Title: Winter Snow
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: G-PG 13+
Chapter: 4- The Battle
Last time on "Winter Snow"…
*Why don't you like me Darien?* she mentally questioned, and with that she excused herself and practically ran to the ladies room.
"What's wrong with her?" Lita asked, watching Serena storm off.
"I don't know, she's never acted like that before!" Amy said
*Great one Darien!* Crystal glared up at Darien. He just sat there, astounded. Serena had never seemed to take offence that easily. Crystal got up to comfort Serena and explain everything.
"Where are you going?" Darien asked. Crystal just looked at him *Trust me* she told him mentally. He nodded, signaling that he got her message.
Crystal cautiously and slowly opened the door to the ladies room and she gasped at what she saw.
Serena was leaning against the wall, tears streaming down her face. Her whole body trembled with the intensity of her sobs.
"What are you doing here?" Serena asked between sobs.
"I came to see how you were doing" Crystal said as she kneeled down next to Serena and handed her a few tissues.
*Oh great, not only is she pretty, but she's nice too! How am I supposed to compete with that?* Serena thought to herself taking the tissues, Crystal heard her.
"You're Serena right?" Crystal asked and Serena nodded, "I have to say, you are very beautiful!" Crystal complemented.
"Yeah, right!" Serena grumbled
"Well, I certainly think so… I don't think we've been properly introduced, I'm Crystal, Darien's sister." Crystal smiled, knowing that Serena would be shocked.
"What?" Serena's head shot up to look at Crystal.
"I'm Darien's sister." Crystal confirmed.
"But how? He always said that he didn't have any family since the accident" Serena scratched her head and Crystal repeated the story. Serena blushed at how stupid and immature she was being. It was then she noticed the locket around Crystal's neck.
"Wait… you're the new sailor scout, that Luna had told me about!" Realization dawned on Serena.
"Luna? She… I thought it was all a dream." Crystal attempted to sort out her thoughts.
"I think that's a natural reaction for anyone to see a talking cat." Serena smiled warmly, brushing away the remnants of her tears. "Well, welcome to the group!" Serena hugged Crystal.
"Thank you" Crystal replied "But I think that we should be heading back" Both Serena and Crystal walked out of the ladies room, having made a new friend, and in much better spirits.
Soon after her mysterious arrival, Crystal enrolled at Crossroads Jr. High. As green as a leaf can possibly be, Crystal found it hard at first to control her powers, but now is practicing every day and mastering her gift. Naturally, she was openly accepted by the other Sailor Scouts and has become good friends with their alter identities. Crystal has permanently moved into Darien's apartment, residing in his spare study room. He still has strong feelings for Serena, but won't admit it, even to Crystal, who knows that Serena secretly harbours the same attraction and feelings toward Darien. During the last few weeks, Crystal has had to sneak out of the apartment when her Sailor Scout business called. Tonight was no exception.
"Stop right there!" Sailor Moon yelled
"I am Sailor Mars!"
"I am Sailor Venus!"
"I am Sailor Jupiter!"
"I am Sailor Mercury!"
"I am Crystal Saturn!"
"And I am Sailor Moon! In the name of the Moon…"
"WE WILL PUNISH YOU!" They all said at the same time
Green ooze sprouted from the demons palms and projected towards the girls. All but one managed to dodge and leap out of the way in time.
"Help!" She squealed, frozen in fear. If a flurry of petals and a dash of black velvet, she was safe in his arms. He had saved her once again and successfully distracted the monster, giving Sailor Moon enough time to gather her wits about her and dust the monster once and for all.
"Great work Sailor Moon" Tuxedo Mask commented as he saluted, turned around and disappeared. As he left, he mused to himself about the new Sailor Scout, Crystal Saturn. With a few effortless leaps and bounds, Tuxedo Mask successfully managed to return to the safety and comfort of his home. He transformed back into Darien, slipped back inside unnoticed, and found himself to be in an empty apartment.
