Author's Rant: This is either going to be really long or really short. We'll hafta see, neh? Sailor Cynic: Swerves Of Fate By Beky Sarver Episode 4: What Might Have Been, Had It Been Prologue: Last week, the Senshi discovered that the monsters they have been fighting were actually Pocket Monsters (Pokemon, for you gameboy freaks). Luna and Artemis returned from their vacation. They've been training for the past week in rapidly transferring their energy, so that they now have a certain degree of energy "intimacy". They've continued to socialize and have become pretty good friends off duty. Enjoy the show! * [Opening Song: St. Elmo's Fire] [Chibi Usagi, Makoto, Minako, et all growing up; Naru and Usagi giggling together] Growin' up, you don't see the writing on the wall Passin' by, movin' straight ahead, you knew it all [Makoto's parents dying; Rei's father marched off in handcuffs; Naru's father dying;] But maybe sometime if you feel the pain You'll find you're all alone, everything has changed [Usagi meeting Luna; Ami and Rei's first transformations; Makoto hoisting GMJ shadow, symbol of Jupiter on her forehead; Minako arriving in the darkness] I can see a new horizon underneath the blazin' sky I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher Gonna be your man in motion, all I need is a pair of wheels Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire [Fighting poses against youma stolen from the first season (S #0 in continuity)] Play the game, you know you can't quit until it's won Soldier on, only you can do what must be done [Senshi face generals, Beryl looking on] You know in some way you're a lot like me You're just a prisoner and you're tryin' to break free [Harley transforms into warrior gear; wielding the Silver Sword; standing by Zoitan; ] I can see a new horizon underneath the blazin' sky I'll be where the eagle's flying higher and higher Gonna be your man in motion, all I need is a pair of wheels Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire [Senshi, getting tired, then getting up and fighting again.] Burning up, don't know just how far that I can go [Hyperspace meadow with arabian palamino horses grazing] Soon be home, only just a few miles down the road I can make it, I know I can [Mamoru, Zoitan, Jedaite, Ryo fighting] You broke the boy in me, but you won't break the man [Xalen, Saeblin, and Faolin observe from the multicolored space of the time warp; Pics of them in warrior dress; Crowns around their heads] I can hear the music playin', I can see the banners fly Feel like you're back again, and hope ridin' high Gonna be your man in motion, all I need is a pair of wheels Take me where my future's lyin', St. Elmo's Fire [Big, bright, jagged Z flashes] * Harley yawned as the bell rang. "Well, time to go, Akane." Ukyo sauntered over. "You know, Akane, Ranma doesn't ever see you anymore. The rest of us are making headway, sugar. Even the crazed maniac." Akane's eyes shone with anger. "Shut up!!" She stomped off. Yuka watched her friend go. "Ukyo, was that necessary?" Ukyo blushed. "... No. It wasn't." She ran across the room. "Akane?" "What?" Akane's eyes were red with unshed tears. "Want to torture me again?" Ukyo swallowed hard. "Look, I was out of line. I'm sorry." Akane looked at her, wide eyed. "Really?" Ukyo smiled. "Yeah. Sometimes my mouth just goes without my say-so. Can we be... friends?" Akane nodded. "That would be... nice." Her eyes were a bit wary, remembering the time Ukyo and Shampoo had "trained" her. "Harley, lets take Ukyo to our practice session." Harley shrugged. "Whatever." Akane smiled. "To the dojo, all!" * Makoto and Rei faced each other, faces serious. Ever so slowly, Rei put down her hand. "Four of a kind. Kings." Makoto smiled. "Four of a kind: Aces." Rei was flabbergasted. Ami frowned. "You do realize that the odds against this are..." She caught sight of something underneath the table. "Well, that makes the odds more reliable." The two poker players took quick glances under the table. They started to chuckle. "It was fair," Rei pointed out. Ami quietly confiscated the two cheat decks. "Now, let's try this again. * Jedaite turned to his betrothed. "Setsuna-san, how did we get dragged into this?" She shrugged. "I don't know. Despite my ability to see the past, I am helpless to answer." Ryo nodded seriously. "My precognition told me nothing of this." Mamoru frowned. "I don't have mastery of time, and I'm stumped too." Usagi grinned at the grumblers. "Simple! Rei, Ami, and Makoto are off playing some card game. Zoitan, Akane, and Harley are sparring at Akane's gym. Luna and Artemis went 'scouting' together. That leaves you three with nothing to do. Mina-chan and I don't want you to be bored!" At that, Jedaite, Setsuna, and Mamoru facefaulted. Ryo had facefaulted in advance. * Back at the Tendo Dojo, sounds of exertion could be heard. Inside, devestation