Chapter 334

The two sides starred at each other. Seven warriors on one side, sixteen on the other.

Guardian Moon grinned slightly.

"Well..far be it for me to attack a girl on her birthday," he said and the seven vanished.

"I'm so sick of them," Sailor Moon said angrily.

"Looks like we've missed some action," Guardian Mars said.

"Welcome back," the rest of the frustrated scouts said.

"We should have fought them," Guardian Earth said.

"We very well could have," Guardian Moon said. "However, I am learning that is better not to jump into things we are unprepared for. We will fight them on our own terms, not theirs."

"Still, it doesn't look good when we have to retreat," Earth said.

"In who's eyes? It won't matter once we've beaten them," Guardian Moon said. "Now, we've got to learn more about these latest arrivals, I am not going to fall into anymore traps."

"All right," Guardian Earth said. "So what do we do now."

"We'll see," Guardian Moon said. "For now we will just plan, but I'm beginning to have some other ideas as to how to fight them."

"Like what?"

"I'll tell you once I've figured them out."

Back at Raye's temple.

"So that's what's been happening, they really aren't acting very proper are they," Seiya said.

"Do I need to remind you guys about that day at school, remember?" Mike quickly said.

"I'm not condoning that!" Seiya said. "What am I saying is that these guys are worse, anyway, we have to stop them."

"We're open to ideas," Darrien said.

"We'll have to get a better idea of their strengths and weaknesses to provide any help in that regard," Taiki said.

"I'll tell you all about it Taiki," Amy said.

"I'm sure you will," Taiki said. "It's been a while since I've been able to hear your voice. I missed it."

The rest of the scouts all swooned. Amy blushed.

"Way to pick up where you left off there Taiki," Seiya said.

"It's nothing, I was just.." Taiki said nervously. "Never mind that! We've got serious business here!"

The rest of the scouts grinned.

"So how's your planet doing?" Mina asked.

"It's been better," Seiya said. "But everyone is rebuilding, we sensed that we were needed here, and we came."

"Yes, I think our planet can get along without for a little while," Yaten said.

"It's good to hear that things are going well out there," Serena said. "We on the other hand..are having problems."

"I suggest that you worry about those later everyone," Luna said. "This is still Serena's birthday, and the enemy won't be around for awhile I'd assume, so enjoy yourselves, at least for tonight."

"That's a good idea," Darrien said.

"I really hate them," Serena growled.

"Calm down Serena," Raye said. "We'll take care of them, but let's talk about other things."

"All right, I guess I shouldn't be so depressed on my birthday."

"We won't let you be," Raye said with a smile.

Serena smiled back.

"Well this is good news," Luna said. "We've almost assembled the entire contingent of scouts, they should be able to beat those annoying Guardians."

"I hope so," Artemas said. "Everything is spiraling out of control, I mean the scouts haven't really noticed, but the whole world is getting involved."

"We can't do a thing about that," Luna said. "We just have to stop those rogues."

"And soon too," Artemas said. "I think the scouts are doing all they can to hold this in, but this is really getting to them."

"I know," Luna said. "But maybe now we can settle this for good."

"Perfect timing huh," Mike said.

"Yeah," Steve muttered.

"Just when we thought.."

"I know.."

"I didn't think they were coming back."

"Me neither," Steve said. "And now they're here."

"Maybe it's good they didn't show up after we talked to the girls."

"Hard to say," Steve said. "Guess we're out of luck now."

"Maybe you are."

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm not giving up," Mike said.

"But with Yaten around how will you.."

"You just wait and see."

"Well I guess I can't give up if you're not."

"You're under no obligation to do that."

"Yeah, but it'll look stupid if I give up and you don't."

"Suit yourself, but I've got an easier job."

"That's what you think."

"We'll just see."

The two glanced at each other.

"I wonder...just what are they here to do?" Taiki asked.

"We're not sure," Amy said. "They haven't made it clear, we can only make guesses."

"They've attacked SDF bases several times, drained the energy out of the dark moon family, converted the negaverse generals...it seems like they're trying to eliminate all traces of negaenergy on the planet."

"Yes, that's right," Amy said. "But why would they do it?"

"Maybe they're not as trusting as you are, they've seen what it can do perhaps," Taiki said.

