Special Thanks: "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl for editing, good ideas and
                comments, and providing me with Sailor Moon stories to
                enjoy! Thanks Will!

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Sailor Senshi and all terms, names etc associated
            with the series are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi and Kodansha.
            The Guardians and everything pertaining to the Star Kingdoms are
            MINE!

                    Sailor Moon: Guardians of the Star
                 Chapter 7: Dragonkin of the Moon Kingdom

Ikuko closed the door to Haeth's room carefully and leaned against it
with a weary sigh. <Bad enough this happened to Haeth!> she thought
numbly, <But that could have been my BABY lying in there!> A tear
squeezed out from her closed eyes followed by several more. A step on
the landing caused her to look up. Kenji looked back at her with
understanding in his eyes and spread his arms. She ran into his embrace
and sobbed quietly. "That could have been our baby in there, Kenji!" she
whispered, "I'm so frightened for her!" He sighed as he tried to
suppress his own fears. "I know, dear," he said comfortingly, "But
remember that she has the Senshi to protect her.  Rei and the others
won't let anything happen to her. Besides, while I AM afraid for my
little girl, I'm also very PROUD of her!" Ikuko smiled back at him,
feeling better. "I am too," she agreed, "Now let's go downstairs and
reassure OUR Senshi about Haeth." Hand in hand, they descended the
stairs to comfort the children who were also the mightiest warriors in
Japan.

When they came down, Sailor Moon leapt to her feet followed by the other
Senshi. "Mama?" she cried softly. Ikuko held her arms open and Sailor
Moon ran into them sobbing. Mamoru prepared to go to her but Kenji
caught his eye and shook his head silently. He motioned everyone into
the living room. Mamoru looked back to see Sailor Moon sobbing on her
mother's shoulder while her mother held her tightly, stroking her hair
soothingly.

Kenji sat wearily in his chair as the Senshi positioned themselves on
the floor at his feet. Mamoru opted for the couch. Kenji was about to
speak when the front door burst open and Chibi-Moon ran in followed by
the four Guardians. "Mako-chan!" she exclaimed excitedly, "I found
them!" "So I see," Jupiter returned smiling slightly. There was chaos
and confusion as everyone tried to talk at once. "Whoa! Slow down!"
Kenji exclaimed holding up his hands. By the time the noise subsided,
Sailor Moon and her mother had rejoined them.

Sailor Mercury stood up. "Since the whole thing began with Minako and
I," she said, "Why don't I start?" At everyone's nod, she explained
everything that happened since they rounded the corner and saw the Dark
Kindred. [See chapter 6 for details-ed.] When she finished and sat back
down, Sailor Moon climbed to her feet and took over the story.
"......and then Rei fried him with that new attack of hers," she
concluded smiling at Rei, "He got away but she hurt him good before he
did!"

Greywolf leaned forward, his gray eyes turning toward Usagi's mother.
"First thing we must know is how is Haeth?" he asked in concern. Ikuko
sighed.  She had been afraid this question would come sooner or later.
"Not too good," she replied sadly, "Ami says most of her injuries are
superficial but her arm is BADLY broken! She needs medical treatment!"
Lynn looked concerned at that. "There may be a problem with that, Mrs.
Tsukino!" she spoke up worriedly, "Haeth is NOT human and while
Dragonkin in human form ARE close enough to the real thing to fool
sight, medical instruments would NOT be fooled!" "I have an idea about
that," Ikuko returned with a reassuring smile, "I'll explain later.
Right now I want to know just one thing." She turned to Lynn. "Why did
Haeth continue to fight after Minako was safe? She SHOULD have backed
off and let the others use all their powers on him! Even SHE had powers
she could have used and DIDN'T!"

Lynn sighed. "For that, I need to give you a short history of the Star
Kingdoms and the first Doom War," she explained. She sat in thought for
a moment. "Where to begin," she mused aloud, "It's a complex tale and we
don't have time for the full version. Hmmmm. OK, the Star Kingdoms exist
in a dimension parallel to this one and as such, big historical events
are sometimes mirrored in both universes. Everyone with me so far?" At
everyone's nod, she continued, "The Star Kingdoms are our universe's
version of the Silver Millennium and like The Moon Kingdom, one thousand
years ago, the Star Kingdoms were involved in a cataclysmic war against
the Dark Empire. Unlike the Moon Kingdom, we won our fight after much
destruction because we had help. We appealed to our patron Goddess,
Shalhanna, to assist us in our fight, for if we lost, it meant total and
utter annihilation. Her answer was the creation of the Dragonkin."

