The Celestial Warrior

Part Four: Anger and Revenge! The Past Lives of Celestia.


\"You see, Serenity, we all come from a center of beings. When this
universe was created, and planets began to form and show promise of
life, We were sent to guide it to it\'s ultimate destiny. And We still
are working hard to guide mortals to that destiny.

\"Your Mother and I were very close friends that we bonded into
Sisters. We complimented each other when one was lacking. Your
Mother was quiet and peaceful when I was loud and headstrong, and I
was quick to defend when she didn\'t know how to react. She is a
wonderful person, and I was always happy t wit with her.

\"Once life was starting to sprout, We were sent by The One to watch
and guard over them. Serenity chose this solar system because she
loved the people here when she first saw it. I took a position
farther away, because of my power and I didn\'t want to rule over my
sister. She was of lesser power, so she had her choice of a solar
system. I was with greater power, so I ruled over a galaxy. Other
goddesses answer to me.

\"There were always attacks from rival gods and goddesses, but they
were always held at bay. There was never a real threat and we all
lived peacefully. We visited each other often, until there was a true
threat to Our happiness.

\"Metallia was the most powerful goddess out of all Our rivals. She
had followers that almost outnumbered Us. She hated the balance We
created, and wanted it destroyed. She set off on a particular course
that no one could figure out. But my galaxy was the first to be hit.

\"My galaxy, what the people there called \'The Starlit Path\', had a
very advanced culture. Immediately, as soon as they formed
intelligence, they used their minds to such an extent that they had
space travel to move among the other inhabited planets within a few
centuries. While people here were still learning that they had powers
with their minds to create things out of thin air, they were at peace
with their neighbors in other solar systems. I incrincredibly proud
of the culture under me, and I had a feeling that they were the first
to come so close to the Ultimate Destiny that my mission was almost
done and I could move on.

\"But that wasn\'t meant to be, and even with all the powers my people
and I had, it wasn\'t enough to keep the evil away.

\"It was my wedding day. Yes, my dear Serenity, it is not uncommon for
Us to fall in love with mortals. As I was standing next to my
betrothed in front of my favored priestess, that was when Metallia
decided to strike. She came like an angry stormcloud, raining on the
mortals and immortals lightening and hail, trying to stone them into
oblivion. She pulled up my priestess from the ground and electrocuted
her slowly until she finally died. The immortals fled, their power
was useless against this kind of power. The mortals were slowly
crushed by her fury. And then there was only me and my would-be mate.
She scooped him up and crushed the life out of him, worse than the way
she treated my priestess. I boiled in anger and released it at her.
Nothing happened, and she laughed at me. I released my heart crystal
and fueled it with every last bit of my strength. I hurt her, but not
enough. She destroyed my al sal shell, thinking that I was dead with
it. But I waited until she pason, on, and I l I left the shell,
desperately trying to reach my sister in time. Because I knew it
would take something drastic before she would ever attack. With my
shell gone, my powers were released and maybe I would\'ve been more
effective.

\"When I reached this solar system, it was too late. I watched as you
and Endymion were taken away, just like my beloved were, and killed.
I saw the pain on my sister\'s face as she saw you both dead and
hanging like dolls in the air. This was her breaking point, taking
her heart crystal and using every bit of her strength to banish
Metallia and her servants into another dimension. And then she gave
up her shell, used her crystal in bringing all the immortals and
goddesses back to Earth to start over again. I couldn\'t do that with
my people. The planets they used to visit are just starting to gain
tiny one-celled life again.

\"Serenity returned back to the realm of Our people, and I wept for her
and myself. I knew her daughter was sent to Ea so so I remained and
set myself up as one of the mortals. I would be reincarnated over and
over, and my power would only be released when a new threat arose.

\"Let me explain why we are so different from others. Each goddess or
god gained their power for whatever mission they were originally
assigned. Your mother was assigned to keeping peace among the others.
I was assigned to a police-type position, among three others. We were
guardians of our realm and the outer universes. We still retain these
positions. As you have powers to heal, that is a part of your
assignment of peacekeeper. Right now, it seems that all you\'re doing
is killing demons and healing people who were altered, but there is a
lot more to you than what you see. Just like my powers were varied to
do different things here on Earth.

