Reloaded

by Sokai

Everyone yearns for a new life at one time or another. For one particular girl and her five, fellow friends this desire comes to full fruition, as they suddenly find themselves experiencing the adventure of a lifetime . . . or two.

3. Act 2

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 may/may not be habitually featured later within future chapters.

Note: Here we are, with another installment to this fic . . . and it, too, is very long like Act 1, this one clocking in at 23 pages. I REALLY, seriously hope you'll actually pay attention to this one this time, and actually give this story a chance, regardless of it being kinda Elyon-focused and not Will or Cornelia-focused as the majority of you on here prefer/like.

On the plus side? Taranee's now featured within this chapter, as well.

So, please enjoy, and review.

---

This chapter was created/written in April 2009.

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ℓ Act 2 ℓ

A lone, towering, ominous and a bit dilapidated castle, perched high atop a small mountain of sorts, overlooked a sullen, barren wasteland, as the stale wind howled menacingly throughout the surrounding atmosphere.

Black, billowing clouds continued to form and increasingly darken as it cascaded over the forsaken land, creating a picture of great despair and abandonment.

However, that was precisely the way he'd preferred it.

His forgotten planet.

His kingdom.

It had always been far too cheerful and luminescent for his personal taste, the way he had remembered it . . . so long ago and once upon a time.

Now, it was finally his to mold into his own design, his image, without any prohibiting obstacles this time.

This time, everything would be different.

This time, he would have his utmost vengeance. . . .

Of course, I will have to succeed in locating it first . . . the Star of Threbe, he thought to himself in anxious bitterness with a small frown upon his pale face, looking out of one of the many dusty, stained glass windows which adorned his darkened, and otherwise empty throne room, and out into the empty atmosphere outside. I haven't survived through everything, just to fail now. . . . Or rather, that fool of mine had better not fail. . . .

As though on cue, the nearly pitch black, empty room suddenly became partially alight with a curious, burgundy colored glow from behind him, before dimming away into nothingness.

". . . . Well? You still have yet to find the Star of Threbe, have you?" he said to the newcomer behind him without bothering to turn his soft golden colored, and long locked head. The scowl upon his face deepened, although his voice had remained oddly calm and collected, which surprisingly did nothing to soothe the being now promptly bowing in respect, almost within mixed respect as well as trepidation.

"N-No, my master . . . f-forgive me!" said the cowering individual, male in gender, as well, before sinking to the cold, broken marble floor on one knee and bowing his red colored head in shame. "While there is no excuse for it, I was . . . that is, one of the Entities I had deployed out to possess one of the many pitiful humans back on earth -- In order to collect their life energy in your name, of course -- had been defeated in the process . . . by a-a girl. . . . Sailormeridian, I believe. . . ."

At this, the flax haired, older man lightly tensed up, his brow rising slightly with intrigue, as he turned around to face his loyal servant.

". . . . 'Sailormeridian,' hmm? . . . . Interesting, indeed," he remarked softly, blue eyes boring into the brown, progressively nervous gems of the young redhead still kneeling obediently before him. "It seems the game has just become a bit more titillating. . . . No matter. You still have your instructions, the same as always: You are to collect as much of the earth's energy as possible, for the ultimate benefit of our Great Ally . . . and to continue searching for the Star of Threbe."

"Y-Yes, master. . . . As one of your loyal Dark Generals, I, Deite, shall not fail you, again!" firmly avowed the epaulette adorned, maroon uniformed young man, his confidence returning to him as he began to believe within his steady convictions once more. "And I will personally see to it that this Sailormeridian, whoever she is, is swiftly eradicated at once!"

The taller, slender man looming over the one known as Deite gave a small nod of approval, before abruptly turning back around towards the window.

"Hmm . . . very well, then. See that you do, Deite," he said evenly, although both he and his servant were well aware of the blatant warning underlined within his words. He blindly gave a dismissive wave of his right, bejeweled hand over his shoulder and towards the general, who immediately stood from his spot before magically vanishing from view within the same reddened light as before.

Now alone with his ever urgent thoughts once again, the mysterious male slowly lowered his raised appendage, before lightly placing it underneath his auburn colored and goateed chin.

". . . . Sailormeridian. . . . I wonder. . . ." he murmured, his facial expression growing a bit pensive, as he continued to gaze out into the vacant land which his equally vacant kingdom surveyed. . . .

---

"I'm telling you the truth! It really did feel so real!" Elyon overheard Alchemy exclaim heatedly to their mutual friends, twins Courtney and Bess Grumper, as the blonde walked out of their high school's exits at the end of yet another school day in the middle of that current week.

Oh no, not this again, Elyon thought nervously to herself as she slowly approached the vicinity where her three friends' stood, just outside of the school's front archway and on the surrounding sidewalk. How many times is she going to bring that up??

It had been nearly a week since that fateful evening, when Alchemy and several others attending her father's latest jewelry exhibit had been mysteriously attacked . . . by none other than Alchemy's father, himself. Or, at least, his body, anyway, as his mind and soul had been shut down and taken over by a rather vile and intimidating monster Elyon would rather forget about, altogether.

But, she highly doubted she'd ever be able to, not since she had been the one to directly take it on and destroy it . . . as the newly awakened Sailormeridian, thanks to the intervening efforts of one rather strange, actually-able-to-talk feline named Csilla, whom she had met that very same day. It had all still seemed quite surreal to the young fourteen-year-old, her life seeming to have been changed forever as a result. Well, according to Csilla and all she had kept trying to hammer into Elyon's head over the last few days since that night, anyway.

One moment, she was simply a mere high school freshman, bright-eyed and innocent, and eager to make new friends and experiences. However, she hadn't counted on or intended for any of this, to apparently be a newfound "soldier for the good, just, and innocent," as the furry, grayish feline had put it, to be one of them!

"It is now up to you, Elyon, as the soldier of justice, to be ever vigilant and protect the city! You never know when the enemy may strike next!" Csilla had informed the reluctant and forlorn Elyon the following afternoon after her very first transformation, lightly tapping one of her tiny paws against the girl's wrist while the blonde continued to lay, sulking, upon her bed.

As expected, her parents had been none too pleased to find that their daughter had disobeyed their explicit orders for her to remain within her bedroom and study, especially after having completely bombed her Algebra quiz. And as further punishment for having apparently snuck out, Mr. and Mrs. Brown (who could no longer see anything sympathetic nor humorous to her daughter's plight as she had earlier that evening, before the girl's little outing) had unanimously decided to extend it to a grounding of two weeks, with all of her usual, privileged luxuries taken away, just as Elyon had feared.

No television, radio, CD or MP3 player, or even side trips to the mall or other such places in order to hang out with friends, as she usually might have done after school or during the weekend. Indeed, Elyon had had (and still did, as far as she was concerned) a lot to be upset and depressed over, especially since there was really nothing she could have said to her parents, otherwise.

"Ya know, I'd really rather not listen to anything further you have to say about this so called destiny of mine, Csilla, all right?? In fact, it's because of you I'm even in this mess to begin with! My life is on complete lockdown for the next two weeks, and I can't even at least have good ol' Cornelia Hale to keep me company, with her music cheering me up, thanks to my folks taking my CD and MP3 player away, as well!" Elyon had hissed at the talking cat sitting next to her torso on the bed, and promptly rolled over onto her side with her back facing the animal. "And it isn't as though I could have told them the truth and actually said, 'Oh, hey! No worries, Mom and Dad! It's totally cool! You see, actually, this cat, here, can talk! Yeah, yeah! And it just so happens, according to her, that I'm some new magical freak who can throw mystical tiaras as Frisbees at my enemy -- Which was what I was busy doing all this time while I was away, besides trying not to die in the process!!'"

"Not in so many . . . 'colorful' words, no, you could not have, indeed, Elyon. But, at least they seemed to buy into your story of having found me wandering outside of your school and had followed you home, so you decided to adopt me, as it were," Csilla had remarked with a small frown in vexation towards her new charge's dismissive attitude towards the impending task at hand. "And anyway, it really was your fault to begin with, young lady. If you hadn't been slacking off and had just studied when you were supposed to, then you would have never failed your Algebra exam, and therefore, have never needed to be punished in the first place!"

Elyon had swiftly turned her head towards the brooding feline at this, and glared severe daggers at her before speaking.

"What, were you stalking me since the weekend, and even here at my house, as well?? Well, I've got news for you, cat: You're very lucky my parents are kindhearted by default, and even though immensely peeved at me at the time -- And, well, still, actually, sadly -- they still managed to overlook my so called 'disobedience' and let me keep you at all! Although, they probably mainly took pity on you, thinking that there's something wrong with you, thanks to that starry bald spot of yours!" she'd taunted menacingly, lightly poking at the emerald colored, seven-pointed star shape curiously adorning the blue-gray animal's forehead with her index finger. "Anyway! As soon as I'm able to, once my bogus punishment's over, I'm bringing you to an animal shelter! And in that way, I'll be free of both you, and your incessant desire to fight more creepy looking monsters like the one which had somehow possessed Mr. Selwyn!"

Csilla had gasped sharply, both at the girl's flagrant remark over her sigil-like spot upon her furry head, in addition to her apparent wish to send the cat to such a cold and lonely place as an animal shelter. She'd immediately shivered at the thought, before hissing lightly at the dishwater blonde and moved away from her.

