Chapter 107

The Moon Kingdom, actually an alternate dimension formed by Queen Serenity using what was left of her power, was an exact replica of the palace and it's surrounding area. Beyond that was nothingness, and without anyone living there it was as silent as grave. Maverick and Saturn were standing in the cupola on top of the palace staring at the vision of space, including the Earth floating there.

"I wonder how things are going back home," Saturn said.

"That is just an illusion," Maverick replied.

"I know that Earth is, but it's symbolic," Saturn said.

"If the scouts were in any trouble Queen Serenity would let us know."

"She would, you're right. Still..I worry."

Maverick said nothing.

"I bet this place must have been very beautiful back in the Silver Millennium, with all the people around," Saturn said.

Maverick shrugged.

"Maverick, you just don't care do you?" Saturn said leaning against the stone railing.

"Not really, no," Maverick said. "The past is unchangeable."

"Sorry...you must be thinking about other things, and it probably doesn't make you feel very good, I didn't mean to."

"No, no, I can handle it. I've handled it for over a decade. You worry about yourself."

"Actually Maverick, I'm Leader of the Guardian Scouts, that means I have to worry about all of us."

"I'm independent of the Guardian Scouts, I'm not your responsibility."

"Maybe, but I have a right to worry about you. Heck, I owe you a lot for keeping Amy and me together."

Maverick shrugged again and looked at the ground.

"Maverick, can I ask you something, while the two of us are alone."

"You're description of the situation worries me, but continue."

"Maverick, do you love Amy?"

Maverick continued to look at the ground.

"That's pretty blunt isn't it? I might ask you the same thing."

"You're welcome to," Saturn said. "Listen Maverick, I'd like to know, because to be honest, I doubt that me and Amy are ever going to go beyond what we have now...."

"What...why? You two are..." Maverick paused.

"Very good friends," Saturn finished. "And we like it that way. But, anything else..well...we're just not enthusiastic enough. We like each other, sure, but it's just not what I would call boyfriend girlfriend, I think she sees it that way."

"I'm sorry to hear that..." Maverick said.

"It's not like it's your fault, you saved our friendship."

"Not necessarily," Maverick said.

"Regardless of that, Maverick, I think you're perfect for her."

"You've gotta be kidding, Saturn, look, I'm a loner who can hardly say two words to a girl without breaking a sweat, the only thing that allows me to say this much to you, is because I have three other personalities lowering my defenses at the moment. I have no interest in pursuing Amy as a girlfriend, that's your department."

"Maverick, I appreciate it, but you like her a lot, I can see that. Nobody would do the things you've done unless..."

"That I cannot explain, I want her to be happy, in fact, I regret my involvement to this point, I should have just stayed insulated, it would be a lot easier."

"Maverick, let's keep this simple, I've told you all about me, where I'm coming from, I'll just ask you questions, you give me an answer, and then we can talk about it."

"Enough talk, the Dead Moon Circus has not attacked for three days, their about due. We must be ready in the caverns," Maverick said.

"You were in no hurry before," Saturn said.

"Before is irrelevant," Maverick said and leapt off the cupola landing on the ground fifteen feet below.

"I really shouldn't be so curious about him, but I can't help wanting to know all this stuff, purely because of scientific curiosity of course," Saturn said to himself. "Hmm...that's Amy's excuse too," he said with a smile and jumped off the cupola.

In one of the bedrooms in the palace, Guardians Pluto, Neptune, and Uranus were sitting on the floor. What consisted of most of a deck of cards was lying scattered on the floor. Each of them had a hand of cards.

"Hey, Pluto, got any sevens?" Neptune said.

"Nope," Pluto said. "Go Haddock."

"Right, right," Neptune said and drew a card.

"Hey, Neptune, got any sevens?" Uranus said.

"Nope," Neptune said.

"But...you just..." Uranus said.

"Faked you out," Neptune said.

"But why?" Uranus asked.

"Like there's ever an explanation for what I do," Neptune said. "Oh..and by the way Uranus, Go Carp."

"Eh.." Uranus said and drew a card from the pile.

A projection of Sailor Pluto's head appeared in the air.

