Breaking Point : A Sailor Moon Expanded fanfiction
 
by Mark Latus



     "They're everywhere!  Hiding among us, pretending to be human!  They 
worm their way into your confidence, all the time plotting to steal your soul.
They can look like everything and anything, be anyone they choose.  You can't
be sure of anyone, everyone can be replaced.  They've fooled so many people, 
almost nobody knows about them.  But I do, that's why they murdered Guiro.
They wanted to silence me but they missed!  You bastards, why didn't you take
me instead?  All my fault ..."
     At this point the patient began weeping and the attending resident  
attempted to comfort her.  As we had both diagnosed the patient as severely 
depressed and potentially suicidal rather than violent I did not attempt to
prevent him.  There was no impropriety involved as the duty nurse, Y. Enomoto 
will attest.  Dr. Urawa did not even make physical contact with the patient  
before his approach caused an abrupt mood swing and she became abusive.  Dr.
Urawa's attempts to gain her confidence were somewhat less than successful.
Transcript follows:
     "What the hell are you sneaking up on me for?  Back off or else!  Who 
are you and why are asking me all these questions?  I said get back!  Don't 
tell me to be calm ... why did mother bring me here anyway?  I'm fine, I 
don't need to be in a hospital ... so if I don't need to be here then this 
isn't a real hospital.  You're one of them, aren't you?  You've already
replaced Mom again and you're trying to learn enough to replace me!   You're
trying to suck me dry!  No, I will not calm down, I know what you are.  Let's
see what's hiding behind that face!"
     With that the patient launched herself at Dr. Urawa apparently with the 
intention of tearing his face off to reveal the delusional monster she
believed concealed behind it.  Fortunately, noting her growing agitation, the 
nurse had already rung for orderly support and two of them arrived as the 
patient attempted to assault Dr. Urawa.  They restrained her before any real 
harm could come to Dr. Urawa who suffered merely slight bruising, minor 
scratches and a shaken demeanour.  He evinced no hostility to the patient, 
blaming his own inexperience for exacerbating matters.  However I did not 
consider any of his behaviour inappropriate and see no reason he cannot 
continue to treat this patient.  I would also commend Nurse Enomoto for her
foresight.  
     Following the restraint of our patients on my authority as attending
physician I prescribed Thorazine, 100 mgm IM stat to quiet the patient with 
orders to repeat in four hours should her hostility return.

      - Initial interview with involuntary committal patient Naru Umino
        7:00 pm 11/3/2004 Juban Mental Health Facility.
        Dr. M. Fujita, attending physician
        We the undersigned certify that this document is an accurate
        depiction of events
                           Y. Enomoto, attending duty nurse
                           R. Urawa, attending resident
                           K. Okada, orderly
                           H. Kudo, orderly
        (Medication orders attached)

June 2005 AD

     From the moment they had been introduced to the physician Usagi had felt 
a hint of recognition but she still couldn't place him.  Since Mamoru showed  
no signs of remembering him and he looked closer to her age perhaps they had 
been in school together.  Someone who was more of a familiar face in the crowd 
than anyone she knew well enough to talk to.  Whoever he was he looked a bit
uncomfortable.  Probably not long out of medical school and in his first
residency he lacked experience with delivering bad news. 
     "Chiba-san, from what Osaka-san has told me I gather you and her daughter 
were childhood friends and close through most of your school days."
     As always it took Usagi a moment to realise he was addressing her rather
than her husband.  It would probably be a few more years before she 
automatically responded to her married name.  
     "Yes.  We were together for years but we drifted apart in high school. 
I guess we were both spending more and more time with our boyfriends."  
Except Naru got more quality time because my romantic evenings kept getting 
interrupted by the latest idiot wanting to conquer or destroy the world.  
Aloud she added, "And for both of us those were the guys we eventually 
married ... poor Umino."
     "Then you were also acquainted with her late husband?"
     "Yes, I knew him almost as long as I knew Naru though we were never as
close.  At least I wasn't he had a crush on me for a while but ..."  Just like
that the memory clicked as she visualized a younger version of the doctor.
"Excuse me, Doctor Urawa?  Your name wouldn't be Ryo by any chance?"
     He looked surprised.  "Yes, yes it is.  Have we met before?"
     "You were at Juban Junior High with me for a little while."
     He frowned for a few moments then nodded in surprise.  "Yes, you're 
right.  I did attend that school though only for a few weeks.  Dad got 
transferred so often I went to about a dozen different schools.  Haven't 
thought about Juban in years.  I was there so briefly I'm amazed you can 
remember meeting me."  
     There were actually two very memorable things about Ryo but Usagi wasn't
about to mention the supernatural one.  If she did they might not let her out
of the hospital and dump her in the room next to Naru.
     "The only reason I do is you had a severe crush on a friend of mine named 
Ami but you were too shy to approach her.  I noticed and tried to play 
matchmaker."  Ryo looked a little embarrassed.
     "That sounds rather like me but I'm afraid I don't remember her."
     Usagi shrugged.  "I didn't say I had any luck fixing you up.  Anyway not
long after that you moved away and that was that.  Just one of those teen 
crushes that never lasts.  These days Ami-chan's a doctor too, at least she 
will be soon.  Neurotic surgery or something like that."
     "Neural surgery."  Both looked to Mamoru, a little startled by the
interruption.  "Doctor, I don't wish to be rude but if we could get back to
Gurio-san?"  
     "It's my fault Mamo-chan, I'm the one who distracted him.  Sorry doctor." 
     "Oh no, that's quite all right.  Yumi will be thrilled to hear ... but
that can wait until later.  I don't know how much Osaka-san has told you about 
her daughter's condition but I'd like to give a quick overview."  Both nodded
and he continued, "Umino-san has developed a complicated form of delusional
paranoia rooted in a guilt complex originating from the auto accident which
killed her husband.  I've seen the police reports and all the evidence makes
it clear all the blame belongs to the driver of the other car.  An unfortunate
case of a drunk driver crossing the median.  Tragic but nothing she could have
reasonably been expected to prevent." 
     "We're aware of the background doctor, we attended the funeral."
     "Excuse me, I should have realized that.  Well, I called the accident the
origin of her psychosis but that's not really accurate.  I should have called
it the trigger for a condition that had been developing for some time.  
Though from all indications without any obvious signs of mental distress.  At
least none you'd notice meeting her socially.  Her husband might have known 
something was wrong but there's no way to know that.  He didn't keep a diary
and there's no evidence he mentioned any strains on the marriage to family or
friends."  He looked inquiringly at Mamoru and Usagi and was unsurprised to
see them shake their heads.  
     "As far as anyone knew they were a happily married couple.  Which could
well be absolutely true as it's possible none of this emerged from her
subconscious until his untimely death."  Ryo paused to consider his words.  "I 
don't think it violates doctor-patient confidentiality to admit that we 
haven't yet isolated the cause but these are still early days.  I am confident
that we will uncover the origins of her breakdown given times.  Once we know
that we can begin the best course of therapy."
     Usagi frowned.  "If you haven't been helping Naru-chan then just what 
have you been doing all these months?"
     "Usako ..."
     "Please, that is a perfectly valid question for your wife to ask.  To 
date our main concern has been Umino-san's severe mood swings.  The reason
she was not allowed visitors until recently was because of the strong
possibility she might become agitated and injure either her visitor or 
herself.  Our initial concerns were correct pharmacology.  We needed to 
find the correct prescription to maintain her calm while not inhibiting her 
mental facilities.  Which, even with all our advances, remains largely a 
process of trial and error."
     Usagi didn't particularly like the image that came to mind of a glassy
eyed Naru, turned into a zombie by drugs.  But her mother hadn't mentioned
that though she had seemed disturbed by what she had seen.
     Ryo glanced at his watch to check how long he had left before Naru was
brought to the visiting lounge.  Time was marching on so he should get to the
point.
     "Before Umino-san arrives I should explain a few things.  When she enters
the room she will scrutinise you closely and may ask you obscure questions
about apparently trivial experiences you shared.  These are more significant
than you might think.  If you cannot answer them she may refuse to talk to 
you and demand the duty nurse remove you.  Umino-san is suffering from a very
extreme form of a paranoid persecution syndrome.  This particular version 
was unheard of until a few years though there have been several cases in 
recent times, the majority within Tokyo.  The experts in the field believe
Takeuchi/Finney Complex is a reaction to the pressure of intense urban 
pressure though why this phobia is so endemic to Tokyo in particular is the 
subject of considerable debate."  Urawa seemed to realize he was drifting 
towards generalized lecturing and returned to his patient.  "While this
specific complex is far from unknown it's unusual to see it developed to the 
degree that afflicts Umino-san.  Most victims only fixate on either certain
types of persons or certain individuals."  He paused for a moment then 
continued, "It might help you to understand if I explain that while the 
complex is named after its discovers it is more commonly known as 'Replicant 
Syndrome.'  The name derives from a once well known science fiction movie.  
To simplify suffers believe the people around them are not who they seem and 
have in fact been replaced."
     "Replaced?"
     "Yes, by exact replicas.  Rather like in another American movie, 
"Invasion of the Body Snatchers."
     Usagi shivered slightly, "Yes, I remember seeing that."  Going a scary
movies with Mamo-chan had seemed a great excuse to cling to him.  Except she
had been so spooked by the film she hadn't enjoyed it and the other patrons 
had kept shushing her when she yelled.  It was kind of weird that she could
still get scared by films when she regularly faced down all sorts of weird 
creatures.  Okay, so not always with stoic fortitude and maybe with the odd
bit of panic but they were real monsters that could cause real harm, not some
computer generated special effects.  Despite which she always got the job 
done.  With plenty of style too!
     Meanwhile Mamoru was also recalling the movie.  "We caught one of the
remakes.  I believe there have been several version of it.  In fact ... yes,  
one of them has a pod person psychiatrist telling people they're imagining 
the people around them are being replaced and it's all some modern life
neuroses.  So they relax and the pods catch them unawares."
     Usagi's eyes bugged out but she caught a faint hint of a smile on 
Mamoru's lips.  Ryo looked more openly amused.
     "Played by Mr. Spock, if I recall.  But I assure you I am perfectly 
ordinary."  There was a definite irony there though Ryo could well be unaware
of it.  Usagi wondered if he had any precognitive ability remaining.  "I could 
take a blood test if you'd like."
     A new voice broke in with, "That wouldn't prove anything.  Blood tests
were to detect the Thing, not pod people."
     Usagi and Mamoru turned to see a fortyish woman with shortcut brown hair
had entered the lounge.  A one time athlete's body that was beginning to slide
from too much stress, junk food and late night combined with the inexorable
march of time.  From her attire she must be a doctor rather than a patient, an 
opinion confirmed when Ryo introduced her.
     "Doctor Fujita, these are the Chibas, Mamoru and Usagi.  They're old
friends of Umino-san."  To Mamoru and Usagi he added, "Doctor Fujita is  
your friend's attending physician."
     "As always Ryo is too modest.  While that's my official status he has 
spent much more time and done her more good than I have.  I imagine I can add 
little to what he's already told you."
     Mamoru nodded, "He's given us an overview on her condition and some  
general speculations on the origins of her ... problems.  While I realise 
medical ethics limit how much you can tell us, particularly as we're not 
relatives, I do have a few questions about specifics."
     "Please feel free to ask but understand I may not be able to answer.  It 
depends on the question."
     "I understand.  All right, while we would have come anyway we were asked
to visit by Osaka-san.  Or rather Usagi was, I believe Osaka-san thought it 
might help her daughter to see an old friend from the times before her 
problems originated.  Usagi was eager to do whatever she could to help so here
were are."
     Cautiously Doctor Fujita replied, "As to the therapeutic value of your
visit ..."
     "Excuse me doctor, but that wasn't my question."
     "Ah, I apologise.  Please continue."
     "Thank you.  Osaka-san didn't get too specific about her own visits but
my impression was there seemed to considerable tension between them.  Is there
anything we should know before we meet Naru?"
     The two doctors exchanged glances.  It was Fujita who answered them.
     "As Doctor Urawa mentioned Naru lives in fear of people being replaced by
evil intentioned replicas.  She's unusual among Replicant phobics in the   
degree to which the fear consumes her.  Most fixate on some profession, say
mailmen or even some type of inanimate object or pet but Umino-san believes
everyone is a candidate for replacement which makes it extremely difficult
for her to trust anyone.  She even believes her mother is an imposter on the 
grounds that her real mother would not have committed her."  Noting the 
shocked look both Chibas had developed she tried to give them a little hope  
for the visit.
     "I should mention Naru has lately developed an odd sense of security in 
being here.  According to her the creators of these duplicates wouldn't waste 
any effort on replacing in her words..."  She paused in distaste for the 
phrase, "'... crazy people'."  Fujita hesitated a moment more before adding,
"According to Naru her mother was replaced once before but the duplicate was 
destroyed by Sailor Moon.  We don't know how to interpret this just yet and 
any insights you have would be welcome."
     Usagi had no idea how to answer that without saying the wrong thing and
felt a surge of panic.  Fortunately, as always, Mamoru came to her rescue. 
"I take it you don't believe in the existence of the Sailor Senshi?"
     She waved dismissively.  "An urban myth kept alive by the media and the
toy companies that manufacture senshi merchandise.  Nothing more than that."
Before Mamoru could reply Urawa jumped in.
     "However there's no reason to consider a belief in the Senshi in any way
wrong.  Many people think they exist ..."
     "Most of whom claim to have met them but can't produce any evidence."
     "Which doesn't prove or disprove anything.  Beside if you discount the
eye witnesses what about the damage sometimes left behind?"
     "All of which has been explained by the police.  Besides if these women
really exist why have none of them ever come forward.  Supposedly they've 
been running around Tokyo for over ten years now!"
     "Maybe they like their privacy."  It seemed to be a long standing 
disagreement between the two doctors.  "I don't know if they exist or not but
we have to keep an open mind.  We can't just blindly ignore everything that 
doesn't fit our world view.  As the bard said, 'There are more things in 
heaven and earth than are dreamt ..."
     "I'd be surprised if Hamlet included superheroines in miniskirts in that
category.  Incidentally if you want to impress me pick a Japanese writer,
everyone can quote Shakespeare.  Which is a good example of how the media 
can implant things in the public consciousness.  As for the Senshi, it's just
a modern version of an ancient human need.  To be saved from our folly by
something greater than ourselves who can make it all right.  In the old days
we saw gods while the westerners saw angels.  Later on when the idea of UFO's
caught on it was aliens who would solve all our problems.  Once angels 
become popular media icons suddenly people started seeing them again.  Around
here the magical girl image got too ingrained and suddenly people were seeing
'real' magical girls popping up."
     Urawa looked resigned to hearing this, obviously they had been all this
before.  His response was just as obviously a familiar one.  "They don't just
see the Sailor Senshi.  They see monsters too."
    "People saw demons as well as angels and some aliens weren't benign, 
instead they performed unpleasant medical investigations on abductees and
mutilated animals.  The flipside of believing in saviours is believing in
devils.  Bringing this back to our patient you asked Osaka-san if she had any
idea what her daughter was talking about?"  Reluctantly Urawa nodded.  "And
what did she tell you."
     "That she had no recollection of any such incident.  The only odd thing
she could recall from that time was her daughter's involvement with an older
man who seemed a bit on the shady side.  But fortunately he lost interest in  
her and moved on.  
     "The same man she claims wasn't human and was killed by a pack of 
monsters?"
     Urawa nodded.  "Well that part is obviously a reinterpretation of her
memories of being dumped after filtering through her delusion but there may 
be more to it than we might think."
     "Unlikely but I'll concede the possibility."  That was obviously as far 
as she would go without concrete proof.  Unconsciously Usagi's hand eased
towards her brooch.  Mamo-chan's hand closed on hers and he shook his head.
Usagi hesitated then nodded slightly, if she transformed there was no saying
the consequences of revealing her identity.  In her younger days she wouldn't
have hesitated but she had learned responsibility and to consider her actions.
Proving the Senshi existed wouldn't cure Naru, it might make things worse.
Maybe she would be happier if she came to believe all the monsters who 
attacked her were just metaphors for other problems.  What was most important 
here was Naru's health.  There was only one thing which puzzled her.  After 
the Dark Kingdom's defeat and the Ginzuishou's folding of reality people's 
memories of the Senshi got fuzzy.  No-one remembered anything specific about
them beyond having heard of them.  Those who had met them had those memories
buried.  Ryo and Naru's mother obviously fit that pattern.  So why did Naru
remember Nephrite and the other weirdness from back then?  Perhaps Umino's
death had broken the dam on her memories.  Or maybe it was caused by some of
the weirdness she had been through since then, there had been no shortage of 
that over the years.
     Urawa looked at his watch.  "Your friend will be here any minute so we
should get out of the way.  While she's comfortable around her fellow 
patients she's suspicious about the staff."  He paused a moment then looking
a little ill at ease addressed Usagi.  "Chiba-san, I was wondering if I could
ask a small favour.  My daughter is a big fan of you work and ... well would
you mind signing this?"  With that he retrieved a clipboard and removed a
colourfully illustrated children's book.  
    Usagi nodded.  "Of course, always happy to encourage my fans.  What's her 
name?"
     "Yumi-chan."  Usagi nodded and tried to think of a dedication.  Doctor 
Fujita glanced at the cover.
     "'The Moon Princess' by Usagi Chiba.  Think I've heard of that one.  Won 
some children's book award a few years back?"  Urawa nodded.
     "The Seuss Medal.  Yumi loves it, I don't know how many times she's read
it."
     Fujita nodded and read the subtitle.  "'A modern fairytale'?"
     "More like a classic.  It's got all the grand old traditions, a beautiful 
princess who's heir to a magical Moon Kingdom, a handsome prince who's heir to
the throne of Earth, a wicked queen and all other manner of obstacles in the 
way of the starcrossed lovers.  In the end they get together but the Queen 
invades the moon ..."
     "I take it she doesn't kill everybody and take over?"
     "No, they've got a magical gem that gains power from positive energy and 
the strength of their love defeats and reforms the bad guys."
     Almost to herself Usagi whispered, "I thought it was a story crying out 
for a happy ending."
     Beside her Mamoru added, "And it got one" and squeezed her hand.  Usagi
smiled and bent over the book.
     "'To Yumi-chan, may good fortune smile on you always and may you be as
lucky as both Princess Serena and me in finding your prince, Usagi Chiba', 
how's that?"
     "That's wonderful.  Thank you."
     "Thank you for helping Naru and please keep up the good work."  
     "Of course.  Excuse us Chiba-san."
     With that the doctors took their leave just as the door opened and Naru 
was lead in by a nurse.  The nurse was careful not to touch her and keep a 
certain distance.  Hopefully an unnecessary precaution but it worried Usagi
none the less.  Naru's gaze kept flickering around the room, her eyes just 
wouldn't stay still.  She didn't greet Usagi or Mamoru but she allowed the
nurse to direct her to a chair opposite them.  Usagi had planned to greet her
warmly but the intensity of Naru's scrutiny was disturbing.  Mamoru looked  
equally uncomfortable.  He coughed nervously and was about to say something 
but Naru turned her attention to Usagi alone and spoke first.
     "Remember the day my mother ran a ridiculous sale at her store and nearly
caused a riot?"
     Cautiously Usagi answered, "Yes."
     "Before we left school we had just got an English test back.  What did 
you make."
     "Uhm ... it was so long ago ... it must have been a passing grade at
least ..."  Naru started to rise.  "All right!  I made ... thirty percent."
     Naru didn't relax.  If anything she looked tenser.  "I remember that day
because of what happened later.  Why would you remember a grade from thirteen
years ago?"
     "Easy, because that's how I first met Mamo-chan.  I crumpled up the test
and threw it away without looking so it landed on his head."
     Mamoru nodded.  "Right, then I unfolded it.  As I recall I said something
like, 'you should study harder, odango-head'."  Usagi glared.
     "It was a tough test and I tried my best!"  Both Mamoru and Naru looked
at her.  "Well not my best but I did what I could."  They kept looking at her
"Okay maybe I could have done a little better ... All right!  The night before
I just watched TV and read comics so I didn't have any time left to work on
it.  I didn't get my homework done either!  Happy now?"
     Naru laughed and relaxed visibly.  "You're Usagi all right.  Nobody
would bother replacing an airhead like you."
     Mamoru laughed too and Usagi looked indignant but inside she felt glad.
Naru still had a sense of humour.  That had to be a good sign.
     Didn't it?
     
