Indifference: Discoveries Black Beyond black_beyond@hotmail.com PG13 to a low R ------------------- The third chapter in my saga. If this goes the way I want, it won't be the last part, either. The secret of my 'mysterious scene' shall be revealed >Oh, man, there are going to be some really *surprised* people out there!< and of course, there are other twists.... Don't hate me for who the new problem is. I hate myself already. But you've got to remember, only certain enemies can be brought back. And well... ::cowers before angry mob who just finished reading her story:: DON'T HURT ME! MOMMY! Send all comments, complains, full-inferno-ed rants and flames to: black_beyond@hotmail.com and remember, "Anger is one letter short of Danger". That's all the hints I'm gonna give you today. Ta ta for now. -Hecata, also, and better known as, Black Beyond -------------------- Ah, a very good question indeed, Usagi found out the next day. Somehow, using death as blackmail, she and Ami managed to keep the senshi's mouths shut. They did, you know, want Mamoru and the moon cats to be so shocked that they couldn't think straight. "Ami-chan, I really should go talk to Ikuko and Kenji-- explain this as much as possible." Usagi said softly. "How do you suppose they'll take it?" Ami asked hesitatly. "Oh, Shingo-baka will love it. Kenji will be mroe than a little freaked, and Ikuko would just be estatic that her daughter is an important person in the galaxy's eyes." She sighed, and looked up at the stars appearing in the sky. "You know, I never told anyone how much I love the stars." "Everyone does, Usagi." Ami looked at her strangely. "The stars are beautiful." "It's just silly.... but I think I can hear them sing sometimes." "Sing? Usagi, did you hit your head while we were with the guys or soemthing?" "No, I'm serious." Usagi stopped, and Ami stood beside her. Usagi placed her hand on Ami's shoulder, and AMi could feel her senses increase to a thousand times of what they were, and she realized that this was only a portion of what usagi saw, felt, smelt, and heard. z The dead silent park wasn't so deadly silent anymore, but if Ami concentrated, she could hear something, a faint whisper of a melody... her eyes shot open and her senses increased even more, and she looked over to see Usagi, her aura aflame, and knew that it was Usagi doing that. But she could hear it now. The song. And the words frightened her. She twisted out of Usagi's grip, her heart pounding. "Usagi, they sing... was it..." "I don't know." Usagi smiled at her. "Try hearing that, night and day, wondering if they were speaking of you, or the past, or the present." She looked up to stare at them. "Or maybe even the future..." She began to sing with the stars... "She dreamed a forbidden love That could never be... She's done things she not proud of... But still it's him she sees..." Ami put her hand over Usagi's mouth, frowning. She shook her head at her princess. "Don't sing it. Please, don't sing it." Ami said. "Let's go see your mom." "What about Luna?" Usagi asked, as they continued on their walk. "She's staying with Minako." Ami confirmed. "Minako said she'd keep them there. Just how she'll do that, I don't want to think about." "She'll probably strap them down to chairs and make them watch teletubbies." Usagi chuckled softly. "Or make them poison." "Poor Luna..." Ami giggled. "Well, here we are." They paused in front of the door. "Are you sure? They could just go on thinking you're dead... it would be better later." "Was it better for you, thinking I was dead? Watching Chibi-usa cry?" Usagi answered sharply. Ami hung her head. "No..." "Well, then. There's your answer." Usagi knocked on the door. It opened to reveal a weary looking Ikuko, who stared at the pair like they were crazy. "Ami-chan! What are you doing here? And who..." Ikuko trailed off and did a double take at usagi. "Usagi?" "Ikuko-san." Usagi did a formal bow to her earth mother. "May we come in? I've got something to explain to you." Her voice wobbled a little bit. "Usagi?" Ikuko repeated her quiestion, but stood aside and let the pair enter. Kenji and Shingo looked up in shock as the trio walked into the family room. Usagi and Ami took a seat while Ikuko remained standing. "Ikuko-san, you may wish to sit down when you hear this." Usagi began. Ikuko sat down beside her husband. "Are you my Usagi?" Ikuko asked. Usagi whinced. "As much as I hate to tell you this, Ikuko- san, no. I am not." Ami took a deep breath. SHe knew this had to be hard. "Your daughter will be remembered, though. Her name will be a household name all over the very world and universe." "Then she's... dead?" "Not exactly, Kenji-san. I'm going to tell yuo a story..." She went off into the story of the Silver Millenium. The story of Princess Serenity and the kingdom of the planets, in such a way that it made Ami want to cry. She told them of the fall, and how the souls of the royals were reborn into very special people. "Your daughter had the spirit of Princess Serenity within her. Only the purest of hearts could have been chosen for that." Usagi said gently. "It was a great honor." She began to tell them of how Usagi became Sailor Moon. That was the first time that Ami realized that no, it wasn't Usagi. No, that was not Serenity. The woman before her was Selene. The actual goddess Selene. That was how she could do this how emtionlessly as she was. And then the story of her adventure in the alternate dimension. Kenji kind of froze up at the part where Usagi met the guys. The loud, rowdy, very handsome, alien guys. After all, this was his kid they were speaking about still. She told them about Diamond's reappearence, and the way he... er... *made himself known* to Usagi. Ami could see the blood rush to Selene's face, and Ami knwe that the woman wanted to make sure Diamond was in hell. And then up to now. "I am the goddess Selene, the Imperial Serenity, you see. My my heart, you are still my parents, but I couldn't not tell you about all this. Even you, Shingo, needed to know." She sighed softly, and looked ruefully at them. "It's a shock. I'm still trying to figure it all out." Ami waited, and got, the planned reactions that Usagi--- no, Selene, had predicted, to a capital 'T'. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The senshi had an inking that Selene, or Ena, as they had become to call her, had a hand in the sudden, unexplain appearence of the solitary youma two days later. Miraculously, the senshi had managed not to spill everything to Artemis, Luna, and Mamoru. And now, they were fighting the youma, wondering where Eternal Sailor Selene was. Not they could ask each other aloud, for Artemis and Luna were watching like hawks and Tuxedo Kamen was in the battle, with, very suspiciously, had happened right in front of his car. "Moon Concentrated Solar Attack!" The youma vanished. Artemis felt himself being picked up by the scuff of his neck and then was turned around to meet a pair of laughig blue-gray eyes. "Hello, Artemis." It was a voice of ice- cold venom. "I heard you had some rather *interesting* ideas about MY daughter and your Minako." Luna spun around to see Eternal Sailor Selene. Sailor Chibi-moon exploded into laughter, so hard she began crying, at the flushed cat. Tuxedo Kamen dropped his cane in shock, while the four senshi unsuccessfully tried to hold back their giggles. "Er... Usagi?" Artemis asked. "Hardly!" Sailor Selene glared at him. "Usagi is dead. Now you tell me why you so conveniently thought that Chibi-usa was MINAKO's daughter?" "Er, well... Usagi was... is... and Chibi- usa is still... well.... and she did say... but..." Artemis sputtered. "Aw, give it up, Ena!" Mars shouted over her giggled. "He's just a clueless guy!" "They all are!" Venus added. "Loosen up on him, Ena!" Jupiter told her. "If you say so." Sailor Selene dropped the cat. She scooped up Chibi-usa in her arms. "I can't believe he thought you were Minako's kid. Of course you can only get your beauty from me, Usa!" The pink-haired girl giggled. Tuxedo Kamen picked up his cane slowly. He didn't recognize the woman in front of him, but yet Chibi-usa and the senshi seemed to know her. And Chibi-usa acknowledged 'Ena' as her mother. Who was she? "Oh, Eeeeenaaaa!" Venus grinned. "You haven't been properly introduced to our Tux Boy here. Come on over and shake his hand!" Jupiter elbowed Venus for the added, "And maybe a