But thanks go to many, many people for giving me the inspiration and the characters and settings, to brighten up my destitute life. You know who you are, and if any one is curious, read the disclaimer before my other chapter.

Read on – if you’re crazy. If you’re not crazy – why not? Come, join us in the asylum!

Email, criticisms, jewellery, marriage proposals, monetary donations, thermal detonators etc. can be directed to luna_dreamscape@hotmail.com

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Walking in the sunlit paths of the park, she watched the autumn leaves drift to the ground before her feet, a half smile tinting her features. Usagi was alone, walking home after school later than most people, as she had spent most of the afternoon in detention, yet again.

She sighed, wishing she could go to the arcade. Homework beckoned however – her mother was not impressed by Usagi’s sloth-like habits anymore.

"Hey girlfriend," called the voice of a friend, a very blonde chick running towards her. For some stupid reason, Minako was still dressed in her school uniform, and she carried her school bag in the hand she wasn’t using to wave at Usagi. With her hair flying up like a streamer, Minako reached Usagi in a few seconds, with a smile on her face as large as the ocean, as bright as a star.

"Have you seen Mamoru today, Usagi?" she asked, her tone light and conversational. "You guys are almost always never apart – so where is he? I want to ask him something."

"Like what?" she asked suspiciously, just a bit paranoid. Usagi had never been much of a jealous person, or particularly possessive of Mamoru (except when it came to Rei, of course) but she still didn’t want any of her friends becoming a close friend of Mamoru's.

"About Tuxedo Kamen – because he remembers everything, right? I just want to know if he can still become Tuxedo Kamen, now that the Moonlight Knight is gone. If the Dark Kingdom ever shows up again, we’ ll need his help."

"The Dark Kingdom? Give me a break, Minako – they’re never coming back, we totally dusted them! They got a taste of moon power, and they know better now."

"Maybe," replied Minako, unconvinced as she looked at the sky. "But I can’t help but wonder. Artemis hasn’t said anything, but…"

"He’s a cat, Minako. Okay, so, maybe he can talk, but y’know, he’s not so smart."

"Smarter than you Usagi," came a snide voice from behind the girl. She screamed and turned on Rei with blazing eyes.

"What are you doing, sneaking up on people like that!" she screeched.

The dark haired girl smiled sarcastically, her eyes filled with an emotion Minako couldn’t quite read. "Mamoru’s looking for you, meatball head."

"Don’t call me that!" she whined, looking at Minako for support. But her blue eyes were elsewhere, and Usagi could see two figures in the distance, though she didn’t recognize them. "That’s Mamoru’s nickname for me – you’re not allowed to use it!"

Rei turned her head haughtily, and said, "You’re such a baby, Usagi. Come on, Minako, let’s go."

Looking at Rei, Usagi saw she was still in her school uniform, and she suddenly wondered why on earth Rei wasn’t at the temple, working as per usual. "Where are you going? And where’s Mamoru?"

Minako appeared somewhat embarrassed. "Well, the other Senshi and I have been taking skating lessons together…we would have asked you, but you don’t seem to be interested in anything but Mamoru these days."

"That’s not true!" exclaimed Usagi, looking at Rei for an affirmative back up. She needn’t have bothered – she and Rei may have had respect for each other, but that didn’t mean they had to like each other.

The two distant figures were now in view – Usagi recognized one – it was Ami. The other girl was tiny, but slender, with shoulder length dark blonde hair cut in layers around her face, wearing the same school uniform as what Minako wore. Ami and Usagi went to the same school, while Minako and this new comer went to another. Rei’s school was even further away.

"Hey, Rei – did you tell Usagi that Mamoru’s looking for her? And, oh, Makoto’s meeting us at the rink."

"She’s got something to do at home first," added the girl, brushing her hair from her brown eyes. She looked curiously at Usagi. "So this is Usagi?"

Rei smiled, and nodded. "Meatball head, yep, that’s Usagi."

"Rei!" whined Usagi. "Do you mind…"

"Of course not, Usagi – torturing you is my only fun these days since Allan and Ann left."

The girl, who looked somewhat embarrassed to be in the middle of a fight, said with a queer look on her face, "Who are Allan and Ann?"

"Just old friends," Ami said, looking at Usagi, as if to warn her. "They used to go to our school, but they left about a month ago. Anyway, Usagi, I’d like you to meet Phoebe Loxley, she’s one of Minako ’s friends from her school. She’s been coming with us to the rink, since you couldn’t."

