Reloaded Chapter 2: Act 1, a w.i.t.c.h. fanfic

Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon: Reloaded

By: Sokai

Disclaimer: I, Sokai, do not claim ownership to the workings of W.I.T.C.H. -- I leave that honor up to Elisabetta Gnone. Nor do I own one of Takeuchi Naoko's most beloved manga/anime/live action series, "Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon." However, I can and DO claim to own this story and its inspired ideas FROM said series, in addition to the original song, "Starlit Destiny," which will be featured later within this particular chapter.

Note: Bleh. This weather sucks today; too much rain, and slightly chilly. Where did yesterday's beautifully warm and sunny weather go!! So, you'll excuse me if I may come off a bit . . . "grr" or "bleh" in this note. While I am happy and appreciative of all reviews and support I get, and pleased the majority of you, thus far, seem to be looking forward to this fic, there are some which are a tad doubtful of its accomplishment. Again, I obviously have to say that I'm aware it's a bit unorthodox, however, when you get down to it, what author on here HASN'T attempted to slightly crossover to worlds to make them one?? I, although perhaps not truly more than anyone (as this series is loved by SO many out there in the world), adore Sailormoon to high heaven, and inhale(d) every last incarnation of it repeatedly. So couple that with the fact that if I were not even remotely familiar with the series enough to do a fanfic for it, PERIOD, I wouldn't bother. This idea to merge W.I.T.C.H. with it came to my head for whatever reason, and, for NOW, I'm going to run with it and see where the ideas for future chapters already in my mind will take me.

So, if nothing else, just have confidence within me, or at the very least, my competence as a writer, please, before I receive any future "I'm not really sure you can pull this off" sort of comments. Thank you.

Oh, and two more things: 1. If OOC or even A.U. fics are not your thing, those venturing to read this, then please do not go any further, as, already stated in the previous chapter, this is precisely what I'm going to do at times for this. And 2. While perhaps the start of this story may just nearly mirror that of the true/canon Sailormoon series, I do honestly plan to veer off into my own direction in order to make it slightly original (That is, as original as can be, considering the Guardians have been thrust into the roles of the Sailor Senshi, basically). Because, otherwise, I truly wouldn't bother to do this story at all, if all it'd be would be taking the Guardians and making them act out every last movement, word, or basic persona/lives of the senshi from the canon.

I may love Sailormoon and like W.I.T.C.H., but I'm not vain or even unimaginative, as it were, to do something THAT trite.

In any event, please do enjoy the first (official) chapter, which is approximately twenty-five pages. So have fun with that.

This chapter was created/written in April 2009.

ℓ Act 1 ℓ

RING!!

"Gooood, morning, Heatherfield!! It's seven-twenty-five! Davis, here, with my usual 'Early Bird' morning crew, bringing you the music, fun, and contest trivia you crave! It's another beautiful, warm and sunny typical Florida day this early Tuesday, and at sixty-two degrees already, you know it's just going to get better and better as the day goes on! With that said, before I bring on more of the tunes again, with the latest single from Cornelia Hale coming up, I've just got one more thing to say: Time to wake up and get goin', all you sleepy heads out there!!"

"Mmm . . . just . . . ten more minutes, Mom. . . ." Fourteen-year-old Elyon Brown groggily murmured, half asleep, from underneath her baby blue colored comforter inside of her pretty spacious bedroom. She let out a tired yawn, before shifting around to roll onto her other side, away from her similarly blue colored wall and towards her star decorated dresser where her alarm clock sat.

Letting out a relaxed moan, Elyon slowly cracked open her sleepy, periwinkle hued eyes and gave a soft smile as she looked at the time within a fatigued daze.

". . . . Ahh!! Seven-twenty-seven!! Holy geez, I'm late!!" she screeched within sharpened realization, immediately bolting upright and springing out of her bed at near lightning speed. "I can't believe I overslept!! I knew I shouldn't have stayed up, writing within my diary and chatting with Alchemy online afterwards, putting off my studying for today's Algebra quiz until the very last minute!!"

Within the next several minutes, Elyon was already dressed (albeit clothes already worn the previous day and were now a tad wrinkly as a result) and ready to go, with no time to shower or properly comb out her shoulder length, dishwater blonde locks before styling them into her usual and simple pigtails.

She stole a quick glance at her reflection as she raced out of her bedroom and down the hallway, and grimaced at the sight.

"Ugh . . . not exactly off to a great start for the new life I'm determined to make for myself, am I?" Elyon muttered to herself with a scrunched up expression upon her fair countenance, gazing at her chaotic-looking appearance. Reaching up to smooth down her disheveled hair, she looked back at the clock upon the wall behind her and gasped. "Yikes!! The warning bell has already rung!! I better book it, if I wanna make it in time for the quiz -- Which I can't believe I actually want to!"

Forgetting about her overall appearance, if only for that moment, Elyon, with her book bag now in hand and sandals quickly thrown on, scurried out of the front door and just managed to snag a green apple from off of the kitchen counter in passing.

"I can make it, I can make it, I can make it. . . ." the petite blonde chanted breathlessly to herself in between bites of her juicy and slightly tangy flavored fruit, running as swiftly as she could down the street and towards the direction of her new school, Portrait High School. "Mom could have at least woke me up before having gone to work this morning!"

It was true. Elyon's mother, the laid back as she was authoritative, Eleanor, usually woke up around six o'clock every weekday morning, before heading off to her occupation as an art curator by seven. And given that the girl's more strict (at least, when it came to academics) but still humorous father, Thomas, an astronomer, was already out of the house by five-thirty, it could have been helpful to her if her mother would have popped in her head inside of her only child's room to see if she was already up and ready for school today.

"Figures. Now, if I don't do well on another Algebra quiz again, I'll never hear the end of it from Dad! Why can't he just get that I'm an artist -- kind of, anyway -- like Mom, not a mathematical and science whiz like he is??" Elyon lightly asked herself within tired huffs as she rounded a corner, groaning heavily at the thought of having to endure yet another lecture from her father about the "importance of math and science within everyday life."

Shaking her head in order to break free from what could quite possibly become her potentially near future, provided she truly wouldn't do well upon her quiz, Elyon took a hurried, last bite of her apple, before perfectly tossing it into the outdoor receptacle bin housed outside of a convenience store as she passed.

"There we g -- Ahh!!" the high school freshman yelped out in alarm, suddenly toppling over as her sandaled feet then tripped over something soft and relatively small. Rolling over with a pained moan, Elyon slowly sat up as she tenderly rubbed at her slightly bruised nose. "Oww . . . this is definitely not my day. . . . What was that??"

Reaching out to collect her belongings, Elyon turned around and was surprised to see what looked to be a bluish-gray colored cat, curled up upon the pavement with its eyes closed. It wasn't moving; however, it also did not appear to be dead, as Elyon could vaguely catch sight of its long, whitish gray whiskers lightly twitching.

"Oh! My gosh, I'm so sorry, little kitty!! I honestly didn't see you!!" the blonde gushed in apologetic concern, immediately crouching back down to effortlessly scoop up the fluffy feline into her arms. It was then that she was able to get a better view of its face, and noticed what looked like a bandage of sorts peculiarly placed upon its forehead. "What is this?? Who would do such a thing to such an adorable cat?? It's all right, sweetie -- I've got you."

Tentatively stroking the cat's slate gray colored back in attempts to both calm and distract it, Elyon, using her other free hand, gingerly peeled off the adhesive strip from off of its head as it then at last opened its tea green tinted eyes and blinked.

"There, now. Isn't that better? I -- Ack!!" the dishwater blonde began with a warm smile, before gasping in alarm as the previously afflicted feline promptly pushed at her chest before climbing up and over her shoulder to jump back down onto the ground.

Dusting herself free of cat hair and various speckles of dirt and gravel, Elyon whirled around, now with a slight frown upon her face, to gaze after the animal, which she'd presumed would have then began to run off. However, much to her surprise, it remained, merely staring back up at her, almost expectantly.

For a few moments, Elyon mimicked its actions, or lack thereof, as it were, and simply looked back at it in perplexity. She had effortlessly become so caught up within the moment, that she hadn't even yet taken notice of the curious looking, seven-pointed and light green colored star bald spot adorning the cat's forehead where the bandage had been.

It wasn't until the abrupt sound of a passing car horn startled them both that Elyon at last broke free of her unexpected stupor. Blinking her soft blue eyes for a few moments, she then immediately looked down at her blue colored wristwatch to check the time and saw that it read seven-thirty-nine.

"Ahh!! What am I doing?? I don't have time for this!! I'm super late now!!" she cried out to herself within dread, resuming her previous run and rushed past the discarded feline without another word, already forgetting about it.

It, on the other hand, remained within its spot, looking after the retreating teenager with interested, almost knowledgeable eyes and a slow swish of its long and slender tail, before proceeding to follow after her. . . .

"Wow . . . I can't believe you scored a fifty on the quiz this morning, Elle -- Your dad is gonna freak!" Elyon's newly pixie cut, russet haired best friend, Alchemy Selwyn gushed at lunchtime later on that day during sixth period. The blonde seated next to her at their usual round table for the last month now since school had started, outside within the high school's vast courtyard, gave the newly turned fifteen-year-old a look of sharp disdain, causing Alchemy to give a sheepish grin in response. "S-Sorry! But, I mean, you have to admit that you know it's true."

"Of course I know it's true, Alchemy! Why do you think I'm enjoying my last day -- My last meal on earth, before I head home to have my father cremate me once he sees this stupid grade??" Elyon muttered with a sharp scowl, looking from her comrade since elementary school, to the sheet of paper lying upon the table's smooth surface before her.

She gave a slight wince as she looked it over for what felt like the millionth time that day, and took in the frequently appearing red marks of incorrect answers which riddled nearly the entire page. And, perhaps the most dreaded sight of all, was the large, blatant and undeniable "fifty" which gleamed back up at her with a red, almost devilish glare.

Alchemy gazed at her best friend with sympathetic, electric blue colored eyes after taking a small bite of her turkey breast sandwich, and smiled softly.

"Well . . . at least it's mainly because you didn't get to finish the entire quiz as the reason why you got such a low score. Maybe your dad will take pity on you for that," she weakly tried to console the other girl, before taking a sip of her beverage.

Elyon merely shook her still quite disheveled head, having long since abandoned her hopes of impressing the older student populace (if only for one day, at least) with her would be fashion sense, and sighed heavily.

"No, way. He'll only just completely look right over that and go straight to the fact that I had woken up late this morning in the first place. I'm honestly surprised that Mr. Cedner even let me take the quiz at all even though I came in late, as strict as he is. You are so lucky he likes you, at least, which is why you got an eighty on yours," she said with another exhale, before taking a rough, savage-like bite out of her hamburger.

Alchemy giggled at this, with a slight roll of her eyes while patting her friend upon the shoulder.

