California - packing up

Michelle sits by the window, playing her cello as the sun's rays dance across the grains in the wood of her instrument. Soft melodies dance in the air. Amara softly smiles at her friend while she continues to pack boxes of her trophies.

Hotaru was already finished packing, having had thrown her stuff randomly into boxes so she could continue playing her nintendo.

Trista was content to just sit and take it all in. She was happy with her friends but her Princess was never far from her mind. Leaning back on the couch was all it took to allow her mind the opportunity to drift into the planes between time and space. Trista pushed her spirit out into those ever shifting planes, leaving her body behind as a shell, exposed and vulnerable. Had she been anywhere else in the world, Trista would never have trusted her body to be left alone. But she was with her friends, the closest family she had.

Searching through the fog, Trista found the window that would allow her to follow Serena's progress with the scouts. She knew that it was not easy to help the girls open their hearts again. But the ends justified the means and a little leap of faith wasn't much to ask for when compared to the trials Trista had planned for her princess to inherit the full power of the silver imperial crystal. Trista was pleased at their location and was reminded at how swiftly her plans were coming together.

Though she was well in control of her powers and was able to maintain an excellent and perfect vigil over the future, Trista was still concerned that her princess and her prince were not ready. The inner scouts however were more than capable of handling the general's return to their former glory. There was plenty of love and trust, even a bit of lust in some corners, concerning the generals and the scouts. The final push to allow Nephrite and his brothers access to their birthrights, their elemental powers granted to them by Gaia, essence of mother earth, was on track.

They are headed to training fields now. Serena has organized the 'troops' and Luna with the help from Mercury has figured out how to access some of the tech from the Silver Millennium. Mars and Venus were both known for battle strategies but Mercury was all about technical advancements. Mercurians had developed special hologram programs that ran attack and defense protocols to train and test military strategy.

"Can't wait for the show. Where are we hiding Trista?"

"You will be staying at the luxury apartment I keep in downtown Tokyo. I have to go oversee their little training session. I need to confirm that they are staying on track for Crystal Tokyo's timeline."

"How will watching their training session tell you that Trista?" Hotaru asked.

"Well little one, I need to see how well the generals and the scouts are getting along. If they can 'play nice' then everything will be doing just fine." She brushed Hotaru's ebony hair down her back. Enjoying being around the little one was one of the many reasons she was thankful for her life. Thinking about being thankful to her princess for her life was one of the many thorns in her side. It was very difficult for Trista to even consider hurting the princess. But she knew that Serena needed to open herself to the full power of the crystal. The fate of the world was resting on in Princess Serenity's ability to protect it.

"How do we get to Tokyo and play our parts in tonight's espionage against the crown?" Amara joked.

The movers will be here in 2 hours and the three of you will be accompanying me throughout the time gates. Jet lag will not be a problem and Hotaru will be staying with Sammy for the weekend while the rest of us follow my plan for helping Serena come into her own, the prince as well but he is more intune with Serena so she is the one who needs the push and we need to keep princy pants out of the way until it is time for him to come in at the last minute and save his beloved. They will never know what hit them. Serena will be so upset when we separate her from the scouts but also Darien? She

will be a wreck.

Exactly.

I hope you know what you are doing.

If I don't know then who does?

The final notes of Beethoven's 5th sighed through the apartment. Michelle opened her eyes and declared her willingness to leave as she had finished her solo performance to acknowledge that peace was going to be missing in their near future. But peace was worth the fight so Michelle put aside her more tender tendencies and prepared herself mentally for battle.

It was going to be a struggle to bring Serena ouf of her shell but it was still for the good of Earth and everyone on it that she gained her full powers. No one was looking forward to intentionally starting a fight with the princess. She may seem happy and mild tempered but she was still the most powerful person in the universe, and it had nothing to do with the silver crystal. No one had a greater heart than Serena.

The silver imperial crystal was powerful, but it was the heart and the capacity to love of the one who wielded the crystal that gave it a channel to funnel its power and the strength behind that power came from love. The greater the love and the one who loved, then the greater the power.

One hour after becoming Sailor Moon - 14 Year old Serena

"I'm the pretty guardian who fights for love and justice, Sailor Moon. In the name of the Moon I will punish you!"

"Ahh! Who are you guys?" Sailor moon screeched as she ran from razor sharp projectiles.

"Waaaaa!" Sailor Moon wailed on her knees. The youma had effectively taunted and harassed the young heroine until she tripped over her feet and fell to scrape her knees. Some beautiful transformation this is! She thought to herself.

"Ahhh! I'm bleeding" She cried, wishing she could go home.

Tuxedo Mask watched from the shadows on the fire escape until noticing the youma charging for an attack aimed at Moon. There were plenty of places for the masked hero to hide and watch the Osa.P store from this busy district in Juuban. Tuxedo Mask didn't know the young heroine but he felt an insatiable desire to protect her.

The humanoid youma was towering over Sailor Moon, stretching it's disfigured hand towards the young girl. Tuxedo Mask could wait no longer. He jumped down from his post and fired a piercing rose at the youma's hand to distract it long enough to console Sailor Moon. While the youma was pulling out the rose and then the thorns from the other hand, Tuxedo Mask made his presence known.