"But you never ever told me – how did you know that they told me, anyway?"

"It was a deal," spoke up Minako. "We said we’d tell you, before Ami and ‘Sena got here."

Still looking uncomfortable, Phoebe said in her low voice "Let’s just go – Makoto is probably waiting for us."

Rei shrugged, and nodded. "Yeah, come on. Usagi, Mamoru’s up the street, at the arcade. I think he’s talking to Andrew. We ran into him just as Minako left to find you. See ya."

Usagi watched her friends, and Phoebe, take off.

Rei laughed as she watched Minako fall on her butt for the thousandth time that session, and the teacher sighed. They were fortunate – their teacher was Miisha, an ice skating champion. He had reverted to teaching in the off season, but his students were driving him bananas. Especially Minako and Rei, who seemed more interested in seeing who could go the fastest around the rink. But even if he so much as mentioned a speed skating class instead of figure skating, they whined to be given another chance. Then they would calm down – for about ten seconds.

It was Makoto and Phoebe who made it all worth it – both were extremely talented girls, in their own styles. Makoto was more flamboyant than Phoebe, but Phebes knew how to move with a controlled grace that could twist someone’s heart in knots, just watching her. She skated like a mournful princess, a broken royal. Miisha loved to watch her skate, almost as much as he adored watching Makoto. He just wished sometimes that he did need a new partner – but Janerin was perfect for him.

Ami swung into a pirouette, then stopped to consult a book that told how it should be done. The screeches of Rei and Minako could still be heard in the background.

"Okay, class is finished!" shouted Miisha, finally had enough. "Time to get off the ice, girls."

Rei chased Minako, who promptly crashed into the side of the rink, bringing Rei down with her. Ami skated to the side, and continued to read as she did so. Because of this, she didn’t see Makoto, and the pair splattered on the ice. Miisha had to sigh – this was the standard end to his class. But he had to admit, these five were never boring.

The other four gone, only Phoebe was left on the ice. The music that had played during class was switched off, but as the others watched her dance across the surface, they swore they heard the music she felt so deeply in her heart.

"Phoebe!" called Miisha. "That’s enough – the rink’s closing in ten minutes."

"Sure…" she called, out of breath. Two leaps later, she skated to the edge and got off. Sitting down to pull off her boots, Phoebe seemed quiet. It wasn’t highly unusual, though. Phoebe had always been quiet, ever since Minako had known her. Both had transferred to the school at the same time, just weeks after Makoto had joined Usagi’s school. They had become fast friends, though Phoebe was always somewhat reserved. Minako didn’t actually know where she had come from, for Phoebe never spoke about it. It was obvious, though, that she had a tremendous talent for ice-skating.

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The sky was streaked with pink and orange as the five walked out of the building, Rei and Makoto bubbling with how cute they thought Miisha was. Minako was concerned about Phoebe, however. "Hey girl, what’s up? You look so serious…and that skating today…it was really great, but it was so sad. Where did you get the inspiration for it?"

She smiled oddly, looking at the sky. "My life."

There was an almighty beep, scaring all the girls out of their wits. Mamoru’s dark head leaned out of his car window, his dark blue eyes shadowed by thick black sunglasses. "Do you guys want a ride?"

"Where’s Usagi?" asked Rei curiously, walking up the window. Looking inside, she saw no Usagi.

He took off his glasses, and smiled. "I’ve already dropped her off – and I saw you guys as I was driving home. So, do you want a ride?"

"Yeah," said Makoto, hopping into the car. The others followed suit, all except Phoebe, who remained on the side of the road.

"Phoebe, aren’t you coming?" asked Minako. "It’s okay – Mamoru will give you a ride to your place, won’t you Mamoru? Mamo-chan?"

All four watched open mouthed as the pair stared at each other, Phoebe pale and silent, eyes very wide. Mamoru’s face was similar – it was as if the pair were looking at each other and seeing ghosts.

"Are you guys…okay?" asked Ami tentatively. "Mamoru-sama?"

"I’m okay…" he mumbled, then spoke up. "Do you want a ride, Phoebe?"

"Yes…" she replied slowly, not taking her eyes from his face. He was the first to lower his gaze, and she got into the car quietly.

"Where do you live, Phoebe?" asked Mamoru, putting the car in gear. As they pulled away from the curb, he put his glasses back on. Ami, in the front seat, was unnerved to notice that his hands were shaking.

