I was suppose to have released this Christmas time but was backlogged then
went on vaction, lost the disk I brought with me, when I found it I did not
copy it and so forth.  Sorry to everyone out there.  Evangelion is going well.
This is another fic i was suppose to release.  I will.  Give me a few more
months.  College just started up again and I have very little time.  Carrying
16 hours.  I am still writing Kasumi's Wish.  Return has been handed off to
someone else.  She wrote chapter one which I felt was much better than mine
but still retain most of the plot I had in mind.  Truthfully, I was really
lazy and am backlogged on the amount of fics I need to finish.   Mistaken
identity chapter 5 was just sent to me by Murmur and will be sent off soon.
Week max.  

In the works: 
Past/Future revision chp 1-10
Past/Future chp 11
Ranma/BGC crossover
2 story arc from the Bet
Kasumi's Wish chp 6
Secret of the Nekoken
Under the Hammer chp 4, series by Hobbs
AFWADD chp 1
Ranma/KOR crossover chp 2
etc etc etc

Most without names at this point
last count 30 and growing
  
well on with the show ^_^

Long

Chp 6 part 1


	Opening the two gigantic doors in front of her, Ambyra walked into the throne
room.  Bowing to the man who was her Lord.  "Master, the Senshi live."

	"I am aware of this.  What I would like to know is why they are still alive?"
the man asked, shaking his head to emphasize his disappointment, "Ambyra, did
I not rescue you from your prison and showed you the fate of your brother, the
prince, and those responsible for his death? Did you not promise to destroy
those who are your enemies, as well as mine?" the Master asked.

	"All that you say is true, Milord.  However, I - " she began, but was cut
off.

	"I do not wish to hear any excuses from you or any of my other generals.
Twice now, you have failed me.  That is intolerable!  Leave me now while I
contemplate what
kind of punishment you shall receive for your failures." he commanded her.

	Bowing, Ambyra slowly exited the throne room, head held high.  Making her way
back to her quarters, a voice interrupted her stride.  

	"What's wrong? Did the Master's pet get rebuked?" the voice taunted her.

	"Drop dead, Tanthus.  The last thing I need is to hear your grating voice."
she snapped angrily.

	A figure detached itself from the shadows, revealing a slightly middle-aged
man.  He was wearing a black robe with strange symbols sewed into the fabric.
A skullcap covered his balding head.  "What you need is a real man," he
stated.  

	"Like you would qualify as a man.  Anyways, Ryo is more of a man than you and
all I would ever need."

	"So perky after so many failures.  He must be doing something right." He
waved the comment away.  "That was not what I came to talk to you about.  I
came to offer you my assistance." Tanthus said. 

	"PAH!  What could you give me that I would again find favor in the Master's
eyes?" she scoffed and began to stride to her quarters again.

	"The location of all the Senshi, as well as the person that interrupted your
last pet's fight with the Senshi!"

	Ambyra stopped dead in her tracks. She spun around, a look of shock clearly
evident in her face.  "What do you know of the stranger?  How did you come to
this information?" she asked.

	"I see many things in my studies.  I can tell you where they will all be."
Tanthus said.

	"Why would you do that? What would you gain in return for this assistance?"
she asked a little weary of the man in front of her.

	"I wish merely to have a chance to perform my craft for the Master.  All I
need is an ally.  Someone who can convince the Master to give me a chance.
Who better than his favorite commander?" he said.

	"I'll...think about it" she told him and marched off.

	Tanthus watched her departure with an ominous smile. *Think long and hard,
little one.  I will be waiting for you when you have decided.*  Staring out
into the vastness of space, *So a new player has joined the battle.  What will
you do Ryo, when you realize who he is.* he thought, and vanished back into
the shadows.

* * * * *

Creator of Kings and Lord Talon
Proudly present
A Crossover of the Biggest Stars
of
the Anime Fanfiction world!
Ranma � and Sailor Moon
in
EYES OF A STRANGER Chapter 6

* * * * *

The characters of Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon was created by Naoko Taeuchi
while the characters of Ranma � Universe was the sole creation of Rumiko
Takahashi.  They are licensed to other companies.  All materials save the
environment and situations are being used without prior authorization.  This
is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended for material gains.  If
there has been an error in copyright, please email me.  I wish not to be sued
for expressing my interest in these series.

