This 'fic is for old friends and new ones who've written to me (or
not, but you're forgiven) about "In Another Life: The Legend's
Beginning", namely: Renee, Lianne-sama, Jay-chan, Sue Mei, Ninx,
Mimin, Sue, Razzz, Beverly, Zeena, Anastasia, Connie, Nicole, *both*
Jades, Alina, Beverly, MJ, Andi, Sun Princess, Anonymous, Naru-chan,
Pitzy-chan, Kelly, Hikari, Moon-Star, Ginny Choi, Larkyn, Aurora,
Tigashadow, Pam, Small Lady Bensai, Rosemary, and Crystal Heart.
I know I promised some of you, but I'm not quite done with Episode
Four right now. I'm not happy with the way that it came out, but
once I am, I'll send it in. Once again, gomen.
In a time of peace . . .
In a time of war . . .
Two kingdoms lived side by side . . .
Two hearts cried out for one another . . .
And thus was a legend born.
SAILOR MOON
IN ANOTHER LIFE:
THE LEGEND'S BEGINNING
by Fushigi Kismet
The blue-haired girl stared up at the results posted up on the
wall for an instant, then a slow smile spread across her face. I
did it. I came in first in the National Exams!
Her good mood soon vanished, however, as two voices somewhere in
the crowd to her right rang out. "I don't believe it! That Anderson
girl came in first AGAIN!!!"
"Well, you know how it is with those RICH SNOBS. With enough
money they can buy the best grades in ANY exam."
"Isn't that illegal?"
"SURE it is, but with enough money, even the officials will
overlook it. Anyway, we all know how SHE got her marks."
Anderson-Mizuno Amy felt tears spring to her eyes. It's not
fair! It's just not fair! I *earned* those marks! I studied for
two months and I *earned* that grade!!!
"She's nothing but a cheater," the voice concluded and Amy turned
and ran back into the crowd.
Intelligence: Sailor Mercury
aka
The Cold of Loneliness
Darien and Serena sat on a grassy swath of the park in a rather
isolated area by the lake. He was reading aloud from a thick
textbook, and Serena was pulling at the grass beneath her, her
attention wandering.
Darien turned to look at her, an undercurrent of annoyance in his
voice. "Are you listening?"
"What? Oh, hai." Serena obediently adapted an expression of rapt
attention.
"Well then, the properties of . . ."
She rolled her eyes and gazed skyward, but stopped when Darien
shot her a look that said 'You had better be paying attention,
Odango, because if you fail this science test you and I are BOTH
going to be in hot water' as he read. Sighing, she tried to focus on
what he was reading but couldn't quite succeed.
She was more interested in looking into his dark blue eyes. He
was looking at her now as he read, and as their eyes met, she sighed
happily and the world around her seemed to fade. Everything . . .
Darien's words . . . the slap of the water against the far off dock .
. . the trilling of birds . . . it all faded as she drank in the look
in his eyes. I can even forget about him being a total jerk when I
look into his eyes . . .
Darien's mind was not on reading. He was aware that he was
speaking the words on the page, but his mind was busily working on
another level entirely. It's like drowning and *wanting* to drown .
. . gazing into the endless depths of her eyes . . . Snap out of it,
you fool! This is *Serena* you're thinking about here! The Odango
Atama, the girl who can't walk three steps without falling on her
face, for crying out loud! You must *really* be lonely to be
thinking such things, Darien.
Shut up! Darien yelled at his inner thoughts, but he knew that
he . . . him . . . was right. Great, now I'm thinking of myself in
third person. She's driving me nuts!
Ahhh, I could almost forget. His eyes . . . I know them from
somewhere . . . a long time ago . . . Why can't I remember? It's
like I've seen him in a movie, a fairy tale . . . wake me from this
endless dream, my prince . . . with your . . . Serena stared as his
face inched closer to hers and she closed her eyes with a blissful
sigh . . .
". . . and opposites attract," he finished, his face inches away
from hers. Then he abruptly pulled away and sticking his face back
into his book, said, "Magnets are . . ."
Serena opened her eyes and sighed. So close, and yet so far.
She wondered anew what exactly it was about Darien that attracted
her to him. He was smart and handsome, but he was also obnoxious.
She didn't know why he suddenly seemed so desirable to her, but she
shrugged off the thought. It was just a crush anyway. Nothing would
come of it.
If all else failed, she could still chase Andrew . . . At that
thought, she smiled then proceeded to listen to the sound of Darien's
voice.
An hour later Serena trudged home, her school bag slung over her
shoulder, her pigtails drooping as she remembered her last
conversation with Darien.
'Read Chapters Three through Six for tomorrow. That *is* what
your teacher assigned you to do, right?'
'Well, yeah, but does anyone actually *read* the textbook?'
'Just read them, Odango! Who knows, I might give you extra
exercises tomorrow to see if you did.'
'DON'T CALL ME THAT!'
'Don't contradict the teacher, Odango Atama.'
"Jerk," Serena muttered.
"I take it that you had another wonderful study session?" a
feminine voice asked dryly.
"Oh Luna, come to walk me home or just to gripe at me?" Serena
growled out sarcastically.
"Temper, temper. Actually, I came to see if you were all right
after the study session with insult-boy," the cat announced, walking
on top of the wall that surrounded the expensive houses along the
road.
"Really, Luna?" Serena asked, touched. "I didn't know you cared."
"Of course I care. You need to bring those grades up if you're
going to be a good leader!"
Easy come, easy go . . . "I don't see what getting good grades
has to do with being a leader! Besides, who am I supposed to lead?
You?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Serena. We have to find the other Senshi.
That is our mission."
"Well, how do we do that? You *still* haven't told me anything!"
"Tonight at midnight, meet me at the arcade and I'll explain."
"Oh, all right, Luna. Can we play video games?" she asked,
perking up.
"SERENA!"
"Chill out."
Serena and Luna walked home in silence for a few moments before
Luna couldn't stand it anymore. After taking a quick look around the
road and making sure they were alone, there was a bright flash of
light and the cat-Luna was replaced by the woman-Luna.
Serena stumbled backwards in surprise. "Luna, you scared me! I
thought you didn't like doing that."
"I don't." Luna did not look at Serena, her blue eyes focused on
the street ahead as Serena admired her clothes. She was dressed in a
soft yellow dress that reached to her ankles and yellow pumps. Two
gold crescent moon earrings dangled from her ears and a long crescent
moon pendant hung around her neck. Her long dark hair flowed down
her back save for the four buns atop her head. All in all, she
looked like a slightly oddly dressed but undeniably beautiful sixteen
year old girl.
After a moment, Luna continued to speak. "I don't, but sometimes
I feel as though you don't really listen to me. Maybe it's because
as a cat I don't command much respect, but Serena, I wish you'd
listen to me once in awhile. That would be nice."
"Luna . . . I do listen to you. I might not show it all the time,
but I listen." Now, whether or not I actually do what she says . .
. that's another story . . .
"That's nice to know."
"Luna, what do I call you?"
Luna turned to Serena, startled. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you're a cat and a person too, and I feel weird calling you
Luna-chan or Luna-san."
Luna smiled. "You can just call me Luna. Well, as a person . . .
how about you call me Luna-oneechan?"
"Oneechan . . ." Serena echoed. "I like it!" The two girls
smiled at one another. "That'd make me your imouto, wouldn't it?"
Serena asked.
The smile slipped a little on Luna's face. "Now, I wouldn't go
*that* far, Serena-chan. I'm *still* your advisor and teacher."
"Okay, Neko-oneechan, fair enough."
"Serena!"
"Gomen, gomen, Luna-oneechan," Serena replied, hastily.
Luna sighed, then turned around and began walking away.
"Luna, where're you going? I said I was sorry!"
She turned, her arms outstretched. "What, can't your onee-chan
have some fun too?"
