Hello everyone and welcome to my latest story! This one here is an American high school/superhero AU involving our lovely inner girls and Mamoru. In having it set here, I'm also adjusting the girls' personalities to work with the new culture so if it's OOC then you know why. I'm trying to try something other than a romance story to get my practice elsewhere (although there will be romance aspects to it which probably will involve my favorite Sailor Moon couple, so expect a future M rating).

Also I should warn that since I'm trying to set up this universe it might be exposition galore. If it is (in a bad way), I totally apologize! I hope you all enjoy!

"Hey hey hey, change it to the national news. Seriously, you all are going to want to see this."

The sandy haired guy rolled his eyes at the rainbow haired girl before he changed the channel. The rest of the people in the room faced their television. The screen briefly showed a picture of beautiful, bustling city before switching to a well-groomed caucasian man.

"Welcome to Crystalline, USA, an economically sound city, diverse in its population, entertainment and beautiful sights. Everyone here loves their city, but with recent events, much of the city they loved has changed. Ever since a meteor hit the Pacific Ocean and disappeared two months earlier, monsters have been attacking this lovely city. Yet, its residents and tourists love it all the same because they know they are safe. With the rise of these monsters, five superheroes have risen to the occasion and defended this city. These femme fatales have crushed each monstrous creature to bits, and, from what they've told us, have recently banded together to help each other. Let's take a look at them, shall we?"

The television switched from the well-groomed caucasian man to a girl clad in a sleeveless white spandex suit, silver arm length gloves, a silver belt with a wand attached, silver boots and a silver cape. On her chest and on her cape were a crescent moon symbol. She lifted her right arm at a monstrous shadow creature, her two index were pointed at the creature, her thumb towards the sky. Once she cocked her thumb, a bright beam of light escaped from the tip of her fingers, obliterating the shadow monster. The camera panned to her face, showing a woman with a silver mask covering her eyes and two golden buns sitting atop her head, with golden locks flowing from them, smiling at her successful shot.

"Here we have Moonbeam, the always beaming young lady whose signature hairstyle has been catching on lately. The sweetheart of this group, she has won the heart of those in Crystalline with her soft blue eyes and piercing beam shots. All the other four have called her the heart of this group. Look at that million dollar smile, America, and be glad you are under her protection. Next we have…"

The clip switched to a blue haired girl wearing lab goggles raising both her hands. A blue aura surrounded her hands. She had on a light blue, unbuttoned lab coat, a white, long-sleeved spandex suit that cut off in the mid thigh area, a blue belt, blue booties and black latex gloves. On the top of her gloves and on the back of her lab coat, the symbol of Mercury showed. The camera panned to a stone golem towering over her. She deliberately swings her hands towards each other and as she does so, two wrecked cars come crashing into the golem, smashing it into bits.

"Gray Matter, the girl who can move mountains with her mind alone. As seen here, she can lift objects like those two cars with ease, without lifting a finger. Although, she had said previously in an interview that she does move her hands to go with the movement of the object she controls simply because it feels natural to do so. The brains of the group, you have to watch out for this one. And look at her hair! It's blue! Makes you wonder why they call her Gray Matter, huh? Oh? It's because what now? This just in, I have been informed that gray matter is, in fact, a reference to the brain. The more you know, folks. And next - ohoho..."

The clip switches again to fire burning in the screen. A mysterious woman appears as the flames begin to die down, her face covered in a purple veil with the symbol of Mars. As the rest of the flame dies down, the rest of her is shown - she wears a kimono robe that looks as if it was made of fire, wrapped loosely around her body. She has a white, strapless spandex suit that covers what the kimono does not. Her deep purple hair flows in the wind as she lifts the katana in her hand and reveals the symbol of Mars on the back of it. She steps forward, the clacking of her sandals audible against the pavement before she disappears, reappearing only to reveal a creature that looks like it's from hell cut completely in half and her resheathing her blade.