"You wouldn't dare! After all, who else will be left to teach and train you as a Guardian Soldier, eh?? You wouldn't want another Entity to come along and try to attack any more of your friends, and you'd be left defenseless and ill-trained to protect them, now, would you??" she had tactfully queried, choosing to play upon the pigtailed girl's profound loyalty to her best friend, Alchemy . . . perhaps one of the only admirable traits she'd possessed, as far as Csilla was concerned thus far.

Seeing that that had sparked a renewed interest with Elyon, as she slowly rolled back over to face the cat once more, Csilla had continued on within revealing more about the girl's prestigious mission.

". . . . Good. That's what I thought. Now, then! The monster you'd faced last night, or Entity, rather, as they are more properly called, may have been a bit tricky to handle initially, but you'd managed to defeat it by looking within yourself and drawing upon the innate power carried within as a Guardian Soldier. However, that particular beast had also been a bit weak, as well, meaning there are and will be far more stronger Entities heading your way in the near future," she'd began tentatively, a deep frown forming upon her fluffy countenance over the seriousness in topic. "That is why we need to locate and recruit the other Guardians as swiftly as possible in order to help you fight, in addition to also finding our missing princess. . . ."

". . . . Yeah, so you'd told me yesterday," Elyon had murmured with tiredness, exhaling softly before slowly sitting up within her bed and gazed down at the feline with a thoughtful furrowing of her own brow. "So, then . . . just what are these monsters -- Er, 'Entities,' anyway? And my apparent comrades and this princess, who are they? Do you even know, Csilla??"

Csilla lightly shook her head, before slightly cocking it to the side in reflection, her long and slender tail now lazily swishing back and forth in intrigue.

"These creatures, like the one you had faced, are vile, cursed beings which should not be allowed to exist --Within this, or any other world, for that matter," she'd replied with a small twitching of her long, gray whiskers. "And as for your comrades, as of right now, I am unsure as to whom they might be -- Including the Princess. However, just as I had felt when I'd first met and found you, I will be able to immediately tell without a doubt it is them. That they are one of the Guardian Soldiers, like you. . . ."

Elyon had merely nodded slowly in understanding and reluctant acceptance at this, turning her attention away from her chatty, apparent guardian for a moment to look out her open window. By that time, the sun had been slowly beginning to set, reminding her all the more of the events of the previous evening, as that particular setting had been near identical.

She'd still been rather unable to believe it, or that there were apparently others out there just like her, or, how she now was. . . .

It was then that a thought had come to her.

"H-Hey, wait a minute, Csilla! What about Sailor V?? O-Or that guy who'd appeared after last night's fight! U-Um . . . 'Tuxedo Kamen!' Yeah, that's it! What about them? They've gotta be our allies, as well!" Elyon had suddenly gushed excitedly, lightly clapping her hands together in further animation, as she'd returned her attention back onto the small cat seated before her. "I mean, yeah! Sailor V is always out there, helping people and taking down bad guys, right? And she's kinda dressed like I was as Sailormeridian, too! Then there's Tuxedo Kamen, who . . . well, was dressed like he was going to a masquerade ball or something, true, so could have very well been just some random weirdo who'd happened upon the scene. . . . But, he did seem to know me -- Or, at least, what I was trying to do, anyway, and seemed . . . genuinely concerned for me and my well being. . . ."

Csilla had suppressed the sigh which had desired to escape past her fur-lined lips just then, and instead batted her tail a bit more fiercely in responsive, as she'd watched her charge's slightly daydream-like and glazed over expression after having trailed off about the mysterious and ruggedly handsome brunet.

". . . . Hmm . . . I don't honestly think so, Elyon, no. While Sailor V might be a possibility, I'll give you that, this Tuxedo Kamen character should be of no significance to either of us, as it's highly improbable that we'll ever see him again, anyhow," she'd stated in slight disagreement, jumping off of the bed and moving towards the open window. "No. As I'd just said, whomever our future comrades will happen to be, I'll know for sure. . . . Now, get some rest, all right? You've school in the morning, after all. I'll be back in a little while, after I've finished . . . a few things. No, worries, Elyon: We will find them all."

Yeah, and it's been several days since you'd said all of that, and we still haven't, Elyon thought to herself in reflection upon that particular conversation, lightly shaking her soft blonde colored head as her mind returned to the present. Not that I'm really eager to resume fighting monsters and other creepy crawlers, though -- I'm definitely thankful that there hasn't seemed to be any latest and strange activities happening around here since the attack upon Alchemy and her dad. Still . . . I wonder when I'll meet the next Guardian Soldier, and whom they'll end up being. . . .

"Now, if only Alkie would just let go about that so called 'dream' of hers, already -- And I wouldn't have to keep playing 'dumb' to it -- then my life would be a lot easier," she softly murmured underneath her breath as an afterthought, as she apprehensively approached the trio of companions who had at that moment caught sight of her.

"Oh! Yes! Elyon, thank God! Can you please tell these two 'Doubtful Downers' that I am telling the truth -- Have been telling the truth -- about how my dad suddenly wasn't himself and attacked me and a whole bunch of other people in the audience at his jewelry exhibit a few days back?? They keep calling me crazy, and saying that it was just a dream!!" Alchemy cried out to her best friend with an exasperated groan, as she promptly scrambled toward her and affectionately interlocked her bare arm with hers.

Elyon tried her best to maintain her cool and continued act to play innocent upon the matter, giving the russet haired girl a lopsided grin in return before answering.

". . . . E-Er, well, I-I, uh --" she weakly began, before Courtney abruptly intervened with a snort and sassy smirk.

"Please! See, Allie?? Not even Elle, here, can really back you up about this! And it's wrong of you to make her try to participate within your lies!" the cherry and wavy haired, freckle faced teenager chided within her usual condescending, natural tone; however, she gave a playful wink and stuck out her tongue towards the other girl.

Her slightly younger sister by three minutes, Bess, immediately nodded eagerly at this in agreement, before stepping forward to gently tap Alchemy's smooth forehead with her index finger.

"For sure! I think it's just a case of poor, wittle Al's overactive imagination, is all! I mean, really! An apparently possessed father, shooting out some weird and misty, well . . . mist out towards a bunch of people, before turning on his own daughter, and then some sailor suited, Sailor V wannabe chick shows up to fight 'em? Get real!" she remarked within her own traditionally cold tone, and yet still managed to giggle gaily as Alchemy began swatting at her hand. "There's no way such a cool dad as yours would ever do something messed up and crazy as that, Alchemy, seriously! Right, Elyon??"

Elyon, who had been too busy being preoccupied by the newest, previously unknown tidbit that her best friend had apparently been conscious, or had resumed consciousness, rather, long enough to catch sight of her within her Guardian form (and thus, was beginning to inwardly freak out over it), nearly jumped straight out of her skin the moment she heard her name being mentioned within the same sentence.

"I-It wasn't me, I swear!!" she unexpectedly blurted out with a vigorous shake of her blonde head and wave of her free arm, causing her three companions to gaze upon her within severe perplexity.

". . . . 'It wasn't you,' what, Elyon??" Courtney asked with an immediate narrowing of her light green eyes in suspicion, while Bess began to eyeball the girl, as well.

"Y-Yeah, Ellie -- You okay, there? You look like you'd just been accused of committing a crime, or something," Alchemy added softly, smiling gently at her flustered friend and patting her shoulder in comfort.

Elyon silently cursed herself, realizing her mistake at nearly revealing her (smartly chosen, it now seemed like, as apparently no one would believe her, otherwise) secretly identity as being her alter ego, Sailormeridian, and quickly tried to recover with a hurried excuse.

"O-Oh, that?? S-Sorry! I was just saying t-that . . . that it wasn't me who put Alchemy up to this!" she responded, instantly cringing and regretting her choice of words, as she then caught sight of her best friend's surprised and taken aback expression.

"W-What?? Et tu, Elle??" inquired the rust haired girl with widened eyes and stepped away from her friend, although thankfully did not seem honestly hurt. "For the final time, all of you: It wasn't a dream! I know it wasn't, and so does my dad -- Or else, how would you care to explain his having remembered and experienced the same freaking thing I did?? Now, I'm done talking about it to you guys -- Ever again, seriously. There's no point!"

The three friends of Elyon thankfully began to laugh in unison right then, apparently there not being any sort of hard feelings between them about the topic, and the blonde felt as though she could finally relax.

Right as she had begun chuckling, herself, albeit a bit nervous by nature, Bess suddenly piped up.

"Oh, hey! Seriously, though, before we drop this for good, as per your request, milady, let's say we were to believe you and that it'd really happened -- What, then, about that so called sailor girl you saw before passing out??" she asked thoughtfully, after having recovered from her fit of giggles.

Courtney nodded in agreement, while Elyon tensed up, although apparently not too visibly, as no one had bothered to pass mention to it.

"Yeah, seriously. If it were real, then that girl's got a lot of nerve to be poaching Sailor V's territory like that, especially apparently wearing basically the same outfit as her, at that! Talk about unoriginal and desperate for attention," she added with a roll of her eyes and dismissive wave of her hand. "No one could ever fill Sailor V's radically awesome shoes or take her place! Now, come on: I'm in the mood for some raspberry sorbet -- My treat!"