A knowing smile spread across Serena's face as she turned back
around and kept walking. "Sure, 'Nee-chan!" she called back
blithely. "Just remember, you have responsibilities!" Behind her,
she heard Luna groan.
Amy walked dejectedly home from juku. Ever since the episode at
the posting of the National Exams that morning, she had felt
terrible. Terribly lonely. It was hard . . . being alone. Just
because she was smart and well-off, no one seemed to want to
associate with her. She had buried herself in her schoolwork, to
forget the jibes and icy stares that everyone gave her, but that had
only made her grades better and made the other students hate her
more. She was withdrawn, shy, in short: a complete social outcast
from Crossroads Junior High.
Amy dropped her textbook and as she bent to pick it up, she bumped
heads with someone else and noticed the other hand reaching for her
book. Amy backed away and straightened quickly, muttering, "Gomen,
gomen nasai!"
"Hey, it's no big deal. It was my fault anyway."
Amy opened her eyes and found herself face to face with a bubbly,
blue-eyed girl with golden hair down up in twin buns atop her head
and left to trail down in two long ponytails. "You're . . . Usa
Serena."
"And you're Anderson Amy!" Serena chirped cheerfully, holding out
her book. "The smartest girl in Crossroads. I remember by the name.
Forgive me, but "Anderson" is a little odd."
"It's my mother's. My mother and father are divorced . . . She
likes me to use her name. My real last name is . . . Mizuno."
"Oh, Mizuno! That'd make you Mizuno Amy!"
"Legally, it's Anderson-Mizuno Amy, but that's too long and it
sounds weird. I like Mizuno myself."
"Me too! That's what I'll call you by, okay? So if you hear me
yelling for you in class, it'll be me. I have Study Hall with you,
remember?"
"Of course." Amy gingerly took the book and edged back a step or
two. "It's been very nice meeting you. Arigato for picking up my
book, but I really must be going home . . ."
"Hey, I'll walk with you!"
Amy looked at her curiously. "But you were coming from the
*other* direction."
"Yeah well, I was just looking in that window. Isn't the display
pretty?"
Amy craned her neck to look and saw a dark-haired mannequin
dressed in a beautiful white wedding dress. "It's a nice dress."
"Yup, and I'm going to have one *just* like it when I get
married!"
Unable to resist the girl's enthusiasm, Amy smiled despite
herself. "Are you planning on getting married soon?"
Serena paused to consider for a moment. "Well, not exactly
*soon*. I mean, my Dad would *kill* any guy that I dated, but I mean
*someday* I'm getting married."
"Aren't you going to have a career?"
"A career? Well, I haven't thought about it . . ."
"What are your dreams for the future?"
"I'm going to be a bride!"
"Is that it?"
"Um . . . kind of. I just want to find love and be happy."
"That's a nice dream." Amy smiled sadly. One that's not for
me.
"Well, what are *you* going to do?" Serena asked curiously.
"I'm . . . I'm going to be a doctor, like my Mom."
"A doctor, huh? Kakkoii! What kind?"
The blue-haired girl blushed. "Um . . ." Then she noticed that
Serena was walking down the street backwards. "Where are you
going?"
"Are you going my way or what?!" Serena shouted.
Amy hesitated for an instant, then ran down the street after her
new found friend.
"So, you were saying about being a doctor . . ." Serena's voice
trailed off as Amy caught up with her.
After midnight . . .
Luna tapped her foot on the ground impatiently as she waited for
Serena. Where is that girl? Just as she was about to give up and
go home, Serena raced down the road and skidded to a stop in front of
the arcade.
"Serena! I've been waiting for fifteen minutes!"
"Gomen, I overslept!"
"Is that anything new?"
Serena rolled her eyes. "Give it a rest, Luna, it's past my
bedtime. So, what are we here for anyway?"
Luna pressed a hand to the glass doors and they slid open.
"Huh? Hey, Luna, I thought that these were locked!"
"They were." Luna strode in.
"Fine, *don't* tell me anything!" Throwing her hands up in the
air, Serena followed, not noticing the HELP WANTED sign in the
window.
Luna walked over to the arcade game that she had played the first
time that Serena had seen her. She placed her hand on the dark
screen and immediately a red, then a green light surrounded it and
the screen lit up. "Welcome, Luna. Recite the passcode please."
"Kitty walks by moonlight. Senshi fight by daylight. Someday
we'll be all right. Silver-silver magic nine, recite the names.
Advisor advise the soldiers."
"Acknowledged," the voice of the video game said, bleeping. The
screen cleared to that of the High Scores and Luna pressed her
initials. The letters glowed green and the screen pulsed before
shifting to a blank blue screen. A keyboard slid out from the arcade
game, and Luna began to rapidly type something.
"Ah, I understand what L.C. stands for now. Luna Cat!" Serena
suddenly cried.
"It took you *that* long to figure it out?" Luna asked, still
typing.
"Hey, I'm not that good in English!"
"Obviously. You should get Mamo-san to instruct you."
"Hmmph!" Mamo-san, that name sounds so odd. Like it's . . . not
quite right. Soon though, other things came to occupy her concerns.
A section of the floor dropped open next to her, a ramp extending to
the darkness beneath.
"All right, Serena," Luna said, the keyboard having magically
disappeared, "time to enter Central Control."
"There's a secret command center under the *arcade*?!!"
"Of course, Serena-chan. Where else would it be?"
Serena didn't answer as she descended down the ramp, Luna right
behind her.
The Central Control proper was a whole lot better lighted than the
dark arcade upstairs. The whole place was huge, a vast sprawling
expanse of computers and high tech machinery. Serena found a chair
and sat, overwhelmed, as Luna found another computer console and
seemed to continue typing whatever she had been typing upstairs.
"I bet Andrew doesn't know about this place!" Serena exclaimed.
"Of course not. It wouldn't be a *secret* command center if he
did."
"Oh. Yeah. What are you doing, anyway?"
"Typing."
"Uh-huh. Fine, I don't want to be enlightened. Just because you
dragged me down here in the middle of the night to watch you while
you type doesn't mean that you have to actually *tell* me anything."
"Have a little patience."
"I *DO* have a little patience and right now, it's all used up."
Luna ignored her. "Ah, there!"
"LUNA!"
Luna whirled. "Honestly, Serena. Don't so that! You gave me
such a fright. Now, come and have a look."
"At what?" Serena asked, getting to her feet and walking over,
staring at the computer screen with rampant curiosity.
"I've found the next Sailor Senshi!"
"Oh, wow," Serena breathed, staring at the screen, her eyes wide.
"Uh-uh, this is *too* weird."
"What is?" Luna snapped, exasperated.
"That," Serena said, pointing at the screen which read:
Name: Anderson-Mizuno Amy Age: 14
School: Crossroads Junior High Blood type: A
Birthdate: September 10 Sign: Virgo
Senshi: Mercury
* * *
Takahashi Rico chatted amiably with his friends in Study Hall at
the end of the day.
Amy stared at him from across the room, biting her lip repeatedly.
Keep dreaming. Since when has *any* guy looked my way, much less
Takahashi-san! Still, it can't hurt to try. She stared at the
essay that said "Takahashi Rico" along the side. She took a deep
breath and stood up, making her way across the room to him.
Serena watched from where she sat in the corner, a blank piece of
paper in front of her. Amy was . . . Amy was . . . was . . . walking
over to possibly the *meanest* boy in school, despite his good looks.
She winced in sympathy as Amy opened her mouth and began speaking to
him. Oh Amy, you're in for it now.
"Um, um, Takahashi-san, I think you . . . l-l-lost this . . ."
Rico whipped his head around to glare at her, snatching the essay
from her nerveless hand. "What do *you* want? Come to gloat about
scoring first in the Nationals?! I came in *second*, you know!
SECOND!!!"
