"Curious...So many different beings in the same room. One could cause quite a ruckus if the need did arise."

Perched atop the rails of the balcony a lone figure watches, completely unnoticed. His black cloak flowing around him. His hood shrouding his face from view.

"Such curious events given the guests. No matter...let's get the job done."

The figure takes one last look and jumps backwards, and begins his journey through the long corridor, which at the far end sits a solitary guard watching over a beautifully ornate door.

"You're not allow--" "Sleep..." The dark being waves his hand over the guard's face, and the guards falls to the ground asleep. Taking his headset and walkie talkie, sets the earpiece comfortably, and begins to pick the lock...

'Another sleeping guard on the inside, you'd figure our dear host would take the time to hire some decent help. Ah now that's a good lock!'

The lock opens with a lock click, and the figure lets himself into the room and seizes his prize. The small silver box is placed somewhere inside the cloak, and the figure gives a bids a quick farewell to the sleeping guards and their surveillance equipment, and slips out the window, landing on one of the outside balconies, and throws his cloak aside.

'Time to mingle...'

The figure slips into the party. His garb is and obvious mimic of that the vampires are wearing. His long dark hair sitting upon his shoulders, flowing around him...and covering the earpiece of his stolen walkie-talkie.

'Now let's see how long it takes for them to find out what has happened...'

Raithe had been standing alone in a corner, encased in shadows, just the way she wanted it. No one noticed her. However she kept a close eye on everyone that passed by her. Oh, it was so boring here.....there was nothing for her to do.

Suddenly, she felt the presence of a great power. It was coming from the balcony. She recognized that signiture. It could only have been that of her husband. A long time ago she had been defeated, and captured. He had survived untouched. Could it be that he had found his way here to reclaim her, or was it simply the great amounts of energy that had drawn him here? It didn't matter, she still had to find him.

Slowly, she moved out of the shadows, and walked silently up the stairs. Once she had climbed them, she walked slowly towards the shadowed figure before her. She straightened her form, she knew it was him. Despite the fact he was her emperor...she was still nervous around him. After all, they had not been in contact for the past 1,000 years. She cleared her throat, hoping it would catch his attention.

* * *

With a sigh, he stretched out his neck. Despite a few resounding cracks he felt quite refreshed by the latest though not fully expected turns this masquerade had been taking. A few new strangers met, and a battle even. Ah, this was taking him back so many thousands of years to when he had once been the true and undisputed Elven Playking of Earth.The jacket and cloak were gone, and since he had so elegantly made his presence known--mainly done more to entertain the Sailor Senshi he knew to be present--the mask was gone for the moment as well. And now he found himself out on the expansive balcony just outside the ballroom, overlooking the beautiful shimmering oceans this palace was floating over.

"Finally!" a voice exclaimed, someone quite literally dropping in next to Chaos. "I've been all over this damned palace of yours trying to find you, Chaos. How many secret rooms did you put in this place anyways?"

Chaos grinned. "If you have to ask then you haven't found all of them. I myself was starting to wonder where you had disappeared to, Havoc. You missed Sailor Saturn's fight."

Havoc's eyes narrowed. "What?" he demanded, very unimpressed that he hadn't been invited.

Chaos raised his hands in defense. "Daijobu, Havoc. It was against some other Sailor Senshi I don't even recognize. Some Star Healer woman, all courtesy of Carnage."

"She spiked the punch again, didn't she?" Havoc said, rolling his eyes. "You'd think that after what happened the last three parties we've thrown, you'd be checking out the buffet tables every two minutes."

"Aw, but this certainly makes for a more interesting evening," Chaos scoffed. "Besides, no harm was really done--though Hysteria might be pouting for a while over nearly getting killed by a chandelier."

Havoc blinked in stunned silence. "I'm not even going to ask about that one. Look, Chaos, there's been a situation you had better come take a look at."

The sudden severity in Havoc's tone caused Chaos to sit up from the steps. Havoc set the Blade resting on his shoulder. "I found a--"

"Sir!"

Chaos rolled his eyes. "Figures. The one time I decide to relax for the evening and I'm constantly being interrupted."

He and Havoc turned back to a burly security guard in a black suit and shades standing at attention. "Sir," the man stated. "There's been an incident with some of the guards. We think an intrude might have stolen something from one of your offices."

Chaos glanced over to Havoc. "Guards? I have security guards here?" The guard looked puzzled for a moment.

Havoc cleared his throat. "*Ahem*, the illusions," he muttered to Chaos. "Remember? You spared no expense with tonight, and--"

"Ah, yes, of course!" Chaos exclaimed, nodding. "Well, it was more for the guests' sense of ease. Besides what could I possibly have here in an illusionary palace that's of worth to anyone?"

"Other than your guests?" Havoc said aside.

Chaos glanced back at him curiously. "Alright, I'm game for this. Probably something Mayhem's doing anyways. Show me what's been stolen, my good man. You coming, Havoc?"

Havoc nodded. "This may or may not be related to what I have to show you."

The two Elven lords followed the illusionary security guard up the stairs and back through the corridors of Chaos' palace.

* * *

"Wait! Come back here!" *I've got to find out what's wrong. She seemed really upset.*Makoto thought to herself. She ran off after the woman. She called over her shoulder. "Minako-chan, don't worry, I'll be right back. I'm just going to see what was wrong with that woman!"

Carnage dodged through the crowd, still sobbing. People looked at her, confused. She blew between Ami and Micheal as they tried to figure out just where Lord Chaos had disappeared to.

Nearing a wall, with the kana for Carnage engraved above it, the Elven waved a hand, and a door appeared before her. She could sense her prey running behind her. This was interesting, the prey pursuing the predator. She ran though the open doorway, and heard Makoto following her blindly.

Carnage rounded a corner and paused, hearing Makoto's steps slow, then stop. Carnage laughed, letting her dress melt into her more comfortable huntress gear. She raised a hand, causing the wall to close behind Makoto.

"The Game begins, Lady Jupiter!"

"Nani? Carnage! Why you dirty little . . . what re you doing? (Honestly, tricking me like that.) Thunder, make up!!!!!"

Carnage smiled as Makoto transformed, appearing at the top of one of the walls. She spead her hands and chuckled deviously.

"Welcome to my abode, Lady Jupiter. Here, even Chaos can not intrude."

She smiled, almost kindly, "Don't be so surprised, Mako-san, I rule this part of the castle."

She saw Makoto ready her attack. She held up a hand, and Sailor Jupiter suddenly felt powerless. "Now, now. None of that. True, this is just an illusion, and your powers exist, but you don't know who might be hidden from your sight by the same illusions."

Makoto held her ground and clenched her fists.

"Very good. Now the rules of my game are simple. 1. You win or you die. 2. You don't win."

Chaos's voice sounded at the back of her mind, 'Try and make it fair this time, Carnage.' Carnage growled. At least he hadn't interrupted completely, but unfortunately he knew what was going on.

Carnage raised her hands, "This is my Labyrinth. It was constructed my the last holder of the most powerful Elven title, the Title of Anarchy." Her voice dropped to an respectful whisper.

"You have twelve coins in your hand. They may lead you through this maze, they may lead you destruction. Within these walls are 24 monsters, 10 real and 10 illusionary. The coins will destroy the illusionary monsters and enrage the real ones, so use them wisely, because if you get caught by a real monster, you lose a coin. Lose all of your coins, and I'll kill you." She narrowed her eyes. "Kyouki ga kuru!"

The walls shifted and an entrance opened before Makoto. She paused, unsure.

Carnage grinned sadistically, "Oh, and did I mention that little Ooshi-chan has found a new home?" She held out her hands and one of Makoto's charges from her frequent babysitting jobs appeared, sleeping.

"Ooshi!" Makoto couldn't help but cry out.

Carnage laughed, "Hush now, you have to get though this maze before you can see him again." She smiled demurely, "And you might want to hurry, because if the masquerade ends before you and he get out, I'm afraid you'll both die."

Mako-chan bit her lip, but resolutely went into the maze, clutching the coins in her right palm.

* * *

Haruka and Setsuna could hardly believe their eyes as Rampage came barreling at them. The two senshi barely had a chance to jump out of harm's way as the monster ran head first into Haruka's car."My car!" Haruka cried as she saw her precious yellow convertible crunched between the beast's sharp teeth and then tossed carelessly through the huge glass window of a second story department store. "Nobody messes with my car, elven scum or otherwise!" Lifting her henshin stick into the air, she shouted "Uranus Crystal Power Make UP!"

Setsuna, taking a moment to reflect at her friend's rash behavior, was glad to see that the streets were deserted of people. At least no one had seen Haruka transform. Raising her own henshin stick, she cried

"Pluto Crystal Power Make UP!"

If Rampage was at all disturbed by the sudden change of events, the monster simply went about her business of destroying whatever was in her path, and at the moment it happened to be two very determined senshi.

Uranus raised one hand above her head "World..." a massive ball of yellow energy generated around her hand. She clenched her hand into a fist and threw the ball at the ground "..Shaking!"

The energy ripped along the ground until it came in contact with Rampage. Haruka's eyes narrowed as she watched the creature adeptly sidestep the ball of energy as it tore towards Rampage.

"Not this time," Haruka muttered.

Suddenly the World Shaking attack erupted into the air, launching itself sideways and striking Rampage's head. The demon-beast was knocked back several feet, her claws digging into the ground as her skeletal head took the full force of the attack. The two senshi struggled to keep their balance as the street below them shook.

"That's what you get for messing with my car," Uranus crossed her arms over her chest, looking haughty for a moment until Rampage got up again.

Swirls of purple energy swarmed around Pluto as she whispered "Dead Scream.." Her time staff levitated by her side for a moment before she shot out a ball of intense energy. This time the monster was ready for the blow and with surprising grace side stepped the attack. Rampage snarled, lunging for Setsuna. She leaped aside as Rampage's full weight crashed onto the sidewalk, the sheer force reducing blocks of cement into fine power. The demo-beast whirled, head jerking back as Haruka tried to take it off with her Space Sword.

"Dead Scream."

Rampage and Haruka both vaulted backwards as Setsuna unleashed another attack that carved a new hole into the street. Rampage's landing took down a traffic light, a fiery explosion of sparks raining down around the growling skeletal head.

Haruka looked over her shoulder as Setsuna reappared. "Any suggestions on what we do now?" she inquired.

"I've never encountered anything like this before," Setsuna replied.

"More than anything we appear to be stalemated; if we continue fighting only the buildings will suffer."

An echoing crunch resounded across the street as Rampage's claws stepped on the torn remains of the light pole. She was preparing for another charge.

"Here it comes," Haruka said, raising her hand over her head as the power of World Shaking appeared in her palm. Abruptly Rampage froze, glancing wildly around the debris-laiden street. As if something they couldn't see had agitated her greatly. Rampage took a step back, more cautious in her movements now. And then she leaped into the air, claws splayed out right before digging into the side of a building.

From atop her perch Rampage growled, eyes narrowing at them both. And then she scuttled up the side of the building with astonishing ease. The hind claws finally disappeared over the rooftop, one final roar sending a shiver down the streets of Tokyo before the street was plunged into an eerie silence.

Haruka turned to Setsuna. "What was all that about?"

"I don't know," Setsuna answered, equally confused. It seemed rather unlike something so seemingly vicious to call off a fight when it had only just begun. There must have been a reason for Rampage to leave so suddenly.

"We should get back to Chaos' masquerade," Haruka said quietly. Setsuna nodded. "Hai. Though not in your car."

Haruka winced, looking up at the front end of her car sticking out of a second storey window. "Please, don't remind me. But those damned elves are going to pay for this."

"Now what?" Haruka asked Setsuna after they had detransformed. She stared up forlornly at her car, stuck in the second story of the shopping building.

"I guess we will have to go catch a bus.." Setsuna said, pushing her hair behind her ears.

Haruka groaned. She absolutely hated the bus, and would much rather be behind the wheel. Reluctantly, she put her hands in her pocket, looking for change as they started off towards the bus stop.

"I really am anxious to get back to the ball. I feel so terribly about leaving Michael." Setsuna sighed. Smiling now, she turned to her friend. "You know, " she smiled, "he really seems like a nice lad." Haruka chuckled as the bus opened its doors. "Yes…I suppose. If you like guys." Shaking her head as she sat down, she mumbled, "Michi will never let me hear the end of this, you know...."

The bus was packed with…interesting…people. Beside them was an old, sleeping man, snoring rapidly.

"Konnichi wa!!!" a smiling little boy shreiked as he turned around from the seat infront of the two senshi. "Watashi no Osamitsu desu! What's yours?"

