Chapter Two: Dreams are a Wish Your Heart Makes "Prince Darien," cooed a low voice from the darkness, "where is General Malachite?" Darien bowed low before his dark Queen, his scarlet lined cape sweeping the floor. "I'm sorry your majesty, he was vanquished by Sailor Moon. I could do nothing to stop it." Pausing, Darien let his eyes drift over his black rose momentarily. The petals were lighter than normal, tinged a pale red at the tips. He bit his lip, drawing blood. Damn Sailor Moon for making me feel sorry for her. We need the Silver Crystal soon; or else Queen Beryl's plans will all be lost. Utter silence echoed through the inky darkness of the throne room. Then a low, raspy chuckle worked its feeble way through Beryl's slender throat. "Good. All is set in motion then." Her voice hardened, "Prince Darien!" Raising his eyes, Darien arose from his deep bow. "Yes, my Queen?" Beryl extended her hand, and he gingerly helped her rise to her feet from the deep throne. Watching the prince slowly cup her hand, Beryl felt a slow evil pride drip through her body. Coyly, she ran one long red fingernail up Darien's arm. "Do you remember anything from before, Darien?" Pausing as they exited the black throne room, he shook his head. "Before what, Majesty?" Smirking in the darkness, Beryl laid a soft pressure against his guiding arm, directing him left, in to a dim, narrow hallway. "Before you came to us, Prince Darien. Do you remember the other three Generals?" Running his hand through his thick black hair, Darien concentrated_ "Hey," Darien protested loudly, wiping the stray drops of his face. Nephrite grinned at him, "Tough luck your Highness. Maybe next time you'll watch my back, right?" Darien flipped his dripping ebony hair out of his eyes, laughing, "I was, but all I saw was one minx from Jupiter imploring my silence with her big green eyes. Maybe next time I'll tattle instead of keeping my peace. I think you should adopt the same policy, or else we're both going to be soaked!" Laughter_hours later, there was a ball_ Malachite laughed, "At last! We were beginning to think you two were simply going to elope one day!" His eyes strayed to Mina nearby, her arms still crushing Serena, then snapped back to Darien regretfully. "Yeah, Darien, you sure are lucky man," Nephrite mouth grinned, but his eyes followed Lita's every move three feet away. As long blond strands of hair obscured his eyes, Zoisite gazed openly at Ami, eyes tearing and face flushed. Jadeite said nothing, his stony silence speaking volumes. Queen Serenity raised her slender arms for quiet, "But this is not our only good news this evening! There is news concerning every planet. We have here with us this evening four great young men. They left us many years ago, taken from our loving protection to learn the ancient art of the warrior, the ancient skills of our protectors." Darien, his arm around Serena, stiffened and he stared at his friends. There was no change in the Generals at all. They still gazed longingly at their princess', paying little attention to the Queen. "Oh no," he thought, "they don't know! They have no idea, I knew the Princess' weren't warned, couldn't be warned, but I thought the Generals would have figured out the reason for the enormous celebration by now_ Snapping back to the present, Darien quickly looked at his Queen. "No, your highness. I don't remember any Generals other than our late General Malachite." He forced his face to look blank and vaguely curious. "You mean there were others?" Carefully studying her captive's face, Beryl slowly shook her head. "No, Darien. There were no other Generals, none at all. Follow me." Nudging open a small door at the end of the hallway, Beryl stepped inside with one fluid motion. "Kneel before your Queen, Prince Darien, and receive my precious gift." Cautiously following Beryl's orders, Darien kneeled before her, laying his sword on the rocky earth in a gesture of submission. "Your will is my command, my Queen." Darien watched as the shadow of the vicious woman danced on the wall, nearing a low pedestal at the far end of the room_ A sudden shrill sound cut through the air, snapping Darien out of his deep sleep. Coughing, Darien abruptly sat up in bed, his heart pounding away from lack of oxygen. Wow, was I dreaming? That was some dream, Beryl, and Malachite_he_what happened? I can't remember. I guess it must be a good thing, I have a feeling I don't want to remember. The sound shrilled again, from beneath his pillow. Thumping his hand along the bed, he pulled out his cordless phone from the crack between the wall and his bed. Fumbling for a moment, he finally found the talk button in the dark. "Hello?" he answered, crankily. "Were you asleep Muffin?" chirped a bright sweet voice on the other side. Sighing, Darien relaxed, letting his broad shoulders sink back in to his soft bed. "Hey Serena. Yeah, but I was having a nightmare, so thanks for waking me up." A muffled sound on the other side of the line let Darien know that Serena hadn't heard a word he'd said. Moments later, "What honey? Raye was talking, so I missed what you said." Darien adjusted his body to face the window. "Nothing Serena. Why did you call this late?" Another moment of silence, then Darien heard Serena muttering harshly, "_I know! Stop it Raye, give me a second!" Pause, "Um, Darien, darling, how did you know that Ken was Jupiter Knight?" Darien sat up in bed, and looked out the large window in to the lovely expanse of Tokyo's night sky. The city lights twinkled brightly, shimmering, blinking stars against the black earth below. The faint light illuminated his desk, an old box he had found earlier that day in the back of his closet vaguely shining with the pale starlight. Popping his neck, he ran one large hand over his sweaty forehead. "Serena, can this wait until morning? I mean, is this very important?" Again, silence answered his question. Darien groaned and was about to hang up the phone when Serena suddenly screamed. "Serena? SERENA! Answer me! Serena, are you okay?! SERENA?!" Darien frantically began fumbling in the darkness for his