The Moon Dragon's Lair

By Daryll Pung

A sequel and continuation of "Sailor Moon Alternity"

PG13

She swam towards the light. The white waves of pure power had affected her too, and she was struggling to get back, now that she had a chance. Like those dratted Sailor Scouts, she had remembered after things were restored. She was almost out of the dimensional trap Darkstrike had cast her in after he had usurped her throne, even before her plans were really in motion.

I will take my throne back, and prove to everyone that my mother, Queen Beryl, still has influence... through me! She may not have been able to destroy the Moon Princess, but I will. The power needed for us is not the humans' energy, but the power Darkstrike harnessed! I should really thank him, she smiled to herself as she burst into the light.

"Well, Amara?" questioned Serena, hands on her hips. "Do you believe Darien now?"

Amara and Michelle glanced at each other, aware all of the Inner Scouts were awaiting their answer.

"It is true that you guys combined have intense power, but it's traditional-" began Amara.

"-'that we Outer Scouts work alone'," mimicked Lita. "Tradition Schmadition!"

"After all we've been through, you guys still don't respect us, do you?" asked Serena softly.

"I do," said Hotaru. Trista nodded agreement.

"If you would let me finish, I was going to say you really have proven yourselves. But, our mission doesn't involve co-operation with you," finished Amara.

"What mission is that, exactly?" asked Mina. "The whole heart-snatcher thing is ancient history, and we worked together against Galaxia."

Amara closed her eyes. She was smart enough where she recognized when she had been beaten, but her pride wouldn't let her admit it.

"All right," she said. She opened her eyes. "Look, you have to give us time. We aren't used to this."

Serena smiled. "We'll help. First, we have something for the four of you. Luna, Artemis?"

The two cats smiled and presented four of the same Sailor communicators the Inner Scouts used, causing the Outer Scouts to blink in astonishment.

Stryfe blinked awake as a beeping alerted him. He shot straight up in his armchair when he realized the planar anomaly alarm was activating. He raced to his console.

"Identify source!" he commanded.

"Scanning," called the computer. "Source identified as Prime A-73, the Negaverse, no Order members on record."

"You've got to be kidding me," gasped Stryfe. "No way!" He sighed. He typed in a command, and a screen image of the Sailor communicator popped up. He frowned. I can't believe this... not again! Well, before I call, I'm gonna see what's going on before contacting them.

To his surprise, a monitor blinked on, revealing a raven-haired lady who grinned evilly.

"What the-!?" snapped Stryfe.

"You would be a member of the Order?" asked the woman. "Darkstrike was kind enough to leave his equipment intact."

"You got me," he muttered.

She cackled. "I am Queen Marius, ruler of the Negaverse, and I have a proposition for you."

Stryfe's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

"I wish only to remove the Sailor Scouts from the playing field. Therefore, I would ask for your assistance," she smiled.

"What's in it for me?" asked Stryfe.

"Simple. I wish to use the planar equipment to remove the Scout's transformation wands and lockets, thereby rendering them normal girls. In return, I will destroy this equipment and never bother your Prime again. We learned our lesson with Darkstrike," she said sweetly.

"You hate them that much?" he asked in surprise.

She simply nodded.

"Hmmm... Allow me time to do some research, and I'll get back to you," he said with a grin. "I think you'll find me to be reasonable." Interesting opportunity... but will it hold up? Let's find out, he thought as the monitor went dark. He bent over the computer terminal and began typing fiercely.

Raye startled awake, sweating. Her nightmare was still vivid in her mind. "What was that all about?" she murmured to herself. "Only one way to find out." She donned her priestess robes, and went to the fireplace. She assumed her mediation position, and began losing herself in the flames, chanting softly.

"Ohhh," gasped Raye as she yawned. Serena looked at her. The seven of them were hanging around. It was the next afternoon. Study time was up, but they had yet to disperse.

"What's wrong, Raye?" Serena asked.

Raye shrugged as everyone looked at her. "I don't know yet. I got a weird feeling last night, and my meditating has yet to reveal what it is."

"Hmm," said Samantha. "We fought Darkstrike, but wasn't there another woman in charge of the Negaverse?"

"I think so," said Melanie quietly. "I don't remember."

"It continues," sighed Serena. "And I'm getting hungry!"

The girls shared a look, and shook their heads.

"Do you think he'll fall for it, my queen?" her servant, Morphus, asked.

Marius leaned back in her chair, unaware the monitor was still on. "He should. I will not underestimate him or the Sailor Brats. Even so, it will let him preserve his precious plane." She laughed. "It doesn't matter, anyway. I intend to keep my promise. Of course, once I have the Scouts' transformation goodies, I'll be able to duplicate the effects of this planar equipment without using it, and now that we know how huge the multiverse is, we'll just take over a different prime! Eventually, I will be so powerful no one will be able to stop me. The Moon Kingdom will be finished!"

