Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or Harry Potter.
Shifts in Destiny
Chapter 6
The Overgrown Thistles
Professor Sprout could have shown her sixth year class anything, but she showed them how to weed thistles. The plant was the national flower of Scotland, so it was common. Thistles were a muggle plant, but lately the school grounds became crowded with thistles. Despite the weed being covered in thorns, it had healing properties. Professor Sprout decided she might as well put the thistles to use for Professor Snape's antidotes stores.
But having this many thistles was not normal. The thistles were choking school crops and after Professor Sprout showed samples in her greenhouse, they separated to the gardens and grounds to weed the pokey menace.
"Make sure you put plenty of salt on the roots," said Professor Sprout as the students pulled on the weed. "It's the best way to kill them."
"Ouch!" said Serena, pulling her hand back. "It pricked me; right through my glove!" She sucked on her finger.
"I wonder why these thistles are growing all over the place," said Hermione. "Hogwarts has never had this problem before."
By the end of the class, Neville had nearly a dozen dead thistles in his basket. Lydia was not far behind them. She frowned.
Lita noticed her frowning. "You all right, Lydia?" she asked. "Did a thistle prick you?"
"No," said Lydia. "The plants remind me of Fiore. I was just wondering where he is- if he found his home planet."
Lita nodded as she ripped a thistle right from the ground. She didn't bother using salt. Other than Potions, Herbology was the other class Lita received an Outstanding in. All plants, whether poisonous or thorny, were not a problem for her.
"You know who Fiore reminds me of?" inquired Lita, tossing another dead thistle into her basket.
"Your old boyfriend?" Lydia smirked.
Lita laughed. "Well, his human form did. He had his height," Lita said. "But his alien form reminded me of Alan and Ann. They were aliens that came from a tree. Fiore looks a lot like them. Maybe he's from the same planet, and he got separated from them somehow."
"What happened to Alan and Ann?"asked Lydia.
"Their tree got too full of negative energy," Lita explained. "They thought it needed negative energy to survive, but the energy it lived on was love. The tree asked Sailor Moon to free it of the negative energy, and it became a small plant. Alan and Ann left to start over."
Lydia sighed. "I hope he finds them, or at least they find him." She cleared her throat. "Hey, just who was this old boyfriend of yours anyway?"
"Freddy?" said Lita. "Well, he was cute. He had Misha's hair—you remember that ice skater?"
Lydia nodded. "Yeah, Malachite turned him and his partner into monsters. Good thing we were there to change them back."
"And Freddy was very nice," Lita continued. "He had a genuine demeanor; he just wanted to help people. I guess that's why so many boys remind me of him, because I see a little bit of Freddy in everybody." Lita paused from working and sat back. "Cedric came closer to Freddy than anyone I've met. He had all of Freddy's qualities times ten. Cedric was loyal and kind and he was gorgeous. I miss him."
"We all do," said a voice behind them. The girls turned to see Professor Sprout behind them, a basketful of weeds in hand.
"Sorry professor," said Lita, picking up her hand rake at once. "Just taking a little break."
Professor Sprout smiled. "Don't worry about it. I'm sure Cedric appreciates us remembering him. He was taken away from us too soon…"
Professor Sprout wandered off. Lydia sniffed, and Lita picked at her eyes.
"Darn pollen," Lita said. "Got some in my eye."
"Yeah," Lydia said.
Elsewhere, a simpler drama took place.
"Couldn't we just pick roses?" Serina wondered out loud.
Some of the students laughed. Lydia suddenly perked up.
"Hey! Whoever weeds the most thistles," said Lydia. "I'll buy them a butterbeer the next Hogsmeade weekend."
"That sounds good to me!" said Serena. She began ripping out thistles and covering them with salt, catching up with most of the class. Before the impromptu competition was completed, Serena managed to catch up with Lita. Lita had slowed down to allow Serena to catch up. Regardless, the best green thumb in the class, Neville got the most thistles and won the prize. His chubby face lit up with excitement. Lydia guessed that he was unused to winning.
The next day was the Quidditch match, Slytherin versus Gryffindor. Draco did not attend the match. Both Harry and Raye knew this wasn't like the usual Draco and this made them suspicious. While Harry was speaking to his team to get them hyped up for the match, his mind was on Draco.
