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.

5. Act 4

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: Wahh!! Everyone, prepare yourselves for THE longest chapter I have EVER written within my fanfiction writing 'career!!' Even longer than chapter forty, to my "The Royal Guardian" fic (which I plan to update next, btw)!! THIS ridiculously fat baby is, count it, SEVENTY-NINE motherlovin' pages. . . .

So, yeah. I'm not even gonna say anything beyond that, except to enjoy it, and PLEASE PLEASE review, afterward (since I know a lot of you get 'winded' from reading long chapters by me, with this one being the supreme ruler of them ALL LoL). HeHe

OH, and that I'll be addressing everything covered within this chapter over in my fanfiction forum (just go to my profile page and click on "My Forums" to find it, if interested).

'K! Enjoy (and review LoL)!

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This chapter was created/written in October 2009.

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ℓ Act 4 ℓ

"Ugh . . . I wish there was some way to invent an extra day in between Sunday and Monday, 'cause then I'd finally be able to actually catch up on some much needed rest. I just can't believe the weekend's already over, with another long and very boring seven-day school week ahead of me once again," a rather exhausted Elyon murmured in between sleepy yawns to a half-listening and much more alert Csilla in contrast, on that early Monday morning.

Today, for a change, it was a slightly leisure and lazy sort of trek to Heatherfield High, as Elyon was actually going to arrive onto the school premises with more than enough time to spare. But then, her furry new companion had made precisely sure that she would do this time, as the very same instant that the blonde's alarm clock had begun to ring to stir her awake earlier on that morning, Csilla, too, had added a little bit of extra insurance of her own.

"Oh, and you didn't have to dig your crazy sharp claws into my butt, either, just to get me up, you know. I would've done so on my own . . . eventually," the petite fourteen-year-old added with a light frown directed towards the now smirking, slate gray colored feline currently hitching a ride within the girl's left arm, while her right blindly reached behind herself to gently stroke at the back of her white hued and knee length frilly skirt. "I won't be surprised if there's permanent scarring, now, too. . . ."

Csilla then softly chuckled to herself, before apologetically rubbing her fluffy cheek against the left side bosom of her charge's simple pink t-shirt.

"Aww, I really am sorry for having applied so much pressure like that, Elyon -- I suppose I do not know my own strength at times," she began within a low, discreet tone, as she usually would whenever the pair were out in public together and conversing. "But, I knew that there would have been absolutely no way that you would have gotten to school on time without a little extra . . . 'assistance.' After all, I've only been in your care as the new 'family pet' for a mere few weeks now, and I can already tell how much you seem to enjoy your slumber. And besides, the last thing we need is another reason for your parents to find cause to ground you all over again . . . especially not now, with things beginning to pick up within our mission. . . ."

At this, Elyon felt herself becoming a bit more awake, and Csilla, herself, both felt and saw this, as well, as the teenager's body lightly tensed up momentarily at the same time that her soft blue eyes gently widened. She paused for a moment, her white flip flop sandals stopping within their tracks upon the rather busy and pedestrian-filled sidewalk.

In truth, Elyon's now only slight fatigue was due less to the fact that she had spent all of Sunday scrambling to play catch up with her homework and studying, and more so in part to the rather vigorous and nearly life-ending battle both she and Taranee had shared as Sailormeridian and Sailormars during Princess Étaín's honored ball that past Saturday.

Never in her young life had she ever been so scared (even with everything she had thus far experienced as a newly turned magical force for good), having plummeted so far and so fast off of the Marsilian Embassy's ballroom balcony that night, and all to rescue the Princess's rightful and well sought after property.

Her royal treasure.

Which, in the end, had turned out to be just a normal, although extremely priceless piece of family jewelry, something I'd almost died for. . . . Still, I'm glad that it's back with the Princess, that both she and it are now safe and sound, and out of Deite's grubby little paws, Elyon fleetingly thought, in continued reflection upon the rather eventful evening, before she suddenly felt Csilla's tiny paw rest itself upon her collarbone.

". . . . Elyon? Are you all right?" the green-eyed animal softly queried in concern, peering up at the girl, who then began to swiftly shake her dishwater blonde and messy pigtailed head, as though emerging from a daze.

"H-Huh?? O-Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm fine, Csilla. . . . I was just thinking about our last battle, and how everything had gotten so . . . complicated," Elyon lightly trailed off at the last of her words, with a small, but thankfully unnoticed pout, as Csilla had then turned her attention back onto the bustling streets surrounding them.

She did, however, seem to nonetheless understand the added meaning to the young girl's statement, as she then remarked, ". . . . I suppose that is true, especially concerning that Tuxedo Kamen fellow . . . now that we know that he's apparently after the Star of Threbe, himself, alongside Deite. It's as I'd told you girls on that night after the battle: We should all steer clear of Tuxedo Kamen from now on . . . at least until we are absolutely sure of his true intentions."

"But, I am sure of his true intentions!!" was what Elyon had almost blurted out, almost instinctively, to the wise, sometimes seemingly all-knowing feline, before promptly managing to stop herself just in time. Instead, she merely gave a small nod in mild understanding, and resumed her early morning journey to school.

It certainly wasn't as though she agreed with Csilla's point of view and newfound suspicions against the mysterious, masked young man. As far as Elyon was concerned, not a foul bone could have possibly existed within his body, not after having come to her rescue several times in the past.

After all, he had just recently saved her life from certain peril, diving off of that balcony in order to do so. Although, to be fair and, technically speaking, it had not been the man's intention to fall off of it with her . . . and, it had ended up being Elyon, herself, to somehow safeguard the two of them in the end through the apparent use of her still budding powers.

Still.

What person, in their right mind, would risk doing something so otherwise foolish, and for someone who was technically their competition, if they truly were the enemy?

No. It simply did not add up, in Elyon's mind, at least, and she had tried her absolute best to convince both Csilla and Taranee (who had seemed mindfully inclined to concur with the feline's growing negative sentiments, simply based upon her facial expressions, alone), that very same night. . . .

". . . . Do you really think that Alchemy, her parents, and everyone else will be all right, now? Even the Princess, as well, Csilla?? I don't feel right about just leaving like that, yet again," Elyon had murmured to her companions, while beginning the slightly long walk to the nearest bus stop that would take both her and Taranee to their respected homes.

The newly formed Guardian Soldier duo had just then reverted back to their normal guises, within the usual light blue and dark red sparkled splendor, after having rounded a thankfully secluded corner. The surrounding streets, themselves, were pretty abandoned for the most part, as late evening was gradually beginning to set in, making the trio's hasty exit from the young princess of Marsily's ball a blessedly easy one.

They were now a good block and a half away from the Marsilian Embassy, with the royal affair by then most likely beginning to resume (albeit awkwardly, the three comrades were sure), now that the Royal Family and its guests were arousing from out of their induced and deleterious slumber.

No one had honestly said much to one another up until that moment, as their latest battle with the continued vile forces of their shared, menacing enemy had been by far the most strenuous. Between the unexpected Entity-possession of Princess Étaín, and having to contend against her without actually inflicting any sort of harm; the rather bothersome Deite's prompt appearance (or rather, his apparent shadow form, prior to) soon thereafter; and every last guest in attendance, including Csilla, herself, falling victim to another one of his energy-depletion attacks, it was an honest wonder that they had all made it out of there alive and in one piece.

Especially not after having nearly lost the leader of their small, but growing group to a near tragic fall, all in thanks to her gradually budding bravery, as well as desire to procure the Princess's prized possession.

'If it hadn't been for that weird bubble thing, or especially for Tuxedo Kamen, I probably wouldn't even be here right now. . . .' Elyon had thought somberly, after the group had fallen quiet once more, both Csilla and Taranee perhaps pondering the very same thing right then, as the shock of it all was still rather fresh.

However, despite still feeling rather rattled by the overall and near-death experience, and for the fact that one of her dear friends was yet again caught within the line of fire, it was Tuxedo Kamen's startling admission which admittedly held Elyon within an ongoing grip of despair within that particular moment.

'". . . . So long as we both are looking for the same thing, then . . . I suppose I am also your enemy, as well," he'd said to us, after Csilla asked him if he was also searching for the Star of Threbe. . . . But . . . it can't be true. He just can't be our enemy, after everything he's done for us from the very beginning . . . can he??' the tiny, soft haired blonde had silently wondered in ongoing confliction, before having been startled by the sudden sound of Csilla's miniscule and tired sounding voice.

"Yes, Elyon . . . your friend, her family, and everyone else will be just fine, thanks to the both of your efforts, once again. After all, I'm here, conscious once more and life energy returned to me, right? Although . . . I do think I could do with a much needed catnap . . . or two," the female cat, currently being cradled within a continually silent Taranee's arms, had softly responded with mild weakness laced within her traditionally much stronger voice. "And as for the Princess, I am quite confident that neither she nor any of her guests will honestly remember what had happened to them. Or, at least, if some do, they obviously will not be able to make much sense of it, much like those at Alchemy's father's jewelry exhibition, I'm sure."

Elyon had then shaken her commonly disheveled head in disagreement right then, allowing herself a reprieve from her ongoing, brooding ruminations concerning the ever mystifying Tuxedo Kamen, if only for the time being.

"Nuh uh. Not true. Alchemy, at least, seemed to remember a bit more than just bits and pieces here and there about that night . . . even if no one seemed to believe her, thankfully. So, who's to say that she, or even her father, this time, as well, won't recollect more from this instance, as well?? What then??"

Csilla had sighed lightly at this, turning her slate gray colored head towards her primary charge, just as the overall weary trio rounded another corner.

". . . . Then we'll simply have to take it as it may come -- If it may, that is -- and dissuade her all over again, that's all," she'd replied in confidence, before letting out a heavy yawn. This response had seemed to satisfy Elyon, as her formerly worried, creamy visage had at last relaxed some, and given way to a thoughtful expression the moment her periwinkle colored eyes settled upon the ever quiet Taranee.

The naturally shy and reserved girl hadn't said much of anything once they had all fled from the Marsilian Embassy, which the dishwater blonde had merely assumed was due to their rather dicey encounter with Deite and the immense fatigue which had followed thereafter.

Now, however, she was beginning to wonder, especially based upon how honestly . . . pensive the other girl currently looked.

". . . . Taranee? Are you all right?? You're not saying very much," Elyon had ventured an inquiry of concern, reaching out to rest a warm hand upon the raven haired intellect's bare shoulder. She'd then softly smiled as the fierce, dark blush which she had been expecting to appear upon Taranee's milk chocolaty cheeks swiftly had just then, an occurrence the blonde was already growing quite accustomed to.

Taranee had nearly jumped right out of her skin in that moment, it'd seemed, before promptly turning her entire body to face her newfound companion with a sheepish smile reflecting upon her face.

"W-What?? Oh, y-yes, of course, Miss Brown! I'm just . . . fine, thank you," she had responded awkwardly in embarrassment, almost seeming to have briefly struggled with her choice of words momentarily. Because of this, Elyon had really wondered if the other girl was "fine," like she'd said; however, she'd decided not to push it, as it really might have been most likely due to the overall chaos of that evening, after all.

". . . . I was actually just wondering about Princess Étaín, and if she really is the princess we're searching for," Taranee had surprisingly continued on, rather than return to whatever thoughts which had been swirling within the privacy of her own mind.

It was then that the girls' shared bus stop had at last come into view in the still relatively far distance, causing the three of them to simultaneously breathe a grand sigh of relief, before Csilla had cleared her throat to respond.

". . . . No, Taranee, I'm sorry to say. Princess Étaín is not our princess," she'd stated with a mixture of faint firmness, alongside disappointment at this.

Elyon had raised an eyebrow in curiosity, interjecting before Taranee, herself, had gotten the opportunity to speak once more.

"But, wait a sec . . . I don't get it. How could you be so sure? She seemed pretty legit to me -- I mean, besides not having that Star of Threbe we're also looking for, that is," she'd remarked with a tiny yawn of her own, before slowly stretching out her arms on either side of herself.

Csilla had lightly narrowed her green eyes with mild displeasure.

"I had never said that she was not an actual princess in general, Elyon. I'd merely stated that she was not our princess. I did not wish to jump to conclusions, especially before seeing for sure whether or not she possessed the Star of Threbe; however, the more time I had spent within her presence, the more I was able to sense that she wasn't the one. . . ." she'd vaguely explained, succeeding in raising more questions for her two pupils.

". . . . So, then, are you saying that you would be able to spot the Princess out immediately if ever she is to appear, or if we find her beforehand, Csilla? You never really were very clear when you'd started to explain it to us earlier today," Taranee had asked in curiosity, seeming to have become much more animated and involved within the group's ongoing conversation.

At this, Csilla had merely smiled softly, rather than grow more irritated by the obvious slight doubt the one, if not the both of her soldiers had within her mystical capabilities.

"No, no, nothing like that, Taranee. That is . . . how to put this? When, not if we find her, or she is to find us, beforehand, it will just be . . . a feeling, simple as that. Surely, you of all people, can understand that. . . ." she'd replied with a small smile, referring to the profound sixth sense the timid girl had hesitantly admitted to possessing to her new comrades earlier on that same day.

At this, Taranee's cheeks had become flushed once again, before softly nodding in comprehension.

". . . . At any rate, I'm beginning to have developed a few new theories on precisely who our princess could be, although I do not wish to say anything quite yet," Csilla had then stated with sudden mystery, effortlessly catching both teenagers' attention, after at last arriving at their empty bus stop.

Elyon had gazed upon her new "pet" with curious eyes a moment, before having taken a much needed seat upon the cool bench, with Taranee following suit.

"Huh?? You do, Csilla? So, then who --" she'd began, before the grayish blue feline abruptly cut her off by suddenly jumping onto her lap, after having freed herself from Taranee's gentle hold.

"-- I'd prefer to do a little bit of investigating before sharing any of my theories upon the matter, Elyon . . . just to be on the safe side, before wasting everyone's energy and efforts, after all," she'd explained calmly with a serious expression, before curiously deepening her brow. "In the meantime, however, we should all continue to be on our toes, and certainly make it a strong point to keep away from that Tuxedo Kamen. . . ."

This was when Elyon had nearly screamed, she had been that taken aback by Csilla's last statement . . . even though, in all honesty, she had been expecting something of the sort, given the feline's rather protective nature.

"B-But, wait! You can't mean that, Csilla!" the blonde had begun in shock, blue eyes now widened as though for added emphasis. "I know what he'd said back there, about viewing him as an 'enemy' if all of us are looking for the mystical Star of Threbe, but --"

"-- Exactly, Elyon! He'd said so, himself, not I! If he is looking for it, but will not tell us why, not to mention apparently deems the three of us a threat within his search, then I most certainly do mean what I'd said!" the furry little animal had abruptly cut off her charge heatedly, her long tail now beginning to swish back and forth a bit wildly. "It may be your jobs as Guardian Soldiers to protect this planet and our princess once we've found her, but it is my job to look after and guide you well within your journey! And that includes making sure that any sort of potential danger be averted!"

While Taranee had seemed to have been rather understanding of the magical cat's reasoning, having given no hint of visible rejection, Elyon, however, absolutely refused to have any of it. She'd then turned her attention onto the thoughtful intellect, and peered at her with pleading eyes.

"Taranee, please help me out here! You're the smart one of the bunch, after all! Tuxedo Kamen can't be evil like Deite, even with what he'd said, because he's always helping us! Right?? There's gotta be a logical explanation for all of this!" she'd stated firmly, just as their bus could be seen slowly making its way down the partially empty road towards them.

Before Taranee could have responded, however, looking greatly uncomfortable for having been promptly placed within the middle, at that, Csilla swiftly interjected once more in increased upset.

"Why are you so adamant to prove this man's innocence, Elyon?? You know as much about him as either one of us do. So, why is it so personal to you, as it now seems to be??" she'd queried with a slight cock of her fur-riddled head, causing Elyon to immediately blush at her words.

'. . . . Wait . . . why am I so determined about it??' she'd silently pondered in that moment, eyes slowly becoming downcast, while struggling for a legitimate response to the feline's righteous inquiry. '. . . . Well, I guess it's because of what I've been trying to convince the two of them of: Tuxedo Kamen has risked his own life to save ours tonight, in addition to having helped me personally the very first time I'd become Sailormeridian. So . . . I suppose I just feel like . . . like I owe it to him to have faith within him, and his ultimate intentions for going after the Star of Threbe, as well. . . .'

It had been within that moment that Elyon's heart had seemed to gradually begin to betray her mind's conviction, as it curiously began to beat more soundly than before, causing her to instinctively rest a hand over it. A sudden flurry of butterflies had then let loose within her stomach, as well, a familiar sensation the girl had known all too well, especially within the presence of Cedric.

But then . . . why had it occurred then, and at the thought of the elusive Tuxedo Kamen, instead??

Just as the trio's bus had strained to a stop before them, images of the pair's shared ballroom dance had surfaced into the forefront of Elyon's mind then, and had remained with her for the majority of the thankfully quiet ride home.

Tried as she might, they simply would not leave her, and nor would her butterflies, which only seemed to increase in amount the longer her daydreams had remained with her.

The way Elyon had felt within the young man's strong, protective arms . . . the way he'd smelled . . . the way he'd looked . . . each had continued on swimming within her mind, with little which could have been done to have stopped it.

And those eyes . . . those big, mesmerizing, and haunting emerald colored eyes of his . . . there had been something so strongly familiar about them, the longer Elyon had gotten lost within them. Everything about that shared moment between the two had seemed familiar to her, as eerily as that was . . . but she could not, for the life of her, comprehend the reason behind it, nor the newfound feelings which would begin to manifest themselves whenever a thought was spared for the indefinable Tuxedo Kamen.

It had been these particular thoughts which had lingered within the petite blonde's mind, after she and Taranee had at last parted ways and she had gotten dropped off at her home first, and long after she had at last climbed into her inviting bed and had fallen into a much needed slumber. . . .

. . . . And they're thoughts and questions I still don't have an answer to, Elyon thought after her mind had at last traveled back to the present, lightly sighing within mild frustration. It's not like I can talk to anyone about this, either. Alchemy isn't a part of the whole Guardian-related loop, sadly, so she's out . . . and Csilla would probably just yell at me some more to forget about Tuxedo Kamen altogether. . . . But, I guess I could try talking to Taranee about it, but I don't really know if she'd have any sort of plausible answer, anyhow . . . not to mention that she'd seemed to be on Csilla's side in staying away from him, kinda. . . . And besides, she seemed to have a lot on her mind the last time that I saw her; I'd hate to bug her with my petty issues, after all.

Elyon let out a soft, slightly defeated sigh at this, before gently murmuring to herself, ". . . . No. There's nothing for it but to just forget all about these odd feelings. He saved our lives and is our ally for it -- That's all."

"Hmm?? Did you say something, Elyon??" Csilla naturally ventured in query, upon suddenly hearing her charge curiously mutter to herself in that way, her tiny, pointed ears perking up as a result.

Honestly having forgotten the feline had continually been present for a moment, Elyon nearly jumped within her stationed position at hearing her familiar voice, blushing instantly in embarrassment at nearly having unintentionally made Csilla privy to her ongoing ruminations.

"H-Huh? N-No, Csilla, not really. I was just . . . muttering about how it really is Fall here, now, since I feel a bit chilly all of a sudden," Elyon spoke hurriedly, before flashing the furry cat a crooked smile and rubbed at her arm with her free hand for emphasis.

Instead of having grown suspicious, as the blonde had honestly expected of the wise animal, Csilla instead gave her a concerned expression before nodding weakly.

"Really? I, myself, feel perfectly fine; but then, I am the one with ample fur insulation, after all," she began with a soft purr of sympathy. "Maybe we should head back home, and quickly grab you a jacket to wear with your outfit, then --"

"-- No, no. No need, Csilla, thanks -- I'll live," Elyon gently interrupted the slate gray enchanted being with a small smile of appreciation, before resuming her trek to school. "Besides, if we did that, then I really would be late for class."

The pair continued on in silence for several moments thereafter, up until they'd rounded a nearby corner, where the usual newspaper and magazine stand Elyon would pass each day on her way to school was situated. It was there that a rather large, frenzied crowd of both customers and bystanders alike were gathered, talking animatedly about something that neither Elyon nor Csilla were able to quite make out through all of the commotion.

"Hmm . . . I wonder what all this is about??" the platinum blonde wondered aloud as she drew closer, more so to herself, although Csilla nodded in similar query.

"I can't believe it! Can you?? More superheroes in our very city, just like Sailor V!" squealed a short, teenage brunette to Elyon's immediate right as she approached, clutching what looked to be a local newspaper to her chest, as she peered up at her apparent and smiling male friend next to her.

At this, Elyon let out a sharp gasp in alarm, her insides instantly growing queasy as she worriedly gazed down at a now wide-eyed, but still carefully silent Csilla.

"'More superheroes, just like Sailor V??' Does she mean . . . us, Csilla??" the pigtailed girl softly whispered to the cat in mounting concern, before beginning to push her way through the crowd in order to seize a newspaper for herself.

"That's just what I need: More action figures and dolls to buy for my daughter, now that these two have popped up from out of nowhere," remarked a tall, raven haired man to himself directly in front of the newsstand, clad within an equally black business suit, once Elyon had successfully made it through the throng of busybodies. He then slowly folded his own newspaper within his hands, before placing it underneath his arm and looked upon the grinning, middle aged salesman before him. "But, hey, what can you do, huh? At least they, too, seem to be on our side, what with having apparently saved the princess of Marsily, and her treasure from would-be terrorists at her ball like that on Saturday. . . ."

Elyon nearly fainted upon hearing this, knees instantly buckling from her continued nerves, as her soft blue eyes had then also landed upon the front cover of one of the many printed newspapers, which specifically had its readers within its eager grip.

There, splayed out in plain view for all to see, were the retreating forms of both Sailormeridian and Sailormars . . . Elyon, and Taranee. . . .

Although the environment was rather dark, which thankfully provided enough shading to mask the both of their faces just well enough, it was still pretty clear enough for the masses to see that the two were indeed dressed nearly identical to Sailor V.

"O-Oh!!" the fourteen-year-old cried out before she could stop herself, promptly dropping an equally mortified Csilla from her arms without thinking, and immediately reached out for a copy of her own.

"A-Are you all right, young lady??" asked the middle aged newspaper salesman in concern, just as the opinionated businessman had walked away, and Csilla had let out a soft hiss in antipathy. The man then came around from behind his sales counter and gently pushed aside his surrounding customers, in order to reach a very flustered Elyon. "You don't look so well. . . ."

Catching her breath for a few moments, the soft haired girl swiftly shook her head as she continued to gaze upon the undeniable, exposing photograph of Taranee, and herself.

"Y-Yeah, I-I'm . . . I'm all right, mister, thank you. . . . I'm just . . . very surprised that there are more people like Sailor V out there . . . that's all," she responded weakly, almost within a daze, as she slowly straightened her posture and finally looked up at the apparent Good Samaritan of a man.

He merely smiled in both relief as well as understanding at this, gently patting at the girl's back, before releasing her and returning to his place at the back of the sales counter.

"I hear ya, miss. Lately, things have gotten rather chaotic and a bit uneasy within this city of ours, with the police being able to do little to nothing about it, it seems like. So, I'm personally glad for the arrival of two new saviors," he remarked with a broader smile and soft sigh, before a thoughtful expression formed upon his face. "It's simply a shame that no one seems to know their names, or perhaps where they've come from, yet, though. But then, none of us honestly know much about Sailor V, as well, after all. Hmm. . . ."

At this, the kind salesman turned his attention onto the rest of his customers, as more and more of them began to appear, and eagerly bought their own copies of such a historic newspaper issue. Elyon was grateful to have lost his focus, as she didn't want to risk continuing to draw any unwanted attention onto herself, or suddenly be accused of resembling one of those "Sailor V-like soldiers," even if it was honestly hard to tell from the picture.

