RAYE'S TRUTH
Note: Remember I wrote this before I knew what really happened to Raye's parents. This story may be graphic and not appropriate to some people.
At the local swimming pool, Raye and Serena splashed in the water. Jenny sat in the sun, wearing a dark purple bathing suit and sunglasses. Raye dove underwater and yanked on Serena's long, blonde pigtails. With a startled cry, Serena fell over backwards and sank in the water. The sudden call made Jenny sit up and look for her friends. Her eyes skimmed the still surface of the pool until the water broke and Raye came up, laughing. Jenny smiled as Serena came up behind Raye, sputtering and yelling at her friend.
"Raye, you brat! You could have killed me!" she hollered.
"Take it easy, Serena, it was just a joke," Jenny said softly.
Ever since the scouts had gotten Jenny back, she seemed changed. She was a lot weaker and often felt tired. Her sense of humour was the same and Jenny usually made light of her problems. She tried not to complain and refused all help her friends offered. Luna had said many times that Jenny was simply trying to deal with the struggle that was going on inside her. She knew she was no longer Sailor Sun and that with every night came disaster.
When the sky is dark and the moon bright, she will belong to me! Prince Rutile had told them.
"I will not take it easy! She's trying to murder me!" Serena wailed.
"Oh, be quiet!" Raye snapped, splashing water at Serena.
Jenny shook her head and sighed. She took off her sunglasses and glanced up at the overhead sun.
"I think I need to cool down," she said as she stood.
Raye and Serena stopped their fight and watched as their friend slowly walked to the stairs leading into the pool.
"Jenny, are you sure . . ?" Raye began.
"You're all right?" Jenny ended angrily, her eyes flashing.
Raye lowered her eyes and drew circles in the water in front of her. Serena stood behind her, looking equally ashamed.
"I'm not an invalid," Jenny flared.
She sat down on the second step and allowed the water to rise to her neck.
"Aaah, this is better," she sighed.
Serena watched her friend carefully. She didn't even notice until too late when Raye lifted her out of the water. Raye ignored Serena's surprised cry and threw her into the deep end of the pool. Serena came sputtering to the surface.
"Gotcha!" Raye said calmly as Jenny laughed.
That afternoon, the five Sailor Scouts, Luna, Artemis and Jenny were at Raye's Temple. Serena was still upset about the incident that morning. The others had laughed when Jenny told them about it, imitating both Serena and Raye outrageously.
"I'm glad you guys think it's funny," Serena pouted.
Mina put a hand on her friend's shoulder.
"Oh Serena, it's not that! It's just the way Jenny tells it," she said.
Serena turned her back to the group, her arms crossed in front of her chest.
"Now, down to business," Luna said at last, jumping up on the table to break any further arguments.
Serena turned back around to face Luna. The scouts gave the two cats their full attention.
"Jenny," Artemis began, "do you know who we are when you're the Dark Scout?"
Jenny shook her head. "I don't think so. I seem to forget everything when I'm . . . not me."
Luna breathed a sigh of relief.
"Your identities are safe, girls," she announced.
"Our next problem is how to keep Jenny . . . normal when night falls," Artemis said.
Jenny shook her head. "I don't think there is a way. You guys shouldn't worry so much about me."
"Sure there is a way, and we're going to find it," Mina encouraged. "And we have to worry because you're our friend."
"Yes, all I need to do is get some readings of the Dark Scout on my computer, compare them to your own and then some simple math. It shouldn't take very long," Amy said.
"Good. We'll meet at Jenny's house one hour before sundown. Okay?" Luna asked.
The five scouts and Jenny nodded.
"Oh, Meatball Head," Raye said, "try not to be too late. You might miss the fun."
Lita, Raye, and Jenny spent the rest of the day together. They went shopping and then, at Jenny's insistence, they headed to the nearby zoo. They walked around together, laughing and enjoying the beautiful day. Finally, Jenny lead her friends to a dark cage filled with upside down, sleeping bats.
"See these? These are the world's most misunderstood creatures," Jenny said, pointing to the cage.
"What kind of bats are they?" Raye asked, moving closer.
"Vampire," Jenny answered casually.
Raye immediately jumped away and stood behind Lita. Lita laughed and Jenny shook her head.
"Don't worry, they don't drink human blood and they certainly don't drain you empty. They've just got a bad reputation," Jenny said, trying to relieve Raye's anxiety.
Raye stepped closer to the cage.
"Hello girls," a voice behind them said. Raye jumped at the sudden noise and turned quickly. Behind them was an elderly man with short, white hair and kind, brown eyes.
"Hello Mr. Reson," Jenny said cheerfully.
Raye went to stand beside Lita. Hanging from Mr. Reson's gloved hand was a large bat. Its eyes were closed and it appeared to be sleeping. Raye half hid behind her friend.
"Is that a vampire bat?" Raye asked nervously.
Mr. Reson laughed and took a mango from his pocket. The animal on his hand instantly came awake and reached out with its wings to bring the fruit to its mouth.
