Chapter Three: Finding The Mars Crystal

A Year Later

Sitting in the nursery Serena glanced down at Amy in her arms, she smiled softly and placed a kiss on the baby's forehead as she rocked her. It had been a year since Amy was made her appearance in the world and it was an easy task taking care of the blue haired child. She was a quiet baby who slept through the night and took frequent naps.  The only thing she really worried about was how clumsy Amy was when she learned to crawl. Considering that, she pretty coordinated before but that was to be expected as she was still learning balance.

"Aunty Serena," Michelle ran into the room carrying a new drawing she had done in school, she giggled happily. "I made this for Amy, it's supposed to be Luna, I know that Amy adores playing with Luna so I thought she'd like a picture of her."

Serena smiled at Michelle glancing at the picture of Luna. She giggled at how Michelle managed to capture every aspect of Luna. "I know Amy will be happy that you've drawn something else for her," she stood up and went to the crib placing Amy down gently. "How about we hang this on the wall Michi?"

"Hooray!" Michelle squealed, she rushed out the room, grabbed her stepstool and came back sitting it in front of the wall where the other drawings she had done were hanging. "Let's put it above the one of the kitty that I've seen hanging around the arcade."

Placing the picture on the wall Serena held it steady as Michelle pinned it down with some thumbtacks. "Very nice Michi," she said smiling.

"It looks so pretty on the wall with the others!" Michelle giggled, stepping down, and picking up the stool. "I'm going to go draw more for Amy!" Taking off out the room, she rushed past Darien calling out. "Hi Uncle Darien! Bye Uncle Darien!"

Darien smiled as he saw Serena admiring the paintings on the wall. "It seems like Michelle's been busy doing a lot of drawings for Amy."

Serena giggled softly. "I'm happy she's getting along with her as they did in the past." She said. "It's almost surprising how much Amy loves spending time with the outers, and it's wonderful that Amy's finally reborn, I've missed her so much."

"I know Amy's grateful to you for being her mother," Darien wrapped his arms around Serena's waist and kissed her gently.

Serena enjoyed the kiss for a long moment, giggling softly. "Oh by the way, we'll be having guests for dinner tonight,"

"Sounds great," Darien, said with a smile.

Serena smiled and walked to the kitchen to start on dinner thinking of what she could cook without it becoming a complicated task.

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The doorbell rang later that evening, Michelle got up from her small table and went to answer it since her aunt and uncle were helping Susan work on her science project, and she looked down at Amy who was happily crawling behind her to see who was at the door.

"Who is it?" She called out waiting for an answer.

"It's Keisha and Andrew!" called back two voices from behind the door.

Michelle opened the door, and immediately flung herself into their arms happily. "Hi Aunty Keke! Hi Uncle Andy! You can to visit today! Did you bring me a present?"

"As always," Keisha reached into her bag pulling out a small stuffed Sailor Neptune doll. "I won this out of the arcade's crane machine today before we left. Take good care of her."

Michelle took the doll and squealed happily. "Hooray!" she rushed off to show her sisters.

"Hi Amy," Keisha said kneeling down picking up the baby. "How are you today little Mercury?"

Amy giggled cuddling up to Keisha as she took a hold of one of her curls with her other hand clinging to her shirt.

"You're so cute!" Keisha said cuddling her, she looked over at Andrew and said. "Isn't she cute, I just want to take her home with me!"

"I don't think Serena would allow you to do that," Andrew said, he looked around noticing that they were not anywhere to be seen. "Do you think they know were here?"

"I'll handle it," Keisha said she called out. "Hey Sere! Dare! You both have guests! Are you two just gonna leave us hanging?"

Serena walked out of Susan's room holding some glue and smiled. "Hey there you two." She said. "I thought you were both coming to visit around the same time as the Starlights."

"Are you kidding?" Keisha made a face at the mention of the Starlights. She gently shifted Amy in her arms and cuddled the baby more. "We decided to get here early so I wouldn't want to kill Seiya on my way here."

"If you'll excuse me ladies," Andrew walked past them and went into the living room sitting down on the couch next to Darien as the two of them began watching a baseball game on TV.