* * * * *

	Rei held her breath as Ami finished taping her ribs.  "There.  According to
my scans, you have a copy of fractured ribs.  Considering the monster that we
went against, it could have been worse.  Keep the bandage on for a week just
to be on the safe side.  Your powers should help speed up the healing
process." Ami said with a smile and moved on to her other patients.  The fight
with the Daimon had not gone well.  Usagi, Setsuna and herself were the only
ones to leave the battle unscathed and were conscious the entire fight.
Makoto only had a sprained ankle and some bruises.  Haruka and Michiru had
suffered similar injuries, when the monster had charged the both of them after
they had launched their respected attacks.  The worst of them all had been
Hotaru.

	Somehow the monster had sense that Sailor Saturn was the biggest threat and
had deliberately gone after her.  The iron golem had walked straight through
Saturn's Silence Wall and delivered a fierce combination of punches and
slashes that now had one of the Outer and strongest Senshi in a coma.  Her
list of injuries included several broken ribs, a broken leg, numerous cuts and
abrasions, and a mild concussion, if not worse.  If the last wasn't the case,
Hotaru could have used her talents to heal the rest of the Senshi but she was
in no condition at the moment as most of her energy was used in keeping her
alive.   

	"How's Hotaru doing, Ami?" asked Usagi, an expression of sorrow clearly seen
on her face.  

	"Not good.  Her injuries demand that we take her to a hospital.  She needs a
real doctor but we can't do that because the hospital will want to know how
she got her injuries." Ami informed Usagi.  Looking around, Ami could tell
that everyone was tired.  Still, Ami wondered where Setsuna was with Hotaru in
the condition she was in.

	"What about the crystal?" asked Minako.

	"Luna?" Usagi questioned her guardian.

	"It might work, Usagi, but I don't know.  I've never known your mother to use
it to heal physical injuries." Luna told her.

	"That doesn't mean that Sailor Moon couldn't use it in that way," Artemis
added.  

	"Would it hurt her?" Usagi consulted Luna and Artemis.

	"I don't think so but it's best to wait," Luna replied.  Turning to the rest
of the Senshi.  "Artemis and I have been discussing something.  We believe the
figure that killed the monster is a general of the Dark Kingdom."

	"WHAT???" came the reply from all of the Inner Senshi.

	"It's true.  He was wearing an outfit similar to that of Beryl's four
generals." Artemis told them.  

	At this point the only two conscious Outer Senshi had a look of confusion on
their face.

	"Four Generals?" Michiru asked.

	"During the last battle on the Moon, Queen Beryl and Metallia brought with
them their entire force of Shadow Warriors and army.  Leading the ground
troops were four individuals who we called the Generals.  Their names were
Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite and Kunzite.  We later had to face them when Queen
Beryl once again tried to take over this dimension."  Artemis explained.

	For some reason, Haruka felt that something was not right when Artemis
explained about the four generals.  Shaking her head and making a point to
look into to it later on, she returned to the conversation at hand. 

	"Even though we don't have a full recollection of that day, I distinctly
remember that man at the edge of the battle field, before Queen Serenity
sacrificed herself to send all of us into the future.  So, he must be another
general!" Luna stated.  Somehow, deep down, something didn't feel right.
*Five Generals?*  When she saw the man, she felt a little resentment as well
as the need to be weary of the individual yet did not know why.  Anyways at
the moment, she considered him a part of the Dark Kingdom.  

	"I don't know Luna," Usagi said, "I mean, he had a chance to kill most of us
and he didn't.  I think he might be on our side."

	"Usagi, I am positive that he is from the Dark Kingdom" Luna insisted.  "It
might be a trap.  Maybe he was waiting for Tuxedo Karmen to arrive so that he
could finish us all at the same time."

	"Sure, Luna.  Just like I wasn't the Moon Princess, Endymion couldn't be
returned to me, and..." Usagi started counting off the mistakes that her
advisor had made in the past before Luna cut her off.  

	"Okay, Usagi.  You've made your point!" Luna complained.

	"Just be careful.  Okay, Usagi?  You trust people way too much." Haruka
added.

	Nodding her head, "Thanks, guys."

	"Where is Setsuna?" Michiru asked.  Seeing Haruka look at her strangely, she
blushed a little in embarrassment.

	"So this mysterious man was wearing a grey uniform similar to the generals of
the Dark Kingdom you faced then?" Haruka asked.

	"Yes," Usagi answered.

	"So until we know more, I think we should consider him an enemy." Haruka
advised.

	"I'm afraid I have to agree with Haruka.  He was a little hostile towards us,
as if he had a grudge or something." Ami said.