"Here's my personal favorite, the blazing beauty known as the Fire Maiden. Her cold eyes are deceiving because, in truth, this girl is nothing but hot, hot, hot! And look how she cuts this monster with a quick swipe of her sword. Hoo boy, I would let her do so many- what? Am I being inappropriate? Oh, yes, we're on national television… Ahem, anyway, moving along…"

The clip switches to stone bursting into pieces as a tall brunette wearing brown leather headgear with a visor over her eyes appears. She jumps out of the way of another stone creature trying to grab her by her leather boots but she promptly kicks it to pieces. She stands there proud, her white spandex suit dirtied by the dust. She wears a leather cuirass over her torso and at some point underneath the cuirass the sleeves turn forest green like her belt and stop just at her forearm. On the her left thigh, the symbol of Jupiter is adorned against the white spandex. Her leather gloves covering her hands are dusty from all the stone creatures she has crushed. The battle axe on her back that covers the Jupiter symbol, however, is spotless.

"Ah, yes, Crash Girl! Known for her intense strength, I hear she can punch through almost anything and anyone. Better not get on her bad side! You know, I haven't seen her use her axe at any point these past two months so I would hate to see what the muscle of this group would need to use it for if she can cause this much destruction with her fists alone. Those creatures know at this point to avoid getting crushed by Crash Girl. And lastly…"

The stomp of black combat boots and the clanking of a metal chain against the pavement are heard when the clip switches. The camera pans up from the black combat boots, up the white spandex pants and zooms out when midriff suddenly appears. Zooming out reveals a chest bound by bandages and a black leather jacket. Right above her heart, poking slightly out of the bandages, the symbol of Venus is tattooed. Bandages were also wrapped around her hand, and on top of those were brass knuckles and a long chain was partially wrapped around her right hand. The eyes of the face covered by a red bandana seemed to be laughing as she took the other end of her chain, jumping to the monster in front of her, her back now towards the camera. All that can be seen is the back of her leather jacket, adorned with the symbol of Venus and a head flying off, a scream of terror and the clanking of chains heard along with it.

"The Heartbreaker herself. A terror to see on the battlefield, but a total charmer in interviews, I must say. With the battle finesse she possesses, it's no wonder they've designated her the leader of this group. But , seriously, don't let the charm fool you: for those who don't know, they say she got her name from a bystander that saw her ripping the heart out of a human-like monster attacking a poor defenseless girl and crushing it with her bare hands."

The television switches back to the well groomed man. He takes a sip from his coffee mug and adjusts the papers in front of him.

"These five working together are just bound to be trouble for those baddies. I definitely feel safer knowing these girls are around to defend Crystalline. For more informati-"

The television buzzed off, the woman sitting at the center of the couch holding the remote. She bit her lip as everyone stared at her, awaiting her reaction.

"They're on national television. They are on national. Television."

The other seven in the room looked around, as if awaiting punishment from the woman in the middle.

"This is perfect!"

They all turned their heads to her in confusion. The man next to her, holding her popcorn, was the first to speak up.

"Dux, what do you mean?" She grabbed the popcorn, putting a handful in her mouth.

"Don't you shee Exshaltasho?" She swallowed the rest of the popcorn before she continued. "This means more people will be drawn to the city see these girls. Which, in turn, means that there will be more life force to be drawn from this city when we finally destroy those girls. Energy gathering will be much more efficient."

The others all nodded in recognition until Dux clutched her chest in pain. The man, Exaltatio, quickly grabbed her and examined.

"What is it Dux? What's going on?"

"It's nothing… but I do think it's time to get rid of those girls. Hmmm, Ira!" She called for the girl.

"Yes ma'am."

"Look for the area in Crystalline with the highest concentration of life force." The girl pulled out her laptop and began typing in with hacker speed. "Tentigo, Magnitas, Avaritia. Come here."

The three of them stepped towards Dux. She eyed the three of them and smiled.

"I want you three to be my scouts. At this place with the highest concentration, Exaltatio will send out The Puppets to lure out these girls while also grabbing any and all life force possible. Once they are lured out, I want you to find the identities of these girls and bring back the information to us. When we have enough information, we will launch an attack and grab the life force from these girls. Do you understand?"

The three nodded. Beeping could be heard in the direction of Ira, as she pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose.

"It appears that the coordinates that have the highest amount of life force… Crystal Center High School?"

Avaritia smirked. "I've heard about human high schools, of course there is going to be a lot of energy there. All the romance, drama, parties, singing and dancing…"

Tentigo raised an eyebrow. "Someone's been watching too many high school movies...

"Hey! They're really good, okay? And besides, they're youthful. They're going to be teeming with life."

...