"On Kamen Avenue," she answered quietly, looking out the window. "It’s hidden by trees, at the end of the street. It’s a large house – it was once owned by Masato Sanjouin."

There were two audible gasps, from Ami and Rei, and the car temporarily swerved before Mamoru got it back under control.

"What – did you guys know Mr. Sanjouin or something? We were told he was a businessman who mysteriously vanished from the country. His affairs were left under the jurisdiction of my father’s friend, who let us buy the house." She looked out the window, and added, "I always wondered what happened to him."

Ami and Rei simply looked at each other, while Mamoru fell silent, in uneasy thought.

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Phoebe stepped out of the car, and waved to the others left in it, then walked into her huge, lonely house. It was filled with the contents that its previous owner had left, all except one room. A grand hall stood completely empty.

It was into this room that Phoebe walked, and as she moved, her uniform elongated, grew darker in colour, until she wore a long, green dress, her feet encased in high heeled black boots. A lightweight gold circlet, worn like a sailor Senshi tiara, adorned her head. Her steps were heavy, her face grim.

"Stars know everything," she murmured, and watched as the room grew darker, the stars that had spoken to Nephrite coming out to play. She looked at them with a heavy heart.

"Waterbearer Aquarius – I seek your wisdom, to lay peace to my heart. Please, as princess, I command you, come forth."

She lowered her head, crossing her arms over her chest, as Nephrite once did. Her powers were different to his, but in this room, his power still existed, and she would use it to its full potential.

The stars moved slowly, lethargically, to form the pattern of the stars that related to the constellation of Aquarius.

"I ask of you – send me a messenger, one whom I can trust to bring me the necessary energy that I need – Aquarius, I command you, as the heiress to the power of Nephrite."

A figure stepped down from the star-crossed ceiling, a tall man with long blond hair, like an elf. He wore a long blue robe, and in his hand, he carried a long staff.

"Phenakite – I haven’t heard from you in some time. I guess you know what become of the Dark Kingdom now, don’t you?"

Lowering her head, so he would not see the tears glistening in her eyes, she said hoarsely "That is not why I summoned you, Aquarius. Virgo has already told me the story, she sees much from her sector."

The pale faced star warrior shrugged, and tapped his staff on the floor three times. A plume of smoke rose from the ground, forming into a vaguely humanoid shape. "This is one of my greater servants – she should serve you well, Princess."

"Whatever, Aquarius – I don’t care. What I do care about is the question – can she get me enough energy? Without hurting too many humans in the process."

"Phenakite – look at you, you’re fading away into nothing. You need energy to live, and the way you’re going is just not going to work. You’ve spent all this time only taking snippets of energy from hundreds of people – and it’s not enough to keep you alive. You need more if you are going to survive."

The smoke became a tall, silent woman, with skin the colour of peaches. Her hair was short and auburn, curling around her ears. She wore a robe similar to that of Aquarius, but her hands were webbed.

"This is Siren," he said, a smile on his face. But he also looked concerned. "I have commanded her to get for you only the best energy. It’s time to stop fooling around, Phenakite."

"But I never wanted to hurt anybody," she protested weakly. Aquarius sighed impatiently.

"She’ll get that energy for you – you know you need it." He stepped back into the swirling universe, and said, "She’ll return to me only when you have recovered."

With that, the room plunged into darkness.

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Usagi laughed as Naru told her how Melvin had leaped out of his seat at the movies, and told every person within a ten mile radius that he and Naru were in LOVE and they were getting married – over the Internet.

"Don’t laugh, Usagi," snapped Naru. "It wasn’t funny – I was so humiliated!"

Luna jumped on Usagi’s bed and curled up, to have a snooze, trying desperately to ignore Usagi’s high-pitched hyena giggling. She leapt up two seconds later, however – Usagi’s communicator had gone off.

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Mamoru had been in the process of taking the others home when the accident had happened.

Rei was giggling in the back seat, Ami was reading up front, while Minako and Makoto discussed with Rei the cuteness of Miisha. Ami was uneasy as she read – she wondered why. Of course, there had been the whole thing about Masato Sanjouin, but it shouldn’t have been anything to worry about. After all, a house was just a house. It didn’t mean anything.

"What was it about Phoebe, Mamoru?" asked Ami quietly, as so the giggling trio in back couldn’t hear.

"I’m not sure, Ami," he replied in a low voice, his words oddly strained. "It was just…I felt like I knew her. But I couldn’t think where…it’s just too weird for me."

