Sirius' face grew red with anger. His mind screamed, "After all this time to get to the top, and he ignores me!"

Trying to control his voice, he tried to reason with the king. "Sire, if I may, it was I who first brought Hyperion here. I feel it is my duty to bring her back. I would like to request that you allow me this chance."

Dionysus turned to his servant, an eyebrow raised. "Very well. You have one chance, but if you do not complete your mission I can guarantee that you will die by my hand."

"I will not fail."

The king watched Sirius rise to his feet and bow. The golden man, then, transported from the room. Dionysus frowned, thinking of his master. "If Sirius succeeds, then Erebus-sama may favor him." He looked at his wrinkled hands. "If only I had the strength of youth on my side."

Sailor Moon slowly approached Sailor Sun. Her expression mirroring confusion as she stammered, "Hogosha-chan...? How... how can it be?"

Sailor Uranus stepped in between the two soldiers, stopping Sailor Moon. Neptune touched the tiny blond soldier's shoulder. "Careful, Sailor Moon," she cautioned.

"Uranus, Neptune, please. Sailor Sun is our friend."

Not convinced by Moon's plea, Uranus stood her ground. "Don't be too sure."

"Princess Serenity, I kept my identity from you so that I could protect you the only way I knew how. The way it has always been." A touch of sadness showed in the reassuring smile Sailor Sun tried to give.

"But you're the one who told me about the light. Shouldn't the soldier of the sun be able to enjoy its brightness as well?"

"Sailor Moon..." Sun whispered.

Sailor Sun suddenly became very still, her eyes wide and back straightened. Deep in her mind, she heard a male voice call to her. "Princess Hyperion, meet me at the dock. I'll be waiting to take you back to our kingdom."

"Sirius..." Sailor Sun hissed as her eyes narrowed. She turned from the group of soldiers, looking back into Sailor Moon's eyes for a long moment. "Farewell, everyone."

"Hogosha-chan!" Moon shouted.

"It'll be alright. If I go maybe I can stop them once and for all. Farewell, my princess." As quickly as she could, Sun ran away.

Without hesitation, Sailor Moon began to run after her, only to feel a strong grip holding her back. Sailor Uranus stood, her powerful grasp holding steady to her thin wrist. "Sailor Moon, this is her battle."

"She is doing what she has always done," Neptune added.

"But maybe her way isn't always the best," Sailor Moon argued as she continued to try and squirm free.

Uranus loosened her grasp on Sailor Moon. "Maybe not, but--"

"But she is so much like you two," Sailor Moon cut in. "Always there, hidden, waiting to help. Why shouldn't I be there to help her? We have to do something."

Uranus' gaze was hard at first, but soon softened. Neptune spoke, her voice calmed and compassionate. "Usagi, you're always such a kind girl."

The sailor soldiers joined Sailor Moon's side. "Sailor Moon is right. Sailor Sun shouldn't have to fight alone in the shadows!" Venus exclaimed.

As Sailor Sun reached the dock, she scanned the area around her, but found no one in sight. She stood at the edge of the dock and looked down at the water, watching the small ripples hitting the wooden posts. Just as a feeling of calm soothed her, a blinding, yellow light lit the sky. Before it faded, she squinted up to see a man materialize within the light. "Princess Hyperion," the golden man boasted, "did you think you could actually match my power alone? Foolish girl! Just as foolish as Alpha Centauri."

Sailor Sun glared at him hatefully. His laughter was like venom coursing through her veins. The Luminous Star Rod appeared in her hands and she shouted her attack in time to match his own. An uncanny light show began as their powers struggled with one another, fighting for control. While they fought, thoughts circulated through her mind. "Must it forever be that I fight in the shadows? Can I never know the feeling of the light on me? How I wish that I could enjoy the sun's light." A tear rolled down her cheek and she closed her eyes trying to block out her sorrow.

Sensing the sudden weakness in his opponent, Sirius began to taunt Sailor Sun in hopes of gaining the upper hand. "All alone, little soldier? Have you finally realized that everyone in this world fends only for themselves? Everyone steps on someone else to survive. Give up so that we may cleanse this world together! Erebus-sama will do it with your help! All you would have to do is stop fighting and come with me."

Sailor Sun heard a voice shout, "Silver Moon Heart BREAK!"

She opened her eyes to find Sailor Moon standing beside her, weapon in hand. This time it was the moon soldier who cast a reassuring smile. She felt a tap on her shoulder and looked to her other side, finding Tuxedo Kamen. The joy filling her heart was overwheling, as she heard more voices call out.

"Liquid HARMONY!"

"Psychic BLAZE!"

"Vibrant LIGHTENING!"

