CHAPTER THREE

Mercury Cool Ice

Sayla became seriously worried after that, because Lunar was forced to spend time living in the backyard, and had to hunt for her own food. That was a sure way to make her into a vicious kitty.

Sayla didn't want to admit it, but she was slightly scared of her cat, especially since she'd never owned a pet. Part of this might have been influenced by her Mother's own fears, and those fears were the reasons why the woman had said no. (Being bitten by a cat has certain ramifications).

Sayla spent the next part of the week doing these three things:

. Trying to convince her Mother to say yes (she never did).

. Going to school as if nothing had ever happened.

. Battling the forces of evil as Sailor Moon!

Sayla ended up fighting against five different monsters, all intent on stealing energy but none are important enough to warrant anymore mention.

The next monster, however, did turn out to be important...

OoO

Sayla was sitting in class, thinking of ways to help Lunar without being victim to the cat's claws (Sayla should know by now Lunar will never hurt her without good reason) when the door opened, but her homeroom teacher, Ms. Cherry, didn't walk in alone.

Everyone looked up.

Wow! She's even shorter then me! Sayla thought, before turning to Olivia and beginning to gossip. About the new girl, of course.

"Class," Ms. Cherry said, raising an eyebrow at everyone's open-mouthed shock. "This is Amanda Anderson. Please...make her feel...welcomed..."

Amanda turned to the class. At that moment, she spotted Sayla whispering to Olivia. Both girls looked up, and Amanda scowled. This scowl, along with her blue-tipped black hair, dark blue eyes, heavy eye-makeup and the MP3 Player around her neck, was a scary, scary combination.

She was punk.

And, the only other punk person at this school was Gary Holmes, and he was scary.

OoO

By lunchtime, rumours were circulating that Amanda and Gary were secret lovers, and worshippers of the devil himself.

Sayla herself engaged in much of the gossiping, never aware that the object of their torment was never far away.

Amanda walked home from school alone that day, wondering how people knew she'd gone to Gozzies High before. As if that should influence her behaviour here...

She scowled, and glanced down at her fingernails. Black fingernails, painted just that morning. Why should she change who she was just because the student body demanded it?

Someone, someone named Sayla, had even gone so far as to suggest (behind her back of course) that Amanda join a church!

She was religious, as a matter of fact, but she was Jewish. It didn't matter to the other Jewish people she knew whether or not she was punk. She'd even started a trend amongst her family and friends of wearing black nail polish.

Certainly, God didn't mind. (Or did he?)

Amanda sighed, and walked down a street that had nobody on it.

Or, so she thought...

"Kyaaa!!" She screamed, and put her hands up as the black cat jumped onto her shoulder.

Lunar blinked, as Amanda turned to stare at her. The two stared at each other.

"You scared me," Amanda suddenly admitted, and scratched Lunar behind the ears. Lunar began purring. "Even though black cats are just so cool. And your crescent moon is so cool too."

Cool? Is that what these kids say these days?

"Yup," Amanda said. "Cool is what people say these days, and that's what you are!"

Lunar blinked. Did this kid read minds? Could she be..?

"Lunar!" Said cat suddenly heard Sayla's voice. "Lunar, where are you?" Then: "It's getting late and I want to go home, Lunar!"

Sayla herself suddenly appeared around the corner, and noticed Amanda with Lunar.

What's that freaky goth doing to my poor kitty!? She wondered, and called: "Here Lunar, here girl!"

Lunar jumped down obediently from Amanda's arms and ran up to Sayla, who picked her up.

Amanda lingered, wondering if she should say anything. At last she ventured: "So…her name's Lunar, huh?"

Sayla nodded wordlessly.

"The name fits." Amanda said flatly. "And…your name's Sayla, right?"

Sayla nodded again, wondering where this was going. She found out.

"Miles told me about you," Amanda said accusingly, but there was sadness in her voice. "He said you thought I was a real loser, and that I was engaged to Gary Holmes…"

Sayla blushed. She hadn't exactly meant for Amanda to find out about that. When she got her hands on Miles… "That was just, ah, gossip!"

