Chapter 101

It was raining over Tokyo. Serena Tsukino leaned against her window sill looking out at the rain falling in the early afternoon.

"Depressing isn't it?" she heard a voice say. She whirled.

"Luna! You're back," Serena said.

"Yes," Luna said sitting on Serena's bed. "I'm sorry I just have to leave like that without telling you or anything, but it was important, in fact I have to leave again."

"Oh...really? Why? We beat Tomoe," Serena said.

"That's true," Luna said and turned away.

"What?"

"Well...he's not the only threat you know. There are others," Luna said.

"Not more," Serena whined.

"Well..you may not have to deal with this one if I can help it."

"Who will?"

"Don't you worry about that."

"Well I kinda have to."

"No, it'll be all right, but it's important that I go."

"Well..okay..whatever...just be careful," Serena said.

"I intend to," Luna said.

Hmm...it's so dark out. Serena muttered. I don't want to go out in that. I wish someone would call.

Meanwhile five figures were standing out in the rain in a field.

"Patterson, this is the stupidest thing ever," Mike muttered.

"Yeah..." Steve said.

"You told me you wanted to get better didn't you?" Patterson snapped.

"Well..yeah...I mean..we finally decided we should try a little harder...but," Rick said.

"No buts," Patterson said. "Either we do it my way or not. I've had enough of this."

"Where'd you get all this confidence all the sudden?" Mike said.

"No idea," Patterson said. "But the fact is that this is a Guardian Scout matter and you want to be better, so I am taking the steps necessary for this. I could care less."

"We're ready," Greg said.

"Very well....transform and we'll get started," Patterson said.

The four pulled out their power sticks.

"Saturn Power!" Greg shouted.

"Uranus Power!" Rick shouted.

"Neptune Power!" Mike shouted.

"Pluto Power!" Steve shouted.

And the four transformed. By the time they emerged Maverick was already standing in front of them.

"Now we're ready....if you can fight in the rain, we'll...you'll be well skilled," Maverick said.

"Yeah..whatever," Neptune said.

"Well..it probably can't hurt," Pluto said. "Besides, maybe this will make us look more manly to the girls."

"Hmm..if that is involved I don't mind it," Uranus said.

"Now..." Maverick began and stopped and turned. Another figure was standing in the rain. Sailor Pluto. The other Guardians followed Maverick's gaze.

"Hello Guardians," Sailor Pluto said. "Is there some reason you had to drag me out into the storm."

"It's all his fault," the four Guardians said pointing at Maverick.

"Uh..never mind...will you five please come with me..there is an urgent matter to discuss," Sailor Pluto said.

"What kind of urgent matter?" Maverick asked grasping his sword instinctively.

"Please Maverick, it's raining out here," Sailor Pluto.

"You're right...I'm..um..sorry..." Maverick stammered.

"Let's go," Sailor Pluto said.

"Hey...no training," Neptune said.

"All right," Guardian Pluto said and the two gave each other a high five.

"But now we can't impress the girls with our increased skills," Neptune said.

"Oh..well...I suppose there's that downside," Guardian Pluto muttered.

Hotaru Tomoe stood looking out the large glass windows at the falling rain.

"If I were capable of liking this, I would," she muttered and turned away, her jet black hair swinging around as she did so. A woman stood there in a lab coat, her eyes cast down at the ground waiting for acknowledgment. Hotaru walked to a stone throne sitting at the end of the room and sat down directly across from the woman.

"Yes Mimette?" Hotaru said.

"I am awaiting your orders, Dark One," Mimette said.

"Hmm...so you are. As you know the Sailor Scouts are now in possession of the Holy Grail."

"Yes your majesty."

"Don't call me that!" Hotaru snapped. "There is nothing majestic about me!"

"I'm sorry Dark One," Mimette exclaimed.

"Hmm....despite their discovery of the Holy Grail, it is doubtful those scouts even know what they have in their possession, furthermore it is not necessary for us to possess it yet. What I do need Mimette is more crystal hearts."

"But why?"

"Because pure hearts are powerful. If I can collect enough of them it will increase my power. Now it is your job to get me some. I warn you Mimette, time is of the essence. The gate needs to be opened, and I need the energy to do this."

"I will not fail," Mimette said.

Meanwhile the five guardians and Sailor Pluto were standing under a gazebo.

"So what's this all about?" Uranus asked.

"You are needed in the Moon Kingdom," Sailor Pluto said.

"The Moon Kingdom?" the four Guardians said. Maverick refrained.

"Yes," Sailor Pluto said.

"But isn't it trashed?" Neptune asked.

"Not exactly," Sailor Pluto said. "It is true that what was the moon kingdom, the buildings and what not is completely destroyed. However, the power of the Moon Kingdom is not gone. Queen Serenity has been visiting you at various times, she lives in this Moon Kingdom, which is essentially another dimension."

