"Reflections from the Past" A Sailor Moon Fanfiction Written by Deunan (Deunan@aol.com) [ ]=thoughts < >=Dreams ( )=Memories Part 2 ____________ No matter how many times it happened, it still felt strange to have a whole block of memories appearing at some odd moment during the day. Some moments more odd than others, and others were just down right embarrassing. Suddenly, Artemis found himself laughing. "What's so funny?" Luna mumbled as she soaked in the sun. The two of them were lounging nonchalantly under a tree somewhere in the park. [Lord, she looks beautiful...] "No chance," she said reading his mood. It was a talent she'd acquired after their long and rocky friendship. He first spied her out when she first entered the Imperial palace. She was young and inexperienced in more ways than one. Fulfilling his reputation, he laid down his charm and good grace, and was flatly rebuffed. Much to his surprise, her position was equal to his own as an advisor to Queen Serenity. It was still a wonder, in the palace, how a woman hunting rogue made his way into such a high position. "Just thinking about some of the 'good times'," He answered laying down beside her but not too close beside her. "Like the various times you visited the Terran embassy and came back drunk." Artemis smiled, "I only got drunk twice." Luna groaned at the memory. The Terrans had established diplomatic relations with the Moon Kingdom after the negotiating she did the year before. They celebrated their arrival on the moon with a ball inviting all the Moon's dignitaries. (Artemis strode down the marble hallways with a confident smile on his face. Silently he crept through the large oaken doors of the palace library. She was reading intensely sitting on a table. A large scroll lay unrolled on the table's surface. Her head bent down, she quickly digested the information committing it to memory. He leapt upon the chair behind her. His padded heels absorbed the impact muffling the sound. Careful not to betray his presence, he leaned in close to her ear. Licking his lips, he blew a gently. She bolted upright as she felt the breath tickle her inner ear. "You!!" she seethed, in a flash of anger turning to face the white cat. "I knew you wouldn't forget me," he said smiling a debenar smile. "I'm not interested, so go find some other cat to disappear in the gardens with!!" She shouted causing the other visitors of the library to giggle in amusement. "Luna, your the only one for me." He responded in a hurt voice. Some of the other cats, both male and female, snickered. It was a common line for the palace's self appointed Romeo. "I've got an invite from the Terran embassy. It says I can bring a guest." "I happen to have one too," she said, smiling slyly. Artemis began to sweat. That smile seemed so unsuited to her aristocratic upbringing . An upbringing that didn't take kind to rabble like him to associate themselves with a women like her. She pulled the letter out of the thin air. A trick they had learned, reaching into small pocket dimensions, dropping it in front of him. She walked out of the library head held high. He took a look at the invitation. The balcony facing the Royal Palace 1900 hours He sliced the invitation to the ribbons. Something puzzled him greatly. By all means this invitation meant she had a lover, but cats weren't intelligent on Earth. If Luna wanted to play games, she didn't know the playing field. He chuckled silently. Their were no rules in love and war.) * * * Rei glanced left and right. Mina was sitting on one of her bean bags glancing through some romance manga. She was tapping her foot with a beat that began to match Rei's pulsing veins. Ami was lying on her stomach flipping though the pages of some insanely thick text book. "Arrrggh, I can't take this anymore," Rei shouted. Mina laughed at the outburst while the third continued flipping pages. "It is a beautiful day outside and were sitting her cramped up in the temple. Let's at least go out and do something." Mina smirked, "And where do we get the money to DO anything. We're all broke." "You think Lita will loan us any?" Ami spoke up not bothering to look up from her text book. "We might as well as Luna or Artemis. Hey! You think they could use that Lunar magic to conjure up some," Rei said. "I've tried that before," Mina said knowingly, "Artemis says that would be an abuse of his powers. I've got an idea, let's go to the park." "You two aren't seriously thinking of spying on Serena...," Ami said, her tone serious. The two others chorused, "Nope!!" "Well I am," Ami giggled and raced to the door pursued by Rei and Mina who had very surprised looks on their faces. By the time they arrived at the park, Darien and Serena couldn't be found. Rei seemed to finally over Darien and was more interested in having a good time that ruining Serena's date. They didn't bother following Mina's suggestion of checking the thick shrubs and bushes. Unable to find the two, they bummed around window shopping. Time seemed to fly, for it was already getting dark out. Unsuccessfully, Rei and Mina tried to catch themselves some men. Ami just watched amusingly from a distance. Suddenly with out warning felt an icy chill go down their spines forcing each to gasp for breath. "What was that?!" Mina demanded from no one in particular as the feeling became a painful memory. Recovering, Ami pulled out her mini-computer and began typing furiously. Rei, put a hand to her head feeling her temples pulse. "Something evil," the priestess said trusting her instincts. "I've got its location!!" Ami shouted. "Ami, call Lita. Mina, call Artemis and tell'm to get Luna, I'll call Serena," Rei said confidently taking command. * * * Absentmindedly he began scratching at the white silk ribbon that was bound around his right wrist. He stared down at his wrist gazing the fabric as if trying to read the streaks in the material like a gypsy reading a palm. A wave of