---

TOKYO, JAPAN (AP) — Answers to mysteries which have captivated the entire world for three days are finally forthcoming.
The Office of the Prime Minister in Tokyo today released an official press statement regarding the Crystal Palace— the object which was previously known as the 'Nazo no Daizuishou'. This official statement reads as follows:

On the morning of 3 July, the Prime Minister and members of the cabinet were approached by a young woman identifying herself as "Sailor Venus". Sailor Venus invited the government officials to attend a private function at the crystal structure located in Juuban. This meeting has shed new light on many of the bizarre events of the past few days.
While the Prime Minister does not wish to disclose all details of the meeting for reasons of national security, the government assures the public that there is no threat imminent from the "Sailor Senshi" or from their current base of operations, which they refer to as the "Crystal Palace". The Senshi have assured the Cabinet that they did not cause the destruction of the Juuban district, and until such time as any evidence to the contrary is presented, the Prime Minister has stated that he is inclined to trust the Senshi.

Further comments from the Prime Minister's press secretary were limited at the time of the press statement; there was however mention of a proposal by the Sailor Senshi to aid in the relief efforts and reconstruction of the Juuban district.

---

Part One: Independence Day

Chapter One

---

Ami grumbled as she went over the list she'd spent half the night compiling. "This is going to be a major headache," she muttered.

"Whatcha workin' on, Ami?" Makoto asked as she ambled over, setting a cup of coffee in front of the blue-haired girl, who sipped it carefully.

"Mm..arigatou, Mako-chan," she said. Running a hand through her hair, she sighed. "I'm trying to figure out how to go about setting up communications with the outside." She rubbed at her eyes. "It helps that the government is willing to cooperate to an extent...at least, until we start discussing our plans for reconstruction."

The auburn-haired Senshi sat down. "You think they're gonna hit the ceiling, don't you?"

Ami snorted. "They're already hitting the ceiling. I danced around it as much as possible, but..."

"It's not exactly hard to see that we're planning to make up our own rules as we go along," Makoto finished.

The other girl drank the remainder of her coffee in one swallow, flinching slightly at the heat and the bitterness. "The impression I get is that they're willing to accept it, simply because we're here and they can't really do anything about it." She gazed into the depths of her empty cup. "But when we start outlining certain...details," she grimaced, "It's not going to be pleasant."

Makoto nodded. "So, how about that communications stuff?" she asked, feeling a topic change was in order.

Ami picked up the thin crystal pad she'd been using, tapping it with a stylus. "The major problems are going to be connecting to the outside and convincing the Palace to retrograde some of its resources enough to interface with modern equipment." She laughed softly. "It's silly, isn't it? We're sitting in a palace that was built before the Pyramids, and I'm complaining about having to make it backwards-compatible because the technology is a thousand years ahead of its time."

Makoto snickered. "So...can you do it?"

"It'll take a while, but I think so," the blue-haired girl replied. "I'm hardly an engineer, though. I don't even understand half the stuff I've been working with...all I can do is try."

"I'd be happy to help," a male voice broke into the conversation. The girls looked up at the smiling white-haired man who had just entered.

"Ohayou, Sensei," Ami said.

The professor helped himself to some coffee and sat down. "I hope you don't mind," he said, "but I've spent most of the night in the libraries and in the Palace's equivalent of a computer room. I've been studying what makes this place tick."

Ami nodded. "I assumed as much. That's why I authorized access for you."

"I was wondering how I got into the system so easily," Tomoe chuckled. "Anyway...it's more complex than anything I've ever seen, even..." He grimaced, and let that matter go unvoiced. "I think I can figure it out sooner or later, though."

"I'll be grateful to have your help, Sensei," Ami said. "Every time I try to deal with the Palace, it feels like it's laughing at me." She stood, passing the scientist her clipboard and stylus. "Would you mind working on this problem for me? I have a lot to do today."

Tomoe nodded. "Of course." He paused. "Do you remember what we talked about the other day?"

The blue-haired Senshi nodded, frowning. "One of the first things I plan on doing this morning is finding my mother and making sure she's alright. Wherever Okaasan is, that's where...she'll be."