Haruka looked up at the pestering git and growled. Laughing, Setsuna bumped into Haruka, and replied, "Setsuna, and this is Haruka."

Osamitsu giggled. "You're cute. Wanna come back to my house and play games?"

A giant anime sweatdrop appeared by Setsuna as Haruka perked up. "Eh hem.." she muttered.

The young boy glared at Haruka. "Oh. She's with you, mister? I'll fight you for her!!! Mlah!! Mlah!!!"

Setsuna, trying to restrain her laughter, turned her head to look away.

"Yes, she is with me, but I will not fight you. You need to gain a couple years, son."

The boy's mother whacked him over the head with her purse. "You trying to pick up women AGAIN??? Unless they are 8, they aren't going to be interested! Now turn around and leave these nice people alone!!" Osamitsu turned bright red and back around, following his mother's wishes.

"With you?" Setsuna giggled. "Now Michi really will have a few things to say to you."

"Hai. Don't remind me... " Haruka said while slumping down in her chair. "Demo…what about Michael? He might be upset to hear you were "with me". Maybe we should just keep this to ourselves."

Setsuna blushed slightly. "Ok. Oh!! We're here! Push that button!" "Thank God," Haruka muttered as she pushed the button.

They two stood up and started to walk to the exit as Setsuna felt a little tap on her leg.

The young boy ahead of them had a small piece of paper in his hand. "My number. Call me!" he winked.

Haruka neared the boy's face. "Forget it!" she whispered as she snatched the paper and crumbled it into a ball. "Mi'lady?" Haruka offered her arm to Setsuna. She took the arm and Haruka smiled triumphantly, throwing the paper wad behind her.

* * *

Rei stirred as she woke up to the sound a creaking door. She glanced about as she slowly raised herself into a sitting position as she let out a large sigh. Her dress had still been kept in good shape while she was unconscious and Rei was thankful to that.

She carefully glided out of the bed, wondering what happened, wondering what's going to happen, and what is happening. Rei worried that something was going terribly wrong at this masquerade but knew not to make any rude comments about it. She swiftly walked out the door and into the hallway, peering left and right. She walked down it to the large door that leads to this place. As she looked back before entering she saw down the hall, the large ying-yang that was there like it had been painted by god.

Rei opened the door with great care as she slid in and then shut the door. Rei glanced at some people stirring about looking this way and that. She looked over to the two doors that lead outside and moved across the floor towards them like a princess. She walked outside and there was a beautiful fountain with colors coming out from each side. She felt drawn to the energy coming from the fountain as she slowly took steps forward. All of a sudden she was falling down and down as she hit a hard floor and the lighting was very poor. She quickly got up and looked directly where she had fallen. The ceiling was so far away that she could barely see the opening. She looked as hard as she could and yet no light.

Rei knew only one thing to do. She raised her hands, like she does with Fire Soul, together and concentrated hard on the two fingers as a burst of flame came out of her finger and it wasn't touching her fingers. She opened her eyes and looked up and screamed

"HELP!"

* * *

[Drawing little attention to themselves, the twins sat atop a couple pillars, watching the events unfold below them with rapt interest. Ruckus took notice of Ami's clenched fists and angry expression. He only raised an eyebrow and looked at his brother, whom simply chuckled inconsent.]

Ami helped Saturn to her feet, and left her in Michiru's arms. Brushing herself off, she stalked over to Michael who was holding the dazed and confused Healer. She stood there as the other guests mingled, and laughed about 'the show'. Seething, fists curled in rage...yet her voice came out low, and without tremor.

"Kou Yaten, what was the reason for this?"

[Ruckus turned to his brother, "I sense tension here brother. What do you think, opportunity or lost cause?" Riot smirked, "If what I think is about to happen, I'd say definite opportunity." Ruckus smiled and turned his attention back to the scene below.]

"Na..ni? What happened?? Last thing I remember is...being at the bar buffet, and...getting a drink."

"Yeah, you were liquidated alright," said Michael, standing her up.

Healer gingerly touched her right elbow. "What's going on here? My glove's been ripped!"

True enough, Healer was slightly scratched by a near miss of the Glaive. She rubbed the spot vigorously, then her eyes widened.

"A sword?! What the heck is going on? Where's my camera bag?"

"Yaten, forget the pictures, alright? I want to know why you challenged Hotaru like that!" said Ami, cutting to the chase. "Did you have too much to drink?"

[Ruckus laughed, "We really should send Carnage some flowers, after all it was her doing that set this all up. Its practically gift wrapped, just waiting for us to play with it!" Riot kept a stern face as he watched, yet laughter played in his eyes.]

Healer threw the sword down, and drew herself up stiff. "I'm not like that at all, Ami-chan...I've just been bothered..that's all....and was wondering about-"

They slowly looked at Michael, who was gripping Healer's left arm. She narrowed her eyes at him. "I think I can make it now...buddy. Wanna leave me and my friend alone for a moment?"

"Geez, don't make it sound too much like you want me to get lost," cracked Michael. Healer didn't laugh.

Michael sighed, then waved at Ami. "See ya around, I guess."

Ami did a half-bow. "Thanks for your help, Michael."

Healer watched with angry green eyes, as he disappeared in the crowds. "So, who's the nerd?"

[Ruckus watched as the rejected Michael wandered off, "You think we should help him out?" Riot sighed, "I suppose, but I expect to wreak some havoc (snicker) with the senshi later on." Ruckus laughed, "You got it."]

Ami frowned. "His name is Michael, and he helped me keep you from getting ripped to shreds. You weren't in your right mind set, I guess."

"Mind set? What, now you're going to get scientific on me? You know I don't understand half the words you use."

"How was I supposed to know? You never told me! Besides, we've barely talked tonight-"

"Because you LEFT me in the lurch!"

"I left YOU?! Who saw Seiya and company, then decided to take some pictures?"

[The twins leaned over a little more as the argument fired up some. "Popcorn?" Ruckus offered. Riot shooed him away with his hand, "Not now, here comes the best part!!"]

Healer crossed her arms with a "Hmph! At least my film stays in one place...at least I know it needs me!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"If it wasn't for me taking my pictures, the film in the camera would go to waste. It'd be nothing. Notta, no pictures, unless someone comes along and shoots one for it. The film needs the photographer to

BE film, or else it's just shiny black plastic in a fancy roll. I'm that film, Ami-chan. I've been waiting, and waiting for the "perfect shot", but you won't take any! I'm tired of waiting!"

["What worries me the most, is that after our centuries of experience with humans, we actually know what she is talking about!" Riot nodded with a grin, silently pointing to the fuming Ami-chan.]

"You're tired?! I've been waiting for almost two and a half hours for a dance, for a conversation, for an *anything*, and what happens? I'm crushed by an elf, chased down a half-insane senshi and knocked her senseless, then have Michael smash into me so he doesn't break something while leaping off the chandelier!!" Ami was letting her anger forth now. She pointed a finger at Healer. "You think you're justified in having me make a move because of that...that kiss! Don't you?"

Healer widened her eyes. The kiss hadn't even entered her mind...~Was THAT what Ami was so pissed off about? Oh, I think I screwed up...~

"That kiss meant jack! We ARE not being in the least bit romantic, we're just friends, saving each others skins. We're sisters against this fight," Ami said, then ransacked her brain for more reasons about "why I can't have a relationship". "...You're a GIRL! True, you're a guy in that other form, but it's just a disguise. I want a MAN, through and through, love, security, strong arms..." Ami stopped, and turned away, eyes beginning to brim with tears. Healer advanced to her, but she whipped around, trying to come up with a last jab.

"Just forget the kiss and JUST because we showed up together on a date DOESN'T mean we have to leave together or be together for the remainder of this night!"

[Ruckus whistled, "She sure is aggressive, considering how Mayhem described her as shy and timid." Riot nodded in consent, "Hai, so is this where we step in?" "Not quite, give her a moment to stomp off in anger."]

Healer thought a moment, then said, "Ano, did you breathe at anytime during your speech?"

In a huff that sounded more disheartening then angry, Ami walked away from the center of the dance floor. Healer held up a hand. "Wait! I'm sorry! I really didn't know the punch was spiked or anything!"

Ami was lost in the crowd, as Healer smacked her hand into her palm. "Dammit! Smooth, Yaten. REAL smooth."

Ami took off her beret, and dropped it on the floor, stomping over it. She then stopped, and slowly looked back at the poor, mis-shapened thing. It reminded her so much of...her.

Ami heard giggling near-by, and looked to see four girls talking and having a "ball" to coin a phrase. A few feet over, Minako was exchanging phone numbers with two guys who looked like security. Usagi was in the arms of her Mamoru, and God only knew what fun Mako-chan and Rei-chan were having.

"That hat is pathetic...like me." Ami looked to her right, then left, and walked down through another arch-way, hoping it was the way out.

Ami hadn't walked far when a gigantic pastel blue and white tiger leapt at her. She slammed her back up against the wall, as it snapped and growled. Its fangs drew near to her face, and she swore she could almost feel its breath...when she heard that gigglely voice.

"Tee hee, gomen nasai! Hysteria's kawaii 'lil pet-chan didn't scare you, did it?"

Ami looked up to see a young elf straddling the tiger, and realized it was Hysteria, from the last game...

"Ano, are you okay, kawaii 'lil girl? You're turning a kawaii shade of white!"

Ami slid down to the floor, keeled over, and passed out.

Hysteria blinked her eyes. "You can't sleep here! All the kawaii fun's out there! Hey, Hysteria's talking to you, blue masked-chan!"

After the whole scene was over and the crowd that had gathered dissipated, the twins stood up and stretched. They nodded in unison and were enveloped by cherry blossoms, disappearing from the columns and reappearing on the ceiling of the archway Ami had ran through. The two elven lords walked in perfect sync down the ceiling of the hallway where they could hear movement ahead. They stopped short as they saw Hysteria standing over the now unconscious Ami. The twins watched in silent amusement as she tried to revive her.

* * *

For a strange reason, he didn't like the night. Maybe because he was the one of the sun. Or because that coldness without the warm light reminds him so much…about his own self.

But there wasn't the right time for such silly things. The disbalance warrior was going to appear very soon and he knew it was for the element 'day'. His element. The place was certainly that beautiful palace-like building in front of his eyes. How did he know? It was difficult to say, but he was sure.

So much music and laughter inside the place, he could say from outside. But he didn't enter. Nope. If he entered he would remind the things that brought the nostalgic. And he didn't want to be that weak. Never.

"Asahi?" it was a female voice behind him.

"What the hell are you doing here, Hoshi?" he asked coldly.

"I…well, if for some reason you need me…"

"You know you can't help against a disbalance warrior. Just the guardian of that element…neither the Moon Princess is able to do that." He cut down her words.

Hoshi's aquamarine eyes lowered to the ground. Her pink hair covered her face, hiding her tears. Asahi realized she was crying, his cold expression seemed to warm a little.

"Gomen nasai, Hoshi. I know I can be pretty nasty sometimes."

Hoshi continued crying silently.

"C'mon Hoshi-chan, I don't want you to cry, you always were like my little sister." He smiled.

Hoshi looked up to him, and then to the black night, to the shiny dots that were the stars, and to the moon. The Moon was closer, brighter and even more beautiful than the stars, but the stars have their own light.

"Gomen. I'm the one who has to apologize. It's just that being together again has reminded me of the good times. I'm a little sensible these days."

"That is true" Asahi agreed as he observed the sun symbol on his tie. 'Time to fight is close'

* * *

"What is it?" Havoc inquired.

A dark smile tugged at the edges of Chaos' mouth, and he opened his eyes once more. "Carnage and Jupiter have decided to hold a small battle. If things get out of hand I might need to leave the task of finding this intruder to you."

Last time he was just lucky to stop Carnage from killing the Senshi. If he hesitated again they might be one less Sailor Soldier, and what would be the fun in that? The games would become a war and then he'd never be able to throw a party like this.

"Did she lock you out of her room again?" Havoc inquired with a grin.

"Ara, this is my creation after all. No matter how well she thinks she can barricade her own little domain, I always have a number of hidden back doors to walk through."

With a sigh Chaos took a glance over at the paradery of masked dancers. Unfortunately business came before pleasure, and that called for passing up on a few moments of revelry.

"Where did this intruder go?" he asked his escort.

The guard paused and glanced back. "A private office of yours, I do believe. It is off-limits to us, hence the reason we called you, Lord Chaos."

Chaos nodded, and the group resumed climbing a new set of stairs. "So, how's the night going for you so far?" he inquired to Havoc.

