It's ironic, that the senshi of dreams can't even dream peacefully.

~~~

The sound of a pen dropping practically echoed in the darkened room at Crystal Academy, followed quickly by the sound of a book closing with a gentle snap. The fact that the room was pitch black only seemed to add to heighten the sound, making it seem louder than it actually was. The only light in the small dorm was the pale glow from the stars outside and a booklight creating a bubble of light at one end of the room, the moon conveniently absent. Within a few seconds of the book closing, a pair of pale fingers clicked off the book light that had illuminated the diary, casting the room further into darkness. The sound of the tiny light being pulled from the cover. The click of it and the journal being set onto the bedside table, the action so practiced the girl who held it didn't fumble in the least. Last but not least, a body slowly moved under the covers, rustling as quietly as she could, as to not wake her roommate.

And then it was silent. Completely, eerily silent.

Not even the smallest of sighs escaped as Rea Marshall lay there in her bed, allowing her strawberry blonde hair to fan over the pillow as she lay there in the room, exhausted and yet unable to sleep. Across the room, her friend and partner Eve slept peacefully beneath her covers, the mound of blankets moving up and down as she breathed. And yet sleep would not reach the Senshi of Dreams.

Sleep eluded her.

It was entirely ironic that she of all people would be plagued by nightmares. She had always wondered if she had the power to give people a dream, should they already be asleep -- it had been on of those things she had meant to ask Astraea, next time she saw her. The teal-skirted scout had given it much thought, and after some consideration she came to the conclusion that it would be something she would like to give, if she could. With so much death, so much corruption and hate and injury, (Charys, she couldn't help but think,) to give someone peaceful dreams would be a blessing.

She knew.

Taking a deep, slow breath, Rea tried to relax, exhaling softly, practicing the sleep techniques her mother had showed her. How was she suppose to relax though? The memory of Nealite's hand on her breast, clutching her brooch brought the horror of the moment right back to her, turning the blood in her veins ice cold once more. The memory of Aurora telling Flora and her that Charys was in the hospital... of Sailor Lyra's horrified expression as 'Sailor Nealite' tore an elderly woman's starseed from her chest... It gave her nightmares, terrible blackened dreams of lieutenants and captains with sharp white teeth smirking at them, foreboding purple-dreadlocks casting an eerie shadow over Flora, over Nerissa, Lyra and Nemesis. Of demonic, scarred faces leering down at her, gold chain wrapped tightly around her arms, keeping her from pulling out of his faux-romantic embrace. Of clawed, shadowed hands tightening around Astraea's form, the silver cat writhing in the grip, terrified...

Sailor Pegasus would awaken the next morning as the sun rose, tears streaming down her cheeks, her body drenched in a cold sweat.