Makoto blinked. "What're you guys talking about?"

"You probably don't want to know, Mako-chan," Ami said. "You probably don't want to know." With that, she left the commissary.

Hotaru yawned as she shuffled out of the bedroom, trying to rub the sleep from her eyes. "Good morning, Lady Saturn," Mimas chimed softly.

"Mornin', Mimas," Hotaru said. She glanced around and spotted her suitemate asleep on the sofa, his cape draped over the back of the couch and his boots tossed haphazardly aside. "I knew something was missing," she murmured, sighing. "What was he doing sleeping on the couch all night?"

"Actually, Lord Shingo only returned home an hour and a half ago," the assistant said. "His Lordship did not wish to disturb you."

The youngest Senshi frowned, crossing over to the sofa. She peered down at her boyfriend...and gasped. "Shingo-kun! What in the...?"

The young warrior sported a fair number of bruises and scrapes. Scabbed-over shallow cuts were visible through rips in his uniform. Without wasting a moment, Hotaru placed her hands on his chest, channeling her healing energies. Shingo's wounds slowly began to fade. He mumbled something unintelligible, then turned over a bit, snoring softly.

With a sigh of relief, Hotaru collapsed beside the sofa, drawing her knees to her chest. "How'd he get all beat up like that?" she asked.

"His Lordship went down to the training facilities again during the night," Mimas replied. "Apparently, so did the Lady Uranus. From what I understand, they suffered a mutual lack of a sparring partner..."

Hotaru closed her eyes. "I'm going to kill Haruka-papa," she decided. "She should know better..."

Mimas made a sound which could have been a chuckle. "I have been in contact with the assistant module in the Lady Uranus' suite," he said. "Apparently, Lady Uranus is rather regretting her decision to test Lord Shingo's powers..."

Michiru fought to hide a smile as she fetched another ice pack for Haruka. Her partner had returned to their combined suite this morning sporting a number of minor injuries and a rather foul mood. At first, Michiru had been deeply concerned...until she'd heard the details of what had happened in the training room.

Haruka, for her part, was slumped on the sofa, nursing an abused elbow and grimacing. "I don't get it," she moaned again. "I just don't get it. The kid's had his powers for three days. Three. DAYS!"

The aqua-haired Senshi couldn't help herself, and giggled as she handed Haruka the ice pack. "Well, I did hear Hotaru-chan say that Shingo's been spending a lot of time downstairs practicing." She sat down beside her lover and smiled. "And really, it makes sense...he is Her Majesty's brother." Michiru kissed Haruka on the cheek lightly. "Anyway, you should get some rest now. I'm sure Hotaru-chan will fix your arm up later."

Haruka grumbled. "Remind me never to fight someone who has gravity attacks again." At that, Michiru lost it completely, doubling over with laughter. A moment later, Haruka joined in despite herself.

The door to Serenity's chambers opened, admitting her parents. Ikuko immediately rushed over to the young queen, gathering her up in her arms. "Usagi-chan..."

Tsukino Kenji walked stiffly and slowly around the perimeter of the suite, taking in everything. "How are you holding up, sweetheart?" he asked.

Serenity smiled softly. "I'm trying to hold on, Papa," she said. She motioned to one of the sofas, and the trio sat down.

"Gomen nasai," Ikuko said. "We...we should have been with you sooner, but..."

"We really weren't even sure how to deal with this," the bespectacled man said.

The young queen smiled. "It's alright," she replied. "I understand that the shock of what happened on top of everything else could not have been any easier on you than it was for anyone else."

Ikuko sobbed. "Still, I feel horrible...a mother should be with her daughter when...when..."

"It's okay, Mama," Serenity said, hugging the older woman. She looked down. "I believe it was probably for the best that you waited to see me." At the confused expressions on her parents' face, she sighed, eyes moistening. "I do not mean to imply I did not wish to see either of you," she said softly. "It is simply..."

"I think we understand," Kenji said.

Serenity shook her head. "No, you don't...you couldn't." She swallowed. "This is the third time I have seen Endymion slain in battle. You are the best parents I could ask for in this life, but..."

Ikuko gasped in shock. "Thr—three? How...?"