"The Slytherin team is different now," said Harry "Malfoy isn't playing Seeker and he could have been Captain but for some reason he isn't. If he was, I would have an idea about his strategy. Right now, whatever strategy he is following, I can assure you it has nothing to do with Quidditch."
"Er, Harry," said Lydia. "What does that have to do with anything?"
"Because I've known Draco Malfoy for six years and he's been competing against me since our first day," said Harry. "If I'm a Captain, then he would want to be captain unless something was really—ow!"
Ginny had elbowed him in the ribs hard. "Can't you tell us something else to get ready for the game?"
Harry sighed. "Sorry guys. Right then, Chasers, keep an eye out for the Quaffle and the bludgers. S lytherin has a new Beater, Millicent Bulstrode. If she can get Hermione in a headlock I bet she can swing a bat. Ron, protect those hoops like your life depended on it."
"I do!" Ron exclaimed.
"I'll watch out for the Snitch," said Harry. "If we all follow the plan then the game will be done in less than thirty minutes. Then I can find out what Malfoy—er—we can party later."
As for Raye, she waited for Draco in the common room for as long as she could. It was ten minutes before the game started when the new addition to the cheerleader Squad came from the Quidditch Pitch. It was Perry Oswald, the overweight guy who had worn no shirt and painted his chest silver and green at a previous game. When he had found out that Lori Higgs and Millicent Bulstrode made the Quidditch team, he reminded Raye of her "promise" of letting male cheerleaders on the Squad. Raye had forgotten all about that. Thankfully he was the only male Slytherin crazy enough to tryout. Raye allowed him to be the mascot. He wore a green snake suit that hissed randomly.
"Hey, Raye," he said. "We got to get down to the Quidditch Pitch. Everyone's waiting for you."
"Yeah, okay," said Raye. "Hey, is Draco over there?"
Perry shrugged. "I haven't seen him. C'mon let's go!" He shoved on his snake head and grabbed her hand. "I want to show off my dance before the team comes to the field!"
Raye groaned. "Just make sure you stay in your mascot outfit. I told you, Perry, no streaking. I don't care how much house spirit you have."
When they got to the Quidditch pitch, the cheerleaders did a cheer as Perry dance.
"Slytherin is hot!" chanted the cheerleaders as they clapped. Perry strutted down the sideline, waving the heat away from him as if he was baking. He wasn't far off. His mascot was heavy enough.
"Slytherin is hot! Totally hot!"
Perry touched Raye's shoulder and right at that moment, his costume hissed as if someone threw water on a hot pan.
"And Gryffindor is NOT!" finished the cheerleaders, pointing and booing at the Gryffindors. Perry ran down, rubbing his shoulders as if he was in the arctic.
"Oh yeah," said Serena and the Gryffindor cheerleaders lined up for their "greeting" cheer.
"The Lions are back and better than before," cried the cheerleaders and a roar escaped from Neville's lion suite. "You thought, you've seen the best we're here to show you more. The red and gold, the colors that you fear. Hey Serpents-"
The cheerleaders paused and cried "You're going down this year!
Ami was standing on the sidelines beside a table with medical supplies. Madame Pomfrey appointed her to be a mediwitch for the matches in response to the many injuries. Mina was sitting in the commentator's box. In theory, Mina was providing commentary, but in reality, was using the opportunity to pitch her boyfriend's new sports clothing line.
"If you wish to get your own cheerleader or Quidditch uniform, please write to Latil's Wizarding Wear! Buy one, get the second half off!" she would say.
"Miss Aino," scolded McGonagall. "Please focus on the match!"
"Oh, right, sorry," said Mina. "It looks like Urquhart has let some girls on his team. He will go down in history as the first Slytherin captain to allow witches to play! And what players they are! Lori Higgs, a fourth year is playing as Seeker and Millicent Bulstrode, sixth year playing Beater. They were on the cheerleader squad last year."
"Now you're gossiping!" said McGonagall.
"C'mon, Professor, I am talking about the match, aren't I?" said Mina.
New to the Gryffindor Cheerleader Squad was Katie Bell. She had done well in tryouts, but the new blood had done slightly better. Katie may had been a good goal scorer, but she was a bit of a Bludger magnet. If Fred and George Weasley hadn't been such superb Beaters, then Katie would never get a chance to get to the goal posts. Demelza was so good at dodging Bludgers; she did not need to rely on Coote and Peakes.