Elyon then felt the now familiar sensation of Csilla weaving herself in between the teenager's skinny legs, primarily in protection from accidentally being trampled on by the continued onlookers. It was then that the blonde finally had gathered up her senses long enough in order to pay for her own copy of the revealing newspaper, before swiftly moving away from the stand and continued on within her walk to school.

Now that the two were no longer surrounded by those who could have easily eavesdropped upon them, Csilla softly cleared her throat to grab her charge's attention, as she lightly began to trot beside her.

"H-How could this have happened?? We have always been so very careful not to be discovered after our battles have been fought and won!" she spoke with a tense air, as she divided her attention upon the journey ahead and Elyon, who was frantically flipping the pages of her newspaper as she walked.

"I-I don't know, Csilla! Well, I mean . . . this was obviously taken during the night of the Princess's ball, I guess after our battle with Deite, but before we'd left the premises . . . and there were a lot of reporters and photographers naturally present, so. . . ." she trailed off as her train of thought was momentary lost to her, beginning to read bits and pieces of the accompanying inside article to both Taranee's and her debut, although unintentional photo-op. "'. . . . As the dusty haze of unease began to at last settle within the entire ballroom, with a rather pale and perplexed looking Princess Étaín at the forefront, and whose physical appearance mirrored the universal, internal misgivings of that of her guests, I am quite sure, this reporter could merely stop and wonder simply this: What was the cause of all of this? What could have been so powerful enough as to cause the hundreds of honored guests to feel so dazed, drained, and as though time had been lost to them somehow, if only momentarily??

It was only after I was able to seize a bit of much needed fresh air out upon the ballroom's balcony, coupled by managing to claim a few statements from the Princess, however befuddled, that I was able to add a few missing pieces to the puzzle. While it is mere speculation that an attack of unknown means, by equally unknown terrorists had been made upon the Marsilian Royal Family that night, according to the Princess, it is also according to her that both she and the rest of us had been rescued by the selfless efforts of 'two very brave young women, dressed within the most peculiar manner,' as quoted to me by Her Highness. I, of course, being the truth-seeking journalist that I am, nonetheless found this tidbit of information to be rather difficult to swallow, even if the source had come from royalty.

However, the very moment I had stepped out onto that balcony, I was more so inclined to believe the Princess. For it was there, down below me upon the grounds of the Embassy, a duo of young females had been, who rather fit the description of 'dressed within the most peculiar manner' that Her Highness had provided. With different colored leotards, skirts and sailor-like collars, my mind was instantly reminded of another apparent superhero of sorts, the elusive Sailor V.

Trusty camera thankfully still in hand, I was able to quickly seize a couple of snapshots of the mysterious pair, one of which you, the reader, now see before you, just as they had begun to rush off of the premises and into the blanketed darkness of the night.

Now, far be it for me to make the call upon a universal stand of opinion, in regard to whether or not these particular ladies had been there for all of our sakes, or perhaps our would-be downfall. However, it is in this reporter's own personal view that, within such trying times as these, surely there must be a thin ray of hope amongst the seemingly endless, and darkened clouds? You be the judge. . . .'"

Elyon paused within her walking for a moment, after having finished reading the rest of the insightful article aloud, causing Csilla to do the same. She then peered down upon her with renewed worry shining forth within her light blue eyes.

". . . . Did you hear that? That reporter was able to catch me and Taranee, as the three of us were leaving the Embassy that night! She saw everything!" she whimpered within a low tone, before beginning to nervously tug at the ends of her messy pigtails. "Well, almost everything, anyway. There doesn't seem to be any mention of either you . . . or Tuxedo Kamen in here, at least. I guess maybe she came out after he had gone, and wasn't able to take his picture as a result. . . ."

Too preoccupied with the potentially dangerous situation at hand to be bothered by the mention of the apparently dubious young man, Csilla lightly began to frown in continued thought before responding.

"Hmm . . . that is true, I suppose. But then, perhaps she'd found the presence of a 'mere feline' too inconsequential to mention within her profound article," she remarked with unexpected indignation and a swift flicker of her furry tail, causing Elyon to blink rapidly in surprise.

"A-Are you serious? You're actually upset that you weren't mentioned or photographed, yourself, Csilla?? And here I thought you were the one always preaching about being careful not to be seen by the masses," the dishwater blonde said with a brief roll of her eyes, and faint smile. She was thankful, nonetheless, for the fleeting break of character within her guardian, as it allowed her the opportunity to begin relaxing, if only for the moment.

Feeling the skin underneath her grayish-blue fur beginning to grow warm in abashment, Csilla furiously batted her raised tail back and forth within the atmosphere, as though in attempts to dismiss the girl's poignant comment.

"W-Whatever! Be that as it may, Elyon, a picture's worth a thousand words, because, as you can plainly see, we -- Or rather, you and Taranee -- have been exposed to the masses now, as you'd put it," she spoke with as much authority as she could, in order to stifle her charge's rather vexing simper which continued to remain upon her fair countenance. "And as . . . daunting as that admittedly may be, it thus far doesn't appear as though it is an overall bad thing. That is to say, both the public, as well as that particular reporter, seem to view the two of you within a positive light, even going as far as to associating you with Sailor V, whom they all know to be good without a doubt. . . ."

Elyon raised a slender finger to her cherry Chap Stick covered lips in thought.

"Hmm . . . yeah, I guess so. At least, then, in that case, if and when we're somehow seen in public by others again, we can hopefully count on not being arrested, or shot at by the police, you know??" she voiced in query for a moment, before the smile upon her face at last began to fade, and a frown effortlessly took its place. "But, wait a sec. . . . Aren't you worried this might interfere with the whole mission thing? You know, finding the mystical Star of Threbe, our princess and all that?? Also, I thought you said that people wouldn't be able to remember what happened once we've reversed the effects of whatever Entity Deite sends out to attack them? Apparently Princess Étaín seemed to remember enough, and even that reporter lady, as well -- Well, that something wasn't right, anyway. . . ."

This time, Csilla began to lead the way, as the pair resumed their walk for what felt like the umpteenth time that early morning, giving a slight nod in understanding as they did so.

". . . . True, that is what I have said, and it has been the case, for the most part. However, this time, the Entity we had faced on that night had been more or less Deite, himself. So . . . perhaps, because of this, the impact he had had upon his former victims with his dark energy had been so strong that it'd unfortunately enabled lasting effects, even after you'd reversed them," the sagacious feline began in theory, as Elyon simultaneously lifted her newspaper to skim through the same article once more while listening. "After all, after having been affected, I had still felt rather drained, myself, despite having been healed by you . . . which, I suppose, then, the same may be said for your friend, Alchemy, once you see her on campus. . . . And as for our mission, while this may admittedly be a bit of a minor setback, I do not believe it will interfere within the long run. So, we should simply continue on as we have been, all the same. . . ."

"Hmm . . . if you say so. I guess I'll have to do a little bit more of the same sort of buffering I'd done for Alchemy, the last time she went around school, telling people about what happened to her at her dad's jewelry exhibit, because there is absolutely no way she won't be talking about this incident -- Especially not with pictures to prove it, this time," Elyon remarked with a thoughtful air within her continued walk, honestly becoming more and more fascinated by the article in question the more she looked upon it. "I wonder if Taranee's seen this yet, and how she feels about --"

"-- Elyon, look out!!" Csilla abruptly cried out in alarm, the desire to be discreet instantly forgotten as she helplessly watched her primary charge blindly cross the street, and straight into the path of oncoming traffic.

"-- W-What?? I -- Ahh!!" Elyon began in confusion, slowly lowering the newspaper away from her face and blocked view, before letting out a piercing scream the moment she'd realized her severe mistake, and locked eyes with a fast approaching pickup truck within her direction.

Without warning, the blonde unexpectedly felt, as she'd quickly closed her terrified eyes shut, the sensation of a pair of pretty strong arms wrapping themselves around her body, rather than the hard, bone shattering and most assuredly fatal impact with the oncoming vehicle. She then felt herself being toppled over, before rolling blindly along the graveled road with another, undeniable body pressed tightly against hers.

After a few moments had passed, with her absolute refusal to move, let alone open her eyes out of perpetual fear, Elyon at last did so . . . only to find herself gazing into an unfamiliar pair of rich mahogany, within a rather intimate proximity, at that.

Blushing furiously as a result, the now disheveled blonde let out a startled gasp and stammer, before promptly looking away in shyness, and slowly began to pull herself away from her apparent rescuer as other random pedestrians swiftly approached to help.

"Oh, my goodness! That was such a close call, there! Are both you girls all right??" an elderly woman nearest to the teenager asked, who, with the help of a few other onlookers, had then gingerly bent over to lift Elyon the rest of the way from off of the side of the road, where she and her quick thinking savior had settled.

"I-I, uh . . . I t-think so, yes," Elyon then weakly responded, lightly rubbing the back of her head, which was now furthered in messiness, before gazing down upon her apparent hero, or heroine, according to the older woman.

Now that the two were not interwoven within one another's arms, and she was far enough to get a better view of her, Elyon could then see that the individual was indeed female, and honestly appeared to be around her own age, at that.

She watched with curious eyes as the unknown girl slowly rose to her own feet without the surrounding assistance which had been offered to her, as well, and proceeded to roughly dust herself off.

Those clothes of hers sort of makes her look like a tomboy, or at the very least into sports . . . which, I guess, is a good thing, or else I probably wouldn't be here right now, Elyon curiously thought, as she took in the girl's black outlined tank top jersey, olive drab tinted cargo shorts, and yellow plaid slip-on sneakers.

But then, the more she'd taken in the fellow teenager's appearance, the more Elyon's initial opinion became a bit skewed, as she'd then noticed the rather unique design of several Tree Frogs, of various colors pleasantly decorating the front of the other girl's tank top, in addition to the Tree Frog keychain hanging delicately upon the khaki colored and messenger-style shoulder bag draped across her left shoulder.

Even a faint, but still visible trace of soft pink tinted lip gloss could be detected upon the young teenager's relatively full lips, as well.

Hmm . . . it seems like maybe she might also have a typical girly side to her, as well, what with wearing a bit of makeup, in addition to her apparent like for frog accessories . . . even though frogs are pretty slimy and gross, the platinum blonde lightly shivered at her newfound thought, before watching the honey eyed girl run a calm hand through her bob length and brilliantly red hued locks.

". . . . You'd better be careful there, next time," was all the redheaded deliverer said to Elyon, a bit evenly, before abruptly walking away, zigzagging through the continued sea of early morning pedestrians.

Blinking in surprise, as she hadn't expected their exchange to be so brief, Elyon immediately took off after the unknown, seemingly cold girl, as both their former onlookers and aids at last began to slowly disperse, themselves.

"W-Well, w-wait a second!! I-I never got --!" the petite girl started, calling after the crimson haired teenager and already losing sight of her within the growing crowd. The moment Elyon had rounded the final corner which would safely lead her the rest of the way to her school, the mysterious redhead was no longer anywhere to be seen, almost as though swallowed up within the mounting platoon of fellow commuters. ". . . . to say 'thank you. . . .'"

"E-Elyon!! Are you all right??" Elyon could hear Csilla frantically calling out after her from behind, before she'd turned around to properly face the jogging feline.

She nodded slowly.

"Yeah . . . I am, Csilla. But I never got a chance to thank the girl who saved me. . . ." the blonde lightly trailed off in response, a contemplative expression gathering onto her fair visage, as she looked back within the direction where she had last seen the female in question.

Catching her breath for a few moments, Csilla then gently rested a comforting, tiny paw against her charge's shin before speaking once more.

"Thank goodness you're all right and in one piece, then, Elyon! But . . . what girl? Throughout all the commotion, I wasn't able to readily cross the street, with so many people rushing forward to help you, and thus blocked my path. So, I ended up having to go around until I could reach you; I'm afraid I wasn't able to see the one who'd luckily rescued you. . . ." she explained softly, faintly beginning to purr in gratitude as Elyon bent over to pick up the emotionally rattled feline from off of the ground.

Gently stroking the top of her grayish blue colored head, Elyon shook her own in understanding dismissal, as she continued to stare straight ahead.

"It's all right . . . I guess. I just wonder who she could have been. . . .?"

---

By the time that lunchtime had arrived later on that school day, the news of the apparent arrival of two new Sailor V-like soldiers during Princess Étaín's royal ball had just about swept through the entire high school. It appeared to be quite honestly the only thing that any of the students wished to discuss, with the majority of each reaction the same as the last, all filled with glee and instant adoration.

Elyon, however, was positively mum upon the issue.

It was all she could do to keep a straight face, or to calm her returned rattled nerves, the more and more each of her various friends throughout her class periods talked about it. It made her honestly wish that pets were allowed on campus, so then she'd at least still have Csilla's continued company; however, the two had naturally parted ways, once the blonde had safely made it onto school grounds after her near-death experience once again, with the grayish blue feline heading over to the Musical Star Café to continue her research upon the mystical Star of Threbe's possible whereabouts.

Too bad Taranee doesn't go to this school, either, because then we could have shared the awkwardness of this situation together. . . . I wonder how she's coping with it over at her private school, as I'm sure she must have heard about all of this by now, Elyon pondered within faint forlornness, as she'd then entered the usual, already crowded courtyard, where she'd eat lunch everyday with Alchemy and their other mutual friends.

She immediately felt out of place all over again, feeling a tad naked from all of the sounds of tittering teenagers discussing "Sailor V and her new comrades" this, and "Sailor V and her new comrades" that, with profound animation all around her.

"Thank goodness there are only three more periods after this one, because I don't honestly know how much more of this I can ta --" Elyon softly began to herself with unease, cutting herself off and cheeks instantly growing aflame, as she'd then overheard an unknown male senior unknowingly refer to her alter ego as "pretty hot, from what you can make out from the picture."

Hmm . . . maybe there are some potential upsides to this whole thing, after all, the platinum blonde couldn't help but think upon having unintentionally eavesdropped about the fleeting conversation, a tiny smile slowly creeping upon her still reddening countenance, as she slowly made her way towards her usual lunch table.

She was surprised to see that not only were both Alchemy and Martin already seated there, as Elyon traditionally had a habit of arriving there before the two of them, but the Grumper Twins were accompanying them, as well.

Raising an eyebrow at the sight, Elyon gave a small wave in greeting to her quartet of friends as they'd just then caught sight of her arrival, before sitting down within her usual spot next to Alchemy.

"Hey there, El! What's with the oil marks on the side of your skirt?? Were you changing a flat tire for extra credit in gym class earlier, or something??" joked Bess with a playful sneer and point of her skinny, pale finger towards the unfortunately blatant stain in question upon Elyon's right hip.

Looking down momentarily, the blonde softly sighed at the remark, before shaking her head a bit nervously. She, of course, had long since been aware of the unsightly, blackened mark blaring out for all to see, against the white toned skirt in contrast. She had even gotten used to several of the unfunny jests, made at her own expense, by her fellow schoolmates she'd received throughout the day, and near identical to Bess's.

However, it was always the chosen response given to them which had unnerved Elyon most. Seeing as it had been resolved, with all of her in one piece as Csilla, too, had remarked that morning, the naturally caring girl did not wish to alarm anyone who had asked, by letting them know that the blemish had been received due to nearly having been hit by a speeding pickup truck.

There had been enough commotion going on within the school all day, courtesy of Taranee's and her good deeds as Sailors Meridian and Mars, after all. The last thing she'd need was added attention . . . even if, technically, no one honestly knew that both she and Sailormeridian were one and the same.

And so, as she had for the majority of that day about it, Elyon lied.

"O-Oh, this?? I guess I must have gotten it when I had taken a seat on a bus bench on the way to school this morning, in order to scrape the bubblegum which had been on the bottom of my sandal -- Bad day all around, I suppose, huh??" she revealed as convincingly as she could, adding a small shrug and light chuckle for added effect.

Each of her four friends seemed to have bought the cover story, as the lot of them simultaneously let out mirrored giggles of their own, before nodding within sympathy.

"Seems like it, babe! But I gotta tell ya that that pretty little skirt of yours is kaput, sadly, because I know for fact that nothing gets transmission fluid out of clothes! Just ask our dad, who so tragically 'borrowed' Bess's favorite yellow tube top last summer to wipe his hands with, when he'd found it accidentally lying on the floor in our basement," Courtney shared with a sympathetic smirk, before both she and Bess shivered at the apparently unfortunate memory at the same time.

Elyon merely shrugged within friendly dismissal once more, before turning her attention onto Alchemy, who was warmly smiling back at her. The two had seen each other earlier on that day already, and the pigtailed girl was thankful to both learn and see for herself that her best friend was all right after the dicey events of last Saturday evening.

"Besides sharing a family unified sort of headache between us for the remainder of the weekend, since we each seemed to have one, we're all just fine. But man, I wish you could have been there, Ellie! Everything was absolutely beautiful and to die for! Well, almost to die for, apparently," the russet haired girl had explained to the previously worried Elyon, during their shared study hall that early morning, causing her to instantly relax at the news, if not still feel a tad guilty for her companion having once again been thrown into danger.

"Well, hey. Maybe you two can both get matching outfits like those two new soldiers who were at Princess Étaín's ball -- You know, now that you know without a doubt that I wasn't making things up when I'd said that I saw one of them at my dad's jewelry exhibition not too long ago!" Alchemy remarked with a triumphant sort of grin, flashing it with a bit of overabundance at the red haired, now frowning twins.

Courtney then rolled her soft green eyes and scoffed generously, before responding.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, already! Didn't we, like, both apologize numerous times to you during English class two periods ago?? Methinks it's about time to get off that high horse, there, little missy!" she lightly hissed in between her teeth, before helping herself to a generous spoonful amount of the vanilla flavored pudding she had placed upon her lunch tray of other foods she had purchased earlier. "But, if it'd make you feel even more vindicated to hear it one more time, then fine: We. Are. Sorry!"

Martin, who had been quietly listening to the various conversations unfolding between his friends up until that moment, gave a light chuckle of his own, as he watched the formerly seething Grumper sisters begin to giggle gaily with the still grinning Alchemy.

"Wow! Do I sense a potential catfight on my hands, here?" he comically spoke, picking up his unused napkin from off of the table, and began waving it into the air, as though it were a white flag of surrender. "Maybe I should call the red-schemed soldier babe to rescue me!"

It was Alchemy's turn to roll her eyes upon hearing this, while both Courtney and Bess instantly wrinkled their noses in disgust, and Elyon honestly couldn't help but to giggle. It appeared as though no matter what identity she assumed, Martin would continue to have the now pretty obvious crush upon the very talented Taranee.

I've gotta tell her about this, sometime, the blonde thought within continued humor, as her pixie-cut haired friend spoke.

"Yeah, I'd bet you'd just love that, wouldn't you, Marty? You could have Sailor R make all the hurt just go away," she mockingly cooed at the now blushing Martin from across the lunch table, before she took a sip of her cherry flavored soda.

At this, Elyon abruptly stopped laughing, and blinked within confusion.

"'Sailor R??'" she asked within honest inquiry, turning her traditionally messy head towards her best friend on her left.

Alchemy merely smiled broadly, before nodding.

"Mmhm! I figure it's better than just calling the both of them 'unknown Sailor V-like women' forever and ever, until they either appear again, or the media somehow learns of their real names," she began casually, leaning forward to take a sip of the warm clam chowder she'd brought from home. "So, in the meantime, I've decided to dub the 'red-schemed soldier,' as Martin, there, put it, 'Sailor R,' short for 'Sailorred,' obviously."

Elyon could only slowly nod within mild understanding, before a faint simper began to form upon her fair visage. She began to wonder what Taranee would say to her newfound nickname, once she'd shared it with her when she saw her again.

Moreover, the young teenager then began to ponder what it was perhaps Alchemy or their other fellow schoolmates were beginning to call her own alter ego. Apparently, so too, was Bess, because before anyone else could have asked, Elyon heard her say, "'Sailorred??' Wow! I really, really hope that's not her name for real, or else I'm totally losing the respect I'm already starting to have for her! What, then, shall we call her companion, O Namer of Names??"

"Ooh, wait! Lemme guess! 'Sailor B,' for 'Sailorblue,' right?? O-Or, how 'bout this! 'Sailor C.O.S.R.,' for 'Sailor Comrade of Sailorred!!'" Courtney immediately chimed in before Alchemy could reply, gleefully contributing to the friendly teasing of the girl's mildly creative dub names to the mysterious new soldiers.

Martin, having apparently recovered for the unwanted attention being brought to his newfound, apparent affections for the one now known as "Sailorred," discreetly hid the soft snickers now beginning to emit from him with the back of his hand, as he watched (with admittedly slight satisfaction) Alchemy's lightly tanned face scrunch up within indignation.

Setting down her spoon back into her warm meal, the rust haired girl then folded her bare arms across her still developing chest with a pout, before shaking her head.

"Hardy har har! No, thanks. That's not what I was thinking of calling the other one! I was actually thinking of calling her . . . 'Sailor P,' for 'Sailorpetite,' for now," she tentatively revealed, much to her (as well as Elyon's, unknowingly, of course) chagrin, as she'd then instantly regretted it the moment she'd caught sight of the twins' puckered up lips.

Before another word could have been said, each sister simultaneously let out the generous laugh which had been previously trapped behind said lips, and began yet another round of guffawing at their friend's expense.

"'Sailorpetite??' Holy cow! That's even better than 'Sailorred!' Don't quit your day job, Al!" Courtney remarked in between her ongoing laughter, wiping away a stray tear which had then escaped from her left eye.

"Y-Yeah!! While you're at it, though, why not call her 'Sailor P,' for 'Sailorpintsized??' O-Or 'Sailor R,' too, but for 'Sailorrunt??' Classic!!" contributed Bess with delicious relish as she struggled to catch her breath, the natural mean streak that both she and her sister shared and usually only reserved for those they both truly despised beginning to come out in that moment.

Both Alchemy, and especially Elyon, frowned deeply throughout the entire jesting, courtesy of both Grumper Twins, looking about the table as their remaining friends continued to chortle uncontrollably or, as was the case with Martin, "mysteriously" possessing a deeply reddened face partially hidden behind his hand.

God . . . now I really wish that that reporter had never gotten Taranee's or my picture in our Guardian forms! At least she's being called 'Sailorred,' something I'd be more than willing to live with, myself. But, nooo! I get stuck with 'Sailor P,' for 'Sailorpetite!' Ugh, I just had to be short. . . . the platinum blonde silently sulked, roughly biting off a piece of the banana she'd pulled out of her lunch bag and had unpeeled a few minutes before.

Unable to stand the ongoing mortification (even if no one had rightfully been aware of it) any longer, Elyon began to rapidly tap against the top of the lunch table with her free hand, in order to properly seize the unanimous attention of her friends.

"H-Hey! If we're all done talking about pet names for the new 'dynamic duo' and all, can we please talk about something new now??" she asked a bit evenly, despite her best efforts to conceal her anger, which caused the lot of her companions to instantly cease within their laughter, or own upset, as was the case for Alchemy.

". . . . Yikes! Who chewed off your head this morning?" Courtney ventured within tight-lipped inquiry, exhaling loudly on purpose before returning to her lunch.

"Yeah, what do you have against talking about the 'dynamic duo,' as you'd put it?? Hmm . . . that's actually not a bad nickname, there. Hey, Alchemy! Maybe, from now on, you should let Elle, here, take care of the names, eh??" Bess added with an initial scowl, before slowly smirking in leftover teasing of her other friend.

Alchemy groaned generously at this, before slapping a hand to her face, and slowly dragged it back down.

"Okay, I get it! My names are lame! But no one said you had to use them, now did they? Exactly! So pipe down, already!" she fired back, blindly kicking Bess's shin from underneath the table, at her place next to a smiling Martin. "I'm gonna keep calling them that, just fine, until their actual names are found out, myself. In the meantime, I wholeheartedly agree with Elyon: Who has some new gossip to dish out, besides what happened at Princess Étaín's ball this past weekend?? I've honestly had all I can handle hearing about that for one day, really. . . ."