"Geez…they'll be watching that all day," Shaking her head Serena smiled and said. "Come on Keke let's go in the kitchen and I can finish making dinner."

"It's pretty nice not having to fight youma today," Keisha, noted she sat Amy down in the high chair and smiled as the baby began giggling. "That's right Amy; there are no monsters for aunty and mommy to fight."

Amy's giggle was the response; she began playing with the spoon and bowl pretending it was a drum. "La! La! La! La!"

"I'm grateful for that," Serena said with a sigh. "I know that fighting is part of our destinies, I'm just worried that…"

"Sere, don't you dare start thinking the worse of the situation," Keisha lectured. "You're powerful and I know for a fact that if you had to you'd fight until the end just like when you fought Galaxia."

"I just…" Serena fell silent knowing that her friend was right.

"Yo Rena, were here!" Seiya called out poking his head into the kitchen, he saw Keisha was sitting in the kitchen. "Geez puffy haired pixie got here before I did."

"What was that?" Keisha demanded standing up; she glared at Seiya and said. "You have some nerve complaining that I am here before you, she's my best friend and I was here first, don't you forget that Captain Leather fetish!"

"You little…" Seiya started but of course, he clamped his mouth shut letting it slide. He smiled at Serena and said. "Not that I'm thrilled to be in the same place as the pixie, I'm glad to see you today Rena."

"Me too Seiya," Serena said sweetly. "It's fun to have friends stop by for a little dinner party."

Seiya paled at the word friend and sighed as he went back into the living room. He mumbled something about being called just a friend and sighed.

"Ha, you sure reamed him Sere," Keisha said laughing. "I swear doesn't the ever learn that you're not interested in him?"

"What are you talking about Keke?" Serena questioned. "Why would I be interested in Seiya? He's just my friend."

"Oh god…" Keisha leaned her head against the counter and sighed. "Geez, you are oblivious sometimes Sere."

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Later that night, the atmosphere was tense as everyone were sitting down eating dinner. Of course, it had turned into a competition between Seiya and Keisha.

"I bet I can eat more than you!" Keisha said her eyes glinted dangerously as she glared at Seiya.  "Captain Leather fetish."

"You're on puffy haired pixie," Seiya said as he began eating in a fast pace. He sent a challenging glare in Keisha's direction.

Keisha immediately let out a loud yell and began eating at a fast pace to beat Seiya. She wasn't going to let him beat her.

"Oh for the love of Kakyuu…" Taiki mumbled shaking his head. "You both are going to choke if you eat like that!"

"Stay out of this Taiki," Seiya said with his mouth full. He glared at Keisha again noticing the girl hadn't stopped eating once.

"Uh…I'm not going to question what's with those two but…" Andrew looked at the remaining two Starlights and asked. "You guys are the three lights right? I didn't know you two knew Serena."

"We went to the same high school with her," Taiki explained. "It was interesting being classmates with someone who actually kept Seiya from making a fool out of himself all the time."

"Yeah, even if we found school to be a major bore," Yaten said waving his hand tiredly.  

"That's your opinion," Taiki stated glaring at Yaten.

"Ha I win!"

"No you lost!"

"I was the one who finished first!" Seiya snapped.

"No I finished first!" Keisha glared at him putting her hands on her hips glaring at him.

"You lost!" Seiya said. "Accept that pixie!"

Glaring at him Keisha glared and poked Seiya in the leg with her fork, she gave a satisfied smiled when he yelped out.

"What was that for pixie?!" Seiya demanded.

"Oh I'm sorry my hand slipped," Keisha said innocently she sent him a smirk.

The two of them began glaring at one another, everyone who were watching them sighed rolling their eyes until the sound of an explosion interrupted them.

"What in the…" Looking out the window Serena saw a youma attacking a crowd of people.  "Just great…"

"A monster's attacking…" Keisha gasped she stood up and said. "Come on let's go."

"Hey don't order around my team!" Seiya snapped.

"As leader of the sailor…"

"Now is not the time!" Serena shouted. "We have to go and fight, forget your competition for one minute."