Her evil laughter echoed through two worlds.

Serena stared dreamily at the moon, thinking. What will it be like? I've come a long way. Now, it's an act I must maintain so people don't notice the changes. It's hard playing dopey, tripping deliberately, acting stupid. At least the study group allows me an excuse to improve my grades. The only person who knows is Reeni, and she won't tell anyone. It really is difficult hiding it from the others. Someday, I'll be able to show them how graceful and smart I've really become. I can't wait to see their faces. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. Humph. My mind is wandering. What's going on now with the Negaverse? Who is in charge, and what's next...?

The day was bright and sunny. It was a Saturday, and the girls had just finished shopping and playing games at the arcade. They were lounging in the park.

"Have you figured out your nightmare yet, Raye?" asked Mina.

Raye sighed. "No."

"Tell us what you know so far," encouraged Amy.

"Well, I keep seeing us transforming, then stopping, and we don't seem to have any powers. Then, I see those vortexes Darkstrike used opening everywhere, and everything goes white," Raye explained. "That's all I've got."

Serena frowned. "Not that again. Finding our way back was a pain. Thank god for the Order... wait a minute..."

"What?" asked Lita.

"Does anyone remember the contacts of the Order on each world?" she asked, bewildered.

Everyone blinked. Try as they might, no one could remember. Just then, Amara, Michelle, Trista, and Hotaru made their appearance.

"Maybe you guys will... do you remember our contacts in the Order?" asked Serena.

The question stopped the Outer Scouts in their tracks. Finally, Amara answered.

"What the... None of us can remember even a face, much less a name?" she said in astonishment as she looked around, receiving negative nods.

"We remember exactly what we need to remember...no less, no more," said Amy quietly.

Amy noticed him again, hiding in the branches of a nearby tree. There he is again... who is he? she wondered. She didn't have time to find out. A crackling black oval of energy opened in front of them, depositing an individual on the ground, kneeled over and covered with a cape. It slowly straightened up, back to them. It turned around, revealing an evil-looking man with a familiar symbol on his forehead... an inverted, black moon.

"A Nega-creep!" gasped Serena.

"Let's get him!" said Lita, raising her wand after taking a glance about... no one in sight. "JUPITER CRYSTAL-"

A black tentacle wrapped around the wand and yanked it out of her hand, taking it to him. Lita gasped; the Scouts' eyes widened in astonishment. All of a sudden, a red rose nailed the wand, knocking it free. Tuxedo Mask dropped to the ground.

"Nice try, but do you really think you will be able to get away with such blatant thievery?" he asked as he moved towards the Nega-creature. It smiled.

"MOON COSMIC POWER!" called Serena, transforming into Sailor Moon.

"RAINBOW MOON HEART ACHE!" she called. The creature was rapidly enveloped in moon energy, dropping and disintegrating as the energy dissipated.

"That was close," said Raye as Serena returned to herself.

"Yeah," said Lita.

"I can see I'll have to do this myself," mused Marius. She grinned, and was surprised when a monitor clicked on. Stryfe's image appeared in the mirror.

"Hello, again," he said with a cocky grin. "I have just finished constructing a device that will break down the Sailor Scouts' transformation equipment. All that remains now is for you to take the goods."

"Well, you do work quick," she said.

He shrugged. "Just doin' my job. I'm gonna taunt the Scouts and distract them while you get their wands. By the way, how do I know you'll keep your promise?"

"Trust me," she soothed. "Once they are gone, you will never have to worry about the planar equipment here again."

"Very well," Stryfe said, turning off the monitor. She laughed evilly.

Stryfe stared at the blank screen. Things are going well, he thought. My plan is in full swing... I never knew until now the fate that will befall the Sailor Scouts. Of course, some of the time frames are a little vague... I guess that means my plan is a go!

"And I keep seeing him," finished Amy. "I have no idea who he is."

The girls were comfortably arranged, lounging around in Raye's temple. The Outer Scouts were also present, as everyone debated the current threat. The fire was burning warmly, crackling in the silence that ensued.

"So, what do we do?" asked Lita. Frowns answered her question.

"Well, we need a starting place," said Amy. "Somewhere where I can start some scans."

Serena concentrated, ignoring the discussion. She tried hard to remember. Vague images came to mind. Picking one, she tried to clarify it. Gradually, it emerged. She saw herself being pushed against a wall, then led underground. Everyone was there. Underground... a boulder, in the park, a fake?

"The park," she said, eyes closed. "Tomorrow, we should go to the park. There should be a huge boulder off to one side of the path, behind some bushes." She opened her eyes.

"Serena?" asked Raye, a puzzled look on her face.

"Wait a minute... She's on to something," murmured Trista.

"All right, tomorrow then," said Amy.

"Interesting," said Amy thoughtfully.

"What did you find?" asked Serena.

