All Hearts Can Melt

Chapter 5

Love Hurts

I just own Lucky, Lydia/Sailor Rainbow and Madam Indigo.

It was another day and the girls were at Raye's. Lucky had kept his word and told Artemis nothing about what happened the other night when he followed Luna to the observatory. However, he was still a little tense. It wasn't very easy and he didn't like lying to Artemis, someone he thought as his brother.

'I've got to tell Artemis,' he thought, 'But I promised Luna!'

"I saw Luna early this morning!" Raye exclaimed. "She was so happy and seemed to be on Cloud Nine!"

"Really?" Amy asked.

"Ah, sounds like it's love to me." Lita said, a bit excited.

"Love?" Serena questioned, surprised.

Artemis gasped and looked over at Lucky with a 'why?' stare. Lucky looked down at his paws.

"Ah, but you can't tell she's in love just from seeing her happy one day." Mina said.

"There are other signs." Lita insisted. "What about the yellow ribbon?"

"It was probably a goodbye gift from whatever nice lass or lad took care of her when she was sick," Lydia guessed, shrugging.

"I think Lita's right," Rini agreed.

Lydia raised her eyebrow and Rini and sighed. Artemis felt his heart break. Tail sliding on the floor, head drooped, Artemis walked away with Lucky behind him.

"Come on, laddie. Let's for a wee walk," Lucky said as the two male cats left the room. Mina noticed and looked to the others.

"Oh no, you guys." She gasped. "I think we might've hurt Artemis's feelings!"

"You're right," Raye said.

"He'll be fine," Lydia insisted. "Lucky can cheer him up."

"Beer wouldn't work on cats, Lydia," Mina scoffed.

"I wasn't suggesting that," Lydia rolled her eyes. "Lucky's just…kind. And he always knows exactly what to say. He and Artemis are like brothers, in case yeh haven't noticed."

"Hurt Artemis' feelings?" Serena asked, confused.

"Serena, you mean…you haven't noticed?" Amy asked, surprised.

"Noticed?" Serena questioned. "Noticed what?"

"Duh!" Lita exclaimed, her hand by her mouth. "Artemis loves Luna!"

"Oh!" Serena said and laughed, unable to believe it. "Get outta here!"

"You haven't noticed?" Raye demanded.

"I guess it's obvious I haven't noticed," Serena said defensively. "I only thought they were just friends."

"No, lassie," Lydia said, "she and Lucky are just good friends. Like brother and sister. But Artemis loves her."

"See, even Lydia noticed it before you did," Mina joked.

"Oh love," Lita said, "I envy her."

"Yes, I suppose it would be nice to fall in love now," Amy said, "but better after the entrance exam."

Amy, Raye, Mina and Lita sighed. Lydia bit her lip and tried to focus on something else.

"You must envy me, too…'cause I have Darien." Serena bragged. "And don't forget Lydia. She has Fiore. Right?"

"Uh, right," Lydia mumbled. 'If he's still alive that is.' She thought uneasily.

"Come over here guys," Raye said, coming over to the bed, turning their backs on Serena.

"She makes me sick the way she brags." Mina muttered.

"I wonder if I'll ever meet some wonderful guy who really cares for me." Amy said, cupping her face in her hands.

Lydia stood up and put her arms around her. She stared at the love blossom. 'Fiore, where are you?'

"Do you remember my ex-boyfriend Tom?" Lita asked, sighing and lying on the floor. "He was such a hunk."

"I know what you mean." Mina said understandingly. "I miss my first boyfriend, too."

"Boyfriends are nice," Raye sighed.

Rini sighed, lying on the bed, waiting for her experience with love.

Lydia tightened her hand in a fist, still looking at the love blossom. Serena noticed this.

"Lydia, are you all right?" she asked.

"Excuse me," Lydia said, "I've got to be on my own."

"Hey, what's wrong?" Lita asked.

Lydia walked out of the room. "See yeh later."

"Was it something we said?" Rini asked.

The two male cats were walking down the street. Artemis was taking a hard time believing Luna was in love with someone other than him. Lucky was doing his best not to spill.

"I knew it!" Artemis muttered, sitting down. "Luna's in love. But with who?"

"Could be anyone, Artemis," Lucky suggested.

"You're right," Artemis said. "I know…that Hercules! Just wait until I--"

"Hercules?" Artemis gasped, about to laugh. "Why would she be interested in Hercules?"

