Trial by Fire

        All of the Sailor Soldiers, along with their three
companions, walked down the seemingly never-ending hallway.  They
wanted to find Katarina's commander, and get the Love Star back.  The
way they saw it, it was do or die time.  They couldn't shake the
feeling that it was going to be die time.  Of course, that did not
bother Nephlite much, nor did it Tuxedo Angel; they were already
dead.
        "Man," James said.  "This hall goes on forever."  This
statement was made openly, and was not answered.  Everyone just kept
walking.

                                *       *       *

        Lord Perro took a deep breath.  He exhaled slowly, and his
rage was evident in his breath.  It had little sparks of fire in it,
and he nearly caught his personal quarters on fire!
        "I must not forget the mission."  A large, ominous figure
appeared behind Lord Perro.
        "You are wise to remember that," the shadowy figure said in a
low voice.  "You must destroy all of the love that is in the world.
It is a sick emotion experienced by the humans, making them full of
flaws.  Your mission --"
        "Is to create a flawless society.  One that feels only
hatred."
        "Yes.  You must not act out of haste because of Katarina's
death.  The mission must be completed at all costs, and haste often
leads to failure.  Katarina found this out the hard way."  The
shadowy figure disappeared. 
        Lord Perro looked at the Love Star one more time, and
wondered if he was doing what really needed to be done.

                                *       *       *

        
        The Sailor Soldiers and company suddenly stopped at the sound
of gas being sprayed from a canister.  At least, that is what it
sounded like.  Sailor Mercury used her computer to analyze the sound.
        "Uh-oh."  Lord Perro appeared before anyone could ask by what
she meant by uh-oh. 
        "Hello there," he said in a voice that was almost too cheery.
        "What do you want?" James asked.  "Perhaps we can negotiate."
Lord Perro waved his right hand, and James started to gasp for air.
        "No, we can't."  Lord Perro looked at the Sailor Soldiers.
"So, you all found each other.  I hope you liked your reunion."  Lord
Perro attack Sailor Moon, and James was released from Lord Perro's
"grasp".  The only person to react to Lord Perro's attack was James,
who was quite steamed.  He threw his door decoder in front of the
flying flame, and the flame consumed it, then disappeared.  It never
reached Sailor Moon, who was just staring blankly.
        "That's it!" Sailor Jupiter shouted.  "Jupiter Thundercrash
Zap!"  Lord Perro was taken completely by surprise.  He was knocked
flat to his butt! 
        "Mars Celestial Fire Surround!"  Lord Perro was hit yet
again, and weakened greatly.  "Now Sailor Moon!"
        "Moon Scepter Elimination!"  The blast hit Lord Perro, and he
flew into a wall.  He looked up at the Sailor Soldiers.  He then
realized that he was going to see Katarina again, and he realized how
much love was needed.  He realized the stupidity of the mission he
had been sent on.  
        "Thank you..."  He faded away, slowly, until nothing was
left, except a few sparkles.  Suddenly, the whole place started to
shake.
        "We're not done yet!" Tuxedo Angel shouted.
        "Everybody, get in a circle!" Sailor Mercury.  They all did,
and the Sailor Soldiers used their powers to teleport everyone out of
the place right before it collapsed.  Of course, they needed only to
get themselves and James out.  Tuxedo Angel and Nephlite teleported
themselves out.

                                *       *       *

        Serena awoke to the sound of her alarm clock.  She did not
like having to go back to school.  She was still tired from her
adventure.  She forced herself to get up anyway, and get ready for
school.
        "Bye, Mom!" she yelled as she ran out of the house.  Then it
hit her, she was not running late.  "Oh my Gosh," she said, not
believing it herself. She then slowed to a walking pace, and
continued on her way.  She couldn't explain it, but she felt more
mature somehow.
        Serena continued walking, until she bumped into someone.
"Ow!" she exclaimed.  She saw the person she bumped into turn around.
It was Darien.
        "Oh, hi there, meat-ball head."
        "Darien, what are you...?"
        "I'm here because I want to be with you," he said, not
surprised that she had not yet noticed one small difference.
        "Wait a minute, I bumped into YOU!  That means..."      
        "Yep.  I'm back," he said with a smile.  "I did such a good
deed, in helping you and all, that the Big Guy let me choose anything
I wanted.  I chose to come back here as a human being."
        "Oh, Darien!" she exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around
her love. "But, what about Nephlite?"
        "He got to come back, too.  He's already been to Molly's, and
their having a chocolate parfait right now."  Serena smiled.
        "Come on, muffin."  The two love-birds walked to school
together, hand in hand.  They were happy, and they felt like the
whole world was revolving around them.

                                *       *       *

        The dark figure stood facing a small, round object.  It had
the image of a blond haired girl with a funny hair-do and a man
walking down a street.
        "They are stronger than I thought.  Better leave them alone
for now."  He continued watching them, half in awe of them, and half
in anger because of them.

                                *       *       *

        James arrived at MI6 headquarters, and was congratulated on a
job well done.  He received a tongue lashing from Q, who was tired of
his inventions getting blown up all the time.  Other than that,
everyone was happy. 

                               The End...?
                              -----------------