Chapter Four: Shiro's Plan

In the enemy's laird, the Queen was getting impatient with her warrior. She was pacing back and forth, waiting for his arrival. When he finally arrived, he bowed down. She turned to him and stuck her powerful glaive over his head.

"What is wrong with you?" she hollered. "Why haven't you destroyed them yet! There have been many chances! You fool!"

"Queen Tetsuko I've done nothing wrong. I've weakened the little brat! And as for Gloria Aino she wasn't my doings, she was that youma's. I had nothing to do with her. I only gave the youma some extra powers so that way she could help weakened Sailor Pluto." Shiro explained, a little bit angry that the queen hadn't seen it as something wonderful.

"I see." She narrowed her eyes. "You have THREE days to destroy the little girls, or I will destroy you."

"Yes ma'am." Shiro replied and disappeared into his own sanctuary. He threw things around, breaking things left and right. He was about to throw something at his crystal ball, when a thought occurred to him. He went to the ball and took it in his hands. He had three days to get rid of Lydia and Maggie. He'd do everything in his will power to do it. Even if it killed him doing so. He watched Lydia's friend in the crystal ball. The two had such a strong bond; Shiro had to break it quickly. It'd be the only way to defeat Lydia. Shiro watched as Rei came in and tucked in her daughter. Yuuichiro came in afterwards. They then left to Annika's room. Shiro watched as they tucked Annika in. Annika asked her mother to hold her for a moment. Shiro continued to watch the family until they had gone to bed. He smirked and then changed his appearance, to a small little boy. His story was he was from the future and came back to warn Julia of something, Shiro could only hope that his plan would work. He disappeared and appeared in the little girls room. He begin coughing, as the dust cleared. Julia stirred around in bed, she lifted her head up and saw the little boy. She noticed that he was injured and quickly went to go help him. As she got closer to him, she felt an evil presence within him. She backed up, but he grabbed a hold of her, and disappeared.

Shiro had forgotten that the Mar's family had the special sense of sensing evil presence. He'd have to make her believe what she was seeing was true. They appeared in a dark, vacant room. He forced her to look him into her eyes. When he saw that he had her, he worked on reworking her memory.

Julia ran into Lydia's room to see if she wanted to play, but found that Lydia was talking to someone. Julia stood and observed.

"When will you be ready?" a teenaged girl was asking Lydia.

"Just give me a little longer. I have to work with the dumb girl!" Lydia replied, aggravated. She didn't like to be messed with.

"Well, we don't have much more time. We need Chibi Kasei's powers, without her this won't be possible!" the girl demanded.

"I'm doing what I can." Lydia replied, angrily. The teenaged girl gave a disgusted look and disappeared.

Shiro took Julia out of the dark laird and threw her back on her bed, "If that doesn't work, I will kill you myself!" He heard someone walking in his direction; he snapped his fingers and disappeared. Stardust squeezed through the crack in the door, just in time to see the fog vanish. She looked up at Julia's bed, to find her sleeping peacefully. She hoped up on to her bed and examined her mistress closely. When she found that nothing was wrong, she cuddled up next to her and fell asleep.

The next morning, the children met up at their usual place to head off to school. Julia was hiding behind one of the trees, watching everyone chat away. She couldn't believe what she had seen. Just the other night Lydia and Julia were best friends, now Lydia was plotting against Julia. Julia couldn't believe any of it, how could her friend use her like that? Weren't they supposed to be best friends?

Lydia found Julia hiding. Julia smiled and acted as though everything was fine. Lydia felt an odd atmosphere around them, she knew something was wrong with Julia but she didn't know what. Lydia and Julia followed after the group that had already left. Lydia and Julia didn't say anything to each other, Lydia didn't get it. Everything was fine yesterday, but Julia was acting weird.

Suddenly a little girl ran up from behind them, Julia swooped around to find herself being tackled by none other than little Hailey. Lydia just stared down at her friends that were now on the ground. Hailey lifted her head up and looked at Julia.

"I'm running a little bit late." Hailey replied, smiling sheepishly.

"I noticed." Julia replied. Hailey was a lot like Princess Serenity, in that she was always late to just about everything. It was surprise that she made it to the parties on time half the time. Hailey rolled off Julia and then stood up, helping Julia up.

"Sorry I didn't mean to take you out like that." Hailey explained, scratching her head.

Luna ran up toward the small group of children. Luna was carrying Hailey's lunch sack in her mouth. She sat it down and panted, "You- left- that!"