was visible. Micro spatulas stuck out of ever hard surface. Blackened areas suggested chi attacks had been used. The four fighters panted hard in the middle of the floor. Zoitan grinned. "You're not bad, Ukyo." Ukyo glared playfully at him. "Hey! Not all of us can use chi attacks, you know." She paused. "Speaking of which, Akane, when did you learn that stuff?" Akane whistled innocently, a halo firmly in place. "Oh, a few weeks ago, I suppose." Harley looked at her watch. "Guys, we're supposed to be meeting the others at my place, remember?" Akane smiled. "We've got to go, Ukyo. Maybe you could come around more often?" Ukyo smiled. "Okay. I've got to get back to my restaurant, anyway." Zoitan nodded. "Maybe we'll bring our friends over there later." Akane, Zoitan, and Harley started down the road towards Garden Apartments. Akane turned towards her friend. "Harley, why aren't you the leader of our group? You seem to organize everything." Harley chuckled. "Me? I'm not stupid enough to want to lead anything. What do we need a leader for, anyway?" Akane frowned. "I think it would be a good idea." Zoitan backed her up. "I agree. Then I could be your consort." Harley narrowed her eyes playfully. "Not till we're married, dear one. Till that you stay in your own bed." Akane grinned. "So, when are you going to get married. And how? Zoitan's not exactly a citizen." Harley shrugged. "When we find someone to do the ceremony. And we're going to have a Zephyran ceremony, anyway. We need to preserve our culture." Akane nodded. "Makes sense." The three walked into Harley and Zoitan's apartment. Zoitan sighed. "It would be too much to ask for them to be on time, wouldn't it?" Harley chuckled. "Way too much. But they all have a few minutes." At exactly three o'clock, the door bell rang. Zoitan opened it, grinning. As expected, the shopping gang had been punctual. But it was hard not to be punctual when hanging out with Setsuna or Jedaite. Akane shook her head. "When will the others get here, I wonder." Ryo was noticeably silent. "Meow." Akane grinned at the white cat in her lap, and began to pet him. Then her eyes saddened, for it reminded her of Ranma stuck in the Neko-ken. Artemis gazed up at her worriedly. "Akane, are you all right?" She shook herself out of it. "Yeah, sure." Harley grew impatient. Rei's mental voice was puzzled. A pause. Harley grumbled. "Cat to Harley. Come in Harley." Harley blinked at Luna, who was trying to attract her attention. Luna shook her head. "One would think you're telepathic or something, Harley. Do you know when the others will arrive?" Ryo answered calmly, "Now." Simultaneously, the door bell rang. Everyone laughed as Ami, Makoto, and Rei came in. They blinked, not understanding the joke. Finally, everyone had settled down. Setsuna looked to Jedaite, then back at the group. "The reason we are meeting today is because I believe I have located the source of the Pocket Monsters." She sighed. Jedaite took over. "There is some sort of interdimensional portal that is connecting our universe to another." Ami watched the two. There was something they weren't mentioning. "And?" Jedaite continued. "And its getting bigger. In a matter of days we could have a decent size army of these monsters attacking the city." Usagi stood up. "We have to stop them!" Makoto agreed. "Yeah. Let's close the portal." Sounds of enthusiastic agreement echoed. Harley's voice, however, was not so enthusiastic. "What's the catch?" Setsuna answered. "There's a small problem. This gate is in the future." Luna asked, "And this is a problem because...?" Jedaite, Setsuna, Ryo, and Ami exchanged glances. The secret was going to come out. Ami chose to explain. "Setusuna-san and Jedaite-san can travel to the future easily. Ryo-chan could also, in a pinch. But they cannot travel to *our* future." Artemis frowned. "Why not?" Ryo came to Ami's defense. "Because of Harley, I'm afraid." All eyes turned on her. She shrugged. "I'm as clueless as all of you." Rei rolled her eyes. Ryo explained further, "Harley is basically a random element on the time stream. She negates 'destiny' and 'fate'. We can see the timeline only as it would have happened had she never existed." Usagi asked quietly, "What's it like?" Setsuna answered. "In the time frame of the portal, their are seven Senshi. Moon, Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Mars, Tuxedo Kamen, and Pluto. They've died at least once, some several times. They are fighting a foe names Wiseman." Luna was determined. "You'll have to go there and fix the rift!" Jedaite nodded. "Luna-san, I agree totally. But, well, we're not sure we can get *back*." * After long debate, the Senshi had decided to, as usual, go headlong into danger and take care of the consequences later. That afternoon, they met at Rei's shrine. Harley adressed them all. "Guys, anyone who doesn't