Breathing an instant sigh of relief that the previous and admittedly infernal subject was at last going to change, Elyon gave a small smile towards her best friend for a moment, before silence had then unexpectedly claimed the entire lunch table.

Don't tell me that the one time I really need the twins to go to work with their usual rumor mill and what have you, they've for once run dry! thought the dirty blonde in disbelief, as she, Alchemy, and even Martin looked over at the two sisters expectantly.

Catching each of their glances, Courtney blinked in surprise, pausing a moment before being the first to speak.

". . . . W-What?? So, really?? None of you have anything to contribute?? Well, definitely not you, Martin, since you'll probably just bore us to death with one of your lame-o comic book convention stories again. But the rest of you have nothing good? How sad, B! It looks as though, once again, you and I will have to come to the rescue with some more of our usually titillating tales!" the cherry haired girl pompously remarked within her usual rudeness, although a soft smile had curiously then formed upon her freckled countenance, just as a dreamy expression mysteriously graced Bess's.

"H-Hey! I'll have you know that those comic book conventions have loads of action and stories to unfold! Heh, heh! Get it?? See, because it's a convention for comic books, a-and I'd said that they have 'loads of action and stor --'"

"-- Yes, Marty, we got it . . . unfortunately," Alchemy lightly cut off her old friend, who was nonetheless still chuckling at his own inside joke, before resuming his meal. The relatively outspoken girl then shifted her attention back onto the Grumper Twins, who were beginning to faintly blush, for reasons unbeknownst to both she and Elyon . . . and perhaps Martin, as well, if he had been honestly paying attention, or even cared, for that matter. "You two 'lovely ladies' suddenly look as though you'd both been struck by Cupid's Arrow out of nowhere. So, spill it!"

Without hesitation, both redheads swiftly dove for their backpacks in response, causing Elyon to believe, for a moment, that the two were literally going to spill everything onto the courtyard's pavement. But then, seconds later, the twins had straightened their postures once more, before abruptly slamming what looked to be two photographs onto the lunch table.

"You may be totally right about Cupid having snagged me and Court with one of his heavenly arrows, Al, because we've like, been under this angel's spell since the moment we'd both laid eyes on him!" Bess gushed with girlish exuberance, before reaching across the table to clasp her slightly older sister's hands and began to squeal alongside her.

Courtney vigorously nodded in agreement, bouncing up and down within her seat next to Alchemy in excitement.

"Ohh, my God, for sure! He is the hottest thing to have ever walked the planet!!" she added in between swooning, as both Elyon and Alchemy slowly reached out for the temporarily discarded photographs still lying freely upon the lunch table.

At this, Martin looked up from his half eaten tuna casserole and groaned heavily.

"Awww, man! We're doing 'Boy Talk' now, aren't we? It's a good thing I'd brought the latest comic book issue of 'Metal Man: Defender of All' with me, then," he said with an added sigh of relief, before promptly reaching into his own book bag to retrieve the piece of literature in question to begin reading.

All four of his female friends merely gave the cornflower haired boy a momentary glance and sigh, before leaving him to his own devices, as it were.

"Sooo . . . okay. You girls are now in love with some cute boy . . . whom you're apparently already stalking, seeing as you have photographical evidence of his existence -- Clearly taken without his knowing, or consent, I'm sure," Alchemy teased with a wink, as she continued to study the picture within her hands of the young man in question.

Elyon, meanwhile, began to do the same for the one she currently had within her possession. Hers, too, seemed to have been taken rather candidly, as the newfound object of both the Grumpers' affection was not looking within the direction of wherever their camera had been.

In fact, he'd appeared to be too busy being swarmed by a gaggle of teenage, and even slightly older looking girls, all of whom were grinning uncontrollably and each had the same lovesick expression both Courtney and Bess had donned not too long ago, themselves.

Elyon could not make out the area all of them within the photograph had been, but surmised that wherever it was definitely had a swimming pool nearby, as the tall, young man's caramel colored and toned body was positively drenched with water from head to toe.

And, of course, those white colored speedos and yellow swim cap he's got on there are also a dead giveaway, the blonde silently noted within afterthought, feeling her cheeks growing warm the longer she gazed upon them. She then forced herself to instead fix her curious gaze upon the unknown swimmer's generous, flawless smile, and sparkling light brown eyes.

". . . . Well, he's certainly easy on the eyes," Elyon heard herself blurting out before she could stop herself, immediately blushing profusely as all three of her girlfriends promptly gazed upon her in surprise, while Martin, who apparently was now far too engrossed within his reading, did nothing to react, with the exception of shoveling another forkful of his lunch into his mouth in that same moment.

"Ah! I totally knew you guys would fall for him once you got a look at him, too! And you didn't even see him in person yet, like how me and Courtney luckily have!" Bess said with a sharp, although approving gasp, pointing a finger out towards her pigtailed friend, who couldn't help but to slowly sink into her seat within furthered abashment.

"N-No, I-I don't! I mean, I think he's very cute, sure, b-but I'm not in love with the guy or anything like that!" Elyon stammered within defense, lightly tossing the photograph from out of her hands and back onto the table for added emphasis.

Yeah . . . because I'm in love with Cedric, of course . . . and . . . and maybe. . . . she began to think in silent reflection of the friendly and handsome ponytailed blonde in question, before losing her focus, as Alchemy's familiar voice broke through it.

"Aww, forget about it, Ellie! No need to explain, since I, at least, understand that one measly comment about the . . . rather obvious hotness, I will admit, myself, of the twins' apparently mutual future husband doesn't mean you're all gaga for him now like they are," she kindly defended her best friend further, resting a comforting hand upon the smaller girl's shoulder, while handing back the other photograph to a surprisingly still beaming Courtney next to her.

"Noooo problem here! I mean, B and I already have enough competition as it is, as I'm sure you've both noticed within each picture. Stupid hussies. . . ." the wavy haired teenager remarked with a bitter tone tailing the end of her sentence, turning to her twin sister, who sadly nodded within agreement. "But, no matter! We're both very confident that we'll win the title of 'Girlfriend of Wiley Amato!' Well, one of us will, anyway . . . unless he doesn't mind having two irresistible women on each of his arms, that is!"

Both Grumpers began to giggle furiously at this, cupping the both of their faces, as another, generous rouge flooded their cheeks. Meanwhile, both Elyon and Alchemy offered crooked smiles in support to their friends' overabundant affections for the one apparently known as Wiley Amato.

True, the two sisters had been known throughout the years to slightly overdo it a tad whenever the opposite sex was concerned, sometimes going to great lengths to seize the attention of their hopeful intendeds. And of course, Elyon, and even the usually levelheaded Alchemy would sometimes fall prone to the idiocies their unruly hormones would see fit to plague them with, as well.

However, there just seemed to be something different and . . . almost off with the girls' latest crush, or how they were expressing it, anyway. It seemed that way to Elyon, at least, as she personally had never seen either twin get so worked up over a boy before . . . that she could recall, that is.

And they've certainly never taken snapshots of any of them before in the past, either . . . well, not that I know of, anyhow, she thought within furthered reflection, before clearing her throat to speak.

". . . . Okay. Well, then, in that case . . . who is he, exactly? Where and when did you two meet him?" she asked out of honest curiosity and intrigue, Alchemy slightly nodding her head next to her within mutual interest.

Apparently that had been the million dollar question for the Grumper sisters, as they were then all too happy to oblige an explanation, as the two then simultaneously pushed the blood red colored lunch trays filled with their half-eaten lunches aside, before leaning in towards the other pair of females at the table.

"Well --!" the twins both began together, continuing to mimic one another in not just their physical appearance, alone. Both Alchemy and Elyon softly giggled at the sight, while Bess frowned at her older twin.

"Can I tell it this time?? I swear, I feel like any time there's new dirt to dish out, you're always the one who gets to serve it first, sis!" she claimed with a small huff, as Courtney merely smiled back at her now pouting sister and best friend.

"Well, maybe you should learn to be quicker from now on, then, B. But, if you insist, go right ahead -- Either way, Wiley's still fantastically hot, no matter who gets to talk about him, after all," she replied with a faint coo, before reaching out to playfully tug at Bess's short and bone-straight ruby locks.

Bess promptly squealed with delight at this, before loudly clearing her throat, as though gearing up for telling a rather long tale, which, as far as Elyon had been concerned afterward, it had turned out to be.

"Oooh! So, okay! Like me and Court already told you guys, his name is Wiley Amato. Eighteen-years-old, a Freshman at Marigold University downtown, here in good ol' Heatherfield -- Thank the Lord for that, of course -- and like, a total genius when it comes to swimming!" she began in between fits of giggles, once again bouncing up and down within her seat. "Yeah! See, me and Courtney first found out about his glorious existence about two weeks ago, from our older cousin, Graham, when he came to pick us up from the arcade one time. Instead of dropping us off straight home as planned, he said he had to make a quick pit stop at the 'Seasonal Recreation Center' -- Y'know, the one over on Lita Way -- to return some workout equipment to a friend of his . . . Wiley. Oooh! Just saying his name gives me the tingles! Heh, heh!

A-Anyway, so like, since it was pretty boring waiting in the car for him, Court and me went in after Graham -- And thank God we did, or else we never would have known that Greek Gods still exist! I don't know about Courtney, here, but once I'd first laid eyes on Wiley . . . all muscular . . . wet from having just gotten out of the swimming pool that's there . . . and, just . . . overall yumtastic, my mind just completely shut down. All I could hear was music . . . wedding music, in fact, heh, heh. . . .

So, it's a miracle, honestly, that I can even remember the introductions Graham had given to us, once he saw that we'd followed him inside. Yeah, like, he and Wiley go to the same college, so that's how they know each other -- Well, besides sometimes working out at the gym together, I guess. Apparently, hottielicious Wiley was this really big, overall superstar athlete at his high school, back in Arizona where he's originally from! So when he came here, he was telling Graham how he wanted to get into better shape, so he could be prepared for tryouts for the male swim team in the spring!"

"Yep! And he's there at that rec center, every day around three o'clock, practicing his cute, well-toned butt off! And B and I are right there, watching him any chance we can!" Courtney chimed in after sensing the completion of her twin sister's side of the story, watching her then take a generous sip of her chocolate milk. "Only thing that totally sucks now, though, is that lately there have been a huge crowd of stupid fans -- Girls -- coming to watch Wiley swim. At first it was girls and guys, sure, fine, whatever. You know, the annoying, wannabe girlfriends cheering him on, while the guys just . . . cheered, or whatever, I don't know. But then, like, for the last few days, it's just been freaking girls, girls, girls, coming in there and invading our territory!! That's one of the reasons why we didn't honestly tell you two about Wiley 'till now, really; like me and Bess honestly need even more rivals, like we said. . . ."

Letting out a low exhale, trying her absolute best to maintain interest within her friends' apparent plight, Elyon then licked her partially dry lips, about to speak at last, when Alchemy beat her to it.

"Ha, ha! How very like the two of you to keep things you feel will benefit you most to yourselves. No worries, though, since, for me, at least, while this Wiley guy does sound -- And certainly looks, based upon your photographs, there -- rather fetching, you know I generally go for the rocker-types . . . or blondes, maybe," she said with a small, knowing smile, as Elyon was aware that she was most assuredly referring to their unfortunate dual crush, Cedric. "But anyway, whenever either of you manages to snag him and then sets a wedding date, be sure to let me and Ellie know of that, at least, okay??"

Courtney surprisingly looked hurt by this, as she tilted her wavy haired head to the side slightly.

"Aww, no fun! And here, we were honestly going to ask you two to come with us after school today, to check him out -- And I do mean, check him out!" she revealed with a click of her tongue.

Elyon blinked with perplexity.

"Huh? But I thought you'd just said that you didn't even want either of us to know about Wiley, because you didn't want added competition??" she asked within valid point, at last taking another bite of her temporarily forgotten banana.

"Well, yeah! But, to be honest? As it currently stands, even though we'd personally been introduced to him by our cousin Graham, it doesn't really seem like Wiley even knows me and Courtney exist, sadly. . . . Well, not like we're admittedly brave enough to go up to him and strike up conversation any time we're there at the rec center with him, either," Bess sheepishly confessed with a crooked smile, looking at Courtney, who merely nodded with a defeated air. "So . . . that's why we thought we may as well invite you along! That way, it won't be as depressing anymore, just sitting there on the bleachers, like always, trying our best to get his attention, short of walking right up to him, of course. . . . So, what do you say?? Will you come with us after school today to see him??"

Both Elyon and Alchemy instantly felt a great surge of sympathy coursing through them, after having listened to their usually quite haughty companions reveal a little of their more vulnerable side. It especially made Elyon, at least, relate quite well, as she, too, had been experiencing quite the difficult feat of getting Cedric to view her as anything more than just a mere friend. . . .

". . . . I would love to, you guys, and you know that I'd come along, if only to lend my support as your friend like you want, but I kinda promised my folks that I'd come straight home after school today. It was all I could do to get them to let me come at all today, seeing as they've become a bit paranoid now, what with all of the recent and odd things that have been happening to our family and all. . . ." Alchemy revealed with an annoyed sigh, resting her head against her now balled up fist. "But I'll work on them, get them to calm down and go back to normal, I'm sure. Why worry so much when our city now has Sailors V, P, and R, right?"

Elyon couldn't help but to feel at fault for her dear friend's newfound predicament within the home, before it thankfully had given way the moment she'd listened to the girl's continued faith within Sailor V, in addition to Taranee's and her own alter egos.

No worries at all, Alkie. Because I'll always have your back . . . no matter which form I'm assuming at the time to do it in, she thought with a growing smile upon her face, before she, too, took her turn to regrettably decline the Grumper Twins' offer.

"I gotta say no, too, girls, sorry. It's just that I told my mom I'd pick up her dry-cleaning for her on my way home from school. She needs it for an important meeting later on in the week at her job, she said," the pigtailed girl explained softly, watching the two redheads' faces fall in rejection. Seeing this, Elyon quickly added, as a way to lighten the mood, "B-But you can always drag Martin along; that way, you wouldn't be alone, and certainly wouldn't have the added competition you dread!"

At this, the formerly ever silent and reading Martin at last broke free from his seemingly trance-like state upon hearing his name, and was about to say something, when Courtney curiously screeched in alarm.

"O-Oh . . . my . . . God!! It's her!!" she mysteriously cried, seeming to have chosen to bypass Elyon's jest, as she instead reached out to squeeze Bess's arm to seize her attention, as well.

"W-What?? 'Her,' who?" Alchemy asked within the unanimous confusion the rest of their lunch table now shared, with a now honestly frightened looking Courtney's only response being a shaky raise of her right index finger, over Martin's head and towards the dual entranceway and exit of the courtyard.

Following the girl's direction, Elyon and the rest of her friends all turned their attention within that vicinity, her heart nearly stopped when her soft blue eyes rested upon a sight she never thought that she'd ever see again. . . .

"Holy cow! It's the girl who saved me from nearly getting hit by that truck this morning!!" she blurted out without thinking, instantly regretting it as she then watched her quartet of companions abruptly whirl their heads back around and towards her in alarm.

"Y-You --! You almost died today, and it's only now you're bothering to let any of us know, Elyon??" Alchemy cried out within righteous upset, resting both of her hands upon her best friend's shoulders.

Elyon immediately began to blush within mixed shame and embarrassment, as she slowly tore her eyes away from the approaching, still unknown redhead who had luckily rescued her from certain peril earlier in the day.

". . . . W-Well . . . I didn't mean to keep it from you guys. Well, I d-did, but only because I didn't want to worry any of you, as you clearly are now!" she weakly explained in apology, biting down onto her lower lip. "But like I said, I was thankfully saved by that girl, there! Never did get her name before she just left the scene this morning, though . . . but how lucky that she apparently goes to our school! Now I can thank her for what she did for me!"

"Are you mad, woman?? Maybe that near fatal experience messed with your rationale and overall good sense or something!" Bess squealed within disbelief, frantically clinging to her twin sister from across the lunch table.

"Y-Yeah, for sure! At least we now know why and how you got that transmission fluid on your skirt, there, Elyon! But it doesn't explain why it's just that, and not traces of your own blood on there, instead -- Especially if it had been that girl to have supposedly rescued you! Must be a total cover story for her criminal offenses. . . ." Courtney added with a grand shiver, as she and the rest of Elyon's friends returned their attention back onto the bob-haired teenager, who had just then passed by their table without so much of a glance.

In fact, the lone young girl did not seem to allow her honey brown colored eyes to wander within any direction as she slowly walked with undeniable confidence, lightly clutching her shoulder bag with her left hand while having stuffed her right into the pocket of her lightly dirtied cargo shorts.

There was a light frown etched upon her naturally tawny hued countenance as she'd passed, however, Elyon had just managed to catch sight of, as though she either did not wish to be there in that moment, or was aware that nearly half the entire courtyard had grown silent the very moment she had entered.

Whatever the reason, the girl did not seem to let on to it, anyhow, as she merely continued on in her way, towards the far corner of the outdoor area, and to an empty table nearest a row of plastic and brown colored trash receptacles.

Wow . . . she seems just as mysterious and commanding now as she had this morning when I'd first met her, Elyon couldn't help but think, finding herself growing more and more captivated by the unknown redhead.

Suddenly, Courtney quickly snapped her fingers in front of the pigtailed girl's face, causing her to blink rapidly in surprise.

"Helloooo?? Earth to Elyon!! Did you hear me?? You're totally lucky to be alive, you know!!" the cherry haired girl gushed after having reclaimed the petite girl's audience, Bess, and even Martin surprisingly nodding within exuberant agreement.

". . . . W-Well, yeah, I know. That's what I'd just told y --"

"-- No, no, no! That's not what Courtney meant, Ellie! She was referring to the fact that that girl is a coldblooded murderer!!" Martin tactfully interrupted his old friend, waving his hand into the air to further silence her. Now that his group of friends were talking about something which apparently interested him at long last, the young intellect was now animated more than ever. "Her name's Wilhelmina Vandom! Yeah, she just got transferred here to Heatherfield, after having been released from juvie! Apparently, she'd killed some poor, defenseless girl, back where she used to live, over in Maine a couple years ago!"

". . . . She sure is tall and strong enough looking to do something like that, at least," Alchemy could be heard lightly murmuring to herself, before abruptly shaking her russet colored head after having caught sight of Elyon's incredulous stare. "W-What?? I never said that I believe she did it! I just meant that she certainly doesn't look like she'd be easy to take down in a fight . . . that's all. . . ."

Elyon sighed heavily, instantly frowning within disapproval of each of her friend's ongoing rants and reaction to the apparent new girl known as Wilhelmina.

"Well, that's still all but outright agreeing that she had! And anyway, how could she have?? She saved my life just this morning, remember?? And, besides that, she looks really nice. . . ." she naturally defended, her almost inherent desire to see the good within nearly everyone shining through once more. "And that name . . . 'Wilhelmina. . . .' It's so pretty!"

At this, Bess scoffed, watching the girl in question take a seat at her chosen table clear across the courtyard from where the five of them currently sat, themselves.

"Yeah, right! Her folks should've named her 'Gonna-Getcha,' seeing as that's what she does to anyone who gets in her way," she remarked cruelly, narrowing her green eyes at the unsuspecting girl. "And just our luck that she has to have short red hair, like me and Court! People better not start accusing the two of us of rolling within the same crowd as that killer, now that she's here at our school!"

"Ugh, totally! 'Looks really nice,' my foot, Elle! As nice as a heart attack, you mean!" Courtney added, drumming her fingernails against the table upon locking eyes with a still visibly upset Elyon. "And, it's like I said before: She probably just saved you -- In front of a bunch of people, no doubt -- as part of a way to deflect what we all already know about her! If we all start to believe that she's some reformed, innocent little girl now, then everyone will be none the wiser when . . . wham!! She claims her next victim!"

Martin let out a startled cry at this, before cowering within his seat and staring worriedly towards Wilhelmina's lunch table in the distance.

"I wonder if it would be too late to transfer schools, myself. . . ." he whispered in fear, unconsciously beginning to roll up his formerly pristine comic book, and wrung it tightly in between his nervous hands.

Alchemy rested a calming hand upon one of Martin's own from across the table, before looking around the table at her friends.

"H-Hey, now . . . come on, you guys. Maybe . . . maybe Elyon's right, you know? I mean, how do we really know that what's been said about this girl to be true? A-And . . . even if it is, well . . . the juvenile hall she was placed within obviously thought she was rehabilitated well enough to be released back into society . . . right??" she tried to rationalize as best she could, while attempting to conceal her own look of trepidation which was currently riddled across her face.

Both disgusted, as well as fed up with her friends' cruel and, quite possibly, unfair remarks in regard to the new student known as Wilhelmina, Elyon abruptly stood from her seat.

"I can't take this anymore! If you all want to sit around and believe the silliest of stories about someone who, in my book, at least, is an honest hero, then that's fine! But I'm going over there right now, and I'm going to properly thank her for saving my life!" she stated firmly with a determined nod of her blonde head, promptly picking up her belongings and the rest of her lunch, leaving the table before any of her now taken aback companions could say a word.

She certainly didn't expect any of them to go after her, not after having effortlessly displayed each of their evident fear of the fairly tall redhead, and so she knew she was more or less on her own now.

But that's all right, because I'm sure that Wilhelmina isn't who everyone believes her to be . . . I hope, Elyon couldn't help but to think with a sheepish smile to herself, before promptly waving the momentary doubt away from her mind, as she slowly made her way over to the lone, young teenager in the nearing distance.

With her back facing Elyon, Wilhelmina didn't honestly seem yet aware that she now had an unexpected visitor to her otherwise empty lunch table as the smaller girl approached . . . and Elyon was admittedly a bit nervous to make her presence known quite yet.

. . . . M-Maybe I shouldn't bother her . . . I mean, she obviously wants to be alone, the blue eyed girl thought within weakened attempts to find a reason to excuse herself from the rather hasty decision she had made minutes before.

As she was about to turn, and go back the way she had come, something had then caught Elyon's eye. It was Wilhelmina's lunchbox, quite honestly . . . however, it was more than that. It had been the girl's actual lunch, itself, which Elyon curiously found so intriguing.

Oooh, her food looks so pretty and delicious! Not at all what I'd envision a tomboy-looking girl like her to have! the fourteen-year-old mused with a tiny smile, taking in the sight of the small row of petite finger sandwiches which were daintily decorated with what looked to be leafy stems crisscrossing the top of each.

On the right side of the olive colored lunchbox was a seemingly never-ending supply of what looked to be tiny, flaky cinnamon buns sprinkled with powdered sugar, rather than the usual runny syrups or frostings Elyon would see within bakeries or supermarkets.

Even the redhead's beverage seemed to be something to behold, as well, as the cap of the rather adorable looking and frog decorated thermos she had with her held a light red, sparkling liquid, with what looked like cherries and pieces of mint sprigs floating within it.

Truly, there appeared to be more to this girl than meets the eye. . . .

As though suddenly having sensed her presence, Wilhelmina then abruptly turned around within her seat, flashing a darkened stare at the intruder for a moment and causing Elyon to jump within startled surprise, before her gaze instantly began to relax upon recognizing the other girl.

". . . . Oh . . . you're the girl from this morning," Wilhelmina quietly said, although with the same undeniable confidence she'd exuded earlier that day. She didn't honestly seem even the slightest bit surprised to see Elyon again, or the fact that the two apparently attended the same high school, either. ". . . . You shouldn't sneak up on people like that."

Elyon swiftly nodded in apology, suddenly feeling as though she were speaking to one of her teachers, her parents, or someone else of the general authoritative variety.

"O-Okay! R-Right, I'm sorry about that!" she replied in nervousness, her heart beginning to beat fast behind her breastplate as her palms became sweaty. Expecting the taller girl to honestly resume her eating, thereby ignoring Elyon, or to simply tell her off, even, Wilhelmina instead slowly began to flash the now blushing girl a warm smile before speaking once more.

