, "You'll be in High School next year and it's time you concentrated on your studies, don't you think? I mean, you WILL be the Queen of Crystal Tokyo someday AND have a lovely daughter as well. With this in your future, a good education is vital! If you won't do it for yourself, could you at least try it for me? I know you love me and it isn't THAT much to ask." CLICK! There was the fatal statement that locked the trap behind her, no escape! she thought fondly, It was an uphill struggle all the way though. The studying was easy, thanks to the system Ami-chan had showed her. The homework was a little tougher; it took a week before she began doing it regularly. Getting up early had proved the hardest. It took her two weeks before she was able to manage it. She felt it was only her love for Mamoru that had enabled her to pull it off. He had been right, of course, but she'd bite her tongue off before she'd admit it! After she had finished dressing and did her hair, she skipped down the stairs for breakfast. she thought, After snarfing down a BIG breakfast, Usagi grabbed her school bag and with a "Bye Mom!" was out the door and on her way. About half-way to school, she was startled by a call from behind her. "Usagi-chan, wait up!" Usagi turned to see Ami running towards her. "Hi Ami-chan!" Usagi said as Ami slid to a stop beside her, "You're usually at school by now! What held you up?" They continued walking as Ami answered. "Well, I thought I'd walk with you for a change," she replied, looking nervous, "I...ah...thought we could discuss...the math test." Usagi looked at Ami suspiciously. "Oh?" she questioned with raised brows, "That's all?" She knows I'm hiding something from her, Ami thought with panic, "Yes", she replied brightly, hiding her unease, "I DID teach you that studying method and am curious as to how it went. You DID know they're going to post the results today, didn't you?" Usagi looked horrified as Ami's distraction worked. "Oh man!" she groaned, "Why do they make me take these things? Everyone knows I'll only flunk 'em!" Ami cast her eyes upwards in exasperation. "Not if you studied, Usagi-chan. You DID study, didn't you?" The look on Ami's face suggested that she better have. Usagi sighed heavily. "Sure I did! The way you showed me wasn't hard and it didn't take up THAT much time." "Good!" Ami said, "And when did you start your studying?" "Two weeks before the test," Usagi answered promptly. At this, Ami turned to stare at her in surprise. That was very unusual, especially for Usagi. At Ami's look, Usagi continued, "Look Ami, the way you showed me wasn't hard so I figured I might as well do it. I'm not a TOTAL airhead!" The two girls entered the main doors of the school and split up to go to their respective classes. The morning passed uneventfully although Usagi thought for a moment that Haruna-sensei was going to have a heart attack when she handed in her homework on time. she thought, Usagi shook her head in exasperation. Even her classmates were getting in on the act, worrying that because she didn't fall asleep in class or try to snarf down her lunch early that she must be ill. Lunchtime found Usagi and Naru seated at one of the tables in the school cafeteria, eating their lunch and gossiping. "Did you notice the way Haruna-sensei was looking at you this morning?" Naru asked. "Yeah," Usagi replied sourly, "Like she thought I was about to bite her! Good grief Naru-chan! I couldn't have been THAT bad, could I?" Naru covered her mouth to hide her smile as she replied in the affirmative. "Oh yes!" she chuckled, "You were even worse! If I didn't know the true reason you're trying so hard now, I'd probably be as spooked as everyone else appears to be!" Usagi looked at her sharply. "True reason?" she queried. "Oh come on, Usagi!" Naru replied with a smirk, "How dense do you think I am? There's only one person I know who could possibly have motivated you!" Usagi flushed at Naru's knowing look. Usagi searched frantically through her mind for a way to change the subject. "I asked Haruna-sensei if she was alright!" Usagi said seizing the topic they had been discussing earlier, "And she said that she was worried about ME! Can you believe it? She's walking around in a daze all morning and she thinks I'M sick!" Naru gave Usagi a look that said she wasn't fooled for a minute. "Nice try Usagi!" she said with a wicked grin, "But she was right, you are sick and your illness is called Mamor....." Usagi quickly slapped her hand over Naru's mouth. "Quiet Naru-chan!" she hissed, "Do you think I want everyone to know? The rest of the gang would never let me live it down, especially Rei!!" Usagi removed her hand and Naru mimicked a zipping motion over her mouth to indicate that she'd keep it shut. Her grin was still there, however, and as Usagi blushed, it got wider. She was then distracted by something behind Usagi and Usagi turned to look at what had captured her friend's