"You can do it Sailor Moon. I believe in you." He called from his vantage point. Tipping his hat and whisking his cape as he spun and leapt from the window, satisfied he was able to prevent further injury to the young girl. He hid once more in the shadows to continue watching over her.

Still distraught, Serena wailed and screamed until

Drying her eyes, she wiped her nose on the back of her glove, sniffled once more and shakily stood.

"You are stronger than that monster Sailor Moon. Just believe in yourself." He whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine. Nodding to her hero before watching him wink and disappear in the shadows once more, she turned, and aimed her tiara at the creature's chest.

Sailor Moon was instantly excited and exhausted from her first battle. Though she slumped rather ungracefully to the ground, she was smiling from one bun to the other.

Stepping out of the shadows once more, Tuxedo Mask sent Sailor Moon his signature sexy smirk as she looked up to the movement of his cape. "Well done Sailor Moon. I will see you again." Tuxedo Mask crouched low and jumped on to the neighboring building and quickly made his way across the skyline.

Serena was still rather dazed from her adventure but after that look on his face, the glint in his eye and the tip of his hat, she was in love. Fourteen isn't too young to give away your heart is it? Sailor Moon sat on the ground until she could no longer see his black cape blowing in the wind behind her hero's retreating form.

Finally, Serena was able to remember how tired and sore she was and stood up to go home. She had but one thought on her mind as she numbly made her exit back to the warmth of her own bed. "He is so cute!" Serena completely ignored her feline companion's sigh and missed her eyes rolling. Really, how did she do that? Cat's can't roll their eyes right?

Anyways, Luna was convinced she was doomed to having the worst charge ever to look after. Serena was convinced she had the cutest 'boyfriend' ever. Sure it's a one sided relationship, but who cares. He was cute!

Destination: Abandoned military base now called Scout Training Grounds.

It seemed that everywhere the scouts and generals went was a procession full of pomp and circumstance. The guys could never agree on who was sharing a ride with whom so everyone took their cars which meant that five cars were seen driving everywhere together. As soon as pancakes were devoured and the kitchen cleaned, they were back in their jalopys, NOT, and making their parade through town to get the the mountain cut off to take them out of civilization, away from prying eyes.

Serena was sitting with Darien, who else really, and it looked like she had been impaled. Her back was ramrod straight and her shoulders tense as she focused on the road in front of her. Though her breathing was regular and her hands unclasped, it was apparent that she was uncomfortable and tense.

"Whatcha thinking about dumpling?"

"Hmmmm? Oh, just thinking about the old days. You know back when i was a cry baby and a screw up." Serena sighed as she watched the trees glide past the window.

"Oh you mean last week?" Darien snickered for no sooner as he said the words Serena instantly gasped and smacked his arm.

"Hey, I'm driving here dumpling. No hitting the driver if you don't want to crash." Darien was laughing at her cute face all scrunched up in frustration.

"Fine, fine. How about I tell you all about I had a major crush on Tuxedo Mask and how that slowly turned into me falling in love with you." Darien's interest was instantly piqued and was rather insistent that she picked up the storytelling immediately.

"Well it all started when I was passing notes to my friend in class. You know Molly, the one I used to hang out with all the time before the scouts came along. (Darien's eyes sparkled in excitement and eagerly nodded along so she would be encouraged to tell her story) Anyways, I already had a crush on the major hottie who threw roses and would whisk me out of harm's way while whispering words of encouragement in my ear, setting my blood on fire and my heart racing. So it really didn't take much for that crush to go to the next level. I'll just tell you about the notes so you can get an idea of the

progression." She finished, and she could see his smile and his hands tighten on the steering wheel waiting for her to continue.

Molly,

I am in love! Last night I ran into this amazing guy who rescued me when I had tripped. He was so handsome!

Serena

Serena,

Do tell! Were their bad guys or did you just trip again? What did he look like? Are you guys going out on a date?

Molly

Molly,

No I didn't just trip! Yes there was a bad guy and he saved me. I couldn't really see what he looked like but when he swooped me up in his arms I knew we had a connection. His chest was rock hard Mols! He has the most gorgeous eyes. Well I don't know what color though because everything was dark and his face was hidden. No, no date. He didn't stick around long but he said the sweetest things so I just know that he must like me too!

Serena

Serena,

Do you think you will see him again?

Molly

Molly,

I hope so. I have seen him a few times now. You know those monsters that have been attacking people. Well sometimes it seems that I am near them and then that is when he shows up! He is my Hero!

Serena

Serena,

You are so lucky. I wish you could go on a date with him. That would be so dreamy! Think of how jealous the other girls in our school would be! Especially those snotty girls that think they are better than anyone. If you actually had a boyfriend that would show them! Oh I wish I had my own hero to take me into his arms and carry me away.

Molly

Molly,

I know! I am lucky. He doesn't seem to want to catch anyone's attention. I wish he would stick around long enough so I could get his number. He wears a tuxedo and the reporters have taken to calling him Tuxedo Mask. But his voice is dreamy! It is dark and alluring, just like in the movies.