"That's not true. I still get him in the morning like you do, remember, when he's still extra surly. I just . . . I don't know. I kinda just get the lessons he teaches, is all," she delivered as delicately and as modestly as she could, gradually beginning to feel guilty as another thought had then come to her. "I probably shouldn't have chatted online with you last night, even though we both needed to finish studying. I know that you're not exactly . . . well, the greatest at math at times, so I could've waited until today to talk to you again. Sorry, Elle. . . ."

Elyon waved a hand within dismissal upon hearing this and smiled cheerfully at the other girl, trying her best to put the Algebra incident behind her . . . for now.

"It's all right, I guess. It's not like it's your fault the math and science gene from my dad completely bypassed me when I was born, after all. I'll just approach him like an adult, and have a nice, calm discussion about this and --"

"-- Hey, there, ladies! Whoa, Elyon! What's with the crazy look? You usually are better put together than this. Yikes! B-But, a-anyway! How did you guys do on Mr. C's quiz in Algebra class this morning? I just took it last period, and got a ninety-eight! I'm so upset with myself that I'd actually made such a careless mistake like forgetting to put a negative sign in front of the two within the answer to that one quadratic equation," the girls' childhood friend (sometimes regrettably so) and Elyon's neighbor, fourteen-year-old Martin Tubbs, suddenly called out from behind them, before plopping himself down at their table with his own lunch.

He gave each girl a broad grin in greeting, steely blue eyes twinkling behind his round, small framed and silver tinted eyeglasses.

"Ugh. You make us sick, Martin, with your constant bragging about how wonderful and smart you are, and then have the nerve to vent about, 'Oh, no! I was two freaking points shy of a perfect score!!'" Elyon hissed toward the cornflower haired boy now blushing profusely from across the table, choosing to ignore his comment about her unkempt appearance. She then swiftly lifted her failed exam from off of the table and stuffed it blindly into her book bag.

"Yeah, brainiac -- Have a little sympathy, will you?" Alchemy chimed in with a disapproving frown, chucking one of her raw baby carrots at her male friend.

Grimacing after having been unexpectedly hit by the vegetable projectile, Martin lightly picked it up from off of his lunch tray where it promptly landed and placed it to the side.

"H-Hey! I'm sorry! I wasn't trying to be upsetting about it, you guys. I didn't even know that you guys failed yours, and --"

"-- Whoa, hey! I didn't fail! I got an eighty; Elyon's the one who got the fifty . . . ooh. Sorry, again, Elle!" Alchemy immediately apologized once more after having realized her mistake, smiling awkwardly at the now blushing Elyon, who stared back at her with an incredulous glare.

"God! Thanks a lot, Alchemy! Tell the whole world about my horrible grade, why don't you!" she cried, her friends able to catch tears of embarrassment beginning to form within her soft eyes, before she then buried her face within her hands within defeat.

Both Alchemy and Martin sighed gently at this, having gotten used to their mutual childhood friend's slightly frequent tendency for over-theatrics from time to time, as well as the occasional crying fest she would produce over certain matters.

"I-It's okay, Elyon, really . . . it won't be so bad. You didn't get to finish the quiz, and were up late studying, remember? You probably would've done well if you'd had had the proper chance," Alchemy tried her best to console her best friend further, gently caressing the back of her wrinkled tank top, while Martin reached across the table to timidly pat his neighbor's hand. "Maybe . . . maybe you could take a marker and go over the five, to make it look like an eight? Hey, Marty -- You're always 'Mr. Prepared.' Do you have a red pen or marker on you?"

Martin gave a disapproving frown of his own towards his friend and shake of his head as he recoiled his hand away from the still sniffling girl before him, and took a quick sip of his soda before responding.

"Nope, I don't. And anyway, that would be dishonest, and to a multitude of people: Mr. C, Elyon's parents, and even Elyon, herself. And besides, if she got a score as low as a fifty, I'm sure there are loads of red marks all over the page which she wouldn't be able to hide from her folks, as well," he replied a bit too matter of fact-like for the girls' taste, immediately regretting his choice of words as he watched the both of his friends then award him with the most icy, piercing look he had ever received from them throughout the course of their friendship. "Uh . . . oops. S-Sorry, again, you guys. Just trying to help. . . ."

"Yeah, and you have helped, Martin . . . only in succeeding in making me feel a whole lot worse!" Elyon moaned with a light smack to the sole male's arm, before stealing his napkin to blow her nose with.

Suddenly, Alchemy smiled knowingly as she turned her entire body to face her best friend continually trapped within self pity and misery.

"Well, I know what will make you feel a lot better, and forget all about this pesky little quiz!" she said with a growing grin, playfully tugging at one of Elyon's light blonde pigtails.

Martin gave a thoughtful look before venturing a guess, whether or not it was wanted by either girl.

"Finding her a math tutor? Yow!!" he asked innocently, before crying out in abrupt pain the moment Alchemy blindly stepped onto one of his sneakered feet from underneath the table. "Boy, you guys are really laying into me today! I think I'm gonna go finish my lunch over there with the chess club, instead, and talk to you both later. F-Feel better, though, Elyon!"

Waiting until after the flax haired boy had gone, Alchemy cleared her throat and began again.

"Now that that little nuisance is out of the picture, let me try again. What is the one thing which usually cheers you up instantly? Besides drawing, eating ice cream, or daydreaming about boys, too," she spoke with another broad smile after having torn her eyes away from Martin, who now sat, at an elongated table within the distance, with a gaggle of students both male and female, alike, who each welcomed him warmly and nearly all wearing glasses like he.

Now feeling a lot more calm, although her face still retained its reddened hue from her previous crying, Elyon thought for a moment, before suddenly squealing with glee.

"Ooh! Listening to one of my favorite Cornelia Hale CDs!!" she cried happily, her formerly gloomy mood effortlessly dissipating and being replaced by her usually positive and cheerful disposition. She then paused for a bit, as her brilliant smile faltered a tad. "Oh, but wait. I was running so late this morning, that I didn't even have time to snag my CD or MP3 player. So, I guess that's out. . . ."

Alchemy merely shook her copper colored head in disagreement, seizing both of her friend's hands and squeezing them within furthered excitement.

"No need! Because have I got a surprise for you!" she said with a giggle, happy to see the former light returning to Elyon's soft blue eyes as she awaited the other girl to continue. "I wanted to tell you this last night while online, but decided to wait until today to tell you in person. But, anyway! You know how my dad's been busy lately, promoting his new jewelry collection? Well, he recently teamed up with that hot new and popular store, 'Forever Youthful,' to display their latest line of new clothes for the fall and winter season! And guess whose clothing line is also going to be featured??"

Elyon's eyes widened nearly beyond their limit at this.

"Oooh!! No, way!! You mean your dad's actually going to get to be one of the first people to witness some of the new clothing Cornelia Hale's designed?? Ugh, I wish I were a famous jeweler like him! Then maybe I could get to do business with one of the world's most popular teen idol sensations," she swooned with a smile, clasping her hands together after Alchemy had released them.

"Maybe, but I'll do you one better in the meantime: Because Cornelia's apparently a fan of my dad's jewelry, she personally sent him a note which came yesterday, complimenting him about it, and giving him free merchandise from both her clothing line as well as music albums, autographed and everything! She's even going to wear one of his new necklaces for her next music video, he told me!" Alchemy gushed with tittering pride for her father, causing Elyon to emit another squeal in merriment. "And, the most important part, guess where all of that free merchandise is going? Yeah! To the both of us! Well, to me, since Dad's not a girl and my mom's too 'old' to wear the type of clothes Cornelia designs or listens to the music she sings, not to mention is away on business right now, anyway. But as my best friend, you totally are going to share within this moment with me later this afternoon at Dad's exhibit!"

Elyon nearly knocked the other girl over as she promptly enveloped her within a fierce embrace, she was that overwhelmed with jubilation at the unexpected news.

"Oh, my God! I love you sooo much, Alkie!! This definitely makes me feel a lot better over having failed my dumb quiz!" she cried happily, sharing within the fit of giggles Alchemy had then fallen under. Suddenly, Elyon stopped laughing as a sobering realization had then come to her. "Oh . . . but I can't bring any of those gifts home with me, though, even if they're free. There's no way my dad will ever let me keep them once he sees my grade. . . ."

Alchemy bit her lip in thought, after promptly ceasing within her own laughter.

"Hmm . . . yeah, that might be true. But, maybe I can hold them for you until after things have cooled down with him! Then, afterward, he'll no longer care!" she ventured with a returned grin, watching as Elyon did the same.

"Brilliant! Thanks, Alchemy! You're the best!" the blonde complimented with a relieved sigh, rising to her feet as the bell had then rang, signifying the end of that particular period. "Oh! But isn't your dad worried that his exhibit might be robbed? After all, there have been a string of robberies pertaining to jewelry stores lately."

Alchemy shook her head as she, too, rose from her spot, collecting her belongings to take with her and empty food containers and wrappers to throw away into the trash.

"I know! Isn't it scary?? But, surprisingly, my dad doesn't even seem fazed by that. In fact, he seems a lot more confident within his business lately, even to the point of offering a tremendous, opening discount to his new jewelry!" she revealed, tossing her brown paper lunch bag into the nearby trash as the two approached, Elyon then doing the same for her partially empty paper plate. "The prices are so low, that even teens like us could afford it! You should definitely come with me after school to see the exhibit set up and watch the models 'Forever Youthful' sent over to practice wearing and modeling off both Cornelia's clothing and Dad's jewelry for later on tonight!"

"If the prices for some of your dad's awesome and impressive jewelry really is as low as you say it is, then you know I will! But, I think he should still be careful, and maybe hire a lot of security to be on the safe side," Elyon cautioned with a worried glance at her best friend, as the duo headed back inside of the school to their next period classes.

Alchemy nodded in agreement, then waved a slightly dismissive hand into the air as she gave her slightly shorter friend a confident grin.

"Yeah, he has all of that taken care of already. Besides! Even if someone actually tries to steal any of my dad's jewelry, I'm sure Sailor V will be right there, waiting and ready to stop them, just like she has for every other criminal and would be thief!" she remarked boisterously, speaking of both hers and Elyon's most cherished superhero with the utmost respect and pride.

"Definitely! How could I forget about that? The ever faithful 'ally of justice,' Sailor V, is always around to swoop in and save the day like the brave heroine that she is!" Elyon added with a nod of approval and daydream-like grin, as she and Alchemy reentered the building. "It must be something spectacular, to boldly fight crime and help protect innocent people like that. . . ."

"You know, I heard that Sailor V is actually in affiliation with the FBI, secretly helping them out with their various cases!" the girls suddenly heard Martin comment from behind them, before moving to walk alongside Elyon.

"Man, are you on a roll today for eavesdropping," Alchemy muttered towards the returned male blonde, giving him a flat look. Elyon, meanwhile, bestowed upon her neighbor an expression of curiosity, as she prompted him to continue.

"Huh? I never heard anything about that before, Martin, and next to Alchemy, I'm always on top of anything related to Sailor V, from video games, toys, to news coverage!" the pigtailed girl slightly bragged, feeling a bit pleased that she could at least one up her male friend about knowing more about the infamous sailor suited crime fighter than he, if not about mathematics, instead.