She took a sip of her tea to wet her parched throat. She looked around
and smiled at everyone's rapt expressions. "Whether they came from Her
realm or were created on the spot, no one knows. Needless to say, with
Dragonkin help, the tide of the War turned sharply. The Dark Empire,
however, had a patron Goddess as well and Kashalka is as black hearted
as Shalhanna is pure. She knew what Shalhanna had done and she answered
that creation with her own. A dark perversion of Shalhanna's creation
and thus, the Dark Kindred were born. Dark to Dragonkin light, evil to
Dragonkin good, yin to yang I believe you would say."

She paused for another sip of her tea. "To put it bluntly, they HATE
each other with a passion SO intense, it's almost holy in its mindless
ferocity! This hatred is instinctive and older Dragonkin have learned to
control it." "But Haeth is a CHILD," Ikuko broke in, understanding, "She
couldn't overcome that mindless hatred, could she?" "No, her training is
not that far along yet!" Lynn agreed, "If one good thing comes out of
this, it's that the next time Haeth faces Dark Kindred, she WILL be able
to control it.  Experience counts for SOMETHING, after all."

"Are you saying that all of you will face the Dark Kindred AGAIN?!"
Ikuko gasped incredulously. Lynn turned her violet gaze on Usagi's
mother, trying to project as much reassurance as she could. "The
possibility exists," she affirmed gravely, "Ebonar, though hurt, got
away and Morgoth may have brought other Dark Ones with him. Maybe even
Kashalkanite Elves, although I hope not!" Sailor Moon looked startled at
that. "There are elves on Morgoth's side?" she asked in surprise. "If
you want to call them that," Greywolf returned sourly, "Their skin is as
black as their souls, curse their forsworn hides!"

"I think we're getting sidetracked here!" Lynn said firmly. She turned
to Sailor Moon. "Saturn is the healer among the Senshi isn't she?"
Sailor Moon nodded. "Then I suggest we split into teams of one Guardian
and one Senshi and go find the Outer Senshi," Lynn suggested, "I'll go
with Usagi to where they live and see what we find. You others check out
the places they frequent to see what information you can find.  Anything
else?" Ikuko looked up quickly. "I need Mamoru and Ami to stay behind,"
she put in, "I need to talk to them about an idea I have." Lynn nodded
and the two mentioned stayed seated as everyone else prepared to leave.

Ikuko and Kenji hugged all the Senshi and when they got to Sailor Moon,
they were reluctant to let go. Sailor Moon stood between her parents, in
the middle of a three way hug, and gripped them both tightly. "I have
the most wonderful and understanding parents in the world!" she
whispered tearfully, "Don't worry about me, because I also have the best
friends and protectors in the whole world!"  "Promise me you'll be
careful!" her mother said softly. Sailor Moon smiled. "I promise!" she
returned just as softly, "The others would kill me if I wasn't!" They
finally let her join the others as they headed out on their search.

After the others had left, Luna gave Usagi's parents a moment to regain
their composure. "You said you had an idea on what to do about Haeth,"
Luna stated after they had calmed down.  Ikuko dabbed at her eyes with a
hanky and gave a teary sniff. "I'm sorry, Luna," she apologized, "I'm
not handling this too well. What you must think of me!"

Luna looked at her compassionately. "My dear, you're handling this much
better than Usagi did!" she said with a laugh. "Shall I tell you about
her first time changing to Sailor Moon?" Ikuko gave a startled nod. "I
told her who she really was and she refused to believe me," Luna said
with remembered exasperation. "You know what she was like! So I had her
do her transformation in front of her mirror!" Kenji choked back a laugh
and Ikuko quickly covered her mouth as she struggled to hold back her
own laughter. "Oh....oh!" she gasped, "The expression on her face! It
must have been priceless!" Luna sat and looked up at Usagi's parents, a
glint of mischief in her eyes. "When she found out I knew what I was
talking about and that she was indeed Sailor Moon," Luna chuckled, "Do
you know what our darling Princess said next?" Ikuko and Kenji shook
their heads soundlessly. "She said, 'This dream is getting weirder and
weirder all the time!'," Luna whined in a deft imitation of Usagi's old
manner, "'I want to play Sailor V video games, I don't want to live
them!!'"  At that, everyone burst out laughing, even Mercury and Mamoru
who had never heard THAT before.