"It appears this boulder has a hidden seam, and inside leads down some stairs. I'm getting unusual energy readings. No sign of anyone living here, though," she trailed off.

"Can you open it?" asked Mina.

"Hmm... nope. It appears there is a well-coded security protocol in place. I might be able to get into it, but it'll take time," Amy muttered as she typed on her microcomputer.

"That's enough," came a voice from behind them.

The team whirled to see Stryfe leaning against the tree nearby, his microcomputer in hand. He typed something.

"Who are you?" challenged Serena.

"I didn't think this would be necessary, but I seem to have underestimated you Sailor Scouts," he said mildly.

"How do you-" gasped Melanie.

"-know who you are? Well, let me explain. I thought by selectively erasing certain memories the situation could be forgotten. I didn't count on your Sailor Scout intuition. So, let me restore what I selectively erased when you defeated the pain in the ass that was Darkstrike," he said as he pushed a button.

As one, the Scouts were flooded with power, and they fell to their knees, clutching their heads. Finally they looked up, seeing him looking at them.

"Stryfe," said Serena, standing up. "Why didn't you let us keep the memories?"

"Understand my mission, Serena. My whole purpose is the preservation of this plane. I figured erasing certain memories would put the whole episode to rest. Anyway, now that you remember, I figured you could go about your lives and leave me alone," he said as he turned and disappeared around the tree.

"Wait!" called Amara.

"That made no sense," said Michelle.

“If that's his whole goal, then why does he keep following us?" asked Hotaru.

"Hmm..." murmured Serena. Her musings were interrupted by a crackling black oval of energy, from which Marius emerged.

"Beryl!" gasped Serena.

"Not quite," she cackled. "Queen Beryl was my mother. I am Queen Marius. I am here to rid myself of a royal thorn in the side."

Serena glanced about. "Well, now we know who's in charge. Let's do it!"

"Let's not!" smiled Marius. Energy tentacles whipped from her, snatching every wand that had appeared in every hand. Two wrapped around the pair of moon lockets, and Darien's rose was also seized. Marius turned and walked towards the open center of the park.

"Hey!" shouted Lita. The team raced after her. They skidded to a halt as they emerged from the bushes. Marius was standing there, waiting for them. But what drew their attention, and the attention of a decent-sized crowd, was an exotic-looking machine in the clearing. Stryfe was perched on top of it.

"Stryfe, help us!" shouted Serena. Stryfe raised an eyebrow, and then jumped off the machine. He crossed his arms.

"Meet my partner in your destruction," grinned Marius evilly. "Stryfe, if you would."

Stryfe turned and began entering some commands. At last he turned. "Ready," he said neutrally, holding out his hand. Marius handed him all the wands and lockets.

"Stryfe, what are you doing!?" shouted Serena in horror.

Stryfe turned, and put all of the team's transformation equipment in an open panel. He closed the panel, and toggled three switches.

"No!" screamed Serena.

The machine lit up. A loud hum was heard, and then pure energy blasted skyward. Finally the process ceased.

"What did you do?" asked Serena, running forward.

Marius laughed. "So easy. When you have competent help, goals are so easy to obtain," she grinned evilly.

"One moment, Marius," said Stryfe.

She turned. "Worry not, I shall destroy the equipment when I return. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for ending the Sailor Scouts' careers for me."

"What!?" the whole team gasped.

"No!" said Luna. "He didn't!"

"I did," said Stryfe.

Serena dropped to her knees, tears coming from her eyes.

"However... I am not stupid, Marius. When I said earlier that preserving this plane was my sole responsibility, I lied. Preserving all the planes is my responsibility. When you came over to this prime, I kinda bombed the planar equipment on yours. Even now it is being destroyed. I figured I'd double-cross you before you did the same to me," said Stryfe calmly.

Marius blinked in astonishment, then gritted her teeth in anger. "Very clever. But what's to stop me from taking over this world?"

"Well, I did some research. It's amazing what you can learn by digging into time travel files. You see... right about this time is when the Scouts are supposed to reveal themselves to the world," explained Stryfe.

The team blinked. "How are we supposed to do that?" asked Serena. "You destroyed our, our wands and lockets-"

Stryfe cut her off with a wave of his hand. Marius glared at him. "Serena, think. You have had glimpses of the future, haven't you all?"

They looked at each other in surprise.

"Was there anywhere where your future selves had wands or lockets?" Stryfe asked quietly. While most of the team blinked in astonishment, Serena closed her eyes and remembered.

"Your so-called wands and lockets were merely Foci," said Stryfe.

"Foci?" asked Lita blankly.

"A Focus, Foci in plural, is something power is channeled through," began Amy, trailing as her eyes widened. "You mean..."

Serena saw her past, and her future. She accessed the Silver Imperium crystal. She now saw it fuse with the energy of her pure heart, truly granting mastery of her power, fusing all her powers into one Scout form. She opened her eyes, and stood resolutely.

