IMPORTANT: I re-edited the last chapter a little bit. Caught a few typos, added a bit to the banter.

Again, apologies for delays. I'm getting better about this, though.

Review replies:

LilyPSuzeSMiaM: Okay, so maybe cliché love is cute. I'll give you that. But there are a lot of stories where it's pretty unbelievable. Just look at the Disney channel wannabe fairytales. Thanks for agreeing about Twilight though. Sailor Moon and Twilight just don't seem to mix very well.

Sentinel Proxima: First off, very cool name. Second, thanks for liking my story idea. I know it seems sort of strange for the senshi to write about themselves, but so far it's generated pretty good ideas/reviews. So I'm going to keep going with it, at least until the end.

Menarie: I could go back with the Rei/Usagi thing maybe. Maybe Mamoru could have a lesbian fetish? Lol. I have a different idea for him, though.
And yeah, sorry about the cut-offs, but the chapters get really long, and the more I write on a "fake" story, the more I want it to be a real one. That's why Makoto's and Michiru's stories took so long—I was getting rather attached and had to chop them off where they stood before I made them a real idea.

haru-michi's lil cousin sarah: Thanks for reading! I'm glad you're enjoying it!

Chichiforever: Thanks, I surprised myself with it too. Never figured all these chapters would have worked.

SweetXSunshine: Yeah, I loved that line. Wondered if anyone would pick up on that. I've actually edited that line, you go reread it.

Luna345: This is Hotaru's chapter, hope you like it!

AngelMoon Girl: Thanks, and glad you could join us on our journey through the girls' stories…

DavisJes: Yeah, sorry about the cut off. I was actually starting to like the story, and knew I had to kill it soon. Haruka just wanted to make Usagi blush, and I think she succeeded. I could see Haruka making her a bit embarrassed.

My-dear-fangirl: I'm wondering what you mean by Pluto-centric angst fest. You mean the fact she's not a planet anymore?

TheCuteness: Thanks for your support!

FullmetalKnight: Yeah, I love Haruka's character. She's enough of a tomboy to make any girl blush XD

RailwayStation: Glad you like the storyline. I like random little stories.

Crystalinchen: Cuddle? Jeez, that's a little scary, lol. I can see you and Haruka having a lot in common…

Amaramichelle: Yep, I like to write a lot. I've got a lot of story ideas, just need this one out of the way.

BelovedDawn: Yeah, I almost had Ami write a technical story, but figured that would be a bit much. I just figure she's a romantic at heart.

SerentiyMoonGodness: Thanks for reading all my stories, lol.

TheClumsyPrincess: Thanks, I will ;)

SailorMoon0630: Yeah, I'm trying to avoid every over-used cliché storyline. So far, so good, I think…this story really outlines what I'm trying to avoid.

DarkPriestess66: Yep, that's Minako. The anime (5th season) sort of paints her a bit perverted, so I was going off of that.

Astra-kelly: I don't want to blind anyone with such horrors. Yes, I've read some of those "lemons" and they are awful. I'm sure "The Test" and other things should be kept in the closet, though, and never to see the sunlight.

MindaAnn: Thanks, and hope you keep reading!

xoUsakoox: Thanks for reading all this time. Here's your update …

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"My turn," Hotaru asserted. She took the laptop and tapped on fingers on the keyboard for a moment before actually typing.

"I'm so excited!" exclaimed Usagi, looking around to her friends.

"I know. It's so fortunate that my mother is letting us borrow her cabin for the weekend," agreed Minako, flipping her blonde hair over her shoulder.

Rei nodded. "We'll definitely have to thank her."

"This is the perfect spot to vacation. A cabin, out here in the woods, with that big lake…it can't get much better than this," declared Makoto. "I bet there will be some cute guys swimming too!"

Minako giggled in agreement. "Hey, come on, Ami, what's taking so long?" she asked, turning to watch her bluenette friend struggle with her baggage.

"Well…it's just that…" her friend gasped, "I have to carry the GPS, my laptop, my electronic modem…."

"We're in the woods, Ami-chan. That stuff isn't practical," Rei said. "Besides, I'm not even a computer expert and I'm sure there's no way you can get signal out here in the middle of nowhere," she added.

Usagi put her arm around Ami. "Yeah, we're supposed to enjoy nature for what it—ahh! That's the biggest bug I've ever seen!" Usagi let go of her friend and ran as fast as she could towards the cabin ahead.

The others sighed. "It's only a butterfly," remarked Makoto.

"This is going to be a long weekend," said Rei. The others nodded silently in agreement.

"Haha, this sounds cool, Hotaru-chan. But what do you know of camping?" asked Makoto.

"Not much—and that's not really the point," Hotaru replied. "Just wait."