\"I was reincarnated into many different forms. During the time of the
first Egyptians, I was Isis to them. At that time, there were some
gods threatening to take over their lands, and my powers came forth.
As you can see, I was the model they adopted, for they took the
markings from around my eyes and adorned themselves with them out of
kohl. I kept all rivals at bay until they gave up and I returned to
living out mortal lives.

\"One of my most painful missions was casting the plagues on the land I
once protected. They became more conceited in their power and started
uncalled slavery of one race. I was ordered to put them in their
place, but each one they didn\'t listen to. Until I was instructed to
take the firstborns back to the Realm, making sure that I paid
attention to blood on doors to signal me to stay away. I was given my
flaming sword for this mission so that no one would interfere with me.
I wept with every passing, feeling the pain of these people I
protected before. But I had to, it was my job.

\"And with more pain I watched pass through the ages, the more I
thought of the destruction of Metallia. She caused all this pain and
hatred and she was going to pay. But then you were awakened, and you
saved the world from her.\"

\"But why are you awake now?\" Usagi asked.

\"There is bad blood between you and Dwersis, but you\'re not aware of
it. She is, and she is out to kill you. You cannot stand against her
power, but I can. I\'m here to protect the future of this planet. I
have no place to call, truly, my own. So I adopted this region. I
will help you in any way I can, Little Sister, and we will free this
area of evil until the next threat.\"

Mamoru sat up and placed his hands on Celestia\'s shoulders. \"Can you
change back now? I really need to see you as Raven now.\"

\"Do you know the danger you\'re both in right now? Especially
Serenity? If I\'m the reminder of it I should remain like this.\" She
blinked as they stared at her. \"Because of your powers, you are the
prime targets of anyone\'s hatred. I\'m trying to protect you, and just
because I\'ll look like Raven again doesn\'t mean my job will stop.
Honestly, I mean you no harm. I\'m your friend, and you have to
believe in that. Please, for your sake and the sake of this planet.\"

He turned silently to Usagi, who sat silently with her hands to her
mouth. Her fear was showing. Eventually, she calmed down and tried
to speak. \"Celestia, what can we do now?\"

\"Nothing at this moment. You have to wait till the moon is fully out.
Then your powers will be stronger and more resilient to her attacks.
Right now, Dwersis could try and attack here, but it\'ll be on our
turf. She won\'t have the power she needs if she\'s here. But if wriedried to attack her now, we\'ll never survive. We have to wait.\" She
could see that Usagi was visibly shaken. She placed a hand on her
shoulder, \"I know this is a lot for you to take in, and I will help
you in any way I can. But we have to do it together. Do you trust
me?\"

\"I cannot help but trust,\" she whispered, taking her hand in hers.
With her other hand, she took one of Mamoru\'s and held them all
together. \"We do together.\"

Celestia smiled, \"I\'m glad you can. But this form is growing tired
and I can\'t hold it anymore.\"

\"Change, then.\" Usagi let go of her hand and watched as the
shimmering enveloped her body, reverting her back to Raven. Raven
then slumped to her elbows, overcome with dizziness. \"You all right?\"
she asked as she held her shoulders.

\"I\'ll be fine,\" Raven whispered, her arms shaking from holding herself
up. \"This always leaves me shaken. The change . . . the power . . .
\"

\"Rest, we need it,\" she whispered back.

************************************************************

Dwersis reappeared in her twisted throne room, screaming out her rage
at being defeated. \"How can this be!? How can I be treated like
this!\"

\"You cannot win, my Sister is back, and she won\'t let you harm My
Daughter,\" came a voice from a darken corner.

\"Shut up! I don\'t need you interfering!\" she yelled. \"Damn you both!
If it wasn\'t for your interference in the first place, My Mother and I
would be ruling the universe, the way it should be!\"

\"That is not what was meant to be, and I think you know it. But
there\'s no point in pouting over what happened.\"

\"Right, there is the here and now. And now your spawn and partner are
blocking my path!\" The Dark One threw herself into her throne and
slowly calmed down. \"There must be a weakness somewhere . . . one or
both of them . . . maybe that man that stands with them . . .\"

Serenity, still chained to the far wall, tried to keep from crying.
This was a bad time for Her and Her Daughter, and someone needed to
keep strong. She knew Her Daughter would be anxious to come in and
try to rescue her, but the time wasn\'t right. Hopefully, Celestia can
keep her at bay till the full of her powers come about. And that
wouldn\'t happen for another few days. She may not have a few days,
but she had to be strong so that she can always come to the aid of her
daughter.