Quidditch was in Ginny's blood. She knew how to handle a broom and she put a little spin on the Quaffle when she made goals.
Lydia had a knack for stealing the Quaffle from other players. She made funny faces at the opposing team, distracted them by whizzing around the Chaser in possession with the Quaffle in order to make them drop the Quaffle so Demelza or Ginny could get it. She had superb ball-handling skills—she could pass and catch the Quaffle with gusto.
Katie was not upset about making the team. She had taken far too many Bludgers in the past and it was a nice break to cheer the team on rather than play with them. Gryffindor was in the lead fifty to forty. Lydia knocked the Quaffle from Adrian Pucey and she passed it to Demelza.
"We got the ball, Gryffindors!" said the cheerleaders. "We got the ball!"
The three girl Chasers passed the ball back and forth until it was back in Lydia's possession. She feinted left and threw the ball in the right hoop.
Jessica Dorny attempted to make her crush feel better by shouting him a Keeper-centered cheer. "You're still the Keeper of my heart, Miles!"
After scoring and giving Bletchy the raspberries, Lydia noticed that the forest behind him looked purpler than it should.
"What the heck is that?" she muttered. She only had a moment to stare until she was hit in the head with a Bludger and began spiraling to the ground.
"Oh, Millicent Bulstrode just knocked down chaser Lydia McGreggor!" said Mina. Ouch, that had to hurt! That is why it's always important to wear a helmet! You can get one free with any Quidditch uniform at Latil's Wizarding Wear!"
Ami conjured a big bouncy mattress for Lydia to land on and pulled the mattress over the sidelines before anything else happened. She bent down next to Lydia and started to examine her.
"Purple," Lydia murmured.
"Don't worry," said Ami, believing she was talking about being bruised. "You won't be purple after this."
Until that point, the game was at a tie. Yet after Lydia was knocked out, the Slytherin Chasers began to turn things around. Harry had to find the Snitch before they got too far ahead of them. To his horror, he saw Lori Higgs flying after a small golden ball.
Harry swore in frustration and he took off after her.
"Watch out, Higgs!" cried the Slytherin cheerleaders. "Potter is after you!"
The snitch was flying straight up, making it hard for the Seekers to hold onto their brooms. Then the Snitch leveled out, parallel to the ground. Harry and Lori were neck and neck, their hands stretched out for the Snitch. Harry was getting closer and Lori began shifting her body across her broom. She lunched for the snitch and snagged one of its wings but she fell off her broom.
The crowd gave a collective gasp.
Ten feet above the ground, her fall abated. Harry was holding her by the leg. Lori had caught the Snitch, but Harry had caught her.
"Nice move, Harry!" Serena jumped up and down.
Katie grinned and folded her arms. "Got to hand it to him. I don't know many other players that would do that. Charlie would have let her fall."
Lori glared up at Harry. Instead of being thankful, she was angry and embarrassed. "Put me down, Potter!"
"Okay," said Harry, releasing her and she fell down, right into the awaiting arms of Urquhart.
"That was incredible!" said Urquhart. "You really are Higgs' sister!"
"Well, duh," grumbled Lori. Terence Higgs was the Seeker for Slytherin before Draco. Now he played for the professional Quidditch team, Montrose Magpies. The Magpies were the most successful team in history.
"Let's go celebrate!" said Urquhart and he carried his new Seeker off the field, the Slytherin team following him.
"I don't believe it, Slytherin has won!" said Mina. "Two hundred against ninety! The next match will be Ravenclaw versus Hufflepuff at the end of the month! Ravenclaw we will-"
Before Mina could finish her sentence, McGonagall confiscated the megaphone.
"Go to your dormitory, Miss Aino," she said. "Now."
"Er, yes ma'am!" Mina exclaimed, running off before she got detention.
Though Gryffindor didn't win, they still had a party in the common room. Lydia was lying on the couch with an icepack on her head with Serena sitting at the other end. After Ami's prompt care, Lydia was merely left with a large bump on the head as a trophy.
"Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital wing?" Serena asked.
