The Return

Chapter 2: Allies

By Richan

Disclaimers: I don't own Sailor Moon. <sob>

Shingo sat down in a corner of the cell next to Ami. He stared down at his hands, wondering where the strange power had come from. Sighing, he looked over at Ami, who sat, contemplating the situation. Realizing that Shingo was watching her, she blushed slightly before asking him what the matter was.

"Um," he began. He stopped to take a hurried breath. "How...how did you get your powers?"

Ami smiled at him. "Luna held power sticks for the four of us that are your sister's personal court."

"L-luna?"

Ami nodded.

"How could a cat give you those." Shingo stopped, confused.

"Luna, and Mina's cat, Artemis, were the advisors to Queen Serenity in the Silver Millennium. When it was destroyed, Queen Serenity sent all of us to this time to protect your sister, her daughter. Luna and Artemis were sent to search out the princess, in order to protect the Earth from the evil that had destroyed the Silver Millennium."

Closing his eyes, Shingo saw scenes flash by. Somehow, he realized, he had been a part of that, that it sounded so familiar. He could almost see Luna and Artemis standing next to the Queen as she guided her kingdom in peace. Inhaling deeply, he opened his eyes and looked at Ami and smiled. "I know...somehow I know who Usagi is, but I don't understand why we are here," he began.

Ami explained. "We were brought here by Beryl, who destroyed the Silver Millennium, and the reason why Usagi was awakened as Sailor Moon."

Nodding, Shingo looked at the others who sat around the cell. Thanking Ami for explaining, he rose and went over to where Hotaru sat. Sitting next to her, he looked over at her. "So," he said. "Why are you over here by yourself?"

Hotaru looked up at him, a little surprised that he came over to her. "Because Chibiusa isn't here."

"Chibiusa...you mean she is one of the sailor senshi?" Shingo asked.

"She's," Hotaru paused. She looked over at Setsuna, wondering if she should tell Shingo who she really was. Seeing Setsuna nod, she turned back to Shingo. "She's Usagi's daughter."

Shingo was shocked. "D-d-d-daughter? How...?"

"She came from the future, the first time to help her mother, the second to train as a senshi."

Shingo shivered, trying to understand this. The stuff about the Silver Millennium he could understand, but this was something else. "She's also Mamoru's daughter, isn't she?"

Hotaru nodded once, before putting her hand on Shingo's arm. She could see that this information was confusing Shingo to no end.

Across the room, Makoto, Minako, Michiru, and Setsuna sat huddled together. Ami made her way over to them and sat down next to Makoto. Setsuna shivered slightly, and the others looked at her in concern. "Time and space have shifted," she said softly. "I cannot not see much in the timeline."

This worried the others, especially when they saw the distress on her face. They felt helpless to comfort her, since they were unsure about the situation.

Ami spoke up. "I have some idea as to where we are, but I think that we need to go find Usagi. I am pretty sure that Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Uranus are trying to get here as fast as they can."

The others nodded, and looked over at Hotaru and Shingo. The two were sitting close to one another, talking quietly. Smiling, and feeling a little better, Setsuna rose and walked over to them. "I believe that you can help us, Shingo-san," she began.

Blushing, Shingo rose and helped Hotaru off of the floor. "Um, what can I do, that you can't," he asked.

"You have powers, while we can't use ours," Minako said.

"Oh." Heading for the door, Shingo stopped and put his hands on it. He could feel a strange power flowing through him and into the door. The others watched as the door warped and twisted, leaving an opening. He stepped through, the others following.

******

Back in Tokyo, Luna was starting to panic. Pacing the floor of Usagi's bedroom, she tried to think of some way to get in touch with the Senshi. The communicators had stopped working some time ago, and she was desperately trying to convince herself that nothing bad had happened.

"Luna," Artemis began. "I think that something is causing interference with the communicators."

Luna looked at him, finally stopped her pacing. Walking over to him, she glanced at the communicator they were using. "Do you think that we should go to the arcade?"

He nodded his head, wishing that Ami was here to figure out was wrong. He had the feeling that something had happened to the old Dark Kingdom. This was the same feeling that he had when the Silver Millennium had been attacked by Beryl and Metallia, the feeling that something so evil was coming that it was impossible for the human mind to imagine. Hiding his thoughts from his companion, he finished packing up his gadgets.

Arriving at the arcade, Luna noticed Motoki outside with his broom. He wasn't sweeping though, instead looking up at the sky, which had turned an unnatural black.

Looking at Luna, Motoki wondered why Mamoru and Usagi hadn't gotten married this afternoon. "Where's Usagi, Luna?" He crouched down next to the cats and pet Luna. Standing, he headed back into the arcade and stood just inside the door. As he watched, Luna and Artemis followed him and headed towards the Sailor V game. Sitting in front of it, the cats paused and put their two heads together. This was something new, Motoki thought as he headed over to the game.

As he stood behind them, Luna spoke in a strange language that he had never heard. He was in shock, that this cat could speak, but he was soon in for more as the game slid forward, revealing a staircase below it.

"What...?"

