July, 2001, by Sailor GlitterGirl & Rose Aquarius

 

                                                  

                                 The Universal Galaxy Saga

                                                                          Book One:

                    The Light Never Fades

 

 

 

 

Chapter Six: Questions Answered, Questions Arise

By: Rose Aquarius & Sailor GlitterGirl

Rated: PG for violence

 

 

 

           

            Versia slammed the door to her and her sister's apartment shut, and

dashed to her room, tears streaming down her face as she cursed her sudden

weakness. She'd always been the strong one, never breaking, always ignoring

the sadness, hiding her sorrow beneath coldness and sarcasm, joking when

she was upset.

 

            Laxa was the opposite. She took her pain in silence, simply shutting

out everything that might hurt her.

 

            Versia threw herself onto her gold silk comforter covered bed,

desperately trying to force back her sobs. She tossed and turned, her gaze

suddenly captured by the polished ebony piano in the corner.

 

            Sniffing, her tears coming silently now, she rose, a flurry of

golden petals and black sparkles surrounding her, a gown of the blackest

darkmatter satin now clinging to her form and flowing to the gown in endless

black eternity. The sleeves hung off the shoulders, a swooped, gathered

neckline edged in gold, her gold tinged Universal Crystal hanging just over

her heart, swinging slightly as she sat at the piano.

 

            Sitting up straight and postioning her fingers, she let her sorrow

take control of her movements, and that same, hauntingly beautiful song

poured from her soul, and out through her fingers, her tears coming out,

ignored, as they flowing over her red cheeks, her eyes closed as she let

the melody sooth her.

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

            Laxa raced up the steps, not wanting to wait for the elevator, and

burst through the heavy doors on her level, her ears meeting the sound she

wanted to hear the least.

 

            A sob was wretched from her throat, as that song, that same melody,

the notes that echoed the pain in her heart filled her hearing, and she

forced her cold exterior back into place. Unlike her sister, who dealt

with pain by ignoring it and hiding it with sarcasm, she preferred to bottle

it up, cover it with a cold silver cover of iciness.

 

            She bashed open the door to their apartment, silver petals and white

glitter swirling about her as her clothes disappeared, to be replaced with

her starlight silk gown. Laxa followed the music back to her sister's room, to

see Versia playing at the piano, tears running down her face. Laxa found

herself getting all choked up, then got angry. She stormed over and slammed

a fist into the piano keys.

 

            "Versia, why can't you just forget? It's in the past; let them go!"

Versia stood and whirled, black satin fluttering around her, the black stool

tipping over and falling to the ground with a thump.

 

            "Forget?" She raged, cries of anger in her voice. "I protected you

all my life! I didn't let it get to me, holding the pain at bay for over

a thousand years, Galaxcia! Just let me grieve!" she screamed. She ran from

the room past her fuming sister and off to the only thing in the past that

could calm her, The Rose Gardens.

 

            She was acting very unusual for her.  She was always the "strong

one". When was *she* allowed to greive?

 

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

            Laxa stared after her sister, sorry she had yelled. Suddenly, she

crumpled to the ground, sobbing. Versia was right. And she was right as well.

They should grieve. But the question was, when should that grieving end?

 

            Wiping her tears, Laxa stood, and headed for the door, intent on

finding her sister and apologizing. Plus, they needed to talk. They had let

this pain, these wounds sit and become infected for too long.         

           

            Silver swirls surrounded and transformed her white gown into shorts

and a white tank top with a denim jacket over it as she slipped her feet

into her shoes and darted out the door, more tears flowing down her face.

Enough was enough! They had to fix this together!

 

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

 

             Versia stopped at a bench and controlled her emotions once more. She

was too good at it. She never showed her emotions. Perhaps that's why Laxa

had yelled. She was hurting, too, and mad at herself because she still was,

so she'd tried to reason why she shouldn't be grieving by shouting at

Versia.

 

            Sniffing and wiping away the last of her tears, letting the cool

midnight breeze sooth her feverish skin, she sat on the bench in the park

as she looked at the night sky, the stars twinkling, comets flying. she felt

in control again. Taking a deep breath and hearing the sigh and swish of

satin, she looked down and cursed as she realized she was in her black gown.