little more than that!" While Tuxedo kamen flushed under his mask for the comment, 'Ena' walked cooly over to him, Chibi-moon still sitting on her arm like she weighed two ounces. "I'm Eternal Sailor Selene, though my real name is Selene." She said, holding out her free hand to him. "Don't let these girls fool you, my bite is a lot worse than my bark." "Ha! She got a quote wrong! I'M NOT ALONE!" Venus began to dance. "Baka Venus, she meant it as it is!" Mars hissed in the blonde's ear. Venus stopped her victory dance abruptly. "Dammit." "Are you really Chibi-moon's mother?" Tuxedo Kamen asked. "Of course!" Selene raised an eyebrow at him. "Chibi-moon, do you think I should tell Tux here that I'm a lot stronger than he is, or should I just let the damage to his ego be who I really am?" Chibi-moon stuck her tongue out at Tuxedo Kamen. "My mama is twenty thousand times stronger than any senshi!" She announced proudly. "And she can beat up anyone with her bared hands!" The senshi looked to Mercury, who flushed. "Sorry guys. I saw her kick butt with my own eyes. Chibi's right on that one." Jupiter's face dropped. "There goes my only perk on the team." She mumbled. "Tuxedo Kamen, I think you should know this right now." Sailor Selene's ace went deathly serious, and Luna and Artemis leaned forward to hear. "Tsukino Usagi and Princess Serenity are dead." She said flatly. "That's impossible!" Luna screeched. "Serenity can never die!" "Wrong, Luna." Mercury spoke up again. "She can and has. I was there when Usagi really did die. You can ask Setsuna. And yes, even Princess Serenity is dead." "Then who is she?" Selene bowed deeply, and dehenshined. "This is getting kind of old to say, but I am the Goddess Selene, the Imperial Serenity, leader of the Sailor Senshi and ruler of the Earth, Sun, and Moon." "And both Pluto and I can and will confirm that, so don't even ask!" Mercury added. Chibi-usa smiled. "You see, this is what my mama looks like, and it's why I didn't think Usagi was she." "Let's take this to the temple, girls." Rei said. "This is a four-hour story, and this is a bit public." "Not again...." Selene groaned. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was quite interesting, actually, as Rei reflected later. Watching Mamoru and the Lunar cats' expressions during the story, and the very unquie shade of purple Mamoru's face took on when Selene mentioned she'd been staying with a group of more-or-less grown men. And of course, they all grew pale once more as she told them again about Diamondo, and Chibi- usa began to cry, buring her face in her mother's shoulder. They never would understand just how Selene handled him like she did. From such a far distance. Destroying the dark crystal. Only Selene knew the truth. "And then I'm here. But you can't tell anyone that Usagi is dead, not yet. The people who need to know know." Selene grinned at the priceless expression on Mamoru's and Luna's faces. "You know," she said, a wry expression on her face. "Just because her body is dead doesn't mean her soul is. It's right here. In a sense, I suppose you could say I'm Usagi. But not really." "I'm so confused." Chibi-usa galred at her mother. "I was there, and I'm still confused. So when Usagi-baka called on the power of Selene, her body couldn't take the power and her body was destroyed. Selene made her a new one-- you-- and her soul is there. So you're still Usagi." Selene flinched. She'd been trying to make it confusing so that they wouldn't figure it out. "Sort of." She said uncomfortably. "Sort of?" Rei demanded. "Well, yes. But my essence has combined with Serenity AND Selene." "Way confused..." Chibi-usa put her hands over her ears. And grinned. She removed her hands. "HEY!" She shouted, pouncing on her mother. "I know what you're doing, mama! You're making everything confusing! You're just trying to say that you still ARE Usagi, with Selene's power and Serenity's knowledge! Ha! WHO RULES? I DO!" Everyone sweatdropped as they stared at the pink haired child dancing. "ALRIGHT!" Selene finally yelled. "Fine! Christ, Chibi-chan! YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT." Chibi-usa stopped suddenly, in the middle of her dance. "Oh yeah." "So you're still Usako?" Mamoru asked, a hint of hope and relief in his eyes. "Yeah." Selene whispered. "Still plain old clumbsy Usagi." She giggled slightly, and her blue eyes took a faraway look as she remembered the last time she'd said that. Chibi-usa stared at her mother, as did Ami. That was too Usagish for the person they'd come to know. Ami twitched and gave a meaningful look to Chibi-usa. "Er, well, I'm sure mama's really tired, so I'm gonna take her... home... and... talk... yeah... and let her sleep..." Chibi-usa's acting skills were failing miserably. "Let's go, Chibi-chan." Selene stood up and strolled out of the temple quickly. Four senshi, one man, and two cats stared at Chibi-usa. She shrugged. "I don't know why either, guys. Mama's strange." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` "Oh my god." Selene groaned, as her mother handed her a warm, wet washcloth. "Usagi, are you okay?" Ikuko asked, worredly. It had never been like Usagi to be sick. An inking of a suspicion rose in the back of her mind, but she ignored it. "Do you think you're catching something?" "No." Selene stood up from her crouch in front of the toilet. "I don't know..." She looked out the window at the rising dawn. "I just felt so sick all of a sudden. It's gone now." Ikuko nodded, and reached up into the medicine cabinet for the bottle of apsrin and handed two of the capsules to her daughter, with a cup of water. Selene swallowed them greedily. "Do you have plans today?" Ikuko asked. "No. I explained everything to Mamo-chan and Luna and Artemis a few weeks ago, and ever since, everything's been cool." Selene winked at Ikuko mischeivously. "How many times have I told you about the look on Mamo-chan's face?" "Ten thousand and two. Let's here it again!" "Well, I mentioned the part where Gohan had a serious crush on me, and I had a serious crush on Gohan, and his face went all bluish purple and got this jealous look..." Selene began to giggle. "Oh, if I spent a minute with a horde of cute, strong, muscular guys without Kenji holding an uzi two feet away, it'd be pandemonium." The suspicion was shoved out of Ikuko's mind as they began to prattle on as Selene changed clothes and they both headed down to breakfast. "Do you want to go shopping with me?" Ikuko asked, after breakfast was over and they were doing the dishes. "After all, none of your clothes fit anymore. You've been wearing Makoto's clothes and those outfits you 'pull out of no where'." Selene grinned. "Alright! I wanted to go look at that new evening wear shoppe. I'm going to need a lot of it soon, and so will you. You're going to go to all the royal balls, and be introduced as Lady Ikuko." Selene dried the last dish and made a record breaking dash to grab her purse, and pulled Ikuko out of the house, headingfor the ever infamous mall.... ~~~~~~~~ A dark figure sat upon his throne, a goblet of rich red wine in on hand. His eyes were upon it as he swirled it back and forth, a bored expression on his face. "Twice, it has been." He said aloud, his voice echoing through the empty cavern, that not so long ago was full of great youma and warriors. "Twice, I have come forth." A few drops of the scarlet liquid flashed over the rim, landing on the cold marble of his throne. His gloved fingers dapped at it, his azure eyes watching as the wine stained his fingers the color of blood. The crystal went flying, and shattered with a crash on a far wall. "She has destroyed everything, and yet my heart still pines for her touch. I had her once. She is not invincible. I shall have her again." "Masssterrr..." A timid, frail looking youma stepped forward, the last of his army. It spoke with a cat-like hiss, and looked decidedly feline. "What news do you bring?" "I havvve deterrrmined herrr wherrreabouts, sirrre." He stood up, his eyes flashing. "Continue." "Ssshe hasss rrreturned to herrr own world, and isss out of herrr home. None of herrr sssenssshi arrre within a fffifffteen mile rrradiusss. It will beee a purr-fect time to attack." He nodded. "You may procede." He said, sitting down. The youma turned to go. "Oh, and Cataseena?" He added, in a smooth, yet dangerous voice. "Yesss, sssirrre?" "Do not fail me." "I could nevvver, Prrrinccce Diamond." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Selene grimaced slightly as a horrible feeling, not unlike the naseua before, settled in her stomach. But this time, she knew she wasn't sick. This was a completely different ball park. "Mama, she whispered, dragging her mother into a back corner of the shop. "Hide. Something evil is coming." "Usagi..." "Yes?" Usagi turned, her brooch in hand, halfway to the dressing rooms. "Be careful, honey." "Don't worry, mama. I'm going to show this idiot what moon power feels like. Stay out of the way. It could get bad." Selene disappeared into the dressing rooms. "Selene Hime Make up!" She shouted her mantra, letting the waves of power wash over her, turning her into the warrior. She ran back out into the shoppe, giving a quiet wink to her mother, and let her strength reach out for the source of the dark feeling in the pit of her stomach. People were beginning to notice her, a bad thing. "Get back!" Her voice echoed through the shope and mall itself. "There's a youma somewhere-- get back, or you'll be hurt!" And it came forth. It was that thought that crossed her mind, an old line of a forgotten poem, that ran through her mind as the youma stepped into the ring the crowd of mallhoppers had created around her. And it came forth. "Sssailorrr Moon, I am Catassseena." It said, bowing respectfully. "I mussst capturrre you." Sailor Selene went pale. "You..." She whispered, raising her hands in her asttack's pose. "I killed him..." "No, Sssailorrr Moon. You managed to desstrrroy his dominion, but he ssstill livvves." "Fuck you!" Selene screamed. "Concentrated Solar Moon Beam!" Cataseena dodged the beam, and there were several screams as it stopped only millimeters from a cilivian, and turned back on Cataseena. Cataseen lifted a shield and absorbed the beam. "I am an Elite. You can't defeat me." It hissed simply, sending the blast back at the superheroine, who took the unexpected blow at full force. The pain shot through her shoulder worse than if a knife had. She gritted her teeth to keep the scream from breaking out and glared at the youma. "Prince Diamond won't be happy about that." She sneered, as soon as she could breath again. Cataseena shrugged. "He didn't ssssay anything about harrrming you." "Shit." Selene looked around at the wary ready-to-be-killed civilians and knew at once that this fight was going to be dirty and they were going to get hurt. "Not here," she said. "We can't fight here. Not with all these people. Outside. In the parking lot." Cataseena nodded. "It would not be honorrrable to harrrm innocccent people." Selene agreed, amazed a youma had a sense of honor. But then again, nothing was amazing her these days anymore. "Very well. I'm teleporting. You can do whatever you want." Selene said, and disappeared with the scent of light. The youma scowled after her, before turning on it's heel and watching towards the doors, people scurrying out of her way fearfully. "Dammmn idealsss." Cataseena muttered at the sight of Sailor Selene, composed, calm, with her strong looking staff pointed Cataseena. "You know I can't go back to Diamond." Selene said softly. "He's obsessed with a love that could never be." Cataseena nodded, preparing her attack. "And you know I have a fiancee." "Of courrrssse." "And you know that I have a daughter." "Not yet," Cataseena shrugged. "But yesss, of courrrssse. But you sssee, none of that matterrrsss to Diamond, and I am loyal to Diamond." Selene sighed. "Very well. This fight is fate." But before she could call upon her mantra, Cataseena let loose her sonic blaster, stunning Selene into her black obvilion... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She looked at the monitors before her, she jaw dropping in shock. Cataseena knew one thing: Diamond was not going to be happy. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "SSSHHHHHHEEEEE'SSSS WHAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTT?!" Selene awoke to a headache and a roar that echoed around her. Echoed, she thought groggily. 'I'm in a parking lot. No echoes. Meaning...' She remembered Cataseena's attack, and then the darkness of the cavern she was in. 'I'm in Diamond's clutches again!' Her heart leapt with a bolt of panic. "Yessss, Sssirrre." "WHOOOO?! I'M GOING TO MURDER ENDYMION!" "Sssirrre, perhaps she doesn't know." "Know what?" She asked, without thinking. Diamond whirled around. At Cataseena's insistance, Selene was chained to the chair was which she sat, instead of the place where he'd wanted to chain her. He looked into Selene's gray-blue eyes, those lovely eyes, and felt a note of fury at whoever had touched her in such a way... "I'm going to murder your finacee, my sweet Serenity." He said softly, stepping to the princess and running his gloves fingers down her cheek. "What for? Keep him out of this, Diamond!" Selene shouted. Without Mamoru, Chibi-usa could never be born. And the only reason Selene was still in this fight was for her daughter, her unborn daughter who deserved a chance to live. "You do not know?" Cataseena sounded shocked. How could she not? "But you're the Queen of Crystal Tokyo. You must know. It's power, even now, is great enough to be detected. Surely you jest!" "Know what?!" Selene shrieked, tugging against her binds. "Know what?!" Diamond scowled and randomly chose a rock to pound out his furstrations on as Cataseena stepped up Selene and re-adjusted the too-tight shackles. She said two words that came close to making the Imperial Queen pass out yet again. "You're pregnant." Selene's heart began to beat at a thousand miles an hour and her face went dizzy with the all- too familar feelings of hyperventalation emerging. "Not... funny..." She gasped, trying to control her ragged breathes. "I'm still a vir... oh no..." Her face went red as the rock exploded, showering all three of them with rock fragments. After she'd gained control of gher breath, she looked coolly up at Diamond, a smirk on her face. "You have no qualm with King Endymion. I can assure you, we have done nothing but kiss." Diamond's face went from confusion to outrage. "Not gonna kill..." "And you'll never lay a finger on the father. Nor will he learn of this in any way. Wow, he'd be suerprised, but he's too serious. He'd want responsibility, and that's something he doesn't need. He leads a busy life. So, Diamond." Her aura lit up, and using the same trick from before, she was free. "I believe you, however, have a qualm with me." Her air was businesslike, and coy. Even in that moment of tense silence, he loved her. "I have." The statement seemed to lift a thousand years of age into Selene's shoulders. She nodded. "This fight does not have to happen, Prince Diamond." "You're right. Be mine, Serenity!" Selene shook her head sadly. "No, Diamond. I'm sorry. Another holds my heart, and yet another holds me in Fate. Diamond, you can't love me. You can't." Her strength grew brighter with every word. "I do." His eyes were insane, Selene thought. Insanity. What had brought him back to torture her like this? What had dared to bring back her nightmares? "Concentrated..." "Chaotic..." "Solar..." "Black..." "Moon Beam!" "Blast!" Cataseena jumped back in surprise as the blast of white met the blast of blood red. Sailor Selene grimaced. How was Diamond so powerful, without the force of the Dark Crystal to back him up? Cataseena frowned slightly as Selene took a step back under the force of the blow. She knew that the woman had much more power than Diamond could ever dream of... why was she losing? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` "Guys, I think something's up." The three senshi turned to stare at Rei. "What do yuo mean?" Makoto asked. "She's never, ever been *this* late before." Rei said, as she picked up the phone ad dialed a number only too familar. "Moshi Moshi?" "Ikuko-san?" "Rei! Thank the gods! Is Usagi there with you?" Ikuko's nervous voice held a note of obvious relief. Rei froze. "No, Ikuko-san. That's why I'm calling you. She hasn't shown up yet." "Oh no..." "Did something happen?" "In the mall... I convinced her to go with me, because she was sick... and I thought I could get her mind off it... but there was a youma. She went out to face it, and it asid something about capturing her for...." Rei could hear Ikuko shudder. "Diamond. She told it to take the battle outside, and that's the last I've seen of her." "Ar-arigato, Ikuko-san." Rei hung up the phone with a crash. "Ami, get on your computer. Find Usagi. Artemis, Luna, go get the outer senshi and Mamoru- san. Usagi went to fight a youma, and the youma was working for Diamond, and Ikuko hasn't seen her since. Wait a sec, Merc? Cancel that first order. Find a way to contact those guys you all were with. "Just tell them to be on the lookout, alright? We don't know where she's gone. She might be there, she might be here, she might be... "Anyhow, we've got a princess to find." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Selene was up against the wall now. She had dropped her staff for the ginzuishou, and had only one choice left, a choice she was going to make, had to make, in the next two seconds. How did he get so strong... "Oh, Chibi-usa... I'm so sorry..." She whispered to the child who would never be born. "And you, Gohan. I never meant..." She closed her eyes. "I call upon the great power of the moon. Destory this darkness, this enemy who challeges your ward." Her pwoer began to grow brighter. "I give myself, my power, and my life for your assistance." Diamond's power vanished. Simply vanished. He stared at the glowing Sailor Selene. "What did you do?" He demanded. "I'm going to defeat you." She whispered. "Say goodbye." His eyes widened as he saw the ginzuishou in her hands, and a voice came back to him.... 'Don't do it, Serenity! If you use the ginzuishou, you'll die!' "No..." He whispered, jsut before everything went the most beautiful shade of blue, and the light embraced his body... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` Selene collapsed onto the cold stone floor. Inher rush of power, Cataseena and Diamond had perished, but her vistory was short lived; Her life was draining away. Her breath grew ragged, and her frantic mind tried to race through anything she could do to save herself. A new voice entered her brain. :Breathe,: It instructed. :Just breathe. Remember nothing but the simple fact that you can breath. As long as you take one more breath, you'll live that much longer. Breathe...: She fell to her knees as she forgot everything but the fact she had to breathe. Never mind the fact she was dying. Nevermind she was still in the Negaverse. All she had to do was breathe. :Princess, just breathe... everything shall be perfectly alright....: And then came the darkness, the ever- weloming darkness.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She stood up, her violet eyes locked on a familar... no, unfamilar tower in the distance. She flipped her shoulder length straw-blonde hair out of her face and sighed. This was perfect. Absolutely perfect. "Setsuna, I definatly don't know where I am, let alone you, but when I find you, you're dead." She muttered, opening the purse at her side. She was used to strange things. Inside, on the top, was an ID card. NAME: Kayla Smith DOB: 6-30-1981 ADDRESS: 1498 Main Street Appt 4 Boston, MASS, 55555-5555 "I don't know why you did this..." She spoke to the wall in front of her. "But it was highly unnessessary." "Was it?" An amused voice asked. "Setsuna!" 'Kayla' wrapped the taller woman in a hug. "I thought you'd left me here without an explanation. I would have killed you... why aren't I dead..." "You were willing to give you life, and so the power was granted to you. Diamond was using the power of the Dark Side, of the being that brought him into existance again. Who, I do not know yet. But you must stay here-- for your child's sake." She motioned to the hardly noticable swell. 'Kayla' blushed. "I suppose you knew the whole time." "'Course I did. Look at Chibi-usa, I'm sorry, but did you honestly see any reseblence from Mamoru? She's soully your's and Goh--" "He can't know." 'Kayla' said, almost desperately. "God... none of them can." "I know," Setsuna nodded, her granet eyes serious. "I've arranged a few memories for Mamoru. He'll think it's his. But you've got to stay here, and lie low, please." "I swear I will." "Good. You've got precious little time. I've arranged your appartment, and you won't need a job. Small Lady doesn't need any stresses." She winked. 'Kayla' didn't fail to blush. "Not funny. Hey... this time... could you tell them... I'm alive..." "Of course." Setsuna raised her transformation wand in the air, and shouting her transformation words, became Sailor Pluto. "I've got to go now, my princess." "Drop by for a visit, okay?" "I will." Pluto vanished. "Kayla, eh? Well, I'm in America, I guess it's okay." She stretched her arms, grimacing at the tight muscles. "Well, fighting does that." She reminded herself. "Now, let's find this appartment and see what there is to eat..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ami was on the verge of tapping into the Capsule Corp's computers when a crashing sound broke her out of her frenzic train of thought. "Sailor Pluto?" "Ami-san, do not contact the Z warriors. Selene has defeated Diamond and is hiding away." Ami droped her computer out of shock. "Oookaaay." Pluto smiled at her baffled outraged expression. "I didn't exactly know it was going to turn out this way either." She said, almost apologeticly, in her low, soft voice. "But she was dying. She used the ginzuishou to it's max, and just as she was a bout to die, everything changed. She began to breath again, and of course I couldn't exactly leave her in that hellish place. "I took her to a safe place and gave her a soundproof identity and home. She's perfectly safe. But she can't return for a year, at least." "Why a year?" At this, Pluto looked miffed. Ami couldn't help but giggle. "Alright, you haven't got an answer for that yet. Is she really alright, Pluto?" "Of course. I wouldn't leave her for dead. She's my princess also. But you can't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you, because you'll find out anyway..." She launched into a full, detailed explanation of Usagi's true predicament. Ami gawked. her jaws wentslack and her blue eyes went wide. She had stood up when Setsuna had appeared, but now she sat back down, hard. "You're sure?" Her voice was unfamilar, high and squeaky. "I think so, Mizuno Ami. When the moon princess has a child by another man, let alone by the eldest son of Son Goku, I do believe the senshi of time knows about it." With a warm smirk, Pluto detransformed and look at Ami. "This must stay between you and I. I can manipulate memories, so this will look real, but the true identity of the father must remain secret, or the time streams are doomed." "I understand, Setsuna." Ami picked up her fallen computer. "What do you want me to do?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ He'd seen her many times over the past month, usually in the early mornings. Usually, he didn't pay attention to customers, but this one, her very presence demanded the utmost scrutiny. Her hair, the color of molten moonlight, stood out in it's brazen beauty, with eyes of silver and skin also of the moon, she normally wore white or blue. He had never dared to speak to her, though she look friendly enough. He supposed it was because of the diamond on her ring finger, and the sad, almost mournful look in her stunning eyes. Today, however, she looked positively miserable. Tears were in her eyes, but didn't dare to fall as she ordered her normal coffe with extra cream and took her usual place at the counter. He handed her the steaming mug and leaned on the counter across from her as she stared into space, not noticing the coffee before her. "Is something wrong?" She started at the sound of his voice, and stared at him for a second, before nodding slightly. "I'm just a little worried," she said, and her voice was like song. "Nothing much..." He grinned softly. That was much too see- through to be true. "I've seen you here before. I'm Michael." "Kayla." She said, in reply. "I've only been in Boston for a month and a half." He nodded. "Thought so. Most people are a little more cautious after being here for a while. Where're you from?" She seemed a bit hesitant at answering this. "Tokyo." She said finally. "Tokyo, Japan." His eyebrows quirked. "And your name is Kayla?" "My parents... weren't Japanese..." she said, slowly. "And I'm only going to be here for an... extended visit." She gave a kind of morose laugh. "And what a visit it shall be." "Business?" Some of the darkness left her eyes. "You could call it that." She said, smiling slighty. "I'm in a spot of trouble, and one of my friends offered me a place to stay. Okay, scratch that. She basicly took control of my life and forced me over here." Michael laughed slightly. "I'm only going to be here a year, from what she ordered." "What kind of trouble?" The look that had been there before, when she'd first entered the small cafe, returned. She began to play with the ring, and her eyes lowered until they hit the dollied counter. His smile went to an expression of worry. "Two months." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "And seven months to go." It took about three seconds for his mind to put her sentense together with a bit of common sense and come up with the undenible answer. "Who's the father?" She looked up and gave him a wry smile. "I'd love to tell you, but the fate of the world could be in jeopardy if I told the truth, and I'd feel horrible if I lied." "So I extract the question." He replied. "Does he know about it?" "The father? No. And he's not about to, either. He was... three years younger than me." She said, slowly. "And I'm engaged." Michael nodded. "How old are you?" "Twenty-one in seven months. Small Lady is supposed to share my birthday?" "You know it's a girl?" "I'm just about sure." She chuckled slightly. "More than 'just about', actually." She was about to say more, when a highly irrated woman, taller than the woman he spoke to, with long dark hair and wearign a sharp business suit, swept into the cafe. Kayla immediatly jumped to her feet to greet the woman. "Princess, where have you been?" The taller woman asked, her tone slightly worried. "You're usually back in your appartment by now." Kayla grinned sheepishly. "Sorry, Setsuna. But I was actually having a conversation! Meet Michael. He runs this cafe." Michael extended his hand to Setsuna. "Nice to meet you." "And you." She replied. "Has Kayla been getting into trouble? I'm afraid I don't believe her when she says she's completely innocent." Kayla stuck her tongue out, most childishly, at Setsuna, while Michael shrugged. "Haven't known her long enough, but I say you've got a handful, Miss Setsuna." He grinned sheepishly as Kayla scowled at him. "Believe me, we have ample proof of that," Setsuna answered. "Hey, at least I know when I'm alive or not!" Kayla interrupted. "Does Ami have any news? Or is this merely a social call, Setsuna." Her words held something hidden. "Business, I'm afraid. It's about Z." "Z?" At this, Kayla was most definatly alarmed. Michael watched as her fists were clenched and every single muscle she had tensed. "What is it?" "Maybe we'd better take this to the appartment?" Setsuna suggested, a steely undertone to her kind words. Kayla nodded. "Sorry, Mike. I've got to talk to Setsuna. See you later." She laid some money on the counter and was escorted out by Setsuna. They walked in stoney silence across the street and into the elevator. As soon as the door of Kayla's appartment was shut behind them, Setsuna lost her friendly demeaner and a serious, all-too- familar expresion enveloped her exotic features. She gave Kayla a long, searching look. "Well?" Kayla asked. "There's a problem." Setsuna said, as clamly as she could. "Apparently, the thing that brought back the presumedly dead Prince Diamond," Kayla shuddered. "Is up to their tricks again. Only this time, things are just a tab more drastic." "Who is it, Setsuna?" Just don't say Ail. Setsuna took a long breath. "If I hadn't seen it," she said softly. "If I hadn't have heard her... I would not have thought it possible. We've got real trouble. It's..." She brought forth her garnet staff. "Restored to full power." She said, cutting herself off. "With a fresh army of youma and new generals. Her domain has been restored. Our new challenge is Queen Beryl." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kayla took several deep breaths. Several. "You're absolutely, positively, without-a- goddamn-doubt sure." "Would I dare to tell you if I was not?" Setsuna sighed, and with a swing of her staff, a small mist appeared and solidfied, taking sahpe of a simple, but large, mirror, that revealed an image of a face that had also been a regual occurrance in Usagi's nightmares. "This mirror is the mirror of the present, also referred to as the Mirror of Now. It showed whatever you want to see, nop matter what." Beryl. With long, red hair and snake-like yellow-tinged eyes and wearing a long ghastly violet gown that revealed as much cleavage as possible without being topless. She was speaking to a man who's face was in shadow, and unfortunatly, the mirror didn't have speakers. "What does this have to do with the guys?" "Beryl may decide to attack their world. From what I can gather, which isn't much, Beryl has three new generals. Dolomite, Celestite, and Halite, respectively according to rank. "Dolomite is in charge at the moment. Apparently, Beryl gathered him from this area, because I was given knowledge of his first plan. "He's going to attack the old-fashioned way: with terror in mind. Sailor Moon's going to appear to do some globetrotting. I've convinced the senshi to stay put. You're going to have to fly solo, princess. Unless, of course, with your condition in mind, I find a way to transprt the senshi--" "Setsuna, if you dare try to start treating me like a china doll because I'm pregnant, I'll have your key. Eternal Sailor Selene shall confront Dolomite, as long as Super Sailor Pluto gives up her information." "Alright. He's planting a bomb, and it's not going to be pretty, because apparently, Dolomite 'accidentally' dropped a note by Boston Police Headquarters about it. With proof, mind you. If you had been watching the news, you would have seen the 3rd People's Bank go up with a bang." "Setsuna, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were getting a sense of humor!" "The Navy SEALS will be there. The Green Berets. The Bomb Squad. Members oft he Intelligence Unit: ESU. So many cops it'll make your head spin. And of course, the usual crowd of fools looking for a blast." "Geez, Setsuna. Where's this bomb at? "Princess, have you ever heard of the Boston Symphony?" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eternal Sailor Selene watched the scene from her place in the dark alleyway. The troops that Setsuna had told her of where not only there, they were nervous, paniced, and afraid. The chances of Selene getting through without getting shot were three million guns to a bit of magic. Not very good odds. She took a deep breath, swept her cloak behind her, set her face into her serious don't- rub-me-the-wrong-way-or-you'll-find-out-what-it- feels-like-to-have-fifteen-inches-of-moon-scepter- where-the-sun-don't-shine expression and stepped out into the sunlight of early Boston morn. She was spotted almsot instantly. It wasn't so much as she was the only person on the street that wasn;t in some type of military uniform so much as the way the light caught golden threads in her fuku and the golden streaks in her hair, letting her glow in an unearthly way, and the fact she *was* a goddess, and then the slight fact that she was drop dead gorgeous and wearing a very short skirt didn't hurt, either. Needless to say, most of the men forgot they were supposed to be keeping their attention on the rigged-to-explode famous landmark and have reverted to staring at Selene as she approached, her staff giving her the support she needed to keep walking. She bowed slightly ebfore the man she supposed was in charge of the fiasco. he stared at her, the megaphone in his limp hand. "I am Eternal Sailor Selene, agent of justice. Please remove your men from this place, or they'll be killed." Something in her mournful eyes tugged at his soul. "This place was not set to blow up by normal people. I can handle this, if you please." He felt tempted to call off every troop in the place, but shook his head. "Sorry, lady. I got orders." he replied. The officers around him were staring at her as he lowered her head. "Alright. This shall make things difficult. You see, this is my fight. My mother's killer has sent her minion to do this. I must enter the building, please. Grant me this." He had no idea why he did it. It was like something had taken control of his limbs, and only much, much later, he would be told something had. "Clear the way! Miss Selene is to enter the building! MOVE IT!" She smirked softly as, reluctantly, a