want to come will not be looked down upon." Silence greeted her offer. So she knelt by the cats. "Luna, Artemis, please stay here. If we're not back in a month, you'll have to wake the Others." Luna blinked. "the Others?" Artemis smiled. "Wow, I finally remember something you don't, Luna. Don't worry, Harley. We're on it." The Senshi waved goodbye to the cats and stood in a circle. "Sailor Time... Teleport!" With that, they disappeared. * The three mysterious inhabitants of the Time Warp smiled at each other as the Senshi whizzed by. * [COMMERCIAL BREAK; COMMERCIAL WRITTEN BY CHRIS DAVIES, NOT ME] Scene: Washuu and Pluto stand on the ruined surface of the Moon, sadly surveying the damage. Pluto: I think I see something. [bends down, takes Twix bar out of the rubble]. Would you like to share? Washuu: Sure! [looks behind Pluto] Isn't that Queen Serenity? Pluto: [turns] What...? Washuu: [steals twix and begins to chow down] EVEN IN THE SILVER MILLENIUM, TWIX MEANT: TWO FOR ME - NONE FOR YOU! * Usagi looked pleadingly at the woman before her. "Please, don't do this!" The woman laughed. "You can't stop me, Sailor Moon." She disappeared. The Sailors turned to each other, grief on their faces. Everything was going tragically wrong. "Look out!" A familiar voice yelled. Usagi looked up just in time to see a youma charging them. "Moon Spiral Heart Attack!" Her attack was joined by that of her fellow sailors and a rose from Tuxedo Kamen. That voice.... it was Jedaite! She turned quickly. "Moon..." "Mars..." "Shiny..." "STOP!!!!!!!!" A commanding voice interrupted the three attacks. "Stop this, now!" The voice issued from a warrior in light gold and green armor. A strange sword hung on her back. Her companions were just as surprising. Usagi and her friends backed up a few paces. "Who... who are you?" Sailor Pluto, or one who looked a lot like Sailor Pluto, answered. "We are the Sailor Senshi... from a different universe. Please refrain from attacking us." Rei stepped forward, approaching her counterpart. "She's real alright... and she's almost identical psycichally to me." Ami was scanning the new comers. "I concur. Their quantum signatures..." "Are slightly modified." The double Ami finished. Makoto was baffled. "Want to come back to my place?" The one in gold and green armor turned to Pluto. "How long do we have?" Pluto's eyes unfocused, as did Jedaite's. They both returned to reality soon. "It's too dark right now to close it," he answered. "We must wait for a few hours." The other Sailor Moon shrugged. "I guess we can come." "Wait." Tuxedo Kamen stopped them. "We don't know that we can trust these people. Especially not *her*." Usagi scanned the strangers. "Which her?" He gestured toward Zoisite. "*Her*." The strangers all began to laugh, even Zoisite. When she spoke, it was with a distinctly masculine voice. "Gah! How can people possibly confuse her and I? Do I have breasts? Please." Usagi looked closer. Indeed, this Zoisite was a male. The one in green and gold grinned at him. "Come on, cut them some slack, dear. You do look nearly identical to Zoisite." She turned towards the Sailors. "This is my betrothed, Zoitan." Tux gestured towards Jedaite. "What about *him*?" Rei's eyes were filled with rage, and Ami also was not feeling so hot. Usagi frowned. "Didn't we kill you?" Rei finally burst. "Burning... Mandala!" The flame headed straight at Jedaite. The other Rei concentrated. "I can't control it!" "Damn!" The one in green and gold screamed. Only one was in a position to act. And act she did, leaping in front of Jeadaite. The fire felled her, and she lay on the ground gasping, her chest burned badly. "Rei... remind me not to get on your bad side, okay?" They gathered around her. Ami scanned. "She's taken bad burns." The counterpart Mamoru's eyes flamed with fury. He prepared a volley of roses. Jedaite stopped him. "No. Mamoru, this isn't why we came. We can't fight our doubles, we have to save our strength to close that rift." The Ami double looked up. "She's going to be alright, Mamoru." Harley was bent over Usagi, doing wonders with a first aid kit. The enormity of what they had just done hit Usagi and her friends. Usagi, being Usagi, rushed to help her fallen double. "I'm so sorry!" Her double still looked bad, but her eyes were open. "Akane, Rei... don't..." Rei's double and a girl with blue hair seemed to visibly relax. But in their eyes shone fury terrible. Rei's double stalked over towards Rei. "If you do *anything* like that to any of my friends again, we'll just have to see who has a *real* control of fire." Rei seemed shocked. She'd just burnt Usagi.... The blue haired one backed her up. "Exactly what I'm thinking, Rei-chan." "Reina, Akane, come over here." The one in armor gestured them over. "Usagi, we're all going to give you a little energy. It should get you back on your feet." Usagi's double