"Uh right," Keisha said she looked at Andrew and said. "Stay here with the others I'll handle this on my own." She rushed out the door.

"What?!" Seiya demanded chasing after her. "Get back here pixie!"

"We'll go make sure they don't kill each other," Taiki said standing up. "Please excuse us."

"Yeah, we'll be back!" Yaten headed out the door after Taiki.

"Those three are sailor senshi too?" Andrew asked in surprise rushing out onto the balcony. "Dude I've gotta watch them in action!"

"Andrew, wait a second!" Serena said following after him, she let out a silent curse, well he had to find out sooner or later.

"Serena," Darien said grabbing her hand. "We should go help the Starlights and Keisha; we'll worry about Andrew finding out the truth later."

"Um…right."

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"Star Healer attack from the right! Star Maker attack from the left!" Sailor Sun ordered. "Star Fighter stay out of my way."

"Pixie I said not to order around my team!" Starfighter said glaring at her, dodging a flying fireball. "Damn it…"

Glaring at him, Sailor Sun rushed forward throwing a punch at the youma as she rolled out of the way of the fireball.  "Crystal Aria Pitch!" she called out her microphone appeared in her hands and held it out. "Sun Sweet Ar—"

The youma sent a blast that knocked the crystal aria pitch out of Sailor Sun's hand. It walked forward stepping on the weapon causing it to shatter.

"Oh man…I'm screwed…" Sailor Sun turned around and began running to escape the youma chasing after her. She called out. "Starlights attack this thing!"

"Star Gentle Uterus!" Shouted Sailor Maker as her attack knocked the youma to the ground from behind.

"Star Sensitive Inferno!" Star Healer fired her attack in the direction of the youma as it was thrown another few feet back.

"Damn senshi…" the youma growled out attacking again, it sent a fireball in the direction of the senshi who were preparing to attack.

"Sailor Sun watch it!" Star Maker shouted out.

"Huh what," Sailor Sun let out a loud scream bracing for the attack's impact only to feel someone tackled her to the ground as the two of them rolled out of the way, she opened her eyes and saw Star Fighter holding her.

"Stop acting like a rookie and fight," Star fighter ordered. "You call yourself a secondary leader and you were standing there with your mouth gaping open!"

Sailor Sun blushed; she quickly dismissed it and said. "Thanks for saving me…" she mumbled and rushed off to attack, she was useless without her crystal aria pitch so she pulled out her boomerang. "Solar Boomerang!"

The golden boomerang spun around the youma and transformed into glowing rope as it wrapped around tying it down..

"Bulls eye," Sailor Sun said happily, though it was short lived. The youma had broken free and rushed forward attacking.

"What in the…it didn't…" Sailor Sun felt a rope appear around her body and send her crashing to the ground.

"Sailor Sun!" The Starlights were distracted as more ropes that are glowing appeared from the ground tying them down as they too fell to the ground.

"What is this?!" Star Healer demanded, her hands had been bound at her sides and she couldn't move to perform her attack.

"It's some kind of bounding illusion which saps our energy as long as it stays around us." Star Maker explained. "We can't attack as long as our hands and feet are bound."

"We have to get out of here," Sailor Sun said, she began trying to think of a way out. She had relied on the other senshi before to get free from any trap she had fallen in to but there was no way she would ever get free on her own. She let out a silent curse suddenly wishing she had not lost her Crystal Aria Pitch, it was the only weapon in which she could summon without using her hands, her voice would emit sound waves, which in turn could free them, but only with her weapon.

"Sailor Sun, stop spacing out and think of something," Star Fighter ordered, she was having a hell of a time trying to get away, the power from the ropes were slowly draining her energy away.

"I…" Sailor Sun tried thinking more, she needed to get free, there had to be some way.

A streak of red appeared and released the ropes from around the senshi, around them there was a single red rose embedded in the ground.

"Tuxedo Mask!" Sailor Sun said in happiness.

"How dare you trap our friends like that and interrupt our dinner party,  I won't let anyone who gets in the way of friendship and good times to get away with this…I'm Sailor Moon the Champion of Justice! In the name of the Moon I shall punish you!" Sailor Moon shouted she placed a hand on her hip narrowing her eyes.

