PART I: DARKNESS

The comic shop was quiet that morning as Nevena sat behind the register thumbing through a journal of newspaper clippings. Papers and pictures left and right contained information on the Senshi of the Moon Kingdom… Everything covered by the media was there. It started with a new heroine on the scene, Sailor Moon, and came to a major end with Galaxia and Chaos being defeated.

"So Galaxia was the cause of all the evil…" Nevena concluded from her research, "But she isn’t responsible for my Kingdom’s plight. Her reaches never got that far."

Her mumbles fell on deaf ears inside the store. That, she was thankful for. Nevena Chase was only an alias, a name created to survive in this place. The store was her creation to make her and her six friends look legit to the world. She is really Sailor Furrina from the Yon Kingdom. The Yon Kingdom is a place of seven planets and seven Senshi, and it’s a Kingdom who is under the hands of their nemesis: Sailor Shroud… the darkest villain any Kingdom has seen before. Once a semi-powerful Senshi, Shroud found the source of evil somewhere… and took on a powerful male form. Nobody from the Yon Kingdoms knows the hows or whys of Shroud… all they know is that he never stops until he takes over the Kingdom. And the Senshi had never let him succeed… until now.

"Until my weakness as a leader let them…" She blamed herself for the event.

The Yon Senshi are Ancient Senshi in their years and way of life. Their time started around the time of the Moon Kingdom and has never ceased from existence. In the past, the Yon Kingdom and Moon Kingdom has a rivalry and yet a friendship. Queen Kitra and Queen Selenity were the closest of friends… however, Sailor Furrina and Sailor Pluto became rivals for the Gates of Time… which Pluto now guards.

The Moon Kingdom fell… and the Yon Kingdom was in their own war and could not help save their friends. This was an unfortunate happening, possibly not a coincidence in time. Only Artemis, Luna, and Sailor Pluto hold the memories of what occurred in the past from their side. They believe the Yon Senshi not to be friends. Sailor Aurora, the youngest of the Yon Senshi, was born after these events took place and does not know the dangerous waters that tread. Yet, in this place she befriends Usagi and Mamoru… not knowing who they are, and the two not knowing who she is.

"But we need their help… or everything will collapse," Nevena stared at a black and white picture of Sailor Uranus defeating an enemy with her Space Sword. She ran her finger over the picture, "Ah, Princess, we used to be such dear friends… If only you remembered the past, but hearts will break and I can’t have that happen."

Suddenly, the door slammed open to the shop and a body bustled inside. Nevena barely had a chance to raise her head up when a newspaper fell on her lap. She pushed her glasses up her nose and looked at Nadia who was standing above her with concern covering her face. Nadia was the oldest of the Sailor Senshi, as Sailor Fides. She was usually calm about everything, and everybody should concern when Fides had a problem with something.

"What is it? Did something happen to one of the girls?" Nevena put down her book and grabbed the newspaper.

"No, read it… if it wasn’t your weekend off you would know about this already," Nadia unfolded the front page and placed it in front of Nevena on the register.

The image in black and white was a giant shadowy figure standing on top of a building. The title above it read, ‘Does it begin again?’ The author suggested that the wave of evil entities were going to strike the planet once more, calling on the Sailor Senshi’s protection. Nevena pushed it back and looked at Nadia.

"So it’s a man standing on a building? This isn’t anything to concern over," She replied feeling it to be a hoax.

"No, Princess Sang… look closer, don’t shrug it off," She spoke in her Royal Teacher voice pointing at the chest of the shadowy figure.

Nevena squinted her violet eyes at the image and slammed her fist on the table in realization, "The seal of the Shroud!" She grabbed the paper quickly in her hand to look at it closer, "They followed us! We need to warn them!"

Nadia put her hand on Nevena’s shoulder to stop her from leaving, "No, we can’t… it will not help our plight."

"But these Shrouds are more powerful than any Tin Nyanko or Cyprine and Pikurol… Nevena shoved her archive of articles down the table. What if one of the Senshi get killed because these Shrouds are coming to a place that isn’t ready for them?" Nevena argued back not denting the stern eyes of Nadia.

"And what if you go out there and reveal yourself to them… and they turn their back on you for bringing these enemies? What if Uranus tries to kill you for turning your back on their kingdom when they needed it the most?" She countered.

"But it wasn’t our fault… we couldn’t help them…" Nevena closed her eyes for a moment, "I want Sailor Avena and Lucina to watch them closely. They are a good team and understand the situation. Aurora must not know their job. She can’t know the truth yet, she needs to be free… she’s only a teenager."