Havoc rubbed the back of his head, letting out a deep breath. "I just hope that Jupiter won't be the second dead body around here."

That managed to have the Elven lord paused in midstep. "Na ni?" he asked, arching an eyebrow and turning to his fellow Elven lord.

Havoc re-counted the tale of how he had felt the presence of ancient magik, but when he was sure he had tracked it down, it faded out, leaving nothing to go by. Then he had happened along the body of the bloodless corspe.

"Well, we know he's not anorexic," joked Chaos.

Havoc kept a serious face. "Chaos, he was missing his eyes as well. They were cut or pulled out or something, not even leaving a nerve behind..."

Chaos winced. "You paint such a wonderfully grotesque picture for me, Havoc. Who else knows about this?"

"Only Mayhem."

Chaos looked up a set of skylights far overhead. "Keep it between us, then. I don't want to cause a panic among my court, let alone the guests. So many strange surprises have surfaced tonight. Some more welcomed than others."

His eyes narrowed at the thought of Stashia being here once more; what the hell was she up to anyways?

"This is the chamber," the illusionary guard said finally, gesturing to the half-open door.

Chaos stepped inside, snapping his fingers. Lights erupted from all corners yet they were fireballs to illuminate white pillars and ancient portraits hanging from the wall. A large arched window gazed out to the expanse of the shimmering ocean.

Havoc whistled and stepped in. There was a loud crunch! as the blade of his Zanba sword neatly sliced through a portion of the stone wall. Chaos turned around, glancing up at the bisected wall and then down to Havoc.

"It's not my fault you didn't mage big enough doorways," Havoc replied evenly, walking around the office. He flicked a finger at the tip of an enormous stone gargoyle. "You detail all your rooms like this?"

"Naturally," Chaos replied. He scanned his memory of the room. "A silver box used to be here...I'm impressed; someone just managed to steal one of my crystals."

Havoc gave him an incredulous expression. "Someone abducted an illusion?"

Chaos nodded. "Hai. Not a major one, mind you, but if this thief is powerful enough they could sculpt the illusion to something of their own desires."

That was what he didn't like. The illusion was of no real consequence, but for someone to take his crystal and then pretend as if they were the one to have forged it. Yet who could have been able to steal an illusion without his notice?

A smile grew on Chaos' face. "That woman," he remarked to himself. That mysterious woman who called herself Akasha; was this her own way of leaving a card? A gust of cold wind swept through the hallways, blowing open the office door and sending both Chaos and Havoc's hair fluttering in the tempest. Something else was here in the palace.

Emerald green eyes narrowed. "Chikusho," he muttered.

Havoc stiffened too. "That's a new aura," he remarked, lifting the Blade from off his shoulder. "Do you recognize it?"

Chaos shook his head. "No," he stated. "But whatever it is, I do believe it intends to crash my party--with or without my consent. Havoc, it seems our thief will have to wait. We should return to the ballroom first."

Havoc would have readily agreed, but something else was nagging him in the back of his mind.

"Shall we?" asked Chaos, sweeping his arm with a grand gesture to the door.

"I'm going to have to decline this time, Chaos," Havoc countered.

"There's something I want to take care of."

Chaos studied him for a moment, then gave a resigned sigh. "Hai hai, just make sure you check in with me before you blow something to pieces. Or need I remind you about Atlantis?"

Havoc grinned, hoisting the blade up again. "What if I hurl it through the ceiling?"

"Then the ball will be done al fresco, what else?" Chaos replied neatly. He turned to the guard. "I want every one of you illu--er, guards on alert. Things might get a little nasty in the near future."

The guard nodded and marched out the doors.

Chaos turned back to Havoc. "Enjoy wherever you're...." But Havoc had already vanished. Chaos rolled his eyes. "Everyone's making dramatic exits these days, stealing my spotlight. I trained my court far too well."

With a snap of his own fingers Chaos vanished from the chambers.

* * *

Meanwhile Usagi was enjoying the Masquerade so much. After all, it wasn't a trap and nothing evil has come from it. Marvelous dances, soft music, laughter and happiness…What could interfere with those pleasant moments?

Well, there was something. Just one thing disturbed her, she looked at Mamoru, he had been pretty silent since that kiss 'they' shared, and the reason was a mystery to her. She was almost to ask what happened, when a deep growl was listened. The Ballroom got suddenly silent, except for that loud voice that appeared in a second:

"I am the first warrior from the Malignant Doors of Darkness. I came to destroy the Element 'day' where's it? WHERE'S IT?" he demanded.

All the people turned to look at that one who was talking. He was wearing a long black cape and bronze armor. A mask covered all his face but the red devil eyes.

* * *

"It has come" Asahi said quietly.

"You are ready to fight?" Hoshi asked.

"I'm always ready. Do not interfere, Hoshi, you must go away…she might need you more than I do" Asahi answered.

Hoshi just nodded. He didn't want her near him in this battle, and she also knew that she didn't was supposed to be there in the first place; but at the same time she felt a terrible guilty for leaving him alone. That's why she ran instead of walk. She'd better disappear before the doubt starts confusing her.

Asahi looked at the Sun Symbol and raised it to the sky.

"SUN POWER, TRANSFORMATION!"

* * *

Ami didn't budge. "Hello?! Waah!! Someone help kawaii little Hysteria-chan help her kawaii little blue masked-chan, PLEASE!?!?" yelled Hysteria. No one came; she let her pet tiger wander off in her moment of panic. After some arduous minutes of whacking Ami around in failing attempt to receive some sort of life sign out of her, Hysteria turned and took off running for the ballroom. Someone had to be around to help out her blue masked-chan!

As Hysteria darted into the ballroom, she noticed everyone was standing and staring up at some kawaii evil thing that was saying:

"Sailor Senshi! All around me! But I cannot fell the presence of the one...WHERE'S IT?" the mysterious newcomer demanded again.

Usagi was confused, it has to be one of those disbalance warriors Pluto and Eclipse had talked about, and if it was true, only the chosen senshi could defeat it...

* * *

Hiding within the shadows, cold brown eyes illuminated against the light from the inside of the ballroom. Tranquility could feel the presence of the First Dark Warrior as he raged to challenge the Sailor Senshi he was to fight. Her lips curved in a cool smile. 'Good. Then I will not have any interference when I open the next Malignant Gate.'

Tranquility, sensing that no one was near, turned and slipped into the ballroom. With her long, flowing white dress and elaborately styled hair, she could pass as any reveller. Snapping her fingers, a silver mask adorned her face, hiding her cold eyes from view. Silkily, she made her way through the dancing couples. A strange sensation went down her spine as Tranquility felt admirable eyes following her every move; as Seishi, she never garnered this much attention. However, Tranquility steeled herself; she had business to do tonight, and nothing was to stand in the way of her goal.

'Where is he? Where is the one I seek?' Tranquility frowned. She had eavesdropped on a conversation that had transpired between Scott and his father, which was why she knew he was going to be here at the masquerade. However, she couldn't see Scott anywhere. Her temper started to simmer, although her expression remained cool. 'Come on, Scott, you can't be hiding among these people forever...'

Meanwhile, Airashii felt her intuition perk up. 'Someone's here! The Displaced One is not alone.' Excusing herself from Shinrai, Airashii dashed off into the crowd, her silver high heels clacking against the marble floor; she nearly slipped, cursing as her heel turned slightly. A numbing pain shot up her leg, and she knelt down for a moment, rubbing her ankle gingerly. 'Damn. I don't need this now!' Airashii's eyes scanned the room quickly; her sight did not reveal anything out of the ordinary. Of course, there was that cool-looking girl in the white dress. Airashii frowned. 'I've seen that girl before. But I don't remember where. Think...think! Where could you have seen her?'

A quick image flashed across Airashii's mind. She gasped. "Yes, I remember! The girl with the bow and arrow...Tranquility. She's the one who nearly killed Hikari-hime!"

With Tranquility here, trouble must be brewing. Airashii kept her eyes on the girl, who was looking steadily at someone. Airashii followed Tranquility's gaze...it rested on the chunky-looking boy standing nervously at the refreshment table. Airashii did not need her intuition to know that Tranquility was targeting the boy because of his key to the Second Gate. Regaining her balance, Airashii ran to Scott, nearly slipping a second time in her desperation to reach him.

"Hi!" Airashii said breathlessly. "Why are standing here all by yourself? You should be having fun!" She used a fakery sugary voice, in hopes of getting him away from Tranquility's gaze.

Scott pursed his lips and shook his head. "Me? Having fun? You've got to be kidding. I hate social functions like these. I came only because of my father."

Airashii smiled brightly. "Still, that doesn't mean you can't have any fun! It's probably because you don't have anyone to dance with!" Grabbing Scott by the arm, she dragged the poor guy to the dance floor before he could protest. Airashii stunned Scott with her forcefulness as she spun him around in dizzying circles, while keeping an eye on Tranquility the whole time. 'I've got to keep moving,' Airashii thought to herself. 'There's no way this guy is going to become the next victim. Because of her, an Elemental Senshi is put in danger.' Airashii felt a slight fear in her chest, wondering about the unknown Sailor Senshi. She wanted to help, but she knew that the only person who has the slightest chance of defeating the displaced warrior would be the guardian of that gate. Biting her lip, Airashii closed her eyes, and said a silent prayer, not just for the Elemental, but for herself. Airashii knew she was running out of time...

* * *

Tuxedo Kamen felt his teeth grinding. He was about to tell Usagi what really happened with that 'kiss' when this clown showed up. It seems that everyone, elven or otherwise, was determined to ruin his life. Usagi, like everyone else was entranced by this demonic figure. It appears that he was going to have to break the news to Usako later.

Slipping away into the crowd, Tuxedo Kamen positioned himself for one of his dramatic entrances, mostly out of habit than necessity. It was a shame. If he had even heard of the Disbalance Warriors, Tuxedo Kamen might have had second thoughts about this.

* * *

Havoc appeared in another archway, and whipped his Blade around. Suddenly, he felt as though a huge enemy was facing him, and he began to parry and thrust, and swipe down the hallway. "Hah! You're no match, Saturn! You need-"

"HELP!!"

"Na ni?!" The abrupt scream had Havoc to lose his concentration, and his blade went swinging into the wall. The point was well embedded, as Havoc heard the cry a second time. With a grunt of disgust, he took both hands, and wedged it out.

"I hope it isn't an illusionary girl in distress, or I'll be very pissed off," he said, hoisting his blade onto his shoulders, and resting his arms over the sides. He began walking down the dimly-lit archway, and came upon a group of fountains. He gazed around, all was silent...yet..there was a power here he couldn't put his sword on-

"DOES ANYONE HEAR ME?! USAGI-CHAN! MINAKO! MAKOTO!"

Havoc spun, and zeroed in on a small blue fountain. He gazed over the side, and instead of water, he saw a girl in red crying at the bottom.

"DOES ANYONE HEAR ME!? HELP!!"

He winced. "Hai, I hear you! No need to shout!"

The girl looked at Havoc, and he felt the wave of power again. Could this be one of the people Chaos had warned him about? Or...could it be a Sailor Senshi? Senshi...Havoc longed for a rumble with Saturn with greater intensity.

He controled his urge, and called down, "Here! Grab onto my sword!"

He gripped the broad side with both hands and lowered the handle down to the girl. Considering he had virtually no grip it was impressive that he could lift both the blade and the lady out without breaking a sweat.After a few minutes, Havoc had hoisted the girl in red out of the well. The girl breathed out a thank-you, as she tried to fix her hair.

"And who might I ask did I draw from the water?" said Havoc, shaking a few bangs out of his face.

* * *

From the rafters, Tuxedo Kamen looked down to see if anyone was in danger. To his surprise, Michael, who was off to the side, was carrying a small dinner knife. He was ready to cut through the ropes holding the chandelier over the Disbalance Warrior and his eyes drifted up to Tuxedo Kamen's position with a knowing wink. Tuxedo Kamen smiled.

Well, it was now or never. He lobbed one of his magic roses.

The people seemed frozen and confused, and some even a little amused. Hysteria crossed her kawaii eyes and moaned as she figured out that this would be more difficult than she had imagined; no one she knew was near-by.

"Waah! Why is no one here to help kawaii little Hysteria!?!?" whined Hysteria as she glanced around. A few stray strands of hair came down as she whipped her head back and forth trying to find someone to help her blue masked-chan.

Something started happening as the kawaii evil thing, the Dark Warrior, yelled "Where is it?" yet again. She could feel some power emanating around the room, but chose to ignore it. She took off in search of one of the Court of Chaos members, trying to draw as little attention to herself as could be helped. (That was suprisingly easier than usual seeing that everyone's attention was glued to the Dark Warrior and Tuxedo Kamen.) How come the court members were never where Hysteria could find them!?