"Sailor Moon…" the youma hissed rushing forward to attack. It fired a fireball at her.

"It throws fire!" Sailor Moon questioned as she dodged the attack. She looked over at the Starlights and Sailor Sun.  

"We tried attacking it directly but it didn't work," Sailor Sun explained. "And my boomerang didn't work and it destroyed my Crystal Aria Pitch."

"We'll have to find it's weakness," Sailor Star Maker said.

"I'm suddenly wishing that Mercury was here…" Sailor Sun said softly. "She could've used her data computer to find it's weakness."

"Wait a second…" Sailor Healer saw the youma was favoring it's right side. Her eyes lit up and said. "It's soft on the right, that's the only place it's not protected by armor!"

"…Sailor Star Fighter and Tuxedo Mask attack it!" Sailor Moon ordered.

"Leave it to us," Sailor Star Fighter held up the Star Yell and shouted. "Star Serious Laser"!

Tuxedo Mask threw three roses towards the youma's right side,  they embedded themselves in the youma as Star Fighter's attack hit it weakening it enough.

"Alright, attack it now Sailor Moon!" Star Fighter said.

"Starlight Honey Moon Therapy Kiss!" Sailor Moon shouted throwing the attack at the youma. It turned to dust leaving a strange dark crystal.

"What's that…" Sailor Sun walked over and picked up the crystal looking at it closely. "This looks like…no way."

"That's the same crystal that Zoicite once used." Sailor Moon said with a gasp. "Let's take it back to Luna so she can analyze it."

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"Luna says it'll take a few days for them to determine if it's the same crystal," Serena said with a sigh.

"Well if it is the same crystal," Keisha began. "You don't think that in some weird way the generals were reborn do you?"

"We would've seen them during the fight," Serena said with a sigh. "And without the others were going to have a harder time fighting again."

"And I doubt we have any way of gaining more power," Keisha blew out a sigh twirling a stray strand of hair in her finger."

"Which is why were going to stay and help you." Seiya said, he sat down next to Keisha and took one of her cookies. "We can't let our guard down for one minute, even if we assume it's peaceful enough."

"Seiya," Keisha said softly she ignored her had taken one of her cookies and nodded in agreement.

"With the way your powers are though…we can't count on Sailor Sun and Sailor Moon to be strong enough to fight." Taiki pointed out. "You two are barely able to destroy these new threats."

"So leave it to us from now on," Yaten said. "At least until you both are stronger."

"We'll continue to fight no matter what," Keisha stated. "I made a promise to protect Earth and Serena at all costs, so leave it to me."

"Everyone please don't start fighting," Serena begged. "We have to be a team, and that means we all fight together."

"You're right."

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The air and atmosphere around her reflected that of a sacred temple. Serena touched the tapestries on the wall and could feel that they radiated heat from the walls. She wondered where she was.

"I have been expecting you Princess Serenity,"

A woman who had raven hair just like Raye's and she wore a dress made of delicate red silk smiled at her. Her light grey eyes were filled with kindness but held seriousness just as Raye's once held.

"You're Raye's mother from the past…" Serena gasped out in surprise.

The woman smiled as she led Serena by the hand to the sacred temple. "I am Queen Aarla the former Queen of Mars who once resided here in the PhobosDeimos castle." She looked at the painting of Princess Mars, which was hanging on the wall inside the temple. "I was told that my daughter's star seed had disappeared and lost its shine during your battle with Galaxia…"

"It's all my fault," Serena began she was quickly silenced by Queen Aarla who shook her head.

"My daughter died a noble death to make sure that you were to live on in happiness." Queen Aarla glanced at the painting for a long moment. "I know that my daughter will be raised by the right person."

"You mean Raye is the next one to be reborn?" Serena questioned in happiness knowing that her closest friend would return to her.

"Yes, however I must warn you that you will have a difficult time raising her," Queen Aarla smiled softly thinking back on how stubborn Raye was as a child. "She will be strong willed and stubborn."

"She's just as I remember her," Serena stated. "I can handle looking after her and making sure she grows up happily."