Before she walked away Amanda added: "He also said that you thought I was…Gozzie's High reject…"

Sayla sighed.

OoO

That night, Lunar spent another uncomfortable night in the 'wild'. She eventually decided to leave the Mūna backyard and do a little night time prowling. Her prowling led her into the city, where Olivia's Mother's jewelry store was.

Lunar had met and spoken to Olivia a few times. She had decided that Sayla could use with a friend like Olivia, but had warned of the dangers of an innocent civilian knowing Sayla's secret.

Suddenly, Lunar heard glass shattering, and jumped into the shadows as a man in a mask and tuxedo ran from inside the store, dropping jewelry as he went.

Is that Tuxedo Mask!? Lunar thought with a start, as indeed the caped man running was the same man who had helped Sailor Moon fight her first battle, and had often arrived to help her through.

Suddenly, Tuxedo Mask stopped, and looked up.

Lunar did too.

There, posing against the full moon, was a warrior in a sailor suit, similar to Sailor Moon's, but Lunar was sure it wasn't Sayla, because this girl's hair wasn't up in pigtails.

The warrior looked at Tuxedo Mask disapprovingly, and wagged her finger in a no-no fashion, before leaping down from the building, landing near Tuxedo mask. She kicked the bag of jewelry he was holding, and the contents spilled out over the ground.

Tuxedo Mask grimaced, and ran, and the sailor-suited warrior gave chase,

Lunar just stood there as sirens began to wail, wondering if she should tell Sayla about this or not. She decided against it, and continued her prowl, but the incident was still on her mind.

OoO

The next day, Sayla saw Amanda sitting by herself at lunchtime and, despite the gossip that still circulated the school, Sayla felt slightly sorry for her. She was about to go up to her, when Lunar appeared.

"Aurgh!" Sayla yelped, and then realized what the creature was. "Lunar! Don't sneak up on me like that!"

"I didn't sneak." Lunar said primly. "You are a Sailor Scout, and should have heard me coming."

"Sorry." Sayla said contritely. "Anyway, what are you doing here?"

Lunar told her: "I sense a strong power coming from around here, the same power from before."

"Before?" Sayla's glance drifted over to Amanda, who had now stood up and was walking away from them. "Are you saying there's a strange power about her?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying." Lunar said, remembering the episode from the night before. "Be careful, Sayla." She added warningly.

OoO

Convinced that Amanda was a spy from her enemies, Sayla was determined to trail Amanda that afternoon, in hopes of gathering information. She told Olivia what she was doing and urged the other girl not to follow her.

Olivia echoed Lunar's words: "Be careful, Sayla."

"I will." Sayla promised, and then ran off.

OoO

Amanda left school that day and walked quickly away from it, partially unawares that Sayla was following her, but also well aware that she was not alone. She walked into a building where there was a guard at the door, and he let her in. Sayla was about to follow her, but Lunar stopped her, and said: "I don't think you are authorized to go in there."

Sayla looked annoyed. "So what do I do then, Lunar? Have you got any bright ideas?"

"Just one." Lunar nodded, and flipped over.

A mobile phone, which was light pink with a silver heart on the front appeared, and Sayla picked it up. "Another of your cool gadgets, huh?" She guessed, noticing how it, like her brooch, shone in the sunlight. She watched as another girl, about Amanda's age, walked out of the building.

"I guess so. It's called the Telatia S." Lunar nodded. "Now, quick, take that girl's picture with it!"

Sayla had sense enough not to ask what for, and just did as she was told. When the picture was taken, Lunar had further instructions: "Now, say Disguise Power!"

"Okay. Disguise Power!" Sayla said, and soon she was a perfect image of the other girl. "Wow, that's cool." Sayla said, although her voice still sounded the same, so when she walked past the door guard she didn't speak, and just hurried into the building. "I wonder which way Amanda went…" She wondered, and then heard loud rock music coming from the building's basement. Sayla decided to check out there. She hurried down the stairs and then, when she was close enough, peeked around the door.

Amanda was in there alright, singing a song into a microphone. Around her were three guys, one playing a guitar, one playing bass and one on the drums.

