“Luna! We’re back!” Usagi yelled. A dark figure bolted down the stairs. “Usagi! Minna! What happened? Are you all ok?” Luna looked back and forth from one senshi to another. “Never been better!” Minako giggled lightly. “What happened?!” “We were healed. The evil spirits are gone now.” Rei answered calmly. “What? Evil spirits??” Luna’s eyes widened “Uh huh. We were like possessed or something...but we’re all right now! Back to normal as you can see!” Usagi told her cheerily. “We were possessed by something called Solitaires. It has something to do with fate...but I don’t quite understand.” Ami said in a more serious tone. “Solitaires....?” Luna bowed her head and looked at her feet. “The ancient powers...are back...? And the ultimate confinement...is broken? No! It can’t be true...not now...so soon...” She thought aloud. “Luna, what do you mean?” Ami asked concertedly. “At the beginning of time...there was a woman...I think she was a sorceress. Anyways, she had nine sons who took the form of evil powers such as doubt, regret, sorrow, and other things that are not really extremely harmful, but can be when if it exists in excessive amounts. They became the force called the Solitaries because they all work alone, but work for the same cause. They strike unexpectedly, mostly possessing a host and then attempting to destroy its host by means of suicide or by trapping its soul.” Luna said, bewildered at this new discovery. “The nine brothers were the most powerful power in the universe, and when combined, had more power than anything that exists. But they refuse to work together, which is a good thing...” “Then how come we have never heard of them? It isn’t even in any of the books or anything.” Ami asked. “Those books were probably too modern to have anything about the Solitaires in it. The Solitaires existed at the very beginning of time. Also, most people don’t even know about them. The Ultimate Confinement kept them from using any powers, and they were kept in an area cut off from the rest of existence. The world just forgot about them I guess.” Luna answered bluntly. “Five men called Originators were created by a woman with beauty beyond comprehension. She had wisdom and love like no other. The Originators had equal power to that of the nine brothers. These men knew the evil nature of the Solitaires, but were unable to destroy them because they don’t have that kind of power. The only power they have is of creation. Therefore they created something called Ultimate Confinement which is almost impossible to escape. But..it seems that one day they must be free, and that time is now. Sailor Senshi, this is your destiny, to face the nine brothers” Knowledge unknown to her before flooded to her mind, and she became controlled by a strange power that spoke through her. “Your lives and the world’s future is in grave danger. The brothers must never meet, lest they destroy the universe. Your fate has arrived, the last and most crucial battles of the world lie before you. Your first mission of to eliminate Hani, the youngest of the brothers who is protected by the Unicorn Force.” “Uhh...Luna? How come you never told this to us before?” Usagi asked. The cat lowered its head and positioned itself into a sort of kneeling position. “Princess...” “Yes, Luna..that would be me.” “No longer am I Luna, but the Guardian. I am the power that created Luna” “What the...” “So you’re not Luna...” “That is correct. Luna no longer exists on Earth. Her purpose on Earth was to train and teach you of the virtues and morals you must know in order for this ultimate battle. Now that her work is finished it is by fate that she return her body to the Guardian.” Usagi looked confused, and after a moment an analysis of the information popped into her head. “You killed her!” “No..no I did not kill her..” replied the cat. “She is not dead. She has gone home...and I have returned.” “What the heck...I must be dreaming. This is all to weird to be real.” Makoto mumbled. “The Originator business was enough...now what’s with the Guardian thing? What is the world coming to..” Haruka grumbled in return. The Guardian laughed a little at the senshi’s reluctance to believe reality. “Be prepared for the unexpected. The end of your time as well as my time draws near, therefore many strange happenings will occur.” The words hit the senshi like a lightning bolt. “Our time is over?” “What?” “We’re about to die?” The room was in chaos. A voice spoke out louder than the rest. “No no..not necessarily. Your time HERE will be over...maybe. If you are killed, your soul will be released to your home planet to reign forever. If you live, you will stand as the eternal protectors of this Earth.” “This is the end, huh?” Rei commented solemnly. “Yes, somewhat.” replied the cat.