	"If he is a general of the Dark Kingdom, then killing Queen Beryl would make
him a bit mad at us.  Don't you think guys?" Rei spoke for the first time.

	"But�" Usagi tried to reason with everyone.

	"Don't you get it, Meatball Head?  He's the enemy." Rei started to get mad at
Usagi's behavior at not seeing the evil the man represented.

	"How about a fire reading, Rei?" Usagi asked.  *He can't be too bad.  He did
save us.*

	"I'm in no condition to do a fire reading," Rei shouted and winced at pain
shot through her upper body.

	"Wahhhhhhhh!!!" Usagi cried.  

	"Why don't everyone get some rest.  We'll discuss everything tomorrow." Luna
said, trying to calm everyone down.  Nodding their heads, everyone started to
head home with Haruka and Michiru attending to Hotaru. 

* * * * *

	"What are we going to do?" Michiru asked.

	"I don't know," Haruka answered, placing Hotaru down onto the bed.  "You
heard Ami, she needs medical attention but if we bring her to a hospital, too
many questions will be brought up that we can't answer."  

	"I know.  We have to do something!" Michiru insisted.

	"Only as a last resort and the princess still has the Ginzuishou," Haruka
tried to reassure her love.  "Only as a last resort," she muttered again, too
low for the green hair girl next to her to hear.

	On the bed, Hotaru slept but more importantly she dreamt and remembered of a
time long ago.

* * * * *

	*What is going to happen today?* Setsuna thought.  Guarding the time stream,
she had more knowledge of future events than any other person yet she too was
still bound by some of its laws.  If she knew too much, Sailor Pluto, guardian
of time, might disrupt the very thing she protects and tried to prevent.
Setsuna had attempted to ask her future self but all she got was, 'The events
today will have a lasting impact on the time-stream.  Anything else I tell you
will disrupt the future we are both striving towards and we wouldn't want
that, would we now?'  So now she had to attend every single abnormal affair to
determine if it was the event she was warned to look out for.  The strangest
thing was, the future had a smile when she answered her.  Walking to the
spaceport, Setsuna heard someone crying.  On closer inspection, she saw that
the person was Sailor Saturn.  Walking up to her, "What's wrong?"  she asked.

	Looking up at Setsuna, "Why is everyone so scared of me?" Hotaru asked, teary
eyes.

	  "Because you wield the power of Saturn, one of the most powerful force
imaginable.  They're also scared of the prophecy, that a time shall come when
the power of Saturn will be unleashed and the world destroyed." Setsuna tried
to explain but even that felt wrong.  She felt sorrow for Hotaru.  The way
people treated Hotaru was inhumane.  Everyone left her alone since she came
into power and were extremely polite to her like she was some kind of monster.
If they could not keep a considerable distance from her.  

	Coughing a bit, one of the soldiers tried to get the two Senshi's attention. 

	As Setsuna and Hotaru looked up, they saw two Plutonian royal guards flanking
a man in his early twenties with long black hair in a ponytail neither has
ever seen before.

	"Yes?" Sailor Pluto asked the guards.

	"Here is the stranger, Princess." one of the guard replied.  Bowing to
Hotaru, "Princess."

	Looking at the two ladies, *Why are they wearing such clothing?* Ran thought,
a bit shocked.  *Do royalty have so much liberty to wear such revealing
clothing in this kingdom belonging to the Moon?  Though they both look great
in them, especially the tall one.*  Looking over at the little girl, *Power of
Saturn?* 

	Seeing the man stare at her with something more than respect, "Why were you
trespassing into our space?" Setsuna asked the man in a stern voice. 

	He tore his gaze from the little girl and back to the lady with dark green
hair, "Like I told the lieutenant of that scout ship, I'm looking for my
sister."

	"No ship has passed by in over six months from outside of this solar system,"
Setsuna declared.  

	"All I know is she will pass or have passed through this sector of space.
She left her home over 6 months ago in our time," Ran explained.

	*Our time?* Setsuna puzzled.  "What is your name?" she asked.

	"My name is Ran," he replied.  *This is getting bothersome but I have to try
and stay on her good side.* "Princess," he finally added.

	Noting the pause in, "Where are you from?"

	"Far away." Ran replied.  *My home is gone.*  Looking back to the young girl,
*She is really depressed.* he realized.  "Who might you be?" the tall man with
clear blue eyes asked the girl in front of him with a cheerful smile.