"You can say that-" began Ami, but she never finished the sentence. Mamoru had swerved off the road, and into a tree that stood by the pavement. For there had been a figure in the middle of the road, and she had refused to move, even though Mamoru had been coming at her at 50kmph.

"Oh, god!" screamed Rei from the backseat. "Is everybody okay? Mamoru? Ami?"

"We’re fine," said Makoto shakily, as Minako clutched her arm. "Since we were in the backseat…"

"Ami and Mamoru," moaned Minako. "Quick, we have to help them."

Rei tried desperately to open her door, but it wouldn’t budge. Makoto tried to lean over the tangle of the front seats, but couldn’t. They were sealed off from Mamoru and Ami.

"My door is opening!" cried Minako, and she promptly fell out as it suddenly gave way under the pressure of her weight. As she lay sprawled on the pavement, the other two leapt out over her, and checked on the pair.

Ami’s door opened without anyone getting near it, and she stood up shakily. "I heard you guys – I’m fine. But Mamoru…he needs a doctor, fast! He’s bleeding, and unconscious…and…what happened, you guys? Just what on earth happened?"

Before anything else came about, Minako let out a shriek. The others turned in shock to see her being held in a vice like grip by a tall woman in blue, her hand around Minako’s neck. The others could see the energy leaving her body.

"Youma," Rei whispered in shock. "You guys…it’s a youma!"

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Usagi dropped the phone in shock when she heard what Rei was saying. "Usagi, you have to come, quick! There’s a youma, and it has Minako – there’s been an accident. Mamoru’s…hurt. Usagi, we need Sailor Moon now! I have to go – Jupiter and Mercury need me."

She looked, horrified, at Luna, and picked up the phone with shaking hands. "Naru – something just came up."

"What – what are you talking about, Usagi? What’s going on?"

"I’ll call you back, Naru," she said, with a choked sob. She hung up the phone, then looked at her communicator for the co-ordinates of where Rei had called from.

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Across town, at the deserted street where the accident had happened, Rei turned the communicator off with a shaking hand. Taking her powerstick, she shouted "Mars power, make up!"

Her transformation was bold, and bright with flaming circles of fire lending to her the grace and authority of her planet. She was in no mood to admire the scenery, however. She joined in the attack on the monster, who had by now released Minako, who lay unconscious on the concrete road. As Mercury tired to help her, Jupiter, unafraid as her spirit taught, faced the monster.

"That’s the last energy you’re ever going to steal," she shouted, face twisted in anger. She was very protective of her friends, and she had by now realized that this monster had probably had something to do with the accident in the first place.

The girl looked at Jupiter, no visible emotion on her face. It her hand was a crystal ball, containing in it the energy she had taken from Minako by force.

"I’ll vouch for that," snapped Mars, swinging into battle mode. "FIRE SOUL!"

As the fire exploded from her hands, the youma-girl continued to watch calmly. Her right hand snapped up, and a wall of water caused a barrier through which the fire could not pass.

"What gives?" cried Mars, looking at her hands helplessly.

"Water will always defeat fire," said Siren, looking at the energy crystal critically. "Who else wants to donate their energy?"

Looking at the trio, she obviously realized that these three would not be willing volunteers. She looked over to the ruined car, and before any girl could so much as flex a finger, was at Mamoru’s side.

"Hold it!" screamed a voice from beside the car, as Siren began to take the energy of the injured man. She turned curiously to see Sailor Moon looking at her with eyes of anger and pain.

"I am Sailor Moon, champion of justice – and I say, leave him alone! On behalf of the moon, I will-"

"Don’t bother," snapped Siren, taking her hands off Mamoru, looking disgusted. "His energy is too weak, anyway – I need powerful energy…like yours, my dear. Would you do me a favour?"

"Like what?" she asked cautiously, as both Jupiter and Mercury joined her side. Mars helped Minako to her feet, but she was still exceptionally weak.

"Kneel down, girl – submit to power, submit to the power of the stars. I have been sent on a mission for my mistress, and I shall fulfil it, no matter who you are, or what your mission is."

"I am Sailor Moon, sworn enemy of the Dark Kingdom…and I don’t know who you are, or what you think you’re doing, but this is it – you’re finished."

"Let them go," came a thick voice from the shadows, and the others were suddenly aware of a group of civilians standing around in shock. Most had heard the crash, but still more had been drawn by the sounds of the Senshi.