narrow path between the rows of sharpshooters and SWAT team members appeared, and she walked through it, an unfelt breeze giving her strength. She pushed open the doors and was immediatly surrounded by suprised SEALS and Green Berets, who gave her questioning looking as her aura began to build up around her, protecting her from a surprise attack. All of the soldiers, no matter how steel nerved, jumped at her voice as she called out to the presumably empty building. "Dolomite! I know you're here! Come out, now! Before I take this place out, with or without the helpd of your bomb!" It was a voice that represented a person to be reckoned with, a voice light and melodic, with s ilver of stell running through it that conquered any doubt she was unable to fend for herself. "Who are you, pretty soldier? Not Sailor Moon, the one I am to capture. Speak your name, or be death's victim." If they were suprised at her call, they were stunned by the voiceless whisper that filled their ears. "Dolimite, I presume?" "Of course, m'lady." "You will be more than estatic to learn that Sailor Moon is dead. As is the Princess Serenity. The soldier that I am may be announced as Eternal Sailor Selene, the Imperial Serenity, Neo- Protector of the Ginzuishou and Goddess of the Moon. Come out, coward." "Serenity... dead? Be you jesting?" The voice was suprised and furious. "I do *not* jest. By order of the moon, I demand you show yourself! NOW!" The highly trained soldiers were frightened at the display of power as a man appeared. He stood just over six feet tall. His short hair was the color of fine sand, with pericing eyes of saphire. A face from greek statues, with broad shoulders and slim hips, built to perfection, muscular, but compact. Wearing the gray uniform of Beryl's forces. A black half-cloak depleted any thought that he was low rank. "Sailor Selene? There is no record of you." She smiled wryly. "Glad you noticed, my lord. No, there would not be. Sailor Selene is a being of my creation. Have you not yet figured out who I am?" Her words clearly shocked him. "Not..." He gasped as the crescent on her forehead began to glow with power. "I am the Goddess Selene. Of the moon until forever. I stand in Serenity's place. Leave the population of earth be, Dolomite. Send your youma to fight with me." "Alas, the lady speaks words of courage, but Dolomite, master of enigma, can't oblidge. You've got ten minutes to fnd my present and disarm it, Selene. Goddess or no, you do feel pain. Ta ta..." Doliomite vanished. Selen gawked. What? She'd just challeged him, a minion of the Dark Kingdom. They were supposed to be highly temperental idiots that always accepted a challenge no matter what. They weren't supposed to be smart, dammit. She sighed in angish and looked back at the soldiers. "Well, you know my name, anyway. I don't suppose you could tell me where the bomb is?" She asked, twirling her staff like a baton. One of the Green Berets shook his head soundlessly. "Didn't think so. Well, you can call me Lena while we look. Er, you guys in the blue take the downstairs. You with the funny hats, spread out. I'm going to try to see if I can reason with Dolomite, he's still here somewhere." Surprisingly, they obeyed her orders, through they were a bit miffed by her descriptions. Not too longer after, perhaps five minutes, one of the 'guys in blue' came racing up the stairs looking terribly frightened. "Found it..." He gasped. "This whole block is gonna blown in four minutes!" "No it won't." She replied calmly. "Won't you guys ever learn magic is much more potent than science?" She asked, as he led her to the place. Right in the smak dead center of the basement was an assortment of technology, gunpower, gas, wires, and know-how to make any Bomb Disembling Expert faint. Several SEALS were eyeing it in fear and alarm. "Oh, wow." Selene looked uo to the ceiling. "I hope you're getting a laugh out of this, Dolomite. If my daughter dies, you're going to get it where it hurts, capeesh?" She turned her attention to the clock that read 3:18 and was counting down, slowly and steadily. "So, anyone an expert on wires?" She asked brightly. "No? Damn. This is going to be completely guesswork." Now all of them were alarmed. "Go get the funny hat guys and getnout of here, and try to clear the area. I'm by no means a computer genius. Shoo." They didn't have to be told twice. They were out of there with speed to make Haruka flush with shame. Then, and only then, Selene let out the stream of curses that stated her frustration. "Damn you Beryl! If it's not the idiot attack, you just HAVE to find a genius, don't you?" She mumbled, taking off one of her gloves to reveal her delicate hand, glowing with silver energy. She began to touch the wires one by one, trying to find the one that the data from the clock was flowing from. The clock now read 1:52. She looked over to it, a fine sheen of sweat covering her brow. "Note to self if self survives: Magic and Science are like water and oil when it comes to mixing." She muttered, finally find the wire of her search as the clock clicked 0:30. "Now, for the tricky part." Using much of her energy, she surrounded the small mountain of explosives with a golden dome and closed her eyes as she borrowed a trick of Venus's and sent a replica of the Cresent beam forth, slicing through the selected wire. She closed her eyes and waited for the explosion. It never came. She opened her eyes to find the clock had frozen on 0:02, and that the clock was seperate from the priming device. Sighing with relief, she carefully let the said explosives disappear into a portal, devised by Pluto. And wondered if heart attacks were good for babies. Just as she was about to dehenshin and walk away, she noticed a small crystal where the explosives had been. It was almost shaped like a many sided hexagon, and was a pale milky white. An image of her earth science classes ventured back to her mind at that moment, and she realized what it was. "Baka Selene," She murmured. "You didn't stop that bomb, Dolomite did. And here's his signature." It was a perfect dolomite crystal. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kayla sat down on her couch, but only remained so for a few minutes before she was up and pacing again. Now four months along, she was beginning to show. Lucky enough for her, some of the magic she gained as Selene hid her figure when she henshined into Sailor Selene, but the fact was that Dolomite was much more clever and stronger than the four who came before him. He'd managed to gather more energy than she'd like to think about, and more than once she'd come out with the worse end of the fight. He wasn't as strong as Diamond. No, not even close. But to use the power she had used on Diamond would be a risk she was unwillingly to take in her condition. And, damn him, Dolomite had some of the strongest, not to mention ugliest, youma she'd ever fought. And his terrorist tricks didn't help matters at all. Michael had begun to worry about her, saying that Setsuna's unpredictable visits weren't enough for her, and that she needed to stay with someone who ciould protect her. It took all of her manipulating skills to convince him otherwise, but he still showed up unexpectedly. When she returned as Sailor Selene, what if she found him waiting? It'd be hard to explain. The Boston newspapers hadn't failed to catch wind of 'Eternal Sailor Selene, female warrior of Justice' and were posting regular columns about her, and her 'supposed alias'. So far, people thought she was Barbara Walters, Beverly Cleary, and Madonna. Apparently Beryl was more obsessed in attacking the 'Mystery Senshi' than Japan or the Z warriors, so Selene was flying completely solo. Dolomite had realized this and was using it to his full advantage. He'd left his crystals wherever they fought. So far, she hadn't the courage to take one with her, for fear they were bugging devises or held some kind of curse. They usually disappeared after she'd turned away, but she always had a nagging feeling-- curiousity, perhaps. Reflecting upon all this made her feel uneasy. She knew she was very recognizable. Her hair and skin were the color of fair moonlight, and fairly glowed with the power that was a struggle everyday to keep hidden. Usually most people thought it was just a trick of the sun, or maybe they were imagining it. She was a siren to them. Even now, as she walked