Author's Note

I don't OWN Sailor Moon…. Yet the story concept is mine…. Please don't take it without my consent…. PLEASE……….

The final addition for the week. I will go back to updating on Wednesday next week, and I plan on having more fun then. Anyway, the word of the day is disposiwhazits…. Enjoy!

Serena or Catarina?

Chapter 14: Rough Night Revisited

"Darien should be able to handle getting you home," Lita said, as Catarina, Rini, and Darien left. The group sat in silence for a few minutes, looking at one another and then at the sweater that lay before them now that Catarina had gone.

"This is strange," Luna said finally.

"What is?" Lita asked. "That we might be helping a person who helped bring down the Moon Kingdom?"

"No, the story that girl gave Catarina and Raye. I spoke with her the other day. Catarina is hardly lethal. Sure she scoffs at existence itself quite a bit, but she remembers a name that I cannot believe had anything to do with Queen Beryl."

The name brought on another silence. The witch that led the fall. The one that forced their queen to die in the name of their own safety.

"Who did she speak of Luna?" Trista asked finally, breaking the second silence.

"It was Clara, one of Serenity's handmaidens. She knew the girl immediately, just as she knew me. She said that Clara, however, had died in a battle long ago. She held Clara in high regard, like a friend."

"Someone else from the past?" Mina asked. "Do you think that there are others?"

"The queen did get everyone out," Artemis said. "But Luna's right. She's too kindhearted to have done such a horrid act."

"Her reaction to Terrance startled me," Amy said. "She knew him, and it pissed her off to no end to see him."

"So what do we think about the chance of her being another Sailor Scout?"

"Those other two are Sailor Scouts too," Raye said finally. "The two that are hunting her down."

"Are you sure?"

"They kept calling her a traitor," Mina said. "It's very likely."

"Terrance also knows about her," Raye said simply. "He was controlling that situation with his every breath. He's a dangerous man."

"Like the China comment wasn't a big clue," Amara said sharply.

"He wants them off the scent," Amy replied. "Either that or he wants their assistance."

"They don't care unless Catarina is around," Raye said. "You should have seen their faces."

"So in pulling them away he's also given us time to find Serena, hasn't he?" Lita said.

"Admitting that you knowingly took the wrong girl is probably pretty low on his to do list," Artemis said. "But that still leaves us wondering who she is."

"She is Sailor Imperia," Trista said simply, as the group looked at her.

"Oh, I get it. If she's a Scout, and she and Terrance have a similar DNA structure, they must come from the same planet," Michelle said.

"Should we tell her?" Mina asked, as silence reigned again…

Serena lay on the bed to find it actually was a real bed, and wondered what had caused it. In fact, the whole room seemed to have Earthly origins in the books, shelves, table, and even the floor. She was surprised she hadn't noticed it before. This room was a true safe haven in this realm of ice. Then she looked to the entryway, to see that it was still made entirely of ice, but there was a sign she hadn't seen before. She walked up to it.

"Ambassador Getaway," she read. "Those who are true friends, yet cannot be safe in the world above."

She looked back to the room, to see it had become icy once more as she stood in the entryway.

"So I guess the room adjusts to whoever is in here. That's kinda cool," Serena whispered. To confirm her theory, she stepped back into the room as it changed once more. "It's still ridiculously cold!"

She went to the covers, and dove underneath them as she waited for Thomas to come back, or morning to come, whichever came first—but then her mind wandered back to what Terrance had told her. About the new Sailor Moon. Was he right? But then again, he was Terrance, and Thomas had clearly listed him as a threat.

"He is a dangerous man Princess Serenity. You were just in blowing him off and sending him to Earth. The longer Terrance is away the safer you are."

Then again, Thomas was the largest conspiracy theorist she had ever met. If given the chance, she was sure he would accuse the very ground he stood on for Catarina's disappearance. Yet, he was indeed the bad guy. Her mind reeled with thoughts and ideas, as she tried once again to sleep when it, once again, would not come…

They were at a stoplight that just didn't want to turn green.

"Darien," Catarina said in her normal British voice, as he looked at her, her head down. "Do you think I had anything to do with the Moon Kingdom's fall?"

"No way!" Rini exclaimed from the back seat. "You are way too nice to have done anything that bad!"

"But it makes sense," Catarina said. "It would explain the hunt, my lack of memory, everything."

"How's so?" Rini asked. Darien remained silent as the light turned green, and he drove forward, only to be stopped by another red light.

"Why else would two people follow me so viciously throughout time? I had to have done something so horrid, that even I was unable to recall because it haunted the very recesses of my mind."

"You're wrong," Darien said finally, as Catarina looked at him. "Rini was right. You can't possibly have anything to do with the fall of the Moon Kingdom. I was there. Queen Beryl was the one that orchestrated the whole fall, and no one else. My question is why you hate Terrance so much?"

"I wish I knew. In all honesty, I know his name and nothing more."

"YOU DON'T KNOW?" Rini exclaimed. Fortunately the light was still red, because Darien was staring too.

"I really don't know why. It's been like that for centuries. Knowing more than a name would be a blessing greater than anything I've learned before."

"Okay," Rini said. "I don't think I want to hear anymore."

"You won't hesitate if we fight him again since he's a breakthrough, will you?" Darien asked.

"I hate his him down to his haircut," Catarina replied simply. "Like those honking their horns behind us."

As they looked up, the light went from yellow, to red. They all sighed.

"Do I want to know?" Catarina said finally. "Who I am, I mean? The history that I've lived through currently was filled with war and death. How can I know for sure my past isn't the same?"

"The Moon Kingdom was a peaceful place to live in up until its destruction. If you spent any time there prior to the fall you would know," Darien said, as they all watched the light.