"I'm fine," Lydia said groggily. "Ami fixed me up. Listen, I saw something in the forest." Lydia sat up, grimaced and lay back down. "A lot of purple stuff. I bet it's got something to do with the violet Rainbow Coin. I've got to check it out."
"Lydia, you just got hit in the head with a Bludger," said Serena sternly. "At least wait until your double vision clears."
"I didn't mean tonight," Lydia said with a laugh, which turned into a grunt. She winced. "Tomorrow sometime. We'll have a scout meeting and discuss it."
"What do you think is out there?" Serena inquired.
"The purple things I saw in the forest looked like a bunch of flowers," said Lydia. "It's probably got something to do with all the thistles around the school. If I'm right, we better move fast or the school will be covered in them."
"Better thistles than Kisenian Blossoms," said Serena. "But you're right, those thistle needles are sharp. We'll never be able to go outside barefoot—not that I do that on a regular basis—but still."
Lydia nodded in agreement. Not too long ago, the scouts battled a Kisenian Blossom. It looked like a simple flower on its own, but when it took a vulnerable heart as its host, it was a formidable opponent.
The talk in the common room made Lydia's headache worse. Seamus came by Lydia and told her how awesome she looked, until she got hit.
"If you don't be quiet, you'll look worse!" she shouted at him. "Oh, sorry Seamus, I've got a splitting headache. Serena, could you help me up the stairs? I ought to get to bed."
"Sure," said Serena and she helped Lydia to her feet and walked her up the stairs, and transfigured an old sock of hers to a pair of earmuffs.
"Get some rest," said Serena. "We'll talk to the others after breakfast if you're feeling up to it."
"Ok," said Lydia.
"You want me to stay up with you?" inquired Serena as Lydia changed into her pajamas.
"Thanks," said Lydia, "but I'll be all right. You should see how Harry's doing. He looked pretty bummed about not getting to the Snitch in time."
"Yeah, he did," said Serena. "See you in the morning. Lucky, watch over her."
Lucky nodded to Serena as she left. Serena went to Harry, who was sitting at the table with an untouched butterbeer. He looked mortified.
"This never happened before," he said. "I've always been able to get the Snitch. The only time I didn't get it was when the dementors was flying all over the Quidditch pitch."
"You'll get the next one," said Serena cheerfully.
"I just wasn't on my game," admitted Harry. "I was thinking about Malfoy."
"Harry," Serena's voice became firm. "Now you've got to stop obsessing over Draco. Frankly, I'm starting to become a little jealous!"
"I'm sorry, Serena," said Harry. "But I can't help it! Why would he just hand over his captaincy to Urquhart and quit playing Seeker all together? Where was he all day? He is up to something, I know it! I want to catch him at it!"
"There's nothing you can do about it if you did," said Serena. "You're not a prefect. Besides, you've told the teachers. You've done all you can." Serena smiled and patted his hand.
The Slytherins partied until midnight. Lori Higgs; however, frowned. She just wanted to play Quidditch, not become some celebrity.
"You were amazing Lori," said Raye. "How did you learn to play like that?"
"My brother," Lori admitted mischievously. "I wanted to learn Quidditch from him but he was stubborn. Mother made him."
When Draco came to the common room, Urquhart grabbed Lori and strode over him.
"I guess we don't need you after all, Malfoy,' said Urquhart. "Tori here…"
"It's Lori!" snapped Lori.
"Caught the Snitch before Potter did," said Urquhart. "How does it feel to play worse than a girl?"
"Hey!" shouted Lori.
"You surprised us all, Higgs," said Urquhart. "I guess it does run in the family."
Lori frowned again.
Draco sort-of twitched his shoulders, as if to shrug, but ran out of energy before he could complete the action. "Hurray for Slytherin," he muttered.
He headed off, but Raye cut caught him. "Draco, you're not staying for the party? Don't you want to know what happened?"
"Urquhart told me," said Draco. "Higgs caught the Snitch- good for her."
"Oh, come on! Don't be such a kill joy," Raye said. "Stay and have a butterbeer! You missed the whole match."
"I don't care," said Draco. "I don't care if we won or lost. If I had cared, I would've come, wouldn't I? I would've stayed on the team, and I would have been captain- but I already told you, Raye, I don't care!" Draco's eyes flashed.
Raye stood rooted. Draco turned and flew down the stairs.