"He likes her," Artemis replied.

"Don't be a fool, Artemis," Lucky said, "I assure you, she does not love Hercules."

"Then who then? Who?" Artemis demanded. "Tell me!"

"I--I don't know!" Lucky lied, stepping back,

"What did you see when you followed her to the observatory?" Artemis walked closer to Lucky until he was backed into a wall. Lucky could not move. "There was a cat there, wasn't there? And that is why she keeps going there?" He put his paws up on Lucky's chest and shook him. "Tell me, Lucky! Tell me now!"

"Put yourself together, man!" Lucky shouted, swatting Artemis across the face with his paw, his claws still inside to keep from scratching him, just enough to bring him back to his senses.

"Ow!" Artemis muttered. "My, Lucky, you hit pretty hard! You could've hurt me if you used your claws!"

"Artemis, relax!" Lucky hissed. "Luna is not in love with some cat."

"Then who?" he demanded.

"I promised her I wouldn't tell," Lucky said.

"Lucky! That's not what you're supposed to do!" Artemis muttered. How could you have blown cover? You let her see you?"

"I was going to wait for her to tell you herself," Lucky said, "But seeing as though she might not and you'd probably lose it on me again, I'll tell you."

"Well?" Artemis asked, impatient.

"Yer not going to like it," Lucky sighed. "Artemis m'lad, Luna is in love with a human."

"She's what?" Artemis screamed.

"Told yeh wouldn't like it," Lucky said offhandedly.

"Wh-wha--what? How can that be? Is she out of her catnip mind?" Artemis demanded in shock. "She's a cat! How can she be in love with a human?"

"She's not just any ordinary cat, Artemis," Lucky insisted. "We are not. We are like humans in cat bodies. She fell in love with the man the observatory, Kikeru. He took care of her while she was sick. It's understandable."

"How can you be so calm?" Artemis asked.

"I know, because I've been where Luna was."

"You mean…you loved a human?"

"It's not as strange as you think," Lucky said. "You love Mina, right?"

"Yes, but I'm her guardian cat." Artemis said. "That's different."

"Not so. We can get emotions. We get anger, sadness, and yes, even love. Not many cats can do that. Certainly not my brothers and sisters."

"What do you mean?" Artemis questioned. "I thought that Queen Serenity sent us back as adults. Just as we were in the Moon Kingdom."

"Not me," Lucky said, turning his back on him for a second. "I was in a litter of seven. I was the middle child and all my siblings…hated me."

"Hated you, why?"

"Because of this birthmark on my head. And they were jealous of me. Of my impeccable good luck."

"So what did you do?"

"Simple, I ran away. Right after I got a message from Queen Serenity telling me to find the Rainbow Princess. But the road I took was very bumpy, Artemis. I've been in many catfights. Dogs tried to make dog food out of me and I've been in a few fires. Underneath this thick coat of fur I carry a lot of scars."

Artemis stepped toward him, "Lucky, I'm sorry pal. I--I never knew. How come you didn't tell us?"

Lucky shrugged. "Oh I don't know. Never found a reason to until now. It hurts to talk about it."

"No wonder you're such a tough cat."

"Aye, but it's the emotional scars that hurt worse," Lucky said. "I'm used to the physical scars, but it's the emotional scars, Artemis…that still hurt me!" Lucky walked away and sat down. "I can still feel them time to time. Ripped open fresh. I thought my emotional scars would heal after I left Dorothy's home, but…I was still reminded of how much I loved her. How much I wished to be human. I kept getting new, painful and deep emotional wounds."

Artemis walked up and sat next to Lucky. He dropped his paw on Lucky's shoulder. "Hey, I'm here for you, pal."

"Ouch!" Lucky grimaced.

"What?"

"I've got a burn there," he muttered.

"Oh…sorry…" Artemis swallowed and put his paw down softly onto Lucky's. "I'm still here for ya, pal."

"Thank you, Artemis," Lucky said. "I really love yeh. Love yeh like a brother."

Artemis got a little emotional. "I love you too, man!"

Amara, Trista and Michelle were in a café for some drinks.

"So, our icy friends haven't come back yet." Amara noted.

"It's been quiet," Michelle added.

"Not for too much longer, I'm afraid," Amara said.

"What makes you say that?" Michelle asked. "Do you sense anything?"

