SOLAR STARS
Series 1
Episode 1: Desperate Struggles

	"We have to get out of here!" the one in emerald yelled.
	"It's getting darker!" panicked the girl in sapphire.
	Darkness flowed around them until they were engulfed in a shadowy
cloak.  The only light visible was the faintest glow of starlight encases
in the crystals on their tiaras.
	The one in ruby, Lynx, shouted, "I can't breathe!"
	A gold light spoke up.  "Calm down. You're over excited," Aquila
replied, trying to sound reassuring.  That might have worked if it wasn't
for the fact that the darkness was almost as heavy as it was black.  To
much longer in this once-beautiful palace and they would all suffocate.
	The pink light turned toward the silver one.  "They're right Canis.
We have to get out of here.  The pressure is too great.  If we stay here,
we'll die!"
	"Alright, we're not doing much good here anyway," replied their
leader.  "Lynx, walk toward the emerald light and face me.  I have an
idea.  Aquila, same thing but go toward the pink light."  Canis followed
her own advice and walked toward her friend in sapphire.  "Lynx,
Equuleus.  When you're facing me, search for the nearest exit to your
left.  Aquila, Pegasus, search to your right. Ursa, you're with me."
	Quickly, they hurried to the nearest wall in their direction,
searching frantically for a way out.  "I don't think there is a way out!"
Equuleus snapped in frustration.
	"There is always a way out; just as ther is always a way to win,"
came the quick reply.  "Of all people a Solar Star should know that."
	The instant the Stars heard the voice speak, they turned toward the
direction of the sound.  Light or no light, it was easy to tell where the
deep voice came from on a palace made of crystal.  They all watched
wearily as a ring of garnet starfire appeared to dance around the figure
within its flaming reaches.  A reddish-black cloak flowed in an unfelt
wind, unburned by the fire it touched.  Gold armor glittered in the glow,
shining like an age-old star.  The figure smiled, gray eyes glinting.
"Miss me?" he asked sarcastically.
	"Draco!" the Solar Stars shouted as one.  Though he valued the
element of surprise on both his friends and enemies, the Stars could
always depend on him.
	"It's about time," Aquila added, "but aren't you supposed to be
helping Nemesis?"
	"No time to explain now.  Follow me, I know a way out."  Greatfully,
the Stars followed Draco.  Blazing like a garnet inferno, he was easy to
see at all times.  Although they were running as fast as they could go,
it seemed to take forever to get out.  The exit, when they finally
reached it, was nothing more than a broken third-story window.  One by
one, all seven of them jumped out, landing safely on their feet.
Outside, the air was breathable, but it seemed so hot it froze them upon
feeling it.  Looking around, things were still extremely dark.  If not
for the starry night, the sky would have been as black as pitch.  "Come
on, we need to finish our mission before all is lost."
	From that moment on, Solar Canis could not get hose three words out
of her head.  All is lost, all is lost, all is lost...
***
	Nemesis had his hands full.  He used every trick he knew and his
opponents still had the upper hand.  He was running out of energy.  Draco
had left him to find the Solar Stars who, in turn, had left to find their
companions.  In doing this, the Stars had left trouble take them by the
hand and lead them right into the middle of a trap.  Where are they? he
thought impatiently to himself.
	As if reading his mind, one of his enemies teased, "What's wrong
Nemesis?  Need help from your silly little friends?  I'm sure they're
just dying to help you."
	"Dream on, Hydra!  I can handle you and your creepy acomplices
without help from anyone!" he lied.
	"We're so scared," taunted Orion and Saggitarius simultaniously.
	"As you should be!" Solar Ursa interrupted.
	Glancing out of the corner of his eyes, Nemesis saw seven more
figures.  In the dark, Nemesis could barely tell his friends from the
Dark Kingdom warriors.  He used their fainlty visible uniforms to aid
him.  Garnet and gold:  Draco.  Blue and silver:  Solar Canis.  Black and
gold;  Solar Aquila.  Black and sapphire:  Solar Ursa.  Blue and pink
opal:  Solar Pegasus.  Black and ruby:  Solar Lynx,  and blue with
emerald:  Solar Equuleus.
	Hydra curled her lip in a disgusted look.  "You think that just
because you show up I'll fear you?  Of all the ludicrous ideas. . . ."
Not waiting to finish her sentence, she ordered her two conferderates to
attack.  Hydra extended her hand while the brothers began their assault.
An eerie glow wnmissed by the blackish night wavered in her palm.  A
round, reddish crystal no bigger than a marble shooter appeared in her
hand.  "Starbane Crystal. . ." she yelled, calling the attention of
everyone.  As she said this, her eyes began to burn scarlet.  ". .
.Poison!!!" she continued.
	"Get down!" Canis called, only seconds after it was too late.  A
crimson light swallowed them up in a whirlwind of negative energy.  Its
force threw them back as if they weighed nothing more than a feather.
	A new voice rang in the minds of the only four still conscious.
"Hydra, Orion, Saggitarius.  Find me.  We have more pressing matters at
hand.  Nemesis, it would be a pity to have to kill you after how well you
fought for the Dark Kingdom earlier.  Join us, you will be a great
asset."
	"That was a long time ago, Armegeddon," Nemesis growled.
	Armegeddon's mind voice held the slightest amusement in its timber as
the repeated,"A pity indeed."
	The two brothers dissappeared instantly.  Hydra stayed behind a
moment longer.  She smiled.  "Good bye, Nemesis, my poor, dear, friend."
Laughing, Hydra dematerialized in a blood-red blaze of heat.
	Just then, as Nemesis tried to get up, a burning cyrstal shard came
hurling out of the sky.  Had he stayed down, it would have just missed
his head--within maybe two inches, but still a miss.  Instead, Nemesis
tried to dodge it while he was halfway up.  "Aaaahhh!"  he yelled as the
shard went through his wrist and embedded itself into the debris-covered
ground below him.
	"That should do nicely," Armegeddon again stated mind-to-mind with
Nemesis.
	Nemesis cried out despite the pain.  "Armegeddon!  You'll regret
that!"
	"Oh, I doubt that.  Besides, I have to accompany Queen Beryl and aid
her in the disposal of a princess problem."  Armegeddon left the traitor
to die so he could complete his mission.
	Nemesis looked down at his left wrist only to see it covered in the
red residue of blood.  As it dripped on the ground he glanced up into the
sky.  It was now a fiery orange-yellow.  He gritted his teeth together
and looked down once again and sighed.
	Nemesis held his injured wrist close to him and slowly stood up.  He
looked around him.  Solars Ursa, Lynx, and Equuleus were lying dead in
pools of their own blood.  He walked over to them.  Equuleus' neck was
sliced and broken.  Lynx had a gash nearly one and a half inches deep
across her belly.  Ursa's throat had been slashed.  It was so bad Nemesis
couldn't tell where their mostly dark uniforms stopped and the blood
began.
	He turned away.  He had been in many battles before and seen many
dead and wounded, but somehow this was different.
	A movement caught his eye.  He quickly turned toward it.  The
movement was Draco waking up form the blast of hydra's crystal.
	Draco pulled himself up into a sitting position.  By the sudden look
on his face, he wished he hadn't done that.  Glaring at his right arm,
all he saw was blood.  he had a deep cut from his wrist to about three
inches above his elbow.  Draco winced and again tried to stand but
something was holding his left foot down.  Aquila had landed on it when
she was thrown by the explosion.  He used his left hand to raise her head
off his ankle.
	The touch of his hand awakened her.  She blinked a few times and sat
up.
	"Hhuuhhh," Aquila grimaced as she did this.  Pain shot up herleg like
a dagger.  The calf of one of her legs was rippedd to the bone.
Overwhelmed by that day's events and the pain, Aquila blacked out
again--only this time in Draco's arms.
	Pegasus began to stir.  She took a deep breath and cried out.  A
fatal mistake for her.  Pegasus flung her arms around herself and
clutched her ribs tightly.  Another mistake.  She shivered with every
breath brecause of the pain.  Five of her ribs were shattered and broken.
Her breathing was shallow and rapid.  Curling up in a little ball and
still holding her ribs, Pegasus's breathing became more and more shallow.
More and more rapid.  Nemesis watched solemnly as her breathing sudenly
slowed and stopped.
	Draco looked at Nemesis sadly.  "Sorry," he whispered, "Sorry."
	"So am I, Draco, do am I," was Nemesis's hopeless reply.
	"We can s-still fight," came a stiffled murmur.  Canis had awakened
and was now clutching her ankle hard.  It was bent at an impossible
angle.  Nemesis helped her sit up.  A harsh breeze blew his black cape
around her and his ebony mask off.  She stared into his jet black eyes as
a tear rolled down his face.  Something more than she knew was on his
mind.
	Draco consented, "She's right.  We need to finish our assignment."
When Nemesis didn't answer, Draco again spoke up.  "Our assignment was to
make sure the Moon Princess survived.  We need to finsih it."
	Nemesis turned on his friends.  "Don't you get it?" he said angrily.
"I knew Hydra was going to pull something like that.  I was ready for it.
She knocked you seven out, not me.  Aremegeddon wanted me to join him.
When I refused, I ended up like this."  He geld up his injured wrist.
"Armegeddon also said he would kill Princess Serenity.  That was half an
hour ago," he added more calmly.
	Draco pulled Aquila closer to him.  "That is more than enough time
for him to kill Selenity's daughter."
	"Then we failed."  Canis laid her head on Nemesis' shoulder.  She was
too depressed to feel the pain in her ankle.  "Then we failed," she
repeated, crying.
	At that moment, a candy-pink light shown around them.  The light was
comforting.  A piece of hope where there was none.  Nemesis looked
around, waiting for somehting to happen.  Draco stared at the light
itself.  He thought faintly at how it danced around, as if refracting off
the many faces of a crystal.
	"We failed," Canis mumbled as they all dissappeared into the blinding
abyss.  "All is lost."
	Draco's voice trailed off.  "There has to be a way to win.  There has
to be. . . ."
	At that instant, the pinkish void grew brighter and brighter,
surrounding them, like it was meant to blot out a mistake; as if to erase
the only world they had ever known.

