Usagi was tired of living. Her friends had needed help and she wasn't there for them. They were gone. She would proably never see them again. She would relive those last terrifying seconds watching them die as long as she lived. Usagi cried for her Mamo, lost to the witch she no longer had any willpower to fight. She was cold, wet, and tired. "If I just fell asleep for a moment... if this is what I was brought here for, I wish I was never brought. I'm no fighter." A pink orb came up from behind her, and she no longer stood on the snow at the North pole, her blue boots no longer dragged patterns into the snow. She had left.

A collage of images and faces appered in front of Usagi. My friends, she thought, they have come to welcome me to the sky. She was disorented in the globe, not understanding or wanting to, that her friends had left without her.

Ami- Usagi, you are not dead, and we have not left you. We are still here, but we are lost.

Rei- Usagi, we still have our souls. We can be found again. DON'T ACT LIKE WE'RE DEAD!! Usagi smiles weakly, but Rei's face scowls

Makato- Usagi, we need to continue helping you. Bring us back. (Mako's face appears more clearly, and Minako's face smiles)

Minako- Please help us, show me how good a person I know you are (Usagi leans against the back of the bubble and falls asleep. A tear falls down her face. She is dying in her sleep).

Usagi was disoriented when she awoke in the unfamiliar room. The walls were white, the sheets were white, the ceiling was white. There was only one small disturbance coloring the whiteness-a face staring down at her.

"Good, you're awake," the face spoke, "We were afraid you wouldn't make it through the night. Now that you did, we can be sure you will see many new days."

Usagi- Huh?

Girl- You are in Obasan hospital, in Hiroshima... When you are better I will fight along side you. I am Kiko-san, I stand in place of Mars. (Pause) You look like you're about to protest. Please don't. I have had visions of your coming since I was old enough to remember, and I know you will need me. Right now it is time for you to sleep. You will learn all I know later.

Kiko places her hand on Usagi's eyes, and Usagi sleeps.

Usagi wakes again. She blinks her eyes to adjust them to the blinding light. She has only fading memories to hold on to. She calls out, unsure of herself. She remembered Rei-chan, but Rei insisted on being called something else. "Kiko-san?" she calls, and a girl with long black hair rushes to her side. "That girl must be Rei-chan," she thinks.

Usagi- I would like to know something. Please tell me, I am eager to learn how the others can be saved, even after their deaths. Did they die? I saw their bodies taken away from me, but you are alive. Why do you call yourself 'Kiko-san'. Why are they gone if they haven't left me. Their voices sound in my head, but will they ever speak again? I hear them telling me to be strong, they say: "Do not cry, we are here." Over and over. I don't cry; I feel their spirits, but I want to touch them again, to see them smile, with life...Rei...

Kiko- Shhh, I call myself Kiko because that is who I am. I guess I have to explain. Wait, be patient. I believe that in the past you were a princess. That's what I saw anyway. All the planets had a princess, but you were special. The other princess' fought for you, but because they did, they could not watch their planets, and their parents had to. A question arose, what would happen if the solgers got hurt badly or killed. On Earth the rulers had more than one son, and he would take over if anything happened to his older brother. The Queen of the planets, your mother, thought this was a good idea, so the queens of Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter all had another daughter. That is who I am. I am the solger Mars' younger sister. I don't know how to save my sister, but I don't think I'm supposed to know, either. I guess I'm a replacement, for however long it is.

Usagi- So where is everybody else? Who is everybody else?

Kiko- I don't really know for sure, but I have some ideas. I promised to tell you all I know, but right now I need to rest, and so do you. You are still weak, and lack much of the will to live. Learn from the wise. Confucious says: "a strong spirit...," oh never mind! Good night!

Usagi- I can accept that, I think. Goodnight Kiko-san. Kiko-san, just answer me this; does Mamo-chan have a brother? I think Rei-chan would like to meet him.

Kiko- Yes. He lived in Arabia before. I can let you meet him soon. He is my friend, Moshe-san.

Usagi dreams that night. She is in her Serenity gown with a small girl that has her hair style, and Mamoru staring out to sea at the sunset. The scouts were in a circle around them. For a moment, she didn't believe she could go on, and the little girl disapeared. Usagi called for the girl, and said "there will be a future," and the girl reappeared, holding the hand of "Puu" and another girl Usagi's age she calles Chime. The sun went over the horizon and the moon came out.

