A NEW WORLD A Sailor Moon fan fiction by Cloud WRITER'S NOTES AND WARNINGS : First, to read and enjoy this story, you have to forget everything you know about Sailor Moon. It is completely false here. A few things will apply. We are still in Japan. Usagi is still clumsy, Makoto still a fighter, Minako still a dreamer, Ami still a genius and Rei is still a priestess in spirit. Luna and Artemis are still talking cats. Well, more or less, actually. That's all that applies. The rest is subject to any change I want to do. From the very beginning. DISCLAIMER : Most of the characters in this story are a property of Toei animation and Naoko Takeuchi. I am using them without permission, and I make no money of this. It's for pure fun. thoughts PROLOGUE UNEXPECTED HAPPENINGS Reality. A painting. A tapestry. As fragile as glass. On it is the greatest picture of all. Life as we know it. But then before the painting can be finished, something shatters it. Forever destroyed is reality now. Never to be reconstructed. It tries to reform itself. And it achieves some success. But it is all wrong. Drawn wrong. And laughter ensues. **** A long, long time ago, on Earth. "Sister, why did it come to this ? ", Serenity asked the woman before her, tears in her eyes. The older woman of the two looked at her little sister. In her hands she held a small child. A child with blonde hair. "My dear sister Serenity... You still do not understand. If I do not do this, the Lord will find her and have her executed. ", the older sister, Beryl, said. "I know, but it doesn't make it any easier, Beryl... " Beryl brought the baby girl up to her face. The baby's twin blue eyes met with Beryl's own brown, and deep within her Beryl felt the same pang of jealousy she always felt when meeting with her niece. And she smiled darkly, knowing this time nothing could stop her. Beryl herself had warned the Lord that the baby was a girl, even though that meant, because she was first born, that the girl would have to be sacrificed. And of course Beryl knew Serenity would come to her for help, because Beryl was a sorceress of a major class. "It must have been very hard for you, sister. The next days will be so too. ", Beryl said, looking up at her. "It... It was... ", Serenity said hesitantly, holding back her tears. It was her first born she was giving to her older sister. Her first born she would never see again. "Beryl... promise me... No harm will come to her... To my precious little princess... " Beryl didn't even hesitate. Making false promises was something she was good at. "I promise. " Serenity nodded. "Then leave, sister, before the castle mage senses your presence. Take her away from this horrible place where she would be slaughtered. I shall go back to the Lord, and tell him the baby has been sacrificed. That was my duty as his wife. ", Serenity said, turning away. "Very well. ", Beryl said. With no light, no sound, no sign whatsoever, Beryl and the baby disappeared. "Good bye, my Usagi. ", Serenity whispered. **** Thirteen years ago, Tokyo, Japan. Her name was Ikuko Tsukino. Happily married for three years. Never to have a child. The woman was on the verge of tears as she walked down the streets towards her residence not so far away. She really didn't feel like returning home. She was returning from the doctor's. Where she had received the most shocking news of all. The most unexpected one also. The child her husband and her had been trying to get for two years now was never to be. And the problem was with her. Her system was wrong, somehow. Her ovaries not working right. The tall woman sighed deeply, shaking her head, trying to rid herself of the thoughts troubling her mind. Not with much success. "What did I do to deserve this anyway ? ", she asked out loud, looking skyward. She looked down again, wiping small tears from her eyes with her hand. "HEY LADY, WATCH OUT ! COMING THROUGH ! ! " She looked up, taken by surprise at the sudden young voice. A young boy on a bicycle was coming from behind her at an amazingly fast speed. Even alert, the warning would have come way too late. So the collision came. The kid flew from his bike and down the side of the road as he desperately used his brakes to avoid impact. He disappeared down the side of the road. The bike hit Ikuko rather hard, and she felt something crack in a painful way as she went to the ground with a painful thud. She remained there, on the ground, for a few minutes, catching her breath, and then realized that the boy who had hit her didn't seem to be returning. Could he have hurt himself ? Ikuko painfully rose from the ground, looking around her for the boy. Her own knees had been scorched from impact with the ground, and bled a bit, but she could handle it. She headed where the boy had fallen, and looked down the side of the road. "Hello ? Are you okay down there ? ", she called out. The boy seemed unconscious. He had no helmet, and there were some vicious looking rocks down there. "Hello ? ", she called again. No answer. She sighed, and carefully made her way down, noticing by the pain that there was something wrong with her knee. When she finally reached the boy's side, she noticed his forehead was bleeding. Bad. She considered running out and searching for help, but something caught her attention before she did. But before she had time to check it out, the boy's eyes fluttered open and he moaned in pain. "Oooowwwww... What... What happened ? ", he asked, obviously confused. "Stay awake, little man. I'll go search for help. ", she told him sternly, to catch his attention. The boy looked up at her, the pain obvious in his eyes, when the same thing that had caught her attention caught his. There was something beside him. Something small. All enveloped in white. "Wh... What's that ? ", he asked. Ikuko looked at it. It seemed to move gently, and suddenly doubt entered Ikuko's mind. Could it be ? She returned to the boy's side and slowly and carefully removed the white blanket from the moving form. A small face looked up at her, smiling brightly. The boy's eyes widened. So did hers. "Wh... Who is... she ? ", he managed to ask. Ikuko took a step back. She had to get help for the boy. NOW ! And for the child also. "Who is she... ? ", the boy repeated. "Usagi. ", Ikuko said, not really knowing how she felt for certain that was the young girl's name. "Her name is Usagi. " And in the trees above her, a black feline watched. **** Again a long time ago, on Earth. Her name was Serenity. She was Queen of the Earth, second in power only to her husband, the High and Mighty Lord. And she had failed to protect her first born little girl. She had given her to her sister, Beryl, to do with as she pleased. Serenity closed her eyes to keep her tears back. She had never asked to be married to the Lord. He had chosen her while crossing her hometown one day. If she had stayed home that day a year ago, this wouldn't have happened. She would have married a young man from the village, and their first born would have stayed with her. She was laying on her majestic bed, her face in her pillow, desperation spreading in her mind. Her eyes were red from hours of crying. But as she heard the footsteps on the other side of her door, she stopped. She quickly stood up and wiped her eyes clear. And waited proudly in front of her bed, as her husband, the Lord, walked in. "Have you completed the ritual ? ", he coldly asked her, as if sacrificing her own daughter had been as easy as feeding horses. Serenity nodded, her pure white hair falling in her face as she did so. She brushed it backwards with her hand. The Lord looked at her silently for a few seconds, then nodded and left, without another word. "Cold-blooded monster. ", came a voice from her wardrobe. Surprised, Serenity took a few steps back, and watched as the closet opened to let out a small female child, with black hair and a moon symbol on her forehead. Serenity's eyes grew wide. "Just because he's managed to seal Metallia into that damned jewel of his he thinks he rules all...", the child continued, walking around the room, keeping her gaze on the still open door. Serenity gasped and fell to her knees. "Rise, damn it, we're way pass that ! ", the child said sternly. Serenity rose slowly. "Why are you here, Mistress Luna ? ", she asked with a small voice, not daring to face the child. "Please don't call me that. ", Luna sighed out. The young girl sat down on a small chair near the bed and looked at Serenity. "So, what'd you do with the girl ? ", Luna asked. Serenity finally looked up. "I... delivered her to Beryl. " Luna's eyes went wide. She stood up again. "Tell me that was a joke, child. Tell me you didn't do THAT ! ", Luna said, her tone imperious, her eyes losing their previous warmth. Serenity took a step back, only to fall on her bed, sitting. "I... I did... ", Serenity said, not sure she understood what this all meant. Luna sighed and put her hand on her forehead, as if to keep it from falling. And then she realized it. She had let her guard down. "Oh damn, I let my guard down... ", Luna