"Jeez..this stuff is complex," Guardian Pluto muttered.

"Just think of it as magic and you'll be fine," Uranus muttered.

"That's what I suggest," Sailor Pluto said. "Regardless of the reasons, the fact is that Queen Serenity's dimension is under attack. She doesn't have the strength to fight it off...so she needs you five to go and stop the enemy."

"Dare I ask why us?" Neptune said. "I mean if you hadn't noticed, we are the b team."

"And the A team is needed here," Sailor Pluto said.

"You mean there's more enemies," Uranus said angrily.

"I'm afraid so, I just haven't told the Sailor Scouts yet," Sailor Pluto said.

"Well you'd better," Uranus said.

"I will," Sailor Pluto said. "But you see we can't send all the scouts in one direction, so we're sending you up to fight what we believe to be a lesser enemy at the moon kingdom and leaving the Sailors to handle this enemy."

"But are we even capable of winning a battle alone?" Neptune asked.

"You'll have some help," Sailor Pluto said.

"From who?" Saturn asked.

Sailor Pluto glanced at Maverick very briefly and noticed his eyes were narrowed moreso then usual. He knew.

"It isn't important at the moment, listen..this really isn't a choice, if you want to save the moon kingdom you'll come with me," Sailor Pluto said.

"Uh...here's another important question..." Neptune said. "As much as I hate to say it, what about school?"

"That has been taken care of," Sailor Pluto said. "As of now, the five of you are on independent study."

"How'd you pull that off?" Uranus asked.

"I have my ways...and your parents believe the same thing, of course I told your uncle the truth Maverick," Sailor Pluto said.

Maverick merely nodded.

"Well...now we know the deal..what do we do?" Uranus said. "Maverick?"

Maverick glanced at them.

"I'm not the leader," Maverick said.

"Saturn?" the other three Guardians said.

"Uh....I guess we have to go," Saturn said.

Maverick was glancing at his watch in the meantime, he was making sure that Sailor Pluto was matching up with the data scan he had earlier gotten of the real her from earlier encounters. He was just trying to make sure it wasn't a trap.

"Well then I guess we're going," Uranus said.

"When do we leave?" Neptune asked.

"Tomorrow. That should give you time to say goodbye to your girlfriends, but give me a chance to explain the situation first," Sailor Pluto said.

The others nodded.

"What an ugly day," Lita muttered on the phone as she looked out the window of her house.

"Yeah, I know," Mina replied looking out her own window. "I don't think I want to go out in that."

"So what are we supposed to do on rainy days when we can't get to each others houses?" Lita asked.

"No idea....maybe... talk on the phone for several hours?" Mina replied.

"Well it's an idea at least," Lita said.

"I wonder what this holy grail is all about?" Amy said typing at her computer and also on a phone.

"Heck if I know," Raye replied on the other end. "But I've been taking some fire readings, and I can tell this is dealing with big time power and..." she trailed off.

"And what Raye? Is something wrong?" Amy asked with concern.

"Well...I just know this battle isn't over yet. I could just sense that whoever wants this holy grail, it isn't just that Doctor Tomoe."

"I get that feeling too," Amy said solemnly. "We should just accept it Raye, as long as we're Sailor Scouts, we're going to have to fight battles."

"Yeah I guess..." Raye said. "So...Amy...how are you?"

"How am I? Fine, why do you ask?" Amy said.

"Well...I know it was rough a few weeks ago and I just wanted to check.."

"I appreciate it, but I think I'm all right," Amy said.

"Okay..if you say so," Raye said. "Believe me, I know what it's like to go through pain like this, and it was only natural for your to react the way you did, whether you had a symbiotic daimon inside you or not."

"Yes, well it's not easy, but I can understand now.." Amy said.

"Understand? Understand what?" Raye asked.

"Oh..um....several things," Amy said. "But..we shouldn't dwell on this stuff, no use depressing each other, especially on a day like this."

"Good idea," Raye said.

"I didn't want to go out in the rain, and yet here I am," Serena muttered walking down the street in her slicker with an umbrella over her head.

"I just had to see Darrien though didn't I? Couldn't just call him, I had to walk over there..what am I thinking?"

She started running to get out of the rain faster.

"Jeez...how stupid was this?" she asked herself as the rain blew into her face despite the umbrella. She heard a shout and stopped on the water, the slipped and hydroplaned for a few seconds before falling to the ground.

"Jeez..you'd think life would stop getting such a kick out of me falling down," Serena muttered. She heard the scream again and looked around for it. At the end of the street was a young girl stepping backwards in the face of a tall creature.

"NOT AGAIN!" Serena shouted and flung her umbrella away in frustration. It smashed into a window and broke it.