Artemis looked over at Luna, wondering why she had spoken in front of Motoki. She just looked back at him, with an expression on her face telling him that she would explain later. Artemis shrugged his shoulders and began walking down the stairs.

"Are you coming, Motoki-san," asked Luna.

Motoki goggled. Shaking his head to clear it, he nodded and headed down, following Luna and Artemis. At the bottom, he stopped, amazed at all of the equipment. "How..." He drifted off, and went over to where Luna and Artemis had sat.

"Motoki-san," Luna said. "I thought that it was time that you knew this was down here." She looked up at Motoki to make sure he was listening and not in shock. "We come from an age that was old when the Earth was young. Artemis and I were sent with the Sailor Senshi to protect the Earth from its enemies. Guiding them, we help the senshi protect the Princess of the Moon, who is Usagi."

She stopped, seeing Motoki widen his eyes. 'Usagi, a princess?' he thought. 'This is just not possible.' Noticing that Luna had more to say, he collected his straying thoughts.

"As Sailor Moon, she has protected this planet, along with the prince that she is destined to marry, Endymion. You know him as Chiba Mamoru-san."

This really shocked Motoki. 'Mamoru? A prince? I always thought that he was special.' Thinking on everything Luna had said thus far, he could see a connection. "So Mamoru and Usagi are destined to marry? And I suppose that they will have a great kingdom," he added sarcastically.

Artemis nodded, startling Motoki. He had been joking, but these cats weren't.

"They are destined to become Queen and King of the Earth, along with their daughter, Princess Small Lady Serenity," Artemis said. "You have already met her daughter, Motoki-san."

Motoki laughed, thinking that Mamoru and Usagi must have had a kid in secret. He stopped when Luna said who she was. "Chibiusa? But...? How...?"

"She came from the future," Luna said. Turning to the computer screen before her, she pulled up the last transmission from the senshi's communicators. Suddenly there was a blip, startling both her and Artemis. They hadn't been able to receive any transmission from Usagi's house, but here there was one. She looked over at Artemis. "Something was blocking the communicators."

Nodding, Artemis contacted the communicator. Bringing up Sailor Uranus' face, he was shocked that it wasn't one of the inner scouts. "Uranus," he exclaimed. "What's happening? We can't get anybody else on their communicators."

Uranus' face clouded over as static ran through the screen. "They...taken...Beryl...Jadeite..."

Artemis tried to make sense as the transmission broke up. Trying again, he asked about what was going on. "Uranus..." He was cut off as the screen went black. Facing Luna, he spoke. "We definitely have a big problem.

Luna looked around the room, trying to remember where the portal was that they had found in the fight against Beryl. Figuring it out where it had been, she called Artemis over. "I think that we should go and try to find them. They may need some guidance. I can't stay back again if they have to fight Beryl and Jadeite. Something has reawakened them, and maybe the other generals as well."

Nodding, Artemis turned back to Motoki, who was still watching the screen of the communicator. "Motoki-san, would you please stay and watch over this place? Watch for any transmission on the screen, and if there is one, please let them know that we are on our way." Nodding once more, he and Luna took off.

Motoki sat down, wondering why his life had gotten so complicated. "I don't think that I can handle this," he said tiredly.

"Yes, you can," came a soft voice behind him. Turning around, he saw a young woman with dark brown hair streaked with red. She was wearing a short white dress with a blue chain at the waist and gold threaded through her long braid. She had thin gold sandals that were laced up to her knees, giving her a stately bearing. "Motoki-san, I know that this may seem different, but you are needed in battle."

Motoki sputtered. "No, I can't. I don't have powers like the Sailors do, or Usagi, or Mamoru."

Shaking her head, the woman put her hand on his arm. He could feel a soft energy flowing out from her that somehow felt right. "Motoki-san, I want you to remember your past life." Putting her right hand on his forehead, he fell into blackness.

******

The far reaches of space, a hundred years ago...

A large, white castle stood among lush green fields. Surrounded by flowers unknown to humans, the castle was the home of one of the greatest rulers that had been seen since the beginning of time. In the middle of this castle, there was a courtyard, where people mingled throughout the day. As the sun shone down, one man stood apart from the others, in deep thought. He watched the others almost absently, not really paying attention to what was going. A woman noticed him standing alone and walked over to him.

"Janus, why do you always seek the door of every room. You always look as if you're on your way out," the woman said.

Janus laughed. "Now Minerva, I wouldn't say anything about that. I know you don't like these functions any more than I do."

Smiling, she shrugged her shoulders. "I guess you could say that." She looked back at the other people in the room. "Let's say we ditch this joint, and find something that's not quite so boring."

Laughing, the two headed out the door, brushing past the guards. As they walked down the long hallway, they were greeted with a shout behind them. Turning, they saw Mithra running to catch up to them.

"Did you hear the news," he asked, panting slightly.

Shaking their heads, Janus and Minerva looked at him with questions on their faces.

"The Erinyes are lost," Mithra said.

"I see," stated Minerva.

Janus shook his head slightly. "I always knew they would eventually be lost, for it is hard to be one with nature when one is trying to avenge its wrongs."

Minerva agreed. "So, Mithra, where did this news come from?"

