Chapter 16: Plans for a Concert
It was Tuesday evening and everyone was still at Darien's apartment. After discussing ways to turn Bunny back they couldn't bring themselves to leave Darien and Pearl alone, so they had all started to work on their homework.
Michelle was getting board and decided to take a short walk outside. To her surprise, as she was leaving the apartment building she saw Bunny, Molly and Melvin, and they ran up to talk to her.
"Oh good, Michelle, I need to talk to you," Bunny gasped, slightly out of breath from her sprint.
Michelle was more then alittle surprised by this but tried to smile and said, "What about?"
"Well, you see, I'm planing a concert at Crossroads High School, Friday afternoon. You know, to try to cheer everyone up," Bunny started to explain cheerfully. "Anyway, the principal suggested, and I agreed, that the kids would love it even better if you would agree to be in the concert as well."
"What? You want to have a concert with me on Friday?" Michelle asked, totally shocked.
"Isn't that what she just said?" Molly whispered to Melvin, none to softly. Which earned her a glare from Michelle.
"Yup. I figured we could do the same songs we did in our concert with Missouri Backmen and Hotaru, cause then we wouldn't need much practice. That is, assuming you still practice my old songs," Bunny said overly sweetly.
Michelle winced alittle at the mention of Princess Serenity's songs, and the accusation that she didn't play them. "Of course I still play my Princess's songs. I'd be honored to perform them with you again. Do you still want to play "It's a New Day" together?"
"Yes, I think that we should still do the duet, though we will cut out "Call My Name." Oh, and by the way, I'm no longer your Princess," Bunny replied hottaly before turning to go into her apartment.
With Molly, Melvin and Bunny gone, Michelle ran to tell the others about this concert. They were all as surprised as she was that Bunny was willing to perform with her.
"Maybe this is a sign that she hasn't totally turned," Pearl said hopefully.
"Don't count on it," Artemis cautioned.
"Yeah, I think I know what she's up to," Luna announced.
"Really, what?" Ceres pondered.
"Well, it seems like she's trying to rub our noses in how happy she is now," Luna relayed.
"It makes sense. That would explain why she's being so overly sweet to us," Lita agreed.
Just then the phone rang. Michelle answered it, "Hello?"
"Hello. Michelle? It's Bunny. I was wondering if you could rehearse with me tomorrow, at 4, in the school auditorium?"
"Umm, sure, no problem," Michelle responded.
"Good. Oh, and, knowing that you all like to travel as a heard, go ahead and bring the others, I don't really care," Bunny continued.
"All right. Guess we'll be seeing you tomorrow then. Good-bye," Michelle replied.
"Good-bye." And Bunny hung up.
"Who was that?" Amara asked.
"It was Bunny. We are going to rehearse tomorrow at 4. She said you can all come, if you want," Michelle relayed.
Darien perked up a bit. He would be able to see Bunny again. Maybe, just maybe, she would come back to him. Or maybe… he would go to her, if she'll have him.
The next day at school was much the same as the day before. The scouts watched Bunny, and Bunny was cheerful and concerned for her school mates. By 3:30 everyone, minus Bunny, Molly and Melvin, had gathered in the school auditorium.
"So, do you know what you're going to be performing?" Hotaru inquired.
"Yes, we are going to fallow the same program as our other concert. Just cutting out what you and Missouri Backmen performed," answered Michelle.
"You mean Bunny's going to perform the songs she wrote in regard to Prince End...?" Raye started, but stopped when she looked at Darien, "In her past life?"
"I guess so. I wonder if they will have the same … feeling as they did before?" Michelle posed.
"You know, I've wanted to hear Bunny in a concert," Kunzite admitted. "But now I think I could do with out it."
"You're right," Nephrite agreed. "I'm not so sure that this is how I want to remember Bunny's first concert."
"What, don't think I still have my musical talents? I assure you that I do." Bunny had entered without anyone noticing.
"That's not what I meant..." Nephrite started.
"She knows what you meant," Melvin jeered.
"Well, seeing as your all early, we might as well get started," Bunny suggested. "In case you don't remember, I'll be playing: 'My Only Love,' 'Oh Starry Night,' and 'Power of Love.'" The scouts winced at each title, they stung Darien most of all. "And Michelle, you will play: 'Only a Memory Away,' and 'I Wanna be a Star.' We will end with 'It's a New Day,' performed together, and I will sing each as well. Sound good?"
"Sounds great," Michelle mumbled. If Bunny noticed that Michelle was less then enthusiastic she didn't show it.
"All right. I'll start, and we can switch back and forth so that the audience doesn't get board with just one of us playing. Let's get to it," Bunny ordered.
The rehearsal went fine. Both Michelle and Bunny knew their songs perfectly by heart. Watching Bunny perform them was tortures to the scouts, though. They could hardly believe that Bunny could bring herself to sing them. They had, after all, mostly been written about her feelings for Darien.