When the laughter finally died to scattered chuckles and giggles, Ikuko
turned to Luna.  "Thanks, Luna," she said gratefully, "We really needed
that." She giggled again at the thought of it. She could see her
daughter reacting in just that way. Her thoughts turned to more serious
matters, namely Haeth. "Ami," she said softly, "I don't like to ask this
of you but you must tell your mother everything Luna told us. Haeth
needs immediate attention for that arm and your mother is one of the
finest doctors in Tokyo." Mercury nodded reluctantly. "I suspected that
I'd have to bring Mom into this," she said slowly, "I don't know how
she'll take it though!" She moved to the phone and dialed her number.
"Hi Mom!" she said cheerfully when Dr. Mizuno answered, "Listen, are you
busy at the moment? You aren't? Could you come over to Usagi's place?
Well, I'll explain when you get here. Pardon? Well, it IS important but
too long to go into over the phone. You will? Thanks Mom! Bye!" Mercury
put down the phone and stood a moment with her head bowed.  "She's on
her way, Mrs. Tsukino!" she said worriedly, "I didn't fool her either.
She knows something's up and I think she's plenty worried!" Ikuko got up
and started for the kitchen. "In that case, a fresh cup of tea would be
soothing," she said over her shoulder.


On the outskirts of Tokyo sat a large spooky looking mansion looking
like a transplant from a gothic horror novel. The wooded grounds were
surrounded by a high fence and a red Ferrari was parked in front of the
house. Inside, in the dining room, a blond haired man in a dark gray
uniform sat finishing his supper. When he finished, he sat back in his
chair and thought for a moment. <I need more information and I need
advice,> he thought carefully.  His decision made, he rose and left the
dining room. He entered a large room that had the air of a cathedral
complete with stained glass windows.  He moved to the middle of the room
and sat cross legged on the floor.  He meditated, sending out a call for
help to someone he had once known.

"I'm surprised to see you in this room, Jadeite," a voice said startling
him out of his trance, "Since you don't usually believe what the stars
have to say." Jadeite looked up to see a man with long brown hair
standing before him. He wore an identical dark gray uniform and his
figure was slightly transparent. "I still don't, Nephrite," he returned
with a grin, "But I'm glad you could answer my call anyway!" Nephrite
smiled and shook his head. "Someday you may regret not listening to
them," he admonished, "But I'm glad to see you free of Beryl and
Metallia's dark sway. Let me guess, you need information and advice,
right?" At Jadeite's nod, he continued.

"My time here is short so listen carefully," he advised, "The peril the
Senshi face is even greater than THEY suspect.  Beryl and Metallia
wanted to rule the universe, to dominate it. Morgoth, however, wants to
destroy all life in it! Even now, the Senshi need your help!" Jadeite
looked up sharply. "Where?" he shot back. Nephrite gave him the address
as he began to fade. "Wait!" Jadeite cried, "How can I get them to trust
me so I CAN help them?!" "Mars and Mercury are the keys to that,"
Nephrite returned as he faded from sight, "Use them!" He was gone.
Jadeite stared at where he had been standing as he thought about
Nephrite's parting words. He turned and ran from the room. Running out
the front door, he leapt into the Ferrari and with a roar and squealing
of tires, he sped out the front gate.

"And that's the whole story up to the present," Luna concluded her tale.
Everyone watched Dr. Mizuno to see her reaction to Luna's story.  She
sat on the couch, her hands steepled before her. Her eyes behind her
glasses appeared lost in thought. "Mom?" Mercury asked tentatively at
the same time Ikuko asked, "Are you alright, Ishiya-san?" She came to
herself with a start. "Oh! I'm sorry to worry you," she responded
slowly, "Luna has given me much to ponder." Mercury exchanged a curious
look with Ikuko.  "Mom, aren't you shocked?" she asked looking down.

Dr. Mizuno immediately got up and went to Mercury, placing a comforting
arm around her daughter.  "Shocked? Well, about the Moon Kingdom part of
the story anyway," she told her, "About you being Sailor Mercury, well,
I've known that for a long time!" "You...you have?!" Mercury gasped.
Dr. Mizuno smiled at her.  "Of course I did, you ninny!" she returned
lovingly, "While I may have had trouble believing it if someone told me,
I saw you change, dear." "You saw me CHANGE?" Mercury whispered, "How?
I've always made sure I was alone!"

Dr Mizuno smiled in remembrance.  "It was a fair while back," she
explained, "I was on a long shift at the Hospital, so normally I
wouldn't be home 'til after midnight. I was able to get home early that
particular night so I went to bed to rest a while. I must have been
asleep when you came home.  When I woke up, I heard you talking to
someone, so I went to the door just in time to see you change and run
out the front door. I must admit I was shocked at the time, but after a
moment of thought, I'm surprised I didn't realize it before! I mean,
Sailor Mercury looked just like you! And I knew who the other Senshi
were after I saw you change. I should have known who they were from the
pictures I've seen as well. You don't look THAT different in your Senshi
forms you know."