"Did you seriously fall asleep again?" Naru asked in exasperation to no one in particular, considering her best friend was, in fact, asleep. She shook her head.

"It's a wonder Mr. Lopez didn't catch her this time... Maybe she's getting better at hiding it. Hey Usagi…" Naru started to shake the girl awake. Her head against the table, the blonde seemed lifeless except for the fact that she was snoring lightly. Naru, frustrated at the lack of response shook her even harder.

"Usagi!"

"Mph- the war started in seventeen seventy - huh?" Usagi's head shot up and looked around to see most of her classmates leaving. She turned to see Naru looking at her expectantly. "Did I fall asleep again?"

"Yup. So that makes this the fourth class you slept through today. And considering it's only fourth period… That makes you four for four." Usagi giggled.

"Hey, look at the bright side," Usagi said as she began to pack up her stuff.

"What?"

"This might be the first hundred percent I get this school year."

"Oh geez…" Naru put her hand against her forehead and shook her head in mock disappointment. When she looked up, she happened to see a tall, brunette girl walking by the classroom door. "Hey Usagi, ain't that your new friend? The Kino girl?"

Usagi looked out the door and, seeing Makoto, she smiled. "Oh yeah, hey Makoto!"

The tall girl stopped in her tracks and looked to her side to see Usagi waving at her. She waved back.

"Hey Usagi, I'd love to talk but I have to get going."

"Oh… but I'll get see you later though, right?"

Makoto smiled back sweetly in an attempt to erase the slight sadness in Usagi's eyes. "Yeah, of course! See ya round!"

Usagi waved vigorously as the girl walked away. She began to take out her lunch from her backpack and put the pack on her back. She looked at Naru, who was giving her a funny look. "What?"

"Oh it's nothing, I was just thinking that it's true what they say."

"Who's they? And what do they say?"

"Oh you know, the rumor mill. They say plenty." They started to leave the classroom to head outside. It was a beautiful day to eat lunch outside.

"What? What could the rumor mill possibly have to say about me now? More things about me and Mamoru?"

"No, no… Only that it's almost unnatural how easily you make new friends. I mean, Kino I guess I can understand, she seems like she could be sociable… but Mizuno and Hino too?"

"Hey, everyone's fun to be with once you get to know them!" Naru shook her head, unable to believe the endless positivity that can come out of her best friend. "And is the rumor mill running so dry they have to talk about who I'm making friends with?"

"Only because everyone finds it a little strange that they're becoming friends with someone as popular as you." Usagi pursed her lips as her eyebrows furrowed

"I'm not popular…" she mumbled and Naru rolled her eyes at her naive friend. She just couldn't see it because she was the humble type of girl, but Naru knew that everyone genuinely liked Usagi because of her endless kindness.

"Whatever you say..." She playfully nudged Usagi, who pouted back.

"Come on let's go sit there so we can eat! I'm starving!"

...

"So, in order to find the derivative of this equation I would have to…" The boy's voice trailed off as he completed his calculus equation. The blue haired girl watching over his work slowly took a bite from her carefully crafted peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The boy lifted the pencil off his paper and looked towards her. "Is this right?"

She glanced over his work for a few seconds before nodding. "Yes, you did it correctly."

He looked at her in disbelief, "Seriously?"

She simply nodded again, sipping from a juice box.

"Wow Mizuno, you're seriously a genius. Twenty minutes ago I didn't know jack about calculus but now… you're a great tutor, haha."

She smiled softly. "It's nothing, really. I just understand that some teachers' methods aren't the best for everyone. So I'm glad I can help."

Ami had been tutoring during lunch and after school since the beginning of her sophomore year, when it was found that she was understanding the concepts of calculus better than the seniors and juniors in her class. She also helped with Biology, Chemistry and Physics tutoring. This senior boy was just one of many people she had tutored in the month they had been back from summer break.

"And you seriously don't mind doing this every lunch?"

"Well, it's not every lunch period that I do this, only when I get called to help someone. Otherwise I'm in the clubroom," she checked her cellphone to see how much time they had left. It was 12:25. "So, we still have twenty minutes before the warning bell rings. Why don't we do a few more so you can get the hang of these types. I promise you once you've mastered this, calculus will seem relatively easier.

He nodded and went back to the next equation. Ami looked away from his work when she heard someone passing by the classroom door.