She blinked back tears, as he continued his tirade. "Well, we
*ALL* know how you came in first. I guess studying wasn't enough for
you, *Anderson*-san. Who's ever heard of such a gaijin name?
*Anderson*." His friends laughed as he maliciously licked his lips
to continue his taunts.
"Well, that's right, your Daddy left your Mommy, didn't he? Or
maybe they were never married at all. What? Can't you say anything?
Too good for us, huh? YEAH RIGHT! We're too good for you! You're
such a spoiled snob!"
Amy backed away, biting her lip, tears in her eyes. "G-Gomen
nasai. I didn't mean . . . to bother you."
"Well, you did!" he snapped.
Amy burst into tears and ran out of the room.
Enraged, Serena stormed over and stabbed him viciously in the
chest with her index finger. "Takahashi Rico, that was just mean!
You're nothing but a bully and a brat! GROW UP!" Then she turned,
and ran out the door after Amy, calling, "Amy-chan, wait!"
"I don't care, run after her, blondie!" he shouted. "You're
nothing but a crybaby and a loser ANYWAY!"
He went too far. Ailan, who had been seated off to the side of
the room and had been attracted by the sound of the shouting, punched
him full in the face. Rico was out like a light.
"*That* is for insulting Serena, you pig," Ailan growled and left
the room in disgust.
Behind him, the room was quiet.
Ann seethed. How DARE he punch a guy out for HER! It would be
all over the school by tomorrow. How much Ailan liked Serena . . .
how cute they looked together . . . Ann gritted her teeth and
clenched her fists. As if the notes weren't bad enough! How can he
do this to me? Doesn't he care anymore . . . about me? We've been
together for such a long time . . . I won't let that blonde airhead
come between us! She's gonna PAY, and that blue-haired twit who
started the whole thing too!
Ann ran out the door.
Melvin turned to Molly and commented, "A lot of people seem to be
leaving class early. I wonder why the teacher doesn't notice."
Molly rolled her eyes and went back to her math homework.
Amy ran. She didn't know where she was going and she didn't care.
Everyone has a breaking point and Amy had just reached hers.
Eventually, her common sense took over and looking around she
realized that she was in an empty lot in a part of Tokyo that she had
never seen before. I'm lost, she thought, coming to the grim
realization. I'm lost and . . .
"Amy!" a voice wheezed and puffed behind her. Turning, Amy saw
Serena slowing down from an obvious run. "Thank goodness I finally
caught you. I must've run ten miles." She turned to look at their
surroundings. "Where are we?"
I'm lost and I've gotten Serena lost. Oh, lovely. "I don't
know."
"Great."
The two girls stood looking at each other for a moment. Then they
dissolved into giggles. The situation was too funny not to laugh.
"So," Serena began, wiping tears from her eyes, "are you okay now,
Amy-chan?"
"I-I guess so, Usa-san."
"Serena-chan, please."
"All right, Serena-chan."
"Actually . . ." Serena began, what she had learned last night
coming to mind. "I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh, what for?" Amy was instantly wary.
"Um . . . well, you see . . . Have you ever heard of Sailor
Moon?"
"What?" Amy asked, surprised by the sudden (to her) shift of
topics.
"Have you ever heard of Sailor Moon?"
"Hai, I . . . guess so. Some people reported seeing her fight
some monsters or something, right?"
"Right. Well, anyway, she's a Sailor Senshi . . . what you might
call a . . . warrior for love and justice. And . . . uh . . . Amy-
chan, you see . . ."
"What are you trying to say, Serena-chan?"
"What I'm trying to say, is . . ."
"Blackjack, take her energy now!" Ann commanded.
"WHAT?!" both girls yelled, turning to see Ann floating in the air
behind them, a card in her hand.
Who needs Ailan! She thought angrily. Once he releases a
cardian with his flute-song, it's easy to summon it. Blackjack's
been collecting a lot of energy at the amusement parks, but I've got
a more important mission for him now. Say good-bye to your little
girlie, Ailan!!!
"NOW BLACKJACK! I summon you to me! DESTROY these little twits
by draining them DRY!!!" She tossed the card into the air.
"BLACKJACK!!!" The cardian burst onto the scene in an explosion
of black and white.
Ann laughed as the girls shrank back, and found that they had no
place to run.
Luna turned her head as she felt a tingling of her senses warning
of danger. What is that girl up to?!! She must be in trouble.
After all, this *is* Serena.
"TWENTY!" the Cardian shouted, tossing an endless deck of cards at
the two girls who scampered and ran out of the way.
"NINETEEN!"
Amy and Serena ducked just as the cards embedded themselves into
the concrete wall of the building behind them.
What I wouldn't give for my tiara about now! Serena looked
sideways at Amy. Well, she's a Senshi too . . . I can transform!
But . . . the bad guys will see me. Rats!
"TWENTY-ONE! I WIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!"
The razor-sharp cards flew out at Amy and Serena, pinning their
clothes to the wall and shredding the sleeves and edges of their
uniforms as they screamed.
"We have them!" Ann crowed triumphantly.
"I don't think so!" Luna catapulted through the air in a blur of
black and yellow and knocked Ann down.
"Who are YOU?!!" Ann screeched.
Luna, still holding her down, glared at her with icy blue eyes.
"No friend of *yours*, that's for sure."
Then she shouted, "Haiyaku, Senshi, save those girls!" I hope
Serena gets the hint while I distract little Miss Green and Pink
here.
Ann struggled to get up and see what was going on but Luna held
her fast to the ground.
Serena heard Luna and understood. Unfortunately, she was pinned
to the wall at the moment and unable to move. The things I get
myself in to!
Just then, a brilliant red rose flashed through the air and the
cards holding her and Amy fast disappeared and the two girls stumbled
forward. Serena turned to look for Tuxedo Kamen. He must know who I
am . . . Seeing nothing, she hesitated for a moment, turning
towards Amy, her mouth open to speak. She closed it upon seeing the
cardian looming up before them, still tossing cards. She pushed Amy
away and leapt out of the way right before another explosion of
cards.
Here goes nothing. "MOON PRISM POWER . . . MAKE-UP!"
Energy flowed from her brooch and wrapped around Serena, bathing
her in iridescent pink light. Silver light interlaced with the pink
and together they solidified and formed ribbons that burst apart in
an explosion of light and white feathers. When the light faded, the
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon stood in place of the girl, Serena.
She turned to the blue-haired girl sprawled on the ground, staring
up at her in amazement. Time for a Luna line. "Quick Amy,
henshin-yo!"
"Huh?" the girl stared at her in confusion. "What do you mean?
Who *are* you? You can't be Serena!"
"Amy, please, I need your help! Just . . . transform."
"Serena . . . I can't. I don't have your power. I can't do it.
You don't need me. This isn't anything more than a dream, anyway.
None of this . . . can be real."
"AMY!"
"Gomen, Serena-san. You don't need me," the girl whispered with
wide eyes.
Luna was still holding down Ann when Ailan materialized, knocked
her back with a wave of his arm and a flash of power, and gathering
Ann to him, disappeared. Luna stared, then turned with a curse to
the scene behind her. She got away! What she saw made her eyes
widen and she hurriedly sprinted to the girls, unable to speak, fear
choking her throat. Serena! Serena . . .
"Amy, you're a Senshi too. Try . . ."
"I can't . . ."
Just then the cardian snatched Serena from behind, its arm around
her neck, its huge clawed hand holding one of the razor-sharp cards
to her throat. "Bye-bye, Sailor girl," it whispered in a throaty
voice.
Serena looked at Amy, tears filling her blue eyes.
"No," Amy whispered. This isn't real. This isn't happening.
But, I can't let her down. I can't. "NO!!!" she screamed again,
scrambling to her feet.
"Amy!" Luna shouted, tossing her a blue pen that glittered
in the air. "Mercury Power! The words . . . Mercury Power!"
Amy caught the pen, then turned to Luna and nodded. "Mercury
Power MAKE-UP!"