* * *

Ruckus silently chuckled as Hysteria frantically ran underneath them, not even noticing their presence. After the queen of kawaiiness left, the twins gently pushed off the ceiling, flipped around and landed without a sound on the floor. "Keep a look out while I check out our new game contestant." Riot nodded as Ruckus made his way towards Ami. She was sprawled out on the floor unconscious, Ruckus smiled inwardly, 'I see why Mayhem takes a liking to her. I'm sure he won't mind our interference if we can help him out a bit..' Ruckus knelt beside Ami and brushed away a lock of hair from her face. "Miss, excuse me, miss?" Putting on the charm Ruckus tried to awake the sleeping senshi, gently nudging her shoulder, as the magik did its best to take away any hostile feelings she might have against him.

She was wearing a silk slip, but the rest of her body was laid bare. Her body, twisted at such an odd angle, hovering in the air, runes she could not identify over her cheek and her right arm. They glowed faintly. Ami put a hand to her mouth, as she looked over the balcony of her home. She saw the cats, Luna and Artemis rush up with Rei and Usagi.

"Ami-chan!!" cried Usagi, "Don't leave! Don't believe them! It's all fake, a ruse, a _"

"Game? Hysteria loves kawaii 'lil games!! You all look so kawaii as children, ne? Ne? Ne?"

Ami was a child, as a enormous Hysteria towered over her. The runes almost seemed to glow a little brighter, as Ami shuffled back…Into the arms of Mayhem, who whipped her around and smacked her. "How could you even THINK of showing up here tonight, after you insulted me? Ami, I must be mistaken after all. You're no match for me, and no good as a girlfriend."

The runes were definitely noticeable, as Ami cried, "G-girlfriend?! Mayhem, I don't know what you're _"

"Mayhem, Mayhem, Mayhem! Why don't you just sleep with the damn elf and get it over with?" Ami spiraled around to see Yaten in the same silk, glaring at her. They were in the middle of the ball room floor, but it was empty.

"That's all you ever wanted was to be with the enemy, anyway, was it not? Traitor!" he yelled at her, as Mayhem and the balcony came back into view. "Temptress! Away from me!" he shouted with a voice like thunder.

"WAH! Hysteria thinks you're a kawaii 'lil fake, ne? Ne? Ne?"

She smiled evilly, as she whipped out her butterfly knives. The knives turned into a elongated sword, as Healer suddenly materialized, and with a cry of "False Senshi! Slime! You're undeserving of the powers

bestowed! SHIN'NE!!" she hurled the sword at Ami, who found she couldn't move. The sword sank into her, buried to the hilt, as water poured down, the runes glowing to blind…

Ami heard a male voice talking to another, and she felt herself in strong arms, but made her feel frightened, like a caged animal. She looked up fearfully.

An elf was there, smiling. "Daijobu?" he asked.

Ami shook, pulled back with her fist, and slugged the smiling male right in his jaw. Her kunckles cracked on the impact, as the elf was knocked on his rear. The other male laughed, as Ami realized that she had no clue where she was…

* * *

Usagi doubt it, would she transform or not? She wasn't pretty sure about her new powers, although she had used them a couple of times.

"Mamo-chan should I...?" She asked, but he wasn't at her side

'Now what? I don't know were the others are...and I can't destroy the Warrior myself…'

Usagi looked at the Dark Warrior. He was scary, as a matter of fact he was VERY scary. 'Where could be the Elemental of Day?' She asked to herself.

The Dark Warrior took an involuntary step back as a rose came from out of nowhere and stuck in the ground in front of him. Everyone's gaze shot to the rafters where Tuxedo Kamen stood, defiantly. He pointed to the Dark Warrior and said:

"When the forces of evil converge to threaten the lives of innocents, who are you gonna call?" Tuxedo Kamen leapt from the rafters and landed between the audience and the demonic figure, ready to fight. "Here comes Tuxedo Kamen!"

The Warrior laughed loudly:

"Ha, Ha, Ha, you think you can stop me with such a petty attack?" and with those words, he sent some fire rings to the crowd, who had a lot of problem avoiding them. The dark one said, now much more furious.

"I am not playing with you, Tuxedo Kamen man, WHERE IS THE ONE?"

Usagi, who had looked the scene, was very worried 'I have to do something or Mamo-chan, and the guests will be injured' she finally decided and she walked between the amazed people, seeking a place to transform.

Two enormous pillars of fire suddenly erupted from the rear of the ballroom, the archways of stone blazing with an intense pyre that despite its intensity gave off no heat. Everyone stepped back, a pathway from the flames to the Dark Warrior appearing. And then came a shadow. Ever so slowly, ever so steadily, it was stalking out from the very depths of the inferno. Silver hair became tinted fiery scarlet as the flames licked around the figure's face. Two emerald green eyes opened up. A mandala of crystal illusions appeared around him, each orb shimmering in the pale lights as they hovered in the air. And judging by the scowl on his face, he wasn't about to consider playing nicely.

Usagi's eyes widened. "N-Na ni?" she whispered. The entire masquerade seemed to be crashing down upon itself in a matter of minutes. Yet she recognized the magik if not the style behind these flames.

"And just what," Chaos snarled at the Dark Warrior. "the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Another one?" The Warrior said, pretty boring…"You think you impress me with that entrance?"

"Lord Chaos…" Usagi silently said. Now she couldn't hesitate, enemy or not, Lord Chaos surely didn’t know about the doors of Darkness and its warriors; maybe the elves destroyed a whole Age, her own grandmother died because of them, but she couldn't let him fight alone…although she already knew it would be useless. Usagi ran and hid in a lonely chamber, yes, she was doubtful about her new powers but she had no choice… "SERENITY, MAKE UP!"

"I am the Warrior of the First Malignant Door of Darkness...I am here to destroy the only person who can harm me, but it seems you're hiding it from me! WHERE'S THE ELEMENTAL OF DAY?" the Dark Warrior said to Chaos in a proud tone. No being in that room was able to challenge his power.

"Now, prepare to die. MALIGNANT DARKNESS…"

"Wait." A voice behind a group of scared guests said.

"Who are you?" The Warrior asked.

The people moved and the one who was talking could be seeing:

"I am the pretty heir to Selenity's line…Sailor Moon! I can't let you interrupt this Ball, and less let you injure this people…Tsuki ni kawatte oshioki yo!"

"Moon Princess, even you can't harm me, neither destroy me." The Dark Warrior grinned.

"I know…" Sailor Moon answered, then she looked at Lord Chaos. 'I don't know the extent of his powers yet, but only the guardian of the first gate can beat this monster' she thought

With a curious expression on his face, Chaos looked from Sailor Moon to the Dark Warrior, and then back to Sailor Moon again. These two knew each other? Well if they did share a relationship it certainly wasn't one of the better ones.

As for him, he had his own bone to pick.

"I'll give you the chance and choice to leave now and leave quietly," Chaos stated, his own icy gaze matching the one from this brutish party-crasher. "If you so wish to remain then I'm not about to hesitate to use my own powers. As host of this gala, I'm exercising my right to challenge you to a game before anyone else can."

The Warrior laughed with rapt interest. "You amuse me. But I am not leaving here until I destroy the 'Day' element."

Chaos let his own magik crackle around him. "Then you're not leaving here, period. If this element is a guest, then you have to go through me. And because I enjoy my games," he stated. "I'll let you make the first move."

Red devil eyes met with emerald green eyes. A vicious smirk appeared on the warrior's lips.

Chaos clenched his fists, prepared for the first punch. It never came. What came was a complete shock to him when he was sent crashing into the wall, stone being pulverized into a fine power as his back made contact. He had never realized just how painful illusions could be until that moment. A dust cloud arose and revelers scattered as the debris smashed down onto the ballroom floor, Chaos' body lost in the midst of it. There was dead silence in the ballroom, punctured only by the Dark Warrior's laughter. "Ha ha ha! See what happens to the pathetic fools who interfere with me?"

"What the hell makes you think I'm dead yet?" Chaos' voice snapped. The dust settled to reveal the Elven lord of illusions, bloodied and battered yet still live.

He rose again, though with his legs slightly trembling. A warm trickle moved down his chin. Chaos glanced down at the river of blood flowing out from the corner of his lips.

"It would appear I underestimated you," he remarked, eyes narrowing at the warrior. "Well then, I guess I won't hold back."

The Warrior simply laughed. "And just what makes you so certain you can beat me?"

"Ara," Chaos conceded. "But at least it'll tonight all the more fun." His hair was blown back from his face, wildly dancing about as he summoned his powers. Emerald eyes began to flicker scarlet. Chaos snarled, his battle aura erupting all around him. He leaped from the floor, exploding into the air as arcs and tempests of his Elven powers churned all around him. Crystal illusions glistened with all the blinding lights, and suddenly out from his hand emerged a swarming array of pure Elven magik.

"SHIN'NE!!!" he shouted.

The Dark Warrior merely smiled and closed his eyes. "Baka," he stated, holding out his hand to counter with Chaos' fullblown attack. It was all over in a heartbeat.

Sailor Moon's eyes widened as Chaos' lifeless body dropped to the floor, his blood splattering across his crumpled form. Even more ran out from beneath him, a liquid pool growing from the tattered remains of his suit.

"K-Kon...chikusho...," he swore between labored gasps for air.

Mayhem tucked the cards back into his robe. Because of that cold energy, when the cards scattered he had had to gather them up by hand. That really annoyed him. Then he had tried twice to repeat the spell, but with no success. He would have to try again later.

Just then, another surge of power washed over him, but different from the first one. It seemed to be coming from the main ballroom. He decided that it was time for him to rejoin the party. He waved his hand and was enveloped in cool silver mist, disappearing, only to step out of a similar could of mist on the balcony above the ballroom. He was just in time to see Chaos issue his challenge and get himself bashed up. Mayhem's eyes narrowed in rage. This could not be allowed to continue. But he had just seen Chaos been defeated, badly. He needed a plan if he was to beat this odd Warrior.

Once frozen like the rest, Tuxedo Kamen sprung to life. Signaling to his compatriot on the side, he threw a razor rose that grazed the Dark Warrior across the face, garnering his attention. The devil-creature turned to face the tuxedoed man with a twisted grin. Tuxedo Kamen only smiled back.

"If I may draw your attention to the party goes to your right........" Tuxedo Kamen glanced in another direction and the Dark Warrior followed his gaze.

Michael stood against the wall, a distance away. He waved 'bye-bye' and with a swift motion, took the knife and chopped the already sawed ropes near him.

The Dark Warrior had just realized what was going to happen when the chandelier came smashing down on his back. With a grunt, he was pinned to the floor. While this was only a temporary reprieve, it served Tuxedo Kamen enough time to start shooting the audience out of the room. They didn't need to be told twice.

At the same time, Michael hopped off the raised platform and ran over to where the elven lord was bleeding to death. Taking off his jacket, he put pressure on the wounds to stop the blood flow.

The Dark Warrior roared and the flung the chandelier off him. Tuxedo Kamen started all sorts of acrobatic evasions to keep whatever telekinetic force the creature was using off him and buy enough time for Sailor Moon to stop staring and for Michael to get Chaos out of harm's way.

"You like picking on people smaller than you, huh?" Tuxedo Kamen shouted. "Well, I'm smaller! Try picking on me!!" He summoned a dozen red roses and threw them all simultaneously, hoping to pin the Warrior to the wall. He looked over to Sailor Moon.

"Anytime now!" While Tuxedo Kamen was doing that, Michael had managed to lift Chaos, and was slowly sneaking out of the room.

Havoc had shot up to a standing position when he heard a loud crash from inside the masquerade. The girl in red was re-positioning her mask, as Havoc narrowed his eyes towards the entrance.

Suddenly, his eyes sprung wide open, as he could swear he felt unbelievable power...battle magik, even! Hah, finally some action! He tipped his head at the raven-chick. "Have to split. Watch where you're walking from now on," he added, as he hefted the blade over his shoulders, then flipped back, disappearing. He emerged over the ballroom, and below he saw Mayhem appearing as well. Mayhem showing up? Was it *that* serious?

"So, what to smite, what to--"

That's when he saw Lord Chaos, the host of the gala ball, the unofficial leader and peace-maker so to speak of the Elven court, the comical male elf lord wishing for a date...lying in a bloody mash on the floor, as the crowd pulled back to reveal-

"SAILOR MOON?! What the hell?! Did SHE do that?"