"Geez, what did you say to him this time?" Blaise asked from behind Raye.
Raye groaned and rolled her eyes. "Oh be quiet! I just think he ought to stay and celebrate, don't you think?"
"I guess some of us don't show Slytherin spirit as much as others," Blaise said with a shrug. He walked off to join the rest of the party.
Thinking she had celebrated enough, Raye went to bed but she wasn't able to sleep. Raye knew how much Draco loved flying and Quidditch. Her sixth sense was telling her that Draco didn't just lose interest. She couldn't put her feeling on it, but something told her that someone else was behind this. But who?
Draco's father, that's who- but he was in prison. Did Lucius order Draco to work on a plan to get him out of Azkaban? Insane, yes, but it was just the sort of thing that tyrant would try to make Draco do.
Lydia's headache was gone by the morning after eating a healthy breakfast. She met with her friends in the Room of Requirement to discuss what she saw. They agreed that whatever she saw must have something to do with the violet coin and the strange phenomenon with the thistles.
"Let's go take a look then," said Lita. "I've been bored."
"You sure you're feeling up to it after yesterday, Lydia?" Ami asked.
Lydia nodded. "Yeah, don't worry. Whatever you did helped my headache a lot better. If you hadn't worked on me so fast, I'd be in the hospital wing with a cracked skull or something."
"Serena, maybe you ought to sit this one out," Raye suggested. "It would be dangerous now that you don't have your powers anymore."
"What?" Serena questioned. "I may not be Sailor Moon anymore, but I'm not defenseless!"
She took out her wand and waved it at them. Several white hearts sparkled across the room.
"We know that, Serena," said Lydia, waving a heart away. "But if this is a coin guardian, then we need sailor power to fight it. We only fought them as sailor soldiers after all. We don't know what wizarding power would do. If we need you, we'll message you."
Serena sighed. Even though she wasn't exactly the Moon Princess, her friends are still trying to protect her. "Oh, I guess I'll stay and do some homework or something. Be careful then, all right?"
Mina chuckled. "Hey, don't worry. We'll be fine. We have me, after all." Mina smirked.
Raye snorted. "Kami help us all, then," she said. Everyone laughed, and left together.
Once the girls entered the forbidden forest, they transformed and followed a trail of thistles. They saw a patch of large mushrooms with a red cap and white spots. They were surrounded by thistles, and a few of the thistles were growing from the inside of the mushrooms.
"Look at this," said Sailor Mercury, pausing at the mushroom patch. "It looks like these thistles attacked the mushrooms."
"Is that a problem?" said Sailor Jupiter.
"These are Amantia mushrooms, also known as the Death Cap. These are very toxic," said Mercury. "They can cause liver and kidney failure. Milk thistle can counteract the poison. The thistles seem to know this, and they're attacking all poisonous things."
"Well, that's not so bad," said Sailor Venus.
"It probably didn't start out that way," said Sailor Rainbow, "but the thistles are attacking all plants, even non poisonous ones. If we don't find the source of the thistles soon, then the thistle will become the planet's flower—because it will be the only one left!"
"Sailor Rainbow is correct," Mercury said. "Even too much of a good thing could be bad." She put in a few figures to her miniature computer. "We're getting closer. This way."
The thistles got thicker and thicker as they got deeper into the forest. Near the acromantula hollow, they found a young dead acromantula that had been strangled to death by thistles the size of giant sunflowers.
"How can puny flowers do this?" said Jupiter, pausing by the dead acromantula. She nudged the eight-legged beast with her boot.
"They're not puny flowers," said Sailor Rainbow as she leaned down. "They've been powered up by the rainbow crystal. I can't tell what attacked what first. Maybe the thistles got too close to the hollow; maybe it was protecting itself. It's like these thistles have some sort of intelligence."
"Spooooky," Venus said with a grin. She wiggled her fingers in Mars' face.
"Grow up," Mars said, brushing the blonde's hand away.
The sailor scouts headed further. They found a few dead herbivorous animals that had died from hunger. The animals had attempted to eat the thistles, but they could not eat the thorns. As they got deeper, the pokey menace was more prevalent. Hundreds and hundreds of orange, brown and green butterflies swarmed around the thistles to gather nectar.
"Have you ever seen so many butterflies in your life?" said Mars, waving her hand in front of her face.