					   *****
SOLAR STARS
Series 1
Episode 2:  Shadows Awaken

	"This is World News live from Tokyo, Japan.  The famous superheroines
Sailors Moon, Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto,
Saturn, and Chibimoon have mysteriously dissappeared.  Has their mission
fighting the secretive forces of darkness come to an end?  The answer
lives only with the missing Sailor Senshi.  More on this story at eleven
tonight."
	Cameron turned off the television.  "So, the Sailors have
dissappeared."  He looked down at his half-finished essay and sighed.
Cameron added sarcastically, "They probably had too much homework to even
consider fighting."
	He heard a door open and close behind him.  CAmeron turned halfway
around to see his dad walk into the livingroom.  "Hi, Cameron.  How'd
school go?" the businessman asked his son.
	"Boring, as usual," came the lifeless reply.  "Hey, this essay isn't
due 'til Monday.  I'm going to go walk around for a while."
	"Alright, just be home soon, it's already starting to get dark."
Cameron started o;ut the front door.  "Oh, hey!  I almpost forgot.  This
was in the mail for you.  It's from someone called the 'Soldier of Time'.
Any ideas?"  The man handed his son a small brown package.
	"No, but this is the right address.  I'll find something to do with
it."  Again Cameron walked out the door.
	Who is this "Soldier of Time"? Cameron thought to himself.  And
what's in this box.  Well, i can answer that question.  He opened the
box.  Then again, maybe not.
	Inside the package was as ebony-black crystal in the shape of an
eight-pointed star.  He picked it up and studued it in the evening light.
The crystal seemed to absorb light that hit it.  There was somehting else
in the box too.  A note.  he read it to himself.
"Welded together,
With fire so bright,
Hot as the desert,
Dark as the night."
	Cameron read over it several more times.  Welcome to Confusion City,
the thought.  But what does a star and fire have to do with each other?
	Starfire.  The word made him stop dead in his tracks.  Why was that
word so familiar?
	Suspiciously, Cameron glanced around him to make sure no one had seen
him.  night had fallen and no moon hung in the sky.  A new moon.  But
hadn't his astronomy teacher said that the new moon should be next week,
not tonight?  How odd.  First the crystal, then the note, and now the
moon.  And that word.  Something was definitely going on.  Cameron looked
down at the crystal as if to get an answer from it.
	He could feel strange vibrations coming from the blackish stne.
Something was wrong.  Not with the crystal or him, but something around
him.  it was like the stone was reacting to something.
	Then he saw it.  It moved silently and steathily as a panther through
the night.  The shadow in the steet crept closer and closer.  Cameron
quickly stumbbled into a dark alley.  Peering cautiously out, Cameron saw
now that the shadow was heading stright toward him!  Perhaps he had made
a mistake by hiding here.  As the shadow came closer, something grew
colder in his hamnd.
	That stupid crystal! he thought.  What's it doing now?  Out of
frustration, Cameron threw the crystal down.  That word popped into his
head again.  "Blasted starfire," he muttered angrily.
	At that word, the star crystal flashed and started spinning around
him from his feet up.  Cameron gasped as he found himself flaoting in
still air.  He looked down to see the crystal change his black shoes to
blacker boots and whilw gray slacks turned to ebony.  His shirt became
dressy and black as well.  A long cape of the sam e color blew over his
face.  When it moved, a jet-black masked covered his midnight eyes and
blended in with his charcoal hair.
	Not aware of what he was doing, Cameron jumped down.  He landed
safely on the ground.  A shadow himself, he was no longer weary of the
one coming toward him.
	Now the shadow has a face.  It was a man, and, judging by the way he
walked, had all the confidence in the world.  The night refelected off
his light, close-cut, blonde hair, giving it an eerie glow.  This plus
his clear blue eyes made made a great contrast to his dark uniform.
	Cameron realized then that the shadow was not walking toward him, but
a man on the street.
	A policeman walking home was the target of those pale eyes.  As the
shadow got closer, the policeman's breathing became more and more rapid.
Extending a hand, the shadow touched the human's forehead.  The policeman
opened his mouth to scream only no sound came out.
	By the time the shadow took his hand away, there was a sphere of
light in his palm.  Stepping backward, the officer fell at his feet.  A
slow smile of amusement crossed the stranger's face.
	What did that guy just do? Cameron asked himself silently.  "So you
think that's funny, huh?"  What am I doing?
	At the sound of his voice, the shadow spun around.  he looked at the
cloaked figure with the same icy glare that had frozen the policeman.  He
tensed.  "Who do you think you are? he replied gruffly.
	"Call me Nemesis," Camerson shot back, equally rough.  Where did that
come from?
	The shadow glared at him harder.  "You're supposed to be dead."
	"That's odd, I don't fel dead," Nemesis snapped sarcastically.
	"You will be.  Take this!"  A beam of negative energy shot from the
stranger's hand.  Nemesis didged it just in time.  Slamming into a nearby
building, the beam blew a hole completely through the wall.
	"Is that the best you got?  If it is, I'm sure you'll love this."
This time, Nemesis was the one who attacked.  Black starfire roared offf
his dark-gloved hands toward the enemy.  not expecting this, the shadow
didn't move fast enough and was hit by the fiery stream.  Blazing like an
inferno, the shadow bared his teeeth at the burn of pain.
	Another voice rang out.  This time it was in their minds.
"Sagittarius, return.  We will deal with this delinquint later."
	"Glady sir," came the stranger's angry reply.  He dematerialized in
split-second, causing the starfire to disappear now that its target was
gone.
	Night breezes blew across the sky revealing a waxing moon.  Nemesis
stood transfixed as a thousand thoughts ran through his head.  So, I'm
Nemesis.  The dark companion star of the sun.  More memories flooded
through his mind.  I am one of several fighters of Justice.  And now that
the Sailor Senshi are missing, I have to find the Solar Stars.  If I am
going to have to fight this Sagittarius, I am going to need help.  A new
thought flashed through his mind.  So much for being home before too
late.  My dad's going to kill me.
	Nemesis started walking toward his home quickly.  He became a shadow
and his cap and mask disappeared.  The black crystal formed in his right
hand.  Just realizing it was missing, Cameron stared at it a moment.
"Soldier of Time.  In the meantime, I'll figure out who you are.  But for
now, thanks."  Cameron slipped the star cyrstal in his pocket and
disappeared into the night.
*****
SOLAR STARS
Series 1
Episode 3:  Silver Shining

	Sirius sped across the night sky.  Seeing Nemesis appear out of the
shadows and fight Sagittarius had frightened her; however, hearing the
commanding mind voice of that unknown creature had terrified her.
	Her paws hurt now.  She wasn't the fastest star in the sky, but,
despite the fact that her pads were sore, she tried to run faster.
Sirius had to find that person and fast; her wolf sense was telling her
something was terribly wrong.
***
	Aurora raced down the road.  She had missed her bus and was going to
be late to school for the first time that year.  She turned a sharp
corner without looking.
	BAAM!  Aurora hit into something and was immediately thrown to the
ground.  She looked through the mass of long, curly brown hair that had
fallen in her face.
	There was a girl in front of her with the same blue, white, and red
uniform as she had on.  Her blonde hair was below her waist and put up in
a red ribbon.  Aurora recognized her from school as she stared into the
girl's deep blue eyes.
	"Sorry Minako.  I didn't watch where I was going," Aurora apoligized.
	"Sorry; I'm afraid I didn't look either."  Minako added rather
urgently, "Come on!  We're going to be late for lunch if we don't hurry.
Let's book it!"
	The two friends tore off toward Shibakouen middle school, making to
class just as the bell rang.
***
	Laying in bed, Aurora though about hte day's events.  I'm so lucky to
have a freind like Minako.  Ever since I moved here she has been my
friend.  Aurora glanced out her open window to gaze at the stars.  Why do
I always feel like I belong there?  "I was born on Earth not in space!"
She wasn't aware she said this last part aloud.
	"Were you?" a voice called softly behind her, causing Aurora to jump.
She fell off her bed and pulled herself to a sitting position.  She
gasped as she stared into the dark emerald eyes of a solid white wolf.
The wolf grinned happily, ivory teeth gleaming.  "You don't remember
where you were born, do you?"
	Aurora's eyes were wide open now.  "You can talk?"
	"Yes," came the confident reply, "I can.  But if you don't remember
that, you certainly won't remember where you were born--or your entire
past for that matter.  I hate to do this because I'm sure you just want a
normal life, but it has to be done."
	"What has to be done?" Aurora asked in a shaking voice.  She didn't
get an answer though, what she got was much more.
	Aurora could see now that the large dog was not all white.  On her
forehead was several silver dots in the shape of the Canis Major
constellation.  The dots began to glow brightly.  The girl jumped as a
silvery beam of light bounced off the constellation and hit her head.  As
if in a trance, she couldn't move.
	Images flashed in her head.  She saw herself as a princess.  She
could feel the silvery gown against her skin and see the silky gloves.
She saw the wolf beside her as the sky burst into flames.  Aurora saw the
blue and silver uniform and energy attacks that were the essence of light
itself.  A pattern of light gray dots appeared on her forehead as well,
bringing her back to reality.
	"Sirius!" she cried, hugging hte fluffly creature.  "I missed you so
much.  I remember now, but where are the others?"
	"Hold your horses.  The others will not be awakened unless you need
their help.  I will be here when you need me.  Until then, take this."
Sirius handed her a silver crystal in the shape of an eight-pointed star.
"You know what to do with it."
***
	"This is awful," the strange voice said.  "We need that energy so we
can blow this planet up an
take over the galaxy.  If you can't cut it Sagittarius, I'll find someone
who can.  Understand?"
	The archer nodded his head in reply.
	"Good.  Now go and collect more energy."
	"Yes Armegeddon."
***
	"Whoa!  What a weird dream."  Aurora sat up as morning light spilled
over the window and onto her bed.  Just then something sharp met her
fingers.  "Ouch!"  She pulled her hand away.  "What was tha--oh my word!"
Looking down she saw a silvery-colored stone.  "Maybe it wasn't a dream.
Well if it was true, I can't leave this crystal here."
	Like every Saturday morning, Aurora got dressed.  Putting on a light
jacket, she stuffed the stone in one of its pockets.  Maybe if she forgot
it was there, she would realize that last night was only a dream.
	She walked out of her house and started toward the place Minako said
to meet her at yesterday.  On the way, Aurora thought how good the sun
felt on her.  Almost immedialtely, she lost herself in the warm ray's
sweet melody.  She turned down a different street.
	In the middle of the road, an evil-looking man had his hand on a
lady's forehead.  When he took it away, she collapsed.
	Memories flashed in Aurora's mind.  This was Sagittarius, one of the
ones Sirius said she needed to fight.  It really wasn't a dream.
	A new idea clouded her mind.  Boy, is he in for a shock.  She ducked
behind the corner and made sure no one could see her.  Aurora pulled the
star crystal out of her pocket.  "Let's see if this really works.  Canis
Solar Power. . .make up!"  She yelled these last five words loudy.
	Throwing the crystal in the air, she felt herself floating.
Everthing went black and she held her right hand up high.  Silver polish
glistened on her nails.  Her hand disappeared as a pair of emerald eyes
took its place.  Sirius' eyes.  A wave of light flew across the eyes and
an iredescent girl appeared.  The crystal spun around her as a trail of
stardust ringed around her body and flashed, causing a blue and silver
fuku to appear.  The one ring that was left around her waist burst,
creating a bluish silver-trimmed skirt with a golden belt.  She moved
backward and held her arms out to the side.  In a grayish explosion,
gold-trimmed blue boots appeared while silver and navy gloves followed.
After receiving a silver-stoned tiara, Aurora spun around three times.  A
long silvery ribbon tired itself and rested on the back of her skirt.
Crossing her hands infront of her eyes, deep blue and gold wristbands
encircled her gloves as tiny earings materialized on her ears.  Bringing
her hands down, several more trademarks of the Outer stars appeard on
her.  A green choker with a scarlet crescent moon materialized while her
crystal formed a golden locket in her bow--golden star inside golden
star.  Turning around, SIrius appeared and stood beside her.  Aurora
posed, left arm over her head, right arm slightly out and that hand in an
odd postion.  She was standing with her left foot infront of her right
one and a silver eight-pointed star appeared behind her while her
constellation sparkled inside it.
	"Why don't you pick on someone who can fight back?" she yelled at the
enemy.
	"There's more of you?  Oh great!" Sagittarius sneered.  "Why can't
you leave me alone?"  He punctuated his remark with a deadly blast of
energy.
	Sirius howled and sparkled, green eyes blazing.  The blast
disappeared.  Sagittarius looked shocked.
	"Always stay on your guard and you'll always be ready.  I suggest you
take that advice!" Aurora snapped at him.
	"Who do you think you are?" he shot back along with a beam of
negative enegy directed toward her.  The girl and her companion both
jumped it but the the beam hit Aurora's right ankle.  Copming down
quickly, she landed on it.
	She mummbled under her breath and then shouted, "You want a fight,
fine!  I'm game!"
	"You just figured that out?" he teased.  "Smart girl."
	Getting to her feet, she glared at the cocky creature hard.  Throwing
her right hand backward, a silver sparkle flew off it and circled around
her.  "Star. . ."  Raising her hands above her head, she caught the glint
og energy.  "Light. . ."  She crossed her arms and, brining them down
fast, let go of the star and it hurled toward Sagittarius.  "Blaze!"
Immediatley the star exploded and hit the enemy.  "I am Solar Canis,
leader of the Outers, and, as you found out, ths soldier of light and
heat--"  Canis never got ot finish her sentence.  A black shadow jumped
out of the night.
	"And you're toast!" the shadow said, throwing carcoal fire at
Sagittarius.  The enemy disappeared quickly rather than mess with
starfire once more.
	The shadow turned to look at Sirius.  She walked up to him.
"Nemesis, thanks for your help."  He nodded and glanced at Solar Canis.
	"You did well for a first fight.  Keep practicing."  Nemesis
disappeared as he wrapped his cape around him.
	Canis stared surprised at the spot where the shadow had stood.
Changing back, she found that Sirius had disappeared also.  "I am going
to have a long talk with that overgrown Chihuahua.  How dare she not tell
me about him!  He scared me half to death jumping down like that!"
Aurora stomped off toward where Minako was waiting--Fruits Parlor Crown,
one of the best places to buy ice cream.
*****
SOLAR STARS
Series 1
Episode 4:  Golden Hope