interest. Ami-chan was coming toward them and she looked as if someone had smacked her over the head with a board. She had never seen Ami look so stunned. "The results of the math test are posted on the bulletin board, Usagi-chan," she said, obviously shocked by something she had seen. "What's the matter, Ami-chan?" Usagi said, concerned, "Didn't you do well?" "Oh yes, I got first place with a perfect score," Ami replied with a dazed smile, "You have to come and look at the results!" Usagi and Naru exchange concerned looks. Usagi shrugged, unconcerned about the results. "Why bother?" she said indifferently, "I probably got last place like usual." Ami gave her a peculiar look. "Come on Usagi-chan!" she said as she grabbed Usagi's hand, quite prepared to drag her along. "OK, OK, I'm coming!" Usagi sighed, deciding to humor Ami. Naru followed them, intensely curious. As the three girls entered the foyer near the school entrance, Usagi saw a large crowd clustered around the bulletin board across from the office. There were exclamations of surprise from some who were seeing the results for the first time. There was a lot of excited discussion as well. Usagi frowned curiously. They spotted Makoto in the crowd and approached her. She turned to them as they approached and Usagi noticed that her expression mirrored Ami's. Looking over the other students, she noticed other stupefied expressions. Now she was starting to get irritated. As they approached, the others noticed them and the discussion winded down. A path opened through the now silent students. When they reached the bulletin board, Usagi automatically glanced at the bottom of the list. She was startled to see that her name wasn't there. "They didn't put me on the list!" she exclaimed, worried now, "I must have blew it big time!" Mako-chan snorted at that as she came out of her daze. "Honestly, Usagi-chan!" she said as she firmly gripped Usagi's chin and raised it until she was looking at the top of the list, "It would help if you were looking at the RIGHT part of the list!" When she focused her gaze on the top and realized what she was seeing, it stopped her breathing. MATHEMATICS TEST RESULTS: 1/ Mizuno Ami 100% 2/ Tsukino Usagi 96% She stared and stared, completely at a loss for words. She started to get spots in front of her eyes, when Mako brought her back to the real world. A clenched fist thumped her shoulder as Mako snapped, "Breathe Usagi! It won't do you any good if you faint!!" Usagi let out the pent up breath she had been holding and stood there gasping. "Baka..," Mako said fondly as she looked at her panting friend. Usagi shook her head dazedly. "This can't be right!" she stuttered, "They must have made a mistake!" At that, Mako burst out in quiet laughter. "Nope," she said with glee, "I heard that Haruna-sensei marked your test several times before she'd believe it!" "Oh man!" Usagi moaned, "When my parents see that I do THAT well if I study, they'll lock me in my room with my text books and I'll be studying 'til I'm old and gray!" Ami smiled at that. "Just keep studying the way I showed you," she said consolingly, "You'll have time for fun AND do well in your studies too!" As the afternoon classes neared their end, Haruna-sensei handed back the tests. When she got to Usagi, she handed her the test and studied her carefully. "I trust that you will continue to do work of this caliber?" she asked. Usagi nodded. "I'm trying, sensei," she replied quietly. Haruna nodded once and returned to the front of the classroom. she thought, She continued to mutter to herself as she dismissed the class and left the room. Usagi glanced at her test and saw a big "96" that looked like it was written with a very unsteady hand. Next to that is written: HOLY COW!!!! Usagi thought to herself. As she walked home, Usagi's thoughts turned to some things that had been worrying her lately. Ami-chan and Mako-chan had reminded her, before she left, to be at the shrine at four. It was to be a special meeting to discuss some very strange happenings recently that were baffling the police. Even the Outer Senshi would be at this meeting. Usagi frowned in annoyance as this thought brought up another bone of contention. 