Title: Dreams in the Moonlight

Author: Storm Bringer

Rating: PG (any sexual innuendo you get out of this is your imagination at

work, not mine)

Disclaimer: The characters in this story do not belong to me. They belong to

some other people that are not me. I am not the one who owns the

characters in this story. They are not mine. Clear? Good.

* * * * * *

The light of the full moon hanging high in the clear night sky bathed the city of Tokyo in pure silver fire. It filtered down through the treetops like a silent rain and turned the emtpy streets into glistening rivers of soft light. Objects caught in the light of the moon seemed to shine with brilliant auras and shadows lost their form, becoming shapeless gray masses that hunkered down away from the shimmering light.

It was mid-summer and the coming of night had done little to dispel the smothering heat that pervaded the large city this time of year. Windows were flung open in a vain attempt to catch a stray breeze and cool the restless sleep of sweltering men, women, and children. The low hum of air-conditioners working overtime joined with the occasional bark of a dog and the shrill music of ever-present cicadas.

A single beam of moonlight passed through an open window, edging through a gap in the curtains hanging limp in the still night air. It flashed through the velvety darkness of the room beyond and alighted softy, almost reverently on the face of the girl sleeping within. Eyes closed in sleep, her beautiful face was twisted with sorrow and pain, and sweat that had nothing to do with the heat dampened her golden locks and caused her face to shimmer with a wet sheen.

Rolling onto her side, Usagi whimpered softly.

The wall across from Usagi exploded inward, showering her with shards of stone and dust. She stared open mouthed as a dark, shapeless form passed through the hole it had created, locking her gaze with its ruby eyes. Those eyes seemed to contain all the anger and enmity that had ever existed in the world and it was all focused on her. Paralyzed with fear, she could do nothing but wonder if death would be swift and sure or slow and painful.

Usagi tossed and turned on top of her blankets, her eyes squeezed tightly shut as though she could blot out what she was seeing in her mind.

Onward came the darkness, making no sound and hardly seeming to move at all. It glided towards her on wings of night, wrapped in a cloak of despair. Usagi tried to call out, tried to find the strength to fight back. But against this she could do nothing. She was weak, as helpless as a newborn babe wrapped in swaddling clothes. A single tear born of terror and desperation ran down her cheek.

Suddenly there were others with her, fighting against the encroaching darkness. A streak of gold, the crack of thunder, the sizzling of a mighty flame, and the cold surety of ice. They met the darkness head on and the sounds of battle echoed through the room breaking Usagi from her trance like stupor. Her friends were there fighting for her, bleeding for her, dying for her.

Crying out, Usagi rolled onto her back and thrashed around wildly.

An anguished cry rose above the tumult of battle followed shortly by another. The ice had been shattered, the flame snuffed. Usagi screamed then; screamed for her friends to run, to get as far from here as possible. They didn’t listen though. The storm raged, the gold flashed, and the darkness bellowed, shaking the very foundation of the planet with its rancor filled cry. Then there was silence. An eerie all consuming silence that enshrouded the soul and tore at the heart.

Tears streamed from beneath Usagi’s closed lids.

Warm liquid sloshed against Usagi’s ankles, but she closed her eyes tightly and refused to look down. It rose, coming up to mid-calf and then to her knees, beckoning her to gaze upon her folly, her weakness. Opening her eyes she looked down upon the crimson river that churned sluggishly around her, tugging at her with currents that could never be seen, only felt. The river tugged and she let it take her, pull her down into its depths to enfold her in its warm embrace and carry her to her friends.

Usagi came awake gasping for breath with tears streaming down her face. She sat there crying softly in the still darkness with the light of the moon illuminating her sweat soaked, tear stained face. Gazing around the room she was sleeping in with eyes half blinded by tears, she realized that it was not her home. Panic seized her for a second, but quickly abated as she caught sight of half recognized objects poking out of the shadows. She was sleeping in a shrine this night, a very familiar shrine.

An arm encircled her waist, gently pulling her close to the body of another and Usagi felt the soft flesh of another woman against her back. Another hand appeared and stroked the side of her face. It felt suddenly as though a flame had enwrapped her. Not the kind of flame that seared or even warmed the flesh, but the kind that thawed the heart and chased the cold claws of darkness away.

"Shhhh," whispered a soft voice. "Shhhh." Comfort stole over Usagi and her tears slowed. "Why are you crying, Usagi?"

She put a face to the voice, then a name. "Rei?" she asked the darkness.

"Yes, I’m here. Why are you crying? Did you have a bad dream?"

