Crystal Academy was sleeping, and Sailor Ares had just returned home. Her booted feet padded lightly through the window. She slipped out of her henshin just as simply as a model might shed a heavy winter coat. Painted nails traced the line of the window, sliding free the metal piece that kept the security alarm from being breached. She let the window slide shut with a nearly inaudible thud, and then crossed to her desk. Before she sat, she straightened her paper, pen, and clock. Then she straightened the chair and primly sat on it. Her fingers tapped across a clear vase three times, and then she turned her ring twice. It was her little post-battle ritual, a tiny thing that helped clear her head and calm her down.

The darkened dorm room lit with an eerie glow as her laptop chugged to life. Fallon had never been the best with computers, but she found it necessary for school. Plus the crisp white of the Macbook matched her decor quite nicely. After only a few minutes of scrolling the news, Fallon’s fingers stopped. Her eyes darkened, and she leaned closer, lashes fluttering from the speed at which she read.

When Fallon stood from her chair, she was no longer dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a sweater. She was Sailor Ares again, beelining for her mirror with a spark in her eyes. It took her a moment to summon Cavalier Laocoon to the clouded surface of the mirror. They had been speaking more than ever before, they had been planning, they had been scouting. The conversation started out briskly. There was a wrestler displaying untold power and an even more powerful green gem on his belt. The cavalier had heard the news as well. It was obvious by the tilt of his brow, the deeper focus in his eyes. Over the past weeks, he had grown just as passionate about what they were planning as Ares herself was. The time was upon them. They were going to change the world.

Her voice lowered, grew serious. “Laocoon, we must have that crystal. We must gather as many as possible. With that power, our faction would become unstoppable. I think...” She stopped herself, then began again, “I know that it’s time. We need numbers on our side, more hands to bring crystals into our midst. Imagine it: we could be dominant in the span of a month.” Her gray eyes relaxed into euphoria for a moment at the thought. The Black Moon was lost to her, but that did not mean that Ares would take a backseat in this new world. If this was to be her home forever, then she would make it hers.

But she couldn’t do it alone.

One hand reached out and touched the edge of the mirror. “It’s time, Laocoon. But first -- this crystal. We need to have all of our numbers there. We need that power on our side. It will help us. It will make us stronger.” A painted nail tapped three times on the mirror and then slid back to her side. “After this wrestling match, we make our move.” Her head bobbed in a sharp, quick nod, and then she stepped back from the mirror. One hand raised, fingers bent in an unspoken sign of respect, one that they had only recently created.

Before Ares cut off the conversation, she checked up on Laocoon’s progress, heard his recommendations for new recruits, and chided him for any hesitance on going to the wrestling match. They had been talking almost nightly as of late. It was a comfort to Ares, though she would never say it aloud. Without the rest of their team, Ares and Laocoon had been forced closer and closer together. Then, crossing toward her bed, she added, “I will see you tomorrow for the ceremony.” One hand popped up on her hip. “She needs to be our standard for those that come after her. We cannot lower our standards.” Laocoon nodded, and then he was gone.

The air felt electric, the moon burned brightly through her window, and for the first time in a long time, Sailor Ares smiled.

It begins.