'Just what was wrong with the Sailor Senshi? It's crazy,' she thought in irritation, She knelt down and pretended to tie her shoelace, while looking behind her covertly. It took only about a minute to locate the figure on the rooftop about half a block away. It took less time than that for Usagi to identify her, Sailor Venus. Usagi sighed as she got back up and continued on her way. For the past week, if one of the Senshi wasn't with her in normal form, she was shadowed by one in her Senshi guise. She remembered how they would be discussing something until she walked in. There would be a brief moment of silence and they would continue talking, but NOT what they had been discussing before she showed up. They were keeping something from her, something that obviously frightened them so badly that she always had a Senshi within shouting distance. All this was starting to frighten her more than a little, as well. Why yesterday, she had been shocked to discover that her shadow was none other than Sailor Saturn. That the Outer Senshi had dropped whatever they were doing, to join the rotating guard, frightened her badly. This not knowing what to fear was driving her crazy. She intended to demand an explanation at the meeting, enough was enough! Her chain of thought was broken when a cheerful, "Hi Usako!" came from the young man who suddenly appeared in front of her. She smiled at him, but her thoughts were still worrying her, so she could manage only a soft, "Hi Mamo-chan!" At her preoccupied greeting, Mamoru looked concerned, and placed an arm around her delicate shoulders. "What's wrong, Usako?" he asked, concerned, "What's worrying you?" She cast another covert glance behind her. "Mamo-chan, look on the roof of the third building from the end of the block on the other side of the street," she said in reply, "and tell me who you see." Mamoru turned Usagi around and pretended to fiddle with the laces on her pack. As he did so, he cast a quick glance where Usagi indicated. He spotted the figure crouching down on the roof and let out a surprised breath as he recognized her. He took Usagi's hand and they continued down the street. "That was Sailor Venus!" he said in confusion, "Usako, what's going on here?" "I wish I knew!" she replied in irritation, "They're hiding something from me AND it's something bad enough that a Senshi has been shadowing me every day for the past week! Not only that, but the Outer Senshi have joined the rotating watch they're keeping on me!" At Mamoru's startled look, Usagi said, "Oh yes! I saw Sailor Saturn following me yesterday, although she WAS harder to spot!" Mamoru's look turned from startled to grim. "This is serious if the Outer Senshi have joined the Inner in guarding you!" he stated grimly, "I'm going to get to the bottom of this!" At her thankful look, he smiled and dropped his arm around her slender waist. "Now," he said as his arm tightened around her, "How did you do on your Math Test? Ami-chan said the results would be posted today." "Hmph! Ami-chan's got a big mouth," she replied, handing the test to him, "I'm afraid I didn't do as good as she did though." "Few people could!" he replied. His eyes widened as he saw her mark. "Well, well, well!" he said, his pride in her showing clearly, "You may not have done as good as Ami, but you came darn close!" They stared into each other's eyes for a moment until their lips met. They were locked in each other's embrace for a long timeless moment, until the need for air caused it to end. When they finally parted, her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were shining. Her whole heart was in those luminous blue eyes, and Mamoru felt humbled by the great love this innocent young woman had for him. He hoped he was worthy of it. "If this is what I can expect everytime I ace a test, I'll have to make sure I ace 'em all!" she said, literally glowing with happiness. Mamoru smiled at her joy. "Think you can?" he dared her playfully. "Watch me, bub!" she replied, "A reward like THAT is all the motivation I need!" "That wasn't the reward," he grinned, "I'll pick you up Friday at 7:30 for your reward. A special date I planned! Now, I have to go, BUT, I will get to the bottom of this Senshi business!" He bent down and gave her a quick kiss good-bye and left. Usagi stared after him, hearts in her eyes. She turned to continue home and Sailor Venus, who was watching, swore later that her feet never touched the ground. Walking on cloud nine, Usagi would have agreed. "Mom! I'm home!" Usagi sang out as she walked through the door. Her mother came out of the kitchen and rushed to Usagi. "Hi dear!" she said, giving her daughter a big hug, "I'm so very proud of you!" "Huh?" said Usagi intelligently. Her mother took the test from Usagi's hand and gazed at the big "96%" with motherly pride. "Haruna-sensei called from the school. She was babbling mostly, but I understood that your mark on the test was stellar!" she explained, "I knew you could do it! I'm so glad Ami gave you a way to study that doesn't take TOO much time from your normal activities." "Did Mamoru see this?" She smiled knowingly at the deepening flush on her daughter's cheeks. "Well", she said smiling softly, "From the look of it, you got quite a reward!" Usagi's flush deepened even more. "Reward?" she answered not meeting her mother's eyes, "What reward?" Her mother smiled again and ran a loving hand over Usagi's hair. "Why, what other reward would a young man give a young woman whom he happens to love?" her mother replied affecting surprise. It was impossible for Usagi to blush any redder and she looked about warily for her father. Her mother noticed