July 7 2008 AD 

     The sun beat down on the Eternal Rest Cemetery and Usagi regretted her 
decision to wear black.  Mamoru must be equally uncomfortable but he gave no
sign.  Or perhaps not, after all his years as Tuxedo Mask he was probably 
used to dark colours on hot days.  Before them Osaka-san knelt before the 
grave and placed the flowers on her son-in-law's grave.  Umino's parents 
stood to the side, both in dark blue and both definitely keeping apart from
Naru's mother.  
     They had refused her offer to assist in tidying the tomb marker and while
polite had kept a certain distance between them.  Though they had said nothing 
Usagi felt sure they blamed Myuko-san for Naru's breakdown.  At first they had 
accepted it as grief for their son but now they seemed to view it as a 
weakness.  It was almost as those they felt it merciful Umino had been spared 
years with an unstable wife.  Usagi quelled the urge to say anything, it 
would only make matters worse.
     At last the ceremony ended and Umino's parents departed.  As soon as 
they were gone Osaka-san seemed to shrink.  Usagi glanced at Mamoru and sensed
agreement, she was definitely much frailer than last year.  Mamoru offered
his arm and she gratefully leaned on it.
     "I'd like to thank you both for standing in for Naru."
     "Anything we can do to help."
     "We're pleased to help, Osaka-san."
     "You're both good friends to Naru.  Hopefully next year she will have
recovered enough to come with me."  She looked a bit hopeful as she added,
"She probably won't be ready to be release but Doctor Urawa hopes she will be
capable of a supervised day trip."
     "That would be wonderful, Osaka-san."
     Mamoru nodded in agreement but privately he would be very surprised if
Naru cooperated.  While Naru was less violent she had become institutionalized 
in more than a legal sense.  She felt secure in the hospital but the outside 
world was becoming more and more terrifying to her.  Imaginary monsters (and 
sometimes real ones) lurked beyond the secure walls.  She was growing less and 
less inclined to leave with each day that passed.  But he would say nothing 
to spoil her hopes.
     He watched Usagi chat away happily to Osaka-san and felt proud of her.
She had been a real comfort to Osaka-san.  She had almost no relatives and 
none who felt close enough to bother themselves with more than the occasional
phone call.  Her late husband's family had drifted away over the years 
leaving her with no one but her daughter.  He could sympathise, he had been
alone before he met Usagi and if he ever lost her he would never be able to
cope again.  She might be all that had kept Osaka-san from sliding into a
life of nothing but despair and regret.  Thanks to his wife when Naru finally 
was discharged from the hospital her mother would be there waiting for her.
He was sure of it.
     Usagi frowned as Osaka-san suffered a brief coughing fit.
     "Excuse me, must be a summer cold."
     "Yes, but you have had a few bouts like that today.  I'm sure it's
nothing but just to be on the safe side you should see a doctor.  After all
your health is very important to Naru-chan."
     Myuko smiled.  Usagi had been the one to convince Naru she really was her     
mother so she could visit her without rejection.  All thanks to Usagi setting
up codes on her own visits and not giving them to her before she had passed 
Naru's identity tests on the day of her own visits.   Since Naru always 
checked with Usagi on her subsequent visit they had decided it was simplest
to through with the charade.  No two ways about it, she owed Usagi a lot. 
She never could have made it without her.
     "All right, I'll see my doctor first chance I get."
     "That's good.  I've got a friend who's a doctor and she's always telling
me ..."
     As Usagi kept talking Myuko realized just how much she was leaning on
Chiba-san.  He showed no signs of stress, in fact he looked gallant as ever
but it was a bit of a surprise.  She must be more rundown than she thought,
too late today but she had best book an appointment first thing tomorrow.  
Just to be on the safe side.