"But where? There hasn't been any enemy activity anywhere else."

"That's not certain, maybe these things are happening, we just didn't hear about it."

"Maybe, but even if they are out to root out evil, why attack us?" Amy asked.

"That's a bit of a mystery," Taiki said. "Though I'm sure the two of us can figure it out."

Amy blushed.

"I'm glad you have so much confidence in me, but I've had a lot of trouble so far."

"Two heads are better than one," Taiki said.

"Except in the case of mutations," Amy said.

The two laughed.

"So how have you been?" Seiya asked.

"Uh..same old, same old," Lita said.

"Something wrong?"

"No, no...this whole battle has just got me really nervous," Lita said.

"Hmm..so how's your meditation coming?"

"Ah..well..that's been going along well, I'm exploring new directions and all."

"That's good," Seiya said. "Mystical powers are useful."

"I wouldn't call them mystical."

"Well whatever they're still slick," Seiya said.

"So how have you been Seiya," Lita said preempting him.

"Me? Well, fine, seeing my planet in such a bad state was depressing, but once the rebuilding started, I felt better about it," Seiya said. "Things are going fine, and now here we are, back on prosperous planet Earth."

"Prosperous, yes I guess you could call it that," Lita said. "Most of the time."

"By the way, have the fans missed us?"

"The fans?"

"Right, Three lights fans.."

"Well..to be honest..."

"What?" Seiya asked.

"They uh..sort of all turned to the Backstreet Boys..." Lita said.

Seiya collapsed.

"Uh..sorry...but you asked," Lita said.

"They don't even speak our language!" Seiya muttered.

"Don't ask me to explain the world to you," Lita said.

Seiya sighed.

"The Backstreet Boys huh?" Yaten muttered.

"Yep," Mina said.

"Well, I never said our fans were smart," Yaten said.

"That's mean Yaten," Mina said.

"Hmm..I guess," Yaten said. "Still...the Backstreet...no I can't even fathom it!"

"I didn't want to get you all worked up..." Mina said.

"I'm fine," Yaten said calming down. "You're right, that shouldn't get to me, yet it somehow does...." he trailed off.

"You all right Yaten?" Mina asked. "You're not suffering from jet lag or something right?"

"No, no," Yaten said. "I'm feeling all right. Sorry, that's weird. So how has your life been?"

"Well, fine, I've finally been able to let my hair go back to it's original color," Mina said. "The fans missed me."

"Yet they didn't miss us.." Yaten said with a clenched fist.

"Yaten, deal with it," Mina said. "Anyway, are things okay with you, aside from this."

"I can't complain. Our world is rebuilding itself. I've been relatively happy, even if I've been experiencing occasional bouts of strange thoughts."

Mina grinned.

"That's probably just from hanging around with me."

"Oh.." Yaten said. "Yes, I guess that would make sense. Could you somehow stop that.."

Mina grinned.

"No, that's the price of admission," she said.

Yaten sighed.

"What do you say we go somewhere special right now?" Darrien asked.

"Like where," Serena said.

"Anywhere you want," Darrien said.

"All right," Serena said. "Yes, let's go somewhere quiet."

"I think I know the place," Darrien said.

"All right."

The two hurried off.

"Where'd Serena go?" Haruka asked.

"She and Darren went off," Raye said.

"Oh I see, and I understand," Haruka said. "She really isn't cut out for all this is she?"

"Honestly, no," Raye said. "But she's stronger than all of us."

Haruka nodded.

"We should stop this menace now," Haruka said.

"I'm with you, but how.." Raye said.

"There should be a way," Haruka said. "We outnumber them, we have a great deal of experience, and we work somehow well together."

"They work better together though," Raye said.

"Yes, that's true," Haruka said. "But there are ways, if we could beat them, Serena wouldn't feel so bad."

"We all know that," Raye said. "Then again, we're all trying to deal with this ourselves. These wars are so taxing."

Haruka nodded.

"We've all been fighting for too long."

"Yeah I know," Raye said. "I can't help but think it's changed me."

"It's changed all of us," Haruka said.

And as all this was occurring, several thousand miles in the City of New York, Sylia Coral sat tensely in her seat at the United Nations building.

"This is not going to go well Prime Minister," her ambassador said.