pants. "SERENA! Don't hang up the phone! SERENA!" "Oh, God, Darien!" A new voice cut through his worried shouting. "Darien! Shut up for two seconds and listen, okay?!" His heart thudding painfully away in his chest, Darien swallowed and nodded. He sat down on the bed, and patted around quickly for his shirt. "Hello? Darien?" the voice called, questioningly. Realizing he had nodded, and not answered, Darien smiled wanly. "Sorry, yes. I understand. Now what's going on, is Serena okay?" There was a low sigh of relief. "Okay. Darien, this is Raye. Serena will be fine; we're almost to my temple. Call the Knights first and tell them to meet us there. Chad is at the temple with Grandpa, but Greg and Ken are at Lita's, working on the Johnson accounts. You might want to call Apollo too. He's picking up Luna and Artemis from the animal hospital near the temple. Wait till he gets to Serena's to drop Luna off and leave a message there for him. OH! And get a hold of Mina. I don't care if she's in the middle of filming, this concerns us all, and she should be there." "Raye," Darien interrupted, "What is going on?" "Serena will be at the temple Darien. She passed out. I will tell you more when you get there. Now, HURRY!" * * * * * * * * * * * "What do you think is going on, Apollo?" Artemis questioned from his position in the back seat. "I mean, why do you think Darien was in such a rush for us to get to the temple?" Flicking on his turn signal, Apollo yawned. "I have no idea, Artemis. How are you feeling Luna?" The small black cat whimpered at the change in the car's momentum. "Could you slow down a little, Apollo? What ever shot that doctor gave me is making me nauseous." Apollo smiled softly, "You'll be okay Luna. Just rest some, okay? I'll go slower if you'd like, but Darien said it was important, so I just thought you might want to hurry and see what's up." Groaning, Luna opened one bloodshot eye. "There hasn't been the smallest sign of negative energy in the past six months. Other than this ridiculously cold weather, nothing is wrong in the world. Why the Scouts are in such an uproar over Serena passing out is beyond me." "Luna," Artemis chastised, "you should be ashamed of yourself. We all know you're sick, but really! Serena has been taking very good care of you; she even took time off of work today to drop the both of us off at the vet's office. Have a little heart. It's not like she faints everyday you know. Maybe she's sick too, it would explain all the strange dreams she's been having the past few weeks." Apollo chuckled, his elfin eyes twinkling. "Things aren't all peaches and cream at casa de Sailor Moon, huh Artemis?" Lashing his tail, Artemis sighed. "I love staying with Serena and Luna, but I miss Mina. She's been so busy lately, she hasn't had anytime to call or stop by, or anything." "Cats aren't allowed on the set, Artemis. She's just following the rules," Luna grumbled in Mina's defense. Cocking his head, Artemis frowned. "I know, but I haven't been able to talk to Mina for a lot longer than the duration of this stupid movie. She's been acting strangely ever since_" Artemis trailed off uncomfortably. "Never mind." Apollo shook his head and glanced back disapprovingly at the back seat. "Give her more time, Artemis. Adam died only a little bit ago. She lost her soul mate for God's sake, not just any old guy off the street." Blushing slightly, Artemis lowered his snowy white head. "I know, I know. But it's just that I'm so worried about her. She used to be so full of life and energy. It was always Sailor V to the rescue, and her super-cat, Artemis, right behind her. We were one heck of a team, no matter what. She could handle anything, including the dumb curse Bandit Ace put on her. Now she's so listless. I just want things to get back to normal." Silence descended in the dim interior of the car. "We're here," Apollo announced a few moments later as they turned up the street to the temple. "Luna? Wake up sleepy, we're going to pull in to the drive in a second. Do you need to attend to any business concerning your stomach before we go inside?" Shaking her head, Luna slowly rose to her feet. "No, I don't need to throw up, but I will soon if this Serena thing isn't extremely important." The sleek car slid to a quiet stop in front of the dim temple. Apollo bounded out; carefully cuddling Luna to his broad chest as Artemis nimbly leapt from the car. The long walk up the hill seemed to take forever in the biting cold of the late December wind. Poking his head cautiously inside the back entrance, Apollo quietly set Luna down on the warm carpet near the doorway. "You okay, Luna?" "I'll be fine," she muttered as she shook daintily. A fine spray of snowy drops dampened the hem of Apollo's dark jeans. "Let's just go find out what's wrong with Serena." Tiptoeing cautiously down the hall so as not to wake anyone, Apollo carefully stuck his head through the open crack to Chad's room to inform him of their arrival. Mar's Knight lay sprawled on his back, limbs askew against the rumpled white sheets, snoring lightly in the silence. Apollo smothered a grin as he crept closer to the hapless young man; Chad had been deserving of a good prank since Halloween. "So," Apollo muttered quietly, "you think you can lock me in a room with a stereo that won't turn off, huh? I hate, I repeat, hate, loathe, and despise Yanni, and you force me to listen to his greatest hits? No, I don't think so." Leaning forward, Apollo snickered as Chad's low snores deepened as he rolled on his side. A lone drop of drool snaked its shiny way down a corner of his mouth, absorbed in to the thin pillow crunched under Chad's head. Biting hard on his lower lip, Apollo drew blood in order to avoid voicing his mirth. He leaned forward, scanning the room briskly for some quick form of harmless revenge. Nothing leapt out at him, save for the pile of dirty laundry in the corner of Chad's small room. Apollo started for the crumpled pile, when a low snick alerted him to the slowly opening door. The slightly tousled heads of Ken and Greg peeped in from the hallway. "Hey Apollo," Ken