Usagi awoke with Chime's name on her lips.

Usagi- KIKO-san, KIKO-san! (pause) Do you know anyone named Chime?

Kiko comes running down the hall, and answers huffing, between breaths.

Kiko- Yes, Yes I do. She, huff, goes to my school. Kind of a loner. I like her.

Usagi smiles- I want to meet her.

Kiko bows- Of course. Tomorrow if you feel up to it.

Kiko turns and leaves the room. Usagi calls after her.

Usagi- Kiko, do you have anything to eat? Could I have some? Please!

Kiko grins- Yep, I have some, but since you are in a hospital, you have to ask a nurse! Check out is at nine sharp. I will come and pick you up, alright?

Kiko glides swiftly into the room at 9 sharp. She has a smile on her face, but seeing Usagi still asleep, frowns. Her gaze searches around the room, and rests on a remote. A lightbulb flashes over her head, and she hits random buttons on the control.

Usagi- AHHHHHHHHH!

Usagi goes flying around the room as the bed capsizes.

Kiko- Serves you right, princess! Sleeping in until checkout. I'm not gonna have it! You can place you money on that. Usagi-chan, I'm sorry, don't cry.

*Rei-chan- I never thought I would say this, but I think you are a really good leader*...and Usagi doesn't cry

Kiko- Bless you! I really didn't want to hear any whining. Who did you want to see? You mentioned Chime-chan, and my friend Moshe-san. If you want to see Chime-chan, we had better leave for my school soon, or we'll miss speaking to her before lunch.

Usagi- Let's go see Chime-chan, I wouldn't want you to miss any more school.

Kiko- Usagi-chan, you are so considerate! I'm sorry I sound so suprised, I'm just amazed you're not under my expectations; people generally are.

They arrived at Hiro-High about ten minutes before lunch ended. Usagi follows her friend behind some bushes and a large oak. They stare at a curious looking girl with almond-colored hair, and while brown hair isn't in itself particularly amazing, on a girl that looked exactly like Ami, Usagi was startled. She's trying to disapear behind the wall...she looks so alone.

Kiko- There's Chime-chan, standing just around the corner.

Usagi- I know. Why is she hiding. Ami-chan would never get in trouble so that she would have to hide. Sure she's a genius, and get's harrased by some stupid people, but hiding, that's not like her!

Kiko- Her brain's what's gotten her in trouble this time. Some kid wanted to cheat off her, but she refused him. The boy went crying to Pyluu-chan saying that Chime-chan told him to tell Pyluu-chan to, "eat rat poop," or something, and now Pyluu-chan is after the girl. Chime-chan should've known not to mess with Pyluu-chan's friends.

Usagi- Poor Chime-chan! You can't help but feel sorry for her. Ohh, what I'd do when I got my hands on that mean boy!

Kiko- What could you do?

Usagi- I'd scold him as Sailor Moon, have Sailor Moon keep him pinned there for five minutes or so, and then I'd leave.

Kiko- Usagi-chan! That wouldn't do anything, just make him more of a baka!

Usagi- Not so! The Negaverse is always after me, about five minutes after they notice I'm around, they're after me. When they get there, I'll be gone, but that boy will still be there!!!

Kiko- Usagi-chan,I...shhh, hide, Pyluu-chan's coming!

Usagi- Pyluu-chan? Pyluu-chan is a girl...

Kiko- Get down, dolt!

From behind bushes, Usagi saw Chime put her things away and behind a bush for safty. She stood up proudly, knowing what's comming and ready to defend herself. When Pyluu moved into view, Usagi couldn't see her face.

Usagi thinks, *Pyluu looks so dangerous. I think I'm happy I can only see her back. I don't want to get involved, but I couldn't ever let anything happen to Chime. Ami is one of my best friends and I would never betray her by letting her sister get hurt.* She stands up behind the bushes with Kiko whispering loudly to get down. Everyone stares at her, thinking she must be mad.