whispered, looking at the open door the Lord had disappeared through, "He knows I'm here. " "Then you must leave, Mighty One, now ! ", Serenity said, rising from the bed and heading for the door in order to close it. Before Serenity's very eyes the child shrank, grew a tail and black fur, and a small nose. She became a real cat. "All right, I'll escape by the window. I'm going straight to your sister's. I'll take care of your little one. ", the now feline Luna said, looking at Serenity with reassuring eyes. As a cat, expressions were difficult to get through, so it was apparent because of her eyes. Serenity didn't understand why it was so important that Beryl didn't keep Usagi, but she nodded anyway. "Her name is Usagi. ", Serenity said as the cat climbed out the window and jumped to the nearby tree. Luna looked back, and nodded. Then was on her way. **** Tokyo, still thirteen years ago. "I don't even know your name. ", Ikuko said to the young boy in the bed. She was standing in an hospital room where the young boy had been brought after she had called for help. The baby she had found was being examined nearby, and so she had decided to check up on the boy in the meanwhile. She had called her husband, Kenji, to warn him she was here. He was coming by after work. The boy has many fractured bones, and that bump he got to his head was worrying the doctors. But otherwise he was fine. His parents had been called and were on their way. The boy smiled weakly. "I'm called Shingo... ", he said. Ikuko smiled at Shingo. "You know, if it wasn't for you, I'd never have found Usagi... ", Ikuko began. She walked to a nearby chair. He knee still hurt, but the doctors had said the pain would leave on its own soon. "How is she ? ", Shingo asked eagerly. "She seemed fine. ", Ikuko said as she sat down on the chair, at the same time bringing it closer to the bed. "I'm sorry for crashing into you... ", Shingo said sheepishly, looking away. "It's okay, Shingo. Do you live far from here ? ", she asked, truly curious. Shingo shook his head. "Good, your parents will be here soon then. How old are you ? " Ikuko continued. "Seven. " Ikuko smiled. She was really glad that boy had crashed into her after all. Without that event, she probably would've walked right past her... Usagi. , she reminded herself. Ikuko looked at Shingo again, and found that she liked the young boy quite a lot. Really strange motherly feeling, she guessed. **** The past yet again. Beryl was laughing. A dark, chilling laughter. She stood in a strange chamber, decorated by weird artifacts of all kinds and unreadable symbols of many arcane languages. A star shaped symbol was drawn on the floor. This was in a secret underground section of her small hut in the woods, heavily guarded by a multitude of magical traps. Which no man or woman alive could get through. Beryl felt safe here. At ease. She took the small child from the crib Beryl had put her in and placed her on a small table in the middle of the star symbol. The girl was sleeping innocently. A sleep Beryl had magically forced on her, but still the face of the small girl was serene and happy. Beryl frowned. "How can you still smile ? ", she asked the sleeping baby. "I took you from your mother ! I'm about to get rid of you forever ! Your life is destroyed ! And still you innocently smile !" Beryl looked away, disgusted. She would never admit it, but deep within herself she was jealous. Of that smile. Of the beautiful blue eyes. Of the pure blonde hair. She looked away. She had a spell to finish. She needed all of her concentration. She picked up a few items and bottles on a shelf and an old book. She put the objects all around the small girl, and a small statuette on each of the star points on the floor. She took a few steps back and looked at the overall setup. She gave a satisfied nod and headed back for the central table. "Well, we're all ready to go, Princess... ", she said icily to the sleeping baby, picking up a small bottle. In her dreams, Usagi saw a shadow. **** Still the distant past. A black cat flashed in the forest, jumping from tree to tree, ignoring all the magical explosions around it as it raced against an invisible opponent. Time. It approached a small hut and leapt on it from the nearest tree. From there Luna went down the cold and empty chimney, and landed in the main room of the hut. "You're getting sloppy, Beryl.", she said. The cat then sensed magically all the traps in the room, and deactivated all of them in a short second. Luna then walked under the only table of the hut and sat down there. She closed her eyes, and with a brief flash of light later she was gone. **** Beryl let the magic flow through her, as she had done often in the past, and concentrated on the words of the spell, channeling it through her mind, getting ready to use to get rid of the one thing that had ruined her hopes. The Heir. Getting rid of that little "thing" would not only crush her sister, but it would also put her in good terms with the Lord. But it couldn't be simple murder. Her soul, since it was pure and innocent, could pose some trouble, even without the body. No, it had to be extracted and destroyed, then the body could die. This was the spell she was preparing right now. She opened her closed eyes, and rose. She was ready to proceed. She approached the still sleeping baby, and kneeled down in front of her. Slowly, she began reciting the spell. "STOP!", a voice Beryl knew shouted behind her. Beryl's concentration was immediately broken, and, enraged, she turned around to face the one who had interloped. "With all due respects, Mistress Luna, this is none of your problems!", the witch shouted at the black cat who just appeared behind her. Luna's eyes flared with a red light and the cat rapidly changed into a young woman, in her mid-twenties. She had black hair and a moon crescent on her forehead. A black robe enveloped her as she took a step forward. "Beryl, I won't let you do this. She is an innocent child, whose only mistake was to be born a girl.", Luna tried to explain. Beryl's eyes grew dark. Luna didn't understand. The baby is the reason her life is miserable. The baby is her way out of this life. "Leave me alone. This is none of your matters. Leave this mortal world and go back where you come from, Mistress.", Beryl said, an icy tone apparent in her voice. "No, Beryl, I won't let you do this!", Luna affirmed, her voice booming with power and intensity as her eyes flashed with pure white energy. Beryl took a step back, suddenly remembering who she was dealing with here, and truly fearing the being before her. "I...", Beryl began to say. "SILENCE, MORTAL! You have angered me, and it almost looked as though you tried to actually CHALLENGE me with your puny magic, Beryl. I am leaving with the child. Let me to her.", Luna proclaimed, taking a few steps toward the still sleeping Usagi. Beryl nodded and moved out of the way. But as Luna passed before her, a dark smile appeared on the witch's face. Luna didn't see it and continued toward the baby, entering the small star around Usagi. Beryl's smile grew and she stepped behind Luna, outside the star, and pronounced the words that would accomplish the first step of her spell. She had, after all, expected this. Energy started to spread out of the statuettes on the tip of the star, and it encircled the angry goddess of the moon. "TREACHERY!", Luna screamed in rage as her powers erupted, trying to break free. Beryl laughed, but still took a few steps back. "So my magic is PUNY, hey, mighty goddess? Well, it was good enough to trap YOU! I hadn't planned on it, but now, maybe I could acquire YOUR powers. Wouldn't that be good?", Beryl mused, her eyes reducing to two slits as she considered the possibilities of being changed into a semi-goddess. Luna watched as Beryl laughed in a near mad fashion, returning to her books and looking for the right spell. Luna considered her options. There were many things she could do to escape from this relatively weak spell, but she had to ensure the safety of Usagi, too. She looked down at the sleeping child and took her in her arms. The small child smiled weakly, and Luna smiled back at it. She was beautiful. To think that the lucky mortal taking himself for the Lord wanted her dead revolted her. Luna had to do something about him. "So, Moon Goddess, have you ever wondered what is was like to be a mere mortal?", Beryl asked as she closed her book and looked at the imprisoned Luna. Luna smiled darkly, and her eyes flashed again. "Yes, I have, Beryl. But it's not you who's going to make me find out.", Luna said, the wind around her suddenly rising. Beryl frowned, seeing her opportunity fleeing before her eyes. "What are you doing? You can't escape, I...", Beryl began. She didn't have time to finish. With a flash of light and a blast of power, she was gone, and Beryl was left gaping helplessly at empty space. Even Usagi was gone. And then Beryl shouted in rage. "I won't LET YOU GET AWAY WITH THIS! I'LL GET YOU YET !!!" **** Luna was standing in a clearing in the nearby