OBLIGATORY LEGAL DISCLAIMER : None of these guys are mine. The Sailor 
Senshi belong to DIC and Kodansha, while the Yoroiden are owned by 
Sunrise and Graz Entertainment. Okay? So don't bother suing me. I'm a 
student. 

                    RONIN SUMMER 4 : INNER BATTLES
            
         A Sailor Moon / Yoroiden Samurai Troopers cross-over

             by Morgan Hudson (dataraven_659@excite.com)



Part 12 : CHECK AND MATES

	Haruka Ten'ou sighed and crossed her arms over her chest, a 
playful frown etched on her face. "Well," she said wryly, as the last 
glimmers of Owl's teleportation faded, and the six forms within its 
radius disappeared, "there they go. Off on some damn fool quest to 
save the universe. And we're STUCK here." 

	Her lover, Michiru Kaioh, smiled and gently rested her head on 
the taller girl's shoulder. "Now, Haruka," The Senshi of Neptune 
whispered quietly into the blond girl's ear, "you know that we have an 
important job to do here. Someone has to guard the Storm Senshi, in 
case they wake up. And I certainly know I feel MUCH safer with you here
to protect us all, Sailor Uranus..."
	
	"Yeah, well..." Haruka looked sheepish and rubbed the back of 
her head with the only hand not wrapped around Michiru's waist. "It 
just seems like everybody else is off having fun, and we're left 
babysitting! Even Setsuna got to go!" 

	"Setsuna didn't seem very excited about it," Michiru was sure 
to point out. The last thing she needed was for Haruka to throw a snit 
about Sailor Pluto getting to have 'fun' when Sailor Uranus didn't. 
Such things did not a happy home make, and Michiru Kaioh for one had a 
vested interest in keeping things as pleasant as possible. Fights with 
Setsuna made for grumpy Harukas, and Sailor Saturn didn't like it when 
two of her adoptive parents fought."Let's go inside, dear, before 
Hotaru forgets what we told her, and starts playing with that tiger 
again."

	The sight which greeted the two women was a far more somber 
one that what they had anticipated, however. Nasuti Yagyu lay on her 
side, half shrouded by her long brown hair and moaning softly. Jun 
Yamano was flat on his back in the middle of the shrine, covered in 
bruises. A soft whining sound was the only clue the two Sailor Senshi 
had that the pile of fur and limbs in the corner was still a tiger, and
worst of all...

	"HOTARU!" The young girl was curled in a ball, lying in what 
appeared to be the centre of the disturbance. Several pieces of frayed 
rope and broken, half melted metal links littered the ground around 
her, and Michiru began to choke back her tears as she raced over to her
adopted daughter and placed the raven haired head in her lap. 

	"Oh, my poor little Hotaru-chan..." Michiru cooed, stroking the
girl's face, "who could have done this to you?" 

	For her part, Haruka kneeled by the frail young twelve-year 
old and checked her pulse. Finding it strong, the blond woman rose 
back to her feet and reached into the pocket of her jeans, drawing out 
a henshin wand. "I think we all know who, Michi. URANUS CRYSTAL POWER,
MAKE-" 

	A barbed chain whistled out of the darkness, cracking against 
Haruka's knuckles and forcing her to drop the wand as she cradled her 
injured hand to her chest. From the shadows, a girl with long blond 
hair and a triumphant smirk strode forward. 

	"Oh, PLEASE! You don't really think we were going to let this 
be a FAIR fight, did you?" Three other girls walked out behind her, 
folding their arms and smirking down at the two women. Their leader, 
who bore a striking resemblance to Minako Aino, laughed softly before 
she continued talking. "You see, this is a little something we like 
to call 'playing possum'. Now that the odds are a little more in our 
favour, it's time we took our leave. As Shakespeare said, 'All the 
world's a stage, and it's peoples merely players... they have their 
entrances and their exits..."

	"Woah!" The shorter, blue haired girl pointed at Michiru as 
she darted away from her daughter. "Talking 'bout exits, sis! That 
other chick's hauling major ass!" 

	Sailor Lightstorm groaned. "Well CATCH her, you idiot!" 

	Seeing her advantage, Haruka dove forward, sliding across the 
harsh stone floor and grasping her henshin from where it lay on the 
ground. "URANUS CRYSTAL POWER, MAKE UP!" 

	A foot slammed down on her wrist, and Sailor Uranus looked up 
to see a tall brunette in a green dress. Except for her wicked smile, 
she would have borne a striking resemblance to Makoto Kino.

	"I'm going to enjoy this," Sailor Thunderstorm said as a 
matter-of-fact, and swept her other foot into a field kick that landed 
somewhere on the bridge of Haruka's nose. There was a sickening crunch,
and the blond Senshi flew over backwards, landing on her back and 
clutching her broken nose. 

	"Oooh," she moaned as she popped up and grabbed the Uranus 
Space Sword, "you are SO dead!" Swinging the blade over her head in a 
glittering arc, she swung through the air where Sailor Thunderstorm 
used to be. The next thing she knew, a foot slammed into her kidneys, 
and the evil double of Sailor Jupiter had glided in front of her, 
smashing a forearm against the already damaged nose. 
	
	Haruka thrust, and Thunderstorm effortlessly wrapped her leg 
around the Outer Senshi's arm, trapping it as she shifted her footing 
and kicked Sailor Uranus in the temple, straddling the girl's arm and 
pulling the sword from her fingers. 

	"So tell me..." Thunderstorm glanced over her shoulder at the 
semi-conscious Senshi. "Was it good for you?" 

	"Thunderstorm!" Sailor Lightstorm yelled, from where she and 
Sailor Firestorm were carrying a singed and unconscious Sailor Neptune.
"Quit fooling around! We've got to get back to the Dark Kingdom, or 
Jadeite might kill the Sailor Senshi before WE can!" 

	"You never let me have any fun." The brunette said, in a miffed
tone. Looking down at Haruka, she smiled. "Well, looks like this is 
good-bye. I don't have time to kill you, but don't worry! I'll come 
back and do it later." Waving, she turned and began walking away. "Oh, 
and by the way," she tossed over her shoulder, "thanks for the sword, 
bitch." 

**********

	Takenoko bellowed, and several hundred large and angry youma 
joined their voices to the throng. Many were waving weapons, stolen 
off of gaurds who would have no further need of them. Somewhere in the 
middle of the throng of rampaging monsters, Shin Mouri turned to Rei 
Hino and smiled. 

	"You know," he said calmly, "this reminds me of the time that 
Touma took me to a Hanshin versus Kyodai baseball game... only a bit 
less violent." Shouldering his trident, he began pressing his way 
forward through the wave of youma, clearing a slight path for Sailor 
Mars, who was following him closely. 

	"How can you make jokes at a time like this?" Rei asked, her 
large dark eyes wide in amazement. 

	"How can I not?" Shin asked in reply, then shrugged as he made 
his way to Takenoko. The big bull minotaur was standing at the lead of 
the makeshift rebel army, composed mostly of Pit fighters and other 
castle workers who had joined their cause. He had his hands on his 
hips, and was glaring defiantly at the open courtyard before them. 

	"Here they come," the minotaur snorted, "and still no Owl. 
Where in the hells IS that man? He wouldn't miss his own rebellion, 
would he?" 

	Shin glanced in the direction Takenoko was staring. "If I may 
be so bold as to ask," he asked politely, "here WHO come?" 

	"Jadeite's troops. When we busted loose, some of the people in 
the audience must have made it to a communicator and set off an alarm."
Takenoko sighed, and shrugged. "Ah, hells. We were gonna have to take 
these bastards on eventually... Jadeite's castle is only ten kilometers
in that direction. I'd just hoped we could grab some reinforcements 
first." 

	"I see." Shin blinked, and was able to make out the first of 
the troops, carrying their pennants and axes, and spears and halbreds, 
and other large, pointy things that existed for the sole purpose of 
giving others a very bad day. "Uhm, we happen to have a few friends in 
that castle," he mentioned as casually as he could. "I don't suppose 
they stand a chance if we don't get there in time to help them?" 
	
	"No," Mamoru Chiba gasped as he strode over towards his three 
friends. He was limping slightly, and he had wrapped his cape around 
his arm, tying it into a makeshift bandage. "Usagi is in that castle, 
and I'm going to get her if the rest of you come or not." His features 
softened slightly, and he patted Takenoko's shoulder. "I'm sorry, my 
friend. The last time I saw Owl, he was fighting Prince Korran. This 
rebellion is ON, whether we're ready or not. You'll never get a better 
chance at your freedom..." 

	Takenoko considered that, and turned to face his fellow youma. 
Shin stood to his left, and Tuxedo Kamen to his right, with Sailor 
Mars quickly ducking out of his way and leaning on Shin's shoulder to 
listen as he began to speak. 