Usagi- You are both so stupid. You are ready to fight and you don't even have a reason. I have to protect myself from being subject to this filth, and I'm going to start now by explaining that you are incredibly stupid. Get to class, I won't have anybody getting hurt while I'm around. Chime-chan is smart, realiable, polite and brave, and she has high values, and anyone who believes otherwise is blind. You shouldn't let yourself be pushed and lied to Pyluu-chan.

Pyluu- What are you saying stupid girl? Anyone who's smart would stay out of this. Who are you to say my friend lied?

Pyluu turns around to face Usagi. A cry of "princess" escapes Chime's lip, awe mirrored in her eyes. Pyluu doesn't pause, she quickly finishes her spin and punches Usagi, stopping only centimeters from her face before she grunts, "I thought you only existed in my dreams! I thought I'd never get too meet you." Her eyes grow wide. Calming down, she speaks louder for the other people to hear what she has to say next. "Show's over. I've been put in my place." She turned away, but didn't leave; the girl didn't say she could yet.

Usagi- I am called Usagi. There is no time to speak now, and this is not the place either. Will you both, Pyluu-chan, Chime-chan, meet me after school. We should talk.

The students gawked. A new girl that nobody knew had just stopped the fight between brains and brawn, had the spirit girl behind her, and most amazing of all, they all looked as if they would die for the girl. They all looked to see what made the girls act so, but they didn't understand. Nobody in school made it to class on time.

Usagi met with Kiko, Pyluu, and Chime when they all left school. Usagi was having fun playing the new girl at school-something she had never done before because she lived in the same house all her life. She couldn't believe her luck. She was very popular, and she had met three of her team mates by the first day at school. All they needed to find now was Venus, and she always seemed to be found last. She had so many things running around in her head, so many questions and thoughts that she was dizzy with them. Why, she thought, wouldn't Kiko know Chime or Pyluu, but know Mamo's brother? If Mamo's brother was as old as Mamo was, then they wouldn't be going to school together or anything, and the girls were. How did Kiko know so much, and know exactly when and were to find her? Usagi was rather slow to pick up on many things, but she caught these. She decided to let them go for now, and drift into the wind. She would see about them later. All questions could wait for when they were together.

Usagi- I'm not very clever at setting up a plan of action, but I know that unless we train, we will never be able to defeat the monsters of the Negaverse.*and save my Mamo* We need a place to practice, and we haven't gotten one. I also need to explain some of why I'm here, I suppose. I am here because you are the legacy that was left by my friends, and your older sisters of the Silver Millenium. They have promised me that they can still be brought back, because their souls have survived. I have to go back at defeat that witch, Beryl, and complete what I started. I will need your help.

In a place above them a group of shades hovered. They were all bound and tied to the place they had 'died', and that place was with the girl Usagi. A girl of temper and fire smiled down on her. *It's about time that girl started acting like the princess she is.* The girl clothed in green thunder shook her head. *Rei, you shouldn't be so hard on her. Usa is hurt and confused, and she needs us. I want to protect her, and I feel lost because I can only observe.* *I didn't mean to be too hard on her. You know, Kiko always was the one who was quiet. She would consider everything first, and then blow up. By that time it was mostly wasted. She's so like me, but she's not. Mark me, though, she has the Mars' spirit in her.* The blue spirit girl was crying. She knew that Chime was having a hard time getting settled with the idea that she was going to have to fill in her older sister's shoes. All of the sailors' siblings were weaker in heart than their predicessors. What Rei took for her sister's thoughtfulness was really a fear, and Mako's sister only put on a hard face because she was lost in such a big world, and what else could do? Ami shook her head. She knew it would take a lot of strength of will to overcome the battle ahead. She looked over at her golden friend who was sighing heavily over whatever she was thinking.

Kiko-chan spoke up. "Usagi-chan, I have that planned. We should meet at my gym. My grandmother used to work the whole thing, but she has been bed-ridden for the last four years. I could close it up everyday between six and seven, dinner time, and we should practice then, if that's alright with everybody." The girls all agreed to it, and praised Kiko on thinking ahead so well.