February 2012 AD

     The silence lengthened as everyone stood there feeling awkward after 
Usagi's outburst.  Makoto took Mamoru's return from the apartment's kitchen 
with the coffee as her cue to break the tension. 
     "Usagi I know what you're going through, remember I lost my parents too
..."
     "Do you Makoto?  Do you really know what I'm feeling right now?"  The
coldness in Usagi's voice shocked Makoto.  It was the first time in years
Usagi hadn't addressed her as Mako-chan.  Suddenly she couldn't remember what
she'd been going to say next.  Usagi pulled herself off the couch she'd 
slumped over and wiped her reddened eyes.  "Your parents died in an accident
before you were a Senshi.  There was nothing you could have done to prevent 
it.  Not me, I've no excuse!"  Her voice was low and bitter, no trace of 
cheer or energy remained.  "I was supposed to be with them, remember? 
Celebrating Shingo's engagement to Mika-chan.  If I'd been there like I was 
supposed to I could have saved them!  But I had go play heroine didn't I?  
Save the world instead of protecting my family.  I didn't even tell them I'd 
be late!  They died thinking I was too thoughtless to even show up to 
congratulate my own brother ..."  
     The words stopped as the memories overwhelmed her again.  Mom, Dad, 
Shingo, Mika ... all together to celebrate the coming wedding ... all 
crushed instantly when the roof caved in under the weight of the ice!  Her 
eyes watered and she slumped over again.
     "Usako ..."  She felt his touch on her back and turned to fall against 
his shoulder, her eyes watering.  She wept quietly in her husband's embrace
as their guests sat there awkwardly not daring to interrupt.  On the table the
untouched coffee cooled.
     At length Luna decided to break the silence.  This was supposed to have
been a strategy planning session.  Admittedly the timing was poor but Usagi
needed to be able to rise above her own sorrows and deal with the suffering
of the whole world.  She cleared her throat, "Usagi much as I sympathise you
must understand this tragedy is nothing unique.  Unless we commit ourselves to
this new struggle everything ..."
     "SHUT UP!"  The words seemed to drip venom.  Luna had never heard Usagi 
sound like that before.  No one had!  Luna bit her tongue as her mouth snapped
shut in shock.  Usagi raised her tearstained face from Mamoru's shoulder and
glared at the cat.  "It's always the big picture with you isn't you.  'Stop
whining and get on with it!'  That's what you always say, isn't it?  Whatever
I do it's never enough!  I've got to sacrifice more because Luna knows best!  
You've taken my whole life and you still want more!  There's nothing left 
from before I met you is there?  My family is gone, Umino's dead, Naru's 
insane, my whole life torn apart and rearranged to suit you ... I've lost 
everything and everyone I had and you still don't think I'm giving enough!  
What's the point of being Sailor Moon if you can't save the people you care 
about?!"  
     Her voice had been rising throughout the tirade, now it was tinged with
hysteria.  Her left hand fumbled against her chest and tore the locket loose
then threw it hard.  Luna squawked as she barely dodged it and stared at Usagi 
in shock.  The transformation locket bounced off the wall and rolled to a 
stop just under the table.  Usagi shook her head, her eyes filling again.  
     "Give it to somebody else, someone with their priorities straight.  
Someone who knows enough to protect the people she loves.  Someone who won't
let them down when they really need her.  I ... I ..."  Whatever she was going
to say was lost as great wracking sobs shook her.  Usagi fell back into 
Mamoru's embrace clinging to him as if terrified that he'd disappear.  He held
her and his gaze told the others to leave.  Without any sign of complaint
they got up silently and headed for the apartment door.  Minako motioned Luna
to accompany them, she nodded and followed them out.  No one made any move 
to pick up the Ginzuishou.
     The door clicked shut behind them cutting off Usagi's weeping.  This
building had excellent soundproofing.  The group might have talked then had
another tenant not emerged from his apartment.  Instead they rode the elevator
down in silence ignoring the newcomer's pointed glare at the two cats.
     As soon as they were through the lobby and alone in the chill evening
Makoto spoke.  "We shouldn't take it seriously.  I mean her throwing away the 
silver crystal like that."
     Rei nodded, "Of course not.  She knows it's her destiny to be our
Princess. That's a heavy burden and anyone would be tempted to put it down.  
But there's no question she'll pick it up again.  Right now she needs to lash 
out at something after her loss.  She just needs time and our patience while 
she recovers from this tragedy.  And she will survive this bloody but unbowed.  
She's a lot stronger than we think."  Luna nodded in agreement. 
     "Uh ... right."  Makoto couldn't quite believe who had just said that.
She'd been sure Rei was the one who'd need the most convincing.  "Well, anyway
we were going talk strategy so ... so how do things look Ami?"
     "Dire!"  Ami looked tired, all the hospitals in Tokyo had been working 
overtime dealing with the casualties from the Acolytes latest assault.  
Specialists working beside the general practitioners to stem the tide of 
wounded.  The truly ironic thing was the Acolytes were neither murderous nor
as violent as many of the Senshi's past foes.  They didn't kill overtly, their 
whole purpose was to freeze people into suspension.  Immobile but alive and 
whole.  Yet, horribly, fully alert and aware of their state.  The interviews 
with the few survivors freed from their icy incarceration had been chilling.  
Which wasn't a pun, there was nothing to laugh about when it came to the 
Acolytes.
     No, they didn't seek to hurt their victims.  But when ice encrusted 
structures gave way and rained down on civilians or icy shrapnel sprayed into 
a crowd or a dozen other side effects of their attacks hurt people they shed 
no tears.  They were true fanatics, sure of their righteousness.  Pity and 
remorse were for those uncertain of their path.  If any of the Acolytes had 
doubts they gave no sign.  Collateral damage was such an innocuous term for 
what Ami had been dealing with.  Even her heightened endurance had limits and 
she'd been pushing herself past them.  But she kept insisting she was fine.  
Only subconsciously was she aware of leaning heavily on Tom.
     She continued, "Based on my current estimates they'll be at the Mexican 
border within four months.  Even if the Americans are crazy enough to detonate   
nuclear weapons within their own country it won't make much difference.  I'm
sure now that those satellite pictures I was puzzling over are Russian A-bombs
fizzling in Siberia.  The Acolytes seem to have some way of neutralizing 
fission and fusion reactions."  She paused a moment to let that sink in.  "The 
only good thing about this is we no longer have to worry about some idiot 
starting World War III trying to destroy them.  Or simply polluting the 
biosphere with enough radioactives to contaminate the planet and exterminate
all the higher lifeforms."
     Artemis muttered, "Whoopee" and shook his head.  That settled it as far 
as he was concerned.  Technology couldn't do the job so it was all up to the 
senshi.  Same as always.  Only problem was he had an uneasy feeling they'd 
finally run into something they couldn't handle.  These invaders were a lot 
cleverer than their predecessors.  Unlike the Ice Queen (and just what was 
her connection to the Acolytes?) they didn't depend solely on a single 
artifact to freeze the world.  They would secure an area, implant one of their 
damned iceseeds and let it spread.  Freezing everything and everyone who tried 
to disrupt the process.  By now there were thousands of the accursed things 
across the globe, hidden and shielded by tons of ice.  The bastards had gained 
a firm foothold before anyone knew they even existed.  Makoto echoed his 
thoughts.
     "The North Pole, The South Pole, Alaska, Iceland ... Why did they land 
there?  Everyone knows aliens always attack Tokyo first!  Why the hell didn't 
these guys follow the damned rules?"
     "I guess they prefer to ad-lib."  Ami smiled faintly then yawned before  
continuing.  "Given the seriousness of our current situation and the fact we
aren't making much headway perhaps we should be looking for allies.  If we
went to the media and made our existence undeniable ..."  Rei shook her head.
     "What's the point?  You think any world leader is going to let a group
of women dressed like cheerleaders dictate defence policy?  Besides even if
they did what good would it do?  The Acolytes are rolling over all the 
conventional forces they encounter without slowing down.  Worst thing the
suffer is having to forge new ice warriors and there's not exactly a shortage
of building material.  Hell, from what we've seen, they're a lot more cautious 
than they need to be.  They could probably advance at least twice as fast 
without any problems."
     "You're a regular ray of sunshine tonight."  Minako's dry sarcasm just
made Rei shrug.
     "I'm just telling it the way it is.  Maybe if we'd worked it out before
this we could have set something up.  Made ourselves a major part of the Self
Defence Forces at least but we didn't want to throw away any sort of normal 
life before ..."  Rei remembered Tom was present and choked off, "... we had 
too."  He was the only one present who hadn't known the end was coming though
they'd had only vague hints of when and what would happen.  Had Endymion been 
wise to say so little all those years ago?  Wouldn't the temptation to derail
destiny have been overwhelming had they know the day and manner the end would
arrive?  She'd seen no shortage of visions of doom and never sat passively by
to let them happen.  
     Rei realized everyone was staring at her, waiting for to continue.  She
flushed and muttered an apology about getting sidetracked.  "Anyway right now
confirming our existence would just add to the confusion.  People are 
desperate and looking for instant salvation.  We can't deliver that and when
they realize that we'll just add to the anarchy and despair."
     Ami looked apologetic, "Actually Rei I was thinking more in terms of 
gathering anyone else with paranormal abilities.  We've seen enough in the 
past to know we aren't exactly unique." 
     "Maybe not but we're the strongest.  Besides who else is there left?  The
Starlights are long gone, Twilight and Mecavity are dead, the Renegades never 
came back and Trenchcoat Mask hasn't been seen for years.  While Maxwell and
his crowd are still around we haven't heard from them lately so it's a sure 
bet they've got their hands full trying to shield California.  Besides he's 
the most powerful of them and it takes him hours to cast spells.  Hours they
don't give us, the Acolytes don't even give us time to introduce ourselves.  
Everyone else we know of lost their powers when Sailor Moon healed them so 
they're no help.  Face it, it's down to just us again, same as always."  She 
didn't add that for the first time she was seriously wondering if the thin 
fuku-ed line would hold.  Tom cleared his throat.
     "I'd like to suggest a possibility.  There could well be other 
reincarnated Hunters out there besides myself and Mira.  So perhaps ..."
     "Tom, even if you're right we have no way to identify them, let alone
wake them up!  Besides, no offense, but they wouldn't be powerful enough to
tip the balance."  Tom winced a little at that but couldn't deny the 
difference in power levels.  Still ...
     "That's debatable.  Skill can be a deciding factor in an apparently
unequal contest as I've demonstrated."  Minako chuckled. 
     "I remember your little judo demo.  Just how hard Ami was trying to get 
out of those holds is questionable."  Ami demonstrated she was still a 
champion blusher then stifled a yawn as overwork and lack of sleep started to 
hit her.  But she managed to respond despite her fatigue.
     "Tom, I hate to say it but if there were any more Hunters out there close
to awakening they should have manifested by now.  Sooner or later everyone
bearing power is drawn to Tokyo and there's been nothing to indicate anyone
like that.  Besides you could sense active Hunters, right?"
     "Within certain limits ...", he sighed.  "I guess Rei's right, we're on
our own."
     "Well don't get too worried, Tom."  Everyone turned to look at Minako.
"Sure it looks bad but it's always darkest in the middle of the night ...
something like that anyway.  The point is the Senshi always come through when
things are toughest!"  Minako's cheer was greeted with a number of dubious
expressions.  "Hey, at least try to smile.  It's not like we've already lost.
Just wait, soon as Usagi's back to normal things are going to get better.  I
can feel it.  Have I ever steered you wrong? ... Let me rephrase that!"
     "I know what you mean, Minako."  Ami looked exhausted but a bit brighter.
"You're right, we can't psych ourselves into losing before the battle's even
started.  If we do that we've already lost and I owe it to everyone I've 
patched together to see they have a world waiting for them when they've 
healed."  She slumped a little as her energy ran low, "But right now if we're 
not going to hold a full meeting I should get some sleep.  I've got surgery 
in the morning."
     Minako winced, "More Acolyte casualties?"
     "Hmm ... oh no, a brain tumour.  Even in these extraordinary times people
are still dying of mundane things.  Though this one isn't if I can help it!"  
She stumbled slightly and Tom tightened his grip.
     "I'd better get you home then."  Ami made no protest and Tom excused the
two of them.  When they were almost out of sight they saw Ami was now leaning 
on Tom a lot more than she really needed to.  Minako chuckled and muttered, 
"So how much rest do you think she's going to get?"  Apart from Luna looking
a little prudish nobody responded.  Minako sighed, her self appointed mission
to keep the Senshi's spirits up wasn't going too well.  These days everyone 
was so damn gloomy it even wore her down.  Well, back to business.
     "Anyone heard from any of the Outers lately?  For that matter has anyone
even seen any of them the past few weeks?"  Rei, Makoto, Luna and Artemis all 
shook their heads.  
     "Not a peep.  If they took it into their heads to attack on their own 
..."
     "Then they might be deep-frozen somewhere in Canada or Europe."  Minako
shook her head.  "Those guys get on my nerves sometimes!  They've never
really got over that whole 'leave it to the experts, little girls' attitude.
Good grief, they aren't that much older than us.  Hell, Hotaru's younger than
any of us!"
     Makoto shrugged, "Well she's the least likely to pull that sort of thing
on us.  Haruka and Michiru ... like you say they've never been much on 
teamwork.  As for Setsuna who knows ... come to think of it, it's been years 
since we saw her but if anything was going to bring her back this should.  
Maybe she can't leave the timegate right now."
     Luna sighed, "'Now' is a rather slippery concept when Pluto's involved."