Hani laid back and stared at the high ceiling decorated in gray and black shadows. His room was nearly empty; there was only a bed and a high lamp. Yawning, he pondered, “The senshi probably know I’m after them..damn! I shouldn’t have let that cat get away! Now what do I do?!” Hani growled and sat upright. Then a brilliant idea surfaced to his mind. “Hahaha! I am a genius!” Quickly, he touched the mark on his forehead and white light flashed everywhere. His legs became stiff, his upper body bent over and shimmering white fur covered his body. Out of the single star on his forehead protruded a pearl white horn. Hani, the unicorn galloped down the halls and into the Timeless Garden. The silver sheen of moonlight poured down in Usagi’s balcony. She smiled a tranquil smile as she marveled at the wonder of the night, the glowing light radiating on her face. “I wish Mamo-chan was here...” A deep emotion welled up in her heart. She sighed and rested her chin on her hand as she looked up at the moon. Silent footsteps crept up behind her. “Princess?” called a voice. “Wha...huh?” Usagi turned and saw her cat. “Oh, hi Luna..err..Guardian” She quickly corrected herself. “There are a number of things you must know about this final battle.” “Like what?” “Well for one thing...there is not a being in the universe who knows everything about the final destiny of the world. We all know its and pieces, but that is not sufficient enough to tell the whole story. Personally, even I don’t know what is to become of this world. Destiny lies in your hands. It has not even been written in any of the Great Scrolls of Knowledge.” “Oh..so it isn’t just gonna turn out like it’s supposed to? This time it really depends on us?” “That’s correct..and to be honest I’m a bit worried. The result could turn out disastrous.” The Guardian looked at the ground uncomfortably. “Don’t worry...I’m sure nothing horrible will happen...” Usagi tried to comfort him “Let’s hope so” He replied. As the cat turned and walked away, Usagi knew the future was now her responsibility and she would never let the world down...ever. Even though she knew she might die in the process, she made a vow to herself that she would be willing to give her life a thousand times for the sake of everyone’s future. At that instant, she saw a small green flash in the sky. When she rubbed her eyes and looked again, it was gone. “Oh well..It is pretty late. I guess it’s just a star or something.” Serenity, Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Pluto slept peaceful and dreamlessly through the night.

Golden rays of dawn poked in through the blue curtains of Haruka’s room. She awoke to the sound of a blaring alarm clock and saw a shadowed figure against the bright morning light. “Haruka! I waited forever for you to wake up!” said a voice that fit in so well to the surroundings but was strangely awkward to the situation. “Huh?? MICHIRU??!!” Haruka bolted out of bed and saw Michiru sitting by her bedside. “Oh my god...Michiru is it really you?” she asked skeptically. “Of course I am! Who else would I be?” Michiru answered. They embraced, tears streaming down Haruka’s face, and just for a second Michiru felt a pang of guilt and her heart softened to the touch of her lover Haruka. “You don’t know what I went through without you...I thought you were dead...” Haruka whispered in a tone almost inaudible. “I’m sorry...sorry for everything that happened...I can’t help that things had to turn out this way.” Michiru said quietly with a strange voice as if she had some secret meaning to the words. “I have to go now.” “Already? You aren’t even going to see everyone else?” “I can’t...but I’ll be back....really. Don’t worry about me...I’m fine. But please just don’t tell anyone I was here, ok?” She smiled and walked away. As Haruka saw Michiru turn her back she though of all the times she had almost lost Michiru. She wasn’t about to lose her again. “Wait! I’m going with you!” she shouted. “No. You can’t” Michiru firmly replied, turning around. “But...Why not? You can’t even tell me where you’re going?” “No. You can’t come. Sorry.” Michiru’s voice suddenly became harsh and icy. She turned away and although she tried to keep her composure, tears started to form in her eyes and before she knew it she was crying uncontrollably. She then lifted her eyes to the sky and transformed into a aqua ball of light with black swirls around it and shot towards the flaming yellow sun. Haruka had no idea of what to think of this incident. “Well...I guess I have to keep quiet about this...she wanted me to...but what if this is important? Shouldn’t I tell the others? Ahh...whatever. I’ll tell them when the time comes.” Haruka walked off, half confused and half disappointed, trying to analyze this unexpected event.