	"Boy this has been a bad week."  Sagittarius leaned up against a
stoney-gray wall and crossed his arms over his chest.
	"It really doesn't look too good you know," a black-haired,
emerald-eyed lady stated.  "That is, you getting your butt kicked by two
teenagers."
	He gave her a sarcastic look.  "Hello to you as well, Hydra."
	"No, seriously."  Another  figure appeared in the blackened abyss.
"She has a point, bother," said Orion.
	Hydra smiled.  "Oh, I'm not the one with the point.  Armegeddon will
have one through your heart when he finds out you failed."
	"Cut it out, Hydra," Sagittarius snapped.  "I'll get those brats in
my own time."  With out another word, he disappeared.
	Orion turned to meet Hydra's eyes.  "For his sake, I hope he is
right."
	"For his sake," she repeated.
***
	"Are you sure you'll be alright, Vesta?" a girl asked over the phone.
	"I'll be fine Rei.  I'll be at school tomorrow.  Bye."
	"Alright.  See you then.  Good bye."
	Vesta hung up the phone and brushed long blonde bangs out of her
eyes.  She hadn't felt well all day and now she felt worse.  She walked
outside.  Maybe the night air would make her feel better.
	She gazed up at a full moon.  She had never seen the "man in the
moon" but rather a silhouette of a girl with long flowing hair and arms
outstreched as if she was reaching for something.  Vesta squinted to
stare harder at the pale silver moon.
	After a moment or two, the golden shadow of a Peregrine falcon
covered the moon.  What!? she thought.  Vesta blinked, and it was gone.
***
	Vesta woke up crying that night.  It was that dream again.  The dream
of the woman with the emerald eyes of a snake.  Only this time there was
a comfort in it.  The falcon of gold she had seen against the moon.
Feeling a light breeze, she went to close her open window.
	She was caught off guard when her blue eyes met the amber-gold ones
of a wild creature.  Unafriad, she reached out her hand out to the bird
as calmly as if in a trance.  His feathers were the soft brown and gray
of the forest, only they were tinged with gold.  The stoney-blue scythe
blades of his beak and talons also shone with a golden light.  It was the
falcon in her dreams.
	"Come," he said.  "There is one who needs your help."
	Obediantly, she followed.
***
	The bird of gold led her down the abandoned midnight streets of
Tokyo.  Vesta followed silently and stopped as he hovered above her,
Though she could not see anyone, she heard several distinct voices.
	". . .Blaze!" yelled the first voice.
	"You'll have to do better than that this time, girl!" came an angry,
deep second voice.
	A third voice was heard over a low rumbling growl.  It wasn't as low
as the second, but too deep to be a girl's.  "Then what about this!"  The
tone in his voice was unmistakable--it was a retorical question.
	The second voice shouted in retaliation as Vesta felt the heat of
very concentrated energy beams.  Peering around a building to get a look
at what was going on, three screams and a yelp filled her ears.  The
falcon landed on her arm as the light cleared.
	Four figures were easily seen now.  A large white dog--wolf--lay
unconcious on the street.  One of the figures stood and glared
resentfully at the two laying up against a concrete wall.  A young man
dressed in black and moved his head off the wall and shook it as if to
clear it.  A smaller figure--a girl who had apparently fallen on him in
the blast--moved to sit up instead of being draped over him.
	The truth hit Vesta suddenly like a ton of bricks.  The girl in blue
and silver was one of her best friends from a thousand years past.  It
was the girl called Solar Canis.  The white wolf was her companion Sirius
and the teenage boy was Nemesis.  They were fighting a creature of
darkness.  Vesta narrowed her eyes and stepped back.  No one was going to
mess with her friends.
	Unaware of what she was doing, Vesta reached into the air and pulled
out a golden eight-pointed star.  "Let's go Altair," she told her falcon.
	Vesta threw the arm Altair was sitting on into the air.  As he flew
off, she yelled loudly, "Aquila Solar Power, make up!"  Floating in a
void of light, Vesta glowed brightly.  Legs together, she held her arms
out.  Golden feathers appeared as beautiful wings on her arms and as tail
feathers around her waist.  Vesta wrapped her arms over her chest as the
feathers did the same.  Flashing, the wings created gold and black gloves
with a likewise colored fuku.  The sleeves of this uniform seemed to be
wings of their own.  The tail feathers blazed and became of golden skirt.
Suddenly, the feathers that covered her body fell off as an unfelt wind
blew the loose feathers around her legs.  They shimmered brightly and
turned to gold black-trimmed boots.  Eyes closed, blonde hair blowing, a
metallic star appeared on her head with the constellation of Aquila in
it.  Off the star came two more feathers which faded to become a
yellow-stoned tiara.  Appearing out of nowhere, Altair landed on Vesta's
right, outstretched arm.  Posing, she held out her left arm out slightly
lower and bent her left leg.  She smiled as a golden star with the sign
of Aquila now shined behind her and her companion.
	Vesta watched as Nemesis and Solar Canis slowly got to their feet.
	"Don't you ever give up?" the second voice--the dark one--said.
	She didn't give them time to answer.  Raising her hands above her
head, she shouted, "Star. . .".  A ball of blue starlight appeared around
them as she spun once, creating a circle of light above her head.  "Blue.
. .".  The circle shrank and ringed around her wrists as she brought her
hands down.  Throwing her hands outward, she yelled a final word.
"Shift!"  A blue ripple crashed into her target, sending him slamming
against a nearby building.
	Canis and Nemesis stared blankly at their enemy, trying to figure out
what had happened.
	"Look!" the now-awake Sirius stated suddenly.  The two soldiers
turned around.  Silhouetted against the moon was a long-haired girl and a
semi-large bird.  When she spoke, anger made her voice harsh.
	"The leader of the Inner Stars, fighter of stars and motion, I am
Solar Aquila!  I was told once to always be ready for fight or flight and
I believe you should do the same."  Aquila jumped and landed infront of
the two startled fighters.  "Here's your fight, but if I were you, I'd
fly away.  Get my point?'
	"I'm not impressed, brid brain," the enemy said annoyed, as if she
had wasted his time.
	Nemesis spoke loudly, "You better be because you'll be begging to run
when we get through with you, Sagittarius!"
	Sagittarius laughed.  "I'll show you begging!" he snapped, hurling an
inferno of blackened energy at the three kids before him.
	Aquila jumped effortlessly out of the beam's way as Nemesis did the
same.  Canis held her ground.
	"Canis!" they shouted as one.
	Solar Canis was tired of running from this Dark Kingdom creep.  She
wanted to prove to Sagittarius she wasn't afraid of him.  She was
beginning to doubt herself as his dark power burned toward her.  Canis
was very grateful when, at the last second, Nemesis picked her up and was
quick enough to move both of them out of the negative energy's path.
	Aquila stared at Canis.  "You're crazy.  Now come on, let's take this
creepizoid out!"
	Canis nodded.  "Star Light. . ."
	"Star Blue. . ." Aquila started.  Neither was able to finish.
	"Don't waste your energy, Solars.  I certainly won't bother to waste
my time," Sagittarius replied calmly.
	Canis snapped at him.  "What's wrong?  Afriad we'll beat you?"
	"Hah!  As if!  I'm not afraid of you Stars, I just don't see you as
important enough to fight.  So long saps!"  Sagittarius started to
dematerialize.
	"Not important enough!" Canis growled.  She started to run toward the
disappearing figure.  Before she could reach him, Nemesis held out his
arm infront of her, preventing her from going any further.
	Canis balled her hands into fists as Sagittarius disappeared.  She
turned when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
	Aquila smiled.  "If he wants to believe that, let him.  We know the
truth."
	Canis relaxed.  "You're right.  Where did you come from?"
	"Altair came and told me you needed help.  He led me here and when I
saw you three fighting Sagittarius, I got my memories back."
	Nemesis nodded, "Job well done.  Sagittarius' fights are getting more
desperate so he is likely to try more dangerous traps.  Keep an eye out
girls."
	Aquila and Canis watched as the shadow before them wavered and faded
away.
	"I hate it when he does that!" Canis hissed.  Suddenly, Canis was
being choked by Aquila's hug.
	"I missed you so much!"  Aquila seemed so happy she was beside
herself.
	"I missed you too," Canis caughed, "but can I breathe now?"
	Aquila let go of her.  "If you have to, I guess."  She was still
smiling.
	Altair landed beside Sirius.  "I intend to stay witn Vesta incase
anything should happen.  Will you be with Aurora?"
	"No.  People may overlook a falcon, but I doubt they'd think I was
just a large mutt.  They'd be suspicious of me so I stay there."  The
wolf jerked her head toward the stars.  "You'll be able to find me."
Sirius sparkled and leaped into the midnight sky to take her place among
the stars.
	Landing on Aquila's shoulder, Altair listened as the two Scouts
talked to make up for lost time.
*****
SOLAR STARS
Series 1
Episode 4:  Golden Hope