her concern immediately and hastened to ease it. "Don't worry so, dear," she said soothingly, "Mamoru came over to chat with your father last night while you were at Mako-chan's place. He told us he loved you and fully intended to marry you when your father decided you were old enough. I must say that it set your father's mind at ease to know you would be in good hands. No need to hide him anymore, daughter, and we expect him over for visits now." She winked at Usagi and Usagi covered her mouth with her hand as she giggled. "Mamo-chan is taking me on a special date on Friday," she said with relief that she didn't need to hide it, "It's a reward for acing my test!" "Well, I should hope so!" her father commented as he entered the room with newspaper in hand, "I couldn't have thought of a better way to motivate you if I tried!" Usagi blushed furiously and her mother turned to scold him, trying to hide a smile. He just grinned widely and returned to reading his newspaper. Usagi glanced at the clock: 3:40 PM. "Mom, I gotta be at Rei's by four," she said, "I'll see ya later!" She walked out the door with her mother's "Be back in time for supper, dear!" ringing behind her. By the time Usagi reached the shrine stairs, she had worked herself into a real royal temper. She knew she needed to be furious if she was to get any information out of the others. She tended to be a marshmallow where her friends were concerned and she couldn't afford that now, so she concentrated on all the worry and stress she had been under for the past week. It worked. By the time she reached the top of the stairs, seeing the others clustered in front of the shrine, her teeth were clenched, cheeks flushed and her eyes were literally sparking with fury. She rarely ever seriously blew her stack, so this, hopefully, would intimidate them. She approached them with quick angry strides. Makoto looked up as soon as Usagi topped the stairs and drew in her breath sharply. "Oh oh, guys," she said to the others, "Here comes our Princess, and she looks to be in a royal snit! Man, I can practically see the steam coming out of her ears from here!" Rei looked up to see what she was on about. Rei's eyes widened with apprehension. She had never seen Usagi in this state before. As she was approaching, she was literally crackling with fury! "Why is she like this?" Rei asked worriedly, "Nobody told her, did they?" They all shook their heads. "Your mistake, Rei, was thinking that because she ACTS like an airhead, that she must BE one," Mako-chan told her, "I can tell you that when she feels like exerting herself, she has a very sharp mind. She knows something's up and when she gets here and that temper explodes, we're going to have a heck of a time calming her down." Ami nodded in agreement. "We should have told her, Rei!" she said watching as Usagi came closer. All the Senshi looked worried, except for Pluto who looked pleased. They had never seen their Princess in such a fury before and, as Usagi had hoped, they WERE intimidated. Even Haruka, who was flustered by very little and who knew Usagi as the gentlest person she had ever known, knew that when such a gentle person blew her stack, that she would be a force to be reckoned with. Only Pluto watched the approaching Usagi with something like pleasure. Of all the Senshi, only Pluto had seen her in such a fury. Or rather, Neo Queen Serenity. To see her beginning to assert herself as well as doing better in school was causing no small amount of pleasure to Time's Guardian. This boded well for the future. Once Usagi cut loose that temper, there would be no going back. It was time the other Senshi learned that Usagi WAS the Princess and that secrets are not kept from your ruler, even if that ruler happens to be a beloved friend, and even if that ruler is not known for asserting herself. Usagi came up to them and stood with hands on hips, trembling with the effort to hold her temper. She thought briefly that she may have overdid it, but then impatiently dismissed that thought. The others were actually looking frightened at her infuriated state, so it was serving its purpose. Only Pluto was unfazed. In fact, she was looking at Usagi with a small smile of pleasure on her ageless face. Usagi thought, She turned her attention to Rei. Rei tried to hold her fierce glare but couldn't and looked away. For once, the staring contest WAS no contest. "Alright!" Usagi snapped in a soft dangerous voice, "What the heck is going on?!" Rei made one last attempt to protect Usagi from what they had seen. "What makes you think something is going on?" she replied nervously. Makoto and Ami winced at THAT reply, readying themselves for the inevitable explosion. They both looked up when it didn't come. Usagi stood with her fists clenched so hard that her knuckles were white. Her face had gone from red to white. Mako thought exchanging a concerned glance with Ami, "Well, let me see," Usagi replied