Hi everyone! Merry Christmas! :D Here's the second part of your three part present (one chapter of Moon Guide and two of this). Please review and let me know how this revision is going! :D Love ya!

~SXS

Disclaimer: See prologue

Chapter 6: The Lovely Lisa

Lisa's bright green eyes fluttered open. It was the Tuesday after Columbus Day, and she groaned realizing that her lovely three-day weekend had come to an end. She turned to the clock on the night stand where the fluorescent red lights read 6:30 AM. "I miss sleeping late already," she mumbled to herself.

Lisa dragged herself into the shower and woke up to the soap running through her hair and down her whole body. She emerged from the bathroom wearing a terry-cloth robe and a towel in her hair. In her bedroom, her mother had laid out her clothes, nicely ironed, on her bed.

After dressing she looked to the clock again, this time reading 7:00 AM. Every morning the same routine but she didn't mind all that much. It was all she had ever known, all she could remember.

In fact, anything more than four years ago was unclear in her memories. When her parents would mention things that were even slightly before she turned twelve, she couldn't recall them. They were extremely faint or nonexistent.

Her family teased her for her bad memory but for whatever reason, only things within those past four years were crystal clear. She could remember the smallest details that other people would deem unnecessary. She sometimes wondered if there was another reason for her memory lapses...

"Good morning, dear," her mother greeted her when she walked into the kitchen. She gave her daughter a big smile then scurried off to grab the brown bag that she had prepared earlier for her.

"You're looking, how do you kids say it, hip and happening today, kiddo. You must be one of the …uh…grooviest chicks around, dawg." Yet again, Lisa's father had tried to be cool with his lingo. She had learned to ignore it but Kate and her always found it hysterical.

"Oh yeah, Dad, I'm sure everyone's going to want to copy my style after today." She sat down where there was already a plate of breakfast made for her. All her favorites: bacon, egg, and cheese on a bagel with a chocolate chip muffin and a tall glass of milk. She always had such a big appetite. It sometimes freaked people out when she ate like a boy, but food was something she loved. She even learned to cook for herself at an early age so that she could eat whenever she needed to.

After gulping down her meal, Lisa picked up her lunch off the counter, grabbed her backpack, and kissed her parents goodbye. She was a little embarrassed of her parents and their strange ways but at the same time was grateful that they weren't like Kate's mother who's irresponsibility left her having to do a lot for herself.

In the elevator she met Kate and unfortunately Bebe. She scowled while her back was turned and Kate snickered. Eventually they reached the first floor and left the building to find the bus directly outside as it had been since the day of the attack on the school. Norman Thomas High School wasn't taking any chances with their students.

Sheldon was already in their usual seat and the two girls joined him.

"Good morning, ladies." he said as they sat.

"Morning, Shel," Lisa said.

"Good morning!" Kate said brightly. She seemed to be in a particularly good mood, beaming at nothing.

"What's up with you, Miss Sunshine?" Lisa asked her friend.

"My grandma's staying with me and my mom for a while. She said she wants to be where we are because things around here don't seem as safe as they once were. I probably shouldn't be that happy considering the circumstances but I love it when my grandma's around," Kate explained.

"Why should your grandma be worried about safety? Sailor X is protecting us!" Sheldon said. "She saved a bunch of people at Macy's!"

"Yeah, yeah, Sailor X." Lisa waved a hand dismissively. At first she hadn't believed that the girl had actually existed, but after seeing the actually security camera videos from store's attack that weekend, there was no doubt that she was real. "Sure she saved a bunch of people, but I don't see why you suddenly became obsessed with her."

"I am not obsessed! I'm just supportive of a true hero!" The boy crossed his arms in a huff.

"I agree. I think she's inspiring," Kate added. "Plus I hear she's related to Sailor North Star." The added giggle at the end of her sentence made Lisa a bit suspicious but she brushed it off.

"Whatever. She's not that great. Anything she could do, the cops could do better." The blond-streaked brunette shrugged and flopped back in the seat.

"What?" Kate blurted out causing half of the people on the bus turned to stare at her.

"What do you mean what? If the cops had gotten there first, they would have either killed that crazy chick or at least put her in jail. All Sailor X can do is make her stupid monsters disappear. She never attacks the source, so how will the problem ever be solved?"

"Ok, so I guess the fact that she saved your ass from possibly being sapped of all emotions but hatred means nothing to you?" Kate spat.

"God, Kate, what's up with you? When did you become her number one fan?"

"Since she was a good person and saved a bunch of people from being hurt! And in case you haven't noticed, that Veneficus can teleport so cops would never have a chance to even take a quick shot at her."

"Whatever, dude. If that's how you feel. I'm entitled to my own opinion and I think she's lame."

"Well, I don't want to hear it! And I don't want to hear you in general. I'm leaving." Kate stood and stormed to an empty seat towards the front more. Sheldon, who had been between the two girls during their argument, watched her go without saying anything, torn between which friend to speak to first.

Seeing as he was already with Lisa, he said to her, "Lis, you could see she was taking it hard. Why did you keep going?"

Another of Lisa's flaws was her habit of spitting out whatever was on her mind with no regard for anyone. Not even those she loved.

"I don't know…You know how my mouth runs sometimes." He nodded. "Well, what I don't understand is why she's letting it bother her so much. She can be so sensitive sometimes."