"Working hard, Ami?"

A girl with dark, straight, shoulder length hair was leaning on the doorframe of the classroom. She was a smaller girl, about Ami's height, with thick framed glasses.

"Hello Vi, what brings you here?"

"Just wanted to see how my favorite junior was doing. Besides, we've been missing you at the club. One appearance a week from our secretary Ami isn't enough. Especially when we have three meetings a week." Vi Tran was a senior and the second president of Crystal Center High's Women in Science Club. She loved to push the girls in that club to highest form of scientific excellence and allowed them to explore their options in that club. She and the rest of the club had been keeping tabs on Ami since they first heard about the blue haired genius' amazing 4.5 gpa when she finished her first semester. At the end of her freshman year they had asked her to join right away.

"Ah, I'm sorry, I've just had a lot more people to tutor than usual these past couple of weeks, but I'll be at the meeting after school today," she stated right before sipping her juice box again. Vi smiled.

"Good! I'll leave you two to work then. See you later!" The dark haired girl slipped away, Ami's attention returning to the boy she had been tutoring.

"You're in Tran's club too?" Ami nodded, the boy looking at her in disbelief.

"Woah, you couldn't even pay me to join a club like that, you really are a genius girl." Ami sighed inwardly, politely smiling at the boy while on the inside feeling an annoyance. The nickname had stuck with her since she started high school and she felt as if two whole years was enough of it. She didn't know how she would get rid of the nickname, but she wanted it to go away. She knew she was more than just that, and she was glad at least her new friends knew it too.

"Alright, let's not get carried away, you still have those problems to do."

...

"Helloooo, earth to Rei, is anyone there? This is Amelie speaking." The violet eyed girl was pulled out of her daze and brought back to earth. She turned her head toward the girl with wavy, light brown hair and hazel eyes who slouched into the seat at the desk next to her.

"Oh, I-I'm sorry I was just thinking."

"Ooooh, what about?"

"It's nothing, really."

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, it's not important."

"Whatever, you could just say you don't want to tell me. No need to be a liar liar pants on fire about it," she flipped her hair and popped the gum that was in her mouth. Amelie Riverain was an interesting character and not one many people would have thought to befriend the elusive Rei Hino. She suddenly sat up straight and gave Rei a serious look before lightly pushing her on her shoulder. "You know, we've been on the same archery team since middle school, I'd like to think we were friends at this point. You should at least be able to tell me what's bothering you."

Rei simply sighed. She's been distracted these past few weeks and her teammate has noticed. Amelie's been trying to get Rei to open up to her more lately and even if she could, she knew she shouldn't tell Amelie what's been bothering her. They'd all decided this would be their burden to shoulder, and theirs alone, not to involve anyone unnecessarily. And to tell Amelie what was bothering her, it would involve a lot of explanation stemming from that fact alone. "I'm serious, it's nothing for you to be concerned about."

"Ughh whatever, I'll get you to open up to me one day, Hino." She popped her gum again. Amelie was a socialite who happened to be on the same team as Rei. Her parents had encouraged her to become friends with the Senator's daughter once they found out, not that she needed any encouragement from them. She liked how different and cool Rei was. She also liked possessing pretty things, and having a pretty friend like Rei was no exception to that rule. "Anyway, before we head to the archery range after school I need to meet up with someone. I hope you don't mind waiting for me."

"No, I don't. Practice doesn't start until twenty minutes after school gets out anyway." Rei saw that there was only a minute until the bell indicating the start of class rang. She bent over to her right to get her notebook out of her backpack when some boy made a pass at her.

"Hey Hino, isn't that shirt cut a little too low for a princess like you? Not that I'm complaining, haha."

Rei could feel the blood rushing to her head. Like a trigger, her cool demeanor had went out the window. She opened her mouth to retort, but the teacher walked in at that moment. Realizing she almost lost it, she simply stared at the boy with her soul piercing violet eyes and he turned back around, wondering if any of his life decisions were worth the look he just got. Rei couldn't stand the boys at this school - she could barely make it through a conversation without one of them trying to make a move on her. At least the girls that tried to approach her weren't creepy about it. She couldn't help but think that he was lucky, for today could have been the day she finally snapped. But it wasn't, and she went back to unpacking her things for class.

...

