"Right." She began to transform into Super Sailor Moon. "Moon Crisis Power!" Then began her attack. "Rainbow Moon..." While she did this the heart snatcher tried to get up.
"Pluto Deadly Scream!" Pluto hit the monster and it fell back.
"Heart Ache!" She hit the evil being full force. It disappeared leaving the game laser gun and the diamond pod behind.
"How dare you meddling fools! You won't get away with this." It was another of the Witches 5. I couldn't tell for sure though.
"That was amazing, Sailor Aphrodite!" Sailor Moon ran up to me. She jumped in excitement of winning the battle. My eyes began to water at the sight of the battle that I had helped win. It was an awesome feeling.
"Hello. Are you perhaps the new sailor scout?" A news reporter walked up to the girls and me.
"Why, yes, I am. My name is..." Luna tapped my boot. I nodded almost saying, "Duh". "Sailor Aphrodite." I smiled big, so she could take my picture.
"How about you girls get together for a group shot?" The reporter suggested. We all huddled together. I noticed Pluto sneaking off. "OK. Smile!" We all got our pictures taken and then we all left. Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and I almost had to dragged Moon and Mars away from the camera. I told them I had to meet Trista back at her house. I grabbed up my packages and I parted ways with them. I was starting back for Trista's apartment.
"Hi," I said meeting her outside the building. "Didn't want to get any pictures taken?" I knew she probably shouldn't, but I was just joking around.
"Nah. I'm not a camera person." We both laughed and walked up to her room. "So are you the new sailor scout?" She mimicked the reporter holding up an imaginary recorder. We both laughed sitting down onto the couch.
"That was really weird transforming. And the attack was strange, too. I felt like I had been doing it for ages. My body seemed to just take control and did what it had to." I looked at her serious now.
"It is weird at times. But I have to say you handled yourself really great. Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy. You didn't. You were totally in control and knew when to do you attacks. It was almost like you had a strategy." She glanced at me.
"Well all those episodes of watching the scouts blunder cause they were too early or too late with their attacks, has made me more aware." I smiled.
"True enough. I must say the your attacks were pretty interesting, too. That staff of yours is really neat." She glanced down at my pendant. I held it up looking at it myself.
"Do you think the power comes from the pendant or the soul?" I asked staring at the piece of jewelry.
"I really don't know. Mostly likely the soul. I think the pendant gives the soul a jump start." I cracked a smile looking up at her. We both laughed together again. We decided to get dressed for the party. I was excited to see what she was going to wear. I went in the bathroom and changed into my new pink dress, and she went in her bedroom. I put on the dress and then the gloves, shoes, and got my new purse from one of the shopping bags. I stood and looked at myself in the mirror. I wished I could have been part of Serenity's court. I thought how this dress could be my princess dress. I closed my eyes and thought about dancing at one of the beautiful balls they had on the Moon Kingdom.
Suddenly my thoughts took me to the place of my dreams. I saw myself waltzing with a man wearing a tuxedo and mask. Then I was looking through the princess's eyes. I saw the handsome man twirl me around the floor. Then I was taken away to a battlefield where only few survived. My dress was torn and muddied, and I screamed at the top of my lungs. The scream threw me into space.
I opened my eyes. The journey had left my breathless. The sign of Venus burned brightly on my forehead. My eyes became widened by the sight. As a reached up the touch it, I heard Trista open her door. I hurried and we both came out about the same time. I looked up as she walked out of the room. Whoa! I thought to myself. She was wearing a deep green spaghetti strap dress, with a slip up the thigh. I swear I had seen it before.
"You look wonderful." She had put her hair up in a high ponytail. She began to blush. "I wish I could make my hair look better." I rolled my eyes. My hair was just the same as always. Half of it was down and the other half made two loose buns, like Serena's meatballs.
"I'm not that great with hair, but I could try a single bun." My face brightened. I couldn't think of anything she won't do for me. I must seem so helpless. We sat and she got her hair brush. Then she brushed my hair out. My brown hair fell to about my elbows. I'm sure it didn't take nearly as long to brush my hair as it must to brush hers. She twisted my hair around and around, until it was perfect. She ran and got a portable mirror and showed it to me. It was absolutely the most perfect bun I had ever seen. I smiled so big I almost laughed.
"You made my hair look good!" I shrieked. "Not good, Great!" I was ready to go now. My beautiful pink dress and my gorgeous bun. I still didn't compare to Trista but I came closer than I would have ever before. We took a cab to the huge mansion where the party was going to be at. The two of us entered the ball room together.
"Wow... look at those two." A man commented.
"Do you know them?" Another watched.
"No I wish I did." The first guy said.
"The taller girl is Trista Meiou. I don't know about the other." A more educated guy guessed. The room was mainly filled with men. I then realized that they were speaking English. This whole time I had been here I was speaking Japanese fluently. That was impossible. I suddenly realized nothing was impossible.
"Hello, gentlemen." I said in a well cultured voice.
"You speak, English?" Trista looked at me as the man spoke.
"Yes. I used to live in the States remember." I said to her. Then doing a well mannered curtsies. We began to speak in Japanese so Trista could understand.
"What is your name, Miss?" The man asked fairly well.
"Trista Meiou. And yours?" She smiled trying to speak slowly and simply.
"Jake Ashmore." He bowed. He was really cute. "Would you care to walk?" He asked her instantly realizing he said the wrong word.
"Dance, he means." I said to Trista. I felt little let down he didn't ask me to dance. That's OK. I would probably pick her, too. They danced and I sat at a small table at the edge of the room. I tapped my toes. Someone came up behind me and put their hand on my shoulder. I jumped.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." A handsome man said to me. I noticed he was speaking again in English. I could hardly tell the difference. "I mean... I am sorry..." He said in shaky Japanese.
"No, that's all right." I said quickly as he stumbled to find the words. "I speak English." We smiled at each other.
"Great. I have never spoken good Japanese." We spoke in English for a while. "I got to come to the party cause my uncle is the owner of the mansion. Oh by the way my name is Stephen Winner." He held his hand out to shake mine.