There was a silence and Minako shook her head.  It looked like the gloom was 
back.  Better brighten things up a bit.  Well as it was just the five of them
...  
     "Hey, cheer up people!  Okay, things are tough right now but let's not 
forget we've known this was coming for years.  So we're in for a rough ride
the next little while but the payoff is we get Crystal Tokyo and centuries of
peace.  Which isn't such a bad tradeoff as the world was already messed up  
before the ice freaks showed up."  Makoto looked confused, she wanted to 
believe what King Endymion had told them and yet she couldn't help feeling a 
sense of doom.  Rei, Luna and Artemis all looked dubious but Rei was the only 
one to raise objections.
     "That sounds good but the fact is nothing is fixed."
     "Come on Rei!  We were there!  We've seen it, remember?"
     "It's still just a possibility until it happens."  Rei sighed and shook 
her head.  "I know better than anyone that nothing is certain.  How many 
visions of Armageddon have I had?  Lots!  And how many came true?"
     "Okay but we were trying to prevent them from happening.  This time we
want things to happen the way we saw."
     "Except we don't know how we're supposed to win.  Endymion gave us 
nothing to go on.  We don't know if it's something we do or something we
refrain from doing that will give us victory.  Either action or inaction could 
be disastrous.  We simply don't know."
     Makoto decided to butt in.  She might not be a genius like Ami but she'd
know what she saw which meant, "Hold it, Rei!  Crystal Tokyo has to happen!
If it doesn't there's no Chibi-Usa to come back in time and nothing that's
happened since then follows anymore."
     "You're right ..."  Makoto felt a certain hope kindle, "... everything 
will change if we fail!  No Chibi-Usa which means no time travellers from
Nemesis following her back.  Worse she'll never meet Hotaru so maybe history
will change so Pharaoh 90 destroyed the world back in '94.  Or Nepherenia will
have won the following year ... or someone else may have done the job.  But
the point is history will shift so everything that's happened since we met 
Chibi-Usa never occurred!  Which will mean us and the world we know will
simply cease to exist"  Makoto stared in shock as she tried to follow the litany of 
potential disaster.  Things just got worse and worse!  Minako rolled her eyes.
     "I'm curious Rei, have you ever heard of positive thinking?"
     Rei frowned, "I call them as I see them.  That's my expert appraisal as
the visionary among the inner senshi."
     Makoto managed to sputter, "But ... but ... but what do we do?"
     Rei's resigned look was replaced by one of determination.  "The best we
can, same as always.  We do everything in our power to fight the Acolytes and
trust in Usagi to show us the way to triumph.  Same as always."  After a 
moment's silence she glared at both of them.  "If either of you ever tell her 
I said that I'll break your noses."
     Minako chuckled, "She'd never believe you said that anyway!"  Makoto 
nodded in agreement as did the mooncats.  Luna looked a little dazed and 
muttered the end must be near if Rei was praising Usagi.  Rei ignored the 
comment and glanced at her watch.
     "Just remember that.  Well, if we aren't holding a meeting I should be 
going.  Yuuchiro will be getting worried about me."
     Makoto cleared her throat loudly.  "Ahh Rei ... look maybe it's not my
place to say this but ... but don't you think it's past time you told him 
about Sailor Mars and you and why you keep running off?"
     Rei gave her a chilly smile.  "You're absolutely right, Makoto.  It's 
none of your business what I choose to tell my husband."  With that she turned 
on her heel and marched off leaving Makoto staring after her, open mouthed.
     Minako shook her head again.  "Just when you think you've got her figured
out ...  Well never mind.  That brings it down to the two single Senshi.  So
since there's no meeting we ought to go out and paint the town red!"
     Makoto shook herself and turned to face Minako.  "Are you kidding?  The
world's coming to an end!  Where the hell will you find anyone having fun?"
     Minako had to smile.  "You spend too much time in your apartment brooding
over what went wrong.  You've really gotta get out more.  If you know the 
right clubs, which I do, you know exactly where to go.  I know a few hot spots 
where they're ignoring the rationing and partying like there's no tomorrow ...
Maybe not the best way to put it but maybe they're right and the end is nigh.
Would you rather go out in some shrine muttering prayers or in the arms of
some hunk after a memorable night?"
     Makoto just stared at Minako for the next few moments.  The urge to say 
something about responsibility warred with the impulse to say, "Why not?  
Senshi should have fun sometime!"  In the end she said simply, "But ...?"
     "'But' nothing!  Face facts Mako-chan!  You've been spending too much 
time moping over Yoshi.  Okay, so you figured you'd found your soulmate and
he turns out to be just another creep.  Despite looking like your old sempai 
though why you're still hung up on a boy who dumped you almost twenty years 
ago I'll never understand.  It's like this weird fatal attraction obsession 
thing and believe me when I say no guy's worth getting yourself that wired 
over.  Unless you ever find your own Mamoru and damn few of us click with 
anyone like Usagi and him.  'Sides Yoshi wasn't worth weeping over losing."
Makoto glared and Minako realized she was overdoing it a bit.  Makoto had been
sleeping with him so Yoshi must have had some redeeming features.  Or she was
accusing her friend of being a lousy judge of character.  Well maybe she was
but Minako wasn't out to create a rift and knew she wasn't much better.  She
just wanted Makoto to try and get her to loosen up a little.
     "Anyway I say it's time you forget both Yoshi and whathisname and enjoy 
yourself for a change.  So what do you say?  You really want to go back home 
and stare at the walls or join me in celebrating being alive?  Besides, who 
knows?  You might find someone better."  Makoto's thoughts whirled around as 
she tried to cope with conflicting emotions.  She couldn't help feeling 
somewhat guilty about frivolity in a time of crisis.  Yet on the other hand 
how was self denial going to improve anything?
     "Why not?"
     Minako beamed.  "Great!  Okay, first thing we do is head to my place so 
I can change then we'll drop by yours just long enough to pick the right 
outfit.  Something not too ..."
     "Just remember to drop us off en route."  Minako looked down at Artemis
who was shivering a little.  "Last time you went off to party you left me 
outside the building and you keep forgetting I don't have opposable thumbs so
knowing where the apartment key's hidden isn't a lot of use.  It's not like
you're leaving windows open these days!"
     Minako rolled her eyes.  "Cats!  They never let you forget!  Okay I'll 
make sure you're in the warm before I take off."  She grinned suddenly.  "Of
course you'll have Luna for company and neither of us for chaperon.  Looking 
forward to an evening of your own, right partner?"  Artemis blushed (a good
trick when you're a cat) then muttered something about just good friends.  He 
ignored the dagger filled look Luna shot him.
     Makoto had to smile as the group headed off lead by the hyperactive 
Minako.  Minako's love life was just as disaster filled as her own but Minako
never let it get her down.  She remained the eternal optimist shrugging off
shattered romances and one night stands with equal ease.  Always convinced
that her Prince Charming was out there somewhere and sure that no matter how 
many false starts it took she'd find him someday.  As she'd said, when you're
34 but can pass for 22 and expect that to endure for centuries you know you've
got plenty of time to find Mr Right.  Almost as if reading her mind Minako
began humming an old tune from an ancient Disney cartoon that seemed very
appropriate.  One of her all time favourites, a little number from Snow White 
entitled, "Someday My Prince Will Come."      
     As Mamoru slumbered beside her Usagi stared at the ceiling.  She was too
restless to sleep, her thoughts whirling around what she'd said to Luna.  In
truth she knew it wasn't Luna's fault her life had changed so dramatically.
Destiny had done that, marked her from before birth as the reincarnation of
the Moon Princess.  Maybe things had started going weird after she'd met Luna
but the world had needed Sailor Moon to confront Beryl.  Besides would she 
ever have done more than meet Mamo-chan in passing if not for her Senshi  
career?  She sighed softly, she'd have to apologise to Luna in the morning.
Hopefully she wouldn't fall apart again.  She felt tears forming as the
memory resurfaced but shook it off.  She needed to think and she couldn't
get distracted.
     Mamoru stirred but didn't wake up at the motion and Usagi berated herself
for idiocy.  She didn't want to talk to him about this, she already knew he
wouldn't approve of what she was contemplating.  She'd found herself thinking
about what she'd said about her old life being gone forever.  But it wasn't
all gone, Naru was still alive even if her mind had shattered.  She'd kept
thinking about Naru over and over again.  Her childhood friend, the girl  
who'd been her best friend for years before she met the others.  The woman
she'd abandoned ... she felt ashamed when she realised it had been over a   
year since her last visit.  How could she have been so thoughtless?  Sure 
they'd drifted apart since high school but they'd been inseparable once.  How
could she have forgotten about her?  Especially now that Naru had no one else.
     Usagi winced as she remembered how frail Mrs Osaka had looked four
years ago at Umino's memorial ceremony.  If she'd known about the cancer maybe 
the Ginzuishou could have done something ... but they'd agreed to keep the 
crystal's power reserved for preserving the world, not individuals.  There 
were just to many sick people Ami had told her.  She'd burn out her life 
powering the Ginzuishou trying to heal the barest fraction of them.  Ami had 
made her swear to leave healing bodies to the medical community and she'd been 
joined by the others.  They'd all sworn that if illness struck their families 
they wouldn't beg her for a cure.  Rei hadn't told her about her grandfather 
until it was too late to interfere.  She couldn't do any less, the dying would 
have to put their faith in Ami and those like her.  But she hadn't sworn a 
thing about mental illness.
     Naru's sickness was in her mind but she'd let Mamoru and Ami talk her out
of trying a cure.  The Ginzuishou greatest power was the ability to alter
reality not fix damaged minds.  It had worked on the Uncanny Sisters but that 
was more breaking external controls and internal prejudices than curing them.  
They'd been sane before and after the crystal was used.  Naru wasn't.  She'd 
listened to her husband and Ami when they'd told her the psychiatrists at the 
clinic could do more to help Naru than she could.  Eight years ago they'd 
told her that and she had listened to them.
     Eight years!  Usagi couldn't believe it had been that long.  Naru's 
mother had sickened and died waiting for her daughter's return to sanity!  
Umino's parents had written her off, while they mourned their son they'd 
seemed glad that a madwoman hadn't given them grandchildren!  Naru had been
rotting away in that horrible place for eight years and she'd let them tell 
her it was all for the best!  How could she have let it go on this long?
It was time to face facts, Naru wasn't getting any better!  But how could she 
when the doctors thought her stories about monsters were metaphors for abuse 
in childhood or some other buried trauma?  Enough was enough!  It was past 
time for Sailor Moon to do something about this!  Right now before her will 
deserted her!
     With unusual caution Usagi started to slid out of bed, easing gently
from under Mamoru's arm.  He shifted and muttered something and she froze.
A minute passed and until she was sure all she heard was the regular sound of 
his breathing.  As quietly as possible she slid on a robe and eased into the
living room.  She moved slowly not daring to turn on a light or bump into
anything.  Part of her mind taunted her, sure she'd trip over and wake Mamoru.
For once she defeated her clumsiness and reached the Ginzuishou with hardly
a sound.  She couldn't believe it.  Maybe it was because she was linked to it?
Well, that didn't matter.  She raised the locket and began to whisper the
words.  Then snapped her jaw closed and bit her tongue.
     Usagi grimaced and clamped her free hand over her mouth to prevent a yell
of pain.  Stupid, stupid, stupid!  If she'd transformed in here Mamoru would
have been sure to sense it!  How big an idiot was she?  
     Avoiding answering her own question Usagi straightened up and lowered 
the locket.  She'd have to use this some distance away.  Unless she was 
actually in danger Mamoru shouldn't sense her as Sailor Moon.  She looked back 
to the bedroom then shook her head.  If she returned to get dressed she'd be
sure to wake him.  She'd just have to go as is.  She dropped the locket into
the robe's pocket and quietly eased the door open.
     The hallway seemed chilly.  Probably because of the power rationing which
had the manager minimizing utilities in the public areas.  Not to mention the
fact that all she was wearing was a not particularly thick robe.  What would
the neighbours think if they saw her going out like this?
     Probably that she was a bigger bubble head than they'd thought.  Mamoru 
had told her the gossip around the tower was that she was happy but not very 
bright.  He'd seemed offended on her behalf but she couldn't really deny the
assessment.  Anyway there didn't seem to be anyone else stirring this late so
she should be all right.
     The elevator arrived, it was empty as the hallway.  She rode down in
silence, shivering occasionally, until she arrived in the deserted lobby.
She stepped out and headed for the laundry room.  The cameras looked outward
rather than inward so no video would see her going there.  She had her own 
means of exiting unobtrusively.  Closing the door behind her she whispered,
"Moon Eternal Make Up!"
     Naru Umino shook herself out of a dreamless drugged sleep sure that 
something was wrong.  This wasn't unusual, she was a light sleeper and often 
awoke sure that something was in the room with her.  When she didn't see it 
she'd hunt for hours to find the hidden creature becoming increasing agitated
all the while until she started screaming and the nurses came to sedate her.  
Sometimes it took them a few hours to respond.  
     But this time something was different.  On the opposite wall was a circle 
of yellow light about two metres in diameter.  As she stared in fear a mostly 
bare leg emerged from it followed by a familiar figure.
     Eternal Sailor Moon stepped into the room and wrinkled her noise at the
heavy smell of disinfectant.  Conversationally she remarked, "That little 
trick beats finding a window to sneak in ..."  then realized Naru had cowered 
into a corner and was trying to push her back through the wall.  Her fingers 