The person who had spoken was in darkness, clothes and face hidden by a long, deep maroon cloak with a thick hood. It was impossible to tell if it were male or female.

"What’s going on?" asked a young girl from the crowd, unnerved by the tall, inhuman female. "Isn’t that Sailor Moon?"

"And the Sailor Senshi…three of ‘em, anyway. I guess that blonde girl was in the car," added a male voice.

"I said, let them go," continued the cloaked figure, overriding the nervous conversation of the others.

"Phenakite…" Siren said suddenly, eyes very wide. "What are you doing?"

"I command you," the figure said in a shaking, female voice. It sounded to everyone as if she were near tears. "Just drop it and go." It turned blindly and ran from the group, and too shocked to move, everyone simply let her go.

Siren looked at the Senshi, then at the group. Without warning, it rose into the air, and the crystal loved above her, above the group of innocents. "I’ll seize your energy," Siren snarled, ignoring the Senshi, and concentrating her mind on their energy. "I’ll do it – for her, and my master!"

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Sobbing as she ran, Phoebe stumbled further down the street, falling to her knees. Her energy was very weak, she needed what Siren could have given her. But it had almost made her sick to see who one of those Sailor Senshi had been supporting. The other three must have made it home already – but what about Mamoru? Where was he? Unless, of course, she was right about the four…if the energy she saw in their hearts was what she had always believed it to be.

Her humanoid form, of the schoolgirl Phoebe Loxley, was shimmering…her powers were growing weak, and she couldn’t hold it forever. But it was safer to be a schoolgirl, rather than a princess-like woman roaming the streets. But still…she needed energy. Or she would die. Within a few minutes.

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As the bubbles of Mercury struck the creature, it backed off with a howl of pain – it had been taken by complete surprise. Jupiter looked at the shining crystal, for a second transfixed by its beauty. Then she leapt into action.

"Guardian Jupiter," she began, closing her eyes and crossing her arms. A conductor rose from her tiara, lightening sparking off its surface. "Help me release Minako’s energy…Supreme thunder!"

It shattered the crystal as it penetrated the sparkling surface, and the immaterial energy wound its way back into Minako, who opened her eyes slowly. Mars let her stand on her own, and looked to the others. "Let’s super team her, guys."

"Wait for me," said Minako quietly. "You need me."

"You’re not strong enough – besides, we have company," argued Sailor Moon, but this gave Siren all the time she needed. Producing another crystal from the air, she absorbed the energy from the shocked audience. As they crumpled to the ground, Minako made her decision. "Venus Power, MAKE UP!" she cried, energy spurting forth from her upraised powerstick in the form of a star chain. She swung it around, absorbing the energy into her body, before a shower of sparks completed the process.

"Let’s go!" she shouted, and she was supported by the others.

"Crescent beam!"

"Supreme thunder!"

"Shabon spray!"

"Fire soul!"

"Moon scepter illumination!"

The five powers joined in a spectacular display, and the apparition howled in pain. "I’ve ruined her…I’ve ruined her…"

She exploded in a horrifying array of red sparks, and Sailor Jupiter leapt forward to grab the crystal that she dropped, before it could shatter on the concrete.

Sailor Moon ran to the car, but she stopped by Makoto, who handed her the crystal. Sailor Moon was shocked to realize that all four had transformed back. A distant siren wailed in the distance.

"About time," murmured Ami, moving to the car.

Makoto looked at Sailor Moon. "You have to destroy this crystal – otherwise these people won’t recover. But first – did you hear what that…that thing said?"

"About what?" she asked, eyes wandering to the car where Mamoru lay. By now, all three of the others were with him, trying to help him in any way possible.

"That girl in the crowd…she called her Phenakite…and the cloaked girl said she commanded that creature."

Sailor Moon paled. "You mean – she’s like the others? Jadeite…Nephrite…Zoisite…Kunzite?"

"Some one’s survived," she said quietly, eyes worried. "We have to find her – but we can’t come with you, Sailor Moon. We have to stay here, because we were in the accident with Mamoru."

"I can’t leave him," she cried, looking at the car. "How come he’s so badly hurt, and you’re not?"

"His airbag failed when Ami’s didn’t…and we three were in back. But Sailor Moon – the ambulance is almost here!"

"Come on," said Luna, and Artemis, who had just appeared with Luna on the scene, agreed. "They’ll take care of Mamoru, Usagi."

