First Battle Chapter 2 ****************************************************************************** Tanya drew in huge breaths, trying to calm herself as she watched the Golden Retriever dog laying in front of her. "This can't be real! It has to be a dream somehow! Dogs do NOT TALK!!!" "Why don't you take a seat, and I can give you some explanations" said the dog friendly, getting up to a sit. The bandage done around his side caused him to wince a little, but he kept a watchful eye on the girl. Still in a slight shock, Tanya did as the dog asked, and quickly and quietly sat down in front of the dog, waiting to see what would happen next. *Anyway, I'm sure I'll wake up soon!* Tanya thought to herself. After sitting down, she stared at the dog curiously. *You know," she thought again, this dog DOES look familiar, somehow..* The dog began. "Your name doesn't happen to be Tonicia Knight Star, would it?" he asked. Tanya could only stare for a moment longer before she dared herself to answer. "Ahhh, no, it's not. My name is Tanya. Tanya Cambridge." she said in almost a whisper. "Oh dear, oh dear!! I thought you was her! I really did!!" said the dog despairingly, hanging is head low. Tanya could only shake her head, *My God, I am ACTUALLY talking to a dog!* she thought to herself, "Veronica's gonna flip when I tell her this dream!" "Umm, who exactly are you looking for?" she asked quietly. "I am looking for my mistress, the Princess of the Sirius Star System, Tonicia Knight Star. She was supposed to be here, fully restored to life, and waiting for me!" the dog said with a little frustration. "But I am afraid something has gone terribly wrong. I still haven't found her after so long!" "The Sirius Star System? As in the "Sirius Star" also known as the "Dog Star" by the ancient Romans?" asked Tanya breathlessly. "Sorry, pooch, I'm afraid you're a little far from there, like a couple of light years!" She said, crossing her arms over her chest, and giving him an unbelieving look. "I see a little introduction is in the works here." the dog growled softly with touch of annoyance, "My name is Marco, and I am the Guardian and Mentor to Princess Tonicia Knight Star, Heir to the Phoenix Throne of the Sirius Star System, and also known as Sailor Sirius. And we are NOT known as any "Dog Star!!" "I see," Tanya said, rolling her eyes, "Well, I'm definitely not a princess, and I know I am not this Sailor whatever person. So now, before I totally freak out, I think I should put this dream to an end!" Tanya got up form the floor, and was about to leave in a hurry, when the dog bark, then winced and whined in pain again. Marco called out, "Wait, come back! Maybe there is a way I can know for sure." "Really ? How are you going to do that? How do you know if I am this Princess....whatever?" Tanya asked as she turned back around to face Marco. "Come closer." the dog said quietly. When Tanya stood right in front of him, the golden dog said a strange word, like a language Tanya has never heard before, even though she spoke quite a few. All of a sudden, a dark blue glow surrounded the golden dog, and suddenly appearing around neck was a beautiful necklace, silver, with a rather large emerald inside surrounded by tiny diamonds. "Please." Marco said, with fierce determination his eyes, "Put the necklace on. I assure you this is NO dream!!" *Oh my gosh!! This ISN'T a dream!! I have never seen a dog do that!!!* Tanya thought to herself in a panicked rush. "Ummm, sure, whatever." Tanya said cautiously. Slipping the jewel from around the dog's neck, she put it around her own. As soon as she did, her body began to glow the same dark blue as Marco's. It enclosed her like wings on an angel, and Tanya closed her eyes as images entered her mind. She saw a girl who looked exactly like her in a beautiful pale blue dress, but her hair was wavier, and she had a bright white star in the middle of her forehead. She was standing in what looked like a garden, but strange somehow. The grass was red, and the sky was a violet color instead of blue, and shining down rays was a gigantic sun with a smaller one next to it. Walking up next to her was Marco. The girl petted him for a moment, and then both walked into a magnificent castle. The scene changed, and now Tanya saw the girl in some sort of space station, hugging and kissing what seems to be a king and queen, by the way they dressed. The girl entered the ship, and the couple watched as the spaceship rose and then flew away. The Queen turned to another young man with tears in her eyes, and buried her fce in his chest. The handsome man was holded the woman's hand as she wept sadly. "Mo....Momma? .... " whispered Tanya, feeling tears run down her cheeks. Even though Tanya had never seen this beautiful woman before, inside her heart she felt she knew this woman somehow, and felt a strong connection to the people watching the girl leave. The last thing Tanya saw before all darkened was the people turning around to look at her, then calling to her with tears in their eyes. Try as she might, Tanya could not hear or answer them. Then, with a bright white flash, the vision ended as quickly as it began. "Oh, it IS you!! The princess! The Sirius Emerald Star Stone could not be wrong!!" exclaimed Marco happily, "Oh thank the Sirius gods!!!" Tanya threw back her head and took in a deep breath, overwhelmed by the visions she saw. Wiping the tears of her cheeks, she turned to Marco, "Who...who... were those people? That girl who looked like me? Why did I feel that lady was my mother? And why were they...crying?" Tanya said sadly. Marco then proceeded to tell Tanya about the Sirius Star System, the Moon Kingdom, and the fate which befell them. He ended the story by telling her that now that he has found her, it is time for them to begin their mission in finding the reborn Moon Princess, Princess Serenity Crestmoon. At the end of the story, Tanya blew out an exasperated breath. "But I don't know any girl named Serenity! I don't even know where to begin!" said Tanya in exhaustion. She got up once more from the floor, "I have to call my god sister Veronica. Maybe she can help." Marco was about to tell her about keeping what he told her as a secret, when suddenly screaming began outside. "What in the world is going on?" Tanya exclaimed, while running to the front window. Outside, in the street, a creature that looked like a giant imp was starting to smash up cars driving along down the road. It punched in windows, and smashed in hoods. "Star seeds!!!" it screamed in a high-pitched voice, "I want ALL your Star seeds!!!" It started to grab people and flinging them in the air. "Ughhh!!! What the heck is THAT ugly thing!!" Tanya shouted, getting really scared. She turned to look at Marco, but he was already in front of her holding the necklace in his mouth. He dropped it in her hand. "That is a chance for you to begin your destiny, princess!! The time has come for you to defend the innocent, and defeat evil!!!" he shouted. "It is time for Sailor Sirius to return!" Tanya gulped hard, her heart pounding almost painfully against her chest, and looked from the beautiful necklace in her hand to outside, where the creature was still on a rampage. "This is turning out to be one STRANGE birthday!!" To be continued... ******************************************************************************