nodded weakly. Then each of the doubles and their companions began to send a small ball of energy into the fallen girl. She stood up and smiled. "Moon Crystal Power." With no fanfare, her suit restored itself. "Thank you, minna." Ami's double smiled at her. "Our pleasure." Then all the strangers turned towards the Senshi. And none of them looked very happy. The one in green and gold armor spoke for them. "I understand that you don't know who we are. So we'll let this go... this *one* time. We're here to save our universe, and perhaps yours. After that, we're leaving. Got it?" The Senshi nodded dumbly. She turned towards the Pluto double. "What is it going to take to close this portal?" Doppelganger Pluto pursed her lips and exchanged glances with Jedaite, of all people. "Sailors Zephyr, Mercury, and Mars. First Knight Mercury. But Harley, there are... complications." Usagi gasped as a light flashed, and a new form emerged. It was Ryo, Ami's boyfriend from a few years ago. He looked around curiously. "Sorry I'm late. I was conferencing with the Sailor Pluto of this universe." He grinned at his Mercury. "Two Ami's, hmm? I could get to *like* this." As both Ami's blushed beet red, Harley shook her head. "More information then we needed. So, what does their Pluto have to say?" He got serious. "Interesting things, really. First of all, if we don't seal the breach, this universe will be dead in seven hours." Silence greeted him. "Secondly, in sealing the breach we will alter the destiny of this universe permanently. This is unavoidable. She also recomended that we join forces with these Sailors to maximize their time loops working, by keeping them alive." The double Ami walked over to him. "What else, Ryo-chan?" She could tell he was holding something back. He looked toward his Sailor Pluto. "She seemed so sad, so alone, so... inhuman. Jedaite, if you ever leave my sister..." Jedaite shook his head. "I swear I will never leave Setsuna's side. I swear it on Time." Ryo nodded. "Good enough for me." The Sailors blinked. Jedaite... and Sailor Pluto? Now *that* was a weird match. Harley interjected, "I think we should get about the business of the night. Two universes remain to be saved. I, Ami, Ryo, and Rei will seal off that breach. The others will cover us and protect Usagi." Ami leapt in. "You should be informed about what local opposition there will be. We're in a conflict of our own." Minako nodded. "Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen's daughter, come from the future, has turned to evil. She's trying to destroy us. She has the support of Wiseman and Diamond." The other Minako shrugged. "Those names mean little to us. Basically, you're being chased by some tough bad guys and a good guy who thinks she's a bad guy?" Makoto laughed. "Basically, yes." The other Usagi had a mischevious glint in her eyes. "I'm just glad Luna and Artemis aren't here." They all laughed. Harley took charge. "Okay. We'll call my universe's Sailors by their Zephyran style names. You guys can use your normal names or planets or whatever. Reina, I want to sub Akane-chan in for you." The othe Rei looked hurt and betrayed. "Why?" Harley shook her head. "Baka. I need you to wield this for me." She tossed the silver sword on her back to her friend. "Protect the others for me." Reina nodded. "Hai, Harli." Akane, the blue haired girl, turned to Harley. "Do I have the same power output as Reina?" Harley grinned. "As long as this is still Earth, Akane-chan." Ryo joined them. "We must start soon." Harley glanced over at the Ami-double. "Amira, ready?" Amira nodded and pulled out her computer. "Naturally." She scanned. "The breach is right here." The four began to huddle together, leaving the others to form a defense. Rei spoke up. "I will guard their Usagi." The others glanced at her in surprise. "She's probably just as expert at getting into trouble as ours." The others accepted her half hearted jibe. Mamoru-double nodded. "I wll join you in guarding Sagi." The rest spread out in a circle, guarding the sky as well. * Harley shook away distracting thoughts. "Ami, Ryo? What do you detect?" Ami concentrated on her computer's screen. "Well, its about six feet wide and five feet tall. It's an area in quantum flux." Ryo added, "It is a point connecting two distant realities. Its vibrations will pull it apart soon, causing it to explode." Akane blinked, and pointed to its exact location. "Its... wrong. Not of here. Other." Harley smiled. "See, I told you you'd be useful. You're bond with Earth is growing." Akane smiled shyly. Ami frowned. "I think we can implode it. It will take a lot of energy, though. Why does Setusuna think the four of us will be enough?" Harley grinned widely. "Mostly because the planet Zephyr was never inhabited in this universe. *All* of its energy is untapped. I'm going to use nearly all of it. You guys are