"I know you will protect her," Queen Aarla said. "Continue to keep the courage in your heart and rely on your friends when you need strength, it will help you when you feel any doubts."

Serena nodded. "I will." She said softly as Queen Aarla disappeared in a twinkle of light.

She needed to find the Crystal of Mars, Looking outside she knew it had to be on the planet somewhere.

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Walking through the quiet yet dead planet of Mars, She looked around, the atmosphere had changed from it's normal lush surroundings of yesteryear and was now a dead planet void of life.

"Where is it…" She glanced around as the wind picked up blowing the red dirt around her. She let out a small cough covering her mouth.

"Find me…"

Stopping short of her steps, a red aura emitted from the ground below, with each step she came towards the place where the aura was glowing from. "It's the crystal..." Reaching her hand out, she called out loudly. "Crystal of Mars come to me!"

The crystal unearthed itself and floated above her hand, it sat in her palm and the glowing began to intensify.

"I found it…" Serena closed her hands around it holding it close to her heart. She could feel the warmth of it's power radiating from within. Smiling softly she whispered out. "I'll protect this with all my heart."

"Thank you for finding me Serena…" a voice whispered from the air. She began to fade away taking the crystal with her,

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"Aunty Serena!"

Michelle dashed into the room with Alex and Susan following behind her as she leapt on the bed and began jumping to get Serena up.

Serena opened her eyes and smiled at Michelle. "Good morning, what are you doing here?"

"We decided to make breakfast for you," Alex said with a smile. "I made the waffles!"

"And I made hot cocoa for you." Susan said.

Michelle leapt down from the bed and ran over to get the tray from Susan. "I made the omelet!"

"You did not!" Alex said. "Uncle Darien helped you with it so you wouldn't burn down the kitchen!"

Michelle sniffled. "Aunty Serena I did make it!" she said.

Serena smiled. "I am very proud of all three of you." She said. "How about today we spend the day in the play park?"

Michelle gasped out happily. "I'll go get ready!" she took off out the room. "Come on Susie and Alex let's go get ready!"

Susan and Alex took off out the room to go get dressed for the day leaving Serena to eat the breakfast they made for her.

"Good morning Serena!" Darien smiled at her holding Amy. "Amy and I came in to see if you were awake."

Serena giggled. "The girls woke me up," She said.  "I had another dream…this time I was sent to the Mars Castle and spoke with Queen Aarla."

"So that means Raye is next?" Darien thought for a moment as he sat Amy down on the floor. "In that case we will need to start planning a few things."

"And we'll need to paint the other side of the nursery in the color red," Serena began to think for a moment. "I think we might need a bigger place soon since this apartment is pretty small."

"I was thinking the same thing." Darien gave her a smile. "I'll start looking for new places."

Serena nodded as she gasped out when she saw Amy standing on her feet. "Darien look!"

Darien turned and saw Amy. "She's…come on Amy walk to me."

Amy giggled and began to take a few steps towards Darien but she plopped back down on the floor and began pulling out clothes from the laundry basket.

"She took her first steps!" Serena giggled happily as she got out of bed and lifted Amy high into the air. "Good job my little Amy!"

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Serena walked into the Crown Fruits Parlor later that afternoon, she had spent at least four hours at the play park with the children and was grateful when Darien agreed to take them for the rest of the afternoon.  She took a seat at her usual table.

"Hey there Serena," Keisha walked over to the table. "I didn't expect to see you come in today."

"Oh well Darien is taking care of the girls so I thought I'd come in and hang out with you." Serena said. "Do you think you hang out for a minute?"

Keisha nodded and took a seat on the other side of the table. "Yeah, it's been pretty slow today so I am not busy, so what's up?"

"I thought about that dream I had," Serena said. "I really think that maybe I should be prepared for Raye's arrival."

"I see…" Keisha smiled. "Well in any case it's been pretty peaceful since we defeated Galaxia so maybe this is a sign that the others will be reborn without problem."

Serena nodded. "You're right I have nothing to worry about." She said with a smile. "Everything will be alright."

End Chapter

Next Chapter: Raye Aries Chiba