"Oops...well so what?" Serena muttered and stepped into a side alley. "Celestial Moon Power!" she shouted and transformed. She emerged from the alley and saw the creature drawing the pure heart out of the girl.

"Why is it still doing that?" Sailor Moon said. "Oh well..can't worry about it...." she said and flipped her wrist communicator open.

"All Scouts come in," she said.

"What is it?" Sailor Pluto answered.

"Oh..uh..Pluto...uh..well..we've got another monster, he's drawing out a pure heart for some reason near the corner of fourth and main," Sailor Moon said.

"Really? Now that is strange," Sailor Pluto said. "I'm coming, and I'll bring the Guardian Scouts, they're with me. Pluto out."

"This is Raye, do you think you could have picked a nicer day to call us?" Raye muttered as her face appeared seconds later.

"Well sorry," Sailor Moon said.

"Never mind the weather Raye, we're coming," Lita said.

"Same here," Amy said.

"Be there in a flash," Mina said.

Sailor Moon closed her communicator and stepped towards the creature.

"Moon Sword," she said and had her weapon appear in her hand.

"Ahem!" she shouted. The creature turned towards her.

"Sailor Moon..ehh...well...this changes things....oh I see you have a sword. Are you ready to fight the master swordsman!" the creature shouted.

"You don't have a sword though," Sailor Moon replied noticing that the creature was quite tall, but weaponless.

"Oh..well..that's true...so you have the advantage! Hah!" the creature shouted.

"Why do the villains just get more insane every day?" Sailor Moon muttered.

A rose smashed into the ground.

The creature and Sailor Moon looked up to see Tuxedo Mask standing on top of a small kiosk getting drenched.

"Insane enemies bothering beautiful girls makes days like this even worse...." Tuxedo Mask said.

"Thank you for pointing that out," the creature said.

"You're a little early aren't you?" Sailor Moon asked.

"Well..maybe," Tuxedo Mask said. "But I was in the neighborhood..."

"Hah!" the creature shouted. The two looked at him. He was now holding a large metal sword five times his height.

"Now I have a sword! Prepare for combat!"

"Uh oh..." Sailor Moon said.

"Wonder where he got that," Tuxedo Mask said. The creature swung the thirty foot long sword at the two with surprising ease. They leapt out of the way landing on top of another kiosk.

"That's trouble," Sailor Moon said.

"Yes, but only if we stay together. I'll distract him..you move in and attack," Tuxedo Mask said.

"Maybe we should wait for the others," Sailor Moon said. The sword swung at them again, they dived out of the way in opposite directions. Sailor Moon landed on the ground awkwardly. The sword flew at her. She screeched and ducked under it. She heard a grunt. Tuxedo Mask had swung his fighting staff at the creature's head and knocked the swordsman back.

"Very good, you've figured that out quite quickly. Still..." the swordsman said and vanished.

"Wha.." Tuxedo Mask said. The creature appeared behind him and kicked him in the head.

"I'm also very speedy," the creature said now weaponless again. Sailor Moon jumped at the creature and tried to do one of her drop kicks. The creature stepped aside and Sailor Moon went flying through a first story window screeching as she did so.

"Hah...is this the best you can do?" the creature said.

"Not really..we're having an off day," Tuxedo Mask said as he swung his staff around again, at the creature's leg. The creature leapt out of the way with great speed and stood ten feet away. Sailor Moon slowly emerged from the window.

"That wasn't good at all," she muttered.

"You have no skills...and I still have this crystal heart," the creature said and then looked around. "Wha..where is it?"

"You mean this?" Tuxedo Mask said holding up the pure heart.

"Hmm...I applaud your effort," the creature said. "But I will have it back."

The creature then moved forward and stood in front of the limp form of his heartless victim.

"You'll have to go through me to get to her," the creature said. Tuxedo Mask tensed, he had to get to the girl soon or risk the victim having adverse affects of losing her heart, but the creature was waiting. Five colored energy blasts flew at the creature and smashed into it. It was knocked backwards several feet. Tuxedo Mask leapt forward and put the heart back into the girl. The creature leapt back up and with his speed propelled Tuxedo Mask into a wall. Tuxedo Mask sank to the ground.

"I'll teach you!" Sailor Moon said and charged swinging out her moon sword. The creature adeptly avoided it and kneed Sailor Moon in the stomach. She gasped as the wind was knocked out of her. The creature then turned to see where the energy blasts came from. He saw six figures standing there. The four Guardian Scouts, Maverick, and Sailor Pluto.

"Well now..this is interesting," The creature said. "More playthings..come and get me."

The four Guardian Scouts raised their swords.

"No," Maverick and Sailor Pluto said and in unison.

"Wha?" the four said.

"He'll be able to avoid the attacks.." Maverick said.

"He possesses great speed," Sailor Pluto said.

"Besides," the two added. "It won't be much of an issue soon."