As the trio of gossiping teenagers began walking away from their school premises and further down the street, Elyon, instead, remained perfectly still. Was that really necessary to go so far as to call her not only a wannabe, but some desperate, apparent lunatic who's merely lonely for attention, and that's why she's now masquerading around as 'Sailor V, Number Two?'

I may not be as brave or as skilled as Sailor V, but I never said or thought I could ever take her place or even wanted to, she thought within saddened indignation, gazing down at her sandaled feet with a slight frown. If anything, if I have to continue to fight as Sailormeridian, I'd want it to be alongside Sailor V, not in opposition. . . .

"Hey! Girlie! Ya comin,' or what?" Elyon abruptly heard Bess calling out to her with a grin and wave of her hand, as she looked up and towards her in the distance, then. "That sorbet ain't gonna wait on us, forever, ya know!"

Elyon opened her mouth to respond, blushing slightly in embarrassment, when Alchemy jogged back over to her and spoke before she had, while the Grumper Sisters waited.

"Oh, yeah, that's right, you can't yet, right? Not 'till your grounding's up, anyway. That really does suck, Elle -- Going to the mall or hanging out with Mr. Hottie Cedric at the M.S. café, while listening to Cornelia Hale CDs just hasn't been the same without you," she said with a sympathetic smile, this time wrapping both arms around the other girl's neck in affect. "No, worries -- I'll just hang out with you and walk you home, instead, okay?"

Elyon returned her friend's smile with her own, already feeling better, before slightly feeling worse all over again at the mention of her ongoing and rather irritating punishment.

"Thanks, Alkie, but no . . . it's all right. You go on ahead with the twins -- I actually have somewhere to be right now, anyway," the dishwater blonde revealed with a melodramatic sigh, as Alchemy released her and gazed back at her in curiosity.

"Oh, yeah? But, I thought your folks restricted your outings to just school, though?" she posed a good question, lightly scratching the back of her russet colored, pixie cut head.

Elyon nodded in agreement, slowly walking towards the still awaiting Grumper siblings, who had both waved their hands towards the other duo in beckoning.

"Yes, that's true . . . unfortunately. But, even more unfortunate, now, is the fact that my dad's totally forcing me to go and sign up for a tutor over at that Vixen's Academy or whatever," she revealed with a grumble, her light blue eyes darkening over night's memory of her father having commanded her to go directly to that particular school, and nowhere else, after having finished attending her own today.

"H-Hey! Don't you mean Vesta's Academy for Girls?? I've heard that that school is filled with nothing but rich and spoiled geniuses! But, since when can your family, no offense, afford the services of any one of them? I'm sure they'll probably charge an arm and a leg to bother apparently being 'generous' with their expertise like that," Bess butted into the new conversation once her friends had come close enough, and the quartet resumed their united walk down the street.

Elyon shook her head at this, and lightly frowned.

"Well, I don't know about any of that, but apparently they've just started up this tutoring program for kids in elementary, middle and high school, up to the tenth grade, though," she explained, readjusting her hold upon her backpack, as she and her friends continued on in their journey. "That's what my dad told me, anyway. Said he saw a flyer on one of the bulletin boards at work the other day, and thought it'd be 'just the thing I need to get my scholastics back on track. And especially being hosted by this prestigious school, and for free? Can't go wrong, there.' Yeah, except for the fact that I'm totally, and utterly dreading it!"

"Yeah, especially since you won't want to get stuck with that one girl who also goes there . . . what's her name. . . .? Oh! Taranee Cook!" Courtney chimed in with an agreeable frown, as both she and her sister had never truly been big fans of extreme studying. "I heard that she's pretty rude and a bit standoffish, all stuck up and never bothering to really talk to anyone at her school -- Or anywhere, really, like she's better than all of them, or something. Which is a total shame and waste, too, though, since she apparently is like, one of, if not the smartest student at that school, with a supposed IQ of around 260, or something!"

Bess nodded eagerly at her twin sister in concurrence, before tucking a few strands of her medium length and straight, crimson hair behind her ear, and blew some of the bangs she traditionally sported from out of her emerald eyes.

"Totally! A real ice queen with no friends! But if you can get past all of that, then I'd definitely suggest trying to get her as your tutor if she's signed up to volunteer, Elle, for sure! Then you could get her to do your homework -- Which is most likely kindergarten stuff to her, by comparison to the nuclear science and other junk she probably studies -- and get nothing but A's all the time from now on!" she added with a wink towards the blonde, lightly poking her side in encouragement.

Alchemy lightly frowned in disapproval at this, and gently hit both twins upon each of their arms in affect.

"Now, that's not cool, you guys! You don't even know this girl or ever met her before, and all you're doing is buying into the unfortunate hype that seems to continue surrounding her all the time -- But, no surprise, because you two Dodo birds are always listening to or spreading some form of gossip, after all," she playfully chastised, both she and Elyon watching in amusement, as the identical girls rubbed at their afflicted arms simultaneously and glared at the rust locked teenager. "Well, I've heard that she's also quite the talented dancer, as well, and attends that dance school over on Sendai Street, 'Madame Isadora Daskalov's School of Dance.' So it seems that Taranee's pretty mutli-gifted; I bet she's really a nice person, and it's just that no one's ever bothered to give her a chance."

Elyon smiled lightly at her friend, moved by her never ending compassion for others by default. She was actually surprised, as well, that the girl and the Grumpers seemed to know so much about this Taranee Cook, and both institutes she apparently attended.

Elyon, herself, had only ever really heard mention of her in the past, perhaps only once, and that was solely learning of her name, itself, and nothing else.

But, apparently she's quite the 'celebrity' around town, though, the petite blonde thought to herself in wonder, gazing up at the clear blue sky for a moment as she walked. Maybe I really should try to have her as my tutor, if she's really that smart. . . .

"Oooh! Speaking of Madame Isadora's, did you hear?? I heard from Bitsy Linderman, who heard it from Kyle Macy the other day during Study Hall, how apparently there has been quite an up rise in strange disappearances lately, in the last few days! And get this! All of them have been girls who attend Madame Isadora's dance school!!" Bess suddenly squealed, breaking through Elyon's distracted thoughts, as the quartet rounded a corner. "They say that the girls just vanish -- Poof! Without a trace! That's why I'm staying as far away from Sendai Street as possible! Thank God we live on the other side of town!"

"Chyeah, definitely, sis! But I'll bet you anything that those disappearances probably have to do with that Cook girl! She probably didn't want any sort of competition, so just eliminated it," Courtney remarked with a scowl and folding of her arms. "I hope that once the cops or, better yet, Sailor V really get involved in this, that they'll severely punish the culprit . . . a.k.a., Taranee. Seriously, Elle -- Be careful when you go sign up for your tutor. You just never know. . . ."

"Hmm. . . ." was all Elyon could manage, already deep in renewed thought, as she vaguely heard Alchemy chastising their mutual friends all over again, before the three parted ways with the blonde at the next corner.

There really isn't anything to worry about though, right? About this Taranee girl, or those apparent disappearances at her dance school? I mean, if it were true or really serious, then they couldn't possibly keep the place open . . . could they?? Elyon thought to herself, as she continued on straight ahead, while her friends had turned right within the direction of one of the nearby ice cream parlors. Since Csilla hasn't mentioned anything about it, I guess it really isn't anything to be concerned about, after all. . . .

"Right. Because my main concern at the moment is getting a stupid tutor, before Dad chops my head off," she lightly mumbled in defeat, sighing heavily as she continued on her trek towards the nearby public transportation bus stop in order to finish her journey to Vesta's Academy for Girls.

---

"Well . . . here it is. . . . Wow, is this place huge -- Yeah, definitely a school for rich kids," Elyon gasped in awe to herself, after having gotten off of the bus and walked the few blocks over until she'd at last arrived at the academy.

She stood, with a bit of intimidation, in front of the large, partially open black gates which were erected at the end of a rather long, slightly winding and equally black roadway. And, at the very top of it, surrounded by a surplus of large palm trees and other such greenery, including plush rosebushes to and fro, was an enormous and brown colored building.

It seemed to stretch on for miles in either direction, with numerous windows to presumable classrooms adorning it, in addition to a four pillared archway and an overabundance of stairs at the front entrance.

"Geez . . . this place looks like a mansion . . . or courthouse, even, more than an actual school," Elyon thoughtfully whispered to herself, as she took a deep breath in bravery and finished surveying the area. "And Taranee Cook goes here? What a lucky, apparently very rich gal. Now, I kinda wish that I could attend this school, too. . . . Well, here goes nothing."

With a firm nod in determination, the Portrait High School freshman quickly and carefully slipped through the front gates, and took her first couple of steps onto the campus of Vesta's Academy for Girls.

After another seven minutes or so, Elyon was at last directly before the front stairs of the school's entrance.

". . . . You can do this, Elyon. Just go in there, find where they're having signups for the tutoring, and then get out," she reassured herself as she gazed up at the white, closed double doors of the building. Swallowing the saliva she hadn't before realized had been accumulating within her mouth, she quickly rushed up the stairs and pulled open the unlocked doors before she might have lost her nerve.

The inside of the academy was just as prestigious, pristine, and posh as its outside, which make Elyon gasp in affect at the sight . . . especially after gazing upon several students still lurking about inside, and busy with their own separate affairs, as they walked throughout the elongated and rather spacious halls.

Elyon immediately began to feel her face growing extremely hot the moment she'd realized that nearly every female student within the immediate area had each stopped to stare back at her in wonder.

