Just a few author notes before we get started. First, I apologize for the length of the prologue. That was not my original intention. You could just skim it if you want, but there are some really funny parts and it serves for good background information. Second, I don't like Sailor Mini Moon. She annoys me. Between that and the fact that the story concept was created before I'd seen seasons 3 and 4, I have ignored seasons 3 and 4 entirely. Just so everyone's aware and up to speed when the body of the story starts. So, without wasting any more time, here we go. Enjoy! --Jay'a

BATTLE FOR POWER

PROLOGUE Part 1

Interior: Molly's mother's shop. Sailor Moon is fighting the youma.

Sailor Moon: Luna! I don't wanna do this anymore!

Luna: Get up Sailor Moon! You have to defeat her!

Jay'a: Fate of the world… in the hands of a crybaby. Glad I'm not here very

often.

Luna: Who are you?

Jay'a: Who am I? Who're you? You're a talking cat. How weird is that?

Luna: (ignoring the girl) Sailor Moon! Get up!

Tuxedo Mask: Sailor Moon, I have faith in you. Believe in yourself and you can defeat her.

Jay'a: What a doofus.

Sailor Moon: He's so dreamy!

Luna: Use your tiara!

Sailor Moon: Right! Moon, tiara magic! (youma is defeated) Wow, I did that?

Tuxedo Mask: Nice work Sailor Moon (leaves)

Jay'a: That had to have been the single most pathetic thing I have ever seen in my life.

Luna: Who are you and why are you here?

Jay'a: If you must know, I'm Jay'a. As for why (shrugs) I just go where they tell me.

Exterior: Serena is walking home from school the next day.

Darien: Hey there, Meatball Head. I sure hope you don't have another failed test to hit me with.

Serena: Don't call me Meatball Head. Can't you leave me alone Darien!

Jay'a: (walks up) So, Darien, is it? And Serena? (They turn to look and Serena recognizes her.)

Darien: Uh, that's right. Can I help you Miss…?

Jay'a: See I could hear you, well actually her, halfway down the block.

Serena: Hey!

Jay'a: And I thought 'Who the heck is my friend Serena arguing with?'.

Serena: Friend?!

Jay'a: And it was you! Anyway, not to be rude or anything--

Serena: (mutters) Oh really?

Jay'a: but what were you arguing about?

Serena: He likes to pick on me.

Jay'a: (playfully) Darien, don't you have anything better to do than pick on some poor little junior high kid?

Darien: (grinning) Oh, I suppose I can find something. 'Bye Jay'a! Se ya around Meatball Head.

Jay'a: (covering Serena's mouth) 'Bye Darien! I'm sure we'll be seeing more of each other! (pulls Serena further down the street) You and I need to talk sweetie.

Serena: Um, about what?

Jay'a: This Sailor Moon business.

Serena: How did you know it was me!

Jay'a: (rolls her eyes) How stupid would I have to be to mistake that goofy hairstyle of yours? Anyway, just so you're duly warned, I'm gonna be hanging out for awhile, so make sure you let your cat know.

Serena: How old are you? Don't you have a job ob or something you have to be at?

Jay'a: Twenty-six. And yes.

Int: Amy's computer class

Luna: Amy! Take this and say 'Mercury Power!'

Amy: Mercury Power! (she transforms) Mercury, bubbles, blast! Now Sailor Moon!

Sailor Moon: Oh, right. Moon, tiara magic! (youma is defeated) Good job Sailor Mercury.

Jay'a: So we've added another one to the mix, is that the story?

Sailor Moon: Well, Sailor Mercury is really smart.

Jay'a: Yeah well, we'll see. This group doesn't have a real great track record for smarts: One doofus, who was conspicuously absent today, one crybaby, and one paranoid cat.

Luna: I am not paranoid!

Jay'a: (smiling) Of course you're not.

Ext: Serena and Amy are walking up to the Cherry Hill Temple.

Amy: Uh oh, Serena. I see Jay'a up at the Temple.

Serena: Great, what's she doing here?

(Raye introduces Serena, Amy, and Jay'a to the new assistant, Jed.)

Jay'a: Jed, huh. Have I seen you around, at the spa maybe, or the radio station?

Jed: (averts his eyes) No.

Jay'a: Are you sure? You look really familiar.

Jed: Yes I'm sure. (leaves quickly)

Jay'a: (raises an eyebrow at Serena and Amy) Interesting.

Serena & Amy: What?