"Marius, huh? Well, you are still the enemy, and as I destroyed your mother with the help of my friends, so shall I destroy you," she said calmly. A glance revealed Serena's pupils were nonexistent. Pure power shone in her enlarged irises, as she raised her hand.

"How are you going to do that?" she sneered.

"Because Stryfe is right. I've previously received a message from myself in the future that I did not understand until now. Our power is within. We can never be stripped of it," said Serena. Her tears were gone, and she held her head high.

"MOON HEAVENLY POWER!" she called, as white energy swirled from her fingertips and swirled all around her. The energy faded, and Sailor Moon stood there. The teams' eyes were wide.

"We can all still transform! Everyone, look inside yourselves! Look in your heart. Your powers come from within, not from those wands!" ordered Moon. She glared at Marius, who stepped back in surprise. Stryfe crossed his arms and smiled.

One by one, the team got it. Pure power channeled through them.

"MERCURY COSMIC POWER!"

"VENUS COSMIC POWER!"

"EARTH COSMIC POWER!" shouted both twins.

"MARS COSMIC POWER!"

"JUPITER COSMIC POWER!"

"SATURN COSMIC POWER!"

"URANUS COSMIC POWER!"

"NEPTUNE COSMIC POWER!"

"PLUTO COSMIC POWER!"

"MINI-MOON HEAVENLY POWER!"

The Sailor Scouts stood before the crowd. Changes were evident in their outfits, but the confidence of the team could not be mistaken.

A black oval of power opened and Marius dived through. Moon jumped forward, but the oval closed, temporarily removing Marius from her grasp. Stryfe, she thought, and began turning.

An explosion was heard. The team looked back, but Stryfe had disappeared and only a crater remained where the machine had been.

"This isn't over yet," murmured Sailor Moon. This is just the beginning...

15 Minutes Of Fame

By Daryll Pung

A continuation and second sequel to "Sailor Moon Alternity" set after "Best Destiny"

PG13

Mass Confusion. If there was one phrase to describe the events of the last 24 hours that was it, thought Serena. Things were totally nuts. The team was in the Cherry Hill temple, relaxing for a few. Raye had already taken her grandfather and Chad aside and had words with them. They easily accepted things, due to their suspicions, but she anticipated greater difficulty with her parents.

Some of the team was plowing into that hurdle now. Serena's family was as yet unaware. Lita didn't have to worry, and the twins' family already knew. The Outers were having a fairly easy time of it, at least in that regard.

Mina's family had flipped. She had barely been able to escape her home to make the meet at the temple. She had told them Artemis talked, and that had just made the situation worse. She wasn't sure what to do next.

For Amy, it was far worse. Her mother had been extremely angry, and now wouldn't even talk to her. She was sure her mother was blaming everything she found unpleasant on the team now, and while some of that would be correct, it was for the wrong reasons.

But the worst part wasn't family. They were all worried about school, and going out in public. Tomorrow was a Monday morning, and that meant they would have to face up to all the people they knew at school.

I'm sure that will be fun, frowned Serena. She set down her lemonade and gazed at Amy. Amy didn't cry much. She always sought the rational reason for things. Thus, it really hurt to see the utter sadness on Amy's face. She glanced out the window, at the setting sun.

"Okay," she began. "Just how do we deal with this?"

Luna gazed at her. "You're awfully calm."

"I kinda have to be," sighed Serena. "At least until me and Darien explain things to my parents."

"'Darien and I'," corrected Amy automatically, in a hollow voice.

Serena just glanced at her. "Well, we are now public. Fine. We adapt. We maintain a positive image. And I've been thinking about a little this and that. Firstly, Trista. I thought that we aren't supposed to be revealed for a while. Has the timeline been changed?"

Trista shook her head no. "Actually, it's about dead on. There have been minor variations, but that's to be expected. Remember, you make the future. Your Scout forms are revealed, but time is fluid. So, the timeline is okay." There were more than a few startled glances at Serena's perceptiveness.

"Okay. Secondly, how do important figures handle momentous events?" Serena asked. When no one answered, she continued. "Well, I think we should do what they do. It will help the public accept the reality of the Scouts and what we stand for. We should hold a press conference!"

A few sets of eyes blinked, and a few stared. What was going on here? Serena had just had a good idea, and it made sense! This started a heated discussion on methods that went on for a long time...

"Are you worried?" asked Darien. They were approaching her home.

Serena just nodded, biting her lip. Luna and Reeni tagged along behind them. Darien was going to handle the initial contact, and set up the conference in the morning. Tomorrow night they would tell the world about themselves. But that wasn't what concerned her. It was time for her parents to know the truth about a great many things. She dragged her feet up the walk, placed her hand on the doorknob, and turned.

They walked into the kitchen, where her mother, father, and Sammy were waiting around the table, and Sammy had just trailed off as the four of them entered.