After the girls unpacked their bags in the cabin and settled which beds they were getting, they decided to grab their swimsuits and head for the lake. It was a sunny day, but a cool breeze whipped over the tops of the trees, settling over the valley in which the girls stayed in. After a short hike to the lake, the girls found the docks and several people already there, and, as Makoto had declared earlier, there were guys that caught the girls' eyes swimming several feet into the lake.

"Let's go over by the shore," suggested Rei, pointing towards the shallow end of the lake. The girls maneuvered their way there past the roots of the tall trees that grew around the water. The raven-haired girl made it there first, grinning with anticipation at meeting all of the guys there.

"Now, now, Usagi-chan, don't look too hard," teased Minako. "After all, you already have your Mamo-chan."

Her blonde companion smiled. "I know. Wish he could have made it."

"Oh, please. I would like to get some sleep in our cabin. You two need a separate cabin."

"It's not like that!"

"I know, Usagi-chan." Minako grinned.

Usagi pretended to get mad at her and tried to stomp away, but only succeeded in tripping over a root near the shore and falling into the water—clothes and all. The others tried not to laugh, but couldn't help themselves. Ami, who was only smirking, went over and helped pull her friend up. "Thanks, Ami-chan. Great. Now all of my clothes are wet."

"So how's the water?" giggled Makoto, her face red with laughter.

"Oh shush." Usagi wrung the water out of her T-shirt right over Makoto's shoes.

"Hey!" Makoto jumped back from the incoming downpour.

The girls finally settled themselves next to Rei, who had already applied her sun-tan lotion and was enjoying floating out towards the center of the lake.

"Are you really going to give us a play-by-play of this beach trip? You yourself said there was more to it than just camping," said Minako.

"You're a bit impatient," replied Hotaru. "But I'll try and hurry up. Can't make it too quick."

The girls enjoyed their day at the lake, but as twilight began to settle over the lake, Ami mentioned to the others they should leave—especially since none of them had thought to bring flashlights. They gathered their things and started heading back towards the cabin.

"You know," said Makoto, "I was talking with Shuya—"

"Ooh, the one with the blonde hair?" interrupted Minako.

Makoto nodded. "Yes, him. He--"

"…Is so cute," Minako finished. "And so smart-sounding. Didn't you hear, he wants to be a writer?"

The brunette was getting frustrated with the interruptions. "Ahem—as I was saying, he was telling me some of the stories about these woods."

"Oh really?" asked Rei, intrigued. "Like what?"

"Well," Makoto answered, "he said that there are rumors of a strange man around these parts…someone who only comes out when there are too many people here—like today. He just suddenly shows up, like he's been disturbed, and…"

"And…?" the others chorused.

"Well, no one knows for sure—but shortly after he starts showing up, people start—disappearing," Makoto finished dramatically.

"Maybe Shuya just likes to tell a good story," offered Rei.

Ami piped up, "I don't know. I mean, the rate of disappearance in these parts is pretty high—which is why I suggested we get back to the cabin before dark. And we should stick together."

"How would you know about that, Ami-chan?" asked Usagi.

"I did my homework on this place before we came," the smart girl replied simply.

The others just rolled their eyes. "So," said Minako, "maybe he's just a homeless guy. Poor man, just wandering around, maybe looking for food—"

"Maybe he's a zombie," suggested Makoto excitedly. "We could totally kick his butt as sailor senshi!"

"I think you're being silly. There's no such thing as zombies," argued Rei.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive."

"What if you're wrong?"

Rei stopped in her tracks. "Then I will personally be your lifetime slave. But trust me, there's no such thing. Such spirits don't exist in this world."

Makoto shrugged. "You never know…"

What the girls didn't know is that there was a man, perhaps the very one they spoke of, who was watching them from the top of a tree, at a distance. He observed their silly banter as they made their way to the cabin.

The girls were preparing for bed when Makoto exclaimed, "Hey, girls—check this out!" She pulled a box from the top of a hallway closet. "It's an old newspaper clipping."

"Let me see," said Ami. She examined the document. "It's dated about a decade ago…the headline reads 'Woman Found Dead, Four More Missing.'" Ami read further down the page. "Oh my goodness, this happened in this cabin!"

"What?" the others asked.

"'Misa Nuyichi, 30, was found dead in cabin 13 near the famous Golden Lake Retreat. She and her friends had gone camping when an unfortunate and mysterious fate befall them. Only Mrs. Nuyichi was found, but could only be identified through dental records, as her body was so damaged from an apparent homicidal attack. Her homicide and the disappearance of her friends is being investigated by officials, but no clues have turned up,'" Ami read aloud.

"Wow, that's pretty scary," said Makoto.