Jay'a: Never mind.

Int: Black hole.

Luna: Raye, take that stick I left for you and say, 'Mars Power!'

Raye: Mars Power! (she transforms) Mars, fire, ignite!

Sailor Moon: Moon, tiara, magic!

Ext: Street, by the bus. Tuxedo Mask has left.

Sailor Moon: (to Sailor Mars) Hey! I saw the way you looked at him! Tuxedo Mask is mine!

Sailor Mars: Then why didn't he stick around to talk to you? Maybe he doesn't like you.

Sailor Moon: He does too! (she starts to cry and there's a tongue war)

Amy: Stop it you two.

Jay'a: Shut up Sailor Moon. Ya know, you're really obnoxious when you cry.

Sailor Moon: Why are you always so mean to me?

Jay'a: Hey, truth is truth. So, (ticking off her fingers) there are three of you now? From the looks of it, if you don't learn to stop crying, you're gonna be crying every day.

Sailor Mars: What does that mean?

Jay'a: You couldn't get along to save your lives. (looks them over) So, we've got the leader, the antagonist, and the mediator. This gets weirder by the day.

Int: Raye's room. Scouts and Jay'a are discussing Jadeite's defeat.

Jay'a: Frankly, I'm amazed. Either the three of you actually did something right, or he was just really stupid.

Amy: Well, I think--

Jay'a: No, I take it back. He was just really stupid. Of course, the three of you aren't much better. Anyway, I wouldn't count on the next one being that dumb.

Raye: What do you mean we're not much better? And what next one?

Jay'a: For your second question, this is not over, not by a long shot. As for your first question, well, let's see. Blonde guy at the spa, blonde guy at the radio station, blonde guy at the temple, blonde guy on the boat, blonde guy at various other places, all conveniently named Jed or some variation of such. Gee, I wonder who they might all have been?

Raye: Thanks for letting us in on the secret.

Jay'a: I'm not here to do your thinking for you, Raye. It's not my fault that you three have no deductive reasoning skills and no ability to make connections.

Amy: Then I'm wondering, why are you here?

Jay'a: (mutters) Me too.

Ext: Sailor Moon is watching Lita fight Game Machine Man.

Luna: Lita, take this and shout 'Jupiter Power!'

Lita: Jupiter Power! Jupiter, thunder, crash!

Sailor Moon: Moon, healing, activation! (Joe is back to normal)

Jay'a: Another one? Jeez, how many of you are there? Where are you all coming from? People like you don't just come out of nowhere!

Ext: Tuxedo Mask stands holding a crystal. He detransforms into Darien, who finally realizes who he is.

Ext: Next morning, Darien is jogging by the park. He sees Jay'a sitting on a bench reading a paper and joins her.

Darien: Hey Jay'a. How's it going?

Jay'a: Oh hi Darien. It's going pretty good. How 'bout you?

Darien: Not bad, not bad. Um, can I… can I talk to you? I need to tell you something.

Jay'a: Yeah, sure.

Darien: (he glances around to make sure no one is watching or listening) I'm Tuxedo Mask.

Jay'a: You're-- Oh.

Darien: You don't sound surprised. Or awed, or anything…. Did you know? I mean, I know you know who the Scouts are…

Jay'a: Let's say I had my suspicions. I mean, I saw you everyday and "him" every night. You looked the same, sounded the same, and had the same hair. I thought it was fairly obvious.

Darien: So you won't tell anyone, right?

Jay'a: (smiles) I'm very good at not telling people things.

Darien: So, the Scouts…

Jay'a: What about them?

Darien: Well, uh, you know, um…

Jay'a: You want to know who they are?

Darien: Well, yeah.

Jay'a: Darien, I just told you I was very good at not telling people things. Though seriously, at least by the end of the next battle, you should know whom Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars are.

Darien: I should?

Jay'a: Darien, it should be so obvious, it's painful.

Ext: Next battle

Sailor Mars: Mars, fire, ignite!

Sailor Jupiter: Jupiter, thunder, crash!

Sailor Mercury: Sailor Moon, look out!

(Red rose appears and saves her. Tuxedo Mask takes off after Zoisite. Sailor Moon defeats the Shadow Warrior and finds Tuxedo Mask. Zoisite gets away with the crystal.)

Sailor Moon: Tuxedo Mask, are you alight?

Tuxedo Mask: Yes, I'm fine.

Jay'a: So, have you two figured each other out yet?

Sailor Moon: No.

