At long last chapter one of my Sailor Moon fanfic series is finally
ready to be seen by readers.  I have been wotking on the idea behind
this since I started watching the dic version of Sailor Moon back in
1994, and I'm finally confident that I have everything organized and set
up well enough to start writing it.  All C&C/MSTs/etc. are not only
welcome, but appreciated.  I appologize for making you all wait for
this, I hope you feel it was worth it.  So, witout any further delay,
here is chapter one of "Sailor Moon D."

______________________________________


                          Sailor Moon D

                              Chapter 1

                                   by

                                Akihiro

***Disclaimer:  I hold no legal rights to any of the characters created
by Takeuchi Naoko.  They are property of those persons/companies with
legal rights and no infringement is intended.  No profit is being made
from their use.***

{...}  Indicates character thoughts

______________________________________


   It was one week after the fall of Galaxia, life had returned to a
semblance of normality.  The Sailor Senshi were confident that the
battle was over for the time bieng so they could move on with their
lives and prepare for the rise of Crystal Tokyo.
   A figure stood alone in a room filled with blackness.  "Sailor Moon.
I have seen you and your followers defeat the so-called opponents that
have come forth.  I have seen their plans fail and learned from their
mistakes.  This time, Sailor Moon, you fall!"
   The figure turned in the darkness as the floor began to open like a
giant shutter.  As the opening increased in size, flames became evident
in the area below and the room appeared to go on infinately.  Even with
the light from the fires, all that could be seen of the figure aside
from his voluminous black robes were crimson eyes that seemed to glow.
Eyes the color of freshly spilled blood.

                   *                  *                *

   Tsukino Usagi had to run through the streets of the Minato ward in
order to arrive on time for her classes.  As she entered her classroom,
she notice Ami visiting with Naru and decided to join them for a while.
   "Naru-chan!  How have you been lately?" she called out happily.
   Naru looked up from the notes she and Ami were reviewing for the days
exam, "Good morning Usagi, you ready for the test?"
   Usagi's face went from complete joy to sheer terror.  "Test?!
Today?!  Oh no, I'm doomed!!"
   Ami glanced at Usagi with a slightly disapproaving look.  "You forgot
about another exam?  After all of the time we spent studying at Rei's
temple?  How could you Usagi?"
   "You mean I didn't go to Rei's just to read manga?!?!"  Usagi looked
truly confused.
   The teacher looked up from the desk at the front of the room, his
concentration broken by the outburst.  "Tsukino-san, please take your
seat so I may finish preparing the exams to be handed out."
   "Yes sensei," Usagi replied sheepishly as she quickly sat at her own
desk.

                      *                  *                  *

   The next week passed uneventfully for the girls.  Their classes went
on in the usual manor, no sort of youma had been seen at the school or
in the near area, and the only strange thing in the news was the
unexplained death of an elderly man.  Doctors were saying it to be a
case where his heart simply ceased functioning, so even that was nothing
to worry about.
   Osaka Naru read the arcticle about the death as she walked into the
kitchen o her home.  {I suppose that, when the time coes a simple shut
down is the way to go,} she thought as she poured herself a glass of
juice.  Anything further was cut off as the phone began ringing and she
immediately answered it.
   "Hello?  Osaka-san?" asked a somewhat rough and old sounding male
voice.
   "You must want my mother, she's at the store right now.  Would you
like the nuber or should I take a message?"
   "No Naru, actually I am calling to talk to you," replied the voice.
   Naru began to feel somewhat afraid, {Why would some old guy want to
talk to me?  Maybe I should humor him.}  Still unsure she began to
speak.  "Okay, who are you and what could I do for you?"
   "I am called Ceres, but I can't say what I need on the phone, I have
to talk to you in person.  It is very urgent and the time has come for
you to know the truth."
   "What truth?  Is this some kind of joke?"
   "All of your questions will be answered when we meet.  Can you be in
front of your high school in twenty minutes?"
   "Why should I be?" Naru asked as her fear started to grow.
   "All I can say is that it will protect millions of lives.  The old
man in the news was no accident and it was not natural causes, if you
show up at the school to meet me you can prevent further deaths of the
sort."  The paused for a moment then continued, "You are in no danger at
present, but if you don't come you will be soon."
   Naru couldn't explain why, but she somehow believed the man on the
phone.  "Alright, I'll be there, but this better not be some sort of
trick."