 

            "Damn," she muttered and detransformed into a pair of dark denim jeans

and a long sleeved gold sweater. Suddenly she felt VERY cold.

 

            "Shadow Bringer," she hissed under her breath as if it were a curse

word. Even as she rose to her feet, summoning her Universal Light Staff to

her hand, she could feel her energy being ebbed from her body, the darkness

of the creature that was slowly forming before draining her light energy

simply by being near her.

 

            <Laxa! Help!> She called to her sister, hoping it would work over

such distances. She forced herself to stay upright on her feet, willing

herself to fight her natural weakness of being extra sensitive to dark

energy and magic. It was a great handicap. The more evil and the more potent

her enemy's dark power was, the more effect it had on her. Usually, the

presence of her sister shielded her from the bulk of it, but now...

 

            <Galaxcia!>

 

            Now she was alone.

 

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

 

             A dark haired man with grayish silver highlights materialized

into existence behind a tree. He looked around the trunk, and spied a raven

haired beauty clad in the finest gown spun of darkmatter satin. Sobs wracked

her slender form, until she was finally able to force down her tears, and suck

in some deep breaths.

 

            She looked down at herself, muttered something, her brow creased,

and her gown disappeared, black jeans and a gold sweater appearing on her

body, a gold and black pearl clip in her hair.

 

             The man suddenly shivered as a cold breeze swept through the park.

'Shadow Bringer,' he heard the woman hiss, and his eyes went wide. His

mistress and master wouldn't dare! Yes, they would he realized. He looked

around. Sure enough, a dark spot seemed to be growing from the ground, in

the center of the round clearing with cement ground and a fountain near

the middle, the place with the bench that the woman was sitting on. He saw

her rise to her feet, waving her hand behind her back, narrowing her eyes

as she called her gold and black staff to her hand.

 

            Midnight bit his lip in worry. He hoped his other half sister got

there soon; Universia wouldn't last long against one of the Shadow Kingdom's

strongest warriors.

 

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

 

             She felt the presence almost immediatly. Versia disappeared into a

large subspace pocket that was conveniently nearby, and appeared moments later

as Sailor Universe.

 

            Before her, the shadows of trees and fountains and rocks and flowers

seemed to be being sucked into the dark spot before her, the Shadow creature

growing, gaining strength from the surrounding darkness.

 

            Only light could dare to challenge a shadow creature, but would she

have enough strength to call on enough light to vanquish THIS monster?

 

            She didn't know.

 

            Would she and Laxa have enough power, even together? Somehow, she

doubted it. Something about this situation was...different. She knew that

even at their best, she and her sister would have needed help. But with her

as weak as she was, almost unconscious and barely on her feet, she knew she

needed help. And so she called for it, opening a link that she wasn't even

sure still existed. Her mother and aunt had mentioned it once or twice, but

in the sense that it was still experimental. For the sake of humanity, she

hoped that that experiment proved positive.

 

            Sailor Universe closed her golden eyes, and concentrated, her light

symbol flashing gold and black on her brow, the faintest tinges of the colors

and symbols of the other senshi glittering ever so faintly around her own.

 

            <"Senshi...Sailor Senshi..."> She whispered, both with her mind and

lips. <"Please, Senshi, guardians of earth and and humanity...please come

to my aid! Help me! Come help me NOW!!!">

 

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

 

            "Man, I *still* don't get all this!" Mina plopped down onto Raye's

bed. It was after Alex's and Ali's abrupt exit that they'd decided on a

get-together at the temple. Even the Outers were there.

 

            "I know, those two are super weird," Lita mused, popping open a can

of coke and gulping it down. "I mean, don't you guys find it odd that they

show up at the same time as those two new Senshi?

 

            "And what about that legend that Luna told us about?" Hotaru added.

"Those two original Senshi? The Sailor Guardians? The Queens of the Light

Kingdom?"

 

            "It's just too bizarro," Rini shook her head and plopped down between

Mina and Serena.

 

            An eerie silence that was an agreement of sorts followed.