	"We don't have time for any fancy words," the minotaur 
grunted, "and we've all known each other long enough that I don't got 
to say 'em. This here," he waved his hand, encompassing the entire 
scenery in his gesture, "is called the world. That stuff in your eyes 
is called sunlight. You like it? You want more of it?" He pointed at 
the horizon, where Jadeite's army was rapidly growing larger. "Well 
those bastards wanna take it away from you. They wanna throw you back 
in the Pit. So, what do we do, when someone tries to take something 
from us?" 

	"FIGHT!" The youma chorused, as tails lashed, claws clicked, 
and fangs glistened. "FIGHT!" 

	"GOOD!" Takenoko roared, and the crowd began to go wild. "SO 
LET'S HEAD OUT THERE, AND SHOW THESE SONS OF COWS WHAT A REAL FIGHT 
FEELS LIKE! THEY THINK THEY KNOW WAR? LET'S SHOW THEM HOW WE DO THINGS 
IN THE PIT!" 

	"My Lord," Shin whispered to Mamoru, "that Takenoko chap is 
quite mad, isn't he?" 

	"Nope," Mamoru said with a grin. "Look over there." he pointed 
to a spot near the back of the crowd, where several winged youma 
darted into the air, streaking away for parts unknown. "If I know this 
bull-headed nut, and I ought to, those little fellas are going to the 
nearest towns for a quick recruitment drive. All we have to do is keep 
these fellows busy until they get back." 

	"CHAAAARGE!" Takenoko screamed, and the three heroes were 
suddenly swept up in a tsunami of fur, scales, shells, and claws. My, 
Shin thought to himself, I don't think I've ever done something this 
stupid in my entire life. I shall certainly have an interesting story 
to tell the other Troopers if I get out of this...

	Then the battle was joined, and there was no more time for 
thinking.

**********

	Korran, son of Kain, clutched the body of his brother close to 
him and gently turned the boy's head so that it would rest in the 
crook of his arm. Kirin stared up at him with glazed golden eyes, a 
large grin still lurking in the corners of his slackening face. Gravity
pulled the small rivulets of blood from his nose and mouth over snow 
white skin, allowing them to drip away into oblivion. 

	"Why?" Korran whispered coarsely into the empty auditorium, the
stage on which he felt his tragedy had been played. Long, serrated 
spikes rose from the stone floor, and bloodstains were everywhere, 
coating every surface. Korran lifted his red silk cape and used it to 
wipe the blood from his brother's face. It didn't seem right, he 
thought, that the blood of a hero mingle with that common strain found 
here. "Why, Kirin? What kind of fool quest were you on, to become the 
Owl? Did you think you could make a difference? Nothing has changed, 
and now you are dead. THAT'S the difference, brother!" 

	"The day is not yet over. Hope remains." 

	Korran's head snapped up, his golden eyes narrowing as he 
glared at the speaker. "Who are you, who dares speak to me in such a 
manner? Just some monk. My brother is dead, and I learned at a very 
young age that such things are not undone. Leave me in peace, fool, 
and find some other fool to preach to."

	The monk bowed his head, his large straw hat dipping down and 
concealing his features in shadow. For a few moments, he stood and 
seemed to be considering Korran's words, his long blue and white robes 
swaying in a breeze the elven warrior could not feel. At length, he 
spoke. 

	"Fool am I none, Korran Berylson. In a world such as this, hope
is a very important thing indeed. For some, like your brother Kirin, 
it was all there was to cling to. He dreamed of a better life for all 
those who would have been his people." The monk seemed to be leaning 
rather heavily on his shakujo staff, the golden rings mounted on it 
chiming softly against each other as it trembled under his weight. 
	
	"I am not my brother, monk." Korran snorted. Softly, he could 
hear the din of battle outside. Blade on blade, blade on bone, screams 
of triumph and agony alike. "They're doomed. Nothing I do will change 
that! I seek merely my vengeance against Sailor Moon : I have no wish 
to die." 

	"Then do not." The monk smiled and brushed back a handful of 
his long, red, hair. "The choice is yours, as it always was. You swore 
to avenge your mother, and avenge her you must. But decide now : would 
you destroy the girl who killed your mother's body, or the evil that 
destroyed her soul?" 

	"Leave me," Korran said, as he stood with the thing that was 
once his brother cradled in his arms. So strange, he thought ; a single
blow, and the change was made. IS became WAS. A person became a thing. 
"I must mourn my brother... in my own fashion." 

**********

	"Look out!" 

	Sailor Jupiter jumped back, and the youma's axe smashed 
harmlessly against the ground, instead of in her skull. With a hissed 
curse, Makoto Kino kicked the skeletal creature in the face, and 
quickly followed up with a jab and right cross. The youma went down 
like a puppet with no strings, and Makoto quickly dropped an axe kick 
on its ribs. 

	"Thanks for the warning, Ami," she panted, wiping her forehead 
with the back of her hand. "I almost didn't see that one in time."

	
	"Is it... dead?" Sailor Mercury asked, making a face as she 
continued scanning the corridor for any potential ambushers. 

	"Nah," Makoto said with a smile, "but he won't feel like 
fighting anyone for a while... Do you have any idea why these things 
all of a sudden figured out that we were Sailor Senshi?" 

	Ami Mizuno sighed and put away her hand computer. "None 
whatsoever. I believe that Rei and Shin may have blown our cover when 
they went to rescue Mamoru : I've been picking up some faint signals 
about a disturbance over by the gladitorial arena... LOOK OUT!" 

	Makoto spun and grabbed a youma with the head and tail of a 
lion as it pounced from the shadows of an open doorway, throwing it 
into a giant spider that had dropped from the ceiling. "Crap!" She 
said, as the lion accidentally fried the spider with a fireball, 
moments before succumbing to the poison of the arachnid's bite. "We're 
the flavour of the month, over here! We need to hook up with Minako, 
and hope she found Usagi!" 

	"Yoo-hoo!" A familiar voice called, and Sailor Mercury 
shuddered. "You like, aren't going to go and forget about me and my 
big sis, are ya? I mean, we like, came all this way, and everything!"

	"Oh, dear Kami," Ami whispered under her breath as she and 
Sailor Jupiter turned to face their evil doubles, "it's the idiot."

	"Yeah, and the psycho queen." Makoto added, lifting her fists 
and spreading her feet into a defense kata. "What's with these freaks? 
I thought we pounded them already!" 

	"What can I say?" Sailor Thunderstorm smiled and drew the 
Uranus Space Sword. "I guess we got better. Your friend has a nice 
blade, Makoto... I just have to decide which one of you little bitches 
to kill with it first!"

	"I'm going to give that sword back to its rightful owner," 
Jupiter said, pointing an accusing finger, "but first I'm going to feed
it to you. SUPREME THUNDER DRAGON!" 

	Thunderstorm cackled and raised her own hands, gripping the 
Space Sword and pointing it. "OMNIPOTENT THUNDER TIAMAT!" A second 
dragon, made of electricity, flowed from the sword and grappled with 
Jupiter's own Thunder Dragon, bathing both Senshi in sparks and light. 

	"We've been through this before!" Makoto yelled. "I'll NEVER 
surrender to you!" 

	"Fine!" Her double replied. "Then you can be a good girl, and 
just DIE!"

**********

	Sailor Icestorm laughed merrily, sailing towards Ami with a 
long shard of ice in one hand. Using it as a sword, she slashed at 
the blue haired Senshi, who ducked and rolled back, kicking up and 
shattering the blade with her boot heels as her double tried to repeat 
the attack.

	"Woah!" Sailor Icestorm stopped and stared at the stump of ice 
in her hand. "How'd you do that? I thought you were a major wuss!"

	"It's a simple matter of applied physics, actually," Ami 
answered, as she hopped back to her feet. "A proper calculation of 
force, velocity, and intersecting vectors. Allow me to demonstrate." 
Balling up a fist, she slugged the other girl in face. 

	"OW!" Icestorm clutched her face in both hands and fell to the 
ground. "You HIT me! Sailor Mercury isn't supposed to HIT people! 
You're just a big meanie!" 

	Ami sighed and gingerly felt her own jaw. As before, she noted,
any damage the Storm Senshi suffered was somehow linked to their 
original copies. Fortunately, she had a somewhat higher threshold of 
pain than her double. Plus, she hadn't even hit the girl THAT hard.

	"Oh, wonderful," Sailor Mercury said as she looked down at 
the Storm Senshi sitting on the floor. "My evil clone is crying." 

	"I... I... I'm NOT c-crying!" Sailor Icestorm argued, as she 
snuffled and wiped her nose on the back of her glove. "Y-you're just a 
big, mean, bully, and I'm... I'm gonna tell my sisters on you!" That 
said, the clone of Ami Mizuno began bawling at the top of her lungs.

	"Listen," Sailor Mercury said quickly, glancing over at the 
twin Makotos and hoping Thunderstorm wouldn't decide to come to her 
sister's rescue. She needn't have worried : judging from the expression
on both of their faces, Ami could set off an atom bomb without getting 
either girl's attention. "I have a question for you, Sailor Icestorm."