Luna cleared her throat, "There's a reason you couldn't recognize them,"
she pointed out. "We couldn't have everyone knowing who they were after
all. Their Sailor gems cast a glammer over them which, ah, ENCOURAGES
people not to recognize them. You, however, saw her transform.  The
glammer no longer worked on you and that's why you realized who the
other Senshi were and why Mercury looked like Ami. It's just as well
really, I wouldn't have liked to see if the glammer would have prevented
you from recognizing Sailor Mercury if she was brought in as one of your
patients!"  Dr. Mizuno looked up sharply. "And speaking of patients, I
believe you mentioned someone called Haeth," she said briskly, "So let's
get to it!"

Dr. Mizuno stood after examining Haeth carefully with help from Mercury
and her Visor. She sighed heavily and glanced at her daughter. "I could
use a visor like that, daughter," she said jokingly. She then turned to
Usagi's anxious parents. "This child belongs in a hospital," she stated
emphatically. When they were about to object, Dr. Mizuno raised her
hand. "I know she's not human," she reassured them as she glanced at the
silver dragon symbol on Haeth's forehead, "But I can get her in, treat
her, and take her out again with a minimum of fuss. If the others find
Saturn, so much the better, but if not, that arm needs to be put in a
steel brace and she'll need pain killers."

Mamoru wrapped Haeth up in blankets and picked her up. She gave a
sobbing moan as her arm was jarred. "Damn!" he muttered, "Sounds like
she'll come to, soon. Let's go. Dr. Mizuno, we'll put her in your car
and I'll follow you and Ami in the van." They all went downstairs and
out to the vehicles. Mamoru placed her carefully in the front seat and
Mercury and her mother got in with Haeth between them. Mamoru watched
the car drive off and turned to the Tsukinos. "If the Senshi return
before we do, please tell them to wait for us," he asked, "Having all
the Senshi and Guardians show up at the hospital would be a BAD idea!"
They nodded in agreement and watched as Mamoru got into the van and
drove off after Dr. Mizuno.


"There! That's where they live," Sailor Moon stated, pointing to a
modern high rise building across the street. Lynn studied the building
carefully.  "Try calling them again, Usagi," she requested as she
listened intently.  Sailor Moon raised her communicator and did as Lynn
requested. She started as Lynn exclaimed. Her sharp elven hearing picked
up something that Sailor Moon's human hearing didn't. "Usagi, I heard a
faint groan coming from their building!" she reported excitedly, "It
happened as soon as you started calling them!" Sailor Moon glanced at
her sharply. "If they could answer me, they would have!" she stated,
"Something is very wrong here!" "I'll say there is!" Lynn returned,
still listening intently, "Notice how quiet it is? I hear faint sounds
coming from the other buildings around us, but this one is dead silent!"
Sailor Moon winced at Lynn's choice of words but nodded in agreement.

They crossed the street hurriedly and, in moments, were standing at the
main doors. They moved through the doors and into the building. As they
crossed the threshold, Lynn was overcome by such weakness that she
gripped the door to remain on her feet. "Lynn! What's happening to us?!"
Sailor Moon gasped out weakly as she fell to her knees. Lynn shook her
head.  "I don't...." She broke off her answer as something across the
lobby caught her eye. A small spherical device rested on the floor near
the far wall. It pulsated with a leprous green glow and Lynn was
nauseated just from looking at it. Two people lay on the floor near the
malevolent device.  "Quick, Usagi!" Lynn whispered as she weakly gripped
Sailor Moon by the left arm, "We've got to get out of here, NOW!"

Staggering out the door, Lynn dragged Sailor Moon behind her. Once
outside, they collapsed, panting. Slowly, their strength began to
return. "Usagi, call everyone else!" Lynn ordered grimly, "We're gonna
need some serious help here!" Sailor Moon turned a fearful look on the
building. "What was that thing, Lynn?" she asked softly. "I'm not
familiar with all the Dark Empire's forbidden technology, although I
think I may know what this thing is! Greywolf, however, WILL know what
it is. Hurry, call the others!" Sailor Moon complied and pressed the
'All Call' button on her communicator.

Doctor Mizuno studied Haeth's x-rays with growing alarm. "Well Mom,
what's the prognosis?" Mercury asked worriedly. "Bad, child," she
returned sourly, "Better hope your friends find Saturn." She glanced at
Haeth.  Haeth's arm was in both brace and cast. "If she were human, she
would be in surgery right now," Dr. Mizuno told Mercury, "She isn't,
however. We can't risk an operation because we have no way of knowing
how it would affect her in her Dragonkin form!" "Her arm is THAT bad?"
Mercury asked in concern. Her mother nodded grimly. "Her elbow joint is
shattered!" she explained, "Probably because that creature shattered the
elbow joint on her wing. She may never regain the mobility she'll need
to fly!" Mercury was about to respond when her communicator began to
send out the 'All Call' signal.