Usagi nodded. "There was something…something evil and it was after me. I couldn’t move, couldn’t do anything to stop it." She sniffled. "Then you and the others came and fought for me and you…and you…" The tears were back and she couldn’t stem their flow.

Two hands took one of her own and held it tightly in a firm but loving grasp. Usagi shivered slightly as ice seemed to race along her body banishing the lingering heat of the day, but not harming the flame that burned at her back. Instead the fire and ice seemed to meld into one force that rippled through her body like a soothing balm. The silver light of the moon glinted off of blue hair causing it to shine in the darkness.

"There’s nothing to be afraid of, Usagi," comforted Ami. "We’re here with you. We’ll keep you safe."

Usagi tried to smile, but she wasn’t sure she succeeded. "Thank you, Ami."

"Go on," urged Rei in a soft voice.

Usagi swallowed hard, choking back her tears. "All of you came and fought for me and you…and you all died. I was so scared I couldn’t do anything but watch. I failed all of you." She hung her head in shame. "I’m so weak."

The air suddenly seemed charged with electricity and there was the fragrant smell of fresh flowers and moist earth just after a spring shower. A hand cupped Usagi’s chin and raised her head up, turning it slightly to the side. Green eyes flashed like emeralds in the darkness and she found herself drowning in the compassion that filled them. Here there was no death or pain or sorrow. Only a love that was indescribable and unconquerable.

"You are not weak, Usagi," stated Makoto in a firm voice. "And as long as you live you will never fail us."

"But I…"

"A dream, nothing more."

Usagi looked away from those two emeralds and found herself staring into two pools of blue framed by golden strands of hair. Minako took Usagi’s head in both hands and leaned forward, brushing her lips lightly across Usagi’s brow. It seemed then that molten gold flowed through her veins, coursing through her body in waves that crashed against her heart and showered her soul with drops of liquid light.

Minako’s breath was warm against Usagi’s skin when she spoke. "Any of us would gladly throw down her life to ensure that you do not have to. It is as Makoto said, as long as you live you will never fail us."

"But I could never ask any of you to die for me," protested Usagi in a voice choked with tears.

Minako’s smile seemed to illuminate the darkness. "You don’t have to ask, Usagi. You never have to ask."

Usagi didn’t want her friends to die, especially not for her, but Minako’s words were comforting somehow and she found that her tears had stopped. Rei eased her slowly back down onto her blankets and Usagi suddenly felt very sleepy. The horrible nightmare faded behind feelings of peace and contentment at her friend’s presence. They surrounded her as she lay there, Makoto humming a soft lullaby that soothed her and set her mind drifting up into the sky as her eyes fluttered shut.

"Sleep Usagi," whispered Ami. "It’s all just a dream. Sleep and be well." Usagi thought she noted a hint of sadness in Ami’s voice, but before she could ask about it she was fast asleep.

* * * * * *

Dawn broke over Crystal Tokyo in a fanfare of flaming oranges and breath taking pinks. When the first rays of the sun struck the towers of the Crystal Palace they shattered in a brilliant display of light and color, and for a few moments it seemed as though the majestic structure was ablaze. The airy spires, towering parapets, and glistening walls of the palace lost none of their exquisite beauty when the scintillating colors died down, however. Instead it was as though one glorious sight had simply been replaced by another.

The fiery ball burning on the horizon promised another scorching day, but the sublime majesty of the sunrise more than made up for such a small discomfort. At least, for those who had been awake to see it. Among those blessed few there was a woman who stood on one of the spacious balconies that jutted out from the Crystal Palace without actually seeming to interrupt the flowing perfection of its walls.

She stood and watched the sunlight spread across the land as she had done everyday for the last three years. Watched as it slowly crept up a small grassy hill that lay at the tip of one of the cities five points. Watched as it fell across the elegantly crafted marble monument that topped that hill and was held in reverence by the entire population of Crystal Tokyo and maybe beyond. And, as had happened everyday for the last three years, a single tear fell to the stones at her feet.

The monument had been carved by the finest artisans in the world and consisted of a round base upon which there were four angels, three standing and one kneeling. Their wings were folded against their backs and they stared out away from the city as though watching for approaching danger. The monument was carved from one piece of pearly white marble and the only color present was on the bronze plaque set into the base and the symbols etched into each angel’s forehead. One blue, one red, one green, and one gold. Engraved on the plaque was a simple epitaph:

IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES TO ENSURE THAT THE LIGHT WOULD NEVER DIE.