"Hello? Crystal? Where are you? Crystal!" Darien yelled, looking for his kid sister. He tried to call for her through her telepathy link. *Crystal? Where are you?* He got no response. Obviously it worked like a cell phone and she was out of range. He decided to sit down on the sofa and wait for her. He opened a book and started reading. A few minutes later the noise of a window being slid open could be heard. Crystal tiptoed down the hallway, to see Darien, sitting down on the couch with his back towards her, reading a book. *Phew, he didn't notice!* Crystal thought, turning around to top-toe back to her room
"I don't know what?" Darien asked, startling Crystal. She stood in silence for a moment, trying to catch her breath. "Where were you Crystal?" Darien asked sternly, as he stood up.
"I…I...I went for a walk" Crystal said, which was partly true, if you ignored the 'walk' part of the sentence.
"I don't believe you, why would you sneak back in, and more importantly, how? We live on the top level of the apartment block, there's no way in hell you could sneak in though the balcony." Darien lectured.
"Actually… there is one way," Crystal said cautiously *But I cant tell him that without revealing who I am* Crystal thought, then mentally smacked herself for thinking that
"Tell me what, and what do you mean?" Darien asked as he cooled down.
"I…. There's no easy way of telling you this, so I'm going to have to show you." Crystal said as she hesitantly held up the locket that was around her neck
"Silver Crystal Saturn Power!" she yelled out and her locket glowed, transforming Crystal Chiba into Crystal Saturn. Darien was, stunned as Crystal -the sailor scout- stood in front of him.
"There you go, that's where I went, to fight a giant green and purple snotty monster. Happy? And as for how I got up here, I used super magical powers, got it? Any other questions?" Crystal sarcastically flickered her fingers around, powered down and de-transformed. Darien just stood there silently. Crystal spotted something sitting on the usually plain and empty glass, coffee table.
"What's this?" Crystal said picking up a red rose and a white mask. She remembered that the mask was just like the one that Tuxedo Mask wore. And that he had roses. But what was it doing at their place? It could only mean one thing. Crystal lifted the mask and gently placed it on Darien. It sat perfectly on the bridge of his nose.
"Oh… My…. Gosh! You're Tuxedo mask!" Crystal said unbelievingly. Darien just nodded. Crystal burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! You're tuxedo mask! I found out you're tuxedo mask!" Crystal sang playfully as she skipped around, ecstatic about her latest triumph.
"Sssh!" the neighbors will hear you!" Darien put his hand on her mouth to shut her up.
"Sorry" Came her muffled apology.
"Don't tell anyone! Not even Sailor Moon herself, got it?" Crystal nodded and Darien took his hand off her mouth.
"So… you're the guy who saves Sailor Moon's butt huh?" Crystal questioned as they both sat down on the couch. Crystal only just managed to stifle giggles.
"That's right!" Darien confirmed proudly.
"Where do you get all the corny advice and stuff? I mean, 'good work sailor moon'…and, and the salute? What's with that?" Crystal began to giggle uncontrollably as Darien sat there, rather annoyed that his kid sister was teasing his alter ego. Crystal caught her breath. "And where'd you get the name 'tuxedo mask' from?" she said before erupting into a louder laughter.
"Hey! It's one thing to tease what I say, but it's another to tease the name! I couldn't think of any other name, and all I could think of is how annoying the tuxedo and the mask were, so it stuck. And for teasing the name, 'I WILL PUNISH YOU!' " Darien said in a girly voice and his best sailor moon pose. Then he started tickling his little sister, who squealed and squirmed.
"Stop! Stop! I'm… sorry… please... Stop… no!" Crystal laughed, gasping for air. Darien stopped momentarily, pinning Crystal down.
"What do you say about Tuxedo Mask?" Darien asked
"I say that he's got the corniest pick-up lines and the lamest name ever not to mention his cane and top-hat!" Crystal struggled to escape from Darien's grip.
"Wrong answer!" Darien said and started tickling Crystal again
"No! No! I'm Sor…ry…im…sorry…" Crystal desperately gasped for air.
"Ok, I'll give you one more chance… what do you say?" Darien paused
"I say…. Bye!" Crystal said as she grabbed her locket and closed her eyes, dematerializing, and materializing, standing in the hallway, leaning on the wall.
"Didn't think I could do that did you?" Crystal asked
"Hey that's not fair!" Darien called "Goodnight"
"Night" Crystal replied as she went into her room and closed the door behind her.
"Hmm… I think it's about time I started that mission now…" Crystal pondered as a menacingly wicked smile spread across her lips.
Crystal Saturn
