001- Luna's Scouts
Usagi fidgeted as she watched Ms. Haruna slowly walk down the aisle towards her. Usagi fisted her hand in her skirt as she waited for Ms. Haruna to reach her. She'd spent hours trying to memorize all the facts required for their test and she was moments away from learning how well she'd done. Ms. Haruna smiled down at Usagi and gently place the test face-down on her desk. Usagi took a shaky breath as Ms. Haruna moved on to Naru Osaka. Usagi slowly released her grip on her skirt and turned her test over. A shy
smile spread across her face before she stuffed the test into a notebook. Her sharp ears hear her best friend mutter, "I gotta eighty-nine."
Usagi watched Ms. Haruna slowly finish handing back the tests. As the teacher stood in front of the class the bell rang to dismiss the students. Their class rep quickly stood and said, "Stand, bow."
Usagi and the rest of the class complied. The class started to filter out the door as Usagi looked back at her friend. Naru was frowning at the paper she held tightly in her hand. Usagi glanced down and noted her test missing from her notebook. She swallowed and looked up to see Naru's other friends Nabiki and Yui were standing beside Naru and glaring at her. Usagi blushed slightly and lowered her head. She cautiously glanced around the room and suppressed a sigh when she noticed it was just the four of them.
"Well done Usagi," Naru said through tight lips. She dropped the paper on the floor and quickly packed up her supplies, purposely stepping on Usagi's test as she worked. Usagi sighed softly and put most of her school books in her bag. Usagi looked up as Naru finished and smiled softly at her friend. Naru sneered and added, "She's suddenly better than us girls. She scored ninety-three, so go on Usagi. Gloat. It's what you've wanted isn't it?"
"I…" Usagi whispered aghast. The two girls beside Naru sneered at Usagi as well as the three girls brushed past Usagi.
"Whose paper do you think she cheated off of?" Yui asked as she brushed back her black hair.
"Probably just stole Ms. Haruna's answer sheet and memorized the answers…only she was too stupid to even remember all the answers," Nabiki replied. Usagi knelt to grab her test as tears fell from her soft blue eyes.
"How can you say that?" Usagi asked softly. She stood, test in hand, and turned to the three girls who were now halfway to the door. Naru turned and looked over at Usagi as Usagi said, "We studied together, all four of us. You know I didn't cheat."
"We all know you are nothing but a stupid cry baby klutz who couldn't possibly score higher than thirty percent." Naru said calmly before she turned around and resumed her walk to the door.
"Let's leave, I can't stand this cheater's presence any longer," Yui said as she turned to follow Naru. Nabiki flipped her hair over her shoulder and turned to follow her two friends.
"I hate whining babies who are incapable of honesty." Nabiki added as they reached the door. Naru turned around and stared at Usagi who was trying to stop the tears currently flowing down her cheeks.
"Well I have to go, my boyfriend Nephrite's waiting for me. I don't have time for cheaters," Naru said before she raced from the room with a happy smile. Yui and Nabiki grinned, waved, and left. Usagi stared at the door for a second, shoved her ripped and dirty test in her bag, and raced after Naru.
Usagi cautiously weaved through the students as she rushed to find Naru. Usagi sped up as she reached the entrance and ran into a blue-haired girl, scattering both bags of books. Usagi mumbled a hurried apology as she gathered her stuff. The blue-haired girl said nothing as she quickly and efficiently tucked her supplies away in her bag. Both girls stood and Usagi bowed as she said, "I'm so, so sorry. I was in a hurry and I didn't see you. Hey, is this yours?"
Usagi knelt to grab a disk from the floor. She glanced up and noticed the blue-haired girl had already left. Usagi sighed heavily as she straightened, disk in hand and walked outside. Her blue eyes quickly searched for any sign of the girl to find nothing. Usagi looked around once more and stifled a sob when she spotted Naru and a tall long haired brunette climbing into a red convertible. Usagi lowered her head and slowly walked away from the school.
A tall black haired youth in a green jacket watched Usagi pass. He put on a pair of dark sunglasses on as he slowly pushed away from the school wall. He watched the blond slowly drift through the students as they went their diverse ways. Cautiously he followed the depressed youth through the streets until she walked solemnly into the Crown Arcade Center. The black-haired man casually walked into the arcade and up to the counter where a blond young man waited behind the counter.
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Ami smiled as she continued reading her romance novel and walking to the Crystal Cram School. She frowned and lowered her book ever so slightly as she heard the loud screech of a cat and the calm laughter of a trio of boys. She turned back to her book and continued to walk. The cat continued to yell and Ami winced as she slowed to a stop and closed her book. She slowly, reluctantly, placed her book safely in her bag and walked across the empty street towards the three younger boys. Her voice shook as she yelled, "Stop! Leave that poor cat alone!"