The young queen stood, pacing. "It's not something I like to talk about," she said, "but..." There was a chime from the door.

"Osaka Naru wishes to enter," the statue of Sailor Moon standing by the entrance spoke, startling the elder Tsukinos. At Serenity's nod, the door opened, and the auburn-haired girl walked in, followed by her fiance.

"Ohayou, Naru-chan, Umino-kun," Serenity said. "Please, sit...you've arrived just in time."

The young couple looked at each other in confusion, but took a seat on one of the other sofas.

"Please forgive my...inattendance recently," the queen said. "I believe you can understand..."

Naru nodded, swallowing. "I'm sorry I haven't come to see you sooner," she said.

"So what is it we're just in time for?" Umino asked.

The young queen sighed deeply, moving to sit across from her parents and friends. "I was about to tell my parents a rather...painful detail that was omitted the day the Palace appeared."

*Another secret...it never ends,* Naru thought to herself.

"Usa—Serenity—you don't have to tell us if you don't want to," Ikuko said. "I know it's painful for you..."

"No, I need to tell you," Serenity said, shaking her head. "It's something I should have told all of you sooner...in private, but definitely something I shouldn't have held back. I just..." She sighed. "I didn't want to burden you with uncomfortable details. And," she admitted, "I really didn't want to talk about it.

"As I said a moment ago," she continued, eyes beginning to glisten with tears again, "the loss of...of Endymion is especially painful to me, not just because I lost the man I loved, but..." She looked down. "This is the third time I've stood by helplessly and watched Endymion die protecting me."

Naru gasped, and Umino stared. "Three times? Gods..."

"The first time," Serenity continued, "was at the end of the Silver Millenium, shortly before my mo—Queen Serenity sacrificed herself to seal away the Dark Kingdom. Endymion was fighting youma which had invaded the Moon, and...was slain before my eyes.

"The second time was during this lifetime. I had just learned the identity of Tuxedo Kamen, when he was mortally wounded by one of the Shitennou, Zoicite." Tears ran down her cheeks. "As I knelt over his body and began to cry, the Ginzuishou..." She cupped the crystal resting on her chest. "Everyone had been looking for the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou. Tuxedo Kamen was killed because of it. My tears recreated the crystal and reawakened my memories...it was then that I learned who I truly was, and who he was...and he had been taken from me, again."

Ikuko and Naru were weeping, and Kenji and Umino looked solemn. "That's horrible..." Naru said.

"I...I can't begin to imagine going through something like that," Ikuko said. She rushed across the room, engulfing her daughter in a hug. "How can fate be so cruel?"

*Kaorinaito-kun.*

In the emergency aid camps on the outskirts of Juuban, a young woman dressed in a nurse's uniform clutched her head and grimaced.

*Why are you not looking for pure hearts? Remember our mission.*

Kaori stood, walking over to the small strongbox in the corner of her tent. After rooting through it a moment, she pulled out a small mirror. She examined her pale, slightly scarred visage, her bloodshot eyes, and her tangled, messy hair disdainfully. "God, I look like a wreck, I feel like a wreck..." She set the mirror aside and ran her hands through her long red hair.

*Kaorinaito-kun.*

With a frustrated sigh, she grabbed a bottle of aspirin from the trunk, swallowing two of the bitter pills dry. "I hope they have some coffee in the mess tent," she grumbled. "I need to clear my head if I'm going to be able to help anyone today."

*Why do you help these humans? The humans you so hate? The humans you wish to destroy? Why do you help them?*

Kaori adjusted her outfit and stalked out of her makeshift quarters, intent on finding her doctor friend. "I think I'm losing my mind," she muttered to nobody in particular.

*Kaorinaito-kun...*

Aino Minako smiled softly as she played with a little girl who had lived next door to her for several years. "Looks like you win again," she said.

The girl giggled. "I'm glad your mommy and daddy found you, Mina-neesan," she looked apprehensive. "Do you think my mommy and daddy will find me?"

Minako's smile fell, and she patted the girl on the head encouragingly. "I'm sure they will, honey," she said. "Listen, why don't you go look for that silly cat of mine? I wanna talk to my parents for a few minutes."

