Disclaimer:
Hello again. You all know me by now. I'm Lance the Flamesniper. Welcome to my eleventh Chapter of
my "short" story. Admittedly that seems a little.... odd, but I REALLY thought this was going to be a short
story. Apparently my muse had other plans, and decided to not tell me.
Anyway, long story or not, one thing is pretty clear. I don't own Sailor Moon, or any of the Senshi.
That honor goes to Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Pioneer and Cloverleaf in that order. Lorelei Meioh
belongs to Meara, many thanks to her for allowing me to borrow her. Unless otherwise stated any other
person named belong to be. I'm making no money from this work, as it is a labor of love on my part. But don't
let that stop you from sending e-mail. That's all I ask.
As usual, all but two characters use their North American names. Hotaru gets to stay Hotaru, mostly
cause I'm not from France, and Setsuna stays Setsuna, calling her Trista is a crime and whoever named her
such should be ashamed of themselves. It's not that I don't like or know the Japanese names, it's just that I'm
more comfortable with the names I use.
On with the show!
Introduction:
It was yet another slow evening at work durning the close of the September month. The Author sighed
as he swept the Floor for the trillionth time. Silently he wished for a distraction, any distraction. He really
shouldn't have.
"Hey Lance! Lance!" Came the voice of the Chief.
"Yes Chief?"
"There's a lady up here to see you."
"Oh?" Lance inquired dreading what would come up next. He carefully walked up to the front of the store.
There stansding at the counter was a young lady in her early twenties with violet eyes and black hair that went
to her mid-back. Well, Lance, you did want a distraction.... He thought.
"Why is it, Lance that you are always getting visits from women with nice sets of..." the Chief began.
"Chief! No Echhi, I beg of you!" Lance said as images of him trying to explain to his other bosses how the
Chief had become Manager flambe` flashed before him.
"Well can you at least get HER number for me?"
"Uhm no."
"Darn it!"
With that Lance sat down in the dining room across from the stylishly dressed Young woman. "Why is it,
Raye, that you Senshi always decide to come see me at work."
"Just bad timing I guess. Now listen Flamesniper," Raye hissed. "We Senshi of the Inner planets demand
more time in this series."
"And just who are YOU to make requests of me?" Lance snapped back. "According to the laws of Ficdom
authoring, I technically don't have to write about you or any of the other Inner Senshi at all."
"Yes, but we have already shown up in the story several times. You can't edit us out now!" Raye growled.
Lance smiled. "You really want me to write you into my story Raye?"
"Of course I do!"
"Very well, just one thing though..," Lance said as Raye got up to leave.
"And that is?"
"Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it."
Hotaru's Date part 11
by
Lance the Flamesniper
Sixstring, a nightmare who looked like a blue punk rocker with a red mohawk and Guitar/battleax
stood before his master. Somnius smiled. All his nightmares were good for their tasks. This one had a special
target however. Somnius opened his hand as an energy orb appeared in it. Inside the orb appeared the image
of a violet Eyed young woman with black hair that went to her mid-back.
"This is Raye Hino," Somnius said. "She is putting on a concert tonight. I want you to go to it and
take her Crystal Dream!"
"Yessss, my lord," Sixstring hissed as it vanished.
*****
James pulled the chair out for Hotaru as she sat down. After making sure she was comfortable and
pleased with their seats, he too sat down. Tonight it wasn't a fancy Restaurant or an art show in the Museum,
it was dinner at a local cafe that seemed a little more busy than expected.
"My this place sure is busy tonight," Hotaru said as she looked around. As usual she was dressed
stylishly in a simple black dress. She didn't seem to notice the envious glances that James was recieving from
all the guys at tables around them.
How can she be so beautiful and not know it, James thought. Maybe the fact that she doesn't seem
to know how beautiful she is is what makes her so attractive. "Excuse me, " James said as he tapped a fellow
patron on the shoulder. "Is it usually this busy here?"
"Oh no," The patron said. "Tonight Raye Hino's giving a concert. That's why everyone turned out."
"I see," James said as their dinner of Chicken and soba noodles was served. As they ate James's eyes
were always on Hotaru. He was falling for her, he knew that much, but how did she feel about him....
*****
He's staring at me again. I love the way he looks at me. I should tell him how I feel, but what if he
doesn't feel the same way.... Hotaru thought. She'd never felt like this for anyone. There'd been crushes sure
and they felt something like this, only this was stronger. More potent. She felt complete with him. She HAD to
tell him.
Her mind was made up, so was his. Unfortunately, both began at the same time.