The sound of a whistle blowing filled the gymnasium.

"Alright kids, game's over. Red team won this time. Now go get changed and get out of here." The gym teacher shooed the kids away, into the locker room. "Except for you Kino. Get over here."

The amazonian girl headed over to her coach. She really wanted to get out of her sweaty clothes and get going, but she couldn't exactly ignore her coach either. "Hey coach, what's up?"

"I hear you've joined another extracurricular?"

"Yeah, the cooking club." Her coach sighed, and she bit her lip in anticipation.

"I mean I guess the frilly stuff is okay, but don't let it get in the way of your true calling, alright kiddo? Wrestling conditioning starts in two weeks and I don't want to see you out of shape or missing practice. Now go get changed." Coach proceeded to shoo her away as well. Makoto sighed. She knew that this was going to happen. She did enjoy wrestling, but also felt happy being able to learn more about cooking, and knew that Coach wouldn't approve of a compromise. How did Coach find out anyway? He never bothered to talk to any other teacher that wasn't involved with sports… It was probably Tammy.

"Hurry up Makoto! I don't want to be late for the meeting!" A voice called out. She looked to see Sasha Johnson, her friend from the club. She was standing at the entrance of the locker room, already changed. She was in the progress of putting her curly hair into a ponytail.

"Sorry, sorry, Coach needed to talk to me."

"Ah, what about?"

"He didn't say much… just that he wants me to quit the club as soon as conditioning starts." Sasha's eyes widened, absolute terror striking her deep brown eyes.

"You're joking! You look like you're having fun at the meetings. Is there no compromise?"

"For a statewide champion sports team? Never. Besides, it's not like I have much of a choice. I guess it was fun while it lasted…"

"Uh-uh, no way. You are definitely staying in this club. You'll find a way, I'm sure." Makoto smiled. She didn't remember what it was like to have someone to talk to about these kinds of things until recently. The girls on her team weren't very friendly to her, and she couldn't blame them - some new girl came in into their team at the Varsity level without tryouts, taking one of their friends' spots. She hoped their coldness would let up, but it's been two years and still, nothing had changed.

"I guess… I'll just let time tell what'll happen." Sasha smiled back. It was strange for her. So many people judged a first glance finding her threatening and then suddenly a flurry of new friends happened upon her. And the best part was that they seemed to accept her for who she was. It was a blessing for Makoto in so many ways. She just wished they would be able to hang out in school. But at least at school she had Sasha who was actually her height, so no one could judge just her for that. The dark skinned girl had helped her settle into the club they were about to attend.

"Well hurry and get changed, I hear we're learning decorative cutting techniques!"

"Alright, alright…"

...

An olive skinned girl with blue green eyes checked her phone for the time. Her dark, wavy hair whipped when she turned to face her friend. "Yo Minako, where the hell is she? You know the coach wants us at practice ten minutes before everyone else."

"Chill Alloa, there she is. Amelie!" The peppy blonde called out to the socialite. The smile on her face widened when she saw who was in tow behind her. "Oh, what do we have here?"

"Hey hey, sorry class ran a little late. What did you need me for?" Amelie asked. Knowing these two girls, it probably had something to do with an upcoming party. The girl behind her caught up with her hesitantly. "Oh yeah, have you two met Rei Hino? Rei, this is Alloa Lelei."

"Pleased to meet ya." The olive skinned girl gave a big smile to Rei, who simply nodded in return.

"And this is Minako Aino."

"Oh, we've met before," Minako used a tone implying more than there actually was to the statement. She gave Rei a teasing smirk, and Rei's eyes widened, her face beginning to feel warmer. Minako had a penchant for flustering the girl.

"Sh-shush, you. What are you talking about, " Amelie looked at her fellow archer in confusion. She's never seen Rei become flustered before, or so easily. Upset, yes. But this?

"Whaaat? I'm just saying we've met before!" She winked at Rei.

"Well you didn't have to say it like that! Stop being so friendly..." Rei mumbled the last part, looking away from the red ribboned blonde, her face almost as red as the ribbon.

"Haha, you're cute when you're flustered Rei."

"I-I-I…"

"It's nice seeing glimpses of that fiery passion of yours out in public." Minako cackled at the reaction she got from Rei. Oh, she knew she was not going to hear the end of it at their meeting later, but it was too much fun. Besides, it wasn't like anyone was around to see it besides their two friends, right?