"Okay!" the girl said brightly, running off. The blond sighed and wandered into her parents' tent.

"I look at that little girl, and I feel so horrible," she said as she hugged her mother. "And I...I'm just thankful I didn't lose the two of you," she said.

Her mother smiled sadly, holding her daughter tightly. "Minako-chan..." She looked into the young woman's eyes. "You've changed so much, dear...I guess it's just knowing you're a Sailor Senshi now...but..." The woman seemed uncomfortable.

The blond sighed wearily. "Mom," she began, "I...it's not just you," she said softly. "I really am changing...it scares me a little."

"How so?" her father asked, drinking coffee from a styrofoam cup.

A far-away look entered Minako's eyes. "I'm turning into Venus."

Her parents blinked. "Anou...aren't you already...?"

Minako shook her head. "No, I don't just mean the powers and the seifuku and..." She trailed off. "I mean, I'm really turning into Venus. Into the Venus that existed thousands of years ago, and the Venus that exists in the future." She glanced down at her hands. "It's...it's like part of me is being replaced by something else...I don't know how to feel about it."

After a long moment, the Senshi's mother took her hands gently. "Minako-chan," she began, "we love you very much, and you know we're always here for you." She paused. "As for this change, well..." She glanced at her husband.

The Aino patriarch coughed nervously. "You've always been a little...flighty, Minako-chan," he said. "We know you've had a lot of pressure on you, between the multiple moves and...well, everything else...so we've done our best to be supportive and hope one day you'd...well..."

"Grow up?" Minako suggested with a wry smile.

"Ah...something like that, yes," her father said, chuckling.

The elder woman rolled her eyes. "We've always been proud of you, dear, and we knew you'd go on to be very successful someday, no matter what you ended up doing. But...we always have hoped you'd overcome certain...quirks...eventually." She paused. "When I look at you now, I see my daughter, but I also see a young woman who has matured...and it makes me even more proud of you."

Minako sniffled, tears welling up in her eyes. "Mom...Dad...thanks. For everything. And...I'm really glad you two are safe." She hugged each of them in turn. After a moment, she asked, "Are you sure you don't want to...?"

Her father shook his head. "We appreciate the offer, but...I don't think either of us could get used to it," he said. His wife nodded agreement.

"Besides," she added, "We'd just get in your way...it sounds like you're quite a busy young woman these days."

Minako smiled. "That's for sure." With a sigh, she looked around. "I promise we'll see to it that everyone has a place to live again. I hope you'll come back to live in Juuban when it's restored."

"Of course we will," her father said. "We plan to stick around and do our part for the reconstruction effort as well."

"Take care of yourselves," Minako said. Glancing around to ensure nobody outside was watching, she silently transformed in a flash of silver light. Sailor Venus hugged her parents. "I'll be in touch." With a final wave, she vanished.

Artemis flicked an ear in annoyance as he followed his erstwhile partner/mate with his eyes. "You wanna knock off the pacing, Luna?"

Luna cast the white cat an annoyed glance, grumbled, and continued to pace. "I'm just thinking about our memory gaps, and something that's nagging at me," she said.

"Oh? What's that?" Artemis asked, stretching.

The black cat stopped, facing him. "Do you ever feel...confined? Like something's missing, but you can't tell what it is?"

Artemis frowned. "Now that you mention it, there is something..." He stood and began to pace, ignoring Luna as she rolled her eyes. "Sometimes, when I get frustrated over something, I catch myself thinking it'd be easier if I were..."

"Were what?" Luna asked.

"That's the problem," the white cat shrugged. "I can't remember." He paused. "I do feel...incomplete, somehow," he added. "It's like there's a muscle I want to tense, but it's not there..."

Luna nodded. "I think I know what you mean." She sighed. "This is frustrating. You'd think with Serenity on the throne, we'd get our memories back. Not to mention the power we lost..."

"Yeah," Artemis said. "You'd think someone was playing a joke on—" He stopped, blinking. "What did you say?"

"I just said I wish we had back the...power we lost..." Luna trailed off, eyes widening.

"I think we need to talk to Her Majesty about this," Artemis said solemnly.