However, Martin merely shook his sunlit colored head at this, already opening his mouth to offer a rebuttal as the trio walked down the crowded, busy hallway.

"No, no, it's true! One of my friend's mother works for the CIA, and he said that he overheard her telling his dad all about how Sailor V is cooperating with both them and the police force in catching all those bad guys!" he revealed excitedly, reaching up to push back his glasses.

Alchemy scoffed loudly at this.

"Yeah, but here's a thought, 'Mr. Know-it-All:' If Sailor V were really working for the government, basically, and your friend's mother is in the CIA, do you really think that she'd just let something that obviously top secret and important out, even to her own husband?? When it comes to classified things like that, both the FBI and CIA are always very 'hush-hush' -- Especially with their loved ones, because they know that their nosy little son may happen upon the information and go blab their mouths to gullible people like you," she teased with a roll of her blue eyes, reaching behind Elyon to lightly tap the back of Martin's head in further jesting.

Elyon giggled at the display between her two friends, nodding slightly in agreement with the other girl.

"Yeah, that's true, I suppose . . . I mean, if it were true, then the media would have somehow found out and leaked it to the public by now, I'm sure . . . not to mention that Sailor V or even the police would have a lot more enemies on their hands if any of them knew that they were working together," she spoke thoughtfully, as the trio rounded a corner.

"Maybe . . . but, you guys gotta admit that it would make sense if it is true, though. You know, since lately jewelry store burglaries and other crimes have been happening one after the other, and either Sailor V or the police are always right there to stop the crooks from getting any further with their loot," Martin reflected, after rubbing his head from Alchemy's blow. "I wonder what the fascination is with jewelry and the necessity to steal it lately? In any case, I'll catch you girls later, all right? And cheer up over your quiz, Ellie! You'll get it next time, I'm sure!"

And with that, Martin gave a quick wave towards his two oldest companions, before disappearing into the first classroom they had come to on the right. Briefly returning the gesture, both girls continued on within their journey to their respected classes, as Elyon spoke again.

"While I appreciate his confidence within me, I really wish he hadn't advertised it like that," she murmured with a faint blush in reflection of her momentarily forgotten Algebra exam, as Alchemy gave her a light squeeze upon her arm.

"Hey, don't sweat it, Elle. It's Martin, remember? He's always speaking before he thinks, like right now, about how he can't understand why anyone would be trying to rob jewelry stores in the last couple of weeks. I mean, hello! It's jewelry! Who wouldn't want to steal some if they could get away with it? And I should know: I wish I could just take half of my dad's collection without consequence most of the time, myself," she said with a giggle, causing Elyon to do the same as the pair stopped before a broad staircase. "Anyway, he's still right, though; next time, you'll knock Cedner's next quiz or test right out of the park! We'll both help you study if we have to, even, okay? Until then, though, I'll meet you after school to head over to my dad's exhibit, all right? And do what ol' Marty suggested: Cheer up!"

Elyon smiled generously at the darker haired girl and nodded in appreciation, before giving her a quick hug.

"Okay, okay, you guys win; I will! And thanks again for inviting me along, Alchemy -- It'll do me some good to have an active excuse to stay away from my house until I have to see my own father," she remarked with a slight shiver at the thought, releasing her friend from her embrace. "I'll see you later, then!"

Elyon hung by the staircase for a little bit, watching Alchemy ascend them, before carrying on a little further down the hallway to her own seventh period class, art, which was currently her most favorite.

Just one more period to go after this, and then I'll be surrounded by all the free merchandise and discount jewelry I could ever ask for . . . even if I can't actually buy or bring any of them home with me just yet, she thought to herself in growing anticipation, as she walked into her class just as the second bell had rung.

"Now, I want you to make sure that Yvette remembers to raise her hand high enough in order to properly showcase my fourteen karat, white gold diamond and ruby cluster ring she'll be wearing along with that cherry colored, halter maxi dress of Ms. Hale's later tonight, all right?" Alchemy's father, Mani, calmly instructed one of his apparent assistants from where they stood within one of the many audience rows inside of the Heatherfield Tarmo Exhibit Hall.

Both he and the rest of his crew were hard at work, carrying out last minute preparations for that evening's show exhibit, while the models of 'Forever Youthful', their photographers and their directors were currently busy conducting a final dress rehearsal.

"Yes, sir, Mr. Selwyn. I'll be sure to go let the director know right now," Mani's assistant, Alexis, replied with a nod, before turning to walk away from her boss and down the aisle to speak with the director further down below, who was busy consulting with his various models moving about the elongated, black colored runway in the distance.

The appreciative smile shining forth upon Mani's tanned face as he watched his employee go suddenly began to grow dark, almost sinister in appearance.

. . . . Very good . . . because everything must be absolutely perfect for tonight, when all of you and everyone else attending this exhibit gives me all of your precious life energy! he thought to himself in secret, malicious delight, lightly rubbing his slightly calloused hands together in further contempt.

"Hey, Dad! We're here!"

Mani gave a slight jump and gasp in alarm, fearful he might have been overheard, before immediately putting on a cheerful disposition as he whirled around to the newcomer he recognized to be his daughter.

"Alchemy, sweetheart! And Elyon! So glad you could come, as well!" he greeted warmly, a sharp contrast between his previously darkened, mysterious demeanor, as he watched the two high school students rush towards him within the aisle.

Elyon smiled shyly back at the older man and lightly blushed before responding.

"Thank you for having me, Mr. Selwyn -- I really appreciate it, and the free gifts sent over by Cornelia Hale you're letting me share with Alchemy," she said, watching her best friend receive a generous hug in greeting from her father, before then receiving one from him, herself.

Mr. Selwyn shook his raven colored head, as he gazed down at the much shorter individual before him upon releasing her from his embrace, and smiled.

"Not at all, Elyon! I've known you since you were yay-high, only reaching up to my thigh!" he affectionately teased with a wink of one of his dark blue eyes, chuckling lightly at the sight of the blonde's growing rouge upon her naturally creamy hued cheeks. "Besides, Ms. Hale was so generous within her donations, that there is more than enough for both you and Lil' Al, here, to distribute amongst yourselves."

Alchemy promptly groaned within her own abashment upon hearing her father make use of one of his pet names for her.

"Daaad, please. I'm in high school, now; enough with the 'Lil' Al,' okay?" she remarked with a grin, sticking out her tongue towards the older man, before setting down her book bag and other belongings onto a nearby auditorium seat. "Anyway, I was telling Elle earlier all about how you also mysteriously marked down a lot of your jewelry, new and old, too. This is the first that I can remember, anyway, of you ever doing something like this before."

At this, Mr. Selwyn's pleasant simper faltered for a moment, which neither girl seemed to have noticed, before swiftly strengthening it and playfully waved a strong hand into the air within dismissal.

"Well, hey! I'm entitled to change my mind and shake things up a little, aren't I? Besides, if Ms. Hale can afford to be so generous, then so can I! After all, we are both business people, aren't we?" he spoke with a relaxed and friendly air, turning his attention onto the runway and models down below from where the three were. "Now, I'd better go down there and make sure everything is continuing to run smoothly. But feel free to stick around, watch some of the models perform, or head backstage to my greenroom to peruse the free products I've left in there for your arrival, all right?"

"Okay, Dad! We'll see you later, then! And good luck!" Alchemy responded with a smile, both she and Elyon waving goodbye towards her father as they watched him leave.

"Yeah, Mr. Selwyn! Thanks again!" the dishwater blonde added with an appreciative grin, turning her attention onto the various, slender models in the distance before addressing her friend. "Oooh, look at them, Alchemy! They all look so gorgeous, even from way up here! And in those new clothes of Cornelia's they're each wearing? They're absolutely breathtaking! I can only hope to look half as good when I get older. . . ."

Alchemy promptly nodded in agreement, watching the professionals down below on the runway for a few moments, before turning around to pick up her belongings once more.

"Tell me about it! But, hey! Why wait until we're older to look that good, when we've got a whole bunch of free clothes and other goodies to try on just like those? Let's go!" she said with an excited giggle, already leading the way down the aisle and towards the nearby exit which would lead both girls towards the dressing rooms and executive area, where their treats awaited them.

~*~

"Oh, that was so much fun! I really felt like a superstar, just like Cornelia, getting to try on all of those brand new, otherwise expensive clothes, and be surrounded by all those other free gifts!" Elyon softly spoke to herself in happy reflection upon the last hour and a half she had spent with Alchemy, putting on their own private fashion show from inside of Mr. Selwyn's greenroom, before leaving her behind with her father to finally head home. "It's just too bad I couldn't take any of it home with me yet. . . ."

She groaned heavily as she immediately felt her deliriously good mood from nearly the last two hours begin to dissipate, as thoughts of her dreaded, bombed Algebra quiz and the impending doom which awaited her once she arrived home to see her father resurfaced.

Sharply reaching into her backpack as she continued on within her methodically slow walk home, Elyon pulled out her mathematics folder, which housed her deplorable exam, and took it out to once again gaze upon.

"Ugh. I can't go home and show this to Dad! I just can't! He'll blow a major gasket for sure!" she lamented to herself as she stopped short and stood upon the busy sidewalk, allowing her fellow Heatherfield citizens to continue walking by. "I'm just going to have to get rid of you and say that Mr. Cedner simply hadn't graded it yet, that's all!"

With a determined, satisfied smile at her newfound decision, Elyon quickly crumpled up her quiz paper and blindly tossed it over her shoulder, all too eager to be rid of it once and for all.

"O-Ouch! Hey, that hurt, 'Piggy Tails!' Why not try for the trash next time, eh??"

Elyon's heart nearly jumped straight into her throat at the unexpected voice sounding from behind her, startling her in the process. She immediately whirled around to face the individual to apologize, then decided against it when she recalled what they had said.

For a moment, she'd lost her voice and felt her heart give another slight jump, as her periwinkle colored eyes met with an unfamiliar pair of resilient green, owned by a tall and muscular male brunet, seemingly no older than eighteen-years-old or so. She watched as he gave her a small, pompous smirk of sorts, before looking down at her discarded wad of paper now lying at his feet.

Clearing her throat, finding herself able to speak again, perhaps now that the unknown young man was no longer looking at her so attentively, Elyon bestowed upon him a deep frown as she opened her mouth.

"W-What did you just call me?? These are called 'pigtails,' not 'piggy tails,' you jerk! Pig. Tails!" she exclaimed as she grabbed a firm hold upon each of her braided locks, putting great stress upon her final words so that the boy would get the message. She then watched with great mortification as he bent over and unfurled her quiz paper, and began to read the results aloud.

"Fifty points. Geez. I think maybe you've tied your hair into that hairdo of yours too tightly, if your brain couldn't have worked well enough to score higher than this, on what looks to be a pretty basic algebra test," the brunet chided with another condescending smirk, before crumpling the paper back up and tossing it back at a now fuming Elyon. "I think you should go home and study now, Piggy Tails."

"W-Why don't you just mind your own freaking business??" the embarrassed, seething blonde shouted back at the now softly chuckling boy standing in front of her, before abruptly turning on her heel and stomped away, this time taking her exam with her.