in a shivering whisper that sent chills down their spines, "One, for the past week, I have been warded by Senshi everytime I go out. Two, the only reason for doing that is that something is going to happen. Three, no one has precise knowledge of the future, but Rei can get visions in her sacred fire that can give hints of what's to come. Conclusion: Rei saw something in the fire. Some kind of danger to me that scared you all so much, that you've been guarding me to extremes. Shall I go on?" The Senshi looked utterly shocked at this precise logic coming from Usagi. It seems Mako and Ami were right. Pluto hid a smile behind her hand. Her resemblance to Neo Queen Serenity at this moment was incredible. There was no doubt, at that moment, that they WERE the same person. Both Usagi and her future self shared that gentleness and the loving nature that made THEM so well loved. But, unlike Usagi, her future self had learned the value of sometimes giving in to temper. In a temper, Serenity was Queen Serenity with emphasis on the Queen. Usagi was now learning the same thing and at this moment, she was Princess Serenity, heir to the Moon Kingdom and Leader of the Sailor Senshi. Chibi-Usa stared at Usagi in surprise. she thought, At the appearance of the glowing crescent moon on Usagi's forehead, Rei drooped in defeat. Even the Ginzuishou was reacting to her anger. Usagi's big heart started to soften at Rei looking so deflated. she thought, "Why don't you start at the beginning, Rei," Usagi suggested obviously calmer now. Rei nodded dispiritedly. "It all began about a week ago......" Rei sat staring at the fire as the vision ended. The other Senshi were utterly silent in the face of the terrible vision they had just seen. "I'm glad Usagi wasn't here to see that!" Makoto whispered hoarsely. "We MUST protect her!" Hotaru exclaimed, "The injury she suffered in the vision wasn't physical. I won't be able to heal it!" Rei turned from the fire to face the others, her face was white. "We must hide this from Usagi," she said slowly, "Mako, Ami, Mina, we must take turns guarding her. Follow her where ever she goes and DON'T BE SEEN!" Michiru looked at Rei sharply. "What about us?" she demanded. "Guarding the Princess is OUR job!" Makoto retorted, shaking her head, "You have enough to do with guarding the remnants of the Silver Millennium!" Haruka placed a hand firmly on the rebellious Mako's shoulder and looked her in the eyes. "Without the Princess, there IS no Silver Millennium," she stated emphatically, "We WILL join the Royal Guard to protect her until the danger, whatever it is, is past!" They discussed a possible rotating roster that would always have one of them near Usagi whenever she left the house. "One thing I insist on," Rei said adamantly, "She must NOT know, therefore we mustn't be seen! Adopt your Senshi forms and shadow her from the roof tops." Rei turned to face Minako. "Where is Usagi now?" she queried urgently. "She is on a date with Mamoru," Minako responded, "That's why she isn't here. They should be in the park by now!" Rei met Haruka's eyes and she understood immediately what Rei wanted. She nodded once and stood. "URANUS PLANET POWER!" she cried raising her transformation pen. In seconds, Sailor Uranus stood before them. Giving the others a quick nod, she turned and was out the door, running hard. "She's gonna find out eventually, Rei," Makoto said worriedly. "Come on, Mako-chan!" Rei snorted derisively, "You know she only cares about food, fun, sleep and Mamoru and nothing else! How would SHE ever find out if we don't tell her?" Mako just shook her head, but Ami spoke up. "You've known her all this time and still think that?!" she said incredulously, "That airheaded business was just a pose. You know how lazy she was! If everyone thinks of her as an airhead, they'll never expect too much from her and she won't need to exert herself. Lately, for some reason, she's slowly abandoning that pose. The Usagi you see at next week's meeting will be very different from the one you saw last week!" Rei just snorted again in disbelief. Deep down, she knew Ami and Mako were right, but her pride wouldn't let her admit it. Rei looked around and ended the meeting with a further reminder not to let Usagi know, and they parted to head home.... ".....and that's the whole story," Rei ended her tale with a look of reproach at Usagi, "Are you happy now?" "No," Usagi replied, no longer angry, "But at least now I know and it was not knowing that was driving me nuts!" Makoto decided to reduce the tension. "Hey guys!" she said with a smile, "Usagi aced her math test and came in second to Ami's first!" It worked, the tension shattered. Everyone turned to look at Usagi in shock. "Oh, don't worry!" Luna, who had just arrived with Artemis, said, "She's caught a cold called responsibility and when she's over it, she'll be the same ditzy klutz we all know and love!" Mako groaned inwardly, fearing