	"Boy this has been a bad week."  Sagittarius leaned up against a
stoney-gray wall and crossed his arms over his chest.
	"It really doesn't look too good you know," a black-haired,
emerald-eyed lady stated.  "That is, you getting your butt kicked by two
teenagers."
	He gave her a sarcastic look.  "Hello to you as well, Hydra."
	"No, seriously."  Another  figure appeared in the blackened abyss.
"She has a point, bother," said Orion.
	Hydra smiled.  "Oh, I'm not the one with the point.  Armegeddon will
have one through your heart when he finds out you failed."
	"Cut it out, Hydra," Sagittarius snapped.  "I'll get those brats in
my own time."  With out another word, he disappeared.
	Orion turned to meet Hydra's eyes.  "For his sake, I hope he is
right."
	"For his sake," she repeated.
***
	"Are you sure you'll be alright, Vesta?" a girl asked over the phone.
	"I'll be fine Rei.  I'll be at school tomorrow.  Bye."
	"Alright.  See you then.  Good bye."
	Vesta hung up the phone and brushed long blonde bangs out of her
eyes.  She hadn't felt well all day and now she felt worse.  She walked
outside.  Maybe the night air would make her feel better.
	She gazed up at a full moon.  She had never seen the "man in the
moon" but rather a silhouette of a girl with long flowing hair and arms
outstreched as if she was reaching for something.  Vesta squinted to
stare harder at the pale silver moon.
	After a moment or two, the golden shadow of a Peregrine falcon
covered the moon.  What!? she thought.  Vesta blinked, and it was gone.
***
	Vesta woke up crying that night.  It was that dream again.  The dream
of the woman with the emerald eyes of a snake.  Only this time there was
a comfort in it.  The falcon of gold she had seen against the moon.
Feeling a light breeze, she went to close her open window.
	She was caught off guard when her blue eyes met the amber-gold ones
of a wild creature.  Unafriad, she reached out her hand out to the bird
as calmly as if in a trance.  His feathers were the soft brown and gray
of the forest, only they were tinged with gold.  The stoney-blue scythe
blades of his beak and talons also shone with a golden light.  It was the
falcon in her dreams.
	"Come," he said.  "There is one who needs your help."
	Obediantly, she followed.
***
	The bird of gold led her down the abandoned midnight streets of
Tokyo.  Vesta followed silently and stopped as he hovered above her,
Though she could not see anyone, she heard several distinct voices.
	". . .Blaze!" yelled the first voice.
	"You'll have to do better than that this time, girl!" came an angry,
deep second voice.
	A third voice was heard over a low rumbling growl.  It wasn't as low
as the second, but too deep to be a girl's.  "Then what about this!"  The
tone in his voice was unmistakable--it was a retorical question.
	The second voice shouted in retaliation as Vesta felt the heat of
very concentrated energy beams.  Peering around a building to get a look
at what was going on, three screams and a yelp filled her ears.  The
falcon landed on her arm as the light cleared.
	Four figures were easily seen now.  A large white dog--wolf--lay
unconcious on the street.  One of the figures stood and glared
resentfully at the two laying up against a concrete wall.  A young man
dressed in black and moved his head off the wall and shook it as if to
clear it.  A smaller figure--a girl who had apparently fallen on him in
the blast--moved to sit up instead of being draped over him.
	The truth hit Vesta suddenly like a ton of bricks.  The girl in blue
and silver was one of her best friends from a thousand years past.  It
was the girl called Solar Canis.  The white wolf was her companion Sirius
and the teenage boy was Nemesis.  They were fighting a creature of
darkness.  Vesta narrowed her eyes and stepped back.  No one was going to
mess with her friends.
	Unaware of what she was doing, Vesta reached into the air and pulled
out a golden eight-pointed star.  "Let's go Altair," she told her falcon.
	Vesta threw the arm Altair was sitting on into the air.  As he flew
off, she yelled loudly, "Aquila Solar Power, make up!"  Floating in a
void of light, Vesta glowed brightly.  Legs together, she held her arms
out.  Golden feathers appeared as beautiful wings on her arms and as tail
feathers around her waist.  Vesta wrapped her arms over her chest as the
feathers did the same.  Flashing, the wings created gold and black gloves
with a likewise colored fuku.  The sleeves of this uniform seemed to be
wings of their own.  The tail feathers blazed and became of golden skirt.
Suddenly, the feathers that covered her body fell off as an unfelt wind
blew the loose feathers around her legs.  They shimmered brightly and
turned to gold black-trimmed boots.  Eyes closed, blonde hair blowing, a
metallic star appeared on her head with the constellation of Aquila in
it.  Off the star came two more feathers which faded to become a
yellow-stoned tiara.  Appearing out of nowhere, Altair landed on Vesta's
right, outstretched arm.  Posing, she held out her left arm out slightly
lower and bent her left leg.  She smiled as a golden star with the sign
of Aquila now shined behind her and her companion.
	Vesta watched as Nemesis and Solar Canis slowly got to their feet.
	"Don't you ever give up?" the second voice--the dark one--said.
	She didn't give them time to answer.  Raising her hands above her
head, she shouted, "Star. . .".  A ball of blue starlight appeared around
them as she spun once, creating a circle of light above her head.  "Blue.
. .".  The circle shrank and ringed around her wrists as she brought her
hands down.  Throwing her hands outward, she yelled a final word.
"Shift!"  A blue ripple crashed into her target, sending him slamming
against a nearby building.
	Canis and Nemesis stared blankly at their enemy, trying to figure out
what had happened.
	"Look!" the now-awake Sirius stated suddenly.  The two soldiers
turned around.  Silhouetted against the moon was a long-haired girl and a
semi-large bird.  When she spoke, anger made her voice harsh.
	"The leader of the Inner Stars, fighter of stars and motion, I am
Solar Aquila!  I was told once to always be ready for fight or flight and
I believe you should do the same."  Aquila jumped and landed infront of
the two startled fighters.  "Here's your fight, but if I were you, I'd
fly away.  Get my point?'
	"I'm not impressed, brid brain," the enemy said annoyed, as if she
had wasted his time.
	Nemesis spoke loudly, "You better be because you'll be begging to run
when we get through with you, Sagittarius!"
	Sagittarius laughed.  "I'll show you begging!" he snapped, hurling an
inferno of blackened energy at the three kids before him.
	Aquila jumped effortlessly out of the beam's way as Nemesis did the
same.  Canis held her ground.
	"Canis!" they shouted as one.
	Solar Canis was tired of running from this Dark Kingdom creep.  She
wanted to prove to Sagittarius she wasn't afraid of him.  She was
beginning to doubt herself as his dark power burned toward her.  Canis
was very grateful when, at the last second, Nemesis picked her up and was
quick enough to move both of them out of the negative energy's path.
	Aquila stared at Canis.  "You're crazy.  Now come on, let's take this
creepizoid out!"
	Canis nodded.  "Star Light. . ."
	"Star Blue. . ." Aquila started.  Neither was able to finish.
	"Don't waste your energy, Solars.  I certainly won't bother to waste
my time," Sagittarius replied calmly.
	Canis snapped at him.  "What's wrong?  Afriad we'll beat you?"
	"Hah!  As if!  I'm not afraid of you Stars, I just don't see you as
important enough to fight.  So long saps!"  Sagittarius started to
dematerialize.
	"Not important enough!" Canis growled.  She started to run toward the
disappearing figure.  Before she could reach him, Nemesis held out his
arm infront of her, preventing her from going any further.
	Canis balled her hands into fists as Sagittarius disappeared.  She
turned when she felt a hand on her shoulder.
	Aquila smiled.  "If he wants to believe that, let him.  We know the
truth."
	Canis relaxed.  "You're right.  Where did you come from?"
	"Altair came and told me you needed help.  He led me here and when I
saw you three fighting Sagittarius, I got my memories back."
	Nemesis nodded, "Job well done.  Sagittarius' fights are getting more
desperate so he is likely to try more dangerous traps.  Keep an eye out
girls."
	Aquila and Canis watched as the shadow before them wavered and faded
away.
	"I hate it when he does that!" Canis hissed.  Suddenly, Canis was
being choked by Aquila's hug.
	"I missed you so much!"  Aquila seemed so happy she was beside
herself.
	"I missed you too," Canis caughed, "but can I breathe now?"
	Aquila let go of her.  "If you have to, I guess."  She was still
smiling.
	Altair landed beside Sirius.  "I intend to stay witn Vesta incase
anything should happen.  Will you be with Aurora?"
	"No.  People may overlook a falcon, but I doubt they'd think I was
just a large mutt.  They'd be suspicious of me so I stay there."  The
wolf jerked her head toward the stars.  "You'll be able to find me."
Sirius sparkled and leaped into the midnight sky to take her place among
the stars.
	Landing on Aquila's shoulder, Altair listened as the two Scouts
talked to make up for lost time.
*****
SOLAR STARS
Series 1
Episode 5:  Snake Eyes