	"Why should I tell you anything?" Icestorm's voice quavered, as
she sniffed again. "You'll just hit me again. I never even did ANYTHING
to you! I never even got the chance!" 

	"I swear, I won't hit you." Ami fought the urge to groan in 
frustration. This was like talking to a two-year old! "Okay? I just 
need you to tell me how the connection between you and me works. Then 
I'll leave you alone." 

	"Oh, is THAT all?" The double's face brightened. "Heck, I know 
THAT! Wiseman used his magic to connect our chi to yours by bonding us 
to hair samples that those twins with the cute ears gathered. Every 
time we get close enough to you guys, it kicks in by itself. The effect
only synchronises if we can get you to transform into your Senshi forms
first, though." Noticing the odd look Sailor Mercury was giving her, 
Icestorm smiled. "What? I like, overheard Wiseman explaining it all to
that Jadeite dude. Just 'cause I'm not boring like you, it doesn't mean
I'm stupid." 

************

	Minako Aino was getting frustrated. Of all the stupid castles, 
she thought to herself, in all the stupid dimensions, why did Usagi 
have to pick the biggest, spookiest, and most confusing one to get 
trapped in? She stamped one foot, and grit her teeth. "She HAS to 
be in ONE of these stupid rooms," she growled, "I mean, I've already 
checked every other door in the whole castle! Stupid Usagi, keep me 
up all night, walking my feet off... Still, I suppose it's like that 
old Chinese Proverb : You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from 
flying over your head, but it's better than two in the bush, that you 
kill with one stone..."

	"Good grief, you're pathetic." Minako's own voice chuckled to 
her, and the blond girl spun on her heel to stare at Sailor Lightstorm,
who placed her hands on her hips and continued. "That's three 
completely different proverbs you just goobered up, and two of them 
aren't even Chinese! I mean, would it kill you to at least TRY not to 
make an idiot out of yourself?" 

	"Hey!" Minako clenched her fists. "What would you know about 
quotations, anyway? You're just some stupid copy of me!" 

	Sailor Lightstorm sighed. "It is a good thing," she said 
calmly, "for an uneducated man to read books of quotations. The 
quotations when engraved upon the memory give you good thoughts. 
Winston Churchill, 1930. So suck," she added, "on that."

	"CRESCENT BEAM!" Minako replied, and a shaft of light shot out 
from her fingers and slammed into the stone wall, missing Lightstorm 
by a country mile, as she had easily stepped aside. 

	"Now, now!" Lightstorm wagged one finger at her original, like 
a schoolteacher disciplining a bad student. "You know the ancient 
Chinese proverb : The man who strikes first admits that his ideas have 
given out. LIGHTSTORM AGONY CHAIN!" The barbed length of metal snapped 
out, wrapping around Minako's neck. 

	"Hey, now!" A male voice interjected. "That's hardly playing 
nice!" An arrow spun through the air and severed the chain, and 
Minako fell to her knees, gasping for air and rubbing her sore 
throat. 

	"Who DARES?" Sailor Lightstorm wondered, turning her gaze to 
a nearby window, where a young man in deep blue samurai armour perched 
and leaned on his bow. He had a cocky smile, the kind that generally 
made every woman in the vicinity want to smack him on general 
principles.

	"That's right!" He said with fake enthusiasm. "When you 
absolutely, positively HAD to be rescued yesterday, it's the Touma 
Hashiba and Shuu Rei Fuan Bodyguard and Babysitting Service!" 

	A stocky Chinese boy in orange armour suddenly came up behind 
Lightstorm, pinning her arms with his staff. Looking over at Minako, he
grinned. "Where our motto is : We're Samurai Troopers devoted to the 
destruction of evil... and it shows!"

	"You idiots!" Lightstorm laughed, and cracked the back of her 
head into Shuu's face, causing him to let go of her and stagger 
backwards, clutching his nose. "You can't hurt me! My chi is connected 
to Sailor Venus! She feels my pain!" 

	Minako then did something very rare. She got an idea. Not an 
ordinary old run of the mill idea, like she usually had, but a real 
barnstorming rip-roarer that was going to make Artemis SO proud of her,
his tail would fluff. This, she thought with a smile, must be the kind 
of stuff Ami and Touma kept thinking up, only of course a million times
smarter, because it was MINAKO'S idea.   

	So Sailor Venus feels your pain, hmm? Minako wondered. Let's 
see what happens if I'm not Sailor Venus anymore... Slowly, her hand 
reached up to her neck, where she kept a certain something hung on a 
chain. It was more for luck than anything else, kind of a momento, or
a charm, but it just might come in handy again. Sliding one finger 
under the thin chain, she tugged the pen up from its usual place under
her fuku and into her hand.  

	Meanwhile, Sailor Lightstorm was busily thrashing on Shuu Rei 
Fuan with her favorite toy, the Agony Chain. The Yoroiden of Kongo 
stumbled back into the stone wall, arms lifted above his head as the 
barbed metal links slashed and cracked against his armoured shell. 

	"Touma! Get the lead out of your quiver and lend a hand, ne?"

	"Hmmm?" The blue haired teen looked up from where he had been 
restringing his bow, the Sho Ha Kyu. "Oh, I'm sorry, Shuu! Be there in 
a minute!" Tongue stuck firmly in the corner of his mouth, he went back
to the absorbing task of hooking the firm cord onto the taut bow. 

	"Don't bother, boys! CRESCENT BEAM!" Another stream of 
sparkling light shrieked down the corridor and slammed into Sailor 
Lightstorm's spine like a freight train. With a small squeak, the clone
clutched her back and fell down, whimpering. 

	"Get back to the fight, guys," Minako said, her large harlequin
mask glinting in the sunlight. "Sailor V can handle this imposter! Our
friends may still need you : I just need to find Sailor Moon." 

	"I could help you with that," Lightstorm offered from her 
position on the floor. 

	"You?" Sailor V blinked. "Why would YOU help me save Usagi?"

	"Duh... because if Jadeite gets out of this alive, he'll kill 
me for not stopping you?" Lightstorm rolled her eyes. "Plus, I was 
never really that fond of working for a psychopath, anyway. The hours 
suck, and the pay's not exactly hot stuff, either. Besides, as the 
great W.C. Fields once said ; If at first you don't succeed, try, try 
again. Then give up. No sense being a damned fool about it." She 
shrugged, and brushed back her long blond hair. "So do you want my 
help or not? She's in the North Tower, on the tenth floor."

*********

	Seiji Date dove to the left, narrowly avoiding the youma's 
grasping claws. Biting his lip, the Yoroiden of Korin cartwheeled 
across the battlefield, throwing himself into the air and flipping 
away from the creature's seven friends. What is it about me, he 
thought, that keeps attracting these damn things? I mean, there I was,
minding my own, and the next thing I know Ryo is Kami knows where and 
I'm taking on the whole circus sideshow! 

	Something that looked like an iguana with feathers lashed at 
him with its tail, and Seiji countered with the Korin Ken. There was 
a rather sick sound, like someone tearing paper, and the igauna hopped 
away, yowling and tailless. Chuckling to himself, Seiji dodged the 
tentacles of a giant jellyfish, jumping over the claws of an angry 
youma with the beak of a chicken and a lime green mohawk. Then again, 
he thought to himself, if I had a lime green mohawk, I guess I'd be 
pretty mad, too. 

	A living shadow lashed out, and Seiji turned around just in 
time to see Anubis, Masho of Darkness, leap to the ground and block 
the youma's shadowy hands inches from the young samurai's throat. 

	"And what sideshow would be complete without Jojo the Dog-Faced
Boy!" Seiji said cheerily, as the Korin Ken swung around in an arc and 
blocked the hail of darts being fired by a large cactus creature. "Hi,
Anubis! I THOUGHT I smelled something funny..."

	"One of these days, BOY," Anubis growled as he dispatched the 
youma he was facing, "we shall meet when my honour does not rely on 
your continued survival. And on that glorious day..."

	"I'll kick your butt, same as usual!" Seiji chuckled, and diced
a walking sparkplug, absorbing its electrical attack and blasting the 
lighning back at a small goblin-like creature. "But it's always good 
to know where you stand, Dogboy!"

	"Preferably downwind from you, Ratboy." Anubis snarled, and 
gutted the mohaked youma with his claws. 

	"Ratboy?" Seiji scowled, and turned to face Anubis. A youma 
tried to take advantage of his distraction by attacking him from 
behind, and he impaled it on his Korin Ken without even looking. "Who 
are you calling Ratboy, Sir Drools-A-Lot?" 

	"I had thought it obvious," Anubis explained, ducking under the
tentacles of the giant jellyfish and swinging his blade at it. "BLACK 
LIGHTNING SLASH!" A web of dark energy gushed from the Masho's golden 
no dachi, bouncing around the courtyard and frying several more youma.