depression washed over him as he looked upon it. Disjointed images flashed across his mind's eye. He clenched his eyes tight trying to hold back the tears. "I won't fail," he whispered. Suddenly, the black gem began to pulse faster and faster. That caught his attention. Looking over himself , he made sure his gray uniform was exactly as they last saw it. [No need to get iced because of mistaken identity. * * * Artemis and Luna were on their way to the site. The later told them to exercise caution. For some reason their calls for Serena didn't get through to the girl. It was decided that they had to go one with out the fifth scout. If it was a youma or a denizen of the Dark Kingdom, they couldn't wait for her. On their way to the origin of the 'bad vibes' they picked up Lita who was at a cooking class at the time. The four girls saw the large partially completed office building loom up at them. The sun had already set, and a handful of clouds glided in giving the area an ominous atmosphere. The only illumination was the various street lamps. Simultaneously they transformed becoming the Sailor Senshi. Steathfully, they entered the site. A lone man was sitting on an overturned barrel back turned to them. His hair was an unearthly shade of white. His clothing consisted of a gray uniform similar to lavender ones the Dark Kingdom generals wore. One the ground before him was a small gem that pulsed rapidly illuminating the area rather significantly. Rei motioned to the others with her hand. They burst out of their hiding places poised for action ready to unleash their power. "I heard you coming from a mile off," the man commented back still facing them. The man rose slowly palms held open in a nonthreatening gesture. He faced them. Just out of her hearing she heard Lita murmur something. The man's eyes went wide in surprise. Both parties stood what seemed like an eternity staring at each other even if it lasted only a moment . The man's eyes narrowed; Rei saw him adjust his stance ever so slightly. Mina broke the silence, "Surrender." "How many of you do I have to kill before you realize I'm not so easily defeated," The man snarled. The Scouts were puzzled by the remark. Seeing their moment of distraction, the man kicked the pulsing gem at them and dove to the side. Ami was first to act sending a stream of bubbles engulfing the area in a thick fog. * * * Darien tried not to laugh. He knew how much this dinner meant to the two of them. [Serena must've spent hours just looking for the outfit.] That wasn't the humorous part, though. The restaurant was a high class establishment; it was not like the dinners or fast food joints they usually went to. Serena was trying her hardest not to scarf down her food like a starving wolverine. She was acting so prime and proper trying to be the princess she was born to become. He couldn't help but smile at her. "What are you smiling at?" Serena said, between mouthfuls. He leaned back in his seat and took a sip of his water. "You," he responded as Serena blushed deeply. It hit both of them at once. A premonition. Both Darien and Serena recognized it at once. "Get your communicator," he shot in a whisper as he dug through his wallet to pay the bill. "I left it at home," she murmured sheepishly. Darien shot her a look of ice cold intensity. "I didn't want it interrupting us," she said almost in tears. "Never mind, just go help them. I'll meet up with you," he urged. The girl mouthed something to him. He nodded as she exited the restaurant. I love you. * * * The man leapt across Ami's line of vision faster than any normal human. He was a collage of blues, blacks, and yellows on her visors infrared sight. The other's attacks glowed a harsh white as they lanced out to strike the darting figure. "Venus six degrees right!!" She shouted from behind her cover of a steel girder. Her throat was beginning to hurt from her excursions. She had been yelling their targets location for what seemed like an eternity. Through her visor she was the only one who could spot their mysterious foe clearly through her artificial fog. She gasped, a mist like pattern of reds and blues sprayed out from their foe. It was blood. Abruptly, the black shadow turned facing straight towards her. Fear shot through her body. The shadows arm moved. Everything seemed to slow down. The thin blade of the knife seemed to hover slowly towards her face. Desperately, she hurled herself to the side. The blade struck her visor dead on; its blade snapping in half as it glanced off harmlessly. Suddenly, a spider web pattern of broken glass exploded across the whole length of the visor. Colors flashed across its display in rapid succession bombarding her optic nerves. An explosion blasted across her ears as her visor shattered outward in a blast of light. Her mind under such brutal assault from two senses had no choice but to shut down its conscious portion. * * * Lita heard a scream of pain emanate through the gradually thinning fog. Fear struck her as she recognized the voice. "Ami!!" Heedless of any hidden dangers she ran towards voice. Bursting through a bank of fog, she saw the white haired man standing over Ami with a dagger in hand. [Too close to blitz him.] She thought grimly. The man turned as she slammed her shoulder into him slamming him into the girder. The man grunted in pain as he collided with the solid steel structure dropping the weapon. Seemingly unfazed the man brought his elbow down upon her collarbone crushing her to her knees. "Lita get down!!" Rei's voice rang out. The man turned towards the voice. * * * His magic enhanced reflexes took over as a fireball streaked passed his head. Searing pain swept across his shoulders as it smashed into the girder behind him spraying him with fiery embers. Another fireball flew past him missing him totally. He charged towards the figure. He admired the trap in an odd way. Evidently they figured he would be searching for