With a bright blue flash of light, a sparkling mist surrounded
her. Then the individual droplets massed and with a shimmer blurred
together. They spiraled around to form bright blue lines that
encircled her body and twined around her. In an instant they had
formed her blue sailor fuku, boots, tiara, and two sapphire earrings.
Amy had become the Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Mercury.
In that instant, Sailor Moon slipped free of the Cardian's grasp
as he watched Sailor Mercury, befuddled. (Ah! Ecchi!!!-Amy)
The cardian paid no attention to the change in situation. It simply shrugged and continued tossing cards that the two Senshi were
forced to avoid.
Sailor Moon turned to Sailor Mercury. "Amy! Quick, I need a
distraction! I can't perform my attack if it keeps tossing cards!"
Amy nodded. "I understand." She turned to the cardian. "Hey,
hey you, yeah you, look over here!" The cardian turned to look at
her as Sailor Moon stared at her with a sweat drop. What is she
*DOING*?!!
Luna was wondering the same thing.
However, Amy had thing well in hand. "Well, now that I've gotten
your attention . . . SHABON SPRAY!!!!"
The area was immediately flooded in cold mist and the cardian
looked about in confusion, unable to see to throw its cards.
"NOW, SAILOR MOON!!!" Amy's disembodied voice shouted.
"Moon Tiara . . . ACTION!!!" The moon frisbee cut through the
mist and sliced through the cardian, leaving only a smoking card
behind. Well, there goes my speech. Good going, Amy!
"Ann! What did you think you were doing?!" Ailan yelled, once he
and Ann were safely home.
"Taking revenge! You love HER not ME!!!" She burst into tears.
Ailan gathered her into his arms. "Shhh shhhh, my sweet. Don't
cry." I don't know if I love Serena or not . . . but I do know that
I love you.
"You don't love me anymore! It's this world that's doing it! Why
can't it just be the two of us again? The way it was before? We
could be happy . . ."
"There is a reason, my love. Look there." He turned her face to
look at the Tree. "It's dying, love. You know that as well as I,
and without it, we too shall perish."
"We can't . . . let it die." Her eyes swirled oddly with a flurry
of rainbow colors. "We can't. The Tree . . . depends on us, and we
on it."
"That's right, love." Ailan kissed her forehead. "That's right.
And you're part of the Tree, more than I, more than anyone. That's
why you can't take risks like that. You have to stay safe. The Tree
depends on you. I can summon the cardians."
"Ailan, do you love me?" Ann asked, her voice small as she huddled
against his chest, half asleep.
"You know I do. You know I do."
"You promised, after all . . ."
"Yes, I promised to love you."
"For forever and ever and ever . . ." Ann drifted off into an
uneasy slumber, spent. Ailan stared at the tree as more and more of
its leaves began withering and dying without the energy from
Blackjack to sustain it . . .
"We can't let it die," Ann murmured as she slept.
"No, we can't."
"You're Sailor Mercury!" Serena shrieked, happily, as the mist
dissipated.
"Sailor . . . Mercury?" Amy asked, for once slow to catch on as
she stared at the strange outfits that both she and Serena were
wearing.
"Yeah! Isn't this great? We can talk to each other about Senshi
stuff. We're friends. Real friends."
Amy looked at Serena, then a smile slowly spread across her face.
"Real friends," she echoed.
Then she ran and threw her arms around Serena, who smiled and
whispered as she hugged her back, "Real friends, Amy-chan. Real
friends."
Luna smiled and with a flash of light turned back into a cat. Amy
stared. "A cat . . . you're a cat . . ."
"One who talks."
Amy promptly fainted.
From high overhead, a black-clad figure whispered into the night,
"That's two . . . Endymion, the time for your choice grows nearer
and nearer with every passing breath. Choose well." Then he
vanished.
A man with long blonde hair tied back from his face stood in a
busy airport terminal, a heavy-looking blue suitcase in his left
hand. He scowled irritatingly at the scrap of paper with an address
scrawled across it held tightly in his right hand. Damn
handwriting! You'd *think* that it would improve after seven years,
but oh no . . . He can't be bothered!
"Still complaining about my handwriting?" a low voice asked dryly.
The blonde-haired man looked up, relief and irritation mingled in
his expression. "Don't give me that crap! Hey . . . how'd you know
what I was thinking, anyway?"
The other man chuckled. "I know you. Even after seven years, you
haven't changed one bit!"
The blonde glared at the other, but with a sudden change of
expression, he set the suitcase down with a thud and embraced the man
in a brotherly manner, slapping him on the back. "How've you been?"
"Fine. And you?"
"Well, aside from the jet lag and the fact that the stewardess was
an idiot . . ."
The other man frowned.
The blonde-haired one sighed. "All right, all right, no more
complaining about ditzy stewardesses. I know what you want to know.
The dreams, right?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah, they're still coming. You?"
"Of course. I wouldn't have asked you to come if they weren't."
"I'm hurt. Really, I am. Does our friendship mean *nothing* to
you?"
The other broke into a smile. "Would I have come to pick you up
if it didn't?"
"Yeah, 'cause you *know* that I'd end up wandering around Tokyo if
you didn't." He hefted up his suitcase.
"Well, that too . . ." the other man trailed off, as the two
walked off together, and the blonde hit him in the arm in annoyance.
To be continued . . .
Usa Serena/Tsukino Usagi
Luna/Luna
Mamo Darien/Chiba Mamoru
Anderson-Mizuno Amy/Mizuno Ami
Baker Molly/Osaka Naru
Minnow Melvin/Umino Gurio
A(i)lan Galaxy/Ail Ginga
Ann Galaxy/Ann Ginga
Fiore Et/Fiore
The two mysterious men? *Heh-heh* If you can't guess, then I'm not going
to tell you!
Arigato=Thank you
Bishoujo=Pretty
Fuku=Uniform
Gomen=I'm sorry
Gomen nasai=I'm really sorry
Gaijin=foreigner (a bit derogative)
Hai=Yes
Haiyaku=Hurry
Henshin-yo!=Transform!
Juku=Cram school
Kakkoii=Cool
Neko=Cat
Odango Atama=Dumpling head
Odango=Dumpling
Oneechan=Big sister
Senshi=Soldier(s)
Shabon=Bubbles
Here's my list of *excellent* fanfic authors, in absolutely NO
particular order. (Probably order of knowledge of existence if
anything. I love you *ALL*, minna. Even if you don't know that I
exist. ^_^) I've simply been keeping a list of authors that I've
read. ^^;;; Oh, these are *also* people that I'm pretty sure
haven't fallen off the face of the earth and have been heard from,
from time to time. If you were in my previous list and absent in
this one, it does NOT mean that I love your works any less, it's just
that you haven't updated in FOREVER. Well, there are a few people
here who haven't but since they usually update sporadically at best,
I'm not worried. Oh, and If I've forgotten anyone, apologies all
around, 'kay? I *still* haven't read *everybody's* stuff.
Monica, Lady, Jendra, Tenshi, Jenn, John Biles, Jeff Hosmer, Connie
Somerville Kotkin, Lianne-sama, Ross TenEyck, Janelle Jimenez, Eric
"Greywolf" den Biesen, Larry Drews, Renee Markowicz, Lauren Griffin,
Douglas Helm, "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl, Jennifer A. Wand, Pandora
Waldron, Ninx, Andrew Garde, Chris Davies, Fiona Lim, Mike Chenoweth,
Surreal World People, Amethist, SMCS Crew, Andrew M. Hujsak, Laurel
Anne, Razzz, Sailor Kity, Jupiter Knight, Naru-chan and Pitzy Chan,
Crystal Heart, MJ, Sue Mei, Sue, becki, Mark Berger, Ken Wolfe,
Anonymous, Beverly Aliss, Merlyn Baker, and Alina.
not, but you're forgiven) about "In Another Life: The Legend's
Beginning", namely: Renee, Lianne-sama, Jay-chan, Sue Mei, Ninx,
Mimin, Sue, Razzz, Beverly, Zeena, Anastasia, Connie, Nicole, *both*
Jades, Alina, Beverly, MJ, Andi, Sun Princess, Anonymous, Naru-chan,
Pitzy-chan, Kelly, Hikari, Moon-Star, Ginny Choi, Larkyn, Aurora,
Tigashadow, Pam, Small Lady Bensai, Rosemary, and Crystal Heart.