Oh, God, how embarrassing! I probably look like a total doof, so underdressed like this -- Especially with all of these girls wearing those pretty uniforms, she inwardly groaned, waving awkwardly at a few of the female passersby before she'd begun to shyly walk down the hallway.

It was true. Every last girl the blonde had seen or come across thus far, while within the academy's halls, were all wearing the same attire: a midnight tinted, nearly black looking blazer, with a beige insignia patch over the left breast, which almost looked like a strange, fiery symbol at first glance; plain white shirt and tie of the same color as the blazer underneath; and waist length, slate gray hued and plaid skirt, along with generic black shoes and knee high, onyx colored stockings.

This most certainly was a private school.

After wandering around aimlessly throughout the halls for a bit, Elyon at last decided to swallow down her nerves even further, in order to ask someone for directions to the tutoring program signups. She had, unfortunately, however, apparently managed to pick a rather discourteous young brunette, as the random girl displayed nothing but uncouthness throughout the entire exchange.

"Ugh. Don't tell me: Judging by the looks of you, you're yet another one of the local-yokels who've been coming here all week to sign up for a tutor, am I right?" the dark haired academy student inquired within a mocking, harsh tone, after Elyon had gotten her attention when she'd suddenly passed, brown eyes agleam with distinct superiority. "Can't say that I blame you, though. I mean, our academy is pretty well known and top ranking within the state -- Hell, the country -- as one of the best around. You're lucky we're being gracious enough with our precious time to even be bothering to try to educate you public school kids. It's just a shame that this isn't a paying program, to make it more worthwhile -- Although, watching some of your faces scrunch up in frustration, while your brain taxes itself to comprehend the lesson you're being taught will nearly be worth it!"

That was all Elyon could bear, before she'd abruptly turned on her heel and ran back down the hallway and the way she'd came, away from the unhelpful, cruel girl who'd then began to laugh within her wake. The blonde, now profoundly mortified girl began to feel warm, fresh tears building up within her blue eyes, as she continued running, desperate to locate the nearest exit she could find.

Looks like the Grumper Twins were right about the girls who go here -- They are stuck up and coldhearted! Forget getting a tutor here, or at all, in fact! I don't care how mad Dad gets, or decides to ground me until high school graduation, because it is so not worth this humiliation! Elyon screamed within her head, furiously batting away the few, stray tears which had managed to escape her eye sockets and cascade down onto her reddening cheeks.

She gave a relieved exhale, catching sight of what appeared to be an exit, and immediately pressed all of her body weight against the door as she practically catapulted herself out of them.

"Oof!!" both she and another, female sounding, cried out in affliction, once the blonde's body had unexpectedly collided with something hard, yet soft at the same time.

Slowly reopening her eyes, as she had promptly closed them in alarm upon impact, Elyon gazed up to see that it was yet another uniformed girl, who stared back at her in perplexity.

Oh, great. Just what I needed. Now she'll probably tell me to watch where I'm going before throwing in a few quick, verbal jabs my way, she thought deplorably, quickly raising her arms to clear away the rest of her fallen tears with the back of her bare arms, before the other girl could have commented.

However, for whatever reason, Elyon did not honestly sense any sort of malice or ill will manifesting off of the slender, slightly taller and mocha skinned teenager. If anything, the shoulder length and French braided, raven haired girl seemed to be just as taken aback as the blonde, and promptly reached up to readjust her slender and dark framed eyeglasses.

"O-Oh, uh . . . s-s-sorry about that," Elyon weakly and somehow managed to muster towards the chocolate eyed girl, shyly looking away from her for a few moments, before gathering up enough courage to resume her gaze.

". . . . It was . . . nothing. Don't worry about it," the taller girl quietly responded, seemingly a bit timid, herself, as she, as well, looked away from the blonde. Elyon watched her as she began to shift a bit awkwardly within her place, firmly clutching onto the single strap of her burgundy colored shoulder bag. Suddenly, she looked back up at the blue eyed girl and said, rather hurriedly, "W-Well, I have to go now, so . . . goodbye."

Caught off guard by the abrupt closing, Elyon quickly blinked a couple of times in surprise (mainly due to the fact that her instincts had apparently been right about the other girl really not being mean hearted, it seemed), before calling after the already retreating young woman.

"Y-Yeah! 'Bye, then . . . oh! And sorry again!" she called out to her, watching the raven locked student swiftly walking away, as though rather eager to get as far away from Elyon as possible . . . a notion which strangely made her feel a bit sad as a result. "Hmm. . . ."

With a small shrug of her shoulders, Elyon let out a tiny sigh as she decided to move on and let the matter go before heading back home, when she suddenly felt one of her sandaled feet blindly bump into something slightly hard.

At last taking her eyes off of the increasingly small figure of the unknown academy student, who had, at that same moment, just rounded a corner behind another nearby building of the academy, Elyon gazed down to see what appeared to be a white colored daily planner lying upon the ground.

"Huh? Did that girl just drop this? Must've somehow fallen out of her bag when I'd bumped into her," the teenager murmured to herself in wonder, bending over to pick up the discarded booklet and examined it.

Cracking it open in order to see if any names, numbers or even addresses were written somewhere inside, Elyon gasped sharply at what she'd read upon the first page:

Property of Taranee Cook.

"Nooo, way! That was Taranee?? How totally ironic!" the pigtailed girl gushed in affect and widened eyes, promptly closing the planner and looking back towards where the girl apparently now known to have been Taranee had last been seen. "She didn't seem 'stuck up 'or 'standoffish' at all! Maybe a bit shy, sure, but who cares?? I'd better go see if I can't catch up to her to return this!"

And with that, Elyon broke out into a fierce sprint, racing towards the direction Taranee had headed before her.

"H-Hey, Taranee, wa --!" the dishwater blonde started, before abruptly cutting herself off the moment she'd rounded the corner the dark haired girl had vanished behind, and could not see her anywhere. "Huh? Hmm . . . I wonder if she went inside one of these buildings. . . . But there's no way I'm going back in there! Ugh . . . what do I do, now??"

Biting down onto her soft, pink lips in further thought a moment, a new idea had then suddenly come to her.

"Taranee's planner! Maybe she's written down where she might be heading to next!" Elyon said to herself in revelation and a small smile, immediately beginning to flip through the rumored genius's daily organizer and to the latest written page.

She lightly trailed her index finger down the white colored page, ignoring the various, neatly written entries with timestamps of early morning and afternoon, until at last reaching the entry she was hoping to find:

'3:00 pm – 4:15 pm: Madame Isadora Daskalov's School of Dance'

"Yes! Here it is! Where she's quite possibly headed to next! And it's . . . two-thirty right now. I bet I can catch up to her if I get going right now," Elyon squealed in triumph, promptly closing Taranee's planner and placed it within her own book bag, before running down the nearby hill and towards the closest exit she could find. "I can only hope that those stories about the disappearances over there aren't true, though, for my own sake. . . ."

---

Here I am, finally back again, after being unable to attend due to having the flu the last two weeks. . . . I wonder if the strong, negative vibes I've been feeling, especially today, are in conjunction with what's been going on around here lately, with those rumors of supposed disappearances, the thoughtful and very reserved Taranee Cook silently reflected upon her arrival to the familiar site, Madame Isadora Daskalov's School of Dance. Perhaps it will be my turn to vanish like the others, then. . . .

The currently somber, African-Asian American fourteen-year-old gave a small wave in goodbye to the departing, black and sleek Rolls Royce and its driver, one of her family's employees who had just dropped her off to her weekly appointment.

As per usual, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon, from three o'clock until four-fifteen, the naturally slender and blossoming young beauty would leave her private school, Vesta's Academy for Girls, and head straight over to her dance lesson.

Mondays and Fridays were her tap and jazz sessions, while Wednesdays were specifically dedicated to ballet. And being that today so happened to be a Wednesday, Taranee carried with her all of her appropriate attire and ballet slippers to change into once she'd gone inside.

Next to photography, a bit of classical music and sports, particularly basketball, dancing was the young teenager's absolute passion. She'd enjoyed it immensely, and had been learning it since she was three-years-old. It was, in truth, one of the only times she could ever truly lose herself within the moment, let her guard down, and simply be herself. . . .

After all, it was nearly everywhere else, wherever she'd go in or around the Florida city of Heatherfield, when Taranee would habitually be made to feel like an outsider, even a freak, by her peers, simply due to her extraordinary and gifted intelligence.

She had been this way for as long as she could remember, and had always attended the best and most private of schools, courtesy of the privileged life both of her parents, the prestigious judge, Theresa, and respected ex-lawyer-turned-psychologist, Lionel, had continually bestowed upon her and including her older brother, Peter.

Nothing had ever been too good or too expensive for their youngest child, it seemed, taking immense pride within their daughter's phenomenal prowess. And Taranee, never having been one to desire anything more than to continue on making her family proud of her, had always obliged, studying very hard and doing her absolute best in everything she'd pursue.

Lately, however, the raven haired girl had begun to feel herself desiring more than the life she'd always led up to now . . . perhaps even a friend.

I wonder if my parents would treat me differently, or the girls at school would actually talk to me and maybe even like me, if any of them were aware of my façade, Taranee thought solemnly, gently pushing back her dark framed eyeglasses closer to her brilliant, brown eyes, before walking up the slight hill that led to her dancing school.