Ugh! What an absolutely disgusting, and conceited guy! The nerve of him! Elyon thought to herself within her continually brewing anger, squeezing the balled up paper tightly within her left hand, before stuffing it into the pocket of her wrinkled shorts and continued on her way. If I ever see that jerk again, it will be too soon!

Meanwhile, the brunet in question carried on within the other direction, back towards the Heatherfield Tarmo Exhibit Hall, where Elyon had just come from. He gave a pensive stare towards the building once he'd arrived, as he lightly murmured to himself.

"So, this is the place advertised on the television, where that jewelry exhibit will be held tonight. . . . Maybe this is where I'll finally find it . . . the mystical Star of Threbe. . . ." the mysterious young man softly spoke with a fold of his muscular arms across his chest, as he then merely continued to look upon the tall building in further thought. . . .

"Hey, there, Elyon! You're looking rather glum today; that's pretty unusual. What happened? Did you have an argument with one of your friends?" Elyon's friend and secret crush over the last year now, twenty-three-year-old Cedric Wright suddenly called out to her from across the street as she approached, nearing the end of her journey home.

The young teenager immediately perked up at the sight of him, instantly forgetting all about the crude brunet she had come across several minutes ago, as she hurriedly crossed the street and rushed towards the long, cornflower haired young man standing in front of the entrance to the girl's frequent and most favorite hangout place and shopping center, the "Musical Star Café."

It was a fairly new and up and coming establishment, where Elyon, Alchemy and several other young teenagers, as well as adults would journey to in order to listen to and preview new music, purchase the latest CD albums from various artists, peruse through a large assortment of magazines and books of all kinds, or to simply relax and partake within a beverage or snack or two.

And, of course, it didn't hurt that one of the most cutest male employees worked there, as well, as part of Elyon's further motivation to frequent that particular institution, either.

She promptly flashed her most brilliant smile, one she especially reserved for Cedric, towards him as she then stood before the young man, unconsciously playing with her fair colored locks and smoothing down her wrinkled tank top.

"H-Hey, Cedric! No, I didn't get into any fights with my friends -- Although I did bump into someone I never want to ever again on my way here just a couple of minutes ago," Elyon responded with a brief grimace in reflection of the unknown and uncouth brunet once more, before pushing him from out of her mind for good.

She felt her cheeks grow hot and heart beat much faster, as the taller man smiled down at her and warmly rested a hand upon her tiny shoulder in greeting.

"Aww, that's too bad. I hope you don't either, then, as I hate seeing my favorite customer so upset," Cedric said kindly with a wink of his light blue eyes. He then released his hold upon the petite girl, much to her secret disappointment. "So, are you headed straight home, then? Because I just laid out the new shipment of Cornelia Hale's latest album I'm sure both you and Alchemy will be itching to listen to. Speaking of, where is she? I haven't seen her yet today."

"Oh, that's because she's over at that place, Tarmo Exhibit Hall, with her father, helping him prepare for tonight's show for his jewelry collection. That's where I'd just come from, myself -- It's going to be a great exhibit!" Elyon gaily explained, feeling her heartbeat now slowing down and face growing much cooler, although the butterflies continuing to perform back flips within her stomach remained. "But, I can totally come inside real quick to check out Cornelia's music, as always . . . . Although, I probably shouldn't, since I kinda had a bad day today with a quiz I took this morning. . . ."

Cedric nodded in complete understanding upon hearing this, giving the young girl another smile, which caused her to blush once again.

"Ah. Say no more, then. It wasn't too long ago when I was in high school, and had taken quite a few 'dreaded walks home' after a bad testing day, myself," he revealed with great sympathy and reminiscence, tossing his long ponytailed locks behind his shoulder. "But, I wouldn't worry too much about it, though, Elyon. You're a pretty smart kid, with a good head on your shoulders. And I'm pretty positive your folks are aware of that, themselves. The lot of you can just chock this particular incident up to simply having been an off day, that's all."

Oh, my sweet, hottie Cedric. You always know exactly what to say to make me feel better, the female blonde swooned inwardly with a silent thought towards the object of her affection, before verbally responding.

"Y-You're right, I suppose. Thanks for that, Cedric," Elyon replied with a shy smile, unable to meet the tall man's gaze for a few moments, as she continued. "S-So, um . . . why are you hanging outside, anyway? Shouldn't you be inside, watching the store and helping out customers?"

"I was -- Well, I am, but I asked my coworker, Andrew, to take care of that for a couple minutes, while I take my break and feed this cat," Cedric said, Elyon looking up just in time to catch him curiously looking about their mutual surroundings.

She raised an eyebrow at this.

"Cat? What cat? I don't see any around here right now," she remarked in perplexity, she, too, beginning to search about the immediate vicinity. She then heard Cedric gasp with delight before pointing a finger over her shoulder.

"Ah, there it is! You know, it's been wandering about here for the last couple of days now? I've been feeling pretty bad seeing it around and not trying to feed it before, so I thought I would today," he explained to the teenager, who turned around to look behind her and saw the very same slate gray colored feline from earlier that morning suddenly come out from underneath the dark blue tinted postbox situated near the café's entrance.

Elyon gave a slight exhale of her own at the realization, as the tiny cat then sat down upon the sidewalk and gazed up at the two humans looking right back at her.

"Oh, hey! That's the cat I'd accidentally tripped over this morning! Are you feeling better now, Kitty?" the young teenager gently asked towards the fluffy feline, as Cedric continued to watch on with a smile. It was then that Elyon at last took proper notice of the curious and green hued, seven-pointed star bald spot upon its forehead and bit her lip. "Hmm . . . what an odd looking birthmark or bald spot upon its head, don't you think, Cedric?? I wonder if its owner did that. . . ."

"So, you two have already met, then! That's good, although not so good that you'd tripped over it, the poor thing," he commented with a nod, cautiously moving forward as he pulled out the few slices of cheese he'd taken from inside of the café from out of his brown colored apron. "And I suppose that scar or mark is a bit strange, yeah . . . but I don't think this cat has an owner -- No collar or tag, for one thing. Although, it does seem to like you, the way it keeps looking at only you like that right now."

It was true. Despite the older man then beginning to advance towards the feline with the creamy, zesty treat, it nonetheless continued to maintain its gaze upon a now bewildered Elyon, who began to feel a bit uncomfortable for it.

". . . . Ick. It did the same thing to me this morning, too . . . something tells me that it really doesn't like me, much. And on that note, I'd better get going before it gets too late -- Wish me luck, Cedric! Oh, and good luck to you on trying to feed this kitty!" the pigtailed girl said hurriedly with growing nerves, as she locked eyes with the daunting and mysterious feline for a couple more moments, before quickly waving goodbye to her secret crush and began to walk away.

She could hear Cedric chuckle lightly from behind her as she continued on and he watched her go.

"Thanks, then, I guess! See you around, Elyon, and good luck!" he called out to the teen, before returning his attention back onto the grayish cat. He gasped in surprise the moment he'd realized that it had gone once again. "H-Hey, what? . . . . Hmm . . . what a funny little cat. . . ."

"Aww . . . Dad didn't have to be so brutal . . . an hour long 'yell fest,' ending with no dinner and straight to my room to study. . . . I just had to carelessly toss my stupid quiz into the trash where he could find it," Elyon murmured to herself in self pity later on that evening, trapped within her bedroom and seated at her desk, surrounded by her open textbooks and notebooks.

She'd been stuck in there for the last two hours or so, after having been thoroughly lectured by her father upon, as she had predicted, the "importance of math and science within everyday life," and then promptly sent away from the dinner table without her meal as punishment.

"I feel like such a little kid, getting no dinner like this," the blonde pouted in reflection, idly looking down at the same math equation she'd been staring at for the last half an hour now, without any results for completion. She lightly winced, then sighed deeply once she felt her stomach beginning to growl ferociously in hunger. "How does anyone expect me to get any work or concentration done when I'm starving to death like this?? Still . . . it could have been worse; I could have gotten my computer or cell phone taken away. And, once all of this dies down, I can finally go pick up all the neat stuff Cornelia sent over to Mr. Selwyn! I wonder how the exhibit's going right now . . . it should have started by now. . . ."

Gently rubbing her stomach in futile attempts to lull her growing hunger pains, Elyon suddenly threw down the pencil she'd had within her left hand onto her desk and stood up.

"Oh, I can't focus on anything technical right now, especially not hungry like this! But, maybe if I just relax for a little bit, I can come back to it later to finally finish," she avowed in frustration, before giving a firm nod to herself in determination to return to her studies in a little while and complete them once and for all. "I know! I'll just listen to the latest single from Cornelia! Her music always puts me at such ease!"

Feeling a little bit better already, if only emotionally, Elyon swiftly plopped herself onto her comfortable bed, before reaching out to turn on her dual radio and CD player nearby. Hitting play, she then settled onto her pillow, letting out a tired yawn as track number one, an upbeat melody, began to play:

Everywhere I go,

I carry you within my heart

'Cause someday, I just know,

The two of us will never part

Seas of people pass,

The world keeps spinning round and round

My love for you lasts,

You know I'll never let you down

So here I am,

Come with me,

This is our starlit destiny!

Starlit destiny!

This time I won't be denied

Starlit destiny!

Boy, one day you will be mine. . . .

The fast paced and energetic pop music continued to waft throughout the bedroom, putting a small, but growing smile upon Elyon's fair colored visage, as she then gradually began to drift into a light slumber, dreams of perhaps one day singing that very same song to Cedric to let him know her true affections already infiltrating her mind.

Unbeknownst to her, a familiar, yet unfamiliar and tiny figure was lurking outside of her open, first floor bedroom window nearest to her desk, before quietly jumping inside and onto the blue carpeted floor.

Hmm . . . no doubt about it . . . it's her. I've definitely found her at last, it thought to itself in silence, looking towards the slumbering teenager lying peacefully upon her bed as the peppy music was drawing to a close, before creeping carefully towards her. Here goes nothing. . . .

"Oh, Cedric . . . yes, I will marry you. . . ." Elyon softly murmured within her sleep, rolling onto her side with a big grin splayed across her face, at the same moment that the unknown, new visitor promptly jumped onto her thigh with expert precision. "Ahh!!"

Suddenly, Elyon bolted upright in bed, as sharp and unexpected pain began to course throughout her right leg.

"Oww! What was that?? It sort of felt like I just got pricked by a thousand little needles," she groaned to herself in alarm, rubbing her sore appendage while looking about the room for what could have caused it.

". . . . A-Actually, it was only ten, and they were claws -- My claws, to be more specific. Now, can you please get off of me??" a tiny, although forceful and strangely muffled female voice curiously rang out into the atmosphere just then, causing Elyon to gasp in surprise.

"W-What?? W-Who's there??" she squeaked out in ample fear, immediately leaping off of her bed to properly survey the room for any possible intruders. However, she could not see any. "If t-this is some sort of trick, then --"

"-- It's . . . no trick, Elyon. It's very real," Elyon could hear the same soft, seemingly disembodied female voice speak once again, making her jump once more in further affliction. "Oh, for goodness sake! I'm down here, on your bed, after having been momentarily crushed and buried underneath your legs -- Again, I might add. That's twice in one day, today, where you've nearly ended me. . . ."