I know I promised some of you, but I'm not quite done with Episode
Four right now. I'm not happy with the way that it came out, but
once I am, I'll send it in. Once again, gomen.
In a time of peace . . .
In a time of war . . .
Two kingdoms lived side by side . . .
Two hearts cried out for one another . . .
And thus was a legend born.
SAILOR MOON
IN ANOTHER LIFE:
THE LEGEND'S BEGINNING
by Fushigi Kismet
The blue-haired girl stared up at the results posted up on the
wall for an instant, then a slow smile spread across her face. I
did it. I came in first in the National Exams!
Her good mood soon vanished, however, as two voices somewhere in
the crowd to her right rang out. "I don't believe it! That Anderson
girl came in first AGAIN!!!"
"Well, you know how it is with those RICH SNOBS. With enough
money they can buy the best grades in ANY exam."
"Isn't that illegal?"
"SURE it is, but with enough money, even the officials will
overlook it. Anyway, we all know how SHE got her marks."
Anderson-Mizuno Amy felt tears spring to her eyes. It's not
fair! It's just not fair! I *earned* those marks! I studied for
two months and I *earned* that grade!!!
"She's nothing but a cheater," the voice concluded and Amy turned
and ran back into the crowd.
Intelligence: Sailor Mercury
aka
The Cold of Loneliness
Darien and Serena sat on a grassy swath of the park in a rather
isolated area by the lake. He was reading aloud from a thick
textbook, and Serena was pulling at the grass beneath her, her
attention wandering.
Darien turned to look at her, an undercurrent of annoyance in his
voice. "Are you listening?"
"What? Oh, hai." Serena obediently adapted an expression of rapt
attention.
"Well then, the properties of . . ."
She rolled her eyes and gazed skyward, but stopped when Darien
shot her a look that said 'You had better be paying attention,
Odango, because if you fail this science test you and I are BOTH
going to be in hot water' as he read. Sighing, she tried to focus on
what he was reading but couldn't quite succeed.
She was more interested in looking into his dark blue eyes. He
was looking at her now as he read, and as their eyes met, she sighed
happily and the world around her seemed to fade. Everything . . .
Darien's words . . . the slap of the water against the far off dock .
. . the trilling of birds . . . it all faded as she drank in the look
in his eyes. I can even forget about him being a total jerk when I
look into his eyes . . .
Darien's mind was not on reading. He was aware that he was
speaking the words on the page, but his mind was busily working on
another level entirely. It's like drowning and *wanting* to drown .
. . gazing into the endless depths of her eyes . . . Snap out of it,
you fool! This is *Serena* you're thinking about here! The Odango
Atama, the girl who can't walk three steps without falling on her
face, for crying out loud! You must *really* be lonely to be
thinking such things, Darien.
Shut up! Darien yelled at his inner thoughts, but he knew that
he . . . him . . . was right. Great, now I'm thinking of myself in
third person. She's driving me nuts!
Ahhh, I could almost forget. His eyes . . . I know them from
somewhere . . . a long time ago . . . Why can't I remember? It's
like I've seen him in a movie, a fairy tale . . . wake me from this
endless dream, my prince . . . with your . . . Serena stared as his
face inched closer to hers and she closed her eyes with a blissful
sigh . . .
". . . and opposites attract," he finished, his face inches away
from hers. Then he abruptly pulled away and sticking his face back
into his book, said, "Magnets are . . ."
Serena opened her eyes and sighed. So close, and yet so far.
She wondered anew what exactly it was about Darien that attracted
her to him. He was smart and handsome, but he was also obnoxious.
She didn't know why he suddenly seemed so desirable to her, but she
shrugged off the thought. It was just a crush anyway. Nothing would
come of it.
If all else failed, she could still chase Andrew . . . At that
thought, she smiled then proceeded to listen to the sound of Darien's
voice.
An hour later Serena trudged home, her school bag slung over her
shoulder, her pigtails drooping as she remembered her last
conversation with Darien.
'Read Chapters Three through Six for tomorrow. That *is* what
your teacher assigned you to do, right?'
'Well, yeah, but does anyone actually *read* the textbook?'
'Just read them, Odango! Who knows, I might give you extra
exercises tomorrow to see if you did.'
'DON'T CALL ME THAT!'
'Don't contradict the teacher, Odango Atama.'
"Jerk," Serena muttered.
"I take it that you had another wonderful study session?" a
feminine voice asked dryly.
"Oh Luna, come to walk me home or just to gripe at me?" Serena
growled out sarcastically.
"Temper, temper. Actually, I came to see if you were all right
after the study session with insult-boy," the cat announced, walking
on top of the wall that surrounded the expensive houses along the
road.
"Really, Luna?" Serena asked, touched. "I didn't know you cared."
"Of course I care. You need to bring those grades up if you're
going to be a good leader!"
Easy come, easy go . . . "I don't see what getting good grades
has to do with being a leader! Besides, who am I supposed to lead?
You?"
"Don't be ridiculous, Serena. We have to find the other Senshi.
That is our mission."
"Well, how do we do that? You *still* haven't told me anything!"
"Tonight at midnight, meet me at the arcade and I'll explain."
"Oh, all right, Luna. Can we play video games?" she asked,
perking up.
"SERENA!"
"Chill out."
Serena and Luna walked home in silence for a few moments before
Luna couldn't stand it anymore. After taking a quick look around the
road and making sure they were alone, there was a bright flash of
light and the cat-Luna was replaced by the woman-Luna.
Serena stumbled backwards in surprise. "Luna, you scared me! I
thought you didn't like doing that."
"I don't." Luna did not look at Serena, her blue eyes focused on
the street ahead as Serena admired her clothes. She was dressed in a
soft yellow dress that reached to her ankles and yellow pumps. Two
gold crescent moon earrings dangled from her ears and a long crescent
moon pendant hung around her neck. Her long dark hair flowed down
her back save for the four buns atop her head. All in all, she
looked like a slightly oddly dressed but undeniably beautiful sixteen
year old girl.
After a moment, Luna continued to speak. "I don't, but sometimes
I feel as though you don't really listen to me. Maybe it's because
as a cat I don't command much respect, but Serena, I wish you'd
listen to me once in awhile. That would be nice."
"Luna . . . I do listen to you. I might not show it all the time,
but I listen." Now, whether or not I actually do what she says . .
. that's another story . . .
"That's nice to know."
"Luna, what do I call you?"
Luna turned to Serena, startled. "What do you mean?"
"Well, you're a cat and a person too, and I feel weird calling you
Luna-chan or Luna-san."
Luna smiled. "You can just call me Luna. Well, as a person . . .
how about you call me Luna-oneechan?"
"Oneechan . . ." Serena echoed. "I like it!" The two girls
smiled at one another. "That'd make me your imouto, wouldn't it?"
Serena asked.
The smile slipped a little on Luna's face. "Now, I wouldn't go
*that* far, Serena-chan. I'm *still* your advisor and teacher."
"Okay, Neko-oneechan, fair enough."
"Serena!"
"Gomen, gomen, Luna-oneechan," Serena replied, hastily.
Luna sighed, then turned around and began walking away.
"Luna, where're you going? I said I was sorry!"
She turned, her arms outstretched. "What, can't your onee-chan
have some fun too?"