Serena

Serena,

Tuxedo Mask? The news had a fuzzy picture of him the other day but no one ever seems to be able to get a clear shot. I can't believe how luck you are.

Molly

Several months later, new scouts have joined Sailor Moon and now attend Juuban High.

Lita,

Tuxedo Mask saved me again! Why or why can I not see his face. When he talks to me I get shivers up and down my back. I wish he would stick around after one of our battles.

Serena

Serena,

I know. Everyone says he has the hots for you but as Sailor Jupiter I would have to shock that tuxedo right off if he ever showed signs of hurting you or any of the other girls.

Lita

Lita,

I wish he would say if he liked me or at least tell me why he is always saving me. I'm so happy I have such amazing friends that look out for me. You're the best Lita. But he is still oh so dreamy.

Serena

Serena,

How come you don't talk to Molly or Melvin very much anymore. When I first moved here you guys were the best of friends. And yes, Tuxedo Mask definitely likes you. The way he looks at you and always is ready to save you shows that he cares. Maybe he just has trouble trusting people or maybe he is ugly and so he hides behind his mask, kinda like the guy in Phantom of the Opera

Lita

Lita,

I don't talk them much anymore cause we can't talk about scout business in front of them and now that they are an item, well they don't need me. I had to let them go so I could focus on you guys.

Serena

"Although, now that I think about it it was kind of lame that my hero threw roses. I mean, come on. Where is the big show of power?" Serena snickered as she watched the pout form on Darien's face.

"Come on Serena. I totally saved your fuku covered butt more times than I can count. I deserve a reward" Darien returned, hoping he could have that reward.

"Fine, but keep your eyes on the road mister. I don't want to end up in a crash" She smirked back at him as his eyes lit up waiting for his reward. She leaned over the center of the car and pressed a kiss just below his ear. As she trailed kisses and nips down his neck, his breathing rate increased but after a few minutes she stopped. Satisfied she had turned the conversation again, she went back to telling him all the things she loved about him when they had first met.

"This is amazing. I knew you had a crush, you told me so. But to hear that your thing for me went back that far is really something worth bragging about."

"Don't get too cocky mister. Everyone in the world knows that Tuxedo Mask had a thing for Sailor Moon so don't think for one second that it was actually one sided." Serena replied smugly.

"You're right, I did and still do. She is hot and I love that short fuku she prances around it on the rooftops."

"I do NOT prance." Serena shrieked as she crossed her arms across her chest further distracting Darien while he was driving.

"Tell you what, since we are getting off subject how about I tell you just how I fell in love with you to distract us both from today. It's going to be hard having to watch the guys and girls fight each other and also their hearts seeing as most of them have not come to terms with their hearts yet. Besides, I would really rather think about much more pleasant things than all of our bickering."

"I liked our bickering." She pouted.

"Oh, and why is that princess?"

"Because it was special, something I only did with you and it made me feel like like I was special the way you would get all engrossed in our fights. It was like the rest of the world didn't exist anymore."

"Kind of like when we kiss? It feels like I could fly and I am sure that nothing else exists at all when your lips are on mine." He purred watching her blush creep up her neck and cheeks.

"Darien! Watch the road" Serena tried to turn the attention away from her, it was embarrassing the things he knew just to say to make her respond.

"Fine, fine. But I still want to tell you about a certain girl who was more beautiful and lovely that all the others in all the worlds that circle our sun."

"Well, if you must. I guess I could suffer through you telling me something like that." She sighed dramatically.

"Well, once upon a time, I was on the moon and I saw a beautiful, coming of age princess, with a heart stopping smile and grace that would shame any tiger."

"So what, I am a loner covered in stripes?" She sassed as he laughed at her quip.

"No, I chose tigers because they are magnificent creatures, stunning really. Their attacks rely on stealth, and lets face it you don't really have much of that dumpling. But you are still beautiful and powerful just like a tiger. Plus they are one of my favorite animals."

"Yes well, anyways, Dare Bear, you kind of got off track. We were talking about how you fell in love with me remember?" She giggled.

"You're right. But you also distract me. So where was I?"

"Something about a moon and a beautiful princess?" She supplied

"Yup, your right again. So this girl, excuse me, lady (he changed as he noticed her raised eyebrows from the corner of his eye while he was still trying to concentrate on the road in front of them) was beyond graceful, beautiful and elegant but the moon, I think, stopped the second her laugh sounded for it was the most angelic sound imaginable."

"Really Darien?" She asked disbelievingly, because really, she didn't believe him at this point, he was being over the top with his description. Forget flirty and romance, this was almost sacrilege comparing this angle incarnate to her.

Darien however was lost in his memoirs as he continued to pour out his description. "When she moved it was like the wind kissing kissing the flowers, fluid and soft. When she smiled it was as if the sun had stopped shining because it was blinding. But when her eyes met mine I was captivated. I couldn't help myself, I strode across the hall and begged for a dance. I was lucky that she had agreed. I was certainly not the only interested man in the room but somehow, someway she saw fit to dance with me."