into her bedroom and pulled on a lilac colored sundress that hid her growing figure reasonably well, the nagging feeling she was forgetting something important hit her as she picked up her purse and pulled her hair up into a looped ponytail. She was going out to eat, but even after she'd checked herself twice, she still felt she was forgetting something. She entered the restrurant with a clear intention to enjoy herself. She didn't even notice the blonde haired man in the booth behind her, talking to a woman wearing a long tench coat, big, dark glasses and a large flooppy hat. They both froze, unbeknownst to her, when she sat down and took one of the menus. "Do you feel that?" The woman asked in an excited whisper. "That girl has more power than the Queen and all of the Kingdom. It's got to be her." The man gaze the woman a long look before standing up, walking to the counter, asking a question, and returning, having been able to get a very good look at Kayla. "Her description fits," He confirmed. "but..." "But what, sir?" "She's pregnant, Janiko. You can tell." He sat down. "If it wasn't for that, I'd say we had her in the bag." "Sir, look at her. Dead-ringer. If she's not Sailor Selene, perhaps her sister is. She's giving off too strong a ki for her not to be or at least be realaed to Sailor Selene." The woman's voice rose just a little in indignity, but it was enough. Kayla smiled slyly as she sipped her Coke. So, one of the youma thought she was Sailor Selene. And the said youma was sitting right behind her. Question: Should she wait until it confronted her or should she confront it? Her reasonable side told her to wait. She had the upperhand no matter what. The side that was sick of being forced away from people, the side still aching from her last battles, the side that told her, "Damn the world! Some psycho wants to see you sweat, and he's bringing back your nightmares! DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! You're still Usagi, but you're stronger now! PROVE YOU'RE NOT A CRYBABY!" wanted her to get up, henshin, and kick some SERIOUS Dark Kingdom butt. And, fortunatly for her, and most unfortunate for the Dark Kingdom, that side usually won out, as it did right then. Twisting around in her seat, a feat for her, she batted her eyes most innocently at the startled pair. "I'm sure we can arrange something. A *private* conversation, no doubt? I've found you're rarely disturbed in a handy alleyway." Her suggestion left a satsified smirk on ther lips of the man she hadn't realized was there- - Dolomite! Her confident expression flickered slightly. "Of course," he replied, in the same warm, pleasnt tone she'd used. "I believe there is one just outside, if we may?" She nodded, and laid her money on the table, stood up, and walked swiftly out of the restrurant. She reached into her pocket for her brooch... And it wasn't there. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` She paced in the alleyway. There were no doubt discussing her. She'd only discovered she'd left her brooch behind a few seconds ago, and they were due in the same amount of time. "This is perfectly Usagi." She said, mentally slapping herself. She had two choices: Face him defenseless, and take the chance that he was an honorless dirtbag that enjoyed killing pregnant women, or face him as Super Sailor Moon, and hope her lower power was enough to fend him off and hope he didn't attack her. Ultimatly, and wisely, she decided to face him as she was. She stood, not as a threat, but as a mystery. Mere seconds later, the woman and Dolomite stepped into the alley. Dolomite had returned to his handsome self, but the woman remained concealed. "Well, Cel, we know she's not Eternal Sailor Selene. She would have transformed herself by now." Dolomite observed. "Who are you, girl?" He asked, sitting back leisurly on the thin air. 'Cel' however, kept a ridgid, nervous pose. "My name," She hoped she wasn't making a big mistake. "Is Kayla Smith. I overheard you talking about me." She kept her eyes on Dolomite, pretending to be fancinated. "I wondered perhaps if you wished to speak to me." Dolomite stared at Kayla for a long time, his eyes trasvelling up and down her body, almost trying to judge her, while the woman fiddled with a light blue prism that hung about her neck on a thin golden chain, looking like she wanted to dart away. "I don't believe you." He said, finally. "Your ki is much too high to be a normal human. I think you know what we are. Maybe you'd like to explain what you are." It was said in a threatening way, and for fear of her daughter, she sighed. Damn him. "Fine." She said. "I think you know what I am, Dolomite. And I'm not quite the person at the top of you mind, but you've got a nagging suspicion, don't you?" She smiled. "Perhaps you were given false information otherwise, but I think you *know* what I am." The woman had frozen. Her jaw dropped open nd a tiny squeak escaped her lips, a squeak that sounded suspiciously like 'Serenity'. Dolomite heard this also, and turned to stare at Cel. "Don't be ridiculous, Celestite!" He snapped, sounding less than confident. Kayla brightened at this. "Celestite, second general of Beryl. Ah, yes, Beryl. I don't suppose you would be willing to tell me just *how* my mother's murderer came back to life and power?" Dolomite turned to stare at her. "That." He motioned to her stomach. "That's Endymion's spawn, isn't it?" He growled, loosing all calm. To his eternal surprise, Kayla shook her head. "You may tell your queen it is not." She said, smiling wryly. "But that will be a job for Celestite, because you and I shall finish our business right now, Dolomite! I am sick of being challenged by dead fools!" The power, strengthened by her anger, lit her being with a glow that could not be denyed presence. "I'm sick of all this." her voice lowered to a deadly whisper as all her goddess glory shone, covered only by the gown of Selene. Her staff appeared in her hands, shining with the might of the ginzuishou. She was the moon. Gods, he realized it then. No, this was not Serenity. No, this was not Selene, or Sailor Moon, or any of the people he'd met or been warned of. She was the moon, compact inside a siren's melody of a body. Everything about her resemebled the sleek moonlight, and she was beautiful. Beautiful did not begin to describe her. Words were nothing compared to her. A thousand poets could agonize and moan, but they could never describe her as she was now. He knew what Cataseena and Diamond saw now, to leave them powerless before her, too mezmorized to strike a blow, trying to take it in but failing greatly. The Moon. She raised her staff, and all of her movements was slowed down to an agonizing speed, her mane floating around her in an unknown breeze. The glowing top of her staff was pointed directly at him. "I'm sorry..." She whispered. "Concentrated Solar Moon Beam." He felt no pain as the magic enveloped his body, filling him with light and peace that he'd never felt before. Celestite fled in terror, returning to the Dark kingdom. She was in charge now, and she now knew what she was up against. But she could never hope to nmatch it. Kayla fell to her knees, exhausted. The use of her power was overwhelming, and she only knew of the lilting voice in her head that told her to hang on... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next thing she knew, she was laying on something soft, a warm rag on her forehead. Her mind told her that she was warm, safe, and comfortable. Why ruin a good thing? But Rationibility won out, as it usually did. She opened her eyes to stare into a pair of violet ones, ones she immediatly recognized. "Hotaru!" "Princess, you're awake. I was beginning to worry." She looked no more than seventeen, and her eyes held a quiet wisdom as she looked at Kayla in delight. "Setsuna-mama will be pleased." "Hotaru, where am I?" "Your appartment in Boston, Usagi. Setsuna- mama brought you here after your fight. She said you wer injured, and drained. I healed you, and have been staying with you for the last two days." "I've been out two days!" "Yes, Usagi. That man... Michael... came by to see you. I told him I was your sister, and that you were sick. He's been by three times, twice today and once yesterday." "Setsuna always has everything planned out." Kayla grumbled. "Isn't there anything that happened that she doesn't know about?" "Well, she didn't know you were pregnant until you got back to this deminsion." "That doesn't count." Kayla replied. Suddenly, everything came back to her. "Dolomite-- did I win?" "You did, Princess. You won. The second general escaped, but you managed to defeat the 'Boston Terrorist' without your brooch. "By the way, Setsuna-mama's going to chew you out when she gets back. How could you forget your brooch, Usagi? You could've been killed. "Chibi-usa could've been killed." "You know, then?" "Of course." Hotaru winked at Usagi. "She is my best friend, you know. It took me about two minutes to figure it out, because number one, she doesn't look a thing like Mamoru, and number two, she's stronger than most senshi her age and she's completely of the moon. A child of Endymion should at least be part of the earth, but not Chibi-usa." Hotaru paused, looking a bit longful. "I'm actually quite surprised the Prince didn't figure it out." "Uh-huh." Kayla groaned as she stood up, her knees wobbling slightly but able to remain standing. She smilied softly as she steadied herself. "So, Hotaru. Since you're my sister now, I think an extended visit is in order." "Ahead of you, my Princess." Hotaru giggled slightly. "Pluto 'casually mentioned' that it might be a good 'idea' if I stayed until the delivery." She rolled her eyes. "In other words, I'm to stay here and help you. Other than Pluto, we're the strongest senshi on the team. Hell, you are the strongest senshi. By far." Hotaru grinned. "Haruka- papa is still a bit upset about that. Can't believe 'her little Odango-chan' is all 'grown up' and a goddess queen." Both she and Kayla began to laugh at this, finding it hilarious. "So, 'sis', what is your name going to be? You can't be called Hotaru over here." "Luckily, Michael didn't ask my name, but I think I'd like to be called--" She was cut off. "Cassandra Smith." Kayla and Hotaru looked towards the senshi of time as the door was closed behind her. Setsuna handed Hotaru a purse. "ID, driver's permit, birth certifcate, and your social security number." She said, in explantation. "Your name is Cassandra Smith." "Cassie?" Hotaru said doubtfully. "I was thinking more along the lines of Hannah..." She laughed. "Okay, Cassie. Cassie's fine. Er, let's see. I'm going to have to be called Cassie for how many..." Hotaru counted off the months until June. "Six months? Setsuna, you're horrible." "Thank you, m'dear. But Celestite, although her first impression is that of a frightened deer, can be quite nasty. Assistance shall definatly be needed." She gave a slight bow. "Pluto Planet Power Make up!" She cried, and opened a portal with her staff. "Keep your brooch with you, Princess. Next time won't be so easy. Hotaru, take care of her." And then she was gone. 'Cassie' looked at 'Kayla' and grinned. "So, want to know what Mamoru did when he found out you were pregnant?" Kayla looked startled. "They know?" "'Course they do. Pluto had to tell them. Only Mercury and I know about Gohan though. Somehow or another, Setsuna managed to fix the Prince's memories. He thinks, no, he 'knows' it's his." She winked slyly. "Hoo boy. Setsuna got all of us together, you know? At Rei's temple. "She made sure that Rei's Grandfather and Yuirchiro were out, though, which was a good thing. She tried to break it gently, but Minako and Makoto screamed really liud and started dancing, and Mamoru *fainted*. Haruka-papa just got all red in the face because Michiru-mama sugessted that a baby for them wouldn't be so bad. "Ami already knew, so she was helping Pluto and I keep Luna away from Mamoru. She was furious. Rei started babbling about 'Baka Odango Atama' and 'Baka Baka Mamoru Baka'. It was very funny to watch." "What about Chibi-usa-chan?" "She left for Crystal Tokyo a few days after you disappeared for Boston." "Do my mother and father know?" "Are you kidding?" Hotaru looked stunned. "Usagi, your father would have a UZI down Mamoru's pants if he found out!" Kayla errupted in laughter, and Hotaru followed soon after; she couldn't help herself. That image was too much, because she could see it very well. She fell to the floor in hysterical laughter. "Oh, gods, Hotaru." She gasped. "Let's hope Papa doesnt find out..." She managed to gasp, before her laughter drowned her voice out again. It was a good ten minutes before either of them could control themselves, and then it was only because of the persistant knocking on the door. Kayla scrambled for a robe to cover the nightgown she wore while Hotaru composed herself and answer the door. "Yes, she's awake now, and feeling much better. have a seat." She heard Hotaru say. "I'm Cassie." Kayla finally found her fluffy purple robe and threw it on quickly and went to say hi to Michael. Maybe today would be brighter. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She'd said it before and was only too willing to say it again: Tsukino Usagi, Sailor Moon, Sailor Selene, Selene, Kayla, whoever she was, SHE HAD NO LUCK. They'd had to almost force Michael out of the appartment. Celestite had apparently waited long enough for Selene to recover, for the TV went to 'emergency broadcast' and reported one of the 'unidentified creatures' was attacking people on the corner of fourth and main. They were advising people to take cover when Michael finally left. "Ready?" Hotary asked, looking doubtfully at her princess's abdomen. "Ready. Selene Hime Make up!" "Saturn Planet Power Make up!" they called upon their power and leapt out the window, landing on the street that was more or less empty and racing off to the other end of the city. They were silent during the sprint, Saturn using her glaive and Selene her staff to help them go fasster, until they finally reached the place. It was surprisingly normal looking. A female body, of course, wearing an outfit that reminded Selene of an old-fashioned western dress she'd seen in her History books. Completely harmless looking-- until she narrowing missed being speared with a less-than- dull enlarged knitting needle. "Watch out!" Saturn screamed, just in time. Selene growled at the youma, who lookied miffed at missing, the streets around them full of drained people, all hit with a knitting needle in some place or another. "A pretty soldier in a sailor costume, I am Eternal Sailor Selene, the Imperial Serenity. Accept yuor punishment in the name of the moon!" "I am the messangar from the depths of Hell, soldier of destruction and bearer of the protection of the planet Saturn. I am the Dark Messiah, Super Sailor Saturn!" She spun her glaive about her head and brought it crashing down upon the ground. "Silent Glaive Surprise!" The wave of violet energy slammed into the youma with incredible force, sending it flying back into one of the reporters whohad arrived on the scene. Luckily for him, the youma ignored the fallen paporazzi and grinned sadistic at Selene, who groaned as a barrage of needles came flying at both her and Saturn. Several of them just scraped by her, but Saturn took the worse as one hit her shoulder. She fell to the ground clutching her shoulder. "Damn!" "You're history, Youma!" Selene shouted, manuevering past another attack of needles and up to the youma. With an extremely loud and sickening crack, her staff connected sharply with the back of the youma's head. "Concentrated Solar Moon Beam! Saturn, are you okay?" She called to the dark senshi, who stood up, the wound gone, but looking slightly pale. "Fine, Selene. I took care of it. That was a little too easy, ne?" "I know." Selene looked hesitatly at the mob of journalists. "Let's scram, before we've got three thousand questions and a lot of pushy people to deal with!" Swinging her glaive threateningly, the Saturn retreated retreated from the scene as Selene quickly scooped up a handful of youmadust and ran after her senshi. "What did you do that for, Selene?" "I'm gonna borrow Ami's computer and see just what these things are made of, Saturn. I'm sick of being up against the unknown." ~'~'~'~'~ That's it for Indifference: Discoveries. I hope you like it, and I hope I'm in time for the deadline. It's gonna be a while before the next part is out. Shorter than the last, I know, but not by much. Just... oh... ten kbs... ::whinces:: I haven't even got a good idea for the next part yet, but look for it in a couple of weeks. Sionara til then. -Black Beyond ::OOOO! I got Pluto Cronicles almost done! I FEEL GREAT! Yeah!::