tried to gouge the padded wall without success.  Naru looked terrified.  But
why?  The senshi had always saved her from her attackers, why would she be 
scared of Sailor Moon?
     Naru's heart raced and she felt her bowels loosening.  A Senshi was here!
Whenever Senshi showed up monsters were nearby.  Maybe the Senshi attracted 
monsters?  Yes, that had to be it!  That's why monsters were never seen before
the Senshi arrived in Tokyo.  She made a whining noise and turned to try and
claw her way through the wall.  Monsters were coming drawn by Sailor Moon.  
She had to get out of here!
     Sailor Moon felt her eyes water as she saw Naru tearing at the wall.  To
see her old friend reduced to this ... she'd let this gone on far too long!  
She concentrated and the locket opened, the lid vanishing to expose the 
Ginzuishou.  Naru, intent purely on escape, didn't notice.  Nor did she hear 
Sailor Moon when she said softly, "I've been thinking about how to do this 
and I've got the answer.  You just need to go back to the way you were before 
Umino died.  Back to the Naru you used to be so this will just seem like a 
long, bad dream."  Uttering a silent prayer that this would work Sailor Moon 
said simply, "Remember!"   White light poured from the crystal and the glow
surrounded Naru.  She started to shriek but it choked off as the past poured 
into her mind.  Naru remembered ...
     Her mother's hand around her throat getting tighter and tighter as the
familiar features became something inhuman ... the talent contest as her 
strength faded and she collapsed among the others littering the stage ...
the rage on big sister Rui's face suddenly turning to confusion as she falls 
and the demon explodes out of her ...  Tuxedo Mask accusing her of being 
Sailor Moon then draining her lifeforce ... the cold look that appeared in 
Sanjouin Masato's eyes as they stood together in the Dia Embassy as his 
shadow reached out to envelop her ... the discovery that the man she loved 
wasn't human as the Senshi challenged him ... lying bound and helpless as the 
three youma that had abducted her from her bedroom casually discussed if they 
should kill her now or wait for Nephrite's arrival ... watching Nephrite die 
in her arms and vanish without a trace ... Nephrite's killer turning the 
priest into something inhuman ... Guiro trying to fight for her as she 
suffocates within the algae ball ... the thing howling "Vampeel" breaking 
through her window ... trapped on the movie set that's turned real as the 
minotaur drained  her life away ... the heart monster ripping Guiro's soul from 
his body ... chained to the board that appeared from nowhere as the man who'd 
claimed he needed her tore into her soul ...  Naru tried to scream but she 
couldn't move and the memories kept coming.
     Suddenly she was somewhere else, somewhen else and someone else.  She 
was sprawled on the floor of a wrecked palace unable to move as her senses 
began to fade.  Someone was weeping over her, a young man in a page's uniform.  
The face was different but somehow she knew he was Guiro.  Behind him she can 
see one of Beryl's troopers enter looking for loot in the shattered ballroom.  
He sees Guiro who is not Guiro and raises his sword.  She tries to scream a 
warning but her lungs don't work and her sight is fading.  The last thing she 
feels before death claims her is Guiro's blood spraying over her as her 
husband dies again.
     Naru tried to scream, "STOP IT!" but she was voiceless again.  Helpless,
always helpless.  The rage exploded out of her as she shrieked helplessly. 
Was she always doomed to be a victim?  How dare everyone always pick on her!
If only she had the power she'd make them pay ...  Then Naru remembered.
     Suddenly she was elsewhere and elsewhen again.  A dark age that should
never had been but had arisen from hell itself to engulf all humanity.  She 
was Naru again but not plain old Naru Osaka.   The world had changed and she 
had changed with it.  In neither case, it seemed, for the better.  Though she 
felt stronger than she had ever been in her entire life it was fading fast.  
There was blood in her mouth and it hurt to breathe.  A dozen wounds bled her 
life away and she staggered against the walls of the tunnel.  At the limits of 
her fading vision she could see the Schaten regrouping.  Literally!  
Individual monstrosities flowing together into a single entity that grew with 
each passing moment.  
     If it didn't hurt so much she might have laughed.  They had attacked her 
sure they would sweep her away in moments.  They were wrong and she had
taught them to respect her strength but all that really meant was next time 
they would strike with overwhelming force.  The funny thing was they didn't 
need to bother.  The shape she was in it would definitely be overkill, a
single one of them could take her.  Such are the rewards of heroism.  Naru 
gasped for air and tried to steady herself.  She couldn't show weakness or 
they wouldn't wait to attack and every moment counted!  
     But it was no good, she was finished and she knew it.  It wasn't just
ichor that painted the corridor, there was no shortage of blood staining the
walls and floor.  All of it hers.  Amazing she could lose so much without
collapsing into shock.  But even with Senshi endurance she had passed her  
limits.  The only thing keeping her standing was refusal to give into these
damned second rate tentacle-anime-porn slugs.  But determination alone wasn't
enough.  This time the Schaten would roll right over her and finish the 
others.  Ferrite and Puck wouldn't have a chance in hell against them.  They 
needed time and she had to buy it for them or it was all for nothing!  She'd 
failed again!  She always needed rescuing when the chips were down but there 
was no one left to help her.  Helpless little Naru praying for the Senshi to 
save her.  Well they were gone, they had never even existed in this nightmare 
world.  She was the final defender of love and justice and she was useless.
The taunts of the Schaten grew louder echoing her thoughts.  Telling her she
was a nothing to them, a minor obstacle to be crushed underpseudopod.  The
end was nigh and all she could do was beg for a quick death.  Fatalism gave
way to a burning anger.  Let those monsters feed on human souls forever?  
No effing way!  Demons from hell or invaders from the stars they were going
down!  Whatever it took!  She stood straighter, ignoring the protests of her  
wounded body, as power crackled around her.  The Schaten's promises of ugly 
death stopped in confusion as her aura lit the corridor.  What was this new
power they sensed?  It couldn't be the last Senshi, her strength was fading.
Where was this power coming from?
     As the puzzled Schaten searched for a new foe Naru used their distraction 
to complete her pledge.  Conquer my world?  I don't think so!  Driven by her 
rage a floodgate opened in her mind and she felt the power burning through the 
channel.  So intense!  Naru knew it was too much for her to handle but she 
didn't hesitate in reaching out to seize it.
     Naru felt herself burning as the power flooded every fibre of her being.
She ignored the pain and drew more energy.  She was aware she was overloading 
herself but she didn't care.  She was dying anyway but she wasn't going out 
a failure!  Dimly she heard the Schaten's grisly whispers turn to howls of 
consternation as they sensed what she was doing.  There was the slurping sound 
of a disorganized charge and the rage of an entire race trying to roar as
one as it rushed forward to crush her. 
     She could barely see, the pain was incredible and she knew she was dying.
Despite this she smiled and managed to hiss, "Not ... this ... time!"  An 
oozing, shifting nightmare of pseudopods and darkness, the Schaten gestalt 
bore down upon her, filling the tunnel like an onrushing tidal wave of pure 
evil.
     "SUPREME ..."
     Somehow her voice was back and boomed down the tunnel.   Energy beams 
tore wildly through the air.  Most bounced off the aura she was generating
but a lucky shot penetrated and burned a hole in her thigh.  She didn't even 
notice as her voice rolled on unstoppably.
     "TEMPEST ..."
     The Schaten massmind shrieked in a mix of fury and terror.  Humans were
their cattle, fit only for prey.  How dare one of them threaten their masters?
It was not possible, this could not be happening!
     "OBLITERATION!"
     The power exploded out of her in a ravening wave destroying all before 
it.  Naru's abused body overloaded from the strain as everything stopped 
working at once and she collapsed into death.  But this time it wasn't with a 
whimper but a roar of triumph!  The last thing she heard was the Schaten
screaming like the damned.
     The memory ceased as Naru remembered the time that never was.  She didn't
have to cower!  She did have power!  She didn't have to let the Senshi or 
anyone push her around!  But the fear returned.  Two returns from death was
more than anyone could hope for.  Next time would be forever!  She didn't want 
to die and monsters always fight Senshi!  If she used the power to stop Sailor 
Moon she'd attract her own monsters!  Suddenly the solution struck her.  She'd 
use the power as little as possible, summon it and change back as soon as she 
was free!  Brilliant!  She raised her hand in a certain way and felt the wand
appear.  She spoke three words in a language that had vanished from Earth 
millennia ago.  Their archaic nature made them no less effective as the change
struck her.
     Sailor Moon frowned as she felt some sort of feedback through the
Crystal.  Something had just happened but what?  The blinding glow made Naru
impossible to see but her outline looked different.  As though her shapeless
hospital gown had been replaced by something else.  What was going on?  Then
She thought she heard Naru saying something, nonsense words or maybe foreign.
On that thought the world exploded around her.
     Sailor Moon opened her eyes to feel something pressing on her.  Dazed, 
she wondered why the blankets were so heavy.  Suddenly Mamoru ... no Tuxedo
Mask was standing over her.  His mouth moved but she couldn't make out any
sounds.  She tried to ask him what was going on but she couldn't seem to
work out how to talk.  He lifted something off her and she finally registered
the shattered wall behind him.  Ah!  She was buried in rubble, that was why
it felt so heavy.  She wanted to tell him not to worry but she felt so very
tired.  Maybe a short nap would help.  As she drifted into the darkness she 
wondered why he looked so concerned.
     Dr. Mizuno finished her rounds and headed for "Miyuki Nakamura's" room.
The bandaged figure on the bed slept on undisturbed, thankfully no one else
knew who she really was.  The other staff had accepted the alias without 
question.  After all without the fuku there was no way to identify her as 
Sailor Moon.  Or Usagi Chiba thanks to the disguise magic.  As she'd expected 
Mamoru was still there, slumped in a chair.  He was sound asleep having 
finally dozed off after a sleepless night and day.  He hadn't left her side 
since he brought her in.  Ami shook him awake.
     "Time to go.  Visiting hours are over!"  He immediately began protesting.
     "I can't leave her now.  If she wakes up ..."  Ami felt her temper
cracking, it had been a very long day.
     "I don't think you realize how many favours I've already called in!  Do
you have any idea how hard it was to get her a private room with the hospital
so crowded?  Or getting her put under my care?  Not to mention putting a false 
ID into the computer as she's still Sailor Moon!  You're on thin ice so don't 
be making demands!"
     "I ... I'm sorry Ami.  I don't mean to sound ungrateful it's just I'm
worried about her."  Ami sighed.
     "I know.  Well the good news is she's out of danger.  She's healing a 
lot faster than anyone I've ever seen and should be back to normal in a few 
days."  Fortunately Usagi didn't need to wear the Ginzuishou to maintain the 
transformation.  Close proximity was sufficient and taping it under the bed
had done the trick.
     "Thank God.  But what the hell happened?"
     Ami sighed.  "I'm just speculating but ... we think she tried to use the 
Ginzuishou to heal Naru, right?"
     "Yes, but why would ...?"
     "It reshapes reality according to wishes, correct?  Well Naru was mad.
If her will was imposed on a crystal that warps reality ... Maybe the 
explosion resulted from her wishing for something impossible.  Maybe she had
a death wish and the Crystal granted that.  Or maybe she just wanted to lash
out at anyone who tried to help her."  Ami paused, the next bit wouldn't be 
what he wanted to hear.  "I managed to steal a spare half hour, transformed to 
Mercury and checked out the institute.  The energy messed up my scans but far 
as I can tell Naru Umino just blinked out of existence."
     For a moment Mamoru just stared at her.  "You're saying that ... that she 
may have inadvertently killed her childhood friend."
     Carefully Ami ventured. "It would be more accurate to say she allowed 
Naru the means to commit suicide.  Neither case was her intention but that 
appears to have been the end result."
     "I ... I don't ... What do we tell her?"
     After a moment Ami said, "The official story is somehow Naru got hold
of some sort of explosive, used it on her walls and escaped through the 
subsequent hole.  The police are looking for traces and are going to be very
frustrated while the Institute is checking all their security procedures to
figure out how she could have got a bomb.  We could use a variation on the 
story ... tell her that Naru somehow used the crystal to take out the wall
and escape ..."
     Mamoru shook his head.  "No, we can't do that.  She's got to know about 
consequences, especially the unintentional ones of using the Ginzuishou if
she's ever going truly wield it!"
     "You're not thinking straight!  If we tell her the truth maybe she
really throw the crystal away for good.  The Senshi's responsibility is to 
protect her from anything that could destroy her.  We have to shield her!"
     "From the truth?  Ami, that's ridiculous.  How can she be expected to do 
what she must if we hide things from her.  Truth will out and the longer we
conceal things from her the worse it'll be when she discovers the lie."
     Ami glared at him for a full minute before muttering, "I hope you're
right.  But I swear if you don't wait until she's stronger to tell her you 
won't need to worry about the Acolytes because I'll freeze you!"
     "I understand."  After a pause he headed for the door.  Ami was a little
surprised, she'd expected him to insist she let him stay.  At the threshold
he turned and said, "Kenji Nakamura will be signing out at the front desk and
leaving his wife here while he goes home.  But I suspect there'll be someone 
in black watching over this room from the shadows."
     "Just make sure you don't get spotted.  Last thing we need is anyone 
wondering about just who's in this room."  He nodded and stepped out.  Ami
looked down at her unconscious friend and sighed.
     "He's your husband so he should know you well enough to judge your
strength.  I just hope he's right for all our sakes.  Yet I can't shake the 
feeling that we're making a terrible mistake."