Sayla stood very still and listened to the music. It was entrancing almost, the way the instruments blended together. Sayla had never been a big fan of rock music, but she liked the song, and listened to the words.

Lunar, however, saw a different meaning.

oOo

Never forgiven, because of the,

Way you treated me, like we're not humans,

If I can stand up once more, then I will,

Never surrender,

Never at all,

Because I'll fight with all my energy!

oOo

Lunar gasped. The last words of each line were:

The humans will surrender all energy!

Everything began to fall into place! The way the music was making Sayla's eyes fade out, everything! If this song was ever heard by the public, then the Negaverse would get substantial amounts of energy!

Lunar didn't even think. She just bit down onto Sayla's ankle – hard.

"OWCH!!" Sayla shrieked, the spell broken.

The music stopped, and Amanda and her band looked towards the door.

"Hikaru?" Amanda said, stepping forward, not at all looking as if she were under control, like her band members were. "Is there a problem of some kind?"

"No," Sayla said. "More like a total meltdown crisis, Amanda!"

Amanda blanched. "H-Hikaru? What's wrong?"

"I'm not Hikaru!" Sayla declared.

"It's time for Sailor Moon!" Lunar told her.

Sayla nodded, and raised her hand. "Moon Prism Power, Make-Up!"

OoO

Amanda nearly freaked out when Sailor Moon's transformation was complete, and she was standing in front of her, looking angry. "S-Sailor Moon!?"

Why do all my big fights take place in basements? Sailor Moon wondered wryly, just as a sound made her look towards the door.

"What's going on here?" It was the guard from outside, but what a change! He had horns, and red eyes, and was definitely a monster from the Negaverse! "Amanda, why aren't you still playing!? This song must be ready for the public, so that we may steal all their energy!" Amanda's 'band members' suddenly changed, and transformed into monsters! Amanda gasped. "I knew I should have gotten rid of you too!" He cried, and the monsters started to move towards Amanda.

Amanda looked stricken. "What have you done with my friends!?" She demanded to know. "What happened to Amano, Joel and Calen!?"

"They were worthless, they are no longer of any concern!" The Negaverse monster cried. "Just like that stupid guard at the front door! But enough talk! Have at you!"

This means that Amanda WASN'T working for the Negaverse…she seems scared enough… With a glance at Lunar, Sailor Moon knew she was thinking along the same lines too.

"Hey, Negaverse sleeze!" Sailor Moon called, and all the monsters stopped and turned towards her. "I am Sailor Moon, beautiful soldier of love and justice!"

"Sailor Moon huh?" The lead monster said. "Oh, yes, you'd be the one messing up Queen Beryl and Jadeite's plans! I shall have great fun in destroying you!" He turned to the rock monsters. "My minions, play your music and destroy Sailor Moon!"

The monsters picked up their instruments, and started to play a tune Sailor Moon vaguely recognised, as something heavy metal.

The guard monster then grabbed Amanda's neck, and held her towards the microphone. "Now, sing!" he commanded her, tightening his grip ever so slightly on her neck.

"N-never!" Amanda gasped. Suddenly, a blue sign that looked like a love heart wearing two ears and a cross beneath it appeared.

"I don't believe it!" Lunar cried, and then flipped over. A silver bracelet appeared, and Lunar picked it up in her mouth, before running to the monster that had Amanda and leaping onto his face. He let go of Amanda and backed away, holding his bleeding face where Lunar's claws had cut into him.

Lunar turned to Amanda, and dropped the bracelet by her feet. Amanda stared at Lunar.

"No time to explain," Lunar said breathlessly, and Amanda blinked. "But, like Sailor Moon, you are destined to fight against evil!" Amanda picked up the bracelet, starting to understand. She put it on her left wrist, and didn't even need to be told what to do. Perhaps she really could read minds, or perhaps she just knew. Either way, she raised her left hand and shouted: "Mercury Power…" And then, as an after thought. "Make-Up!"

OoO

It actually felt right for Amanda to be transforming this way, like she had done it before, in another life perhaps? Blue ribbons of water came out of the locket, and surrounded her body. (The music playing in the background is, surprisingly, In Blue, by The Corrs).