"That is the best way… All the girl needs to know is that we cannot reveal ourselves yet, it would be too much chaos and confusion," Nadia nodded before the bell to the door sounded. Customers started entering for the day.

"You watch the store, Nadia… I must meet with our friends," She walked to the back to grab her long coat. Away from the small crowd, Nevena pulled out her small communicator and made it contact the Senshi of Avena and Lucina immediately. She waited for the signal back to speak, "Avena, Lucina meet me in the park… 30 minutes."

"We’ll be there," Avena answered and terminated the communication. She was the dominating of the two in their relationship of life and death. Nevena found the relationship to be fascinating. Avena represented every essence of death, and Lucina every essence of life… And in every incarnation, they find each other to learn from each other, and sometimes love. Just as these two have. Here they are Hope Alexis and Raven Ellis… The yin and the yang.

Walking out of the store, Nevena ran into two blonde haired girls immediately. Quickly, she realized one of them was Sunny Miller… their Sailor Aurora. The girl started laughing as Nevena helped pull her off the ground. The other one wore two odangos on her head with longer than life ponytails. Nevena stared at her for a moment fighting back the memories of Princess Selenity.

"Nevena, is everything alright," Sunny got her attention.

Nevena snapped back to reality, "Yes… Nadia is looking after the store. I need to go meet Hope and Raven."

"Nevena, this is Usagi… Usagi, this is my guardian, Nevena Chase," She introduced happy that Nevena finally got to meet her new friend Usagi.

"It’s nice to meet you, Usagi," Nevena shook her hand, "Sunny says much about you."

"Wow, you’re the reporter… My friend Ami-chan talks about how great you are all the time," Usagi’s eyes lit up.

"Well I would like to meet this friend of yours sometime, but right now I need to get to my friends," Nevena liked the idea of something idolizing her work.

"Okay, I’ll be home later on tonight… I’m going out with the girls," Sunny said and led Usagi into the store.

Nevena continued to walk down the street, "Oh Aurora… if you only knew…"

Nothing but the sound of the wind followed her through the streets.

PART II: HIDDEN

Upon the top of one of the park trees, a reddened leaf detached itself with the wind. It fell lightly through the air and into the path of a happily walking couple. They seemed not to notice it as it fell on the ground and end up under their feet. They also paid no mind to the other pair that walked down the path opposite past them. Yet something struck as odd, the taller of the two turned around to look at the second couple.

"Haruka, is something wrong?" The aqua haired woman asked her companion.

She turned back around, "That lavender hair… reminds me of somebody." A thought she couldn’t trace came and went quickly.

Michiru turned around and glanced back, "Yea, of Mistress 9… the unending mane of hair," She smiled softly, "Your mind has been such a blank to me lately, Haruka."

Haruka nodded, "I’ve just been thinking about the next race." She took one more glance backwards and kept walking shrugging off the feeling for the time being.

The lavender haired woman stopped with her companion and looked behind her. She turned back and kept walking not to cause any further disturbance.

"She will be the one to remember first," the woman commented picking up the reddened leaf from the ground.

The other woman nodded, "Princess Uranus always had the strong will… Nevena should be coming soon."

The lavender haired woman was the shorter of the two. Her face was pale in comparison and her eyes were a hazy grey. She was known to her friends as Sailor Lucina, the one who controls life. On this world she was Hope. Her companion, stood a good foot above her with medium length violet locks. Her complexion was a bit darker and had darker grey eyes. She was Sailor Avena, the one who controls death. Here she was Raven.

Hope took Raven’s hand into her own, "I think things are going to be fine here. Princess Selenity must have the same qualities as her mother… her mother would have helped us."

Raven put her arms around Hope, "But her mother isn’t here, Hope… and their last memories of our Kingdom was us not coming to their aid in war… they had no clue that we were at war as well defending our own lands."

"The only difference is we won then… and they lost everything," Nevena commented coming up behind them.

"Did you see Haruka and Michiru?" Raven questioned her.

Nevena nodded, "But I made sure I stayed hidden… Haruka has seen too much of me."

"What’s going on, Nev? Why did you call us here?" Hope looked up at their leader.

She lead them to a bench and unfolded the newspaper she carried with her to show them what Nadia had shown her earlier. They remained silent with the possibilities of what was to come.

"You both understand the situation as much as I do… I need you to discretely follow the Senshi… Do whatever you can without transforming to make sure none of them are injured in fighting the Shrouds. You both have had many years of learning how do handle such situations," Nevena instructed them.

"And if we need to transform?" Raven had a tone of concern in her voice.

