Author's Note
I don't OWN Sailor Moon…. Yet the story concept is mine…. Please don't take it without my consent…. PLEASE……….
So I posted early today because my compy is dying out and I wanted to ensure everything was up. Somehow the weekly thing is getting harder and harder to maintain... of course, right now I'm posting four chapters each week... time management is required.
Today we will look at the last night of the story. Yes, the very last night. Tomorrow, therefore, is the last day. Anyhow, we learn about Catarina's opinion on those who read diaries...enjoy!
Serena or Catarina?
Chapter 19: Until Morning Comes
"What's going on in here?" Thomas asked, as both girls remained silent. "Am I seeing double of Princess Serenity?"
"No," Serena replied finally. "I'm afraid Terrance has kidnapped someone else."
"Kidnapped?" the other girl exclaimed, her British accent making Thomas jump.
"Princess?" he asked her.
"PRINCESS?" the two squeaked. They looked at each other, and jumped back. "WE REALLY ARE TWINS!"
"What are you two talking about?" Thomas demanded. "That girl is Princess Catarina!"
The girl stopped in her tracks, and gave him a strange look.
"How do you know my name?" she asked.
"Your name is Catarina?" Serena asked.
"It is," the girl, Catarina, replied. "But I want to know how HE knew it. The only other people I've ever told my name to are your friends, and a few others that are long since dead."
Galileo distinctly came to mind, as well as a few others she was sure they would disapprove of. Galileo was cute for a major controversial scientist of his day.
"I'm your bodyguard," Thomas replied. "I'd recognize your voice anywhere Princess."
"Are you sure I'm not her twin?" Catarina asked, smug. "Apparently I'm already Serena's twin."
"I'm positive. In fact, the fact that you are not freezing right now is a very good sign in my favor."
"He's got a point," Serena replied, shivering some. Catarina looked down.
"This can't be it. It just can't be," she whispered. "There has to be something I'm forgetting. But what is it?"
"You've forgotten who you are?" Thomas asked, confused.
"No, I know who I am!" Catarina replied defensively. Then, looking down again, her eyes watered up. "Sorta."
"Terrance knows I'm down here Thomas," Serena said, changing the topic slightly.
"How did he find this place?" Thomas wondered.
"What's more important is finding my crystal," Serena reminded him.
"Crystal?" Catarina asked. She remembered the crystal she had picked up in the park.
"What's the matter?" Serena asked her.
"I found something in the park," Catarina replied. Taking the satchel out, she opened it and removed the crystal. "A crystal."
Serena spun and nearly slipped racing to see what Catarina held. In her hands was the Silver Imperium Crystal!
"Wait!" Thomas said to the two of them. "There's no way he would have placed that there unless it is a trap. There's only one way to test. I'll do the honors."
"What if it is a trap?" Serena asked. "Why not let me do it?"
"Most Imperial traps are freezing spells. Odds are they have one on it," Thomas said. "I can survive a freezing spell; you cannot. That is why I have to do it."
"Um—Aristotle," Catarina said, talking to Thomas. "I have had this crystal with me and nothing has happened before."
"Oh, right."
"Conspiracy theorist?" Catarina asked Serena.
"Conspiracy theorist."
"How did I know that?" Catarina thought.
"Here," Serena said, as Catarina handed her the crystal. It suddenly glowed fiercely. The two were still holding it as the light died, and then Serena nearly screamed.
"What the?" she yelped. Catarina was confused, as she stepped back.
"What's wrong?" she demanded.
"What happened to your hair?" Serena exclaimed.
"Here Princess," Thomas said, producing a mirror. Catarina had a near heart attack looking at herself.
Her blond hair had changed into a pale blue. The same pale blue she thought she had belonged to a family member in the electronics store!
"Oh! By Polaris, I didn't think that was possible!" she exclaimed. Serena nodded.
"You didn't know you could change your hair color like that?" Thomas asked. "It's a mere transformation spell. The crystal must have dispelled it once it returned to Serenity's hand."
"Now that we have my crystal, I'm sure we could get out of here, and far away from Terrance," Serena said. Catarina looked down.
"Right," she said softly. She pulled her hair out of the buns, and let it fall down her back.
"This isn't good," Thomas said, his hand to the wall. "They say that Princess Mandessa is just outside the castle gates."
"Mandessa?" Catarina asked, as Serena gave her a look.
"You know her?"
"That girl knows how to land a punch, and the fires she creates are enough to make our ancestors cry in fear. Yes, I know who she is!" Catarina replied.
"So you met Mandessa on Earth?" Thomas asked, looking somewhat confused. "So you really did run to the Moon Kingdom to save it from Terrance."
Catarina didn't say anything, as her blood began to boil.
"Terrance did it, didn't he?" Serena asked her. Catarina sighed, as she shook her head.
