CHAPTER 12

Cenecienta and Haikyun had both learned to talk very well in just under one week. Souchi, Kaori and even Hotaru were so pleased with the new additions to their family. The Tomoes were considering boosting up production with the oven they built to make at least two new daughters next time.

"Before we proceed with growing our family, it's important that we begin to teach them more about the world beyond our home," said the professor to Eudial.

"And I shall be with you and the others when you take them out Eudial," added Kaori. "Starting with the first of our oven-born, Cenecienta. We've told all our girls that they will have their turns one by one after her. They are very excited."

"Of course Souchi and Kaori." Eudial smiled slyly. "I shall get Cenecienta ready. We will need to disguise her in regular clothing that people generally wear, so as not to attract undue attention. We shall go in twenty minutes to half an hour."

"Thank you Eudial." The professor smiled and Kaori said she would change out of her lab coat into her best red dress with matching red high heels.

Germatoid and Mistress 9 would be coming too of course. They would secretly orchestrate events unbeknown to Kaori or Cenecienta.

So they all said goodbye to everyone else and set off to town. Cenicienta wore a purple full dress with yellow flowers printed on it, orange gloves, dark sunglasses and in place of her helmet, a small navy-green hat. She was very happy and so was Kaori. Kaori started to direct her towards the library when suddenly Mistress 9 took possession of her and she stopped walking. "What's wrong Mummy? You said you were going to show me where all the books and computers were."

Kaori turned and gave a slightly robotic smile. "Just a slight change of plans honey. Auntie Eudial has someplace to take us too. I thought we might go there first instead."

Eudial spoke up. "Oh yes Cenecienta. It's a beautiful surprise for you. Very exciting."

Cenecienta said, "Okay then Auntie Eudial. Whatever you and Mummy say."

So Germatoid directed Eudial to lead them to the Cherry Hill Temple where Darien was also on his way to meet Serena and her friends to celebrate her birthday. He had the birthday present he'd bought her though he did not know that one of the two crystal shoes had been magically stolen by the witches and given to the Tomoes to create Cenecienta. This year was going to be a birthday Serena would never forget.

At the moment Serena was feeling kind of depressed. None of her friends had seemed to even remember that today was her birthday. Of course she knew that Mina had been deeply upset since her friend Jamie had been taken away last week. Still she thought that the others would at least have remembered to wish her a happy birthday when they had met her earlier when they had told her to come for study sessions at the Cherry Hill Temple. Raye had been especially fierce practically snarling at her. "You'd better come today Serena or I'll be furious. My fire will sear the seat of your panties."

She really did look frightening, so Serena did make sure she arrived on time, not even stopping in at the Arcade Center to play Sailor V or even speak to Andrew.

As she entered she was greeted by Amy, Raye, Lita, Mina and even Luna and Artemis all yelling "SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY SERENA!"

Serena was speechless as Mina directed her where to sit at a table laden with snacks and drinks. "Sit right here birthday girl."

Lita said, "I baked all your favourite treats for the occasion."

Amy handed her a present urging her to open it. When she pulled off the wrapping she exclaimed, "You've given me a book?"

Amy smiled. "It's the ultimate question and answer book for High School students to help study for exams."

"Why thank you Amy. I'll start using it right now."

Raye suddenly snapped at her. "What's the matter with you Serena? We don't want to study today, we planned this surprise party for you. Any other time you wouldn't be keen to study. So let's chill out and have fun."

Serena put the book down hurriedly. "Sorry Raye."

Artemis and Luna joined in the festive spirit as they all relaxed, ate and drank. "Happy Birthday Serena."

Serena stroked Luna affectionately. "Thank you Luna."

"Many happy returns," added Artemis. "Mina and I both have a present for you."

Luna and Lita had picked out a present between the two of them out shopping together earlier since cats can't buy things themselves. With Raye's gift Serena had four birthday presents.

Suddenly Serena began to cry. "Hey. What's the matter?" asked Mina.

"Are you upset?" said Luna.