 

            Suddenly, Raye gasped, and fell to her knees, the tea that she had

been pouring falling to the ground.

 

            "Help..." A forlorn, distant voice whispered.

 

            "Huh?!" Amara leaped up, her space sword shimmering into her hand,

the others suddenly alert as they searched for the familiar voice that had

seemed to echo aloud and in their minds.

 

            "Did anyone else hear that?" Ami asked quietly, her voice shaky.

Everyone nodded, save for Setsuna, whose eyes had narrowed, her lips pursed

tightly.

 

            "Please...guardians of earth..." Her voice was faded, some of the

words completely missing. "Help...me..." Everyone jumped at the next command.

It was a command they all remembered, for it came from a voice that was a

trained Senshi.

 

            <"NOW!!!!!"> The voice cried. Everyone snapped out of their

trance, and Lita dashed for the door.

 

            "C'mon! Let's go!" The brunette cried, henshin wand in hand. The

others immediately followed.

 

            All except for Setsuna, who adjusted her grip on her staff, and

narrowed her eyes.

 

            <Well, I heard you loud and clear.> The Guardian of time called

telepathically to her cousin, hiding her worry; despite being upset, she was

still geniunely worried for her relative. <But we'll talk about that later.>

Puu said in Versia's mind.

 

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

 

            Versia visibly cringed.

 

            *I knew she'd hear me.* she thought, inwardly smacking herself. *But

I still had to go and do something stupid didn't I?* Versia sighed, adjusting

her sweaty grip on her staff. *Yes,* she thought. *Yes I did.*

 

            She faced the dark area, grasping her staff for support, cursing the

reason that she sensed energy more than her sister, making her more senseitive

to the slightest change in her environment. It was greatly hindering at times;

she couldn't handle massive energy changes. Let alone an elite of the Shadow

Kingdom.

 

            This was the worst possible scenario.

 

            Winds picked up and the dark Senshi felt very weak, even now she was 

holding on to her staff with trembling hands.

 

            "Where *are* they?" She hissed and braced herself for another energy

flux, hissing as the still half formed creature taunted her with tiny

pinpricks of dark energy that a child could have ignored, but left her gasping.

 

            She couldn't hold out much longer.

 

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

 

            Laxa was running full out, her heart and mind sick with dread that

she would be too late. Even as she sped towards the park, she could feel her

sister's life energy slipping away, and she vowed that the being that caused

her beloved sibling's pain would die a death more painful than anything ever

imagined.

 

            She ducked out of sight and returned as Sailor Galaxy. She had a major

migraine and realized that it was her link. She was all too aware of her

sister's handicap. if she didn't hurry then the senshi of the stars might

not be there.

 

            The thought of losing her last family member drove her to pick up to

speeds, rivaled by the speed of light itself, and raced to the park.

 

            "Oh, Selene! Hold on, Versia!" Laxa said outwardly. "Please! Please

hold on! I'm coming!"

 

 

 

 *^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

 

            "Oh, dear." Mercury said.

 

            "What?!" A frazzled Venus asked.

 

            "Don't you feel it?" Mars asked.

 

            "No, WHAT?!?" A fuming Jupiter demanded.

 

            "A massive tri-demensional anti-positive wavelength originating

from a hypothetic flux." Mercury answered matter-of-factly

 

(AN from Rose-chan: You all know what's coming. All together now.)

 

            "*ENGLISH*!!!!!!!!!!" the whole group chanted.

 

            "Evil Energy. Coming through a portal, fast, and there’s LOTS

of it." Mercury answered simply.

           

            "Where?" Pluto snapped, though she knew very well where.

 

            "The Park, Rose Gardens," A frantic Mercury replied.

 

            "Well, then Let's go!" Uranus chided, obviously annoyed. Nodding

grimly, the group set off at a dead run, charging through the night to rescue

someone that they felt if they didn't...all, or at least something, something

beautiful, would be lost.

 

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

 

            "Just a little while longer," Sailor Universe hissed, holding her

staff out before her, letting it's light shield her from the shadow creature.

 

            It was fully formed now, and attacking with long, wide lashes of

light absorbing darkness.