another explosion of temper from Usagi, but Usagi was over her snit and turned casually to Luna. "I know a certain vet who would likely give me a good rate on declawing a certain opinionated cat!" she retorted with an evil look, "Catch my drift?" "Caught!" Luna replied as she backed away nervously. Suddenly, Rei gasped and turned pale. "Rei!" Usagi cried, as she ran over to support her, "What's wrong?" She turned terrified eyes to Usagi. "Terrible evil!" she cried, "I've never sensed anything this bad before!!" Usagi looked around at the others. "Quick everyone!" she ordered urgently, "Transform!" The others nodded and got their transformation pens ready. "MOON CRISIS POWER, MAKE UP!" "MERCURY STAR POWER, MAKE UP!" "VENUS STAR POWER, MAKE UP!" "MARS STAR POWER, MAKE UP!" "JUPITER STAR POWER, MAKE UP!" "SATURN PLANET POWER, MAKE UP!" "URANUS PLANET POWER, MAKE UP!" "NEPTUNE PLANET POWER, MAKE UP!" "PLUTO PLANET POWER, MAKE UP!" "MOON PRISM POWER, MAKE UP!" In seconds, where ten young women had stood, now stood the Sailor Senshi. Mercury activated her VR visor and computer and scanned the area. "That way!" she said pointing east, "I've never seen readings like this before! It's akin to the Dark Kingdom, but much more powerful!" Sailor Moon moved to lead the others east, but Mars grabbed her arm. "No!" she cried in fear, "This thing, whatever it is, is what I sensed in the vision! If you go with us......!" Sailor Moon allowed Sailor Jupiter and Uranus to take point with Mercury showing the way. "Mars," Sailor Moon said consolingly, "I can't stay behind, you'll need my Heart Scepter! I can, however, stay behind you guys and use my scepter when I have the chance." Mars nodded curtly, sensing that that was the only concession Sailor Moon was going to grant. They followed close behind the others and soon they were led by Mercury's readings into a park. "HOLY CRAP!!!" Jupiter shouted pointing, "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!" Everyone turned to look at where she was pointing and gasped at the sight before them. They were facing what could only be described as an amorphous cloud of intense blackness. Dark lightning emerged from it occasionally and the trees the lightning struck were reduced to ash in the blink of an eye as their very essence was sucked from them. Already, the ground for fifty yards around the thing was black and lifeless. Mars lead Sailor Moon quickly to a large oak. "Stay there!" she commanded in a voice that brooked no argument, "Use that scepter of yours as soon as we have this thing on the ropes!" Sailor Moon nodded without taking her frightened eyes from the thing. "This thing is DEFINITELY from another dimension!" Mercury stated as she scanned the creature, "Apparently, it feeds on life energy of all kinds!" Hissing laughter interrupted her and everyone turned to look at the thing in astonishment. "Very astute, Sailor Mercury!" it said in a hissing voice that no human throat could have produced, "This thing, as you call it, is a little present for you! It's called a 'Soul Eater' and it can do all kinds of interesting things, under my guidance of course. Fare well, Sailor Senshi! Revenge WILL be sweet!" Sailor Moon frowned thoughtfully. She knew that voice, it's not one you could forget after all, but she just couldn't remember. Then the time for thought was over as bolts of black lightening were flung at the Senshi. "SPARKLING WIDE..." A black bolt struck Jupiter, cutting short her attack and leaving behind a life like statue of her in the same pose as when the bolt struck. "VENUS LO....." "Burning Man...." Bolts struck both Mars and Venus in the middle of their combination attack and stopped them cold, leaving statues in their place. Within seconds, all the Senshi except Sailor Moon were gone, with statues left where they had stood. Sailor Moon stood with her arms around the tree, completely numb with shock as she looked at the battle field and what remained of her friends. "And now, a special fate for you, Princess!" it hissed. A revolving swirling gate opened behind Sailor Moon as the wind began to shriek madly and air was sucked though the gate. Sailor Moon was just barely able to hang on when the Soul Eater emitted another bolt of Dark Power, striking her on the side of her head. Her grip was wrenched free, the violence of it snapping both bones in her right forearm like twigs. The screaming winds from the gate finished the job as they sucked the unconscious Sailor Moon through, then the gate began to vanish. Screaming, "USAKO!!" a dark form leapt from a nearby branch and disappeared through the gate after Sailor Moon. The gate collapsed silently. Hissing laughter came from the Soul Eater as it, too, vanished. Left behind was a deserted park peopled only by statues resembling the Sailor Senshi. End of Prologue. What happens to Usagi? What about the Senshi? And what in blazes is Alare?! NEXT: Chapter 1: Return to Alare.