A night of visions

Asanuma sighed and leaned against Makoto's shoulder. She smiled wearily and took his hand into her own, then continued to watch the clouds race across the moon.

"There are storms coming." she thought. "Even Michuru-san has felt the restlessness of the ocean. Things are getting to a boiling point. And there are still so many mysteries to be answered. Who is Lunako? Is Galen on our side or not? And what happened to the letters, or Arashi, and who were those people at Fruit Parlor Crwon the other night?"

Asanuma lifted his head and stared at her worriedly.

"You're worried about the upcoming battle aren't you?"

"I can't deny it."

"Me too. What are we going to do?"

Makoto turned to him in surprise. "We? You talk like your going to be in the front lines."

"I am."

"I thought we went over this before. You're not a senshi."

"I handled that woman pretty good. At least I thought so. I thought you did too."

Makoto looked away and shook her head. "Yes I did. And I appreciate it really. But I really don't want to see you get hurt."

Asanuma nodded. "All right Mako-chan." he lied. "I won't get in the way."

"No more games. None. We can't afford to keep toying with them. They are strong, and unless we get down to business we could wake up one morning and find ourselves dead. Is that what you want?"

Oniko rolled her eyes at her sister and pretended to be barely amused. Shiko and Yomako had just returned from fighting off the Sailorsenshi, only to report that the last remaining three had now gained even more power, and they had failed in killing them.

"Dearest sister. We have not been playing with them, we have been testing their skill and power. Now that we have sufficient knowledge of their strength, we can go ahead with our plan."

"But what about the light?" Shiko asked weakly, barely able to lift her head.

"The light is still far from this system. We have time to get our plans prepared."

"I hope you know what you are doing." Yomako sighed.

"Believe me sister I do."

She watched him from a distance, wanting with all her heart to make contact of any kind. To let him know that she was here, and waiting. But for the sake of her mission she could not. She had to find her sister, and not let the enemy know she was already here. Behind her in the shadows her father stood, quiet and observant as always. Yet he radiated with power.

"Father." she whispered.

"Yes?"

"I'm tired of waiting."

"I know. But hold on a little bit longer."

She watched him disappear around the corner of the street and smiled.

"Soon."

"I've had the strangest feeling all day. As if somebody is watching me from behind. But when I turn and look, there's never anybody there."

Usagi nodded vigorusly, even though they were on the phone and he couldn't see her. "Me too. And you know. I swear it was Diassa in the mirror yesterday."

Mamoru was silent for a moment, carefully running things over in his head.

"The fact is, we still don't really know what's going on. We have no idea who the carriers of the Ryu kingdom crystals are, and if Diassa really is alive and here in Tokyo."

"Well," Usagi sighed. "I hope we find out soon. Until then I've got to get some sleep."

"No problem Usako. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Sweet dreams Mamo-chan."

Mamoru recradled the phone gently in the reciever and smiled. Turning off the light he lay back, closed his eyes, and was immediately assaulted with visions.

Arashi was sitting in the middle of a forest clearing, crying softly in the moonlight. He looked around, strange woods, not on earth. Two moons hung in the sky, or was that symbolic of something else?

"No matter what happens, don't let them get the seventh crystal."

Arashi turned to him, and for the first time he noticed that she was holding a small child in her arms.

"Let the battle occur as it did. But don't let her join them together. Destroy the seventh crystal before that happens. It is your only hope."

The child screamed.

The scene shifted violently and after a moment of disorientation he found himself on the battle field. The aftermath of the siege of the Golden Kingdom. Soldiers lay dead and dying everywhere he looked, and those who were able to stand were mindlessly following the black mass of void they later came to know as Empress Metallia. A light shimmered in the center of the field and Elios appeared. He looked at Mamoru sadly and kneeled to the ground. Mamoru wandered over and looked to where he was kneeling. Arashi's body lay in an ever-widening pool of blood, a gaping hole where her chest should have been. Elios pointed to her heart.

"The sixth and seventh crystal."

"Elios?"Mamoru whispered. Only to realize that this wasn't the real Elios but a figment of the vision. He heard the snap of a twig behind him and turned to face Oniko who held two Star seeds in her hand. One glowed a deep blue, while the other glowed faintly white.

"Two sailor crystals left. Can you reach me in time?"

He stood defiantly, only to realize that she too wasn't the real thing. The crystals in her hand spun rapidly and then exploded into several smaller crystals. One by one the light from the crystals spread, forming into the figure of a woman dressed in a a Sailorsenshi fuku. Similiar to the fuku of the senshi of this system, but different all the same. The top sailor-part was over-extended so that it almost reached the tips of the large bow in the back.

A teen-ager with short, fire-orange hair.

"Sailor Solstice." the body of Arashi said, her eyes were now open, although still holding the glazed-over look of death.

A little girl with jet black hair and piercing grey eyes.

"Sailor Crucifix."

A young woman with pure white hair and violet eyes.

"Sailor Star Reve."

Another little girl, idenctical to Crucifix, except for her light green hair and pale green eyes.

"Sailor Kaze."

A young woman with long grey hair and deep blue eyes.

"Sailor Kaminari."

The five senshi held out their hands and in a flash of light their individual crystals appeared. The battlefield faded, and when Mamoru turned to look, Arashi was standing behind him, dressed in a Sailorfuku. She held up her arms and the child appeared once more.

"Don't let them get the seventh crystal."

They faded into darkness and Diassa appeared before him.

"My sister is a little stubborn. But she really does appreciate your help." Asanuma stood in the great void facing the blonde-haired elven girl who had just invaded his dream. She had explained that she was Jupiter's half-sister, the product of an affair between the queen of Jupiter and the King of the Moon thousands of years ago. She had shown herself to Makoto in times of great trial, and was now here to help him.

"I don't understand."he said.

"You said today that you plan to there in the midst of battle, fighting by my sister's side. I can help you get there."

"You can?" he exclaimed. "How?"

"But only if you prove yourself worthy."

"Worthy? How will I do that?"

"Tomorrow." Morrigan smiled. "Tomorrow you will be visited by one of the five elements. If you can prove that you are strong enough to gain their confidence, you will be granted the power of that element. If you can stand against all five elements, you will be strong enough to fight in the final battle."

"How will I know that I am strong enough?"

"You will be tested of course. Keep your wits about you, and you will pass. Remember what I have told you."

Her voice faded, and with it, so did she. Asanuma opened his eyes and suddenly found himself awake, the vision was gone.

"Dearest daughter. I would never leave you. Look to the skies for I am coming." Princess Serenity stood in the ruins of the Silver Millenium, staring in disbelief at the figure of Queen Serenity, her mother, that stood before her.

"Mother? How did you survive?"

"Salenmas came to me."

"But father is dead."

Queen Serenity shook her head.

"No. He was hiding from us for fear of our vengance. But I have forgiven him. As I have forgiven the Lady Akari, Queen of Jupiter."

"Is Lady Akari alive too?"

"Sadly no. She gave up her life and has moved on. Tired of living in sorrow."

"But why are you coming here? And why did you wait?"

"The dawning of the new era has brought me here. I have come to help you fight the powers of the old ones."

Queen Serenity stepped forward and touched the crescent moon on her daughter's forehead. Princess Serenity gasped for a warm feeling suddenly spread itself through her body.

"Infinity Moon."the Queen whispered.

Usagi opened her eyes and stared out the window at the bright morning sunshine. Luna, who was sleeping at the end of the bed opened her eyes and smiled at Usagi.

"Good Morning Usagi-chan."

"Luna?" Usagi whispered without turning.

"What?" Luna yawned widely.

"What is Infinity Moon?"