	"Oh, yeah?" Seiji countered. "THUNDERBOLT CUT!" The glowing 
Korin Ken tore through another trio of the shadowy creatures like a 
scythe cutting down wheat. "Well... thanks for saving my life!"

	"Humph!" Anubis scowled as he darted forward and crossed blades
with a cyborg. "I should have known you'd go and rub it in..."

**********

	Shuu Rei Fuan was chuckling as he and Touma vaulted down the 
barren stone staircase, bursting out of the massive double doors of 
Jadeite's palace and back into the brawl, or 'fun', as Shuu insisted on
calling it. 

	"What are you so happy about, Shuu?" 

	The Yoroiden of Kongo grinned and shrugged. "Oh, nothing much,
I guess. It's just that what with how we helped Minako out back there, 
I figure Seiji owes us lunch! And it wasn't even that hard to take the 
girl out either!" 
	
	"Oh, no!" Touma stared at Shuu as they ran across the broken 
ground. "Don't say it Shuu! Whatever you do, don't you DARE say -"

	"I think things are starting to look up!" Shuu chirped merrily.
"Yep, it's clear sailing from here on out!" 

	On cue, a wall of trees and grass burst up from the ground, and
both Samurai Troopers slammed into it. They began to bounce off, but 
found to their dismay that branches and roots were stretching and 
flexing around them, pinning them against the wall and beginning to 
coat them with a stange, burning slime. The earth trembled, and a 
snake's nest of vines tore upwards, writhing and forming into a vaguely
humanoid figure. 

	"Hmmmm," Vepres murmured to himself, as the plants continued to
reform, and created a thick dome of greenery around both himself and 
the two Yoroiden, who were now as trapped as flies in amber. "It hasss 
been a while sssince lasst I ate... I think a pair of ssstupid little 
boys will be jussst what I need..."

	"I hate you so much," Touma said to Shuu in a calm and level 
tone, "so very, VERY much."

	"What?" Shuu shrugged. "Was it something I said?" 

**********

	The cavernous chambers of Wiseman were empty, and getting 
emptier. After all, the cowled wizard explained to himself, there was 
nothing more for him to do here. He certainly wasn't going to be fool 
enough to die for some fool's cause : Jadeite was doomed from the 
start. No, Wiseman decided, as long as he had his precious clones, he 
could escape once more, and plot his revenge in peace. 

	It was Sailor Moon, he thought, as he gathered the last of his 
possessions, who had been the biggest error. She was too dangerous to 
keep so close : it had only been a matter of time before her friends 
had come to rescue her. He would keep that in mind, he thought, and 
learn from the mistakes of those who had gone before. Yes, Sailor Moon 
had been a bad choice as a target. Perhaps next time, he would try to 
focus on the girl, Chibimoon... Princess Serenity had shown a pleasant 
willingness to comply with demands, so long as her daughter was in 
danger... 

	Yes, the little Rabbit made a much better target. He would most
definitely have to keep that in mind.

	The Jewel of Life gleaming dangerously in his glowing hands, 
the creature called Wiseman glided towards the doors of his chambers. 
There was only one thing left for him to do, he thought as he carefully
began gathering dark energy between his fingers, forming a cat's-cradle
of gleaming threads. He still had to destroy Sailor Pluto. 

	The door blew open in a cloud of debris, and Wiseman unleashed 
his spell as a female form hurtled towards him. The threads flashed 
forward, slicing into the Senshi with sheets of coruscating energy. She
cried out, and fell to the floor. 

	Wiseman stared in shock as Sailor Firestorm looked up at him, 
lying in a spreading pool of her own blood. "Master..." The Storm 
Senshi groaned, and closed her eyes. 

	"Nice shot," a heavily synthesized voice chuckled, and Wiseman 
turned. There, in the window, perched a man in a black jumpsuit. His 
long gray cape swirled around him like a living thing, and the sun 
gleamed off of his golden helmet. "Bet you wish you'd looked before 
you fired, eh, Badamon?" 

	Garnet Rod lifted high, Sailor Pluto entered through the 
shattered remains of the doorway and scowled. Her red eyes flashed 
briefly as her gaze drifted over the fallen form of Firestorm. It 
looked so much like Sailor Mars... "The time has come, Wiseman," she 
said calmly. "The time for our first and final battle." 

	"Yes..." Wiseman snarled. "The time for your DEATH!" He 
gestured, and a wave of energy flew towards Setsuna. With a yell of 
warning, Owl leapt from the window, his form blurring out of sight 
and suddenly reappearing as he knocked Sailor Pluto out of the way 
and fell, smoke pouring from his chest. 

	Setsuna blinked. Had he just moved faster than light? "Owl!" 
She called out, and the rebel lifted his head wearily. "You... saved 
my life... thank you." 

	"We're nowhere close to even, Setsuna Meioh," Owl replied 
cryptically, and rolled onto his feet. "Watch out! There's more where 
that came from!" Clutching his injured chest and thrusting back with 
his feet, the caped figure barely avoided another attack from 
Wiseman's orb, and, drawing his pistol, returned fire. 

	"Of course." Sailor Pluto rose once more, grabbing the Garnet 
Rod she had dropped and facing Wiseman once more. "Your evil must not 
be allowed to continue, foul one!" 

	"FOOL!" Wiseman roared. "I have seen how this battle ends! I AM
VICTORIOUS!" He soared across the room, his glowing claws itching to 
tear through Sailor Pluto's chest, and pluck out her heart. 

	"No," Owl argued, as he dropped unexpectedly from the ceiling 
and wrapped his legs around the wizard, "you're just deluded. And you
should know better than to trust what you see..."

	Wiseman's roar became a screech as Owl swung him headfirst into
the stone wall. "YOU ARE NOTHING, PATHETIC CREATURE! THE OTHER OWL 
FELL BY MY COMMAND, AND YOU SHALL BE NO DIFFERENT!"

	"Ah... but I'm NOT the Owl." The figure's visor flashed violet,
and his entire body blurred again. When everything became visible 
once more, the caped man had the cloaked wizard pinned against the 
wall, blade at his throat as a forearm pressed against his ribcage. 
"One, two, one, two, and through and through... the vorpal blade went 
snicker-snack..." A purple light gleamed faintly behind the Owl's 
black visor. "You should have known better than to move against
Kayura," he hissed softly, as Pluto watched in growing suspicion. 
"Did you really think I'd let you survive your treachery? Did you 
think you could escape me? Did you think my webs that easily broken?"

	"Sweet Kami," Setsuna whispered, "you're... You're..."

	"What I am," 'Owl' replied, as his black and gray uniform began
to blur and shift, changing shape and turning purple, "is just getting
warmed up." The helmet melted, to reveal a mane of long silver hair 
and pale skin, chiseled features marred only by a black eypatch. 
"Really, Setsuna... I'm surprised you didn't suspect me from the 
start. A good rebellion requires subtlety, cunning, deception and 
treachery : all of my personal trademarks."

	"Rajura!" Wiseman spat, seeming almost to shrink into his 
robes. "Unhand me, Masho, or I shall teach you meanings of pain that 
you cannot BEGIN to imagine!" 

	"Oh, I'm quite familiar with pain," Rajura replied with a 
smirk. "In fact, I may just decide to introduce you to it. Pain, after 
all, is merely an illusion." Despite herself, Setsuna shuddered. She 
had heard those words too many times... 

	"What's wrong, Badamon? All this new power, and you're not 
still afraid of a little old Spider, are you?" The Masho of Deception 
sneered, and lifted the six connected scythes he used as a weapon. 
With almost graceful ease, he gently ran the massive blades along the 
wall next to Wiseman's head. The wizard shuddered again, and stretched
an arm towards the glowing crystal ball he had dropped. Sailor Pluto 
walked over and picked it up, carrying it out of reach. 

	"My Empress would have words with you, traitor. In fact... she 
should be here any minute..."

**********

	Shin hopped back and blocked the youma's sledgehammer with his 
crossed arms. Slinging the Suiko Yari around, he drove it into the 
creature's stomach and tore it free, bisecting the creature and 
splattering himself with its blood. 

	For a moment, he found himself staring at himself. The armour 
of Suiko was coated, stained crimson... 

	*How does it feel,* Nise Suiko's voice echoed, "to be ME?* 

	"I'm not," he whispered in denial, "I'm not like you... I'm 
not a murderer..." Another youma swung at him, and he blocked the 
youma's blade with the shaft of his trident, spinning the weapon 
around and slashing open its throat with the razor tines. "I'm not..."
he repeated, and drove the claws mounted on his gauntlet through the 
ribcage of another monster. 

	"Hey, Shin!" A figure in red slammed into the ground, and Shin 
blinked in surprise as Ryo Sanada hopped to his feet and spun the 
twin katana swords he held, fending off a trio of youma before 
suddenly pausing and stepping aside as all three fell to the ground.
"How you holding up?"