They practiced hard for three weeks, and never once argued. Usagi missed the fights she had with her old friends, the fighting between their very different personalities. She even tried to instigate a couple conflicts, but all she got was Kiko saying, "Do be more careful, Usagi," or "Usagi, please remember what we're here to accomplish." Very nice. Very kind. Lacking the hot temper of her older sister, and a lot of the spirit that went with that. Whatever Usagi said, the girls all nodded and agreed. They never protested, or said that they couldn't because of some other obligation. Sometimes Usagi could tell that the girls wanted to be somewhere else, but they would never go when she pushed them. She began to miss her friends more and more. Kiko, Chime, and Pyluu were nice enough, but they seemed so much like weak shaddows of her friends. They were good fighters though. They were intellectual and planned ahead. They worked hard, and compromised easily. Usagi couldn't quite define what she thought, but she wasn't completely sure that the girls were ready for any suprises. When she discovered who the Venus warrior is, she kept it to herself. She was browsing through the teen magazine store, and saw a picture of teen idol Chutsa Karika, and immediatly knew.

Usagi met with Karika later that week, and started training with her on the side. Karika was in a Karate movie in the next month and wanted practice. Usagi said she would train Karika for her part. Before Usagi left that day, Karika came up to her and asked if she was the princess. Usagi answered that she would need all the help Karika could give her, and that they had a major battle to confront. Karika nodded, and asked if she could meet the other girls, if Usagi knew them. Usagi said that there was a time for all things, and that Karika would know when it was her time.

Kiko- Hey, Usagi-chan, wake up! You're daydreaming again. We have a workout meeting at six tonight, like you planned. Will you be able to make it?

Usagi- No, I'm going to be gone again, sorry.

Kiko- Where this time? We haven't really seen you at all lately, except for in school. Why aren't you there-you're a part of the team too.

Kiko knew that they all worked better without Usagi around. She often wondered at how much insight Usagi seemed to have. She even theorized that Usagi trained Venus on the side, and shared her belief with the group.

Usagi- I've told you before. I have busness. I'm going to go check on my family today, up in Tokyo. I hadn't planned too, but I miss them, and need to see if they're still safe. Don't look so mad. You must worry about your family too.

Kiko- I'm not mad at you visiting you family, I'm upset that you're never there anymore. We try to be there for you as a team, but we're missing a leader. Why did you have to plan your trip now? Isn't there some other time you could go?

Usagi- I'm sorry, there is no other time. Good-bye.

Kiko- Don't leave me here Usagi-chan! Don't walk away!...Stop, come back! Usagi...

Rei would never plead, Usagi thought disgustedly. She knew that she hadn't avoided the girls at all. In the month that she had been here, she hadn't yet gone to see Luna or Artimus. If anything Usagi had delayed to spend time with the girls. Usagi thought about what Kiko said earlier that day, and knew immediatly that there was a problem. Kiko acted as though the girls had needed her to hold them together. Kiko had said they needed a leader. That was wrong. The girls should have been leaders unto themselves. She knew that she couldn't be around them, and felt horrible leaving them, too. Usagi thought back to her first conversation ever with Kiko, when Kiko mentioned that the new scouts were trained not to be fighters, but to be people with ultimate rule, just under her. That was probably one reason why they always defferred to her on their final decisions. In fact, all the girls were leaders now. Kiko was head of the spiritual department in the city, very young to have so high a position, and Pyluu was pretty much the master of the school. Chime was in charge of over half the after school activities, and Karika was an idol with a very large following. Where was that power now? They could rely on themselves for so much, what made them so weak when she was arround-no, not weak, Usagi corrected herself, just way to dependant. Somehow Usagi also knew that when the final battle came, she would have to leave them to free Ami, Rei, Mako, and Minako, while she faced Beryl and free her Mamo. "Oh Mamo," she murmered, "I miss you so very much."

Usagi's thoughts abrubtly stopped when she heard a scream from the park nearby. Usagi shook her head, "A park," she questioned, "it's almost seeming redundant to say that I heard a scream in the park."

Sailor Moon confronted the damon with her usual flair, while the jelly man dressed as a 12th century knight stood back and cawed. He taunted her with words and challenged her to a game of hide and seek. "It's your favorite game isn't it, Miss Moon. Now that we have found you, it's your turn to seek us out. Beryl awaits! Don't take to long, it's the lives of the world you're gamboling with!" When Sailor Moon attacked him with her scepter, he bowed before the light and disapeared. Her time was up, and it was time for the girls to meet.