"No, this is Susan. She's a fruit bat, from the rain forest," he said.
Jenny stroked the bat's head fondly. Mr. Reson handed the mango to Lita, who held it while Susan ate. Raye stood a safe distance away, eyeing the bat suspiciously.
"She doesn't bite or suck blood. It's like petting a cat. Come here," Lita said.
Raye shook her head and help up her hands.
"No thanks. We gotta go guys. It's getting late," she said, emphasizing the last few words.
Jenny looked up sharply, catching Raye's meaning. She petted Susan a final time and waved good bye to Mr. Reson. With Raye leading, the trio made their way to Jenny's house.
"Oh no! I'm gonna be majorly late!" Serena wailed as she ran down the street.
Behind her, the sun was already beginning to set. Luna ran at her heels.
"It's a good thing Jenny doesn't live very far away," the cat panted.
Soon the two of them were at the front door. They rang the bell and waited patiently to be admitted. Jenny's mother answered the door. She was dressed in her coat and held a suitcase in one hand. She looked in surprise as Serena, and let her in.
"Well, I better be going. I'm late for a meeting," Jenny's mother said after calling to Jenny.
"This late?" Serena asked.
Jenny's mother didn't answer. She waved and walked out the door. Serena and Luna ran up the stairs to Jenny's room.
"They're here!" Lita announced from the door.
"You girls better transform so you can handle the Dark Scout if you have to," Artemis advised.
"Good idea," Amy agreed. She was seated at Jenny's desk. Lita stood by the door, with Mina and Jenny sitting on Jenny's bed. The former Sailor Sun looked very nervous and frightened.
Serena held up her locket. "Moon Crystal Power!"
"Venus Star Power!" Mina cried.
"Mars Star Power!" Raye shouted.
"Mercury Star Power!" Amy yelled.
"Jupiter Star Power!" Lita ordered.
"Scout Power!" the five of them said together.
Soon, the five Sailor Scouts were standing in front of Jenny. Sailor Mercury took out her computer and set it up to take some fast readings. Sailor Jupiter looked out the window as the last traces of the sun sank beneath the horizon. Jenny doubled over in pain as she was surrounded in an intense, dark light. Her hair turned black and her eyes grew dark and wicked. Her outfit was as black as ebony except for the white leotard, and the sun jewels on her tiara and choker were a dull, unpolished silver. On her feet were knee high black boots. She raised her head to glare at the scouts.
"So, you've come to attack me when I'm weak? Well, I won't let you," she snarled. She waved her hand and a dark portal appeared.
Sailor Moon stepped forwards. "Let me heal you," she said almost pleadingly.
"Hah! Your puny crystal is no match for me! You'll never defeat me or the Negaverse!" the Dark Scout yelled as she vanished though the portal.
The scouts stood in the now empty room in shock. Mercury sat at Jenny's desk, typing furiously at her computer.
"Well, did you get the readings?" Luna asked as she and Artemis crawled out from under the bed.
Sailor Mercury nodded without looking up from her screen. After a moment, she sighed and sat back. She looked up at her friends with sad eyes.
"I'm afraid the math isn't so simple. It will take me quite a while to figure these readings out before I can solve them," she said.
"Artemis, go with the other scouts to track down Jenny. I'll go with Mercury to her house and we'll work on these readings. Good luck girls," Luna said.
"Right," the scouts agreed at once.
Artemis jumped onto Venus' shoulder and Luna to Mercury's. The five scouts leapt from Jenny's bedroom window and ran off into the moonlight.
At the zoo, Mr. Reson was cleaning up Susan's cage. He put the bat in and securely closed the door. Humming quietly, he turned to leave. Before he could take a single step, however, a dark figure was in front of him.
"Who are you?" he stammered, stumbling backwards.
"Congratulations, Mr. Reson. You and your bat have just been drafted by the Negaverse!" the Dark Scout declared with a slight smile.
The Dark Scout stretched out her hand, her palm facing her targets and the elderly zookeeper fell to his knees, screaming in pain and terror. Susan shrieked in her cage, and the Dark Scout stood back and waited. Mr. Reson and Susan were soon transformed into two monsters for the Negaverse. The zookeeper became a tall, muscular man with blue skin and a single lock of black hair. His fingernails became long and sharp. The bat became gigantic, with long fangs protruding from her mouth. She broke free of her cage and flew to her keeper's shoulder, shrieking evilly.
"Excellent. Now, come with me," the Dark Scout said as she disappeared.
"Yes Master," the monster rasped and vanished as well.
They reappeared by the lion's cage at the zoo. The Dark Scout looked around and nodded. "The ideal place for a trap," she murmured to herself. She turned to her servant.
"Attract the attention of the Sailor Scouts," the Dark Scout ordered.
The monster bowed and the Dark Scout vanished back into the Negaverse. Her creature immediately began destroying everything it could lay its hands on. The monster that once was Mr. Reson snarled and bellowed at the top of his lungs. Susan screamed as well and the sound was heard all through Tokyo. In minutes, the Scouts were there.
