Usagi grimaced as she headed towards the Hikawa shrine. Combined with the rest of the senshi, she was, once again, making headway against Beryll. Her frown deepened as she remembered how it seemed like for every step forward the made, Beryll's generals would make two or three. Could this meeting foreshadow another step backward? Why else would Ami call them all to a meeting when the city needed them out on patrol?
Her feet felt like lead as she trudged up the steps that led to the shrine. She was excited to see all of her friends again and couldn't help letting out a small smile. Things could definitely be worse. Things had been worse, but her friends had overcome all, even death, to be with her. Try as she might, Beryll could not win, could she?
Her thoughts were cut off as she reached the entrance to the Hikawa shrine. Knocking, she was almost instantly ushered in by the smiling face of Grandfather Hino. "It's good to see you, Usagi-chan. It's been far too long since I've seen any of my granddaughter's friends.", he said, catching her off guard with a bow.
"Thank you for your kind words.", she told him, returning the bow, then following him to Rei's bedroom.
"Ah, I shall leave you to your meeting, I think.", he whispered, vanishing in the blink of an eye, causing Usagi to wonder if everyone's family knew about their secrets.
Opening the door, the corners of her mouth automatically turned upwards at the sight that greeted her. Rei was lying down on her bed, reading a new manga. Ami and Minako were staring at a holographic image of Venus, Mina pointing to a spot and mentioning something about home, while Artemis nodded approvingly at his ward. It was nice to know that some things could stay the same, even during such stressful times.
"Hey, guys.", she said, causing everyone to jump slightly.
"Well, well, it looks like Odangu-atama finally decided to show up.", Rei chided, getting up and playfully tugging on one of Usagi's pigtails. Usagi smiled and sat down over by Ami and Mina, followed by Rei.
"So, Ami, what's so important that we had to stop our patrols? Ranma and Shampoo big bad youma?", she asked jokingly.
Ami frowned as she turned off her projection of Venus. "Actually, it's a bit more complicated than that, but, yes, that is a distinct possibility."
There was a pause as everyone stared at her in unbelief. Usagi's face grew blank as she stared off into space, trying to digest the words. "Are you sure, Ami? They've done nothing but help us. Plus, that Ranma guy seems to have a mother. I've never seen a youma with a family.", Luna put in.
"Well, it's not quite so simple. My scan shows that both have magic in them. On one hand, both of them have traces of magic from the Silver Millennium in them, but on the other hand, Ranma's trace is almost completely overwhelmed by some kind of magic I've never seen before. For all we know Ranma might be a reincarnated dark general who still hasn't regained his memory."
"No.", Usagi stated, turning a somber face towards Ami, shaking her head slightly. "That can't be. I know Ranma somehow. He can't be a dark general."
"Is that possible?", Ami asked, turning to Luna. "Is there any male from the Silver Millennium that could have been brought forward?"
Luna seemed to droop to the ground, putting her head on her paws. "I can't say for sure, but I don't remember anything like that, Mercury."
"Well, what about that purple haired girl?", Rei asked, breaking the silence. "Couldn't she be Sailor Jupiter?"
Ami shrugged. "I'm willing to believe anything at this point. However, everything seems wrong for that to be true. While she does have a fair amount of Silver Millennium energy, it seems to be totally different than that of a Senshi's. Somehow, I think we're just missing some key to this puzzle that will tell us everything."
"Just sitting around here won't help anything. What should we do?", Rei asked the group.
"Well, what if we confronted them?", Usagi asked.
"I don't think that would be a good idea.", Artemis admonished. "Right now both of them are an unknown factor. There's no telling what could happen if we confronted them.
"Honestly.", Usagi snorted. "What's the worst that could happen? If Ranma IS a dark general, we'll catch him before he rises to full power. If not, we gain another ally."
"I'm not so sure about that, Usagi.", Ami said, taking a pause from typing equations into her computer. "If we went there in our normal fors and sparked a dark general's memory, or worse, his ire, he might be able to kill one or more of us before we even have a chance to transform. Plus, he'd know our secret identities."
"So," Venus chirped, "we'll just go in our Senshi forms. Then we can handle him...them."
"That could turn out badly as well.", Ami responded. "Assuming he's a dark general all's well. However, he might be something totally new. What if he's on par with Beryll? Then we'll all die without a solid plan."
"But, they're not!", Usagi stressed. "They might be something else, as you say, Mercury, but they're good. What will happen if a fight comes along where we can't handle it, but could have if we'd woken up their powers?"
"Even then, Princess, we'll be doing more harm then good.", Ami insisted. "If wee all show up on their doorstep in our Senshi forms, we just pointed out our allies location to Beryll. How long do you think they'll be safe if that occurs."
Usagi's face grew ashen as she stared helplessly at the group. "They know. The already know.", she whispered, getting up and making a mad scramble for the door.
Three yells of "Usagi" and two of "Princess" could be heard throughout the Shinto shrine, but it was already too late. By the time any of them reached the door, there was no trace to be found.
Ranma woke up to a splash of cold water on her face. "Hey, whadja do that for?!", she yelled at Xian Pu.