It was true . . . well, partially, at least, as Taranee had really never ever been quite sure.

While it was true that she was always consistent within earning top scores throughout her academic career, a fact well known throughout the city and perhaps, even the state, there was another tidbit no one was aware of:

Taranee inexplicably possessed psychic abilities.

Or, at least, it's what she'd decided to label it, anyway, as she had somehow always, since she was a little girl, been able to simply . . . predict, or sense the outcome of an upcoming situation, even to the point of occasionally being able to eerily pick up upon another individual's thoughts.

For years, the lonely girl had been trying to figure out and understand her ability and, moreover, why it was happening to her, but hadn't ever really come close to any definite conclusions . . . especially since the occurrences were never honestly steady or controlled, and would simply and suddenly overwhelm her at any random and given time.

It would honestly make her feel as though she were going insane, and leave her wondering, many a time, if the intelligence she wielded was honestly of her own genetic makeup, or perhaps due to her telepathic tendencies.

Taranee would spend many nights, lying awake within her bed while looking at her vast trophy case filled with various, colorful first place ribbons and other awards of the past, and pondered if any of them had been truly earned through her hard work . . . or by having unintentionally read someone else's mind without having realized.

And even though she now dearly and secretly wished to have a companion, one who was true and wasn't using her bonafide smarts for personal gain by temporarily befriending her, the mocha skinned girl honestly wondered how it would even be possible -- Or comfortable, even, for either party, due to what she could do with her mind, unconscious or not.

It certainly puts a further damper upon my dating life, as well . . . well, if I even had one, at least, Taranee mused with a sigh as her rapidly changing thoughts continued to shift, tucking a loose strand of her shoulder length and French braided dark hair behind her ear. Any guy I ever find remotely interesting never gives me a chance, because of my 'celebrity status' as the 'resident genius' in this city. They're usually all too intimidated by me; it's always the same. . . .

It was sad, but true. Although still a bit young yet, the bright, young teenager had never had a boyfriend, or a first kiss, for that matter, and it was becoming rather frustrating, indeed. And while she had never ever truly thought of herself as drop dead gorgeous, she was still aware that she was, at the very least, rather pretty, and so was confident that she could attract a boy -- Any boy, if ever they'd look past her vast intellect for long enough.

"Well . . . maybe someday," Taranee murmured gently to herself in waning self reassurance, gazing down at her shiny and black, school uniform shoes as she continued to walk, before abruptly feeling someone ram into her left shoulder as they passed.

"O-Ow! H-Hey, I --"she started in alarm, before promptly trailing off the moment her eyes landed upon a rather handsome and average height redhead. Taranee felt her naturally dark cheeks grow even darker, within a plum tinted shade, as she began to blush profusely in embarrassment.

The unknown young man, presumably around the same age as the girl, if not slightly older, merely smiled a rather devilishly charming smile at her, deep brown eyes twinkling in intrigue.

"Oooh . . . sorry about that. I guess I wasn't looking where I was going . . . although, now, I'm kinda glad for it," he spoke within a suave, obviously flirtatious voice, before winking gaily at Taranee and causing her cheeks to become even more inflamed.

She stammered for a few moments, absolutely speechless over what to say next. This had never happened to her before! A guy was actually flirting with her, and blatantly scoping her out!

Was this a daydream, induced by her previous thoughts of longing for both friends and a boyfriend, or her psychic abilities kicking in, again??

Or, was it simply fate?

Realizing that she had merely been standing there, much like the fool she most certainly was not, by default, at least, Taranee quickly cleared her throat and timidly gazed back at the expectant boy.

"Oh! I-I, um . . . it was . . . no problem?" she began awkwardly, phrasing her reply more so as an honest question rather than a statement, a personal observation which caused her to inwardly kick herself and smile a bit lopsidedly as a result. "T-That is to say, it was as much my fault as it was yours! N-Not that I'm blaming you, or anything, though! I just --"

"-- It's all right, my lovely. I completely understand," interrupted the unidentified, smooth talking male, bestowing Taranee with yet another debonair sort of simper, at the same time he'd reached up to run a slightly tanned hand through his medium length and loose locks.

'My lovely?' He thinks I'm lovely?? The usually calm and collected female intellect inwardly squealed with delight, her heart now all aflutter as she tried her honest best to maintain her composure . . . if only outwardly, in any case.

"So . . . would it be asking too much to know the name of the angel who'd so graciously bumped straight into my life?" Taranee nearly gasped to hear the male stranger ask, and she immediately smiled shyly and momentarily looked away from him before responding.

"Er . . . Taranee. Taranee Cook," she said, surprised and yet relieved not to see the unknown teenager react within a negative manner upon learning of her name, as most other males she'd encountered would if they hadn't already known it or her face by reference.

Instead, the boy merely grinned broadly, his dark brown eyes briefly flashing with a curious expression Taranee could not honestly place, before they relaxed into one of further intrigue.

". . . .Really, now? A beautiful name, for a beautiful girl," he complimented without missing a beat, unexpectedly reaching out for the girl's hand and gently kissed it. "And as for myself, you can call me . . . Nigel. . . . Until we meet again, fair maiden. . . ."

Before Taranee could have said another word, the redhead apparently known as simply Nigel regrettably relinquished her slender, now tingling hand, gave a quick wink within her direction, and continued on down the hill away from her.

Even if she had wanted to (which, of course, she did), the raven haired girl would have been unable to prevent the flirtatious boy from going, as she now found herself utterly trapped within an honest daze of euphoria . . . a feeling she hadn't felt in a very long while.

". . . . Nigel," Taranee murmured softly to herself in wondrous longing, looking after the retreating boy until she could no longer see him, before gazing down at the hand he had so chastely kissed. "I wonder when or if I'll ever see him again. . . ."

Suddenly no longer feeling any sort of previous forlornness over her admittedly lonely life, or the inexplicable, honest dread she had been experiencing for most of that week, Taranee gave a small, genuine smile to herself before turning, and peacefully resumed her walk towards her intended destination.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the currently fantasizing and apparently love struck girl, she really would be seeing the redhead far sooner than she thought . . . and she didn't even need to her psychic abilities for that, either.

Waiting until he was sure she could no longer see him, Nigel abruptly turned back around and headed into a nearby alleyway. A dark and nearly twisted smile then spread across his lips and marred his previously good looking and seemingly innocent countenance.

"Hm, hm, hm. . . . I can sense a lot of energy within that one. And lucky for me, it seems as though she may be heading towards that dance school nearby, based upon that duffel bag she had with her. Looks like she'll get to have the prestigious honor of being my latest victim," he chuckled evilly to himself, raising one of his arms and lightly clenching his fist in effect, before suddenly vanishing within a flash of maroon colored light.

---

"I wonder if I got off at the right stop. . . . Alchemy and the Grumper Twins had said Madame Isadora's is located on Sendai Street, so . . . I think this is the one," Elyon softly murmured to herself in wonder, after having gotten off of the bus she had taken in order to follow after the elusive intellect, Taranee. "I just hope that she's really here, so I can give her back her planner. . . ."

The dishwater blonde began her trek up the slightly steep hill, her heart beginning to beat a bit faster as her mind began to wander back to earlier that afternoon, and of the stories her friends were talking about in regards to the apparently vanishing girls within the area:

". . . .Apparently there has been quite an up rise in strange disappearances lately. . . . All of them have been girls who attend Madame Isadora's dance school! . . . . They say that the girls just vanish -- Poof! Without a trace!"

"Oooh, I really hope that it's not true! I really don't want to be the ne --"

"-- Elyon!"

"Ahhh!!" the petite young teenager promptly screeched in alarm, nearly jumping ten feet in the air, as she suddenly heard a disembodied voice call out her name from behind.

Whirling around, Elyon immediately squeezed her blue eyes shut and clasped her hands together in merciful pleading with whom she now presumed to be the supposed attacker.

"Oh, please don't kidnap me, too, I'm begging of you! I-I'll give you anything you want!" she cried out blindly, vigorously shaking her head in further protest.

"What on earth are you talking about, Elyon?? It's me, Csilla! Now, calm down, before you make a public spectacle of yourself!" the previously frantic girl could hear the formerly unknown voice identify herself to be none other than her furry feline's bark as quietly as she could up at her, so as not to draw further attention to themselves.

"C-Csilla??" Elyon lightly gasped in surprise, upon slowly opening her eyes to gaze down at her newfound guardian. Sure enough, the familiar, blue-gray female cat was standing before her at her feet, with emerald eyes narrowed within blatant vexation and tail raised in curiosity. "W-What are you doing all the way out here, and by yourself??"

"I could say the same for you, of course," Csilla countered in reply, swaying her tail back and forth, as her eyes began to soften at the realization that her charge was apparently concerned for her well being.

Elyon promptly bent over to scoop up the fluffy, tiny animal, and cradled her within one arm while readjusting her book bag with the other.

"Me? I just got here, actually. I know, I know: 'Weren't you supposed to be getting a tutor over at Vesta's Academy for Girls like your father had instructed??' Yes, Csilla, all right? But that's actually a long story, one I'll tell you about later, and then you -- And my dad, I'm sure, can scold me all you want. Right now, however, I'm on my way to return something to one of the academy's students -- She'd dropped it when I'd accidentally bumped into her back there," she explained after resuming her walk, her consistently messy pigtails swinging gaily back and forth as she did so.