"James I.."
"Hotaru I..."
The two giggled at this then James spoke up. "You first."
"Okay. James, I don't know how to say this. You make me feel happy, complete even. And I don't know
what I'd do without you. I guess, what I'm trying to say is...."
James gently put a finger to her lips silencing her. The gentle intimacy of the gesture told her that he
knew, that he understood. "I love you too Hotaru," with that he gently leaned forward and kissed her softly.
When he pulled back she was blushing and smiled.
Right then Raye and Chad stepped onto the stage. "Thank you all for coming! Tonight I'll be singing
some new songs and some old ones for you, I hope you enjoy them!" Raye said into the microphone as Chad
began to play a soft melody on his guitar...
*****
Setsuna could hear the sounds of Amara and Michelle enjoying their "quality time" and sighed. I'm
tired of Being alone! But, I'm not sure if what will happen if I pull Lance out of where he is.... Just then there
was a knock at the door. Setsuna open the door.
The woman at the door was tall with Magenta eyes and Green hair. In short she looked a lot like a
mirror image of Setsuna. "Hello sister," The woman said.
"Lorelei!" Setsuna said as she pulled her twin sister into a hug. "What are you doing in Tokyo? I
thought you were on another world tour."
"I had some time off, and thought you'd be happy to see me."
"I am. I have a problem and maybe you could help me out?"
"This isn't a Time Senshi problem is it?"
"Well now that you meantion it...," Setsuna began.
Lorelei sighed. "I was afraid of that."
*****
The concert was going very well with Raye doing "Oh starry night" when Sixstring appeared. Raye
didn't see him but she certainly FELT him as he smacked her with his guitar. Her dreamcrystal fell out but
almost everyone missed that as they were busily leaving the cafe.
"I don't know about you, Hotaru, but I think Somnius is starting to really tick me off!" James growled
as he reached for his Amulet.
"Really? I'd have thought after fighting him for six years you wouldn't get any angrier at him," Hotaru
replied as they prepared to transform.
"Yes, but back then, he wasn't interupting dates with the most beautiful woman on Earth," James
replied as Hotaru blushed nicely.
Just then Chad jumped the punk Rock Youma. James blinked as he looked at this mostly because he
thought he saw the symbol of Mars on Chad's head. He squinted as Chad was flung onto his table. Yep Mars
symbol... "Hey, you're name's Chad right?"
"Yeah?" Chad replied.
"Okay Chad, I'm James Everwolfe. Me and my date are going to help you help Raye but you need to
take this," James said as he held out a ruby amulet with the symbol for Mars in it. "And say Mars Guardian power."
"Are you a fruit Loop?! How's that going to help??" Chad growled.
"Just shut up and trust me. Saturn Guardian Power!" James Yelled as he transformed.
"Saturn Planet Power!" Hotaru followed.
With a shrug Chad held up the amulet and reluctantly said. "Mars Guardian Power!"
Sixstring who'd been looking at the Crystal long enough to figure out that is wasn't what he was looking
for looked up from where he was about to smash the small orb with his ax.
"We're not going to let you smash that orb. In the name of Saturn, I'm the Saturn Knight!" The darkly clad
knight Growled.
Just then Hotaru slid across the stage grabbing up the orb while James Kept Sixstring distracted by
dodging the ax repeatedly. "Good work Sailor Saturn. All yours Mars Knight!" Saturn knight Yelled.
Chad stopped looking over his Red and black armor long enough to say, "Uh what do I do?"
"Deep fry him with your firestorm strike!" Both Saturns yelled.
"Oh!" Chad said as he drew his sword "Mars Firestorm...Strike!" With that Chad swung his blade in a vicius
slash as a wave of fire erupted from the tip. James Lept out the way landing safely behind the protective silence Wall
provided by Sailor Saturn. Sixstring, however wasn't so lucky, as he went up like a dried out Christmas tree.
"Noooooo!" Sixstring roared as he incinerated in a flash.
*****
"Uh James?" Chad began. They were both still clad in their armor and made quite the dashing pair.
"Yes?"
"How am I going to explain this to Raye. I'm a Gardian of Mars!"
"That's right and as such it is your duty to protect Sailor Mars. You mean she didn't explain any of this to
you? Oh, I get it. You don't know. Don't worry, Raye will understand." James said with a smile.
Several minutes later Raye had recovered enough from the effects of getting her dream crytal returned to sit up
and look at the three people around her "What happened? Sailor Saturn? Saturn Knight? And who are you?"