Her mind made up for her, Sailor Moon threw the crystal hard at the concrete, taking out her frustrations on it. The energy returned to the people, but by the time the ambulance had arrived, very late by anyone’s standards, Sailor Moon had disappeared.

______________________________________________________________________

With only Luna and Artemis at her side, Sailor Moon had to wonder just how she was going to find this Phenakite…then she heard the sobbing from the park just over the fence. Leaping over it with a supernatural grace that her powers gave her, she landed in the park, to see a girl kneeling with her head in her hands, at her side a body, motionless. The girl wore a cloak…the colour and style of the Phenakite’s.

She looked up in shock, and with a cry, she ran from the stunned Senshi. She gave chase at Luna’s insistence, tripping on a rock in the path. By sheer luck, she managed to take Phenakite down with her. In anger, Sailor Moon ripped the cloak from the girl, screaming "Who do you think you are?"

Her gasp was heard everywhere…but her next word was barely above a whisper. "Phoebe..?"

"Leave me alone," she said, her eyes sad and angry at the same time. "Do you think I wanted to do that to him? I’m only trying to survive!" She looked at her suddenly, realizing what she had just said. "My name...how did you know my name?"

"It’s me…" whispered Sailor Moon. "I’m Tsukino Usagi."

Smiling sadly, Phoebe let her humanoid form fade, until she became Phenakite, dressed in the green velvet dress, and gold jewelry. Unafraid, Sailor Moon sat down across from the girl, her eyes soft. Phenakite laughed, almost like a child. "I guess I’m not the only one with a secret, after all."

"You’re from the Dark Kingdom, aren’t you? Oh, it’s a stupid question, I guess, but…well…"

"It’s okay, Usagi," she said with a choked sob. "Yes, I am from the Dark Kingdom…from the same place as the four generals you got entangled with," she added, and then fell into a moody silence.

"So…why are you here? On earth, I mean. I thought we had destroyed the Dark Kingdom…besides, you’ve been here for ages, ever since Minako first came to town. That was when the Dark Kingdom had all seven crystals…"

"Yes," she agreed quietly, picking idly at the blades of grass. "I left then…it was when I realized he would never leave…him…"

"Who?" breathed Sailor Moon, instantly drawn into the story.

Looking to the stars, she heaved a long, heavy sigh before beginning her tale.

"I am ten thousand years old…and I am a princess, or at least I was. I was the daughter of a race of noble people, but they were destroyed by the evil of Queen Beryl and her minions. I was the only known survivor of my race, though I am sure others must have lived…I live in constant hope.

"I was Princess Phoebe Loxeriam, but they took my ancestral name, and twisted in into Phenakite, making me one of them. I think it was their plan, to make me into one of their generals, but they changed their minds…I became Beryl’s adoptive daughter, and I was to take the throne if anything happened to her before she could produce an heir naturally.

"So, there I was, orphaned then adopted, living in a world I hated. My people, as do many species of the Dark Kingdom, cannot generate their own energy. Luckily, the people of Queen Beryl supplied me well…it was their belief that I would be their messiah, and overthrow Queen Beryl. And I liked the sound of that, for I despised her. I would have done anything to get rid of her.

"But then I did a very stupid thing. I fell in love." Once again, an uneasy silence fell on the pair, but Sailor Moon pressed on, desperate to know.

"Love? What was so wrong about falling in love?"

"Because of who it was," she said quietly, looking at the stars again. Sailor Moon could see the tears shimmering in her eyes. "I fell in love with the worst person I ever could have."

"Who?" she asked, drawn deeply into Phenakite’s sad story. She had forgotten that she was from the Dark Kingdom, because Phenakite seemed so fundamentally human. There was nothing in her demeanour that had any similarity to any of the four generals that had served Queen Beryl.

Looking wistful, with a sad smile on her features, she continued. "He crashed into my life like a runaway star…they told me he was the one who would train me to be a Dark Kingdom warrior. This was before they realized that I wasn’t a warrior. But…I would have become one, for him. I…it was he who caused my mind to falter over dethroning Beryl. Because he was so loyal to her, he admired her so much. I couldn’t destroy the person whom he idolised…because I loved him, and I couldn’ t hurt him. Not like that."

"Who was it?" asked Sailor Moon again, now really interested. She knew that Phenakite was not lying – she was telling the complete truth.