Sailor Mercury silently watched the proceedings at what was once the Juuban Shopping Center. JSDF troops and a fair number of able-bodied citizens had been working hard through the morning, having started at sunset the previous night. Trucks full of cinder blocks, logs, and miscellaneous equipment lined the area, and every so often a truck would arrive carrying unassembled portable buildings. A simple yet sturdy building had already been partially constructed, and crews were striving to complete it as quickly as possible.

"We're confident the meeting hall will be complete in time for the conference this afternoon," an aide from the Prime Minister's office spoke up beside her.

Mercury nodded. "How about the barracks for all the residents?"

"Slightly longer," the aide replied. "Search and rescue, cleanup, and reconstruction are our primary goals right now. The people agree that the camps will suffice for the time being."

The Senshi stood watching the crews at work for a long moment. Finally, she began to walk away. "Please excuse me, I have much to attend to," she said.

As the azure-haired Senshi passed behind a large utility dumpster, she took on her civilian form, clad in ordinary jeans and a light blue sweater. Double-checking to make sure she hadn't been seen, Ami picked her way around the construction site, headed for the medical camp.

"Alright, it's time to get a proper cast on that leg," the doctor said, carefully unwrapping the man's splint while a pair of orderlies carried a box of equipment into the makeshift pavilion.

Mizuno-sensei stifled a yawn as she treated what had to be her hundredth patient of the morning. She'd worked tirelessly for the past day, trying to tend to all the serious injuries sustained during the quake, and was now looking forward to taking a rest break as soon as she took care of a few more patients.

As she worked, she thought about her daughter...it hadn't been long since she'd learned the truth, and now she worried whether or not Ami was alright. Sailor Senshi or not, she'd been at the epicenter of that quake to be certain.

The doctor also found herself wondering once more about the enigmatic Kaori. The young woman was certainly recovering rapidly, although there had been a few moments—not long before the quake that levelled Juuban, come to think of it—when Kaori had seemed ill at ease. She still hadn't remembered much about herself, but Mizuno-sensei had noticed a haunted look in the redhead's eyes...

"There, all done," she said some time later. "Now, you just rest here for a while, alright?"

The man nodded. "Arigatou, Sensei."

"Sensei!" an orderly called out, rushing toward the pavilion. "There's someone out here looking for you!"

"I'll be just a minute!" Mizuno-sensei called. Straightening herself, she walked out into the camp...and gasped. "Ami-chan!"

The blue-haired girl smiled at her mother. "Ohayou, Okaasan."

The doctor rushed to embrace her daughter. "Oh, thank goodness you're alright!"

Ami hugged her mother tightly. "You needn't worry about me," she said. "I have been worried about you, though." She paused. "I'm sorry I didn't come looking for you sooner, but I've been a little...occupied."

Mizuno-sensei nodded. "I thought that might be the case." She glanced around uneasily, then whispered, "What happened?"

"I'll tell you about it as soon as I have a chance," Ami said. "Okaasan...how is Kaori-san?"

The doctor smiled. "See for yourself." She led her daughter over to another pavilion, where a red-haired woman in a nurse's uniform was busily taking temperatures and measuring blood pressures. "Kaori-san!" she called out.

The woman looked up, and smiled. "Ohayou, Sensei." She noted the blue-haired girl, and inclined her head. "Ami-san, wasn't it? I'm glad to see you are well."

Ami nodded to the woman. "Likewise."

"Kaori's recovery has impressed us all," the doctor said. "When we evacuated the hospital, she helped get all the other ICU patients to safety, and as you can see, she's been helping out ever since."

Ami smiled. "That's good." She paused. "Kaori-san, how about...is your memory returning at all?"

Kaori looked disconcerted briefly. "I don't think so," she said. "I keep having unsettling dreams, but no concrete memories."

"It's probably only a matter of time," Mizuno-sensei said. "As quickly as you've recovered from your physical injuries, I'm sure your memory won't be long in coming back." She yawned. "Forgive me, I'm rather exhausted."

"You should get some rest now, Sensei," Kaori said. Inclining her head again, she addressed Ami. "You'll make sure your mother takes it easy for at least a few hours, I hope?"