"Only because I was bored of my mother's balls where she was trying to get me engaged so she could have the succession to the crown secured. Let's face it, you were a rogue, a man from Earth with whom I was forbidden to allow my heart to become so erroneously emotionally entangled with and yet you were devilishly handsome with such a kissable simile that I simply couldn't help but say yes."

Darien was beyond ecstatic to hear her confession so he continued with his knowing now that his plan to distract her was working. "Yes, but when I took her into my arms (continuing to talk about Serena in the third person) it felt like coming home. It was like piecing together my heart with a perfect match. that one physical touch was like searing her essence into my soul. I was enraptured."

"Hmm, and yet you still decided to make fun of me later that night by telling me not to stuff my face when I was absolutely starving from not having eaten all day." She glowered but could not fully suppress her smile at his warm and generous rendition of their moment of love at first sight.

"You forget that here on Earth,I fell in love Serena. Who happened to be a 14 year old bratty, crybaby, klutz who stole my heart. I was more than a little resentful." Serena harrumphed at his pause in explanation. "Besides, I was, as you would like to label me, a jerk. I didn't know how to love or be loved by anyone and along comes this beautiful and immature little girl who completely blindsided me with a test paper one day and her shoe the next. I really never stood a chance against you." He winked, causing her heart to go into overdrive.

"True, true. However, back then I was constantly afraid that you like Raye. And I never felt good enough for you. College guy, gorgeous, and a wit that I could never hope to match? I don't know what I was thinking that you would ever want to be with someone like me. I guess I just got really really lucky that somewhere along the line you fell to my charms. I'm still hoping you won't wake up and realize that you don't need me as much as I need you."

"Your wrong my Serenity. I will always need you. You are my light, my joy, my love, my life. I woke up long ago realizing that I was a fool for not loving you sooner, for not treating you better. And I look to the day when I will be waking up at your side forever and always."

SHe sighed dreamily but still couldn't resist a sharp cut at his ego. "Yes well, I didn't realize you were such a sap Darien. Really, I didn't think that tough act was covering this teddy bear sitting over there." She giggled again.

"Don't tell anyone Sere, I'm supposed to look tough. You bring it out of me." She smiled rather big at that one. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."

They were running out of road. The forest was getting really thick but as they took the last turn leading the others up a sharp incline to their destination a gate came into quick relief. The metal gate was hanging off the hinges and the dirt road was really overgrown with grass with few rocks sticking out but the road was still cleared, the forest had yet unclaimed it's ground from the path marked by the military.

Serena was ready to break out of the car and scope to the clearing again. They drove past the gates and slowly ambled their cars down the path. Soon enough the path was stopped by a felled tree and everyone was forced to pull off and get out.

There was still a path to the buildings and concrete pad that served as a large parking lot in front of the what had once been the administration building. It really looked like something out of Jurassic Park, The Lost World. There were vines, trees, shrubs and grass growing on and out of everything. The only redeeming factor was how secluded the place was, despite the clearing it offered.

It was just plain creepy and there were local legends how it was haunted so no one was willing to come near for fear that evil spirits would curse them. The villagers loved to tell ghost stories to their kids to scar them into doing chores for fear of being left on the base by their parents for the night. It certainly helped keep delinquent children in line. No one was ready to come face to face with any spirits.

Raye was unperturbed, she had come prepared. Taking her strips of cleansing she had brought from the temple, she was ready to perform her ritual she had prepared. the cleansing tag with special incantation written on was placed in her hands before her eyes as she chanted her practiced mantra. Finally she flung the paper from her and it flew away to land on the moldy door of the admin building before it burned. The ashes caught a nonexistent wind and flew into nothingness before Raye turned with a smirk to her friends.

"Well, that is done. Seems like there are no monsters or any other baddies to worry about." She said as she had placed her hand on her hip and declared the place clean. Well it wasn't clean, it was still filthy but there was nothing extra hiding as bonus training for the group.

Serena POV all the way

So the perimeter thingy that Artemis and Luna had brought from Central was in place. It was really impressive. But it took up so much space. The courtyard at the Cherry Hill temple looked like a sand box compared to the size of our training grounds today. Normally we would run a few drills and set up a bunch of targets to attack but according to Luna this was going to be totally different. My mom, Queen Serenity, was smart for employing the Mercurians during the Silver Millennium. They really knew how to make the coolest gadgets.

There were four corners that made the outline, or perimeter of the training grounds that were going to be used in our fight simulation/hologram session. The coolest thing about it was the fact that in the center was the control where Luna and Artemis sat, safe in a cocoon of 4 square feet (I only know that because of Amy). They were able to set the trials and monitor the results with a bunch of statistical readouts that only Zoisite and Amy could really decipher. But who am I kidding, Luna still likes to think that she totally runs the show.

So we all transformed, no biggie. I could do it in my sleep, I think I actually might have a time or two. Having dreams about a certain masked hero and battling youmas really messed with my psyche, not to mention totally interrupted my sleep patterns. A girl really needs 14 hours of beauty sleep to be in top shape to take on the world, or a certain jerk in his pea green blazer who now happens to be my gorgeous boyfriend that I get to makeout with on a daily basis.

WHOA

I am really digressing. Oh man! Amy would be so happy that I am using big words in my inner monologue. HE HE.