"First, you were attacked by a nightmare. The Three of us were able to beat him so you're okay. as for who he
is, perhaps he should tell you," Hotaru said.
"I'm, well, The Mars Knight, but you also know me as Chad," He replied as he de-transformed.
Raye stood up and glared at Chad. "You mean you're a gardian and you didn't bother to TELL me?"
"Hey I just found out about it myself!" Chad replied.
"It's not like you have any secrets you've kept from him is it, Raye?" James asked with an eyebrow raised.
Hotaru giggled a little at the sight of Raye being verbally cornered. It was something akin to very uncomfortable
and it was making Raye visibly squirm.
"Well, there is one thing I've not told you," Raye began. "I'm glad you're my gardian Chad."
"What?" Chad said as his brain locked up. The words made sense but they sounded like she was telling him she
was sailor Mars. That couldn't be right. "What do you mean your Gardian?"
"I think she's going to have to spell it out," James whispered to Hotaru.
"I think you're right," Hotaru agreed.
"What I mean is this," Raye said with a sly smile. "Mars Crystal Power!" In a flash Chad was staring at The
Red and White clad Sailor of Mars. "I'm Sailor Mars!"
"Why didn't you tell me about that sooner?" Chad asked James.
"I'm not in the business of telling other people's secrets," James replied as he detransformed and walked out
with Hotaru. "By the way, Raye can fill you in on what going on and who the other scouts are. I'd do it myself but I
have to get Hotaru home or her 'Father' is likely to World Shaking me out of my shoes."
"Bye Raye," Hotaru giggled.
"Who are the other Scouts Raye?"
"You've met most of them. Serena's the leader, Amy, Lita, Mina, Amara, Michelle and Setsuna, whom I
doubt you've met. James is a gardian and Hotaru's a Scout too. You've been made a gardian because of thing like
that Freaky whatever it was that knocked me out. There's more like you and more like him around," Raye said.
Chad, having just found out that all of Raye's friends were the Sailor Scouts and she herself was one, did
the only thing a person like him can do when recieving such a surprise. He fainted.
******
In his lair Somnius was not pleased. That was putting it lightly. "Blast those Guardians!" Somnius
growled. "TWICE they've foiled me! No matter, once I get the Crystal Dreams I'll have the power to make them
go disappear, FOREVER!"
Hello again. You all know me by now. I'm Lance the Flamesniper. Welcome to my eleventh Chapter of
my "short" story. Admittedly that seems a little.... odd, but I REALLY thought this was going to be a short
story. Apparently my muse had other plans, and decided to not tell me.
Anyway, long story or not, one thing is pretty clear. I don't own Sailor Moon, or any of the Senshi.
That honor goes to Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Pioneer and Cloverleaf in that order. Lorelei Meioh
belongs to Meara, many thanks to her for allowing me to borrow her. Unless otherwise stated any other
person named belong to be. I'm making no money from this work, as it is a labor of love on my part. But don't
let that stop you from sending e-mail. That's all I ask.
As usual, all but two characters use their North American names. Hotaru gets to stay Hotaru, mostly
cause I'm not from France, and Setsuna stays Setsuna, calling her Trista is a crime and whoever named her
such should be ashamed of themselves. It's not that I don't like or know the Japanese names, it's just that I'm
more comfortable with the names I use.
On with the show!
Introduction:
It was yet another slow evening at work durning the close of the September month. The Author sighed
as he swept the Floor for the trillionth time. Silently he wished for a distraction, any distraction. He really
shouldn't have.
"Hey Lance! Lance!" Came the voice of the Chief.
"Yes Chief?"
"There's a lady up here to see you."
"Oh?" Lance inquired dreading what would come up next. He carefully walked up to the front of the store.
There stansding at the counter was a young lady in her early twenties with violet eyes and black hair that went
to her mid-back. Well, Lance, you did want a distraction.... He thought.
"Why is it, Lance that you are always getting visits from women with nice sets of..." the Chief began.
"Chief! No Echhi, I beg of you!" Lance said as images of him trying to explain to his other bosses how the
Chief had become Manager flambe` flashed before him.
"Well can you at least get HER number for me?"
"Uhm no."
"Darn it!"
With that Lance sat down in the dining room across from the stylishly dressed Young woman. "Why is it,
Raye, that you Senshi always decide to come see me at work."
"Just bad timing I guess. Now listen Flamesniper," Raye hissed. "We Senshi of the Inner planets demand
more time in this series."
"And just who are YOU to make requests of me?" Lance snapped back. "According to the laws of Ficdom
authoring, I technically don't have to write about you or any of the other Inner Senshi at all."