"Oh right!" Hailey said bending down and grabbing it. "Sorry, I seem to be forgetting a lot."

"You girls are going to be late to school." Luna said dolefully.

"Ugh." Lydia said, she was never late to school.

"Meep!" squealed Hailey. "Let's go!" Hailey took off toward the school direction. Lydia and Julia followed right behind her. Luna turned around and headed back toward the palace, it wasn't too long that she found herself with Maggie, Daisy, and Usagi.

"What are you doing here?" Daisy questioned, suspicious.

"I'm--- Hey Maggie you were just in the hospital last night… what are you doing out?" Luna questioned.

"Well, this morning around six a clock Ami said that I could go home. I asked her if I was allowed to go to school because I have an important paper to turn in, and she agreed that if I took it easy I could." Maggie explained.

"Well, please do take it easy." Luna begged.

Daisy giggled, "Its school. We sit, and do work, and go to lunch. We walk some, and then we sit again."

"Well, you girls better get of to school. Especially you Miss Smarty pants." Luna chuckled and then dashed off toward her home.

The three older girls walked on toward the school. When they walked into their classroom their teacher was introducing a new student. "Boys and girls I'd like to welcome Shiro Ailey into our class." The boys and girls clapped their hands, Daisy and Maggie examined the young boy closely.

"Papers please!" Mr. Himitochi demanded.

Daisy and Maggie went to turn theirs in together. Shiro smirked as he was fully aware to what was about to happen. Mr. Himitochi examined the girls work, and then set them down on his desk with a disappointed look on his face.

"What is it Mr. Himitochi? Do you not like my paper?" Daisy questioned, worriedly.

"Oh, yes, I like both of you girls' paper, they're exactly the same!" Mr. Himitochi showed the girls their papers. Maggie was shocked to see that her paper was now different. She had done her solar report on Pluto, while Daisy had done hers on Jupiter.

"Maggie you said you only wanted a reference! Not to copy it from word to word!" Daisy accused her of plagiarism.

Maggie felt her heart melt away, she hadn't copied Daisy's. She had an enjoyable time working on her own with this report.

"Well, I'm afraid I'm going to have to send a note home to both your parents." Mr. Himitochi explained.

"I'm staying with Daisy for the time being. My mom had to go out of town." Maggie replied. Setsuna was leaving while Maggie and Lydia were at school, she had to get back to guardian the gate, she was investigating something and it was taking a lot of time to do so.

"I see." Mr. Himitochi narrowed his eyes. Maggie sighed, she hadn't cheated, but there was no use in arguing, as seeing it was her handwriting. Daisy took her note and stalked off to her seat. Maggie was about to go sit down, but Mr. Himitochi made her stop. "I want you to sit with the new kid, get him familiar with things."

Maggie cringed, there was something about the new kid that she didn't like, but she wasn't up to arguing with the teacher as she was already getting in trouble for cheating. When Maggie sat down, the little girl that sat across from her smiled.

"Maggie Meiou is a cheater!" the little girl taunted.

Maggie laid her head down on her desk; her hair slid apart revealing the scratches on her neck. The girl that was taunting Maggie saw the scratches.

"What'd you do to your neck? Did someone beat you?" she questioned.

Maggie glared at the little girl, how could she say such things. "No, I got into a fight."

The girl's eyes sparked with interest, "So, inside of school you're all sweet and everything and outside of school you're a monster."

Maggie covered her ears, she hadn't meant to make her reputation worse, she just wanted to get the girl off her back. The little boy who went by Shiro finally spoke up, "Why don't you leave Maggie Meiou alone!"

Maggie stared at the little boy. She hadn't imagined him sticking up for her. There was just something about him that she hadn't liked, maybe she should reconsider? The girl turned away from Maggie and stared up at the green board.

When lunch had finally arrived, Daisy had half way forgiven her friend. Maggie had no intentions on explaining that she had not cheated, when she had no evidence that she didn't. Maggie asked Daisy if it'd be alright for Shiro to sit with them. Daisy reluctantly agreed. Maggie went over to tell Shiro the good news, Shiro smiled and quickly went in the lunch line to get some food. He joined Maggie and Daisy at their little round table. Usagi didn't appear to be in the lunch room.

"I guess Usagi decided to either eat with her older more mature, non-cheating friends." Daisy put emphasis on the non-cheating part.

"Or she went to the library to study." Maggie insisted, a little bit hurt.