      "I'm Hotaru, Senshi of Saturn." Hotaru replied.  Someone was actually
talking to her without a note of fear in his voice.  Even with the other
Senshi, Hotaru could pick up some nervousness from time to time.   

      "So you're the one everyone is scared of," Ran stated.  "Now I just
can't understand how people could be scared of a cute girl like yourself."
Seeing Hotaru blush, Ran smiled knowing that he had broken the ice.
 
* * * * *

	Sneaking into the house form the window, a lone man stood near the bed,
overlooking a small girl with black hair and pale complexion.  "What happened
to you, Hotaru?  You used to be so much healthier and happier when I knew
you." he spoke to the girl.

	"Everyone changes," a voice answered him.  

	Without turning around, "Not everyone, Pluto.  Not everyone."

	Stepping from behind the shadows, "I'm sorry," Setsuna replied.

	"Over a millennium later, after everything I've lost, my friends and duty,
all you can say is sorry?" Ran almost shouted but instead sneered.

	"I had to.  The time-stream." Setsuna tried to explain, hoping that was
enough.

	"I don't care about the time-stream.  Back then, I did what I thought was
right whether people wanted to admit it or not.  You made me break my oath to
certain people to be there for them." the last part Ran shouted.  Silence met
Ran's outburst.  "I'm here to take care of Hotaru, after that I'll leave.  At
least I can keep this one promise.  To protect her or be there for her in her
time of need."  

	"What can you do?  You don't have any magic." Setsuna asked.  She remembered
having this exact conversation a very long time ago.  

	"There were things you never knew about me," Ran explained, staring intently
at Hotaru.  A glow started to outline Ran's hands.  Placing it over Hotaru's
heart, the glow changed from a bright green outline to that of purple before
spreading and covering her.  For a few seconds, nothing happened.  After a few
moments, Hotaru's body seemed to absorbed the light around her and was
sleeping peacefully, breathing much easier.  In the distance, sounds of
footsteps could be heard. 

	"How?"

	"I'm a channeler.  The last of my kind till now." he said.  *This world is
filled with surprises.*

	Opening her eyes slowly, "Oniisan?" Hotaru asked weakly. 

	"You're going to be alright, my little messiah," Ran spoke softly and
reassuringly, stroking her hair.  Getting ready to leap out of the window, Ran
turned back to look at Setsuna, "I loved you once, Setsuna.  A long time ago
in a kingdom that I felt was worth protecting.  You destroyed them both." Ran
said before disappearing out the window.

	"Ran," Setsuna spoke softly and a little teary-eyed.  *He finally called me
by my name.  Does he forgive me?* she thought.  *Channeler?*

	Bursting into the room, both Haruka and Michiru were ready to face the
intruder when they saw Setsuna and a healthy looking Hotaru talking to one
another.  "You're not going to tell us are you?" Haruka asked.

	Shaking her head, Setsuna left but not before Michiru saw the tears that
Setsuna was trying to hide.  *What happened?*      

* * * * *

	After finally having finished giving her statement to the police, Sakura
started to head home.  She was almost raped and killed today but was saved but
a tall, dark stranger.  It was terrifying yet exciting at the same time.  She,
being a damsel in distress, was rescued by a knight in shining armor.  He
didn't have armor on but he was wearing a uniform and carrying around a sword
so two out of three was not bad.  As she rounded the corner, she stopped dead
in her tracks.  Someone was approaching from down the street and it appeared
to be a man.  Having had enough excitement for one night, she started to hide
in one of the alleys, breathing heavily from the day's toll, when she finally
recognized who he was.  *It's the man that rescued me,* she thought.  Before,
she had only caught a glimpse of the man.  She had a much better look at her
savior and there was nothing to distract her this time.  "He is so handsome,"
she muttered, not realizing it herself until the man stopped and looked into
the same alley she was in.

	Sensing that he was being watched, Ran started to slow down and extend his
senses in hopes of locating the person before they attacked.  With his senses
attuned to even the slightest abnormality, he quickly detected heavy breathing
up ahead.  As he got closer to the sound, he heard someone muttering, 'He is
so handsome.'  Grinning to himself, *Seems like my opponent is a female,* Ran
thought.  

	Leaping up, Ran started to roof-hop to an area overlooking the alley that he
had heard the voice.  Stepping off into empty air, he fell completely
vertical, right behind the woman without making a sound.  Tapping her
shoulder, *This should be fun and help lighten my mood,* he thought.  "Excuse
me, my name is Ran.  I'm the handsome man you were talking about." he
introduced himself and seeing that she was not a threat, bowed.