"Yes, but we have already shown up in the story several times. You can't edit us out now!" Raye growled.
Lance smiled. "You really want me to write you into my story Raye?"
"Of course I do!"
"Very well, just one thing though..," Lance said as Raye got up to leave.
"And that is?"
"Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it."
Hotaru's Date part 11
by
Lance the Flamesniper
Sixstring, a nightmare who looked like a blue punk rocker with a red mohawk and Guitar/battleax
stood before his master. Somnius smiled. All his nightmares were good for their tasks. This one had a special
target however. Somnius opened his hand as an energy orb appeared in it. Inside the orb appeared the image
of a violet Eyed young woman with black hair that went to her mid-back.
"This is Raye Hino," Somnius said. "She is putting on a concert tonight. I want you to go to it and
take her Crystal Dream!"
"Yessss, my lord," Sixstring hissed as it vanished.
*****
James pulled the chair out for Hotaru as she sat down. After making sure she was comfortable and
pleased with their seats, he too sat down. Tonight it wasn't a fancy Restaurant or an art show in the Museum,
it was dinner at a local cafe that seemed a little more busy than expected.
"My this place sure is busy tonight," Hotaru said as she looked around. As usual she was dressed
stylishly in a simple black dress. She didn't seem to notice the envious glances that James was recieving from
all the guys at tables around them.
How can she be so beautiful and not know it, James thought. Maybe the fact that she doesn't seem
to know how beautiful she is is what makes her so attractive. "Excuse me, " James said as he tapped a fellow
patron on the shoulder. "Is it usually this busy here?"
"Oh no," The patron said. "Tonight Raye Hino's giving a concert. That's why everyone turned out."
"I see," James said as their dinner of Chicken and soba noodles was served. As they ate James's eyes
were always on Hotaru. He was falling for her, he knew that much, but how did she feel about him....
*****
He's staring at me again. I love the way he looks at me. I should tell him how I feel, but what if he
doesn't feel the same way.... Hotaru thought. She'd never felt like this for anyone. There'd been crushes sure
and they felt something like this, only this was stronger. More potent. She felt complete with him. She HAD to
tell him.
Her mind was made up, so was his. Unfortunately, both began at the same time.
"James I.."
"Hotaru I..."
The two giggled at this then James spoke up. "You first."
"Okay. James, I don't know how to say this. You make me feel happy, complete even. And I don't know
what I'd do without you. I guess, what I'm trying to say is...."
James gently put a finger to her lips silencing her. The gentle intimacy of the gesture told her that he
knew, that he understood. "I love you too Hotaru," with that he gently leaned forward and kissed her softly.
When he pulled back she was blushing and smiled.
Right then Raye and Chad stepped onto the stage. "Thank you all for coming! Tonight I'll be singing
some new songs and some old ones for you, I hope you enjoy them!" Raye said into the microphone as Chad
began to play a soft melody on his guitar...
*****
Setsuna could hear the sounds of Amara and Michelle enjoying their "quality time" and sighed. I'm
tired of Being alone! But, I'm not sure if what will happen if I pull Lance out of where he is.... Just then there
was a knock at the door. Setsuna open the door.
The woman at the door was tall with Magenta eyes and Green hair. In short she looked a lot like a
mirror image of Setsuna. "Hello sister," The woman said.
"Lorelei!" Setsuna said as she pulled her twin sister into a hug. "What are you doing in Tokyo? I
thought you were on another world tour."
"I had some time off, and thought you'd be happy to see me."
"I am. I have a problem and maybe you could help me out?"
"This isn't a Time Senshi problem is it?"
"Well now that you meantion it...," Setsuna began.
Lorelei sighed. "I was afraid of that."
*****
The concert was going very well with Raye doing "Oh starry night" when Sixstring appeared. Raye
didn't see him but she certainly FELT him as he smacked her with his guitar. Her dreamcrystal fell out but
almost everyone missed that as they were busily leaving the cafe.
"I don't know about you, Hotaru, but I think Somnius is starting to really tick me off!" James growled
as he reached for his Amulet.
"Really? I'd have thought after fighting him for six years you wouldn't get any angrier at him," Hotaru
replied as they prepared to transform.
"Yes, but back then, he wasn't interupting dates with the most beautiful woman on Earth," James
replied as Hotaru blushed nicely.
Just then Chad jumped the punk Rock Youma. James blinked as he looked at this mostly because he
thought he saw the symbol of Mars on Chad's head. He squinted as Chad was flung onto his table. Yep Mars
symbol... "Hey, you're name's Chad right?"