	Shin forced himself to smile as he drew and hurled the dagger 
he carried on his back, sinking it into the skull of a giant beetle 
youma. "I'm doing fine," he lied, and snatched the Suiko Yari out of 
the ground, where it had been sunk, tines first. "Although at this 
rate, we're NEVER going to get to the castle... when did you show 
up, anyway?" 

	"Oh, me and Seiji have been bouncing around here for a few 
minutes or so." Ryo chuckled as he blocked yet another youma attack, 
grabbing the creature by the shoulderpates of its armour and spinning 
in into the path of an energy beam fired by on of its allies. "I 
gotta tell ya, Shin, I don't know this Jedi dude from a hole in the 
ground, but he sure knows how to throw a welcoming party!" 

	"That's JADEITE, Ryo!" Shin corrected his leader, quickly 
leaping into the air and somersaulting over the slash of a youma with 
a large axe, planting his feet in its spine. 

	"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Ryo looked around, absently crossing 
blades with a large youma that was spewing light from all six of its 
eyes. "Uh... I can't really tell... are we winning, or losing, here?" 

	"We're losing, Ryo." Shin glanced over just in time to see 
Takenoko take a spear through the side, sweeping youma aside like 
paper dolls as he crashed to the ground with a final bellow. "We are 
definitely losing." 

	Unnoticed, a cloud of smoke wafted up behind the two Samurai 
Troopers, solidifying into a strange, gooey youma that quickly wrapped
its tendrils around both teens and began electrifying them. With 
cries of pain, the two sank to the ground, as the world began to go 
black...

	Suddenly, there was a flash of green, and the youma released 
them, a fountain of steaming blood gushing from the stump of its 
neck. Shin and Ryo looked up in amazement as a yauja landed, swinging
its halbred like a baseball bat and dispatching another of the youma.
All across the battlefield, the same thing was happening : bursting 
from the ground, leaping from the trees, and just plain popping out 
of thin air, the armoured foot soldiers of the Dynasty began hacking 
their way into the army of youma. 

	"All RIGHT! A big honkin' army of yauja!" Ryo laughed 
jubilantly, then turned to Shin. "I'm confused... are we still 
screwed?" 

	Shin blinked and watched as one of the yauja soldiers ran over 
to Takenoko, effortlessly lifting him onto its shoulders as it 
battled off two youma with one hand. "Well, they seem to only be 
killing Jadeite's youma..." 

	"That's good," Ryo admitted, and kicked an attacking youma in 
the ribs. It fell, clutching its sides.

	"But," Shin finished, as he drove his Suiko Yari through 
another of the creatures, "that doesn't mean we aren't just a bit lower
on their 'To Kill' list." 

	"That's what I like about you, Shin." Ryo made a face as he 
chopped off a tentacle that lashed at him. "You're such an optimist."

	A faint rumbling filled the air, and Shin glanced around. 
"Hmmm... sounds like rain." 

	Ryo glanced behind them, and tapped his friend on the shoulder.
"Uh, Shin? That's not thunder... DUCK!" Grabbing his fellow Samurai 
Trooper, the Yoroiden of Rekka dragged him down behind a fallen tree, 
as what seemed to be almost a living wave of horses and yauja washed 
over them. To put it mildly, the cavalry had ARRIVED. 

	And leading them, her long black hair swirling in the breeze as
her scythe slashed through youma like a boat through water, was 
Kayura. Clad in the yoroi of Oni, and riding a familiar black steed 
with glowing red eyes, she spurred the mounted yauja into the fray, 
laughing merrily as youma died. From all appearances, she was making 
a beeline for the castle.

**********

	Jadeite, current ruler of the Dark Kingdom, needed an Aspirin. 
A simple affair, it had seemed : the Pit fighters broke loose, go 
and wipe them out. Hell, send most of the castle guard! No harm in 
playing it safe, right? 

	Except that somehow, a force that was outnumbered nearly thirty
to one had managed to pull the whole goddamn Dynasty army out of its 
collective ass. Jadeite had never claimed to be a brilliant tactician,
but even he knew that when your home guard is getting slaughtered, 
half your troops are rebelling, and your only reinforcements are more 
than three weeks away, you are officially boned. To make things worse,
it seemed that both the Sailor Senshi and the Samurai Troopers had 
popped up, to boot. At least that's what he thought his scouts had 
been saying before they were cut off... literally.

	"Okay," he muttered, pacing back and forth in his throne room, 
"I'm okay, I'm cool, I CAN deal with this... I just need a plan. Yeah!
A plan." The man wracked his brain, clutching his temples and tugging 
on his short blond hair. "DAMMIT! STUPID BRAIN! WHY WON'T YOU COME 
UP WITH A PLAN?" 

	The double doors slammed open, and Jadeite looked over. "Sailor
Lightstorm! What are you doing here?" Recovering his composure, the 
young man smoothed his uniform top and slicked back his hair. "Status 
report?" 

	"Well, the home guard is going plooey, the gates have been 
sabotaged by the Inner Senshi, so we can't keep anybody out, the Pit 
fighters are about a million times tougher than any of your youma, 
your Elite troops are nowhere to be found, that Kayura girl is cutting
her way to your front porch, probably NOT for tea and crumpets, 
and... did I mention?" She asked with a smile, as Sailor Venus and 
Sailor Moon walked up behind her, "I kind of defected." 

	"I see." Jadeite sank into his throne and stared dumbly at the 
two - no, he corrected himself, THREE Sailor Senshi facing him. "I'm 
in a bit of a pickle then, aren't I?" Now, he thought, he REALLY 
needed that Aspirin.

	"Jadeite," Sailor Moon said, her hands trembling as she 
clenched them into fists, "you kidnapped my Mamo-chan, and scared 
little Chibi-Usa, and made me hurt my friends! On behalf of the 
Sailor Senshi, and the Moon, I WILL PUNISH YOU!"

	"Oh, shut up." Jadeite snarled, and blasted the girl with a 
globe of crackling black energy. Sailor Moon flew backwards, and 
landed rather ungracefully. "I'm having a bit of a crisis right now, 
okay? I don't have time for any of your idiotic prattle."

	Suddenly, a bolt of red screeched through the air and slammed 
into the ground. Jadeite groaned as the haze of light faded to reveal 
a single red rose, its petals drifting gently to the floor. A sharp 
whistle directed his attention to a nearby window, where Tuxedo Kamen 
stood. His cape was tied around one arm, his top hat was battered, 
his jacket was torn, and he had never looked angrier in his entire 
life. 

	"Do you," the masked man growled, "have any idea how many youma
I had to kill just to get here?" He jumped, and landed heavily on 
the floor in a crouch. "And every step," he continued, "every kill, 
I was dedicating to you, Jadeite. We got interuppted at the airport. 
You hid in a block of ice for two years. But I told you : we are 
going to get a dance before the music stops."

	"Very well." Jadeite extended one hand, and a long shard of 
crystal formed in his palm, growing into a blade. With a smirk, he 
pulled himself out of the throne he sat in, and swung the weapon 
experimentally. "Seeing as how we used to be so close, back in the 
day, I suppose I'll take some time out of my busy schedule and kill 
you."

	"Don't worry," Mamoru countered as he lifted his cane, "your 
schedule is about to get a whole lot clearer." 

	The two men crossed blades, and Jadeite began to chuckle. "You 
know," he said, "I just remembered something. We used to spar like 
this all the time back in the Moon Kingdom... I vaguely recall 
beating you senseless every time." 

	"Some of us have gotten better," Mamoru replied, and thrust at 
Jadeite, who stepped aside and brought his elbow down on Mamoru's 
extended arm. Mamoru rolled with the blow, bringing his free arm up 
and around to punch the blond man in the head. 

	"Dirty pool, old man!" The crazed youma leader grinned. "I 
never knew you had it in you!" Jadeite laughed, and retaliated, his 
crystal blade ringing off of Mamoru's cane as Tuxedo Kamen barely 
raised his guard in time.

**********

	"Shuu," Touma said, as he dangled by his ankles, "I just 
thought you should know that I am currently trapped in a cocoon of 
plantlife. There are digestive juices oozing all over my body, and a 
walking salad bar is planning to eat me. And I want you to know that 
I BLAME YOU!" 

	"Oh, give it up, already!" Shuu responded angrily from his 
position in the wall of the dome that covered them. "It's not like I 
got it any better over here! And how the hell was I supposed to know?"

	"Haven't you ever been paying attention?" Touma wiggled 
slightly as a web of vines writhed around his armoured form. "We're 
heroes. The Fates don't like us. Every time we think things are going 
well, something comes along and kicks us in the nuts. And what did you 
do, Shuu? Did you not, in fact, go out of your way to say that things
were getting better? That's like DARING things to go wrong!"

	"Hey, don't blame me, blame the Chia Pet on steroids!" 