Havoc sank down next to Mayhem, brewing with rage. "Mayhem, what the hell is going on!? Did he hit on the wrong woman or something?"

"Hardly..." Mayhem pointed from the shadows, and Havoc saw a freak laughing from the steps. "HAH! You thought you were good enough to defeat my powers, Elven punk?"

Havoc snarled, whipping his blade down from his shoulders. "Damn! Was HE the one who did this?!"

Mayhem nodded, as Havoc's battle aura began forming around him.

"The bastard! He's probably responsible for the death of that deformed man! I'm gonna Rumble Quake his ass!!"

Mayhem suddenly reached out a hand, and gripped Havoc by the shoulder. "No, we need a plan first."

Havoc spun away from his hold. "A PLAN?! This guy just beat the crap out of Chaos, and you say we need a plan?!"

Mayhem was used to Havoc's mood swings, so he waited a few seconds.

Havoc leaned on his blade, thought a moment, and said, "So, what's the plan?"

"I loved your party," Michael said to the barely conscious elf. "Let's do this again under better circumstances."

With Michael and Chaos evacuated, Tuxedo Kamen really started to cut loose with the roses, waiting for Sailor Moon to intervene.

Mayhem watched, seemingly passively as Michael dragged Chaos from the room. They were the last to leave, so just Tuxedo Mask and Sailor Moon were left to fight the monster. Mayhem's eyes narrowed momentarily in concentration. Then he turned to Havoc.

"Here's what we do. You need to distract that...thing for at least a minute. I have to get to Sailor Moon. I think we can use her specific powers here."

"How?"

"Moonlight is just reflected sunlight. This guy keeps talking about the Day elemental or something. Maybe if I amplify her Moonlight, we can come up with something close to real daylight. I have a feeling that this Freak can't stand that."

Havoc nodded. "Sounds good." With that he jumped from the balcony, his battle aura flaring around him.

Mayhem chose to take a less noticeable way down, and emerged from the shadows behind Sailor Moon. He put a hand on her shoulder to get her attention. She yelped and turned around.

"What do you want?!"

"Your help, Lady of the Moon. I may have a way to destroy, or at least weaken that monster out there. It interrupted our games and hurt Chaos, badly. For that it must be destroyed. Now."

Moon stared at him for a second, them slowly nodded. "I believe you. I guess we don't have a choice but to help each other now."

"It wouldn't be a problem if this Day elemental person would show up."

They turned back to the fight in time to see both Havoc and Tuxedo Mask working together to keep the Warrior off guard. But their simultaneous attacks where starting to wear thin and it looked as though the Warrior was adapting to their tactics already.

Sailor Moon held out her hands and summoned her Silver Crystal, it started to glow softly. She held it above her head, gathering all her magic to it. It became a blinding White light that stopped the monster as it was reaching out to grab Tuxedo Mask. The monster winced and growled in pain. It turned towards Sailor Moon. But before it could take a single step, Mayhem grabbed his deck of cards and selected the suit of Wands, representing Fire. The selected cards shot from his hands, surrounding the Warrior. Sailor Moon thrust her hands forward at the same moment, in a fine example of synchronized timing, and her gathered energy leapt out and when it touched the cards around the monster the light intensified a tenfold, each card supercharged with Silver Moon power. Every card sent out a stream of light to connect with the others, forming a glowing cage around the Warrior.

It screamed and reached out. "You can't do this to me! Only the Warrior of Day can fight me!"

But as its hand touched the glowing wall, pure light infused it's body racking it with convulsions.

The screaming seemed to go on forever, until the pure white power finally started to ebb from Sailor Moon. The cards now overloaded, incinerated. She slumped, exhausted.

"Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo mask stopped staring in awe to run over and check on his princess.

The Warrior was not so lucky. Its body hit the floor with a heavy thud. But Havoc and Mayhem could see it was still breathing

"Damn. What the Hell does it take to kill this thing?!" Havoc said.

Mayhem shrugged. "Perhaps we should consider a pesticide."

Riot threw a hand up to his forehead and laughed heartily, almost falling back himself from laughing so hard. Ruckus gave him an evil glare and stood back up, rubbing his soar rear. Ruckus winced, she hadn't hit him that hard, but it was unexpected nonetheless. Gingerly he walked back over to the crouching Ami, and offered his hand to help her up. "Well its nice to see you too. Though I can't remember anything I did to deserve that, I'm sure you had some reason for slugging a complete stranger trying to revive you."

Riot's humorous mood suddenly darkened as he snapped his head around to peer down the hall towards the main ballroom. Magik auras of the strongest kind had erupted in the ballroom, his instinct told him to charge in and help his fellow court members, but he knew better than that. This was Chaos' game, and if he couldn't handle it, there was nothing Riot could do. The twins exchanged a quick glance and nodded in unison. Riot briskly walked down the hall and came to the opening just in time to see the fight break out, and Chaos' bloody body being hauled away by the one they called Michael. Riot's own battle aura grew around him, a bright white/orange light gathered about his body as he grinded his teeth. He was about to charge in when he saw Havoc and Mayhem take their own initiative, he stopped in his tracks and watched. His battle aura died faster than it sprang to life as he dishearteningly realized that we would be more of a burden than help, another victim to the crazed warrior, only he would not survive like Chaos barely did. He watched with a mixture of hatred and anguish.

* * *

"This party has gone down in flames, what the heck is going on. Looks like the Sailor Senshi don't get a night off." Minako ran out to where the fighting was at.

"Minako!! Transform now!!!" Artemis said.

"I guess I should but who to help first…Love, Make-Up!!!" Minako transformed into senshi of Love, Sailor Venus

"Just go kick butts and help the person who looks hurt the most Sailor Venus!"

* * *

"What a mess…such a great party this seemed to be…"One male voice said. He was somewhere above.

"You are…?" The Dark Warrior asked. Surprisingly, he stood up almost as strong as before.

"Shimatta…" Mayhem muttered "It didn't stop him at all"

The newcomer jumped and landed just in front the big monster that the Disbalance one was. Sailor Solar was wearing a white T-shirt, black pants and collar, and a dark belt with a golden sun symbol.

"Finally…elemental of 'day'" the dark warrior said.

"I see you were waiting for me…I wouldn't be so anxious if I were you…you see, you're going to die, soon…" the new senshi grinned.

"That I must see, to believe in it" the Dark Warrior took an attack pose.

"You know I'm the only one who can harm you…" Sailor Solar said, withdrawing a long black sword.

"Less words, more action!" The Disbalance one said, and he withdrew something that seemed like a lance. "So…tell me your name, before I annihilate you"

"Just call me Sailor Solar" he answered.

* * *

Mayhem watched the young man who identified himself as Sailor Solar whoop on the freak.

"Hmm, I think this might be the 'Day' that he was referring to, ne, Havoc? Havoc?"

He turned around, but Havoc was gone.

"Alright, human! Put the elf down and your damn hands up, and I won't cleave you in half!"

The human with glasses stiffened up, as he turned to see yet another elf, only he was pissed…no, wait, he looked WAY beyond pissed. Yet, if Chaos wasn't dragged somewhere to safety, someone to help him, he might even…die.

Havoc's battle aura formed yet again, as in three leaps, he was at the human's side, the sword pointed at his forehead. "I said, PUT HIM DOWN!!"

Michael sighed. You have a terminally wounded person and THIS guy was playing Conan the barbarian. Putting down Chaos, Michael slowly stood while cupping his hands by his side.

Michael waited until the elf glanced in Chaos's direction before bringing up his hands and boxing Havoc's ears. Loud sound and hypersensitive elven ears do not mix.

Havoc gripped his ears in intense agony as the ringing drowned out all other noise. As he staggered back and forth, Michael kneed him in the family jewels. As Havoc collapsed in a heap, Michael picked up Chaos and was on his way.

"It's people like him that give cartoon violence a bad name."

* * *

The Dark Warrior sent some fire rings to the new senshi, but he avoided it with facility, so the evil warrior decided to change his strategy. He put the lance in the floor and closed his eyes, concentrating all his power in them…then he opened his eyes slowly, each one of them shone with infernal flames, he lifted his hands towards the roof and shouted:

"MALIGNANT DARKNESS." the flames jumped from his eyes to his hands with fleeting rapidity; in them, a great ball of fire was formed. The dark warrior finished pronouncing his attack: "INFERNO BALL!"

Sailor Solar used his sword like a defensive shield, the power was stronger at the time passed, and the Senshi couldn't resist it totally and thus, part of the fireball hit his face. Sailor Solar fell.

"Who was the powerful warrior that would defeat me?" the Disbalance one laughed.

"Shimatta." Solar Sailor whispered while he cleaned a string of blood that sprouted from his mouth. He got up again, his gold eyes shone with fury, a lit look, like the same sun. " Now it's my turn."

Sailor Solar took his sword, which had fallen to the floor, and lifted it just to his eyes height. "SOLAR ERUPTION…" The black sword suddenly changed from black to brilliant golden with a figure of a phoenix formed at the handle, orange and red flames danced around the blade. The Dark Warrior opened his devil eyes in surprise.

"… ATTACK!" Sailor Solar yelled.

A ray of light surged from the sword, the Dark Warrior tried to defend himself with his hands but it was useless, the attack hit the warrior's stomach directly. The Disbalance one grunted after receiving the impact, however, he was still live, although he was weaker than before:

"Chikushou! You have infuriated me...MALIGNANT DARKNESS TORNADO!" The Dark Warrior spin, and with his turns, thousands of black fireballs left, each one way to Sailor Solar.

The Senshi cut the majority of them with his gold sword, but some succeeded in hitting him. Suddenly, the evil warrior stopped, a black ray surged from all his body and it collided against Sailor Solar. The Senshi was thrown in the air and then he fell to the floor; but again he got up. He had a long injury in his arm, but despite the pain, his gaze still challenged the warrior.

"I am tired of this." Sailor Solar traced a cross of fire in the air with his sword and he lifted it, it was signing the skies. "SOLAR MAGIC COSMIC CLEARNESS!"

The blade lit, as if it was fed with the fire of the sun. The blast of light wrapped the whole ballroom, and for one second everything remained so illuminated that no one could see. Finally, the light ceased and the Dark Warrior finally disappeared; a key rested where the Disbalance one once was. Sailor Solar looked at the key and smiled. So much pain, but it doesn't matter. He had destroyed that freak, and that key would help him to close the malignant door...that was enough. He leaned himself in his sword, but his arms trembled and the young man fell to his knees.

* * *

Havoc got back to his feet, enraged eyes narrowing as Michael left the ballroom. "Kon chikusho!!" he snarled, hoisting the blade over his head.

Abruptly a hand grappled onto his shoulder. "Let him go, Havoc."

It was Lord Mayhem.

Mayhem had retreated to a safe corner of the ballroom to watch the fight. But it appeared to be over now, and Havoc had disappeared. Now that the treat was gone, he really should go looking for Chaos. The poor Lord hadn't looked at all well the last Mayhem had seen of him.

Quickly he ran to the door that he had seen the young man with glasses dragging Chaos out of. Right outside he didn't see anyone, but he ran down the hall and came upon a figure pulling himself off the ground. Havoc. He looked homicidal.

"What happened?" Mayhem asked.

"I found that stupid young man out here with Chaos. I tried to make him drop Chaos but he hit me in the ears and...I am seriously going to tear out his entire digestive tract!!"

"I see." Mayhem replied cutting him off. From the way Havoc was crouching. He could see exactly where Michael had hit him.

"Havoc? I think that young man was trying to help Chaos. If he wasn't, he would have tried to finish him off already, don't you think?"

* * *

Carnage smiled, cradling the sleeping child in her arms. She watched Mako-chan approach another fork in the maze. She'd already failed twice and succeeded once, meaning she had lost 5 coins, and she was very lose to losing her life as well. The first real monster she had guessed correctly. The Real monster was a kawaii little SD Godzilla thingy, while the fake looked like an ancient relative of Rampage's.

The Second and Third she had failed, guessing that the ancient Hysteria would be more benign than the little Girl with ice blue hair and matching eyes. The Third had been more difficult, a choice between the ancient figure of a Zanba Blade wielding Havoc and a young man with braided purple hair. She had chosen the younger man and got herself horribly molested for her troubles.

The two she was choosing between now were a long haired redhead and the figure of an ancient Chaos. The only resemblance was their playful emerald green eyes. The Older Chaos had the same silvery hair cut short and spiked. Makoto was more cautious now, actually judging the monsters, not knowing whether they were real or not.