"Serena, it's about time you got home," began her father. "You have some explaining to do."

"Do I?" she asked. "I believe so. And I know you are all probably going to be hurt that so much has been kept secret from you." She glanced up, her eyes reflecting her uncertainty. "But, it was kept from you for your own good. Otherwise, you would have been a target, much more so than you have been."

"What are you talking about?" asked Sammy.

"Oh, an incident with a pet store, with a guy who claimed Mom was his long-lost mother, et cetera," sighed Serena. Reeni had taken a seat, holding Luna, and Darien leaned against the door.

"I suppose you're going to tell us that you know about all these nasty rumors going around? Are you, as Sammy tells us he believes, friends of the Sailor Scouts?" asked her mother sternly.

Serena looked up, a gleam in her eye. "Where to start? Well, probably best to just cut to the chase. You see, Sammy's wrong." She smiled inwardly at her parent's sigh of relief. "I am friends with the Scouts, but that's because I'm their leader!"

"Yeah, right," Sammy chuckled. "Can you believe that one, Reeni?"

Reeni looked down as Sammy blinked in surprise.

"Just what is going on here?" asked her father.

"Well, how about I just show you?" asked Serena, assuming her stance and raising her hand. "MOON HEAVENLY POWER!" White light swirled, bathing Serena, and enhancing her into Sailor Moon. There was utter silence. Sailor Moon pulled up a seat.

"It's time for total truth. I have been Sailor Moon for several years, now. My friends and I have saved the world numerous times. I have had many unusual adventures, much heartbreak, and much happiness. Darien here is not only my boyfriend- that I know you don't entirely accept- but also Tuxedo Mask, and my husband in the future. Our love is a matter of destiny. On to Reeni; this is going to counter the effects of Luna P, her little device that she always has with her. Reeni is Darien's and my daughter from the future. She is also Sailor Mini-Moon. When she first arrived, it was a matter of correcting time. She used Luna P to trick you. She's here now as a Scout in training," Moon trailed off as she took a breath.

Her parents shared incredulous expressions, and Sammy was shocked.

"So let me get this straight. You're the leader of the Sailor Scouts, he's your future husband and she's your future daughter? Next you'll be telling us Luna can talk!" said her father.

"Actually, I can," said Luna, jumping on the table. "I am an advisor to the Scouts."

"This is so much to absorb... tell us more!" her mother commanded. Moon smiled. This was going to take awhile, but at least they were receptive.

Serena got up early. This was against her habits, but she knew her friends needed her to be on time just this once. As she prepared for school, she reflected on last night. It had gone really well, once they were over their shock. They were still skeptical, but as she had filled in the gaps, they were calming to the concept. She had ended with an entreaty. "Please don't let things change around here," she had said. "This is one of the things we Scouts fight for."

Surprisingly, they had all agreed. She glanced at her watch as she finished getting dressed. Time to get going. It was likely going to be an ugly day.

She met the others across the street from their school. Mina was bleary-eyed, and Amy extremely withdrawn. Serena was not happy with this.

"Well, my parents know. They took it better than I accepted. But I think they're just gonna resume mothering me, even as Sailor Moon. 'Everything okay, Sailor Moon? Did you hurt yourself? You really shouldn't take on Nega-creeps like that, it worries us!'" Serena mimicked. She sighed. "Well, one positive aspect of the whole situation is we don't have to hide anything anymore!"

That sudden realization brightened Amy and Mina a little, Serena saw. She glanced at a pensive Raye.

"What's wrong, Raye?"

"My parents called last night, and while I don't know the specifics, I have a feeling there's gonna be trouble," Raye said softly.

“Well, we'll all deal with whatever happens as a team! Let's get to school..." Serena trailed off. "I can't believe I just said that!"

That brightened the mood considerably, and they all took a deep breath and mentally prepared themselves for the day.

It was just as well they did. The looks they received from everyone ranged from curious to hostile, and whispered conversation happened constantly behind their backs, led by the school snob, Nancy, and her friends. It came to a boil as Serena, Lita, Amy, Sam, and Mel sat at lunch outside, discussing the events of the morning. They had just settled down enough to eat when

Lita whispered.

"Uh oh," she said, facing the rest of the courtyard. Sam, who was sitting next to her, suddenly matched her worried expression.

"Don't look now, Serena, but the teachers and students are ALL coming this way," said Sam quietly. Serena glanced over her shoulder, and then got up to face the… well, mob, that was approaching. She felt the others stand with her. Miss Haruna was in the lead.

"Well, there are a bunch of rumors flying around, nobody's paying any attention in class, and Nancy tells me it's all your fault, Serena. What do you have to say for yourself?" she began.

"All my fault?" blinked Serena. "Why would everyone else's lack of attention and spreading rumors be my fault?"

"Because it's all centered on you! We don't need this disruption, and, er, what the heck is that?" she gasped, pointing.