                   *               *               *

   Outside Juuban High School Naru paced impatiently.  {I can't believe
I agreed to come here!  What's wrong with me?!}
   "Osaka Naru!  Thank you for your trust, I won't disappoint you,"
called out the voice from the phone.
   "Where are you?" she asked looking quickly to all sides.
   "Right here," came the voice from beside her right foot.
   Naru jumped back several feet and noticed an average sized siamese
cat.  "Ceres?" she asked as her fear turned int utter confusion.
   The cat nodded then spoke.  "Yes, I am Ceres, and no, you aren't
imagining this, I do talk."
   She slowly moved toward the cat and noticed a crescent moon on its
forehead.  "That mark is just like my friends cat..."
   "Luna," he interupted.  "I know.  I will explain it later, right now
you have a decission to make."  Ceres walked to a nearby bush and
dragged a strange pen out out from under it.  "Surely you've heard of
the Sailor Senshi?"
   "Of course, they've saved me more times than I could ever repay, even
if I knew where to find them."
   "Well that's where you're wrong.  If you accept this, "he pushed the
pen toward her.  "I garuntee that you will repay the favor."  Ceres
looked Naru over cautiously then added "Sailor Apollo."
   Naru laughed trying to ignore the nagging feeling that the cat spoke
the truth, but failed miserably.  "I'm a Sailor Senshi? Apollo you say?
I may not be an astrologer, but I know there is no planet Apollo."
   "Astronomer," corrected Ceres.
   "Excuse me?"
   "I said 'astronomer,'"repeated the cat.  "And as for Apollo, it was
destroyed centuries ago when Queen Beryl attacked the Silver Millenium."
   "What's a 'Silver Millenium?'  And who is Queen Beryl?"
   "The Silever Millenium was a time when the galaxy was at peace.  All
of the planets worked together to keep it that way.  You were princess
of the planet Apollo and member of the court of Princess Serenity of the
moon," explained Ceres.  "Queen Beryl and her warriors from the Dark
Kingdom wanted to take over so they launched an attack.  Qeen Serenity
managed to narrowly defeat Beryl by using the last of her life energy
while at the same time sending all remaining citizens of the Silver
Millenium to the future here on Earth.  However, before Beryl fell she
managed to strike out with one fine destuctive attack.  Serenity's power
diflected it from the moon, but couldn't stop it.  The blast instead
struck and destroyed your home planet, Apollo.  All that is left of it
is the asteroid belt which currently drifts in the space between Mars
and Jupiter."
   Naru appeared to be shocked, "So I'm Sailor Apollo?  Who are the
other Senshi?"
   "Unfortunately we don't have time for that, your powers as Sailor
Apollo will be needed in exactly thirty-six minutes and the place is
quite a ways off.  If you accept please take this and say 'Apollo Power,
make up!'  One thing though, you can't tell anyone about this."  Ceres
watched the girl in fron of him waiting for an answer.
   "And if I say no?" she asked.
   "You still can't tell anyone," replied the cat.
   "Oh, well I guess I should go for it."  She silently added {At least
I'll get to reay the Senshi.}  She started to raise the pen above her
head when another thought hit her.  "I thought you said I won't be in
any danger now?  And how do you know exactly how long it is until I'll
be needed and that sort of stuff?"
   Ceres looked Naru in the eyes and told her "You won't be in danger,
the being responsible for the attack won't expect the Senshi yet and he
won't expect you at all.  As for the reason I know what I do, to say it
simply, I have the gift of foresight.  That is one reason I waited until
now to come forth, to protect you."
   "Protect me from what?"
   "A spell being cast by the one responsible for the last death and the
upcoming attack.  He has begun preparations for it to affect the other
Senshi and it's too late for him to include you in it."  Ceres saw the
concerned look on Naru's face and tried to settle her.  "I couldn't do
anything to prevent it affecting them, but if you take accept your duty
as Sailor Apollo you can save them from bieng destroyed."
   "Alright, I'll do it!"  Naru held the pen over her head and called
out "APOLLO POWER, MAKE UP!!!"  Her body was immediately engulfed in
swirling colors as her clothing vanished and she sun in the air.  Severl
small musical notes surrounded her and formed a sailor fuku with a white
body and a skirt of light purple with a matching neck peice.  Pink bows
formed on the outfit as long white gloves with purple bands at the end
formed on her arms.  The usual bow in her hair was replaced with one of
purple as purple running shoes appeared on her feet, finally a gold
tiara on her forhead with a purple stone in the center.  Sailor Apollo
turned to her feline guardian.  "Lead the way."