began in a low voice. "SHHHH!" Apollo hissed, ramming his index finger to his lips in an effort to keep Jupiter Knight silent. Taking low, slow, graceful strides, Apollo reached the door. "Dudes, we have him. Look at him there, innocent as a babe. I know you two want in on this." His thin frame shaking lightly, Greg began silently laughing. Ken joined in a moment later as the momentous magnitude of what exactly they could do to the peacefully dreaming Mar's Knight took root in the twisted part of his mind. Leaning forward, Apollo beckoned his two friends in to Chad's room. "Okay. Here's the plan_" Apollo's whispered sentence was abruptly cut off as Chad rolled over and scratched his stomach, smacking his lips loudly. "Mmmm, Raye," he sleepily muttered, before rolling over and snorting a few times. The three boys shared the same surprised glance a moment before they rushed the hallway as a single unit. Silently closing the door behind him, Apollo collapsed to the floor as Jupiter Knight and Mercury Knight rolled around in hysterics, hiccuping and screaming laughter. Wiping the tears from his eyes, Ken doubled over as huge shrieks worked their way up his throat. "Oh, Dude! That was so worth sneaking in there! Oh, God, Chad! Oh_man, dude! I can't even begin to express exactly how freaking hysterical that is_oh dude_Raye! Oh, Raye!" Snickering, Ken mimicked Chad's dreaming voice, adding a vacant sleepy stare complete with his tongue lolling out the corner of his mouth. "You called Ken?" queried an amused voice from behind the boys down the hall. Startled, the three young men leapt to their feet as Raye and Lita sauntered down the hall. "Is Chad up?" Raye stepped quickly past the boys, her long ebony braid swaying gently with each step she took. Pausing at the door, she turned, assessing the boys' guilty glances and beginning smirks, Raye sighed softly. "No, I can see he's not." Softly nudging the door open, Raye gingerly stepped inside, closing it behind her with a gentle snick. Turning to the grinning men beside her, Lita rumpled Ken's neatly styled hair. "What have you boys been up to? I swear, you aren't Knights, you're children!" Grinning lightly at her soft chastisement, Ken lightly brushed his lips over that of his willing girlfriend. "Don't blame me, Apollo started it." Starting at the abandonment of his smirking friend, Apollo raised his hands to his chest in an innocent gesture. "Who, me? I don't think so. It was actually Greg's fault." As Lita turned to Greg with her hands on her hips, Apollo leaned over to his broadly grinning buddy. "Tattletale. Lita's pet." "I heard that," came Lita's sweet voice as she and Greg started down the hallway. "You three need to behave. We have company, and I think that you might want to leave a good impression for once, okay? Auriel will kick every single one of you in to next Tuesday if you don't, understand?" Raising his head with interest at the name of his former owner, sister to his fianc‚, Apollo quickened his stride to catch up with the lanky Lita. "Auriel? I thought it was just because Serena passed out. I mean, I knew we had a Scout meeting anyway, but I thought that was the big event for tonight." Smiling mysteriously, Lita shook her head. "No, that's just it. But we have to wait for Mar's Knight and Sailor Mars before we show you the surprise we discovered in the park tonight. Oh! That reminds me. Ken, Greg, transform a.s.a.p. please. Now would be a good time as a matter of fact." Brows furrowing, the two young men reached in to the front pockets of their coats. "Is it that important, Lita?" Ken asked as the dim light of the hallway brushed the pale petals of his green transformation rose. Her large dark eyes widened at the usual sight of her transforming love. Snapping bands of electricity crackled around his wiry frame, altering the simple jeans and green shirt he wore in to the customary Jupiter Knight tuxedo. Completing the change, Ken tossed his long green cloak over his left shoulder, and smoothed imaginary wrinkles in his green tuxedo. Critically watching Greg's similar transformation, Ken sighed. Turning to Apollo he lifted the edge of the cloak mysteriously covering his face, a la Darien. "It's been so long since I've worn this thing. Wow, I'd forgotten how stupid a green tuxedo really looks. And here I was thinking it was just my imagination, there was no way we looked as dumb as I remembered." Laughing, Greg adjusted the lapels of his own deep blue tux. "Like I have it much better? Come on Ken, we're always going to look like dorks when we fight. It's some sort of cosmic payback for having the smartest and loveliest ladies in the universe as our soul mates. I'm pretty sure that's how Tuxedo Mask protected Sailor Moon all those years. The element of surprise and stupidity were on his side." Chuckling, Lita shook her head in mock disgust. "Darien's a wonderful fighter guys, and you both know it. How do you think he survived alone all those years before Ken and Chad came along to help him protect us?" Smirking wickedly, Ken shrugged. "I don't know. From what I heard, he showed up in the knick of time every time, threw a rose, stunned the enemy with his wit and then left. Hmm, lots 'o fighting there." Laughing softly, Lita couldn't contain the wide grin spreading across her face. "Stunned them with his wit? What do you mean?" Shaking with silent laughter, Greg chimed in, "Yeah, Ken. We have time before Raye will be able to wake Chad, so explain, and make it good." "You want an explanation? Okay, how about this? Darien, the dashing Tuxedo Mask," Ken swirled his cape around his body, imitating Darien's usual stance, "arrives on the scene of whatever monster of the week that happens to be attacking at the moment. He sees that the Scouts are in desperate trouble." Ken leapt atop a nearby chair, "Thinking quickly, rather than pulling out his cane and morphing it in to a staff, or drawing his sword, he pulls out a rose from the collection he has secretly tucked away in his cape. He doesn't hesitate to throw it directly in to the line of fire heading directly for Sailor