 

            Universe knew this was a losing battle but tried anyway; she had to.

She had to delay the creature until the Senshi got there. She just prayed

that they could do something.

 

            Universe felt her strength ebbing away, felt herself loosing her

battle for consciousness as pain lashed through her body, her shield failing

and the darkness enfolding her in shadowy arms. Her body limp, her mind

going dull as she heard evil laughter, she pulled in ragged breaths through

pale blue lips, matching her snow white skin. She barely heard when her

Universal Staff clattered to the ground, it's light fading with the absence of

her mind and touch.

 

            At the last minute before her heavy eyelids were forced closed, she

thought she saw a dark man resembling her brother, sneaking around the dark

shadow.

 

            And then all she knew was darkness.

 

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

 

            Pulsar sneered as she spied the dark man sneaking around the back of

her shadow creature, a black sphere of black hole energy forming in his hand.

 

            "Fool." She hissed. "I am the commander of the shadows; I will not

be outwitted by a mere boy!" She cackled quietly, evilly, floating high above

the fight that was no fight below her. The Master and Mistress had been wise

to strike now, when the Senshi most sensitive to darkness was alone, and

emotionally vulnerable.

 

            With even one carrier of an Eternity Crystal gone, the creation of

the ultimate danger was impossible.

 

            "My Mistress will be so pleased!" Pulsar cackled. "I'll get rid of

Universe and Midnight at the same time!"  the dark woman  purred,

looking on as her 'void droid' was taking care of the two as she spoke.

 

            Suddenly, she gasped. A flash of her power entered her mind, her

ability to sense the approaching death of people physically near her. And she

suddenly had the feeling that her death was imminent.

 

            She was right.

 

            "UNIVERSAL AQUARIAN FLOOD: DESTROY!!!!!!!"

 

            Pulsar whirled, just in time to see a furious, livid warrior clad in

white and silver thrust her staff towards her, and shout out the words of

power that were not her own.

 

            The dark commander didn't even have the chance to scream.

 

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

 

            Ten warriors burst out of a grove of trees, and gaped at the sight

before them. They arrived just in time to see an immense light and cover

their eyes.

 

            When the light cleared, they spied a large, dark mass in the center

of the cement clearing, shrinking away and hissing in pain from the golden

light.

 

            They looked up and saw a corpse falling from the sky. The body

flashed, and disappeared. With the defeat of it's mistress, the

shadowy creature disappeared, hissing and sputtering.

 

            Mercury and Saturn rushed ahead to see what injuries had occurred,

to what extent, and to heal. What they found was a hyperventilating Sailor

Senshi, clad in silver and opalescent white. Silvery hair fell about her

shoulders as she desperately tried to push herself up onto her silver staff.

 

            "Sailor Galaxy." Sailor Saturn whispered, her young voice tinged with awe.

 

            "Are you alright?" Mercury asked as Galaxy managed a small smile for

Hotaru.

 

            Sailor Galaxy gasped, groaned, and nearly collapsed. Mercury caught

the slight young woman just in time, and guided her to the ground.

 

            "Yes," She sputtered, coughing. "Help-" She coughed again, terrible,

deep coughs wracking her whole body. "Please...help...Versia!” She managed

to get out before collapsing completely into Mercury's arms. Sailor Pluto

rushed forward.

 

            "This is bad," The guardian of time muttered, taking her cousin from

Mercury's arms. "I'll take care of her. Go find Universe."

 

            "What's wrong with them?" Ami asked.

 

            "I'll tell you in detail later," Sailor Pluto rested Galaxy's pale

face in her arms, stroking away strands of silky, silvery hair. "But basically

Galaxy borrowed one of Sailor Universe's attacks. The only reason she was able

to do it at all was because they're sister's, and their powers are very similar.

If it wasn’t for that, she would be dead. Now go. Sailor Universe needs help

and fast! Go!" she gestured to the medical and healing pair to go to the middle

of the park, where the dark and still form of Sailor Universe lay almost as if

in death.

 

            Mercury quickly ran a scan over her, and determined that she had

broken no bones, and no cerebral damage (brain damage), but was drained almost

to death.