Darien was hypnotized. When Bunny began to sing her songs all sorts of memories about her came back. It made him yurn for her even more. When rehearsal was over he was ready to turn to evil, just to be with her. Luckily his four generals had been watching him and keeped him well away from Bunny as she left with Molly and Melvin.
"Darien, you can't go to her," Kunzite reminded him.
"You must wait until we know how to turn her back," Jadeite pleaded.
"But - But - Buns! I want to be with her!" Darien sobbed.
Rini put her arm around him, "You will be, you will be."
"She's right," Mina had come over. "We have always won before."
"And I'm sure Queen Serenity will be able to help us," Trista consoled.
Suddenly Michelle looked at the others, "That's right, we're planing on going to the Moon on Friday."
"Yeah, so?" Vesta sighed.
"The concert is on Friday," Michelle pointed out.
"Wow, I hadn't noticed," Hotaru cried. "What a strange coincidence."
"If it is a coincidence," Luna grunted.
"Well, it shouldn't matter anyway," Amara commented. "The concert is in the afternoon, and we go to the Moon at night, so what's the problem?"
"She's right you know," Artemis told Luna. Luna just hoped she was.
The next day pasted the same way. They went to school and then to rehearsal. The only difference was that the four generals keeped Darien away from the rehearsal. They didn't want to lose him too.
During school on Friday the concert was announced. All the students and teachers were cheered by the thought of it. Many of them had heard Bunny, either at Missouri Backmen's competition or her other concert. They all loved her songs and couldn't wait to hear them again.
After school everyone gathered at Darien's apartment, they were planing to go to the concert together. "One things for sure," Jade was saying. "What ever else happens, at least this concert seems to be cheering people up." The others agreed, but couldn't help feeling a little bit worried all the same.
Bunny, Molly and Melvin were in the Readeans' castle. Bunny was getting into the dress she would be wearing for the concert. It was a Medieval style outfit, with a black silk undergown with puff sleeves and crimson brocade overgown. Very befitting to a princess and future queen. Bunny tied black velvet ribbons around her "meatballs" and had on black satin dancing slippers. Molly had on a similar outfit. Hers consisted of a white satin undergown with puff sleeves, with a plain black overgown. She too had black satin slippers and a velvet ribbon in her hair. Melvin was wearing a white linen shirt with black knee breaches, covered with a crimson silk sleeveless tunic.
When they were all ready, they went to the throne room to talk to the King and Queen. "You look beautiful Serenity," Ralcea beamed.
"Thank you Mother," Serenity blushed.
"Have fun at your concert tonight," Rodo smiled.
"I'm sure we will," Molly replied.
"Mother, Father," Serenity suddenly burst out. "Isn't there anything else we can do for the poor people?"
The King and Queen smiled at each other, their plan was going perfectly. "Well, there is something," Rodo said.
"If the people of Tokyo were to except us as their rulers we could bring around order and peace and happiness," Ralcea explained.
"Really? That would be wonderful," Serenity smiled. "What must I do to help?"
"It's quite simple actually. You simply have to tell them what the Sailor Scouts are up to, and explain to them that we will help," Rodo told her. "If they agree we can start tomorrow to right the scouts' wrongs."
"Okay, I'll do that right after my concert. Wont the scouts be in for a shock?" Serenity laughed cruelly.
"By the way, are you strong enough to use your Crystal to help us?" Ralcea asked. "I don't want you to get hurt using it, but it would make things go a lot faster."
"Yes, I'm sure I can use my Crystal just fine," Serenity assured her. With that Molly, Melvin and Bunny left for the concert.
When the scouts arrived at the auditorium around 3 they were shocked to see what Bunny was wearing. They were so used to seeing her wear white and other light colors that the dark crimson and black came as a surprise. They had to admit, thought, that she still looked beautiful. Darien had an especially hard time not running up to her.
"All right, as soon as the concerts over we'll head to the park and then the Moon," Luna confirmed.
"Right," everyone agreed.
"Brake a leg, Michelle," Amara said encouragingly. Michelle nodded and tried to smile but couldn't. Amara knew what was wrong, "Try not to think about it."
As Michelle headed up to the stage the others took sets in the front row, more out of habit then anything else. None of them were quite sure what to expect from this concert, and the trip to the Moon without Bunny had them all anxious.
By the time the concert was to start the auditorium was packed. When Bunny walked on stage the people were mesmerized by her beauty. The concert went smoothly. If the scouts closed their eyes they couldn't tell that anything was wrong with Bunny. After their duet Bunny and Michelle received as standing ovation. Then Michelle and the scouts slipped out of the auditorium and to the park, not realizing that Bunny was about to make a very important speech.
Back stage Molly and Melvin noticed the scouts leave. "I wonder where they're going in such a hurry?" Molly whispered.
"They probably can't stand to see Bunny so happy without them," Melvin chuckled.
"Let them go," Serenity waved them aside. "I've achieved my goal, so they are no longer my concern." Then she walked back out to make her speech.