Moon. The enemy is distracted by the sudden appearance of botany in their battle." Jumping down, Ken swirled his cape again, this time in Greg's face. Laughing, he continued, "Turning they see him, a dashing figure poised on some impossibly small object high in the air, taunting them with his superior aim and words of encouragement for Serena. Some witty saying or chastisements for their evil drops from his lips like pale pearls of wisdom. Stunned by his apparent uselessness, they ponder his words, thus giving the Scouts the time they need to gather strength and mount a serious attack. In the end, he rushes away, intent on keeping his mysterious image at all costs, despite the fact that the Scouts have known his true identity for several years." Ken bowed deeply to his audience; a smug smirk tugging away at the corners of is mouth. "Am I close at all? The hallway was silent for one ponderous moment, then Lita and Mercury Knight hit the ground and began to roll around with laughter. A quiet giggle and low laugh emerged from Chad's open door, where Sailor Mars and Mars Knight now stood. "Oh," gasped Greg, "you are so lucky Darien didn't hear that. I mean you guys are close and everything, but you would be so dead if he found out about that little speech." Chuckling, Ken picked up his own tophat. "He would know I'm only messing with him. I mean, who am I to talk? I have never seen the serious type of battle that Darien has. I respect him for it too. He's a great fighter, he just_" Ken choked on his laughter, "_needs to hire a better speech writer!" Gasping for breath, the entire group slowly rose as Lita changed in to Sailor Jupiter. "Come on," she instructed, tugging on her ponytail to straighten it, "they're in the guest room." Hugging Raye lightly to his side, Chad yawned hugely. "Who's they? I didn't even hear the phone ring, but Raye says Darien called and talked to me." Smiling mysteriously, Raye joined Lita at the head of the small team. "You'll see. Apollo, do you have your crown?" Startled, Apollo nodded. "Yeah, I always keep it with me. Why? Is there going to be some use for the Solar God?" Raye tossed her unbound raven locks over her shoulder jauntily. "You'll see. Just put it on and transform, okay?" Shrugging lightly, Apollo drew out his small thin crown. The entwined metal of silver, gold, and a shiny blue stone glimmered for a moment before he settled its comforting weight on his forehead. A pale fire ignited in his stomach trickling up through his veins and throbbing at the base of his skull as distant possibilities clamored for his attention. Destinies of the Scouts played through his mind before he dismissed them sadly. He loved playing with the possibilities of many futures in his head, based off of what they were destined to do but now was not the time nor place to literally play god. He controlled his impulse feeling the slow expanse of his energy sheet delicately outward in a gentle stream of heated air. The room grew gradually warmer as they drifted through the house. Apollo shimmered with a faint light, his pale white shirt open at the throat, exposing the small sun tattoo nestled in the hollow of his collarbone. Reaching the spare bedroom, the boys paused. Sailor Jupiter sighed and stepped quickly forward. Grasping the small doorknob in one delicate hand, she added pressure, the door silently swung open on well-oiled hinges. They filed in one by one, each fanning out to meet with their soul mates. Ami hugged Greg as he wrapped a protective arm around her waist. Lita stopped Ken's forward motion with one small hand on the crook of his arm. They stepped back as Apollo, still faintly glowing, entered the room. Nodding to the other Scouts, Aurora moved gracefully beside Apollo as he glided in. Soundless, she pointed one elegant hand in the direction of the bed. Two figures lay prone on the wide blue bed. One was Serena, curled protectively in a tight fetal position, the other, a young man none of them had ever seen before. Blinking, Apollo thumped to the ground in surprise and shock as his weight gave out above his suddenly weak knees. Aurora ran her hand through his silky chameleon hair, taming the shifting colors with her soft touch. Starting at the tender caress, he turned to his love and shook his head in confusion. Reaching down, Aurora nodded in the utter silence, and Auriel, hidden behind the door, stepped forward. Together they helped the Solar God to his feet, each one supporting a side. The others backed away slowly as the Solar Goddess and Sailor escorted the stunned god out of the small room. One by one they followed, each lost in their own thoughts. * * * * * * * * * * * Curled up in his dreams, Solan whimpered softly. "Auriel! Auriel! Apollo, is Auriel going to be okay?" he screamed against the rising wind. His companion turned to stare at him, odd cat's eyes flashing, before shimmering with a golden light. "I don't know Solan! Ugh!" Apollo parried a flash of power from the towering creature before him. "All I know is that the timelines are altering, destiny is changing! Aurora is doing her best to protect us from the pain of so many changes at once, but we're still weakening. We need to fight, or else there won't be anyone left to mend the threads of fate. Fight, Solan! Fight for Auriel!" Raising his golden scimitar high above his head, Apollo released the last of his energy in to battle. In his last moments his thoughts were of Auriel, his soul mate, the Solar Sailor. He knew she lay behind him with Sailor Pluto supporting her, dying with each breath she took, he could feel her slow death in his heart. "I will protect you Auriel," he whispered violently, "to the last." Moments later, Apollo fell to one knee, his shoulder streaming blood from a lucky bolt of power. Solan rushed in front of his friend, shielding him with his own battered body. The power within him faded, the world grew hazy with pale white light. In the distance he heard Auriel screaming against fate, against destiny_ * * * * * * * * * * * "That guy in there is the Solar Knight?" Lita repeated in surprise. "Is that why he