	Vepres growled. "Ssstupid children!" He snarled. "I have been 
devouring your kind for hundredsss of yearsss! You shall be broken 
down into liquid, and your nutrientss ssslowly absorbed into my own 
body..."

	"Thank you, Mr. Narrator," both Samurai Troopers chorused. 

	"That sounds like it really hurts," a third voice said wryly. 
"Do you suppose that it will keep working after I kill you?" 

	"What?" Vepres glanced up, and a figure moved in the shadows. 
"Who are you, to ssstand in my way?" 

	"Oh, I'm nobody." The voice cackled. "Are you nobody, too? You 
will be, soon enough..." A flash of motion, and a katana sword flew 
past the plant creature, piercing the dome of vegetation. With a 
hissing sound, the plants began to wither and dissolve. 

	Vepres howled as if the sword had cut his own body. "HOW? How 
could you do thisss?" 

	"It's nothing special." Another flash of movement, and a form 
in green and red armour landed in front of the creature. "Just a 
little bit of Dynasty brand weed killer." Naaza grinned, and his sharp
canines glinted. "Care for a taste? SNAKE BITE STRIKE!"

**********

	Makoto Kino snarled as she dodged the lightning bolt, which 
burst against the stone wall behind her. "SPARKLING VITAL PRESSURE!" 
The gleaming disc of lightning flew from her hands and narrowly 
avoided Sailor Thunderstorm, who quickly countered. 

	"SPARKLING HOMICIDE!" Another disc of electricity crackled down
the corridor, and Sailor Jupiter threw herself out of its path. 

	"SUPREME THUNDER!" The antennae rose from Makoto's tiara, and 
a bolt of lightning smashed into Thunderstorm. Both girls cried out, 
and flew backwards, reeling in pain. 

	A swirl of motion, and a young man dressed in the robes of a 
monk appeared. His large conical hat was pulled down over his face, 
and his long red hair billowed behind him like a cape as he stretched 
back one arm and hurled his shakujo staff into the ground. There was 
an audible snapping sound, and a thin string of light stretching 
between Makoto and her double gleamed briefly, before dying out. 

	Groaning, Sailor Jupiter pulled herself to her knees. She 
wasn't quite sure who the guy with the straw hat had been, although he 
kind of reminded her of her old - NO. She shook her head. Think of 
Touma, she told herself, and stood. For some reason, that last blast 
really hadn't hurt her at all... 

	Going on impulse, she stormed over and grabbed her clone by 
the bow on her fuku, hauling the brunette to her feet. "Oh, don't go 
to sleep on me now, sweetness..." Hauling back, Makoto braced herself 
and smacked the clone with a vicious backhand. Thunderstorm's head 
rocked back, and her eyes snapped blearily open. Makoto didn't feel a 
thing. 

	"In fact," she said with an evil smile, "I think I'm going to 
enjoy this..."

********** 

	Mamoru jumped aside, and Jadeite's blade slammed into the 
floor. "Damn!" Jadeite growled, and quickly blasted the masked man 
with a globe of energy. "Quit hopping around, and let me skewer you!" 

	Mamoru rolled along the ground and hopped back onto his feet, 
a slight trickle of blood forming in the corner of his mouth. His 
jacket was now smoking, and he quickly threw it off, lifting his cane 
once more. "Shut up and fight, you lunatic." 

	"JADEITE!" 

	Both men froze in mid lunge, and looked over to see a man in 
armour pushing his way past the twin Minakos as they knelt protectively
by the fallen Sailor Moon.  His short red hair seemed to almost glow 
in the sunlight as he stepped forward and threw a young man's body on 
the ground. Korran glared at the two men, his golden eyes narrowing. 

	"Look at him." He pointed at the body on the floor. "He was 
Kirin, son of Kain. He was my brother. He was the Owl. And now he is 
dead." Korran growled softly and clenched one fist, closing his eyes.
"I have come to mourn him, in my own fashion. And my way of 
mourning... is REVENGE!" 

	Jadeite smirked. "Very well. Since you killed the Owl, I'll 
give you this one. Feel free to take care of Kamen over here." 
	
	Korran drew his sword, the blade bursting into life with a 
crackle of energy. Standing in the shadows, a monk watched him 
carefully. 

	"You misunderstand, Jadeite." Korran chuckled. "My brother 
Kirin is dead. The Owl, however... the Owl is RIGHT HERE!" With a howl 
of rage, the elven warrior glided forward, striking directly at his 
former master's head. 

	Jadeite cursed and brought up his crystalline blade, blocking 
Korran's strike as he blasted Mamoru with another bolt of energy. 
Kicking Korran in the stomach, he spun just in time to block another 
attack from Mamoru, who swung his cane at the man's skull. "What the 
HELL?" Jadeite grumbled. "Since when the fuck is everyone out to get 
ME?" 

**********

	Sailor Pluto shook her head as she ran alongside Rajura, 
heading towards Jadeite's throne room. The sounds of battle could 
already be heard from within, and she secretly hoped they were not 
too late. "I just want to make it clear," she said, "that I hate you. 
You are a disgusting, conniving, deceitful monster..." 

	"Why, thank you," Rajura said, and nodded his head. 

	"But you have also helped me subdue Wiseman, and maintain the 
timeline, and saved my life." Setsuna made a face, as if the words 
were incredibly distasteful. 

	"And I'd do it again," Rajura admitted happily, "and possibly a
third time. But after that, you're on your own. Go on." 

	"So I'm willing to trust you, just this once. Explain that to 
the Senshi, when they ask." Setsuna hung her head. "I shall be in no 
condition to." 

	"Gladly." Rajura stopped, and reached out a hand to halt Sailor
Pluto's headlong run. "We're here," he said, and pointed to the doors.
"Ready to go save a soul?" 

**********

	"You pathetic fool!" Jadeite snarled as he crossed blades with 
Korran, and the two men stood shoulder to shoulder as they strained 
to press the other back. "I could have given you power beyond your 
wildest dreams!" 

	"Fool am I none," Korran replied, "and your breath is as foul 
to me as the words it carries." With a resounding clang, he broke 
free from the bind, and Jadeite stumbled back, his arms spreading wide 
as he tried to recover his balance. Mamoru, seeing his opening, cracked
his cane against the blond man's back with such force that the ebony 
staff shattered, and Jadeite flopped to his knees. Korran jumped into 
the air, his sword tip streaking towards Jadeite's exposed chest...

	"TIME STOP!" Korran froze in mid-air, his blade inches from 
Jadeite's chest. Still as statues, Minako and her double watched in 
horror and anticipation. Usagi was beginning to sit up, and had been 
caught in the middle of the motion. Mamoru Chiba stood on one foot, 
the shattered remains of his cane in one hand, and a rose just 
beginning to be drawn from his jacket by the other. Jadeite blinked. 

	"What the hell?" The blond man began to turn his head away from
the frozen Korran, and Rajura made his move. 

	"WEB OF DECEPTION!" A thick strand of glowing blue webbing 
burst from his fingertips, wrapping Jadeite tightly and dragging 
him away from the fight. 

	"Do what you must, Rajura." Setsuna said with a sad smile, as 
she began to fade away. "And, if you can... tell Hotaru I shall miss 
her, and think of her often..." 

	"Setsuna." The Spider Masho looked up from his work, a soft 
gaze in his one eye. "Thank you," he said simply, "for trusting me." 

	"Enjoy it while you can." Sailor Pluto chuckled, and faded 
away into nothingness. 

	"And now," Rajura muttered, as he clutched Jadeite's head in 
his hands, "for you, my confused little nut." 

	"What are you doing?" Jadeite spat, his purple eyes shooting 
a lethal glare at the Masho of Deception. 

	"Oh, nothing out of the ordinary." Rajura's one good eye began 
to glow, bathing Jadeite's face in violet light. "We're just going to 
unscramble that egg you call a brain..."

	It took hours, or would have, if time still flowed. This was 
as much as Sailor Pluto could do for them, to halt time for even 
the briefest of periods, and subject herself to banishment from the 
timestream because of it. Rajura sat very still, holding the twitching 
Jadeite in a death grip. Without any warning, Usagi sat up. Mamoru 
threw his rose, realising suddenly that his target had somehow moved. 
Korran landed, his sword sinking into the stone floor. 

	Jadeite's purple eyes turned dark brown. 

	"How do you feel, Jadeite?" Rajura asked, as the young man 
sat up and moaned. Still caught in the throes of confusion, Korran and 
the Senshi only watched as the blond man shook his head. 

	"Oooh... like I've been on a seven century bender." Jadeite 
blinked his eyes a few times, and looked over at Tuxedo Kamen. 
"Endymion? Why the hell are you dressed like a magician? The costume 
ball isn't for another week!" 

	"Jadeite?" Mamoru turned to Usagi, who shrugged, then turned 
back to the man who literally an instant ago had been trying to kill 
them all. "What's going on here?" 