She had to take a deep breath before she would speak again, then she went on. "He was in love with someone else…and I found it out too late, too late…of course, I had always known that they were unusually kind to each other, they were hardly ever apart, and they were always together and helping each other out, but I just…I never suspected that he was…it was just…"

Understanding penetrated her brain as the jumbled pieces suddenly fell into place. "It was Kunzite, wasn’t it? But he loved Zoisite, didn’t he?"

With a sob, she nodded, her heart breaking in her chest. "Yes…I never knew that he loved Zoisite that way, though I suspected it Zoisite loved him, for he was so effeminate. It wasn’t until the little ‘life so changed incident’ that I began to suspect a change…but when Beryl punished Zoisite again, I thought it was finished. I believed Kunzite would never go for that type, no matter what their history had been." She laughed bitterly. "Well, I sure was wrong." She added quietly, bitterly to herself, "And I don’t know why I did what I did. Oh Leucite, you fool…"

"So…you loved him…what did he say when you told him?"

"Told him?" asked Phenakite incredulously. "Sailor Moon, I never told him – he loved Zoisite, it was obvious. I tried to tell him one day, truly I did…I asked him about Zoisite, meaning to weave into the conversation somehow that I would take his place…but he was so happy, and so proud of Zoisite…he believed in all he did, and that’s love, real love…I couldn’t do that to either of them. Ruin what they had, I mean."

"So you never told him…and you never challenged Beryl."

"I just didn’t have the heart, not after what had happened to me. I couldn’t destroy Kunzite’s life by taking away Queen Beryl, because I knew that the others would insist on executing the remaining Kings. I couldn’t do that…for they knew I loved him. They would take Zoisite away, and kill him, leaving Kunzite to me. But I knew I would never do that to him…he loved Zoisite so much, and a part of me knew that he would never love me in that same way. I also knew that if I killed Zoisite, it would kill Kunzite."

"So you left the Dark Kingdom?"

"Yes…I still remember clearly my last moments there. I spoke with Zoisite, and I was stunned to learn that he knew. Yes, he knew how I felt about Kunzite, don’t ask me how. I went to his chambers to…well, actually, I don’t really know why. Something drew me to him, and I thought at the time that maybe I just wanted to see the one Kunzite loved, just one more time. To try and see myself why he was better than me.

"Now, I know the kind of opinion you guys held of Zoisite, but truly, he wasn’t as bad as you found him to be. Of all the people in the Dark Kingdom, Zoisite was probably one of the most respected, and not because people feared his temper. The only person he got along with infamously unwell was Nephrite – and I’m not entirely sure why. I don’ t think anybody actually knew why, to tell you the truth. But, my point is, Zoisite was fairly easy to have a conversation with, as long as you didn’t get political. We talked about Kunzite, mostly…he was actually sympathetic to my situation, though I knew that if I tried to take Kunzite from him, Zoisite wouldn’t hesitate in harming me to keep me away.

"Zoisite wished me luck as I left – and I believe he meant it. Though I wasn’t to find out until much later, Zoisite would be dead less than a week after that conversation."

Phenakite looked to the dewy grass, once again quiet. Sailor Moon was the first to speak again.

"I think I can guess the rest…you left the Dark Kingdom without saying goodbye to Kunzite, or telling him the truth. You took on the form of a Tokyo schoolgirl, and managed to avoid the Dark Kingdom for a long time."

"Except for the fact that I was living in Nephrite’s old house…but that was the only way I could get energy, or information about my home…and Kunzite. But I tried to live without him, and…" Her voice trailed off, then gathered strength again. "I still remember the day. I had been feeling odd for several days beforehand, like my heart had lost a part of itself somewhere along the way…it just felt so empty. Then, I felt it. A great disturbance in the power." Closing her eyes, she looked up again, and Sailor Moon could see the tears dripping in two rivers down her pale cheeks. "I got home, and asked Virgo, my contact with the Dark Kingdom, what had happened.

"She told me Beryl was dead."

Shaking her head, she looked very pale as she recounted the feelings that had overwhelmed her. "I knew then, without him telling me, that Kunzite was dead, too…he would never let his Queen die, for he was a loyal general, right to the end. He was no coward."

"You must have been heartbroken," gasped Sailor Moon, remembering her own separations from Mamoru, temporarily forgetting that she had been the one who had killed Kunzite, but mainly out of self defense. Her heart twisted as she thought his name. Mamoru. She had to find Minako and the others, and see him. But she knew in her heart that he was alive. She would be able to feel it if he had died.