Anywho.

So, everyone transformed, perimeter set, hologram up and running and Luna and Artemis 'running' the show from their safe little pod/cocoon where they get to torment all of us. Right… Well, since Mina, Sailor Venus is really in charge of the scouts, leader that is, and she is also in charge of tactics she had agreed/demanded to organize the various trials we would undergo to make sure we were ready for next weekend. Personally, I think she went way overboard. Come one, she actually made a diagram and has a schedule printed off! This is Mina, the girl who never did her homework and somehow tricked all her teachers into thinking she was too important and busy to actually have to make it up. So here she was voluntarily putting together our work out schedules?

Yup, its official, the closer I become to Neo Queen Serenity, the more insanely overbearing my friends are becoming, and a bit obsessed with perfectionism. Seriously, I have a freakout moment after Chaos and now I am being baby sat by my scouts. Great…

So the guys were up first. I think Mina really wanted them to go first so we could show them up in the next round but personally I was grateful so we could figure out how this training program was going to work without being the guinea pigs. I was really expecting the thing to have major malfunctions after a thousand years without use but I should know better than to doubt Mercurians. Their civilization may be gone, and if i think about it too long I will be a blubbering mess, but they are still the best at technology and knowledge. No way was Luna taking credit for setting the thing up, that was Amy all the way.

The guys were in for about 35 minutes before Artemis called it and turned the system on 'stand by'. The guys were sweaty, EWWW, so not kissing you Darien. He is so taking a bath before I touch him. Why is he walking over here to me like that? What does the think the is doing grinning like a crazy person and reaching for me. I so want to run but his gorgeous blue eyes have me rooted. I didn't know I could look repulsed and like a love sick sap all at the same time. UGH he is getting closer! Oh no he is leaning in.

Hmmm.

Okay, so kissing sweaty Darien isn't so bad after all. At least there isn't major body odor problems. He still smells like chocolate and roses. Gotta love the side effects of being a superhero.

Well, mission accomplished, Amy and Luna both get plenty of data to sort through and we all learned that the hologram training thingy works without any glitches, that I can tell of anyways. While the guys gloat about their 'win' and catch their breath us real heros/heroines were getting totally psyched up.

Raye was definitely glowing. LIta had cracked her knuckles so many times I was beginning to wonder how they still worked. Mina was going between flirting with Kunzite and reviewing her notes.

Seriously what happened to Mina, my partner in crime who never did homework! What are my

excuses now? Amy was still going over the data but her facial expressions were clearing up so it looks like my time is limited before I walk through the perimeter and face whatever baddies Luna has thought up for us today.

I know she is my guardian and counselor, oldest friend, but she is way intense. Does she want me to go home after every training beat, broken and bruised?

After another 15 minutes, Luna finally was satisfied with Amy's analysis of they guys training results so they were setting up for our session. There goes the crazy guardian cat, wearing her infamous cheshire grin while she pounded the control board with her tiny little paws telling the computer just how to torture us today. Anger management classes will accept pets right?

Seeing Artemis look up and nod in our direction spurred my feet to action. I walked up to the edge of the perimeter and noticed it was glowing a faint blueish hue. I guess that is where the edge of the hologram stops. I noticed from the corner of my eyes that the girls had joined me on either side waiting for the signal to start. Luna finally looked up as well and nodded at me, well i think it is me, she is so little I can't tell if it is me or one of the other scouts. Anyways, I cross the barrier and a hairsbreadth later hear a slight popping noise as the girls crossed as well. I guess the hologram imaging computer takes note of its occupants before unleashing its disgusting horrors. Who am I kidding? I think a common house spider is a disgusting horror and if these holograms are anything like the youmans we are accustomed to then this is going to be diabolically horrendous.

See there Amy, I do know big words. I don't always sleep through literature class and who knows, maybe I picked up something from osmosis.

A light above Luna and Artemis appeared and it started out as red, a couple of seconds later if flashed orange and a couple more seconds later it became green. Just bfore the light dissappered a loud 'bing' noise sounded within the confines of Luna's premeditated torture session. Immediately monsters appeared.

This was what we were made for, this I was like breathing, fighting monsters. Dont get me wrong, I was totally spot on when I said that psycho cat was going to give us a hard time, she didn't pull any punches that Luna. I guess she thought it would help to start with the familiar because these youmas were like clones of our original enemies. Luna must be into retro training. But she really put these monsters on steroids. In the past all we needed was distracted, a bit of weakness identification and finally the target for my Moon Tiara Action attack. What Luna came up with would defy the 8th

amendment to the United State's constitution.

Yes, I pay attention in world history class too. Seriously, I will be queen someday I am not totally a dumb blonde.

This was totally cruel and unusual punishment. Each scout eventually had to power up to the next level and allow our secondary attacks to come into action and combat these hologram baddies on steroids. Those Mercurians were diabolical. These things really fire real sticky gross goo at you and I totally just got a first degree burn from that fire breathing youma.

We all danced around and it was amazing watching the coordination that years of training and battles had honed into our senses. The way we worked together and were able to predict each other's moves is what has always made us a formidable team. Seeing it in action against these holograms made me realize how lucky we are to have each other. I would never have made it here without my scouts/best friends for life.