The Scouts whirled to face an opening oval of crackling black energy. Serena's eyes widened. "Everyone, get back! Amy, scan it! Lita, call the others!"

Lita had just opened her communicator and Amy her computer as the first one jumped through. It was gruesomely misshapen, with long slender legs, a slender torso, and an evil face with humongous fangs, black expressionless eyes, and an inverted black moon on the forehead. Its feet spread wide, and each of the seven toes ended in small claws. The worst feature, however, was the arms and hands. They were huge, and terminated in three huge fingers with ghastly claws. It moved forward as another jumped through, then another.

"No more time for debate!" called Sam. "We gotta stop this!" By this time, there were seven of the things, and more were coming.

"The others are on their way!" called Lita. "And Sam is right!"

"All right! Let's do it!" called Serena as Amy snapped her computer closed with a grim expression. Serena raised her hand.

"MOON HEAVENLY POWER!" White energy surrounded her and transformed her into the pretty soldier, Sailor Moon.

"JUPITER COSMIC POWER!" Storm clouds gathered overhead as lightning crackled around Lita, turning her into Sailor Jupiter.

"MERCURY COSMIC POWER!" Water streamed around her, and mild mannered Amy became Sailor Mercury.

"EARTH COSMIC POWER!" called both twins at once, and sparkling streams of flowers surrounded them, revealing the twin Sailor Earths.

The beasts were on them before they could say a thing, and suddenly the Scouts were engaged hand-to-hand in a fight for their lives. Sailor Moon could slowly feel herself being separated from her friends as she dodged the blows. She wasn't sure how long they could avoid those raking claws.

Sailor Venus had run into a stubborn administrator. Most people at her school had already suspected, and because she was so popular she was being hailed as a hero here. This was the only stumbling block. She had to transform right in front of him to prove it, and she was still being stalled. She sighed, and interrupted his tirade.

"Do whatever you have to, but this is a matter of life and death, and I am going to help my friends, now!" With that, Venus leapt past him, through the doors, and called upon her enhanced speed to get her on her way.

I'm coming, guys, she thought.

Sailor Mars' class had fallen silent when her communicator beeped, and she flushed as she answered it. Her day had so far been mild, due to the fact that a lot of people looked up to her anyway. The whole class had overheard Lita's panicked message, and she had transformed right there and leapt out the window. She was fast approaching the location when she spotted Venus meeting up with the Outers, Mask, Mini-Moon, Luna, and Artemis. She landed deftly on the rooftop with them, as they gazed to the school courtyard, indecision on their faces.

"What are we waiting for?" asked Mars. Then she glanced at the courtyard. Students and teachers, screaming, were pressed up against the wall, avoiding the beasts. Reporters were just arriving, and the whole yard was filled with the things. The oval was gone, but then she realized the problem. The others were down there, being swarmed, and they couldn't be seen. The rest couldn't shoot for fear of hitting their friends.

"Well," said Uranus. "All it means is hand-to-hand. Let's go!" The Scouts leapt off the building into the fray.

Moon felt the first claws rake her, and she screamed in pain as they dug in, deep. She spun and grabbed a tree, stabilizing herself.

Her scream had several immediate results.

The first was to silence the mass of people who were now just spectators. Except for Nancy, who calmed down enough to speak. "It's Serena. Naturally she would suck at being a leader or a fighter." She got several mean glares before she realized what she had just said about everyone's heroes, the Sailor Scouts.

The second was to bring the media's attention to the now badly bleeding Moon. She was barely blocking the blows now, much less dodging, and she was now in full view of the media, shooting as they were from inside the second floor.

The third was to draw more of the things towards her. She was injured, and they smelled blood.

The fourth and most important was that it pissed off the rest of the Scouts. "SAILOR MOON!" screamed Jupiter as she felt new power gathering to her. The sky overhead darkened into nasty-looking thunderstorm clouds. She sought for it, willed it to completion.

"JUPITER CHAIN LIGHTNING BURST!" The rod on her tiara rose, and lightning arced from the sky, into her, and she released it in a cataclysmic thunderclap. Lightning hit the first, then jumped around, repeatedly striking some, before the creatures turned to ash. Her attack had just killed six of the things at once. "GUYS! WE HAVE NEW POWERS!" she shouted.

Mercury also felt her increased power gathering. She saved it up, then released as she was again charged. By this time, everyone had been hurt to some degree. She allowed her anger to finish the attack.

"MERCURY FREEZING WAVE SMASH!" A circle of ice energy burst from her, expanding outwards, and freezing five of the beasts into piles of ice shards.

"VENUS SHINING LOVE FORCE!" called Venus as a wall of love energy blasted from her outstretched hands, destroying the beasts it hit.

Try as they might, neither twin could come up with a new attack. They shrugged it off, and concentrated on helping their friends, who were now creating holes in the mass of creatures.

"EARTH ANGER SWARM!"