With raised eyebrows in mounting perplexity, Elyon slowly moved her blue eyes back towards her now messy bed . . . only to see the very same grayish feline she had already previously encountered dual times that day, now seated comfortably upon the blonde's blue disheveled comforter.

". . . . H-Huh?? Kitty? What are you doing here inside of my room? Did you follow me home??" she asked in curiosity, naturally not expecting it to give an answer, as she cautiously moved toward it while still wondering who could have been the one speaking to her just moments before.

Suddenly, the cat's mouth mysteriously wrinkled to form what almost looked like a smile, before it did something Elyon never thought it, as an animal, would ever do.

It spoke.

"Actually, my name isn't 'Kitty;' it's Csilla. And truth be told, I have been following you -- All day, in fact, which wasn't always so easy, the way you've been all over town today, and me being just a tiny cat and all," it said tiredly, lightly cocking its furry head to the side and flicked one of its pointed, small ears as though in thought. "But, at least, I've finally caught up to you . . . now that I know for sure it's truly been you I've been searching for."

Elyon nearly passed out from fright upon taking in the most bizarre sight she had ever witnessed within her young life. She immediately jumped back, nearly ten feet, it felt like, away from her bed and far from the mysterious and now profusely terrifying gray colored talking cat.

"Ahh!! Oh, my God!!" she screeched, promptly whirling around to make a dash towards her bedroom door, when the feline apparently referred to as Csilla suddenly leaped off of the girl's bed and instantly placed herself between Elyon and the sealed exit.

"W-Wait! Please don't be frightened! I'm not going to hurt you or anything like that! Just hear me out, please!" the small female cat pleaded with a raised tail, gazing up at a befuddled and shaking Elyon, who then heard the familiar voice of her mother sounding from further down the hall.

"Elyonnn . . . you'd better quit fooling around and finish up your homework, or else your father will really blow his top," Mrs. Brown called out to her daughter from within the living room in playful reprimanding, before carrying on in watching her television program with her husband.

Elyon, biting down hard onto her lip, fought the great urge to both cry as well as scream for help from her parents, as she looked away from the door and back down at a hopeful Csilla. Pausing for a couple moments, the blonde took a deep, shaky breath and weakly nodded at her, before blindly taking a couple of steps back to let her pass.

Csilla gave a happy swish of her erected tail in gratitude, before walking back to the confused girl's bed.

"Thank you, Elyon . . . ahem. Now, then. As I was saying before, I have been wandering the city for the last couple of days, searching endlessly for you," the fluffy cat began as she sat back down, curling her slender tail against the frame of her body. "And I could sense that I was finally getting close, when a bunch of mean little brats suddenly ganged up on me and put that bandage you saw this morning onto my forehead. You'd really helped me out back there when you took it off, by the way, because otherwise, I'd have still been unable to speak and my detection abilities would remain weakened. So, thank you. . . ."

Head swirling, still not completely able to fathom the current events rapidly unfolding before her, Elyon gingerly sank onto the floor and sat before Csilla, pulling the both of her knees to her chest.

Suddenly, a realization came to her, causing her to smile broadly, which perplexed the small animal.

". . . . Ohh, I get it, now! This is all a dream! Yeah! I'm still dreaming after my previous one about getting engaged to Cedric!" she said happily with a nod, before reaching out to gently pat Csilla upon the head. "You're kinda cute and all, Kitty, but I much prefer the other dream to this one with you, no offense! So, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go back to --"

"-- This is not a dream, Elyon, and my name is not 'Kitty,' I told you!" Csilla fumed in vexation, squeezing her green eyes shut in further irritation, as she resisted the urge to scratch the young teenager before her. "Fine. Since you seem to like jewelry so much, as I saw you go to that exhibit with your friend earlier, maybe this gift will better catch your attention than I have so far."

Suddenly, the peculiar green colored, seven-pointed star upon the cat's forehead began to glow a soft periwinkle in hue as she kept her eyes closed, before a bright, white light erupted into the bedroom. Shielding her eyes, as well, Elyon slowly pulled her hands back in time to see a glittering, gold and star shaped necklace mysteriously floating within the air directly before her.

"W-What? H-How did you do that?? What is it??" she shakily asked in breathless awe as the bright light at last dissipated, tentatively reaching out to cradle the necklace within her cupped hands, as it slowly began to descend towards them at the same moment.

It was warm, with a curious prickling feeling all at once, as well.

Csilla then reopened her own eyes after the curious scar upon her forehead stopped shining, as well, and lightly smiled once more at the teenager now eyeing her apparent present.

"It is for you, Elyon, your Star Pendant, which will help you many times within the very near future. . . ." she revealed a bit cryptically with a light nod, watching Elyon then eagerly get up and rushed to her full bodied mirror up against her wall to try on her new necklace. "H-Hey! Are you even listening to me??"

"Yes, yes! It's my star necklace or whatever, which will totally help me to finally catch Cedric's eye! Oooh, wait 'till Alchemy sees me wearing this tomorrow! She'll be so jealous!! It's nearly as beautiful and priceless looking like the jewelry Mr. Selwyn's debuting tonight!" Elyon gushed in reply as she gazed upon her reflection, daintily handling and caressing the necklace now dangling gracefully around her slim neck.

"Star Pendant, Elyon! And this isn't a game, nor is that some random trinket you can just use to attract the opposite sex with!" Csilla chided in renewed consternation, jumping off of the bed and walking towards an only half paying attention Elyon. "Now, listen! Right now, at this very moment, in fact, there have been quite a number of strange happenings occurring within Heatherfield! Things which even the authorities, like the police, try as they might, cannot even begin to measure up against and properly handle. That's why it's up to you, Elyon, as the chosen Guardian Soldier, to find the rest of your comrades, who will help you find our lost princess in order to defeat the enemy!! It is your sworn duty and destiny to do so!"

". . . . Solider? . . . . Princess?? . . . . My . . . destiny?? Csilla, I-I don't under --" Elyon slowly began, partially within a greatly confused stupor after having fully listened to what the female cat had to say, when suddenly the necklace around her neck began to shine with a fierce brilliance. "C-Csilla!! The neck -- I mean, pendant!! It's shining again!!"

Csilla merely nodded firmly in concurrence, before taking another step forward.

"Precisely! It's because all that I have been saying to you is the truth! But, if you still don't believe me, then say these words, exactly: 'Meridian Eternity Power, Make Up!'" she softly commanded, peering up at a hesitant, almost skeptical looking Elyon, who paused for a moment before responding.

". . . . I-I . . . I'm not really sure what that will accomplish, but . . . Meridian Eternity Power, Make Up!!" the blonde weakly began, before promptly shouting out, with more conviction, the curious string of words which oddly felt a bit familiar to her, almost innate.

Suddenly, the light surrounding her newfound pendant grew brighter until it effortlessly engulfed her entire body, stripping her bare as her clothes then melted away. Eyes closed, Elyon felt her limbs take over, as she crossed her hands across her naked chest, and a warm, enveloping sensation of unknown vigor began to course within her.

Csilla watched as a colorful string of periwinkle tinted ribbons burst forth from out of the girl's glowing pendant, wrapping itself around her body to outfit into what appeared to be a bodysuit of sorts of the same color.

Upon Elyon's now covered chest did the pendant now curiously suffuse itself, surrounded and snug against a thin, lavender bow, with its two, equally thin and short ribbons lightly trailing down to just past her breasts. After which, a powder blue, sailor-like collar then gently sheltered part of her neck and her otherwise unsheltered shoulders.

She then raised the both of her arms high above her head, at the same moment a pair of long, slender and fitted white colored gloves, with a periwinkle tinted band around the elbow area, and mystically appeared upon them within the same ribbon-like fashion as her bodysuit.

Once more did a flurry of ribbons of a light blue variety manifest itself within the next instant, this time snaking itself around Elyon's skinny legs, before shaping into a long pair of knee high, periwinkle hued boots, with a curious, rainbow colored band and star at the v-cut top upon both.

Csilla smiled proudly as she watched a multitude of mysterious, multicolored ruffles then appear and fused itself onto Elyon's waist, forming a three tiered skirt of powder blue at the top, lavender within the middle, and periwinkle at the bottom . . . while another bow, larger in size and lavender in color with two sets of thick lavender and white colored ribbons fastened itself to gently rest against her bottom.

Finally, arching her back, every limb stretched out, Elyon lightly tilted her head upward, just as a shimmering, soft blue light shined brightly against her forehead momentarily, before a silver tiara with a violet hued, oval shaped jewel within the center magically produced itself. At the same time, a pair of dangling, star shaped, golden earrings also appeared within her ears, alongside a periwinkle choker, also with a golden star within the center . . . and white colored, tiny barrettes just above her golden bangs, which almost resembled dove wings or feathers.

Slowly opening her eyes, Elyon blinked a couple of times as the intense light swiftly lessened until completely vanishing altogether, before turning her head to look towards her mirror.

"Ahh! Oh, my G-God!! What am I wearing?? I . . . I almost look kind of like Sailor V, now!!" she cried out in alarm, taking in her overall appearance, including her newfound hairdo, which remained within their usual pigtails, however earning two new features: the barrettes, and a pair of crystal-like hoop rings adorning the very ends of her locks. "C-Csilla!! W-What did you do to me??"

"Something which was meant to happen, Elyon! This is who you truly are! You are the soldier for justice, Sailormeridian, and must fight every last enemy which might try to take over the earth!" the slate gray feline responded firmly, her tail swaying within the air with further intrigue. "And they will try! But we can't ever let them succeed!"

Elyon, or rather now, Sailormeridian, vigorously shook her head at this, nervously wringing her gloved hands together in further trepidation.

"B-But! N-No way, I can't! I'm only just a kid!! I mean, I may have said or even fantasized once or twice about being like Sailor V and 'fight the good fight,' but it doesn't mean I was ever really serious!! I just ca --" she began to ramble vehemently, now tugging at her newly arranged pigtails, before she abruptly cut herself off upon hearing a familiar voice suddenly screaming out into the atmosphere.

"H-Help!! Someone help me, please!! My father is --!"

Sailormeridian gasped sharply at the realization, after the cries for help chillingly dissipated, and looked down to see that the hoop rings within her dishwater blonde hair were mysteriously pulsating with urgency.

"W-What?? Did you hear that, Csilla?? That sounds like my friend, Alchemy!! B-But she's all the way at that exhibit hall with her father! How can I hear her like this??" she frantically asked, looking desperately at the feline before her for answers.

"It is because she is in trouble, at this very moment, and you're the only one who can help her, Sailormeridian!" she replied resolutely, already jogging back over to the girl's open window. "I knew I was correct within my earlier suspicions that something was not right about that place! Now, hurry! There isn't a moment to lose!"

Hesitating for a few moments, watching the grayish cat vanish from the window and the pulsating from her mystical accessories within her hair cease, Sailormeridian lightly nodded.