forest. She could sense the Lord was after her. She had used her powers too much in too short a time. She wasn't really scared of him, but the man had defeated Metallia on his own. She looked at the small child in her arms, and knew what had to be done. She had to hide the child away, hide her where she couldn't be found, until she was ready to defend herself. Until she was old enough to be a fitting heir. But where? Luna looked at the child again. Luna's time on Earth was limited. There was no way she could take the child with her. And finding someone to take care of her would take... time... That's it! Time! Luna stared at the child and closed her eyes, her spirit flowing through the time stream, heading forward, looking for a time where this child could grow and learn peacefully, and looking for the right family for her. Her eyes snapped open. She looked upward towards the sky, and held the child upward. "I have found the right time and place for you, my dear child. The woman will know your name the moment she sees you, and if I can, I'll protect you throughout your life, until you're ready to return here and challenge the Lord's rule.", Luna proclaimed as the baby slowly rose into the air, under the goddess' power. Luna closed her eyes, and with a flash of light, the baby was gone. To the 20th century. To a place called Tokyo. Luna had one last thing to do before departing. The moon goddess closed her eyes again and was gone. **** Tokyo, thirteen years before now. Kenji and Ikuko stood before the hospital window, where the little Usagi slept peacefully, her mind at ease. "Isn't she beautiful?", Ikuko asked her husband, fascinated by the little blond girl. Kenji nodded, his eyes stuck on the little baby, unable to turn away. "Do you think we have a chance at adopting her?", Ikuko said, looking up at Kenji, who looked thoughtful of the question. "Maybe. If nobody reports her missing, and we get a good lawyer, maybe we could.", Kenji said, smiling at his beautiful wife. Somebody walked up to them from behind, and patiently waited until she was noticed. After a few seconds, she tapped on Kenji's shoulder and introduced herself. Kenji and Ikuko turned to face a tall woman with long black hair and a really pale face. She wore an hair band on her forehead which had a moon crescent on it. She wore a long black dress and smiled at them with pure honesty. "Hello, I've heard about your inquiry to adopt the girl that was found by you, two days ago.", the woman said. Kenji and Ikuko nodded. The woman smiled and presented her hand to be shook by Kenji. "Well, my name's Lune Megami, and I'm a lawyer who'd like to help you.", she said pleasantly. Kenji and Ikuko looked at each other, and shook the woman's hand. Maybe god was on their side this time. To be continued ! AUTHOR'S COMMENTS : Well, that was it. I'd like to have your comments about this story. It's something completely new that I'd never thought I'd be able to write correctly, so I'd very much like to hear from you. Was it good? Was it completely wrong? Is what's happening at all understandable? I'd very much like to know. Thank you for reading, and don't miss Chapter 1, coming up soon! A NEW WORLD A Sailor Moon fan fiction by Cloud WRITER'S NOTES AND WARNINGS : First, to read and enjoy this story, you have to forget everything you know about Sailor Moon. It is completely false here. A few things will apply. We are still in Japan. Usagi is still clumsy, Makoto still a fighter, Minako still a dreamer, Ami still a genius and Rei is still a priestess in spirit. Luna and Artemis are still talking cats. Well, more or less, actually. That's all that applies. The rest is subject to any change I want to do. From the very beginning. DISCLAIMER : Most of the characters in this story are a property of Toei animation and Naoko Takeuchi. I am using them without permission, and I make no money of this. It's for pure fun. thoughts CHAPTER ONE A DIFFERENT KIND OF REALITY Tokyo, present day. A small house illuminated by the sun on a peaceful Monday morning. The sun had risen in the sky barely two hours ago, and already it shone brightly, announcing a wonderful day. A day Ikuko Tsukino was already enjoying, as she happily whistled in the kitchen, preparing breakfast for her family. Kenji, her husband, was already up, getting ready in the bathroom upstairs. Ikuko threw a look at her clock, and sighed. Usagi still wasn't up, and HE would be here any minute now. "USAGI! For the umpteenth time, get up! You're going to miss your ride!", Ikuko yelled upstairs, hoping this time she would be heard. The groan she received as an answer confirmed it. Ikuko nodded and looked out the window. Several kids heading to school passed in front of the house, some running excitedly, some walking by slowly. Ikuko smiled and returned to her breakfast making. This was going to be a great day. **** In the still darkened room upstairs, Usagi blinked, her awareness slowly returning to her wakening mind. She slowly turned her head to stare at her alarm clock, and blinked again when she saw the time. The blond 14 year old girl had around twenty minutes to prepare. Plenty of time. She rose from her bed slowly, walking lazily to her wardrobe and looking for her school uniform. She took it out and changed, at an incredibly slow rate. Kenji passed before her open door, and gazed inside. "Honey, you'd better hurry, you're going to be late...", he told her when he saw the speed she was going at. She grumbled some incomprehensible answer and he headed downstairs. Usagi finally got into her uniform, and took out a brush and did her hair like she always did. Twin ponytails at each side of her head. She was really in no hurry to get to school. The welcome she had there was less then pleasant every morning. She walked down the stairs and headed for the kitchen, where breakfast was already waiting for her. Pancakes. "Hi mom, hi dad!", she greeted her parents as she sat heavily on her chair and began eating. Both Kenji and Ikuko looked at each other, then at their adopted daughter. They knew going to school wasn't in their daughter's favorite occupations. As she ate a car stopped into their parking and a honk was heard. Ikuko looked outside. "Your ride's here, Usagi...", she remarked as she waved at the young man in the car. She turned around to see Usagi hurrying to finish her pancakes, and grabbing her school bag. "It was delicious, mom, see you tonight dad! Can't make him wait!", Usagi said as she grabbed her shoes and put them on rapidly, before getting out of the house, slapping the door shut behind her. Ikuko sighed. Same thing that happened every morning. **** Shingo waited patiently in his car, knowing Usagi would be along any minutes now. He was on his way to the University, and, as he did every morning, had stopped to pick the girl up and give her a ride to school. Usagi finally came out of the house, running, her twin ponytails flowing behind her as she hurried for the car. She jumped into the car and sat down, buckling her seat belt. "About time you got here, sunny!", Shingo said as he got the car ready to leave, using the nickname he had given her in reference to Usagi's pure blond hair. "You know how I feel about school, bro...", Usagi trailed off, gazing at the neighborhood through the window. Shingo threw the teenager a sideway glance. He knew that Usagi was a pretty lonely girl at school, due to her natural clumsiness, which made her the joke central of her classmates. He smiled slightly as he remembered how his own clumsiness had caused Ikuko to find the young girl. After Ikuko and Kenji had so amazingly quickly managed to have Usagi's legal rights, thanks to their sensational lawyer, Shingo had spent most of his time with her, acting as the older brother she'd never have, taking care of her while Kenji and Ikuko were away, protecting her from the bullies, etc. The two were very close now. "Come on, at least you can walk without falling now.", he teased, returning his gaze to the road before him. "HEY!", she shouted back, giving him a small punch on his shoulder. He laughed and she smiled, returning her gaze outside as they neared the school. "There you go, Usagi, your school.", Shingo stated as they stopped in front of the large building. Usagi sighed deeply before stepping out. "Thanks for the ride, bro...", she said as she slowly closed the door. "Hey, don't let them bother you too much, okay?", Shingo added, trying to be helpful. Usagi smiled and nodded, waving her good bye as she walked away for another day. **** Ikuko was home, waiting as the water for her tea slowly heated up. She sat at the kitchen table, considering her options for the day, when the bell rang. Curious, she got up and went to the door, slowly opening it. "Miss Tsukino, it's me.", came a voice Ikuko knew too well. She opened the door larger, letting the visitor walk in. "What owes me this visit, Miss Megami?", Ikuko asked pleasantly, as the tall woman stepped in, followed by a small black haired child. Ikuko looked at her curiously, then at the lawyer again, with a