"What?" the creature said before he was hit with four energy attacks, a cloud of mist rose from the energy mixing with the water.

The four Sailor Scouts jumped down to where the Guardians were standing.

"Hi," Venus said.

"Good to see ya," Neptune said.

"Well so much for him," Mars said.

"DUCK!" Maverick shouted. The group instinctively did albeit in surprise as the creature went flying at them.

"What was that?" Pluto said.

"The creature isn't...dead!" Sailor Pluto answered. The group all turned. The creature stood there.

"Now, now..I haven't been completely honest with you, I am invincible," the creature said.

The group all looked at him in surprise. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask were standing again.

The creature began laughing and then exploded.

"What just happened?" Jupiter asked.

"He must have had some adrenaline mechanism or something," Mercury said. "Even after taking lethal damage he could keep going."

"Well isn't that just great," Mars muttered.

"That's all we need," Venus said.

"Uh..can we get out of the rain now," Sailor Moon said. "I'm getting chilled."

"That is a good idea, and it's good that you're all here, I can save time explaining some things," Sailor Pluto said.

"What things?" Mars asked.

Minutes later at Darrien's apartment.

"I don't want Rick to leave," Raye said somewhat angrily..

"I'm sorry but.." Setsuna Meio said.

"No, you don't understand, we finish a battle and you decide to send him off before I can spend some more time with him," Raye said.

"But the battle here is not yet over either. You'll both be fighting," Setsuna said.

"But at least here we'd be fighting together," Raye said.

"As I said Raye, I'm sorry, but if things go well, Rick should be back in less than a month," Setsuna said.

"And if they don't go well?" Raye said.

Setsuna grimaced.

"I'm sorry, but they are the best suited to go. The enemy that we're facing is weaker then the one down here," Setsuna said.

"How do you know how strong the enemy is down here anyway?" Raye snapped.

"That is a good question," Lita said.

"I'll explain it very soon, but you have to trust me," Setsuna said.

"Why can't I go with them?" Raye asked.

"It just doesn't work out that way. We need the five Sailor Scouts on Earth. I thought it would be best to keep the teams that have worked together for this...it would be too complex to make you adjust. We don't need adjustment, we need two fighting forces and we need them now," Setsuna said.

"Rick, don't go please," Raye said.

"I already said I would," Rick said.

"So you didn't even take me into account?" Raye said.

"This is important," Rick said.

"Yeah..well..all these battles are important, but you'll learn if you fight enough of them they aren't as important as some things," Raye said.

"I can't back out now," Rick said.

"Fine then...good luck.." Raye said and stormed out.

"I was hoping that wouldn't happen," Setsuna said.

"You can't blame her," Lita said.

"No I can't," Setsuna admitted. "Are the rest of you okay with this? Or at least in theory."

"Sure, I don't have to listen to any of Mike's jokes for a month," Mina said.

"Hah..and I don't have to listen you dream about becoming an idol star even though you've never been on stage once," Mike replied.

"Mina wants to be an idol star?" everyone else asked.

"Even I didn't know that," Patterson muttered to himself.

"Didn't I ever tell you that?" Mina asked with a grin.

The others shook their heads.

"Oh..well..it must have slipped my mind..yep that's my dream," Mina said.

"But isn't Raye the singer?" Lita asked.

"Well..sure..but I can be as good as Raye," Mina said. "But that really isn't important.." she said and put Mike in a headlock. "Mike why did you tell them..you're embarrassing me?"

"Uh...Mina..this really isn't hurting me in any way," Mike said.

Mina grimaced and tightened her grip.

"This on the other hand," Mike muttered.

"Free hits on Mike!" Steve said and he and Lita started faking punches on Mike's stomach.

"What a weird bunch," Setsuna said.

"It's only the tip of the iceberg," Patterson muttered.

"Say..Setsuna..Darrien isn't going is he?" Serena asked.

"Uh..no..didn't I make that clear before?" Setsuna asked.

"I was just checking," Serena said with a small smile.

"You know what this means Darrien," She said sliding up next to her boyfriend with one of those innocent school girl looks on her faces.

"Yep, I know," Darrien said with a small grin.

CHAPTER 66 CHAPTER 67 CHAPTER 68 CHAPTER 69 CHAPTER 70  CHAPTER 71 

CHAPTER 72 CHAPTER 73 CHAPTER 74 CHAPTER 75  CHAPTER 76 CHAPTER 77

 CHAPTER 78 CHAPTER 79 CHAPTER 80  CHAPTER 81  CHAPTER 82 CHAPTER 83

CHAPTER 84 CHAPTER 85  CHAPTER 86 CHAPTER 87 CHAPTER 88 CHAPTER 89

 CHAPTER 90 CHAPTER 91 CHAPTER 92 CHAPTER 93 CHAPTER 94 CHAPTER 95

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