Darkness surrounded her.She twisted around this way and that,trying to find some solid ground to stand upon,but there was nothing.Somewhere in the distance water dripped slowly,the sound echoeing around and within her.
I'm so sorry...please forgive me.
"Hello?"she called."Is anyone there?"
A light grew in the distance,the water dripped faster and louder.
I never should have left you.
The light grew until she was blinded by it's brillance.When she opened her eyes again,she was standing on the moon.Smoke billowed from dying embers,and the smell of death was everywhere.She looked down and saw that she was clothed as a princess.
Please don't leave me....
She turned following the sound of the voice,it was so familiar.She stumbled over the jagged ruins of her once beautiful home,daring not to look around her for fear that she would break. She heard a soft crying behind her and turned.There lying amongst the smouldering pillars and shattered dreams was Queen Serenity and a man.Princess Serenity dropped to her knees.
"Father......"she whispered.
"I'm going to put things right again."he was saying."You'll be fine,you'll see."
"Salanmas."Queen Serenity lifted her hand and cupped the side of his face."You came back."
"I never meant to hurt you."
Princess Serenity ran to her parents,throwing her arms wide to embrace them,but she passed through them,as if they weren't even there.
This is a dream you realize.
Princess Serenity turned.Oniko stood behind her,arms folded.
Rather touching isn't it?
"Why are you doing this?"Serenity yelled at her."My parents are dead.My father died when I was a little girl,and my mother....."her voice trailed off at the look on Oniko's face."What is this?"
A dream...didn't I already tell you that? Oniko lifted her hand and pointed.At the tip of her finger the air split like shattering glass.The shards exploded outwards,Serenity barely had time to lift her arms and protect her face.
Usagi!!!Help me please!!She's coming after you.....USAGI!!!!
Usagi jolted forward in her sleep.Sweat ran down her face as she gasped for air.She buried her face in her hands and tried to collect her thoughts.What was that?What did it mean?She flopped back down and rolled over,facing a picture of Mamoru next to her bed.She picked it up and held it to her chest,staring at the cieling.She wished he was here,but he was in America straightening out business with Harvard.He would be back tomorrow,but tomorrow seemed like an eternity.
Mamoru leaned back in his seat and stared out the window as more and more passengers piled onto the plane.Outside people scrambled this way and that around the busy airport.He couldn't wait to get home and see Usagi again.
"Excuse me sir.Is this seat 7B?"
Mamoru turned.A young woman stood in the aisle facing him.Her long brown hair swept forward and brushed his face.
"Oh I'm sorry!"she exclaimed and pulled her hair back.
"Yeah,this 7B."he smiled.He had the distinct impression that he'd met her before but couldn't place her.Probably saw her in the terminal.He shrugged as she flopped into the seat beside him. She smiled and held out her hand.
"Hi!I'm Arashi."
He took her hand and shook it. "Mamoru."
He was just about to turn back to the window when her sunglasses slipped from her nose.She pushed them up quickly,but not quick enough.He stared at her in shock.Her eyes were golden.
"I'm sorry."he shook his head.
"It's okay."she sighed,waving it off."I get it all the time."
She turned away and looked up and down the aisles,then turned back to him,looking over the rim of her glasses.He couldn't get over the color of her eyes.
"I know who you are."she dropped her voice."You may not remeber me,but we once were friends.A long long time ago."
He stared at her in confusion."I don't know what you're talking about."
She sighed in annoyance."You are, excuse me, were Prince Endymion-"
Mamoru stood in shock.Arashi reached up and yanked him back into his seat.
"Listen to me very carefully."she hissed."I am here to help you.Our very lives may be in danger."She looked over her shoulder then continued."There is an evil force gathering in Tokyo.The dawning of the second Silver Millenium is at hand.If you have any sense at all you'll be on alert."
Mamoru stared at her speechless for a moment before he finally managed to blurt out,"Who the hell are you?"