She r thr thought that she would need the rescuing.

*************************************************************

\"What was I drinking last night,\" she moaned as she woke up the next
morning. \"Ugh, my head. Who spiked the punch?\" Rubbing her eyes and
blinking the sunlight out of them, she realized that she was back in
her bed, even though she remembered passing out in her living room.
Her shoulder rubbed against something. No, someone. Trying to see,
she looked off to her right, and saw Usagi softly snoring on her side,
facing her. Blinking in surprise, Raven shook her shoulder. \"Usagi,
wake up.\"

With a tiny snort, Usagi opened her eyes and tried to smile through
her sleepiness. \"Morning, Raven-chan,\" she whispered.

\"What are you doing here? I thought you would be sleeping out in your
bed?\"

\"We thought you need watching, in case you not feel well.\"

\"Well, I don\'t feel well now, but that\'s besides the point. And
what\'s with this \'we\' part?\" Usagi pointed over Raven\'s shoulder with
an impish smile on her face. Raven looked at her questioningly, then
looked over. On her other side was a sleeping Mamoru, laying on his
stomach and his head turned away. \"I\'ve wanted him in my bed before,
but this is not the way I was planning it before,\" she muttered under
her breath. She turned back to the little blonde, who was trying not
to laugh out loud, \"This wasn\'t necessary, you know.\"

\"I know,\" she giggled, \"but I was concerned. And so was he.\"

\"I appreciate it, but . . .\" she stopped speaking because someone put
a finger on her lips.

\"Quiet,\" Mamoru muttered, \"I\'m trying to sleep.\" His hand fell away
as he continued his sleep.

\"Uhh, yeah.\" Raven slapped her forehead, then immediately regretted
that. \"Ow.\"

\"Raven-chan, we\'ll take care of you!\" Usagi squeaked as she hugged
her. \"As long as it takes!\"

Feeling her head throb more with Usagi\'s squeezing, she muttered, \"Why
do I feel like I\'m in trouble now?\"

\"Wait till she tries to cook,\" mumbled Mamoru.

************************************************************************

After taking a shower and dressing in something loose and comfortable,
Raven walked out to her kitchen in her bare feet and made herself a
cup of coffee. \"Mind if I join you?\" came a voice from around the
corner. She turned around and saw Mamoru standing there, still in his
pajamas, his hair standing on end. She waved him in and asked if he
wanted a cup, which he took. \"I\'m sorry about this morning\'s wake
up,\" he started. \"It wasn\'t my idea, really. She was worried and
wanted to keep an eye on you, in case of anything.\"

Raven blushed, \"Don\'t worry about it. I know she was concerned, and
I\'m thankful. It just caught me off guard having . . . well, you know
. . . \"

\"Nothing happened while you were out.\"

\"Sarcastic little sh . . . ah, well.\" She padded to her table and sat
down. \"Gotta clean the rest of this up.\" She brushed off some of the
leftover plates to sid side and placed her mug down. \"Why did you go
along with her idea, though? Normally, you\'d pull in a cot or sleep
on the floor instead.\"

\"I was going to, until she stopped me. She wanted me there for some
reason, so I relented to her. I don\'t know why she asked, but I went
along with her.\"

She nodded. \"That was some night, wasn\'t it? Had a great party, had
a party crasher, and ended with a bang. May that never repeat again.\"

\"Agreed,\" he added, clinking his mug to hers.

\"Well, I\'ve got to work on my dancing. Gotta stay in shape even
though I\'m not working on anything. Hope you don\'t mind.\" He shook
his head as she stood up and went into her living room. Turning on
the stereo and putting her music in, she slipped on her socks and
limbered up.

Usagi woke up to the sound of the music and got out of bed. She stood
in the doorway as she watched Raven go through her moves. She scooted
across so she wouldn\'t be in the way and headed to where Mamoru was
seated. \"Mamo-chan!\" she squeaked as she wrapped her arms around him.
He nearly spilled his drink, but still smiled and held onto her
wrists. \"How is Raven?\" she asked in her language.