"Minako!"

Alloa and Amelie simply looked at each other in confusion as their friends went at it. They had no idea that they were so… friendly? They never thought, in a million lifetimes, that these two would ever even talk to each other let alone, from what they could tell, already be friends. But it also kind of seemed like something else. Almost in unison a mischievous look reached their eyes. Alloa cleared her throat.

"So we just wanted to let you know, Amelie," Alloa started talking suddenly, the other two becoming silent, putting their attention on her. "That we are having a Homecoming party after the football game this Friday at Brett's place. We were hoping you could get us some of the stuff we need for the party, we'll pay you back if we need to. We know it's not a lot of time, but you we trust you could do it. And… you feel free to come too, Hino."

Rei, already frozen realizing that the other two had been listening to their conversation, looked at Alloa. She was taken aback at the sudden invite, Alloa noted. Rei wasn't normally asked to go to these things. She simply nodded, overwhelmed by the situation she was in.

"Okay, sounds good! You should definitely come Rei, it'll be fun! Plus you need to get out more, your grandpa even thinks so. Alright, let's get going to practice, we got some bull's eyes to hit!" She began to literally drag Rei away from the spot she was frozen to. Minako snickered as she watched her get dragged away. So what if they weren't supposed to act friendly at school? Just this one instance couldn't hurt… right? She turned to head towards the gym only to see Alloa's face smiling knowingly. Minako sighed. If only it had been that one instance.

"So the garbage the rumor mill has been spewing lately is true? I didn't think I could believe it, but wow," Alloa nudged her fellow volleyball player. They began walking towards the gym.

"What do you mean?" Minako was genuinely curious. She was used to being the subject of the rumor mill's interest, almost always hearing the news about her right away. They were both star players on the varsity volleyball team; some of the few girls on it that have been there since their freshman year. The volleyball girls were notorious partiers and had been in charge of spreading word about them when their school season was on. A lot of parties for Minako meant a lot of gossip being spread. But she apparently hadn't heard the latest about her.

"It's some new stuff, but word on the street is that the blonde sex bomb Minako Aino has been trying to talk up the school's precious jewel Rei Hino." Minako momentarily froze in her tracks.

"Is… is that really what they call me? God, these people really do like to exaggerate, it's not like I do it all the time." She joked, continuing forward. Alloa rolled her eyes.

"That's not the point Minako, but yes, it is what some of them do. Are you trying to get into Hino's pants?"

"No, that's not what I'm trying to do. We just happen to be on friendly terms is all."

"Uh huh, friendly. Right. Minako, whatever you're doing is working." Minako rolled her eyes.

"You don't believe me… and what do you mean it's working?"

"Look. Hino has only been friendly with Amelie these past few years, and barely at that. Yet here you are, teasing this... ethereal goddess creature and you still have your limbs." Minako had stopped again in her tracks, this time not moving forward at all. Alloa turned around to face her, walking backwards while doing so.

"...Ethereal goddess creature?"

"Come on Minako, you know she's a total dime. Like, outrageously so. Like, she makes all us other dimes at this school look like nickels in comparison to her."

"... You're really making me question your alleged Kinsey 0 status."

"Stop trying to change the subject. Just because I don't want to make out with you at parties doesn't mean I'm a Kinsey 0, I'm more like a 0.2. But seriously, I'm certain most straight girls and gay men would accept a chance to be with Hino. Which is why I approve of your choice, no matter how difficult it would be to smash then dash." Minako shook her head and started walking again. Her friend's crudeness about the matter would normally be amusing, but this topic was touchy for Minako.

"Look, I'm not trying to get into her pants, okay? She's a friend and that is that." Alloa side eyed her and kept moving along backwards.

"Okay, so explain the fact that you turned Brett down at the last party. And Lee at the one before that. And turning down a threesome with Johnny and Candace?" Minako shrugged.

"That doesn't necessarily mean I'm trying to get with her. I mean it could be that I've just been thinking of giving up the casual sex li- ouch!" Minako bumped into Alloa, who had frozen in her tracks, wide eyed.

"No freaking way, you did not just say that. The world is ending. The world. Is ending. First the meteor and then those freaking superheroes and monsters and now this. What is happening? Look, don't even answer that because I refuse to believe any of this conversation is real anymore." Minako laughed, playfully shoving the green eyed girl.