"Use your judgement, Raven. I trust it," Nevena smiled, "Now be careful of the Outer Senshi, they will detect you quicker. Sailor Mars can things as well. Your best opportunity lies in following Sailor Moon or Sailor Jupiter… they are Usagi and Makoto here. Be careful, Sunny may be with them."

"We understand," They stood up, "We’ll keep in contact with you."

Nevena nodded and waited for her next appointment to arrive. She stared at the trees ahead of her realizing quickly that somebody was watching from a distance. She knew it was the TimeKeeper. The woman was desperate to make sure no chaos broke out in this time and place. However, Nevena lost site of her when the green haired Irene Trevor sat down next to her.

"Nadia told me about the Shrouds," Irene pointed to the paper. The wind whipped her short wavy hair around.

Nevena put the paper into the hands of Irene, "This is your job. You and Veronica need to try to find out as much information as you can on the Shrouds… where they are located, and what they are planning. You in no way are to make contact with them."

"It would mean our life if we did," Irene knew their power single-handedly. In the past, they had her under so deep of a spell everybody thought their Sailor Concordia was dead. She never wanted something so frightening to happen again to her or her friends.

"Keep in contact, and be careful… and watch Roni. She may be older than Sunny, but she has the child impulse," Nevena laughed putting on a front for all that passed by.

Irene nodded and walked off down the path leaving the auburn haired Nevena Chase in the park. Things were beginning to become more complicated here. There was no real plan anymore, just many surprises being thrown at the Yon Senshi Leader. She sat for a few more moments until she sensed that she was no longer being watched and started to leave.

"Your Senshi better be careful," the familiar voice caught up to Nevena. She looked over her shoulder to see the green haired Setsuna Meioh.

"As should yours," Nevena warned, "You know as well as I that these Shrouds are far more deadly than any villain they have seen."

"They can take care of themselves… I am speaking of Haruka remembering the past so quickly. You left her with many hurt memories," Setsuna spoke as they exited the park.

"Do you want to get some tea and talk of this?" Nevena offered putting her chilly hands in her coat pocket. The pacing wind was a dark omen of the times.

Setsuna remained silent for a moment contemplating if it would be safe to do, "Yes, we have time."

"That’s all we ever have…" Nevena commented as Setsuna led her through the busy city to a discrete place to talk. Their hidden thoughts of foreboding never crossed their mouths on the way there.

PART III: BEHIND THE CORNER

Setsuna sipped slowly at her green tea as she and Nevena sat in a brief silence. They were in the back of a discrete café hoping not to be seen. Every so often Nevena would watch the people walking by the far window.

"You must realize what they are going to remember of the Yon Kingdom, it is very one sided," Setsuna finally spoke.

Nevena’s eyes fell onto hers, and Setsuna could see a deep sense of regret, "I know it is, but I can’t stand by on either part and do nothing… The Moon Kingdom is the only hope my Kingdom has back at home… and right now, we are the only hope they have at defeating these Shrouds."

"But it is your fault they came," Setsuna pointed out, "This will further their distrust."

Nevena set her tea down, "Not if we defeat the Shrouds for them."

"Sang, this is what they will remember when they start to… and they will. They will remember a long friendship and rivalry with the Yon Kingdom. They will remember falling in love with Princes and befriending others. They will remember Yon falling in love with them… and they will remember the heartaches and the arguments. They will remember the rivalry over TimeKeeper and the heated chaos is caused. And most of all, they will remember that the Yon Kingdom did not come to their aid when Queen Beryl had her uprising. They don’t know that your people were at war, and they will not understand the type of enemies you Ancient Senshi face."

"But we are over the past, we have grown up… all of us were so young back then, Aurora doesn’t even know what happened," Nevena countered.

"And Haruka will remember her friendship with the Princess, and how tempting it was… and it will hurt."

Nevena looked hurt by those memories. The Princess of Uranus was her best friend, and in the past, her most frightening desire, "But this is not then. This is now… and two Kingdoms are at stake again."

"Yes, but your Kingdom won the last round… maybe it is time to lose."

"No!" She said slightly loud, "My mother’s life is at stake, my Kingdom’s people are at stake. The Yon Kingdom has many more lives than the Moon Kingdom ever had. It would be a massacre. If they can’t do it for my Senshi, then they should do it for the people."

Nevena drank more tea to calm down. She stared out the window and became alarmed when Hope and Raven stumbled through a crowd of rushing citizens. Setsuna quickly turned around to watch.

"Time seems to have cut short," Nevena commented throwing money down on the table. They both got up and ran out to see what was going on. She knew that things were never going to change so the time to act is now. She sent the signal on he communicator to her Senshi to come to her location. Setsuna lead the way behind Hope and Raven. All four stopped on the corner and watched the chaos.