The three young boys looked up and ran away leaving a small black cat lying in the dirt. Ami knelt next to the cat and gently pulled the cat into her arms. The cat blinked her brown eyes as Ami gently pried a band-aid off the cat's forehead. Ami gazed at the cat's curious crescent-shaped marking as she lifted the cat a little more. The cat opened its mouth as Ami's watch started to beep. She sighed, lowered the cat and stood as she said, "I'm late, bye kitty."
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Hotaru stared intently at the door to Crystal Cram School, her small hand resting lightly on the door handle. She was silently coaxing herself to enter the building despite the fear that tried to overwhelm her small frame. Her hands shook as she tried to convince herself that the sick feeling in her stomach was nerves.
A gentle hand landed on her shoulder and Hotaru jumped as she spun around. A tall older girl with short blue hair smiled down at her. The girl softly asked, "Are you new?"
"Yes, I'm Hotaru." Hotaru whispered. She looked to the ground as she added, "I'm a little nervous."
"My name's Ami. Come on, I'll show you to class," The girl said as she opened the door to the school. Hotaru slipped inside and stared at the blank white walls as Ami walked in behind her.
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Ami sighed as she listened to her teacher yell. Ami had been late to class after rescuing the cat and then helping the younger girl. She could feel the blush that stained her cheeks as she continued to listen, the class intently listening to the lecture. Ami frowned and hurried to her seat as the teacher finished with, "Now sit down and start working!"
Once Ami took her seat the other students started their work and Ami opened her satchel. She quickly looked through her books for her Crystal Disk and found nothing so she looked again slightly frantically but had no better luck. The teacher was starting over so Ami dropped her bag to the floor and focused on her computer. The teacher changed course and Ami sighed in relief before she started to work.
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Mamoru stared at his blond friend as he slowly wiped the counter. Motoki looked up and across the arcade to Usagi who was staring at her math book like it held all the answers in the world. Motoki broke the silence by murmuring, "She's studying."
"I remember when she used to come here to play games," Mamoru added as he looked over to Usagi. Motoki nodded as he threw his rag on the counter. Mamoru looked back to Motoki who had taken a few steps backwards so he could lean against the wall. Mamoru frowned at his friend before he stood and walked away from the counter. Motoki watched his friend slowly walk towards Usagi and he sighed in frustration. Mamoru and Usagi fought on the best of days, why did he have to anger her today.
"Hi Usagi." Mamoru said as he slid into the booth so he could face her. Usagi looked up and frowned at Mamoru but said nothing. He tried not to frown at her lack of response. He silently grabbed her math book and looked over the page she had been studying. He looked up and glanced at her paper, it was covered with scratched out equations. "You want some help? I wouldn't mind."
Usagi's glare she'd been shooting at Mamoru since he picked up her Math book dissolved. She quickly thought over his proposal and her lousy day. She bowed her head slightly to hide the tears that threatened to fall and noticed her math homework. She grimaced and looked back up. Mamoru, thinking his offer had been refused, returned Usagi's book and stood to leave. Usagi quickly reached out and grabbed his wrist as she said, "If you're sure I won't be a bother or waste of time… But I'm really horrible at math."
Mamoru smiled and sat next to Usagi as he said, "I'm sure you're brilliant, and I've plenty of time. Let me buy you some food and we'll eat as we work, 'kay?"
Usagi, not trusting her voice, nodded. Mamoru waved Motoki over. Motoki startled that Mamoru and Usagi hadn't started another argument walked over to their booth looking like a robot. Mamoru laughed at his friend's mechanical gait and pointed it out to Usagi. By the time Motoki arrived at their booth both of them were overcome by laughter. Motoki, still acting like a malfunctioning robot, asked, "Food, you want?"
Usagi covered her mouth as she continued to giggle. Mamoru after a moment of stifling his laughter said, "Yes. We'd like two hamburgers, two chocolate milkshakes, and two slices of chocolate cake. Thanks Motoki."
Motoki walked back to get their orders as Mamoru and Usagi broke down in laughter.
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Hotaru gazed at the teacher through her lashes as she stood before the class. The teacher handed Hotaru a disk and a notebook and sent her to a computer near the back of the classroom. She felt small and alone as the rest of the students quickly started to work. Hotaru slowly inserted the disk in the computer and started to work.
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'Nothing. Maybe I was wrong about the two girls…but there is definitely something about them,' Luna thought as she slowly padded away from younger girl's classroom. Luna slowly walked up the stairs in search of the other girl. A soft sigh fell from Luna's mouth as she arrived on the second floor. She could feel the air humming with energy but it was so jumbled that Luna couldn't tell if it was good or evil.
She frowned miserably as she thought of her missing companion and wished him the worst kind of luck. She slowly traveled down the hallway, the mixed energy giving her a slight headache. A sudden scream brought Luna from her musings. She raced down the hall towards the open door and froze.