A knowing smile spread across Serena's face as she turned back
around and kept walking. "Sure, 'Nee-chan!" she called back
blithely. "Just remember, you have responsibilities!" Behind her,
she heard Luna groan.
Amy walked dejectedly home from juku. Ever since the episode at
the posting of the National Exams that morning, she had felt
terrible. Terribly lonely. It was hard . . . being alone. Just
because she was smart and well-off, no one seemed to want to
associate with her. She had buried herself in her schoolwork, to
forget the jibes and icy stares that everyone gave her, but that had
only made her grades better and made the other students hate her
more. She was withdrawn, shy, in short: a complete social outcast
from Crossroads Junior High.
Amy dropped her textbook and as she bent to pick it up, she bumped
heads with someone else and noticed the other hand reaching for her
book. Amy backed away and straightened quickly, muttering, "Gomen,
gomen nasai!"
"Hey, it's no big deal. It was my fault anyway."
Amy opened her eyes and found herself face to face with a bubbly,
blue-eyed girl with golden hair down up in twin buns atop her head
and left to trail down in two long ponytails. "You're . . . Usa
Serena."
"And you're Anderson Amy!" Serena chirped cheerfully, holding out
her book. "The smartest girl in Crossroads. I remember by the name.
Forgive me, but "Anderson" is a little odd."
"It's my mother's. My mother and father are divorced . . . She
likes me to use her name. My real last name is . . . Mizuno."
"Oh, Mizuno! That'd make you Mizuno Amy!"
"Legally, it's Anderson-Mizuno Amy, but that's too long and it
sounds weird. I like Mizuno myself."
"Me too! That's what I'll call you by, okay? So if you hear me
yelling for you in class, it'll be me. I have Study Hall with you,
remember?"
"Of course." Amy gingerly took the book and edged back a step or
two. "It's been very nice meeting you. Arigato for picking up my
book, but I really must be going home . . ."
"Hey, I'll walk with you!"
Amy looked at her curiously. "But you were coming from the
*other* direction."
"Yeah well, I was just looking in that window. Isn't the display
pretty?"
Amy craned her neck to look and saw a dark-haired mannequin
dressed in a beautiful white wedding dress. "It's a nice dress."
"Yup, and I'm going to have one *just* like it when I get
married!"
Unable to resist the girl's enthusiasm, Amy smiled despite
herself. "Are you planning on getting married soon?"
Serena paused to consider for a moment. "Well, not exactly
*soon*. I mean, my Dad would *kill* any guy that I dated, but I mean
*someday* I'm getting married."
"Aren't you going to have a career?"
"A career? Well, I haven't thought about it . . ."
"What are your dreams for the future?"
"I'm going to be a bride!"
"Is that it?"
"Um . . . kind of. I just want to find love and be happy."
"That's a nice dream." Amy smiled sadly. One that's not for
me.
"Well, what are *you* going to do?" Serena asked curiously.
"I'm . . . I'm going to be a doctor, like my Mom."
"A doctor, huh? Kakkoii! What kind?"
The blue-haired girl blushed. "Um . . ." Then she noticed that
Serena was walking down the street backwards. "Where are you
going?"
"Are you going my way or what?!" Serena shouted.
Amy hesitated for an instant, then ran down the street after her
new found friend.
"So, you were saying about being a doctor . . ." Serena's voice
trailed off as Amy caught up with her.
After midnight . . .
Luna tapped her foot on the ground impatiently as she waited for
Serena. Where is that girl? Just as she was about to give up and
go home, Serena raced down the road and skidded to a stop in front of
the arcade.
"Serena! I've been waiting for fifteen minutes!"
"Gomen, I overslept!"
"Is that anything new?"
Serena rolled her eyes. "Give it a rest, Luna, it's past my
bedtime. So, what are we here for anyway?"
Luna pressed a hand to the glass doors and they slid open.
"Huh? Hey, Luna, I thought that these were locked!"
"They were." Luna strode in.
"Fine, *don't* tell me anything!" Throwing her hands up in the
air, Serena followed, not noticing the HELP WANTED sign in the
window.
Luna walked over to the arcade game that she had played the first
time that Serena had seen her. She placed her hand on the dark
screen and immediately a red, then a green light surrounded it and
the screen lit up. "Welcome, Luna. Recite the passcode please."
"Kitty walks by moonlight. Senshi fight by daylight. Someday
we'll be all right. Silver-silver magic nine, recite the names.
Advisor advise the soldiers."
"Acknowledged," the voice of the video game said, bleeping. The
screen cleared to that of the High Scores and Luna pressed her
initials. The letters glowed green and the screen pulsed before
shifting to a blank blue screen. A keyboard slid out from the arcade
game, and Luna began to rapidly type something.
"Ah, I understand what L.C. stands for now. Luna Cat!" Serena
suddenly cried.
"It took you *that* long to figure it out?" Luna asked, still
typing.
"Hey, I'm not that good in English!"
"Obviously. You should get Mamo-san to instruct you."
"Hmmph!" Mamo-san, that name sounds so odd. Like it's . . . not
quite right. Soon though, other things came to occupy her concerns.
A section of the floor dropped open next to her, a ramp extending to
the darkness beneath.
"All right, Serena," Luna said, the keyboard having magically
disappeared, "time to enter Central Control."
"There's a secret command center under the *arcade*?!!"
"Of course, Serena-chan. Where else would it be?"
Serena didn't answer as she descended down the ramp, Luna right
behind her.
The Central Control proper was a whole lot better lighted than the
dark arcade upstairs. The whole place was huge, a vast sprawling
expanse of computers and high tech machinery. Serena found a chair
and sat, overwhelmed, as Luna found another computer console and
seemed to continue typing whatever she had been typing upstairs.
"I bet Andrew doesn't know about this place!" Serena exclaimed.
"Of course not. It wouldn't be a *secret* command center if he
did."
"Oh. Yeah. What are you doing, anyway?"
"Typing."
"Uh-huh. Fine, I don't want to be enlightened. Just because you
dragged me down here in the middle of the night to watch you while
you type doesn't mean that you have to actually *tell* me anything."
"Have a little patience."
"I *DO* have a little patience and right now, it's all used up."
Luna ignored her. "Ah, there!"
"LUNA!"
Luna whirled. "Honestly, Serena. Don't so that! You gave me
such a fright. Now, come and have a look."
"At what?" Serena asked, getting to her feet and walking over,
staring at the computer screen with rampant curiosity.
"I've found the next Sailor Senshi!"
"Oh, wow," Serena breathed, staring at the screen, her eyes wide.
"Uh-uh, this is *too* weird."
"What is?" Luna snapped, exasperated.
"That," Serena said, pointing at the screen which read:
Name: Anderson-Mizuno Amy Age: 14
School: Crossroads Junior High Blood type: A
Birthdate: September 10 Sign: Virgo
Senshi: Mercury
* * *
Takahashi Rico chatted amiably with his friends in Study Hall at
the end of the day.
Amy stared at him from across the room, biting her lip repeatedly.
Keep dreaming. Since when has *any* guy looked my way, much less
Takahashi-san! Still, it can't hurt to try. She stared at the
essay that said "Takahashi Rico" along the side. She took a deep
breath and stood up, making her way across the room to him.
Serena watched from where she sat in the corner, a blank piece of
paper in front of her. Amy was . . . Amy was . . . was . . . walking
over to possibly the *meanest* boy in school, despite his good looks.
She winced in sympathy as Amy opened her mouth and began speaking to
him. Oh Amy, you're in for it now.
"Um, um, Takahashi-san, I think you . . . l-l-lost this . . ."
Rico whipped his head around to glare at her, snatching the essay
from her nerveless hand. "What do *you* want? Come to gloat about
scoring first in the Nationals?! I came in *second*, you know!
SECOND!!!"
She blinked back tears, as he continued his tirade. "Well, we
*ALL* know how you came in first. I guess studying wasn't enough for
you, *Anderson*-san. Who's ever heard of such a gaijin name?