"And in all that time, I had never known that Zoisite had died…I used to think that if only I’d stayed, I could have taken Zoisite’s place. Truly, though, I knew that never would have happened. Love like that is a once in a lifetime kind of thing. He never would have loved me the way he loved Zoisite.

"Still, though, I did see have one last Dark Kingdom encounter, before Kunzite died." Sailor Moon wondered why Phoebe’s darted away from hers at this, but she kept listening. "I ran into Prince Endymion…I think it was during the whole crystal carrier redux thing. I was at my art teacher’s house, because Yumeno-san was helping me get a grip on perspective – I needed the help. And, well…Prince Endymion showed up, and he recognized me, because I had been very well known, and most of the Dark Kingdom was still looking for me, even then. We had a…nasty encounter, and we didn’t say much, except I eventually figured out that they had been 100 percent successful in brainwashing him. I never saw him again, and I doubt he said anything about me, not even to Queen Beryl.

"You know Usagi…you should go to him. Mamoru, I mean."

"But what about you?" protested Sailor Moon, looking at the princess, who smiled sadly.

"I’m through here, that’s for sure. I can’t hang around here anymore, not with you knowing who I am."

"That doesn’t mean anything!" she cried, very genuine. "Look, maybe you’re going to have to zap a few people, but that’s only to survive. You don’t have to go!"

"Yes I do," she said in quiet reply, and gazed at the stars. "Stars know everything…and they know it’s time for me to go. You saw what happened today – I could have killed someone, and that’s one of my own rules broken. I can’t risk it happening again. Besides, telling my story has just made me realise something. I’ve been hiding from myself…it’s about time I grew up, and started acting my age." She laughed suddenly, and Sailor Moon joined in. "Even if I do have ten thousand years to catch up on."

"You know, Phenakite…you’re nothing like the others."

"I should hope not," she chuckled, with real mirth. "Don’t forget, I wasn’t actually one of them – I was forced to join them."

"But, Phoebe, really – you don’t have to go. Please, stay with us."

"I can’t," she said, with real regret in her voice. "Please, Sailor Moon, could you do me one favour? One last favour? One more for the road, I guess you could say."

As the pair stood, she shook her hand. "Sure."

"Don’t tell Minako, Rei, Ami and Makoto about me…they are the Sailor Senshi, aren’t they?"

Nodding, Sailor Moon agreed, with the words "How did you know that? They never told you…did they?"

"I sense things…it’s a talent not unsimilar to the one that Luna used to find the four Senshi. But, Usagi…you have to promise me. Don’t tell the Senshi about me."

"But why?"

"I don’t want them to remember like that – for no matter what you say, they’ll only remember me as a creep from the Dark Kingdom. This way…they’ll remember me the why I want to be remembered."

"That’s not being true to yourself, though," objected Sailor Moon.

Shaking her head, she disagreed. "It’s being true to the girl I tried to be." Suddenly, the pair embraced, and both were crying.

"Where are you going to go, Phoebe?"

"I’m not sure, yet. But where ever I go, rest assured – I’ll be okay." She looked to the stars, and said in a thin whisper Sailor Moon barely heard, "Where were you when I needed you, Leucite?"

With those words, Phenakite walked away, vanishing into thin air, leaving Sailor Moon whispering her words to an empty space.

"Good luck…"

______________________________________________________________________

A witness to the accident describes the victim, a 15-year old school girl, as walking down the street, when a car spun out of control near where she was walking. The driver was seriously injured, while his four passengers were relatively uninjured. She went back to her home at the insistence of other witnesses to the original accident without investigating the scene, for several other witnesses were already approaching the car. She had been told to call an ambulance. The cyclist who witnessed the accident recounted that as Loxley was running across a street, she failed to look both ways, and was hit by an oncoming car. She was killed instantly.

In the other car accident, driver Chiba Mamoru. . ."

______________________________________________________________________

Usagi sighed and put down the newspaper, and her father looked over. "Did you know that girl, Usagi?"

"No, not really," she sighed, looking again at the article. "But some of my friends did…they’re probably just going to hear about it just now."

"Rei Hino?" asked her mother, looking over her shoulder. "Ami Mizuno…and there’s Minako and Makoto…they were involved in the accident too. Do you know this Mamoru character?"

"Only vaguely, mom…he’s a friend of Rei’s." She looked away as the phone rang, knowing it would be one of the Senshi. She had yet to find out about Mamoru, but there would be time enough for that later.

She nodded to her mom as she picked up the phone. She knew who it was.

"Hi Minako," she said.

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