10 Shroud soldiers were hovered above 5 Inner Senshi… Energies and weapons were spraying everywhere. Luna and Artemis were hiding out of the way. Sunny got the communication and sought Nevena in the crowd.

Setsuna looked at Nevena with her disapproving eyes, "You will wait until myself and the Outer Senshi join this fight… and if we cannot defeat these shrouds… You will do what you must. But I have warned you, and I will speak for you when the time comes."

"I hear you," Nevena commented and watched Setsuna behind the corner into an alleyway to transform away from the crowds. Surprisingly enough out of the alley came she and two other Senshi.

"Deep Submerge!" Neptune called out sending a wavy ocean of water towards one of the Shrouds. It struck him hard in the back but did little damage. He turned around and whipped his dark energy at her.

"Burning Mandala!" Mars tried with the same affect.

Nevena stood still as her Senshi gathered around her: Sunny, Hope, Raven, Nadia, Veronica, and Irene. They watched Sailor Moon take down one of the Shrouds, but only after being injured by it.

"This is useless," Veronica argued behind her fiery red hair, "Let’s go finish them off."

Nevena looked at Sailor Pluto through the crowd and grinded her teeth. She then slyly turned her head towards Veronica, "Move into the alley way… it is time to end this."

Hiding behind the crowd, the Yon Senshi ducked around the corner to become their true forms.

PART IV: FLAME SEDUCTION

The six Senshi chanted and simultaneously transformed into their Senshi selves. They seemed to sigh in relief being out of their aliases and into the forms that bring them so much honor. Their eyes then fell on Nevena Chase who summoned the power of the Ancient gods, to be their leader in true form.

"Furrina Ancient Make Up!" Blue magic swirled around her and the flame of the Fates touched her soul. In moments she wore the proud uniform of Furrina. She walked to the head of her team and led them out onto the edge of the alleyway.

Timing was everything. Only three of the Shrouds were killed. Venus and Neptune were injured the most. Furrina’s Senshi may not totally kill off the Shrouds, but they will do most of the job. Her Senshi were stronger than most of the Moon Kingdom Senshi. Sailor Moon had powers greater than Furrina herself, but didn’t have the ancient skill to match it. Only Uranus, Jupiter, and Saturn had any bearing on the other Yon Senshi.

"On my word… Bellona, Aurora, and Concordia I want you to strike those three. Avena, Lucina, Fides and myself will strike the other four. Do not get in the other Senshi’s way, but offer teamwork. That is the way to defeat the Shrouds. Each of you can find a counterpart in these Senshi…" Furrina ordered.

Fides then added in, "Bellona, Mars… Aurora, Venus… Concordia, Mercury… Avena, Jupiter… Lucina, Neptune… I go to Uranus… and Furrina goes to Sailor Moon."

Furrina motioned to the armor clad Bellona to make her team known. Bellona ran out onto the street and onto the top of one of the damaged cars. "Bellona Flame Seduction!" She chanted unleashing the hypnotizing wave of flames, "Mars, strike him!" She called out. Dumfounded at first by the new Senshi, Mars complied, "Flame Sniper!" Her attack succeeded in destroying the confused Shroud.

Mercury quickly computed that such things worked and looked at Sailor Concordia who was now accompanying her, "Shabon Spray!" Her attack was not strong enough to do much damage (like Bellona’s previously) but Concordia’s plenty whip did the job on the distracted Shroud.

That left five more Shrouds to take out. Neptune and Uranus were less willing to take such aid and shrugged off the assistance wanting to work on their own. Fides quickly recalled their work ethics and went onto her own sending out her attacks to the Shrouds.

"Who are you?" Sailor Moon looked at Furrina who had just used her Mage Crystal calling to destroy a Shroud instantly.

"Get down!" Furrina said quickly and pushed Sailor Moon to the ground. Furrina took a blast in the back while protecting her.

"Furrina!" Lucina shouted ducking under fire to go the her leader.

"Keep fighting!" Furrina responded pulling herself up slightly in pain, "Sailor Moon, I am Sailor Furrina and eventually you will remember me."

Sailor Moon didn’t quite know what to say but followed Furrina’s leads on attacking the Shrouds. With every effort they had, all of the Senshi managed to do off the remaining dark Shrouds. And when the dust settled there were questions in the air.

Uranus stared intently at the new Senshi who started to gather together. Especially at the leader who was being helped up from her injuries in protecting Sailor Moon several times.

"You save my life," Sailor Moon walked over to her, only to be rattled by Luna. Pluto saw this and started to come to the front of the Moon Kingdom Senshi.

