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 one liner will stay! Hooray! Okay, so um, this means I have to be sure about the next chapter huh? Anyways, there will be a big slip of sorts today! Wait, you heard about that last chapter… oh well. Enjoy!

Serena or Catarina?

Chapter 15: Manners in the Ill-Mannered?

"What day am I on?" Serena asked Thomas, who shrugged.

"Earthwise, probably day five or six," he replied.

"Okay, so the last day I was on Earth it was Friday. Then it's now either Wednesday or Thursday," Serena calculated. "Wow, only a few days and it feels like ages."

The two were now situated in the room with some new rations that Thomas had stolen overnight via a nifty magic spell, and were waiting for the word that the castle was safe to enter into once more. Serena had discovered the joy of downtime for the first time in the last few days, and was taking in every moment of it. At least, that's what Thomas thought about the matter.

Serena wandered over to the books, and shifted through the multitude of titles.

"A Lady and her Lord?" Serena asked.

"Etiquette," Thomas replied.

"Fencing is an Art?"

"Etiquette," Thomas answered again.

"100 Ways to Make Yourself a Better Performer?"

"Etiquette."

"Princess, the Third Edition?"

"Etiquette."

"Speeches Worth Remembering?"

"Etiquette."

"IS EVERY book here on etiquette?" Serena asked. "The Proper Curtsy?"

"Certain situations demand a certain curtsy. She knew each and every one."

"Do they really need a book on that?"

"She wouldn't listen to instructors," Thomas replied. "So the instructors found books to accent their lessons."

"So seriously, are there any books here that have nothing to do with etiquette?"

"There are two romance novels over there, but I fear, Princess, that you will find them too bland," Thomas said, pointing with is good arm to two books in the corner. "She was a Royal-in-training after all. She didn't read much else."

Serena went over to the romance novels, to see that not only were they "bland," as Thomas had described to her, in name, but that they were only paper thin stories. She sighed.

"I need to read something," Serena sighed.

"I suggest the first one. At least there's more plot twists there."

"A Lady Who Loved a Man," Serena thought. "Can't they be a little more original?"

With a sigh, she began to read the small book in front of her…

"Hi Molly!" Catarina said cheerfully, as she sat next to her, as per Amy's request.

"Hey Serena! So, how did it go yesterday?"

"That detention? It was awful," Catarina complained. "But I plan to make up for it today."

"Revenge isn't like you Serena. He must have been horrible!" Molly replied, giggling. "However, I think that man could make us all go crazy like that! His etiquette is horrible!"

"And so are his detentions," Catarina minded.

"So if you would have answered my note, what would it have been?"

"A definite yes," Catarina replied. The silence ensued as the footsteps came from down the hall. They knew it was him before he entered. And yet, he didn't come in alone. What shocked them were the two girls that followed, both having beyond vicious glares, as the whole class jumped out of their seats and to the back of the room. Catarina moved with the group, but knew immediately, that they were Jennifer and Mandessa in disguise. Everyone, however, was looking beyond the two girls, and to the substitute who called himself Mr. T. He was glowing in a black light, that was slowly surrounding the two girls.

"Are my glasses fogged?" a boy with giant glasses demanded.

"Don't be silly Melvin!" Molly shivered. "We all know he isn't glowing black—right Serena?"

"Whoa wait, you see that too?" Catarina asked, half-shocked herself.

"Oh man, this is definitely freaky!" another girl proclaimed.

"What do we do?" a boy asked. "I know this wasn't in the student handbook!"

"Class," Mr. T said in a dark tone. "Please do take your seats. These are only two new students."

"I know one thing," another student said, shaking. "I'm not sitting anywhere near the front!"

The group dashed for the desks. Catarina, forced to comply with the group, wondered why they weren't thinking of screaming for help. Surely they had seen enough to know this wasn't a safe environment. However, setting a trend was not the deal, as somehow, she, Molly, and the boy named Melvin all ended up in the front row, with Mr. T right before them.

"Well, at least I know Miss Serena won't be passing notes today," he said smugly, as Catarina felt like slugging him in that very same second. She held composure. She knew the only way this would work is if she remained totally calm. However, she noted that Jennifer sat next to her, a unique look on her face that only could pass for her infamous and fatal smile. She was amused, which told Catarina she was in a new dangerous situation.

"Now class, today we are going to talk about—yes Serena?"

"Eris Total?"

"What?"

"I thought the homework was about Eris Total," Catarina replied, laughing silently over her way with linking the homework to Aristotle, her least favorite man in the world.