Carnage narrowed her eyes, not able to tell herself, but knowing that Makoto would lose another coin whatever she did. The child in her arms was getting quite heavy. Carnage was confused, she'd never felt tired from carrying something this light. Then she began to feel light headed. What was going on? She dropped to her knees, sweating and trying to breathe. She swallowed, setting the child down, lest she drop him.

Her breathing came in short gasps and then it dawned on her, Chaos was draining her power. He as their Lord could draw on the power of any of their Titles, but he'd never take her unless he knew he was in extreme trouble. What could have happened? It was taking all of her concentration to stay invisible, but she was blacking out.

"How dare he." She whispered angrily. Then a wall of half-felt force stuck her through the wall of illusion and right into Makoto, pain arching though her body like having her veins set on fire. Like when he "died". Like when they all "died". She shook and gasped as a section of her mind went black.

"Chaos..." She whispered, a single tear falling out of her eye as she shared the pain from the unwanted connection.

* * *

Havoc had felt something tug at him while he was speaking, as though a small nudge had pushed him forward. Then, he slowly felt a ...piece...so to speak of his energy, his potential...being tugged away, towards Chaos. He shuddered. The last time that had happened-

Next thing he knew while shouting, the human had slapped both of his ears to his sides, and then came a brief loud sound, a pop, and then Havoc reeled. He dropped his sword, battle aura fleeing. "Wh-what the hell?!" he shouted, furious that the human was able to hurt him, but actually...scared. Last time Chaos had drawn energy was...Havoc felt like throwing up his innards, as he tried to stretch himself out to reach his Blade, his weapon, his tool of destroying what was in view. He really had no reason to kill the human with four eyes, but now, now, he wanted nothing more than to reach out and slice each individual bone form his body, and tie his arteries up in 'lil bowties so Hysteria could use them for her damn dolls. He wanted nothing more than to-"..smite..." he squeaked, sounding like he had sucked too many helium balloons for his liking. He shook all over with the numb pain Havoc had put an arm on Mayhem to balance himself, as he slowly got to his feet. Luckily, Mayhem hadn't made a comment of Havoc's soprano. He wanted to twist the guy's head off at the very DAMN SOURCE!! He wanted to punt him into Hysteria's arms, a suitable death at the shame he was feeling now!!!...but, he knew that Mayhem...had to be right of course...Mayhem's IQ surpassed Havoc's in a lot of this, and he also had

patience, which Havoc did not. He slowly bent back down, whimpering all the while to pick up his blade. "Dammit, Mayhem, why did this happen?!" he squeaked. "This was supposed to be Chaos's moment, his piece of less resist!"

"I think you mean, piece de la'resistance."

"Whatever...what's happening now? I felt my energy being pulled towards Chaos for a moment, then it stopped...Was he thinking of me? Mayhem," squeaked Havoc, "WHO THE HELL DID THIS!?"

* * *

Ami shrank back as far as she could go against the marble wall. She tried to drown out the crashes she heard from afar, as she studied the elf in front of her. She could have sworn she saw his double...Double...didn't Minako mention something about twin elves in a mirror of some sort?

"R-riot, I presume?"

"Ruckus, m'lady, and may I ask why the temper? I meant no harm," he said, giving her a smile, his bangs drifting down over his eyes.

Ami blushed a little, not daring to remove her mask...What WAS the reason she had punched him? She quickly thought over the day's events...

She had accepted the invite, then cased the costume stores over town.

Ami had smashed her car, leading to a pick-up from Yaten, and then she had kissed him...no, he kissed her...he, no she, ummmm...

On the balcony, Mayhem could have smacked her like in the dream, and the way would have been the same, confusion, depression and uncertainty flooded her mind through open gates. But instead he had chose words to play mind games...games...games...

Games? Was that life? A game? Ami was really starting to hate life in general. Acquiring new powers, having enemies on all sides, never a moment to rest, and the ones you think you know so well just add to all the confusion.

Confusion? Ami didn't want to think. She wished she was Usagi right now, where at least she had a man to hold her, and had a future together, they had all seen it. Or maybe Rei, Rei had her grandfather, a steady, handsome man around the temple to help her out 24-7. Minako? Minako was popular, was immortalized as Sailor V so long ago, but still, no one knew. It must feel great to have four movies starring you, ne? Makoto had dates right and left, though most reminded her of her old boyfriend. She had looks, brawn, and incredible cooking skills...Come to think of it, Makoto hadn't been in Ami's sights all night...probably was slow dancing with some guy...Why couldn't Ami have what the others have? What was wrong with her? What...why...

Ami felt a little light-headed, looking into Ruckus's eyes. Was the heat being turned on in here? How much does it cost to heat a building this size?

Irreverant questions spun around Ami's head, as she whispered, "Ano...gomen nasai for…hitting you, I didn't mean to."

Ruckus blinked his eyes slowly. "Of course you didn't." Ruckus smiled, he couldn't see her face, but her eyes told the story. The magiks he and his brother had mastered so very long ago, were working their way into this girl, fragile and confused. He offered his hand and helped her up, she swayed slightly and Ruckus caught her before she could fall back down.

Ami blushed again and stood straight, "I'm ok, really."

They walked down the hall, away from the main ballroom. Ruckus snapped his fingers; Ami's hands went up to touch a mask that was no longer there, she looked questioningly at Ruckus. "I don't like masks, they're so, unfriendly."

'Unfriendly? Does he want to be friends? Why do I feel so strange?' Ami thought all these things as the blood rushed to her cheeks. Ruckus led her out to a balcony, where the moon and stars could be seen, a breathtaking sight. "I hate to be intrusive, but this doesn't seem to be all that good of a night for you. What happened between you and that Yaten character?"

Ami had brought up hand to her face, startled when her mask disappeared, but it was soon replaced by awe as Ruckus brought her out to a tranquilizing view. She drank the extremities in, the stars, the moon, they were all hers to cherish-

"What happened between you and that Yaten character?"

"Na ni?" Ami was caught off-guard as Ruckus leaned on the balcony, crossing his arms.

Ruckus repeated what he said, then willingly listened, silent, waiting for her answer, but with those eyes, with that grin.

Ami shook her head. "My-my name is Mizuno Ami, I feel I might as well tell you, since you're fraternizing with the enemy, I guess, um..."

Ami felt hollow, but all pent up. What was WRONG with her? First it was Mayhem, then it was Yaten, now Ruckus, which Ami firmly believed that Riot was somewhere around. She felt hollow vibes to each one, she wanted nothing more than to be the old Ami, the innocent, the naive. The old Ami, when she had first become Mercury. Nothing about boys interested her, just studies. Studies were easy, it was MEN who were hard, and she always received a failing grade in love.

She turned to Ruckus, her tights riding up her rear. She wished she had something on that was more comfy...

She crouched, and sat on the ground, her head swaying so much that she felt like it was disconnected to her shoulders. She looked at Ruckus from her position, and said, "It must be great to be an elf."

"Na ni?" Now it was Ruckus's turn to be surprised, as Ami curled on the stone, the cold stone that reflected her powers, her insides. She laughed slowly, half-heartedly, and said, "All the powers of the world at your finger tips, or so you say. Everything within arms reach. You never want for a thing. You've never had that feeling of need, have you Ruckus?"

Ruckus gave her a queer look.

Ami looked straight at him, getting lost in his eyes, and imagined herself someone else. Usagi-chan, as she looked up into the eyes of the precious jewel known as Chiba Mamoru. She had it.

Rei-chan, when she sweeps the temple floors, and Yuuichiro brushes past, giving her chills. She had it.

Minako and Makoto, dates on the fly, up the ying-yang, and never down for the count. They had it.

"I wish for a breif moment, that I was an elf. Then I could have love at my finger tips." She traced the outline of a stone set in place by cement, and let her mind drift, as it had been all night...

Ami fell asleep.

Ruckus considered her words for a moment, and opened his mouth to tell her otherwise, but she was fast asleep; no doubt exhausted from the masquerade. He bent down and looked into her face, tracing the outline of her life from the curves of her cheeks, mouth, eyes. Ruckus brushed away a stray lock of hair from her face and sighed. He had so much to say, but was not given the chance. Reluctantly he picked her up and carried her to the edge of the balcony. He surveyed the night sky one last time, appreciating the soft blue glow it casted on Ami's face. Then, without a sound, cherry blossoms enveloped them both and they disappeared.

------------------

Something was happening, a shifting of magikal power, and Riot knew what was going on. Chaos was drawing from the strongest members of his court, to lend him strength to survive. Yet he did not draw upon Riot and his brother. Riot exchanged quick thoughts with his brother and stomped off in the direction Michael had dragged Chaos to. Riot drew upon his brother, adding to his own collection of raw magikal power, he sure as hell wouldn't be the one who didn't help Chaos, by choice or not.

A soft orange-yellowish glow surrounded Riot as he drew up a larger amount of magik than he usually called upon. Through the ballroom, through the door, down the hall he walked. He passed his fellow elven, Mayhem and Havoc. They exchanged understanding looks.

"You too?" Mayhem inquired.

Riot sighed. "We had better find him, and fast."

Chaos began to stir.

"Are you okay?" Michael asked. "How do you feel?"

Chaos groaned, letting his backrest against a pillar as he glanced down at the bloodied suit he was wearing. "I've just been impaled through the chest by a rather large and unpleasant psionic force," he replied, thoroughly unamused. "How the hell do you think I feel?"

Michael rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you'll live. Really, though, you shouldn't even be moving after what happened."

Chaos glanced down at himself, fingers brushing against the makeshift bandage that had once been Michael's jacket. "Arigato gozaimasu," he said, bowing his head solemnly. "I recognize you, my mysterious benefactor. You were with Usagi, and that other woman...Havoc said her name was Setsuna."

"Setsuna?" Michael said, confused. Then it dawned on him that the elf meant his former blind date. "Oh, well, I haven't seen her for a couple of hours. (Sigh!) I guess she decided I wasn't worth hanging around."

"Well, this has been a night to remember," Chaos remarked offhand, a wry grin on his face. "Carnage spiked the punch again, I got to dance with a mysterious woman, then run over by Saturn only to have you jump in that melee, then contend with a thief and Stashia showing up, and finally I get run through by some kind of demon warrior." He sighed. "Is anyone else ever suddenly feeling nostalgic or is it just me?"

"It's just you," Michael remarked dryly.

Another wave of pain racked his entire body, causing Chaos to clench his fists and nearly bite off his tongue. Damn, he had never been torn apart this badly for almost three and a half millennia!

"Chikusho," he swore. "That wasn't supposed to happen."

Michael looked concerned. He steadied Chaos with his arm. "What happened in there?"

"That warrior," Chaos muttered, almost as much to himself as to Michael. "Whenever I launch into that sort of attack, a natural defense mechanism is to create two other illusionary versions of myself.

Typically my opponent hasn't the slightest idea that I've suddenly become an illusion. But that guy...he knew exactly where I really was."

"Maybe he wasn't fooled by illusions." Michael offered. "If the attack was psionic, it would have ignored targets with no minds."

Lifting a bloodied hand from his wounds, Chaos' eyes narrowed and a crystal appeared in his palm. "If you have a weak stomach," he stated. "I suggest you look away."

"Relax, I've seen stuff that makes this look tame by comparison." Michael thought back to life at the college. He shuddered. Grasping the crystal firmly Chaos took a deep breath and then shoved the orb right into the gaping wound in his chest with both hands. His entire body spasmed and through clenched teeth he snarled something unintelligible yet definitely voicing his pain. After a few moments his gasps faded.

One hand and then the other were slowly removed to reveal a bloodied and torn suit yet perfect skin.

Michael raised an eyebrow. "You know, any other day, that might have seemed strange."

"A pure slight of hand, my mysterious benefactor," Chaos replied, wiping his hands together. Upon parting each hand was clean of blood.

He slowly rose from the ground, his stance wobbly at first but gaining sudden strength. This illusion was exactly like the one that he had used to repair Rei's sacred tree when Hysteria torn it apart. For the time being he was at full power again...but if the illusion that was slowly healing his wound was shattered now....

Chaos turned away. Now was not the time like that. He would have enough problems already dealing with the rest of his Court; no doubt there would be hell to pay for him draining their own powers just to keep himself alive enough to use the healing illusion. Mayhem and quite possibly Riot and Ruckus would understand. Havoc would sulk. Carnage would definitely try to ensure he not do that again in the near future.

"Where are you going?" Michael asked. "Not back in there?"

Chaos glanced back. "Where else? I'm still the host of this masquerade, and I for have a few choice words to say to that masked warrior."

With a gesture of the hand a small crystal card appeared between his index and middle finger. Chaos flicked the card at Michael, the card effortlessly soaring through the air and coming to rest in Michael's hands.