Tuxedo mask: You told me it would be obvious.

Jay'a: Jeez, how retarded are you two? The obviousness of this should slap you in the face. I mean, c'mon, look at each other! (They look. Nothing.) You guys have to be the two stupidest people I have ever met in my life.

Int: Next day in the arcade. Darien and Raye are talking to Andrew. Serena, Amy, and Lita come in, soon followed by Jay'a. Darien and Serena glare at her.

Jay'a: (glances at Darien and Serena. Mutters) Man, you two are stupid. (they're about to complain, but Andrew interrupts.)

Andrew: Hi Jay'a! I heard the Scouts had another battle last night. Did you get to see it?

Jay'a: Oh, I saw it alright.

Andrew: Well, how was it?

Jay'a: Same as usual. Bad guys show up and do their thing; Scouts show up and reintroduce themselves for the billionth time; Sailor Moon gives her corny little "love and justice" speech; they fight; the Scouts get in trouble; Tuxedo mask throws his rose and gives one of his corny inspirational speeches; Sailor Moon does her thing and they win. It's like they all got together and derived a battle formula. It's ridiculous.

Andrew: I think it would be cool to be Tuxedo Mask. (Darien frowns, the girls perk up)

Jay'a: (laughing) Why would you want to be him? Let me tell you something Andrew, you're overqualified. You're too smart!

Andrew: Too smart?

Jay'a: Let me tell you about these five people. They're not the brightest crayons in the box. Take Sailor Moon and Tuxedo mask. They should know each other's identities. It's so ridiculously obvious. They see each other ever day normally and in their hero outfits every night. It's not as if they look any different. It'd be like if I were to go outside and change my clothes, then come back inside and you had no idea whom I was.

Andrew: That's pretty harsh.

Jay'a: It's not my fault that they're completely incapable of making obvious connections. I should take you along sometime. You watch for about five minutes, and as soon as you realize that they have to save the world, you wanna cry. No one on either side of the game has any skill at all. The bad guys just aren't as lucky.

Seriously, if any of these girls had any combat skills at all, Tuxedo Mask wouldn't even need to be there. The only reason he does need to be there is because when the chickies get attacked, they just stand there. Hence the need for a rose to be thrown. If they tried to get out of the way, that's be different…

And everything takes so long. The amount of wasted time is amazing. First the have prep time to transform. From the time they yell 'Mercury Power' or whatever to when they're ready to go, is about a minute and a half. Then they have to go through all the reintroduction and various posing. Then come the speeches. Apparently Sailor Moon feels no need to change it up every now and then because we've all heard the same speech eight million times. Then there's attack prep time and the inspirational speeches. Which also sound the same every time.

But here's what really gets me. After the little inspirational speech, Tuxedo Mask actually has to tell Sailor Moon to use her wand thingy. There's about two seconds of silence and then she says, 'Oh right'. What's that all about?!

Andrew: I'm sure it's not as bad as all that…

Jay'a: Oh, I haven't even gotten into the bad guys. They're worse! And there's probably a million more things that I could think of that don't make sense if I thought hard enough. I like for things to make sense. (checks her watch) I suppose it'll have to wait though. Gotta go meet my boyfriend. Catch ya guys later! (she leaves and Darien and the girls glare at her retreating back.)

Andrew: (frowning) What are you guys so mad about?

Ext: Street the next day. Jay'a is walking and sees the girls.

Jay'a: Hi guys!

Serena: We don't want to talk to you.

Jay'a: You know, you four really impressed me yesterday.

Lita: What?

Jay'a: In the arcade. I thought for sure that Raye or someone was gonna smack me upside the head, but you guys played it real cool. With Darien and Andrew there you weren't gonna let on. You guys are good actors. Better than my boyfriend. Then again, everyone's better than my boyfriend. He's a terrible liar. Except for this one time when we scared the crap outta my friend Mares. It was really great. But that's another story. Anyhoo, catch ya later!

Lita: What the heck was that?

Amy: I think it was a peace offering, an apology.

Raye: What?! Her, apologize?

Serena: I guess we should take what we can get from her.

Ext: Later in the park, Jay'a sees Darien.

Jay'a: Hi Darien!

Darien: Go away.

Jay'a: You know something Darien, you were quite the actor yesterday. I was very impressed.

Darien: Excuse me?

Jay'a: In the arcade. You were playing it so cool, as if you had no idea who I was talking about.

Darien: You mean that I didn't know who the Scouts were?