"These species of butterfly are attracted to thistle nectar," Mercury explained after scanning the butterflies with her visor.
"Well, they are beautiful," admitted Sailor Venus and the other sailor scouts. "Beautiful, but creepy."
Finally the scouts came to a ten foot thistle.
"That's it," said Sailor Mercury, checking her computer. "That's what's causing the thistle outbreak."
"I could have told you that- without a computer," Venus said with a smirk.
"Don't be a smart aleck," Mars said, frowning.
The large thistle moved and came out of the ground; its roots became feet and its stem a body. The flower at the top was a head. The sharp prickles of the plant's margins became part of a dress. The overlarge thistle was a human-plant hybrid. Twenty butterflies landed on her arms.
"Welcome, I am Carduusia," said the hybrid. "What brings you to my lair?"
"Are you the keeper of the violet coin?" asked Sailor Rainbow. "Is that how you were able to cause these thistles to spread?"
Carduusia laughed. "Ah, so you are the one collecting the rainbow coins. I knew you would come one day."
"You have to stop spreading thistles," said Mercury. "It is choking the school crops and there are too many butterflies. The herbivores of this forest are starving because they can't eat the plant."
"Haven't you noticed that thistles cure illnesses?" said Carduusia. "My seeds can cure liver ailments, and counteracts many poisons."
"That may be true," said Mars, "but even too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. We are here to stop you."
"I mean no harm," said Carduusia, "I am only protecting the forest."
"Yeah, well you are being a little too over protective!" Rainbow exclaimed. "You can either hand over the rainbow coin, or I will take it from you!"
Carduusia sighed and shook her head. "You are just a child. I have had the coin in my possession for decades. What makes you think you can be a better keeper?"
"I was able to get the others," said Sailor Rainbow casually. "I can get this one too."
"I hoped it never had to come to this," said Carduusia. "I didn't want to fight you. I thought that we could come to a compromise."
"Because you know you would lose?" Rainbow demanded.
"No," Carduusia grinned. "I knew you would."
Before the scouts could ready themselves, they were surrounded by a swarm of butterflies. The butterflies were not harming them, but the girls couldn't even see Carduusia.
Thick and sharp vines sprung up from the ground underneath Sailor Rainbow, binding and constricting her. She screamed.
"Rainbow!" cried Sailor Venus. "Where are you?"
"Cardusia has her trapped," said Mercury, "maybe if I- augh!" She dropped her computer.
"Sorry, butterflies!" exclaimed Mars. "Mars Celestial Fire Surround!"
Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Venus dove to the ground. The butterflies nearest to Sailor Mars burned to a crisp and others flew away. Mercury and Rainbow were still trapped by the vines.
"Let them go!" Sailor Jupiter exclaimed. "Sparkling Wide Pressure!"
Sailor Jupiter flung her attack to the ground, sending the electricity to the vines that had ensnared Mercury and Rainbow. They wilted and the girls freed themselves.
Carduusia snarled. "You'll pay for that!" she flung her arms and thistle seeds the size of baseballs flung at Sailor Mars, bowling her over.
"Mars!" exclaimed Sailor Jupiter.
"Scan for a weak spot, Mercury!" said Sailor Venus. Though angry, tired, and concerned for her friends, Venus stayed the consummate leader until the end
"On it!" replied Mercury.
"Rainbow Primary Swirl!" Rainbow shouted. Red, yellow and blue lasers spiraled at Carduusia like a propeller. It cut Carduusia's arm off, but they grew back.
"Incredible!" Sailor Rainbow exclaimed.
"Salt," said Sailor Mercury, once she got a response on her computer. "We need salt to kill the root."
"But where are we are going to get salt?" said Jupiter.
"Immuto Sal!" cried a familiar voice. The rocks on the ground fell into piles of salt.
"Shall I pass the salt?" said Serena, striding into the clearing with her wand raised.
"Serena!" cried Sailor Venus. "Get outta here!"
Carduusia growled, launching a thorny vine in Serena's direction. Venus lunged toward her and pulled her to the ground just as Sailor Rainbow tore it off with a blast of blue energy.
"We've got to do this quickly," said Sailor Mercury. "Cut her at the roots, guys!"