It was Sailor Moon. "We're at the Outer Senshi's building," she reported
wearily, "Get over here fast, Ami! We need that visor of yours!" "On my
way, Usagi!" Mercury said as she signed off. She turned to her mother.
"I heard, Ami," Dr. Mizuno said quietly, "Take Mamoru and go, but
promise me that you'll be careful!" "I promise, Mom!" Mercury returned,
giving her mother a quick hug. Mamoru transformed into Tuxedo Kamen and
left at a run with Mercury. Dr. Mizuno stood and stared at the door for
a long time.


Galen closed his textbook with relief and leaned back in his chair with
a weary sigh. <Funny how a millennium changed much and yet, much
remained the same!> he thought ruefully, <I hated homework during the
glory days of the Moon Kingdom and I hate it just as much now!> He
sighed again and bowed his head. The Princess and her Court had
fragmented memories of those wonderful days. His memories, however, were
complete and very vivid.

The barricade blasted outward in a shower of molten rock and fire as
Galen's dragonfire blasted through the last of the cave in that had
trapped him in the Dragonkin Caverns for the last three days. He wearily
pulled himself out and lay gasping on the ground. When he had recovered,
he noticed the deathly silence and looked around warily. Blasted ruins
greeted his horrified gaze every way he looked. "No," he whimpered.  His
weak cry swiftly turned into a reverberating roar of mindnumbing grief
and fury.  "NOOOOOO!" he shrieked to the uncaring starry sky.

"Galen, son of Vordin and Maeribeth, listen to me!" cried a familiar
voice. Startled out of his grief, he looked up to see the bright spirit
of Queen Serenity hovering before him. "My Queen!" he choked in anguish.
Queen Serenity looked at this last survivor of the Moon Kingdom and
realized what she had to do. "Galen, the cave in that trapped you in the
Kin Caverns saved your life!" she explained, "The Dark Kingdom attacked
and destroyed everything, BUT, I sent my daughter and her Court and
others of the Kingdom to the future. Unfortunately, I had to send the
Dark Kingdom folk as well! Dragonkin can travel through time and space.
It is, after all, how your folk arrived here from the Star Kingdoms. Go
to the future. Guard the Princess and her Court. When the time comes,
you will meet Dragonkin from the Star Kingdoms. When this happens, it
will be time for you to help them openly. Until then, stay hidden!
Remember that your mother Maeribeth was not only my friend and
companion, but on occasion, my mount as well. I mourn her loss as deeply
as you. Farewell!" With that, her spirit slowly faded away.

And so, he had gone to the future and watched over the Senshi, wanting
to help countless times but not daring to disregard Queen Serenity's
instructions. Recently, the Senshi's presence had vanished. When he no
longer sensed them, he was frantic. Then, after about an hour, their
presence returned and he was very relieved. <And after seeing darling
Haeth, I know where they were,> he mused, <Dragonkin from the Star
Kingdoms she is and THAT'S where they had been. It seems that the time
spoken of by Her Majesty has arrived! NOW I will be able to help!>

He gasped as agonizing pain flashed through his arm and his vision went
black. When he came to, the pain had diminished to a dull throb. <This
is NOT my pain!> he thought numbly, <Haeth and I must have 'Pair Bonded'
when we met. How could I have been so stupid as to have missed that?!>
Pair Bonding. Something that happens only to Elves and Dragonkin, the
closest human approximation is 'love at first sight' but Pair Bonding is
much more profound. A spiritual and mental bonding of extreme closeness
that even death can rarely sunder. <<HAETH!>> he screamed in mindspeech
as he realized where this led. The pain he felt was Haeth's. He sensed
only blackness from the other end of the Bonding link.

He rushed to the phone, his hands trembling so hard that he had to dial
the number for Tokyo General three times before he got it right. "Hello,
is Dr. Mizuno available?" he asked when the phone was answered, "She's
with a patient? Could you tell her that if her patient is Haeth McTavish
that I must speak to her at once! Yes, I'll wait." He'd made it his duty
to watch over the families of the Senshi as well and was now glad he had
done so. He tapped his foot impatiently as he waited. "Hello? Dr.
Mizuno? Yes, I'm a very close friend of Haeth's. Well, let's just say
we're Kin.  WHAT?! How did you know we're....?! I see. I'll be there
shortly. The helipad on the roof. Gotcha! Bye." Galen hung up, numb with
shock. Ami's mother knew everything! <In a way, this will make things
MUCH easier,> he thought with relief.

He exited the stairwell and out onto the roof of his apartment building.
He shimmered and a large silvery form stood where he had been moments
before. Spreading his mighty wings, he sprang aloft and flew towards
Tokyo General as fast as his great wings could take him.