Csilla merely nodded gently and paused a moment, before speaking, herself.

"I see. . . . So, it wasn't because you were feeling anything strange or negative around this area? I must admit, I was rather surprised to see you here without my prompting. I was about to say that your powers as a Guardian Soldier are already growing fast within you. . . . It seems as though I was mistaken," she commented in distinct disappointment, looking up at the teenager in time to see her glaring back down at her. "W-What??"

"You know, Csilla, with all the regular doubtfulness you keep throwing my way, it's really no mystery why my apparent Guardian powers haven't manifested any further or whatever, or why, no, I don't honestly feel any negativity around this place, because I'm far too busy being congested with yours!" Elyon lightly snapped at the momentarily taken aback feline, who then returned the flat glance back to her. "And I'll have you know that I already know all about those so called missing person cases around here, too! Probably even learned about it before you had! But if it was so urgent, why hadn't you come looking for me after school? You knew where I'd be."

Csilla exhaled deeply at this, closing her eyes in fatigue and frustration before reopening them.

"You've actually heard about those cases? Then I'm obliged to reveal that I'm surprised yet again . . . although, knowing you, you'd most likely heard it in passing somewhere, courtesy of a gossiping, chatty friend or two, no doubt," she remarked with a fierce batting of her slender tail against Elyon's arm and torso. "And as for why I hadn't enlisted your help just yet, it was because I wanted to check it out for myself first, in order to make sure that it really was legit, as well as safe for you to come tagging along."

"'Tagging along??' If anything, you're the one who --"

"-- Talking to yourself now, I see, Piggy Tails?? The list of things apparently wrong with you just keeps growing and growing, it seems," Elyon suddenly heard a new voice, male and strangely a bit familiar, speak from behind her.

Both she and Csilla immediately tensed up, undoubtedly feeling quite nervous and wondering whether or not this newcomer had gotten a chance to hear the cat speak, as well.

Slowly turning around, Elyon's heart promptly plummeted straight into her stomach, the moment her soft blue eyes met with the green pair of the regrettable and rather coarse young man she had had the misfortune to come across several days earlier.

"Ick!! It's you!! What are you, seriously stalking me now, or something??" she hissed at the vaguely acquainted, yet still unnamed brunet, shivering uncontrollably in disgust . . . or perhaps even something else, especially once the blonde began to focus upon his eyes a bit more.

. . . . It really is a shame that someone so absolutely gross could have such nice eyes. . . . They kinda remind me of Tuxedo Kamen's. . . . she thought in passing unexpectedly, causing her cheeks to become profusely red in embarrassment. W-What?? No way! What am I saying?? There's no way that this jerk could ever measure up to a possible hero like Tuxedo Kamen! A-And Tuxedo Kamen, as helpful, friendly and . . . admittedly sort of handsome as he had been, could never take the place of my darling Cedric!! I've gotta stop thinking like this!!

Elyon forced the scowl that had been upon her face to deepen, as she continued to stare up at the taller teenager and pushed those unwanted thoughts away, while he merely gave her yet another one of his patented and condescending smirks.

"Heh . . . like running into you, twice now -- Something that has not been pleasurable, I might add -- is grounds for constituting it as 'stalking,'" he responded, folding his bare arms across his shoulders and rolling his eyes in dismissal. "And anyway, I happen to live around here, or is that not all right with you, Piggy Tails??"

"Ugh! I've told you the last time I sadly saw you not to call me 'Piggy Tails!' It's not my name -- Elyon is!!" Elyon revealed within the midst of her mounting ire, beginning to unconsciously hold onto the now vigilantly silent Csilla a bit too tightly in the process. "And if I had my way, you wouldn't even live on the same planet, let alone the same state as me, you jerk!!"

The tall, older brunet suddenly, as well as lightly chuckled at this, which caused Elyon to blush in embarrassed surprise and upset.

"'Elyon??' What kind of name is that?? You're better off going by 'Piggy Tails,' seriously," he taunted with another leer, unfolding his arms to then stuff his hands into the pockets of his beige colored cargo shorts. "Oh, and my name's not 'jerk,' thanks -- It's Caleb. Maybe you should try learning a few manners, huh?? Show a little bit more respect for your elders, and the like."

Elyon, about having nearly reached her breaking point, practically screamed at the top of her lungs, as she began to watch the boy now known as Caleb walk away from her without another word.

"Maybe you should try getting a life!!" she bellowed, Csilla cringing in abashment, in addition to the amplified voice of her charge, as several passersby looked on within perplexity. "Ohhh! I can't stand that freaking kid, Csilla!! And, how wonderful for me that I now know his disgusting name!"

". . . . Y-Yeah . . . so I've gathered. So much so, that you've nearly cut off my circulation, by the way you were holding onto me so tightly," the slate gray feline weakly mumbled, before clearing her throat. "In any event, let's just forget about that character, and head on over to the dance school to investigate, all right?"

Elyon slowly nodded, already beginning to calm down, especially now that she could no longer see the obnoxious Caleb within the distance, and promptly loosened her grip upon her furry friend.

"O-Oh, sorry about that, Csilla. It's like I said, though! That guy just -- Never mind! You're right . . . I came here to return something to someone, and you had to check out the school, so let's just get on with it, already . . . although, I highly doubt that there's really anything wrong, or else the authorities would have probably shut it down by now. . . ."

"Perhaps; however, let's just go there and examine it to be certain," Csilla partially agreed with a nod, before the two carried on further up the hill and towards their nearby destination.

In the furthered distance, continually heading within the other direction, Caleb had then stopped walking, and sighed softly to himself with a frown.

'Get a life,' she says. . . . If only I could even remember it, the brunet thought a bit broodingly to himself with a frown, within the middle of the sidewalk where he'd stopped as random people continued to pass around him. But that's what finding the Star of Threbe is all about . . . so that maybe one day I actually can. . . .

---

---

"Hm, hm, hm . . . good work, my loyal monster slave. You've succeeded in collecting yet another surplus of prime life energy for our master! Such otherwise useless creatures, humans, the way they expel so much wasted time and energy upon something as imprudent as dancing! I knew it would be a good idea to have you possess the body of this foolish instructor, in order to personally target her students! Ha, ha ha!!!" Nigel, or rather, now, Deite, cruelly cackled at the expense of the numerous, fallen female victims littered about the wooden floor of Madame Isadora Daskalov's School of Dance.

He had just happened upon the scene not but a few moments before, and was pleased to see that his recently deployed Entity had already done its job, so far turning out to be a lot more sufficient than his first creature had been several days ago.

The one which had been defeated by that sailor suited girl . . . Sailormeridian.

Deite tightly clenched his gloved hands in anger at the thought, now returned to his normal, maroon uniformed guise.

"Sailormeridian. . . . There is no way you'll interfere with my plans this time! Especially since you'll honestly be unable to find these precious, new victims, once I've sent them off to join the rest!" he began to grin slowly in mounting triumph, dropping the both of his fists thereafter. "And with that quick glamour I had put upon the local authorities, there continues to be no one else to stop me!! Now! You! Hurry up and open the rift, so that we can send these lovely ladies off to their collected and sacrificial doom!"

Deite turned his attention onto the only female still conscious within the room, a relatively tall and very slender young auburn haired woman, who appeared to be within her early thirties or so. He watched as the black leotard-clad beauty nodded in compliance and with a devilish grin, before she silently waved her arm into the air and inexplicably caused a wavy and grayish portal of sorts to appear behind her, and through the series of full bodied mirrors aligned along the wall that were used during class.

As the mindless, possessed woman began to send each of "her" currently unconscious students through, in order to begin siphoning out their life energy in just a little while, Deite then turned and moved towards a slumbering girl in the far corner.

He smiled with delicious, malice delight as he crouched down before her still body, and tauntingly stroked her medium length, French braided dark hair.

"How really beautiful you are, indeed, my lovely. . . . And you'll be beautiful still, after you've served your purpose and given up your particularly immense energy to my master," Deite murmured darkly to the unmoving, mocha skinned girl.

Suddenly, without warning, a new voice rang out into the atmosphere, admittedly catching both the redhead and his possessed pawn in the process.

"Meridian Eternity Power, Make Up!!" the pair both heard the female, disembodied voice cry out, before a bright flash of periwinkle overwhelmed the outside of the dance room and partially bathed its inside. Within moments, however, the light had died away, and Deite growled angrily before rising to his feet.

He already knew who it could be.

"Damn it!! You! Hurry it up, already, while I stall this sailor-annoyance, before --" he began, looking at the momentarily stunned and perplexed monster-in-disguise, who had stopped within her efforts to spirit the helpless females away, before he'd been abruptly interrupted by the door sharply swinging opening.

"Hold it right there!! I know that you're really some kind of creature, obviously possessing this innocent woman!! And I know that you're the one behind all of the disappearances going on here lately!! Well, no more, because I, Sailormerdian, am here to stop you -- And t-that really strange portal-thing -- in the name of justice!" Deite listened to his unfortunate, newfound foe, Sailormeridian, cry out in animated harshness towards his minion.

He couldn't help but smirk at both her slight over theatrics, and the fact that she apparently had yet to notice his presence.

Hmm . . . looks like I've got the perfect opportunity to strike, then, the redhead thought with malevolence, immediately descending onto the unconscious girl he'd only recently found out to be named Taranee.