"Yeah?" Chad replied.
"Okay Chad, I'm James Everwolfe. Me and my date are going to help you help Raye but you need to
take this," James said as he held out a ruby amulet with the symbol for Mars in it. "And say Mars Guardian power."
"Are you a fruit Loop?! How's that going to help??" Chad growled.
"Just shut up and trust me. Saturn Guardian Power!" James Yelled as he transformed.
"Saturn Planet Power!" Hotaru followed.
With a shrug Chad held up the amulet and reluctantly said. "Mars Guardian Power!"
Sixstring who'd been looking at the Crystal long enough to figure out that is wasn't what he was looking
for looked up from where he was about to smash the small orb with his ax.
"We're not going to let you smash that orb. In the name of Saturn, I'm the Saturn Knight!" The darkly clad
knight Growled.
Just then Hotaru slid across the stage grabbing up the orb while James Kept Sixstring distracted by
dodging the ax repeatedly. "Good work Sailor Saturn. All yours Mars Knight!" Saturn knight Yelled.
Chad stopped looking over his Red and black armor long enough to say, "Uh what do I do?"
"Deep fry him with your firestorm strike!" Both Saturns yelled.
"Oh!" Chad said as he drew his sword "Mars Firestorm...Strike!" With that Chad swung his blade in a vicius
slash as a wave of fire erupted from the tip. James Lept out the way landing safely behind the protective silence Wall
provided by Sailor Saturn. Sixstring, however wasn't so lucky, as he went up like a dried out Christmas tree.
"Noooooo!" Sixstring roared as he incinerated in a flash.
*****
"Uh James?" Chad began. They were both still clad in their armor and made quite the dashing pair.
"Yes?"
"How am I going to explain this to Raye. I'm a Gardian of Mars!"
"That's right and as such it is your duty to protect Sailor Mars. You mean she didn't explain any of this to
you? Oh, I get it. You don't know. Don't worry, Raye will understand." James said with a smile.
Several minutes later Raye had recovered enough from the effects of getting her dream crytal returned to sit up
and look at the three people around her "What happened? Sailor Saturn? Saturn Knight? And who are you?"
"First, you were attacked by a nightmare. The Three of us were able to beat him so you're okay. as for who he
is, perhaps he should tell you," Hotaru said.
"I'm, well, The Mars Knight, but you also know me as Chad," He replied as he de-transformed.
Raye stood up and glared at Chad. "You mean you're a gardian and you didn't bother to TELL me?"
"Hey I just found out about it myself!" Chad replied.
"It's not like you have any secrets you've kept from him is it, Raye?" James asked with an eyebrow raised.
Hotaru giggled a little at the sight of Raye being verbally cornered. It was something akin to very uncomfortable
and it was making Raye visibly squirm.
"Well, there is one thing I've not told you," Raye began. "I'm glad you're my gardian Chad."
"What?" Chad said as his brain locked up. The words made sense but they sounded like she was telling him she
was sailor Mars. That couldn't be right. "What do you mean your Gardian?"
"I think she's going to have to spell it out," James whispered to Hotaru.
"I think you're right," Hotaru agreed.
"What I mean is this," Raye said with a sly smile. "Mars Crystal Power!" In a flash Chad was staring at The
Red and White clad Sailor of Mars. "I'm Sailor Mars!"
"Why didn't you tell me about that sooner?" Chad asked James.
"I'm not in the business of telling other people's secrets," James replied as he detransformed and walked out
with Hotaru. "By the way, Raye can fill you in on what going on and who the other scouts are. I'd do it myself but I
have to get Hotaru home or her 'Father' is likely to World Shaking me out of my shoes."
"Bye Raye," Hotaru giggled.
"Who are the other Scouts Raye?"
"You've met most of them. Serena's the leader, Amy, Lita, Mina, Amara, Michelle and Setsuna, whom I
doubt you've met. James is a gardian and Hotaru's a Scout too. You've been made a gardian because of thing like
that Freaky whatever it was that knocked me out. There's more like you and more like him around," Raye said.
Chad, having just found out that all of Raye's friends were the Sailor Scouts and she herself was one, did
the only thing a person like him can do when recieving such a surprise. He fainted.
******
In his lair Somnius was not pleased. That was putting it lightly. "Blast those Guardians!" Somnius
growled. "TWICE they've foiled me! No matter, once I get the Crystal Dreams I'll have the power to make them
go disappear, FOREVER!"