Minako suggested, "Maybe it has to do with that stranger in the woods…"

"It's just an old story. I'm sure they found the person who did this by now," remarked Rei nonchalantly, snatching the note out of Ami's hands and throwing it in the trash. "No big deal."

"No big deal? People were murdered here!"

"It was a long time ago," argued Rei. "Like I said—no big deal."

"Well, at least it makes for a good ghost story," giggled Usagi with relief. At the same time, a cabinet door in the kitchen suddenly slammed shut, spooking her. "What was that?"

"Just your nerves. Come on, let's get some sleep," said Rei grouchily.

Later that night, a noise awakened Usagi. She sat straight up in bed. Rei may have just blown off the scary stories, but it still disturbed her. She dare not wake up anyone, though—they would probably call her a big baby or something. And what would Mamoru think if she was scared of some urban legend? Still, she couldn't shake off the feeling that there was something outside the cabin. She tried to convince herself it was just a wild animal, but she knew she would not get back to sleep if she didn't check to see what exactly was moving around in the dark. Grabbing her flashlight by the bed and trying not to disturb anyone, she quietly made her way over to the window. She peeked out through the blinds, but didn't see anything in the pitch black darkness.

Usagi sighed. Maybe it was nothing after all…then she heard it again. It sounded like someone was walking outside. Maybe they were lost. Surely she could help them inside and out of the darkness. She opened the front door as quietly as possible and crept out into the night. It was bit chilly and the wind was blowing harder than it had during the day. The trees constantly whispered in the black darkness of the night. There was no moon or stars to be seen—it was an overcast, cool night. She switched on her flashlight, searching the woods for what the sound could be, other than the trees. Her beam hit upon a person-like shape. "Hello?"she called out. The person stopped in their tracks and turned around. It was a grizzled, older man. He looked a little confused. His clothes were ragged and he carried a hatchet. Usagi, compassionate to helping him, called out again, "Hello!" She began walking towards the man. He stayed still the entire time she made her way to him. "Hey, are you lost? We can help you. My friend, Ami, she's got a GPS tracker thingie." The man still didn't respond. "Are you okay?"

Suddenly, without warning, the man reached out his hatchet and slit her throat. Shocked, Usagi dropped her flashlight and grabbed her neck. Blood spurted out quickly. She bled all over her nightgown and her hands. She gasped her last breath of air as she hit the ground.

"Whoa! Did you just kill me off?" Usagi inquired.

"Well, yeah," Hotaru answered.

"Don't you like me?" Usagi's eyes began to tear up.

"It's not that. This is a horror story."

"But I'm dead!"

"I didn't get to finish. You're not the only one."

"Were you going to kill us all off?" asked Rei.

Hotaru shrugged. "Except maybe one."

"You should have left Usagi to survive, at least," stated Setsuna.

"But that's how these stories go…the kinda-ditzy one goes first."

"Let me guess…then the one who doesn't believe in any of the supernatural things or clues going on goes next? Like…Rei?" assumed Makoto.

"Yeah, how did you know?"

Makoto shrugged. "Come on, you're not the only one who watches horror movies. I've seen enough of those things—they're all the same. The ditzy one goes first, then the jerk/jerkette goes, then someone of a different ethnic background, etcetera. One or two survive. If it's two, it's some sort of couple. Or everyone could just die at the hands of the psycho murderer. Oh yeah, and sex has to be involved—lots of sex."

"Yeah, and the girls get curious, so they look for Usagi—and because they look, they get killed. Am I right?" asked Haruka.

Hotaru nodded. "But it would have made an interesting story."

"Well, you're missing a few points here," said Michiru. "First of all, killing off Usagi/Sailor Moon is like a big no-no in the fan fiction world. If you do kill her off, it should be a great battle or something, not just some psycho. And at least get her resurrected."

"She's been resurrected how many times? Countless. How many times can you die and not die? I'm not saying she should die, but it seems a bit impractical," argued Hotaru.

"But it's just not canon to kill her off like that. Secondly, and I think we've established this now—horror movies are predictable. Except maybe some of those American ones, where the ending is a strange twist. Third—what about Crystal Tokyo? If you kill off Sailor Moon, what will happen to the future?"

"The future as we know it would cease to exist," answered Setsuna quietly.

"See? Unless you're planning to write an alternate universe plot, it's just not a good idea."

"I'm the senshi of death! What else did you expect me to write?" asked an exasperated Hotaru.

"Well," Usagi said, "all I know is I don't want to go camping anytime soon."

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There are occasional good stories where Sailor Moon dies in a good way, and resurrects in a believable way.

I'm just obviously not the world's biggest fan of horror stories, and this is more or less to address that.