"Right." Daisy said, as she bit into her sandwich. Shiro watched with great pleasure, everything was falling through the cracks. Daisy was angry at Maggie for something she hadn't done. And Maggie had befriend him, although that part had not been in the plan. Shiro only had to push Daisy's buttons a little bit further to make sure she didn't decide to fully forgive Maggie.

"Hey Maggie are you going to eat your soup?" Daisy questioned. Maggie shook her head no, she had already eaten a sandwich she didn't think she could finish off the soup. She handed the cup to Daisy, but as she handed it to her, her hand jerked and the soup poured all out on Daisy's shirt. Daisy's eyes narrowed at Maggie.

"I thought everything was cool between us! And then you purposely pour your soup all over me!" Daisy accused Maggie.

"I didn't do anything." Maggie replied, almost at the brink of tears.

Daisy stood up, "Ugh, Maggie I'll see you in gym and don't do anything stupid when you get there!" Daisy walked out of the cafeteria.

Maggie turned around and looked down at the table. Tears begin to trickle down her cheeks. What was up with today? Maggie didn't understand any of it. Shiro smiled inside, he was sure if just one more thing happened, perhaps something a little bit more bigger, that the girls wouldn't want to talk to each other for a while. At least until he destroyed Maggie.

He quickly came up with something clever. He disappeared from Maggie, unnoticed. He snuck into the girls' bathroom, after making sure it was all clear and went in himself. He quickly transformed himself into a close enough replica of Maggie. He snapped his fingers and a bucket of water appeared in his hands, he then headed toward the gym. He quickly found Daisy's locker and poured the water in front of it. It went spread down to a couple of the other girls lockers, before Daisy came into the locker room Shiro left. There had been a girl that had walked in on him, only to catch the ending.

Daisy walked into the locker room. She didn't pay any attention to the water on the floor; she was more worried about getting changed into her gym shirt, so she could get out of the wet one. She slid across the floor and fell with a thus and a splash, her ankle twisted the wrong way. Daisy cringed with pain.

The girl that had seen the replica of Maggie do it, looked down to see a very upset Daisy. She went over to her and asked her if she could help her, and then gently informed her that she had seen Maggie do it. Daisy declined the girls help and told her she'd manage on her own. The girl said, "okay." And walked off.

The real Maggie walked into the locker room and just stared down at Daisy. She had a feeling that somehow someway she was the one that had done this, as she had been the one to cheat and pour soup all over Daisy's shirt.

"Maggie.." Daisy whimpered, trying to hold back her tears.

"I promise I didn't do this." Maggie already assumed that she was about to be blamed for it.

"I didn't even say anything about it, but why would you do this? We're supposed to be friends." Daisy stated, she used the lockers to help herself stand up.

"I didn't do it though. I didn't cheat and I didn't pour the soup on you." Maggie explained, almost crying.

"Now you're going to lie. You know very well I worked hard on that paper. And I saw the way you flicked your hand. And as for this." Daisy looked down at the water. "This is the most vile thing you've ever done."

"I'm sorry Daisy. I'm sorry, please forgive me?" Maggie begged, even though she had not done any of those things, she just wanted so bad for Daisy not to be angry with her anymore.

"No. I won't forgive you. I'm not friends with a cheater, liar, or someone that intentionally hurts someone." Daisy said, and she turned away from Maggie and limped off to go find the coach.

Maggie sat down on the bench and began to cry. She didn't understand anything that was going on. Why was this happening to her? What was the problem? How were these things happening to her? Who would want to break up their friendship this bad?

Maggie had walked home alone that afternoon, she didn't bother waiting for Usagi. She was too upset to wait for her other friend, even though she could use the support from her. Maggie hoped that Daisy hadn't turned everyone against her by now. The younger kids would be waiting with their mothers for all the kids to come home. Maggie walked through the entrance gate and was greeted by them a little bit earlier than suspect.

"Maggie Meiou dear," Makoto laid her hand on Maggie's shoulder. Maggie flinched as it was her worst shoulder that had been injured in the battle. Makoto apologized and then spoke again, "What you did today was very wrong." Maggie looked down at the ground.

Usagi came through the palace gates, she was a little surprised to see everyone standing around. She was even surprised to see her father there. She wondered if she was in trouble. But then she noticed that most everyone was looking at Maggie.

"Daisy's already told me about everything that's happened between you two. She was very upset when I came to pick her up." Makoto explained.

Maggie nodded and continued to look down at the ground, she didn't understand why everyone had to be here. Michiru came up to Maggie.