Ami smiled. "I'll try."

"Yes, I think I'm due for a break," the doctor said. "Come on, Ami-chan. Let's let Kaori get back to work."

As they left the pavilion, Ami whispered, "Okaa-san...I'll be leaving soon, but before I do, I'd like to speak to you privately."

Mizuno-sensei frowned. "Privacy is a bit hard to come by here, but..." Leading her daughter a bit away from the camp, she found a pile of construction materials, and nodded. "Alright, what did you want to talk about?"

Ami fidgeted. "I should have told you the other day, but I didn't expect any of this to happen...it's about Kaori-san."

The doctor raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What about her?"

The blue-haired girl looked down. "Okaasan...I know who she is. Who she really is."

Mizuno-sensei blinked. "You...you know Kaori-san? Well why didn't you say anything sooner? This could be invaluable to her recovery!"

Ami shook her head. "It's...I don't know how to tell you this, but..." She took a few steps away. "I haven't said anything because I wasn't sure how to deal with this. And...it might be a bad thing if Kaori-san remembers who she is."

"How so?"

The Senshi swallowed. "Because before my visit to the hospital the other day, the last time I saw Kaori-san was three years ago...when she died."

"So, is everything set for this afternoon?"

"Yes sir. The meeting hall will be completed on schedule, and the committee analysis on reconstruction costs and timetables is being prepared as we speak."

"Excellent. Then the only unknown factor is the proposal by the Sailor Senshi."

"Hai. I've received word that Sailors...Mercury and Pluto will be attending the meeting."

"Let's just hope everything goes smoothly..."

"When she what?!" Mizuno-sensei gasped.

Ami nodded. "I saw her thrown from the observation deck of Tokyo Tower. I also..." She paused. "I was also there when she was apparently disintegrated only a few months later."

The doctor stared at her daughter. "Ami-chan...even knowing what I know now, I'm having a hard time believing that."

The blue-haired girl shrugged. "I thought as much, which is why I didn't say anything before. But..." She sighed. "All things considered, you need to know the truth about her...because you're going to have to keep an eye on her."

"Well, I always look out for my patients, but..."

"Not just her health, but her behavior," Ami said. She paused for a moment, looking around warily. "She calls herself Kaori, and she did use that name for a while, but her real name—or at least the name we knew her by—is Kaolinite."

"Kaolinite?"

"She's...dangerous, Okaasan." The Senshi turned away, speaking quietly. "She was our enemy, three years ago. She worked for a powerful evil entity which was collecting pure hearts in crystal form, intent on using them to bring about the destruction of the world." She turned around, and winced at her mother's shellshocked expression. "I know she doesn't seem so now, and perhaps she isn't, but...back then, she was thoroughly evil."

Mizuno-sensei glanced toward the medical camp. "Ami-chan, I...I just can't believe..."

"That's why you need to watch her," Ami said. "Keep her occupied, listen to her, help her if she starts to remember." She locked gazes with her mother. "You must not tell her anything I told you."

"Of...of course not," the doctor said.

Ami reached into her pocket and handed her mother a small, round plastic object, like a wristwatch without a band. It was blue, with the symbol of Mercury on it. "If...if anything happens," she said, "I want you to use this. All you have to do is press the button inside...it's an emergency call switch. No matter where I am, I'll receive the signal and come right away."

Mizuno-sensei pocketed the item. "Alright," she said.

The blue-haired girl hugged her mother. "I have to go now, Okaasan. Take care, and try to get some rest."

"I will." She smiled. "Take care of yourself."

Ami nodded and vanished.

In the depths of space, a brilliant light streaked through the cosmos, a rogue star moving with a purpose, with determination.

It is the nature of all things to follow the course set for them by destiny. Much like the heavens in their orbits, the path of fate determines how each life will affect another.

And yet, there are times when a shining light must break away from the course of destiny to illuminate an unforgivable darkness. For these shooting stars, fate becomes malleable, and through their actions the destiny of all things may change.

The darkness of space parted before the shining star that sought to blaze its own destiny...

---

POWERED BY DREAMHOST