"My name is Adrienne Gabrielle." I said shaking his hand as if I was in America, again. I smiled. "My friends call me Adrienne."
"Pleased to meet you. Ummm... would you like to dance? I'm not all that great at it..." He held his hand out again and stood up.
"Of course. I would be honored." We walked out onto the dance floor and begin to do a waltz. I found his embrace very relaxing. The tune hummed in my ears as we flowed across the floor. As soon as it began the song seemed to end. I looked around spotting Trista. She was looking at me as she talked to an older man. "I have to go speak with my friend. Thank you for the dance." He stood there as I scurried off. "Hi, Trista." I was still speaking in English. "Oh sorry. I forgot. " I said blushing instantly.
"That's ok. Meet the owner of this lovely house, Mr. Winner." She introduced me to him. I bowed to the kind man.
"So I noticed you speak both Japanese and English fluently." He remarked.
"Yes. I used to the States and Japanese came very easily once I started to live here." None of which was a lie. It was true no matter how obscure. I stood quietly as Trista and him talked. I turned around looking for Stephen. I couldn't see him anymore. As I looked around the ball room a young man was about to pick up a champagne glass. As he touched the glass it blinked the instance flashes of light. Oh no another heart snatcher.
"Champolta!" The monster screamed. Trista and I looked at each other. This time the heart snatcher was after a specific heart crystal. "Where is that boy!" It looked at Stephen. My eyes widened.
"No..." I said under my breath.
"Adrienne, come on." Trista said tugging on my sleeve. "Pluto Planet Power!"
"Aphrodite Pendant Power!" I screamed grabbing my pendant out of my purse. We began to transform. We held our staffs and ran back into the ballroom. "Stop right there heart snatcher!" I screamed at it.
"I am the gate keeper of time, Sailor Pluto" She spun around her staff.
"Enough introductions. If you don't know my name, there's no reason you should. Now give that pure heart back to Stephen!" Pluto looked at me. I began a new attack. "Aphrodite Love Haze..." I spun my staff and threw it in the air, and it turned to the bronze dust. The dust sucked into clashed hands and I threw it to the ground. "Vanish!" I screamed sending the dust around the room. I held my staff tight. I charged the monster and whacked it with my hands, staff, and feet. I was so mad. How dare it take Stephen's pure heart crystal? "Now to finish you off." I began a third attack. "Aphrodite.." I twirled the staff, and then stopped. "Love Spears..." I made a stretching motion with my hands, and multiple energy spears formed where my staff had been. "Penetrate!" I threw the spears all at once at the horrible monster. They shimmered and the heart snatcher was hit. It disappeared, not without a last scream.
"Aphrodite. What came over you..." She tried to ask. I didn't stop. I ran over to Stephen.
"Stephen... Stephen, are you ok." I replaced the crystal. He must have seen me spin around similar to when we were dancing.
"Adrienne..." He said trying to get up. Pluto put her hand on my shoulder. I nodded.
"No you're mistaken. I am Sailor Aphrodite." I said as harshly as I could to him. We leaped from the window. I knew we had to hurry and reenter to ballroom. "What do you think that was?" I said acting ignorant as we walked back in. "Stephen are you, ok?" I asked pretending to just see him.
"Yeah, I think so." He held his head. "I saw a sailor scout. When all that commotion was going on. She saved my life." He looked at me. For a moment he thought I was her again, but the thought left his mind. "I have to know who she is. I have to go." He got up and pushed through the crowd. I reached for him as he ran off.
"I can't believe it." I looked up at Trista. "It's all my fault. Now he might search for the rest of his life for a girl, whom he'll never find." I bit my lower lip.
"Don't worry. It's not your fault. Maybe one day you'll be able to tell him." She tried to reassure me, but I knew it was hopeless. If that time ever came I'd probably be gone. Soon after that we left the party. I had some fun after, but couldn't get into it any more. As we walked down the street, Trista began to speak to me. "Your new attacks were really neat. Now you've met the other scouts attack number." She tried to make me smile in glee. I gave in as the reality of my duty as a scout set back in.
"I knew the other attack would never destroy the monster totally. So I became absolutely enraged." I lowed my head. "Sorry about cutting you off and all."
"No problem. I get a lot from Uranus." We laughed as we crawled in a cab. We were silent as we went back to her apartment. I spoke up.
"How long do you think it will be?" I asked. She knew what I was talking about. The last battle with the heart snatchers.
"I wish I knew. So many things have happened to contradict my beliefs, I don't know what's going to happen." She smiled. "Maybe for once my life will be a surprise."
"Yeah. Maybe." I slept on her couch that night. In the morning, she didn't wake me up right away. I heard her in the kitchen clanging some pots and pans together. "Trista?..." I asked trying to wake up.
"Sorry, did I wake you up?" She put the pan down on the stove. "I don't really know how to cook all that well." She smiled. "Ok I can't cook anything." She giggled.
"How about you let me cook. I can try to. Do you have any cookbooks?" I got up rubbing my eyes.
"Yes. I have a ton. I just haven't had the time to learn." She showed my the self full of cookbooks.
"Wow. Ok I think I can make something." I grabbed one and made us some pancakes. I had to say they turned out pretty good. Trista loved them. I swear she ate about four pancakes.
"That was delicious!" She said leaning back in her chair. "I've never had pancakes like that. Were those American?" She questioned sitting back up.
"Yes. They reminded me of my dad's pancakes. When I was little he used to make a bunch of batter and let us pour it in the pan." I smiled and leaned back myself. "Sometimes we'd make them huge, but that didn't turn out too great. Most of the time we would make tiny ones. We called them silver dollar pancakes, cause that's how big they were." I let out a sigh. Maybe this could be like going to college, early. I don't have to miss them. I might go back home tomorrow. Trista smiled at me.
"That is a great memory. Of course that's the one thing that makes us so different. You've lived on Earth and had a family." She leaned her cheeks on her hands and looked at me. "I wish I could have had a family. Neo Queen Serenity, King of the Earth, and Small Lady were always great to me. But I knew they had their own family." She smiled.