"I know it's just a matter of damage control," Coral said.

"Prime Minister Coral," came a voice from one of the UN's leadership. He spoke from the front podium.

Coral rose.

"You asked to be present when we held debate on this issue, and you are here now, we have some questions for you."

"No doubt," Coral said.

"Ambassador Churchill.." the Chairman said. Churchill rose.

"Prime Minister, just what did you think you had to gain by covering this up anyway?" he asked,

"I didn't cover up anything ambassador. We didn't know what we had for some time."

"Oh come now, these Sailor Scouts as they're called have been present for years as I understand it, and been fully recognized by your Self Defense Forces, isn't that correct."

"That doesn't mean we understood them," Coral said. "These years have been a learning process. We have had very little to be able to share with the rest of the world."

"Even though you have on staff several scientists who research these various forms of new energy sources."

Coral was getting annoyed at the fact Churchill knew almost as much as she did about these activities.

"Well?" Churchill asked.

"We saw it as an internal matter," Coral said. "We had not heard of any other attacks on any other countries."

"That doesn't matter," Churchill said. "A new potentially violent force arrives and you just keep quiet about it? And besides, this is hardly the only instance of these enemy forces arriving. In my own country of England, we have received similar attacks, though not as frequently"

"How about calling for Doctor Who to save you then?" Coral snapped referred to the hero of BBC television.

The chamber erupted into chaos for a few seconds.

"I will ignore that," Churchill said. "Perhaps you believed you were acting in your country's best interest, but now when we ask for information you still work against us. Why? And a follow up, it seems there is a very large number of attacks on your country, and indeed the city of Tokyo, just what do you account that to?"

The crowd seemed very curious.

"I have no idea," Coral said. "But then again our tourism industry is quite impressive."

Several delegates laughed.

Churchill scowled.

"Perhaps you don't realize your position Prime Minister."

"I realize it, but I don't have to like it," Coral said.

"Might I say something," The Chinese delegate said rising.

"Yes of course," Churchill said.

"Well it seems suitable to mention at this point that we have been attacked as well."

"You see," Churchill said.

"Though, not by these enemy forces they talk about, instead by Japan's own scout heroes!"

The crowd once again got rowdy.

"What are you talking about?" Coral snapped.

"Just two days ago one of our military installations was attacked," the Ambassador said.

"Are you saying they took aggressive action?" Churchill asked.

"Yes. And I can only assume it's a prelude to war."

The whole chamber erupted into chaos as every representative of every country started talking amongst themselves.

"Now...now..calm down," came another voice. The United States delegate rose.

"I don't think this is the place to throw wild accusations at each other. Now I doubt Japan's looking to start a war with anyone," he said. "Perhaps there should be an investigation and all, but I can also say that the United States understands Japan's position, being under constant threat does lead to internal secrecy, out of necessity. I believe that perhaps now we can deal with these things in a civilized manner."

"I think that Prime Minister Coral has shown a blatant disregard for civility," Churchill said.

"Stuff it," Coral said.

The crowd roared.

"Not what I would have said," her ambassador muttered.

"Darrien, do you still dream of what you can be someday? I mean even though you're in college?" Serena asked.

"Sure," Darrien said. "Of course I have to dream, because every job I get seems to explode either figuratively or literally," he said with a grin.

"I know, I'm sorry," Serena said.

"Well you don't have to apologize," Darrien said. "It's not your fault."

"I couldn't stop it."

"Yeah, but look at the bright side," Darrien said. "You've helped so many people. You always do."

"I guess when you put it that way it seems better," Serena said. "But you know, right now..it doesn't seem like helping anyone. It just seems like fighting, and this time it's not some hideous alien monster, it's humans, scouts..like us..why do they want to beat us so badly?"

"I don't know Serena," Darrien said. "But Serena, come on, you know that this will pass, everyone will stop them. And then we can keep going on with our lives, some day this fighting will end."

"I try to tell myself that," Serena said. "But every time I think we've gotten that far look what happens."

"I guess that's true, but look Serena, what about the times you have between fights, aren't they wonderful, haven't you met some really good friends? Don't you all enjoy yourselves?"

"Sure we do," Serena said. "I wish we had more days like that."

"Well part of that is up to you, whether you're going to let those jerks keep you from enjoying your life, or not."