	Cameron wonder around in a bluish-pink mist.  It was dark and bright
at the same time.  It was a place of beauty and loneliness.  Cameron
jerked around when he felt something watching him.
	Garnet eyes.  Eyes that were concerned and afraid.  Eyes that held a
knowledge beyond belief.  Eyes the color of blood.
	He narrowed his charcoal eyes and galred into the deep red ones.
"You again?" he whispered annoyed.
	"Please, listen," said the soft, pleading voice.  The fog around the
eyes darkened, making a shadow of a girl in a short skirt and large bows.
A light wind blew her barely seen knee-length hair.  Besides her eyes,
only one ither thing was clearly visable--a large silvery staff with a
heart-shaped top encircling a large garnet crystal.
	Cameron stared at her, frustrated.  She had appeared in his dreams
twice now, the two days since his last battle helping Canis and Aquila.
	He took a few steps toward her until he was close enough he had to
look down to see her eyes.  Though she was physically infront of him, her
eyes were glazed over as if she were seeing inside him.  "What do you
want now?"  Cameron stated quietly.
	The soft voice spoke again.  "Time.  Time is almost up.  She is
almost here."  Despite her calm air, her voice held something like
urgency in it.  "You are the only one who can help them."
	Cameron's eyes burned darker.  This was the same thing she had told
him twice before.  he didn't uinderstand, and anger made him raise his
voice.  "Who's coming?  Help who?  What does time have to do with
anything?  Why do you keep repeating that?  Who are you?  What are you?"
	"Please, listem."
	"I don't want to listen, I want to know what's going on.  Answer my
questions!"
	The shadowed lady backed up a step, closed her eyes, and lowered her
head.  Cameron heard her take a deep breath before she began to recite a
familiar poem.
"When Sirius shines bright,
Canis Major will lead.
When Altair rise,
Aquila shall burn.
Silver and gold,
Starfire's trun.
Welded together, 
With fire so bright,
Hot as the desert,
Dark as the night."
	Memory flared in his mind as the last four lines played over in his
head.  "You," his voice was calmer now, "You're the Soldier of Time, the
one who sent me the starfire crystal."
	She nodded slightly.  "I am the guardian of Time, the Sailor soldier
of wind and reformation, an Outer Senshi, Sailor Pluto."
	At the sound of her name, red light flashed.  When it cleared, the
grayish girl was now real.  Her hair was a mass of forest green and her
lips matched her eyes.  She was a Sailor alright, her black and maroon
fuku were proof.  Pluto shifted her weight to her right black-booted foot
and set the edge of her Time Staff on the cloud-like ground.  Light
caught in her garnet rhinestones as she moved.  Sailor Pluto looked up at
him, crimson eyes as serious as ever.  "This is all the information I can
give you:  The Solar Stars  will face their greatest challenge yet.  A
nightmare will come true.  You have to help them, Nemesis.  I would help,
but I should not leave the Dark Dome.  The other Sailors do not have
their memories so they cannot help either.  They lost all recollection of
being the Champions of Justice during a battle."
	Cameron nodded.  "If you're the Senshi of Time and wind, why are you
in my dreams?"
	Pluto blinked.  "Pegasus--Helios--gave me permission to enter your
dreams.  This and the fact that I can bring others into one's dreams
makes for reason why I am here.  Save this, the Solar Star of myths and
dreams has not yet appeared."
	"Who?"  Cameron was shocked.
	"I can tell you no more.  I have told you more than I intended to.
Go!  You will be needed shortly."
	With that, Pluto raised her stafff and again a deep red light blazed.
"Return!" she shouted.
	Cameron jerked awake and sat up in his bed.
***
	Hydra was thinking out loud to herself.  "Sagittarius can be so
stupid sometimes.  He steals energy from people where he can easily be
seen, yet he expects those Sailors--Solars? Whatever they are--not to
notice?  How stupid is that?"
	She went on without notcing the figure that appeared behind her.  "If
I did that, I'd deserve what I got.  Maybe if he actually listened to me
once in a while, we would be rid of those scouts.  That gives me an idea.
Maybe--"
	She was cut off by a deep voice.  "Maybe you believe you can do
better than my brother."
	Hydra spun.  Orion was tight behind her.  She recovered from the
shock quickly.  "Maybe," she rejoined, gracefully and quickly moving her
long black hair off her shoulder.  "I have an idea or two."
	"If you are so sure than why don't you try?"
	Hydra was again surprised.  "I thought this was Sagittarius'
assignment."
	"Obviously you don't believe he can do it," he said cooly, "so why
don't you save my brother the trouble and try it yourself.  In any case,
Sagittarius was ordered to take a--break--for a while.  You're the one
with the torch at the moment."
	"I'll do my best."
	"See that you do, Hydra."  Orion disappeared.
	She smiled.  "Look out, little girls.  You're mine!"
***
	Aurora woke up and looked around Vesta's room.  It was Saturday and
she had spent the night at Vesta's house.  She hadn't really noticed what
her room looked like last night, she was too excited about being able to
see one of her best friends.  She had others, she knew, but none she
could put her finger on at the moment.  Now she glacned around the
medium-sized bedroom.
	Altair was perched--still sleeping--on an antique, brass-colored coat
hanger.  The morning light spilled through the window giving everything a
sheen of yellow.  It sparkled off the scattered clothes and stuffed
animals.  Aurora turned her head when somehting glistened out of the
corner of her eye.  Vesta was lying beside her on the floor looking like
she had hit her head and was out cold.  Her hair was a pool of liquid
gold in the dawn's light.  Aurora smiled and shook her friend.  "Alright
Sleeping Beauty, wake up!  It's ten o'clock.  Move it, girl!"
	"Mmm. . . ." Vesta moaned and turned over.
	"I know where we can get some really good ice cream," she bribed.
	Like lightning, Vesta was up.  She brushed her hair, put the sheets
back on her bed, ran to the bathroom and came back dressed before Aurora
realized what had happened.  Putting her hair up in a bow, Vesta replied,
"When do we leave?"
	"Yeah, well, let me get dressed first."  Aurora gave a pathetic look
to the now-awake Altair.
***
	While drinking their double chocolate shakes, Aurora and Vesta saw
Minako and Rei.
	"Hey Rei," said Vesta as Aurora said, "Hi, Minako."
	They said hi back and sat down beside them at the table.  "I didn't
know you two were friends," said Vesta astonished.
	"We didn't know you two were either," snapped Rei playfully.
	The four girls continued to talk for a while.  They only stopped when
Vesta jumped out of her seat and stood up, blue eyes wide.  The other
tree girls turned to see what she was staring at.
	A lady with long black hair and eyes as emerald as Sirius' was
standing beside their table.  Their was something sinister in her green
eyes; they looked something like a snake's.  "I'm sorry, but we don't
allow falcons in this building," the lady stated.
	"Huh?  Oh."  Vesta was in a daze.  Her breathing quickened as her
voice softened.  "I'll take my bird outside."
	The snake-eyed lady watched her as she took the falcon outside.  Rei,
Aurora, and Minako followed her solemnly.
	When they got out of the building, Vesta was shaking and leaning
against a wall.  Out of the way of those eyes, Aurora noticed.  "You
okay?"
	"Yeah, I'm fine," Vesta replied shakily.  No, I'm scared.  Those
eyes. . . .  Somehting about those eyes. . . .
	Rei put a supportive hand on her shoulder.  "You'll be okay, just
don't let that bossy witch get to you."
	Minako laughed, lightening everyone's mood.  "We had better go, Rei.
We need to catch up with the others."  She turned to the other girls.
"You want to come?  I'm sure our friends won't mind."
	"Who are you meeting?" questioned Aurora.
	Rei answered.  "Michiru, Haruka, Hotaru, Makoto, uh, Ami, that odango
atama Usagi, and her boyfriend Mamoru.  We would be meeting Setsuna also
but we got a letter saying she was out of town," she added just for extra
information.
	"We better not today," Vesta added, giving Aurora a pleading look.
	"See you 'round then"  Minako and Rei shouted as the two ran off down
the street.
	Aurora turned to Vesta.  "What's going on?  And don't tell me nothing
because you're as pale as a ghost."
	"Not a ghost.  A dream."
	"What?"
	"I've seen that lady in my dreams.  Her name's Hydra and she's a
living nightmare."
	"But that can't be right.  Hydra died during the last battle of the
Silver Millinium."
	"So did we.  And so did Sagittarius--we thought."
	Chills ran up Aurora's spine.  "I see.  Let's check this place out
later then."
***
	Midnight.  Moonlight hit the ground like lightning and blazed off
their tiaras.  Altair and Sirius moved with all the silence and stealth
possessed by all wild hunters.  Aquila snuck around gracefully while
Canis tromped along, surprisingly soundlessly.
	There seemed to be nothing wrong.  Everything was quiet and closed
for the night.  "Looking at all this food makes me hungry," Canis
complained.
	Aquila growled at her.  "Hush, and keep your heels from clicking.
Learn to pick up your feet!"
	"I feel like were being watched."  The Outer shivered.
	"You are," said a voice like silk.
	The four of them jerked around and stared at a lady that looked oddly
familiar.  Her emerald eyes glistened evily and her ebony hair rippled
down her back.  A smirk was plastered on ruby-red lips and her hand
rested on her tight garnet dress.  Laughing, she brushed her hair back
from her face exposing a black five-pointed star on her forehead.
"Hello, Aquila," she stated innocently.
	A flash of blue was her reply.  "Star Blue Shift!"
	Expecting this, Hydra dodged the attack effortlessly and reappeared
behind the Solars.  "Nice, but wouldn't it help if you actually hit your
target?"
	Aquila had been staring from her hands to Canis, looking as if to say
"it didn't work".  Now her hands glowed red and a flame burned in her
eyes.  Amused, Hydra watched.
	"I'll hit my target alright!" she shouted.  She spun and sparkles of
energy encircled her body.  The red-and-gold beacon moved her hands so
that the sparks transformed into hair-thin ropes.  Aquila grabbed the
ribbons and pulled them toward her.  "Star Red Shift!"
	Hydra was caught up in the tangle and pulled toward the Inner Star.
When she struggled, she just entangled herself more.
	Aquila raised her leg and slammed her foot into the angry yarn ball.
"Allow you to show you my impression of the Sailor V Kick!" she yelled.
	Sirius and Altair backed Canis up to give Solar Aquila a little more
room.  "Let her be," ordered Altair.  "She has been wanting to kick
Hydra's butt for sometime now."
	Canis nodded.
	The Dark Kingdom lady sat up after the ribbons had disappeared and
her vision was able to focus.  She was not expecting this.  No matter, a
small set back.  Though hardly quite as amused as she had been earlier,
Hydra got to her feet and sneered.  She disappeared.
	"Quick!  Outside!" Sirius yelled.
	When they got there, the Snake Lady was floating in the cool night
air, smirking.
	The Solars and their guardians stopped dead.
	Her voice was calm and anything but loud.  "You're right, Vesta, I am
a living nightmare, and--" a ball of scarlet energy blurred the shape of
her palm and wrapped around her wrist--"I think you'll say the same about
this."
	Canis tried to move and block the shining snake that flew toward
Aquila but. . .how did Hydra know who Aquila was?
	The soldier of gold screamed as the snake wrapped around her arms and
legs.  She fell, horrified.
	Canis got ready to attack, arms raised.  Hydra turned to her as fire
as black as the new moon flared infront of Hydra.  This time she was the
one who shrieked.
	Black on black.  A loiving shadow.  Nemesis jumped between Snake Lady
and the Solars.  "Good will always defeat evil.  Even a serpent should
know that."
	The enemy's control was shattered.  She remembered this arrogant jerk
well.  "You!"
	Canis used this opportunity to attack.  "Star Light Blaze!"
	Hydra dodged and threw an inferno at Canis.  There was no time for
the soldier to move.
	Nemesis threw one of his fireballs and jumped beside Canis.  He
wrapped his cloak around both of them and held her close.  The inferno
hit.
	Hydra's power was incredible.  It was an overwhelming heat and a ray
of gravity in one.  It burned you and knocked you out of breath on the
ground.  Looking up at the dark morning sky, it took Canis a minute to
think again.  Rolling over, she got to her knees and turned her head.
Nemesis was getting the snake of Aquila while Hydra watched idly.
	This time Nemesis attacked the enemy.  She defended herself easily
but the two kept exchanging blows.
	Solar Aquila turned to Solar Canis.  Her eyes were wide with an
ancient fear, a fear that began to show in Canis' own eyes as she
realizes it.
	Sirius and Altair chimed together, "Do it Solars!"
	Green.  Not emerald, but somewhere between grass and aqua.  Jade.  It
circled around the gold and black fuku and gave her an angelic look.  The
ribbons swirled around her, creating a cacoon of light.  Her hair blew
partially up and stopped.  Her head was bowed and her eyes were closed.
The cacoon froze and everything stopped with it.  A moment went by and
her lips moved slightly.  "Star Green Shift."  The cacoon split and
peeled back, making an odd pair of wings.  Almost as quick, the wings
dissolved and jade ribbons flowed past her.
	Silver sparks flashed off two gloved palms.  They spiraled in an
opposite directions around the silver soldier.  Reaching her ankles, they
collided, blinding everything with its light.  Now in her hands, she
threw the stone-gray sphere out infront of her.  "Star Light Double
Blaze!"
	Jade touched with gold and ringed with tendrils of silver surged
toward Hydra.  Nemesis threw a ball of starfire in Hydra's face and
jumped.  The colored beam hit Hydra and her scream shatterd the
once-peaceful night.  When she stopped shouting and managed again to
breathe, she gave Aquila a look that was meant to kill.  "You may have a
change against me here, Vesta, but not in your dreams," she spat.
	Aquila stood a little straighter.  "We'll see Snake Lady," she
mocked.
	Nemesis commanded, "Leave Hydra.  Go crawl back under the rock you
came from."
	She left, quite flustered.
***
	Cameron stared into the garnet eyes once more.
	"You listened, thank you.  If you had not, though powerful as athe
Solars may be, they would not have found the courage to defeat her," came
the calm, and happy, voice.  "Take this."
	He reached out and took the note from her open palm.
	"Go now," she whispered.
	Waking up, Cameron felt something cool against his fingers.  A note.
He opened it and read it carefully.
	"Beware of shadows that cannot be seen."
*****
SOLAR STARS
Series 1
Episode 6:  Mythical Arrival

	Cameron walked around the misty dream world he had been before, in
his confrontations with Sailor Pluto, wondering, Now what?
	He turned around when the shadow of a tall girl fell upon him from
behind. Cameron had expected to see Pluto, but this surely was not the
guardian of time herself. She had long hair and large bows, but a fuku
similar to Solar Canis's. Long blue hair whipped in a small breeze. 
	Cameron eyed her. "Who are you?"
	"That is what you may find out when you awaken," she replied, "I am
what you may call the Dream Master. Sailor Pluto cannot pass through your
dreams any longer."
	"Then what are you doing here?" Cameron asked rudely.
	"You are to tell and warn the Solars in the near future. I am a part
of your team. To tell is to explain my coming, to warn you will find in
your heart..."
	Cameron woke up, looked out his window, and saw a constellation.
	"Pegasus."
						***

	Cassie opened the doors to her ranch house and set her books inside.
	Openeing the refridgerator, she heard a slightly high whinneing
coming from the backyard. Cassie opened the door and almost fainted at
the sight of an all white mare with a golden alicorn and a red heart
marking on her forehead. 
	"Come," said the unicorn. Cassie almost tripped over the anklet
around her left ankle. When Cassie approached the unicorn, it spoke to
her in a quiet and gentle voice. "You may call me Storm. I'm here to warn
you of what is trying to take over the world. An evil force stronger than
any force known to man, but the Solar Stars can help the Earth resist
it."
	Cass eyed Storm. "So...what does this have to do with me?" she asked.
"I mean, I'm just a farm girl, and your telling me something wacko for
the fun of it?"
	"No," Storm replied calmly. "What I want you to understand is that
you are a part of that Solar Star team, Solar Pegasus. You fight with the
power of myths and dreams. You must be aware of Armageddon and his
minions, Hydra, Saggittarius, and Orion. Be very careful, and make wise
choices. You will meet your fellow Solar Stars later."
	"This is insane!" cried Cass. Cass sat down on the grass, and felt
something sharp catch on to her navy-blue school skirt. "What's this?"
she asked. Cass fumbled with the 44-pointed star, being careful not to
cut herself. It was colored in an icy pink aura, like a pink opal. 
	"That is what you use to transform," Storm replied. 
	"How do I use it?"
	"You may find out later when you need it."