"I wish I was home. In my room. Not as if don't love it here. It's just I miss the solitude. I loved to sit in my room and type on my computer or listen to some soft music. I like to sing, which I did a lot of. Sitting in my room, of course." She was still smiling taking in every word. As if she cared. With most people I would say they didn't, but I could tell she did. I continued. "I guess you know all about solitude." I wanted her to talk. All she did was nod. "I don't really miss a lot I guess. School was always a drag. I did like my one of my English teachers. He was really great. Other than that school is not to be miss. My parents I do. I miss them annoying me about doing stuff, and giving a kiss goodnight." Tears formed in my eyes, I tried to blink them back. "I miss Karate. It was really fun. I miss my friends a lot. I used to call them on the phone everyday. We never really talked about anything important, just stuff." I let out a sigh. She sat up still watching me. "I don't know. I miss my old life, but I think I could get used to my new."
"I really my old life, too." She spoke up. "As hard as it is to believe guarding the gate of time was very interesting. I saw hundreds of things happen. One thing I liked is I didn't have to follow anyone's orders." She let out a exasperated laugh. "I liked talking with Small Lady and her family. Also I liked having the important job of protecting the time gate. Whenever someone came to go through it I had the authority to say no!" She told me a little more about her job. "I can't really job here. Since I have no education..."
"Except about a million years of history." We laughed as she continued.
"Also I can't really put on my resume that I have been guarding the gate of time for the last thousand years." We both laughed louder.
"I have to go in a while. I must meet the other girls at the temple today." I started to get up. "You can come along. We might need your help studying..." Before I could finish her phone began to ring.
"Hello.... Yes... I understand... Yes... At the park... Ok.... About what?... All right... Ok... I'll see you then..." She hung up. "I can't come. I have a meeting today." She smiled. "I'm sure you won't need me. You better go get packed."
"Ok. I guess I'll see ya later." I got up and packed all my new clothes. I got on the bus that went to the temple. Soon after I got off the bus and began the climb up the huge flight of stairs with my heavy bags. I trudged up the stairs.
"Hey! Adrienne!" Lita called from a far. She ran up to me. "How about I take one of your bags." She grabbed one.
"Thanks. I was about to die." I sighed and we laughed.
"So how was your night with Trista?" Ami asked. She was sitting behind the table. Everyone looked up as Lita and I put the bags down.
"It was pretty nice. We went out to eat and went shopping. Before I got there she had made me this beautiful pink dress and we went to a party." I couldn't help it I had to boost. They all smiled.
"Wow! She sounds great." Serena commented.
"Can we see the dress?" Asked Mina excited.
"We should start studying..." Ami replied, everyone stared at her. "Ok, try it on." I went and put on my outfit, that I had worn last night.
"That is so beautiful." Rei said. Everyone agreed. I twirled around, and then changed back. When I came back in the room they had already started studying.
"So what classes were you taking before...?" Ami asked as I sat next to her.
"I was taking Honors biology, Honors English 2, speech and debate, and Spanish 1." I named all my classes for the semester.
"Wow! It doesn't seem like many classes to fit in a nine hour day." Rei commented chewing on her pencil.
"We only went to school seven hours and we had two semester with four classes each." I said knowing that they would be jealous.
"That seems unfair we have to go to school so many more hours." Mina blurted.
"Yes, but to be blunt that does make the Japanese people smarter. No offense to you of course, Adrienne." Ami said smiling and blushing.
"Oh, yes. I have always admired you all for studying so hard and going to school so long. The past few days have been hard. Staying awake and all." I smiled.
"See you guys I'm not the only one." Serena said sticking out her tongue.
"Well, anyway, how about telling us what your classes and America was like?" Lita leaned over the table grabbing a cookie.
"I don't really know how to explain it. I guess I'll just tell you all how's it's different from here." I sighed and begin my story. "I wake up about 6:30 a.m. every morning and drag myself out of bed. I get ready and my sister drives us to the high school. I walk around and talk to some of my friends, but eventually get to my first period, English 2. I guess you guys might not understand. In English class we go over how to do good writing and such. I sit through that and after the bell rings I get on the way to my Biology class. Biology is really hard. Our teacher is really a tough teacher, but is pretty nice on the inside. I finally get to the class with my favorite teacher. Although I don't care for the class cause I have to give a speech in front of the class almost every week. I guess that's why it's called speech and debate." I laughed insanely putting my hand behind my head. That would be one of those times when sweat drops would appear on everyone's heads. "During that class I have to eat lunch. Our class eats lunch at about 12:45 p.m. I am so staving by then. Well after that I go to Spanish 1. It's pretty easy. I never knew I could speak Japanese, until now." I laughed again. "Then at 2:45 p.m. we go home." I stopped talking. I just realized it must have been boring for them to sit and listen to me babble on. When I looked up at them they were all intently watching me. I smiled.
"That sounds terrific. I wish I went to your old school." Serena shrieked.
"Yeah, it sounds like a fairly easy day." Ami said thinking about it.
"Parts of it are. Parts aren't." I looked down at the book in front of me. The writing was in Japanese, but it could have been English for all it mattered. It seemed as if I had been speaking Japanese my whole life.
"I think we should start studying." Rei stated as she put her pencil down.
"Yes, I think that would be..." Someone's communicator beeped. It was Ami's. "Yes, Luna."
"Everyone come down to the park immediately!" She almost screamed.
"Right!" Serena yelled. "Moon Cosmic Power!"
"Moon Prism Power!"
"Mercury Star Power!"
"Mars Star Power!"
"Jupiter Star Power!"
"Venus Star Power!"
"Aphrodite Pendant Power!"
"Let's go!" Sailor Moon yelled as we all finished our transformations. We ran all the way to the park. By the time we got there, everyone was tired. "Ok, where is this villain." She looked around. I turned all the way around looking myself.
"I can't get a reading on my computer." Mercury said confused. She scanned with her VR visor.