". . . . I don't honestly know what's going on, and I don't know what I can honestly do . . . but I can't just stand here while Alchemy's in danger. I have to go help her!" she avowed with faint bravery, stealing a fleeting moment to look back at her sealed bedroom door and towards the hallway, where her parents were both presumably still within the living room watching television.

She then quickly made a dash towards the open, first floor window and leaped out, following after Csilla as the two hurriedly continued down the mostly empty streets of that early evening.

"Let's give a hand for our lovely models, shall we? And now, the stylish jeweler and presenter for tonight's exhibit, Mr. Mani Selwyn!!" said the male MC upon the runway, surrounded by a small gaggle of the Forever Youthful models inside of the now very packed Heatherfield Tarmo Exhibit hall.

The entire auditorium then erupted into fierce applause, as the entire audience as well as staff members began clapping simultaneously for the famous jeweler. His daughter, Alchemy, watched with pride from behind the stage after having given him a quick congratulatory hug and kiss, giggling and clapping, perhaps the loudest, along with the rest of crowd.

Unbeknownst to her, in fact, the entire audience, however, their pleasant evening was about to take a very terrifying turn for the worse. . . .

The male MC, grinning with respect towards Mani, who gave a generous smile back at him in return, moved aside to let the other man then take center stage and perhaps even say a few words. However, he said nothing, only peered out into the crowd for a few moments, before the simper upon his tanned visage instantly evaporated, and was replaced by a sinister sneer.

And before anyone could have reacted, Mani outstretched his hands towards the now partially confused audience, and eerily began to cackle maniacally the moment a blackened mist emitted from them. Instantly now alarmed, the crowd unanimously sprang from their seats in fear, screaming frantically to escape; however, they were each too late, as the mist effortlessly reached them in no time at all, filtering into the grand atmosphere as it knocked everyone within the stands unconscious.

Alchemy, one of the last people still awake, had collapsed onto the floor as she tried to crawl towards the exit.

"H-Help!! Someone help me, please!! My father is --!" was all she managed to choke out in absolute horror, looking up with pleading, tear filled eyes towards her father, who had then turned to look at her menacingly, before the dark smog overwhelmed her, draining her of her energy and enveloping her within the blackness of slumber.

"Hm, hm, hm . . . finally, I will have every last ounce of energy from you worthless humans, and then send it off in servitude to the great Dark Kingdom!!" Mani cackled boisterously within a much deeper, chilling voice, walking towards his now unconscious, helpless daughter as the black vapor began to slowly dissipate in thickness, however still remained throughout the area. "And I think I'll start by collecting yours, first!"

As the ominous man slowly crept down onto the floor, leaning just inches away from the russet haired teenager and about to make her his very first victim, a voice, female, suddenly broke through the atmosphere and interrupted him before he could do so.

"Stop right there!"

"Who's there?? Show yourself!!" Mani cried out in vexation, swiftly rising to his feet and temporarily forgetting about Alchemy, as his harsh, dark blue eyes searched about the otherwise quiet exhibit hall to see who could have somehow remained conscious.

From out of the shadows, within the upper level area of the stands, a lone sailor suited young female emerged, a deep scowl set upon her peaches and cream complexion, and a small cat curled around her shoulders. Mani blinked furiously at the sight, perplexed more so at the fact that there remained a survivor, more so than the fact that the girl was curiously dressed.

"W-What?? Who are you?? How are you not effected by my poisonous mist??" he hissed, seething with ire as he looked up towards the mysterious newcomer continuing to gaze defiantly down upon him.

At this, however, the girl's bold exterior faltered a bit, as she raised a gloved finger to her glossy lips and suddenly looked a bit unsure of herself.

". . . . W-Well, I, um. . . ." she began shakily, unable to think of a proper response for that, as she, too, was honestly perplexed at both whom she now was, exactly, as well as how she remained undaunted by the gaseous fumes continually wafting throughout the auditorium, the way the rest of the citizens surrounding her inside apparently had been.

"Listen to your heart, Elyon . . . then you'll know what to do," Csilla softly whispered against the blonde's ear, before jumping off of her shoulders. She then smiled gently up at her, as the girl gave a short, slow nod in vague understanding and compliance.

Taking a deep breath, the sailor-clad young woman spoke again, this time with more conviction as she finally answered the awaiting Mani.

". . . . Your fumes have no effect on me, because . . . because I am the pretty sailor-suited soldier of love and justice, Sailormeridian!" she cried, frowning deeply at the man she'd believed she had always known to be Alchemy's loving and gentle father. "And in the name of Meridian, I will punish you!!"

"Sailormeridian, eh?? I've never heard of you before, but I am sure that your head served upon a silver platter will make quite the lovely gift for my master of the Dark Kingdom!! Now, die!!" Mani bellowed violently towards the blonde, his body then turning rigid as it began to suddenly glow an onyx colored hue, before he collapsed onto the ground within a crumpled heap.

And in his place, stood a mysterious, although greatly frightening black and amorphous-like mass, the only true definitive properties upon it being what looked like a pair of large and looming hands, in addition to a mouth of sorts, where snarling, sharp and terrifying teeth gleamed up at its now startled foe.

Sailormeridian let out a high pitched scream at the sight, taking several steps backwards as both she and Csilla peered down at it.

"W-W-What is that, Csilla??" she cried, nearly tripping over the multitude of unconscious bodies riddled about her immediate area.

The slate gray tinted feline let out a sharp hiss in amalgamated fear and fury, her soft fur standing up on end and tail becoming poof-like and much thicker as she responded.

"It's as I'd already explained to you on the way here!! I'd sensed a large amount of negative energy permeating from this vicinity, even with my detection abilities temporarily and slightly blocked from that bandage! Your friend, Alchemy's father had been possessed by the monster you see before you now!! And now, it's time to destroy it before it can do any further damage!!" she spoke heatedly, her attention now on high alert as she carefully divided it between Sailormeridian and the otherworldly creature now fast approaching.

Sailormeridian, however, immediately began to cry, furiously shaking her head in continued fright as she swiftly turned and made a beeline for the door she had come in through.

"N-No, Csilla, I can't!! I-I'm too afraid!!" she screamed in further trepidation, rushing out of the exit with Csilla hurriedly following after her, just as the darkened, mostly shapeless fiend made it up to where they had previously stood and continued on within its pursuit.

"Sailormeridian, wait!! You have to fight back, or else the entire universe will be doomed! You can do this! I know you can, because it's within you already, as a chosen soldier! You -- Ahh!!" Sailormeridian could hear Csilla calling after her while she continued to sprint back down the hallway and the way she had came, before abruptly stopping to whirl around in time to see the grayish feline get effortlessly hurled across the hall and into a nearby wall by the amorphous entity as it swiftly approached.

"Csilla!! No!!" Sailormeridian gasped in alarm and great concern for the now unmoving animal, suddenly feeling a surge of energy overwhelming her entire body, as her forehead suddenly grew quite warm. And then, without another thought or cause for hesitation, the lone blonde blindly reached up and gently seized her now curiously glowing tiara within her gloved hand.

". . . . Meridian Tiara Boomerang!!" she cried out the set of words which had then curiously come to her, as she threw the continually glowing tiara, which had then morphed into a circular and flat boomerang of sorts, towards the otherwise intimidating foe just as it had nearly reached her. Her heart immediately fell the moment she had witnessed the amorphous being suddenly create a hole within what might have been its stomach area, and the tiara swiftly sailed straight through it.

"W-What?? No!!" Sailormeridian voiced loudly in disbelief, before promptly screaming out in alarm as the entity then lunged towards her and took a swing. It just barely missed her as she quickly dove out of the way in time, however still managed to generously scrape her knee in the process. "Oww!! C-Csilla, wake up! P-Please! I don't know what else to do!! I--"

"-- Yarrrrrgggh!!" the lunging monster before Sailormeridian suddenly screeched in pain, its partially shapeless body glowing brightly within a golden light, before promptly being sliced in half and instantly evaporating away from sight.

She let out a surprised gasp, as she could then see the culprit to the fiend's mysterious and abrupt demise, as her forgotten, shimmering tiara came sailing through the air back to its owner, catching it just in time.

". . . . Did . . . I just do that??" the blonde sailor suited soldier murmured softly to herself within a slight stupor, staring with widened eyes at the spot where the menacing creature had previously been, as she carefully replaced her tiara back onto her forehead, once it had stopped glowing and had returned to its former and original shape.

"Indeed you have, Sailormeridian. . . . Well, done," suddenly said an unknown, newfound male voice from behind her, causing her to jump and quickly turn around to see whom it could be. She felt her breath catch within her throat, much as it did whenever she was around Cedric, as she peered up and locked eyes with a green eyed, black tuxedo clad young man towering before her.

He smiled with gentle approval as he slowly bent over and extended a white gloved hand out to the soldier, gingerly helping her from off of the ground. A stray strand of his slicked back, brown colored hair fell forward onto his tanned countenance, which was partially obscured by a white colored masquerade-like mask, as he did so.

"There. . . . You did a good job, Sailormeridian . . . and it looks like your friend is reawakening, as well," said the mysteriously masked man, briefly looking over the blonde's shoulder towards the previously immobile feline, which then began to stir. He then looked back at the young, flustered looking woman before him and smiled again, still tenderly holding onto her hand.

Sailormeridian struggled like mad to find her voice again, momentarily unable to think of anything to say, as she merely continued to gaze back up at the young man, feeling herself increasingly growing lost within his mesmerizing, emerald tinted orbs.

Much to her regret, the tuxedo wearing stranger at last let go of her hand, before speaking once more.

". . . . I wasn't able to find what I had come here searching for . . . however, it seems as though I still managed to find something interesting. . . ." he said with another soft smile, one full of intrigue, before he abruptly turned and began to walk away, the long, black and sleek cape draped around his neck and cascading down his strong back flapping behind him.

Don't just stand there like an idiot, Elyon!! Go after him! Sailormeridian's voice within her head sharply scolded, causing her to jump with a start, as she at last snapped out of her haze and managed to call out after the retreating man.

"W-Wait!! W-Who are you? And why did you come here for??" she squeaked out within a voice which wasn't normally her own, blushing furiously within embarrassment as a result. The rouge only intensified as she watched the young male slowly turn back around to look at her.

He paused for a moment, before responding with, ". . . . I'm afraid the only answer I can actively leave you with for now is my name . . . which is . . . Tuxedo Kamen," he slowly revealed with a light furrow of his dark brow, before swiftly turning back around within a grand flourish of his red lined cape. ". . . . I'll be sure to remember you . . . Sailormeridian. . . ."

And with that, the young man now known as Tuxedo Kamen swiftly vacated the premises, leaving a befuddled Sailormeridian within his wake.