\"She\'s getting over it. I think.\" He looked over to Raven\'s dancing,
and noticed there was something different to it. \"Maybe not.\"

Usagi looked over, and she thought there was something heavy about her
moves. Like if she was moving, she could get away from the problems
in her head. \"You\'re right.\"

Raven tuned herself out from the others speaking. There was only the
language of the universe and herself, turning and spinning in unison
as she twirled on the floor. She wanted to be nameless, because if
she was Raven, she\'d be this person who\'s not herself recently. If
she was Celestia, she had the burden of the universe. Right now, she
just wanted to be a particle of that universe, instead of a guardian.
The memories of her goddess side were coming out stronger each second,
and it was wi out out her mind. The wars, the death, and the rebirth,
over and over again. Living out so many lives, she started to wonder
what was truly her life and which one was her past. Now the past was
catching up, as she feared about dealing with it.

As she closed her eyes and went into a spin, she could see her
God-Kingdom, the Golden Age. An age of enlightenment, of powers of
the mind. The people, once so alive, now all slaughtered at her feet.
There was blood, unnecessary shedding, on the beautiful white marble.
A shadow over her head, laughing as it couldn\'t keep one shape for too
long in the sky. Raining fire and hail, stoning corpses, what was the
point?

It was torture for her eyes, seeing that there was nothing she could
do to prevent it. Nothing.

Living on, seeing the people of Earth resurrect themselves out of the
ashes of that evil shadow. Becoming a part of their world, living
with them, eating and drinking with them, working and resting with
them, dying with them. Only to start over again until her goddess
side was needed again. It came with almost every age of humanity, and
then starting all over again. She\'s seen too much of death, no wonder
why her beauty . . . no, my beauty . . . has been twisted and warped.
How I have suffered with grief. Wait, how did this turn into My Pain?
When did I accept this? Never.

Then why is it so natural to say it\'s mine?

With the twisted thoughts twirling through her mind, she ignored the
spin she was physically in and fell to the floor, panting. She felt
two sets of hands on her, knowing who they were. Fighting back the
urge to be sick on the spot, she clamped a hand over her mouth and
cried bitter tears. Eventually she heard them speaking to her. Words
of worry and fear that she couldn\'t handle this.

Of course I can\'t handle this!, she wanted to scream at them but held
it back. That was not their fault. But she wished she didn\'t have
this life. What was it like to be a normal, ordinary person living
out an actor\'s dream in America? Just like you forget what it\'s like
feeling healthy when you have the flu, I\'ve forgotten what it\'s like
being normal.

\"We know what you\'re going through,\" she heard Mamoru whisper to her
in English. \"We used to be normal too. Then we were brought back,
even though we didn\'t want it. But we\'ve accepted our fate and our
past and we\goingoing to do what it takes to protect what\'s ours. You,
Celestia, are a part of this world, and now you must join us in
protecting what is ours. I know you can\'t do this now, but you will
learn. We all have.\"

Through the panting, she managed to speak. \"There are others? Here?\"

\"My court,\" Usagi answered. \"The other senshi were revived and now
they fight along with me. They are my best friends.\"

\"I\'m not a part of your court. I\'m only a friend, an outsider. How
could I involve you with my conflicts.\"

\"Friends do that for each other. Friends help. You help, with me,
other senshi. We will be strong and overcome.\" Usagi smiled. \"In
this together.\"

Raven crooked up a corner of her mouth into a half smile. \"You\'re
right. Now, could you two please help me up? I think I\'m still going
to be si"
"

****************************************************************

Back in Dwersis\' throne room, she called upon her possessed servant.
He walked through the portal she created and immediately bowed before
her. \"My dear, devoted slave. I called you in here because I need a
favor of you.\"

\"Anything, and it will be done.\"

\"You are friends with the men named Mamoru and Motoki, am I right?\"

\"You know all, My Queen.\"

She smiled wickedly. Sovedoved those types of answers. \"The lady
named Raven is quite attached to both of them. I want the men
captured and swayed by your influence. I will give you the power to
do so. Then bring them to me. That should make both of them enter my
realm to challenge me.\" Dwersis rubbed her chin in thought as she
plotted the scene over and over in her head. How she would slowly
torture the men to death before she slowly tortured the two goddesses
to oblivion before Serenity. To see the anguish on their faces, the
beautiful tears streaming from their eyes, the light flicker and die
in their eyes, sent an erotic chill down her spine. Then she will
take over her mother\'s dream of owning the universe.

\"You may go, and the sooner you finish, the sooner my great plan will
take effect.\" He stood up and walked out through the portal.