"So! It looks as though you've finally come, after all, Sailormeridian! How considerate of you!" Deite boomed at the periwinkle, powder blue and lavender color schemed and sailor suited blonde, who immediately whirled around in abundant alarm.

"Ahh! W-Where did he come from?? Who are you??" Sailormeridian squeaked, looking from the taken over Madame Isadora, to the unknown, uniformed young man and then back again.

It was then that she'd executed a prompt double take, her soft blue eyes widening in both fear and surprise, as she instantly recognized the young girl the redhead now held firmly within his arms like a hostage.

"T-Taranee!! No!!" the dishwater blonde heroine cried out, immediately taking a step towards the now partially conscious girl.

Deite swiftly tightened the hold he had around his captive's slender neck with one arm, while waving his finger at Sailormeridian with the other.

"Nuh, uh, uh! Not so fast, my friend! At least, not unless you'd prefer to see the girl without her pretty little head, anyway!" he said with an evil sneer, gripping onto Taranee's neck a bit more tightly, causing her to arouse more steadily and lightly gasp in pain.

"Be careful, Sailormeridian!" Csilla, who had just then appeared into the room and stood beside her charge with fur standing fiercely on end yet again, cautiously advised. She then immediately felt a strange vibration coursing through her, especially the moment the knowledgeable feline's eyes landed upon the mahogany tinted, imprisoned girl.

What is this I'm feeling?? Could . . . could this mean . . . that this girl is the next Guardian Soldier I've been searching for? Csilla pondered silently in surprise, while the mystical feelings inside of her continued to pulsate, as though in reply. She has to be!

Meanwhile, Sailormeridian felt increasingly torn and helpless as to what to do next. If she tried anything rash, Taranee would get severely hurt. However, if she didn't and just continued to stand there, then chances were quite strong and probable that the girl would be injured, regardless . . . including possibly herself.

". . . . Let Taranee go!" the blonde pleaded, knowing her request would fall upon deaf ears, however still bothered to try.

. . . . T-That voice . . . sounds familiar. . . . Taranee pondered weakly to herself in silence, gasping repeatedly for breath as her brown eyes squeezed shut in ongoing affliction. I-I have to . . . break . . . free!!

"Sure, thing, Sailor-Girl! I'll let your little buddy go -- In a body bag!!" Deite remarked boisterously, pulling the helpless, raven haired girl to himself more tightly. "Now, attack, you useless Entity! Kill he -- Ahh!!"

"W-What's happening to Taranee, Csilla??" Sailormeridian sharply gasped in alarm, as every currently conscious being, friend and foe alike, stared in avid awe and wonder at the peculiar sight unfolding within the dance room.

Suddenly and without warning, Taranee's captive body began to profusely glow a dark red, and a curious, circle and pointed arrow symbol of the same color appeared within the middle of her forehead.

Csilla softly smiled knowingly and sighed in relief, as both she and Sailormeridian watched Deite immediately let the dark haired girl go in apparent pain.

". . . . I knew it. The power of the Guardian Soldier is awakening within her. . . . Sailormars," she revealed breathlessly, at the same time that she closed her green eyes and began to concentrate. Suddenly, the emerald, seven-pointed star continually adorning her furry forehead began to illuminate a fierce, red aura, much like the one surrounding Taranee's slim form.

The slightly and mysteriously injured Deite, meanwhile, was no fool, as while he did not completely understand what was currently transpiring, he was fully aware that it most certainly was not anything good within his favor. And so, before Sailormeridian or even Csilla, if she could have, stopped him, he immediately vanished from sight within his usual, maroon colored mist.

Only his rather angered voice lingered within the area, as he spoke to the malevolently influenced Madame Isadora, who had admittedly been simply standing around like some sort of simpleton up to that point.

"It isn't over yet!! You! Get going!! Bring the rest of those girls through the portal and then close it, before it's too late!!"

Deite's thrall swiftly nodded in compliance, and she began to double her efforts to finish magically transferring each unconscious victim through the swirling rift behind her.

At this, Sailormeridian immediately turned around and surprisingly charged towards the older woman without prompt.

"Oh, no you don't!! I won't let you!!" she cried, taking a hasty swing towards Madame Isadora and effortlessly missed, before then swiftly receiving a sharp blow to her abdomen in the process, which caused her to fall backward. "Ugh. . . ."

Meanwhile, at the same instant, a small ball of red light abruptly shot from out of Csilla's still glowing forehead, before sailing straight towards the aura bathed Taranee, who then seemed to instinctively reopen her eyes at that moment.

"There! Take that, Taranee, and shout out these words, precisely: 'Mars Power, Make Up!' I will explain everything to you later, but for now, there isn't a moment to waste!!" the bluish gray, curiously talking cat cried out to the beautiful intellect hurriedly, before rushing over to the strange sailor suited blonde currently hunched over in the near distance.

Taranee could not understand a thing that was happening, feeling that her body and mind had yet to catch up with the overabundance of shock she should have felt, upon witnessing an actual, talking cat. However, for whatever reason, she sort of felt compelled to comply with the animal, as she slowly gazed down at the mysteriously floating and silver banned ring before her.

It looked so beautiful and priceless, almost mesmerizing to behold . . . particularly the dark red jewel within its center, that almost looked to be curiously aflame, and carried the arrow and circled symbol her habitual studies and natural intellect granted her the knowledge of recognizing to be that of the planet Mars.

Time seemed to slow down to a near standstill for the onyx haired girl, whose body had gradually ceased within its glowing; however, the similar sigil, which unknowingly perched itself upon her forehead, continued to remain aglow.

She watched in growing alarm as a battle began to unfold before her, between the unfamiliar, sailor-clad young woman, and . . . Madame Isadora??

Why was her own dance teacher attacking that girl, or anyone for that matter?

. . . . That's right . . . she'd attacked me, too, proving my weird feelings about this area to have been true, after all, Taranee lazily thought in recollection, before her mind promptly jumpstarted itself again. I've got to do something to help!!

And so, without another thought or hesitation, the sagacious young teenager swiftly grabbed a hold of the previously hovering and glowing ring, before putting it around the ring finger of her right hand, and rose to her feet.

"Mars Power, Make Up!!"

An eruption of fire magically abruptly manifested and formed a large, thick pillar, before effortlessly engulfing the now naked girl as she immediately closed her eyes. Arms raised directly above her head, a pair of white, elbow length gloves with a dark red band suddenly appeared over her hands within an encircling flurry of flames. And on one of the gloves, the back palm of her right was the maroon colored, sigil sign of Mars.

Taranee's previously medium length and braided black hair abruptly began to unravel itself and become free, while a swirl of softly scented red rose petals miraculously, momentarily appeared and surrounded it, before mystically growing much longer in length and until at last settling at just slightly past her buttocks.

Gently pushing back a few strands of her now cascading, dark locks, Taranee blindly smiled a bit knowingly, as a plain, dark red choker suddenly materialized around her slim neck, in the same instant that a pair of dangling and star shaped earrings of the same color appeared upon her previously bare ears.

Part of the flames which continually kept her encased, however miraculously unharmed, suddenly began to wrap itself around her naked torso and waist, before a bright flash of reddish light manifested itself . . . and in its wake, an Indian red tinted body suit appeared and snugly clothed her slender body, alongside a two tiered, multicolored skirt, with the top being dark red and the bottom half reflecting a deep lavender hue.

Several, thin wisps of fire had then snaked around Taranee's front and back, magically changing into thin ribbons of the same darkened lavender as the bottom part of her skirt, in the front of her uniform and against her chest before fashioning into an equally thin bow . . . while two, much thicker and longer red, as well as puce colored ribbons trailed against her backside and formed its own, larger bow just above the skirt.

Once again, the reddened symbol of Mars then appeared, and this time adorned the center of Taranee's front, thinner bow, which seemed to possess a life of its own, the way it brightly gleamed within the illumination of the ongoing flames.

Lastly, a pair of white and slender, knee high boots, with a puce hued band in the shape of an upside down v, had then appeared within a splash of bright light . . . before a golden tiara, again with the dark red sigil of the planet Mars, decorating its center, and the large pillar of fire (much like her eyeglasses, in that exact moment) at last instantly vanished, without a trace.

"No, way . . . Taranee really is another Guardian Solider, like me!" Sailormeridian gushed in awe after having stopped to witness the other girl's enchanted transformation.

The newly transformed Sailormars, as though within a trance of sorts, already began to immediately concentrate, focusing her recharged energy into forming an innate attack without missing a beat.

Csilla, meanwhile, nodded swiftly in agreement with her original charge, while still keeping her attention onto the focusing soldier in the near distance.

". . . . Indeed, she is! Now, hurry! Strike now and separate the Entity from Madame Isadora, Sailormeridian!!" she instructed, moving out of the way, as the blonde slowly stood and began to do as she was told.

Momentarily concentrating and closing her blue eyes briefly, Sailormerdian suddenly felt her chest growing warm, before something hard mystically came out of it within a flash of white light. Reopening her eyes, she instinctively seized the light blue colored wand, with its shimmering and crystal star upon the top, and aimed it toward the possessed older woman.

"Meridian Healing Escalation!!" Sailormeridian cried out innately, before an explosion of mystical, gold colored mist emanated from the outstretched wand, and immediately swarmed around the now stunned Madame Isadora.