After about 30 minutes the buzzer rang and the perimeter's blueish hue diminished revealing the general's grinning faces and Darien's trademark smirk. Grace was out the window. We totally ran out of that place and sank to our knees next to our water bottles. This may be practice but it was hard work too! Why didn't I bring any chocolate with me? I could really use a pick-me-up.

I looked back and saw that Amy had not left but was already going over the results with the two talking furballs. Names are privileges people and after that torture session they have lost that privilege. Luna is sleeping on the floor tonight. The ends of my hair still have some of that goop in it. I thought these were holograms. Leave it to the Mercurians to make sure that it 'seemed' real. Seriously, they are a real piece of work putting those 'real effects' in there like that. My burn still hurts, hey what's that?

I looked up into those sexy blue eyes again and see Darien smiling down at me. Following his arm I notice his hand over the burn on my forearm and realize that it was cooling off. They burn was gone and my skin was back to it's normal spotfree glow. Gotta love having a boyfriend with healing powers.

Mina may have had her charts and diagrams but she was not missing an opportunity to complain with me about this training junk that we were going through. Lita was definitely encouraging as she talked about trying the cats up and putting them in a box with holes in the top. We could leave them there for a while if we added food and a litter box right? I think the Negaverse was a cakewalk compared to those two. Poor Diana is going to have Luna for a mom. I need to make sure I am extra nice to Diana when I meet her. Now that really is cruel and unusual, ugh Mom-Luna.

How does Raye do it? We just get through and she is ready for more! That evil grin on her face should be illegal or at least used against criminals because if she looked at me like that I would confess to anything. Already she is harassing Jedite about the next round when we go guys against girls. Boy this is going to be really interesting. This is the perfect opportunity for the scouts to let off some unrequited frustration at the generals for their past sins. Sure, no one really blames them but I'm not sure the scouts are feeling very gracious and forgiving right now. Seems a little convenient that we are going against them. I should have talked to Kunzite more about how to woo Mina and maybe we wouldn't be in

this mess.

Again, it didn't take long for Amy to get her facts in order and Luna must have already planned her next attacks against us because 5 minutes later, after her little paws abused the control panel again, she was set and this time we were all lining up. Boys on the left, girls on the right, and Luna and her homemade monsters thrown in for good measure.

Same ol same old. The routine was quickly learned, there wasn't much to it. So as soon as the 'bing' sounded we all went into defense/attack mode. Ugh, attack sexy Darien or not? To do so is to possibly show that I am stronger than he is and to not do so is to set a bad example for the scouts. But the scouts really weren't waiting on any preamble from me. Mina had a plan and we were to follow through.

This session was much longer than the last two. Not only was it difficult to battle the monsters again, seriously once wasn't enough Luna! Crazy cat. But now we had to split our attention between the crazy cat created cretons (I got mad alliteration skills thank you very much LUNA) and the guys who were also hurling their attacks and slicing at us with their swords. So not fair because scouts don't have weapons we have power attacks, except for Mina her whip more than made up for her lack of pointy sharp objects like the generals had.

I really lost count of how long we were in there but when Luna finally called it and Artemis hit the buzzer, Amy announced that the hour and a half training session was a success even without looking at the data. By the way, scouts totally whipped the general's butss. Yup, girls rule and boys drool, over our sexy bodies in our short fuku's. TA HE HE.

So now the final stage was being set. Mina granted a reprieve and allotted a generous time to recuperate before trudging back across that perimeter''s borders and being shrouded in that blueish hue once more. I thought I like blue but if this is an all the time kind of thing I might reconsider my consideration for the color.

Luna was really saving the best/WORST THING EVER for last.

Not only did she have multiple monsters but it was like the monsters had multiple personality disorders. Generally speaking each monster has a skill set and a weakness with a general size being 10 feet and under. Oh no, that's not good enough for our fair loco Luna. These monsters were over 15 feet tall and each one had 3 different ways they could harm us.

We all really should have seen the downfall of this entire situation. Luna was on a control kick. Mina was still sticking resolutely to her plans. I was focused on taking advantage of any opportuniy and trying desperately to dodge all the spraying acids, goop, and razor sharp objects being lobbed at our heads. What none of us realized was just how competitive Raye had geared herself up to be. Sure she kissed Jedite, confessed she like him. But she was oh so itching to prove her superiority. So unlike the rest of us, trying to survive Luna's carnival of torture, 3 ring circus of doom, Raye was on an all out war path.

We all were doing really well, coordinating our efforts and working in various formations of teams. We were all flowing quite nicely. What we failed to realize was how much frustration was between Jed and Raye. Sailor Mars was on fire, literally, and therefore so was Jed. As soon as we had been put together and were forced to draw on deeper, stronger levels of our powers, the guys had been able to access their previously dormant powers. I'm starting to think that is what set Raye off, seeing Jedite handle fire just as well, okay maybe I shouldn't say that, at least not to her, not quite as well as she did. I think it really and royally pissed her off, see considering she is the Princess of Mars she is royalty, see what I

did there?