*Anderson*." His friends laughed as he maliciously licked his lips
to continue his taunts.
"Well, that's right, your Daddy left your Mommy, didn't he? Or
maybe they were never married at all. What? Can't you say anything?
Too good for us, huh? YEAH RIGHT! We're too good for you! You're
such a spoiled snob!"
Amy backed away, biting her lip, tears in her eyes. "G-Gomen
nasai. I didn't mean . . . to bother you."
"Well, you did!" he snapped.
Amy burst into tears and ran out of the room.
Enraged, Serena stormed over and stabbed him viciously in the
chest with her index finger. "Takahashi Rico, that was just mean!
You're nothing but a bully and a brat! GROW UP!" Then she turned,
and ran out the door after Amy, calling, "Amy-chan, wait!"
"I don't care, run after her, blondie!" he shouted. "You're
nothing but a crybaby and a loser ANYWAY!"
He went too far. Ailan, who had been seated off to the side of
the room and had been attracted by the sound of the shouting, punched
him full in the face. Rico was out like a light.
"*That* is for insulting Serena, you pig," Ailan growled and left
the room in disgust.
Behind him, the room was quiet.
Ann seethed. How DARE he punch a guy out for HER! It would be
all over the school by tomorrow. How much Ailan liked Serena . . .
how cute they looked together . . . Ann gritted her teeth and
clenched her fists. As if the notes weren't bad enough! How can he
do this to me? Doesn't he care anymore . . . about me? We've been
together for such a long time . . . I won't let that blonde airhead
come between us! She's gonna PAY, and that blue-haired twit who
started the whole thing too!
Ann ran out the door.
Melvin turned to Molly and commented, "A lot of people seem to be
leaving class early. I wonder why the teacher doesn't notice."
Molly rolled her eyes and went back to her math homework.
Amy ran. She didn't know where she was going and she didn't care.
Everyone has a breaking point and Amy had just reached hers.
Eventually, her common sense took over and looking around she
realized that she was in an empty lot in a part of Tokyo that she had
never seen before. I'm lost, she thought, coming to the grim
realization. I'm lost and . . .
"Amy!" a voice wheezed and puffed behind her. Turning, Amy saw
Serena slowing down from an obvious run. "Thank goodness I finally
caught you. I must've run ten miles." She turned to look at their
surroundings. "Where are we?"
I'm lost and I've gotten Serena lost. Oh, lovely. "I don't
know."
"Great."
The two girls stood looking at each other for a moment. Then they
dissolved into giggles. The situation was too funny not to laugh.
"So," Serena began, wiping tears from her eyes, "are you okay now,
Amy-chan?"
"I-I guess so, Usa-san."
"Serena-chan, please."
"All right, Serena-chan."
"Actually . . ." Serena began, what she had learned last night
coming to mind. "I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh, what for?" Amy was instantly wary.
"Um . . . well, you see . . . Have you ever heard of Sailor
Moon?"
"What?" Amy asked, surprised by the sudden (to her) shift of
topics.
"Have you ever heard of Sailor Moon?"
"Hai, I . . . guess so. Some people reported seeing her fight
some monsters or something, right?"
"Right. Well, anyway, she's a Sailor Senshi . . . what you might
call a . . . warrior for love and justice. And . . . uh . . . Amy-
chan, you see . . ."
"What are you trying to say, Serena-chan?"
"What I'm trying to say, is . . ."
"Blackjack, take her energy now!" Ann commanded.
"WHAT?!" both girls yelled, turning to see Ann floating in the air
behind them, a card in her hand.
Who needs Ailan! She thought angrily. Once he releases a
cardian with his flute-song, it's easy to summon it. Blackjack's
been collecting a lot of energy at the amusement parks, but I've got
a more important mission for him now. Say good-bye to your little
girlie, Ailan!!!
"NOW BLACKJACK! I summon you to me! DESTROY these little twits
by draining them DRY!!!" She tossed the card into the air.
"BLACKJACK!!!" The cardian burst onto the scene in an explosion
of black and white.
Ann laughed as the girls shrank back, and found that they had no
place to run.
Luna turned her head as she felt a tingling of her senses warning
of danger. What is that girl up to?!! She must be in trouble.
After all, this *is* Serena.
"TWENTY!" the Cardian shouted, tossing an endless deck of cards at
the two girls who scampered and ran out of the way.
"NINETEEN!"
Amy and Serena ducked just as the cards embedded themselves into
the concrete wall of the building behind them.
What I wouldn't give for my tiara about now! Serena looked
sideways at Amy. Well, she's a Senshi too . . . I can transform!
But . . . the bad guys will see me. Rats!
"TWENTY-ONE! I WIIIIINNNNNN!!!!!!!!"
The razor-sharp cards flew out at Amy and Serena, pinning their
clothes to the wall and shredding the sleeves and edges of their
uniforms as they screamed.
"We have them!" Ann crowed triumphantly.
"I don't think so!" Luna catapulted through the air in a blur of
black and yellow and knocked Ann down.
"Who are YOU?!!" Ann screeched.
Luna, still holding her down, glared at her with icy blue eyes.
"No friend of *yours*, that's for sure."
Then she shouted, "Haiyaku, Senshi, save those girls!" I hope
Serena gets the hint while I distract little Miss Green and Pink
here.
Ann struggled to get up and see what was going on but Luna held
her fast to the ground.
Serena heard Luna and understood. Unfortunately, she was pinned
to the wall at the moment and unable to move. The things I get
myself in to!
Just then, a brilliant red rose flashed through the air and the
cards holding her and Amy fast disappeared and the two girls stumbled
forward. Serena turned to look for Tuxedo Kamen. He must know who I
am . . . Seeing nothing, she hesitated for a moment, turning
towards Amy, her mouth open to speak. She closed it upon seeing the
cardian looming up before them, still tossing cards. She pushed Amy
away and leapt out of the way right before another explosion of
cards.
Here goes nothing. "MOON PRISM POWER . . . MAKE-UP!"
Energy flowed from her brooch and wrapped around Serena, bathing
her in iridescent pink light. Silver light interlaced with the pink
and together they solidified and formed ribbons that burst apart in
an explosion of light and white feathers. When the light faded, the
Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon stood in place of the girl, Serena.
She turned to the blue-haired girl sprawled on the ground, staring
up at her in amazement. Time for a Luna line. "Quick Amy,
henshin-yo!"
"Huh?" the girl stared at her in confusion. "What do you mean?
Who *are* you? You can't be Serena!"
"Amy, please, I need your help! Just . . . transform."
"Serena . . . I can't. I don't have your power. I can't do it.
You don't need me. This isn't anything more than a dream, anyway.
None of this . . . can be real."
"AMY!"
"Gomen, Serena-san. You don't need me," the girl whispered with
wide eyes.
Luna was still holding down Ann when Ailan materialized, knocked
her back with a wave of his arm and a flash of power, and gathering
Ann to him, disappeared. Luna stared, then turned with a curse to
the scene behind her. She got away! What she saw made her eyes
widen and she hurriedly sprinted to the girls, unable to speak, fear
choking her throat. Serena! Serena . . .
"Amy, you're a Senshi too. Try . . ."
"I can't . . ."
Just then the cardian snatched Serena from behind, its arm around
her neck, its huge clawed hand holding one of the razor-sharp cards
to her throat. "Bye-bye, Sailor girl," it whispered in a throaty
voice.
Serena looked at Amy, tears filling her blue eyes.
"No," Amy whispered. This isn't real. This isn't happening.
But, I can't let her down. I can't. "NO!!!" she screamed again,
scrambling to her feet.
"Amy!" Luna shouted, tossing her a blue pen that glittered
in the air. "Mercury Power! The words . . . Mercury Power!"