She let out a bone chilling screech, raising both of her arms up in futile defense, before promptly collapsing to the ground in unconsciousness . . . and a snake haired, green skinned and red eyed demon suddenly appeared in her place.

Sailormeridian promptly screamed within alarmed trepidation at the horrific sight once the powerful mist had dissipated, her stomach becoming knotted up as she blindly backed away and held onto her newfound wand tightly.

Meanwhile, at that exact moment, formerly closed brown eyes immediately snapped open, as the momentarily forgotten Sailormars suddenly called out from behind the blonde.

". . . . Fire Soul!!" the red schemed Guardian Solider shouted instinctively, violently thrusting her gloved, now curiously ignited palms (which did not seem to be injuring her in any sort of manner) out towards the devilish and menacing foe before her.

A stream of fire furiously jetted through the air, until it made abrupt impact with its intended and unfortunate target, instantly setting its entire body on fire.

"Rarrrgggh!!!!" the almost female resembling monster screamed at the top of its lungs within undeniable agony, dropping to its knees like a piece of deadweight, before immediately withering away into an unrecognizable, charcoaled heap which then promptly vanished.

Within a near simultaneous instant, the shimmering, wavy portal had then swiftly closed within a bright flash of light, and the dance floor miraculously became littered with more female and unconscious newcomers in its wake.

Both Sailormeridian and Csilla gasped in surprise as well as delight at the sight, happy to see the previously missing dance students were apparently now all returned and seemingly unharmed, if only still asleep.

"Th . . . that was amazing!! Thanks so much, Taranee . . . or should I say 'Sailormars!'" Sailormeridian exclaimed in mixed relief and appreciation, turning to walk over to the now slightly dazed girl.

Sailormars gazed at the unknown blonde in perplexity for a few moments, slowly lowering her now calmed hands before responding.

"Sailor . . . mars? Is that . . . me??" she inquired softly, beginning to blush as she examined her newly changed look and attire more properly within the full length mirrors before her, now that the danger had at last passed.

"That's right, Mars, it is. . . . You are the chosen Guardian Soldier of Fiery Passion and Wisdom," Csilla lightly explained, walking over to the understandably confused girl a bit tentatively. "Now, let us hurry and leave, before these ladies all wake up."

Sailormars lightly shook her head, peering down at the talking cat within returning surprise, before turning her attention onto Sailormeridian.

". . . . I don't . . . understand any of what's been going on here, but . . . I feel as though I can honestly trust you, somehow," she said in soft shyness, blushing a bit harder once the other girl then smiled broadly at her. "Oh . . . b-but, wait. How do you know my name??"

Sailormerdian simply gave an elongated and deep exhale at this, affectionately wrapping an arm around the taller girl's shoulders, as she began to swiftly lead the way out of the room full of gradually arousing, and now safe young women.

"Boy, have we got a long story to share with you. . . ." she responded with a knowing and sympathetic grin, feeling more and more relieved that she was no longer alone within her fight as a Guardian Soldier.

If I have to keep doing this, at least I now have someone to be there with me within the thick of it. . . . My very first comrade . . . Sailormars, the dishwater blonde Guardian reflected silently to herself, as the three females quickly left the premises.

-- End of Act 2

---

(A.N. Ah, I remember when I used to study dance like Taranee, from when I was five up until my late teens, as well. . . . "Barbara Hammond's School of Dance," mine was called . . . and going was rather annoying when I was a kid. LoL But more fun when I was older, cuz we actually did more legit and entertaining/complex routines by then. The ballet was kinda boring, though; I enjoyed/preferred tap, much better. =)

But I digress. LoL

Cripes almighty, it is done! Not that it really matters to the majority of those out there, of course, but hey. I tried. And at least I now know that there are at least a few of you who rather enjoy this story of mine, so that makes it a bit more worthwhile to sit and write out these billion page chapters each time.

Before anyone asks or says so, though, seriously, YES, that monster WAS rather idiotic in terms of "why didn't you just keep constantly attacking, instead of always getting distracted and awe inspired by whatever was going on around you??" I know. I did that on purpose to be a bit clichéd in regards to the minimal intelligence of at least SOME of the youma in the Sailormoon universe. But NO, the battle hadn't really dragged on nor had huge pausing gaps in between as it may have seemed. In all honesty, from the time that Elyon had first charged at the monster, got hit in the process, and then after the brief pause when Taranee transformed into Sailormars, it was one consistent battle. I just didn't bother to write about oh, how Elyon was busy dodging attacks and maybe getting a few in, herself, etc, before Csilla told her to use her Healing Escalation attack. And I'm also aware that it may have seemed a tad odd how 'Ranee seemed to just kinda stand around, "charging up" her attack or something, but honestly? That, too, had all happened within the span of a few seconds or so. Just, writing wise, it seemed longer, as you gotta bounce back and forth between the appropriate and involved characters and what they're doing, etc.

As for Jadeite, or "Deite," I'd decided to call him that instead, simply because I didn't want EVERYTHING to be super identical to SM, even IF I'm using the universe, etc. So, I just dubbed Mr. Nigel "Deite" as a result. And as for not having killed him right off the bat in the same way he had been in the manga after Sailormars had first awoken, I've a few plans for him in the near future, instead…kinda. LoL Which now, as a result, makes it more like the anime or even live action versions, that he's still alive after Mars is awakened. But…yeah. Just made him, instead of being offed, get slightly injured by that pure light of "goodness" Taranee had been emitting prior to transforming, etc. And since he's inherently evil – apparently, anyway lol – you know that had to hurt. LoL

And before anyone may also ask about this, no, there will be no one to become Sailormercury in this story. Yeah, I know: "How could you have Sailor Senshi without Sailormercury involved??" It happens. LoL Even though I've thrust them into the SM world, I'm also trying to maintain most of the W.I.T.C.H. aspects, as well, including the girls' related powers, etc. Which, of course, is why I made Taranee Sailormars instead of the expected Sailormercury a few of you had previously assumed at the end of Act 1. However, it isn't to say that Mercury's COMPLETELY gone, so to speak, as both Ami and Taranee are incredibly smart and shy by nature, anyway, so now it's like Taranee's taken on dual roles of both Mercury and Mars . . . hence my having called her the senshi of "Fiery Passion AND Wisdom." =)

I'm sure, or at least, hope, anyway, that some of you fellow Sailormoon fans had been able to catch the slight, subtle tribute references I'd strategically placed within the chapter. For example, Taranee's private girls school, which, yes, obviously, is in tribute to Rei, is called "Vesta's" as a nod to one of the Asteroid Senshi, Sailorvesta, who's also presumably a fire-based senshi. And then where Taranee's – made up, in terms of the name, anyway – dance school is located, on "Sendai Street," is a reference to Sendai Hill, where Rei's temple is located and where/around those "Devil's six o'clock bus" disappearances had occurred in the manga . . . and kinda the anime, too, but they didn't really refer to it as that.

Then there was Nigel/Deite's expression of honest, slight attraction to Taranee, the way Jadeite had done the same in regard to Rei after he'd captured her . . . before promptly getting killed by her as Sailormars later. LoL But it works out, regardless of reference, since Nigel and Taranee really did like each other and dated in the W.I.T.C.H. universe, anyways. =)

And then, there was also the slight allusion to when Usagi and Luna had gotten on the bus to go investigate the disappearances, and Usagi was wondering why Luna suddenly stopped talking and was freaking out . . . and it was because Mamoru was sitting right there next to her, which made them both worry if he hadn't heard her speak. LoL Yeah, done the same for Elyon and Csilla about Caleb, when he'd happened upon them both on the street. LoL

I was GONNA honestly feature him towards the end of the chapter, in his Tuxedo Kamen get up and silently watching her leave with Taranee in the aftermath of the battle, but I said, "Meh. Maybe next time." LoL Let's just pretend and assume he really WAS there, but unbeknownst to us ALL. HeHe

Did a slight PGSM nod there, too, when Elyon had called Caleb's name "disgusting" and WAS disgusted to have learned it. Yeah. PGSM Usagi basically said and was reacting the same way, too, when she'd learned Mamoru's . . . after she couldn't properly read the kanji upon his name tag, and he'd purposefully read hers as having said "piggy." LoL Cute, I swear. LoL

What else . . . can't think of anything, but knowing me, I may have missed other crap I'd done and wanted to highlight. Ah well. LoL Oh, wait! I know now. LoL Taranee's IQ and psychic-ness. HeHe That, too, was a slight, okay, large reference to Rei and how SHE'S psychic kinda, as well . . . but it's also really not, because Taranee technically is, anyway, what with her telepathy in the W.I.T.C.H. universe. So it works. LoL Although, I'd honestly made the ability more so geared toward how it actually is in W.I.T.C.H., with only adding a splash of how the "just knowing" is for Rei, like the getting weird vibes and it happening at random times and not REALLY controlled, etc. And then her IQ of supposed 260, was just me knocking off 40 points – because I didn't want it to be TOO exact/similar to the SM world, even right down to identical IQ number, etc -- to the supposed 300 IQ Ami-chan possesses, is all. Nothin' really big. LoL

Um . . . yeah! I think that's it, really. Hope you enjoyed, and honestly let me know what you think, ESPECIALLY since this, too, was 20+ pages long. If ya took the time to honestly read it all the way through, you can at least also take the time to leave the review of feedback. Pwease?? Thankie! HeHe)