". . . . 'Tuxedo . . . Kamen??' What a weird name . . . but . . . it still belongs to such a hot guy," she swooned after the curious male had vanished around the corner in the far distance, suddenly surprising herself by her words. "W-Wait a second! I can't be thinking such things like that, when I only have eyes for Cedric! He's the one I truly want! . . . . Still, I --"

"-- S-Sailormeridian . . . would you mind terribly if you could stop daydreaming about boys for one moment to h-help me up, please??" Csilla's breathless voice abruptly sounded from behind the startled, embarrassed blonde, who immediately whirled around and rushed over to her momentarily forgotten new friend.

"Oh! Csilla, I'm so sorry! Are you all right?? Here, let me help you!!" Sailormeridian swiftly offered in apology, bending over to scoop up the lightly banged up, and fur-ruffled cat from off of the ground and into her arms.

Csilla lightly nodded her head and exhaled, gently rubbing her fluffy, gray colored head against the girl's chin in appreciation, before looking back down the hallway towards the auditorium doors.

"Y-Yeah . . . thanks. . . . Just a little banged up a bit, but nothing a good night's rest won't fix. And from the sound of things, that's something the rest of those innocent people back inside of the auditorium will also get, thanks to you, Sailormeridian. I'm very proud of you," she said with mixed fatigue and praise, as the two listened to the confused, increasing murmurs of the formerly unconscious audience of the jewelry exhibit show. "We had better get out of here, though, before people start coming out and might start asking questions. . . ."

"But what about Alchemy?? And her dad?? I can't just leave without checking on them first," Sailormeridian argued with a shake of her dishwater blonde head, beginning to take a step towards the auditorium, when Csilla then firmly pressed the both of her paws against her bowed chest in order to stop her.

"No, trust me: The very moment you'd destroyed that monster, you'd simultaneously reversed the effects of its poisonous mist. And if the rest of the crowd is now awake and recovered, then so too is your friend and her father," she explained in slight haste, peering up at a hesitant Sailormeridian with urgent green eyes. "Please, Sailormeridian! Let us go before we're spotted!"

Biting down upon her glossed lip, the lone female soldier nodded slowly in compliance, before turning around and quickly running down the long, empty hallway with her furry companion firmly within her arms.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the retreating duo, a mysterious, red haired figure watched on from within the lurking shadows.

". . . . Hmm . . . Sailormeridian, huh? A lot of nerve to get in my way like that. . . . Doesn't matter. There are more monsters where this one had come from. I will use as many as it will take to collect all of earth's energy and find the mystical Star of Threbe for my master!" he said with a grimace and balled up fist in vexed determination, before magically vanishing from the premises. . . .

". . . . I can't believe all of that had actually happened, Csilla . . . that I'd actually . . . magically transformed, I guess, into a superhero just like Sailor V, and faced off against a real life monster!" Elyon gushed within an excited frenzy to her feline comrade as they rounded a corner, with her house now in sight around twenty minutes later.

Now that the battle was over and the danger at last subsided, the blonde teenager was beginning to feel more and more like her old self again as the fear she had previously felt had mostly vanished . . . especially now that the sailor suited attire she had been wearing inexplicably melted away and vanished within a bright blue light, the moment she had stepped foot outside of Heatherfield Tarmo Exhibit Hall and began her trek back home.

Now simply resembling a normal teenager once more, her messy pigtails also returned to her, sans mystical hoop rings or barrettes, she let out a tired yawn and lightly smiled, happy to be back home within her familiar and safe neighborhood.

"Well, it did happen, Elyon, and it most likely will again very soon. That's why it's imperative that you hurry and find your fellow Guardian Soldiers and our princess as soon as possible," Csilla spoke firmly up towards the young girl who continued to carry her, before letting out a tiny yawn herself, unable to stop it. ". . . . But, for now, at least, let's hurry back inside and get some rest, especially before your parents might have realized you'd gone missing."

"Yeah, that's right! I was supposed to be on lockdown, doing my homework and studying before you showed up," Elyon then recalled softly, creeping around to the back of her house where her bedroom was as quietly as she could, so as not to arouse her now possibly slumbering parents inside. "I'm so bushed now, though, I don't think I could honestly manage reading one page from any of my textbooks, let alone completing them all. I don't even have any energy to change my clothes for bed or go sneak a quick snack, since I'm still a bit hungry. . . ."

Lightly rubbing her renewed grumbling stomach as an afterthought with one hand, while carefully cradling the slate gray tinted feline with the other, Elyon cautiously climbed through her still open bedroom window, careful not to bump into anything, as the room was now dark due to the bright Florida sun having long since been set.

"All right! We made it, Csilla," the teenager whispered excitedly against the cat's ear once they were both back inside of her room. "I can't beli --"

"-- I wouldn't get too excited just yet, young lady," the all too familiar voice of Elyon's father suddenly sounded within the room previously thought by the blonde to be empty, while simultaneously believed by both of her parents to have been obediently occupied all this time.

Both Elyon and Csilla jumped with a start, as the light to her bedroom then turned on, and regrettably rested her periwinkle colored eyes upon the seething amber locked and light brunet duo which were her parents.

". . . . Uh oh," was all the busted teenager could manage with a sheepish smile, while Csilla exhaled softly in sympathy, well aware that yet another punishment, one quite possibly more harsh than the last earlier that evening, was now swiftly heading the girl's way.

-- End of Act 1

(A.N. Ohhhhhhhhhhh, praise merciful Heavens!! I've finally finished this freaking nightmare!! Well, it wasn't so much of a nightmare to write, in terms of format and what I had planned, but more so the fact that it was sooooooooooo long, I was soooooooooo busy at the same time, and had to take three days to finally finish it. Bleh. LoL At least it's finally done, though. Honestly? I like it and am pretty "proud" of it. That is, obviously it pretty much followed the general opener of every Sailormoon incarnation, really, but I still managed to throw in a at least a couple of "originalities" in there.

That being said, let me clear up any possible confusions or answer possible questions which might come my way later:

1. I'd purposely named Elyon "Sailormeridian" instead of Sailormoon, even though she basically IS Sailormoon, or, at least, is filling her shoes – kinda – in this case. As I'd said before, even though it's essentially following the Sailormoon storyline a bit, with the W.I.T.C.H. crew thrown in to take the place of the original Sailor Senshi, I still wanted to and am/will incorporate some of the established W.I.T.C.H. elements in, as well. Hence why I'd made Elyon's version of the Maboroshi no Ginzuishō the Star, or stone, of Threbe, for those of you who've watched the animated series version of W.I.T.C.H. to even remember that, anyway. I know what you're thinking: "What about the Crown of Light? Why not just use that instead?" First off, that's a crown, not a traditional sort of artifact of sorts. It'd be kinda hard to transform with that in contrast . . . kinda. LoL But, no worries, I do have plans to implement that into the story anyways . . . I already sort of have, for those who might not have caught that. You know, Elyon's tiara and how it was described to kind of look slightly like the actual Crown of Light, blah blah, yeah. But, yeah. I like the Star of Threbe for her much better. At least then, too, it's still sort of star/moon/astronomically related. Yay. LoL Oh, and also, since they're not Japanese or live in Japan, I just went with referring to their whole Sailor Senshi-ness as "Guardian Soldiers," so's you all know. PGSM, especially, refers to the senshi as that, as well, only "Guardian Senshi," instead. So, yeah. It still works. LoL

2. Elyon's personality, her parents, and where they live. Honestly, I haven't really really changed Elyon in any major way, either to fit Usagi's bubbly personality some, or to be A.U., perhaps. I do plan on evolving her, so to speak, as the story progresses, sure, but I've still kept her as the generally shy, sweet and slightly naïve and definitely easily swayed Elyon she actually is, while simultaneously incorporating or using more, rather, of her animated series incarnation, who is a bit more of the typical young teenager and boy/social life crazy version, etc. So, all in all, both incarnations mesh well for this story, and to also pay slight tribute to the very awesome Usagi-chan, who was just as naïve, kinda guy crazy, kinda shy but always very sweet and friendly. God, I love Usagi. LoL Anyway! As for Elyon's parents, I'd decided to give them more of a . . . "life," I suppose you can say. LoL Their human selves, rather, since they actually ARE true blue and legit humans in this story and not just undercover. LoL To also continue on with the further tie-in to the whole astronomy/planetary stuff/kick that's emphasized a lot within Sailormoon, I'd decided to make Elyon's father an actual astronomer, so that, if ever in the future she'd want to ask her dad about such related topics, especially now that she's a planetary senshi, she can do that and get a good answer. LoL As for Elyon's mom, I'd simply made her an art curator, more so to tie into the W.I.T.C.H. universe than Sailormoon, how canon Elyon is good at drawing like Hay Lin, etc. So, I'd purposefully made Elyon's scholastic weaknesses of the science/math variety to sort of kinda reflect upon that and how her brain is perhaps more so right-oriented, more than to mimic the fact that Usagi, too, is kinda good at drawing and is horrific within mathematics. That was just coincidence, honestly. LoL And now, "my" Elyon can say, and she already has, that she inherited her mother's artistic genes and interests more so than she had her father's scientific genes/interests, etc. And as for the state, while the city is still Heatherfield, of course, and I usually make the state Maine within my stories – or sometimes California, depending upon its location significance to whichever fic I'm doing – I'd this time chosen Florida. For no real specific reason other than 1, it's warm, 2, it's always usually quite beautiful there, and 3, it'll make the jobs and lives of the Guardian Senshi a lot easier, without having to worry about heavy, perhaps frequent snowstorms living in Maine might bring. LoL

3. Csilla. My cutie face little Csilla, whose name means "star." (Thought I'd make her name relative to the whole power and cause thing, etc, the way Luna's name is in Sailormoon, as well) Since, next to black cats (like Bombay cats), my favorite breed of kitties are the Russian Blue cats, which, obviously, is what Csilla is. Dunno what they look like? Google it. LoL They basically look how I've described her . . . well, minus the green colored, seven-pointed star (which, again, if you watched W.I.T.C.H., you'd know that's how the Star/Stone of Threbe looks) bald spot upon her forehead, anyway. LoL They're so fluffy and cute and honestly an almost bluish gray color, hence the name and also why I kept saying she was "slate gray." If you look up that color on Google or something, that's basically what that looks like. Anyway, at first I was like, "I want to be as original as possible with this story, despite the fact that I'm borrowing one well known – To most, anyway – series and thrusting it upon another fairly well known series." LoL So, I didn't want to originally give Elyon a cat for her guardian the way Luna is for Usagi-chan. I even thought of using Will's dormouse, instead, but scrapped it when it just didn't feel right to me. LoL If you guys are disappointed in that, ohhhhhhhhh well. LoL But I like Csilla; she works for me. For now. LoL

4. Elyon's sailorfuku and color. Even though she'd only just became Sailormeridian, presumably only at her early stages of possible, various transformations in the way that Usagi-chan possessed, I'd nonetheless made her fuku to essentially resemble Sailormoon's Eternal, final transformation outfit, for one primary reason: It's my most favorite, damn it. LoL Well, manga style, not the anime, because it just looks horrible and laughable, with those awkwardly drawn wings and too huge bubble shoulder pads or whatever. Nope. LoL But, yeah. I, myself, however, kept the tiara for Elyon, front bow, and negated the bubble, shoulder like sleeves, so to speak. While Usagi no longer wears a tiara within this final form, and instead dons her inherent moon sigil upon her forehead, has instead a small, dove feather-like bow of sorts upon her chest, and does have the bubble thingies. LoL Since I liked those much more thin ribbons she and the other senshi get once within that final form, except in the back of their tiered skirts, I put it in the front for Elyon, and replaced the would be similar in size ribbon in the back of her own tiered skirt with two, much thicker and different colored ribbons trailing down from her bow. Now THAT specific bow idea or design had been inspired by Janelle J.'s Neo Senshi from her "Sailormoon: Neo" fic. It was cute to me when I'd read that AGGGGES ago, so I'd "borrowed" it for Elyon. And as for the ring hoops within her hair at the bottom of her pigtails, or actual color scheme of her sailorfuku, I'd always liked those hoopie things she'd be seen wearing within the comic art as Princess Elyon, so I'd used that as her added hair accessory, instead of those red circular sort of barrettes which Sailormoon dons upon each of her odango. And since canon Princess Elyon is always wearing a light blue regal sort of gown, I just decided to use that color scheme or close to it as her innate and sailorfuku color. Just also added color to the actual body suit also to be further "different," yeah. LoL Oh, and the rainbow-like scheme upon the very top of her boots is simply in reflection to the innate colors of the other upcoming senshi, is all. The bands upon Eternal Sailormoon's boots isn't like that, as well, no. Simply a soft pink in hue instead.