Luna jumped on Sailor Moon’s shoulder, "Stay away from them."

"Why?" She looked surprised, "She just saved my life… three times."

Artemis then jumped onto Sailor Venus’ shoulder, "Because they are the Yon Senshi and have cause nothing but trouble for the Moon Kingdom."

"The Yon Senshi…." Uranus whispered under her breath. She started to gain back her memories quickly. She left Neptune’s side and started to walk forward to looked closer at Furrina.

"There has to be an easier way," Furrina mumbled to Fides feeling extreme pains in her body.

"Luna, Artemis… let me talk…" Sailor Pluto spoke up.

"Sailor Moon, remember," Luna used her crescent moon to break the barrier of memories there were in the Senshi. They all started to look confused and hurt by all the negative memories there were of the Yon Senshi. Neptune looked angriest in the background. Furrina saw this and closed her eyes hating every minute of these moments.

PART V: TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES

"Furrina, why are they so angry at us?" Aurora pleaded with their leader. She didn’t understand.

Mars’ jaw seemed to drop, "You don’t know?"

"No, I don’t," Aurora stood back feeling ashamed.

"Your Kingdom was supposed to be our friend, but you denied us help when we needed it," Sailor Moon protested looking at the one who had just helped her.

"You are the one who rivaled Pluto for TimeKeeper," Venus whispered remembering the stories of the choosing, before her time.

"But I loved your brother before… and hurt Jedeite," Mars looked at Bellona, "And you had your brother turn away from me. I remember that, Ajeya. You were jealous your brother was not spending time with you."

Bellona closed her eyes… She was so young and childish in those days.

Uranus kept pacing not saying anything but stewing in her emotions.

Pluto stood in front of her Senshi, "Senshi you forget there are two sides to every story…"

Jupiter looked up, "But if they wouldn’t have turn their backs on us, the Moon Kingdom would have had help against Queen Beryl in the past."

Furrina pushed herself away from Fides and walked forward towards the Moon Kingdom Senshi, "And that is the past. It can’t be fixed…"

"And our feelings don’t go away," Neptune mumbled from the back.

"No, the don’t…" Furrina said, "But you don’t know the half of it… Those Shrouds," She motioned to the sky.

"what about them?" Moon questioned dearly wanting Furrina to redeem her Senshi.

"Those Shrouds are plaguing my Kingdom. Their leader has captured my mother, the Queen… and taken my entire Kingdom hostage. They have been warring with us since the beginning of our Kingdom. They are unlike any enemy you have ever seen… and we couldn’t save your Kingdom because we were trying to save our own. We couldn’t have been there to help you… and I regret every day that I couldn’t have been there to help."

A tear fell down Sailor Moon’s cheek reliving those past memories, "What do you want with us now?"

"I want your help… My Kingdom is lost if you say no… and if we return alone, we will all die. The Oracles can make no incarnations of the Senshi, but none will be able to defeat these stronger Shrouds. You saw how difficult they are. Imagine their creator," Furrina started to plead with Sailor Moon.

"I… I" She started not knowing what to say. She wanted to help the Yon Senshi, but she felt her team didn’t want to do as much.

"Please…" Furrina whispered starting to hold her stomach. She counted fractured ribs amidst the pain.

Sailor Moon looked around at her team and friends. Each of them started to nod in approval. She looked back at Sailor Furrina, "We’ll help you."

"Speak for yourself," Uranus finally spoke walking over to Furrina.

Furrina’s eyes filled with much pain from the past. This woman before her used to be her dearest friend, and they parted on the worst of terms.

"Princess…" She said softly.

"You were my friend…" Uranus accused.

Furrina looked down and then at Uranus’ cold eyes, "I was."

Uranus, too, looked pained by the past. Her eyes teared slightly and it then went away with anger. She remembered being tempted to turn away from Princess Neptune by the Princess of Furrina… the one who was her best friend, and the one who knew how to get under her skin and to rattle her emotions. Uranus grabbed Furrina’s face, which made the Senshi wince in pain. What happened next was a shock to everybody. Uranus kissed Furrina deeply and then shoved her back, "Bitch. Is that what you wanted with all of the damn temptation? You almost ruined the best thing I had in life!"

Neptune stood shocked by the entire thing, and was at a loss when she saw Uranus strike Furrina across the face with her fist. Furrina fell back onto the feet of her Senshi. She deserved every moment of that and didn’t make any effort to get up from the ground. She lay in her pain, and knew that it was justice for everything the Ancients did in the past to the Moon Kingdom…

~Fin