						***

	Cameron walked out the door and turned around to lock it. As he
turned back around, he ran into a tall high school girl with blue hair
pulled up in odango style with the rest of her curly hair hanging loose.
All her books and homework scattered every where.
	"Augh!" the girl snorted. Cameron knew he was going to get it from
her, but instead she scolded herself. "I really need to watch where I'm
going! I'm such a clutz, it's not even funny!"
	Cameron laughed softly. "Well, it was mostly my fault, just running
into you like that without a care--"
	The girl held up her finger to his mouth to shush him. "No, it was
nothing to do with you. It was all me, alright? Never doubt yourself for
a moment."
	Picking up a sheet of math homework out of a puddle, he stared up at
the girl. "You're doubting yourself, so why are you telling me not to?"
	"Just...just forget it," she replied, and took the wet paper from
Cameron. Her indigo eyes met his. At this, the girl smiled and Cameron
had a thought. She looks an aweful lot like the Dream Master...
	"Name's Cassie," she stated. "Call me Cass. Hope to see you again
sometime."
	"Yeah, sure," Cameron replied quickly. "I'm Cameron. Don't I know you
from school?"
	Cass shrugged. "No idea. Talk to you soon."
	"See you later." Cameron ran off, leaving Cass behind. She shrugged
and continued her way to school.

						***

	"Quite the young beauty, don't you think?" inquired Orion, staring
and the rendered hologram of Cass. "This is her weakest form, Armageddon.
We could capture her this way."
	Armageddon eyed the rendering and rubbed his chin. "I want to capture
her when she's just about ready to fight. In her true form, as I may
say."
	Saggittarius gawked at Armageddon. "You kidding? At that moment, she
could blow our butts off in a split second."
	"We wouldn't want to make it to obvious," their evil master replied.
"We just want to capture her and use her against the Solar Stars. She
could blow thier butts off in a split second."
	Hydra watched and listened from behind a pillar, almost unseen by the
brothers and her master. "Ooh!" she grumbled. "He thinks he can buy
himself a new hamster and forget the old one? That is so unfair!"
	Armageddon turned toward the pillar. "Is there anything you'd like to
share with the class, Miss Hydra?"
	Hydra emerged from the shadows and smiled, embarassed. "No sir. I was
just...singing a tuneless song to my self. Heh..."
	Armageddon nodded. "Good, then. Go along. We will get to the Dream
Master tonight, and we will need your help."
	Hydra bowed and scurried off, mimicking Armageddon in a high voice as
she left.

						***

	Cass stared at the soaked math paper as the teacher came around to
pick up the homework. As she came to Cassie's desk, she stared in shock
at the wet homework Cass had given her. 
	"I'm shocked, Miss Solarburn," said the teacher, "you've always
turned in your homework so neatly. What happened?"
	"I ran into another high school person and all my stuff went
everywhere," Cass replied. She slumped into her chair when the snickers
began.
	"Well, I'll accept the excuse. Just be careful next time."
	Cass nodded and sighed. Ah, the life of a sophmore, she thought. Just
then, a booming voice filled her head that scared her so much that she
jumped up from her slouching position. More laughter errupted from her
classmates.
	"Well, if it isn't the Dream Master in action, ne?" the voice boomed.
It was the voice of a man. It seemed familiar to Cass, but she didn't
know why.
	"Who are you?" Cass thought, hoping the man would hear her. She
didn't want to say it aloud, or she would have more people laugh at her.
And Cass was right, the man did hear.
	"Call me Armageddon, my dear," he said. "I'm just here lurking around
your thoughts because I'm on a mission. Ooh, it says here that you have
no parents? Interesting. Oh well. Anyway, meet me in the park at sunset.
Don't forget your henshin star, my dear..." The voice had disappeared,
leaving Cassie in mass confusion. 
	"Is there something wrong, Cassandra?" asked the teacher. Cass came
out of her daze, and smiled at the teacher. 
	"No," she replied, "nothing's wrong."
	When the dismissal bell finally rang later, Cass grabbed her books,
as well as her crocheted bag with her opal star inside. Racing out the
school doors toward the park, Cass notcied someone dressed very heavily.
	"Hey, you!" she called. "Sir! Don't you think it's a little too hot
for you to be wearing that much clothing?!"
	The man turned around and threw his hat and jacket off, revealing the
man she had known before. Only one name remained in her head, and that
was Orion.
	"So, Dream Master," he snickered. "Got my master's messege? I knew
you would care that much about a person's health and well-being."
	In a quick flash of darkness, a man appeared between Orion and Cass,
and that was Armageddon.
	"Come," he said. "You must show me all that you got."
	Cass followed reluctantly after the man into the park. Still walking,
a bubble of hope filled Cass's heart. The vision of Storm came through
her mind. The flashback was as right as rain.
	"This is what you use to transform," Storm had said.
	"How do I use it?"
	"You may find out later when you need it..."
	And later was now.
	"PEGASUS SOLAR POWER!!!!" she shouted, pulling the star out of her
bag and raising it high. "MAKE UP!!!!!!"
	A double heart brooch appeared in midair. Flashing with a fushia
light, everything was hidden from view. A shimmering unicorn appeared and
seemed to take the light with it as it galloped away. After a moment, a
pinkish prismed Cass could be seen as the heart brooch appeared on her
chest. Hair blowing wildly, Cass raised her hands in the air and put one
leg up. She closed her eyes as she started spinning. Sparkling ribbons
flowed around her body forming a blue fuku, golden belt, opal bow, and a
pinkish single striped collar. Cass continued to spin, arms held out to
the side as sparkles wrapped themselves around her arms to flash and form
pink and blue gloves with blue and gold wristbands. Spinning backwards,
Cass placed a foot in the air and was immediately wrapped in sparkles as
well. Glistening brightly, blue and gold  trimmed boots appeared on her
legs. Twirling once more, streaks of sparkles shown around her waist to
form a pink striped blue skirt and a long tailed fushia bow. Raising her
head, the sign of pegasus formed on her forehead causing a golden
magenta-stoned tiarra to follow along with small earings and a green
choker with a red crescent moon. Cass backed up and spun once more,
posing with one hand behind her head and the other right in front of her,
feet slightly apart.
	Armageddon turned around and smiled. "I knew you wouldn't be able to
resist the urge, Solar Brat."
	"That's right, Uglygeddon!" she snarled. "Take a taste of Pegasus
Solar Power! I fight for myths and dreams!! I am Solar Pegasus!! On
behalf of the winged horse constellation, you're finished!"
	"No, dear, you have it all wrong. You're mine," Armageddon replied
coldly.
	"NO!" shouted Pegasus. A wild wave of water took place behind Pegasus
as she stood posed for an attack. "PEGASUS HAIL!!!" she shouted. The wall
behind her froze and shattered into many baseball sized hail-stones. A
wall of flames roared up in front of Pegasus. Cass's immediate reflex
would be to scream and run, but Pegasus had the heart and soul of the
bravest horse. "INFERNO!!!!" she shouted, causing the hail-stones to rush
foreward into the flames, causing them to catch fire and hit Armageddon
with such strength, that he stumbled backward. 
	"Not bad," Armageddon smiled, "but not good enough..."
	"DIVIDE!!" Pegasus screamed in rage, "STAR POSITIVE CHAIN!!!"
	The chain of stars exploded from Pegasus's hands, and spun around the
generals. But they all disappeared in time for the chain to snap and
return to Pegasus, wrapping around Pegasus herself.
	"You tricked me!" she growled, struggling to get out of her own trap.
But before she could say "Chain, return," everything around her went
blank. Pegasus's mind went blank. Nothing made sense at all at that
moment.
		