After what Usagi had observed from before, it should have been obvious the outcome of the confrontation. It was, like everything else, accepted without question. They greeted each other, and stood waiting for Usagi to say or do something. She hated that, how could she do the things she liked when she thought they might think badly of her if she did-and they wouldn't tell her either. She became brisk, and left her group stunned by saying, "Now that you've met, we go into battle tomorrow morning. ...We meet in the park," she said after a pause. There wasn't any need to be original at this point in the game.

The morning was beautiful, as if even the world was mocking their feeble efforts to challenge the witch. Sailor Moon's thoughts wandered. She left so much unanswered, and she still haddn't met the absent boy from Arabia. It was at that point that Kiko finally arrived, the last of the group there. She brought a young man with her, dressed in a white outfit, with a saber attached to his side. Sailor Moon pointed her finger in his face. "Friend or Foe?" she asked. When he nodded after friend, she nodded. With a crow of triumph, she yelled, "Ready or not, here we go! SAILOR TELEPORT!"

They arrived at the polar ice caps at the top of a huge ice crystal. Sailor Merc spotted activity going on at the mouth of a cave. She turned to Sailor Moon, and saw a pink bubble off in the distance. There was a tear on the ice, and falling in the air was a piece of green cloth. "This way scouts," she said. "From here on, we go at this alone." In the distance, a figure in white was jumping through the air after the pink dot. "Alone"

"Thank you, my friends," Sailor Moon whispered, as she dropped to the floor of the throne room. The bubble left with a silent pop.

The four scouts raced through the shadows of the tunnels, hiding when they heard noises, and following an invisible line that seemed to tug them further into the caves. They saw hideous creatures, and laughable monsters, but were never found out. "They don't expect to see us, so they won't, they aren't looking either," Sailor Jupi stated. They passed a room with figures covered in ice. Two faces looked familiar, and all the girls felt sad, for some reason. "Those people felt like old friends," Sailor Ves said, but they kept going past the frozen figures of Jadeite and Zoicite.

"For all my life, I've felt like a pawn in some sick person's game. For once, I finally feel like I have the power to control my own destiny, " Sailor Marci said over their hard breathing. "Sailor Merci, I've always held the belief that it's the people with power that lose control of their actions. In chess it's the queen who plays the most, because she has the most power." Sailor Merc expressed her beliefs while playing an imaginary chess game and moving her queen in a wide gesture. "I could care less, really," Jupi said, "Chess is for people who take time and plan before they move. We aren't doing that. Besides, I can think of a dozen better times to discuss the meaning of life-or whatever. Let's move it!" A monster shouted right behind them, "Thish way, boss! The noishe I heard vas dere!" He rounded the corner at a run with short floating woman beside him. He was a hairy white giant, and he had to duck through the tunnels. Weird looking pair the girls thought.

Woman: It's those scouts! HOW! We have their bodies locked up in reserve four! Gik, call backup!

Gik: Schouts loose un sectour dree, by Cafeteria!(there was a rumbled reply through the radio) Vell, check agiun! Zey can't be zere in Seben Be if zey are here! Video conformation? Come zee por yourself, du schvine!

The girls, happy for the monsters diverted attention took off again down the hall. The Boss squealed, "After Them!" and the chase was on. Turning down black corridors and barely making corners, with the enemies gaining.

Jupi- We're not going to make it! This is their territory no matter how stupid those goons are, they know this place, and we don't.

Ves- We can't stop! Merc, can you get a map of this place?

Jupi- We'll be able to find 7B, where they are.

Merc- I'm on it, but the image is blurred without satalite readings, and with the movement of the computer.

Marci- Merc, what we don't have is time. We need those readings now!

Merc- Left here! LEFT HERE!!

Ves- Merc, this is a dead end!

Merc- My readings show a large corridor here.

Marci- Hold your ground, guys. We have company.

Merc- Would you please watch my back a moment? I need to figure this out.

Ves- Of course. Just promise to find us a way out of here. VES IDOL RAGE!

Twin rays of light spread from her fingers leaving a trail of gold dust in the letter V, as the pointed end seared the Boss through the wrist. The other shot was dodged. The dust landed on her, and she laughed. "What was that, a carnival trick? I've got something for you. CLOWN GROAN!" She gathered energy in her hands, but it only sparked, then stopped.

Ves- That won't hold her off for long.