"Let me try." I concentrated. All the girls watched me. I lifted my staff in front of my face. I felt something in my bones. I spun the staff, and I threw it up I saw an image, in the spinning staff. "Over to the right!" I yelled looking up, seeing a monster running towards me. "Aphrodite Love Mist..." I began the attack, I realized the other girls didn't see the figure. "... Vaporize!" I yelled, the outer layer that made the demon invisible disappeared. I smiled.
"Great job, Adrienne!" Sailor Moon cried. She looked over at the demon. "I am Sailor Moon. In the name of the moon I will punish you." The outer scouts bounded from the trees.
"Stop! Sailor Moon wait. We have to see why the heart snatcher is here." Uranus jumped down and grabbed Moon's scepter.
"Hey. Cut it out Uranus!" I screamed at her. I ran over there. I tried a to grab it from her.
"You little girls can fight all you want. I'll just want to get what I came for and be on my way." The monster jumped at me! I dodged and Uranus was knocked down.
"Moon Crisis Power!" Sailor Moon went to her next power phase. "Rainbow Moon Heart... Ache!" She tried her attack. The monster jumped back up. "Ahhh!" She screeched. "It didn't work. What's wrong with this thing?" She shook she specter.
"You can't destroy me little girl." She cackled horribly. "I am part of the Sovereign, she can not be destroyed by such toys." She ran towards me again.
"Ahhh!" I screamed in terror. "Everyone we have to get out of here." We all retreated. After awhile we lost the monster and got back to Rei's house. "It was after me." I stated.
"Do you think it wanted her heart crystal?" Mina asked.
"No. They wouldn't use a strong warrior, to do such a simple job." Lita said.
"You're right. There must have been some other reason. But what?" Ami said getting her computer out. "I detect surges of energy coming from Adrienne." They all looked at me. "That's strange." She was thinking hard, as they all stared at me.
"There is nothing else we can do now. Ami, you should think more on this. We should go ahead and go home. Who is Adrienne going with today?" Rei asked.
"Me." Lita spoke up. "I think it would be best if she went with me. If anything were to happen again I wouldn't have to worry about family members getting in the way." She winked at me. Everyone felt bad for her, since she had no family. We all knew that she could take care of herself.
"Ok. I guess I should get my stuff." I walked over to my pile of things. All the girls started to go home so Rei could do her chores.
"So what do you want to eat tonight?" She asked helping me with my things.
"Oh, I don't know. I know you are such a great cook." She blushed. "I can't think of anything. What are you best at making?" She thought for a moment.
"I really haven't ever thought of a best." She thought longer, as we walked down the sidewalk to her apartment. "I guess it doesn't matter."
"Yeah, as long as I get some of your great cooking." I smiled big closing my eyes. I could sense something. I wasn't sure if I should tell Lita. No I don't want to ruin the good spirits. "So what have you decided to make?" I said walking into her apartment. We sat down around a short table.
"I think I'll make. Uh... How about a bowl of my famous beef stew." She winked at me.
"You mean the stew you tried to teach Serena and Andrew to make?" I licked my lips. She looked at me for a second.
"Yeah, I did try to get them to make it." She was still looking at me.
"Is it too weird if I say stuff like that. I won't if it freaks you out." I said to her.
"No, no. I was just thinking about it. Well since you know so much about us, how about telling me a little sneak peak. I promise I won't tell." She put her finger over her mouth indicating she won't tell.
"I can't." I said looking at my hands.
"Why not?" She asked bewildered.
"I promised Trista that I won't tell anyone." I looked up at her face.
"Well ok. I don't understand why I can't hear a tidbit." She leered at me.
"Well..." She looked at me excited. "I guess I could try to answer one question." She thought for a moment.
"Yikes. It's hard to think of just one." She thought a little longer. "Maybe I should get dinner started."
"Good. I'll help if I can." I walked with her to the kitchen. "I can't cook great. I will help in any way I can." She was still thinking and took a minute to respond.
"Yeah, all right. Lets get started." She took out a pot. We made the dinner as she thought hard about her one question. I still didn't know if I should answer her or not. I guess I had to now. She got out her bowls and set them out on the short table.
"I can't get used to these short tables." I said trying to break the silence. "In the US we have taller tables and sit in chairs. Of course you already knew that." I said feeling really dumb.
"That's an interesting way to eat." She said automatically.
"Yeah. Wow!" I tasted the soup. "This is great. I can't believe that I helped make this." I smiled and laughed. She sat solemn. "I guess your thinking about your one question, huh?" I said eating more soup. I was trying not to slurp.
"Yes, I am." She said breaking her thoughts. "I can't decide what to ask. I want to ask a silly question, but I feel I should ask a serious one." She thought for a moment longer. "What would you ask?" I shoot a glance at her.
"What? Ummm... I don't know." I said pondering as I slurped some soup. "Ooops... sorry." I said blushing. I finally got her to laugh a little.
"I still can't decide what to ask..." I looked up at her. "I guess it's a lot like deciding your three wishes from the genie." She commented.
"Maybe the best solution is not to ask one." She looked up at me. "Well. I don't know." I smiled shyly.
"Maybe your right. I just keep thinking that if I do that then my only chance will be gone." She looked down at her soup again. "I think that I have finally thought up my one question." She paused for a minute as I hung in suspense. "I would like to know when, what, and with who our last battle as sailor scouts is going to be. Last as in the finale, the sailor scouts don't return home." She laid her spoon down and stared.
"That's what you want to know?" I posed the question myself. She nodded. "Well it is a hard one. I really don't know how to answer that. I mean. All of you come close. I can't remember..." A vision popped in my head. It was Pluto standing with her staff.
"Remember Sailor Aphrodite don't tell the other scouts anything. It could be dangerous." She walked off and my vision faded away.
"Adrienne, Adrienne..." Lita shook my shoulders.
"I'm ok." I lowered my head. I didn't know what to do. This was so hard. Maybe I should just lie. "Lita. I really don't know the answer to your question. I know it seems lame I can't answer it, but they are too many things standing in my way." I shook my head trying to keep Pluto's nagging image out of my head.