questioning look in her eyes. Lune Megami smiled, and presented the small girl. "This is a girl I'm currently babysitting for... a friend. Hotaru, say hello to miss Tsukino.", the lawyer asked, smiling proudly as she brought the child forward. The young girl nodded shyly. "Hello.", she simply said. Ikuko nodded, then returned her attention to the woman who had helped them so much in the past. "Do you want some tea? I was just preparing myself some...", she offered. Lune accepted gratefully the offer, and some cookies for Hotaru. She then sat down at the table with them, and finally asked what was on her mind. "So, what owes me this visit?", Ikuko asked. Lune looked up at her for a few seconds, holding her gaze, then took a sip of her tea before speaking. "How is Usagi doing?", she asked casually, showing no real concern. Ikuko smiled at the question and recounted recent events in her adopted daughter's life with joy and pride, then with worry. Loneliness was getting to her, but she should be all right. Lune nodded. Beside her Hotaru was looking around, searching for something to do. "... her grades are average, but she's improving, I think.", Ikuko finished as she took a sip of tea for herself. "Things are about to change for her...", Lune cryptically stated, trailing off into a thoughtful silence. Ikuko looked at Lune with a worried glance. "What do you mean?", she dared to ask. Lune shook her head slightly and smiled gently. "Nothing. Only that changes often occur when children turn into teenagers.", Lune explained. "Oh.", Ikuko exclaimed rather stupidly, wondering where this conversation was heading. "Don't worry too much about her, she's bound to act a bit strangely in the months to come. Oh, and don't worry about her loneliness, she'll make friends sooner then she even knows.", Lune continued. Hotaru was still looking around, and finally found something of interest. A photo album. She dropped from her chair and headed for the living room, where the album was resting on a table. She reached up and took the album down. Seeing that what she was doing was harmless, Lune and Ikuko continued their chat. **** When Lune Megami came out of the Tsukino house with Hotaru following about an hour later, she was smiling. Not only had she made the right decision when she had chosen Ikuko and Kenji, but she was able to keep contact with Usagi without too much trouble. Hotaru was silent behind her, which suddenly seemed wrong. "Hotaru, child, are you all right?", Lune asked Hotaru, turning around to face her. "Yes, Mistress Luna, I'm all right.", Hotaru said, keeping her eyes down. "Don't call me that. I'm Miss Lune in this form.", Lune reprimanded gently. A voice interrupted them. "Well then, 'Miss Lune', how was your little meeting?", said the man's voice. Lune turned around to face the man. He was sitting on a nearby bench, looking directly at them. He had white hair, blue eyes and a shirt the same color as his hair. He rose when she spotted him. "Artemis? What are you doing here?", Lune gasped. "Looking you up, sis. I don't know what you've been doing, but someone up there doesn't like it.", he said, pointing upwards. "It's none of your matters, Artemis. You know that what I'm doing is for the greater good. If we are to rid ourselves of the L...", she began to explain to her godly brother. "Shut up, Luna! You're just a glory hog trying to get the attention of the Highers.", Artemis cut his sister off. "And I'm not going to let you do it.", he continued fiercely before turning around and walking away into nothingness. Lune watched him leave, without saying a word until he was gone. "Sorry loser.", she said under her breath before leaving with Hotaru. **** Usagi was peacefully eating dinner in the schoolyard, alone, as usual, while revising her various notes she had taken from Ms. Setsuna's last course. Setsuna was currently her favorite teacher, and it was the only course on which Usagi always tried to get a good grade. History. Everything around Usagi was bursting with activity, as the other students talked and laughed, ran and played at various team sports. So when one girl ran particularly fast before her, she didn't really notice. Neither did she notice the boys running after the girl at a much faster pace. But she did hear the call for help that came a few seconds later. Usagi looked up, and saw them still running, turning a corner after the girl. She recognized some of the boys. Bullies, most of them. She didn't have the time to see who they were chasing. She shrugged and was about to return to her books when a small voice caught her attention. "Go help her.", the voice said. Usagi didn't recognize it. The voice was familiar, but she just couldn't place it. "Who said that?", she suddenly asked out loud. "Go help her.", the voice repeated with the same tone. "I can't do that. I'm not good at fighting, and there are too many of them.", Usagi shouted, nearing panic. A small black cat landed before her from the tree Usagi was under, and the blond girl made a small cry of surprise and jumped back a few feet, banging into the tree and falling to her knees. The cat looked straight at her, and she heard the voice again. "Do not worry, I will help you. Go!", the voice insisted. Usagi, having nothing else to do, began running after the thugs. She wasn't sure what she was going to do yet. But whatever it would be, she was sure it wouldn't work. She turned the corner where they had disappeared, and stopped in mid-run at the scene before her. A student her age, with short brown curly hair sat against a wall, terrified, as the boys approached her. The alley was deserted, and what they planned to do with her she could barely guess at. She had to do something. "Stop right there!", she cried out loud, and immediately she knew she had made a mistake. Baka baka baka!, her mind's voice told her. The boys all looked up at her, and started approaching her. She knew trouble when she saw it. This was definitely it. "Well, well, well. Little bunny wants to play? Aren't you afraid to fall on your face again?", one of them said, turning around to face her, and what happened next she still wouldn't believe even later on that day, before she went to bed. She ran forward, anger and fear mixing to give her strength and courage, and leapt in the air, he foot lashing out at the unsuspecting thug, who received the kick right under his chin, sending him flying backwards and crashing down a few meters behind. The others took a second to react. That's when she heard the voice again in her mind. "Moon Prism Power.", the voice simply stated. Dumbfounded, as the men around her gathered around her to attack, she repeated the words. "Moon Prism Power?" A yellow glow spread out around her, blinding the men, and Usagi could feel something within her changing, a burden suddenly lifting. Her clothes around her changed somehow, revealing a blue skirt and a white costume. Her shoes transformed to boots and a tiara appeared on her forehead. And on her two poms on her head, two red barrettes appeared. When the glow stopped, Usagi was nowhere to be seen. A completely new person stood before them. In body as well as spirits. "I am the messenger of the Goddess of the Moon! I am on this Earth to protect it and defend it against punks and trash like you!", the woman shouted to the boys who were getting on their feet. Her voice was strong and sure. No longer that of a teenager. "I am Sailor Moon!", she added, and went into action. None of them had time to move. She flashed through them at an uncanny speed, kicking and punching them all to unconsciousness. Barely 10 seconds had passed when she returned to her original position. The girl on the ground's eyes were wide with amazement. Sailor Moon looked down at her and smiled. "There is nothing more to worry abou...", Sailor Moon began. She didn't have time to finish. The bright light shined again around her body and the newly arrived heroine fell to her knees, was enveloped in a blinding light, which then vanished to reveal Usagi once again, totally disoriented. "What just happened to me?", the blond girl moaned, trying to get back to her feet. A few feet away, hiding in a tree, Luna watched. The confusion at the beginning is normal, she thought. Everything is going just fine... The brown haired girl rose from the ground and approached Usagi, who was desperately trying to rise. She grabbed the girl's arm and helped her up. "Thanks for helping me... Usagi, right? I'm in your class, I think...", the brown haired girl said, helping Usagi to walk away. "You... are?", Usagi said, trying to look up to see just who it was. "Hmm hmm, " the girl nodded. "My name's Osaka, Osaka Naru." The two girls walked away, under Luna's peaceful eyes. She rapidly erased Usagi's new identity from the thug's minds, and followed them. "And so it begins.", she said. **** The past. "THAT WITCH!!", Beryl screamed in rage, smashing a small vial and kicking around all kinds of arcane artifacts which were lying around in her small laboratory. It had been three minutes since Luna had