"Let me show you." She reached forward and touched her index finger to the middle of his forehead.He felt his eyes close,unable to control them.The noise of the airport drifted away into nothing,and in his mind an image began to form.He heard birds singing and water bubbling in a brook nearby.A cool breeze swept over him and he opened his eyes,he was in the forest.He looked around,Earth,around the fall of the Silver Millenium.He'd been here before.
"Prince Endymion!!!"he turned and saw Arashi running towards him.She was dressed in a blue silk dress with silver jewelry.
"Arashi?"he exclaimed.She wasn't looking at him though,but behind him.He turned and gasped in surprise.There he was,leaning against a tree and smiling.
"My Lady."the other Endymion said.He took Arashi's hand and lead her around the tree."I want you to know it took a lot of trouble getting Galen out of the Palace unnoticed,but we managed." Mamoru followed them around the tree,where stood another young man.Arashi ran to him and threw her arms around him.
"Galen!!"she cried."It's been so long."
Galen wrapped his arms around her and kissed her.Endymion cleared his throat,Arashi pulled away from Galen and laughed.
"I almost forgot!"she turned to Endymion."Now it's your turn."
She slowy lifted both arms out and began to chant softly. "Spirits of the Earth,protectors of space,open the doors from this world to the heavens and allow this traveler to walk the sacred path to his love."
A purple energy pooled around her and formed a gaping vortex.Endymion paused before he entered."Thank you again my lady."
Arashi courtseyed and stepped back.
Mamoru opened his eyes.He was back on the plane sitting bolt upright.Arashi was slumped against his arm.He gently lifted her away from him.She was slightly pale and looked exhausted.
"Now...do you remember?"
He nodded. "I do....you...Galen...you both died in the first attack on Earth.You were the Wolf Priestess for Elysion,and Galen had been captured by my father to teach my sister and I magic.I got in a lot of trouble for smuggling him out."
Arashi tried to laugh but her breath escaped her.
"What are you doing here?"Mamoru leaned forward.
"Elves are always reincarnated."
"That's right.....you were elves."
He swept away her hair,"What happened to your ears?"
This time Arashi laughed out loud.She stifled it quickly when people turned to look.
"It's magic.I needed to blend in better with the locals so to speak."
"What about Galen?"
Arashi's face fell."I don't know where he is.I can feel his presence,but I don't know...."she let her voice trail away.
"What's this dark force you were speaking of?"
"I'm not quite sure,but I can feel it,waiting in the darkness of my dreams.Hiding just around the corner and waiting to strike."
Setsuna looked up sharply and stared at Usagi.
"Is something wrong?"Usagi asked timidly.The waiter looked curiously over in their direction,but then lost interest and continued to polish glasses.
"This is dream you say you've had?"
Usagi nodded waiting for Setsuna to continue.
"The fact that this Oniko character has managed to invade your dreams is a very disturbing one.Dreamseeing is a very powerful magic,but to think that she managed to let you see her....."
"But King Endymion....."
"Yes."Setsuna slowly stirred her tea."He did manage to control your dreams,and even speak to you.But still even the Queen cannot dreamsee.Endymion has that unique ability."
A chill ran down Usagi's spine when Setsuna suddenly looked away.
"What can I do about it?"Usagi asked,twirling the straw around in her empty glass.
"I don't think there is anything you can do.None of us,even Hotaru,have the power to dreamsee.And you can't fight a dream.She's probably only doing this to show us the extent of her powers."
"Could the dream have been real?"
"I don't think so."Setsuna shook her head."When the Silver Millenium died,the King and Queen went with it."
Usagi thanked Setsuna and stood to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"For a walk,I've got a lot of thinking to do."
Usagi stepped away from the coffee house and wandered off down the street lost in her thoughts.She wished Luna was here,but her cat companion had left with Artemis on "a very important mission".And since Mamoru had been gone for almost two weeks she felt very alone.