Amy caught the pen, then turned to Luna and nodded. "Mercury
Power MAKE-UP!"
With a bright blue flash of light, a sparkling mist surrounded
her. Then the individual droplets massed and with a shimmer blurred
together. They spiraled around to form bright blue lines that
encircled her body and twined around her. In an instant they had
formed her blue sailor fuku, boots, tiara, and two sapphire earrings.
Amy had become the Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Mercury.
In that instant, Sailor Moon slipped free of the Cardian's grasp
as he watched Sailor Mercury, befuddled. (Ah! Ecchi!!!-Amy)
The cardian paid no attention to the change in situation. It simply shrugged and continued tossing cards that the two Senshi were
forced to avoid.
Sailor Moon turned to Sailor Mercury. "Amy! Quick, I need a
distraction! I can't perform my attack if it keeps tossing cards!"
Amy nodded. "I understand." She turned to the cardian. "Hey,
hey you, yeah you, look over here!" The cardian turned to look at
her as Sailor Moon stared at her with a sweat drop. What is she
*DOING*?!!
Luna was wondering the same thing.
However, Amy had thing well in hand. "Well, now that I've gotten
your attention . . . SHABON SPRAY!!!!"
The area was immediately flooded in cold mist and the cardian
looked about in confusion, unable to see to throw its cards.
"NOW, SAILOR MOON!!!" Amy's disembodied voice shouted.
"Moon Tiara . . . ACTION!!!" The moon frisbee cut through the
mist and sliced through the cardian, leaving only a smoking card
behind. Well, there goes my speech. Good going, Amy!
"Ann! What did you think you were doing?!" Ailan yelled, once he
and Ann were safely home.
"Taking revenge! You love HER not ME!!!" She burst into tears.
Ailan gathered her into his arms. "Shhh shhhh, my sweet. Don't
cry." I don't know if I love Serena or not . . . but I do know that
I love you.
"You don't love me anymore! It's this world that's doing it! Why
can't it just be the two of us again? The way it was before? We
could be happy . . ."
"There is a reason, my love. Look there." He turned her face to
look at the Tree. "It's dying, love. You know that as well as I,
and without it, we too shall perish."
"We can't . . . let it die." Her eyes swirled oddly with a flurry
of rainbow colors. "We can't. The Tree . . . depends on us, and we
on it."
"That's right, love." Ailan kissed her forehead. "That's right.
And you're part of the Tree, more than I, more than anyone. That's
why you can't take risks like that. You have to stay safe. The Tree
depends on you. I can summon the cardians."
"Ailan, do you love me?" Ann asked, her voice small as she huddled
against his chest, half asleep.
"You know I do. You know I do."
"You promised, after all . . ."
"Yes, I promised to love you."
"For forever and ever and ever . . ." Ann drifted off into an
uneasy slumber, spent. Ailan stared at the tree as more and more of
its leaves began withering and dying without the energy from
Blackjack to sustain it . . .
"We can't let it die," Ann murmured as she slept.
"No, we can't."
"You're Sailor Mercury!" Serena shrieked, happily, as the mist
dissipated.
"Sailor . . . Mercury?" Amy asked, for once slow to catch on as
she stared at the strange outfits that both she and Serena were
wearing.
"Yeah! Isn't this great? We can talk to each other about Senshi
stuff. We're friends. Real friends."
Amy looked at Serena, then a smile slowly spread across her face.
"Real friends," she echoed.
Then she ran and threw her arms around Serena, who smiled and
whispered as she hugged her back, "Real friends, Amy-chan. Real
friends."
Luna smiled and with a flash of light turned back into a cat. Amy
stared. "A cat . . . you're a cat . . ."
"One who talks."
Amy promptly fainted.
From high overhead, a black-clad figure whispered into the night,
"That's two . . . Endymion, the time for your choice grows nearer
and nearer with every passing breath. Choose well." Then he
vanished.
A man with long blonde hair tied back from his face stood in a
busy airport terminal, a heavy-looking blue suitcase in his left
hand. He scowled irritatingly at the scrap of paper with an address
scrawled across it held tightly in his right hand. Damn
handwriting! You'd *think* that it would improve after seven years,
but oh no . . . He can't be bothered!
"Still complaining about my handwriting?" a low voice asked dryly.
The blonde-haired man looked up, relief and irritation mingled in
his expression. "Don't give me that crap! Hey . . . how'd you know
what I was thinking, anyway?"
The other man chuckled. "I know you. Even after seven years, you
haven't changed one bit!"
The blonde glared at the other, but with a sudden change of
expression, he set the suitcase down with a thud and embraced the man
in a brotherly manner, slapping him on the back. "How've you been?"
"Fine. And you?"
"Well, aside from the jet lag and the fact that the stewardess was
an idiot . . ."
The other man frowned.
The blonde-haired one sighed. "All right, all right, no more
complaining about ditzy stewardesses. I know what you want to know.
The dreams, right?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah, they're still coming. You?"
"Of course. I wouldn't have asked you to come if they weren't."
"I'm hurt. Really, I am. Does our friendship mean *nothing* to
you?"
The other broke into a smile. "Would I have come to pick you up
if it didn't?"
"Yeah, 'cause you *know* that I'd end up wandering around Tokyo if
you didn't." He hefted up his suitcase.
"Well, that too . . ." the other man trailed off, as the two
walked off together, and the blonde hit him in the arm in annoyance.
To be continued . . .
Usa Serena/Tsukino Usagi
Luna/Luna
Mamo Darien/Chiba Mamoru
Anderson-Mizuno Amy/Mizuno Ami
Baker Molly/Osaka Naru
Minnow Melvin/Umino Gurio
A(i)lan Galaxy/Ail Ginga
Ann Galaxy/Ann Ginga
Fiore Et/Fiore
The two mysterious men? *Heh-heh* If you can't guess, then I'm not going
to tell you!
Arigato=Thank you
Bishoujo=Pretty
Fuku=Uniform
Gomen=I'm sorry
Gomen nasai=I'm really sorry
Gaijin=foreigner (a bit derogative)
Hai=Yes
Haiyaku=Hurry
Henshin-yo!=Transform!
Juku=Cram school
Kakkoii=Cool
Neko=Cat
Odango Atama=Dumpling head
Odango=Dumpling
Oneechan=Big sister
Senshi=Soldier(s)
Shabon=Bubbles
Here's my list of *excellent* fanfic authors, in absolutely NO
particular order. (Probably order of knowledge of existence if
anything. I love you *ALL*, minna. Even if you don't know that I
exist. ^_^) I've simply been keeping a list of authors that I've
read. ^^;;; Oh, these are *also* people that I'm pretty sure
haven't fallen off the face of the earth and have been heard from,
from time to time. If you were in my previous list and absent in
this one, it does NOT mean that I love your works any less, it's just
that you haven't updated in FOREVER. Well, there are a few people
here who haven't but since they usually update sporadically at best,
I'm not worried. Oh, and If I've forgotten anyone, apologies all
around, 'kay? I *still* haven't read *everybody's* stuff.
Monica, Lady, Jendra, Tenshi, Jenn, John Biles, Jeff Hosmer, Connie
Somerville Kotkin, Lianne-sama, Ross TenEyck, Janelle Jimenez, Eric
"Greywolf" den Biesen, Larry Drews, Renee Markowicz, Lauren Griffin,
Douglas Helm, "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl, Jennifer A. Wand, Pandora
Waldron, Ninx, Andrew Garde, Chris Davies, Fiona Lim, Mike Chenoweth,
Surreal World People, Amethist, SMCS Crew, Andrew M. Hujsak, Laurel
Anne, Razzz, Sailor Kity, Jupiter Knight, Naru-chan and Pitzy Chan,
Crystal Heart, MJ, Sue Mei, Sue, becki, Mark Berger, Ken Wolfe,
Anonymous, Beverly Aliss, Merlyn Baker, and Alina.