---

CHAPTER THREE

The Sailor Scouts had already known that Mamoru and Usagi could die, but the fact that they could stop it had never even crossed their minds. The fact that it was a disease implanted in their heads that the problem could only be solved by modern medicine.

Jupiter saw the look of confusion on the girls' faces and began to explain. "You see girls, in my day when the Romans ruled the modern world there was a man named Ademerplius. Ademer, as his friends called him, was a philosopher. He was also very interested in the works of Machiavelli. Machiavelli believed in using deceit to fool your enemies and gain wealth and power. Have any of you girls read the 'Count of Monte Cristo'?"

Ami nodded but the other girls seemed like they had never heard of the book.

Minerva explained the book for the girls who had never read it. "You see," she began, "The plot is that a young man has it all, great job and a beautiful fiancée. Two men wanted to destroy him, one wanted his wife the other wanted his job. He was framed for a crime and sent to jail. In jail he met a man who was a priest, who was also innocent. They made plans to escape but the priest died. Thankfully, the priest didn't die before he told the innocent man where his treasures were. The first man escaped and found the money. He turned himself into the Count of Monte Cristo and soon got revenge on his enemies."

"A similar thing happened to Ademerplius he was framed for a murder. Ademer sold his soul to get revenge on his adversaries. After this, he was tortured with visions of the past and saw Queen Serenity and the Moon Kingdom. A change came over him when he sold his soul; he became evil and wanted everyone who was happy to suffer as he did. Seeing that Queen Serenity sent you into the future, he cursed the Moon princess and the Prince so that the planet would never be saved. The sickness that Usagi and Mamoru have is a disease from hell, it cannot be cured by earthly things."

Makoto smiled too openly. "So you're going to send us back in time to stop this guy from selling his soul. Simple."

Venus rolled her eyes. "Not that simple, because you can't use your powers."

The scouts were astonished, their powers were all they had. Why couldn't they use them?

"You see scouts," said Mars. "Your powers weren't developed then. You can't use them or it will send everything in this world into a time warp. And don't think this will be easy, we don't know which god is behind this. If it is a god then they will know that you are going back in time and you will have to stop them before stopping Ademerplius."

"All this, without our powers," gulped Minako; she, along with the other scouts, had turned pale at the simple thought.

Rei spoke up hopefully, "Who will lead this mission?"

Minako gave her a dirty look. "I'm the leader, remember?"

Jupiter quieted them with one glance. "Sailor Mercury will lead this mission because of her cunning and knowledge of history she also has the most control of her emotions which will serve her later in the mission."

"Me?" squeaked Ami.

Minako and Makoto smiled and congratulated her while Rei sat quietly.

Jupiter clapped his hands. "Well, let us give our gifts."

Cupid and Venus stepped forward and gave Venus a necklace with a piece of a beautiful shell on it. "This is a piece of the shell that I came out of the sea from," said Venus. "With it, you can charm anyone and sweet-talk your way into anything, the only people it won't work on are gods so if someone won't listen to you and they pull on their ears it's one of us in disguise. If they don't pull their ears it's the traitors and you must tell them you know that they are gods. Then Sailor Mercury must intervene."

Jupiter and Diana were next. "Sailor Jupiter, these earrings will double your fighting abilities one-hundred fold for this mission, your senses will be clearer and your strength will be doubled also." Jupiter turned to the rest of the scouts. "Never take these off or you will be the way you are now."

Mars produced a red silk ribbon from his hand and gave it to Rei. "This ribbon will increase your Shinto powers, you'll be able to teleport also."

Mercury, Minerva and Apollo each had separate gifts for Sailor Mercury. Minerva went first. "I not only increase your knowledge but if ever a scout is…" She cleared her throat. "…eliminated, you will gain their power."

Apollo went next, "I give you the power to heal any wounds. Unfortunately, if a scout is hurt by a god, this will not work." He hesitated and looked at Jupiter. When Jupiter nodded an ivory and gold pair of bow and arrows appeared in his hands. "You now have the ability to hit whatever target you wish. These arrows have Hinds Blood on them. If you come across a god that doesn't know the code it may kill them, but I have put on only enough to hurt them so badly that they will have to confess if they want any help from Aesculapius the other god of medicine or me."

Finally Mercury presented Ami with her last gift. He smiled as he gave them to her. "These are an exact copy of my winged shoes." A beautiful pair of silver sandals sat on Ami's lap. "I want to give this, too." He handed her a beautiful blue silk and silver trim cloak. "It not only can make you invisible, but it also matches the sandals." He smiled weakly and Ami gave him, Apollo and Minerva hugs of gratitude.

Jupiter once again clapped his hands. "No time for emotion. You will be placed in Rome. You have the task of finding Ademerplius. It would be nice if you would find the traitor gods so we could set them straight also."

Makoto raised her hand. "What if we die?"

Mars answered this question. "If you all die all is lost. Once you finish the mission you will automatically come back. If even one of you lives to finish the mission you will all be risen and sent back here."

"Remember Sailor Mercury, you are in charge." Said Jupiter.

All the gods touched their foreheads as a mighty glow enveloped the room. The scouts felt as if they fading, then flying, then they heard Jupiter's voice. "Oh, and children, you must come back before the 12th hour of the the 3rd day."

After the voice, all was black.