"Geez, I've done it casually a few times and now you're treating me like a nympho. Are you done questioning me, interrogator?"

"Not quite." Minako groaned.

"What now?"

"So I've actually been noticing you have some other new friends too. Nothing from the rumor mill, although I doubt they haven't noticed, but just me. It's kind of weird, yo. I mean, Tsukino I can understand, but Kino and Mizuno?"

"Ah… well, see that's umm," Minako was struggling for a good answer. They all blew it; there would be no way to cover their tracks, so she figured it was best to be as ambiguous as possible given the situation. "Well, we found that we have a common interest and have been meeting up after school. That's why I'm also sort of friends with Rei. But don't say anything to other people because I don't even want to imagine what the rumor mills would come up with."

"You guys are hanging out after school?"

"Uh, yeah."

"Like what, are you guys starting some sort of club for girls that look ambiguously ethnic but are actually Japanese?" Minako glared at Alloa, who simply shrugged. "I'm just saying, it's strange. But whatever, if you aren't telling me things then there's obviously some good reason. Just make sure you get into Hino's pants at Brett's shindig so you can get back to normal."

"Oh for the love of - I'm not trying have sex with her, stop enabling these things!" Minako hit her palm against her forehead as Alloa cackled, running off to the gym. Minako sighed and turned around to look at where all this trouble had started. She turned back around and ran after Alloa. She really wasn't trying to get Rei to have casual, meaningless sex with her because if she did, she wasn't really sure it would be all that meaningless anymore.

...

"Oh gooood these cookies are always delicious, Makoto." Usagi started stuffing her face with another one while the brunette chuckled. Usagi, Ami, Minako and Makoto were gathered around the table in Makoto's kitchen, casually chatting about their days.

"There's more where that came from, Usagi. Hey, do you two want some?" Her attentioned turn towards the cats in Ami and Minako's laps. The black cat in Ami's lap, Luna, looked towards Makoto, the crescent moon similar to Moonbeam's symbol on the top of her forehead. Makoto was still trying to get over the fact that they were being guided by sentient, talking cat things.

"Yes, I would love one."

"Me too!" A male voice appeared from Minako's lap. The white cat Artemis who had a matching symbol peered over the table in anticipation. She passed a cookie to each of them. Ami stroked Luna while Luna munched on her treat.

"You know, while we're waiting for Rei, I have a question for you two."

"Yes?"

"Are you two just cats that can talk? Or something else entirely different from our world's cats?"

The two cats gave each other a look and sighed. Artemis gave Luna a look that indicated for her to speak up. "In all honesty, we aren't quite sure yet-"

The door slammed open, a fuming Rei walking through the door. Minako tensed up, letting out a guilty laugh as Rei came marching towards her.

"You! You did this! Amelie's acting insufferable!" She violently pointed her finger at Minako, shaking it for emphasis. Minako, incredibly tense, began harshly stroking the cat in her lap, much to his dismay.

"I have no idea what you are talking about. Come Rei you're late the meeting has started take a seat did archery run late is that why you're late?" Rei was glaring at her with such an intensity Minako swore she was going to burn her to a crisp. She kept her eyes on the other blonde sitting in front of her. Usagi cocked her head like a puppy, taking a bite out of another cookie as she looked back at the tense Minako. The antics didn't usually start until well into the meeting. This was a first. Luna and Ami both sighed at the same time and Makoto was holding back a laugh.

"You know what you did," Rei whispered coldly before taking a seat next to Usagi. Her glare was still stuck on Minako, and the blonde could only imagine what she must have went through after they parted ways earlier that day. Minako gulped before relaxing and cleared her throat.

"But speaking of what I did, that's what I wanted to talk about to start off the meeting," all eyes were on her now. Rei scoffed.

"Your embarrassing behavior?" Minako ignored the comment.