					          *****

SOLAR STARS
Series 1
Episode 7:  Comet Crisis

	Dark light covered the high school student that hovered limply in the
air before a tall man.  Her long blue hair and pink ribbons blew gently
in a breeze only she could feel.  The girl's eyes, though she was
unconcious, were open and oddly dialated to the point that only the
indigo iris could be seen.
	Fluffing her hair, Hydra walked to stand beside the man.  "Who's this
Armegeddon?"  She paused for a moment.  "Yuck!  It's a  Solar brat!"
	"This isn't just any Solar brat," he replied coolly, "it's Solar
Pegasus, the warrior of myths and dreams."
	"So?"
	"So, if we turn her to our side, Pegasus should be able to attack and
kill the other soldiers in their sleep."
	Hydra glanced at the Outer Star.  "Well, she couldn't be much worse
than Sagittarius, provided you can trust her."
	Armegeddon glared at Hydra.  "I seem to recall you failing your last
mission as well, Hydra."
	She shrugged.  "Minor set back."
	He snorted.  "Yes, I see,  Now go tell those brothers this is one
senshi they cannot attack."
	She left, and her turned toward Pegasus once more.  At his command,
the light faded and the Solar floated slowly downward.  As her feet
touched the stoney floor, she awoke.  Blinking, she stared at Armegeddon.
"And you are. . .?" she asked, not remembering what had happened about an
hour ago.
	He told her and she inquired why she was here.  "Because," he
started, "I need you to do something for me."  He held his hands out.  In
between them, an orb of energy revealed two girls in similar uniforms.
Pegasus recognized them, but said nothing.
	Armegeddon went on.  "Solars Canis and Aquila.  Kill them."
	Yeah, like I want to work for the Dark Kingdom Dork Squad, she
thought.  "They pose no threat to me."
	"Ah, but it wil be well worth your while, great Master of Dreams."
	Pegasus smiled.
***
Cameron got his essay back form his teacher after school.  He mummbled
when he saw his grade was one point from an "A" and flipped through the
paper to glance at mistakes the teacher had found that he hadn't noticed.
	Finishing, he started to put it in his binder but he noticed an extra
sheet of paper attached to the essay.  He pulled it off and read it as he
left school and walked home.
"When Sirius shines bright,
Canis Major will lead.
When Altair rises,
Aquila shall burn.
Silver and Gold,
Starfire's turn.
Welded together,
With fire so bright,
Hot as the desert,
Dark as the night."
	Okay Pluto, he thought as he read the familiar lines, this is getting
a little redundant.  Cameron read on.
"When undreamt Storms arise,
Pegasus will lead them home.
When Winter's Shadows darken,
Lynx's fury shall blaze.
Rose and Ruby,
Starfire's save.
Welded together,
With platinum flares,
Hot as the desert,
Secretive cares."
	He raised an eyebrow.  "Well, Pegasus is early, or this note's late."
Stuffing the note in his pocket, he noticed two girls walking infront of
him.  They looked familiar, but he couldn't tell who they were.
	"Get a life, Vesta," argues the one with curly brown hair and dark
eyes.
	A girl with long blonde hair and a TA uniform teased her back.  "You
should take your own advice, Aurora."
	They went on arguing but Cameron thought to himself for a moment.
Vesta?  Wasn't that what Hydra had called Solar Aquila?  Could the other
girl be a Solar too?
	Vesta pointed to a stray cat across the street.  "Mom's always wanted
a cat.  Go fetch."
	The girl in the Shibakouen uniform gave her a dealy look.  "Haha."
	Vesta smiled evilly.  "Of course you won't chase cats; I forgot.  You
only chase Nemesis."
	Aurora's eyes widened and she pushed Vesta ahead of her.  "You
little!  I"m going to--"  They disappeared around  the corner.
	Cameron kept walking straight.  Aurora must be Canis.  He should have
been shocked, he supposed, but what surprised him most was that Aurora
liked him.  But then again, he was beginning to like that Canis girl,
too.
***
	Nemesis, Canis, Aquila, Altair, and Sirius were all breathing hard.
The team of warriors had just defeated another minion.  Who's they didn't
know.  Suddenly, a sweet voice giggled behind them.  "Hey guys!"  The
five turned.
	Behind them stood a girl with long curly blue hair.  Her indigo eyes
shimmered with light and her fuku matched Canis' exactly, only it was
pink where Canis' was silver.  She was definitely an Outer.  Beside her,
a unicon pranced regally.
	"This is Storm," said the Solar in a childish voice.  To the unicorn,
she added, "Wait for me at home, I want to talk with them."  Storm
whinnied and trotted off.  Oddly enough, Sirius and Altair followed her.
	When they were gone, Nemesis was the first ot speak.  "Pegasus," he
whispered.
	"What?" Canis exclaimed excitedly, "You're seeing someone!?"
	Everyone stared at her.  "Come again?" said Nemesis, eyebrows raised.
	Canis glanced around without turning her head.  "What?  I didn't say
anything."
	Solar Pegasus had a smug, unsettling smile on her face.  "Hello,
Nemesis.  That is what you are called, isn't it?"
	"I'll show you hello!"  Canis growled quietly.  Realizing she had
said that aloud, Canis clapped her hand over her mouth.
	Aquila leaned closer to her.  "You alright Canis?"
	The Outer's face glowed red and she turned around.  "I'm fine," came
a squeeky voice.
	Oh, this will be fun, thought Pegasus.  "My name is Solar Pegasus.  I
know Nemesis, but you must be Aquila," she pointed to the golden girl,
"and that makes you Solar Canis."
	Composing herself, she turned back around.  Pasting a smile on her
face, she replied, "Hi."
	Aquila, however, was more friendly.  "Cool.  Hi!  It's great to have
a new Solar around."
	Pegasus smirked, speaking in quiet, innocent tones.  "It's great to
finally meet you, really."  She removed the long chain around her waist
that served as an odd belt.  "Let me show you something."  Pegasus seemed
to be only talking to Nemesis.  Canis curled her lip.
	Pegasus looked down at the dark chain in her hands.  "Divide," she
whispered.
	Solar Aquila smiled at the new Solar, but backed up uneasily as
Pegasus raised the slender links above her head.  Blue hair flowing, she
spun until the chain glowed and could float on its own.
	Pegasus grabbed the chain and sent it flying like a whip toward Canis
and Aquila before they had time to react.  "Star Negative Chain!"
	The rope split into two strands, each wrapping itself around the
Solars' arms and throat.  Pulling back on the main strand, Pegasus
brought Aquila and Canis to their knees, gasping for air.
	Great, thought Nemesis, They meet her not even five minutes ago and
she's already a traitor.  He shook his head.  "Let them go, Solar
Pegasus."
	She glared at him but pulled the chain tighter.  Canis tried to
attack, but couldn't get enough air to speak.
	Nemesis didn't like Aurora being hurt, but didn't want Vesta hurt
either.  He warned the Dream Master again; once more she pulled harder.
Gathering black starfire in his likewise-colored gloves, he sliced the
chain wiht the dark flames.
	The chain around Canis and Aquila disappeared while the one she held
returned to its normal length.  Putting it around her waist, she laughed
as the senshi gasped for air.
	Pegasus eyed Nemesis.  "My quarrell's not with you, but if you
weren't so cute I'd kill you for doing that.  Keep this in mind."  With
another laugh, she leaped into the night sky and ran off.
	Nemesis looked at the soldiers,  "You'll be alright, just get home,"
he ordered.  Moving quickly, her ran after the new Outer, cape flying
like wings behind him.
*****
	
SOLAR STARS
Series 1
Episode 8:  Nemesis Again

	This was definitely not the Pegasus her had met earlier.  There was
something wrong in this one's eyes, something off.  Nemesis stopped when
she did on the top of a building.
	"Are you just going to follow me?" the Solar asked, seemingly
annoyed.
	He gave her a straight answer.  "Yes.  Problem?"
	"And if I do?"
	"Well, then it's your problem, not mine."
	She smirked and turned to step into a void that just appeared behind
her.  "Coming?" she called over her shoulder.
	Nemesis stared at Pegasus a moment.  He didn't want to go at all; he
could remember little of his past, but one thing he did know was how it
felt to be a part of the Dark Kingdom.  The power was incredible, but the
feeling of darkness and hatred was almost too much to bare.  He knew
Armegeddon must have warped the girl's mind, assuming that if Hydra and
Sagittarius were back, Orion and Armegeddon would have to be as well.
Nemesis was sorry for her, yes, but he couldn't let her hurt Canis.
Perhaps if he followed Pegasus, he would find out Armegeddon's plans and
warn the Solars.  But that would mean listening to Armegeddon and getting
the Soldier of Dreams to trust him.  If she thought he were cute like she
said earlier, maybe he could use that to his advantage.
	"Well?" she stated, rather impatiently.
	He followed her through the warphole.
***
	Nemesis saw Armegeddon before the man saw him.  "So," she said calmy,
"looks like the Sailors forgot about you when they distroyed the Dark
Kingdom."
	The man stared from Nemsis to Pegasus.  "What is this?" he asked.
	"A present," she replied, adding "you psychotic creepizoid,"
silently.
	Armegeddon glared at Nemesis again.  "What do you want?"  The
question was in a matter-of-fact tone.  "Come to join our little circus?"
	Nemesis smiled.  Circus was about right.  "Actually, yes."
	The man threw back his head and howled with laughter.  "What kind of
idiot do you take me for, boy?"
	A big one.  "Do you want my help or not?"
	Armegeddon studied him carefully and then moved to Pegasus, who
seemed to have taken off her gloves and begun painting her nails in the
most unusual shade of orange.
	The man in red and yellow narrowed his eyes.  "Do you actually think
you can help us, boy?"
	"I know who the Solars are," Nemesis rejoined.
	"We know who Aquila is," the man shot back.
	"But not Canis."
	Armegeddon paused, still not sure is he should allow Nemesis into his
kingdom or not.  After a moment, he said, "Fine.  You will get your
orders from Pegasus."  He barely waited to finish his sentence before he
disappeared.	
	Nemesis turned to Pegasus, who was now putting her gloves back on.
"And what, might I ask, is my assignment?"
	She walked toward him.  "You said you know who Canis is; test her,
find her weak points.  I don't care how you do it, just do it.  Leave
Aquila to me; I know her weaknesses already.  Hydra isn't entirely
usless.  I'll deal with that bird brain later."
	"Why don't you just tell me your plan and let me complete as much of
it as I can for you?"
	"Ha!  I may have the same rank as Armegeddon, but I certainly don't
share his stupidity!  Besides, you stopped me from attacking Canis and
Aquila earlier, I doubt anything you do will make me trust you anytime
soon."
	"What about this?"  Nemesis leaned over Pegasus and kissed her.
	Surprised, she pushed him away and raised her hand to slap him.  He
caught her wrist just before it hit him.
	"I wouldn't," he said.  "I imagine I can hit much harder than you."
	"Quick reflexes," she stated, "but most boys will not hit a girl."
	"Most boys don't live two lives at once, either.  And I never said I
would actually hit you."
	Pegasus pulled her hand out of his grip, unamused.  "Tell me when you
have that ditzy dog."
***
	Aurora rubbed her sore neck after she pulled on a purple shirt and
tucked it into her blue jeans.  She brushed her hair and started to put
on her silvery-stoned necklace like she did everyday.  Today, she stopped
herself and put it in her dresseer drawer instead.  She didn't want
anything around her neck after last night.
	She picked up the phone and called Vesta only to find that she was
still sleeping.  Hanging it up, Aurora glanced at the clock that read
11:32.  It's Saturday morning, that must be why she's still in bed.
	Aurora was about to call Minako when the phone rang before she could
reach it again.  "Hello?"
	"May I speak to Ms. Flarestar, please?" asked a man on the other end
of the line.
	"Hold on," she said, about to get her mother from the garden.
	"Wait," stated the voice quickly.
	"What?"
	"I asked to speak to Miss Flarestar, M-I-S-S, as in you, Aurora."
	"Who is this?"
	"Wouldn't you like to know?" came the sardonic reply.
	Aurora remained silent.
	"That's right," he said confidentally, "I know who you are, but
you've no clue who I am."  He paused.  "Now do you, Solar Canis?"
	Aurora froze.  When she answered, she tried to sound calm.  "How do
you know that?"
	"Because I do.  Now listen."
	"And if I don't?"
	"You don't have that choice."  He went on.  "I want you to be at
McKenna Park at sunset.  You are to come alone; bring Sirius, Aquila,
Altair, or anyone or thing else, and they will be killed.  Understand?"
	"Sorry," she spoke quietly.
	"Oh, I think you do.  You care to much for your friends to jepordize
their lives."
	Aurora swallowed hard.  How did this person know so much about her?
It was really starting to scare her.  "How do I know this isn't just some
prank?"
	"You know.  I'll meet you in the park at dusk."
	"But who are you?"
	"Good question."
	"Then how am I going to find you?"
	"You won't; I'll find you."
	Okay, now she was worried.  Terrified to be exact.  She wanted to
hang up and dismiss this crazy phone call as a sick practical joke, but
part of her knew it was true.
	The deep voice added, "Do not tell anyone where you are going.  If
you do, you'll wish you hadn't, believe me, Aurora.  Have a nice day."
	Click.
***
	Looking out over the lake to the setting sun, Aurora almost forgot
why she was in the park.  If it wasn't for the cool wind that barely blew
but never stopped, she would have.  She shivered uneasliy, not liking the
wind at all.
	A hand touched her shoulder.  She gasped and spun.
	Her dark eyes ran quickly over the person before her.  He was tall,
with shadowy hair.  He seemed familiar, though she didn't know why.  He
looked three or four years older than her, maybe she'd seen him around
somewhere.  Glancing over his khaki pants and black shirt, she stopped at
his eyes.  They seemed to be studing her, too, only their was something
else there, something that reminded her vaguely of Nemesis.  Couldn't be,
she thought, staring into the dark eyes.  Or could it?
	Aurora backed up a step and her smiled.
	"Hello Aurora," he said.
	So this was the guy on the phone.  Aurora didn't return his greeting.
"What do you want?" she asked.
	"World peace, to make an "A" on my next test, to actually be able to
sleep without any crazy dreams.  Now, seriously," he held out his hand,
"how about that silver star crystal of yours."
	"Not even a snowballs chance," she replied.
	His voice dropped.  "I don't have time to play."  His eyes burned
into hers.
	Auroa snapped at him quickly.  "You're nuts if you think--."  She
broke off and backed up again as he stepped closer.  Aurora tried to jump
back but her aquantence was faster and caught the sleeve of her shirt.
Perhaps this was good; two more steps and she'd have been in the lake.
	"Your crystal," he snarled, again holding out his hand.
	Aurora reached reluctantly into her pocket and pulled out a pale
silver stone.  She started to hold it out to him, but had an idea.
Jerking out of his grip, she yelled, "Canis Solar Power, make up!"  Why
she did it was a mystery even to herself.
	He shook his head as he eyed Solar Canis, but noticed Sirius was not
with her.  Then, as if reading his mind, the light from the first few
stars reflected off a snow white coat, giving it a ghostly glow.
	"I told you not to bring her," he said, voice cool.  "This won't do
at all."  The young man backed up and seem to slowly become a shadow.
Only his eyes glowed in the starlight, and then even those were covered
by a black mask.
	Canis eyes widened.  It was him!  "Nemesis!" she choked.
	Beside him appeared a girl with long, wavy blue hair and unnatural
eyes.  Between her her bangs was a black five-pointed star and her short
dress was the same color.  On one of her arms was a long sleeve,
revealing brightly painted nails.  The other had not sleeve at all, but
had a long glove covering nearly all her arm.  She smirked and shifted
her weight on one black-booted foot, causing the chain around her waist
to create a slight noise.
	"You!" the Solar growled.  "Pegasus!"
	"The one and only," she replied, but wasted no time.  "Star Negative
Chain!" Cass shouted, flingling it toward Canis and her dog.
	Both jumped.  Nemesis sent a stream of fire at them while they were
in the air, causing them both to fall hard on the ground.
	Canis got up slowly.  She turned to Nemesis, saying, "How could you!
You're supposed to help the Solars!"
	"Not anymore," cooed Cass.
	Aurora turned to her.  "And you. . ." she spat out the words, "I've
got a score to settle."
	A spark of light spiraled around her and stopped infront of her eyes.
"Star. . ."  The tiny glint glowed until it was several times larger
thatn it had been.  Canis spun again and the sphere unraveled, creating a
flowing ribbon.  "Sirius. . ."  The dog jumped before her, eyes burning
emerald, coat burnign silver.  "Scorch!"  With the ribbon wrapping around
her, Sirius seemed to explode, becoming a blinding inferno and raced
toward the blue-haired girl.
	She wasn't impressed and created a barrier of dark energy.  Sirius
melted though it like it wasn't even there but missed her mark when
Pegasus teleperted behind Canis.  Sirius stopped before slamming into
Nemesis (or a tree, one) and put out the unusual flames.
	Cass laughed at Canis.  It was actually more screech, starting high
and ending somewhere in a middle range.  The cackle seemed to be
somewhere between Esmeraude and Zoicite.
	She hovered effortlessly in the night air.  "Pitiful!"  She turned to
Nemesis.  "Good work.  Her weakness must be you, just as I thought."
Again she spoke to Canis.  "Farewell, my faithful hound!"  Once more she
disappeared.
	The Solar looked at Nemesis.  "You're with her!?"
	He shrugged, replying only that she was lucky Sirius (who was now
beside Solar Canis) was not killed.
	She changed the subject.  "You won't win, you know."
	Again he shrugged.  "We'll see."
	Canis watched him dematerialize, wishing desperately that her attack
would have worked on Pegasus.
*****
SOLAR STARS
Series 1
Episode 9:  Friendly Fire