"EARTH LOVE REFRESH!"

Moon was just out of the range of the others, but she too heard Jupiter's cry and attempted to charge her new attack; those raking claws struck her again. She could almost feel her energy being drained with each swipe.

"MARS SEARING INFERNO!" called Mars, blasting a group of the things with a huge torrent of fire that poured from her outstretched hands.

"PINK SUGAR HEART ATTACK!" called Mini-Moon, expecting the usual. She was pleasantly surprised when the hearts began exploding, blasting the things back away from her. Mask whipped some roses, to find they had also been enhanced to the point where they now could go through the beasts and strike the ones beyond. Together, father and future daughter cleared a space around them, struggling to get to Sailor Moon.

Saturn channeled her power through the Silence Glaive. She saw it store her energy, into something she hadn't seen before. She released it in one fell swoop.

"SATURN SILENCE RUSH!" Multiple energy shapes of her glaive appeared around her, each one streaking like a missile into her targets, smashing into the enemies with the force to obliterate them. She found she could mentally control them individually.

Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto had their treasures in hand, and each channeled power into them.

Uranus drew her sword and swept it towards the enemies she chose, in a downward sweeping motion. "URANUS GALACTIC COLLISION!" A huge, fiery meteor rained out of the sky, smashing into the ground, and demolishing the beasts.

Neptune whipped her mirror around, and faced it at the horde. "NEPTUNE STUNNING TSUNAMI!" An image of a village being threatened by a wall of water miles high appeared in the mirror, and then said wave blasted out of it, right into the faces of the beasts, killing them with the force of the impact.

The Garnet Orb glittered as Pluto channeled her power. "PLUTO FINAL SAY!" The winds of time whipped around her as she gathered her energy into a ball, similar to her Deadly Scream but far larger and more potent. She let it go, and discovered that nine balls fired out, each smashing into a target, and obliterating it. The Scouts formed up, and now concentrated on using their new powers to save Moon.

She jerked away, having almost been beheaded, and realized her friends were coming for her. Their concern had made them stronger. And me, she realized, feeling power coalesce into her. She did something she hadn't done for a long time. She reached for a now glowing tiara. The beasts stepped back, hesitant. She had just come into a clearing, and was clearly visible.

"Is that all the strength she has left?" asked Mars, worried.

Moon looked awful. Huge gashes marred her side, blood streaming. She was cut all over, and her outfit was ripped in numerous places. She reached up to her tiara and took it in her hand. Another immediately replaced it.

"MOON..." she began, rearing back with her hand. She held this one a bit differently than normal. She had a firm grip on the energy, the better to whip it with as much force as possible. "TIARA..." and she began a forward throwing motion.

"Magic," whispered Molly, standing near Nancy. For some reason, she had always suspected this... but then, Serena had been her best friend. Now Molly understood why Serena had grown distant, and had already decided not to hold it against her. "Come on, Serena- I mean Sailor Moon!"

"DEVASTATION!" finished Moon, whipping it with all her might. The glowing disc sailed directly into the mass of the reforming beast squad, nailing the one in front in the chest. Then it exploded.

The force of the blast, a dome-shape of white light rising where the disc had hit, and expanding to disintegrate the entire remaining horde of beasts, threw all the Scouts back. A white shockwave rattled the windows of the school, and dazed and blinded everyone. When it passed, a crater was in evidence, and Sailor Moon weakly adopted her victory stance.

"Moondusted," she whispered hoarsely before collapsing from the loss of blood. The Scouts ran to her. Saturn took her hand, and began concentrating. The flow of blood slowed, and then stopped. Saturn relaxed.

"I can't do much more," she said softly. "I don't have much energy left."

"Not surprising," said Mercury. The crowd had pressed in, as well as the reporters, and was listening tautly. "Those things had energy-draining capability. They were definitely sent by Marius to test us. I guess that means we need to get her in a hospital. I would suggest we all need a little recuperation."

"They went right after her, didn't they?" asked Pluto. Solemn nods answered her. She looked troubled.

"Next time won't be like this," said Jupiter. She was weak in the knees. They had taken a lot out of the Scouts. She clutched the tree nearby, which had surprisingly weathered the attack.

"Excuse me," said a reporter. "How are you Scouts feeling?"

Jupiter glared at him. "Get out of the way," she said coldly, glaring at him as Mask picked up Moon. Venus picked up the two cats, and as one the team leapt up to the roof of the school amid applause from the students and teachers. They ran towards the nearest hospital, hop scotching from roof to roof, as the aftermath continued and applause grew louder. Everyone was clapping.

Even Nancy.

"And so, the Sailor Scouts, attacked while at lunch in school, have destroyed this latest incursion. We have been getting reports from the police all weekend, saying that a lot of cases are now being closed, since the Sailor Scouts have come into the open. While all the Scouts were injured to some degree, Sailor Moon seems to have been the target of this attack and suffered the most, but not before her spectacular finish, as we have seen. Word has it she was just checked in at an as yet unnamed hospital, and she is in Serious, but Stable, condition. This is Mari Yohoma, reporting from Crossroads Junior High."