"A couple of sailor senshi as they fled from HIM," he said. "We asked them to stay and give us the details, for I think that they had something to do with the Erinyes being lost." Mithra looked sad for a second before looking around to see if anybody was listening. "Personally, I think that the others will not be as understanding as we are. Ever since we lost those who ruled, others have been fighting to rule this kingdom."

Minerva and Janus looked at him in agreement.

"We had better see these senshi before there is trouble," Minerva said.

******

Present day Tokyo...

"Motoki-san."

Dimly, he could hear the voice that reached out to him. Gathering all of his strength, he opened his eyes and stared at the woman before him. "Minerva?"

Nodding at him. "I am glad to see you are awake, Mithra." Turning, she spoke to the black- haired man behind her. "We have finally found Mithra, Janus."

Smiling broadly, Janus crouched down next to him. "So, I see that you have been busy in your mortal life," he said. Holding out his hand he helped Motoki sit up. "I see that you are just so original[1]."

Laughing deprecatively, Motoki stood. "You know me, I always have to stand out in a crowd." Dusting himself off, he looked at the computer screen he had been sitting at. "I get the feeling that all of this is connected to the Erinyes."

Minerva nodded. Her form shimmered in a soft yellow glow. When Motoki and Janus could see her again, she was dressed in green slacks with a white sweater[2]. "Watakushi no namae wa Itsumono Kashikoi[3]."

Motoki laughed. "I see you are as 'original' as I am."

Janus laughed as well. He transformed as well into his human form. "Well, I was graced with the name Yojin Suru[4]."

Motoki laughed. Kashikoi smiled, indicating that she had already heard this. Soon her smile faded as she realized that they were wasting time. "Come, we must find the others and hope that we are not too late. I believe that the sailor senshi will be in greater trouble than they realize."

******

Endymion, Uranus, and the Generals were headed toward the entrance to the former Dark Kingdom. Hearing a cry, they stopped, looking for the source. Out of the mist came Luna and Artemis, staggering slowly against the wind. The two cats halted in their tracks when they saw the four generals standing behind Endymion, who looked a little different than he had before.

"Wh-what?" Luna exclaimed. She looked at Endymion and the generals, trying to figure out how they had been awakened, and weren't trying to get rid of their former prince.

Endymion stepped up to the two cats. "Luna, Artemis, don't worry. Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoicite, and Kunzite are on our side." Smiling at them, he turned to the others. "Come, we must go."

They proceeded forward, Nephrite stopping to give the cats a ride.

******

Usagi hugged her knees, trying to keep warm. She couldn't understand how Beryl had been resurrected, and why she was trying to brainwash her. Usagi sighed, knowing that all Beryl was saying wasn't true. She had the feeling that help would come soon. Hearing the door open, she looked up in hope that it was Tuxedo Mask or one of the senshi. Instead, Beryl came in once more with a long rod in her right hand.

"Ah, the little princess has awakened. Expecting your prince to arrive, are we?" Beryl cackled before standing in front of Usagi. "Since you are being so stubborn, I have decided that if you won't join me in serving my new master, you won't be able to fight against me either. I think that you would make a lovely addition of art to my collection."

Raising the rod up into the air, she started to chant in an archaic language. Clouds gathered above her head, thick as ink. As she finished chanting, she looked down at Usagi. "Now, my little princess, I will not wish you a good night."

The clouds raced towards Usagi as she screamed in horror. The clouds whipped around her, engulfing her in darkness. Fighting it as best she could, she found herself weak. Overwhelmed, she collapsed.

Beryl laughed. Her greatest enemy was encased in a dark glass box, sealed for all eternity.

There was a gasp behind her. Turning, she found Shingo and the senshi that she had captured. "And so, the rescuers arrive a little too late," she said triumphantly.

Shingo stared at the box that enclosed his sister. Anger built rapidly as he looked at Beryl, who stood with a large smirk on her face. Unable to bear the thought that his sister was trapped, he let the anger grow, until it took over. Raising his hands, he let power crash out of them towards Beryl.

Taken by surprise, Beryl was hit with the power. Gripping the rod tighter in her hand, she raised it once more. The power that Shingo had hit her with disapaited, leaving thin trails behind her, also disappearing.

The senshi had watched in shock when Shingo attacked Beryl, but seeing her with no discernable injuries, the shock turned to horror. They watched in fear as Beryl began to chant again, bringing the clouds back. The senshi tried to transform, but there was no connection to the powers. Frightened, they looked at Beryl, who unleashed the clouds.

Surrounded by the darkness, the senshi and Shingo tried to fight, but were soon exhausted, losing the battle.

Beryl laughed again. "I should have done this sooner."

******

[1] According to the dictionary I have at home, Motoki means 'original spirit' or 'original intention.' Mithra is the god of light and wisdom.

[2] I admit it. I am one of the world's biggest Spartan fans. Go MSU!!!

[3] Itsumono Kashikoi means 'wise always.' Minerva is the goddess of wisdom and war.

[4] Yojin Suru means 'be watchful.' Janus is the god of beginnings. He was believed to have presided over the beginning of the new year.

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