"Passion Chain LINK!"

She looked at the four girl to see Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus standing side by side. "Everyone... I..."

Her eyes widened in shock as she heard two more voices holler behind her.

"World SHAKING!"

"Deep SUBMERGE!"

She turned and saw Neptune and Uranus, smiling. Sailor Sun had never felt so much strength as she did at that moment. She thought to herself, "I'm not alone. Usagi, Mamoru-san, Ami-san, Rei-san, Makoto-san, Minako-san... and now Haruka-san and Michiru-san. I don't have to be in the shadows anymore."

Her thoughts continued as she faced Sirius with more determination. "And my dear Alpha Centauri... How you fought to protect me. I feel that you are with me even now. I shall keep you alive in my memories and in my heart. Don't worry, I won't let this chance you have given me go to waste." She shouted her own attack. "Rising SUN!"

A final blast shot at Sirius, overcoming his powers. Taking the brunt of the attack, he flew backward. Blood soaked his clothing as he impacted with the water beneath him. As he sunk deeper into the lake's bosom, his thoughts repeated only one phrase. "I failed."

The battle over, each of the sailor soldiers transformed back into their normal clothes. When they were done, Usagi walked to Hogosha's side. Hogosha fought back tears as she smiled at her friend. "Thank you, Usagi."

"I told you that the soldier of the Sun could enjoy the light, didn't I?"

"We're sorry for suspecting you," Michiru apologized.

Hogosha waved her hand, grinning. "You can never be too careful."

"Now that we know that King Dionysus is not your father, you can breath easier about supposedly being born into evil," Makoto commented.

"What?" Hogosha gave her a confused look.

"Oh my, that's right," Ami gasped. "She didn't know."

Rei moved next to Hogosha, her face serious. "Before Alpha Centauri left to find you, he told us Dionysus claimed you as his own after finding you on the Sun."

Hogosha did not respond. Instead, she turned her head away from Rei and the others, hiding the confusion of emotions could not hold back. "I'm comforted to know that I'm not related to him," she thought. "But in another way it bothers me. If I'm not his daughter, then who am I?"

Haruka broke the silence, "I'm curious about the new powers you gave everyone."

Hogosha looked to the sandy haired woman. Her voice became distant, as if she was another person speaking. "Those are just glimpses of what they can become. You're all still young now, so it will take time to reach their full potentials. I merely helped in tapping into something that was already there, hidden deep within."

As she knelt at the edge of the dock, she peered down into the water, staring at her limp hair and sweat-stained face. An image of Chibi Usa replaced her own reflection, but it quickly disappeared when she plunged her hand in the water. She splashed the cooling liquid on her face and neck, washing away the dirt and grime.

Sirius appeared in the Eclipsed Sun Kingdom and limped through the halls, finally stopping outside Erebus' shrine. He couldn't face the king. He knew what would happen, but maybe if he could plead with Erebus to override Dionysus... He entered the room. A black mass swirled inside the orb, as it inquired, "Sirius, where is the body I was promised?"

"I could not claim it, great ruler. Please forgive me."

"All is not lost, young warrior. Instead of wasting energy finding an inadequate host, give me your body. You would become all powerful. Dionysus would kneel before you with my power coursing through you. You would rule this world!"

Greed showed on Sirius' face, as he considered. "I could rule this world?"

The orb's coarse, eerie voice continued, "Give me your body, Sirius, and you shall have the power you so greatly crave."

Sirius nodded and spread his arms open to accept the being into him. His eyes grew wide as he felt the extreme force run through his body. An intense heat grew in his chest. He laughed psychotically. "Finally, I shall have my due!"

Rising into the air, his laughter quickly turned to screams. The heat grew too fast, and fire emitted from him. His howls of terror became louder as the flames began to burn his body. Within seconds, all that was left of the golden soldier was a pile of ashes. Having lost the body, Erebus returned to the confines of his orb. "I need that princess. I need her body, but most of all I want the Golden Aura!"

Dionysus entered the room. After a quick glance at the ashes on the floor, he kneeled before the orb. "Great Erebus-sama, I will go to Earth myself and claim a body for you."

"It must be that of Princess Hyperion. Hers is the one I must have."

"Of course, but... all these many years have drained my strength. I--"

"Then years I will give back to you."

Dionysus felt a strange energy surround him. He watched in shock as the wrinkles on his hands faded. His bald head was soon covered with a mane of silver and white. Even his clothes changed from his tattered, black cloak to a white suit lined in gold. He stood and stared down at himself. His golden eyes glinted with youth, as he whispered in utter astonishment, "I have not been this beautiful since Serenity ruled over the Silver Millennium."

End Episode 16.