Yup, not helping things I know. So Raye jumps into the action and starts blazing her attacks against anything that moves near or around her. We all knew to stay away but Jed, well he didn't get the memo.

Jed was trying to tell Raye to 'cool it' and the more he said those words, the hotter it got. No really, you could really feel the heat coming off of her in waves. She was very much, finally, in tune with the fire of Mars and she was roasting the monsters left and right. But she got sloppy, lazy and failed to watch her back. Jed had been by her side and was trying to plead with her to 'cool off' but she was ignoring him and neither one realized the 17 foot, yeah we measured, monster that had snuck up on the pair.

Jed saw it first and his gasp made Raye spin around. She was pissed the monster had gotten so close. It was really her affections, Raye will deny it and say it was her competitive nature, that drove Raye to diving in front of Jedite and taking the electric attack square in the chest. She was immediately knocked unconscious by the hit, Luna was a wise kitty and set the attacks below lethal, and Jed was on fire as never before. His passions blazed outwardly as he was swallowed in fire before taking aim and forcing the blaze to make a hit on the heart of the monster. It was ashes before any of us could even say Jed's name.

He was furious. His pride was wounded and his heart ached seeing Raye on the ground before him. He swooped her up and carried her to his car, watching as her transformation faded on her first and then himself. After laying her seat down, he buckled her in, nodded at all of us and turned his hard set eyes back on her face once more before climbing in the driver's seat and squealing his tires to turn his car back on the road.

As soon as Raye had been hit, Luna had hit the 'cancel' button. The short 5 minutes that followed left us all staring at the growing cloud of dust as Jed's car raced away from the training grounds.

I think we were all in so much shock, having seen Raye's disregard for protocol and tactics that no one was able to find their voice to say anything about it. Quietly, we all packed up and slowly headed out to go home. We had a lot to think about.

Sure we worked well in our individual groups. We did quite well against each other. We all destroyed the hologram monsters. But when we faced off together, our passions were still uncontrollable. We had a lot to think about. We may be strong and powerful but were we really ready to take on this whole 'healing process' as as team? Could we trust each other?

It didn't take long for Raye to come to. Her scout powers alleviating the sore muscles and rapidly healing her bruised skin. The few scratches she had obtained were already fading, the only evidence was the faint smell of rust and the dried blood on her calves from her fall. Her forearms were equally healed as she inspected herself in the faint light from glowing electronics by the Ferrari's dash and the stars overhead streaming light through the tree branches and into her window.

Jadeite had seen her stir. Her soft exhale and moan as she had sifted in her seat under her seat belt from whence she had been placed, delicately though she need not know. He knew better than to interrupt her waking with unnecessary questions. She was not okay. She was probably hungry. She was probably sore. She was most definitely not happy at how things had worked out. She was unquestionably pissed with how he had taken her off like that. Not need to ask questions, just drive.

The drive home was inordinately longer than it was supposed to be. After having been thoroughly chastised by her fellow scouts, Tuxedo Mask and then Jadeite, Raye had lost her nerve. Passing out was deplorable. How could she face her friends after losing her nerve?!

She was the scout of fire, full of piss and vinegar and never takes crap off of anyone. But this time she supposed she went to far. It wasn't hard to think that she should be the best. Showing up the girls in battle passion was second nature. Putting herself in front of the line of danger for her friends was the norm.

So why was this different? Why was her defeat in the training yard so palpable?

It was him.

Jadeite had wormed his way under her skin so effectively in under 3 weeks that his mere presence on the battlefield was a distraction. Sure she wanted to show off but this was something else entirely. She had to show him that she didn't need him or anyone else for that matter. She couldn't be seen as weak. Knowing that he was watching her every move made her feel like she was under a microscope but when he started to try and interfere, well that took it to a whole nother level.

Who did he think he was, to force her to deviate from her trajectory with the target like that? She knew what she was doing. Sailor Mars had more than enough experience and expertise that no one ever questioned her tactics before.

The lights of the city were glowing in the distance, vaguely visible from the side of the mountain they were descending, covered by the ferns and low lying branches. The car lights were making the vegetation glow and iridescent green by the lamps of the car. Jadeite was watching Raye from the corner of his eye as she worked her way through her emotions.

Anger was clearly flashing out of her eyes, easily detected from his peripheral vision. What shocked him was the level of regret that she vulnerably allowed to escape her mask of practiced indifference.

Sure, this was not the same woman whom he fell in love with 1,000 years ago. But her heart was the same, her defence mechanisms identical. Though fire still burned in his belly from the battle, both from his newly awakened powers and the turmoil of suppressed anger, he was struggling with remorse over how strongly he handled the situation. They had always yelled and even came to mild blows once in a while. But this was different, he was firm and unyielding and she had melted like putty in his hands.

Having reached the bottom of the narrow road, no longer entrapped in the dense forest but now driving on the open highway, Jadeite considered his options. Option 1) Take Raye to the temple and have approximately 30 minutes before she was at her doorstep in which they could talk. Option 2) Take a right at the next intersection and allow the loop to take them around Tokyo and give them over 3 hours of highway in which to sort through the crap they had found themselves in (put himself in, but who wants to argue semantics). Option 3) Drop fiery princess off at the nearest bus stop and teach

her a lesson in humility and appreciation.