vanished, taking along with her Serenity's daughter to only she knew where. And Beryl was close to madness. She had tasted godhood today. A very slight taste of it, but she had tasted it. Enough for her to want more. She growled in rage once again and started pacing around the room, her mind rushing for a solution. Getting back the baby was a priority. If Serenity learned of what had happened, there were no guarantee of how the Lord would react. None at all. Beryl's eyes gazed around her room as she stopped still in the center of it, the very same place where Luna had stood barely a few minutes before. Where would a goddess hide a baby princess? "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking.", she said under her breath, her tone definitely deadly. That's when she felt it. An entity had entered her sanctum. A dark and evil one at that. She shivered at a sudden wave of cold, and turned around to face some kind of dark cloud approaching her. It floated eerily in mid-air, two piercing red eyes and a mouth of the same color appearing in the cloud. "What do you want, spirit? I'm not in the moods for games.", Beryl asked rather non-pleasantly. Her reward was two electrical bolts shooting out of the creature's eyes and slamming into her, sending her to the ground, shaking. "You are speaking with much foolishness in your voice, woman. I far more powerful then you think, and this is only my reduced state.", the demon said. The cloud shrank and took the form of a woman, while still remaining a cloud. The eyes appeared where a normal woman's eyes would be, along with the mouth. No other specifics could be seen. "Who are you?", Beryl dared to ask. The smile on the creature's face spread, and Beryl took a step back. "That shall remain my secret for now. But I have information for you. Information you need.", the creature said. "At a price, of course." Beryl eyed the being for a second, then nodded. "I'm listening.", she said simply. **** When Luna appeared in Serenity's room, it was trashed and silent, save for the soft sobbing of a woman nearby. She instantly raised her psychic shields, preventing the Lord from sensing her presence, and walked calmly around the room. "Serenity?", she called softly. "Are you here?" There were drops of blood on the floor. The immense mirror in the room was shattered. There were marks on the wall made from things being thrown at them, and Luna had a nasty feeling she knew what had occurred here. "Go away, Mistress. He wants to kill you.", came Serenity's voice from the corner of the room. The Queen of the Earth rose slowly from the ground, and Luna gasped in horror. The Queen's face was battered, her two eyes nearly sealed shut by incessant hits. Her lips were swollen and bloody, and if she hadn't spoken, Luna wouldn't have recognized her. She could barely stand, and one of her arms was limp on her side, probably broken. She winced from the pain. Luna approached her and carefully helped her to lie down on the bed. "What happened, Child?", Luna asked, but she already had a pretty good idea of what had happened. "After you left... He came in here looking for you... Tried to force me to talk... But I just couldn't.", Serenity struggled to say. Deep hatred flared in the Moon Goddess, and she almost decided to fight the Lord right away, with all her powers. But luckily her reasoning intervened and reminded her of the folly of such a plan. The sight of this proud woman reduced to this shadow of what she once was almost brought tears to one who had seen the birth of a planet. "Hush, Child. Rest. I'll protect you personally from now on. Just like I will protect your daughter.", Luna soothingly reassured the Queen. The mention of her daughter brought a spark to Serenity's eyes. "Usagi? Is she... Is she...", the Queen tried to ask. Luna nodded. "She's safe. Nothing should harm her where she is now." Serenity smiled and calmly closed her eyes, letting herself take a well deserved rest. Luna smiled and a warm glow surrounded the Queen. "This will help the recovery. It won't be too fast, so it won't appear suspicious." She rose from where she had kneeled beside the bed and slowly started putting things back in their proper place, remembering them from what she had seen of the room before, always keeping her guard up to make sure the Lord wouldn't feel her. **** He sat on his throne. Dark, mighty and powerful. The Lord. He loved that name. Much better then his real one, in fact. The silver crystal imprisoning Metallia waited on his belt, its powers only recently used. Two men waited at his side. His aides. The Lord didn't really need them. He just kept them around for show, more then anything else. Before him, down the stairs leading to his throne, a small man waited. "I have been told you had some news of importance to me, Umino.", the Lord asked. Umino was the Kingdom's resident wise man. Although very young for such a title, he knew a lot about everything, and such knowledge had brought him this much envied rank. "Yes, My Lord. Apparently there as been a... disturbance of magical nature only an hour or so ago. A major one.", Umino explained. The Lord nodded. "Where did it originate?", the Lord asked. Magic was forbidden in his kingdom. Magic users, if powerful, were taken in by his army. The others were killed or exiled. "Unknown right now. I'll try to pinpoint it.", Umino said. The Lord nodded yet again. "Very well. You can go.", he said. Umino nodded and left. The Lord closed his eyes and tried to concentrate. Something was happening around him, he was certain of it. He could feel it in his bones. But what he wasn't sure. And that might cost him. So he had to find out. He rose from his throne, and immediately his guards went to his side as he started walking down the stairs. Luna's recent appearances on Earth were starting to be a bother. Was she preparing something against him? His... conversation with his wife hadn't revealed anything. Was it a coincidence all this was happening on the day his daughter had been sacrificed? Maybe, maybe not. He would have to be careful. The Lord walked into one of his personal chambers, closing the door behind him, stationing the two guards and ordering them that no one could enter. And there he stayed the rest of the day. **** The present. When Usagi returned home with a friend that evening, Ikuko was taken totally by surprise. Lune's comment from earlier that day returned to her head in a flash. "She'll make friends sooner then she even knows." Ikuko shook her head, a bit taken aback by the coincidence. But Usagi truly seemed happy for once. The two girls were laughing together while they did homework and studied. And when Usagi came to ask if Naru could stay for supper, she was glad to say yes. Kenji didn't mind either. Naru was polite, charming and well-raised, and the two girls seemed to understand each other so well, it was almost magic. "So, Naru, what do your parents do?", Kenji asked at some point during supper. Naru, who was in the middle of eating a succulent piece from Ikuko's hand made okinomiyaki gulped it all down before answering. "My dad owns the Osaka bank on 12th street, and mom's an accountant.", she answered simply. Ikuko and Kenji nearly coughed on their food. The Osaka bank was one of the most prestigious banks in the country, and being an accountant meant bringing in a lot of money from her part too. In other words, Naru's parents were rich. "Wow. Where do you live?", Usagi asked, a bit impressed. "Oh, we live above the bank. It's a rather spacious apartment, but a bit cold. Unlike here.", Naru answered, smiling. The girl was used to this kind of questions and what their answers caused in those who asked, so she didn't mind the reaction much. "Well, I sure am glad to see Usagi bring friends home at last.", Ikuko said, rising from the table, having finished her plate. Usagi became a tad redder and smiled shyly. "Mooom... ", she whined. Ikuko smiled and started to clean the dishes. **** He was going to be late. As his bike sped through traffic at a breakneck speed, Mamoru Chiba was certain of that fact. The sun was slowly descending in the horizon, and the 16 years old knew he wasn't going to make it. And that she would be angry again. He skipped a red light and stopped in front of a small house atop an hill. "About time you made it here.", the voice of his 14 year old girlfriend announced. He took his helmet off, revealing his dark hair. "I'm sorry, Rei, dad wanted me to help him around the house.", he apologized. Rei Hino smiled and kissed him. He gladly returned it. They had been together for close to a year now, and every kiss seemed to her, and to him, like magic in the making. Rei stepped back first, picking up her helmet hooked to the bike. The two always went around using his bike. It was fast and strong enough to handle to both of them, so it would have to do until he was 18 and had enough money to get a motorcycle. "All right, so where are we going tonight?", he asked, stepping back on his bike and waiting for her to climb on. "The Shinto Temple on the 26th. The