"Luna, Artemis, I know we all had agreed that at the beginning of this all that we would carry on with our normal lives as much as possible as to not give away any of our secrets about who we are. We thought that any deviation to what was seen as our normal behavior would seem off to those around us and possibly put them in harms way, right?" She looked towards the cats and then at everyone else. She continued on,

"Well, I think what we didn't take into account how close we would get in what has been almost two months of getting to know each other. People have been talking about the exchanges that, although we didn't mean to have them, were made at school. And on my way here, I couldn't help but think that our peers either aren't as ignorant as they seem but are nosier than we would like. Regardless, I think that at this point, it would be more suspicious if we went along being secretive about our new friendships than it would be just to own up to it. Because at this rate, it looks like we won't be capable of just acting as we were before." She looked around the room again. Everyone was in deep thought as they looked back at her. She let out a brief sigh as she waited for a response.

"Does this have something to do with what Rei was talking about? You all have been talking at school?" Artemis finally asked, looking back up towards his owner. She nodded, but another response came from a different end of the table.

"It's not really as if we can help it. It's like Minako said, it's hard not to want to be with your friends when you see them. It just happens without us realizing it," Makoto loosely gripped at the sides of her chair, wishing she could squeeze it but knowing full well that it would crumble in her hands.

"I agree with Minako and Makoto too! I want to be able to talk to you guys at school without it being weird! I mean I know it'll be weird at first but after awhile people will think it's normal, right?" Usagi looked eagerly at Ami and Rei, who simply nodded in unison. Luna looked at Artemis before she hopped onto the table. He followed suit shortly after.

"I trust the decision you girls are about to make, but I hope you go through with it wisely. We have talked about this possibility before, Artemis and I. We just want to advise you to do it gradually."

"Right," Artemis began to add on. "We need you girls to be discrete if people start questioning you. Answer questions ambiguously, just like the reporters. Got it?"

They all nodded. Ami then cleared her throat before speaking. "Now, I have two orders of business before we go off to patrol. First, have you two recovered any new memories yet?"

Artemis shook his head. "It's all still the same thing. When the meteor entered Earth's atmosphere, we, as cats, suddenly remembered that we needed to find these super powered beings and guide them in their quest to protect the innocent beings of this planet. Then we managed to get you five together. Nothing new."

Ami pursed her lips for a brief second before moving on. It was strange not getting the answers to her questions that she needed. "Secondly, any new updates on the creatures that invaded this planet?"

"From the trends we've seen, their attacks are becoming more frequent and the amount of monsters more abundant. And from what Usagi and Makoto said, they seemed to be getting stronger." Luna turned to face Usagi and Makoto, trying to get them to continue.

"Oh, uh. It's not like they were a lot stronger than the ones before, but the ones we fought yesterday actually did require both our efforts. There were just too many for Makoto to do by herself without getting hurt or overexerting, so I joined in as soon as I could." Usagi finished the cookie in her hand and grabbed another. Ami began tapping her fingers on the table, her mind concentrating.

"But just what are these creatures and what do they want with Crystalline?"

...

It was well before school started, but these three transfer students wanted to explore the campus so they wouldn't get lost on their first day.

"All right! Who's ready for a high school education!?" A skinny, well-dressed teenaged boy asked the two of his friends with him. He stretched as high as he could, his breath visible from the early morning chill. His sandy haired friend shook his head,

"Oh Mag- er, Marcel. You aren't going to make any friends with the kids here if you talk like that."

"You want to make friends with these vile creatures?"

"Hey, might as well have a good time experiencing humanity while we're on this planet looking for these Lunar Force fuckers. Besides, it'll make our job easier to have human friends who might know a secret about those freaks. Friends will make our job go by faster." They reached the gates of the school. A few girls passed by the trio and giggled, blushing at the sandy haired one. Their female friend with the colorful hair raised an eyebrow.

"What's this? Looks like you're going to be popular with the ladies, Trent," He chuckled.

"I plan on using that to my advantage here. And looks like you've caught some attention too, Avalon," he finished his sentence as a group of guys looked her over once and nodded approvingly to their pals.

"It's probably just cause my hair's basically a rainbow that any of them are noticing me. Besides, they're chumps compared to you, Trent."

"Chumps? God we're going to have to get you up to speed with the slang around here. Those dated high school movies haven't done you any favors. Come on, we got some high schooler life force to absorb."

I didn't realize how lengthy this first chapter was going to be, haha. Please feel free to leave some constructive criticisms about my style and writing, because I do hope this story becomes as cool as I hope it could. I apologize for any blatant exposition in this and upcoming chapters, but once the universe is set up completely I feel like it'll flow smoother. Thanks for reading! See you next chapter!