She purred in content, knowing that this plan would work to her full
advantage. And she would rule everything by the turn of the century.

************************************************************

Raven called Motoki once she got her stomach to calm down. She laid
in bed, feeling her abdomen still doing somersaults against sore
muscles, and reached for the phone. No sooner had she reached for it
did the smell of food hit her nose, and made her want to be sick all
over again. \"Usagi!\" she screamed. \"Usagi! Stop your cooking,
please!\"

Usagi poked her head in, all smiles. \"I wanted to fix you something.
Get well soon.\"

\"It\'s making me nauseous.\"

She frowned, \"You haven\'t taste yet.\"

Raven grabbed a pillow and tossed it at the little blonde. \"Stop, and
I\'ll you you know when I want to try eating somet. O. Okay?\"

\"Okay!\" and ran out.

After taking a few more breaths to calm her stomach, she tried again
for the phone. He answered, and she explained that she couldn\'t meet
him because of her ailment. He understood, and said he would catch a
taxi to visit her. Even though she protested, he insisted and
wouldn’t hear any more of it. She gave up and told him to get over
later in the day, so that she would know she was doing better. They
agreed on a time and hung up. She flopped back onto her pillow,
regretting tossing the other one. Two pillows were better than one in
her book. Debating on risking her retching on the floor just for her
comfort, she decided to get up and pick up her pillow. Slumping back
into bed with a moan, she managed to rearrange them into a comfortable
arrangement to sleep on. Then fell asleep without her head touching
them at all.

Mamoru knocked gently be hee he entered, and saw her sprawled out on
her bed in what couldn\'t be a comfortable position. He walked over to
her to try and fix her position, but she woke up as he started to move
her. \"Gome, sorry,\" he whispered, \"I thought you were asleep.\"

\"I thought I was too,\" she muttered. \"Don\'t . . . don\'ve mve me, I
feel sea sick.\"

\"I didn\'t think this would affect you this way?\" he said as he gently
sat down next to her.

\"I think maybe something was spoiled last night. Did you taste
anything that seemed foul?\"

\"No, and Usagi isn\'t sick either. And she had everything.\"

\"Why am I not surprised?\" she sighed. Raven twisted herself onto her
back and fought off a wave of nausea, but it wasn\'t as strong as the
last time. \"Sorry, I\'m taking this out on both of you, and that\'s not
fair. I just feel . . . \"

He nodded his head, \"I know. Just rest, and hopefully you\'ll feel
better.\"

\"You should\'ve been a nurse . . . \" she muttered as she fell asleep
again. He brushed her hair out of her face before he stood up and
left her room.

Usagi was waiting at the door. \"Well, she okay?\"

He smiled. \"She\'ll live. Now, what did you make for lunch today?\"

Her face dropped. \"Ah . . . well . . . uhh . . . not much. Mostly
something burned.\"

\"That\'s okay. Let\'s see if there’s something else we can find.\"

*********************************************************

Motoki stepped out of the cab and paid the driver through the window.
As the car sped off, he looked up the building, almost trying to bring
back the memories of meeting Raven on their dates. How he waited as
she made sure she looked her best, then amazed at the skill she had of
dolling herself up and putting on just enough makeup to make her look
flawless. It was always worth the wait. He knew she wasn\'t going to
look that way esp especially if she was feeling sick. But he hoped
the flowers he had with him would make her feel a little better.

\"Motoki! Imagine me meeting you here!\" He snapped out of his
thoughts, and looked over to the side. Charles was approaching with a
smile and a box of candy. \"How\'s it going?\"

\"Fine, just fine. I was going to see Raven.\"

\"Yeah, heard she wasn\'t feeling well. Well, I thought I\'d come over
and talk shop with Mamoru, see if he wanted to go and see this
convention I\'ve got tickets to. Big computer show, thought he would
be interested.\"

He shrugged. \"I don\'t know if he\'d go. With his girl here and Raven
sick, he may not want to. But it wouldn\'t hurt to ask.\"

Charles chuckled and slapped Motoki on the back. \"Well, let\'s get
going then.\"

****************************************************************

The elevator stopped on Raven\'s floor and the two men entered. Usagi
came up to greet them. \"Motoki-san! Good to see you! Oh,\" then she
noticed the other man with him. \"Konnichiwa, hajimemashite?\" she
slipped into Japanese.