 

            "Let's get them back to the temple," A deep voice came from behind

Sailor Moon. Serena jumped, whirled, then launched herself into Tuxedo Mask's

arms.

 

            "What happened?" The prince asked after giving his love a light kiss.

 

            "We'll explain later," Sailor Mars said, helping Mercury carefully

lift Sailor Universe into Jupiter's arms.

 

            "For now, like you said, muffin, let's get them back to Raye's

temple." Serena said, once again taking on that oddly responsible tone.

"Uranus, go get Sailor Galaxy." With a smile, Sailor Uranus complied.

 

 

 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*

 

 

Sailor Galaxy woke up with a start. Gasping, the silver haired

warrior shot up in bed, then quickly grasped her forehead and laid back

down, waiting until the onslaught of memories from last night slowed down.

 

            When her memory seeming to be intact, she focused on one thing.

 

            "Versia!" She gasped, and leaped out of bed. She rushed out of the

room, bashing the doors open and darted out, only to be greeted with 12 pairs

of eyes on her. She ignored all the sudden and surprised stares, and her eyes

locked with a pair of blood red maroon eyes.

 

            "Where is Versia?" Sailor Galaxy demanded of Setsuna. "Is she ok?

Please tell me!" She pleaded her older cousin.

 

            "She's out cold," Setsuna said simply, setting down her cup of tea. “But

relatively unharmed.” The Guardian of Time stood and walking over to the still

transformed Sailor Galaxy. The others stared on in amazement. These two

appeared to know each other quite well.

 

            "And might I say that it was *extremely* stupid to do what you did!"

Setsuna added in a low growl. "Your sister's power is too much for you, you

know that! Even if it is similar, you know very good and well that borrowing

another senshi's power is dangerous! Even if she is your sister-“

 

“Puu, you know just as well as I do that my powers don’t have enough

light potency to fully destroy a Commander and their Shadow! I had no choi-“

 

“ I don't care!” Setsuna cut in sharply. “*She* deals with the light of

the stars, *you* wield the light of the planets! You could have died! Next time

you use your own solar powers! Understand?" Setsuna suddenly dropped her

tone with the last word, her voice and tone softening.

 

            "Are *you* alright?" Setsuna asked quietly.

 

            "I'm fine." Sailor Galaxy whispered, launching herself into Setsuna's

arms and embraced her cousin tightly, sniffing lightly into the Senshi of Time's

shoulder.

 

            The two happy senshi suddenly pushed apart as a throat was cleared loudly.

 

            "Could someone explain something before I get angry?" Jupiter asked, or

rather, now Lita, Sailor Galaxy noticed. The Senshi of Protection and Lighting

cracked her knuckles for emphasis.

 

            And she laughed. Sailor Galaxy laughed very loudly and strongly. And

everyone laughed as well.

 

            "Oh dear. We've made a mess of things, haven't we?" A gentle voice

laughed from behind.

 

            "VERSIA!!!" Galaxy screeched, whirled around and swept her sister

up in a tight embrace, sobbing loudly and laughing with joy at the same time.

 

            "Oh, thank god you're alright!" Sailor Galaxy cried, Versia simply

held her back, stroking her sister's hair comfortingly, tears running down

her face.

 

            "Um, I hate to break up this little family reunion," Raye cut in,

holding up one finger, "But could we PLEASE have some explanations?"

 

            Sniffing, the sisters pulled apart, but kept their arms linked, wiping

away their tears.

 

            "Sorry," they chorused together.

 

            "So, what do you want to know?" Sailor Universe asked as she and Sailor

Galaxy sat on the floor with several other Senshi.

 

            The girls all looked at each other.

 

            "Everything!" They chorused.

 

            "Luna? How much have you told them?" Sailor Galaxy asked of the feline.

The cat blinked, realizing that she'd been noticed, she slinked out from

behind a trashcan.

 

            "Well, I've told them the legend," The cat said matter of factly. "But

perhaps you should tell me if it is still accurate." Luna recounted the tale

she had told the Sailor Senshi, and Sailor Galaxy nodded.