"I'm not the type of person who ignores a debt of honor," Chaos stated. "If ever you need a favor from me, snap the card in half. I'll be there momentarily and repay my debt to you by granting whatever request you ask as best I can."

Michael looked at the gift with some confusion. Did he just get an elf's trading card?

Chaos glanced behind himself and then fell backwards into the shadow of an archway. Having seen enough surprises for one night, Michael didn't even blink twice when Chaos was swallowed up by the darkness instead of hitting the floor.

However what did surprise Michael was when, about two seconds later, Chaos suddenly crashed down in front him from above. Chaos groaned as he picked himself up off the floor.

"Then again," he said. "Maybe I should sit this one out. I don't think my illusions have reoriented themselves yet."

"That might be the smartest move you make all night. Let Ma...I mean, Tuxedo Kamen handle it." Michael reached down and pulled Chaos to his feet again. He held his hand out in a friendly gesture. "My name is Michael. Pleased to meet you."

* * *

Sailor Moon was recovering from the energy she had used, she looked at the elemental of day with surprise. It was the first time she met a Sailor Senshi like Sailor Solar. He seemed exhausted, and he was damaged, too.

"Daijoubu?" Sailor Moon asked.

Sailor Solar looked back at the Senshi of Moon. He had that sad and strong gaze, a gaze Sailor Moon had never seen, a gaze that surely impressed her, because of the unusual forceful pain it owned.

Sailor Solar sighed inwardly. Sailor Moon looked so much alike Sailor Lunar, but although the color of her hair and eyes were different, Sailor Moon also had a different expression in her face, it was difficult to explain what it was.

"You know what they say…no pain, no gain. " Sailor Solar answered, a wave of hotness burned his arm's injury. Sailor Solar tough desperately his arm. Such pain he couldn't control. "Shimatta" he muttered.

"You need help?" Sailor Moon asked.

"I think I'll be fine" Sailor Solar said, using his sword to stand up. He trembled, but could resist his weakness.

"You really need help." Sailor Moon said with a worried expression in her eyes. Sailor Solar looked at her, and again tried to support the pain.

* * *

"I’ve been looking for you. It figures you would be on the last place I would think to look." The man spoke in a sarcastic tone. Raithe sighed. "Khayman, my Khayman, where have you been all these years? I needed your help."

"I have been looking for you these past thousand years, I think I deserve an explanation."

"That bastard Karasu locked our entire court and myself in his damned Dragon Jewels after I lost to him in battle. Do you remember nothing? Lucky for you, you weren’t there at the time. I figured you would find me here and release me, but the job was surprisingly done by a mere mortal."

"Was that supposed to be an insult?"

A coy smile played on her lips. "An insult, no. A statement of annoyance, yes."

"You cannot blame me for not being able to find you, I was having my own troubles."

"Oh?" The smile wiped off her face quickly at his serious and unamused tone.

"Yes. It seems as though has escaped."

"That’s impossible. You remember what happened in 1985. The four vampires and myself managed to use our spirit to take on human form to help put Akasha back in her place. I told you what happened to me then."

"That is correct. And as we both know, your sister destroyed Akasha and became the new queen."

"Right. So she couldn’t possibly be alive. What’s the problem?" Raithe asked, beginning to get annoyed.

"Somehow she managed to revive herself, and she’s looking for us."

"Preposterous!" Raithe shouted, clearly angry. "I don’t believe a word."

"Maharet, you have to believe me!" Khayman grabbed her arm gently.

"Akasha is alive, and looking for Mekare, and then will come after us. And to make matters worse, Enkil is helping a group of mortals to find and destroy us." Raithe looked at him, confused, but believed him. "Call back the vampiyres, we need to discuss this."

"As you wish." Raithe sent out a metal cry for Lestat, Louis, Gabrielle and Claudia to return home. The four discreetly exited the ballroom. 'It seems someone had been there and crashed the party' Raithe thought...but they were some things still in their place. Raithe smiled deviously, she was going to leave a little present. She raised an arm up into the air, and let out an almost inaudible whistle. Within seconds, the room began to shake, faster and more violently with each quake, and two dragons flew in gracefully, and landed in front of Sailor Moon, the injured Sailor Solar and Tuxedo Kamen.

"Morpheous, Nemesis, tear the place apart!!" Raithe shouted, jumping down from the balcony with Khayman.

Complying with orders, the two jabberrockies began to break the decorations, tables, chairs, almost nothing in the room remained unscathed from their rampage.

"Oh no!" Sailor Moon exclaimed. After that freaky warrior, a new attack was taking place and it was surely leaded by a powerful being, maybe that big enemy of her dream…however, she was still weak to fight, and nobody was truly prepared for that.

But at that moment, after a while of letting her two pets run amok, Raithe stopped them with a louder whistle. Activity and sound stopped, and Khayman and Raithe walked into the fray.

"I really did enjoy this party." Raithe said, "But, unfortunately, it’s time for me to leave. I thought I’d leave you all with a gift, to remember me by."

Raithe climbed on Nemesis’ back, and Khayman onto Morpheous’. "I do love the new decorations for this place, don’t you?" The two dragons took off out the now fallen doors they came through. "Be seeing you, sooner than you expect!"

And as quickly as it happened, it was over. Raithe, Khayman and their minions gone from sight, with the ballroom totally destroyed.

* * *

Shinrai smiled. Her help wasn't needed yet. But she would soon introduce herself as a Ligth Senshi. Maybe sooner than she expected.

* * *

Sailor Moon sighed, that night became a very long night, and she was very tired. At least next day she didn't have to go to school.

Sailor Solar walked slowly and picked up the key on the floor.

"Arigato for your concern, Sailor Moon." he said.

"You sure you didn't need our help?"

"I told you I'll be fine, Sailor Moon." Sailor Solar responded and he left the main ballroom with difficulty. Sailor Moon looked at him for a second; she could change back to Usagi when the rest of the Court were gone from their presence.

"Mamo-chan, can we go now?" She asked.

"Hai" Tuxedo Kamen answered. "Let's find Michael so we can leave. Chaos and his Court can clean up this little mess."

"Gee, thanks," Mayhem dryly remarked, adjusting his grip on a less than enthusiastic Havoc.

Riot shrugged. "Well, at least I for one can't say it was a total waste."

Havoc was nimbly walking next to the two, as Mayhem and Riot conversed with Tuxedo Kamen & Sailor Moon. Although his pain was subsiding, his vocal pipes hadn't returned to normal, ergo, he was still pissed. Nothing was going his way. No Saturn no smiting, and in the end HE was the one that was beaten, and by a silly, stupid four-eyed human! His loins still ached from the smash, but Havoc had been through worse...much worse...

Still, he was worried about Chaos, and even the others now. When had they last heard from Hysteria or Rampage? The Queen of Kawaiiness had been so excited...(er, well, hysterical) about this whole thing, and when the action gets going she's no where around? Havoc miled. 'She's probably hiding under her frilly bed as I think!'

Ruckus reappeared next to his brother, Mayhem, Usagi, and Mamoru. He looked down into the innocence he saw in her face, longing and dreaming. He turned his gaze upwards to the couple, whom had odd questioning expressions on their faces.

"She fell asleep, no doubt exhausted from the night. I'd take her home, but I know not where she lives, so as her friends, I leave the responsibility to you." He carefully handed her over to Mamoru, and then surveyed the room, looking for the playking. "Well, I don't see Chaos, but I hope you did enjoy his masquerade, up to the point of the rude interruptions. I look forward to seeing you all again sometimes soon. Oh, and please leave this on Ami's pillow would you?" At that, Ruckus pulls an envelop seemingly out of nowhere and hands it to Usagi; strange runes adorn the edges, and the front has the name 'Ami' written in an eloquent style, a magical imprint seals the back.

Mayhem was surprised when Ruckus appeared in front of him with Ami. His eyes narrowed slightly, but otherwise he did not show it. He had wondered where Ami had gone after their little argument, but he was not happy to see that she had ended up in the company of the twins of seduction. Then Ruckus had giving Ami a secret letter! This was not to be tolerated. The Lady of Mercury was HIS opponent, and he would brook no interference with his plans for her!

As they others walked away, he turned to Ruckus, his eyes flashing.

"I would like to know what happened. What was in that letter you gave her?"

Ruckus turned his attention to Mayhem, whom looked less than happy to see him. He flashed him a coy smile, "Don't worry Mayhem, I'll take

care of her, she's in good hands." A spark of rage glinted in Mayhem's eyes, yet he remained calm; instead, a gushing, watery leviathan was summoned by his command. The aquatic beast snarled at Ruckus angrily. "What makes you think that I would trust you to..." Mayhem paused as he saw Ruckus' expression, he was smiling a superior smile, as if he was oblivious to the fact that his life was being threatened.

Mayhem set him down and breathed deeply, pulling back into himself, he patiently waited for Ruckus to explain himself.

"Mayhem, your intellect surpasses my own, by who knows how much; but after all these years and all of your brains, you still haven't learned how to deal with the opposite sex. If you want to play chess with her, then you'll have no problem, but if you want something to happen between the two of you, you will need my help."

Ruckus gave Mayhem a few moments to think this over, as he always did with important decisions.

"And the letter?"

Ruckus crossed his arms in triumph, "Just a little incentive to help me along the way, she has a wish, and I think we should give it to her.

But really, we should discuss this later."

Mayhem simply nodded and went into deep thought as Ruckus stretched out in a chair. Ruckus thought absently outloud, "I wonder where Chaos is..."

* * *

Riot watched his brother carefully as he returned Ami to Usagi and Mamoru. Riot was never one for goodbyes, so he pardoned himself and took off in a stroll towards the other end of the Ballroom. From somewhere to his right he heard a faint squeak, and proceeded over to the source of the sound. Walking over to a table, Riot pulled away the cloth to reveal Hysteria. She promptly screamed and threw a butterfly knife at Riot, which he just barely dodged.

"What was that for?!"

Hysteria crawled out from under the table with a sheepish grin,

"Gomen nasai, Riot-chan. Hysteria was worried that you might have been an ugly monster!" Riot rubbed his chin considering the situation, "You mean to tell me, you were under there while all the action was happening?"

Hysteria nodded up and down a little too enthusiastically,

"Hysteria-chan was frightened by the big bad ugly man who hurt poor Chaos-chan! Hystera want to bash ugly man, but he was too un-kawaii!"

"Remind me how you came to be a member of the Court of Chaos?"

Hysteria only smiled her 'kawaii' little smile, and then latched onto Riot's arm.

"Hysteria-chan and Riot-chan can go together and find Chaos-chan!"

Riot sighed heavily, "Yeah I suppose..."

Hysteria clapped happily, "Yaaaay!"

The two wandered down a corridor looking for the elven playking.

* * *

Chaos reached out his own hand and shook with Michael. "A pleasure to meet you, my benefactor, Michael. And it would seem you already know me to be his lordship Chaos."

Michael smiled uneasily at that. "Er...yeah."

The Elven playking did seem to press the issue--or even care to press it. Perhaps this was just another way of making this entire "game" more interesting. Yet already tonight had proven that interesting and deadly were two interchangable words.

Chaos glanced over Michael's shoulder. "I think your friends are looking for you. It sounds like the masquerade's finally come to an end tonight."

"Hell of a night at least," Michael agreed.

Chaos made one final bow and then turned away. A little slower than usual yet not without his playful saunter, the Elven lord made an exit through one of the adjacent corridors.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" Michael asked.

Chaos waved a V-sign as he made his way beneath an archway. "Daijobu; I'm walking this time."

Michael sighed, glancing back down at his crystal card. "Mamoru's not going to believe this when I tell him," he muttered.

He looked back up at the fleeting shadow of Chaos, yet that's all that existed now. There was no Chaos...but somehow Chaos' shadow was sauntering across the floor tiles as if its master was still there. Michael turned back towards the grand ballroom.

Out of sight from everyone else, Chaos winced and rubbed his side. Given a week with his own Elven healing rate, there would be no need to take it so easy. A part of him began to question whether or not he should show up for classes at Jyuban High on Monday.

So many options, so little illusions.

"Damned party-crasher," he hissed.

Now what the hell had that been about anyways? Stashia he could understand, but that guy had been something altogether different. Someone who could see through his best illusions was an opponent not to be taken lightly. Even the Senshi had been unable to pull such a feat off, but that warrior had done it without blinking twice.

A low growl echoed out behind him.

He didn't turn or spin around in surprise. Rather a smile appeared on his lips, his furrowed brow relaxing. "Ah, komban wa, Rampage-chan. I missed you this evening."