Xian Pu gave her an icy stare. "Why you so much harder to wake up no.", she whispered to Ranma, as Nodoka called up to make sure everything was alright.
"We are find, Nodoka-sama.", Xian Pu called back down. "Ranma just sound sleeper. Have to wake up the hard way."
"Good going, Xian.", Ranma said in a low voice. "Mom almost found out about my curse."
"Really?", Xian Pu asked. "You know what I say? Good. It not right to keep secrets from parents, especially from mother. She has a right to know!"
"Maybe you're right, Xian-chan, but I'd prefer it to be on my own terms. She shouldn't just wake up on day and find her... her...", Ranma stuttered, pausing to take a deep breathe.
"Is okay, Ranma. I know it hard for you, but you must come to term with who you are. This important step and longer you take, harder it is."
"Yeah, I guess you're right.", Ranma said, meeting her eyes. "I'll tell her soon." Xian Pu looked at her doubtfully. "I promise Xian-chan. I just need a little more time."
Ranma grinned as an idea came to her. "Speaking of not putting things off, there's no better time to practice proper Japanese than the present."
Xian Pu returned her grin. "I practice when you tell mother. I need more time too.", she snorted, then left Ranma's room.
Ranma jumped up, grabbing her clothes and a towel. Using every stealth technique she'd ever learned, she made it to the bathroom without getting caught. Last thing she needed was for her mother to catch a glimpse of a younger version of herself.
She turned the water for the furo on, then proceeded to wash herself with cold water at the shower, idly wondering if this made her true form clean as well.
She sank into the furo with a sight of relief as her muscles expanded to their proper proportions. What should I do today?, he asked himself. Hopefully, Xian-chan and I could find someplace to train at. Maybe a nice park. One with a lot of open space.
His thoughts were interrupted when a scream erupted from downstairs. Jumping out of the furo and putting on his clothes as quickly as possible caused the water to cool enough for him to turn female, but she didn't even notice as she headed downstairs.
What greeted her struck her with a horror relived. A man with brown hair dressed all in black was clutching his mother, while floating in mid-air. Off to her left side, Xian Pu had crumpled to the floor, unconscious.
The man smiled cruelly at Ranma. So, the boy has a kid sister, does he? Things are going better than I could have ever hoped for., Nephrite thought to himself. "Where is your brother, girl?", he asked, smirking at Ranma.
Ranma's battle aura ignited, bathing the room in a pale golden light. "Unhand... my... MOTHER!!", she yelled, running at Nephrite in a blur of motion. Jumping into a spin kick, she met with a breeze and a handful of rose petals.
"Tisk-tisk, little girl.", a voice came from behind her. "I'm not quite as easy as", Nephrite was cut off as the back of Ranma's fist slammed against his face, causing him to drop Nodoka.
Nephrite blew a wall out from behind him, floating 20 feet into the air. "You'll regret that, you little whore.", he said, spitting out some blood. "If you, or your family, ever want to be safe again, you will turn yourself over to the dark kingdom, along with your brother."
And if she doesn't?", Nodoka managed to cough out, while trying to glare at him.
"Then, I'll kill you.", he stated with finality.
"Never!!!", Ranma yelled, jumping up, hoping to use her school's specialty in air grappling, but only meeting with a handful of rose petals. Looking down, she saw Nephrite clutching her mother, his hand across Nodoka's mouth.
"Remember my promise, whore.", Nephrite snarled through his teeth, then was off in a small puff of smoke.
Ranma dropped to the ground, falling to her knees. Who were these bastards? Why were they doing this to her?!
The ground around started to crack as her battle aura turned to a sickly shade of green.
"Shi-shi-hokodan."
Sailor Moon paused in her flight, staring at a large pillar of green energy that had erupted half a mile or so away. God, please...please don't let me be too late., she thought, tears streaming down her eyes as she pushed herself even harder.
The buildings around her dimmed to a blur as she struggled to reach her destination. Her mind wiped blank by fear of the unknown, she barely heard the sonic boom as the sky was filled with green light a second time.
Vertigo briefly surrounded her at the sudden stop once she'd reached her destination. The front of the house was almost completely torn down, an occasional piece still falling off what had once been the roof. However, all of her attention rested on the two people in what had once been the front room. Shampoo's right temple was still dribbling out a small stream of blood as she gently shook another girl who Sailor Moon didn't recognize.
This other was rather short and had bright red hair. Although she didn't look to be hurt, she was sitting on the ground, legs sprawled underneath her, staring off into space.
"Where?", she asked, gasping for breath. "Where is Ranma?" Fear threatened to crush her hoping she didn't already know the answer.
The red haired girl looked up at her, meeting Sailor Moon's eyes with twin orbs of endless blue. "No.", Sailor Moon whispered, as she continued to stare into her eyes. "It can't be, can it?", she asked the girl softly.
Before there was time for an answer, Sailor Moon heard three figures drop down behind her. The Senshi spread out to either side, looking down at Xian Pu and Ranma
Pain flared in Sailor Moon's mind as a golden crescent moon seemed to etch itself onto her forehead. She threw her head back as a spear of golden light lanced from her forehead into the sky.