\"Uh, fine, I think,\" Charles stumbled over the words. \"Here, these
are for you,\" he said as he handed over the box of chocolates to her.
He tried not to laugh over the twinkle in her eyes over her treat.
She scampered off to find Mamoru as they walked over to the living
room. \"She\'s a doll, isn\'t she?\"

\"Yeah, I\'m very fond of her,\" Motoki responded.

Mamoru walked out of the back bedroom and greeted the two men.
\"Motoki, glad you could make it. Charles! I\'m surprised you\'re here.
What brings you here?\"

\"I wanted to ask you if you wanted to take in a trade show. I\'ve got
some spare tickets and I thought you\'d be interested.\"

\"Ah, no. I can\'t. I don\'t want to leave Usagi here, especially with
Raven the way she is. I\'m going to have to pass.\" He turned to
Motoki. \"I\'ll get her, see if she\'s up for anything.\" With a nod, he
turned around and headed back.

\"Hmm,\" Charles talked aloud, \"can\'t let these go to waste. Motoki,
wanna join me?\"

He shook his head, \"No, I don\'t think so.\"

\"Someone\'s going to come with me, and I think you will.\" His eyes
started to change, becoming harsher, evil.

\"Hey, so you go alone. Get over it, okay?\" He backed away slowly
from him, those possessed eyes locking his to Motoki\'s blue ones.
\"What\'s the matter with you?\"

\"You\'re coming with me,\" and he slammed a hand down on his shoulder.
An electric current shot through his body, making him fall to the
floor in a painful heap. As he poked the prone man in the ribs with
his foot, making sure he was out, he went to the back to get the other
one. It was going easier than he thought it would.

*********************************************************************

\"Hey, you\'ve got company, sleepy head,\" Mamoru teased Raven as she
slowly opened her eyes. \"Are you well enough to get up?\"

Raven yawned, \"I think so. Hey,\" she noticed the box in Usagi\'s
hands, \"where did you get that?\"

\"Charles gave this to me,\" she answered as she started to open the
box.

\"Who said he was coming over? Why is he here?\"

\"Don\'t worry about it. Motoki\'s waiting for you.\" Mamoru started to
see some sort of panic growing in her eyes. \"What\'s the problem?\"

She darted her eyes back to the box in Usagi\'s hands. As soon as she
picked up a piece of chocolate and about to take a bite into it, Raven
was up and snatching it out of her hands. \"Hey!\" she protested, but
she wasn\'t listening to her.

\"There\'s something wrong with these, don\'t eat them.\"

\"Huh?\"

\"They\'re poisoned. Don\'t eat them.\"

Mamoru looked into the box. \"How can you know?\"

She darted her eyes back up to his, and there was that infinite wisdom
reflected in them that he could recognize. \"Because I know.\" Usagi
panicked herself, thinking that she nearly ate them. \"There\'s
something wrong here, and I think we can get our answers from
Charles.\" Then they heard a thump on the floor outside.

Raven ran to the door, fear motivating her more than anything else.
The other two followed behind her, backing her up. Just as she
feared, there was Motoki laying in a heap with Charles standing above
him. \"What the hell\'s gotten into you?\" she yelled. She ran over to
his body, but a fist stopped her, connecting squarely with her jaw.
With a yelp she landed on the floor and slid a bit away. Feeling the
bruise forming on her face, she felt the anger rise within her.
\"Enough of this!\" With a growl, she called her goddess form into
being in a flash of flame and light.

Knowing this as their cue, Usagi turned into SaiMoonMoon, as Mamoru
turned into Tuxedo Mask. With the three, they knew they could over
power him.

\"Give up your evil ways!\" Sailor Moon started with her speech. \"You
have hurt a friend of mine, and for that you will be punished! I am
the pretty sailor-suited soldier Sailor Moon! In the name of the
Moon, I shall punish you!\"

Celestia stood up, a hand to her face. \"Serenity, now\'s not the time
for speeches.\"

Sailor Moon just straightened up out of her fight stance, then focused
back on to the problem facing them. \"Anyway, who set you up to this?\"

\"I have a pretty good idea,\" Tuxedo Mask muttered, taking a rose out
and preparing to throw it.