5. Caleb's (yes, of course it was him – We all knew, or should have known it would have been him LoL) overall appearance and name. I honestly didn't bother to change anything much with HIS attire when he's acting as Tuxedo Kamen, with perhaps the exception of the obvious difference in hair and eye color in contrast to Mamoru's raven hair and blue eyes. Oh, and that I hadn't (yet) written in his cane, and hadn't written in his top hat, as well (which I doubt I ever will LoL). Takeuchi-sama hadn't honestly drawn him wearing one much within her manga, which always suited me just fine, so I don't think I'll do the same in here for Caleb. As for the same name, I had originally intended upon calling him something different entirely, but then it would have felt strange to any time I'd refer to him in future chapters during fight scenes and such. So then I'd decided to try calling him "Tuxedo 'Something Else Other than the Word 'Kamen,'" since that's Japanese and they're obviously not, themselves, nor living within Japan. And there was absolutely NO way I was ever going to call him freaking "Tuxedo Mask" like the American Dub had, even though that's BASICALLY his name, regardless. It was just too hokey to me then growing up as a kid and watching it, and it still is now. LoL So, in the end and after much thought, I decided to leave well enough alone and retain his codename of Tuxedo Kamen. If anyone asks, though, Caleb thought it up, the "kamen" part, because he actually knows a little Japanese, watches and reads a bit of anime and manga on and off, and, being a college student within this story, it's just plain possible he could know that word, anyways. LoL I'm too lazy to write that into the story later, so just retain what I'd just quickly strung together and made up a few seconds ago within the back of your minds from now on, damn it! LoL

6. Alchemy and her blatantly made up father. I say blatant, because Alchemy, herself, had just been dreamed up essentially on the fly for the animated series of W.I.T.C.H., with little to no mention of her actual family, except maybe in season one's "Parent's Night" episode where methinks she might have been captured with them, but whatever. It's late, and I'm too lazy to care about that. LoL ANYWAY! So, because I do so like Alchemy a lot in general, still disappointed that more hadn't been done with her character, I've once again breathed a bit more life into her, as it were, as I have within my HCW fic (which I'd just recycled the made up "Selwyn" last name I'd given to her in that fic and used it here, once again). Only, in this one, she's taken the place of Naru-chan, acting as Elyon's best friend instead of Cornelia, the way Naru is for Usagi. And, being the "new" Naru, she also assumed the "responsibility" of becoming the very first innocent Elyon has had to rescue thus far, as well. LoL Since, you know, in every incarnation of Sailormoon, Naru-chan's ALWAYS the first victim, and usually attracts a platoon of youma thereafter, as well. I'll probably still incorporate "canon," so to speak, Alchemy's love and talent for music into this story, as well, later, but for now, she's mainly kinda/sorta more like the real Naru. But her showing a great interest and loyalty within Cornelia's music is kind of like showcasing her general interest within music . . . even though Naru, well, PGSM Naru, anyway, had also been a great fan of music – Specifically, Minako's. Meh. LoL Anyway, as for the whole jewelry exhibit thing and her dad, I'd taken inspiration for that more so from the PGSM version of the first episode. That is, in the manga and anime, it's Naru's family jewelry store which is having a huge sale in order to attract more customers for the youma masquerading around as Naru's mother to usurp their energy, etc. In PGSM, it's still the same general idea, except that one, Naru's mother is holding a jewelry exhibit, and using various models to show them off while walking on a runway. And, she also merely gets possessed by a youma, instead, and much later in the game, so to speak, versus right off the bat once Usagi visits her with Naru after school that same fateful day. I decided to do all of that, instead, having the whole runway and exhibit thing, one, because it was much easier to write, and two, because it would also further incorporate the "new" Cornelia and her famous life into the story and within Elyon's life, etc, by having said that Cornelia had worked together with Alchemy's dad by donating some of her newly designed clothes for the models to wear alongside his jewelry. I just liked the PGSM act one best of them all, really, not that the manga or anime versions were bad, of course not. Just saying. LoL Anyway! And finally! Alchemy's dad, himself. Like I said, I made him up, giving him the name Mani mainly because it basically means "jewel," which, duh, yes, reflects upon the fact that he is a famous jeweler. And I'd switched it up by making the youma possessed (or replaced, in most versions) parent male instead of the usual/traditional female again, to be different. It'd actually panned out quite nicely, I think, especially the little tiny nod to Mamoru, kinda, by making Alchemy's father have jet black hair and blue eyes like him . . . even though beyond that, the two look nothing alike. LoL

7. Martin becoming Umino, essentially. About the only thing I've retained of Umino and placed within Martin is the fact that he's very smart, scored very well upon his exam, and usually irritates the girls more often than that whenever with them. LoL However, Martin's pretty smart, himself, anyway, so that's not much of a stretch, but I also made him actual friends, for a very long time at that, with Elyon and Alchemy, even being Elyon's neighbor. Umino's mainly just a fellow classmate and kinda/sorta/barely a friend to both Usagi and Naru, up until he manages to win Naru's heart and begins dating her later on, anyway. LoL I just thought I'd make the relationship dynamics between this/my particular trio a bit closer, is all.

8. Cedric acting at the "new" Motoki-kun. Yep. Basically. LoL Since Usagi did have a tiny crush upon Motoki alongside Makoto, and Elyon, herself, had possessed an attraction to Cedric up until realizing he was working against her alongside Phobos, I just merged the two. LoL Made Cedric, who doesn't have a mean bone within his body or ulterior motive within this story, btw, LoL, the "new" Motoki, as I'd already stated, and employee at the place which will become Elyon and the other girls' secret headquarters, as well. Since the manga and anime has it as an arcade game center, and PGSM has it as a karaoke box, I just made "mine" like a Barnes & Noble or Borders-like place instead. LoL You know, how you go in there, and you've got some music and, of course, those hundreds of books and magazines, etc, where you can sit in there forever and read 'em all if you want to or have no immediate life, lol, and they won't kick you out for it, etc, or you can hang out about the little café area and buy a snack or beverage while still reading the same freaking book/magazine. LoL So, yeah. Just took all of that and put it into this story, except made it more music/CD focused or oriented than books/magazines, mainly for the sake of the continual Cornelia being a famous singer like Minako reference. And just named it the very cheesy, I will admit, "Musical Star Café." Just had, again, for further references to the whole "star" theme, in addition to being a slight pun of sorts. You know, "musical star," like famous musician or whatever. Yeah. Meh. LoL Oh, yeah. One more thing. And also gave a tiny little "shout out" to Motoki, himself, or rather, his American Dub self, "Andrew," by having given one of Cedric's mentioned coworkers the same name. Squee. LoL I love Motoki, especially PGSM Motoki; so freaking adorable and goofy, that one had been, with his obsession with his cute turtle, Kamekichi-kun, and turtles in general. HeHe That, and his whole being in love with Makoto and their eventual engagement was just absolutely perfect!

9. Small reference and "shout out" to canon Elyon's true last name being Portrait, by calling the high school she goes to "Portrait High School," yeah. Meh. LoL Oh, and kinda sorta reference to the bad ass villain/entity, Venom, from Spider-Man, the way I'd described that youma Elyon had fought. You know, the super sharp, menacing teeth, traditionally black hue and sometimes amorphous form. Yeah. LoL Sorry. I love Venom. LoL And btw, since "youma" is also Japanese, the girls in here will just honestly refer to them as monsters in English, or demons I might use sometimes. Meh. Yeah. LoL Oh, and the whole Caleb calling Elyon "Piggy Tails," I just remembered now, was also just a mimicking reference or action of Mamoru's, when he used to call Usagi-chan "Odango-atama," or "Dumpling Head," basically, when they'd first met, much to her chagrin. LoL Piggy Tails works, IMO, because, seriously: What girl, especially teenage, wants to be called "piggy"-anything? LoL

10. Cornelia's "Starlit Destiny" song. Now THAT, we can actually say was all original, since I'd written it, myself. I wanted to actually feature one of Cornelia's songs within the chapter, much like how Minako's music, especially the very adorable "C'est la vie" song had been within PGSM and frequently song by Usagi and her friends, etc. But, I didn't want to just use one of those songs from PGSM, or even from the anime version. So, in the end, I ended up writing a song for Cornelia, myself, and named it "Starlit Destiny," primarily to tie into the whole "star" theme. You know, Elyon's star decorated bedroom, her new star pendant, and the Star of Threbe, etc, the way Usagi's all about bunnies as an individual, and has that whole crescent moon thing down pat. LoL And then "destiny" for, well, that's pretty much self explanatory. LoL That, and to be slightly reminiscent to anime version's "Moonlight Destiny" song title. I know the song is slightly cliché, you know, to the whole typical love songs out there in the world, but they're significant. That, and I actually kinda like the song . . . enough so, that I'd actually already written the music for it the other day for my piano. LoL Will I ever do something crazy like record myself playing it on the piano while singing it before posting it on YouTube or something? Hell, no. LoL But, hey. Who knows? Anything's possible, considering I did manage to write my very first song. LoL You should keep in mind, however, that I may just use that song for future chapters, so try to think of and hear an upbeat, sort of Latin Pop influenced song within your head. That, and please to be remembering that that song's an absolutely true Sokai original. As in, it be mine, not yers. Yayyy. LoL

11. Um . . . I think I actually tackled everything I wanted to. I hope so, because I hate long a/ns, damn it. Bleh. LoL Anyway! If I haven't covered everything I'd set out to as recap, oh well! Feel free to ask, though, and I shall answer within my usual review replies to each who bother to leave my feedback. And, as always, thanks very much for that, in addition to the continued support! Please stay tuned for Act 2!)