". . . . Well, anyway . . . I'm glad to see that you seem all right," she said lightly, before nodding her crimson colored head towards Elyon's dirtied clothing. "That is, with the exception of your skirt, there. . . . All I got was some dirt and mud on my own clothes, although one of my sneakers ended up getting torn a bit. And it was one of my favorite pairs, too. . . ."

Elyon was honestly so caught off guard by the alleged murderer's unprompted candidness, that she quite admittedly lost her voice for a few moments. Instead, she just merely stood there, like a mime, almost, unable to respond in any sort of way, other than merely staring back at Wilhelmina with widened eyes.

Suddenly beginning to feel a bit awkward, herself, Wilhelmina softly cleared her throat before asking, ". . . . Would you like to sit down . . . um. . . ."

"O-Oh! E-Elyon! My name is Elyon! Elyon Brown, and thanks, Wilhelmina!" Elyon quickly responded, at last finding her voice once more and snapping out of her temporary stupor, as she swiftly moved around the girl's table to take a seat across from her.

She could then feel practically the entire courtyard of students, including her friends, watching them both, and did her very best to block it out as she slowly set her bagged lunch onto the table before her. Wilhelmina blinked in surprise, raising a cardinal hued eyebrow for added emphasis.

". . . . It's nice to meet you, Elyon, but . . . how did you know my name?" she inquired with curiosity, tilting her flaming red head to the side.

Elyon gave a sheepish grin at this, and waved a hand into the air before responding.

"E-Er, well . . . m-my friends told me, actually! Yeah! I guess they have a few classes with you, or something!" she partially lied in reply, obviously not wishing to bring up the rather hurtful rumors about the redhead that she, herself, was still pretty unsure were true.

Wilhelmina's soft brown eyes suddenly darkened upon hearing this, causing them to momentarily lose the great brilliance and shine that they'd seemed to naturally possess, as she slowly looked away.

". . . . I see," she spoke, barely above a whisper, as she continued to keep her eyes downcast.

Sensing the other girl's obviously growing upset, clearly well aware of what their fellow students have been thus far saying about her, Elyon gazed worriedly upon her, before flashing a generous smile her way.

". . . . U-Uh, yeah! And I was busy telling them all about how you saved my life this morning, like a brave superhero, just like Sailor V!" she complimented kindly, watching with relieved delight as Wilhelmina slowly began to look back up at her and softly smiled in return, the light within her brown eyes returning. "I never did get the chance to thank you for that, either, by the way, so . . . thanks, Wilhelmina!"

Wilhelmina surprisingly let out a gentle, appreciative laugh at this, a very faint, but still detectable rouge beginning to grace her naturally tanned visage.

"Ah, well . . . it was nothing, really. I was just there at the right time, was all. I definitely wouldn't say that I was acting like a 'superhero,' though, either," she said within light dismissal of the other girl's praise, shifting within her seat. She paused for a moment, before a new thought seemed to have then come to her. "O-Oh. And you can just call me 'Will,' instead of 'Wilhelmina,' Elyon. I honestly never cared too much for my full name, really."

"Really?? But it's so cute, and suits you so well, Wilhel -- I-I mean, Will! It's a lot better than mine, anyway, or especially my middle name, for sure," Elyon spoke with a bitter tone in reflection of the names her parents had chosen for their only child. The more she continued talking with Will, the less apprehensive she'd felt, and the more she found herself liking her.

And, for the most part, it seemed like to Elyon, Will felt the same way, which made the smile upon her creamy complexion to broaden even further, as a result.

Silence abruptly claimed the two teenagers despite this, however, which caused Elyon to begin playing awkwardly with one of her blonde pigtails, as she struggled to think of something new to discuss. And it didn't help much that Will did not seem readily able to come up with a new topic, either, or the fact that she curiously began to stare at her, as though having only just now realized that the smaller girl was at her lunch table.

". . . . W-What's wrong, Will??" Elyon pondered aloud, feeling her cheeks growing flush once again. Will merely slowly shook her red colored head within dismissal, before gently smiling as a way to calm the girl's nerves.

"Nothing . . . it's just that, well, you're honestly the first person to talk to me since I've arrived on campus this morning -- Well, besides teachers, I guess," she revealed carefully, reaching out to lightly play with her open thermos.

Elyon wasn't sure whether or not to own up to the fact that she, too, was aware of the things which had been said about the redhead and already circulating fast throughout the high school, or to venture another lie for the sake of the girl's feelings, as well as their hopefully budding friendship.

And so, as a result, she hesitated for a few moments, as she struggled to come up with the most appropriate response.

". . . . It's all right, you know. I can tell that you've probably heard what I'm sure everyone else has about me," Will stated as evenly as she could manage, although her eyes slightly betrayed her indifference, as a brief flash of pain had been visible within them.

Feeling horrible, Elyon immediately shook her pigtailed head vigorously, reaching out to seize one of Will's hands without thinking.

"N-No, way, Will! I-I mean, yes, I'd heard about them, but I definitely don't believe one word of it!" she began within firm resolution, both girls beginning to blush softly as they'd simultaneously focused upon Elyon's hand upon Will's own. She then awkwardly pulled it away, before clearing her throat in order to continue. "S-Sorry. . . .! A-Anyway, I just can't see you that way! They're all lies, right??"

Faintly smiling for a moment, Will merely gave a slight shrug, before reaching out to pick up one of her formerly forgotten finger sandwiches.

". . . . Whatever. I don't feel like explaining," she responded firmly, the confidence otherwise always laced within her voice returning. Rather than feeling a bit put off or taken aback by this sudden change in attitude, Elyon only smiled brightly once again at the redhead before her, before giggling gently.

". . . . You're so . . . so . . . what's the word?? Ah! So 'tomboyish!'" she unexpectedly remarked with a continued laugh, watching with delight as Will once again raised and then dropped her strong shoulders in response, while she took a small bite of the sandwich within her hand.

While she would have liked to have heard the redhead's own side of the story, Elyon wasn't about to push it. After all, the two had just met, and she had also saved her life. So, it wasn't as though Will owed her anything, naturally; if anything, it was Elyon who owed her, to be technical.

For now, at least, the blonde was merely pleased with the opportunity to get to know the increasingly fascinating Will Vandom, bit by bit.

Somehow, Elyon had had a feeling that Will wouldn't have grown offended by her previous remark of being rather boyish in her observant opinion, and it seemed to be the case, as the bob-haired girl just continued on within her eating for a few moments in content, before bothering to speak again.

"You know? People have always said that about me throughout the years, growing up," she said with a tiny, reflective smile, pausing momentarily before she suddenly set down her half eaten sandwich onto the lunch table, and lifted her still pretty full lunchbox to the other girl seated across from her. ". . . . Would you like some, Elyon?"

"R-Really?? You mean, you don't mind, Will??" Elyon asked in surprise, flashing an appreciative smile at the continually hospitable girl before her. She admittedly had been sort of hoping that Will would have offered her some of her delectably looking meal, as her own, by comparison (which was nothing more than a half-eaten banana, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and gradually warming milk), was something far less to be desired.

Will nodded firmly, returning the smile.

"Mmhm! It's all right. I always have a habit of making big portions of the food I prepare, anyway. I don't know, I guess because it just never seems to taste as good if I just make enough for myself, you know? So, I always have plenty," she explained lightly, waving her free hand towards the decoratively edible lunchbox. "I just hope you like 'Crab, Avocado, and Watercress' sandwiches, 'Cinnamon and Cardamom' buns' for dessert, and 'Cranberry-Apple Spritzer' as a drink. . . ."

Hesitating for a split second, primarily at the word "avocado," Elyon promptly shunned it away the moment she felt her stomach beginning to grumble, rather loudly at that. While she wasn't an admitted fan of the green colored fruit, she was always open to trying new things . . . especially when she was starving, she realized.

And so, without another word, Elyon eagerly reached out for not just one, but two of Will's expertly prepared finger sandwiches, and took a generous bite of one of them before the other girl could even blink.

"Mmmm!!" was all the petite blonde could manage, as she happily began to chew the zesty, crunchy, yet creamy and smooth sandwich within her mouth, before setting down the other one on top of her now useless lunch bag.

Will couldn't help but softly giggle at the sight, honestly pleased that the other girl seemed to enjoy her cooking.

"I take it, then, that that means you like it??" she asked for the fun of it, the answer being rather evident upon Elyon's face, in addition to through her actions. "You don't honestly look like you have a big appetite, really. You know, being kind of on the 'small' side, and all. . . ."

"Heh, heh! Woo fhould shee me aht one uhf mah fwiends' swumber pahties!!" Elyon said with a grin in between chewing, after having stuffed the rest of her first finger sandwich into her mouth. She watched as Will slowly raised an eyebrow within confusion, clearly unable to understand the other girl. And so, she quickly swallowed the remnants of the food, before trying again. "O-Oh, sorry! I said that you should see me at one of my friends' slumber parties!"

Will merely shook her crimson hued head, gently smiling once more.

"And you said that I'm so 'tomboyish??'" she lightly teased, pushing the olive colored lunchbox towards Elyon even further, before taking another bite of her own finger sandwich. "Here. Help yourself, Elyon! Don't forget to try the cinnamon buns, too!"

The two began to eat, this time within a much more comfortable silence, for the next several minutes. If it had been a competition to see who could have eaten the most finger sandwiches or cinnamon buns, Elyon would have been the supreme victor, hands down, as she had eaten so many she'd honestly lost count.

After the last crab, avocado and watercress sandwich had vanished, and the sole remaining cinnamon and cardamom bun had been polished off, Will chose to speak once again.

". . . . Say, Elyon . . . do you know of any shopping centers or supermarkets nearby? The one I'd gone to the other day was practically within the neighboring district, and by the time I'd gotten back to my home it ended up taking me two hours because I'd gotten lost on the way," she explained quietly, taking a slow sip of the cranberry-apple seltzer beverage the two teenagers continued to share with one another, with Elyon having poured out her warm milk from out of its tiny carton in order to refill it with the deliciously tangy treat.

Pausing to think for a moment, Elyon then eagerly nodded, grinning widely.

"Yup, I do! I actually know quite a few of them, to tell the truth, as shopping -- Especially with my best friend, Alchemy -- is one of my favorite pastimes!" she began with a reflective giggle, as Will merely nodded in understanding. "But, there are honestly too many to name. All of them are pretty good, of course, but I suppose it depends upon your level of necessity and priority. . . ."

Will lowered her thermos's dual cap and cup away from her face then, tilting her head to the side.

"Huh? How do you mean??"

Elyon exhaled lightly in good nature, before leaning back within her seat.

"Well, if you're anything like me -- Which, to be honest, I don't think that that's the case, in this instance, anyway -- if you want to try to stay 'hip to the times,' as it were, but within an affordable price range, then you'll wanna head over to Fifth and Lexington, where they have a great little plaza with the latest fashions for us teens!

And then, for the fortunately rich folks, there's this super posh shopping center over on Eighth and Vine, where the prices are so high it just makes you wanna cry! Especially when you see the awesomely awesome clothing and accessories they sell over there! Only wealthy kids, like the wonderful Cornelia Hale, or perhaps even my new friend, Taranee Cook -- I think, anyway, as I haven't honestly outright asked her, 'Oh, hey! By the way: Are you loaded??', since that obviously would be rude, of course -- could shop there! So, I guess that place is out, and --"

"-- U-Uh, thanks, Elyon, but I'm not truthfully concerned about the prices," Will interrupted with an appreciative smile, taken aback by the other girl's ample willingness to help, and vigor in doing so. "That is, I just would like to find an area that sells clothes -- The kind of clothes I'm into, that is -- and maybe has a supermarket nearby, and both are only just a couple of blocks away from where I live, if I'm lucky. . . ."

Elyon nodded in understanding, thinking a moment.

"Hmm . . . well, where do you live, anyway, Will? Not to pry or anything, but I mean, this is Florida, after all! Unless you live within a 'yet-to-be-fully-developed' area, there's always some kind of shopping center not too far around the corner, ya know??" she reflected jovially, lightly giggling before catching the sudden pensive expression upon Will's tawny face.

"Um. . . ." she tentatively began, before Elyon frantically waved both of her hands into the air, a sheepish smile now upon her face.

"No, no! Sorry about that, Will! I guess that really was prying, anyway, huh?? You don't have to say if you don't want to!" the dishwater blonde spoke hurriedly in apology, not wishing to cause any sort of upset for her newfound friend.

Will seemed rather appreciative of this, as she slowly nodded in understanding before relaxing.

". . . . Yeah . . . thanks, Elyon. It isn't that I don't want to say where I live . . . it's just that, I don't think it'd be that easy for anyone to understand, seeing as I have to live by myself. . . ." she revealed faintly, looking away from the now taken aback girl.

"R-Really, Will?? No, way! How come?? And aren't you like, my age?? You're what, fourteen, fifteen??" Elyon couldn't help but ask so many questions at once before she could stop herself, her curiosity and desire to get to know the mysterious newcomer overpowering her better judgment.

Will sighed lightly upon hearing each inquiry, frowning softly before shrugging.

"I'm fourteen-years-old, yeah, Elyon, and yes, I do live by myself, although I don't really feel like explaining that, either. . . ." she replied within dismissal, her voice once again growing strong, as she raised her gaze to meet Elyon's. ". . . . Look. Where I live, there's this pretty huge park that it overlooks from across the street, if that'll help you figure out any shopping areas nearby there. It's called . . . 'City Hall Park,' I think."

Rather than being put off by the abrupt change within the girl's demeanor yet again, Elyon simply smiled, before gasping within recognition at the vicinity's description.

"A-Ah! I know that park! Well, where it is, anyway! That's over in downtown Heatherfield, actually, when I think of it. I don't travel there a lot, seeing as that'd be around a forty-five minute bus ride from my house; I'd gone through there about twice with my mom in the past, when she had to do a drop-off at the branch that's there for the art museum she works in. She's an art curator, by the way," she said within recollection, nodding slightly to herself. "Hmm, okay. . . . Oh, yeah! There's actually this really cute marketplace, that's just around three blocks away from that park! Me and my mom went there for lunch, and did a little bit of clothes and grocery shopping afterward one time, too. Now, what was it called . . . oh, right! 'Kino Plaza Shopping Mall!' It has everything you could possibly want or need there, too, for the most part! And then, right next to it, pretty much, is a supermarket called 'Alderman's,' one of hundreds placed within this fair city of ours, I'm sure. . . ."

Just then, the bell had rung from inside of the high school, signaling the end of yet another period. While Elyon slowly began to collect her belongings, Will did the same, however within a much more hurried fashion.

I guess she doesn't want to stick around for any furthered glances and whispers about her . . . although I can't say that I blame her, the soft haired girl thought with fierce sympathy as she watched.

". . . . All right, then. Thanks for the help, Elyon -- And for the company," Will said with a small nod, after having finished packing up her empty lunchbox. She took a step away from the cleared lunch table, and then stopped a moment, as though a new thought had come to her. "Oh . . . and it was nice meeting you, as well. I really am glad that you're all right. Goodbye, then. . . ."

And with that, Will abruptly turned and began to calmly head towards the entrance back into the school, before Elyon could properly respond.

"W-Well, wait a sec, Will! Wait up!" she called out after the retreating form of the blatantly guarded young girl, hurriedly catching up to her. "It was certainly nice to meet you, too, but, well . . . I was kinda hoping our association didn't have to end when the lunch period did, as well. . . ."

Will stopped walking then, gazing back at Elyon with honestly surprised eyes. Apparently, she truly hadn't been expecting anything further to transpire between the smaller girl and herself; however, she nonetheless slowly gave a small smile in response, which pleased the pigtailed teenager greatly to have witnessed.

Like hot and cold, she is. . . . One minute she's open and friendly, the next she's closed off and a bit brash, and then back again, Elyon thought within reflection, offering a smile of her own to the redhead. There're so many sides to her personality. . . .

". . . . Really? Then . . . what did you have in mind?" Will tentatively asked, suddenly feeling uncharacteristically shy a bit, as the prospect of having potentially made a new friend was admittedly too much to hope for.

Elyon beamed at this, reaching out with both hands to clasp the other girl's strong arm, and this time not feeling out of place or even out of line to have done so.

"All right! Well, I was thinking that, since you're new here and all, I could show you around! Or, at least, show you around that shopping center I told you about, seeing as you're obviously going to head there today, anyway, right??" she asked with grand exuberance, feeling the continued eyes of her fellow students watching the two new friends attentively, but no longer cared. "And then, maybe afterwards, if there's enough time and if you want, we can grab something to eat! So, what do you say, Will? I'll meet you outside, in the front of the school at the gates after the final period, okay??"

Pausing for a moment, Will then softly nodded, cocking her cardinal colored head to side as she flashed the shorter girl an awkward smile.

". . . . Okay, Elyon. Then . . . I guess I'll see you after school. . . . See ya later," she replied in appreciation, slowly, but gently pulling her arm away and from out of Elyon's grasp, before turning and continuing on towards the high school's doors alone.

". . . . See you then, Will," Elyon softly murmured to herself in happiness, watching the redhead disappear back into the school. Just then, she could hear her name being frantically called out from behind, causing her to turn around.

The blonde watched with amused eyes as her quartet of companions came rushing up to her, with Alchemy leading the way, and both the Grumper Twins, in addition to Martin, trailing cautiously behind.

"Elyon! Oh, my God! Are you okay?? How was it??" the russet haired girl was the first to speak, promptly wrapping both of her arms around her best friend within a generous and relieved hug.

"Yeah! We saw you actually eating some of her food! She didn't like, threaten to cut your face or nothin', if you didn't do what she said, did she?? Boy, I sure hope for your sake that it wasn't poisoned!" Bess cried out as she chimed in, both she and Courtney taking their own turn to hug their good friend.

Elyon rolled her eyes at this, before letting out a loud sigh and gently smiled.

"Yes, I'm just fine, Alchemy, and no, Will didn't threaten or poison me, Bess. It was pretty fun, actually," she revealed in reply, looking from friend to friend, and beginning to giggle at the sight of their extremely surprised faces.

"N-No, way! And here, we were gonna send in Martin to go over there to rescue you, by sacrificing himself! But, of course, he chickened out -- Some man you are, Martin! An absolute disgrace to your species," Courtney remarked with a scoff and wrinkle of her nose, after having calmed down a bit, before lightly pushing the now reddening Martin standing next to her.

"H-Hey! I didn't see you rushing at the chance to go in my stead, Courtney! So, 'an absolute disgrace' to your loyalty as her so-called friend!!" the straw haired boy fired back in defense, adjusting his silver framed eyeglasses upon his frowning face. He then turned his attention onto Elyon, and his expression immediately softened as he gave his oldest friend and neighbor a gentle smile. "But, I really am glad to hear you're okay, too, Elle! So, what happened between you two?? And why'd you call her 'Will??' I thought that her name was 'Wilhelmina??'"

Elyon nodded within initial response, before turning around to lead the way out of the steadily emptying courtyard.

"Mmhm, it is, Martin. But she told me that she prefers being called 'Will,' instead -- You know, short for 'Wilhelmina??' Yeah," she began to explain after taking the middle, as each pair of her friends took a place on either side of her.

"Yeah . . . so that it'll make it a bit harder for the cops to find her again, once she's committed her next crime," Courtney softly muttered to her snickering, twin sister, however was also nonetheless heard by both Alchemy as well as Elyon.

"Come on, you two; knock it off! Elyon obviously doesn't agree with what's been said about this girl! So we shouldn't make fun like this," the rust haired girl spoke, taking the role of the reprimanding friend where the Grumper siblings were concerned, as usual, it seemed like. "Anyway, go on, Ellie. . . ."

Elyon smiled within gratitude at her dearest friend, before continuing on.

"Thanks, Alkie, but there really isn't much to tell. We shared lunch together, got to know one another just a little bit, and that was it. Oh! And then, after school, we're gonna go shopping together, too," she said with honest nonchalance, just as she re-entered the school building and headed off to class . . . alone, without realizing, as all four of her friends had abruptly stopped short within their tracks upon hearing the unexpected news.

". . . . Shopping . . . together????" each of them spoke simultaneously, slowly gazing at one another with incredulous expressions etched upon their faces, before looking after their evidently brave friend as she swiftly vanished within the growing sea of fellow students rushing to and fro within the busied hallways. . . .

---

Thickening blackness surrounded Deite from all sides, as he swiftly paced back and forth within his sleeping quarters. But then, it was always rather dark, dank, and dreary whenever the Dark General would return to his Master's grand, although forgotten kingdom.

Besides, the redhead surmised that the surrounding atmosphere was quite befitting, as it could effortlessly match his currently embittered and brooding mood. Things were no longer working toward his favor in his quest to retrieve both the mystical Star of Threbe, as well as enough human energy to suffice in reviving the kingdom's Great Ally.

My Master is swiftly losing patience with me, each time I unfortunately fail him, Deite thought with a grimace, his scowl deepening. And if I don't succeed soon, I know I will surely meet my end. . . . It's bad enough that I constantly have those blasted Guardian Soldiers challenging me at every turn . . . but now there are also recent developments which admittedly make feel a little less than confident. . . .

". . . . I consider myself to be a reasonable man . . . one who mercifully tolerates the constant follies of my less than competent general," the authoritative, flax haired man had spoken through his traditionally calm, yet ominous voice, while peering darkly at the cowering redhead from his place before his dusty throne.

The newly defeated Deite had just then returned from yet another lost battle between the wretched Guardian Soldiers and himself, after having attempted to acquire the Princess of Marsily's royal treasure during her regal ball earlier on that same evening.

He had been dreading the inevitable journey back to the vast, lost kingdom, for he had known what would be awaiting him the moment that he had. Sure enough, as soon as the young general had emerged from the usual, crimson colored and mystical mist, and appeared before the taller, older man, another stern admonishing had once again begun.

". . . . Do you think you could tell me, then, Deite, why you continue to fail me each, and every time?? Do you . . . enjoy letting me down, and coming that much closer to your own demise??" the long haired had continued within his chastising, a soft scowl beginning to form upon his pale face.

Deite, who had been respectfully bowed before the menacing male throughout his verbal punishment, had just then swiftly risen to his feet, forgetting his manners.

"O-Of course not, my master!!" he'd exclaimed promptly, dark eyes widened in fear as he'd rushed forward and a bit closer to the fair haired ruler. Having then realized his rudeness, he'd quickly taken a step back before bowing in renewed respect once more. "T-That is, I'd honestly tried my best to retrieve that princess's treasure for you, and had almost succeeded with doing both that, as well as claiming the energy of the humans attending her ball . . . b-but those despicable Guardian Soldiers had shown up and put a wrench within my plans!!"

"Hmm . . . perhaps you give them too much credit for your own shortcomings, Deite," the cornflower locked man had smirked within furthered insult, before lightly beginning to stroke his goatee within contemplation. "While it is indeed unfortunate for your having botched yet another attempt at doing as I have asked . . . I believe I know of a way to salvage our overall goal. . . ."

Deite, who had sharply sucked in his breath as he'd awaited his most assured fate this time, slowly lifted his cardinal colored head to gaze questionably upon his master.

". . . . Sir?? I-I'm not sure I quite understand," he'd stated with a slow raise of his eyebrow, watching as the other man's simper had then grown much more prominent.

"And this news does not surprise me within the slightest, I can assure you, Deite," the pale blonde had remarked with blatant relish, before having taken a step forward and suddenly snapped his fingers. "Come forth, Zoi!"

Suddenly, the otherwise dark throne room had become partially illuminated in that instant, by a mysterious, wavy and eggplant colored light from behind the still crouching Deite. Startled, the crimson haired servant had whirled around in time to catch sight of a relatively tall, and slender young man emerging from it.