generated those energy bursts when Auriel was flaring that monster?" Clicking quickly away at her computer, Ami nodded. She handed Greg a large piece of paper covered in jumbled calculations then turned to face the other Scouts. "Yes, it would appear so. Apollo and Aurora's reactions upon seeing him confirmed this in my mind. He was apparently inactive until he heard Auriel battling that monster. I'd say something in him snapped, and memories of the Silver Millennium rushed in, overloading his synopsis connections and nerve centers. At first he wasn't even controlling the power, it was controlling him." Shaking his head, Apollo sighed. "I didn't even realize it was him at first. The last time I saw him was in battle. He died protecting Auriel and myself. Auriel was already dying, and I wasn't going to heal without Aurora. He looks the same, it's almost like he never died." "He died, I promise you," Aurora whispered, "I felt all of you die as I lay there, slowly falling in to hibernation. By the time I was fully asleep, the only ones left alive were you and Pluto. All the others_were gone." "So what now?" a voice interrupted quietly. They all turned to Tuxedo Mask and Ami immediately moved to hug him comfortingly. "It's going to be all right Darien. Serena passed out when she touched him that's all. Her brain patterns are typical of Serena," Ami ignored the low snort from Raye across the room, "and I predict her waking up any time soon. I just think that when she rushed to see if she could help him, a bit of excess energy snapped at her, thinking she was an enemy. As I said, the power was controlling him, not the other way around. Remember, the Solar family, though connected to the Moon family, had their own set of laws, their own regulations. In order to protect the Solar Knight, his power would strike out at anyone who was not born of a star." Rising silently to her feet, Mina raised her arm for the room's attention. Patting her long golden tresses uncertainly, she cleared her throat. "As leader of the Inner Scouts, this is what I think we need to do. First, we need to check on Solan and Serena. Tomorrow, we should do some detective work to find out where that monster came from and who sent it. I don't know about you guys, but I know Serena has been patrolling by herself much too long now. She's strong, but if she had had to face that thing alone, I'm sure she would have been toasted. Then, I think we need to contact the Outer Scouts, tell them what's going on, and set up practice battles like we were going to this summer. We will all train, including Aurora and Apollo. They both have powers untapped, even if they aren't for violence. The least you two can do is learn how to protect yourselves and act as a distraction should the other Scouts not be able to arrive right away. Finally, we need to go to bed soon. Those of you who have to stay, stay. I, myself, am going home. I will be back tomorrow to meet Solan, but I can't hang around here any longer. If Serena's going to be okay for certain, call me when she wakes up so I can come over. Until then, I have a script to memorize. I'll see the rest of you here tomorrow at eight. If that's not a good time call the studio. Bye guys." Quickly turning away from her dear friends, Mina morphed back in to her street clothing. She patted her tightly bound hair, and sighed. I want to stay, but please understand guys, I can't_Serena, forgive me. I can't stay and watch Auriel meet Solan like I met Adam. I just can't. She grabbed her coat, and walked quickly to the door. "Artemis," she called softly from the door, "do you want to sneak on the set with me tonight? I would love to have you there." Raising his head, Artemis looked at the tight set of Mina's shoulders and winced. "No thanks Mina. I would, but Luna's been sick, and I'd like to stay with her tonight. I hope you don't mind." Shaking her head, Mina didn't turn around as she answered lightly. "No, Artemis, I understand. The trailer would probably be too uncomfortable for you anyway. I'll pick up your favorite tuna in the morning and drop it off at Serena's, okay?" Nodding, Artemis purred lightly to express his pleasure. Mina opened the door, and they heard her even tread fade away as she quickly moved down the hall. Aurora hugged Apollo tightly as Mina's footsteps faded. Poor little Venus. "Geez," Raye murmured, "what's her problem? Mina's never given orders like that before. Normally she just sort of suggests, then we bat around the idea for awhile before making a decision. She was just short of rude." "Raye," Chad shook his head, "don't talk now, okay? Just forget it and let her be." Bristling at the unexpected comment, Raye turned to Chad prepared to give him a piece of her mind. Instead, she looked at the sad eyes of Auriel in the corner, and nodded. "Okay," she murmured softly. "You're right." "So what do we do now?" Lita interjected a moment later. "That's simple," Darien replied, removing his mask and hat, "we wait." * * * * * * * * * * * Once outside, Mina walked quickly to her car, tears streaming down her face. Her slender body shook with sorrow; the icy wind buffeted her thin frame back and forth as she struggled to make forward progress. Adam drifted through her mind for a moment, and lost in her thoughts, she paid little attention to her footing, slipping on a patch of ice right before she reached her car. Sprawling on the wet ground, Mina bit her lip. "Ouch!" she cried, rubbing her rear where most of the impact had landed. "Stupid ice." Still seated on the ground, Mina fumbled through her purse until her fingers brushed the cold metal of her keys. Forcing her numb fingers around the tiny bits of metal, Mina wrestled them in to the door lock. The door finally swung open, allowing Mina to crawl inside and collapse across the bucket seats, scalding tears still streaming down her face. She curled in to a tiny ball, letting her pain rip through her. Mina wailed a low keening sound in the night. Inside the temple the Scouts and Knights raised their heads for a moment before dismissing the sound as neighborhood dogs. I thought