 

            "Sounds pretty good." Sailor Universe mused. "Alright, so how do we

tie into all of this?" She looked at her sister. "Well, I think visuals would

be helpful. Shall we?"

 

            "Are you sure? Are you still strong enough?" Universe rolled her eyes at

Laxa’s mothering tone; usually it was she who did the mothering and the scolding!

She had quite a bit of experience in it, too...

 

            "I'm fine, sis!" Universe smiled, shaking off her thoughts from a moment ago.

Galaxy smiled.

           

            "Alrighty, then." Galaxy turned to the Sailor Senshi. "You know the legend

of how the planetary Senshi came to be, but you do not know why.

 

            "As you already know, before your grandmothers became the first

planetary Senshi, there was our mother, and our aunt. They were the first

Sailor Senshi, the Sailor Guardians. They controlled the power of light. Our

mother, like Versia, was sensitive to dark powers, and controlled the light

that came from the stars. Our aunt, like I, controlled the light that came

from planets."

 

            "They were the Queens of the two halves of the Light Kingdoms," Sailor

Universe continued. "The Universal Kingdom, and the Galactica Kingdom. They

were the only kingdoms in that dimension, or so they had believed. Then the Shadow

Kingdom attacked, destroying everything, save the capitol of the Light Kingdom.

Our mother and aunt knew that if the Shadow Kingdom prevailed, they would move

on to your dimension. They were the only survivors of the Light Kingdom, they

and our mother's daughters; us."

 

            "So, without any other choice," Sailor Galaxy closed her eyes, as if

in pain. "They summoned the Cosmos Crystal, an object where power or life force

is not a problem. It IS power. It was the creation of life force itself. But

while they were using it, the king of the Shadow Kingdom put a curse on them,

and to this day even we do not know what it was, it was so horrible."

 

            "Anyway, to make a long story short," Universe took a deep breath. "Our

mother and aunt just barely managed to destroy the Shadow Kingdom, just enough

so that they doubted they would ever come back. Or so they had hoped, but they

knew that they had at the very least trapped them for a certain amount of time.

 

            "And then they traveled to this dimension, and split their power among

the Princesses of the Solar Planets, forming the different elements of their

power into twelve different crystals, one for each planet, including Earth's

moon. They then bid the brand new planetary Senshi protect their universe

and galaxy from a dark evil that would someday return, the Shadow Kingdom.

Then, our mother and aunt gave us to Queen Serenity Tranquility, your

grandmother, Princess," The dark clad Sailor Universe nodded to Serena, whose

eyes widened. "She raised us, telling us that we were the sole survivors of a great

kingdom, a kingdom of  light, but nothing more."

 

            "But over time, the name and the warning of the Shadow Kingdom got

twisted, becoming the Dark Kingdom," Galaxy chuckled. "So when Queen Beryl got

a big head, thinking that she would be the queen of this ominous evil, she gave

her empire the name of the Dark Kingdom. And, well, you know where we went

that first time, long before you, Serena, were born. We went home, in a sense. It

took us many years to piece together our own past."

 

            "But we did, and now we're here," Sailor Universe stood up, "And we're here

to help you prepare to defend the Galaxy against the evil that the Senshi were

created to fight."

 

            "Okay, that tells us WHY you're here," Rini spoke up. "But it doesn't

tell us WHO you are!"

 

            Looking at each other, the sisters chuckled.

 

            "Very well, Small Lady," They said together, bowing. Their light staffs

came to their hands, and they brought them together before them, held out,

then swept them around themselves, out to their sides.

 

            Waves of gold, silver, black and white ribbons and miniature galaxies

surrounded the two warriors, swirling around them, lengthening their skirts and

dissipating other elements of their outfits.

 

            In a wave of silver sparkles, Sailor Galaxy changed from the warrior

of the Galaxy to beautiful, intelligent, usually happy-go-lucky Princess Galaxcia.

 

            Amid swirls of golden glitter, Sailor Universe had become the princess

of starlight, the lovely and sensible, yet miscievious Princess Universia.

 

            "I am Princess Galaxcia of the Galactica Light kingdom." Sailor Galaxy

started proudly, "Ruler of the second half of the Light Empire, the Galactica

Kingdom."