A blast of hot breath at his back sent his ponytail up over his shoulder. Moments later the partial weight of Rampage's head rested upon him. The demon-beast nuzzled her face against Chaos' cheek and hissed.

"Ara ara, but you've been busy too. Does this mean I now owe Haruka and Michiru-chan a new car?"

Rampage made a whining sound and gave Chaos a hurt expression. That made Chaos laugh. "Don't take it so personally, Rampage."

He paused as he felt one of her claws trace its way across his chest, the fine tip coming to rest upon the exact place where he had used his healing illusion to patch up the hole in his body. Rampage snarled something that definitely was a threat.

"Daijobu, Rampage-chan," Chaos reassured her. "I'll be back hovering around on my feet in a few days. I was unaware you arrived in time to witness my rather unpleasant defeat."

A snarl and a series of clicks.

"I trust he was promptly taken care of, though," Chaos said, stroking the base of the demon-beast's skull. Rampage purred, her slitted eyes narrowing in rapture.

"So, this 'Day' Element showed up after all. Well at least my Court did a half-impressive job in the meantime. I don't think we'd be able to live it down if we got upstaged at our own gala masquerade--not that I'm mourning the warrior's death by any stretch of the imagination."

Rampage's head lifted off his shoulder, her entire body swivelling around to look eye to eye with Chaos. They narrowed and she snarled something else that managed to get Chaos to raise an eyebrow.

"Na ni?"

Rampage growled once more.

"Someone destroyed my ballroom even *after* the Dark Warrior showed up?"

Chaos scowled as Rampage hissed and snarled again in a long string of words. "Hmmm...by your description of her I think I have a pretty good idea as to who did that, anyways."

The Elven lord's eyes widened as Rampage added one final note. "She had Jabberwockies? Here?"

Rampage nodded, her head abruptly bobbing up and down as her claws changed positions. The demon-beast leaped onto the wall, stones pulverized beneath the force of her talons. She sniffed the walls and growled once more.

"I was unaware more of your kind existed," Chaos remarked, lost in his own thoughts. So much had happened tonight, so many things to take into account. The game was getting interesting now; the only question remaining was could he handle being its presiding Playking?

"Akasha," he muttered. "Just what are you up to?"

Chaos abruptly lifted his head as two echoing footsteps became louder and louder still down the corridor. Rampage growled, one set of massive claws stepping off the walls and digging into the floor. The demon-beast's eyes scanned the archways and stone halls, very protective over Chaos.

That made him laugh. "Daijobu, Rampage-chan," he reassured her. "They're just some anxious associates."

A few moments later Riot and Hysteria came into view. Hysteria was bounding down the halls while Riot seemed to be appearing and disappearing at will atop beams and windowsills and any other high up perch he could find. Both were closing the gap between themselves and Chaos.

"Ah, komban wa!" Chaos said, waving up to Riot. "Did you two miss--?"

"Chaos-chan!"

Chaos had just enough time to recoil in surprise as Hysteria flung herself at him with open arms, wrapping herself tightly around his chest and squeezing the life out of Chaos in an affectionate hug.

"Wah! Hysteria was so afraid that Chaos-chan had gotten himself killed by that ugly monster!"

Riot rolled his eyes as he settled down onto the floor alongside Hysteria. "Hysteria, do you mind? I think Chaos would like to breathe now."

Hysteria blinked. "Na ni? Chaos-chan?"

"Air!!" Chaos gasped.

An embarrassed Hysteria let Chaos go, giggling excitedly as Chaos' blue face returned to its normal color. "Gomen nasai, Chaos-chan!"

* * *

Makoto fell over as an Elven's body collided with hers. She was shocked speechless for a moment as Carnage whispered Chaos's name and fell unconscious beside her.

"Carnage?" she said, unsure what was going on. Despite everything that had gone on tonight, she raised the Elven's head and looked at her face, beautiful when relaxed and not in it's usual viscous sneer.

"Daijobu?"

Carnage stirred, her face twitching as she brought herself back to consciousness. She opened her eyes blinking and trying to focus on Sailor Jupiter's face.

"You." She whispered, "Why?"

Mako didn't answer her question, "What happened? Who did this to you?"

Carnage let out a small shaky breath, "Chaos. That bastard drained my powers."

Makoto's eyes widened, "What do you mean?"

Carnage's eyes narrowed, but she couldn't hold the expression and sighed, "He took my strength into himself. He'd only do that if he were truly threatened..." She paused to take a breath, "Or if he was on the edge of death."

Makoto couldn't believe the Elven girls words, "You mean to say that Chaos nearly got himself killed and used your power to prevent it?"

Carnage glared, "Yes. He's done it before..." Her mind seemed to wander and her eyes filled with pearl black sadness.

"It's okay." Sailor Jupiter said, brushing Carnage's hair back.

Carnage suddenly snapped back to reality. "Get away from me!" she snarled, though Makoto knew her words were more bark than bite. "This is all his fault."

Sailor Jupiter put Carnage's arm over her shoulder and began walking. As much as she didn't want to do this, Carnage was the only one who could get them both out of this maze. "Where do we go from here?"

"Turn right." Carnage said, trying to remember any paths that would lead them out with out risking any more coins. They passed through several empty halls with kanji for lost Elven titles inscripted above them.

Makoto was confused. The elf that so wished to kill her seemed more like a person now. Someone or something had hurt her so badly in her past that she wanted to kill everything that reminded her of that. Including the human race. She couldn't imagine a hurt that bad. She watched Carnage as she walked as a slightly less than normal pace, head raised, eyes alert, and still seeming wild and dangerous, though Jupiter knew that if Carnage got in any sort of physical situation, she could get hurt badly. But something was still bothering Makoto.

"What about Ooshi?"

"Ooshi?" Carnage said, half confused, half concerned, "You mean the boy?"

Sailor Jupiter nodded uneasily, "He'll be alright, won't he?"

Carnage seemed angered by this, "Whether or not I'm truthful, it's not like you have a say in the matter."

Jupiter wasn't assured by Carnage's words, but knew better than to inquire further.

"You like children, Jupiter?"

"Yes." Makoto answered as Carnage turned down a hall marked Ravage.

"Why? They are small, unintelligent and weak. All they do is make messes and destroy things."

Makoto smiled, "Well I think it's like holding a piece of the future. You know, this little one could be the next mayor of Tokyo or the next great kendo master. It's a matter that you can do something good for the future."

Carnage looked downwards, and said nothing. The fork in the hall had two people in it. Riot and Ruckus, although one was younger than the other.

"Who are you?" Carnage asked, knowing better than to just walk forwards.

"We are what was Ravage, what is now Riot and Ruckus."

"But which is which?" Makoto said looking from one to the other.

There was a thunderclap, and a flash appeared around both Elven warriors. In their place was an Elven woman with flowing violet hair decorated in gold and dressed in robes of flowing white. The woman's eyes flashed a blinding white and her lips parted in a murderous scream.

"Ravage," Carnage growled.

"CARNAGE!!!"

A blast of what first appeared to be lightening exploded from Ravage's fingertips, striking Carnage and sending her clear into the wall, stones cracking apart and broken into dust from the impact.

"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter shouted, whirling and delivering a blow that seemed to have an effect. With a shriek Ravage disappeared, leaving behind an ashen shadow upon the floor. Carnage was shocked as she grimaced and picked herself up off the floor. Those two shouldn't have merged like that. In other words, Chaos had used his power again, and the Labyrinth was no longer safe to travel in. Ultimately this place belonged to his magik, not hers.

"I owe you," Carnage said half thankful, half regretful.

They walked through the new open area and Makoto looked at Carnage.

"Why was Riot and Ruckus there and not just one of them with their younger self?"

"Once the twin power of Riot and Ruckus shared one title, Ravage, long before our time. Two hundred years before we were sealed Chaos first established his court of seven members; the number would never change. Ravage was one of the titles. A hundred years later a pair of twins challenged Ravage's authority. She was enraged, and tried to kill them both. Yet somehow they trapped Ravage with her own magik and thus destroyed her. Chaos was so impressed that he changed the title of Ravage into Riot and Ruckus in their honour. It is one title that is shared as two."

Makoto nodded, it was strange to hear about this Elven history she hadn't even been aware of before, "So you have to kill the previous title holder to gain their title?"

Carnage didn't answer for a moment. "No."

"What other--?"

"I'm not dealing out any more secrets, Senshi." I'm just getting out of here before I collapse so I can wring Chaos' neck for this. Now are you coming?"

* * *

Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen were walking away.

It was pretty much just the Elven Court of Chaos now inside the grand ballroom--or, at least whatever was left of it. They had really done a number on the place, and for better or for worse it had truly been a gala to end all galas.

"Well," Ruckus remarked, glancing out the rows of archways to gaze at the stretching ocean waters. "Under other circumstances I'd grab some champagne glasses and make a toast to the evening."

Mayhem nodded. "We may or may not do that usual commemorative event depending on Chaos' mood."

"Bastards," Havoc growled, raising a clenched fist. "That they could even think of having the nerve to crash our masquerade and then trash Chaos like that!"

"Down, Havoc," Mayhem chided. "You yourself could do for some recovery time."

Havoc sulked at that. Mayhem turned around, adjusting his grip on Havoc. "Ah, our host finally arrives. Komban wa, Chaos."

Chaos gave a slight wave as he emerged from the shadows atop the staircase, Hysteria and Riot right beside him. A few steps were pulverized as Rampage's claws dug in, her skull bouncing slightly as she landed from above.

"You've looked better, Chaos," Ruckus said with a smirk.

Chaos laughed weakly, descending down the staircase. "I've felt better too. Are the guests gone already?"

Mayhem nodded. "After that one guy dragged you off and viciously attacked Havoc--" Havoc shot Mayhem a very annoyed glare."--the rest of the crowd pretty much evacuated the place. You can see that our presence here indicates that warrior was taken care of."

Chaos nodded. "Hai, though not by us."

"I don't think any of us could have defeated or destroyed him," Ruckus stated. "This Day element was the only one."

"And no one thought of telling me this *before* I got a psycokinetic fist through my chest?" Chaos groaned, feigning lament.

Hysteria glanced around the ballroom. "Ne, where's Carnage-chan?"

Havoc looked at Chaos. "Wasn't she inside that labyrinth with Sailor Jupiter?"

Riot winced. "Now there's an adventure you'd want to soon forget."

* * *

Carnage was upset. She hated being too weak to just leave the maze and let the annoying senshi die. She hated the fact that even though she had tried to kill her on two occasions, Jupiter still saved her life. She hated Chaos for draining her powers. She was beginning to hate everything. She knew that the there was only one way out of this labyrinth, and they were very close to it now. Soon she'd be free to heal herself, find Chaos and beat the living daylights out of him for doing this to her. She suddenly stood up straighter and took a deep breath.

"You feeling better?" Sailor Jupiter asked.

Carnage gave her a dirty look. "We are nearly to the end of our journey, senshi," she said, watching as the stones in the wall began to pull themselves back and reveal an entrance. "Leave now."

A small boy appeared in the doorway, awake and confused. "Makoto-san?"

The tired child whispered, as Sailor Jupiter realized that she had untransformed. Makoto scooped the little child into her arms and looked back at Carnage. Carnage's eyes were narrowed and unpleasant.

She found the scene fading around her, and she appeared in the ballroom just in time to see the last of the Senshi leave. "Come on, Ooshi. Let's go home."

Carnage appeared a few moments later in behind the rest of the Court. The other Elvens turned around to behold a bedraggled and thoroughly unimpressed Even warrior.

"Damn you, Chaos," she hissed. "Damn you."

Moments later she disappeared again. The others could only presume back to her chambers to lick her wounds and renew her vendettas. Chaos sighed. "Yare yare. I'm in trouble now."

"In the meantime I suggest we follow in suit," Mayhem said. "We should meet later tomorrow to discuss what's happened. There's not a chance that anything that occurred here should be taken lightly."

"The game's over, I guess," Riot said.

The Elven Court of Chaos began to disperse, each one adjourning to their respective realms. Riot and Ruckus found themselves back amidst an orchard of sakura trees. Mayhem returned to the brooding silence of his sprawling rose gardens. Havoc vented his frustrations with his Zanba sword amidst the ruins. Rampage simply trudged off. Hysteria giggled and bounded off to someplace no one really wanted to inquire about.

And as for him....

And as for him, the Elven lord of Chaos, he remained. The grand ballroom became his chambers for the rest of the night. There in the empty stillness which had once been filled with laughter and music, he watched the ocean waves and a dark horizon which by his own creation would never see a sunrise.

The masquerade was over.