"I think I have a right to know." She said almost pounding her fist on the table.
"Pluto Deadly Scream!" Pluto hit the monster and it fell back.
"Heart Ache!" She hit the evil being full force. It disappeared leaving the game laser gun and the diamond pod behind.
"How dare you meddling fools! You won't get away with this." It was another of the Witches 5. I couldn't tell for sure though.
"That was amazing, Sailor Aphrodite!" Sailor Moon ran up to me. She jumped in excitement of winning the battle. My eyes began to water at the sight of the battle that I had helped win. It was an awesome feeling.
"Hello. Are you perhaps the new sailor scout?" A news reporter walked up to the girls and me.
"Why, yes, I am. My name is..." Luna tapped my boot. I nodded almost saying, "Duh". "Sailor Aphrodite." I smiled big, so she could take my picture.
"How about you girls get together for a group shot?" The reporter suggested. We all huddled together. I noticed Pluto sneaking off. "OK. Smile!" We all got our pictures taken and then we all left. Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and I almost had to dragged Moon and Mars away from the camera. I told them I had to meet Trista back at her house. I grabbed up my packages and I parted ways with them. I was starting back for Trista's apartment.
"Hi," I said meeting her outside the building. "Didn't want to get any pictures taken?" I knew she probably shouldn't, but I was just joking around.
"Nah. I'm not a camera person." We both laughed and walked up to her room. "So are you the new sailor scout?" She mimicked the reporter holding up an imaginary recorder. We both laughed sitting down onto the couch.
"That was really weird transforming. And the attack was strange, too. I felt like I had been doing it for ages. My body seemed to just take control and did what it had to." I looked at her serious now.
"It is weird at times. But I have to say you handled yourself really great. Sometimes I feel like I'm going crazy. You didn't. You were totally in control and knew when to do you attacks. It was almost like you had a strategy." She glanced at me.
"Well all those episodes of watching the scouts blunder cause they were too early or too late with their attacks, has made me more aware." I smiled.
"True enough. I must say the your attacks were pretty interesting, too. That staff of yours is really neat." She glanced down at my pendant. I held it up looking at it myself.
"Do you think the power comes from the pendant or the soul?" I asked staring at the piece of jewelry.
"I really don't know. Mostly likely the soul. I think the pendant gives the soul a jump start." I cracked a smile looking up at her. We both laughed together again. We decided to get dressed for the party. I was excited to see what she was going to wear. I went in the bathroom and changed into my new pink dress, and she went in her bedroom. I put on the dress and then the gloves, shoes, and got my new purse from one of the shopping bags. I stood and looked at myself in the mirror. I wished I could have been part of Serenity's court. I thought how this dress could be my princess dress. I closed my eyes and thought about dancing at one of the beautiful balls they had on the Moon Kingdom.
Suddenly my thoughts took me to the place of my dreams. I saw myself waltzing with a man wearing a tuxedo and mask. Then I was looking through the princess's eyes. I saw the handsome man twirl me around the floor. Then I was taken away to a battlefield where only few survived. My dress was torn and muddied, and I screamed at the top of my lungs. The scream threw me into space.
I opened my eyes. The journey had left my breathless. The sign of Venus burned brightly on my forehead. My eyes became widened by the sight. As a reached up the touch it, I heard Trista open her door. I hurried and we both came out about the same time. I looked up as she walked out of the room. Whoa! I thought to myself. She was wearing a deep green spaghetti strap dress, with a slip up the thigh. I swear I had seen it before.
"You look wonderful." She had put her hair up in a high ponytail. She began to blush. "I wish I could make my hair look better." I rolled my eyes. My hair was just the same as always. Half of it was down and the other half made two loose buns, like Serena's meatballs.
"I'm not that great with hair, but I could try a single bun." My face brightened. I couldn't think of anything she won't do for me. I must seem so helpless. We sat and she got her hair brush. Then she brushed my hair out. My brown hair fell to about my elbows. I'm sure it didn't take nearly as long to brush my hair as it must to brush hers. She twisted my hair around and around, until it was perfect. She ran and got a portable mirror and showed it to me. It was absolutely the most perfect bun I had ever seen. I smiled so big I almost laughed.
"You made my hair look good!" I shrieked. "Not good, Great!" I was ready to go now. My beautiful pink dress and my gorgeous bun. I still didn't compare to Trista but I came closer than I would have ever before. We took a cab to the huge mansion where the party was going to be at. The two of us entered the ball room together.
"Wow... look at those two." A man commented.
"Do you know them?" Another watched.
"No I wish I did." The first guy said.
"The taller girl is Trista Meiou. I don't know about the other." A more educated guy guessed. The room was mainly filled with men. I then realized that they were speaking English. This whole time I had been here I was speaking Japanese fluently. That was impossible. I suddenly realized nothing was impossible.
"Hello, gentlemen." I said in a well cultured voice.
"You speak, English?" Trista looked at me as the man spoke.
"Yes. I used to live in the States remember." I said to her. Then doing a well mannered curtsies. We began to speak in Japanese so Trista could understand.
"What is your name, Miss?" The man asked fairly well.
"Trista Meiou. And yours?" She smiled trying to speak slowly and simply.
"Jake Ashmore." He bowed. He was really cute. "Would you care to walk?" He asked her instantly realizing he said the wrong word.
"Dance, he means." I said to Trista. I felt little let down he didn't ask me to dance. That's OK. I would probably pick her, too. They danced and I sat at a small table at the edge of the room. I tapped my toes. Someone came up behind me and put their hand on my shoulder. I jumped.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you." A handsome man said to me. I noticed he was speaking again in English. I could hardly tell the difference. "I mean... I am sorry..." He said in shaky Japanese.
"No, that's all right." I said quickly as he stumbled to find the words. "I speak English." We smiled at each other.
"Great. I have never spoken good Japanese." We spoke in English for a while. "I got to come to the party cause my uncle is the owner of the mansion. Oh by the way my name is Stephen Winner." He held his hand out to shake mine.