". . . . I am here, Master," the newcomer had stated with a calm softness within his tone, which was very unlike the regular aggression Deite held within his own. Deite had looked on within immediate disgust as he then watched him slowly approach their shared ruler's throne, and delicately bowed in respect.

The redhead had felt his blood begin to boil, as he took in the unwanted sight of his blatantly newfound competition. With short, lightly messy and jet black hair, steel blue colored eyes and gently toasted skin, the young male had been adorned within an epaulette and uniform quite similar to Deite's, however dark violet in tinge.

He'd been unfortunately and all too aware that the similar attire made the one known as Zoi a fellow Dark General.

"Ah, Zoi . . . welcome. I see you have awakened quite nicely," the fair haired ruler had commented with an approving nod, watching within honest amusement as he'd then caught sight of a visibly fuming Deite. "Now, then! I trust that I can count on you to help pick up the regrettable slack that your bumbling comrade has created thus far, yes?"

Zoi had nodded quietly with a small, but growing smile, before Deite, unable to contain his rage, had swiftly spoken.

"W-Wait a second! Master, please! Surely you cannot think that bringing him on will aid within our continued efforts to recover both the mystical Star of Threbe, as well as enough human energy for our Great Ally!!" he'd stated sharply in disbelief, after having roughly waved his gloved right hand toward the still smirking man beside him. "I can do this all on my own! I do not wish, nor need any help -- Least of all from him!!"

"I would have your tongue this very moment for such insubordination, were I not certain of your overall devotion, Deite," the flax locked, older man had responded evenly, peering tensely upon the livid redhead. "However, for now, at least, I find your continued existence far more useful to me, especially now that there are two Guardian Soldiers -- The playing field will now be evened. Besides, it is because of your 'continued efforts,' rather than 'successful efforts,' that has required me to retrieve Zoi in the first place. . . . From now on, he will take care of locating, as well as securing the mystical Star of Threbe, while you continue your attempts at collecting enough human energy to satisfy our Great Ally."

"I will not fail you, my master," Zoi had gently remarked, briefly gazing condescendingly upon the stunned silent Deite within the corner of his eye, before bowing once more toward the older man. "I know that I will surely succeed where my predecessor had not. . . ."

"The nerve of that damned toad, to have humiliated me in front of the Master like that!!" Deite growled vehemently with a strong shaking of his fist, his mind returning to the present. "He will pay for it, I swear i --!"

The redhead's vengeful words had been cut off by the abrupt sound of saxophone music softly beginning to waft throughout the surrounding atmosphere. Knowing immediately where it was coming from, Deite swiftly bounded toward his bedchambers' doors, and practically flew down the darkened halls within the direction of the intolerable noise.

"So, this is how you plan to locate the mystical Star of Threbe, Zoi?? By sitting within your room, playing with your little toy all of the time??" Deite promptly mocked with profound delight, the moment he had swung open the previously sealed door to the raven haired man's own sleeping quarters. "I dare say that our master has regrettably wasted his energies by having you awakened, as well. . . ."

Zoi, who had been seated at the foot of his double sized and lightly dusty looking bed, slowly lowered the black colored mouthpiece of his golden tinted saxophone away from his mouth, and softly sighed.

". . . . Well, he had seen fit to revive you, after all. But then, I, myself, do not have the sort of fool hearted bravery to openly question the acts of such a powerful being -- I rather enjoy the land of the living," he replied with a nonchalant air, a tiny smile beginning to form upon his tanned visage.

"W-W-Why, y-you --!" Deite began to stammer within embarrassed anger, clenching his fists together tightly. Zoi, undaunted by his begrudged comrade's seemingly eternal rage, where he was concerned, at least, calmly set down his admittedly beloved musical instrument onto his bed before rising to his feet.

"I will have you know that my music is not simply nourishment for the soul, my friend . . . no, no. It is so much more, in fact," he softly began, beginning to walk about the plainly decorated bedchamber, with his long cape gently whipping behind him. "Yes . . . through its use, I am able to accomplish many things . . . one of which will enable me to locate the whereabouts of the mystical Star of Threbe, at a faster rate than you could have ever hoped to achieve, I'm afraid. . . ."

"What the Master sees in you, I will never understand!!" Deite spat with a glare, his face reddening within continued upset. "What makes you so damned confident that you will even find it, especially through this silly method of playing ditties all day?? Finding the Star of Threbe requires real action!!"

Zoi merely nodded briefly, before lightly beginning to chuckle underneath his breath.

"Misguided action is aimless action, Deite," he softly philosophized, before turning his eggplant colored back onto the scowling redhead. "Trying your seemingly preferred method of simply going out there, and attacking everything that moves in hopes of finding the mystical Star of Threbe would benefit no one in the long run. . . . No . . . patience is a virtue. And besides, should you not now be more concerned with gathering enough human energy upon our Great Ally's behalf??"

At this, Deite surprisingly scoffed, before beginning to smirk in confidence.

"I'll have you know, 'friend,' that I have a newfound plan already in motion for doing precisely that," he remarked haughtily, before turning toward Zoi's doorway which he had left open. "So, while you're busy in here, playing your little heart out with your so called 'patience,' I will be providing our Master with actual results in the meantime. Enjoy yourself!"

And with that, Deite confidently left his rival's bedchamber without another word, suddenly feeling a lot less conflicted and despondent as he had prior to the visit.

You just wait . . . I will capture the energy of every last human upon that pathetic little planet, and show everyone what I am made of, the redhead thought with dangerous pride, as he continued down the shadowy and bleak hallway of the forgotten kingdom.

---

The very moment the final bell of that particular school day had rung, Elyon had practically catapulted out of her assigned seat and burst out of the classroom door through sheer eagerness. Besides the always welcomed fact that it was once again the end of another long, and drawn out scholastic weekday, it also meant that she would get to see the rather eccentric redhead once more, and accompany her on her shopping errands as promised.

After their rather interesting lunchtime together, Elyon hadn't the fortune of seeing Will again within any of her other classes throughout the rest of the day, which had admittedly disappointed her a tad. Much like how it had been when she'd first met the shy, but sweet Taranee, Elyon already found herself quite enthralled by the tall, brown-eyed girl.

There was simply something . . . different about her, or unique, that the blonde couldn't honestly put her finger upon to better ascertain. What Elyon did know for certain in regard to Will were two things: None of the continued rumors about the young girl's apparently troubled past could possibly be true; and she was already very well-liked by the petite teenager.

Now, if only I can somehow manage to convince Alchemy and the others to not be so afraid of Will like the rest of the student population seems to be, then I'll be set, Elyon thought with vague gloominess, as she hurriedly exited the high school's main entrance, before she'd swiftly wiped away any further negativity from her mind. But, it's all right for now, I suppose, since I've got the entire rest of the school year to do precisely that, after all. . . .

Elyon smiled softly to herself at that particular final thought, knowing full well how persistent, even to the point of pestering, she could sometimes become in regard to her loved ones, especially whenever it dealt with something she truly believed in or wanted.

"Yeah. They'll all come around in time," she murmured lightly underneath her breath with confidence and reference to her high school's total student body, as she continued her fast pace and zigzagged around fellow scattering schoolmates.

Feeling more and more upbeat and positive with each step, Elyon's good mood swiftly gave way to concern and worry, once the open front gates to her school had just then come into view within the nearing distance . . . for, Will was nowhere to be seen.

Stopping short at the admittedly disheartening sight, Elyon immediately began to think the worst.

. . . . I should have known that Will wouldn't have stuck around to meet me, as planned, she began in thought, lightly wringing her tiny hands together within mounting anxiety, while staring blankly at the unattended front gates. I mean, why should she have, really? She doesn't even know me, and does seem pretty well guarded emotionally, and --

"-- H-Hey, Elyon! Oh, good! We caught you before you'd left campus with . . . you know who," Elyon suddenly could hear the admittedly unwanted voice of Courtney slicing through her flustered contemplations from behind just then, causing her to jump in surprise before turning around.

With the traditionally opinionated redhead were two other girls Elyon did not honestly know too well personally, but still recognized to be Courtney's own personal companions. The pigtailed girl forced as strong a smile as she could muster at that moment, before responding.

". . . . O-Oh, hey, Courtney. Yeah, I was just . . . just about to wait for Will at the front gates, actually," she partially lied with a small nod, waving in shy politeness to Courtney's comrades. "Where's Bess? And, Alchemy and Martin, too, actually? I was hoping to see them before Will and I left, so that I could introduce all of you to her."

"I couldn't believe it when Courtney and Bess told me and Cassie that not only were you brave enough to talk to that convicted killer, but you're now about to go shopping with her, too, like you're best friends, or something!" the girl on Courtney's left, slightly shorter than her and with dark brown hair and eyes abruptly gushed with an impressed air.

The other fellow teenager present, and apparently known as Cassie, swiftly chimed in at her place on Courtney's right.

"Totally! It completely gave Maddie and me the chills to hear about it! You'll be in my prayers, Evelyn," she spoke, a bit dramatically, with a sympathetic smile upon her pale face, before tucking a stray strand of her mousy locks behind her ear.

Elyon promptly tried her best to suppress a sigh at this, forcing herself to simply smile at the two unfamiliar girls while simultaneously trying to keep in mind her previous hope of changing the minds of the entire school about Will's overall character, if she could.

". . . . A-Actually, it's Elyon, Cassie, not 'Evelyn,' but thanks for the concern, even if it isn't really necessary," she responded, her smile becoming more sincere the longer she held onto her decided resolution within her mind.

Both Maddie and Cassie seemed to become a bit put off by her reply, as the both of their concerned faces slowly melted away, and was replaced by a look of skepticism. Courtney, meanwhile, merely continued to smile gently at her good friend, before moving forward to wrap her arms around her within an unexpected embrace.

"Ohhh, I'm sure gonna miss you, Elle! Be sure to come back as your ghost, and try to leave us cryptic messages in our dreams of where the Vandom girl had disposed of your body, like how it's done on that one primetime show about that psychic lady who works in the District Attorney's office!" the freckled-faced girl cried, tightening her hold upon Elyon, as though absolutely certain that that would have been the final time she would ever get to do so. But then, suddenly, Courtney promptly let go and gave a broad grin back at the now befuddled blonde, before speaking once more. "Well, then! That's enough goodbyes for me! Can't keep Wiley waiting, after all! That's where Bess already headed, the little sneak, by the way -- Totally bailed on her last period class, just to get to the Rec Center earlier than usual. As for Martin, I just saw the little cowardly geek trying to leave campus all the way on the other side of the school, seeing as he said he didn't want to take any chances of running into your soon-to-be murderess, and you know that barely anyone uses those exits at the end of the day, anyhow. And as for Al, she'd already gone straight home, too, if you remember . . . her folks being afraid for her safety and all that jazz, now. . . . Now, if you'll excuse us, the three of us are going to go catch up with my crafty twin sister and ogle our beloved Wiley some more! Goodbye, Elyon! I'll miss you fondly!"

Elyon could only stare after her admittedly peculiarly acting friend with profound perplexity, utterly unsure of how to appropriately react to such a bizarre occurrence. She could not honestly accurately place whatever emotion it was Courtney had been feeling most within those past few moments.

Was she honestly fearful for me and my safety, being her usually sarcastic self, or just plain delirious right then?? the blonde thought within furthered confusion, watching with a raised eyebrow and faint smile, as the now three tittering girls disappeared around the corner of the high school after leaving through the front gates. I've never seen her act so . . . 'off' before like that. Weird. . . .

Elyon had then become too distracted by her ongoing mental queries about one of her friend's strange behavior that she'd honestly forgotten about her original focus, which had been her hopeful outing with Will . . . until she suddenly felt a light tap upon her shoulder.

". . . . E-Elyon?" she could hear Will's already familiar voice gently speak from behind with a faint, although still detectable trace of apprehension laced within it. Elyon immediately whirled around at this, and gave a broad smile of mixed relief and happiness at the sight of the taller girl, at the same time that the few students still hanging about within the front of campus began to open the distance between themselves and the redhead once she'd been spotted.

"Will! Hi! I'm so glad to see you again! T-That is, I'd honestly thought that you weren't going to stick around for me like we'd planned," Elyon beamed with a clap of her hands before taking a step towards the other girl, who suddenly appeared a bit taken aback and out of place for a moment, as her own small smile began to fade.

". . . . To be honest, Elyon . . . I almost didn't," Will slowly revealed, taking a blind step backwards just as Elyon had taken another one forward.

Elyon couldn't help but feel a bit hurt by this news, although, in truth, she shouldn't have been so surprised by it. Nonetheless, she tried her very best to mask her already fleeting upset, as she gave a small nod in understanding.

"O-Oh, sure, yeah! I totally get it, Will!" she began with a crooked smile, swinging her skinny arms behind her back and clasped them together. "I mean, after all, we did just meet today, and I guess I was a bit on the pushy side at lunchtime, now that I think about it. . . . A-And --"

"-- No, you weren't pushy at all, Elyon, and there's no need to try to apologize for it. It's just . . . how I am sometimes, I guess . . . that I was actually a bit . . . nervous," Will exposed tentatively, beginning to softly blush, much like in the way she had earlier on that day when the two had first officially met.

The returned sight made Elyon smile in growing fondness, honestly causing her to think of her other reserved new friend, Taranee, as a result.

I wonder if I can get Will to beat Taranee's record for blushing repeatedly, for practically everything, by day's end, she thought in amusement, before clearing her throat.

"Well, if it makes you feel any better to know, I always feel a little bit nervous, myself, whenever I make a new friend and hang out with them for the first time, too! And, another thing to know that I hope will also make you feel better? I'm really glad you'd decided to come, after all," Elyon said warmly, the smile upon her face strengthening once again, before moving to stand at Will's side. "So! Are you ready to 'shop 'till you drop,' with one of Heatherfield's up and coming shopping gurus??"

At this, Will couldn't help but to softly chuckle, her demeanor visibly beginning to relax as she slowly nodded.

"I guess so, yes . . . although, I don't think I'll be 'shopping 'till I drop,' anyway. I only really need a few things, after all," she explained in reply, as the two began to make their way off campus, with an effortlessly unblocked path laid out ahead of them, courtesy of the continually petrified students randomly dodging them.

Elyon giggled, herself.

"Oh. Well, I suppose that's good for you, then, Will, seeing as you probably wouldn't be able to keep up, anyhow," she teased with a wink, leading the way and pleased to see that the other girl promptly joined in within the laughter. "Now, come on! Next stop: 'Kino Plaza Shopping Mall!'"

---

"Ahhh, what a great day of shopping! Right, Will?" Elyon exhaled happily, after carelessly plopping her body into one of the two white chairs of the circular, café-like table . . . one of many outside of the petite, but quite busy ice cream parlor right near the shopping center.

The two young teenagers had been there for the past hour and a half by that point, with Elyon eagerly leading the way, as she'd charged through practically every store within the Kino Plaza Shopping Mall, and gave a play-by-play of everything and anything she'd felt was worth buying within each, despite not being that acquainted with that particular mall.

And even though Will had originally made it quite clear to her new companion that she only needed to buy a new pair of sneakers, and perhaps a new outfit or two, thus making it an in-and-out sort of venture, the redhead had suddenly found herself carrying what felt like a platoon of reusable shopping bags, all filled with various and admittedly frivolous accessories from stores she had never before bothered to shop within, at that.

Granted, most of the bags and belongings were for Elyon, as the smaller girl certainly had not been kidding when she'd divulged her apparent talent for being a rather skilled consumer; however, before Will knew it, she, too, was also within ownership of colorful hair barrettes, lip gloss, and brightly tinted nail polishes she would never dream of possessing, let alone actually buying.

It was strange to think of the odd, yet almost . . . infectious sort of effect the pigtailed girl seemed to have upon Will, the more time she'd spent with her. It was both liberating, as well as alarming at the same time. . . .

Still, at least I'd managed to get some pretty cool new sneakers like I'd wanted, and some awesome new clothes which are still my own personal style, the tawny skinned girl thought with a faint smile, looking down at the sea of clothing bags at her side, including the four grocery bags intermingling with them. And I finally was able to drag Elyon away from the mall long enough to get the grocery shopping I also needed to do out of the way, as well. . . .

". . . . Yeah, Elyon. It . . . was pretty fun, actually," Will openly admitted with another small smile in return, sitting next to the grinning girl, who then took a bite of the already half eaten, waffle-made cone to the cheesecake flavored ice cream she had purchased.

"Mmmm! I definitely needed one of these after that workout! Of course, I probably could have done without half the things I bought today -- Especially not after the great gifts me and my friend Alchemy had gotten from Cornelia Hale a few weeks ago -- but it's always fun to go shopping with girlfriends!" Elyon said cheerfully, lightly swaying her tiny body back and forth within her seat, as she continued to enjoy her sugary and cool treat. "Oh, hey! Did I get to tell you about that, by the way? I mean, I know I was so busy gabbing away about myself, in between talking about the prices on some of the clothes back in the mall there, but I don't think I ever got around to that, as well."

Will merely smiled once more and shook her rose colored head, leaning forward to help herself to another spoonful of the small bowl of raspberry flavored sorbet that she'd chosen rather than ice cream.

"No, you haven't, Elyon," she began in reply, before taking a moment to carefully swallow the frozen dish. "Well, you did mention her name at lunch, though. Cornelia Hale, huh? She sounds like a pretty generous friend of yours, to have apparently bought both you and your other friend a bunch of clothes, or whatever it was like that. . . ."

Will immediately felt her cheeks growing hot, as her molasses colored eyes had at that moment caught sight of a suddenly blanched looking Elyon, whose mouth was curiously hanging agape. Tiny bits of otherwise unrecognizable pieces of her now mushy ice cream cone still remained upon her pink tongue, causing Will to slightly wrinkle her nose within mild disgust.

". . . . W-What is it, Elyon?? Was it something I said??" the redhead asked awkwardly, slowly setting down her black tinted, plastic spoon back into her unfinished and slowly melting sorbet.

Suddenly snapping out of her momentary and quite unexpected stupor, Elyon abruptly closed her mouth and swallowed hard, before leaning closer to a still rather surprised Will.

". . . . There is no possible way that you honestly don't know who Cornelia Hale is, Will, if you seriously think that she's an actual friend of mine, or Alchemy's!!" she cried in alarm, her comment, while meaning to be innocent, unknowingly causing the crimson haired girl to feel simultaneously foolish as well as offended. "Next, you're gonna tell me that you don't know who Sailor V is, either!"

Lightly frowning and folding her arms across her chest, Will shrugged roughly.

"Yeah, well, I guess I don't, then," she replied with faint defensiveness, the usual emotional walls she'd keep around herself, both out of necessity as well as protection, beginning to harden.

Sensing the other girl's now put off air, Elyon immediately shook her blonde head in apology, before smiling weakly.

"O-Oh, gee! I'm sorry, Will! I didn't mean it to sound that way! You know, like I was making fun of you, or something!" she began, waving one free hand into the air, as she reclined back into her chair in order to reopen the distance between the two of them, for now. "I'm just surprised, that's all! I mean, I've never honestly met anyone who didn't know who either one of them are -- Or, at the very least, their names. I seriously thought everyone alive knew who they were, quite frankly. . . ."

Relaxing after having heard the beginnings of Elyon's explanation, Will slowly gave a sheepish smile of her own.

"Oh . . . I see, then. So, I guess they're some famous people then, right??" she asked with honest intrigue, picking up her spoon once more. She then couldn't help but softly giggle, once she'd caught Elyon's renewed incredulous stare yet again. "Whomever they are, you must really love and idolize both to keep reacting this way, and giving me those crazy looks."

"'Whomever they are??' Oh, wow, is it ever weird to hear stuff like that being said about either one of them! But, heck yes, do I love and idolize both Cornelia Hale and Sailor V! Sometimes it's hard to decide which one is number one in my heart, but they're definitely both my all time, absolute heroes!" Elyon gushed with a grin, pausing only for a brief moment, before continuing on and not bothering to wait for Will's response to her swift inquiry. "Anyway! Sailor V is our lucky city's special crime fighting superheroine, who goes around stopping all sorts of criminals left and right whenever she can! And, she does it all by herself, too!! Then, there's Cornelia, who's this really awesome, super cool singer, actress, model, clothing designer, and, as I'd only just recently found out for myself -- Which is crazy, because I am always, always, always on top of the latest 'Cornelia-anything' -- perfume creator, or whatever you wanna call it!

All of that already underneath her belt, and she's only the same age as us, too! That's about the only thing I can actually say I 'one-up' her on, really, because my birthday is before hers, and I'm therefore older by a couple of months. O-Oh! Not that I'd honestly ever care to try being better than she is, since her being so perfect and all helps me always strive to be and do my best, as well -- Especially after I listen to her songs! I have a truckload of her albums I'd be happy to lend to you some time if you want, Will!"

". . . . Ummm, that's all right, Elyon, but thanks," Will slowly said in reply with a smile, after having listened to the shorter girl's animated rant, a trait which the redhead was already finding herself growing quite accustomed to. "She sounds like she might be one of those many pop stars the media has thrust into society throughout the decades -- Which I'm not trying to say that that's a bad thing that she is, or that you like her, of course. I think everyone should have someone to look up to, and I'm glad you seem to have found someone, yourself. . . . It's just that, I don't honestly watch much television, or listen to the radio either, for that matter, to have known of this girl's existence or music -- Cornelia, nor Sailor V. And the clothes and perfume she apparently makes are probably the kind I wouldn't be personally into, anyway, so that explains that, as well. . . ."

Elyon seemed to be processing this newfound piece of information, for she did not attempt to speak again for a few moments, which initially caused Will to feel minutely guilty for not sharing the same interests as the overall bubbly girl.

However, Elyon merely gave a firm nod and soft grin, before taking another bite of her temporarily forgotten and fast melting ice cream.

"Well, then! I guess I'll just have to be your 'tutor,' as it were, in the ways of 'Cornelia Hale-ism,' as I sometimes call it! Trust me, Will! You'll really like her music, once you give it a chance!" she said with a widening smile, before softly giggling at Will's mild expression of playful mortification. "H-Hey, now! Don't knock it 'till you've at least heard one of her songs! You'd be surprised the kinds of people her music reaches out to! Like, take for instance, my own new tutor -- Well, for actual school and stuff, that is -- and friend, Taranee Cook! She is one of the nicest, smartest girls you could possibly meet! But, she's also pretty shy and quiet, too, and honestly, at first glance, you wouldn't believe she'd enjoy pop music as I do! In fact, I just thought she liked only classical music, or something like that -- Which she does, turns out, actually -- but she'd said that she owns every last album of Cornelia's, and knew some things about her that even I hadn't yet! Go fig, right? Music really does bring people together, after all!"

At this, Will couldn't help but to begin laughing, within good humor and her amazement at the never-ending supply of energy the other girl seemed to possess. It honestly warmed her heart to continually be around such a vibrant young individual. . . .

It's been so long, otherwise. . . . Will couldn't help but to additionally think, as her laughter slowly began to die down, watching a continually content Elyon seated next to her and seemingly undaunted by her tittering.

"Hmm . . . well I guess you're right, then -- Although, I'm still not sure that I'll be listening to Cornelia Hale's music any time soon, thanks, no matter what you say," Will lightly teased, smiling warmly at the sight of Elyon's own renewed giggles.

"Yeah? Well, we'll just see about that!" the pigtailed girl countered with a wink, before popping the last of her ice cream cone into her mouth. "So! Uh . . . lemme see. So far, I know that you're a fantastic cook, and make awesome food -- For which, I permanently volunteer my services as 'Official Food Tester,' by the way! Um . . . oh yeah! You told me, while we were shopping, that you really like frogs -- Which was actually one of the first things I'd noticed about you, too! Hmm . . . right! And that you really like animals, in general, and nature! Is that why you'd bought and then used all those recycled bags, or whatever they're called?"