Jay'a: Well, yeah that too. But I'm talking about you. I thought you were gonna smack me in the head but you didn't. It was cool.

Darien: I'm sure.

Jay'a: Dude, I'm tryin' to apologize here.

Darien: You're really bad at it.

Jay'a: Yeah, I know. But then, I don't normally make a habit of apologizing for speaking truths.

Darien: Are you expecting me to accept this apology?

Jay'a: (sighs) I was hoping.

Darien: (laughing) Were you now?

Jay'a: Hey, you're laughing. That should count for something.

Darien: Can I ask you a question?

Jay'a: Shoot.

Darien: You know how both the Scouts and I are looking for the Moon Princess? (she nods) Do you know who she is? I don't want her name because I know you won't give me that. I just want to know if you know.

Jay'a: I have a pretty good idea, yes.

Darien: Does it make sense?

Jay'a: Well, yes and no.

Darien: Yes and no? What kind of answer is that? I can't even figure Sailor Moon out and you tell me she's obvious. (he laughs)

Jay'a: (she giggles) Does that mean you accept my apology? Such as it was.

Darien: Yeah, I guess it does. (he pauses) Am I going to feel really stupid when I find out who Sailor Moon is?

Jay'a: Yup.

Darien: You're going to enjoy every minute of it too, aren't you.

Jay'a: Of course. But if it makes you feel any better, she's going to feel just as stupid when she finds out who you are.

Int: Star Light Tower. Darien and Serena are captured by Zoisite.

Serena: That's it Zoisite! You're finished! (Darien frowns) Moon, Prism, Power! (she transforms, Darien's jaw drops)

Jay'a: (to Darien) Now don't you feel just a wee bit stupid? Look at her hair! How many people with meatballs do you know? (he just nods, staring at Serena)

Zoisite: Lucky for you Sailor Brat, I'm after you're friend Tuxedo Mask.

Sailor Moon: Hah! Too bad for you, he's not here!

Darien: Yes, I am. (Jay'a wanders over to Sailor Moon while Darien transforms)

Jay'a: Now don't you feel stupid too? (Sailor Moon just stares)

Int: Later. Darien's gone and Sailor Moon has just woken up.

Sailor Mars: We'll just have to keep fighting.

Sailor Moon: Count me out.

Sailor Jupiter: Sailor Moon, you can't mean that. You're our leader!

Luna: Sailor Moon we need you!

Sailor Moon: I can hardly handle being Sailor Moon and now I'm supposed to be the Moon Princess too? I just want to be a normal teenager!

Sailor Mars: Sailor Moon, get a hold of yourself!

Sailor Moon: Leave me alone Mars! I know you've always hated me!

Sailor Mars: That's not true!

Jay'a: Serena--

Sailor Moon: Shut up! I don't need to be picked on!

Jay'a: I wasn't going to. I just wanted to know if you guys knew why it was that you do what you do.

Sailor Mars: (she frowns) Because the Negeverse is evil. They destroyed the Moon Kingdom and killed a lot of people, including us.

Jay'a: Well, yes that's true. Those are the big reasons. I'm talking about the little reasons

Sailor Venus: The little reasons?

Jay'a: What do you suppose would have happened to certain people if you guys weren't here?

Sailor Jupiter: They'd be dead or slaves or something.

Jay'a: Right: Those are the little reasons, not because they're insignificant, but because they're more personal. I've been fighting scummy people like this for half my life. I understand you're tired, you're frustrated, you're mad as hell. When I was about nineteen a friend of mine told me why is was that we fight. He said it was for the people we've never met and never will meet. So that those people who can't fight can feel safe that someone is fighting for them. I don't know a lot of civilians, people who aren't involved in some way, so most of what I do is for people I don't know. It's more personal for you because you do know civilians. Sammy for example, and Chad, Andrew, Rita, Molly, Melvin, and any other classmates, teachers, or family friends. This fight is personal. You fight for them.

Malachite: You Scouts will pay for Zoisite's death!

Jay'a: (to Malachite) Excuse me, I'm in the middle of a conversation here. (to Scouts) You know, some people are so rude. (back to Malachite) But as long as you're here, let me be sure I understand all of this. You guys were all on the Moon. There was a war. Essentially it was Breyl, four generals and the Shadow Warriors versus four Scouts and Darien and whoever else was around. Yes? Yes. Okay, so the Negeverse wins. We then move the battle to Earth. Again it's Beryl, four generals, and the Shadow Warriors versus eventually five Scouts and Darien. That's it. But now the Negeverse appears to be getting creamed. Why? It makes no sense!