"I think you mean Aristotle, Serena," Melvin replied, as the class giggled.

"Now now," Mr. T said. "Serena, did you even read up on Galileo like I had asked? The two men are never taught without mentioning their rival."

"Why are we studying European history?" Catarina asked, as it suddenly hit her why. She had indeed gone through quite a bit of this history herself. But the assignment had been assigned the day before. Did he already know? Was he watching her every move with some kind of lust—wait, she knew him! She knew who he was! An Imperial knight she had once known! Her face iced over, and her voice came down to a whisper. "For the love of Galileo!"

"Is there something you want to share with the class?" Mr. T asked, but Catarina merely came back with what they had dubbed as a Serena Smile.

"No Mr. T. I was just trying to remember what Galileo was famous for."

The class giggled.

"Are you really that much of a ditz?" Jennifer asked, a shocked look on her face.

"Who doesn't know about Galileo?" Mandessa said, coming from the other side of the row.

"Serena, he was a famous European guy," Molly explained.

"Oh yeah," Catarina replied, as Terrance continued in his lecture. As it drew near time for Catarina to get busy, she looked at the other two. They no longer stared at her with curiosity, as they had when they had first entered. They didn't suspect her of anything at that exact moment. However, she knew one big slip up and she was caught. Her eyes had not changed in the duration of the class, and she lifted a finger and pointed at the top and bottom of the door, as they froze over near the metal that helped the door slide open and close. Then, she set up a thin layer of ice underneath Terrance's left foot, and put her hand down again. She had tried to just lift her hand so that she could aim, and hopefully it had went unnoticed. As luck would have it, Terrance started to move at that exact moment, and flew up into the air and fell to the ground. The ice melted almost immediately afterwards.

"Wow!" Melvin said, adjusting his frames.

"How come they work when I want revenge, like Amy thought they would?" Catarina thought, smiling on the inside, giving her best expression of shock. The whole class suddenly burst into laughter. Terrance picked himself up, the largest look of rage on his face as he glared at Catarina. She knew he knew. Yet she also knew she couldn't prove that she did it. She felt a warm feeling rise from inside, as Catarina tried to push it away. "How come these feelings for him still don't die, even after he threatened another's life? WHY IN THE NAME OF GALILEO DO I LOVE HIM?"

On the outside, she once again kept a scared and shocked demeanor, yet on the inside Armageddon was occurring. Her body wanted to rush to his aide. Her hands wanted to caress his enraged face. Yet at the same time she hated his every breath. How could this be? It was tearing her apart…

"You lied to me," Serena said sharply, putting the book away. Thomas woke up, startled.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"That novel wasn't bland at all," Serena said. "It was all about etiquette!"

"Sorry, but her mother would only allow those two novels for her besides her studies. I hadn't really noticed the etiquette in it I guess."

"Someone get me a romance, a comic, or a textbook for all I care. Just so long as it has nothing to do with etiquette!" Serena cried…

The second half had yet to begin, and Catarina began to wonder if this second part would work. He already knew who had pulled the first part of the prank. Would he be wary of a second?

"Even a good professer doesn't fall flat on his face often," Jennifer said in her drawl, laughing with the class.

"I'm inclined to agree," Mandessa said warmly, a smug look on her face.

"All right," Terrance said angrily. "You all have had your fun. Who did it?"

The group fell silent.

"I WANT AN ANSWER NOW!" he shouted. There was still no answer. He composed himself. "Fine, then I shall ask the principal how to handle this situation. Melvin, watch the class."

Terrance moved for the door, as he began to try and slide it, as nothing happened. Melvin had already moved to stand at the front of the class, as Terrance began struggling furiously with the door, as Catarina looked onto the scene with amusement.

"Gee, and I thought Tsukino was wimpy!" one kid roared. The class burst into laughter once more. In the mayhem of his slamming, the airhead of a teacher pushed the intercom button. A voice of a secretary came up very faintly against the laughter.

"All right, whoever is responsible is guaranteed not to be in this classroom tomorrow," Terrance growled. The group gasped.

"Public law dictates you can't threaten your students Mr. T," Melvin said, a book miraculously in his hands as he read the page.

"He's right," Molly said in his defense.

"You can't prove I said anything," Terrance said angrily. Catarina decided it was time as she made the ice melt, and the door opened up right with the principal in front of him. The group silenced immediately, as an awkward silence ensued.

"You, Mr. T, will no longer be necessary. I will handle this class for today," the principal finally said, as Terrance stormed out of the building. The class cheered.

