Chapter 3: An Episode from the Past

How much longer, she wondered, concealing her presence in the shadows of the alley. Well, she does have a reputation for being late, the girl thought. She shook her head, trying to keep her mind on the mission.

She heard the quick approach of footsteps. She leaned from the shadows of the alley to glance at the coming person. Smiling, she stifled the urge to laugh.

Serena was flying down the sidewalk, pigtails streaming in the wind. “I am so late!” the student cried. The observer gratefully noticed that Luna was not following with a lunch sack. It was savagely clutched in the girl’s right hand.

As Serena was about to pass by the alley, the observer grab her arm, pulling her into the alley. No one would see them together, which was the plan. Everything had to go smoothly.

“Hey, what’s the big idea?” Serena demanded, trying to free herself. “I am already late for school!” Despite her efforts, Serena’s arm was still captive.

“I know who you are,” the observer said, her emerald eyes locked with Serena’s blue ones.

“What are you talking about?” Serena tried to feign ignorance.

The observer’s facial expression did not change. “You are Sailor Moon, Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom, and the future Neo-Queen Serenity of Crystal Tokyo.”

Serena gasped, her jaw dropping in shock. “Who are you?” Serena whispered. She forgot about being late for school. The only thing that mattered was finding out who this violet-haired, emerald-eyed stranger. And how she knows about Serenity, Serena thought.

“You must find the Stone of Hope,” the observer said, ignoring Serena’s question. “It is the key to protecting the future.”

“Of Crystal Tokyo?”

“No,” she answered, letting go of Serena’s arm. “Of another place and another person.”

“Where? Who? How am I suppose to find this Stone of Hope?”

“With this,” the stranger replied, pressing a small pendant and chain into Serena’s hand. “It will glow when you find the carrier.”

“The carrier?”

“The Moon Crystal will remove the Stone of Hope without any harm to the carrier. The carrier has no knowledge of the Stone and will not have any memories of the removal of the Stone.”

She paused, allowing the information to sink into Serena’s head. “That is all I can tell you now, Sailor Moon. When you retrieve the Stone, you must guard it until it is needed for a future day. It will be then that I will call upon you and the Stone for help. Until then.”

Serena grabbed her by the elbow, halting the departure. Surprised, the observer turned to face her. Slowly, Serena released her arm.

“You didn’t tell me who you are,” Serena said.

“I am Cassandra,” she answered. “Farewell, Sailor Moon.”

Before Serena could stopped her, the mysterious girl was gone. Dazed, Serena lingered in the alley. She searched for any tangible sign of the encounter and the mysterious girl. The only proof was the pendant.

“I don’t know want to do,” she whispered to herself.

“You will,” the observer murmured, too soft for Serena to hear. She watched Serena from the rooftop. “You will. You are the only hope.”

* * * * *

Darien strolled through the park, enjoying the autumn afternoon. He was heading to his apartment, finishing his classes a short time ago. Though the distance was slightly larger, he took the path by the small lake, admiring the serene setting.

He stopped by a young tree. Sitting in a bench in front of him was a girl with long, blonde pigtails. Her back was to him, but Darien knew it was Serena.

“What are you doing here, Meatball Head?” he teased. “Aren’t you suppose to be in school right now?”

He waited to be pounced by his exuberant girlfriend. Instead, she looked up at him, weariness radiating from her face.

“Darien, please, don’t tease,” she said weakly. There was no trace of her usual giddiness. There wasn’t even a small smile.

He sat down beside her. “Serena, what’s wrong?”

“Someone stopped me on the way to school today,” she said. “She knew who I was, Darien. She knew about Sailor Moon, Serenity, everything.”

“What?! How could she know?”

“I don’t know,” Serena answered wearily. “But she knew. She said that I was to find the carrier of the Stone of Hope. She said it was a key to the future?”

“Of Crystal Tokyo?”

“No,” she replied, shaking her head, “I asked her that. She said of another place, another person.”

“Another person?”

“I don’t know. She gave me this.”

Serena handed the pendant and the thin gold chain to Darien. Darien watched the sunlight gleam off the smooth lavender surface. It was in the shape of an eight-pointed star, like a compass.

“It’s suppose to glow when I encounter the carrier,” Serena explained.

“Then what?”

“The Moon Crystal would remove the Stone of Hope from the carrier without any harm. She said that the carrier has no knowledge of the Stone and will not remember its removal.”

“Do you believe her?” Darien asked.

“I don’t know.” She paused. “I think I do,” she answered hesitantly.

Sighing, Darien handed the necklace back to her. “How are suppose to find the carrier?”

“The pendant will glow when the carrier is near by. That’s all she would tell me. Other than that she would call on me and the Stone on the day that it is needed. I am to guard it until then.”

“That’s it? That’s all she told you?”

“Wait. She said her name was Cassandra.”

“Cassandra?” Darien asked, becoming lost in thought.

“What?”

“Cassandra was an ancient princess with the power to foresee the future, I think.”

Serena looked down at the star pendant in her hand. “The name would explain a lot, wouldn’t it?” She rose to her feet, Darien immediately beside her.

“We are going to see Ami,” Serena declared. “To see if your guess is right.” Grabbing his hand, Serena led Darien out of the park.