"You even said in your diary 'It appears that someone in our ranks has threatened the kingdom that I had run to assistance for. This someone just happens to be Terrance. The advice I received played in his favor, and yet, he is threatening a kingdom,' so it means that Terrance is guilty of threatening those people."
"He lied," Catarina thought quietly. Then her senses came to, as her eyes turned icy.
"Oh no," Serena thought, recognizing the face for that of rage.
"You stupid moron! Aristotle had more sense than you, reading A GIRL'S diary!" Catarina shouted at Thomas, whose composure quickly turned red.
"Moron? Mind if I ask why you're here if you weren't stupid enough to be kidnapped?"
"HEY!" both Serena and Catarina shouted.
"I'll have you know Amara was giving me a ride back and I just fell asleep—okay?" Catarina replied, angry.
"YOU FELL ASLEEP DURING AMARA'S DRIVING?" Serena asked, shocked.
"Sleeping does not excuse you princess. You have truly fallen behind if you were kidnapped while you were SLEEPING," Thomas said.
"Hello, newsflash, my life isn't even in danger twenty-four seven! I'm allowed a little time for sleep you know," Catarina shouted back.
"YOU FELL ASLEEP DURING AMARA'S DRIVING?" Serena asked again.
"Newsflash, you're Princess Catarina! You're life IS in danger twenty-four seven!" Thomas replied.
"I told you I'm not the princess!" Catarina shouted back.
"AMARA'S DRIVING? HELLO?" Serena asked again.
"Yes you are! Who else could you be then Miss I'm-not-the-Princess?" Thomas demanded. Catarina didn't answer, and silence fell through the room. Serena was about to ask, but held her breath as she looked at the two glaring at one another. "Well?"
Still receiving no reply, Thomas slumped back against the wall. He set down the blanket he had retrieved for Serena. Catarina hung her head low.
"Thomas?" Serena asked.
"I have to rest a little more. If you hear anything, wake me immediately," Thomas replied.
And with that the guard was fast asleep. Serena turned back to Catarina, finally replied quietly to his question.
"I don't remember—I would give up my life to remember that answer…"
"They don't seem to have problems with the girl," the demon squeaked, as Terrance smiled.
"No, I don't want them to. I want her to realize the truth."
"But those girls will certainly come here for her and the blond."
"Let them come. They'll only realize what She intends to do, and stop Her plans. I am grateful that you have helped me so far, Drexel. I could never harm her, no matter what She forces me to do."
"Of course my liege," the demon squeaked, vanishing and appearing before another demon. "He knows nothing still Master Rowan."
"That dimwit son is getting better at this by the second. Thank you. Keep an eye out and make sure everything goes according to my plan…"
"You don't know who you are?" Serena asked.
"I know my name is Catarina, and that I am most likely his princess, and a Sailor Scout. My name was all that I had known for centuries. I was rescued from the flames of the Silver Millennium, and since then, I have wandered the Earth. Never aging, never fading, with only one thing intact: my name is Catarina, and I am from the Silver Millennium," Catarina replied, Serena listening with interest. "Your friends assured me that they would help me find out who I am. In fact, it was that promise that led to my pretending to be you. They told me that they too, were from that time that only I seemed to remember. It was comforting to know that I was not alone, yet—"
"They didn't seem to know you," Serena filled in. "That's a surprise. I kind of remember something about you visiting with Mina—however, it's a little fuzzy."
"They all thought I was you."
Serena started laughing.
"YOU? ME? Oh, now that's classic!" Serena laughed.
"It's true," Catarina replied. "I, with a face that scares away demons, was mistaken for you, Princess Meatball Head."
"Now who told you that?" Serena asked, offended.
"Raye."
"As soon as I get my hands on her!" Serena started.
"Let it go," Catarina said, smiling some. "She has a guilty conscience without your help."
"What do you mean?" Serena asked. "What is there to be guilty about?"
"That's exactly what I told her. They eventually found out the same story with me about my identity, but in all humor I can't remember anything about myself," Catarina said. She looked around. "I'm guessing this is Imperia."
"A cozy chilling home for them," Serena replied, walking over to the blanket as she picked it up. "Thomas is the reason I'm still alive right now."
"That obstinate fellow? Well, I guess I'm not too surprised," Catarina replied. "Believe it or not, he seems friendlier than he was acting."
"He is," Serena replied. "You know, it's really strange, looking at you. It's like looking in a mirror that has blue hair."
"I could say the same goes for you," Catarina laughed.
"I guess. We should get some sleep."
"Are those books all for real?" Catarina asked, looking on the shelf. "I mean, I could read one?"
"If you're into etiquette," Serena sighed. "All of them are just about etiquette."
"You're joshing, right?" Catarina asked. Serena shook her head. "Why me? What did I do to deserve this? I hate etiquette."
"Apparently, pretend to be me," Serena sighed, as the two thought of how they were going to get some sleep…
Author's Note
Next time…
"At least it can't get any worse…"
Famous last words….later!