 

            "And I," Sailor Galaxy said, a smile on her face, "Am her older sister,

Princess Universia, ruler of the First half of the Light Kingdom, the realm of

Universal."

 

            "But, of course you already know that," Laxa admonished. "So, sister

dear, shall we show them who they know us as?" Versia giggled, and nodded her

agreement. Smiling mischievously, they snapped their fingers simultaniously,

and changed into her human guises among flashes of gold and silver.

 

            "I am also Alexandria Whitcom of Tokyo, Japan- student." Laxa chimed,

eyes sparkling at the dropped jaws of the audience.

 

            "And I am Alisia Warren, cousin to Alexandria Whitcom, also in Japan

as a student." Versia giggled.

 

            "I KNEW it!" Raye cried, leaping up. "I KNEW there was something odd

about you two, and I knew it had something to do with the new Senshi!"

 

            "Somebody tell me," Serena said thoughtfully. "Why I am not surprised?"

 

            "Tell me, Princess," Versia looked at Serena with serious eyes. "Have

you ever noticed how you seem to be more attuned to other's emotions? How

you seem to be able to see beyond what people seem to think, to be able to tell

what they really feel?" Serena blinked, comprehension coming slowly to her

face.

 

            "That is because you have a rare and beautiful gift, my princess."

Laxa continued for her sister. "You have the power of Heart Sight. Only

relatives of the descendants of the goddess Aphrodite have ever been known to

have it, and even then, one is born only once every hundred millennia."

 

            "Wow..." Serena whispered. "Well, that explains a lot."

 

            "As it should," Setsuna said gently. "But, now that it appears we all

are up to date on each other, I suggest that we discuss this new enemy."

 

            "Right," Amara said, furrowing her brow. "Since you two have fought

this thing before, could you tell us just how powerful they are?"

 

            "It's not really a matter of power," Versia said wistfully. "It's a

matter of...well, it's sort of hard to explain. Let's say you have a shadow,

and you want to get rid of it. You can stomp on it and and throw darts at it

and drop a building on it and it wouldn't have any affect. Why?"

 

            "Because shadows aren't physical," Amy said promptly. "They're there,

but you can't touch them, yet they can still darken things."

 

            "Exactly," Laxa said, smiling. "So what's the only thing that can

eliminate a shadow?"

 

            "Light!" Mina exclaimed. "It's kind of like a game, I guess. Certain

weapons will defeat certain beings, even if the weapon is as weak as a mouse.

Using one that's as big and power packed as a black hole wouldn't work, cause

it's not tuned to fight that being."

 

            "Perfect!" Versia said excitedly. "And that's where the Sailor Senshi

come in. In a sense, the Sailor Senshi power was created PRECISELY for the

Shadow Kingdom, and nothing else."

 

            "But what about all those times they've defeated youmas with their

power?" Darien asked. "If their Senshi powers are tuned for Shadow creatures

and nothing else, why were they able to defeat the youmas of different sorts

of dark power?"

 

            "Good question, your highness," Laxa nodded at him. "I was hoping

someone would ask that." She grinned brightly. "Okay, I'm gonna say this

straight out; Those powers you used weren't your Senshi powers."

 

            "*WHAT???!!!*" Came the astonished exclamations. Laxa and Versia

threw their heads back, laughing.

 

            "You heard her," Versia chuckled. "Those attacks, like 'Mars firebird

strike,' and 'jupiter thunder crash,' weren't the powers that came with being

Sailor Senshi. In fact, when you transform, those aren't your real Senshi

forms, but a reflection of your true Sailor Senshi selves."

 

            "But...but how?" Michelle asked incredulously, eyes wide. Versia

smiled gently, while Laxa continued.

 

            "The warriors you become, and the attacks that you've used in the

past, are YOUR warrior forms and attacks, not the transformations and weapons

of the planetary senshi. Your need to fight evil allowed you to tap into your

own personal powers, the power that all descendants of the gods have."

 

            "So are you telling us that...that we're NOT Sailor Senshi?" Hotaru

asked quietly.