"Hi Usagi-chan!!!"Usagi looked up and smiled as Rei came running towards her."What are you doing out here?"
"Just thinking."Usagi sighed.
"About your dream?"Rei said softly.
"Yeah.I just can't keep wondering.What if it really is true Rei?What if my parents from my old life really are alive?"
Rei looked at the darkening sky and laid her hand gently on Usagi's shoulder."If they are out there somewhere,wouldn't you think they'd have contacted us in some way by now?Anyways,best not to dwell upon it."
Rei looked over at Usagi who had bowed her head,trying her best not to cry.
"Usagi?"
Usagi lifted her head and smiled weakly.
"I'll do a Fire reading if it will make you feel better."
Usagi nodded and smiled greatfully as the two friends wandered down the street towards the Hino Family Temple.
"Tsk.Tsk.Tsk."
Usagi froze,she recognized that taunting voice.
"You really should learn to keep your guard up!"
A blast of energy smashed into them from behind.Rei and Usagi went flying,before the pavement came rushing up to greet them at alarming speed.Rei looked over at Usagi who lay on her back dazed.
"You must be Oniko."Rei wiped blood from her cheek.
"And you are?"Oniko floated gently to the ground where she fluffed her hair in arrogance.
"Dead Scream."
Oniko was half-turned when Sailorpluto's attack slammed into her.She was thrown a bit,before shaking the attack off in mid-blast.It was reflected back at Pluto who was thrown into a car.The windshield shattered with the impact.Pluto slumped to the side,her breath knocked from her lungs.
"Sailorpluto?And you're suppossed to be one of the most powerful senshi?"
Rei stood angrily as Oniko sauntered over to where Pluto lay,badly injured.She ran up behind Oniko and tackled her,knocking her into the pavement.Oniko threw Rei off with a blast of energy.
"How dare you attack me!!!"she screamed.She threw out her hand,ready to blast Rei into the next dimension when a streak of red sliced across her upper arm.She screamed in pain and drew back,craddling her injury.Everyone looked up in surprise.
"Would anyone care to explain what's going on here?"Tuxedo Mask stood on the car's roof,supporting Pluto who leaned heavily on his shoulder.Below them in the street stood an elf-girl none of them had ever seen before.Oniko narrowed her eyes.
"Don't I know you from somewhere." The elfgirl didn't reply,but slammed Oniko into the nearby guardrail with a blast of lightening.Oniko slumped to the ground,obviously hurt and visibly shaken.Rei,Usagi,and Pluto stared in disbelief.
"For over one-thousand years I've waited to avenge my death at your hands."the elf-girl slowly walked towards Oniko.
"Well,you'll have to wait a little bit longer sweetheart."Oniko smiled and vanished.
The elf-girl shrugged and returned to Tuxedo's side.He was busy helping Usagi to her feet,she threw her arms around him.
"Mamo-chan!!It's good to have you back!"
Rei cautiously stepped up to the elfgirl,who smiled at her reassuringly.
"I don't mean to sound rude,but who are you?"
The elf-girl kneeled before them all,her hand went to her heart in a display of loyalty.
"I am Okami Arashi,Wolf Priestess of Elysion.Princess Serenity,Princess Mars,Princess Pluto,and Prince Endymion.I have come to serve you in the coming battle."
"What battle?"Pluto shook her head."What are you talking about?"
Arashi lifted her head. "The end of this millenia draws to a close,and with the birth of the new,an old but new battle will begin."
"Do you always talk in riddles?"Rei rolled her eyes,slightly annoyed.
"Everyone!!!!"
They all turned to see Luna and Artemis bounding up to them.Artemis carried a small white envelope in his mouth.
"Luna!!Artemis!!"Usagi exclaimed."Where have you been?"
Artemis dropped the letter at Usagi's feet.
"What's this?"Usagi picked it up, a strange tingle passed through her as she touched it.
"It's a letter from your mother."Luna exclaimed."A letter from Queen Serenity!!!"