I was numb after Adam died. I thought I would never feel again. What am I going to do? What am I going to do? Scott_he_he isn't Adam. I'm the only Scout without my soul mate now. Corrine and Nerissa even have each other, but I have_no one. Adam...Adam_Adam_please! Mina's thoughts jumbled together and for awhile she ceased thinking altogether. She just wept and called his name in her mind, crying for the brief moments they had spent in each other's arms. At one point she passed out in her agony. She awoke a bit later, and resumed her crying. Hours later, a slow peace descended. She wrapped her coat tightly around her body and started the car. As she drove away, Mina thought of the Silver Millennium, of Malachite, of Adam. At one point, Adam had not been her only love. Though cosmic soul mates, they'd barely know one another, he had loved her, but he had merely been a childhood friend when he had left with the other Knights to train in a far away galaxy. In that extended period of time, the Scouts had also prepared to become the protectors and rulers of their home planets on the Moon with Princess Serenity and her mother, Queen Serenity. As each day passed, the Inner Scouts grew with beauty and strength. The Outers trained occasionally with them; mostly they kept to themselves, learning from masters found from their own planets. Pluto already held the key to the Time Portal when the Knights returned to claim their princess'. Sadly, by that time, the Inner Sailor Scouts had already fallen desperately in love with the only young men available, Darien's four Guardian Generals. As Mina approached the on ramp to the highway, she smiled as more memories of the Silver Millennium played through her mind. It had been as if overnight. The Knights were forgotten, a mere memory from childhood, and every day dawned lovely and golden. There were balls every night, difficult and challenging training every day and as time wore on, trysts with Malachite to spice up the time in between. Wielding her whip with grace and precision, Mina was named the leader for the Inner Scouts for two reasons; one, she was the most rounded warrior of the Inner Scouts, and two, for her remarkable resemblance to Princess Serenity, or Serena as she was called in private. It was decided that if the Princess were ever in danger, Mina would act as a decoy, thereby allowing for enough time to save Serena. The highway was slick, and Mina fought to keep her car under control, but her mind still wandered in the gardens of her past life, memories idly playing sweet summer music as a violent contrast to the heavy snow and thick winds trying to force her off the road. Malachite had been her life at that time, a handsome general in gray wooing her from afar. The danger of such a romance appealed to Mina's love for the exotic as well. She would meet him with her heart pounding, certain that guards waited at every corner to catch her up and take her to see Malachite be publicly flawed for his unlawful daring. In time her love for him grew to new heights, surpassing the mere thrill of danger, moving to a deep and abiding love for her passionate wild general. The other Scouts had their forbidden loves as well; Ami and Zoisite met often in the maze, Lita would plant roses in the garden beside Nephrite, and Raye and Jadeite moved past the tender bonds of childhood close companions in to something significantly more passionate. But time plays with the unwary, and ten years passed as if a day. The Knights returned; crushing their dreams of one day uniting in marriage with their forbidden loves. At first it was merely uncomfortable, each princess was uncertain as how to breach the gap between her duty and her love, but as time wore on, one by one they fell to their hearts and destinies, they each fell in love with their soul mates. Zoisite was dismissed first, even before he or Ami was aware the Knights had arrived, the night of their homecoming ball. Certain of the danger of loving him, Ami used her head rather than her heart and bid him adieu privately. She kissed him goodbye in the maze, and ran away in to her destiny. Lita and Nephrite parted next. Theirs had never been a powerful love, just sweet and tender as a new shoot of grass. Though both found it hard, Lita made her final decision when Ken, Jupiter Knight, came for her one stormy night, spiriting her off in the midst of the drenching rain to woo her among the plants and flowers she loved so well. He called for her from the garden below, a sopping wet Romeo in a dark green tuxedo. Mina wasn't sure when Raye and Jadeite ended their relationship. She had a feeling that Chad and Jadeite had some words but that Raye never officially ended the relationship. When Malachite disappeared after losing his temper and attacking Mina, the other Scouts severed their lingering ties as well. Soon, the other generals were gone, and with them their stones of power, the seat of Darien's strength. Each man had been born from a different corner of Earth. At their birth, they were promised in service to the newly born Prince Darien. A wise woman from each village captured their young souls within the stones, and then the children were set free in to the world as soon as they could walk. Their guards took them to the royal city, leaving them for the royal family to train. One by one, each boy was discovered, one by one they began training in the Guardian General Academy. At the Knights' return, the four Guardians were replaced in more ways than one. Malachite was the first to flee, though not by choice. An angry incident with Mina in the library left her bloody and bruised, and Malachite a criminal. Zoisite was sent to retrieve him, though not on Mina's behalf. She chose not to tell a soul of his horrid loss of control, merely allowing the other Sailors to believe it had been a random crime. In his travels, Zoisite discovered a small cave in a dark forest in the country that would one day become Germany. There he met a water sprite of extraordinary power. Following the advice of the keen creature, he returned to the castle, and removed his