Had the idea for this story while watching the episode in which the Scouts pretend to betray Serena, and I wondered what would happen if they really did betray her. So, this is the result of that thought.
Disclaimer: Don't own Sailor Moon. Never have, never will.
_
The youma had already been defeated by the time Sailor Moon, puffing and panting from running, arrived at the park. Predictably, Sailor Mars was far from amused.
"I know you seem to like being fashionably late, Serena, but frankly, this goes beyond "fashionably". This is serious!"
"I'm sorry, Raye, but I…" Sailor Moon began.
"We could have been killed by that youma without you here to moon-dust it!"
"I…"
"I don't know what the rest of you think, but I think it's high time we got a new leader if Miss Moon here isn't going to get her act together."
"WHAT?"
Sailor Mercury nodded.
"I agree, Serena. That was the toughest monster we've faced yet. One of us could have been badly hurt – or worse! If you're not going to be on time for once, then we need a new leader."
Sailor Moon gasped. "Amy!" Then she turned to the black cat watching everything and said, hoping and praying that at least one of the team was still able to think rationally, "Luna?"
"The girls are right, Serena. You're more of a hindrance than a help to the team. Either shape up… or ship out."
"We don't need whiny cry-babies on our team, you know." Sailor Mars added unkindly.
Fighting back tears, Serena turned to face her. She did not want to give Raye the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
"Very well then, Raye, I resign. You are now leader of the Scouts." She de-transformed and held out her brooch and disguise pen. "You can have these, as I no longer have any need for them. I… I never wanted… to be Sailor Moon… in the first place!"
As she finished, she also lost her fight against tears, and ran sobbing from the park. Luna, Raye and Amy watched her go.
_
Meanwhile, in the Dark Kingdom, Jadeite was being yelled at by Queen Beryl for his failure to defeat the Scouts.
"This is your last chance!" She finished after about four hours shouting herself hoarse at all four of her Generals. "If you fail me again, you will be punished with Eternal Sleep."
Out of the corner of his eye, Jadeite saw the looks on the other three Generals' faces at this announcement – Nephrite, triumph that he would soon be taking Jadeite's place; Zoycite, a mixture of sympathy and contempt; and Malachite, no obvious emotions at all.
"I will not fail you, my Queen." Jadeite said, with a lot more certainty than he felt.
_
Serena climbed in her bedroom window and threw herself down on the bed, sobbing.
"Why?" She whispered, wiping the tears away. "They didn't even give me a chance to explain!"
Well, at least I won't have to worry about fighting youmas or energy-draining schemes ever again.
But deep down, something told her that she had not seen the last of those schemes, or whoever/whatever was behind them.
_
Reviews are greatly appreciated