"Not really. But I still have an uneasy feeling."

"Me too," Michelle agreed, "but I can't explain why."

Trista looked at her coffee mug. "You know, it almost seems like time has stopped." The three sighed and Trista looked out the window. In a corner of the café, away from Trista and the others, sat a lonely Lydia, stirring her hot chocolate with Irish Cream flavoring. A clear drop fell into her mug, a tear from her eye.

'Why am I feeling so sad?' Lydia thought. 'This just isn't like me…still…I miss Fiore.' She let out a sigh. "Fiore," she whispered, "Will you ever be back?"

Luna was about to leave Serena's house when Artemis and Lucky spot her.

"No time no see, Luna," Artemis said. He did not tell Luna what Lucky had just told him.

Lucky nodded and Luna. "Top of the mornin' to yeh!"

"Uh, sorry," Luna mumbled.

"Luna, I want you to know if you ever need me for something," Artemis said, "I'm right here."

"Me too," Lucky added.

"I'm sorry, I have to go now." Luna headed around them.

"Uh, but--" Artemis tried to stop her.

'I'm sorry, gentlemen,' Luna thought to herself.

"Observatory?" Artemis guessed.

"No doubt," Lucky confirmed, "thank you for not telling her."

"Hey…no problem." Artemis insisted. "I guess we'll just have to let Luna work this out on her own."

"Yes, we've done all we can already." Lucky said. "Come on." The two cats walked away. "Let's go catch some mice or something."

'Well, she wasn't at the greenhouse,' Serena thought to herself, leaving Raye's house, 'maybe she went home.' She saw Luna run by her. "Huh?" she gasped then followed her to of course, the observatory. She waited by the sliding glass door as Luna went inside. She took a peek and saw Kakeru stroking Luna underneath her chin.

'Can this be the guy Luna's in love with?' Serena wondered. She heard footsteps coming and hid out of sight as Himeko came inside, but kept her ears open.

"Kakeru, are you here?" Himeko asked.

Kakeru sat up and smiled.

Himeko stopped by his bedside and put a fist on her hip. "It's time. I'm leaving today, and I thought I'd say goodbye."

"Time flies, Himeko." Kakeru said sincerely. "I hope you have a great flight."

"Thanks a lot." Himeko responded. She paused for a moment and added, "Kakeru…as soon as I return from my trip to space, i-I'd like to stay here with you."

"It just wouldn't work." Kakeru said quickly.

"Why?" Himeko inquired softly.

"We're different." Kakeru explained, grasping his covers, "We think differently…and we live in different worlds."

Luna's eyes grew worried watching him as he continued.

"I can't accept the fact that you think the Moon is nothing but just an object that floats around the Earth!" he yelled. "It just can't work!"

Himeko gasped.

"I'm sure there's lots of guys around for you," Kakeru muttered bitterly.

Himeko trembled as she tried to make Kakeru reconsider. "Oh…so that's it, then. We have one obstacle, and it's over. There's nothing else about me or our relationship that's worth hanging onto? Is that true?"

Serena, outside, couldn't help but watch.

"Well, is it?" Himeko questioned, "I know I don't quite share the same feelings about the Moon that you do, but we share other interests, and…"

Kakeru covered his ears and raised his voice. "NO! IT'S OVER!"

Himeko ran out of the room in tears. Luna gasped as Kakeru took out the photo and his tears fell on it.

"Poor Kakeru. Luna thought. "He really does love her."

Luna decided to leave and she padded her way out of the room. She found Serena at the bottom of the stairs.

"Serena?" Luna asked in surprise.

"Luna…" Serena said. "You okay?"

"Yes, I'm okay." Luna replied, sitting down. "He tries to hide his true feelings and illness from Himeko…but he shouldn't. He loves her so."

"Luna…" Serena whispered.

"Silly of me, but he was so kind and caring. Even though I'm a cat," Luna said. "I still thought we might be destined to become soul mates who understand each other. I guess not."

Serena remained silent for Luna to finish speaking about her feelings.

"I know. Now I know what true love must feel like…and I wish I didn't."

"Oh…"

"I should've listened to Lucky," Luna muttered to herself.

"What?" Serena questioned.