"You are all so very nice. I thought you'd all forgotten, but you hadn't. But what about Darien? Did he also remember my birthday? Where is he?

As if on cue there was a knock at the door and Raye jumped up to answer it. Darien entered carrying the box with Serena's present in his arms. "Happy Birthday my Meatball Head."

"Oh Darien. You did remember too. Thank you so much."

Serena took the box, set it on the table and embraced Darien tenderly kissing him before roceeding to open it in front of everybody.

But she was completely taken aback when she saw what was inside. "What's this?" She pulled it out holding it up. "A beautiful crystal shoe! But only one?! DARIEN! What's the meaning of this?"

Darien was gaping in disbelief. "B-b-but I saw the shop assistant wrap up the pair."

Serena wasn't even listening. She was crying. "How could you pull such a cruel trick on my birthday? I never would have thought it of you."

"Serena. Please I." Darien had bent down to speak reassuringly but as his hands reached out Serena suddenly snapped.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Darien twisted around and half fell backwards as Serena swung her arm in a wide arc slapping his cheek. He gasped and raised his fingers to touch his stinging face. Before he had time to recover Serena had leaped to her feet and run out the door crying.

The next thing he knew Raye was shouting at him. "You should be ashamed of yourself! On her birthday too! Disgraceful tasteless joke!"

The other girls and the two cats were also shocked, but they were calmer and as Darien struggled to defend himself, Lita said, "Wait Raye. Let's give him a chance to speak."

Amy agreed. "Perhaps he is genuinely taken by surprise like us."

"Yes. I swear that's true. I have no idea why there was only one shoe in the present. I bought a pair of crystal shoes and the shop assistant wrapped them both up for me before my own eyes."

luna said, "Maybe this is a trick not by you Darien, but by these strange enemies. A trick with the purpose of trapping her."

Everybody gasped and Raye cried, "Oh of course. I'm sorry Darien. I should have known better."

Artemis cried, "Let's not waste time. We must catch up with her and help protect her."

So they all ran off to find her with the help of Amy's data computer. Meanwhile Serena was runningin the direction of a deserted public car park. Nobody else around to observe her crying her broken heart out among the parked vehicles. She was beginning to feel guilty staring at her hand. "I shouldn't have slapped him." Then she gritted her teeth. "But he was so unfeeling giving me one shoe only. He's ruined my surprise birthday party." With mixed emotions she sat down on the asphalt, buried her face in her arms and sobbed uncontrollably.

Germatoid spoke to Eudial. "Our target has run to a new location. Turn this way."

Obediently the witch led trusting Cenecienta in the direction towards the car park while Kaori held her hand. Cenecienta had no idea that her Mummy was being indwelt and controlled by Mistress 9.

They came to where Serena was crying first before her friends and Cenecienta was just about to ask Auntie Eudial why she wanted to show them this place when Germatoid slipped inside her and took over. The two demons began speaking through the vocal chords of Cenecienta and Kaori respectively. "There she is Eudial."

"Stand back and leave things to us for now."

Serena raised her head and gasped in fright as Germatoid approached her with Cenecienta's arms outstretched and Mistress 9 just behind smiling darkly with Kaori's face. "What's going on?" She backed up against a wall and pulled herself up on her feet.

Just then Darien shouted her name and her other friends did too. "Serena!"

Before the Scouts could transform Mistress 9 made Kaori's hair grow twice as long and lash out binding each of the four girls arms to their sides like ropes and hoisting them into the air. As for Darien, he had been about to reach Serena first but Germatoid swung Cenecienta's arm backwards hitting him hard and sending him flying backwards knocking down part of a wire fence.

Seeing this made Serena forget about how angry she had been. "Darien! My friends!"

Amy, Raye, Lita and Mina were helpless to break Kaori's hair as they kicked their legs grunting and straining, while Darien moaned in pain. His back was giving him agony but fortunately it did not feel broken. Perhaps he had sprained it.

