VII
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Back at the temple,Hank was explaining how he got to be on Earth.
"When I woke up,"he said,"I found myself in a bed on an apartment.Quite frankly,I didn't understand
how I got there.Eventually I realized that I had been taken from the Realm to Earth.I was walking
around when I heard a commotion.As soon as I rushed over to its source,I felt a change come
over me.I suddenly wore a tuxedo and had a mask over my face.For some reason,I knew . . .
well,from what you girls told me about this Darien guy and his alter ego,I somehow had his
abilities.Anyway,to make a long story short,I went and saw you girls,leapt to the top of the
streetlamp,and the rest is history."
Lita eyed Hank intensely.
"Hhhmmm.He reminds me of my old boyfriend,"Lita said.
"Every guy reminds you of your old boyfriend,"said Mina.
"I just realized something,"Amy said.
"What is it,Amy?"Asked Sheila.
"If what happened to you,"Amy said,"also happened to Hank,then somehow you two traded places
with Darien and Serena."
"Which means,"Sheila said,"they're in the Realm."
"But how?Or why?"Hank asked.
"I wish I knew,"Amy said."I do know this,until we can find some way to reach the Realm,it looks like
you're stuck with us.For now,I better find a way to explain why Serena isn't here to her family."
Some time later,Hank and Sheila were walking down the neighborhood.
"I miss Bobby and the others,"Sheila said."I hope they're all right."
"Don't worry,Sheila.We'll find our way back to them somehow,"said Hank."In the mean time we
might as well get used to being back on Earth,even if it is on an unfamiliar city."
"I hope you're right,Hank,"Sheila said."I hope you're right."
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Once the six young adventurers manged to finish breakfast,after the seedran's attack was dealt with,
four of them were adressing the two newcomers.
"I must admit,"Diana said,"you two weren't half bad at all."
"Thanks,Diana,"Darien said.
"Well,"Serena said,"You've gotta admit,it was pretty clever of me to figure out how to finish that
no good monstrosity."
"Swell,"said Eric."Pat yourself in the back,why don't you.You just got lucky,that's all."
At that,Serena started to get uptight.
"What do you mean,lucky?"Serena asked.She and Eric then began to argue.Darien,Diana,Presto,
Bobby and Uni watched this verbal match in progress.
"This could take a while,"Presto said and the others agreed.
Some time afterwards,in a small forest beyond Stone Gully,Serena and Darien were by themselves
while the others made camp.
"Darien?"Serena asked.
"Yes,Serena?"
"Dungeon Master said that we took the place of the two who were supposed to be here,"Serena said,"that
means Hank and Sheila.Does that mean that she's Sailor Moon now?"
"I guess so,"Darien said.
"And that Hank guy is Tuxedo Mask now,isn't he?"
"Most likely."
"Well,this is getting out of hand,"Serena said."I realize they,like us,had no choice in the matter,but why?"
"Trust me,Serena,"said Darien."We'll find out why and how soon enough and when we do,we'll find a way
to put things right,you'll see."
"Oh,Darien."Serena said as she embraced him.
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Coming up : THE EPILOGUE!
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