Will followed Elyon's gaze, after quietly listening to her recap the few personal details about herself she had been willing to divulge, and looked upon her green or black colored shopping bags once more. Not a one of them were of the traditional paper, or made from plastic, unlike Elyon's own, but instead of an environmentally safe polypropylene Will had once read to be helpful towards the ecosystem.

". . . . Oh, yeah. They're reusable bags, actually, or tote bags, if you'd prefer, too, which are eco-friendly, yeah," the redhead began in reply, nodding faintly towards an attentive Elyon. "I started using them a few years ago, myself, as a way to help out the earth and all, you know? But . . . I don't know. Even before that . . . it's strange, but I've just . . . sort of always felt a bit connected to the environment, I guess . . . .? Like, the trees and stuff, or whatever. . . . I suppose it sounds pretty stupid, right?"

Elyon swiftly shook her head within blatant disagreement.

"No, way! I think that that's rockin' that you wanna do your part to help out our planet! My mom's always going on and on about how I usually forget to separate the recyclables from the regular trash every trash day, actually," she replied with a brief roll of her eyes, before giving a sheepish grin at the taller girl. "But, now I feel all the more bad about it, having a new friend who's more conscience about our surroundings than I sure am! My mom would love you, anyway. I'll bet your own mom is pretty proud of you for it, too, though, right?"

Will tensed up at this, quite visibly to Elyon, who promptly looked upon her with concern eyes.

". . . . W-What is it? Was it something I said??" she innocently asked, slowly resting a gentle hand upon the stronger girl's wrist. The sudden contact seemed as though it had honestly burned her, for Will quickly pulled back her arm, and lightly rubbed at it before looking away.

"I, uh . . . yeah. Yes, I'm fine, Elyon," she murmured, although tried her absolute best to maintain the usual strength within her voice. ". . . . It's just . . . well, I wouldn't honestly know what my mother would think or feel about it, since . . . since both she and my dad are gone. . . ."

Elyon sharply gasped upon hearing the startling, heartbreaking news, and immediately placed a hand over her mouth in affect.

". . . . O-Oh, Will, I--! I'm so sorry! I-I didn't know, and I --" she stumbled within response, her heart sinking into her stomach out of shame, as well as sympathy. She watched as Will abruptly gave one of her patented shrugs, before standing from her seat.

"It's all right, Elyon. You didn't know, like you said," she said slowly, but with renewed resolution and a casual air. She turned sideways as she then stared ahead, so that her back would be all that Elyon could see from where she continued to sit. "It's actually coming up on . . . almost two years since my father's been gone, and around a year since my mother's been, as well, now that I think about it. . . . It's certainly made life much more interesting, though, I guess you can say, seeing as I live on my own, and all. . . ."

Elyon blinked in utter disbelief, slowly uncovering her mouth.

". . . . No, way! Will, you live by yourself??" she asked in surprise, standing from her own seat, as well. "B-But, you're just a kid, like me! How's that even possible??"

Will merely turned her head to the side, and slightly gazed rather stoically upon Elyon within the corner of her eye.

". . . . Anything's possible within this world, Elyon. I've learned that from experience. . . ." she replied, a bit hollowly, before exhaling sharply and shaking her crimson colored head. She then slowly turned back around and gave a faint, unexpected smile towards the taken aback Elyon. "But, it's all right, though, because I'm definitely much, much stronger for it. So, honestly? I'm kinda thankful, in a way. . . ."

Elyon paused, taking a few moments to consider what had been revealed to her. Only a teenager and barely through high school, and already Will had apparently been through so much more within her young life than the blonde could only just imagine.

Had that been me, instead, I don't think I'd have found the strength to keep moving forward, the way Will seems to have, she thought solemnly, gently biting upon her lower lip to suppress the slight urge to cry that had just then begun to seize her senses. I feel so bad, now. . . .

". . . . I feel so bad, now," Elyon suddenly heard herself say aloud before she could stop herself, verbally mirroring her previous ruminations mere seconds ago. She blushed softly, as her soft blue eyes locked with Will's inquisitive brown. "T-That is . . . well, for the obvious, really, without talking about it some more and making either one of us feel worse. . . . And then, to transfer to a new school -- A new city, with the school year already having started, too, and all alone like that . . . it must be pretty tough. . . ."

Will moved back over to their shared table then, and picked up her unfinished and mostly melted sorbet, before walking towards the silver colored trash bin behind Elyon. She then turned back around to face the shorter girl, lightly dusted her hands off, and gave a soft smile.

". . . . Yeah, I guess so, for most people. But, for me? I don't really like to dwell on things too much," she replied, her chameleon-like persona taking effect once more. "Like, for example, my dessert ended up melting and getting ruined, there. But, it's no big deal ultimately, really. Well, that's just how life is like: Things happen that you can't always control, and it can get pretty messed up and ruined, even, too . . . but you just gotta put it behind you and keep going. . . ."

Elyon couldn't immediately respond to this, as the analogy, however slightly skewed, was nonetheless poignant just enough to dishearten her spirits. Having seemed to take notice of this, Will surprisingly let out a small laugh, before lightly tapping the blonde's shoulder in comfort.

"Aww, come on, now! Cheer up, Elyon! It isn't honestly as bad as you're making it seem! My life is honestly just fine -- Really! And, hey: At least it isn't your own, and you have people in your life you can count on, right??" she remarked sincerely, doing her best to diminish the other girl's now crestfallen demeanor . . . a sight which honestly did not seem at all befitting for such an individual, and bothered Will to see.

However, something seemed to click for Elyon just then, for the previously sulking expression upon her fair visage effortlessly evaporated, and a brilliant smile graciously replaced it.

"Ah! That's right! I do have people I can count on! And now, so do you, Will!" she said happily, suddenly bending down to pick up her belongings from off of the ground, before seizing Will's hand. "Whenever you're in trouble or are faced with a problem, you can definitely rely on her! I know I always do, now!"

"B-But, wait! W-What're you --??" Will began within confusion, just barely managing to retrieve her own shopping bags, before being rushed away from the table and towards the nearest bus stop.

---

". . . . I see. So, you really believe that Sailor V could be our princess, Csilla?" Taranee carefully murmured in inquiry to the increasingly familiar, grayish blue feline being carried within her arms, as the two slowly made their way to the Musical Star Café together.

Taranee had completed yet another dance practice at Madam Isadora's about an hour ago now, and had originally intended upon getting a head start upon the various reading material she'd acquired from each of her classes within the last week, once she had arrived back home and gotten settled.

However, the moment the vastly intelligent, talented girl's gentle brown eyes had caught sight of the seemingly lost, tiny cat roaming around her front yard, once she'd stepped out of her family chauffer's Rolls Royce, Taranee had decidedly changed plans.

After all, it wasn't every day when Csilla would make personal house calls in order to see her, not unless it was rather important and Guardian Soldier related. And, truth be told, Taranee had honestly been expecting a visit from the mystical feline sooner or later, especially after having read that morning's rather startling newspaper article in regard to the two new, and unknown superheroes now within their city.

Or, more specifically, Sailormeridian and Sailormars. . . .

How utterly flabbergasted Taranee had been, after having woken up at the crack of dawn (and even before the rest of her family, as she usually would every day, regardless of whether or not school was in session), and ventured outside to retrieve the latest issue of The Heatherfield Tribune on her mother's behalf, who had always been much more partial to reading the newspapers, more so than her husband.

The young teenager had nearly choked upon the piece of toast she had prepared for herself, after having idly unfurled the literary publication, and gazed upon the undeniable photograph of both Elyon and herself within their magical guises.

Not even Taranee's gift of foresight and strong mystical senses had been able to see it coming, making her feel all the more frustrated with her so called talents and their continued unpredictability. At the very least, if she had been able to detect some sort of foreshadowing, then the shock of it all could have been far less devastating!

It was all the newly turned Fire Guardian could do to contain her mounting concern and mortification throughout her entire school day, not only having to contend with her usual attempts at blocking out the random thoughts and feelings of her fellow academy mates, but also their newfound eagerness to discuss Princess Étaín's royal ball and her "unknown saviors."

It had gotten so bad, in fact, that Taranee had actually been rather tempted to skip out upon her dance lesson, despite having originally been quite itching to return to them on a steady basis once more, now that the authorities were through with their investigation of poor Madam Isadora's studio, in regards to the strange "missing girls mishap" associated with it, but had thankfully come up empty.

She'd needed to get rid of the excessive, pent up energy and unwind, after all, especially after the rather chaotic weekend she'd experienced with Elyon, nearly watching her perish during their arduous battle with the venomous Deite. . . .

However, Taranee had promptly decided that one day of missed practice could have been forgiven, if it would mean being able to consult with the seemingly all-knowing Csilla as soon as possible, in order to learn of whether or not her life was now completely over.

It's just too bad that I couldn't think of a good enough excuse not to have gone to my lesson today, though. But, then, I never was a good liar, either, the French-braided girl thought in further reflection of the current day's happenings. Better late than never, I suppose, now that Csilla was finally able to fill me in on everything, and that Miss Brown and I apparently don't have anything to worry about . . . for now, anyway. However, this latest piece of information she'd given to me is rather puzzling. . . .

It was true.

After having let Csilla into the girl's empty house (as it usually was around that time of day) and listened rather attentively to the feline's reassuring words of having no fear of her secret identity being exposed, Taranee had honestly expected the visit to end right at that particular moment.

However, Csilla had decidedly stuck around, mysteriously growing silent for a few moments, before at last revealing the other reason for her having gone to see the shy intellectual . . . something she had yet to even discuss with Elyon, as it had been to Taranee's understanding.

And now there they were, heading to their newfound secret headquarters within the heart of the Musical Star Café, after having left Taranee's home with slight haste. She had barely been able to change out of her leotard and into something more comfortable, before she'd found herself hurriedly chasing after the fast moving cat. . . .

"I'm sorry to drag you out of the house and tear you away from your studies like this, Taranee, but I thought that two minds would be better than one within the research I've been conducting since this past weekend," Csilla had explained in between breaths, as the pair had begun their swift pace towards the café. "And yours is quite honestly the best one for the job, I'd wager. Besides, for now, at least, I do not wish to readily involve Elyon -- Which is why I am having us rush like this, in case she would choose to go there today and arrive before us -- in case this is all for naught, and I get her hopes up. . . ."

To get both Miss Elyon's and my hopes up, admittedly, as well, Taranee silently reflected with a faint smile and blush, just as the Musical Star Café had come into view in the distance. To think . . . the Sailor V could be our princess. . . .

". . . . Correct, Taranee. However, I have been having a hard time within my investigation upon the matter, as I'd explained to you earlier, and so was hoping that perhaps you could assist me," Csilla replied with a faint nod, peering up at the thoughtful girl with enthusiastic eyes. ". . . . Surely, perhaps, you have been able to sense something about Sailor V with your gifts, as well? Or, maybe you would be able to predict when she'll next appear, so that we could set up some sort of a meeting with her, to know for sure?"

Taranee softly pursed her naturally full lips together, thinking for a moment as she began to consider the notion.

". . . . Honestly, no, Csilla, I haven't . . . sorry," she responded with an almost defeated air, flashing the wise feline an apologetic smile. "That is . . . as both you and Miss Brown now know, my . . . 'abilities' have never been really reliable, let alone controllable. And while I've never honestly stopped to pay attention of how I feel whenever I think or hear of, or even sometimes see Sailor V caught on the news, I can't honestly recall sensing anything . . . significant about her. But, now that I know of your suspicions and the possibility that she might be our princess, I'll certainly do my best to help out in any way that I can. It certainly would make the most sense, after all, that she would be the one we're looking for, being sort of similar to Miss Brown and myself, and what we can do now. . . ."

Before Csilla could have responded to the young teenager's inquisitive reflection, their private conversation was suddenly interrupted by the unexpected, although quite familiar sound of Elyon's cheerful voice calling out to Taranee in the distance.

"Taranee!!" she cried with a happy smile and wave, before jogging over to the pair and swiftly closing the gap formerly between them, as all three stopped before the entrance to the Musical Star Café. Elyon's blue eyes had then shifted onto Csilla in surprise, who continued to be carefully cradled within Taranee's arms. "Oh! Csilla, you're here with you, too?? I hope you're not planning on doing any further renovations to our secret hideaway with your hocus-pocus, because it already has everything you could possibly imagine!"

At this, Csilla promptly let out a playful hiss, while Taranee softly smiled at the other girl, rather happy to see her. She'd secretly hoped that she would have, despite Csilla's blatant want, just this once, for the opposite.

"Well, then, I am glad to hear that you're apparently content with what I have done, Elyon, because I do not wish to hear of you complaining that there isn't a Jacuzzi or swimming pool added somewhere in there, as well," the slate gray cat lightly remarked with a faint smile, apparently neither phased by her primary charge's previous statement, or her presence. "But . . . I do have to ask what you're doing here. I'd have thought you'd be off somewhere with Alchemy, or some of your other friends as usual, instead of at home, doing your homework as you should."

Elyon rolled her eyes at this and sighed, at the same time that Taranee lightly tensed up at the mention of Alchemy's name . . . a sensation which, unbeknownst to her, Csilla had managed to take note of.

"Yes, yes, I know! I'm a bit of a procrastinator, okay, already!" the pigtailed girl said with folded arms, although her previous smile remained upon her face. "Besides that, Alchemy went home right after school, and the Grumper Twins have completely lost their minds -- Don't ask. Anyway! This time it's for a good cause, the reason I'm still not home yet! I met someone new today at school, and I've been showing her around the city -- She's here with me now, actually. I wanted to introduce her to you guys -- Well, to you, Taranee, specifically."

Taranee's heart jumped at this, causing her to instantly blush deeply as a result.

". . . . M-Me? Really??" she barely squeaked out, gazing sheepishly at the beaming blonde in front of her from behind her dark framed eyeglasses. Taranee had never once stopped to think that Elyon regarded her outside of their shared new lives as Guardian Soldiers, let alone spoke about her to others. And although her heart, somewhere deep down, knew that it was rather foolish to think that way, especially about someone so honestly caring and friendly, her mind and insecurities continued to believe otherwise.

Still, it was quite a heartwarming revelation to learn that the other girl really was thinking of her. . . .

"Yeah, of course! I was telling her all about you, how smart and talented you are, and how -- H-Hey, where is she??" Elyon began in reply, before abruptly cutting herself off after having looked about her immediate surroundings and at last realized that her unknown, newfound companion was nowhere to be seen. "W-Will?? Where did . . . ah! There you are!"

Before neither Taranee, nor Csilla could have said another word, Elyon swiftly performed an about face, and rushed back the way she'd came, towards the nearby bus stop she'd apparently gotten off of. There, standing alone and rather awkwardly, at that, with a small army of what appeared to be green, black, and clear colored shopping bags was a fairly tall, and slender redhead.

". . . . Who do you suppose that is?" Taranee could hear Csilla softly murmur in inquiry, to which she did not attempt a reply, as her insides had just then began to feel curiously strange the longer she looked upon the newcomer.

"Come on, Will!" Elyon spoke with her usual jubilation, as she blindly pulled the taller, bob haired girl behind her and back towards her awaiting comrades. Pausing for a moment, Elyon cleared her throat before speaking once more. "Taranee, this is my new friend, Wilhelmina Vandom -- Although she says she just likes to be called 'Will,' instead, which I totally can't understand, with such a great name as hers. Anyway! She's a recent transfer student to Heatherfield High, and just started today! She's kind of on the tomboyish side, as you can tell from her clothes . . . sorta, anyway. But, she's also really into frogs, and is a fabulous cook, too! I should know, since I nearly ate the whole of her ridiculously yummy lunch earlier today!"

As both Taranee and Csilla silently listened to Elyon's ramblings, with the redhead now known as Wilhelmina, or Will, faintly smiling in what looked to be mild embarrassment, the two began to simultaneously, as well as unknowingly share the same sensations Taranee had been feeling only moments before.

. . . . What could it mean? Is it because of this girl?? the French-braided girl thought within perplexity, doing her best to maintain the shy smile she had previously formed upon her caramel hued visage, as the overall feelings were beginning to become rather distracting. . . . . I don't ever recall feeling this way before . . . I wonder what it could be. . . .

". . . . And this, Will, is Taranee Cook, whom I was telling you all about for practically the entire bus ride over here!" Taranee had just then been barely able to tune into the exuberant Elyon continue on, now having shifted her introductions onto the raven haired girl. "I'm telling you, I've never before met such an extremely intelligent girl as her before -- Which, I guess, makes it no surprise that she goes to that private school I'd mentioned before on the way here, too: 'Vesta's Academy for Girls!' If you've got questions, she's got answers! And if you've got an issue to deal with, you can definitely bet that she'll have some sort of solution for you! Which is why I'd said earlier that if you ever need help with anything, you can totally count on her!"

Taranee almost wished she hadn't heard such a strong compliment being said on her behalf, as it then caused her cheeks to grow painfully hot with abashment, as a result. However, it still greatly warmed her heart to have done so.

Doing her best to block out both her newfound embarrassment, in addition to the unexplained excessive of emotions she couldn't quite put her finger on, Taranee gave another meek smile at the tall redhead before her.

". . . . Nice to meet you, Miss Vandom," she said quietly, unable to look at Will for very long due to continued nerves, as she would alternate between looking upon her for a few moments, and then promptly shifted her gaze elsewhere.

Perhaps that was a good thing for Taranee, as she had, at that moment, just missed Will's formerly smiling expression wrinkle into one of perplexity.

". . . . Me too, Taranee . . . but, um . . . why did you call me 'Miss Vandom,' for??" she could be heard asking within honest inquiry, before Elyon softly chuckled with good humor and intervened.

"No worries, Will. Taranee's just really, really big on respect and manners, and all," she explained lightheartedly, moving from her place next to Will, to a still blushing and honestly mortified resembling Taranee. "You'll get used to it in time, though, to tell the truth. I've sort of begun to just accept that that's how Taranee speaks, you know? But, I'd hate to hear what she'd call us if she didn't like us, instead!"

Surprisingly in that moment, rather than feel disheartened or ashamed, as she usually would whenever the focus of her own personal mannerisms were brought up, Taranee only managed to smile sheepishly at this. Perhaps her heart's confidence within the blonde haired girl's loyalty and care for her was beginning to win out over the paranoia of her bothersome mind, at last. . . .

". . . . I see," Will softly spoke with a continued simper, before shifting her gaze onto the fluffy, grayish blue feline perched within Taranee's arms. "And is this your cat, Taranee? It's so beautiful! Even that . . . odd looking birthmark or whatever it is upon its forehead, as well!"

Elyon couldn't help but to giggle at the unexpected sight of Will suddenly cooing over the now abundantly pleased Csilla, of which the pigtailed girl had no doubt, while Taranee softly smiled in observance.

"Nope, Csilla's my cat, Will . . . although sometimes unfortunately so," Elyon lightly joked with a grin, both she and Taranee watching as Will began to gently scratch underneath the loudly purring female cat's neck. "But, all in all, she's been . . . pretty interesting to have around."

Will looked away from the increasingly content Csilla, and smiled up at Taranee, before doing the same to Elyon.

"Well, she's certainly a beauty. What is she . . . a Russian Blue breed, I think, right?"

Elyon blinked a few times at this, before raising both of her eyebrows and shrugged.

". . . . Or something like that, I guess. All I know is, I've fed her one too many times, and now she won't leave me alone," she replied with a broad smile, winking at the indignant sort of expression Csilla had then flashed at her. "But, I'll take your word for it, Will, seeing as you did say that you really like animals, I'd just remembered again."

Will, and even Taranee, softly giggled after listening to the smallest girl speak, before the redhead slightly backed away and nodded. After which, an unexpected silence had then fallen upon the three of them, followed by an undeniable feeling of awkwardness.

Finally, biting down upon her lip, Elyon inhaled lightly, about to speak once more, before Will abruptly beat her to it.

". . . . Well, I'd better get going. It's getting late and all, and it has been a pretty long day," she began with a small smile, readjusting her grip upon her shopping bags, before curiously handing a greater majority over to Elyon. "Here are your bags, Elyon, before I forget. . . . Thanks again for today, too . . . it was enjoyable. I guess I'll see you in school tomorrow, all right? Oh! And it was very nice meeting you, Taranee -- And you, too, Csilla!"

Looking a bit disappointed at first, Elyon then flashed the tall, already retreating redhead another happy grin, as she nodded in understanding.

"Aww, all right then, I guess! See you tomorrow, Will!" she responded, both she and Taranee waving at Will for a few moments, before the ruby haired teenager turned around and headed back towards the slightly empty bus stop in the distance. Pausing for a moment, Elyon then spoke once more. ". . . . That sucks that she wasn't able to stay longer, though. I was hoping that all of us could have gone inside the café and grabbed a couple of smoothies or something, while getting to know one another some more. Can you believe that Will has actually never heard of Cornelia Hale, or Sailor V before I'd mentioned them both earlier today, Taranee?? Insane to think!"

Taranee merely smiled lightly at the news, as her mind (now that ample distractions had then been subsided), had promptly shifted back to its previous concern of the rather odd feelings she'd been experiencing throughout her premiere meeting with the girl in question.

". . . . Taranee? Are you all right??" Elyon gently asked with care, pulling her attention away from the bus stop where the slightly tall redhead continued to wait in front of. ". . . . You don't honestly look so well. Has our last battle with Deite taken more out of you than we'd thought? You didn't truthfully seem all right on our way home from Princess Étaín's ball, now that I think about it again. . . . Or, is it because of . . . you know, our public debut that was in the newspapers this morning that's got you so frazzled looking now??"

Once more did Taranee suddenly grow rigid unexpectedly, and once more did Csilla take notice, although this time, the feline was not entirely certain of the reason, as she might have possibly been during the previous occasion. . . .

Although honestly concerned for the reserved, kind intellectual, Csilla promptly escaped from the girl's secure hold and elegantly landed onto the hardened ground. For now, at least, whatever perhaps may have been secretly bothering Taranee would have to wait, as the recent events which had just then transpired between the curious redhead and Csilla's charges were currently far more pressing.

"Did you feel that?? Surely, Taranee, you must have!" the furry animal gushed with an intense stare towards Will, who had just then gotten onto the bus which had arrived mere moments before.

Slowly beginning to frown, Taranee paused a moment, looking from Csilla, to a visibly confused Elyon, and then onto the retreating bus which currently held the questioning redhead.

". . . . I did, Csilla," she replied, barely above a whisper, as Csilla's and her mutual sensations, formerly overwhelming, began to subside, which only served to raise further suspicions for them both.

Elyon, meanwhile, now feeling utterly out of the loop, promptly waved a hand into the air to seize her companions' attention, while maintaining her hold upon her ample, plastic shopping bags.

"H-Hello, there? Yeah! What did you two seem to feel together that I clearly did not this entire time??" she asked, a bit pressingly. She watched as Taranee and Csilla shared a glance with one another once more, before the raven haired girl was the first to respond.

". . . . I'm not entirely sure, but . . . I think that . . . perhaps that girl may be a fellow Guardian Soldier," the brown eyed genius carefully revealed, studying Elyon's utterly taken aback expression which had then followed.

"N-No, way!! Really, Taranee?? You really believe that Will might be the next member of the group we're meant to find??" she gushed within inquiry, turning attention onto the already vanishing bus that her new friend was currently on. "But, how do you know? Oh! R-Right, sorry! It's because of your special 'sixth sense,' right??"

Taranee nodded with a mechanical slowness at this, faintly blushing as she awkwardly readjusted her dark and slender framed eyeglasses upon her face.

". . . . Yes, Miss Brown, it is. I'm actually just as surprised as you are that my gifts are even able to pick up on something like that, though. . . . It's all so new," she remarked softly, silently marveling at the seemingly newfound facets to the innate ability that even she, herself, was apparently not previously aware of. "But . . . the more I think about it, the more sure I feel about this . . . about her. Plus, Csilla, too, seemed to have picked up on the very same feelings I had while Miss Vandom was here. . . ."