Approaching Tokyo General, his gaze narrowed as he searched the area
around the helipad. In a moment, he had spotted Dr. Mizuno standing near
the stairwell and he began his descent. Dr. Mizuno braced herself
against the backwash from his wings as he landed nearby and shimmered
into his human form. <Oh, oh. I think I scared her!> he thought when he
noticed the tight expression on her face. "Sorry, Doctor," he
apologized, "I didn't mean to frighten you." She looked at him sharply
and noticing the worry in his eyes, her expression eased into a rueful
smile. "No apologies necessary, Galen-san," she reassured him, "Even
though I knew what to expect, seeing it was still a surprise! Any
apologies are mine." He nodded. "How is Haeth?" he queried urgently.
She glanced at the silvery dragon symbol on his forehead. "Come with
me," she instructed. Taking his arm, she led him down the stairs and
into the Hospital. As they walked to Haeth's room, she briefed him.
"Most of her injuries are superficial and we dealt with them, but her
arm injury is about as serious as it could get. We've braced the arm as
best we could, but if my daughter and her friends are unsuccessful in
locating Sailor Saturn, I don't know if she will ever fly again!"

Haeth slowly became aware of a presence near her as she slowly regained
her senses. Love and concern came in almost palpable waves from that
presence. Curious, she opened her eyes to meet Galen's silvery gaze.
<I should have known!> she thought dazedly as she noticed the dragon
symbol on his forehead, <I should have known he was Dragonkin! How else
could we have Pair Bonded? I wonder if he knows!> "Galen!" she cried
softly, "How did you know I was hurt?" He smiled without looking away
from her eyes. The beautiful silvery eyes he would willingly drown in.
"I felt your pain!" he answered somberly, taking her hand and gripping
it tightly. "Then, you KNOW we're....." He ran a loving hand through her
sweat damp silver hair. "Yes, little one," he agreed, "I know." He bent
and kissed her mouth gently. "Now rest and get well," he advised. He
turned and walked across to the door.

"Galen! Where do you go?" Haeth demanded urgently. Galen turned back and
his stern expression softened as he looked back at Haeth. "I go to exact
a price from the one who injured you," he explained calmly, "I'll take
it out of his hide, somewhere near his heart I think.  Assuming, of
course, that he has one!" Haeth shook her head slowly.  "This debt is
mine to settle!" she returned firmly. "Perhaps so," he responded, "But I
claim Kin Bond vengeance against him. You are my mate!" Dr. Mizuno
watched as two strong wills did battle. She smiled to herself. She knew
who was going to win this one. "Not so!" Haeth said hotly, "I'm not your
mate yet!" "Oh?" he countered hiding a smile, "We're Pair Bonded! You
don't plan on turning me down, do you?" "Of course not!" she shot back
indignantly, "I happen to love you!" Galen grinned hugely. She had given
him the answer he wanted. "Then if you love me," he said over his
shoulder as he turned to go, "You will trust me to see to your vengeance
satisfactorily!" As she stared back at him speechlessly, he smiled
briefly and was gone.

By the time Haeth regained her senses, Dr. Mizuno had readied a wheel
chair for her. Haeth muttered uncomplimentary things about males in
general and HER male in particular as Dr. Mizuno helped her into it.
"Would you really want him any other way?" she asked Haeth, smiling.
"Well....no," Haeth answered haltingly, "But I hope I get to win an
argument ONCE in a while!" "Oh, you will," Dr. Mizuno said mysteriously
as they approached her car, "You have the power to wrap him around your
little finger. You just need to learn how to use it!" They exchanged a
smile that, had Galen seen it, would have filled him with apprehension.
Dr. Mizuno started the car and headed back to the Tsukino home.


Sailor Moon sat with her head on her knees as she slowly recovered her
strength. Mars knelt next to her, an arm around her shoulders. A van
came to a stop near them with a screech of tires. Tuxedo Kamen and
Sailor Mercury leapt out, the last to arrive. "Usako!" Tuxedo Kamen
cried as he rushed to his Princess. Sailor Moon looked up slowly and he
could see the dark circles under her eyes. Looking around, he saw Lynn
was in much the same condition. "What happened?" he asked softly.
Sailor Moon pointed weakly at the high rise main doors. Her hand
trembled violently and he took it in his own and waited. "Go to the
front doors and look in," she ordered faintly, "Do NOT enter or you'll
be in the same shape as Lynn and me." Curious, the others gathered
around the main doors and looked in.

They saw the two bodies immediately and after a moment, the ominously
glowing device. Mercury turned her visor on the thing and gasped.
"Venus!" she exclaimed, "I think that's the same type of device that
Ebonar was holding! The one you knocked out of his hand!" Greywolf moved
in for a look and recoiled so violently when he saw it, that only Tuxedo
Kamen's quick hand against his back, prevented him from falling. "A
Nullifier!" he whispered in shock. "A what?" Mercury asked in confusion.