Well, considering his options, and noticing the intersection rapidly approaching, he decided to take a leap of faith and chose the hardest option, number 2. Sure he could cut his losses and hope she was more pliable in the morning by just dropping her off at the temple. Better yet, he could just leave her at a bus stop and show her what tough love really was and hope to the heavens and back that she realized what she would be giving up. Or he could take the hard route and force her to talk to him the nand there while she was trapped in a fast moving, albeit sexy sports car.

Raye may have been tired and lost in her thoughts but she was completely aware of the fact that Jadeite was taking the loooonnnng way home. She didn't know whether to think that he wanted to talk to her alone or wanted her alone to flay her within an inch of her life for being so stupid, minus the witnesses. Of course in the back of her mind she considered a long drive home with her boyfriend, if she could still call him that, was a perfect opportunity for a major make out session, not that she deserved his attentions after the way she had disregarded his care and affections after she had shown her butt on the field. But she could dream, for a bit, not that she would admit it, until she had to pay the devil his due.

Jedite must have taken to driving his car in and around Tokyo while she had been at school because he didn't peruse a map or consult his cell phone in order to verify his location. Having stopped on the outskirts of town at a shopping center which just so happened to have her favorite dessert restaurant, which he knew, she knew that he was planning on making her talk to him and she had no escape and had lost the will to think of a rebuttal.

"Raye". He called her name, pulling her from her thoughts and forcing her eyes to meet his.

She expected and deserved anger. What she found was pity and understanding. Maybe she as a reason to rebut him after all. He had no right to be so sympathetic to her. She deserved a fight, the nshe could wallow in her self pity. But his meek and mild glance made her want to repel him. She didn't want his pity. She just wanted to wallow in self pity. Totally different.

"Why did you do it." He cut through her thoughts again.

"It was a mistake. I should have let that monster attack you. I knew Luna was never going to let any of us get seriously harmed." Raye huffed as she crossed her arms and turned away from him.

"Raye". That imploring tone was back again and she was having a hard time driving back her emotions and repealing the idea of giving into him.

"Raye look at me."

"Why, to see the pity in your eyes. I don't need it Jed. I don't need you."

"Hmmm, we you did save my life back there."

"No I didn't. I already told you Luna would never seriously harm us."

"And there is no pity in my eyes Raye." Though she didn't see it, a soft smile played across his lips as she rapidly breathed through her nose in an attempt to dispel his comforting tones.

"Oh, then pray tell what was it I just saw in your eyes Jed?" She huffed in return.

"My love for you Raye." That was enough indeed for she heard her neck pop as she rapidly turned it to face him.

"I don't know what you are talking about. It was just a war game, a hologram, a training session meant to serve as a trial in preparation for next weekend." She replied.

"The lady protests too much, methinks"

"Oh, but she'll keep her word." Raye softly whispered back, thinking back to the promise she made to love him and protect them just the same as he made her.

"Truly Raye, I don't deserve you but I will ever remember our promises and you will ever hold my heart."

Though she hadn't turned away from him during their interchange, she was trying desperately to maintain composure.

After he had brazenly confessed to hearing her whispered reply and assuring her of keeping his promise she lost her nerve. It was too much, she was full and it, her emotions needed relief. Slowly one tear escaped, followed by another and another, tickling her cheek until she was traced in lines of tears going down her face and falling to her hands in her lap. His eyes held her captive and she was unable to move. But was loved her too much to leave in in despair. Softly and lovingly he swept away her tears with his thumbs, brushing away her pain and covering her wounds with a balm of his own, his very presence.

Raye was stuck. Her voice was gone and her heart was on her sleeve. Two things, equally repulsive to fiery Raye and equally overcoming every position she had to accepting Jed's advances. Being the gentleman he was, he pulled her into his lap, held her and she rested her head on his chest while he stroked her raven locks. Her body softly trembled and still be was her rock, calming her and claiming her as his own. With his arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her close, he finally found the opportunity to confess his heart. He was tired of hiding, waiting for Raye to accept him and forgive him. Now that she had made some display of her affections for him, he was refusing to back down and let go. He was make sure she knew where they stood, together.

Taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart. Jed continued his ministrations as Raye began to slowly relax and still in his arms.

"Raye, you are my Ophelia, Beryl is dead so my revenge is unattainable. If Shakespeare taught us anything, its that we can all make mistakes. To act or not to act has equal consequences and rewards that ultimately stems from miscommunication and misunderstandings. So I refuse that course of action and tell you plainly. The action is yours alone to take but know this first. My heart is yours. Always and forever, no matter the future, my prince has my loyalty but you. You have my heart."

Raye, hearing his words, feeling them soak into her heart and seep into the cracks that were made when he betrayed her caused her to overflow again. She cried and clung to his shirt. But this time he softly laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as though lessening her hold would allow him to escape. She shook and trembled, hiccuped and gasped for breath as she released the dam that had been shielding her heart. Finally she was giving up and she was giving over her heart once more to him.