Sailor Moon; Sailor Destinies

By, Rena Campbelle

Chapter Two: Act Two: The Beginning

"Hello everyone, glad to see you aren't late!" Rei called as Usagi, Ami, Makoto, Minako, Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru walked up the steps.

"Where is Setsuna?" Usagi asked, "I thought she was going to be here."

"She's coming," Haruka said, she just had to bring her Talisman without it being too conspicuous."

"I guess that kind of makes sense," Rei said, and they all walked out the path to Rippongi Forest. Not much was said among the group until they finally arrived.

"Well, is everyone ready," Usagi asked.

"As ready as we'll ever be," Makoto replied.

"I'm ready," Ami added.

"As well we are," Setsuna said, from behind Haruka.

"Then let's transform!" Haruka shouted.

"All right!" was the response.

"Silver Moon Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Mercury Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Mars Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Jupiter Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Venus Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Uranus Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Neptune Crystal Planet Power, Make Up!"

"Pluto Crystal Power, Make Up!"

"Saturn Crystal Power, Make Up!"

Ribbons flew from all directions, encasing bodies in the pretty suits that had been forgotten for four years. There was an intense feeling of rejuvenation, as each senshi finished her transformation. They each finished in a unique pose they had kept all their senshi lives, for years nothing had changed. With an elegant show of soft, fluttering wings, Eternal Sailor Moon came to a landing in the center of the senshi.

"It feels so right," she whispered.

"I had forgotten it, the raw strength," Uranus started.

"The unbreakable power of love we stand for," Neptune finished.

Jupiter smiled, "It's great isn't it?"

"I don't know about great, but it feels like waking up from a long dream," Venus started, but quickly silenced herself when she got a threatening glare from Sailor Jupiter.

"No, Venus is right, we can't let this get to our heads. We are defenders, and this isn't a talent show," Sailor Moon said. She had grown up so much, and she truly deserved to be their queen. "Now, let's see how much we remember."

Jupiter stepped up, "I'll go first." She put her hands together like she was praying, and lightning rushed to her, she felt the strength and pulled her hands apart, feeling the tension in the thunderbolt between them. She let it go, "Sparkling.Wide.Pressure!" It flew right to Neptune, who jumped out of the way and a nearby tree was quickly uprooted.

"Watch it now!" Neptune cried. Then laughed, "Take that!" She put her hands above her as waves surrounded her slight form, a ball of aquatic energy, shaped itself into a planet in her hands. She set in front of her and watched as it grew in size and strength. Finally, she let it go with one hand and cried, "Deep Submerge!" The attack flew at Sailor Saturn who raised her glaive above her and shouted, "Silent Wall!" The planet bounced off and took a spin at Sailor Mercury. She was pulled out of the way by a rope of hearts connected together, that was in turn, connected to Sailor Venus' index finger. The planet crashed into a tree, and water was sprayed everywhere, soaking everyone. Neptune laughed, and soon, everyone was laughing.

"Nice one, Venus," Mercury laughed as she pulled the chain free, but unfortunately, to no avail.

"Love is an unbreakable chain!" Venus laughed as she pulled it free from Mercury's waist. Soon, everyone was attacking each other and running away from their blasts. It was obvious more people were playing then sparring.

Mars ducked Uranus' World Shaking, and fired a Flame Sniper back at her. Uranus jumped out of the way, and the flaming arrow flew straight for Makoto, she called, "Oak Evolution!" The leaves smothered the air, causing it to disperse. They fought each other with no avail at real practice until Pluto stood up, and shouted, "Kronos Typhoon!" The wave that flew from her Time Key Staff knocked everyone over, getting their attention really fast.

"The time is coming nearer, and it is our duty as senshi to protect this earth. Therefore, we must be the strongest we possibly can be to accomplish this goal. So our training must be serious, we cannot sit around, playing like young girls. We must train hard, as if this is the very battle we are supposed to be training for!" she cried, looking sternly at all of them, who were now picking themselves up off the ground.

"Pluto's right," Mercury agreed, "in order for us to face this new enemy, we have to be at our best, and fooling isn't helping our strengths, only our weakness."

"That's right," Sailor Moon said, "so, are we going to train?"

"Yeah!" was the spirited response. They practiced hard, each one giving their own personal best. These were not the same women they had been long ago; they were a new brand of sailor-suited, pretty soldiers. They had transformed into eloquent fighters, with grace, speed, and agility. Even Sailor Moon was bolder now.

"Do you think it's possible for us to learn new attacks?" Sailor Uranus said, putting her sword aside. Everyone stopped, and pondered at the statement.

"Are we that capable?" Sailor Mars asked. "I thought we were at our Ultimate form?"

"No," Sailor Saturn said, "we could evolve ourselves somehow."

"How?" Sailor Mercury asked.

"The same way we have reached our other forms. We will have to search deep inside of ourselves, and then when the time is right, our Queen will give us the power to fully complete our transformation," Saturn crooned.