June 2013 AD 

     The Acolyte glided through the storm sewers silently accompanied by his
servants.  The only sound was the faint swish of air as the hovering 
icewarriors followed him.  He smiled to himself in the darkness.  Today he 
would triumph and raise himself from Deacon to Cleric.  A day long overdue.
Once the senshi were initiated to the path of Silence his holiness would 
elevate him personally.  Perhaps he would be raised directly to Bishop!  He
took a moment to dream of glory then shook his head.  First he must take care 
of the Senshi and they'd already cost the Silence plenty of Acolytes.  Of
course he was much wiser than his predecessors.
     His plan was simplicity itself.  Once he had set an underground ring of
iceseeds the Icewarriors would attack the surface and try planting an iceseed 
at the exact centre of the circle.  The Senshi would move in to stop them 
and he'd have them.  While they we occupied with destroying the icewarriors
and the decoy seed he'd trigger the hidden seeds.  He'd adjusted them to grow
one direction only and they'd surge inwards.  Distracted by their opponents 
the senshi wouldn't see the freeze arrive until it was too late.  Trapped in 
the inexorably shrinking circle they'd inevitably be caught in the icewave.
It was perfect!  He smiled at his cleverness then halted abruptly as he heard 
a voice.
     Swiftly he followed the sound trailed by his troops.  Unheedingly the
voice continued.  "... But it's dark down here and things live in the shadows!
Yes, but it's cold up there even if it is summer.  Maybe it smells pretty bad 
but it'll do.  I just hope I don't mess my pretty dress.  Yeah, but there's
no monsters down here.  No people either.  But monsters always hide as people
so that's okay.  Did you hear that?  What?  I thought I heard something.  But
you always do.  I know but ..."   The monologue droned on as the Acolyte 
studied the ragged figure before him.
     She was pale and thin, clad in three layers of ragged clothing.  She 
hadn't bathed in quiet a while but the aroma of the sewer overpowered hers.
She huddled by a battery powered lantern as she talked to herself.  Two 
shopping bags laden with trash leaned against her.  Her left arm draped
possessively over the bags as she squinted into the surrounding darkness.
Sensing a warm-blooded target the lead icewarrior started forward but halted
at its master's gesture.  It seemed fate had provided him with an opportunity
to bestow a benediction personally as a blessing for his plans.  He stepped
forward and the startled human gasped.
     "Fortune has smiled on you.  Most join the Silence through our servants,
few receive our personal conversion."  His hand glowed as he raised it.  The 
human whined and surged to her feet.  Then stared around wildly as the 
icewarriors glided past her to block the tunnel both ways.  She whined and 
tried to back herself through the unyielding wall.
     "No way out!"  She sounded terrified and raised a hand which suddenly 
wasn't empty.  The Acolyte chuckled, he sensed no danger.  Whatever that was,
be it religious icon or a weapon, it would be equally ineffective against him.
He smiled and said, "Welcome to Harmony!"  Suddenly there was a flare of
light blinding him temporarily.
     He had the brief impression of someone else standing where the beggar 
had been before an impossible gale suddenly howled down the tunnel dashing the 
hovering icewarriors against the concrete walls and ceiling.  The Acolyte 
barely kept his feet as he fought both the wind and the feedback as his
icewarriors shattering into inanimate fragments and tumbled away as mere
blocks of melting ice.  His eyes cleared enough to make out the figure in the 
storm's centre and howl in disbelief.  Then he heard her speak and went to 
join the Silence.
     Far away the Cardinal on watch saw one of the ice figurines before her
change from clear to black.  She raised an eyebrow but showed no true concern.
Picking up the darkened figure, she went in search of his Holiness.  He was 
not in the temple having gone into the field to inspect the current operation.
Upon his return from Africa she presented him with the figurine.  He glanced 
at it with no real surprise and shook his head..
     "I warned him that overconfidence would be his death unless he learned
caution.  Another unauthorized mission?"  The Watch Cardinal nodded.
     "Yes Holiness.  Should we launched a retaliatory strike?"
     "Freyon, we are missionaries not soldiers.  We have to expect the 
heathen to cost us the occasional servant.  Those who attempt personal 
crusades must bear the brunt of their actions."  
     Carefully Cardinal Freyon ventured, "You have not forbidden independent
missionary activity.  There are those who interpret that as covert 
permission."
     "Nor are they wrong but my purposes are twofold.  It allows those in the 
lower orders with talent and intellect the opportunity to advance to the
appropriate station.  It also rids us of any overconfident and rebellious 
lowers more concerned with their own advancement than serving the Silence."
     "As always your wisdom is inspiration to us all, Holiness and all 
proceeds as you intend."  After a moment she added, "Still even though he was 
no great loss and vengeance is not our way is it not time to take more direct 
action against the Sailor Senshi?"
     "No."  That settled the matter but he decided to add, "When all the world
save those islands is indoctrinated we will deal with them at our leisure and
with our full resources.  There is no need for undue haste and error which
could delay things further."
     "As you say.  Still a swift strike could end the only effective human 
resistance with minimal losses."
     "Or inflict heavy losses and a setback that would put us years behind 
schedule.  Your advice is noted and disregarded.  We will continue to keep 
them contained as we freeze the world."  The First Acolyte smiled faintly.  
"Have patience Freyon.  We shall deal with them soon enough and triumph 
handily.  For how can we fail when the Silence stands with us?"
     There was no answer to that and the Cardinal returned to her meditations.
While it might be heretical, the sooner this world was converted the better.
They'd taken more casualties in the past two years than the last five 
centuries!  The Senshi needed to be dealt with as soon as possible.  She was 
in no hurry to become one with the infinite.  With this thought in mind she 
studied the planetary map and wondered how to advance the freezing without
compromising conversion.  Perhaps she was overly worried.  As his Holiness
said their cause was righteous.  How could they fail?

October 27 2015 AD 

     Drifting snow had almost filled the alleyway.  Anyone venturing into it 
would have to stumble upon the icy figure to recognise it as a huddled and 
ragged woman frozen solid.  Not that there was anyone to venture into the
alley, not since the day of the last stand and the Acolyte's triumph.  Since
then nothing alive had remained mobile.  All humanity was locked in frozen
sleep as the nightmare the Acolytes called The Silence nibbled at their minds.
Since the day the Senshi fell nothing human had stirred in Tokyo.  All days 
had been the same, wind howling through the frozen city with no one to hear
it.  A scene repeated in every city in the world.  A world of ice and snow,
unchanging and eternal.  Until today. 
     The wave of silver fire raced through the city touching everything with
its radiance.  In its wake all traces of snow and ice were gone with no
evidence they had ever been there.  But it did more than free the people, its 
touch transformed the decrepit city.  Buildings collapsing under the weight of
eternal winter were replaced by glistening towers of white crystal.  Garbage
vanished and every park and garden in the city began to bloom.  Junked 
machines restored itself to working order as waterlines ruptured in a million
places healed themselves.  Powerlines restrung themselves as new generators
grew to replace the old, impossible nonpolluting machines that converted free 
flowing mana to electrical energy. 
     Snow vanished from the alley as the trash that had littered recycled 
itself to original sources and melted into the ground.  Naru awoke to find
herself standing in a spotless side street with a beautiful cityscape 
surrounding her.  Her clothes were cleaned and mended, no aches or pains 
troubled her and a soothing voice spoke in her mind telling her all was well.
All around her the transforming fire raced onward leaving perfection in its 
wake.  Like a phoenix from the ashes Tokyo was born anew.
     It was the most terrifying thing she had ever seen in her life.
     She slammed her head against the alley wall until the pain blocked out
the voice.  Whimpering and groggy she sought refuge from the new world being
born around her.  Too bright, the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows!
This whole city had become an insult to the darkness, it would retaliate.
She had to find shelter, somewhere secure and grubby.  There had to be some
place like that the fire couldn't reach.  She had to find it.
     Staggering off on her search and ignoring those who asked if she needed 
assistance Naru weaved off in a quest for imperfection.  The only person 
within the city not transfixed with awe as Crystal Tokyo was born around her.

August 2022 AD
     
     "Welcome to Furuhata Estates, Umino-san.  We in the Department of Welfare 
are delighted you have chosen to take advantage of our offer of free 
accommodations.  Once you have settled in we will be pleased to help you find
and develop whatever talents you have.  But that can wait, for now if you
would follow me please ...."

January 2107 AD
 
     "... therefore it is the considered opinion of this department that this
client's needs can be best served by the Department of Health."

May 2235 AD
 
     "... we therefore sorrowfully conclude that Umino-san will not return of
her own free will and does not fit any of the criteria for involuntary 
participation in Wellness.  So with heavy hearts we are turning this case over
to the Department of Welfare."

November 2368 AD
    
      "... consequently with the reorganization separating Public Housing and 
Public Welfare into separate departments and our evaluation that this client's 
greatest need is a home environment we are therefore forwarding Naru Umino's
file for your action."

February 2476 AD
    
     "Excuse me, Umino-san?  I'm a new recruit with the Department of 
Psychological Fulfilment and I was wondering if I could talk to you?" 

October 2513 AD
     
     "We are still unable to account for the damage to the west wing of the
the Urawa Ryo Memorial Mental Wellness Centre but our investigation remains 
open.  We have ruled out the following causes to date; Chemical explosives,
necromantic assault, high power energy weapons, demonic attack ..."

June 2688 AD
   
     "... and we in the Department of Health are delighted that so many of
those of you to chose to live indigent lives are availing yourselves of the
cleaning and nutritional supplies of this shelter but we would also like to
encourage you to consider your physical health.  Umino-san, I see you have
yet to have a free checkup.  Please, there is no need for panic.  No harm
will come to you and with our new scanning equipment you need not even 
remove your clothing.  If you would step this way please ... while there is
no requirement it's a good idea to consider you health ... Umino-san?  Please,
you don't need to run away ... Serenity!  This will mean another course in
relating to clients, just what I wanted.  Hah!"

December 2745 AD

    "Merry Christmas from the Department of Welfare!  Well you don't have
to take the meal, Umino-san.  If you observe other religious holidays or
would care for a vegetarian alternative we can provide that.  It might also
interest you to know we have organised a party and would be happy to take
you to it.  Oh, no pressure though it would certainly be warmer than it is 
here ... well no, I suppose it's not really that cold.  Ha ha, that's most
amusing Umino-san but her majesty rearranged the local climate centuries ago.
The last really cold Tokyo winter was long before either of us were born ..."

April 2824 AD

     "... so reluctantly we in the Department of Psychological Fulfilment 
feel there is no choice but to turn Naru Umino's file over to the Department
of Welfare."