 

            "Absolutely not," Laxa said firmly. "We're simply telling you that

you have all been using your personal powers, not the your senshi powers; you

simply haven't reached them yet."

 

            "Unfortunately," Versia sighed. "We have run out of time for you to

reach your true Senshi forms naturally. I estimate we have less than two weeks

before the Shadow King and its queen launch their initial assault, unless we do

something. We must be ready, with our FULL powers." Laxa and Versia looked

at each other. "And that includes Pluto and ourselves as well."

 

            "Nani?" They all asked. Versia nodded.

 

            "That's right; we haven't reached our true senshi forms yet either."

Laxa explained.

 

            "Alright then," Serena took a deep breath, shaking her head to clear

it. "So in order to defeat the Shadow Kingdom, we must have our full and true

powers as Sailor Senshi. I get that, but why?"

 

            "Because only the true Sailor Senshi can wield the Light Crystals,

the fourteen pieces of the Cosmos Crystal," Laxa explained. "Like when the

Princess's Silver Crystal was divided into the seven rainbow crystals. Only

when all twelve are together will we be able to form the Cosmos Crystal, and

decimate the Shadow Kingdom once and for all."

 

            "Everyone get it now?" Setsuna asked. Slowly, nine heads nodded.

 

            "Hey, I'm rather curious," Raye asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

"When I accidently tapped into your telepathic conversation that first time we

met you, you mentioned Queen Serenity, and it sounded like you were related

to her. And just now, you two and Pluto seemed rather close. Care to explain

that?"

 

            Laxa and Versia exchanged glances, then smiled and turned evil grins

onto Setsuna.

 

            "Plutie Puu..." They drawled together, using the nickname they'd

bestowed upon Sailor Pluto when they were young. The Guardian of Time hated

it, and they knew it. "Your turn," they giggled.

 

            "Ugh!" Setsuna glared at the giggling duo. "Fine. Those two," she

waved a hand to the mischievously grinning sisters. "And I are cousins."

 

            "*What?*" Everyone shrieked. Laxa grinned evilly. "There's more," She

said. Then her face sobered. "Brace yourself," She said. "Go ahead Plutie

Puu."

 

            Setsuna glared at the girl, then sighed. "Queen Serenity...Rena was

my sister." That last was in a whisper, her face suddenly crestfallen. Serena

rose and stood beside her aunt, being the only one -besides the two sisters

and Setsuna, as well as Rini- who had known, and she placed a comforting hand

on the woman's elbow.

 

            The room became deathly silent as the realization sunk in.

 

            "Serena, you knew?" Darien asked, breaking the silence. Serena nodded.

 

            "Sorry, everyone," Serena said, looking away. "I meant to tell you,

but, the time never seemed right."

 

            "Hey, don't worry about it, blondie," Lita said gently, her lips

curved in a soft smile, her eyes kind.

 

            "So," Mina said suddenly, trying to be cheerful. At her sunny tone,

everyone wiped the tears from their eyes, becoming serious. "Well, at least

we know now, and we have something to work for, instead of just sitting here

and worrying our hair gray about the next attack."

 

            "But how do we reach our true forms?" Rini asked quietly, the youngest

one there thinking of the one question that probably mattered the most. The

Sailor Guardians blinked, and looked at each other before blushing sheepishly.

 

            "Actually, we're afraid we don't know."

 

            "But I know how to find out," A deep, yet at the same time light

voice said softly, yet still loud enough for all to hear. In a flash, all

those in the room, including the sisters, were on their feet, Henshin Wands

in hand and all in stiff battle stances.

 

            "Please!" The voice cried. "I just want a chance to say what I have

to say! Please let me speak to the Guardians!"

 

            Looking at each other out of the corners of their eyes, then all

looking at Laxa and Versia, the two girls nodded grimly, both holding their

Light Crystals tightly.

 

            In the center of the room, surrounded by a ring of wary warriors, a

shadow appeared, and Versia stiffened, willing a mental shield to keep it

from draining her. She felt Laxa help her automatically, as she had so many

times before.

 

            The shadow swirled, bits of silver and gold glittering along with it.

When it all cleared, a man stood there, and they all gasped.

 

 

 

Continue...