"Lucky was in love with a human himself," Luna explained, "he saw me here the other day and warned me that this will only result in heart break…but I guess I just had to learn for myself. I really should've taken his advice." Luna continued as her eyes began to tear up. "I really wish that I was a human being…but even if I was, it still wouldn't matter because he's truly in love with Himeko. Still, it would be nice to tell him how I feel. Maybe I'd feel better about things." Luna dropped her head in a cat sobbing fit.

"Oh Luna, it'll be okay." Serena said and ran to her cat to comfort her. "It's all right."

Just then, a snow dancer appeared at the observatory and peaked inside. Luna and Serena gasped and turn to look up at it, but the snow dancer flew away a few moments later.

"Kakeru!" Luna gasped.

"Oh no!" Serena cried.

The crystal began to glow strong inside the room. The snow dancer had left to tell Princess Kaguya and she appeared inside. All around the room it snowed and everything was covered in ice.

"At last, I've found it!" Kaguya exclaimed.

Luna and Serena saw Kaguya inside. Both of them pulled on the door but ice had it jammed shut. The culture dish broke and Kaguya took her prized crystal.

"Ha ha ha! Perfect." Kaguya said. "This crystal seems to have increased its power by sucking away your life energy. Ha ha ha!"

"I was right!" Kakeru struggled to shout. "The comet and Princess Snow Kaguya really exist!"

"Princess Snow Kaguya?" Kaguya asked, impressed. "Ho hoo. Catchy handle. As we speak, my Ice Force is slowly creeping closer to the Earth. What a shame. You, along with your entire planet, shall be packed on ice and then become part of my exquisite collection. Ha ha ha!"

She vanished and the room returned normal.

"The ice monsters are back!" Serena exclaimed, "We have to hurry and tell the others! Come on, Luna! Let's go!"

"That crystal from the comet was the cause of his suffering all this time!" Luna said angrily.

"Uh, yeah," said Serena, "but it should've stopped now."

"Wrong!"

"Wha?"

They took another look inside. Kakeru was still struggling with the pain. It was accelerating.

"Why not?" Serena asked.

"As long as that evil crystal exists in this world," Luna retorted, "he'll continue to suffer!"

In Ireland, after some rest, Fiore prepared himself to leave. He was standing in Madam Indigo's backyard saying his goodbyes.

"It was nice talking to you, Fiore," Madam Indigo said. "Be careful."

"I just hope I'm not too late," Fiore said, looking past his shoulder. "Farewell, Madam Indigo."

"Good luck." Madam Indigo wished.

Fiore nodded and he rose up in the air with flower petals floating around him. He took off at an accelerating speed.

"I'm coming, my love," Fiore said, hoping that Lydia would get the message. "It won't be long."

Right over the ocean, Kaguya gets ready to finish her dark and cold deeds.

"Now comes the fun part." She said menacingly. "It's time to cover the Earth with my lovely and cozy blanket of ice!" She dropped the crystal into the ocean and within moments, it became ice. The ice continued to spread onto land and beyond.

It makes Kakeru's pain even worse.

Meanwhile, at Raye's house, Artemis remembered something very important.

"I just remembered!" Artemis shouted.

"And I thought your memory was foggy," Lucky joked.

"Huh?" all the girls gasped.

"About a prehistoric event!" Artemis explained, ignoring Lucky's joke. "There was an evil planet that rained ice crystals! It existed millions of years ago! The crystals covered up the Earth and froze the land until the darkness dominated the globe! But Silver Crystal Power, the power of love and friendship, melted the icy darkness and released the Earth! Sound familiar?"

"Hah, so the comet Luna mentioned must be connected to this frigid planet!" Raye exclaimed.

"Whatever Silver Crystal Power, the power of love and friendship, is, could it work again?" Mina questioned.

"Don't know, Mina, but no doubt that planet is coming to Earth after a long time." Amy said. "It's time for a meltdown, Sailor Scouts."

Lita pounded the table with her fist. As ever, the scout of thunder and lighting was ready for some action. "I'm ready! Let's melt them!"

"Yeah!" Raye agreed. "Oh…wait…where's Lydia? Do you think Serena has found her yet?"

"I hope so," Mina said, "we may need all the help we can get."

"Exactly," Lucky added, "especially Lydia is a fire starter just like Raye."

"I'm sure she's okay," Ami said.

"Two fire starters are better than one," Raye said. "But until Lydia comes, we've got to do our best. Let's go!"

Next Chapter--Melt Down