The blue-haired girl who had saved her earlier was being held in the air by an ugly red monster. Luna gaped in surprise for a few moments when the soft blue symbol of Mercury appeared on the girl's forehead. The monster was strangling the Sailor Scout of Mercury.
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Ami slowly blinked her eyes as she felt her consciousness wavering. She closed her eyes and resigned herself to death. A sharp cat's screech made Ami opened her eyes and focus on the "flying black cat of doom" that was heading towards her and the monster. The monster dropped Ami as it tried to defend itself from the angry cat's claws and teeth. Ami slowly scooted along the floor as she tried to regain her breath and put distance between her and the monster.
The second Ami's back hit the wall she crawled towards the door. Ami was shaking by the time she reached the hallway. She could hear the cat and the monster toppling over desks and stepping on the students who had fallen to the floor unconscious. She stood and shakily raced down the hall towards the stairs.
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Hotaru slowly walked down the hall towards the bathroom. The last ten minutes of starting at the computer had given her a slight headache. She closed her eyes for a moment as she stopped outside the bathroom. A loud thudding signaled someone clumsily descending the stairs to the main floor. Hotaru's eyes shot open as she watched the girl she'd met earlier race towards her.
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Ami looked over her shoulder expecting to see the monster coming and crashed into Hotaru. The two tumbled to the ground and Hotaru could feel the older girl shaking as she mumbled incoherently. Hotaru slowly and carefully moved so that she could sit up and stare at the older girl who was cautiously trying to sit up as well. Hotaru asked softly, "Are you alright Ami?"
Ami opened her mouth to respond but no sound came out. Her soft blue eyes widened as she looked towards the stairs and saw a black cat racing towards them. Hotaru followed Ami's gaze and stared at the cat wondering how it could possibly scare the older girl so easily. The cat skidded to a stop before the two girls and said, "You must transform. You are the only one who can stop the monster and save everyone…"
The cat was interrupted by the screech of the monster as it reached the main floor. The monster, angry that its prey was running away, shot a dozen razor sharp papers at the three huddled on the floor. The two girls cried out in pain as they received several shallow cuts. Ami stood quickly and pulled Hotaru up and close as they stared at the menacing red monster. Luna continued to stare at the two girls as the symbols of Mercury and Saturn burned brightly on their foreheads. Luna turned back to look at the monster and frowned as the monster moved closer to them. Luna did a quick back flip in the air and two wands fell to the floor just as the monster sent another barrage of papers at the girls.
Luna leaped forward to avoid losing her tail as the two girls jumped to opposite sides of the hallway. She stared at the two pens as they slid down the hallway then turned back towards the monster. Luna raced towards the monster as she yelled, "Get the pens, hurry. I need you two."
Ami grabbed Hotaru's shaking hand and pulled her down the hall towards the doors. When she reached the first pen Ami pushed Hotaru towards the exit and grabbed the pen. She could hear Hotaru a few feet way picking up the second pen. Ami glanced at the symbol on top of the pen and then looked to Hotaru; the same symbol shone on the smaller girl's forehead. "Hotaru."
Hotaru looked up as Ami tossed her the pen. Hotaru tossed Ami the second pen and caught hers. The two girls looked at each other before they turned to look at the talking cat. Ami yelled, "What are we supposed…to…"
Ami felt a sudden surge of power jolt through her. Her mind's eye showed her an image of her using the same pen in another lifetime to protect another girl. Ami looked to Hotaru, saw the same emotions she was feeling flash through the other girl's eyes and yelled, "MERCURY POWER MAKE-UP!"
Ami's heart raced as she felt a light sensation course though her body. For a short moment she felt as though she was floating. She could sense the magic that twirled around her slim form. The magic current ebbed away and Ami felt her feet on the floor once more. She felt the soft glow of magic still humming around her form as she looked over at Hotaru. Hotaru raised her pen in the air and shouted, "SATURN POWER MAKE-UP."
Sailor Mercury watched the world slow and was awestruck by the younger girl's transformation. She watched the girls school uniform change and a glaive spin slowly behind the girl, as though waiting for the girl to call it out. She could feel the power of the girl's patron planet flood the halls for an instant and then it passed and the Sailor Soldier of Saturn stood before her. Sailor Mercury turned to face the monster after a silent check to make sure the girls was alright. She gasped as she watched the cat get tossed aside. Sailor Mercury frowned angrily as she watched the monster stalk towards the cat, murder shining in its eyes. She narrowed her eyes, anger and determination flashing through thm, as she shouted, "BUBBLE SPRAY!"
The area was instantly shrouded in a deep haze. Sailor Mercury could hear Sailor Saturn rushing forward through the haze towards the monster as it yelled, "What's going on? Wait…Sailor Soldiers!"