stone from the seat of power. Malachite, who had followed him, discovered what Zoi was doing, and joined him. Soon, all four of the Generals had been brainwashed by Queen Beryl, the woman Zoisite was instructed to bring the stones to. Under orders, the Generals captured the Knights, all except Solan and Darien. A rescue mission was launched, and group by group the unwary Scouts were captured. A hard gust of wind helped Mina off the highway, pushing her from behind, nearly setting her small car in to a spin. She struggled with the wheel a moment, then pulled to the side of the road to rest. Shivering in the cold, Mina spied a small diner about a mile up the road, its tiny blinking lights valiantly fighting the dark four a.m. snowstorm. She pulled in to the parking lot at a crawl twenty minutes later. Wrestling her way out of the car, she raced across the parking lot and slammed open the door to the dingy diner. "You okay?" queried an unconcerned waitress from the corner booth. "Can I get you anything?" Speaking around chattering teeth, Mina nodded. "Yeah, can I have a cup of hot chocolate, please?" The waitress rose to her feet and shuffled across the dim restaurant to the counter as Mina settled herself in to a corner booth. "Sure thing honey. While I'm warming it up, take a look at the menu. Apple pie's great tonight." Smiling wanly, Mina nodded and picked up a small cardboard menu. Moments later, a small teacup filled with steaming hot chocolate was set before her. "You ready to order, Miss? Or do you need more time?" Scanning the menu, Mina patted her thick golden bun again. "Um, I think I'll have a turkey sandwich until the storm lets up. And a piece of that apple pie, please. You take Visa right?" The waitress smiled, "We take anything as long as it's legal. Okay honey, when you want more chocolate just call. You're supposed to pay for every refill, but I seriously doubt it's gonna be busy tonight, so feel free. My boss won't know." Smiling warmly, Mina patted her hair once more, wishing she could let it down. "Thank you. You're too sweet." The woman started to turn away, then paused. "Um, Miss?" Mina raised her heavenly blue eyes to the tired green pair meeting them. "Yes, ma'am?" The woman floundered for a moment. "You might or might not know who I'm talking about, though I'm pretty sure you do. Um, my daughter loves Sailor Moon and I was just thinking you kinda look like the woman who plays Sailor Venus in those movies. You know, the ones where they fight evil by moonlight, beat up the bad guys, fall in love." Smiling, Mina nodded her head. "I get told that all the time. I think it's the hair." The woman agreed absentmindedly, "Yeah, I suppose you're right. Why do you keep it up? I'm sure it would look lovely falling down around your face." "I used to keep it mostly down," Mina sighed, "but then I graduated. A friend of mine loved it down, he used to wish he could tie himself up in my hair and stay there forever." Laughing, the waitress smiled, "Young love. How terribly sweet. Your guy must be one wonderful young man to say something like that." Memories of Adam drifted through Mina's mind. "Yeah, he was. I used to wear a red ribbon in my hair to hold the top half up. An old boyfriend suggested it before he_went away. Adam thought I would look better with it completely down. I kept it like that for awhile, but_well things happen." She glanced down at the scarred tabletop her large blue eyes burning with tears once more. Watching Mina's violent reaction, the waitress sighed and patted her lightly on the shoulder. "I understand honey. But think about it, wouldn't he have wanted you to continue being the raving beauty you obviously are after he was gone? Just think about it dear and maybe you'll take the advice of an old campaigner. Love is rougher than war, and after one ally leaves, you need to find another or else you'll never win." The woman obviously meant well, though she had absolutely no idea what she was talking about, so Mina nodded to appease her. "I'll try." Clapping her hands, the waitress bustled to the counter. "Jim! Get off your lazy rear and fix this young lady some food." Mina gingerly smiled at the large brown head that stuck itself out the order window. The man glanced around the restaurant, starting in surprise when he saw Mina. "Sure thing, Miss Elsa. Will do. I didn't even know we had a customer." Miss Elsa shook her white head, and sighed. "Well? What are you waiting for? Hurry up!" Listening to the quiet bickering in the background, Mina turned to face the window, her large blue eyes seeking a pattern in the whirling snow flurries. A voice from the past intruded in her thoughts. Certain of Queen Beryl's betrayal, Malachite had pretended to be completely brainwashed, and had taken control of his fellow generals. Once the Scouts had been captured, he freed Mina, spiriting her away to a small, secluded room deep in the decaying castle. "You mean_their memories_are gone?" Mina whispered. "All of them." The pronunciation was like a death sentence, Mina felt her head drop as if from a great, wide distance, as if it were happening to someone else, far, far away. "Zoisite removed his stone when the entire kingdom was occupied celebrating the engagement of the Princess Serenity and Prince Darien. No one noticed, save me. I had returned finally to the Palace to receive my sentence as rouge General, and to explain the real reason I fled. I could not take the pain of not knowing what happened to you. I was waiting outside the throne room to encounter Darien alone, to explain it to him first, so he wouldn't have to learn the news from another source." Mina raised her head, her long blond hair coating her cheeks, "You came back?" Nodding, he sighed, "I had to, it was killing me, the feeling of betrayal. I hurt you, something I had sworn never to do, because I was jealous over Venus Knight." "You didn't have to be jealous of him, Malachite, before we quarreled I was still uncertain as to my choice. To be honest, before you_struck me, I was leaning towards you." she whispered softly. Gesturing to her unfinished