"Guardians..." she began and then looked at the pile of cards. "What are you doing..and for that matter how'd you get that deck of cards up here?"

"I smuggled it up here okay," Neptune said.

"Where?" Sailor Pluto asked.

"The same place Sailor Moon keeps her staff, you know that interdimensional pocket each of us has flying around with them," Neptune said.

"Oh...that...I forgot you had those...I'll have to check them before I take you three anywhere from now on...but never mind..the Dead Moon Circus looks to making a big move in the caverns," Sailor Pluto said.

"Why is it always in the caverns, you'd think they could attack above ground for once," Guardian Pluto muttered.

"Down we go," Guardian Uranus muttered.

When Queen Serenity had created the dimension to hold the last remnants of the moon kingdom together, she hadn't been able to control certain factors. Among them was the fact that the area under the palace was created and became a maze of tunnels. The evil forces known as the Dead Moon Circus has chosen to invade the small dimension through these caverns rather then to attack the palace itself which Serenity protected with a force field anyway. The caverns were basically their only way in.

The five male scouts and Sailor Pluto crouched behind the rocks. Maverick and Pluto were behind one group. The Four Guardian Scouts were behind another.

"With this passage covered they won't have much room to attack with. We can try and pick them off, good thinking Maverick," Sailor Pluto said.

Maverick nodded.

"I think they're coming," Saturn said. The group all readied their weapons. They heard footsteps on the stone. Out of the cavern emerged three figures.

"Now," Sailor Pluto said. The six unleashed their energy attacks. They flew out. Saturn's hit the figure on the left. Maverick hit the far right. Sailor Pluto got the middle one. The other three missed. The enemies were knocked back into the darkness.

"Try aiming!" Sailor Pluto snapped at the Guardians.

"Hey, we got them anyway," Neptune said.

They heard a screech. A hawk like creature flew out of the shadows trailing fire behind it.

"Duck!" Maverick said. The six hit the ground as the fire flew over their heads. Maverick and Sailor Pluto whirled around and attacked. The energy blasts flew at the Hawk and hit it twice. It screeched and flew back the way it came. A Tiger leapt out of the shadows seconds later.

"AHH!" Neptune said and dived out of the way. Guardian Pluto leapt forward and charged the Tiger knocking it backwards. Saturn fired his sword. It hit the Tiger in the chest, it rolled backward and back into the shadows. A wave of water flew from the darkness and hit Guardian Pluto pushing him back into the other three Guardian Scouts who were flung against a wall.

"Where'd that come from?" Sailor Pluto said.

Another wave emerged from the dark balancing a large fish on top of it.

"I'd guess that thing," Maverick said and leapt forward over the wave stabbing his sword into the fish, which let out a scream. Sailor Pluto jabbed her staff into the fish seconds later. The two landed behind the wave as it smashed into the rocks beyond and the fish hit hard. The Tiger and Hawk flew at the two. Maverick swung at the Tiger while Sailor Pluto hit the Hawk, both of their attacks did major damage, but the two were hit and knocked to the ground.

"SATURN ICE STORM BLAST!" Saturn shouted and hit the Hawk and the Tiger blasting them back down the cavern. The other three Guardians were firing their energy at the the fish lying beached on the rocks quickly.

"I'll harpoon this sucker," Neptune said and built his power. "Neptune Triton Attack!" he shouted throwing his golden weapon. It slammed into the fish and it began to change form. Lying their on the rocks was a beautiful blue haired woman.

"Woah...that's a bit weird," Neptune said.

Several feet away. Maverick and Sailor Pluto were witnessing a similar transformation. The Hawk and Tiger both reverted back into a human form, that of males.

"Were they the same figures that first attacked?" Saturn said.

"Most likely," Sailor Pluto said.

"Hey, this one's disapearing," Neptune said.

"Probably returning to where it came from," Uranus said.

"The other two are vanishing too," Maverick muttered. "We should retake our defensive positions."

"Good idea," Sailor Pluto said.

Seconds later the two whirled sensing attacks. They were hit with four large balls and knocked back ten feet.