	"Man, that's what I'm asking YOU!" Jadeite groaned and shook 
his head once more. "Kamis, I think I can feel my skull... the last 
thing I remember, Zoi and I were busting into Beryl's castle. Where 
is that old girly-man, anyway?" He smiled, then looked around in 
confusion. "What? What did I miss? Did we beat Beryl? Is the Moon 
Kingdom safe?" 

	The monk walked forward, stroking a small black cat with a 
crescent moon on her forehead. With a somber look, Luna sighed and 
shook her head. "I'm afraid," she said, "that we have a very long and 
sad story to tell you, Jadeite."

**********

	"You're joking." Jadeite said flatly, some three hours later. 
The other Senshi and Samurai Troopers had arrived, as well as Kayura 
and her Masho, and stood in a circle around the man as he sat 
cross-legged on the floor and listened to a cat. He looked over at 
Mamoru, who had changed back into his normal clothes. "She's joking, 
right? The cat's pulling a fast one on gullible old Jeddy, ha-ha." 

	"Nope." Makoto crossed her arms and shook her head. "It's all 
true. Every single word." 

	"The Moon Kingdom?" Jadeite asked, looking around the circle 
and seeing only sorrow, "Queen Serenity? Nephryte? Zoisite? Kunzite? 
They're all... gone? I... I was serving that Beryl creature for nearly
one thousand years?" He closed his eyes, and a tear flowed down his 
cheek. "Kamis, no... m-my friends are... dead?" He whispered the last 
word, as though he couldn't bring himself to say such a thing aloud. 

	"We're very sorry," Usagi whispered softly. She had never 
really liked Jadeite, but she guessed nobody deserved to have their 
whole world stolen from them like that. 

	"No," Jadeite responded as he looked up at Sailor Moon. "It is 
I who am sorry, Princess. For all the things I said, and did, to you, 
and to your Senshi." He hung his head. "Please, believe me. I NEVER 
hurt you. Was it Jadeite who did these evil deeds? No, not Jadeite! 
Jadeite was taken away from himself. And if, being away from himself,
he hurt you, fair Serenity, than can it be said that it was Jadeite 
who did such a thing? No. It was his madness that caused this harm, 
and I swear to you I am not the master of it, but rather another of 
those wronged victims." Reaching up, he grasped Usagi's glove and 
kissed the back of her hand. "Please, I beg of you... will you, can 
you ever forgive me?" 

	Usagi blushed. "I forgive you, Jadeite," she said as imperiously
as she could, and the young man beamed. 

	"All well and good," Korran replied, "but what of my vengeance? 
It was Jadeite who led me to kill my own brother! I must have 
satisfaction!" 

	From his place in the back, the monk raised his voice. "Is 
vengeance really the first thing you want, young king? There is a 
throne that awaits your seating." 

	"No." Korran turned away, and scowled. "I cannot sit on a throne
bought in Kirin's blood, monk. I must seek my own path, and search 
for my own redemption." 

	"The road to redemption can be a long and perilous one, indeed,"
the monk answered, nodding. "As I well know. But take a piece of 
wisdom from one who was walked that path : there IS a light at the 
end of it." 

	"Always hope, eh, monk?" Korran smirked. "I suppose you found 
the right fool to preach to, after all." Throwing his cape over his 
shoulder, he glared down at Jadeite, who sat unmoving. 

	"Well?" Jadeite asked after a long pause. "Aren't you going to 
kill me? I won't try to stop you..." 

	"That may be your idea of vengeance," Korran said softly, "and 
it may even be MY idea of vengeance, but it is not my father's idea. 
It is not my brother's idea. Your punishment is to live, Jadeite. 
Deal with your demons however you see fit." 

	That said, he turned to Kayura. "Empress, I, Korran, son of 
Queen Beryl and of King Kain, last true liege of the Dark Kingdom, am
willing to cede this world and all of its holdings to you, in return 
for two boons." 

	"Name them," Kayura said softly, "and if they are within my 
power, they shall be granted." 

	"First, give me an hour to prepare. Then meet me in the 
courtyard, and I shall give you my requests." Korran smiled tightly, 
and bowed. 

**********

	The crowd reformed in the courtyard early, and waited 
impatiently. Kayura, in particular, seemed to be both eager and 
nervous at the same time. Biting her lip, she turned to Anubis, who 
stood protectively nearby. "Oh, Anu-kun... what if he asks me for 
something I cannot give him? What shall I do? We cannot force him to 
rule, and we cannot force him to give us leadership : that would make 
us as bad as Arago, conquering every land we see." 

	"Fret not, my Empress." Anubis gently ruffled the girl's hair. 
"There is nothing you cannot do, if you so wish. You will grant this 
man his boons, and then you shall ascend to the throne, and rule both 
the Dynasty and the Dark Kingdom as fairly and justly as always." 

	Then, Korran made his entrance. He was carrying a large 
travelling pack, bulging with supplies, and was dressed in the black 
jumpsuit and gray cape of the Owl. The exquisitely crafted helmet 
rested on his hip, and he looked gravely at Kayura. 

	"My first boon!" He said loudly, and Kayura gave him her total 
attention. "Open a gate to another dimension..." 

	"WAIT!" A voice interuppted, and everyone watched as Jadeite 
raced down into the courtyard. He was wearing biege slacks, and a 
white shirt he had clearly borrowed from Mamoru, as it was slightly 
big on him. Like Korran, he had a large pack slung over his shoulders.
"I was thinking about what you said," the blond man gasped 
breathlessly, "and the monk said... you might need some company." 

	"Very well." Korran nodded, and turned to Kayura. "Open a gate,"
he continued, "to a dimension where innocence is threatened. A place 
where darkness reigns. A place where the people cry for help, and 
go unanswered. I... WE," he corrected, looking over at Jadeite, "shall
begin there, perhaps in a place far enough that our deeds have not yet
tainted our names." 

	"It is done, and done gladly," Kayura said with a smile. Behind 
the two men, a large doorway rose from the ground, framing swirling 
lights and colours. 

	Usagi nudged Rei, who stepped forward with an embarassed look on
her face. "Uhm, Jadeite? We were all talking, and, uhm, we thought 
that maybe you could stay here. I mean, if you wanted to... you could 
just change your name, and call yourself, like, Onosaka Masaya..."

	"Yeah," Usagi piped up, "or Tony Daniels, or something!" 

	"Thanks, but no." Jadeite smiled. "I need to start fresh, but 
the name I dishonoured is the name I will redeem." 

	"My second boon!" Korran yelled. "These people have had enough 
of tyrants." He waved one hand, his gesture sweeping over Icestorm, 
Lightstorm, Takenoko, and countless other youma. "Rule them wisely. 
Rule them kindly. And never forget that if you don't... the Owl will 
be watching you." 

	Kayura grinned. "I wouldn't have it any other way," she 
confessed. "Good journey, noble Owl. Good journey, Jadeite." 

	Korran donned his helmet, and looked out over the crowd. Behind 
everyone else, that strange monk stood, surrounded by three other 
figures. He squinted, and could almost make them out. There was Kirin,
laughing happily and pointing. His father had a look of smug pride 
on his face, as though he had known this would happen all along, and 
his mother treated him to a smile far gentler than any she had worn 
in life. 

	He turned to Jadeite. "Do you see those people, standing behind 
the monk?" He asked softly. 

	Jadeite looked. "Yes," he said, "I do." Nephryte was clapping, 
and grinning. Kunzite merely saluted, as cold a fish as ever. Zoisite 
floated nearby, and blew him a kiss. "I do indeed." 

	"Let us go, Jadeite." The Owl gently tapped his new partner on 
the shoulder. "We shall seek our redemption together. Perhaps, with 
those spirits to guide us, we may even find the light." They walked 
into the gate, and disappeared in a flash. 

**********

	"Well," Anubis said as he watched the two head off to parts 
unknown, "that wraps that up nicely..." 

	"Yes," Kayura said cheerfully, after exchanging a glance with 
Rajura. "Now we should probably get down to deciding how you would 
like to rule your kingdom... do you want to keep the old throne, or 
should we put in a new one?" 

	"Oh, I think that the old one is more than..." Anubis trailed 
off, and stood staring into space with his mouth open. What had she 
just said? 

	"Anu-kun, please close your mouth. You're drawing flies." 
Kayura smiled secretively, and looked again at Rajura, who motioned 
for her to continue. "I said... how do YOU want to rule YOUR kingdom, 
Anubis?" 

	"M-m-m-m-m-m-m..." 

	"I believe the word you're looking for," Rajura said helpfully, 
"is 'MINE?' Or possibly 'Mother!'"

	"It makes sense, if you think about it, Anubis." Kayura laughed 
and leaned back against Rajura, who was beginning to chuckle himself. 
"After all, this is the DARK Kingdom, isn't it? And you ARE the Masho 
of Darkness... on top of which, I can't hope to rule two kingdoms as 
large as this one and the Dynasty alone. It makes perfect sense that 
I name someone I can trust King. And who can I trust more than one 
of my loyal Masho?" 