atmosphere there is calm.", she said, and Mamoru nodded. Rei was living with her mother and father, but had always been close to her grandfather, who had died 3 months ago. Since then she had been fascinated by temples, taking pleasure in their calm and relaxing atmosphere and the various histories of each. Mamoru didn't really mind, as long as he was with her it suited him just fine. Rei climbed on, and the two departed. **** Ami Mizuno was reading peacefully in her room. She was a resident of the School For Higher Students Of Tokyo. A permanent resident. The only times she got to go home to her mother was on weekends and during summertime. She had been against her moving here at first, but now she didn't mind as much. She had made friends here among the most intelligent kids of Tokyo, and she was glad to be a part of the Student Council. She didn't talk much, but most of her ideas were brilliant. So now, she was actually liking it here. Her roommate, the same age as her, was busy doing homework on the bed below her, but Ami had finished hers hours ago. Ami had helped Rumiko, her roommate with them when she asked for help. Something Ami was glad to give. But still, Ami felt some emptiness in her. She didn't really know where it was from. She felt happy here. But something, something she just couldn't pinpoint, felt wrong and missing. She sighed and looked out at the stars. If only she knew what. **** Makoto Kino walked down the road leading to Tokyo. She hadn't been back here in close to a year. She had left back then to go out and discover life in itself. To find out what it was like to be a wanderer, to have no home to return to, no one to call you friend, no money to depend on. She had seen a lot of brutal stuff, and been herself involved in some brutal stuff. But she was strong. She survived. She always would. Her parents had died in a car crash which had also nearly killed her. She had survived. The orphanage where she had been living for six years burned down, killing most of the sisters there and her friends. She had survived by going out on the road. By becoming a wanderer. If need be, she would survive again. As she entered the outskirts of Tokyo, her clothes torn and shoes worn off, she knew, somehow, that returning here was right. She was poor. Had no home here. No friends here. But here, at least, she felt right. And so, with her trusty backpack full of wonders she had first taken with her from a burning orphanage, then collected during her year long walk, she entered Tokyo. **** "BITCHES!", came the loud cry from the bar as two girls came out of it running, dodging flying glasses, and most of all laughing. One had short blond hair and wore a white blouse with brown jeans. The other had pale blue hair, nearing green, and wore an elegant dress, not really the kind of things you wear at a bar. The two of them ran holding hands. They ran for a mile before finally stopping, still laughing so hard they could hardly breath. After they finally stopped and regained their breath, they started walking down the street. "Well, that sure was something, wasn't it, Michiru?", the tall blond one said. Michiru nodded. The two walked close to each other in the dark night sky. This section of Tokyo was pretty much empty by night. "So, Haruka, what drove you to protect me like that?", Michiru Kaio asked. Haruka smiled and looked down at her shorter friend. "Gee, I don't know, maybe the way he was coming down on you?", Haruka Tenno sarcastically remarked. Michiru softly laughed, and it warmed Haruka's heart. She smiled and the two of them locked eyes, slowing down until they stopped and just looking at each other. Enjoying each other. The two closed their eyes and kissed passionately, embracing each others warmly as only two lovers could. They separated and started walking again, Michiru resting her head on Haruka. "I'm getting tired, I should go home...", Michiru said. Haruka nodded. Both of them were 19 year olds. It was getting a bit late to be outside anyway. People started to come out when it got this late, and not to do nice things. "All right. I guess I'll see you tomorrow then.", Haruka said. Michiru nodded, and the two kissed each other one last time before she called a taxi. Haruka had yet to get a car. Haruka didn't accompany Michiru. Her parents didn't know of their relationship, and Michiru wanted it that way, a wish hat Haruka respected. Alone, the tall woman started on her way home. **** Setsuna Meio sat at her desk in her small apartment in Tokyo, near the school where she worked. She was an history teacher there. Setsuna was revising the next day's course when a sudden dizzy spell hit her. It was bad. She had the impression she'd faint for a second, as her vision blurred with colors and she fell to the floor. The memory of another such spell, 14 years ago, sprang to her mind like a demon out of its box. She had no idea what could be causing this. Last time, it had subsided on its own, and she fervently hoped it would do the same this time. She closed her eyes and waited for the room to stop spinning. After a while, it did, and she finally could rise. Everything had returned to normal as inexplicably as it had started. Shuddering, she sat down and gasped for breath. She had no idea what had caused this. Could she be sick? "I hope nothing's wrong with me...", she gasped, slowly gathering her strength. And unseen by her, on a plane of existence not our own, Tempus, god of time, watched. TO BE CONTINUED ! ! Well, that's part 1. Sorry for the delay. I hope you guys like it. Comments, if any, and I sure hope there are, because I like to read them, are to be sent at lama1@videotron.ca A NEW WORLD A Sailor Moon fan fiction by Cloud (lama1@videotron.ca) WRITER’S NOTES AND WARNINGS : First, to read and enjoy this story, you have to forget everything you know about Sailor Moon. It is completely false here. A few things will apply. We are still in Japan. Usagi is still clumsy, Makoto still a fighter, Minako still a dreamer, Ami still a genius and Rei is still a priestess in spirit. Luna and Artemis are still talking cats. Well, more or less, actually. That’s all that applies. The rest is subject to any change I want to do. From the very beginning. DISCLAIMER : Most of the characters in this story are a property of Toei animation and Naoko Takeuchi. I am using them without permission, and I make no money of this. It’s for pure fun. : character thoughts CHAPTER TWO THE COMING OF EVIL The present. Just as Setsuna Meio collapsed from a dizzy spell in her small apartment, somewhere else in Tokyo time and reality shifted, creating a rift in time, from which four figures stepped through. Swords hung on their backs, and their suits all bore the same insignia: two swords clashing against each other in front of a rose. "Looks like we’ve made it," a female voice among them announced. "This... is amazing. I didn’t believe the witch could make it," another one said, male this time. "What should we do now?" another man asked. One of them stepped forward, looking at his surroundings. "Well, it’s night now, Jedite, so we should begin by finding somewhere to stay while we’re here. We probably won’t find her tonight." The second man who had spoken joined the other one in front of the others. He had long brown hair. "I still say this is madness, Kunzite." The female one also joined Kunzite, grabbing his arm. "Don’t start questioning Kunzite again, Nefrite. You might regret it," she said, twirling a lock of her red hair. The last one of them, with blond hair, stayed a bit behind, looking around him. "This... is amazing," is all Jedite could say. **** The past. The four very same warriors, not yet on their way to our present, stood before Beryl while the sorceress studied them. She watched as they waited, trying to think of a way to tell them why they were here. The information she had received from the thing that had visited her two days ago would be put through good use, if those four could do their jobs right. "I summoned you here because I was told you were the best," she said to Kunzite. Kunzite, the tallest of the four, smiled at the comment. "We like to think we are. We do all kinds of jobs, if the price is right," he said. Beryl nodded and stepped back a little. The four of them looked good enough. And somewhat experienced. But what they would go through if they accepted this could be beyond what they were boasting they could do. "Have you heard of me?" Beryl asked. Kunzite looked uneasy with the question, so Jedite stepped forward. "Of course. Beryl, sorceress of the highest order, sister to the Queen. We’ve heard," he responded. "I sense an aura of magic around all four of you. But strongly in you," she said, nodding towards Jedite. "Why is that ?" "We used magic in our training, and our weapons can channel its energies. Jedite is a bit more skilled in its ways then us. That’s all," Kunzite said, giving Jedite a side-look. He was not to comment on that. Beryl held Kunzite’s gaze for a few seconds, before turning around. "I would like the four of you to