"Maggie dear, I've talked to your mother and she'd like it better if you came and stayed with us for the time being." Michiru explained.

"She's not very happy at all right now with you darling. And it's just best if you two took a break from one another." Makoto explained gently.

"Should I take Daisy off the training schedule as seeing she has a sprained ankle?" Minako questioned.

Michiru, Makoto, and Ami nodded. "What about Maggie, she was supposed to train with her."

"Well, Maggie is still injured from the fight, I'm not sure if she should practice." Ami explained.

Maggie looked up at Ami. "No, it's alright I'm perfectly fine. I'll be even better tomorrow. I want to train."

Minako was a little shocked to see Maggie being so enthusiastic about the practice. Ami opened her mouth to object, "Really Aunt Ami, I'm fine. Everything's fine" Maggie assured her.

"Alright, since Maggie seems sincere about the training, why don't we pair her up with one of the younger kids?" Minako suggested to everyone.

"Why don't you have Faith and Isabella practice tomorrow?" Haruka offered.

"Alright," Minako accepted the offer. "And as seeing tomorrow isn't a school day, Maggie as your punishment I want you up and over at my house by seven a clock. I'll need you to watch Gloria and Erin while I run out to go grocery shopping. Asai has duty in the morning, but will be home by eight thirty."

"And then from there I would like you to come to my quarters and study with Ariel, Annika, and Julia." Ami stated.

Maggie turned to Rei to see what she had to say. "Afterwards stop by my house and give Stardust a bath."

Minako gave Rei a startled looked. What kind of punishment was that? Rei noticed Minako's looked, she put her hands to her hips, "Stardust really needs a bath, and I haven't gotten the time to do it."

Minako laughed, "Nice one Rei."

Rei curled her lip and turned away from Minako.

"After you're through with Rei's chores, I'll need you to come over and cook me some lunch." The Princess stated happily.

"And whose punishment is crueler?" Rei smarted off to Minako.

"Yours." Minako rolled her eyes and stuck her tongue out. Rei stuck her tongue back out. Makoto shook her head in disbelief.

"You can also come by my house." Hotaru spoke up lastly. Everyone turned to her, she hadn't stated any sort of punishment in that.

"Why am I being punished by everyone? And Aunt Makoto what's my punishment from you?" Maggie asked, not really sure she wanted to hear one.

"Your mother wanted everyone to give you something to do. So your punishment from us, is to write a new report." Michiru explained. Maggie sighed, all this because she had been framed.

Makoto looked at Maggie with a saddened expression, "There is no punishment from me. Daisy doesn't want to see you right now."

"Oh… Okay." Maggie replied softly, that Makoto could barely hear her. She gave Maggie a hug and told her that she was sorry for everything. "What about Lydia? Is she still going to stay with you guys?"

Makoto nodded.

"But she doesn't even communicate with you." Maggie spoke too soon. She didn't even think about what she had just said. Makoto didn't say anything. She just patted Maggie's head and headed toward the palace grounds. The way Maggie had said it was more like an insult than anything else. Maggie pounded her head with her fist, she couldn't believe she just said that.

"Afterwards, you come to training." Minako stated firmly. Her and Rei went off after their friend. Maggie felt like she just got a ton of bricks dropped on her. How could she be so stupid? After everything pointing to her that she had done everything, and then she had to go off and insult Makoto, which she hadn't even intended to do.

Michiru took Maggie into her arms. "It's okay. Makoto won't hold it against you."

Maggie looked up at Michiru, with a deep saddened look on her face. Ami sighed, "Maggie why did you copy Daisy's paper?"

Maggie stared up at Ami, she didn't know what to say. She really hadn't done any of that. "Would it make any sense if I said I didn't do it?"

"So you're implying that Daisy did it?" Ami observed.

Maggie shook her head no and sighed. Haruka walked up to Daisy.

"What's gotten into you kid, you're not one to be so violent. Why did you pour water all in front of Daisy's locker? Were you really that mad at her?"

Maggie shrugged. She wasn't going to start making up excuses for what she was being blamed for. She didn't want to take the blame for any of it. The culprit would soon turn up, and Maggie would give them a good teaching not to mess with her friendships.

Ami, and the royal family walked off back toward the palace grounds. Michiru smiled at Hotaru and asked what her punishment was.

Hotaru smiled mischievously. "She'll just have to wait and see." And with that she turned and walked off.

"Why do I have a feeling that there is no punishment?" Michiru whispered in Haruka's ear.

"Because that's Hotaru for you." Haruka replied back in Michiru's ear.