Everyone sent their attack at once, slicing Carduusia's feet from the rest of her body. Serena flicked her wand and all the piles of salt came crashing down on Carduusia's cut feet. She screamed and sizzled; a violet coin bubbled to the surface.
Sailor Rainbow reached for it and once it was in her hand, a violet light exploded into being. After the blinding light faded, a transformed Rainbow was revealed.
A violet line was added to her boots and her choker became purple. Sailor Rainbow turned around and held the crystal out to the others. The coin sent four violet beams to the other sailor scouts, including a beam to Serena, who felt an increase in energy.
As Sailor Mars groggily stirred on the forest floor, Serena went to help her up. Mars frowned at her. "Serena, what are you doing here?" she asked.
"Hello to you, too" Serena said.
"The coin controlled me," said Carduusia, reverting back to a relatively normal thistle bush. "I wanted to keep this forest clean from poisonous plants, but I could not stop. It is safe in your hands. I'm the nation's flower after all."
"I'm glad it was in your possession instead of some lunatic's," said Rainbow.
"I should warn you," said Carduusia. "Now that you have all the coins, the original keeper will seek you out and challenge you for them."
"The original keeper?" asked Sailor Rainbow. "What would that be?"
"You will see."
"Where will I find it?" Sailor Rainbow questioned.
"It will find you," Carduusia answered, her voice growing faint. "I hope for your sake, you will be ready when it does."
Sailor Rainbow looked at the other sailor scouts. They shrugged collectively.
"What does she mean by that?" Rainbow said.
"Hey, beats me," said Venus. "At least you've got all the coins now, right?"
"Sounds like trouble," Jupiter added, frowning.
"Yeah, right. Just what I need, more enemies," murmured Sailor Rainbow as the coin hid itself in the lid of her brooch.
"Serena, you really should have stayed back at the school," Sailor Venus scolded as they trekked out of the forest. The thistles were down to a normal amount.
"Hey, I saved your butt back there," said Serena. "You could be a little grateful, you know."
"We would've found a way to get some salt!" Venus cried.
Everyone rolled their eyes at that. Yet they all sported a smile of varying sizes. Some things just never changed. Their friend and honorary younger sister, Hotaru, may be missing; Serena may have lost her moon transformation; Voldemort may still be out to destroy them all; but one thing they knew- they are, and would always be, friends until the end.
When Lydia got back to the girls' dormitory, she told Carduusia's words to her cat Lucky.
"What do you think she meant, Lucky?" Lydia inquired. "What was the original keeper of the coins? I thought they didn't belong to anyone."
"You don't remember where the coins came from?" Lucky asked her.
"I remember," Lydia groaned. "The biggest rainbow in history was a result of a three day stretch of rain. It made seven gold coins in a pot of gold change colors. So the guardian would be…"
Lydia scrunched her face in thought, thinking where pots of gold came from. She smirked. "Leprechaun? That's it right, I have to fight a leprechaun? That's just crazy!"
"Leprechaun gold disappears after an hour," said Lucky. "Why would it be after these coins?"
"That's what I'd like to know!" Lydia exclaimed.
Lucky shook his head and stretched. "I'm quite certain a horde of leprechauns aren't out to get you."
"Then…what's left?" Lydia asked.
"My thought is that the original holder of the coins was the pot itself," Lucky explained. " We don't know what happened to the pot of gold after it lost the rainbow coins. It may have taken another shape and set off to look for them."
A picture of Super Sailor Rainbow fighting a pot of gold entered Lydia's mind, causing her to laugh. "Lucky, that's preposterous! How is a pot of gold supposed to get all the way over here?"
"Not in its current state," said Lucky. "But if it were to change its form somehow."
"Into what?" Lydia asked.
"We will just have to wait and see," said Lucky, hopping off her bed. "I've got to go. I have a date with Minerva."
"What're you going to do, help her grade papers?" Lydia joked.
"Make sure to do your homework before bed," said Lucky, changing the subject.
"Okay,' groaned Lydia. "Oh, a goblin! Goblins like treasure, right, then maybe the pot of gold changed to a goblin or something?"
"I wouldn't be too sure," said Lucky, pausing at the door. "Keep thinking, Lydia."
As Lucky left, Lydia brainstormed on what this mysterious guardian would be, and when it would come to her.
TO BE CONTINUED