"Yes! She has to be the one, indeed!" Csilla chimed in with a firm nod, her long, slender tail swishing animatedly back and forth within the air. Silence had then claimed the trio once more, as each allowed the weight of the excited possibility that the red haired newcomer could very well be the next Guardian Soldier to join their midst . . . until, suddenly, Elyon sharply gasped within blatant upset.

"Ah! My mom's dry-cleaning!! Oh, my God, I totally forgot!!" she exclaimed in horror, upon having fleetingly gazed upon her wristwatch. She then gave an apologetic, lopsided sort of smile towards a visibly perplexed Taranee, and a rather irked Csilla before her. "Now I'm the one who's gotta book it, otherwise my mother will destroy me if I don't! Guess we'll just have to talk about this later, all right?? I'll hopefully see you again tomorrow, too, Taranee! And, Csilla? Do be sure to take your time coming home, as I know you'll probably just yell at me, as always, for 'neglecting my responsibilities,' or something like that. . . ."

Before either remaining female could properly respond, the fairly flighty young teenager gave a quick wave of goodbye towards them both, before turning on her heel and hurriedly scampering away within the other direction she'd previously been facing.

It was then that Taranee had caught sight of the pigtailed girl's peculiar, blackened stain crudely decorating the back of her white colored skirt for the first time, and slowly raised an eyebrow out of curiosity.

". . . . Do I . . . want to know what that is about, Csilla??" she softly queried, pointing discreetly toward Elyon's currently retreating bottom, after having turned within her spot to watch after the other girl.

Csilla sighed gently, before lightly shaking her fur riddled head.

". . . . Perhaps, but seeing as it had occurred due to a thankfully resolved issue, and this is Elyon we are talking about -- Who has proven herself of being quite the . . . 'curious' sort of girl -- I'd say that it'd be best to leave it alone," she replied with a tender sigh in defeat, vexingly watching her primary charge vanish around a nearby corner.

Taranee merely nodded briefly in reply, before a faint smile slowly spread itself across her flawless visage while continuing to stare straight ahead.

". . . . Maybe . . . but that's what makes her so interesting to be around," she softly admitted within growing fondness of the friendly and cheerful blonde in question, her heart swelling, while her worrisome mind thankfully continued to lay dormant in regard to the duo's budding friendship. . . .

---

"There. First batch baked, packed away and ready to go! Now, onto the second batch," Will lightly murmured to herself with a faint smile, after having finished carefully removing the freshly baked cinnamon buns she had previously been baking from its cooling rack, and into a medium sized plastic container.

It was evening now, nearly approaching nine o'clock, in addition to the redhead's usual set bedtime. And even though this was the case, coupled with the fact that the dinner dishes had yet to be washed and put away, or her homework yet to be completed, Will was nonetheless busying herself within her moderately sized kitchen with her baking.

But then, she'd always seemed to prefer cooking, specifically baking, at night, which usually resulted in lost hours of sleep, due to the various treats she would make well into the early morning hours. Will didn't honestly mind, though, as creating brand new culinary dishes was something she readily enjoyed over the last year, and would always put her at ease, without fail.

Of all of the talents or skills she had learned along the way within her young life, baking was quite assuredly near the top of her list. . . .

Wanting to find some way to better express the gratitude she had felt for having hung out with the rather jovial Elyon Brown, Will had decided, almost as soon as she had arrived home later on that same day, to bake the pigtailed girl her own, personal batch of the dessert she had seemed to enjoy immensely during their shared lunch that afternoon.

The redhead couldn't help but to find herself replaying the entire day, the parts which had been spent with Elyon, at least, over and over within her mind for the rest of afternoon, and into the early evening. Each time that she would, a smile would renew itself upon her naturally tawny complexion repeatedly, and an overall warm feeling would settle itself straight into her heart.

Such a strange, almost bothersome, although generally pleasant effect the bubbly teenager seemed to possess upon Will, quite possibly to the point of near insanity, the more she'd tried to comprehend it. What was it about this girl, this one girl, who had managed to awaken within the redhead far more emotion than she'd ever cared to previously acknowledge, and had believed to have been long since buried over time?

. . . . Maybe it's because she kind of reminds you of how you used to be, yourself . . . before everything had changed forever, a new, fiercely unwanted thought had suddenly then come to Will, after having placed the second batch of unbaked, homemade cinnamon buns into the awaiting oven. She slowly began to frown deeply as she closed the black colored oven door, before taking off the green hued oven mitt she had placed protectively upon her right hand, and blindly tossed it on top of the stove before her.

Will briefly began to marvel at how she could have honestly forgotten, even if only for an hour and a half's worth time of baking, about the memories of her old life, and the tragic circumstances which had bestowed onto her a new one she did not think she would ever be free of, nor get used to.

After all, it was something her mind would constantly remind her of everyday she would awaken, and what her dreams would showcase for her nearly every night, as each would rewind moments of past memories she could never retrieve again. . . .

Her personal life was something Will would always make a strong point to keep fiercely concealed wherever she went, also making it an even furthered point to keep to herself and go about her own business, while leaving those around her to their own devices, accordingly, as well. Doing so, however, admittedly made the young girl's life a rather lonely, untrusting one, leaving her with an even lonelier amount of companions.

But, no . . . perhaps Will could now be able to actively count Elyon as one of, or rather, the only friend she currently possessed? After all, the other girl did technically refer to her as such, after having gone out of her way to get to know the redhead.

And, even more surprisingly, Will, herself, had more or less willingly opened up and divulged pieces of her personal life to the blonde, as well, in spite of her private resolution never to do precisely that with anyone.

". . . . Why did I do that, for?? It . . . almost felt sort of like . . . second nature, or something, to be so candid with that girl," the crimson haired girl gently spoke to herself, before exhaling loudly within frustration. "Argh! What's the matter with me?? It's like I don't know which way is up anymore! I'm feeling and saying things that I don't normally, and everything no longer seems to make sense! . . . . And it all seems to be because of that one girl . . . Elyon. . . ."

Feeling a mild headache beginning to form, Will promptly moved from out of the kitchen, and into her empty, adjacent living room. Carelessly dropping her body onto the beige, four-seated, and uniquely L-shaped sofa with a sigh, the redhead then tiredly raised both of her strong legs onto the small ottoman of the same color before her.

Looking about the decently spaced area, Will began to survey its overall, white walled and rather impressive décor . . . for the most part, at least. Looking to her left, she idly gazed upon the walled, plasma screen television she had yet to watch (and highly doubted that she quite honestly ever would, given that television watching had never really been her thing, overall), and then to the executive-sized, mahogany desk placed directly at its right, with its modest-sized desk lamp and slim cordless handset telephone perched upon it.

Now, that particular piece of furniture she could and most likely would be using a lot within the near future, primarily for all of the homework she would undoubtedly be receiving within the near future, courtesy of her new school. Plus, at the very least, having to be seated there for however long necessary during those instances wouldn't be all that bad, as the grand double windows the desk was propped up against held an honestly beautiful view which overlooked the general scope of the seaside city.

The longer she thought about it, about the only rooms within her home that Will didn't mind so much were the kitchen, and master bedroom. When she had first stepped foot into her new living quarters only a month and a half ago, the spacious, open area designed kitchen was also the very first feature to the abode she had noticed. Although, to be fair, it would have been quite difficult not to, given that it'd have been the premiere sight any other individual walking into the immediate area would have noticed (besides the living room, of course, which was a mere eight feet and beeline from the front door), having been built to the left of the entrance just a few feet away.

Regardless, Will had instantly begun to feel a connection, so to speak (knowing full well that that particular area would be where she'd be spending the majority of her time), and was quite pleased to see that the avid request she had made to management to have an adequate kitchen within her home before moving in had not been ignored.

It wasn't stadium sized, as it were, but it certainly had been gorgeously designed. An L-shaped, marble countertop, maple wood placed beneath it and used for the utensil drawers and trash cabinet; a small but sturdy, black colored oven stovetop stationed within the center; and a silver, single basin sink which was placed to the right of it.

The two, white colored and admittedly small cupboards built on either side of the stove's overhead light were rather unique to Will, as well, as they had been shaped almost box-like, and with glass doors, as well. Perhaps the niftiest feature within the girl's new kitchen was its refrigerator, quite miniscule in size, and cleverly hidden within the tail end of the counter. Will would have honestly never known it'd even existed, were it not for the handle which matched the ones for the utensil drawers, and the observant fact that there hadn't seemed to be a refrigerator placed anywhere within the vicinity, at all.

Indeed. While she was quite positive that an order for a new, much larger refrigerator would eventually need to be made some time within the near future, Will was overall content with her newfound kitchen, as it had all of the basic essentials both desired and required.

Besides, the notion that less was more had always applied to the young girl throughout the majority of her life, which was another reason why she'd felt rather copasetic with her new bedroom, as well. Another eccentrically designed area, the green and tan color schemed room curiously acted as both a bedroom and bathroom, a fact which had originally boggled Will's mind once she had realized this.

The actual sleeping area had, of course, a plush, queen sized bed, with two night tables placed on either side and lamps set upon both; an elongated, maple hued dresser drawer with a grand wall mirror hanging over it (and yet another, although thankfully smaller plasma screen television placed upon the edge and directly before the bed for easier viewing); and two black chairs placed around a circular and equally black table (which were set before rather large and floor-length windows, similar in design to that of the living room).

And then, so quirkily constructed and placed not but a mere three feet away from the young teenager's bed, was her quaint and intimate sized bathtub, set upon green and white colored bathroom tiles (in stark contrast to the adjacent, pale green carpeting adorning her sleeping quarters). Immediately next to the tub was a light blue colored bath stool of sorts, where several rolled up towels were neatly placed, and a medium sized and beige colored sink area directly behind it.

All of this, the entire bath area, could be neatly concealed with the thick and olive tinted, velvet made curtain drapes, rather than a traditional door; however, Will had yet to undo them from the tied state and pull them closed, as she was the only resident within the entire living quarters, let alone her bedroom, after all.

All things considered, the redhead found her newfound home to be quite tolerable enough, to say the least, with little to no complaint to neither speak nor think of . . . yet.

Of course, the telephone I can probably do without, as well, like the television sets, seeing as I don't honestly expect any phone calls to come flooding in any time soon . . . well, maybe not from any other individuals except them, that is, and when they would unfortunately need my approval upon certain matters here and there, Will thought morosely with a small sigh, a light frown forming upon her naturally tanned complexion.

She often tried her very best to forget all about them, and the generally unwanted responsibilities they'd most likely soon bring. And she especially tried even harder not to focus upon the new area and environment in which she lived; however, it was most often to no avail.

After all, it was not every day that someone of her age and perhaps of normal standing could lay claim to living within one of the top hotels in the country -- And alone, at that.

The Garrick Plaza Hotel.

One of hundreds, in fact, that Will currently had the displeasure of being owner to, which she could promptly lay thanks squarely upon the lap of her deceased father, Thomas. To this very day, Will still found herself having a rather difficult time understanding that man's actions for having appointed her the sole beneficiary to all of his assets, including the fairly substantial wealth that he had never once honestly bothered to spend upon her (and especially not her mother) while he had been alive.

After all, Thomas had been, for a lack of a better word, quite the rapacious individual, cold and detached from any and all concerns which hadn't involved either himself, directly, or his mounting business. Still, he had been Will's father, the only one she had had or ever would . . . and so, naturally, she had always given rather futile attempts to win both his affection, as well as attention while growing up as a young child.

Even during the times whenever he'd argue excessively with Mom. . . . the brown eyed girl silently reflected, a tiny lump forming within her throat, as her mind began to unavailingly delve back into a past she so dearly wished to put behind her once and for all.

She couldn't help but to feel immediately angry with herself, even a bit dirty, at how she could have ever bothered to try to win the love of a man who clearly could not have cared less, even for his own wife. Through all of her own various faults, Will's mother, Susan, had always seemed to have been quite the good spouse to Thomas. Dutiful, patient, and kind, she had always been ready to forgive and move forward, no matter how many times her husband would shout and repeatedly break her heart.

A homemaker, Susan had always tried her best in raising Will, which the majority had admittedly been by her lonesome, loving her daughter enough for both Thomas and herself, combined, it would sometimes feel like. And even though their family had been honestly slightly more than merely well off (especially as time went on and Thomas's hotel management empire gradually began to flourish), Will's mother had never once spoiled her with anything lavish or expensive. It had been her hope, as she had once informed her daughter of, that Will would grow up learning the true meaning of happiness, and how it could not be found at the end of an extremely large paycheck.

It was almost laughable for Will to think upon her mother's words now, considering that she was far from being happy . . . and ironically enough, having her to thank for it, as well.

Deep down, Will had had the feeling that the only reason someone as pretty intelligent and otherwise grounded as her mother could have stayed married to such a tyrant of a man as her father, and for so long, was on her own behalf. So that Will could have had the benefit of growing up with the both of her parents together, such as it was.

However, all of that, everything she had ever known, had forever changed on the very day that Thomas had passed away, of a sudden aneurysm while at work, when Will was only twelve-years-old. . . . Things may not have immediately transformed for her right after that tragic incident; however, it had set into motion many, perhaps equally tragic occurrences which had led her up to her current point.

Unlucky thirteen. . . . Will thought, inhaling deeply as she struggled to keep the tears which were regrettably then beginning to form. She solemnly bowed her crimson colored head, cradling it delicately within the palms of her hands, as her mind traveled further and further back in time, and onto yet another fateful day just a year later. . . .

It had been a Friday afternoon, and excitement over it having been the beginning to yet another weekend, in addition to the promise of much needed bonding between her mother and herself had held Will within its grip for the majority of that particular school day.

However, the very moment she had stepped foot into her home, the loft she had grown up within and continued to live alongside her mother, even after her father's passing (as hard as it had admittedly been to do for them both, at times), had appeared eerily bare, and with no sign of the older, ebony haired woman who was supposed to have been there, awaiting her daughter's arrival as planned. . . .

Naturally, at the sight of the suddenly more vacant living quarters, Will had promptly surmised that both she and her mother had been robbed, and had immediately notified the authorities, before then dialing her mother's cellphone number . . . only to have discovered that it was eerily no longer in service.

Panic stricken and immediately thinking the worst, Will had rushed into her mother's bedroom to search for clues, just as the police had arrived to assist her several minutes later. She could recall how it had taken the effort of both the officers who had come to answer her frantic call, to calm her down, trying their very best to assure her that everything would be all right . . . until they had found the explicitly detailed letter waiting for Will upon her still made bed within her own bedroom, with words which she would later commit to memory and quite possibly be haunted with for the rest of her life:

My Dearest Will,

I wish that I could ask you, with much confidence, not to be alarmed, let alone find it within yourself to forgive me for what I have done. But, I know that neither is quite unlikely to happen, if at all.

I'll admit that what I've done, what I have consciously chosen to do, is beyond cowardly, and undeniably unfair and even a bit cruel to you . . . however, there is no turning back, even if I had any regrets -- Which, of course, I am sure that I will spend the rest of my life harboring. . . .

I have endured quite a great deal within my life, more than a lot of people who have known me have ever been aware of, and certainly you, least of all. But, after your father had passed away last year, as much of a monster it will make me sound like to admit this, to you, his own daughter, I found myself feeling far more . . . elated, I suppose you could say, than grief stricken.

My premiere series of thoughts, during the first few weeks after his sudden demise, had honestly consisted of this finally being a chance for me to start over with my life. To live, period, actually, as I had always felt as though I was trapped within a prison throughout the twelve years of my marriage to your father.

I feel all the more horrible to finally divulge all of this to you, especially in this way, sweetheart, but I wanted you to at least have some sort of understanding, if not acceptance, for my current actions. While I had initially loved him during the beginning our whirlwind romance and even shorter courtship, that love I had tried my very best to hold onto, even throughout all of our future arguments and his erratic behavior, began to fade in time.

Thomas was, to be perfectly forthright, a rather difficult man to get along with, Will, even before we had married. But, I was such a young and naïve girl at the time we had met, having only been nineteen-years-old, just starting college and away from home for the very first time. And then, here was this twenty-five-year-old, suave, confident and sweet-talking young man somehow noticing and taking an interest in me, during one night I had gone out to a night club with some of my girlfriends . . . it was all so overwhelming and exciting to me, all at once.

Still, I had fallen in love with him, and hard, wanting nothing more than to be with him for always. I had lost myself within my adoration for him, so much so that I hadn't honestly minded once I had learned that I was suddenly pregnant with you, and would have had to drop out of school because of it. I was just so very sure that Thomas would do the right thing by me and ask me to marry him, which, of course, he had . . . which, looking back upon now, I sometimes wish that he hadn't, and had left me to raise you on my own, instead. But then, that was what I had ended up doing throughout the majority of our marriage, anyhow. . . .

You have to understand, have to know that I have never once regretted carrying you to full term, Will, raising and loving you. Not once. But, it had been absolute Hell having to do so with that man . . . the one who hadn't hesitated to show his true colors to me promptly after we had married.

A tyrant.

A control freak.

An overzealous, pompous, and honestly at times terrifying man, who did not care for anyone or anything but himself . . . and perhaps his money, something which he'd never let me lay a hand on or ever once spent on me, even while we had been dating.

So, you can imagine how extra difficult it had been for me, a mere homemaker (which had been at his insistence, having fed me more of his sweet talking lies at the time, of how he didn't want the mother of his child and the love of his life to have to ever work hard at some day job, when he would always be around to care for us both), to struggle to properly care for you financially, practically having to beg the majority of the time for Thomas to contribute, as a father rightly should.

It was all so demeaning and humiliating, and immensely frustrating to be so close to riches, but unable to ever do anything with it, even for the sake of our own child. But, that's who and how Thomas was, distrusting and spiteful to the core.

I know that I had told you that it was because I'd wanted you to grow up knowing the true value of a dollar as the reason why I had always refused to spoil you, Will, and it had been the truth . . . but, now you also know the rest of the truth, as well. . . .

Twelve years . . . twelve long, grueling and emotionally debilitating years I had spent with that man, and had endured his abuse and ruthlessness . . . all for you. So that you would have grown up within a complete family . . . such as it was.

And I would have done it all again, if need be, because I love you that much, Will.

But . . . now that Thomas is gone, I finally have a chance to start again . . . and, God help me, I'm going to take it.

I can at last go back to school, and achieve the dream I've always had of becoming an engineer. I can build a brand new life for myself, in any way that I see fit and without anyone telling me, commanding me how to live it anymore. And . . . as much as I love and treasure you, and being your mother . . . it is just too painful for me to continue being so.

Even though he was a horrible man, Thomas was still my husband . . . and every time I look at you, especially now that he is gone, he is all I see. You have always favored his features most, you know. The same hair shade . . . the same skin tone . . . even the same trait of tallness. And those eyes . . . oh, how much your eyes resemble your father's, only with actual love and kindness shining forth within them, in contrast. . . .

Still . . . every time I'd look into them, I was always reminded of him, as though he hadn't really left, after all, and was still very much alive. . . .

And so, that is why . . . as heart wrenching and as difficult as it was for me to do, I have emancipated myself from you as your parent. . . . That is, I have legally given up all of my active rights as your mother . . . forever, Will.

It is extremely selfish of me to have done, I know . . . but I could barely handle the responsibilities as your mother even while I was still married to your father. And now that he is gone, making me both a widow and a single mother, for real this time, it was all that I could take.

I cannot attempt to continue raising you, upon the meager income I had only just started to earn in the last few months from my job at the grocery store (as you now know, courtesy of your father having made explicitly sure not to include me within his will), and attempt to try to go back to school to earn my degree at the same time. And I certainly did not want for you to suffer for any of it, either.

This is for the best, Will . . . I am sure of it. I have to be, or else I will only continue to fall apart, as I have been over my decision. . . . I know that you will be just fine within your life on your own, because I have always seen a fierce strength within you that I have always both admired as well as envied, never having had the same for myself.

But, maybe now, by doing this, I finally can. . . .

Please do not attempt to find me, honey, as it would only make things that much harder upon the both of us. All that I ask is that you live your life to the fullest, in a way that I never could, and be happy no matter what you pursue or where you go.

I know that I have no right to make any sort of requests of you at this point . . . but they will still be what I will always hope and pray upon for you, every day and for all the rest of my days.

Always remember that I love you, my sweet Will, with all of my heart, that I will be thinking of you always, and that everything I have ever done, I have done for you. . . .

With All of My Love, For Always,

Your Mother. . . .

Will could remember having immediately gone into shock and denial upon having finished read that gut wrenching letter of goodbye, absolutely refusing to believe that her own mother, a woman who had always been pretty selfless and loving toward her throughout the years, could have possibly done such a despicable thing.

To abandon her.

To cut off all ties with the young girl, having snuck out of their home and her life while she had been at school, knowing full well that the promises she had made earlier on that week of the two of them using that upcoming weekend to bond would never be fulfilled. . . .

It had taken Will a full two weeks to muster any sort of resolve to force herself to leave her mother's bedroom (where she had since remained after having read the woman's last form of contact with her daughter, curled up into a ball upon her bed and nearly drowning within her free falling tears of sorrow) in order to at last eat something, and only then it had been very small portions.

Phone calls and voice messages of concern from her school had by then started to pour in, but she hadn't cared. She no longer cared about anything, let alone her academic career. The year before she had lost her father, and now, a little over a year later, she had abruptly lost her mother, as well. . . .

It hadn't been until the following week when the rest of her newfound life had begun to piece itself together, when an elderly man suddenly appeared at Will's door, having introduced himself as one of her father's oldest colleagues, in addition to co-executive of the Garrick Plaza Hotel establishment he had partially helped to build from the ground up.

The man, a Mr. Milorad Sorge, had solemnly expressed his condolences to the already emotionally numbing Will, before explaining that he'd have been around to call upon her much sooner, had several legal affairs to her father's estate had been readily sorted earlier on.

The redhead had honestly only been half listening to the gray haired, blue-eyed and admittedly kind faced man (an observation which had surprised her all the more to have had learned that he'd freely associated with such a man as her father, let alone having had done business with him throughout the years) went on to reveal how her father had drawn up a second, separate will, which had primarily concerned her, as well as her future. . . .

". . . . Your father . . . wasn't exactly the easiest man to have gotten along with, I know, young lady," Mr. Sorge had commented, his pale face growing red with evident shame to have openly admitted, and to the deceased man's own child, no less. "However, he was a good businessman. One of the best I have ever had the privilege of working with, in fact. He had taken his hotel business -- One he had inherited from his father upon his death many years ago, and during a time when it had been nearing bankruptcy, I might add -- and had transformed it into what it is today, and all through his hard work and quite the cunning initiative. And for that reason alone, he will always have my respect. . . .

But, I digress. . . . I have come here, Will, to inform you that it has been recently discovered that your father has created another will, one separate from the one that your mother and yourself had been made aware of within the previous year . . . and, I must say that I was surprised to learn that it concerns you, and you alone. . . .

You see . . . in it, your father has made rather explicit instructions to make you the sole heiress to his hotel empire -- Much in the way that his father had done before him, I suppose -- and all of the assets and benefits attached therein, including a rather substantial trust fund, to be activated within the event that something should ever happen to him. . . .

He . . . had also been, I am rather apologetic to have to disclose, all the more adamant that his wife, your mother, not be made a part of said newfound fortune, and that any attempt made on your part would result within the conditions of your financial inheritance to be instantly null and void. . . . Despite having made her sign a fairly extensive prenuptial agreement prior to their having married, as it is now to my understanding, Thomas had apparently wished to make extra certain that your mother would never be able to lay claim to any part of his money, or business, it seems. . . .

I wish that I could say that this overall news is one emitted with joy, young lady, given that I am forced to more or less reveal the true nature of your parents' relationship, as a result . . . however, at least you can now rest easy knowing that you will be financially set for the remainder of your hopefully long life. And I, of course, will be right there to assist you in any way that I can, should you like. . . ."