The Beginning of the Search How much longer, she wondered, concealing her presence in the shadows of the alley. Well, she does have a reputation for being late, the girl thought. She shook her head, trying to keep her mind on the mission. She heard the quick approach of footsteps. She leaned from the shadows of the alley to glance at the coming person. Smiling, she stifled the urge to laugh. Serena was flying down the sidewalk, pigtails streaming in the wind. “I am so late!” the student cried. The observer gratefully noticed that Luna was not following with a lunch sack. It was savagely clutched in the girl’s right hand. As Serena was about to pass by the alley, the observer grab her arm, pulling her into the alley. No one would see them together, which was the plan. Everything had to go smoothly. “Hey, what’s the big idea?” Serena demanded, trying to free herself. “I am already late for school!” Despite her efforts, Serena’s arm was still captive. “I know who you are,” the observer said, her emerald eyes locked with Serena’s blue ones. “What are you talking about?” Serena tried to feign ignorance. The observer’s facial expression did not change. “You are Sailor Moon, Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom, and the future Neo-Queen Serenity of Crystal Tokyo.” Serena gasped, her jaw dropping in shock. “Who are you?” Serena whispered. She forgot about being late for school. The only thing that mattered was finding out who this violet-haired, emerald-eyed stranger. And how she knows about Serenity, Serena thought. “You must find the Stone of Hope,” the observer said, ignoring Serena’s question. “It is the key to protecting the future.” “Of Crystal Tokyo?” “No,” she answered, letting go of Serena’s arm. “Of another place and another person.” “Where? Who? How am I suppose to find this Stone of Hope?” “With this,” the stranger replied, pressing a small pendant and chain into Serena’s hand. “It will glow when you find the carrier.” “The carrier?” “The Moon Crystal will remove the Stone of Hope without any harm to the carrier. The carrier has no knowledge of the Stone and will not have any memories of the removal of the Stone.” She paused, allowing the information to sink into Serena’s head. “That is all I can tell you now, Sailor Moon. When you retrieve the Stone, you must guard it until it is needed for a future day. It will be then that I will call upon you and the Stone for help. Until then.” Serena grabbed her by the elbow, halting the departure. Surprised, the observer turned to face her. Slowly, Serena released her arm. “You didn’t tell me who you are,” Serena said. “I am Cassandra,” she answered. “Farewell, Sailor Moon.” Before Serena could stopped her, the mysterious girl was gone. Dazed, Serena lingered in the alley. She searched for any tangible sign of the encounter and the mysterious girl. The only proof was the pendant. “I don’t know want to do,” she whispered to herself. “You will,” the observer murmured, too soft for Serena to hear. She watched Serena from the rooftop. “You will. You are the only hope.” * * * * * Darien strolled through the park, enjoying the autumn afternoon. He was heading to his apartment, finishing his classes a short time ago. Though the distance was slightly larger, he took the path by the small lake, admiring the serene setting. He stopped by a young tree. Sitting in a bench in front of him was a girl with long, blonde pigtails. Her back was to him, but Darien knew it was Serena. “What are you doing here, Meatball Head?” he teased. “Aren’t you suppose to be in school right now?” He waited to be pounced by his exuberant girlfriend. Instead, she looked up at him, weariness radiating from her face. “Darien, please, don’t tease,” she said weakly. There was no trace of her usual giddiness. There wasn’t even a small smile. He sat down beside her. “Serena, what’s wrong?” “Someone stopped me on the way to school today,” she said. “She knew who I was, Darien. She knew about Sailor Moon, Serenity, everything.” “What?! How could she know?” “I don’t know,” Serena answered wearily. “But she knew. She said that I was to find the carrier of the Stone of Hope. She said it was a key to the future?” “Of Crystal Tokyo?” “No,” she replied, shaking her head, “I asked her that. She said of another place, another person.” “Another person?” “I don’t know. She gave me this.” Serena handed the pendant and the thin gold chain to Darien. Darien watched the sunlight gleam off the smooth lavender surface. It was in the shape of an eight-pointed star, like a compass. “It’s suppose to glow when I encounter the carrier,” Serena explained. “Then what?” “The Moon Crystal would remove the Stone of Hope from the carrier without any harm. She said that the carrier has no knowledge of the Stone and will not remember its removal.” “Do you believe her?” Darien asked. “I don’t know.” She paused. “I think I do,” she answered hesitantly. Sighing, Darien handed the necklace back to her. “How are suppose to find the carrier?” “The pendant will glow when the carrier is near by. That’s all she would tell me. Other than that she would call on me and the Stone on the day that it is needed. I am to guard it until then.” “That’s it? That’s all she told you?” “Wait. She said her name was Cassandra.” “Cassandra?” Darien asked, becoming lost in thought. “What?” “Cassandra was an ancient princess with the power to foresee the future, I think.” Serena looked down at the star pendant in her hand. “The name would explain a lot, wouldn’t it?” She rose to her feet, Darien immediately beside her. “We are going to see Ami,” Serena declared. “To see if your guess is right.” Grabbing his hand, Serena led Darien out of the park.


Chapter 4: The Beginning of the Search Jupiter's Gone