find someone for me. That someone has been hidden somewhere where I do not yet dare go, but where I think the four of you could manage," she began to explain, looking for something among the many objects on her table. "Who are we going to look for?" Zoysite asked. "A young child," Beryl responded, eluding the real answer to the question. After all, they didn’t need to know the child was the Princess of the Earth, now, did they ? "And where is that place you want to send us to? What makes you believe we’d fare better then you over there ?" Kunzite asked in turn. Beryl hesitated a moment before answering the question. "The... Future," she answered. The eyes of the four of them grew large all at once. If the moment was any less dramatic, it’d be funny. "The future?" Jedite finally asked after a short silence. Beryl nodded and carefully examined them. This would determine if they were right for the job or not. "How much will we get paid for this?" Kunzite finally asked. Nefrite, silent until now, interrupted the conversation before more could be said. "You’re not serious about this, are you?" he told Kunzite. Kunzite responded with a cold glance, which told very clearly that they’d deal with this later. If there was one thing Kunzite hated, it was any questioning of decisions he took. "Serves you right," Zoysite commented dryly. Nefrite ignored her, and Kunzite asked again. "How much will this pay?" "If you bring back the girl, I promise you one piece of land each, and enough gold to insure you never have to work again. I’m the sister of the Queen, after all," Beryl assured them. "Very well. Tell us what we need to know." **** Somewhere, somewhen. She ran. People were after her and she had to run. She wasn’t strong enough. Her long blond hair flew behind her, and people around her ignored her cries for help. "Usagi the baby! Usagi the clumsy!" the all chanted around her. She was crying now. The words were hurting her, as much as any physical pain would. She fell to her knees, and the shadows surrounded her, still chanting their dark song. "Leave me alone! I never did anything to you!" Usagi screamed at them, but they remained, laughing and pointing at her. Then a light shone through them, and they all seemed to vanish, leaving only one woman with a shining moon crescent on her forehead. The woman looked down at her. "Use the gift I gave you. Use it to defend yourself. To banish evil from around you," the woman said, smiling at her, helping to her feet again. "Power?" Usagi asked, confused. "Yes. Moon Prism Power," the woman explained. "Moon... Prism... Power..." Usagi repeated. That was when she woke up. **** The present once again, the following day. "Thanks for picking me up, Shingo-san," Naru told the man driving the car as she stepped in. "Hey, any friends of Sunny here are more than welcome!" Shingo responded, smiling. Usagi, unusually beaming with good humor this morning, simply smiled and looked back at her new-found friend. "Say, we could eat together during dinner time, right?" Usagi asked. Naru smiled and nodded. "Sure. I figure we have a lot to talk about," she answered. As they neared the school Shingo slowed and looked at the two of them. "Well, I’m dropping you girls off here. I’m finishing early tonight, so I’ll pick you up, all right?" "Yeah, got it! See you tonight, bro!" Usagi responded, waving good bye as she walked out of the car and towards the school. Naru went away with her, and Shingo watched as the two girls started chatting. He smiled, happy that Usagi had finally found a friend, and sped away. **** Luna watched the two friends walking away. Yesterday’s first awakening had gone pretty well. The exchange had not caused any of the girls harm, and Sailor Moon had been fast and efficient. She’d have to be careful about revealing her identity though. A serious talk with Usagi was needed. She had responsibilities now. If Luna’s plan was to work, she’d have to start on it as soon as possible. The feline dropped down from the tree and vanished into thin air. She’d deal with this when the time was right. In a few short hours. **** Artemis watched from the roof of the school as the black cat below him vanished. Soon he would be able to stand up to his sister. She wanted to share all the glory with her little plans, to cheat history. But he couldn’t allow her to do that. Oh no, he couldn’t allow it. A dark smile appeared in his face as he jumped off the roof, disappearing in mid-air. **** Jedite walked through the city streets, amazed by all he was discovering in this bold new world. The others had decided to send him as a scout around the city, doing the first parameter examination while they found a place from which to perform their search from. Their headquarters, so to speak. Without any local money, it could be hard, but they hoped the gold they had with them could still work today. He really didn’t have anything against that. He had wanted time alone to start on his own search. He could already feel the magical energies surrounding certain areas of the city, but the strongest one came from a nearby school. He needed a pawn. Putting himself in needless danger wasn’t his style. It had never been. He did his battles from the sidelines, using his sword only to defend himself, preferring his spells over a blade in times of combat. It would be the same with this operation. All he needed now, really, was a human to use. Several were walking in the streets, but they were all in groups or in couples. He needed one that was alone. People were looking at him strangely because of the way he was dressed, but he made nothing of it, and neither did they. Finally, after a good thirty minutes of searching, a young man handing out flyers approached him. "Sir, you look like one who would appreciate our new line of clothing, available now..." the man said, handing him a piece of paper. Jedite didn’t hesitate. With a whispered magic word, he teleported himself and the man to a nearby rooftop. "What... What happened?" the man asked, panicked. "Let me down from here!" Jedite looked at him darkly, as he took out a small vial from one of the many hidden compartments he had on his armor. "I have need of you," Jedite said, unsealing the vial and approaching the man, who was standing dangerously close to the edge. "I’ll give you power you have only dreamed of, but you will have to do a mission for me." The man looked down behind him and gasped in fear. He didn’t want to die. "Please sir! I don’t wanna die!" the man screamed. Jedite smiled darkly. "Oh, you won’t." With those words he threw the contents of the vial at the man, and he screamed, and screamed, and screamed as his body changed, morphing into something else. **** Noon. "Say, Usagi, what you did yesterday... ... Just... How did you do it?" Naru finally asked, a day after the event. She hadn’t dared ask about it just yet but, as the two girls sat under the very same tree Usagi had been under the day before, she finally gathered enough courage to do so. And to her surprise, Usagi looked away from her. "I... I don’t know... I heard a voice... Telling me to go help you out. And I don’t know what possessed me then. I know I kicked one of them, but after that’s everything’s unclear. As if I was trying to remember a dream..." Usagi tried to explain. Her head was hurting just trying to remember it. She had done something to get rid of the thugs, but it had been like something totally alien had taken control of her. She definitely had not been herself. Naru watched Usagi trying to remember, fascinated with the memory. "You changed somehow. There was this bright golden like glow, and then you wore this strange costume and called yourself Sailor Moon. I can remember it like it happened moments ago. I never saw anything like it. You... Sailor Moon... were so fast, I doubt any of them knew what hit them. But as soon as they were beaten, the glow returned again and you went back to normal. Sailor Moon called herself a messenger of the moon or something..." Naru recalled, trying to help unblock her friend’s memories. Usagi seemed to concentrate for a second, but then shrugged. "I don’t remember anything clearly. The name... Sailor Moon... it almost seems familiar, but I can’t place it." "Maybe I can help," a new voice suddenly said, and the two girls turned around, startled, to face the newcomer. She was a tall girl, wearing the usual school uniform. She had long dark hair tied together as a ponytail behind her head. She wore a golden necklace on which a moon crescent, the same color as the necklace, hung. She stood before the two girls with a warm smile. "Who are you?" Naru and Usagi asked at the same time. They were both fairly positive they had never seen this girl around the school before. And they hadn’t heard anything about a transfer student or a new one either. "My name’s Luna. And you could say I’m from... Somewhere else," she answered. "Luna? What kind of a name is that?" Naru said. Usagi remained silent, her eyes fixing on the pendant the girl wore. The moon crescent. "You’re the girl from my