"My name is Adrienne Gabrielle." I said shaking his hand as if I was in America, again. I smiled. "My friends call me Adrienne."
"Pleased to meet you. Ummm... would you like to dance? I'm not all that great at it..." He held his hand out again and stood up.
"Of course. I would be honored." We walked out onto the dance floor and begin to do a waltz. I found his embrace very relaxing. The tune hummed in my ears as we flowed across the floor. As soon as it began the song seemed to end. I looked around spotting Trista. She was looking at me as she talked to an older man. "I have to go speak with my friend. Thank you for the dance." He stood there as I scurried off. "Hi, Trista." I was still speaking in English. "Oh sorry. I forgot. " I said blushing instantly.
"That's ok. Meet the owner of this lovely house, Mr. Winner." She introduced me to him. I bowed to the kind man.
"So I noticed you speak both Japanese and English fluently." He remarked.
"Yes. I used to the States and Japanese came very easily once I started to live here." None of which was a lie. It was true no matter how obscure. I stood quietly as Trista and him talked. I turned around looking for Stephen. I couldn't see him anymore. As I looked around the ball room a young man was about to pick up a champagne glass. As he touched the glass it blinked the instance flashes of light. Oh no another heart snatcher.
"Champolta!" The monster screamed. Trista and I looked at each other. This time the heart snatcher was after a specific heart crystal. "Where is that boy!" It looked at Stephen. My eyes widened.
"No..." I said under my breath.
"Adrienne, come on." Trista said tugging on my sleeve. "Pluto Planet Power!"
"Aphrodite Pendant Power!" I screamed grabbing my pendant out of my purse. We began to transform. We held our staffs and ran back into the ballroom. "Stop right there heart snatcher!" I screamed at it.
"I am the gate keeper of time, Sailor Pluto" She spun around her staff.
"Enough introductions. If you don't know my name, there's no reason you should. Now give that pure heart back to Stephen!" Pluto looked at me. I began a new attack. "Aphrodite Love Haze..." I spun my staff and threw it in the air, and it turned to the bronze dust. The dust sucked into clashed hands and I threw it to the ground. "Vanish!" I screamed sending the dust around the room. I held my staff tight. I charged the monster and whacked it with my hands, staff, and feet. I was so mad. How dare it take Stephen's pure heart crystal? "Now to finish you off." I began a third attack. "Aphrodite.." I twirled the staff, and then stopped. "Love Spears..." I made a stretching motion with my hands, and multiple energy spears formed where my staff had been. "Penetrate!" I threw the spears all at once at the horrible monster. They shimmered and the heart snatcher was hit. It disappeared, not without a last scream.
"Aphrodite. What came over you..." She tried to ask. I didn't stop. I ran over to Stephen.
"Stephen... Stephen, are you ok." I replaced the crystal. He must have seen me spin around similar to when we were dancing.
"Adrienne..." He said trying to get up. Pluto put her hand on my shoulder. I nodded.
"No you're mistaken. I am Sailor Aphrodite." I said as harshly as I could to him. We leaped from the window. I knew we had to hurry and reenter to ballroom. "What do you think that was?" I said acting ignorant as we walked back in. "Stephen are you, ok?" I asked pretending to just see him.
"Yeah, I think so." He held his head. "I saw a sailor scout. When all that commotion was going on. She saved my life." He looked at me. For a moment he thought I was her again, but the thought left his mind. "I have to know who she is. I have to go." He got up and pushed through the crowd. I reached for him as he ran off.
"I can't believe it." I looked up at Trista. "It's all my fault. Now he might search for the rest of his life for a girl, whom he'll never find." I bit my lower lip.
"Don't worry. It's not your fault. Maybe one day you'll be able to tell him." She tried to reassure me, but I knew it was hopeless. If that time ever came I'd probably be gone. Soon after that we left the party. I had some fun after, but couldn't get into it any more. As we walked down the street, Trista began to speak to me. "Your new attacks were really neat. Now you've met the other scouts attack number." She tried to make me smile in glee. I gave in as the reality of my duty as a scout set back in.
"I knew the other attack would never destroy the monster totally. So I became absolutely enraged." I lowed my head. "Sorry about cutting you off and all."
"No problem. I get a lot from Uranus." We laughed as we crawled in a cab. We were silent as we went back to her apartment. I spoke up.
"How long do you think it will be?" I asked. She knew what I was talking about. The last battle with the heart snatchers.
"I wish I knew. So many things have happened to contradict my beliefs, I don't know what's going to happen." She smiled. "Maybe for once my life will be a surprise."
"Yeah. Maybe." I slept on her couch that night. In the morning, she didn't wake me up right away. I heard her in the kitchen clanging some pots and pans together. "Trista?..." I asked trying to wake up.
"Sorry, did I wake you up?" She put the pan down on the stove. "I don't really know how to cook all that well." She smiled. "Ok I can't cook anything." She giggled.
"How about you let me cook. I can try to. Do you have any cookbooks?" I got up rubbing my eyes.
"Yes. I have a ton. I just haven't had the time to learn." She showed my the self full of cookbooks.
"Wow. Ok I think I can make something." I grabbed one and made us some pancakes. I had to say they turned out pretty good. Trista loved them. I swear she ate about four pancakes.
"That was delicious!" She said leaning back in her chair. "I've never had pancakes like that. Were those American?" She questioned sitting back up.
"Yes. They reminded me of my dad's pancakes. When I was little he used to make a bunch of batter and let us pour it in the pan." I smiled and leaned back myself. "Sometimes we'd make them huge, but that didn't turn out too great. Most of the time we would make tiny ones. We called them silver dollar pancakes, cause that's how big they were." I let out a sigh. Maybe this could be like going to college, early. I don't have to miss them. I might go back home tomorrow. Trista smiled at me.
"That is a great memory. Of course that's the one thing that makes us so different. You've lived on Earth and had a family." She leaned her cheeks on her hands and looked at me. "I wish I could have had a family. Neo Queen Serenity, King of the Earth, and Small Lady were always great to me. But I knew they had their own family." She smiled.