Greywolf struggled to regain his composure so he could answer. "During
the Doom War, the Dark Empire used many hideous devices against us," he
explained hurriedly, "This was one of the most fearful! A Nullifier! It
nullifies and absorbs ALL forms of energy! Even life force! When all
energy in the nullification field is exhausted, it will expand and
continue the cycle.  Left on its own, it will turn Tokyo into a DEAD
city!" As everyone gasped in horror, Mars pushed forward.  "How do we
destroy it?" she demanded urgently. "We can't now that it's activated!"
Greywolf whispered, "Only one with mind powers, what we of the Star
Kingdoms call 'Psionics' can destroy them once they're active!" They
looked at each other in consternation. "There must be SOMETHING we can
do!" Jupiter cried.

"Perhaps I could be of assistance?" Everyone turned to look at the
newcomer. "JADEITE!!!" Sailor Moon gasped, stunned. Before the
Guardians' startled eyes, all the Senshi immediately went into combat
mode. Jadeite, however, knelt before Tuxedo Kamen and bowed his golden
head. "My Prince!" he said quietly, "With Metallia and Beryl dead, I am
free of their dark sway. I ask to return to your service!" "WHAT?!" Mars
exclaimed incredulously. "Dare we trust him?" Jupiter asked.  Jadeite
stood and turned to the Senshi. "There's a way to prove myself!" he
challenged, "Mercury, scan me for Dark Kingdom energy and Mars, try to
detect evil within me." Dubious, the two Senshi did as he requested and
gasped in surprise. "He...he has no Dark Kingdom energy in him! None,
zippo, nil, nada!" Mercury stuttered. "No evil either!" Mars confirmed
wide eyed with surprise, "It as if he's a different person from the last
time we met him!" He smiled grimly. "For all intents and purposes, I
am," he pointed out, "When you last saw me, I was firmly under Beryl's
control.  Now, I'm not! I'll explain everything in more detail later.
Right now, we must destroy that device!" "Do you think you can help?"
Sailor Moon asked hopefully. He nodded. "My powers are what Greywolf
called 'Psionics'," he confirmed, "If he tells me what I must do, then I
can indeed help."

"NO!" shrieked a voice from above. Black lightning struck in their
midst, the explosion knocking everyone to the ground. Ebonar settled to
the ground near them. They could see many areas on his massive body
where Mars' last attack had melted his scales. A few places had even
been burned right through. He turned to look at a groggy Mars. "I will
have revenge for what you did to me!" he snarled viciously, "And I will
begin with you, Hatchling!"

"No, you will NOT!!" interrupted another voice crackling with suppressed
rage. Everyone looked skyward again and saw a large silvery Dragonkin
coming in for a landing. He landed between Ebonar and the Senshi.
Everyone could see it wasn't Haeth. For one thing, he was more than
twice her size.  For another, there were a few other differences. A
spiny crest ran from the top of his head, between his backward pointing
horns and halfway down his neck. Under normal circumstances, it appeared
as if this crest would be flat against his skull and be difficult to
notice. Now, it was aggressively erect, speaking eloquently of the
Dragonkin's fury. Between his eyes, amidst the silver scales, shone the
familiar Moon Crescent in scales of gold.

Ebonar took one look at the stranger and fled. He rarely fought unless
victory was a sure thing. This was no Dragonkin hatchling like the one
he defeated earlier. This was a fully grown Dragonkin in the fullness of
his power and he was infuriated. He was also different from the
Dragonkin Ebonar was familiar with, and different meant dangerous since
there was no way of knowing what this one could do. Galen turned briefly
to the others. "Destroy the alien device," he commanded, "The Dark
Kindred is MINE!" Beating his wings heavily, he took off in pursuit of
Ebonar.

They watched until the two dragons disappeared in the distance. "OK,
Greywolf," Jadeite asked, returning their attention to more urgent
matters, "What must I do to destroy the thing?" "You must seize the
device with your telekinetic power and dash it against the wall!"
Greywolf answered, "Its operation is its only defense since once active,
no one can go near them. They are extremely delicate, so an abrupt
impact should be able to destroy it." Jadeite nodded in understanding
and reaching out mentally, he grasped the device. His face contorted and
he groaned, his hands going to his temples. "Jadeite!" Greywolf put in
urgently, "The Nullifier can't absorb mind power but it DOES scramble
it. This makes them very painful to handle! Be fast!" Jadeite nodded
painfully and Senshi and Guardian watched, as with superhuman
concentration, Jadeite levitated the Nullifier and, with a groan of
pain, flung it against the wall. When it struck, it shorted out in a
shower of sparks, the ominous green glow going dark. Jadeite collapsed.