just here to tell me what to do." They nodded. Ryo explained, "We'll be put in a weird time field. Time might proceed at a different rate then the outside." Harley nodded. "Ready." Ami smiled. "Same here." Akane grinned. "As always." With that, Ryo concentrated. And the world around them began to speed up, as they slowed down. * Setusuna whistled. "They slowed down incredibly. A second for them is analagous to a an hour for us." Makore (we won't go any further) asked, "How long will it take them?" Jedaite answered from several yards away. "A few seconds. Mabye six or seven at most." Makoto's jaw dropped out at the answer to her counterpart's question. "You mean... we have to guard this thing for *seven* hours?" Usagi blinked. "I'm yawning already." Mamoru grinned at her. "I know how to put a stop to that, Usako." She glared, then grinned. Ami shouted, "Look!" The nemesis from earlier had come. Black Lady stared in shock. "There's... two of you? Each of you?" She never heard the attack, for Zoitan did not speak aloud. But she did discover that she was paralyzed. He frowned sadly. "Not *all* of us." He muttered, "Come back soon, beloved." The native Senshi talked to the paralyzed Wicked Lady in the nearby shadows. She showed signs of recuperating, then regressed into her mutated memories and hatred. Meanwhile, the non native senshi were busy with Diamond. He was frustated to discover that his hypnotizing sight was not functioning. "Dead Scream." Setsuna swung her staff, but Diamond dodged the attack. Reina stepped back. "Burning Mandala." The attack caught Diamond in the side, blackening his uniform somewhat. He finally got off a few shots. They went wide. One went wide in the direction of the paralyzed Black Lady. Her death was sure... except someone took the blow for her. The shock of it perculated through Black Lady. "Why did you..." Mamoru smiled, and Usagi copied his gesture weakly. "It's called love, Chib-usa." "You... love... me?" The two Reis traded looks. "Well, they sure are alike." As Black Lady began to return to being Chib-usa, the Minako's attacked Diamond. "Double Venus Meteor Shower!" The hail cut Diamond down during a moment of distraction. Things were definitely looking up. * Harley "pulled" at the weave of the "knitting" she was tearing apart. It was hard work. Meanwhile, the rest of the world progressed in fast forward. * Usagi was layed next to Usagi, and they smiled at each other. Usagari chuckled. "Guess that evens things out, huh?" Usagi agreed. "I'd say." Less than forty minutes later, Harley came back up to speed, gasping hard. Ryo, Akane, and Ami seemed fine. Till they saw the battleground that had appeared. "Wow." Jedaite raised an eyebrow. "Much faster then I'd anticipated." In the past forty minutes, dozens of youma had attacked them, and been easily repulsed. As the visitors prepared to leave, Usagi smiled. "I wish you would stay. Things would be easier." Setsuna nodded. "That is why we must go. Doubtless, with our two Crystals and your two, Wiseman would be easy to defeat. But it would not be fair to you. You wouldn't be prepared for the next challenge." Makore chuckled. "Of course, this deal is all based on us being able to *get* home." They gathered in a circle after a few waves. "Sailor Time... Teleport!" They disappeared, heading back towards the past. The wrong past. * Xalen frowned. "They're going the wrong way." Saeblin shrugged. "So, we'll redirect them a little." Xalen nodded. "Agreed. This time." With that, the Sailors began to accelerate in the right direction. * They were home once more. "Never." Usagi said. Minako nodded. "I agree. We'll never let ourselves be like that." Akane cocked her head. "What do you mean, guys?" Mamoru sighed. "While you four were in the time field, we observed our doubles. They have no hope. Their unity is forced." Ryo nodded. "Their Setsuna is so sad and lonely." Jedaite added, "I glanced through time. They've died many times, for there is no other way." He gave his betrothed an affectionate squeeze. "That will never happen to us." Rei seemed speculative. "My double... she lost a great love. And it was tearing her apart. I think... I think she never really got over Mamoru." Mamoru winced. Even Makoto was philosophical. "Outside of fighting, they didn't talk. Like they lived only to fight evil." Zoitan chuckled softly. "Imagine, all that because Harley never existed." She looked around at them, oblivious to their stares. She whispered. "I won't let it happen that way. I won't let you down." * Sailor Cynic Says: Harley: Well, I just learned that we're going to be taken off the air, folks. [collective groan] The good news is, we'll be written about in a new manga publication. Author: And we won't lose the theme songs either, though they'll probably vary a lot more. Commercials will be located at the end. Harley: So, remember: keep reading!