"Good riddance," Molly whispered. "He was creepy."

"I agree," Catarina replied, looking at the two who watched him leave, a confused look crossing their faces. They then looked at her, and an evil look crossed their faces, one she could only construe as rage.

The rest of class was dull, as Catarina went on impulse and introduced herself to the girls, and offered a spot with them at the table.

"You do remember us from last night, right?" Mandessa asked, shocked at the offer.

"You didn't look like you liked him much either," Catarina admitted sheepishly. "Besides, I wanted to know how you changed outfits so fast!"

The two crashed.

"Umm—Serena? That's a—um—uh—family secret!" Jennifer said quickly.

"You two are sisters?" Catarina asked. There was more crashing.

"No," Mandessa said, blushing at the thought apparently. "We're from the same country!"

"You sure don't sound like it," Catarina said, smiling now.

"I didn't say the same kingdom!" Mandessa shouted, and then covered her mouth.

"Ooh! Maybe you two know that Princess Serenity person he was talking about!" Catarina pointed out. Inside, her mind was reeling with fear. How could she hold such a cheery conversation with the two out to kill her? Why did she care about them even a little bit, even after all they put her through?

"She died a long time ago Serena," Jennifer said bluntly. "Do you remember how we talked about that traitor? We thought she was the one responsible."

"Thought?"

"Turns out she was probably innocent," Mandessa said softly. "Your teacher possessed us using demonic powers today. That black smoke? It was his doing, and we believe he lied to us to have her killed. We aren't sure why, but we think he's the guilty one."

Catarina took a step back.

"Listen, I know you might find this hard to believe, us reducing to an apology and all, but can you forgive us Catarina?" Jennifer asked quietly. Catarina jumped back even further. "We know it's you. Mandessa can faintly hear your voice within."

"Serena!" she heard Lita exclaim, running to her aid. "Are they threatening you?"

"No," Catarina whispered. "They're apologizing."

"For what?" Lita asked, getting in front of Catarina.

"For attacking all of you for aiding Catarina—we were wrong to believe that you were evil," Mandessa explained, extending her hand to shake.

"But my question is who are y'all?" Jennifer said. Lita hadn't moved, and Catarina saw Amy distracting Molly and Melvin out of the corner of her eye.

"Do you know who she is?" Lita demanded quietly.

"Sorta," Jennifer said. "We used to be friends back home."

"Friends?" Lita said angrily. "How dare you call yourselves her friends?"

"Lita?" Catarina asked.

"Friends don't try to kill one another. Friends don't hunt each other down, and betray them like you have, no matter what they've done. You can't possibly be her friends."

"Don't try my patience," Mandessa warned. "We're offering a truce. Unless you don't know what's good for you, you'll accept. Otherwise we'll be forced to go back to old methods. She needs to go home sometime you know."

"I ain't letting you put a finger on her," Lita snarled. Catarina was shocked.

"Lita," Catarina said softly. "Why?"

"Huh?" Lita asked, turning to her. Mandessa and Jennifer sighed, and let the two talk.

"Why do you even bother?" Catarina whispered. "I thought you thought I was the one to cause all this."

"We spoke after Darien took you, Rini, and Luna home," Lita said smiling. "We came to an agreement."

"Well, then it's settled," Mina said. "We tell her first thing after school what we know about her."

"But what if those two show up again?" Raye asked.

"I say we give them the old one two," Lita and Amara said, both raising their fists.

"No!" Amy said quickly. "We can't treat them like they would us. We'll just have to defend Catarina from them."

"Looks can be deceiving," Trista reminded them.

"But Lita," Catarina asked, a tear in her eye. "You don't know me. Why do you even care about me?"

"Because," Lita answered simply. "Because I do know you, meatball head. You are my friend, and I will not let anyone hurt my friends."

Catarina wiped her tears away again, and hugged Lita.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"Your welcome. Now can you get off me?" Lita replied, as she turned back to the two, who were apparently touched.

"You truly are a Sailor Scout, aren't you?" Mandessa asked. "I see clearly that this will get us nowhere. We will talk again, sometime in the near future. Meanwhile, you protect her then, because I expect to see her in one piece then."

"We'll hold ya to it ya know!" Jennifer said, as they started to walk away. "By the way, I love your cookies. They really are the best."

"I—my cookies?" Lita asked, shocked as the two were gone…

Author's Note

So how many of you forgot about Lita's cookies from the beginning of the story? I'd like an honest vote! Heehee!

Next time…

"She just laughed of her own accord…"

Yes, I'm evil. Until next week, later!