	Gapping in surprise, it took Sakura a few moments to compose herself and hope
that the poor lighting hid the blush that she knew she had.  "I'm so sorry.
It's just I was attacked a few hours ago and when I saw someone coming, I
thought it was another stranger who might take advantage of me again, which
you are not, I mean stranger who wants to take advantage of me, though you are
still a stranger, but you told me your name so you're not really a stranger
and you were the one who saved me from the attack and so you should know about
that..." she might have continued to babble had it not been for Ran hushing
her up by placing a finger on her lips.

	Smiling, "Don't worry about it.  A young maiden such as yourself should not
have to worry about someone taking advantage of you but the other way around.
I mean, we men must be wary or else someone of your beauty and charm might
steal our hearts."

	Sakura wasn't sure if the shadows could hide the blush that was on her face.
"Thank you, kind sir." she answered back, playing along with her savior's way
of speech.  "I was just wondering where you were heading?  Looking to save
another damsel in distress?" Sakura asked, with a smile.

	"Not really.  I'm looking for a place to send the night, truthfully." Ran
answered a bit sheepishly.  *What kind of hero am I?  Can't even find a place
to sleep.  Should have asked Princess Setsuna more about this time period.*

	Making up her mind right then and there, "You could stay at my place?"

	"I couldn't impose on you," Ran said.

	"I won't be here if it wasn't for you.  I insist!" Sakura stated.  Taking a
hold of one of his arms and dragging him along, *Great muscle definition.*
"And a lady won't feel safe traveling alone at night."

	"Lead the way, umm?"

	"My name is Soujin Sakura, but please call me Sakura."

	"Arigatou, Sakura."         

* * * * * 

	"General Ran!  The Dark Kingdom is attacking the Palace." an aide shouted
while running to meet the General.  A man with black hair, tied back in a
ponytail, and wearing a combination of silver and gold armor turned his head
to look at the source of the disturbance.     

      Looking at the aide with a little bit of annoyance, "Which one?  There
are nine palaces throughout the Kingdom." Ran asked as he quickly started to
assemble his troops.

      Having finally reached the General, the aide took a deep breath before
continuing, "It's the Moon.  They're attacking the Moon."

      "WHAT?" Ran shouted after hearing the news.  Trying to calm himself
down, a considerable feat at the moment, "Brief me on the situation while I
prepare to leave," he ordered, turning sharply around and walking quickly to
the assembled troops, his cape flapping from the quick turn.  In front of him
were men and women all dressed in the same uniform with slight color
variations, indicating which planet they originated from.  All of Ran's troops
came from the nine planets in the solar system and the Moon, three from each.
Throughout the Silver Millennium, General Ran's particular outfit was known
simply as the Guards.  They went where they were needed and were not
particularly loyal to any one planet.  They considered the entire solar system
as their home and that was what they were defending.

      "About an hour ago, we received a transmission from one of our scouts.
He reported that the Dark Kingdom had overrun Terra and was attacking the
Moon.  All of the princess from the Inner Planets are there, attending a
ball." the aide briefed Ran.  

      "We lost Terra?" Ran muttered so quietly to himself that only the aide
which was beside him could hear the statement, his mind not registering the
fact that the princesses were there as well.  Of the nine planets, he felt
closer ties to Terra than any of the other planets.  To take Terra was a
considerable feat since the blue marble was considered the fourth most
powerful planet behind Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter.  Ran didn't count the Moon
as a planet and personally thought that Terra was more powerful than most
people realized and could be third and maybe even second behind Saturn within
the power structure, first among the inner planets.  Only when Ran went over
everything the aide had told him did the fact that all the princesses of the
Inner Planets were there as well so shocked was he at the news of the fall of
Terra.  Suddenly stopping, he turned to the startled aide, "All of them?" Ran
asked in a pained voice, hoping that he heard wrong.  

      "Yes," he replied.

      With one simply word, the aide had filled the General with panic that he
had not experienced in years.  Quickly breaking into a sprint in a blink of an
eye, he left behind an even more startled aide.  To lose the Moon Kingdom was
bad, but to lose all the nobility of the Inner Planets would be catastrophic.
With the princesses safe, they could rebuild but without leaders then there
was really no hope even if they did win.  Shouting orders to one of his
lieutenants and close friend, "Ryo, get the troops to the Moon as quickly as
possible and protect all the nobility of the Inner Planets."  Looking over at
his men, "This is what we've been preparing for, people.  Move out!" Ran
shouted as he passed the troops, startling them as well.  It was the first
time they've actually seen their Commander display anything other than the
calm exterior he usually wore around them when on duty.