When Amanda opened her eyes, her outfit appeared with a ripple effect…

OoO

Amanda was standing there in her Sailor Scout uniform, the basis of this being a white leotard. A dark blue short pleated skirt with a matching collar marked with two chunky white stripes was almost identical to Sailor Moon's outfit. She wore a pair of white elbow length gloves with three black bands on them. Her shoes were black and knee-length, with a dark blue trim. There was a dark blue choker around her neck. There was a light blue bow at the back and at the front of her leotard, the latter bow having a black button placed on it. Three dark blue round button earrings and a golden tiara with a dark blue stone completed her Sailor Scout ensemble.

She was Sailor Mercury.

Her bracelet had grown bigger, and had a dark blue stone in the middle, surrounded by pink and white.

She glared at the evil monsters. "I am the scout of water and knowledge, Sailor Mercury! On behalf of Mercury, I'll punish you!" She held her hands out on front of her, and cried: "Mercury Aqua Mist!"

Water flew towards the three monsters who had been posing as her friends, and they vanished into many water particles. The water wasn't strong enough to weaken the lead monster, but Sailor Mercury glanced at Sailor Moon, and nodded.

Sailor Moon grinned. "You led me to believe that Amanda was my enemy! Now I shall punish you, on behalf of the Moon!" She took off her tiara, which turned into a boomerang. "Moon Tiara Boomerang!" She cried, and threw it at the monster, who screamed as he was destroyed.

Sailor Moon put her tiara back on, and glanced at Sailor Mercury. "Umm, about what I said before…you know, thinking you were my enemy and all…"

Sailor Mercury waited.

"Well, you're not." Sailor Moon said finally, as Lunar walked out of the shadows.

"Just because I'm Sailor Mercury?" The black and blue-haired warrior questioned.

Sailor Moon paused. "Aurgh, how can I make it up to you?" She glanced down at Lunar, and then gasped. "Hey! Wait a minute! You like cats, right?"

Sailor Mercury looked at Lunar. "Yeah, I do."

"Will your Mum let you keep one?" Sailor Moon watched Sailor Mercury's eyes light up. "Because my Mum won't." She added.

"Of course!" Sailor Mercury knelt down, and Lunar jumped into her arms. She stood up again. "My Mum loves animals too; she's a vet after all."

"Lucky you." Sailor Moon smiled and, finally, Sailor Mercury smiled too.

OoO

"So now we have two Sailor Scouts to contend with…" Queen Beryl said, mostly to herself, but Jadeite heard her, and wished he could destroy those pesky Sailor Scouts, or else it would be his neck!

"Well, not to worry…" Jadeite said to himself. "I'll get those Sailor Scouts…"

OoO

"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Anderson…" Sayla said, as she greeted Amanda's Mother.

"It's just Ms. Anderson I'm afraid, hon." Amanda's Mum was young, hip and cool, with a short haircut and she wore make-up.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Sayla said contritely.

"Don't be." Ms. Anderson smiled. "Won't you come in for tea?" She added, and Sayla accepted.

Lunar jumped out of Amanda's arms, and went off to explore her new digs. She stood on the balcony of Amanda's room, and stared up at the moon.

Moon Princess… She thought. I WILL find you…

OoO

Passengers from flight 107 from Tokyo, Japan, got off the plane, and walked into the terminal.

An old man who was Japanese stood waiting, holding a sign written in Kanji, and he scanned the terminal until he spotted somebody.

"Jiji!" Cried the fourteen year old Japanese girl, who had elbow-length black hair, dark brown eyes and was wearing a short pink dress, tall white boots and carrying a Hello kitty bag and a large suitcase. With some difficulty she ran to her Grandfather and hugged him.

"Welcome to Australia!" The man said in a heavy Japanese accent. He put the sign over his shoulder, and took the suitcase from her, as they walked out of the airport and into the night.

The sign's translation said Reika Hino…

OoO

MEG: Well, there we go! Things are moving along quite smoothly, wouldn't you say?