Almost instantly, a figure flickered to life in-between the Senshi, Ranma, and Xian Pu. The figure could be seen through, as if she were an apparition, but her details were all quite clear. She stood 5' 10", wrapped in a flowing silver dress that looked to be made of silk. Her hair, also silver, formed open-ended circles on either side of her head, then falling loose to the ground below her. Her face seemed to be the model of perfect beauty, gazing at each of the senshi in turn.
"It's time.", she declared. Six pillars of various colored light fell from the sky, striking each of the girls in turn. Mercury, blue. Venus, gold. Mars, red. Ranma, green. Xian Pu, black. After each light struck, the girl inside it disappeared.
"Mom.", Sailor Moon whispered, as she was engulfed in a silver light, also disappearing.
"It has begun.", The silvery apparition stated, flickering out of existence.
Ranma, Xian Pu, and the Senshi woke up to a barren gray landscape. A light, cold wind blew dust around them. Looking up, Ranma's vision swam at the sight of the earth hanging in the air, a perfect blue, green, and white gem, glowing in the sky.
"What just happened? Where are we?", Ranma demanded of those around her.
"I'll answer that, Mokusei.", came a voice from behind her.
Turning around, they all saw the same woman from the earth, standing before them. "There is much that must be explained in the short amount of time we have."
"Mother!!", Sailor Moon screamed, running towards Queen Serenity. Flinging her arms wide, she flew into a bear hug. Upon contact she met a slight resistance, than proceeded to fall through her mother, stumbling to catch her step. It felt as if she'd passed through a cool pool of water.
Turning around, the queen caressed her daughter's face, causing a shiver to go down Sailor Moon's spine. "It wasn't supposed to be like this, my child."
A cough from behind brought both of them out of their reverie. "What wasn't supposed to be like this?", Sailor Mars asked.
"I'm sorry. Where are my manners?", Queen Serenity asked, drawing herself back up. "My name is Queen Lamarial Serenity II, and this," she stated, sweeping her hands around her, "...this was once my kingdom."
"Not much of a kingdom.", Ranma muttered, looking at the moon's marred surface. Queen Serenity turned to Ranma, showing a soft smile. "It's good to know at least your usual wit survived, Mokusei."
Ranma was about to tell Serenity that wasn't her name, when something stopped her. Maybe it was the peace that permeated from the moon?
"True, Mokusei, it's not much to look at now, but this was once the heart of the most beautiful kingdom known to man. Peace stretched from Mercury to Pluto, the Moon ruling over them all, guiding all of them on how best to help each other, how best to use their resources. However, man's perfection ended several millennia ago, replaced by war, devastation, and desolation.", Serenity told them. "And it was all thanks to one woman and her betrayal."
"Why there no warriors to protect?", Xian Pu demanded. "Weak society deserve to die."
"But there were warriors, An-ei, and I was honored enough to have all of you among them."
This took all of them aback, the Senshi wondering about Ranma and Xian Pu, who were, in turn, wondering what Queen Serenity was talking about.
"Yes, my children. All of you were my most prized warriors. I succeeded in part of my plan, but failed in the whole.", Queen Serenity told them. "When the battle was all but lost, I was able to send you forward in time, ensuring a brighter future. To my dismay, part of the spell failed, sending you slightly further than I intended, and erasing part of your memories."
"I'm sorry, Lady, but you have the wrong person. I ain't one of your warriors. I've never been that...that powerful.", Ranma told Serenity, her shoulders slumping. "Never was one for frilly dresses anyway.", she muttered.
Queen Serenity let out a small laugh, causing Ranma's face to flush red. "No, Mokusei, you were never one for frilly dresses. However, you're quite wrong about not being one of my warriors. I've valued your help too highly not to know your reincarnation. There's no mistake."
"But, how?", Ranma asked her.
Queen Serenity's eyes fell upon her, seeming to size her up. "Actually, I'm not quite sure. Your rebirth wasn't at my hands, and I still haven't been able to figure out how it happened."
Queen Serenity's figure grew almost completely transparent, before flashing back to its near opaque form. "I'm sorry children, but my time is almost up.", she said looking at them, her eyes coming to rest on Sailor Moon.
"Won't you be able to come back?", Sailor Moon asked, her voice catching slightly.
"I'm not sure.", Queen Serenity told her. "If so, it won't be very often. However, I have worked out on gift to help you all."
Queen Serenity raised her hands in the air, placing her palms close together, bringing slowly closed. Her whole body seemed to tense, but everyone's eyes were on her hands, where slivers of light seemed to be trying to escape. Bringing her hands slowly apart, she revealed a small orb of light hanging in the air.
"Goodbye, my children. May the light shine upon you all.", she whispered, a sad smile upon her face. The orb above her exploded, causing its surroundings to disappear momentarily.
When the air cleared, the soldiers of love and justice lay on the ground in a seemingly peaceful sleep. As Queen Serenity slowly faded away, a smile of satisfaction could be seen upon her face.
Sorry it took me so long to get this out. I haven't had access to a computer for a long, long time. Hope you liked it. As always, feel free to send any comments.