The Last Four:

Part One: It Starts

Outside the Crystal Palace in Crystal Tokyo the sun was shining. It was the end of summer and everything seemed to teem with life as if it knew that winter was just around the corner. Minako and Kunzite walked into the palace all smiles. The sun was shining, the breeze was the perfect temperature, and everything had the air of peace as it always did in Crystal Tokyo. Minako had abandoned her red hair bow along time ago and in its place wore a gold clip with the symbol of Venus on it. Minako was swinging a basket of late blooming wild flowers and her other hand was holding Kunzite's. Their laughter filled the entry hall of the palace. " You're so sweet," Minako said as Kunzite plucked a flower from the basket and tucked it in her hair. You could tell that they were young and in love. " Ahhh," Minako screamed as a blur of silver rushed by her almost knocking her down.

" Oh I'm so sorry Mina," the pregnant Serenity stopped and said before she rushed off.

" Come back her Usa! I'm going to get you," Endymion yelled rushing by them. A minute later they could here giggling at the end of the hall.

" I think he got her," Minako said rolling her eyes as they resumed walking down the hall.

Their laughter halted as a subdued Ami walked out of a room off the corridor. " There's a meeting of the guardians in the conference room in five minutes. It's urgent. Have you seen the King and Queen?"

Minako and Kunzite's faces fell as this information hit home. The senshi never held unscheduled meetings unless it was of dire importance. " A meeting about what?" Kunzite questioned as he turned back into his ice-cold general persona we've all come to know and love.

" We've received a transmission from one of our farthest outposts to the north. It seems to be a call for help." Ami stated. " Please hurry." She said as she headed towards the conference room.

" A transmission for help?" Minako questioned. " We've been at peace for centuries. Who could be attacking us now?"

" We shall soon see," Kunzite replied as they followed Ami to the Conference room. They arrived at the conference room to see the other three generals, the inner scouts, the outer scouts minus Pluto, and a calm Serenity and Endymion. Minako and Kunzite took their seats and waited for the meeting to begin.

" Ami I think you should begin by presenting the information that we do have," Serenity said resting her hands on her swelling belly. She was five months along and just beginning to show the telltale signs of pregnancy. Ami pushed a button and a holographic image sprung up in the middle. The image was fuzzy but you could just make out a man wearing the uniform of the palace guard.

" This transmission was received an hour ago. It appears to be one of our palace guards. We are also receiving other transmissions for help from several of our other northern cities." Ami said. Ami pressed a button and the image of the man started to move.

" Help us! We are under attack! I repeat we are under attack! They are coming in from the north from the mountains. There are two many of them…"

"That was were the transmission stopped. We think the entire city was destroyed." Ami said.

" Do we have any idea of who's behind these attacks." Makoto asked looking at Ami with her emerald green eyes full of malice for anyone who would kill all those innocent people.

Serenity suddenly cried out gripping her scepter, which held the silver crystal. The golden crescent moon on her forehead flashed briefly and the silver crystal glowed dully. Endymion and the senshi were at her side instantly. She straightened up with tears in her eyes. "Someone is using a lot of dark energy. The energy feels so familiar but I can't put my finger on why it does." Serenity was much more sensitive then she used to be able to tell when someone was using dark energy from a long distance.

" Ami, are you sure we don't have any information on whose doing this," Michiru who was sitting next to Haruka asked tapping her fingers idly against the tabletop.

" We do have this," Ami said as she pushed a button. A picture appeared of a burnt or burning city. The picture zeroed in on a man with with long dark blue hair floating over the burning city and sending out blasts of energy at the fleeing villagers. Several more men were seen in the background.

" Who is that man?" questioned Minako fear beginning to creep into her eyes. It felt if something was hanging over them all waiting.

" Azurite," Endymion whispered as the name came into his head. The name hung in the air like a noxious gas. Then they all remembered.

The memories flooded back. Memories of happier times and sadder times on the moon in the Silver Millenium. Memories no one had remembered before. Memories Queen Serenity had blocked out long ago because they were too painful. All the senshi and the four generals started to relive those last fateful days of the Moon Kingdom starting with the day the high general of Earth Azurite came to the Moon Kingdom to announce the prince of Earth's coming to visit the Moon Kingdom. He brought with him four of the lower generals of Earth four of the prince's eight guards Rubellite, Corundum, Maganite, and Cassitorite. Good loyal men who were loyal to earth and the prince of earth.

Azurite stopped in front of the humongous double doors that led to the Moon Kingdom's throne room. The guards swung open the doors and Azurite walked in his black cape flowing behind him and his icy ices focusing on the queen. Rubellite, Corundum, Maganite, and Cassitorite followed behind him taking in all the grandeur of the room. " Your Royal Highness Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom," Azurite said bowing down on one knee. " I am Azurite high general of Earth and these are part of the prince's royal guard Rubellite, Cassitorite, Maganite, and Corundum."

" How come I'm always last," Corundum whispered to Maganite with mischief gleaming out of his bright blue eyes.

Azurite shot him a dirty look while the other three generals tried not to laugh. Azurite continued with his speech, " We have come to announce the coming of the crown prince of Earth. Prince Endymion. He is coming on a diplomatic mission from his parents on the joining of Earth to the Silver Millenium."

" You are most welcome here," Queen Serenity said smiling gently. " You and your generals may stay as long as you like. We look forward to the visit from Prince Endymion and the rest of his royal guard. I'm sorry that his parents could not accompany him. I would like to introduce you to my daughters Outer Senshi. The Inner Senshi are taking a well-deserved break on their home worlds. They will be back by the time Prince Endymion comes however. This is Princess Haruka of Uranus. Also known as Sailor Uranus."

A woman with blue eyes and short light blonde hair stepped forward. She was wearing a dark blue colored princess style dress, which brought out her eyes. She didn't look extremely happy to be wearing a dress but looked half way resigned to it anyway. Rubellite thought she's the most beautiful woman I have ever seen he thought as he gazed at Haruka. At that moment she looked right at him and gave a death glance like she knew what he was thinking. Rubellite grinned she would be a challenge.

" This is Michiru Princes of Neptune also known as Sailor Neptune," the Queen said. Cassorite did a double take as the most beautiful woman he had ever seen stepped forward. She had sea green hair that flowed down her back in waves. She had threaded aquamarine stones through her hair and her eyes were the same color as her hair sea green. Her dress was the same color of the stones in her hair and she held herself with a regal ophistication. She smiled gently at them as she stepped back so the next senshi could step forward. This time it was Corundum's turn to do a double take.

"This is Hotaru Princess of Saturn. Also known as Sailor Saturn," the Queen said smiling at Hotaru as she stepped forward. Corundum stared at her. He has seen a lot of women but none that could match the beauty of this one except maybe the famed beauty of the moon princess he had heard so much about. She had dark purple hair with black tints in it that brushed her shoulders. Her eyes were pure amethyst and looked older then her age, which he presumed to be about seventeen. There was an aura of quite power that hung about her. Her dress was dark purple and fitted her to perfection. Corundum had to meet her.

" And this is my daughter Princess Serenity," Queen Serenity said. A girl with crystal blue eyes and long blonde hair stepped forward. Her hair was done up in two spheres on top of her head and two ponytails hung down from the spheres. Her skin was like ivory and she looked like a porcelain doll with her white silk dress that had gold accents. All in all she was very beautiful. Azurite looked at her with his cold calculating eyes and thought to himself I will marry her and I will rule the universe.