"I wish I was home. In my room. Not as if don't love it here. It's just I miss the solitude. I loved to sit in my room and type on my computer or listen to some soft music. I like to sing, which I did a lot of. Sitting in my room, of course." She was still smiling taking in every word. As if she cared. With most people I would say they didn't, but I could tell she did. I continued. "I guess you know all about solitude." I wanted her to talk. All she did was nod. "I don't really miss a lot I guess. School was always a drag. I did like my one of my English teachers. He was really great. Other than that school is not to be miss. My parents I do. I miss them annoying me about doing stuff, and giving a kiss goodnight." Tears formed in my eyes, I tried to blink them back. "I miss Karate. It was really fun. I miss my friends a lot. I used to call them on the phone everyday. We never really talked about anything important, just stuff." I let out a sigh. She sat up still watching me. "I don't know. I miss my old life, but I think I could get used to my new."
"I really my old life, too." She spoke up. "As hard as it is to believe guarding the gate of time was very interesting. I saw hundreds of things happen. One thing I liked is I didn't have to follow anyone's orders." She let out a exasperated laugh. "I liked talking with Small Lady and her family. Also I liked having the important job of protecting the time gate. Whenever someone came to go through it I had the authority to say no!" She told me a little more about her job. "I can't really job here. Since I have no education..."
"Except about a million years of history." We laughed as she continued.
"Also I can't really put on my resume that I have been guarding the gate of time for the last thousand years." We both laughed louder.
"I have to go in a while. I must meet the other girls at the temple today." I started to get up. "You can come along. We might need your help studying..." Before I could finish her phone began to ring.
"Hello.... Yes... I understand... Yes... At the park... Ok.... About what?... All right... Ok... I'll see you then..." She hung up. "I can't come. I have a meeting today." She smiled. "I'm sure you won't need me. You better go get packed."
"Ok. I guess I'll see ya later." I got up and packed all my new clothes. I got on the bus that went to the temple. Soon after I got off the bus and began the climb up the huge flight of stairs with my heavy bags. I trudged up the stairs.
"Hey! Adrienne!" Lita called from a far. She ran up to me. "How about I take one of your bags." She grabbed one.
"Thanks. I was about to die." I sighed and we laughed.
"So how was your night with Trista?" Ami asked. She was sitting behind the table. Everyone looked up as Lita and I put the bags down.
"It was pretty nice. We went out to eat and went shopping. Before I got there she had made me this beautiful pink dress and we went to a party." I couldn't help it I had to boost. They all smiled.
"Wow! She sounds great." Serena commented.
"Can we see the dress?" Asked Mina excited.
"We should start studying..." Ami replied, everyone stared at her. "Ok, try it on." I went and put on my outfit, that I had worn last night.
"That is so beautiful." Rei said. Everyone agreed. I twirled around, and then changed back. When I came back in the room they had already started studying.
"So what classes were you taking before...?" Ami asked as I sat next to her.
"I was taking Honors biology, Honors English 2, speech and debate, and Spanish 1." I named all my classes for the semester.
"Wow! It doesn't seem like many classes to fit in a nine hour day." Rei commented chewing on her pencil.
"We only went to school seven hours and we had two semester with four classes each." I said knowing that they would be jealous.
"That seems unfair we have to go to school so many more hours." Mina blurted.
"Yes, but to be blunt that does make the Japanese people smarter. No offense to you of course, Adrienne." Ami said smiling and blushing.
"Oh, yes. I have always admired you all for studying so hard and going to school so long. The past few days have been hard. Staying awake and all." I smiled.
"See you guys I'm not the only one." Serena said sticking out her tongue.
"Well, anyway, how about telling us what your classes and America was like?" Lita leaned over the table grabbing a cookie.
"I don't really know how to explain it. I guess I'll just tell you all how's it's different from here." I sighed and begin my story. "I wake up about 6:30 a.m. every morning and drag myself out of bed. I get ready and my sister drives us to the high school. I walk around and talk to some of my friends, but eventually get to my first period, English 2. I guess you guys might not understand. In English class we go over how to do good writing and such. I sit through that and after the bell rings I get on the way to my Biology class. Biology is really hard. Our teacher is really a tough teacher, but is pretty nice on the inside. I finally get to the class with my favorite teacher. Although I don't care for the class cause I have to give a speech in front of the class almost every week. I guess that's why it's called speech and debate." I laughed insanely putting my hand behind my head. That would be one of those times when sweat drops would appear on everyone's heads. "During that class I have to eat lunch. Our class eats lunch at about 12:45 p.m. I am so staving by then. Well after that I go to Spanish 1. It's pretty easy. I never knew I could speak Japanese, until now." I laughed again. "Then at 2:45 p.m. we go home." I stopped talking. I just realized it must have been boring for them to sit and listen to me babble on. When I looked up at them they were all intently watching me. I smiled.
"That sounds terrific. I wish I went to your old school." Serena shrieked.
"Yeah, it sounds like a fairly easy day." Ami said thinking about it.
"Parts of it are. Parts aren't." I looked down at the book in front of me. The writing was in Japanese, but it could have been English for all it mattered. It seemed as if I had been speaking Japanese my whole life.
"I think we should start studying." Rei stated as she put her pencil down.
"Yes, I think that would be..." Someone's communicator beeped. It was Ami's. "Yes, Luna."
"Everyone come down to the park immediately!" She almost screamed.
"Right!" Serena yelled. "Moon Cosmic Power!"
"Moon Prism Power!"
"Mercury Star Power!"
"Mars Star Power!"
"Jupiter Star Power!"
"Venus Star Power!"
"Aphrodite Pendant Power!"
"Let's go!" Sailor Moon yelled as we all finished our transformations. We ran all the way to the park. By the time we got there, everyone was tired. "Ok, where is this villain." She looked around. I turned all the way around looking myself.
"I can't get a reading on my computer." Mercury said confused. She scanned with her VR visor.