dreams," Usagi murmured. Naru looked at Usagi with an expression of surprise. The girl smiled gently and sat down beside them. Usagi stared at her, unsure of what to do. This was all getting way too strange for her. "I do believe I owe you some explanations, Usagi. To you, too, Naru," the girl said, still smiling, her eyes falling on the brown haired girl. "How... How do you know my name?" Naru asked, fascinated. "The same way I know a lot of things in this world. You see, I’m not what you would call normal. I’m..." Luna began. She was interrupted rather strongly by the explosion which rocked the school grounds. The detonation was strong enough to send a few students escaping from the blast into the air. Naru and Usagi were sent to the ground, but Luna stayed perfectly still, only her hair seemed to be affected by the wind created by the blast. Usagi looked at Naru. She seemed terrified, her eyes large with fear as she watched the chaotic scene happening before them. From the center of the blast something flew upward, screaming. It had the basic shape of a human, but its face was distorted and its eyes seemed to be bleeding. Its skin was dark red, and veins could be seen protruding from its body at various places. A true vision from hell. It stopped high in the air then came flying down again, shooting beams from his mouth which caused other explosions to erupt all around. It screamed as it passed right in front of Usagi and Naru. Tears were filling up Naru’s eyes, but Usagi was holding her, trying to make her come with her. They both had to escape before it was too late. Luna studied Usagi’s reaction, then got up and helped get Naru to safety out of the school grounds, where the creature was still wreaking havoc. "You can help, Usagi. Remember your dream," Luna told the blonde girl. Usagi looked at her with a curious glance. She was starting to panic too. There were probably dead people back there. The school wasn’t damaged yet, but if things continued that way it would be. Why was all this happening? She could feel her own tears coming up. "Why? Why is this happening here, to me?" she asked Luna, begging to know. "There’s a reason, but I can’t explain it now. You have to call the power to fight," Luna explained, putting Naru down in a secure place. The girl was still a mess. "HOW?" Usagi screamed, on the verge of tears. "You know, I told you," Luna said, not wanting to repeat the words again. The girl had to learn them on her own. Usagi looked back at where the monster was throwing its flaming balls, creating more and more explosions. More pain, more deaths. Finally, Usagi nodded. She was scared, but if she had the power to stop this, she had to use it. "I know... The words... Moon Prism Power..." Usagi said, closing her eyes. Again the golden light surrounded her, and Usagi seemed to vanish for a few seconds, replaced by the super-heroine, Sailor Moon. "Go, Sailor Moon. Your first true enemy awaits," Luna commanded. Sailor Moon looked at Luna for a few seconds, appearing confused, then at Naru, who was staring at her, shocked. Finally she turned towards the explosions, and got out of cover. "I’ll deal with this!" she said. At first she seemed to leap into the air, but after a few seconds it was apparent she was flying towards her enemy. Luna smiled. She had created her well. **** Jedite watched the destruction from a nearby building. He sensed the magical powers from the Moon Goddess all around this school. Which meant it was a good bet the girl they were looking for was nearby as well. His creation was busy creating quite a mess in the schoolyard. He was hoping for some kind of reaction from the moon goddess that’d give him and the others a clue as to where to begin their search. The goddess wasn’t really their goal, though. The child was. Beryl’s orders. Jedite saw the creature rise up in the air again, screaming like a maniac. The pain must be killing him. Heh, Jedite thought, a smile appearing on his face. He noticed the girl rising up after the creature at that point. He raised an eyebrow. She wasn’t the moon goddess. The Goddess had black hair. Who was she? **** "I am Sailor Moon, champion of Justice! And I’m here to stop you from committing such atrocities like what you’ve been doing!" the blond warrior shouted at her opponent, stopping in mid-air to fight it. The thing looked at her, and screamed again, shooting another blast at Sailor Moon. She dodged out of the way and sped towards the creature, who flew backwards to avoid being hit. It screamed again, but this time Sailor Moon was certain she heard something in its scream. "HELP ME!!!" it screamed again, shooting another fireball at her. "It HURTS!" Sailor Moon stopped, shocked. The creature was a man. Somehow horribly mutated into this. She flew around the fireball and it crashed on the ground below. How was she to handle this beast? It was a man, so killing it was out of the question. But what if it... no... he wanted to be killed? This seemed to be the case here. The way it was screaming for help. Somehow it affected her. But how ? She was born to fight, born to defeat all evil. Why was this affecting her? The mutated man used the moment of distraction well, crashing into Sailor Moon and bringing her to the ground, hard. "HURTS HURTS HURTS HURTS!!!" he repeated over and over again as it began hitting her all over. She clenched her teeth and, using her legs, pushed the monster back. It fell on the ground, but quickly got up again. Sailor Moon was faster, though. She attacked the thing with furious kicks, utilizing a surprising speed. She seemed to flash around him, kicking and punching from all sides. The mutated man screamed in rage and threw a punch at her. To Sailor Moon’s surprise, it connected and sent her backwards into the school, with an impressive strength. The wall behind her gave a little. She fell to her knees, weakened. Luna, watching the battle frowned. What was she doing? Why wasn’t she using her powers right? "SAILOR MOON," she called telepathically, "Use the tiara beam." Sailor Moon listened to her mistress’ suggestion, but chose to ignore it for now. She couldn’t just destroy him. Or could she? The monster was on her before she could move again, bringing her back against the wall. He screamed and shot a point blank fireball, which she barely had time to dodge using her enhanced speed. A group of students came out of hiding at this point, running out of the schoolyard at the worst possible moment. The creature saw them and prepared yet another fireball to throw at them. "NO!" Sailor Moon screamed, slamming into the mutated man to stop him from firing. The fireball departed, but was too high and hit into a tree, and it burst into flames. Sirens could be hard in the distance. Cops and firemen. She had to finish this. "HELP ME!" the creature said again. "I will," Sailor Moon whispered, jumping away from the monster, who twisted around to face her. Sailor Moon closed her eyes and concentrated, pointing towards where she knew the monster now stood. That’s it, Sailor Moon, keep thinking it’s a monster. Don’t let the fact it’s also a human disturb you, she thought. The monster, seeing that Sailor Moon was immobile, threw a fireball at her. "MOON TIARA BEAM!" she screamed. A blinding light came out of the diamond on her tiara, flying through the air, disrupting the fireball and hitting the monster. It screamed in pain as it went flying, pushed by the beam, into the wall of the school, where the beam scattered. The monster fell to the ground and remained there, lifeless. Blood came out of the spot where the beam had hit. It tried to rise again, only to fall, dead. "Thannnk yoooooo..." it managed to say before dying. Sailor Moon opened her eyes again, and looked at the dead creature. She knelt beside it. "I’m sorry," she whispered. Then she got up again and flew to the roof of the school, looking around her. This was a bold new world to her. Where could she begin? "You’ve done enough," came Luna’s voice. Sailor Moon turned to face her. "Mistress? What do you mean? I must visit this world. Clean it from evil," she told Luna, looking around her. "NO!" Luna said. The bright light surrounded her again, and the warrior vanished, leaving only a very tired Usagi. "Come child, let’s go home," Luna said, taking her in her arms. The two vanished into thin air. Out of the school yard, watching as the ambulances came and brought the wounded and dead away, a very terrified Naru watched. **** Jedite watched as the authorities of this time came to take the wounded away in those big... vehicles. He had watched the fight up to the point where he had lost Sailor Moon after the human had died. It had been interesting enough. "The others will certainly show interest in this," he said, smiling. He leapt down from the roof of the building and started walking away to his meeting place with the others. TO BE CONTINUED Next : A few things revealed! Luna finally talks to Usagi. Naru’s reaction to all the events of this chapter! A mysterious girl saves Usagi’s life! And the coming of a new super-heroine.