bandage, he began to explain. "I was awaiting Prince Darien's return near the throne room when I spied Zoisite creeping towards the door to the treasure chamber. I noiselessly followed after. There was something in his movements that spoke of deceit, betrayal. What he took is of more value to the kingdom and to Prince Darien than a mere handful of golden coins. He took his stone of power from Darien's Guardian strength. As I watched, his blue stone winked and faded, lessening the brilliant power of the Kingdom of Earth, diminishing Darien's own strength." "Oh no," gasped Mina, her eyes darkening. "But what about the others? You_I mean Nephrite?" "I approached Zoisite as he left the palace. He was frightened, but_" he tightened the end of the bandage, gently tying the end off, careful of her bruises, "_he told me his plan to win Ami back. I returned, informed Nephrite, gathered Jadeite, and together we removed our stones." Mina's eyes widened, a blush of anger darkening her pale cheeks, "You did what? Malachite, how could you? How could you abandon Darien, your lord, for a misguided attempt to win back the affections of women who were already promised to others?" Wincing at her harsh words, he moved away from the bed, "I did it out of love. I love you Mina, whether you believe me or not. I know you're promised to Adam, I know you've grown to love him, but I wanted once last chance to maybe persuade you to love me." He touched her face, quietly wiping away the damp tears she was unaware she had shed. "I'm sorry, you can never know how sorry I truly am. Once the stones were in her hand, Queen Beryl changed. She erased most of our memories, and those she couldn't erase, she altered" "What broke the spell? Why do you still retain some of your memories?" Mina asked, her heart shattering as his tall form prowled the room. Malachite wouldn't meet her eyes; "I lied. I lied to get out of the memory altering coffins. I let Beryl believe that all the memories she had implanted took root and grew in my mind. I won't deny it, some did. But being here with you brought some of my memories back, I know you and Adam are honorable people and would never consider harming one you deem a friend." Gulping, Mina rose to her feet and walked to the other side of the room. "What are you going to do?" He turned, and gently caressed her cheek with his hand. "If you permit it, I am going to kiss you, then I'm going to let you go." Tears streaming down her face now, Mina choked on her own gasping breath, "Why? Why must it be this way? Why is destiny doing this, why are the fates against us?" Moving behind her, Malachite wrapped his arms around her waist one final time. Turning her body to face him, he raised her chin with one finger, and tears streamed down his face as he memorized every facet of her exquisite beauty. Her long silky hair brushed against his wrist, and he savored the texture of the thick golden locks. "Mina," he whispered helplessly, love overwhelming his soul, "one last time, and I'll leave you forever. You and I will be as the sun and the moon, eternally bound, forever distant. Please, Mina, please_" Her lips broke his plea. Softly brushing his silky white hair off his face she cherished the moment of peace, of stillness. Malachite, she thought, I will always love you, but this is the last time. From now on, we are enemies, we are apart. Though the moment was sweet and tender, Adam's face swam in to Mina's mind and she treasured it. Pulling away, she stroked his speechless lips with the tips of her fingers. "Go," she whispered, "but before you do, tell me how to get to the other Scouts." Mina began to walk away, but his voice stopped her dead in her tracks. "Mina, I love you, I always will. Don't forget me when you're the Queen of your planet. I know, deep in my heart, even after Beryl realizes her mistake and destroys either me or my remaining memories, I will always remember you." Squaring her shoulders, Mina looked forward, concentrating on the far door. "I love you too Malachite. I am just no longer in love with you. I'm sorry." She began walking forward; there was no sound behind her. Reaching the door, an urge overwhelmed her and she turned to find him stroking the pillow where her head had lain only minutes before. "Malachite," she softly called. He turned; surprised to see Sailor Venus poised at the door, her hair golden in the dim light from the hallway. "I forgive you." And with that, she was gone, from the doorway, from his sight, from his life. "Miss? Miss?" a voice cut through her memory and Mina half turned to look at the intruder. The waitress stood there with a fresh cup of cocoa and a small towel. "You're drenched Miss. I thought you might want a towel to dry off a bit. They say that the storm is still going strong." Wiping a stray tear from her cheek, Mina smiled tenderly at the woman. "Thank you," she murmured, taking the proffered faded towel. "I appreciate it very much." The woman smiled widely, "It's not problem. Your sandwich should be done in a few minutes. You get warm, okay?" "Thank you," Mina said again. Reaching up, she pulled three or four large pins out of hip length honey blond tresses, and shook the kinks out of her hair. Finger combing it, she sighed with pleasure, and shifted in the cracked plastic seat. The door swung open, and Mina glanced up to see a snow covered figure stumble in to the restaurant. She smiled as the figure literally shook the snow off his body like a dog. The waitress laughed as the figure began to step forward, slipped on a puddle of his own snow and sprawled to floor in an ungainly heap. Mina rose from her table, and calmly sauntered over to the man, her long hair shimmering with droplets of melted snow. "Hey, you okay?" she asked, reaching down and hauling him to his feet. He laughed his low, warm voice slightly contrite. "Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just a major klutz, that's all." He looked up as he slid the hood of his heavy coat off. "Thanks for helping me." Mina smiled, then as her eyes raised to his face they widened in fear and surprise. "ADAM?!"