And as long as I'm talking about things not making sense, you and Zoisite seemed to have been an item. I'm assuming that Beryl just killed her for being insubordinate and stupid. (he nods slowly) And you still work for this woman? Why? It makes no sense. No wonder you're losing. You're all dumber than rocks.

Ext: Alley. Sailor Mercury takes Greg away while Sailor Jupiter stays to fight Prince Darien.

Darien: Is that the best you can do Sailor Jupiter?

Sailor Jupiter: I'm just warming up pal.

Jay'a: Is this what passes as hand-to-hand combat with you people? (they fight some more. Darien goes to hit her and stops just short of her face) Cheep, cheep, cheep! Oh! Are there birds here? Cheep, cheap, cheap! You wus! If you're gonna hit 'er, hit 'er!

Darien: You're lucky I'm not interested in doing battle with you.

Jay'a: You want it buckshot? Bring it on. I'll kick your butt so hard and so fast you'll think you're in time warp.

Darien: Hm. I'm sure. (to Sailor Jupiter) Some other time Sailor Scout.

Jay'a: (feigned pout) That was so cheap. I was all geared up for a good fight. I want my money back.

Sailor Jupiter: Shut up Jay'a.

Jay'a: (watches as Sailor Jupiter leaves the alley and turns down the street) Some people just have no sense of humor at one o'clock in the morning.

Ext: Lake by the resort. Darien releases the Spirit of the Lake and it takes off on him.

Darien: Hey wait! Come back!

Jay'a: (shaking her head) Darien, Darien, Doofus Darien! Look at the mess you made. Now who do you suppose is going to pull your butt outta this one? He looks at her) Don't look at me, it's not my job. (he looks at Malachite) He won't help you either. In fact, he would love to see you fail.

Darien: But Beryl--

Jay'a: Beryl? Gimme a break. I have yet to see that woman do any actual work. She's been essentially clueless since this started. That leaves just one group of people. That's right, the Sailor Scouts. They've been haulin' yer ass outta trouble so much you should start payin' 'em.

Darien: I don't have to listen to this. (leaves)

Jay'a: (mutters) Moron.

Malachite: (to Jay'a) Insolent brat, stay out of this!

Jay'a: Uh oh, the 'insolent brat' thing is starting again.

Ext: Scouts and Tuxedo Mask heal the Spirit of the Lake.

Tuxedo Mask: I guess we'll settle the business of the Silver Crystal some other time Scouts. (he walks away and the Scouts leave)

Jay'a: (sees Malachite watching from a tree and goes after Darien) You know Darien, you've really put yourself between a rock and a hard place here.

Darien: Go away.

Jay'a: Darien, I'm trying to talk to you as your friend. Now, I can see you're having an internal struggle with all of this and I think the Scouts know it too. Malachite's getting really suspicious about whose side you're really on and that could transfer to Beryl.

Darien: What's your point?

Jay'a: Just be careful and take it easy, okay? I'll see ya around.

Ext: Jay'a and Sailor Moon are standing in the snow. Sailor Moon is wondering how to rescue her friends from Beryl

Jay'a: Just go in there looking to kick some serious ass and you'll be fine.

Sailor Moon: You think so?

Jay'a: Yeah. You know, you and Raye are a lot alike. When you two get really pissed off, you could do some serious damage.

Sailor Moon: I don't know…

Jay'a: Believe me, I know people like this. My boyfriend's sister is the sort of like that. She is definitely someone you don't want mad at you. She scares me when she gets pissed. And she hated me for two years. And she's a princess too, so you're good to go.

Sailor Moon: Well, okay.

Jay'a: Make yourself a presence. You're there to win and if they don't like it, tough.

Sailor Moon: Right. I'm ready.

Jay'a: Kick ass, girl.

Sailor Moon: Thanks Jay'a.

Jay'a: That's what I'm here for.

(Sailor Moon goes into the castle. Jay'a hangs out and watches the Scouts defeat beryl with the crystal. They all end up back home safely.)

Ext: Next morning. Jay'a is sitting on a park bench reading a paper. Darien jogs by but takes no notice of her. She raises an eyebrow. Ten minutes later, she sees Serena running down the street, late for school.

Jay'a: (chuckling) Some things don't change. Girl's got guts though. Not such a bad assignment after all, hm?