                      *                 *                *

   A couple sat alone on a park bench watching as the sun began to set.
The man faced the woman and looked deeply into her eyes.  "I'm so glad
we decided to sped our honeymoon in Tokyo.  The sunsets never looked
this good back in Oklahoma," he spoke in English.
   The woman turned to him and replied, also in English.  "The sunset in
Juarez never looked so good either, but I think it may be because I
didn't have the right person to watch it with."
   The man was about to reply when he was lifted from his seat by a
single hand wrapped around his neck.  He felt the hand change its
position so he faced the monstrosity that held him, what appeared to be
a fifteen foot tall humanoid insect.  On its head were two horns, each
appeared to be three feet long which increased its height all the more
and eac ended in a perfect and deadly point.  The upper set of limbs
looked almost like normal human arms while the lowest set had the
appearance of human legs.  Each of the limbs in the center came to a
point just as sharp as those on its horns, it was these that the
creature sent forward next.  One stabbed into each side of the mans body
just below the arms and held him in place like a pincer while being
careful not to puncture anything that would be fatal to it's victim.
   After the tight grip on his neck was released, the man screamed out
in pain and fear.  "Agh!!!  Run Yuvia, get help!!!" he called as the
thing started to slowly draw him closer.
   The woman, Yuvia, started to run toward the police box they passed on
the way to the park.  The insect raised the wings that had been hanging
loosely behind its back started to fly in the direction the woman was
running to cut off he path, she was next.
   All present were halted as a voice was heard.  "POETIC MELODY!!!"
Two large, pink musical notes flew through the air and severed the wings
of the beast as well as the limbs that held its captive in place.  As
soon as the man hit the ground he pulled the sharp limbs from his sides
and turned to face his savior.
   Having lost its prey, the monster faced the person responsible.
Sailor Apollo took a step back at the sight before her.  "Are you sure
I'm not in danger?  I mean, look at that thing!"
   Ceres looked up at her from behid a near by tree, "You aren't now,
but if you don't follow up that attack soon you will be."
   The insect took advantage of her momentary inattention and began to
charge toward her, its horns pointed straight at her.
   Apollo noticed the rushing bug and immediately prepared for another
attack.  Both arms went behind her back as her feet positioned
themselves with the right pointed forward and the left pointed to the
side.  "POETIC..." she thrust both arms in front of her with her wrists
together and palms forward as she bent slightly at the waist.
"MELODY!!!"  A musical note flew from each palm and rapidly grew as they
approached the incoming creature, each traveled in a downward arc that
sent tem through the beasts horns then legs.
   "Now what do I do with it?  Even without the height those long legs
and horns provided it's still a little too big to just go step on."
Sailor Apollo looked expectantly at Ceres.
   "I'll take care of it," came a voice from behind her.  Apollo turned
to see Sailor Moon and the other inner senshi.
   "How did you know to come here?" she asked the Senshi of the Moon.
   "Mars got some bad vibes from something so we had Mercury scan with
her computer and, well... Here we are!"  Sailor Moon looked at the
downed monster then at Apollo.  "You know, that's quite an attack you've
got there!"
   Sailor Apollo blushed slightly.  "Sorry, first night on the job.
I'll learn better control."
   "First night?!  Luna, I thought you said all of the senshi had been
revealed?"
   {Luna?!?!} thought Apollo.
   {Luna-chan?!?!} thought Ceres.  He proceded to jump onto Sailor
Apollo's shoulder and whispered in her ear.  "We have to go.  Tell them
we'll be at the temple tomorrow after school hours."
   "Gomen, we have to get going now.  We'll be at the temple tomorrow
after school hours and we can talk more then."  Sailor Apollo turned to
leave then paused.  "You said you can finish that?" she indicated the
insect that was struggling to crawl away using what it had left of its
limbs.
   "Yeah, of course I can!"  Moon said as she faced the thing.  "But who
are you?"
   Apollo started to answer but was cut off as Ceres hissed in her ear.
"Now!"
   "Tomorrow," she stated, then walked off.