Usagi grabbed a piece of partially burnt toast and ran to her car. “ARGH....the keys...” Usagi slammed the door and sprinted back to the house, snatched the keys and rushed to her car, tripping over a step on the way. She backed up and sped towards school. “I’m late! I’m late! This is my last chance too!! I have that test today...I forgot about that! Shit...”She pressed the accelerator harder and harder and at that moment she heard what she had feared most that morning. A siren, blaring loud and clear. “Shit! Now I’m late for sure!” She pulled over and waited impatiently as the officer took his time getting out of the car. “Ugh...WHY can’t officers walk right! If they can’t walk with those belts why don’t they just take them off! Stupid man...HURRY UP....” She thought, glaring in the direction of the officer. The officer wore his cap unusually low, almost covering his nose. He also did not have the casual, strong walk of most policemen. He constantly shifted his position and adjusted his belt. “Uhh...Hm..Oh yea. Do you have a license?” “Well DUH I have a license...how do you think I drive?? What an idiot...” She fumbled around in her bag until her fingers felt a small plastic card. “Here.” She turned in his direction and saw the man’s face, his eyes intense and burning upon her. “Tsukino Usagi...Is that the name you go under on Earth? Haha...Should I let you go this time? Just because your...the Princess?” “What?? Who are you?” “You’ll know me soon enough...maybe when I kill you and all your little friends...” Usagi stomped on the accelerator and her tires screeched as she drove down the road at top speed. When she had gone some distance away from the encounter, she finally slowed down. “I wonder who that officer REALLY was...maybe...Hani? Guardian did say a lot of strange things would happen...she was right.” Usagi headed for school once more, but was driving straight into a wrecked school day. She arrived late, missing her first class, and was traumatized all day by the morning’s event. Every time someone would call her name, she whipped around to see who it was. Otherwise, the day passed normally, filled with books and unheard voices of countless professors. Guardian lay on Usagi’s bed, thinking. Because nobody knew the destiny of this time, it was hard for him to say anything at all about the future. In reality, he did not even know where the senshi would go if they all died. He shook his head and rid his mind of that idea. “No...I’m sure they’ll be fine...They’ve made it up to now, right? But then..they HAD to...it was their destiny. This is so nerve-racking! I don’t even know what to do to help them...But if they really do fail...will evil finally triumph? Is that how it will turn out? No! I won’t let it happen! The universe was NOT made so evil could take over!” Unknowingly, Guardian had stood up and started pacing across the bed in anger. When he finally realized what he was doing, she stopped and sat on a pillow, patiently waiting for Usagi to come home. After an amount of time, a key turned in the lock and the door creaked open. Usagi trudged upstairs, dropping her bookbag at the door. Exhausted, she fell on her bed, almost crushing her cat. “Whoa...don’t kill me! We can’t start the killing yet, can we?” said the Guardian in a joking tone. Usagi flipped her body around to her side, her face directly in front of the Guardian’s. “I figured it out.” Usagi stated plainly. “What?” “I figured out who he was.” “Who?” “HIM...the guy I saw today...it’s him.” “Uh...can you be more specific?” “HANI! It’s Hani...the one we were supposed to kill...I got so scared...I couldn’t even face him...I just ran away...” “Calm down, Usagi...tell me what happened exactly.” “OK...well...I was going to school, and a policeman pulled me over for speeding but it wasn’t a real policeman...it was him...His eyes...burning...evil...I could tell her was pure evil...and then I got scared...terribly scared...so I ran away...drove off as fast as I possibly could.” “It’s Ok Usagi, I understand now. You don’t have to be scared. We’re all here for you now...We’ll never let anything happen to you.” He reassured a sleeping Usagi. Haruka sat at her desk, hugging her knees. She looked to her side, where she had last seen Michiru, just hours ago. “Was she REALLY there? I wonder if it was all in my head...just imagination? No. It was real...Maybe she came here to ask me to do something...find her? rescue her?” Haruka thought to herself. She turned out the light and her last words to close the day were, “This world has gone crazy on me...” And with that, she fell into a deep slumber.