	A flash of ruby filled their vision as the eyes of a middle school
girl took on a cat-like appearance.  She backed up, long hair flying in a
violent wind.  Like the rest of her, it, too, was prismed red.  Rings of
fire covered her body, creating the illusion of flaming stripes.  When
they exploded, fire consumed everything.  Only eyes as blue as the ocean
could be seen.  The flames melted away from her body and face, revealing
the black uniform of an Inner Solar senshi.  Suddenly, her hair, still
blazing with fire, flared straight up, flames curling in upon themselves.
Falling loosely at her sides, the flames subsided, exposing a Sailor
Moon-type hairstyle:  spagetti and meatballs.  On her forehead shined a
golden tiara, center stone glowing red.  It sparkled and the teendrils of
light stayed, making an eight-pointed star.  Sailing, she spun and
stopped, one hand out and the other on her hip.  She smiled, something
cat-like shining in her blue eyes.
***
	Aurora, Vesta, and Rei each set up in bed in their respective homes.
Vesta went to go get a drink; that dream was strange and had made her
hot.  Aurora glanced around supiciously, sure her house was on fire.
Rei's thoughts moved in a different direction.
	She walked slowly to the fire in the temple of the Hikawa shrine.
Rei looked into the fire, concentrating hard on that strange drea,.  Why
did it seem so familiar to her?  A girl ringed by fire?
	The fire sputtered and flared.  The face of the young girl in the
dream appeared between its flames.  In her blue eyes sparkled the Lynx
constellation.
	How odd, thought Rei.
***
	Haily sat up in her bed breathing herd.  What a weird dream she had
just had.  It was clearly her, but why was she covered in fire?  Haily
shivered.  Maybe it was a bad omen.
	Reaching down to pull up the sheets she had kicked off while she was
sleeping, something sharp cut her hand.  Haily yanked it back abd sucked
on her bleeding thumb.  It wasn't cut bad, but it still hurt.
	She gingerly picked up the object that had hurt her.
	Haily gasped.  In her hand was a beautiful eight-pointed ruby.  She
stared at it in wonder until a faint noise on her window drug her out of
her reverie.
	Standing just outside it was a young man dressed in white and, at his
side, a white tiger.
	Haily cried out.
***
	Cass smiled.  So, she thought, this little kitten wants to play on my
turf.  She stared off into the blackened sky, mummbling, "ESP is no
substitute for dreams.  Your illusions are pathetic; Hydra can do
better!"  If that girl wanted to control dreams, she would have to face
Pegasus first.  "Look out, little fireball.  To me, the Master of Dreams,
you're nothing but a pawn in my game."
***
	Cameron had been angry all day.  That blasted dream had woke him up
and he hadn't been able to get back to sleep.  The more he though about
it, the angrier he got.  Cass didn't create the dream; he'd already
asked.  That meant Helios had given Sailor Pluto permission to mess up
his dreams again.  By the time the final bell rang, he had decided to pay
Pluto a not-so-friendly visit.  But how would he get to the Time Dome?
	He stepped off the bus at Sendai Hill and walked into the Hikawa
shrine.  Maybe he could get there from here.
	A young priestess greeted him.  "May I help you?" she inquired
politely.
	Cameron smiled.  "Not unless you know how to get to the Dark Dome of
Time and Space," he rejoined sarcastically.
	The miko didn't look surprised or even flinch.  She stared at Cameron
with her long black hair hanging above her serious violet eyes.  "Come
back tonight during the full moon.  If that place exists, I can get you
there.  Ask for me, Rei."  With that, Rei walked off.
	Cameron stood there, shocked.  He hadn't expected that at all.  Did
that girl know something he didn't?  Guess I'll find out tonight, he
thought.
***
	Again Cameron walked into Hikawa jinja.  The girl he had met earlier
was sitting before a blazing fire.  She turned to face him.
	"I thought I sensed you were here," Rei stated matter-of-factly.
"Come."
	He followed her outside into the full moon's rays.  She chanted in a
strange language and a ring of fire surrounded him.
	"You must realize I cannot bring you back.  Would you like to
continue, Cameron?"
	He nodded.  "Yes."
	Two crows landed on her shoulders as she put her hands together.  The
orange flames spat and crackled, and then were calm.
	When Rei glanced up again, the boy was gone.
***
	Aquila and Canis had been looking for Storm all night.  It was
Vesta's idea to tell her Pegasus was currently working for the Dark
Kingdom, but they had no luck finding her.  They never dreamed someone
was looking for them as well.
	Suddenly, Aquila screamed.  She had been hit by a fireball and was on
the ground.  Canis helped her up and both turned.
	Before them was two ladies.  The older with hair as black as charcoal
and a dress of deep garnet, contrasting her emerald eyes.  The other with
hair as blue as her azure eyes and a dress darker than midnight.
	"Hydra!" hissed Aquila.
	Canis growled, "Pegasus!"
	Both newcomers laughed, raised their hands, and blasted the Solars
without another word.  Canis hit a tree;  Aquila hit Canis.
	Cass smiled.  "And to make sure you can't call those stupid gaurdians
of yours. . . ."  She didn't finish her sentence; however, Hydra's force
field did.
	Aquila and Canis picked themselves up and glanced around.  Invisible
as it was, both could feel dark energies radiating off the sheild.
	Solar Canis attacked first, then Aquila.  Neither had any luck
breaking through the barrier.  Pegasus and Hydra sat back and watched
until they grew tired of playing with their prey.
	"Worn out yet?" Cass mocked.  "No?  Then allow me!"  Her attack hit
the Solars and, yelling, they callapsed on the grass below.
	A feral roar ripped thriugh the night and everyone stopped dead.
Above the four of them stood three dark figures.  One was the outline of
a large cat;  the other was of a man with a tall hat and flowing cape.
The third was a girl in a short skirt, with long hair put up in buns and
pigtails.
	"Sailor Moon?  Tuxedo Kamen?" inquired Canis.
	Aquila stared.  "And a very well-fed Luna."
	The three jumped down from their perch atop the nearest building and
their uniforms became clear.  The person in a cape looked very much like
Tuxedo Kamen, but he was dressed in all white.  The cat was also the
color of snow, only the black stripes on her back were dark enough to be
shadows.  The tiger roared, the sound resenating on the force field as it
shattered.
	"Nice work, Winter Shadows," said the girl.  She wore the fuku of an
Inner Solar;  it matched Aquila's almost exactly.  Instead of gold it was
ruby, and her gloves were a solid color, no black on them.  Her hair was
ebony, styled just like Sailor Moon.  She looked at Hydra and Cass with
an evil glint in her blue eyes.  "Name's Solar Lynx, the fighter of
flames and premonitions.  You want a battle, I'll heat things up!"
	She touched the crystal in her tiara and flames spiraled around her.
"Fire. . ."  Lynx took the stone and threw it, causing the eight-pointed
shard to spin.  It circled around once, and then burst into a blazing
inferno heading straight for Cass.  "Crystal Destroy!"
	Pegasus cried out but recovered quickly as Hydra tried to slink away.
	"Oh no you don't!" shouted Aquila.  "Star Blue Shift!"  Hydra fell
backward.
	Solar Canis went after Pegasus.  "Star Light Blaze!"  Cass was
stunned but did not fall.
	A flash of white jumped into the air.  Platinum flares crakled and
slammed into Cass.  This time she fell, as he added, "Call me Leo."
	Hydra and Pegsus stepped back and disappeared.  "Next time, you're
toast," Snake Lady rejoined.  Cass held her tongue.  She had planned for
Lynx to show up, but not Leo or Winter Shadows.
	The Solars, Leo, and the tiger stared at one another when the two
left.  Excited over thier victory, they soon began talking.
	"Call me Haily,"  said Lynx.  "And this," she rested her hand on her
guardian's head,"is Winter Shadows."
	Leo smiled.  "I'm Taeru."
***
	Nemesis trooted causioussly around the misty void that was the Time
Dome.  "Hey Pluto!" he called.
	"Yes?" came a voice from behind him.  "How did you get here?"
	He turned.  "That's my business, Sailor!" he growled, "and so are my
dreams, so stay out of them!"
	Pluto stepped back.  Nemesis had a worse temper than Sailors Mars and
Uranus put together.  And he was furious.  This was one reason she had to
be so careful with him;  Cameron would bite your head off if you looked
at him wrong.  But what was he talking about?  She had left his dreams
alone since he had asked her.
	"I'm sorry," she replied, "but I didn't send you that dream.  Nor did
Helios or Pegasus."
	"Liar!" he hissed and slapped her.
	Pluto dropped her staff and brought her hand to her cheek.  She
backed up more but her voice was calm.  "I'm not lying."  She paused.  "I
would not lie.  Solar Lynx has powers of her own."
	Nemesis narrowed his eyes.  "Solar who?"
	Sailor Pluto bent down and picked up her orb.  When she stood back
up, she glared directly into his black eyes.  They were darker that
usual, probably because he was angry.  "Leo and Winter Shadows have
awakened Lynx's spirit.  Together with Aquila and Canis, they have just
defeated Pegasus and Hydra."
	He didn't blink, but kept staring at her.  After a moment, he
smirked, remembering the poem she had given him  He stepped closer to her
and whispered, "You don't give up, do you?"
	Pluto frowned and watched Nemesis turn around and disappear, becoming
a shadow that melted into the bluish fog.
*****