Tuxedo Kamen and Greywolf stayed with Jadeite who sat with his head in
his hands, as the Senshi and remaining Guardians entered the building.
Mercury picked up the shorted Nullifier and reaching into her subspace
pocket, retrieved the device Ebonar had been carrying earlier. "Guys,
look at this," she requested. Everyone crowded around Mercury to view
the two devices. They were identical. "I don't understand," Venus said
in confusion, "Would they try to plant two of these?" Lynn shook her
head. "Not likely," she commented, "One is enough to depopulate half a
planet. The Star Kingdom of Skye was destroyed by two of these during
the Doom War. Fortunately, they're EXTREMELY rare." Mercury looked
thoughtful. "Could they have been willing to sacrifice one to draw us to
Ebonar while they quietly planted the second?" she suggested. "I think
you have it!" Kreigh returned grimly, "We'll have to be careful when we
fight them again!" Mercury grinned. "They can't use this strategy
against us again!" she reported with satisfaction, "My computer has
readings of power signatures from an active Nullifier and an inactive
one. They can't hide them from me anymore!" Mercury stored both devices
in her subspace pocket for later study. After assuring themselves that
the two people in the lobby were recovering, they headed for Haruka's
and Michiru's apartment.

When they burst into the apartment, they found Haruka, Michiru, and
Hotaru on the floor, recovering their strength. They looked up in
surprise as the Senshi and Guardians stormed in. The three of them had
managed to transform before being overcome by the malevolent power of
the Nullifier and the Silence Glaive lay on the floor where Saturn had
dropped it before collapsing. Still too weak to pick it up, she sat next
to it, recovering.  "Not that I'm unhappy to see you guys, but could
some one tell us just what the heck happened here?!" Sailor Uranus
demanded. "Now that's something I'd like to know was well!" They turned
to the door to see Pluto leaning weakly against her Time Staff.

After a time, everyone was seated with fortifying cups of tea in front
of them. Sailor Uranus turned to Sailor Moon. "Princess, could you give
us a brief synopsis of what happened tonight?" she requested. Sailor
Moon nodded. "It all began when Ami and Minako were heading for the
arcade........"


The wind shrieked past Galen as he sped through the skies after the
fleeing Ebonar. Flying an obstacle course of skyscrapers at high speed
WAS exhilarating, but Galen could see that Ebonar was tiring and he was
gaining on him with every wing beat. <Soon he'll realize that and he'll
turn to fight!> he thought with fierce satisfaction.  Sure enough,
seeing that it was useless to try and outrun Galen, Ebonar turned at bay
and spat black lightning at his pursuer. Galen tucked his wings and
ducked under the blast. Spreading his wings, he climbed slightly.  He
inhaled and blew a veritable inferno at Ebonar, who just barely managed
to evade it. "FIRE!" Ebonar screamed in fear and baffled rage, "You
breathe FIRE! How can that BE?!" Knowing that a duel of breath weapons
was potentially fatal, he closed, hoping to best Galen with claws and
fangs.

The two dragons came together with a mighty crash and they plummeted as
they grappled. <I got an idea!> Galen thought as he prepared to pull
himself free, <First, I need him to have some wing damage. Let's
see....> Galen jerked himself free and they parted bloodied. Galen
turned and struck, one of his hind claws cutting five deep gashes in
Ebonar's right wing. <Yeeesss!> Galen thought in glee, <Gotcha! Now
follow me if you can!> As Ebonar shrieked in pain and fury, Galen
streaked away at high speed.

Bellowing in triumph, Ebonar flew after him. When Galen had built up
enough speed, he climbed, vertically. As he had hoped, the Dark Kindred
copied his maneuver. Just as he began to stall, he executed a tight roll
and Ebonar zipped past, putting Galen on his tail. When Ebonar tried to
copy the difficult maneuver, his injured wing gave out under the strain.
For a brief moment, he hung motionless. It was enough. Galen's flame
engulfed him just as he began to fall. He screamed in agony and despair
as the terrible flame seared him, burning through his scales as if they
weren't even there. Mars' fire attack had hurt him badly, but that heat
was nothing compared to the searing heat of dragonfire. Ebonar
plummeted, a flaming meteor, with Galen following closely, to be sure of
the kill.  Within moments, the dreadful fire consumed him utterly,
leaving only glowing ashes floating groundwards. Galen roared in
victory. <<For you, my love!>> he sent exultantly to Haeth. He then
turned and headed back to the apartment building where he had left the
others. <I hope they managed to destroy the thing!> he thought
worriedly, <Haeth needs Saturn as soon as possible!> He flew on, hoping
that his worries were unfounded.

End of Chapter 7

NEXT: Chapter 8: The Calm before the Storm.

Explanations, Haeth's healing, Usagi and Mamoru double date with Haeth
and Galen!

BE THERE!