September 2976 AD   

     If a visitor to Crystal Tokyo noticed the two men strolling through Kenji 
plaza they would likely assume one was the other's elder by a considerable
span.  Which was true but to a far greater extent and the exact opposite of 
what surface appearances would lead them to believe.  A resident of Crystal 
Tokyo would make no such judgement having grown up knowing that appearance was 
a poor indicator of within the city.  Indeed if part of certain bloodlines 
prominent within the city they might possess longevity that distorted time's
influence upon their own features.
      However it was equally possible that a native of the crystal city 
would recognise the more youthful looking of the pair and know the great age 
behind the twenty-something face.  His distinctive green haired Byronic 
features had been a familiar sight in Crystal Tokyo for centuries.  By contrast
his companion was unknown, indeed there was nothing memorable about him.
The most remarkable thing about him was his unremarkability.  Beside his 
famous companion he seemed even more nondescript and while many who noticed
them could have identify Lord Calcite few would have been able to describe 
him as more than "a man apparently in his forties".  To all appearances an  
unremarkable and easily forgotten man.  Just the way he liked it.
     Yet despite the contrast of youthful vigour to nondescript age something 
anyone who studied them closely would have noticed an undefinable similarity
about them.  Something that marked a connection between them though it was 
something almost no citizen of Crystal Tokyo could be expected to recognise.
They had been brothers in arms once and perhaps, just perhaps, they would
be again.
     As they walked though the plaza Henry Von Tramp noticed the interest
directed at his old comrade yet he also noticed that no one made any move to 
approach them.  He mentioned it to Calcite and was a little surprised at
the answer.
     "Simple answer, we're having a private conversation so they're too polite 
to approach me unless they see any signs we're inviting company.  So unless we 
run into a pack of tourists no one's going to bother us."  He paused a moment
as he noticed someone taking a picture then depart.  "Of course that doesn't
apply to the professional nuisances like the tabloid journalists but even they
have a certain level of decorum.  At least they do around me though they have 
learned the hard way I'm not the most approachable member of the Palace."
     Henry shook his head.  "This city really is different.  In any other one
anyone famous, celebrity or politician can't walk around openly without being
ringed with security to keep the crowds at bay.  If they're out incognito
soon as they're recognised they're surrounded by fans and foes."
     Calcite nodded.  "Queen Serenity could probably walk through here alone
and unmolested if she wanted.  Of course if she did Rei would have a fit and
I wouldn't blame her.  You've got to draw the line somewhere and take 
reasonable precautions with your head of state.  No matter how uncooperative 
she is about security."  Henry raised an eyebrow and Calcite added, "There's 
a few stories I could tell you but they can wait until you're officially on 
board."  The last part being crucial to him Henry changed the topic.   
     "So you would say I have a chance?"
     "Yes, luckily your timing's excellent.  Vickers is due to retire in four
months and Makoto ... Sailor Jupiter likes to have a certain number of combat
experienced commanders on hand.  Just in case.  While our army is mainly for
disaster relief they also do support and logistics on Senshi peacekeeping 
missions.  Things can get pretty ugly during them."
     Henry nodded, "As we both know firsthand."
     The memory unfolded for Calcite again.  Africa, sixteen years earlier.
Another pointless civil war full of senseless slaughter.  Senseless to 
outsiders but not to the necromancer feeding on it and fanning the hatred
from the shadows.  He had been there as Gray, doing what he could to keep 
the peace and looking for the puppet master his sources indicated lurked behind
the war.  At last he had found him, an insane mad mundumugu who thought 
himself  the Deathlord reborn.  Mad he might have been but that didn't diminish 
his strength.  Destroying him was costly and had depleted Calcite's own powers.  
Rejoining his command he had needed time to replenish his energies, time he 
didn't have.  Though the author was dead the war had its own momentum and 
rolled on.  It would be months more before it ground to a halt and stopped 
claiming victims.  Calcite had nearly been one of them.  His command had come 
under attack and he was unable to turn them back.  He remembered the 
frustration of knowing he could be a thousand miles away in an eye blink but he 
didn't have enough power to evacuate his troops, let alone the refugees they 
were shielding and you never abandon your people.  If Henry hadn't shown up 
with the Gurkha his story would have probably ended that day.
     The memory ended and he realized he had tuned Henry out unintentionally.
Then he realized Henry was also reliving the past.  Between the two of them 
they had no shortage of ghosts.  Time to get back on track.
     "I'm not part of the military command structure but Lady Kino respects
my judgement so a recommendation from me will carry a lot of weight.  But
that's not a guarantee so don't burn all your bridges just yet.  Though I 
imagine I can get you in as a citizen with no problems."
     Henry shook his head, "Thank you, but I'm not ready to either retire or
change careers yet.  Intriguing as this city is if I can't exercise my 
talents in it's service I'd be restless and unsettled.  No offense."
     "I understand, I'd go crazy if I couldn't do the same."
     Henry paused a moment to study the city around them once more.  Clean, 
prosperous and friendly to a greater extent than any he had ever seen before. 
An opinion sharpened as he contrasted it to the far too many war torn cities
he had seen in his military career.  "This place is a utopia."  He was 
surprised to see Calcite shake his head.  
     "Not quite.  Utopia is more a philosophy and goal than any physical
location.  We're closer than any other city but we're still a few degrees
short of perfection and probably always will be.  There's a few dichotomies 
left that can shock people ... case in point."  Henry looked where Calcite was
pointing and was surprised again as a ragged figure emerged from a side 
street.  Recognising their interest the young woman in the tattered clothing 
headed towards them.  Beside him Calcite added, "Another thing you'll have to 
get used to is the high number of coincidences around here."
     As she approached Henry noticed she was a lot cleaner that most beggars 
he had encountered.  She had obviously bathed in the past month and though
on the skinny side lacked the telltale signs of malnutrition he was all too
familiar with.  Cleaned up and dressed better she would have passed for just
another pretty face in the crowd.  "Scuse me, I haven't eaten today an I was 
wondering ..."  Calcite handed over several bills without looking.  The woman 
solemnly scrutinised them, made the smaller denominations vanish into her
clothing and handed back the larger.  "Too much, don't want to be beholdin
for so much."  She made her way to an empty bench and sat down muttering to
herself.  Henry watched her, amazed at beggars who gave change but even more
amazed at her presence.
     "You have homeless in Crystal Tokyo?"
     Calcite smiled ruefully and nodded.  "Doesn't quite fit with our image,
does it.  But, believe it or not, it's both inevitable and compensated for."
Unobtrusively he indicated a nearby woman in a neatly cut white blouse and  
skirt who was talking into a hand held communicator.  There was a small silver
badge pinned to her chest and the same shape on her flat topped hat.  "Notice
her?  She's a public safety officer, better known as a cop to outsiders and 
old timers like myself.  She's putting an urgent call to headquarters that 
there's a needy person in the vicinity.  Even as we speak counsellors from the  
departments of Welfare, Public Housing, Psychological Fulfilment and Health
are descending on this area determined to solve all her problems.  So let's
try not to spook her."
     Henry tried to puzzle this out.  "But if you have departments so eager
to help them why do you even have any hard luck cases in the first place?"
     "Several answers.  The first is like all big cities we attract runaways.
Those tend to be the most short term cases.  The counsellors are very good at
drawing them out to find the root cause of why they left home.  Depending on 
what it is the family is reunited and counselled or the runaways are placed  
with foster care and any necessary legal action is taken."
     "That really works?"
     "The counsellors are genuinely sympathetic listeners, that's a big plus
in reaching kids.  It also helps we don't have a drug subculture for the kids
to get caught in."
     "How ...?"
     "There is no organized crime in Crystal Tokyo."  Henry started to object,
"Yes, I know the Yakuza is active throughout the rest of Japan but they have
made no inroads here.  I'll explain that a bit later, let's get through the 
homeless situation first.  The second group of homeless it the political 
element.  They tend to be the most annoying.  They come here deliberately to 
be homeless as a political statement.  To them being homeless in utopia is
a very potent image." 
     "But they don't have to be so what's the point?"
     Calcite shrugged.  "That varies according to their political ideologies.
Frankly I never could see the sense in it."  He took a moment to consider 
saying more about the idiocy involved but decided to wrap this up fast.  He
sensed trouble approaching rapidly.  "Lastly there's the hardcore homeless
who refuse all assistance for reasons that probably only make sense to them
alone.  Under our rules as long as they aren't presenting a menace to 
themselves or anyone else we can't force them into care so the counsellors
have to try and persuade them.  If they refuse then there's nothing they can
do but keep trying."
     Thoughtfully Henry mused, "I think I see how this works.  So that's what
you meant by this not being utopia because a true utopia would find a way to
eliminate all need, even if people inflict it on themselves unnecessarily."
Calcite just nodded and Henry saw his old comrade looked distracted.  He
followed Calcite's gaze and surpassed a whistle.  Whoever she was she made
an excellent distraction.  Better still she seemed to be heading this way.
     She did an excellent saunter, he could imagine monks witnessing it throw 
away the vows of a lifetime to beg her to walk on them.  The microskirted 
red dress clung to every curve leaving little to the imagination and seemed
tight enough to be at least a size too small.  All this topped with a cascade
of platinum blonde hair and a sultry smile that seemed somehow predatory.  
Watching her approach Henry felt like a gawky teenager again and thanked years 
of self control for keeping his expression neutral instead of flushing like a 
schoolboy's.  He noticed Calcite's features wore a certain weary resignation 
as though facing some monotonous chore.  Yet it was tinted with a certain
measure of affection.
     She stopped before him examining Henry head to toe and gave a nod of 
approval.  "Well Cal, not going to introduce me to your friend?"
     Calcite sighed faintly and said, "Major Henry Von Tramp, late of the 
Belgium and French Foreign Legions  this is Margrave.  She's a very old
friend."
     Margrave's smile widened.  "Which translates to the lover he ditched so
he could marry Venus and try to look respectable.  Something I've never  
concerned myself with."  Everything clicked and Henry gave a small bow.
     "Lady Margrave, I have heard much about you.  It sounded ... intriguing."
     That seemed to be the right thing to say as she turned up the warmth.
"Ah, so good to know my reputation still precedes me.  Well, not much point
in pretending to be human, is there?"  She raised a bare arm and snapped her
fingers.  Henry blinked as her shape flickered.  Her curves didn't change but
the arm she lowered now bore a coat of luxuriant white fur.  The green eyes
and the inviting face had become catlike and he thought he saw ears peaking
through the thicker hair of her mane.  She nodded and looked pleased. 
"Congratulations, you didn't flinch.  I like that in a man."
     There was a sudden clatter and a gasp from nearby.  Tearing his gaze 
away from Margrave, Henry saw the beggar had jumped from her bench, knocking 
one of the shopping bags she had carried askew scattering its contents to
the ground.  Looking shocked and torn between fight and flight she suddenly
tore off toward the side street she had emerged from.  The white uniformed
PSA started to run after her then slowed down as she saw a number of vans
pull up.  Clean, eager looking workers piled out and began looking for their
quarry.  Seeing no-one they came over to consult the PSA who described the
woman and directed them towards the alleyway.  Realizing their vehicles 
wouldn't fit several of the younger set off on foot while their colleagues 
returned to the vans.  Those driven by more recent graduates of the 
counselling courses zoomed of on likely interception routes determined to 
assist the unfortunate at any cost.  The veteran employees seemed a bit more
lackadaisical and seemed somewhat less than zealous in their pursuit.  Watching
all this Margrave shook her head.
     "Whatever happened to exposure and all those other time honoured human
customs for getting rid of the deadweight?"  Before anyone could answer the
PSA walked over and addressed Margrave.  She looked displeased but was trying 
not to let it affect her professionalism.
     "Excuse me citizen but I believe it was your sudden transformation that
startled that unfortunate woman into flight!"  Margrave shrugged.
     "Hardly my fault if she's so high strung.  Besides she was a bit pungent
so I'm glad she left."
     "It is unkind to harp on the shortcomings of others."
     "Yes.  Your point being?"  The PSA's eyebrows rose.
     "That is not a very civic minded attitude."
     "Thank you."  Suspecting the cop might be about to delivery a lecture  
Margrave added, "But I'm hardly alone in that regard."  She tapped an ear.
"You noticed several of the happy patrol weren't exactly enthusiastic about 
finding her?"  After a moment the PSA nodded.  "Seems they recognised her 
from your description, she's a hard case the old-timers like to palm off on
the young turks.  Sounded like they're all fed up with 'Crazy Naru'."  Before
the PSA could admonish her Margrave raised a hand.   "I'm just quoting, that's 
what they called her."
     "Hmmm.  I wonder if I should report their negative attitude ... still a
certain level of frustration with the more extreme clients is perfectly
natural.  It's only human."
     Margrave grinned, "You know, I think that might be a speciesist remark.
Objectionable in excluding recognition that non-human citizens have thoughts
and feelings of our own."
     For a moment the PSA studied Margrave then shook her head and turned to 
address Calcite.  "No wonder you picked grandma over her."  Henry blinked,
she looked about the same age as Calcite.
     "She's not all bad."  Margrave looked offended.  "Maybe eighty percent at 
most."  That seemed to mollify her.
     "Heh.  Well I should get back to my patrol.  Nice seeing you again, 
Granddad and this time I hope things work out for you and Grandma." 
     "We're doing our best, Julie."  She nodded and bid them all goodbye then
walked off looking for little old ladies who needed directions, kids taking
unnecessary risks, litterers, tourists in, or causing, trouble and the other 
minutiae that made up a CT PSA's daily routine.  Behind her Calcite breathed
a silent sigh or relief that he had got her name right.
     Henry asked, "She's your granddaughter?"
     "One of them."
     "How old ...?"
     "Eighty something.  I'd have to check.  Frankly there's so many I can't
keep track of all the details without my genealogy database.  To be quite
honest for the generations after my grandchildren I lose track of the names,
let alone any other details."
     Henry shook his head.  "As you said, there's a lot to get used to."  He 
turned to Margrave, "But I am being rude.  With the recent interruption I
never got to ask to what do we owe the pleasure of your company?"
     "Oh just heard one of Cal's old military buddies was in town so I got
curious and I'd have a look."  
     "Didn't curiosity kill the cat?"
     "Not yet so after a thousand years I figure the odds are in my favour.
Well, since Cal's got a busy evening ahead of him and will have to bid you
farewell before too long I thought I'd offer you a tour of the city." 
     Calcite snorted.  "Before you accept Henry make sure she quotes you the
price."
     Margrave did her mock offended look.  "The tour is free ... though 
anything thing you can tell me about Cal's exploits abroad would be welcome.
Especially if it's juicy and shameful.  But that's tips, there's no charge for 
the tour.  Of course anything else we do together will have to be negotiated 
separately."
     Lacking experience with energy vampire catwomen Henry looked to
Calcite for guidance.  Who just shrugged.
     "It's your life, just make sure you don't give her too much of it.  
Seriously Margrave deals fairly, she has to, and won't cause any lasting 
damage."
     "Well I've broken plenty of hearts but ..."
     Ignoring her Calcite concluded, "Just remember if you take a tour with 
her everything she tells you will have a definite bias but it'll be true.  
Just not the whole truth."
     Henry nodded.  "Understood.  Well I've been through enough briefings to
know how to puzzle out the real story.  Besides if you have business to
attend to I shouldn't impose."  He looked at Margrave, "As I said I have
been intrigued by what I've heard about you and cats are not the only curious
ones around."
     "Glad to hear it.  If you'd turned me down I'd have to start worrying I
was losing my touch.  Shall we go?"  Calcite indicated they had his blessing
to depart.  Henry hesitated a moment then shook his head slightly.
     "Not quite yet.  Before I leave there is one more thing I wanted to ask.
You never did explain how you kept the Yakuza out of Crystal Tokyo.  Haven't 
they infiltrated everywhere in Japan for centuries?"
     "A slight exaggeration, it's not quite that bad.  Besides Crystal Tokyo
doesn't quite count as part of Japan in any sense except the geographic."
     Margrave interrupted, "I know the story so why don't I tell ..."
     "Because I'd like Henry to know what really happened."  She looked
offended again but didn't interrupt.
     "In the old days there were no shortage of Yakuza clans in Tokyo.  That 
ended the day Serenity created Crystal Tokyo.  It's a bit difficult to 
explain what happened but all of them present at the time suffered an attitude
change.  Brainwashing is a bit extreme, it's more like they lost their
illusions about who and what they were as Crystal Tokyo formed around them. 
Brought face to face with themselves most of them repented their past and 
walked away it ... apart from the real hard cases who were given empathy for
the first time.  Many of them got suicidal over their past crimes though most 
of them were stopped and subsequently rehabilitated."
     "That ... must have been quite an experience."
     "Yes.  I'm rather glad I was comatose until it was all over.  Margrave 
is the only youma who was conscious during the founding."
     Henry looked to Margrave who was examining the polish on her claws 
rather ostentatiously.  "So how did it affect you?"
     She chuckled, "It didn't.  I've always known my true nature.  Abyss, I
revel in it!  So why should looking in a mirror shake me?"
     "Moving right along Japan and the rest of the world was in chaos in
those early years.  Organized crime was as disorganized as everything else
so they weren't any threat to us.  It was after things started settling down 
around here that the Yak clans pulled themselves together and started drooling
over Crystal Tokyo."
     "What they didn't count on was Rei.  Secure behind front men and both 
physical and legal barriers the clan heads thought they were secure.  They
didn't realize just how little any of that meant to a psychic Sailor Senshi.
Sailor Mars visited the head of every clan to tell them to keep their 
distance."
     "That was all it took?"
     "Yes, but there's more to the story than that.  You see I know this 
because I was with Rei on those visitations.  She took me and Tom ... better
known these days as Hunter Prime though back then he was still plain old
Starhunter.  Anyway we went with her.  Rei said she needed some backup who 
could loom menacingly with her.  Actually she didn't need us at all."
     "How so?"
     "Rei was ... a lot more intense back then.  She was still recovering
from a devastating personal loss and dealing with it by throwing herself into
her work.  Believe me if you had seen her you wouldn't think about crossing
Sailor Mars!  She gave each Oyabun the same message.  She didn't have the
mandate to root them out of Japan but she could and would keep them out of 
Crystal Tokyo.  But since the best way to kill a snake was to cut its head
off she was introducing them to the concept of executive responsibility.  If
their syndicates dared to try entering Crystal Tokyo she would learn of it
swiftly and know who sent them.  She would have already given a nerve wracking
demonstration of her psychic abilities by this point so they would know their
men not talking was no barrier.  Soon as she knew who was behind it she would 
come for the Oyabun behind them and deal with them.  If their successors were
no wiser they would be the next to go.  And so on down the pyramid until they
either wised up or became extinct."
     "And nobody called her bluff?"
     "Not right away, she made quite an impression.  As time passed a couple
tried to move in.  They found out Rei doesn't bluff.  Most were fast learners
but some were stubborn.  So much so that when the smoke cleared Japan had at
least two fewer Yakuza clans and several more in critical condition.  
Absolutely no loss.  Since then most of them have given Crystal Tokyo a wide 
berth.  Occasionally somebody forgets their ancestors advice, sees a wide open 
market and tries to move in.  When they do Rei remind them she never forgets 
her promises and no one else dares try anything for at least half a century."
     Margrave yawned, "Yes, Rei's a real firebrand, don't mess with her, rah, 
rah ...  Well, now you've heard that shall we get going?  I notice some 
tourists with kids heading this way and I'm not in the mood to have rugrats 
meowing at me."  Amused, Calcite bid them goodbye after arranging to meet
Henry the following day.  Margrave re-established her glamour and headed off
with Henry in tow.  Once they had ditched all signs of pursuit they slowed 
to a more leisurely pace.  Following Margrave's lead Henry listened as she  
gave a concise, if slanted, description of the surrounding area.  Concluding
her narration Margrave noticed her guest appeared to have something on his 
mind and asked what was bothering him.  After a few moments he answered her. 
     "As I said I've heard of you, Cal told me a few stories when we worked 
together so there is something puzzling me.  Back there I was expecting you 
to come onto Cal but that never happened.  So have you finally given up on 
him?"
     Margrave laughed.  "Concede the game to a Senshi?  Of course not.  But,
as a military man should know, timing is everything."  She looked a bit more
serious.  "Right now Calcite is back together with Minako and it's a waste of
time trying to break through that haze of rekindled romance.  Trying would
only backfire and I am not fool enough to try regardless.  But it won't last, 
it never does.  Especially this time, they weren't apart long enough so it'll
break down sooner than usual.  The cracks will appear by next year and by the
following year it will all be over again.  That's the right time to make my
move.  Unless they decide to have a kid which will throw things off a bit.  
But I don't think the time's right for either to want another addition to the 
Aino clan just now."
     Henry frowned.  "Surely there must have been plenty of times like that
over the centuries."
     She nodded.  "True but Cal's stubborn.  He doesn't want to admit he made
the wrong choice all those years ago.  Still if at first you don't succeed ...  
Patience was a hard lesson to learn but combined with my long life it has 
given me a perspective no other of my kind ever had.  My victory is as 
inevitable as erosion, all I have to do is wait."
     Henry shook his head, "I have the funny feeling centuries after I'm 
dust you'll still be waiting.  Is it really worth it?"
     "Yes, I'm a very bad loser and very possessive.  I never give up what's 
mine.  Perhaps I will still be waiting centuries from now but I've already 
waited a thousand years.  What's another millennia?"  
     Henry shook his head, getting used to differences in lifespans would
take some doing.  Not that he was going to let philosophy spoil the day.  
After all he had always said he liked older and experienced women.  Combined  
with the appearance of youth made Margrave a even more desirable.  She didn't 
object to his taking her hand and arm in arm the chronologically mismatched
pair wandered on.  Neither they nor Calcite gave another thought to the 
beggar woman they had seen earlier.  But then why should they?
     Unaware she had been forgotten "Crazy Naru" was very concerned with one
member of the threesome.  She shivered as she made her way back to her 
latest refuge.  She had barely got away in time, as soon as the monster
unveiled itself that meant the Senshi were on their way.  If she had stayed 
she would have been caught in it and forced to become one of them.  Then her
life would be nothing but an unending parade of monsters.  Never ending 
madness as monsters followed her and hurt the innocent.  That was why she had
to live free, if she let those counsellors help her they'd find out what she
was.  Then there would be no way out and the Senshi would force her into 
their ranks.  a fate she would do anything to avoid, even if it meant eternal
loneliness.
     Naru felt a moment of weakness but pushed it down and wiped a single tear
away.  Sometimes she felt so miserable being alone but that was the price for
freedom.  Yes, it would be nice to have companions but they would pull her
into their world and make her use the power.  Drawing monsters like moths to
a candle flame.  Burning monsters wasn't a problem but it would be so easy to
burn the wrong thing, hurt the wrong people.  No one should have to suffer 
like she had and long as she stayed apart there was one less monster magnet
in the world.  Kind of a shame, she looked good in a senshi costume and she
wished Guiro could have seen her in it.  But he was gone and she was
alone.  Now and forever.
     Crazed logic still sparking through her brain Naru curled into the nest
she had made for herself and decided to get some sleep.  Hoping to dream of 
the happy, ordinary days she had once known and of someone to share them with.
It was the only peace she could hope for and while it wasn't much it was all
she had.  It was probably the only peace she would ever find in a life that
stretched forever onwards.  On that thought the unknown Senshi drifted into  
sleep seeking the only peace she knew in a life long since shattered.
     On the other side of the world an ancient cat roused from his own dreams
with the sense that he had once again learned something important in his
dreams and forgotten it upon awakening.  Or was it not a new truth but an
old one he had remembered then lost once more.  Whatever it was it was gone
again.  Whoever or whatever he had dreamed of was lost.  Puck yawned and
stretched.  Well whatever it was if it was truly important he would recall
whoever or whatever it concerned eventually.  After all he had nothing but
time.