the Senshi. They had to be doppelgangers, youma empowered with the ability to mimic almost anything. Their fukus, tiaras, and even faces were completely identical. It was the 'feel' of their presence, the way they held themselves that had given them away. Seeing the women charge up another shot, he concentrated briefly on a spell. The women was startled by his sudden appearance right in front of her. She was a skilled fighter hand-to-hand raining blow upon blow at him. Instincts took over as he easily parried her blows. His fist collided with her chest in an almost piston like action spinning her around. He grabbed her; pulling her into a choke hold back facing him. "I know theirs a forth one!!" Arn shouted restraining the struggling women. "Surrender or I break your comrades neck." He snorted. It wasn't likely that a youma would give a damn about its comrade, but it was worth a shot. Blood seeped out from a long gash along his forearm from the orange ones beam attack, and nerves cried out from his scorched shoulder blades. So far only one was down, and two were injured. "Venus sho...!!" The women screamed. Steadily he applied pressure to the young women's throat causing her voice to cut off. The fog seemed to melt away as reveling the fourth one. She her hands were clasped behind her head. "Don't hurt her," the orange one replied voice filled with guilt. Pain shot across his ribs as something cut through his flesh. "Mind if I cut in," a male voice called out. Looking up he saw a tuxedo clad man standing on scaffolding left by the construction workers. Rei cried out as the man struck her. He dug his fists into her back pressing into her spine. She slumped to the ground. "NO!!" Another female voice shouted. This one belonged to a girl with a familiar style of hair. Two buns sat on top of her head with long ponytails leading form them. "So the kingdom has an overly active imagination," he said mocking the two newcomers. Meaningless words formed in his mind. His lips moved muttering arcane phrases. * * * "Your out numbered. Give up or your Moon Dust," Serena shouted with tears of anger in her eyes. Ami, Lita, and Rei were lying on the dirt. She knew they weren't dead. The 'emptiness' wasn't present from when they had died in their last battle against Queen Beryl. A low hum began to fill the area. She glanced over to Darien and Mina trading silent communication. "Last chance!!" The three of them readied themselves to attack. The man uttered a cry of animal intensity thrusting his arms forward. "Serena!!" Tuxedo Mask leapt towards his destined love. Serena was transfixed. A shimmering went through the air distorting the it like hot air from a grill. A hammer like blow struck her tossing her back tens of feet to collide with the ground. Stunned, she weakly turned her head. Both Mina and Darien lay sprawled out on the ground apparently hit by the same attack as her. Hope sprang in her eyes as she saw a tall ponytailed girl in a green fuku arose silently from the ground. * * * Arn fell to one knees gasping for breath even before the three had hit the ground. That last spell had weakened him so much his legs gave way for a moment. All six of them were down. Glancing behind, he saw his duffel bag burned from stray fireballs and energy blasts. Weakly he made his way towards it. With hands alone he could kill two or three before the others woke, but that was not enough. "JUPITER THUNDER...." Surprised he rolled forwards and pivoted to see the green senshi standing. A small antennae protruded from her tiara crackling with energy. "...DRAGON!!" She intoned the words to her attack. A slithering serpent surged forwards. "LITA NO!!" A pair of voices shouted. Desperately he reached into his pocket and hurled a small object. The dragon, half way in between the two opponents, struck the object. Its energy once contained, was unleashed prematurely sending a shockwave resonating through the whole construction site. * * * Darkness lifted from across her vision. Something warm held her tenderly keeping her fear at bay. She recognized the room as the inside of Rei's temple. "Darien...," she moaned softly. She felt his cheek softly nuzzle her neck. "I'm here and its all right," he whispered softly. A cough sounded out breaking up the silence, and bringing up the back they were not alone. "Ahem, sorry about breaking your romantic moment...but could you PLEASE pass us walking wounded that first aid kit," Lita called from were she was leaning up against the wall. Serena sat up regretting it as aches and pains began to register on her body. Ami was lying on a mat on the floor with a washcloth over her eyes. All of the other scouts had ice packs and bandages lying about. "Ice, that's all we really need: buckets and buckets of ice." Ami groaned and replaced the washcloth with a fresh one. "I could use a nice warm soothing soak in a tub," Rei said as she massaged her aching back. "OMIGODWHERESMINA!" she blurted realizing that Sailor Venus was missing. A black cat stalked into the room. Her demeanor was urgent and yet controlled. All eyes turned towards, Luna. "Mina is with Artemis right now watching over...our guest," she reported. Her voice was flat holding no emotion. "Now tell me what happened ." Rei accounted the events of the battle for Luna's benefit with amazing detail with Lita and Ami adding a comment very so often. Of how they spotted the white haired man in the middle of the construction site. How he had heard them coming and did not act until they approached him. Finally they told her of the ensuing battle. Luna listened intently as if committing every word to memory. "Luna, who is our guest?" Serena asked. The other three scouts gaze at Luna intently. It was the first time they had truly questioned her orders . "What? Come one what's with this look 'o' death," Serena said humorously. "This..man," Luna explained slowly, "is...... * * * "HUMAN!!!" Mina gasped in amazement.