	"B-but, my Empress!" Anubis finally spat out, his forehead kanji
flaring as he dropped to his knees. "I don't WANT to rule a kingdom!" 

	"Oh, but you MUST, Anubis." Kayura said, and nodded firmly. "And
you're not leaving here until you do." 

	"Please, I wish only to remain with you, my Empress, and serve 
by your side!" Anubis was getting desperate. Why was Kayura doing this
to him? Had he been inadequate somehow? Did she not want him around 
any more? But, he had done EVERYTHING he could think of, to please 
her! Why was she treating him in this manner?

	"Well, it seems we have a dilemna, then." Kayura pouted and 
turned to Rajura. "Do we have a dilemna, Rajura?" 

	"Indeed." The Masho of Deception put on a mock-serious face 
and crossed his arms. "Anubis seems to want to remain by your side, 
and serve you, but you need him to rule." 

	"Hmmm..." Kayura pretended to think for a moment, then snapped 
her fingers. "Wait a minute! What if he married me?" 

	"Why then there would be no dilemna at all!" Rajura said, and 
grinned. "A brilliant piece of problem solving, my Empress! I salute 
your many skills." 

	Anubis blinked. "I beg your - HUH? WHAT? I... I..." 

	"What?" Kayura grinned and walked over to the stuttering Masho, 
 who was beginning to realise how much trouble he was in. "Are you 
disobeying an order from your Empress? Would you dare defy me? This 
seems to be the perfect solution, and plus, I find I kind of love 
you... a little. Marry me, Anubis. I order you." 

	Seiji started it. He didn't mean to, but he simply couldn't 
hold in the laughter any more. Soon, all five Samurai Troopers were 
lying on the ground, clutching their sides and laughing until tears 
rolled down their faces. Rajura and Naaza could either have stopped 
them, or joined them, and decided to join them. 

	"Oh, that's just RICH!" Ryo howled, as he pounded on the ground 
with his fists. "Look at his face!" 

	"SUCKER!" Naaza crowed, cackling as maniacally as ever, only 
more so. "Another free man bites the dust!" 

	"You're TRAPPED, Anubis!" Rajura managed to choke out between 
guffaws. "There's no way out of it! I helped her set this up myself!" 

	"It seems," Anubis said calmly, and with as much dignity as a 
man can muster when he is being laughed at by nearly everybody he 
knows, "that I am outmaneuvered. I would be honored to marry you, my 
Emp - Kayura." 

**********

	A few minutes later, after everyone had stopped laughing, caught
their breath, started again, congratulated Kayura and Anubis, and 
finally settled down, Shin Mouri smiled and stood with Rei Hino. The 
other Samurai Troopers were a slight distance off, still poking fun 
at Anubis' expense, and catching each other up on how the battle had 
gone. The Senshi, eager to get home, had already formed a loose circle
on the other side of the courtyard, and were waiting for Sailor Mars 
to join them. Jupiter had said something about wanting to return the 
sword she was carrying to its rightful owner. 

	"So, Rei..." Shin tried, rubbing the back of his head. "It's 
certainly been a strange couple of days, hasn't it?" 

	"Yep," Rei said, rocking back and forth on her feet, "a strange,
strange couple of days. I NEVER thought Kayura and Anubis would be 
engaged..." 

	"Yeah." Shin bit his lip. "Uhm, listen... about what happened 
back in Yamaguchi... I just wanted to thank you. You know, for being 
there for me. You're a really good friend, Rei." 

	"Oh." Rei blinked, then smiled. "Yeah, that's me! Rei Hino : 
your buddy. Your pal. You can always count on me! Anyway, I have to 
get back home, and look after the Jinja. Bye!" Waving, she began 
walking away. 

	"Shin?" Seiji drifted up behind the boy. "On behalf of all 
men everywhere..." In a single, swift motion, he smacked the other 
Yoroiden on the back of the head.

	"Ite..." Shin moaned, and glared at Seiji. "Whatever did you 
do that for? I was just saying good-bye to my friend." 

	"Your friend?" Seiji snorted. "Man, I've got hair over one eye, 
and I can STILL see it! She's done everything but jump naked in your 
lap, and knowing you, you STILL wouldn't figure it out if she did! 
She likes you, you lovable little dolt!" He set his watch. "Now I'm 
giving you six seconds, and if your lips aren't on some part of her 
anatomy by then, I'm kicking your ass. One..." 

	"Well, I admit," Shin said quickly, "she IS very beautiful... 
maybe, in a few years, or centuries, I could ask her out. You know, 
after we get to know each other better..."

	"Two..." 

	"Oh, come ON, Seiji! You aren't really going to make me!"

	"Bet your sweet trident I am. Three..." Seiji looked 
meaningfully at his watch, then at Shin. "I'd start running, man." 

	"REI!" Shin called out, and began chasing after the girl. 

	"Oh, MAMA NO!" Shuu Rei Fuan cried out, and leapt, wrapping 
himself around his friend's legs. "Don't do it, Shin! Think about your
freedom! Think about your stuff! Think about ME! If you get hooked up,
who am I gonna go cruising for chicks with? Jun? He's still too young 
to get into any of the cool clubs!" 

	"Wait up, Rei!" Shin yelled, as he proceeded to drag the 
pleading Yoroiden of Kongo across the stone courtyard. 

	"Four..." Seiji said pointedly, and drew his sword. 

	"What is it Shin?" Rei asked, and looked up at the boy as he 
managed to catch up to her. 

	"Five!" Seiji yelled, and began walking towards them. 

	"No time to explain," Shin said, and kissed her full on the 
lips. After a few seconds, he leaned back and smiled shyly. "Er... 
I think you can consider that my way of asking you out to dinner 
next Tuesday." 

	Seiji grinned. "Right under the buzzer, boy-chama! I knew you 
had a little bit of me hidden under all those manners somewhere!" 

	"I'm sorry, Shin..." Rei said calmly, "but I just can't. 
Grandfather would never let me, even if I wanted to." 

	"Oh." Shin tried not to look too crushed, and failed. "I see." 

	"Tuesday we have a ceremony. It'll have to be Thursday." Rei 
beamed, and pecked Shin on the nose, handing him a strip of parchment
with a phone number scrawled on it. "Call me!" 

	"So," Seiji asked the shocked Yoroiden of Suiko, "how often do 
you just drop to your knees and thank Kami you know me? Hmm? Once? 
Twice? Ten times on Thursday, I'll bet..."

**********

	Home again, home again, Setsuna Meioh thought as she entered the
Mists of Time, jiggedy-jig. She had used her powers against express 
prohibition, and now she was stuck in Limbo, to serve out her 
banishment. It was going to be a very long, cold, and lonely time, 
she reflected. 

	"Welcome back!" A familiar voice said, and she turned to see the
last person she had ever expected to see again. 

	"Do you," Shutendoji asked as he took off his straw hat and 
hung it on a nearby hanger that formed out of the ether, "have any 
idea how hard it was for me to find this place?" 

	"Toshitada Koma?" Setsuna blinked, and rubbed her eyes. He was 
still there. 

	"Last time I checked, yes." The young man's refined features 
formed into a large smile. "Don't seem so surprised, my dear. After 
all, anything is possible if someone is determined enough. And I was 
always a rather determined soul." A chair formed out of the swirling 
mists, and Toshitada lowered himself into it, sighing and crossing 
his legs. 

	Setsuna walked over and gently prodded his shoulder with one 
finger. He FELT real... "How did you do it? I thought you died!" 

	"I did." The red haired former Masho chuckled softly and 
gestured, causing his chair to extend into a sofa. "But frankly, 
it got rather boring, and the Samurai Troopers needed me. Plus, I 
was starting to miss you, after the first, oh... two seconds or so."

	Setsuna Meioh sat, and fought the smile lurking in the corners 
of her mouth. "You've been helping the Troopers? How?" 

	"Oh, I guide, I prod, I point the little dullards in the right 
direction every now and again..." Toshitada shrugged. "Kayura and 
Anubis are getting married, eventually. Did you see that one coming?" 

	"Yes," Setsuna admitted with a smile, "and they shall rule the 
conjoined Dark Kingdom and Dynasty so well, that it shall remind the 
inhabitants of a Dark version of the old Moon Kingdom. And they will
name their children Demandu and Safiru, of course..."

	Shutendoji considered that, and shrugged again. "Do names matter?
For now, and for the next little while, I think we can assume that 
the Senshi won't need you, and the Yoroiden don't need me." He smiled,
and put his arm around her. "Now where did I leave off, three years 
ago?" Leaning down, he began to kiss his way up her arm. "Ah, yes, I 
believe I was here..." 

	Sailor Pluto giggled and set aside her Garnet Rod. Yes, she 
thought, as her husband finally reached her lips, this banishment 
was going to be long. Cold and lonely were apparently another 
matter entirely. 

**********

THE END.