Dr. Anderson quietly picked up her lunch and disposed of it as she left the cafeteria. She had had a lot of thinking to do, and she barely connected what she saw with the revelation that Amy was a Sailor Scout. She realized her reactions had been a result of her rational, day-to-day world being shattered. She really owed her daughter an apology. A talk later would settle things. She then heard her name over the PA system.

"Dr. Anderson, please come to the front desk. Dr. Anderson, please come to the front desk."

She sighed, and headed for an elevator. As she stepped out, her first sight was of Sailor Mercury, cut up, and bleeding slightly, leaning over the reception desk, talking to the receptionist. The rest of the Scout team was behind her, and Tuxedo Mask was holding a badly wounded Sailor Moon. The report she just heard from TV just flooded her mind. She rushed over to help.

Before long, all of their families had arrived, and Sailor Moon was once again conscious, stable, and receiving visitors.

"Amazing," murmured Dr. Anderson. Mercury looked up. All the Scouts, having rested until refreshed by Earth-Love, were now whole and healthy looking. Moon was getting better rapidly.

"What's that?" asked Mercury. Dr. Anderson faced Mercury. She blinked as a swirl of water swept over her and realized she was once again a tired-looking Amy.

"W-well, just how fast you heal," she began uncertainly. Amy smiled. She had the attention of every family (even Raye's parents were here!) as she began.

"Well, it counterbalances the fact that every time we tangle with the negative forces, one of us could walk away seriously injured… or even dead. And, unpleasant as it is, well, we don't like to talk about it, but we have been," trailed off Amy. The Scouts went silent as she brought up their touchiest subject.

"Have been what?" asked Raye's father sternly.

"Dead," whispered Raye, pale as a ghost.

"But, how-" gasped Mina's mother. Amy cut her off with a wave of her hand. All the Scouts had released form except Moon, who was allowing herself to heal so she would be ready for the press conference in the evening.

"See, this is why Serena is our leader. Everyone makes the mistake of underestimating her. We Scouts have done it, too. But she is the only one who commands the Silver Crystal, and that ability is dependant on her heart. And we all know Serena has the biggest heart here. And when that heart of hers, that undying compassion, wills it, she can do some amazing things," said Amy quietly.

Moon sat up. Some color was returning to her cheeks. "I understand some of you find it hard to accept. A lot of people are jealous, to boot. But being a Scout isn't a game, isn't about fame. It's about defending those we love, about protecting the world from the darkness that threatens us all. And it's hard leading dual lives. This is why we wish everything to remain the same, even though our identities are now known. You see, it's a little easier fighting, knowing we're returning to a home with a happy family, who will always love us. And we now need to focus on the fact that we have to own up. That is why I must go to that conference tonight. The world must know what we stand for, that we're here for everyone."

"You guys are really something," said Sammy. "But wow, how cool were those attacks!"

The Scouts had to smile at that one, as some things were settled and plans were made for the evening.

"Nervous?" asked Darien in Serena's ear much later as they waited backstage. The conference was being held in an auditorium because of the amount of interest in the Sailor Scouts.

"A little," confessed Serena. Actually she was terrified. Not that she would admit it.

Time.

"We are gathered here tonight to discern the truth, and to interview those who have labored behind the scenes for so long to keep us all safe. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Sailor Scouts!"

Serena boldly pushed the curtain aside, and the rest followed her onstage as their families waited backstage, cheering them on.

"Well, now everyone knows the truth. I would like to close with this promise: Wherever dark things lurk, whenever the Negative Forces rear their ugly heads, we Scouts will be there! On that you can depend!" Serena finished three grueling hours later. The applause and cheers were thunderous. It was all they could do to escape afterwards. They and their families met at the Cherry Hill temple.

"Well, that went well," smiled Mina. Serena had done most of the talking. She was drained, and Darien was forcing her to sit and relax.

"It's a start," allowed Luna. "You Scouts really have dealt with the situation admirably."

"Good show, I must say," came a voice from the shadows. "Both the fight earlier and that press conference."

The Scouts snapped erect as they recognized that voice.

Serena spoke up. "Come out, Stryfe."

Stryfe stepped out, computer in hand. "I knew you could do it," he said.

"Why are you here?" snapped Artemis.

"Simple. You've frightened Marius, and somehow she retained planar powers. She's gone and traveled, and you're the only ones that can deal with her. Of course, this time there is no specific time frame, no Darkstrike to deal with. The short of it is, I once again need your help. This is getting old, and I'd like to be done with it once and for all."

"More plane-hopping?" asked Amy.

"Oh, no," whined Serena, reverting to type in her exhaustion. "Not again!"

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