"Wha..." Guardian Pluto said and turned. Four more balls, each a different color flew out of the shadows at them. The four Guardians ducked.

"Where did they come from?" Uranus asked.

"I didn't sense them till the last second," Maverick said.

"Same here, that never happens," Sailor Pluto said.

The balls flew over their heads again.

"Wait for the next attack and let's hit with the swords," Saturn said.

"Good plan," Guardian Pluto said. Four more projectiles flew through the air. The group fired. The attacks hit, but did no damage. The balls shattered to pieces, some of them sharp.

"AGHHH!" Neptune shouted as a piece landed in his back.

"We can't stay here," Maverick said.

"We go out there, we'll be hit," Sailor Pluto said.

"I'll go anyway," Maverick said and leapt forward. Four balls flew at them, he slid under them and fired his energy into the shadows. He heard four screams and went charging forward.

"Let's go!" Uranus said standing up.

"No wait!" Sailor Pluto said. Maverick went flying back the way he came and smashed into Uranus propelling them back.

"Too powerful," Maverick muttered. "But I wounded one of them. They're small girls."

"What?" Neptune said.

Four balls flew at them again. The six scurried away from the falling shards.

"It's going to take actual powers to stop them," Maverick said.

"But the time needed to energize and aim will leave a person vulnerable as the balls fly at them," Sailor Pluto said.

"Yes," Maverick said.

"Hmm...well..then it's time to surprise them," Sailor Pluto said.

"How?" Uranus asked.

"You'll see...Queen Serenity, it is that time," she said.

"I understand," the group heard the voice of Queen Serenity say.

"Time for what?" Maverick asked skeptically.

Two attacks, one yellow and one aquamarine flew over their heads and smashed into the shadows. There were four screams.

"Now!" Sailor Pluto said. "Maverick, come with me! Guardians energize your attacks,"

"Them," Maverick muttered and charged forward. The two unleashed their energy.

Two other figures leapt down the cavern into the shadows firing some sort of energy themselves The four girls came into view. Pluto swung at one. Maverick went for another, and the two others were hit with energy blasts.

The four girls quickly turned and jumped away vanishing very quickly.

"Their they go," Sailor Pluto said looking. Maverick watched for a second and then turned. Standing nearby were Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus.

Maverick readied his sword, his eyes narrowed.

"This is not a time for that," Sailor Pluto said. "There may be more enemies."

"They are the enemy," Maverick said.

"I am sensing that it is all clear," came Serenity's voice. "Please return to the palace."

"Are they coming?" Maverick snapped.

"Calm down Maverick, everything will be explained," Sailor Pluto said.

"That I sincerely doubt," Maverick snapped.

Later.

"I can't believe this, we don't need those two as allies," Maverick said.

"Yeah, those backstabbers Uranus and Neptune, who needs them," Guardian Pluto said.

"You mean the Sailors of course, right?" Neptune asked.

"We'll see.." Pluto said and started laughing.

"Well..maybe there's an explanation, Sailor Pluto and Queen Serenity seem to trust them," Saturn said.

"Keep your swords ready anyway," Uranus said.

The doors to the main hall opened and Queen Serenity, flanked by Sailors Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto walked in.

"Congratulations on your victory today," Queen Serenity said "It was a team effort that beat them."

"Ehh...maybe," Guardian Uranus said. The five Guardian Scouts were all clutching their swords.

"Are those for us?" Sailor Neptune said with a grin. The Five Guardian Scouts in near pefect unison raised their swords to defensive positions.

"Put those swords down now," Sailor Pluto barked. "This is not supposed to be a battle."

"Those two put me in the hospital!" Maverick snapped.

"And threatened the Sailor Scouts," Guardian Uranus added.

"Yeah," the other three Guardians said.

"You five are no match for the two of us anyway, I suggest you stop this right now," Sailor Uranus said with her own grin. Maverick's sword fired. The blast flew by Sailor Uranus' face and cut off a few strands of her blonde hair.

"Hmm...you meant to miss," Sailor Uranus said.

"This time," Maverick snapped.

"Please, all of you," Queen Serenity said. "I don't deny that Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune did some things differently from how I would have wanted them to do it, but they were acting in the interests of the universe."