"Let me try." I concentrated. All the girls watched me. I lifted my staff in front of my face. I felt something in my bones. I spun the staff, and I threw it up I saw an image, in the spinning staff. "Over to the right!" I yelled looking up, seeing a monster running towards me. "Aphrodite Love Mist..." I began the attack, I realized the other girls didn't see the figure. "... Vaporize!" I yelled, the outer layer that made the demon invisible disappeared. I smiled.
"Great job, Adrienne!" Sailor Moon cried. She looked over at the demon. "I am Sailor Moon. In the name of the moon I will punish you." The outer scouts bounded from the trees.
"Stop! Sailor Moon wait. We have to see why the heart snatcher is here." Uranus jumped down and grabbed Moon's scepter.
"Hey. Cut it out Uranus!" I screamed at her. I ran over there. I tried a to grab it from her.
"You little girls can fight all you want. I'll just want to get what I came for and be on my way." The monster jumped at me! I dodged and Uranus was knocked down.
"Moon Crisis Power!" Sailor Moon went to her next power phase. "Rainbow Moon Heart... Ache!" She tried her attack. The monster jumped back up. "Ahhh!" She screeched. "It didn't work. What's wrong with this thing?" She shook she specter.
"You can't destroy me little girl." She cackled horribly. "I am part of the Sovereign, she can not be destroyed by such toys." She ran towards me again.
"Ahhh!" I screamed in terror. "Everyone we have to get out of here." We all retreated. After awhile we lost the monster and got back to Rei's house. "It was after me." I stated.
"Do you think it wanted her heart crystal?" Mina asked.
"No. They wouldn't use a strong warrior, to do such a simple job." Lita said.
"You're right. There must have been some other reason. But what?" Ami said getting her computer out. "I detect surges of energy coming from Adrienne." They all looked at me. "That's strange." She was thinking hard, as they all stared at me.
"There is nothing else we can do now. Ami, you should think more on this. We should go ahead and go home. Who is Adrienne going with today?" Rei asked.
"Me." Lita spoke up. "I think it would be best if she went with me. If anything were to happen again I wouldn't have to worry about family members getting in the way." She winked at me. Everyone felt bad for her, since she had no family. We all knew that she could take care of herself.
"Ok. I guess I should get my stuff." I walked over to my pile of things. All the girls started to go home so Rei could do her chores.
"So what do you want to eat tonight?" She asked helping me with my things.
"Oh, I don't know. I know you are such a great cook." She blushed. "I can't think of anything. What are you best at making?" She thought for a moment.
"I really haven't ever thought of a best." She thought longer, as we walked down the sidewalk to her apartment. "I guess it doesn't matter."
"Yeah, as long as I get some of your great cooking." I smiled big closing my eyes. I could sense something. I wasn't sure if I should tell Lita. No I don't want to ruin the good spirits. "So what have you decided to make?" I said walking into her apartment. We sat down around a short table.
"I think I'll make. Uh... How about a bowl of my famous beef stew." She winked at me.
"You mean the stew you tried to teach Serena and Andrew to make?" I licked my lips. She looked at me for a second.
"Yeah, I did try to get them to make it." She was still looking at me.
"Is it too weird if I say stuff like that. I won't if it freaks you out." I said to her.
"No, no. I was just thinking about it. Well since you know so much about us, how about telling me a little sneak peak. I promise I won't tell." She put her finger over her mouth indicating she won't tell.
"I can't." I said looking at my hands.
"Why not?" She asked bewildered.
"I promised Trista that I won't tell anyone." I looked up at her face.
"Well ok. I don't understand why I can't hear a tidbit." She leered at me.
"Well..." She looked at me excited. "I guess I could try to answer one question." She thought for a moment.
"Yikes. It's hard to think of just one." She thought a little longer. "Maybe I should get dinner started."
"Good. I'll help if I can." I walked with her to the kitchen. "I can't cook great. I will help in any way I can." She was still thinking and took a minute to respond.
"Yeah, all right. Lets get started." She took out a pot. We made the dinner as she thought hard about her one question. I still didn't know if I should answer her or not. I guess I had to now. She got out her bowls and set them out on the short table.
"I can't get used to these short tables." I said trying to break the silence. "In the US we have taller tables and sit in chairs. Of course you already knew that." I said feeling really dumb.
"That's an interesting way to eat." She said automatically.
"Yeah. Wow!" I tasted the soup. "This is great. I can't believe that I helped make this." I smiled and laughed. She sat solemn. "I guess your thinking about your one question, huh?" I said eating more soup. I was trying not to slurp.
"Yes, I am." She said breaking her thoughts. "I can't decide what to ask. I want to ask a silly question, but I feel I should ask a serious one." She thought for a moment longer. "What would you ask?" I shoot a glance at her.
"What? Ummm... I don't know." I said pondering as I slurped some soup. "Ooops... sorry." I said blushing. I finally got her to laugh a little.
"I still can't decide what to ask..." I looked up at her. "I guess it's a lot like deciding your three wishes from the genie." She commented.
"Maybe the best solution is not to ask one." She looked up at me. "Well. I don't know." I smiled shyly.
"Maybe your right. I just keep thinking that if I do that then my only chance will be gone." She looked down at her soup again. "I think that I have finally thought up my one question." She paused for a minute as I hung in suspense. "I would like to know when, what, and with who our last battle as sailor scouts is going to be. Last as in the finale, the sailor scouts don't return home." She laid her spoon down and stared.
"That's what you want to know?" I posed the question myself. She nodded. "Well it is a hard one. I really don't know how to answer that. I mean. All of you come close. I can't remember..." A vision popped in my head. It was Pluto standing with her staff.
"Remember Sailor Aphrodite don't tell the other scouts anything. It could be dangerous." She walked off and my vision faded away.
"Adrienne, Adrienne..." Lita shook my shoulders.
"I'm ok." I lowered my head. I didn't know what to do. This was so hard. Maybe I should just lie. "Lita. I really don't know the answer to your question. I know it seems lame I can't answer it, but they are too many things standing in my way." I shook my head trying to keep Pluto's nagging image out of my head.
"I think I have a right to know." She said almost pounding her fist on the table.