Disclaimer: All rights reserved to the creators and all other affiliated persons of Ranma 1/2 and Sailor Moon, so please don't sue me.

 Fukuro of Mars wrote this last line and settled back in his chair to glance at it once more before he finished for the night. He had been working on a book detailing his personal dreams and thoughts, and this last idea had come to him one night in a dream.

Sighing in satisfaction, he closed the book and took off his spectacles. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and began to get up when a familiar voice from the doorway of the chamber made him pause.

"Uncle, what are you still doing up at this time of the night?"

"My dear... you startled me!" he replied.

She smiled. "Sorry. Are you still working on that book of yours?"

"Yes, and almost finish too."

"Are you planning to give to the Imperial Librarian or something?"

"No, no, nothing like that. Just thought that I would try to make a little bibliography about myself. I'm not hoping that anyone would even care to read it. It's just a few stray thoughts of a very old man." He looked up at her and smiled. "And you? What are you doing up?"

She blushed and tucked her head in. "Just excited, I guess."

"Hmmm? Don't tell me that Princess Mars, daughter of the great King Mars, captain of the Imperial troops is excited about a little ball coming up?" he chuckled.

"Well, I'm kinda nervous too, actually. Tomorrow will be the commemorative that will mark each planet's princess as guardian of the moon princess."

"I see. Well, I'm sure you'll do just fine, my dear."

"Yeah, I guess."

Fukuro looked thoughtfully at his niece's bowed head and wondered whether he should tell her about the unusual feelings he's been getting ever since the ball was announced to all. Perhaps it was just the senile thoughts of an aging man, but still....

"My dear..?"

"Hmm?"

"About the ball... I -uh-want you to be extra careful tomorrow night. I feel that something bad might happen and I don't want you to be hurt or anything."

"Uncle, don't worry about me. I'm sure that there will be guards posted everywhere just in case anyone from earth happens to try to crash the party or something."

"I'm not worried about the Earth people, I'm worried about you and the Imperial family. Please...just promise me that you'll be extra careful and not let all the gaiety get into your head?"

"Alright, uncle, I promise.."

"One more thing," he turned around, opening all sorts of cabinets and drawers in his large desk. After a moment he found what he was looking for and turned around to face his niece once more. He held on a piece of scroll. "One of the last remaining scroll from the Time of the Ancients. It will help you when the time comes."

"I don't understand."

"I had a dream last night. What is happening now was in my dream. I was giving you this scroll and cautioning you against something...I forgot what it was I was warning you about but, I feel that you will soon need this.."

"Why me?"

Fukuro smiled and his eyes crinkled up sadly. "You are the daughter of my heart. Despite all the stories that everyone speaks of me, you have always understood. Understand now, child."

Mars nodded, feeling uncomfortable. She had always had a soft part in her heart for her eccentric uncle and she couldn't find it in her to deny any of his requests, few that they were. And this time was no different. Silently, she accepted the scroll he held out to her and opened it carefully.

"Ky-lin will herald the arrival...?"

Fukuro stopped her and shook his head. "It is written in the old tongue. Take it with you and be sure to show it to no one. I had found it in one of the older books and failed to yield it to the Imperial Librarian. I give to you now and trust that you will keep it safe until the Queen of the Moon should require its services."

"I will, uncle."

"I know... Now go, my dear. It is late and these old bones need their rest."

She chuckled and made to leave the room. "I'll be leaving for the moon early tomorrow so I might not see you until I've returned from the party. Take care of yourself, uncle."

"As do you, my dear..." Fukuro closed his eyes after she had left and silently bid her farewell.

"...Kai, jin, retsu, sai, zen. Akuryou taisan!" Hino Rei invoked the words that would allow her to see into the fire. "Oh great fire, please let me see what the source of this new dark power is."

The fire blazed for a few moments before dividing its centre and revealing the answer to Rei's question. Rei stared into the image trying to decipher the dreamlike scene that was being played out. A monster, with the head of a dragon, the mane of a lion and the tail of an ox appeared, startling Rei out of her meditation. It stood on a background that looked to be a scroll with strange writings on it. The picture disappeared and Rei sat back on her heels trying to catch her breathe. She had recognized the image and wondered what a Chinese deity had to do with anything in Japan.

Sweat broke out from her brow and she wiped it away before getting up. She went to the kitchen and fixed herself a late evening snack, still wondering what the image in the fire meant. And it still didn't answer her question.

For about a week now she and the cats have been getting strange vibes... kinda like the feeling she gets whenever the Negaverse was involved but this time it was different. The strange feelings she's been getting were also accompanied by another feeling... a foreign one that she had never felt before in her whole life as a scout. It was stifling, which meant that it was powerful.. but she can't tell whether it was a threat or a friend. Whatever it was, she was a little reluctant to voice out her thoughts, in the hopes that it was only Usagi or rather Princess Serenity that she was feeling. After the fight with the Pharaoh 90 and that situation over Galaxia, Usagi was even more stronger that before. But still.... Rei wasn't convinced. She decided to talk it over with Luna and Artemis before telling the other scouts.

She shut the kitchen lights off and went to her bedroom.

End of chapter one

By Mia

Email: kenshin_oro@hotmail.com