"But," Sailor Moon started, gripping her Tier tightly.

"It won't come yet. It can't," she said. Sailor Moon released her grip slowly, realizing there was no danger yet.

"But that's enough for today," Sailor Pluto whispered, "Her Majesty, as well the rest of us, are getting tired. Even I am growing weary. We will continue this tomorrow. Is it agreed?" The others bowed in silent response. Then, they each turned to Eternal Sailor Moon, giving her a deep bow. She bit her lip, and awkwardly returned it. Detransforming softly, they each took off in separate directions. Ami, Rei, and Makoto took off for the shrine because they had all parked out there, and Makoto was giving Ami a ride home because her mother couldn't pick her up that day. Haruka and Michiru disappeared into the forest for more private training, and Hotaru and Setsuna walked to Setsuna's car to return to their house. Usagi and Minako stood alone, then, Usagi turned to Minako and said cheerfully, "Would like for Mamo-kun and I to give you a ride home? Or maybe you could come and have dinner with us?"

Minako smiled gently and whispered, "No, that's all right. I'm going to walk home."

"Are you sure," Usagi pressed.

"I'm positive, Usa-chan," Minako giggled.

Usagi turned in front of Minako and stared deep into her eyes. Something was missing; this wasn't the goddess of love she had once known. "Minako, tell me what's wrong. You know you can trust me, and I know something's wrong, your eyes give everything away. You're hiding some emotion, you can keep it from the others, but I see it clearly. Why are you so sad? Is it Makoto? She's been mean to you hasn't she?"

Minako looked at Usagi, one of her best friends. Could she really tell her what was wrong? Even if she could, how could she say it?

"Makoto has every right to regard me for the filth that I am," Minako said, gripping her hand tightly. She remembered the tear of the flesh, the scars that only disappeared when she became Sailor Venus.

Usagi saw it though, and snatched her wrist up, three deep scars ran through her wrist, "Minako, no, tell me this isn't what I think it is?"

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she nodded and whispered, "Usagi, don't think less of me."

"Of course I don't think less of you," Usagi cried, tears flowing down her face as well, "But why, who would force you to hate yourself in this way?"

"I.I can't say," Minako slumped against the ground. She looked so old, so hurt, so terrified of herself.

"Mina-chan, come on, it's a long walk home, you have to tell me all about it, and it will be so late no one else will be on the street to hear," she helped Minako stand herself up.

Minako looked at Usagi, such friendship shining in her eyes through the tears. Tears they shared. Whatever her sorrows were, Usagi would take them on herself, if it meant saving a friend. She truly was the Messiah. But a thought ravaged at her insides, if she did tell Usagi, would she still want to be her friend? It was a risk, she'd have to take, she wouldn't be able to stand herself if she didn't tell someone, tried to explain. But to her Queen? It didn't matter, not anymore. With the coming battle, she might die anyway, and losing her life would be much more tolerable if she had told her horrible secret.

"Usagi, one night there was a party."

And she listened, with untold patience, kindness, and compassion. She listened unprejudiced, and understood, even when it came to the final word Minako spoke.

They both had unnumbered tears in their eyes when she was finished.

Usagi just looked at this lifelong friend with new eyes, appalled at the monster that had destroyed this beautiful person. She could say nothing, but only took Minako in her arms, and shushed the tears away in a tight hug.

"Minako, I'm so sorry, why didn't you tell us earlier?" Usagi asked.

"I didn't know how the others would react, I couldn't know. And the way, Makoto treated me, I was too afraid to find out." She threw her arms around Usagi, and wept openly and loudly. "Look at us," Mina laughed, "Two crybabies lost on the street."

"What do you mean?" Usagi laughed through her tears, "I know exactly where I'm going."

"Yeah right, you couldn't find the nose on your face," Minako giggled.

"Hey, I've come a long way since high school, I can find it," she laughed, tracing her finger until she was pointing to her left eye, "See it's there!"

At this, both girls fell on the sidewalk, their sides hurting from the mixture of sorrow and merriment. A couple fits of giggles later, they saw headlights following them as they walked. They stiffened, and sped up their walk, and the car sped up beside them. Usagi and Minako looked at each other worriedly, and grabbed their henshin brooches. Finally, the window pulled down, and Mamoru poked his head out, "Hey lovely ladies, do you need a ride?"

"Why thank you, kind sir," they laughed, sitting in the back together.

"Where have you two been?" He asked looking at them in rearview mirror.

"We've been having a long overdue talk," Minako said, winking at Usagi.

They drove in silence, until they finally reached Minako's new flat that she shared with Artemis, and flashed a brilliant smile at Usagi before letting herself in. She got out of the car herself, switching up front so she could sit next to Mamo-kun.

"What was that all about?" he asked when Minako had gotten safely in.

"Girl stuff," Usagi giggled.

He thought about pressing her a little further, but instead decided not to, and drove on without any more questions.