"Guess so," Serena said. "I guess you're right, it's bad enough I have to fight them, but if they ruin it for me, they're only doing more damage."

"That's right Serena, you've been able to keep high spirits in the face of everything before, don't stop now, because even if'it's a day of peace or a year, you enjoy it."

Serena nodded.

"Darrien, you know this may be the best advice you've ever given me," Serena said.

"Glad I could help," Darrien said.

"Don't make it sound like you just jump started my car," Serena said.

"Uh what do you mean?"

Serena hugged him.

"Oh I see," Darrien said.

"You said it was urgent," General Patterson said meeting General Nagumo in a parking lot.

"Oh it is," Nagumo said. "The Diet decided to wait for Coral to leave the country before voting on a no confidence motion."

"You're kidding, they want to throw her out?" Patterson said.

Nagumo nodded solemnly.

"Why do I get the sense we're next on the chopping block," Patterson said.

"That may be not be necessary," Nagumo said. "I think they're concerned with other things."

"Still, maybe I should look for other employment."

"You were retired you know," Nagumo said.

"Yeah, and that was boring," Patterson said.

"Well, most jobs rarely have a use for a general as old as I am," Nagumo said.

"We could always join the police force."

"Don't even joke about that," Nagumo said.

The two walked into the Diet building. They found the lower house chamber to be a chaotic scene of yelling and shouting.

"Now calm down!" one of the members shouted. "Look! Prime Minister Coral has been neglecting her domestic duties in the face of all this alleged enemy action! We need a stronger leader!"

"Alleged! They blew up SDF HQ!" another member replied.

"Only part of it!" someone shouted back.

"This isn't good," Nagumo observed.

"Should we call for reinforcements?" Patterson asked.

"Now look," the first member to speak said. "The Prime Minister has been distracted by this one threat when she should be handling the complex business of government. Instead she has personally chosen to get involved in these battles, becoming injured several times, and providing overall instability, it is time for her to go!"

Many in the crowd agreed.

"Honestly," Patterson said. "They have a point."

"I know," Nagumo said. "But this whole proceeding is a bit scary in itself."

"I agree," Patterson said.

"This is the last thing we need."

"I thought we had reached that point weeks ago," Patterson replied.

"It's possible," Nagumo said.

"So what do we do now?"

"Just watch.." Nagumo said solemnly.

"How interesting," Guardian Moon said. "The entire world is falling over itself over this situation."

"We didn't want this though," Guardian Earth said. "Our mission had simple objectives, which have become more complex."

"Yes, true," Guardian Moon said. "I didn't say it was good news, however this instability does allow us a freer reign at the moment."

"Does it?" Sailor Earth said. "We are being observed even now."

"Where?" Guardian Moon said.

"I am not certain," Sailor Earth said. "It is not a feeling, it is probably more a reflection on the world's emphasis on this current situation."

"Yes, I guess it might be," Guardian Moon said. "Still, I don't like you having those feelings, it is just possible we are being watched more directly then we think. Regardless, we must make preparations. I intend to finish this, but to do it decisively we will need more help then we have. It may be possible to win with the forces we've assembled, however, I would prefer to have security."

"What did you have in mind?" Guardian Earth said.

"There is one power we haven't tapped yet, a power that we served, and could help us now achieve all that we wished," Guardian Moon said.

"I'm not following," Guardian Earth said.

"It will all be made clear," Moon said.

"Are you sure about this?" Sailor Earth asked sensing his purpose.

"I feel it is necessary," Guardian Moon said.

"The possible consequences though," Sailor Earth said.

"Have not changed for what we're doing, it is necessary," Guardian Moon said.

"I hope your judgement is correct," Sailor Earth said.

"Believe me I am more than capable of...."

Seconds later an explosion rocked them.

"WHAT!" Guardian Moon said standing up.

The four former negaverse warriors hurried into the hidden base.

"What happened?" he asked.

"We don't know," Jasen said. "It came from out there."

"Well find whoever did it!" Guardian Moon shouted.

"Of course my lord!" the four said and leapt away.

"I am growing weary of this," Guardian Moon said angrily.

"I fear the odds are getting worse," Sailor Earth said.

"Not for long," Guardian Moon said

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