      "Where will you be, Ran?" Ryo shouted back, a little confused until he
figured out what he was just told.  *The ball,* Ryo quickly thought.  "Getting
there first," was the answer he got from the silver and gold blur.  Turning
towards the assembled troops, "You heard the General, get to the ship.  We're
heading to the Moon." Ryo ordered.   "Just pray we get there on time," he
added under his breath.

      Having reached his destination, Ran stopped.  There was only one way
that this catastrophic event could be stopped and that was by the use of the
Time Gate.  Lucky the Guards were currently stationed on Pluto or else he
might not have had the chance to prevent the fall of the Moon.  He knew that
the Moon did not have the resource at this time to repel the Dark Kingdom.
They were just not prepared enough.  

	In front of the General were two very large doors.  They were lined with
runes and various other symbols in a distinct purple and gold combination. No
Plutonian dared to enter the twin doors which lead to a realm protected by the
mysterious Sailor Pluto.  Good thing Ran was not considered one.  Without even
knocking, Ran pushed open both doors and headed inside.  

	Stepping past the thresh-hold of the double doors, Ran found himself
surrounded by mist.  Turning around, he also discovered that his means of
leaving this place had become one with its surroundings, in other words it was
gone.  "Setsuna!  I know you're here." Ran shouted.  Not getting an answer,
Ran closed his eyes and stretched his senses as far as they would go.  A smile
spread across his face as he headed to his right.  

	Soon he came to another set of doors.  As he got closer, he felt a tingling
sensation at the back of his neck.  Sensing an attack, Ran leaped back with
all the experience that he had gathered throughout his life time and avoided
being hit by a woman with long green hair wielding a staff.  Quickly
unsheathing his sword, Ran closed the distance between the two of them before
the his opponent had recovered.  A staff was a great weapon for distance
fighting but nothing really compared to a sword in close combat.  Aiming his
blade at her throat, "Princess Setsuna or do you prefer if I called you Lady
Pluto?" Ran asked, a little anger in his voice for being attacked in thus a
manner, at this particular moment, by this particular person.

      "Lady Pluto at the moment please, General." Setsuna answered in an air
of formality.  "Now remove the sword from my throat," she commanded.  

      Ran knew that Pluto was the keeper of time and thus she would have known
of an attack on Terra and the Moon.  Without lowering his sword, "Why didn't
you warn Queen Serenity and the inner nobility about the attack?" Ran asked.

      "It's my duty to monitor and guard time and had I told Serenity about
the upcoming attack, the time stream would have been disrupted," Pluto
answered.

      His anger rising, "There are times when one must disregard duty and
honor for the better good," Ran lectured.  "Millions will die if the Dark
Kingdom wins."  Seeing how Pluto would not be moved, "If you won't help, send
me there." he continued.

      A smile spread across Pluto's face.  "Is this usually the way you ask a
lady for something?" she asked, her eyes met his for a brief second and then
trailed to the point of his sword.  

      Not wanting to waste any more time, "Yes it is.  Now be kind enough to
open the gates and send me to the Moon Palace a few hours before the attack.
Don't try anything.  You don't have enough time to launch one of your special
attacks before I cut your throat." Ran stated.  *I'm sorry.  This is the only
way and we both know it.*

      Narrowing her eyes, "What can you do?  You have no magical powers and
are only one man." she asked while slowly opening the time gate under Ran's
supervision.

      "Strange that someone without any real magical powers can subdue an
Outer Senshi isn't it." Ran smiled.  Seeing as how the gates were opened, he
stepped through all the while keeping an eye on Pluto.  Before stepping over
the threshold, he saluted the woman that held something of his more powerful
than the call of duty.

      After the gate closed behind Ran, Setsuna let herself cry for what she
was about to do.

      Having traveled through the Time gate, Ran found himself overlooking a
scene of destruction but before he could do anything a blinding dome of white
light slowly expanded from the palace and covered everyone and everything.
Right before the dome of energy touched him, "PLUTO!!!" Ran shouted, before
waking up in a cold sweat, Sakura next to him.  "It's only a nightmare," he
explained before donning on his uniform and walked into the night, leaving
behind a worried Sakura.