Marci- That was nice, Ves. If I may? MARCI SPIRIT CRUSH!

She positioned her body at an angle facing the Boss. She was still cursing disfunctional magic when the red blanket fell on her and tightened. It conformed to her body, and black dust shot through, and piled on top of it before the energy faded. The European damon goggled when at the death of his boss, he was shown, tapping insistantly on his com unit.

Gik- I zu not vant a fite, I can not vin, and ve damons aren't heroic, ur honorable. I vill leave. I von't tell vere yuu are.

Marci- Where are we?

Gik- I cannot zay. I vill let you go, but zat will kost my live!

Ves- You don't have much choice Gik. Tell us, or fight us.

Gik- Iv I go bevore Beryl, Zen I am fool bevore my people too. Du not ask agun, or ve must fite.

Ves- Then we have to fight, or we let an enemy go, not a friend. Jupi, Why don't you show our enemy your tricks.

Jupi- JUPI FIGHTER SLAY

Green nonforms converge on the spot where Gik stands, and the energy buffets him from all sides. He growns in pain, but still stands at the end of the attack. Merc shouts out her attack, "MERC BRAIN STORM." Acidic droplets fall from above, and he falls, turning to ash. "The bigger they are the harder they fall!" Ves crows. "Lets ditch this popsicle stand!"

Following Merc's now accurate directions, they found themselves in a room with the bodies of four familiar people. There were awed gasps from two of the girls.

Merc- These must be Ami-chan, Rei-chan, Minako-chan, and Mako-chan. We've made it.

A figure in the doorway called out to them. It was neither male nor female, and dressed in a starch-white jumper. It had pale gold hair, almost white, that hung loosely down it's back. The figure was colorless, it's confidece gave the overall impression of power and command. It's poise was casual and it seemed intelligent. Merc scaned the being for a weakness, but discovered nothing.

White figure- I am Grue.

There was silence. He contined as the girls all turned to face him. "I am of race far more advanced than yours. The Nix. We evolved past warfare, and lived in peace among ourselves. For us to fight one another would cause to much distruction. There were no old people, and there was no racism, we were all the same. Nix are genetically altered when they are eggs, created to be perfect. They are taught dicipline earily in life. But they made a mistake earily on. They did not realize that perfection doesn't exist. The Nix were so certain of thier positions that when a more powerful Nix was accidentally born, they thought nothing of it. So used to perfection, when the child mingled through life he was ridiculed. It wasn't smart to ridicule someone better than you. So I did what I could to get back at them. The sad ending to my story is that our planet is no longer even inhabitable. Now you are my enemy. Care to challenge Grue, destroyer of his people, last of the Nix, of the perfect race?"

Marci- Mr. Grue, we challenge you. You haven't fought anything like the SAILOR SCOUTS! For all those lost souls, we will punish you!

Grue- How do you think that you children can beat a person who has spent their entire life fighting? I've got years of practice on your pitiful time training.

Ves- It's four against one, Grue. We have been trained to work in unison. You fight something ten times as powerful as us working alone!

Grue- Ha! Show's over. NIX EL VAPOR!

The girls cried in shock as the air became thin and hard to breath. Jupi called out a rallying cry, and Merc shouted out for winds to cleanse out the area. The girls were weak. Jupi was the first to rise again, and while panting called upon her Royal Planet Lance. The strongest weapon any single girl could call passed right through his stomach. It split and fell from his unhurt body leaving the girls shocked. They had short whispered confrence, knowing instinctly that they could only win if they fought together with all their strengh together. Grue's attack buffeted them from all sides as they called upon their birthright powers.

Merc- With the hammer of JUSTICE!

Ves- Fires of the RIGHTEOUS!

Jupi- We forge this weapon

Marci- The symbol of our beliefs.

Together- MEDALION OF ROYAL TRUTH!

The broken girls unleashed this new weapon on the Nix. His shield was ripped, and he was dusted. The dead scouts spirit bonds were broken, they were freed, and buried without ceremony. There was one question left: Now that they were freed, how can we save the scouts?

finish?

Disclaimer: All characters and plotlines of Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon belong to Takeuchi Naoko, Kodansha, Toei Animations and TV Asahi. Sailor moon is not mine! The new charactors are mine, and belong to me.