"But the fact that you all don't recognize me other than for Sailor Moon, says more than adequately, that I was not there long enough. In fact, it was where I was prior to coming—that has me worried. Only the other day, you all had your suspicions that I had something to do with her disappearance, says that I'm otherworldly as is. My question is what kind of world did I live on?"

"You can only hope it was far more peaceful than what Terrance is showing us..."

She heard Thomas enter long before he spoke. She knew he was hurt from the moment he sat on (more like fell to) the ground. She got up, and walked over to the guard. His left arm was a bloody mess, while his right ankle was still bleeding profusely. He had long since removed the armor and the chain mail, apparently dumping it on his way to her.

"Are you all right Princess?"

"Thomas, what happened?"

"The castle's been seized," Thomas explained, as she gasped. "They haven't hurt the queen, because she's hidden as well with a private squadron of soldiers. I was told to hold off the front and get back to you."

"I thought Sandstonia Knight said he was passing along a message," Serena said.

"That happens sometimes. The force that came with him was far stronger than we thought, and far too excited to just retreat on command. We're sure to hear from Princess Mandessa and her mother in a few days time."

"So what will you do?"

"They've only seized the castle. Keeping it seized is rather difficult to do, especially with the Imperials, who are all crazy and willing to die for their queen."

"Hey Thomas, do you think in this madness, we might be able to steal a ride home?" Serena wondered.

"What about your crystal?" Thomas asked.

"It was a thought," Serena sighed. "What happened to you?"

Serena ripped the black skirt hem as she wrapped up the ankle to the best of her abilities.

"That was a near miss by a Sandstonian as I was running back here. The arm, however, was on the way to the queen, to ensure her safety. There had been a Sandstonian there, and we fought. I left my armor there to save time in my run back to you, for the castle was starting to get filled with Sandstonians."

Serena wrapped his arm, and he sighed.

"That should hopefully hold. I only got a C in first aid."

"You are nothing like the other princesses," Thomas said.

"You never got to know them," Serena corrected. "Can they find us?"

"The Sandstonians? Not unless they know the wall isn't real," he replied dully. "We're safe for now."

The room hadn't changed, as Thomas looked around.

"What is it?" Serena asked.

"Your homeland must be beautiful Princess," he said finally. "So much warmer and friendlier than our own."

"What makes you say that?"

Her gaze was to the furniture, as his went to the floor.

"It's so beautiful in here."

Serena was floored by the answer. Here lay someone who lived on this planet judging her own by the sight of the room before them!

"How can you say your planet is so ugly?" Serena demanded.

"I don't see you objecting—don't deny it. It's all over your face Princess. This planet is a horrid place to survive in."

"No, it's just horrid when you're here against your will," Serena replied. "In fact, I'm sure if this were just a visit, it would be a great adventure for me—minus the cold."

"You really think so?" Thomas asked.

"I know so!" Serena cheered.

"Then I guess I'll have to invite you back here on a good day," Thomas sighed. "Because this is certainly not a good day."

Serena smiled.

"It hasn't been a good several days," she noted.

"That first day was grand considering you were just arriving," Thomas corrected. He looked to the table, to see that the book, Catarina's diary, lay open. "Did you read it?"

Serena's eyes looked to the ground.

"He sent Queen Beryl on us, didn't he?" Serenity asked, as Thomas sighed.

"It's what she seemed to have thought. Frankly, I don't doubt her," Thomas admitted. "Terrance is a manipulative—well, no need. She never came back."

"I know she didn't. That just means she is on the Earth somewhere," Serena replied brightly. "No one in the entire universe would find her there if they thought her dead, just like you do. Something in my heart tells me that my mother saved her, just like she saved me."

"You have a lot more optimism than most of the other princesses."

"If she's alive, then maybe she'll help protect Darien. I know it's a long shot, but maybe Terrance showing up and causing mayhem just might wake her up."

"There's a chance she isn't even in the same place."

"Fate has a funny way of bringing allies together," Serenity replied. "Especially when it comes to me and the other Sailor Scouts…"

Rini and Catarina were once again in Serena's room, this time picking up the mess that remained in there, together.

"How are you holding?" Catarina asked Rini, who smiled.

"I could eat twice as much as what was on the table," Rini replied. "What about you?"

"If I eat another meal like that, I'm afraid I really will explode."

"Did the girls teach you anything about reading and writing?" Rini asked. Catarina shook her head. "So you're going in for another day without any background knowledge at all?"

"I have to face Terrance tomorrow," she said. "They were prepping me for another encounter with him for a majority of the time. They did, however, help me write all my answers down, and told me how to explain them if I were asked about it."

"I can't believe this," Rini scowled. "The one time you can predict where an enemy will be, and you can't touch him!"

"There are ways," Catarina replied. "He thinks he has the upper hand, but as long as I stay ahead of him and avoid detention tomorrow, all will be well."

"I wish I were in your shoes," Rini said with a smile. "He wouldn't know what hit him!"

"Nor will he know what hit him tomorrow," Catarina assured, smiling.

"Ooh," Rini giggled. "You have a plan?"

"Mostly Amy's idea, but yes, there is a plan," Catarina responded. "And what's so fitting is my disposition to despise him with every fiber of my being."

"Okay, you can't say disposiwhazits," Rini said. "That's not a Serena-friendly term."

"Sorry, it slipped," Catarina replied, as they finally put the last shirt in the closet. Catarina's eyes looked icy cold as she looked at her hands, smiling. Her voice softened now as she spoke. "Yet tomorrow, we'll hopefully have an even better—slip…"

Author's Note

Probably the only preview I'll ever give you, but here we go:

"How come they work when I want revenge, like Amy thought they would?"

Should I feature this every chapter (a one liner for the next chapter)? Let me know what you think. Later!