"That we know," Maverick said. "It's their methods that bother us, not their goal."

"We had to take extreme measures, the world and the universe were, and still are at stake. The holy grail needed to be found," Sailor Neptune said.

"This kind of juvenile response from all of you was anticipated and that's why we didn't tell you about this in the first place," Sailor Uranus said.

"Juvenile," Saturn snapped. "I like to be the patient one, but you were the ones who attacked Maverick twice, and took the Sailor Scouts hostage to achieve your goals. The girls are very understanding, they could have understood if you had bothered to tell them, instead you chose to be antagonistic!"

"All of you! Silence!" Queen Serenity said. "I will not have an argument in the main hall. Regardless of their past transgressions, Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus are needed now. And they are sorry for what they did."

"Let's hear them say that," Guardian Uranus said.

"Yeah," Guardian Neptune said.

"Very well," Sailor Neptune said. "I apologize for all that I did. It was perhaps wrong of me, but I did it all for your own good. Still...perhaps our methods were in error."

"I also apologize. It was wrong of the two of us to attack any of you to achieve our goals, but I must say that we only did what we felt was necessary. Billions of lives rested on our shoulders," Sailor Uranus said.

"Billions of lives have rested on the shoulders of the Sailor Scouts, and they have not used that fact to let them do the dishonorable thing," Maverick said. "As much as I'd like to make you pay for your crimes in pain, Sailor Mars and Sailor Moon have already done that job.." he let a sadistic grin form on his face.

"So...I suggest we leave it at that. However, bear in mind that if you do something like that again..well..the response will be less cordial."

The other four Guardians nodded.

"Now that we have that settled," Sailor Pluto said. "Queen Serenity would like to talk to you."

"Yes...and I don't blame you five for being bitter, unfortunately we all make mistakes, and Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus may have been gone to extreme measures," Queen Serenity.

"We could not afford not to," Sailor Uranus said.

"Perhaps. I share the opinion that Maverick does that the past is not something to dwell on," Queen Serenity said. "Now..I believe that the Dead Moon Circus has sent some of it's most dangerous warriors at us now. They must be getting desperate. Nothing we've faced up to this point has been as dangerous."

"Queen Nehelenia really wants to destroy you, that much is clear," Sailor Pluto said.

"I feel sorry for Nehelenia, she had a kingdom and peace, but something changed her, and now there's nothing but hate," Queen Serenity said. "Still we have to stop her. All of you will have tough fights, but hopefully we can push her back, I don't think she has anymore powerful hands to play."

"What if she chooses to attack herself?" Sailor Neptune asked.

"That maybe impossible. Her power may not be able to free herself from the prison I placed in her in so many years ago. But if she escapes then we will meet her," Queen Serenity. "I will have to fight as well."

"But Queen Serenity, that will deplete your power," Sailor Uranus said.

"Yes, but it may be necessary," Queen Serenity said. "But don't worry, we'll win."

"That's right we will," Sailor Pluto said.

"Uh..." Guardian Neptune said.

"Yes Neptune?" Sailor Pluto said.

"Well..uh..I'm just kinda curious, um..weren't Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus kinda dead?" Neptune asked.

"They still are, but my energy is keeping them alive here in this dimension, I hope someday to return them to Earth, but for now..this will have to do," Queen Serenity.

"No need to hurry," Maverick muttered.

"How can you who has looked death in the eyes so much honestly say that?" Sailor Uranus snapped.

"They say I'm insane," Maverick said. "They're probably right. One does tend to obtain a dark sense of humor about death when you've been through what I have."

"I think you two should cool off," Guardian Uranus said. "We've got bigger problems."

"True," Sailor Uranus said and turned and walked out. Neptune followed.

"You should all rest, we don't know when the next attack may come," Queen Serenity said and walked out followed by Sailor Pluto.

"So what do we do Maverick?" Neptune asked.

"We fight to protect the Moon Kingdom like she says," Maverick said and turned to walk out the others. "I didn't say we had to like how we're doing it."

And he walked out the other door.

"That is not a happy guy," Neptune said.

"Ya think?" Uranus muttered.

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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