Sailor Mercury grimaced as the haze receded and she could see her fellow scout. Sailor Saturn had her glaive planted firmly in the monster's chest. She could hear the monster yelling as it slowly turned to dust. Sailor Mercury moved towards the young scout as Sailor Saturn dropped her glaive to the ground. Sailor Saturn turned around as Sailor Mercury reached her side. Sailor Saturn's eyes flashed red momentarily as she whispered, "I want your pure heart."
"Wha…" Sailor Mercury whispered as Sailor Saturn passed out. Sailor Mercury turned to the cat that was limping towards her and then looked helplessly at the girl sleeping in her arms. She shifted the girl a little and picked her up as the cat jumped onto her shoulder. Sailor Mercury raced outside and jumped to the rooftop. She raced along rooftops and through back allies until she reached her apartment building. She slipped inside and into an empty elevator as quickly and quietly as possible. The doors closed and Sailor Mercury leaned against the wall with a sad sigh.
The elevator stopped on her floor and she walked into the hallway. After a quick glance to ensure that the hallway was empty she quickly slipped into her apartment. Sailor Mercury carried the sleeping girl to her room and placed her in the properly made bed before she de-transformed and sank to the floor. The cat jumped to the bed and curled up next to the sleeping scout as she said, "I'm Luna. I'm sorry I had to awaken you two like this but the Dark Kingdom's monster would have killed you both."
"I don't understand. How can you talk, and what...what exactly happened at the cram school?" Ami asked as she covered her face with her hands and tried not to cry.
"I'm a cat from the Moon Kingdom so I can speak. The people of the moon have a unique magical ability. As for the events of today, well that's slightly complicated. You and your friend are Legendary Sailor Scouts destined to protect the Princess. You were awakened to fight the Dark Kingdom and find the Princess who has the power to wield the Legendary Silver Crystal. That monster at the cram school is just the first monster you two will end up fighting. I need you two to find the Princess and protect Earth. If you don't we'll all be killed By Queen Beryl and her minions."
"Me and an elementary school girl are the only thing standing between Earth and this evil Queen?" Ami asked as she looked to Sailor Saturn.
"Well, not entirely," Luna said as she examined the comforter she was resting on. Ami waited for the cat to continue as she looked at her assortment of cuts. Ami, after assessing that her injuries weren't life threatening, examined Hotaru's wounds for a moment before she left to grab a first aid kit. When she returned Luna was finishing re-explaining everything to Hotaru who was sitting up in bed. Ami slowly bandaged Hotaru's wounds before she bandaged her own cuts.
"Luna, are there others who could oppose Queen Beryl?' Ami asked when she finally finished taking care of her wounds.
"Yes, there are more scouts but I don't know where to find them yet. They'll all be drawn here, to the magic of the Princess. That's why Queen Beryl focused on this area first. The Princess's magic will draw the scouts and evil to her. That's why she needs you, her loyal soldiers, to protect her." Luna said with a sad air. Hotaru and Ami looked to each other, both at a loss for words. Neither wanted to fight, neither wanted the weight of the world on their shoulders, neither wanted this battle, and neither wanted to let an evil Queen destroy the world.
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Artemis looked out the window at the pouring rain. He could feel the awakening of Saturn. He slowly moved away from the window to look for his Sailor Soldier. He knew something had to be wrong if his companion was forced to awaken the Sailor Scout of Destruction. Artemis frowned as he thought, 'Its time to go home. This time she'll have to listen to me or the world she values so much will be destroyed.'
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Mamoru stared at the pleasant white house, his dark eyes focused on the soft glow of a lamp on the second floor. Mamoru had helped Usagi study for a few hours at the arcade. He then claimed he had to go to work and he had wandered off. He'd carefully concealed himself in the shadows as he watched Usagi pack up her school books and slowly walk home. Once he knew she was safely home he should have left but he couldn't convince himself to leave. He'd watched Usagi's mother congratulate her on her test through the front window and then stayed to watch the family dinner.
He was so caught up in watching her perfect family setting that he took leave of his senses and stayed to watch. He stepped further into the yard as the sun set and shadows overtook the land. His eyes stayed focused up on the light as his mind's eye pictured what it would have been like to have Usagi's home life. He was so caught up in his musings he didn't hear the front door open as Mrs. Tsukino came outside armed with a broom. He didn't notice her stalking closer but he did notice her the second the broom came down heavily on his head. He yelped in surprise as he quickly backed out of the yard while Mrs. Tsukino yelled, "Thief, robber, pervert. Leave! Don't you dare come near my family!"
Mamoru ran up the street as Usagi poked her head out of her window to look at her mother. Her calm voice floated down as she asked, "Is something wrong, mother?'
"No dear, go to sleep," Mrs. Tsukino said as she walked back inside.