"Hold it right there. You think you can wreck our zoo? Well, guess again. I'm Sailor Moon and I stand for love and justice. In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!" Sailor Moon announced.
"Don't you think that speech is a little old?" Sailor Mars asked.
"Butt out Mars, no one asked you," Sailor Moon replied.
High in the trees, the Dark Scout appeared. She looked down and pointed to the scouts.
"Bat! Take that one away!" she commanded.
The giant bat launched itself from its master's shoulder and swooped down to grab Sailor Mars. They flew high in the air towards a dark portal and were suddenly gone. The Dark Scout laughed and left the other monster to finish them off.
"Sailor Mars!" Sailor Moon cried, but she was too late to do anything for her friend.
With grim determination, she and the remaining scouts turned to face the demon.
Sailor Mars floated in a dark place for what seemed like hours. The bat and the Dark Scout were no where to be found. She was tense and ready to battle, her dark eyes darting to every corner of her timeless prison. Soon, Mars relaxed and let her mind wander. It went directly to her most painful memory - her parents.
She remembered that summer all too well. Her parents had flown her from their home in Sapporo to visit her grandfather in Tokyo. She was to learn how to maintain the Temple that had been in their family for generations. She had been ten at the time and she was supposed to have gone home the following summer after a year of study at the Cherry Hill Temple.
A tear rolled down Sailor Mars' cheek as she remembered the horrible phone call that had broken her heart. Her old neighbour had called from Sapporo two weeks before she was supposed to leave. There had been a robbery at her parent's store the night before. The man had entered and threatened to shoot if he didn't get what he wanted. Her father had given him all his money and her mother had parted with all her jewels. Even her little brother had given up his toy train so the man wouldn't shoot. He did anyway. Three times in the chest for her father. Once in the arm and once in the head for her mother and Tomas, her four year old brother, had been shot in the chest five time.
Sailor Mars threw her head back and screamed into the dark.
"Why are you doing this to me? What do you want?"
There was no answer. She remembered going back to Sapporo anyway — her grandfather had told her she must. She remembered the police photos of her dead family; and the blood. Most of all, she remembered the blood.
Sailor Mars curled her body into a fetal position and sobbed. Memories of happy times with her family came back, but they were all shrouded in the red tinge of blood. It felt like hours had passed before the bat returned. It picked her up and brought her away from the terrible shadowy prison of her past. Before she left, Sailor Mars turned and saw a single face in the dark. The pale face of the Dark Scout, smiling cruelly.
The Sailor Scouts were a sorry sight as Sailor Mars returned. The bat dropped her roughly to the ground and she rolled near to where Sailor Jupiter was crouching behind a rock. Sailor Venus lay unconscious a few feet away and Sailor Moon was up in a tree. The bat returned to its master's shoulder. The blue monster laughed and opened its mouth.
"Look out!" Jupiter called.
Mars looked up as the blue monster's tongue shot out of its mouth and tried to wrap itself around the scout. Sailor Jupiter grabbed her arm and yanked her out of the way as the creature's tongue struck a tree and disintegrated it.
"Thanks," Mars said somberly.
"Where were you?" Jupiter demanded, eyeing the monster.
Mars wiped a tear away and concentrated on the fight. She noticed that the monster bat was eating fruit from a nearby apple tree.
"That guy looks familiar," Mars observed.
"Yeah. It looks like Jenny's friend Mr. Reson," Jupiter agreed.
Sailor Mars stood up and shouted to her friend in the tree. The monster saw her move and prepared to attack her again.
"Sailor Moon! These guys aren't from the Negaverse! They're mortal! Heal them!" she yelled.
Sailor Moon jumped down from the tree and opened her locket. The blue man lunged toward Sailor Mars, who stood her ground.
"Moon Crystal Healing Activation!" Sailor Moon cried.
The two monsters were enveloped in a pale light and shrunk back to their normal size. Mr. Reson fell forward and Sailor Mars caught him. She lowered him gently to the ground, where he lay unconscious beside his bat, Susan.
"No! I cannot be defeated!" the Dark Scout moaned from her perch in the trees. Sailor Moon turned to face her, the crystal still glowing. The Dark Scout glared at her enemies and disappeared into the Negaverse.
"I did that to you? Gee, I'm sorry, Raye" Jenny said the next day.
Raye had just finished telling them about her parents.
"It's okay. I should have gotten it off my chest earlier," Raye said, wiping away a tear.
The other scouts sat around in silence, each with concerned expressions on their faces.
"Good news guys, I think I've got the answer!" Amy said from her desk.
"No, you forgot about the negative space continuum!" Luna corrected.
Amy sighed. "Nevermind," she said and turned back to her work.
Raye turned her head and saw Serena sitting beside her.
"I'm sorry I called you a brat, Raye. I had no idea you had that much sorrow inside you," Serena said sincerely.
Raye laughed. "Thank you, Serena. You know, I'm really lucky."
"That you were here instead of there?" Serena asked.
Raye shook her head. "Nope, that I have so many good friends."