"But that's why you have to watch what you say sometimes. You have to learn that self-control," Sheldon explained.

"I'm…working on it." Lisa lied. Sheldon shook his head and got up to go and comfort his other best friend leaving Lisa to contemplate the issue on her own.

(.:SX:.)

There was a slight trepidation in Veneficus's heart as she made her way down the long, dark corridor. She could barely see as the only sliver of light came from the door at the very end which was slightly open. She concentrated on going straight and not hitting into the walls which were covered in throned vines.

Eventually she made it to the door and pushed it open fully. On the other side was the throne room of her master, Magnus. The dark queen herself sat upon a high chair that was lined with silver spikes. She kept her hood on as she always did in front of anyone. No one ever saw her face.

Veneficus gulped slightly at the sight of Magnus's…collection scattered around the room. Torture devices of every size, shape, and country of origin could be found in every corner. She could only guess how many she had used on her minions.

In a raspy whisper of a voice that could have once sounded regal, Magnus spoke, "Veneficus…" hissing out the last letter like a serpent.

She knelt before her master in fear and respect. "Yes, Madam?

"I do not have endless supplies of followers, Veneficus…You are one of six remaining members of my empire." Magnus tilted her head and Veneficus could feel her eyes boring into her even though she couldn't see them.

"Yes, Madam, I understand this."

"Then why, Veneficus, are you not succeeding in capturing the ingredient we need so that we can take control of Earth and I can rebuild my kingdom?" Magnus asked, her voice deathly calm.

"Madam, I must tell you, the princess of Xena now lives on that planet! She is still not extremely strong in battle, but she does manage to defeat my Frustros, therefore losing the precious energy." Bowing her head deeper, Veneficus hoped that Magnus would sympathize with her.

"There is…no excuse for such insolence. If you fail me again, Veneficus, you will find yourself smeared across my toys like jelly on toast. Is that quite clear to you?"

"Of course, Madam. Crystal." Veneficus was almost flat on the ground in a bow.

"Very well." Magnus waved her hand. "You are dismissed."

Veneficus stood and gave a final bow before backing out of the room. As soon as she was completely out of the throne room she turned and bolted down the corridor in the opposite direction from where she had come and flew into a door at the other end.

On the other side of the door was a sitting room with a few black leather sofas, occupied by the other five remaining from the old Empire.

"What did she say to you?" one asked as she sat on an arm rest.

"You're not gonna be on the job much longer, eh?" another giggled.

"Let's start drawing straws for who's gonna take over!" Others chimed in.

"Shut up, all of you!" Veneficus screamed but to no avail. She got up and stormed out of the room, not sure where to go first but knowing she had to get working on her next plan.

I will not fail again. They'll see. I'll collect enough energy to take over the Earth by Christmas.

(.:SX:.)

For the rest of the day, Kate and Lisa didn't speak to each other. When they stepped off the bus together, the tension between them was extremely thick. Bebe happened to walk near them as they were entering the apartment building and being an expert in drama, could tell that things were not ok between the two friends.

When the three entered the elevator and the tense air was contained in the small space, it was even more obvious to Bebe. "Oooo, it looks like the dynamic duo has been fighting! How spectacular!" she laughed, flipping her hair. "This is so entertaining. For me! Go on, let's have a spat right here, and I'll grab some popcorn!"

"Oh shut it, Bebe!" both of the other girls shouted at the same time. They looked to one another when they realized that they had spoken in unison, but just as quickly turned away from each other and crossed their arms.

Bebe giggled again, the smirk on her face remaining for the rest of the ride. When they arrived at her floor, she looked at the pair in mock sadness. "Too bad I'm going to miss the rest of the show. I expect reruns!" She skipped out of the elevator and the doors closed.

After a moment's silence Lisa said, "I really don't understand why you're making such a big deal of nothing."

"Shouldn't the fact that it means something to me at all be enough for you not to run your mouth about it?" Kate asked.

"Like I said before, it's my opinion."

"That doesn't mean you have to insult me with it!" Kate cried, before smacking a hand over her mouth.

"What are you talking about, insult you?" But the long-haired brunette just shook her head and stayed silent. Lisa rolled her eyes and turned away, still confused about her friends attitude.

Her stop on the elevator was next and she exited into her hallway, went down to her door, and knocked. Her mother opened it and welcomed her in with a bright smile. A snack awaited her on the coffee table and she sat on the couch to watch some TV to try and get her mind off her friend. Unfortunately, she had no luck in that.

There was no reason that Kate should be so upset about Sailor X. Even Sheldon didn't feel so strongly when she had said what she did. There must have been some other reason. It couldn't be that she was…Then again, she wasn't in the room apparently when Sailor X had saved them. And she had talked about being insulted. It seemed to make sense, and yet at the same time she couldn't believe it.

Eventually, she couldn't take it anymore and knew that she'd never understand what was going on unless she tried to talk calmly with her emotional friend. She called her and the answering machine picked up. "Kate…It's Lisa. I want to talk to you…I know you're not happy with me but I want to understand why. Don't keep something from me if it's bothering you…Well, call me back…"

Just as she was about to hang up the phone, there was a click and a hello. She smiled as Kate said, "How about some Juniors?"