Cenecienta had Serena backed up against the wall and pinned by her shoulders. Serena reacted instinctively raising her legs and kicking out at the chest and face. "There's nothing you can do. I'll now draw out your heart." Cenecienta seemed to be saying that, though of course it wasn't her.

"Transform Serena!" Luna screamed out and Serena snapped to attention pulling out her locket from inside her clothing. "Right Luna. MOON CRY-"

But she was cut off as Cenecienta snatched the locket out of her hand and pulled its chain off over her head. "Hey. Give that back."

Artemis prepared to spring to her assistance, but Eudial who was observing things, took it upon herself to intervene. She pointed her finger and sent a blast of magic golden ray striking Artemis and pushing him back. Luna reacted in horror as he fell in a crumpled heap. "Oh no! Artemis!"

As she ran to his side Germatoid stared at the locket through Cenecienta's eyes. "Well done Eudial. Here. Take this. It looks very interesting." He made Cenecienta throw it towards the witch and she magically caught it, pulling it towards her outstretched hand, just like a magnet draws metal objects to it.

"I have it great master."

Darien had painfully staggered to his feet and was attempting to desperately attack with the lid of a nearby trash can. Mistress 9 saw him and alerted Germatoid, who let go of Serena for now and turning struck him back down. However as Cenecienta's right fist hit hard it actually cracked and part of it broke off. Just briefly the real personalities of the two of them broke the surface. Cenecienta stared at her hand aghast and cried, "Mummy!" while Kaori's eyes bulged in horror and she gasped. "My daughter." But then Germatoid and Mistress 9 regained control. Cenecienta and Kaori both scowled and Germatoid opened Cenecienta's mouth and caused liquid crystal to encase Darien's lower body, leaving his head and arms free. Hopelessly he dropped the trash can lid and it clattered to the ground ominously.

Serena, forgetting her own danger, suddenly ran forwards and embraced him. "Oh Darien. This is one time you really should have become Tuxedo Mask. Just to help yourself. Why, oh why didn't you?"

Darien had an anguished expression and he said, "I must admit the truth to you Serena. I've lost the power to magically become the warrior Tuxedo Mask. Sometimer after I declared we had broken up I sensed you were in trouble, but when I tried to go to you I had lost my powers. It upset me very much. I didn't know how to tell you."

As the horror of this sank in Serena felt herself seized by one crystal hand and pulled away from him. Germatoid had made a black star appear just under Cenecienta's wound and Serena groaned as her pulsating heart was withdrawn from her body. "We'll take all the others hearts too," laughed Mistress 9. "This will give us enough zombies for our invading forces."

Meanwhile back home Hotaru and all her sisters were playing games together in their fun quarters. At the moment when Cenecienta broke her arm Hotaru had gasped and convulsed with shock feeling her sister's pain. The others were concerned. "What's the matter Hotaru?" asked Toden.

"You look white as a sheet," said Dieheart.

Hotaru blinked. "I don't know what came over me. But I feel all right now." That was true. She had no idea what happened to her, but her sisters were assured that she was okay and they returned to their various games.

Finally back at the car park Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune appeared peeking out from a darkened side-alley nearby.

"We're too late," Uranus whispered. "They've taken Serena's heart."

"Oh no," whispered Neptune. "Can't we help her?"

Sailor Uranus shook her head albeit with a somewhat regretful expression. "I'm sorry Neptune. Sailor Pluto told us to prevent this from happening if we could. However we are not to get involved since it already has."

Neptune was very upset. "But they'll do the same thing to the others. Uranus. They're our friends."

"I know." Uranus sighed. "But Pluto gave us very strict orders. Remember she said even if we didn't make it in time, she would send somebody who would be able to set things right. We don't know who that is, but we must quietly watch and wait trustingly.

Neptune knew her friend was right. Sailor Pluto knew exactly what she was doing. Composing herself she settled down to observe events with Uranus.

Meanwhile Serena was a mindless zombie, Darien and her friends were helpless and Artemis and Luna knew nothing could save them, short of a miracle.