Hotaru rubbed her eyes as she woke up. She brushed her teeth and washed her face half asleep. She threw on her school uniform, a collared white shirt with light blue trimming and a dark blue skirt. Hotaru checked her bookbag to see if all of her necessities were there and walked to her high school. She lived with Setsuna now, for Setsuna had always been like an older sister to her and was the only one she felt comfortable with who wasn’t already sharing a house. She would have rather lived with Haruka and Michiru, but they had no spare rooms for her, so she had resorted to staying with Setsuna. “I’m leaving for school! Bye!” Hotaru yelled upstairs. But of course, Setsuna never heard her for she did not wake up at five in the morning. Hotaru always took the long way to school; there was much better scenery than the regular path that most students took. She took her time walking down the tree-lined road. Several flower petals that had fallen off the trees lay scattered across the sidewalk. The large steel gates welcomed Hotaru, and she ambled towards her first period. Unsurprisingly, she was the first student to attend class, so she pulled out her book and read a few pages, then began to daydream. The halls were silent except for the few quiet footsteps of a few teachers who passed through the hall occasionally. The sound of one pair of footsteps were strangely loud, and crecendoed as they neared Hotaru’s classroom. But instead of the footsteps fading away as they passed, they were no more. Hotaru strained to see if there was anyone outside of her class. Finally, dying of curiosity, she got up and stepped out into the long white-walled hall. She saw nothing but an older looking boy, almost too old for high school. “But so am I...” Hotaru thought. “I just don’t look that way.” She referred to the times she had been reborn because of her deaths, becoming more and more powerful each time she was awakened. The boy wore a hat and his ankles and arms were crossed. He did not have the traditional uniform, but wore black. "What are you doing here so early?” he asked in a beckoning, almost sincere voice. Hotaru remained silent and unmoving, only her eyes strained to see the boy’s face. “Hahaha...you want to see me don’t you, little girl? You want to know who I am, don’t you little firefly?” he laughed a resonant and evil laugh that echoed in the silence. “But you DON’T know who I am...you can’t even see me, can you?.” He added menacingly. “Strange happenings? Was that the word? This is far beyond strange...it’s too frieky to be real. How does he know me? Why is he so...strange?” she thought. “Well...I’m guessing it’s gotta be that Hani guy...but this is school! I can’t just transform and kill him...Besides, those brothers are supposed to be powerful....I can’t defeat him myself. My communicator! I can reach the others! Oh no...it’s in my bag...” Hotaru panicked for a moment, then she lifted her eyes to where she estimated his face to be. A taunting smile appeared on her small pink lips. “That’s right...I don’t know anything about you. In fact, I don’t even know your name. So what are you going to do? Introduce yourself? Be my guest.” She played her words tauntingly, mocking the young man. The man, slightly taken aback, stuttered, then shut his mouth. Slowly and cautiously, she steeped closer to him, her face deep with a look of madness. When he saw her approach him, he realized that she was more deadly than he had thought. He lifted his hand, and white ribbons came flowing down around him, carrying him away into the cloudless blue sky. Hotaru fell out of her intimidating state and glanced around to see if anyone had seen her, but there was not a single body in the area. Relieved, she went back to her morning preparations.

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