End

Afterword: 
     Well that was kind of depressing, wasn't it?  If you're wondering what 
happened to Naru after this then check out Frank Barr's "Case of The Missing
Senshi" which picks up Naru's story two years later.  Thanks to Frank for
filling SME on the details of Naru's secret history.  If you'd like to know
more about the Schaten and how Naru became Sailor Nemesis you'll have to wait
until the second Trenchcoat Mask series.
     Credit where Credit is due department
     The whole story was inspired by discussions on the SME list about the 
final fate of Naru Osaka and, more directly, by the already mentioned "Case of 
the Missing Senshi."  In addition to writing that Frank Barr also created 
Puck and the other lesser known mooncats of the Silver Millennium.
     Maxwell and his crew aka "The Light Brigade" created by E. M. Lurker
     Henry von Tramp created by Ben Harrison, the story of his first meeting
with Calcite was told in Ben's "New Blood".
     The full details about the Acolytes of Silence and the Great Darkness 
that ended the old world and lead to the birth of Crystal Tokyo will be told 
in a trio of tales I'm working on; "Fire and Ice", "Heart of Fire" and 
"Meltdown".  But that will have to wait awhile as I intend to complete my
Black Moon War stories first.  Along with a BGC fic that will remain nameless. 
Anyway that's almost all folks.  To conclude, in case anyone wants them,
here are the ranks found within the Acolyte of Silence (Private to General): 

 Novitiate (aka canon fodder)
 Deacon 
 Cleric
 Bishop
 Cardinal
 Holiness (aka Patriarch and First Acolyte) 





Back to my Sailor Moon Expanded fics


Back to Magnesite's Office


Comments?  Email Mark Latus