The three of them surrounded the possessed man in a triangle
formation. Celestia, never taking her eyes off of him, made a dive
for Motoki to move him out of the way. Charles grabbed her by the
throat and locked his arm around her windpipe. Even though she was in
an uncomfortable position, she managed to lift her legs up to kick him
in the stomach. It was hard enough for him to let her go, but not
enough to knock him out.

As soon as she fell away, Tuxedo Mask threw his rose at him like a
dart. Charles avoided it, as he was too busy keeping Celestia away
from Motoki. He tried to grab her again, but she spun around in his
grasp and kicked him away again. That managed to push him away a few
steps. It bought her a few more seconds.

Sailor Moon went running, leaped into the air, and spun around in a
kick aimed at his face. He took it full force, but he still was able
to grab her by the ankle and yanked her upside down. Tuxedo Mask went
charging after him, his cane ready as any sword would be. He swung it
and knocked him in the back of the neck, making him let go of her.
She fell down, rubbing the sore spot on her back.

Charles and Tuxedo Mask were wrestling each other, neither one gaining
ground over the other. Sailor Moon wanted to jump in somewhere to
help him, but was reluctant, fearing she would hit her love instead of
their enemy. That same flash was starting to appear in his eyes
again, as if he was calling upon a power hidden within himself. She
saw it and yelled a warning. Tuxedo Mask saw it too, but didn\'t react
in time. Currents of electricity ran through him, making every nerve
turn to fire. He buckled under the shock, but he wasn\'t going to give
up that easily.

Celestia managed to get Motoki off to the side and was trying to
revive him. After a small while, his eyes flickered open. Then she
realized that she wasn\'t the same as she was before, and nearly cursed
under her breath over her mistake, until she saw that glimmer of
knowing in his eyes. She gasped, slapping her hand to her mouth, as a
new memory slammed into her mind. He reached up gently, combing his
fingers into her mane of red hair, smiling as if he was familiar with
this form. No, her mind screamed, it cannot be . . . !

And then she heard Tuxedo Mask\'s cry of pain, and she snapped out of
it. She could see the arcs of current hitting him, and Sailor Moon
standing by, afraid to react. Anger boiled within her again. She
turned back to Motoki, laying a hand on his chest, as if that was all
he needed to know she had to part.

She stood and threw her power at Charles. \"Fight fire with fire, I
always say.\" She cast her lightning at him, jolting him and
overloading his powers. The current assailing Tuxedo Mask stopped,
and he fell, his clothes still smoldering.

Celestia walked over to the stunned man, grabbing ahold of his shirt
and shaking him. \"Who put you up to this? Huh? Gonna speak or do I
make you?\"

\"The Queen of the Universe,\" he choked, \"Dwersis.\"

\"I knew that bitch had something to do with this.\" Not letting go,
she turned to Sailor Moon. \"Serenity, can you heal him?\"

\"I . . . I can try.\" She looked down at her locket, and it opened,
revealing the Silver Crystal inside. It came off her bow and hovered
between her hands. \"Moon Crystal Healing, Activation!\" she chanted.
The Crystal glowed softly, releasing pure beams of moonlight, drowning
the evil that contaminated him. Soon, he was released of the evil
charms, and he passed out, collapsing into Celestia\'s arms. She laid
him down on the ground and then went to Tuxedo Mask, who was starting
to convert back to Mamoru.

Sailor Moon rested his head in her lap as he started to wake up.
Celestia made sure he was all right before she turned back to Motoki.
But when she looked back, he was gone.

Her eyes opened wide. She scrambled to her feet, dashing around to
find him, and he was nowhere. Inside her mind, she could hear that
same laugh she heard the other night. \"My dear Celestia,\" it laughed,
\"I have him now. Maybe it\'ll give you some encouragement in visiting
me sooner than you thought.\" The laughter died away till her mind was
clear again.

Celestia let out a blood chilling howl, scaring the senshi and her
love. \"You can\'t do this to me again!\" she screamed to the air. \"You
can\'t do it! I won\'t let you!\" Crying bitter tears, she fell to her
knees, pounding her fists into the floor till they started to bleed.

Sailor Moon ran over and pulled Celestia up, holding her wrists away.
\"What? What happened?\"

\"That deamon has my love! Again they torture me with this!\"

\"I know you used to date him, but that doesn\'t mean . . . . \"

\"You don\'t understand Serenity,\" she cried. \"He is my betrothed from
so long ago!\"


To be continued....