                   *                *                 *

   The next day after school Usagi, Rei, Ami, Makoto, and Minako sat at
the temple waiting for the mysterious senshi.
   "So who was that Luna?" asked Usagi.
   "And why did she have a cat like you two, I thought you were the only
ones?" added Minako.
   "Yes.  I might be wrong since it was dark by the time we arrived, but
that cat looked like a typical siamese."  Ami looked intently at Luna
and Artemis.
   Artemis and Luna exchanged a glance and nodded simultaniously.  "We
didn't want to tell you this before because we thought that she was
lost," Luna explained then looked to Artemis to continue.
   The white cat took his cue and lpicked up the story.  "You see, the
asteroid belt between Jupiter and Mars used to be a planet but it was
destroyed in Queen Beryl's attack.  The princess of Apollo had needed to
return to her planet not long before the attack commenced.  As rumors
were already spreading that an attack might occur, she took her guardian
cat, Ceres, along with her."
   "And we got back just in time to get sent off to this future.  Good
thing I recognized Serenity's last resort technique, Apollo had almost
attacked the bubbles that were our pssage to a new life," came a voice
from the door.
   Luna looked up and saw the siamese cat, a wide smile covered her
face.  "Ceres!!!"  She ran to him and started to nuzzle against him.
   Ceres blushed a bright shade of crimson.
   Artemis matched the color, but through slightly different emotions.
   "It's great to see you Ceres, we thought you were dead," Artemis
choked out through gritted teeth.  He silently added, {Too bad dreams
don't come true.}
   "So where's this 'Sailor Apollo' at?" asked Makoto.
   "Don't interupt Mako-chan, can't you see that Luna's found a long
lost lover?" Usagi asked as she pointed at the two cats.
   It was then Luna's turn to blush as she quickly moved a respectable
distance away from Ceres.  "Not at all, we're just good friends that
haven't seen each other in a long time.  Nee Ceres?"
   All eyes turned to the siamese cat who had a dreamy look on his face.
After a second the girls started laughing hysterically and Ceres snapped
out of his trance.  "Uh... Apollo will be here in a second, she stopped
to get a drink."
   At that moment, Naru walked in.  "Hi everyone!  What's up?"
   "Uh... We're waiting for someone," replied Usagi.  "What brings you
here?"
   "I have a meeting," she stated a little too quickly.  {I hope that
was convincing.}  "So, who are you waiting for?"
   "You Sailor Apollo."  At Ceres' words every mouth in the room dropped
open.  "They are the others from last night."
   After recovering from the shock the girls all exchanged stories of
how they discovered there powers.
   As soon as the fanfare ended, Luna turned to Ceres.  "So, what are we
up against?"
   "How would he know?" asked Usagi.
   "Ceres has the gift of foresight, he can see how our final battle
against whoever this is will go already.  Nee Ceres?" inquired Luna.
   "Right, but this person is hard to see things about.  He is sendng
out his devils or 'oni' to gather the lights of as many people as they
can.  When he has enough lights..."
   "Lights?" asked Mako.
   "A persons 'light' is their soul.  Without it their body will die
within five minutes," Ceres explained.
   "The dead old guy in the news!" Minako almost shouted.
   "Correct.  If enough lights are gathered he can easily use the power
from them to take over the Earth and then the universe.  We really must
stop him."  The siamese cat looked carefully at each girl.
   "Do you know how many oni he has to summon?" Ami asked attentively.
   "He doesn't summon them, he *creates* them.  If we don't stop him
they just keep coming," Ceres watched the reactions until Ami broke the
silence again.
   "Do you know what he's called?"
   "His name is Mamono." 

                 *                *                *

   Naru and Ceres walked towards her home, many things ran through the
mind of each.
   "Why didn't you tell them abot the spell that Mamono is preparing?"
Naru asked.
   "Can you say in all certainty that you could put out your best effort
if you had that kind of pressure on you.  If you knew _that_ was going
to happen to you?"  Ceres watched her for response and felt guilty when
her face fell.
   "I suppose your right," Naru replied sadly.  "I just don't like lying
to my friends."


                  END CHAPTER ONE

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   Well, I hope you all liked it.  If you want to see more let me know.
If you think I should quit while I'm ahead (or while I've still got
one), let me know that as well.  In other words, I want C&C.  MSTs are
also welcome.  Appologies to those who are disappointed about the outer
senshi not appearing yet, I promise they will within 2 chapters, and to
those who feel this is too slow, I garuntee the pace will pick up soon.

Sincerely,
Akihiro
Akihiro@webtv.net