To this very day, Will remained unsure of whether or not Mr. Sorge had been aware of the then newfound predicament her mother had placed her within, prior to having arrived to her home on that day, the way he had ended their solemn conversation . . . or, moreover, if her own father had somehow known, himself, perhaps even before his wife had, that she would one day abandon their daughter and essentially leave her penniless.

Thomas Vandom had always been the type of individual to inexplicably remain three steps ahead of everyone else, after all.

And, who knows? Maybe that's why Mom had seemed to feel so confident within her decision . . . because she'd possibly had had a feeling that he would have left me with at least something, money wise . . . even though he had never shown me anything but neglect and coldness throughout his life, Will mused with an embarrassed sniffle, before roughly wiping away the tears which had trickled down her smooth cheeks.

Standing up abruptly, the scowl upon her face deepening, Will then made her way towards the large living room window, and opened up the sliding glass door which led out onto a small, but sturdy balcony. Leaning over the black colored railing, she forlornly peered down at the miniscule sized vehicles passing to and fro from way down below, while the large, deep orange hued Florida sun continued to set over the vast ocean in the distance.

It was rather ironic to her, to have had one parent who had always both shown and showered her with love and attention while growing up suddenly up and leave her without much of a second thought, while the other, who had basically disowned her, if only emotionally, had soundly (or unsoundly, she wasn't entirely certain) bequeathed the bulk of his wealth and legacy all to her. . . .

Regardless, Will had decided right then and there, on that very same day back then, that she was going to make it within her life and be as successful and stable as she could manage, in spite of either one of them. And even though she was now financially secure for a good long while, if not the rest of her life, indeed, Will had also attempted to find a new place to live during that same year.

She, very much like her mother in that way, could no longer bear to continue living within a home which no longer felt like one by then, and was so wrought with painful emotion. And so, with the help of Mr. Sorge to guide her, and as one of her premiere acts as a newly recognized adult within the eyes of the law, Will had eventually managed to find a new buyer for her family's forgotten loft and promptly moved out soon thereafter. . . even before she had managed to secure a new home for herself.

Mr. Sorge had suggested that she simply move into one of her family's nearby hotels within the area, instead, to which the redhead had swiftly and most adamantly disagreed upon. It had been bad enough that she had suddenly found herself having become the newest (in addition to youngest) head executive to the entire company; it certainly did not mean that she'd wanted to play any further part within said new title, which included stepping foot within any of her father's hotels ever again, let alone living within one.

However, despite having been legally appointed as an adult, Will had found her hometown of Fadden Hills to be less than accommodating where residencies for someone of her young age was concerned, until eventually she'd decided to simply move out of state, altogether.

She just hadn't bargained that the new city she had ultimately settled upon, Heatherfield, would have been so very crowded, with virtually no available vacancies within any of its established apartment complexes. . . . And so, after much deliberation and procrastination, Will had reluctantly agreed to move into one of her father's hotels, after all, which was situated within downtown Heatherfield (and unfortunately not too far away from her newfound school, at that, within furthered aggravation); however, it had not been done so without a good deal of Mr. Sorge's adamant, concerned coaxing, or without several, personal stipulations of her own. . . .

"If I have to live . . . there, then at least let me choose a room that's normal, Mr. S," Will had begrudgingly stated, a little over a month before she had officially moved into her newly chosen city, speaking over the telephone with the elderly man one afternoon. Although it certainly could not have been said that she had grown rather fond of him, he having been his father's ex-associate and continued co-foreseer of his empire, after all, Will had at the same time grown far less . . . irked by his presence, during each of the rather frequent visits he had paid to her on and off since that fateful afternoon, now over a year ago by that time.

He wasn't family, and definitely wasn't even really a friend to her. But he was still something, someone, the only one, in fact, left within Will's shattered life who showed any sort of close semblance of actual care. And even though she had been doing her absolute best to pretend that she could from now on do without it, it had always felt a bit . . . nice to simply know that such a feeling still existed where she was concerned.

"Ha, ha. I'm afraid that you seem to know me well enough by now -- Or, at least, in this regard -- to know that I had every intention of setting you up within the finest hotel room in there, if not the actual Presidential Plaza Suite, itself, Young Lady," Mr. Sorge had replied in between a small fit of raspy, although kindhearted laughter, having referred to the redhead by the makeshift sort of nickname he had long since adopted for her, and did not honestly really seem to bother her all that much to be called by. "And, to tell the truth, the very moment you had agreed to live there, I had already made several calls down there for that particular hotel management to begin swift arrangements for you in advance, in case you miraculously changed your mind about the choice in room . . . which, having gotten to know you a bit better in this last year, has shown me that you are certainly not at all the 'flashy, luxurious' type, like your fath -- O-Oh . . . I am sorry, Will. . . ."

Even though the brief, although still quite noticeable slipup on the older man's part for having passed direct mention to her deceased father had admittedly bothered her, if only for a moment, Will had merely shrugged it off . . . one of her many, newfound defense mechanism traits of survival she had established for herself over time.

". . . . Don't worry about it, Mr. S. Anyway, like I said, I'll just be fine with a regular room -- Any room, really, that could satisfy my basic needs. You know: shower, bedroom, and maybe even a microwave or something, so that I could heat up my meals. I did only just start taking those cooking classes down at that weekly culinary seminar you'd turned me onto a few months back, after all," the redhead had replied within a forced air of nonchalance over on her end of the telephone, before clearing her throat. "Oh, and also, so long as the people there, guests and staff, alike, won't really expect much of me, either. Like . . . whatever it is that you do, or . . . he did. I may technically own the place, and am legally on my own, but I'm still just a kid, really, who's just trying to make it through high school for starters, okay? Anything they'd need they can call you up and take it up with you. . . ."

Mr. Sorge had cleared his naturally soft spoken voice at this through the receiver, apparently in understanding.

"Of course, Young Lady. As already discussed, I, and a few others who had also been working under your . . . well, your staff, will continue to take care of things, as always. Honestly, at best, the only thing that would require your attention is minor paperwork here and there, or any possible changes, décor and the like, we may try to implement," he had explained in confidence and reassurance to the young girl, before a smile could be heard filtering into his voice. "No worries, Young Lady; I do hope that you can trust that I . . . well, that I have your best interests always within mind. . . . A-Anyhow! I only wish that you hadn't chosen Florida of all states to relocate to, it being so far away from Maine, and all. It will certainly make coming to check upon you from time to time rather inconvenient, now, won't it? But then, it being Florida, and with me getting up there in age, I suspect that I shall be quite able to visit you far more often than either one of us would perhaps desire. . . ."

Why had Will chosen Heatherfield, chosen Florida, for that matter, as the place where she would start all over again, anyhow? She could recall briefly pondering that very same question in passing, during the remainder of that same telephone conversation with the elderly man.

Even now, she still could not readily dream up an answer, except to say that it had simply . . . come to her one day, when she had first started thinking about moving out of state. For whatever reason, Florida had effortlessly popped into her mind . . . although, in that regard, it could have merely been due to the fact that Will had also been thinking about getting as far away from her home state as possible, however at the same time staying somewhere along the East Coast, of which she had always been more partial.

But, why Heatherfield? The entire moving process had honestly become a haze to the young girl by now; but, perhaps it could have simply been one of the cities she had done a little research on, while trying to find an area which was both affordable, as well as safe.

In any event, she was now here, whether she liked it or not.

Reflecting upon that particular memory regarding the kind, aged man, although having had dealt with rather stressful issues, admittedly began to make Will feel a bit better, as the moments continued to pass. At least enough to cease her tears, anyhow, as she could no longer feel any more wishing to fall from her undoubtedly reddened eyes.

Mr. Sorge was, in truth, a good man, with good intentions; even someone with her newfound jaded viewpoint upon the world as a whole could not readily deny that. And having him around did admittedly lessen the worrisome burden of having to learn the ways of the business world, as well, or even have to pay much attention to her inherited "career."

Even no longer being able to see him face to face, and as often as she would have while she was still living within Maine truthfully did increase Will's feeling of overwhelming loneliness within her new city. Still . . . the last thing she wanted to do was to grow attached to anyone ever again, just so they could suddenly leave her all alone all over again. . . .

But then . . . why was I so happy to have gotten the chance to get to know Elyon, today?? And why am I busy making treats for her?? Will silently reflected within renewed frustration, her train of thought at last coming full circle, as she ran a clammy hand through her now messy cardinal colored locks. And, why her?? Why now??

Fed up with all of her unwanted thoughts, suddenly feeling rather exhausted, as well, Will promptly turned back around to head back into her living room, before slowly moving into the kitchen to prematurely shut off her oven.

She simply hadn't any desire left within her to finish her baking anymore. . . .

". . . . Whatever. It doesn't matter how she makes me feel, or that she makes me feel, period. This doesn't change anything, or the fact that I don't need anyone for anything," Will spoke to herself within firm resolution, leaning over the dark stovetop and slowly balling up her strong fists upon them in furthered emphasis. ". . . . I've made it this far alone, and so that's how I'll continue on . . . alone. . . ."

---

The following school day had merely brought on mere worry, rather than the joy Elyon had initially been hoping for, and had experienced the previous day upon having gotten better acquainted with the intriguing new girl, Will. Worry, because she hadn't managed to catch sight of the relatively tall redhead during lunchtime, or any other time during that new day, either.

Although having initially surmised that perhaps the other girl had merely chosen to understandably forgo eating lunch within the crowded courtyard once again, where all of the girls' fellow schoolmates could gawk, whisper and possibly jeer at her once more, Elyon had begun to slowly realize that there was a rather strong possibility that Will hadn't even attended school, period.

And the only reason that the blonde could have felt even remotely positive about such a theory, was because the atmosphere throughout the entire school, quite honestly, had been significantly different. There hadn't been any sort of lingering tension throughout the halls, as there had been yesterday. There also weren't any busybodies lurking about, and all too eager to discuss the latest possibly true, possibly false news about the newcomer.

These, coupled with the fact that none of her immediate friends had been held within a renewed tizzy over the girl's supposed criminal record and dangerous side, and Elyon had known for near certain that Will really had not attended school on that particular day.

The end of her final period had done little to console her, in the way that it had just the previous day, for Elyon could not possibly venture throughout the entire city in search of Will, the way she'd admittedly wished to. It wasn't as though she was aware of any chosen hangout spots the redhead had possibly made for herself, let alone where she lived. Will had made fairly certain to keep Elyon within the dark about that specific detail, during the course of their outing together the previous afternoon, after all.

Still, she had to at least try.

And so, there Elyon was, sat upon a lonely bus seat and traveling back into downtown Heatherfield, alone this time; it had been the only thing which had come to mind to do, upon leaving school grounds. She figured that Will had to live somewhere near that particular vicinity, if not immediately within, as the girl had wanted to find a shopping area fairly close to her home.

It was as good a start as any, at least . . . although, the blonde wasn't honestly certain why she had been feeling so compelled to locate the guarded Will, in the first place.

After all, maybe today was just a sick day for Will, and that's why she didn't show up to school . . . or, maybe she still had a lot of unpacking to do in her new place, and wanted to take the day off to do so, Elyon thought in reflection, as the bus was finally approaching her intended destination. Still . . . even if that's the case, why do I feel like I need to see her again so badly for??

Unable to readily find an answer to her admittedly puzzling inquiry, Elyon merely shrugged it off and began to hope for the best in regards to successfully locating the mysterious redhead, just as the relatively crowded bus had then groaned to a stop.

Hurriedly collecting her school belongings, Elyon draped her backpack over her left shoulder as she stood from her seat, her black colored flip flop sandals smacking a bit loudly against the slightly sticky floor of the large vehicle and in time to her fast paced movement.

It hadn't been until she had stepped off of the bus and had given her newfound surroundings a more proper look that the petite blonde had then realized her regrettable mistake: she had gotten off of the wrong bus stop!

"Oh, God! How could I be so stupid?? I just came down here yesterday, too, with me leading the way around for Will!!" Elyon verbally scolded herself underneath her breath, watching with much chagrin as her fleeting ride was already rounding the corner in the nearby distance. "I just had to be too distracted with my thoughts. . . . Great. Now, I'll have to wait God knows how long for the next bus. . . ."

Sighing deeply, the dishwater blonde readjusted her backpack upon her shoulder, before slowly making her way over to the nearby, empty bus benches to take a seat. Carelessly dropping herself onto it, Elyon began to impatiently tap her sandaled foot against the pavement in wait, before the green colored street sign to her right curiously caught her eye.

". . . . 'Lita Way??' Lita Way, Lita Way. . . . Oh, right! This must be where the Grumper Twins had come yesterday to watch that Wiley guy swim," she gradually recalled, further looking about her surroundings to then realize that it was also the college area for the presumably nearby Marigold University. "Hmm . . . well, while I wait for the next bus to come, and it's almost three o'clock, anyway, I may as well go check him out -- Er, his swimming, not him! Ugh . . . gotta stop talking to myself. . . ."

Softly blushing and shaking her head within fleeting dismay, Elyon slowly rose to her feet and began to walk down the fairly busy street in attempts to hopefully locate the Seasonal Recreational Center, where the evidently talented swimmer regularly frequented.

I honestly can't understand what the obsession is about this guy that has made Courtney and Bess so insane lately, the pigtailed girl thought of her two friends' recent behavior of peculiarity, as she continued on within her walk. I probably should leave it alone, since it is just a harmless crush, and all . . . but, now even their own friends, Maddie and Cassie have seemed to have gotten bitten by the 'Wiley Love Bug,' and hard, the way all four of them were gushing about him in the hallway this morning. . . .

Rounding the same corner that her previous bus had, as well, Elyon was then beginning to wonder if she shouldn't discuss her admittedly befuddling concerns to Alchemy (who thankfully hadn't yet gone to witness the swimming superstar in action, herself, it seemed, as she hadn't been acting differently thus far . . . that Elyon could tell, at least), when her newfound destination was already in view.

"Huh . . . well that was fast, thankfully," Elyon pondered aloud to herself with a soft smile, quickening her pace before carefully crossing the street to reach the entrance to the recreational center up ahead. Once inside, the fair haired girl immediately began to feel daunted by the enormous interior of the professional establishment, gazing up at its high ceilings in awe.

After a few moments of ill-avoided stupor, Elyon promptly began to look more closely for any sort of hanging signs of direction, or at least a front desk, so that a receptionist could properly assist her. It was then that she'd thankfully noticed the large, black tinted building directory placed within the center of the area, and headed toward it.

"Hmm . . . let's see. Okay, so I am here, which is the lobby. . . . And the twins said that Wiley is a swimmer, sooo . . . he would be there, down within the basement area, which is also the 'Aquatics Area,'" Elyon murmured softly, after having carefully read the rather helpful and illuminated map face, before peering behind it to catch sight of the pair of silver faced elevators in the distance.

Traveling towards them in silence, the blonde curiously began to feel a bit apprehensive . . . but, why? It certainly couldn't be out of fear that she, too, would suddenly fall head over heels in love with the young college student, much in the same manner that the Grumper Sisters and their friends had effortlessly seemed to have done.

After all, Elyon was far too busy trying to earn the romantic attentions of her dear Cedric (and . . . perhaps the attentions of another, although she wasn't precisely ready to actively admit it to herself quite yet, or even readily realize). He was more than enough for her, really, and could probably swim circles around this Wiley individual if he'd ever wanted to, she was quite positive of.

So, then, what could it be?

After stepping out of the elevator, a minute or so later, Elyon was overwhelmed by the instant sounds of various, high pitched screams wafting from around a nearby corner to her left. Initially alarmed, she gradually began to relax upon making a strong connection that the screaming was most likely coming from the platoon of female fans Wiley had apparently cultivated for himself, who also clearly had to be immediately nearby, as well.

Sure enough, as soon as she'd turned the corner, Elyon was met with a great gaggle of young women, ranging both in age as well as ethnicities, either sitting or standing within spectator stands which overlooked a grand, Olympic sized swimming pool.

And there, currently slicing through the crystalline water at a rather fast pace was the lone Wiley Amato.

". . . . Even without having seen Bess and Courtney's pictures of the guy yesterday, I'd still definitely know that it was him, based upon the immense, all-female crowd he has here," Elyon said to herself with an admittedly impressed air, before awkwardly heading into the crowded swimming area.

As she got closer to the sea of female supporters (with the majority of each attempting to scream at the top of her lungs, while the rest repeatedly chanted Wiley's name), the petite teenager saw something she thought she'd never see within such a current environment . . . or, rather, someone.

". . . . W-Will?? No, way! Will!" Elyon promptly called out to the taller girl in the distance before her, who was propped up against a row of folded, unused bleachers off to the side. She stood, alone and rather stoically, with a facial expression which effortlessly seemed to express . . . anguish?

Elyon stopped short upon having witnessed this, unsure of whether or not she shouldn't instead leave the girl be, especially since it did not seem as though Will had yet to take notice of her newfound presence.

. . . . I wonder what's the matter? she thought with immediate concern for her new friend, studying the redhead's tawny hued face even further. She looks so . . . sad, or even . . . heartbroken or lovesick. . . . Hey, maybe that's it! Maybe she's got a thing for Wiley, too, just like the rest of these girls!

Elyon turned her head to gaze upon the continually swimming young man, and smiled softly to herself in confidence. He was pretty cute, though, and certainly talented, after all. And even though she had a lot of work cut out for her in terms of whittling down the competition, her mind was now made up.

If it meant providing a bit of extra happiness within the occasionally sad appearing girl's life, then she was going to help Will somehow earn the attention of Wiley no matter what . . . even if it would also mean defying the future, strong marital wishes of both Courtney and Bess in the process.

They'll forgive me . . . eventually, Elyon mused with a faint smile, looking about the continually cheering crowd surrounding her in attempts to locate the two girls in question, but was unable to find them. She then resumed her walk over to the still unsuspecting Will, and grinned widely at her before speaking once more.

"There you are, Will! You weren't at school today! Or, well, you weren't at lunch, anyway," the dishwater blonde said brightly, feeling all the more pleased to have found the now immensely surprised redhead, who had nearly jumped right out of her skin at the unexpected sight of the blue eyed girl.

"E-Elyon! I-I, uh. . . .! Um . . . what are you doing here??" Will tried her best to calm herself, knowing full well that both her current, anxiety riddled voice and flushed cheeks easily betrayed her, nonetheless. She then slowly placed her hands into the pockets of her black hued shorts, before taking them back out and then replacing them once more.

Elyon merely softened her smile at the display.

"Honestly? Coming here hadn't been part of the original game plan. That is, I was . . . well, kind of worried when you didn't show, so I went out looking for you after school," she began, moving to stand at Will's side, and leaned against the closed bleachers. "But, since I didn't know where you lived, I decided to sort of retrace my steps by heading downtown, seeing as that's where you'd decided to shop yesterday, and all. Wouldn't you know it, though, that I'd totally gotten off at the wrong bus stop, like an idiot? Yeah! I was going to wait for the next bus when I'd then realized where I was -- Lita Way, that is, which is where two of my friends have been coming lately, in order to watch . . . well, him. . . ."

Elyon trailed off for a moment, allowing her slightly longwinded explanation to properly sink into the bob haired girl's head. She offered a brief pointing of her right index finger towards Wiley in the distance, who was currently resting against one of the bright yellow lane dividers situated within the vast swimming pool.

Will followed the other girl's gaze at this and slowly nodded, curiously wincing momentarily before promptly returning her attention back onto Elyon.

"I . . . see. . . . But, wait . . . you were looking for me?? And . . . were worried??" she asked in surprise, slowly raising her crimson colored eyebrows in affect. The thoughts which had been previously rushing through her mind prior to the shorter girl's unexpected appearance, were effortlessly washed away by new ones pertaining to the rough night she had had the previous evening.

No . . . don't start with that again, Will. Remember? You're simply meant to be alone within your life; don't start getting all hopeful and happy again, just because this girl seems to have taken an interest within you and your wellbeing, the redhead silently scolded herself, lightly shaking her head subconsciously, as though for added emphasis.

Elyon did not seem to have noticed this, or the other girl's renewed expression of discomfort, as she had then instead grinned broadly and nodded.

"Uh huh! W-Well, you know . . . I was looking forward to maybe having lunch again with you today, and all," she replied sheepishly, suddenly feeling greatly embarrassed to have been put on the spot in that way. "I mean, at least if one of my other friends don't show up for school, I can just call or e-mail them later on, or go to their house, even, so I won't have to be continually concerned anymore. But . . . you know. I don't have or know any of that for you -- W-Which is all right, of course! But, yeah . . . I was just saying. . . ."

Elyon breathed a sigh of relief upon having caught herself and recalled Will's apparent tendency to remain aloof, both by default and within seemingly constant spite of her other, more so redeemable qualities she'd also appeared to possess. The last thing she wanted to do was to rile the other girl up for any sort of reason, after all.

Especially not when a potential love operation of sorts was at stake.

However, beyond a momentary pensive expression, which had then flashed across Will's smooth countenance, she had merely given the concerned Elyon a light smile, before turning her entire body to address her more properly.

"Ah . . . yeah, well . . . I guess I can see how that'd make things difficult in terms of trying to find me," she began with a light air and clearing her throat for a moment, before choosing to move on from the current subject. She'd also then begun to momentarily debate upon whether or not to make the blonde aware of the baked goods she had made especially for her the previous evening . . . however, promptly decided against it, as the thought admittedly now made her feel rather awkward. "I'm fine, by the way. I just . . . wasn't really feeling all that well for the majority of the morning, so I ended up not going into school, as you already know. . . . But, then, I'd started to feel a bit better by the afternoon, and wanted to get some fresh air, so . . . I've admittedly just been wandering around downtown since. At least now, though, I'm sort of better acquainted with the area, right? I'd ended up stumbling onto this place not too long ago, actually."

Nodding slowly in growing understanding, briefly saddened to learn that her suspicions of her new friend having been ill to be correct, however relieved to also know that she was apparently already on the mend, Elyon paused a moment before responding.

". . . . Hmm, well that definitely sucks that you weren't feeling too well today, Will. But, at least you're better now, right?? Definitely well enough to come and give 'Goo-Goo Eyes' at Wiley over there, eh??" she playfully remarked with another grin, taking a chance at jesting with the sometimes guarded girl.

Will's honey brown eyes immediately widened at this, cheeks growing dark in abashment. It had taken her several moments before she could actively reply to the pigtailed girl's claim; however, when she had, she'd also begun to unexpectedly laugh, and rather boisterously, at that.

"M-M-Me?? 'Goo-Goo E-Eyes??' You've gotta be joking, Elyon!" the chuckling girl commented in between her ongoing tittering, which began to cause Elyon to slowly pout as a result.

"Well . . .yes! When I was heading over to you just now, I saw the look on your face -- In your eyes! They had such sadness to them, as though you were pining away for him! And with all of these other love-crazy girls here, could you blame me to think the same of you??" Elyon countered with a faint frown, placing both of her hands upon her hips, as Will's laughter almost promptly quieted down upon having listened to her. "And anyway, I'm sadly an expert when it comes to unrequited love -- I know all about the looks, trust me. . . ."

Will felt her heart lurch at the other teenager's words, feeling a mixture of sympathy on the girl's behalf, as well as the return of emotions she had been harboring prior to Elyon's arrival, for something . . . else.

Suddenly feeling quite hot, and immensely uncomfortable, Will shook her fiery red head roughly, before beginning to curiously back away from a now befuddled Elyon, who had taken notice.

". . . . No. I didn't come here for that guy . . . I don't even know him, anyway. I guess these people do, though, judging by their ongoing, crazy reactions where he's concerned," she began, a bit detachedly and barely loud enough for Elyon to hear. She then lowered her gaze from the blonde as she continued to back away, before forcing a shrug. "I just . . . thought that I'd take a look around this place, since it isn't so far away from my home, and has a lot of pretty good athletic utilities. After all, don't I just seem the type to be into those sorts of things, being a rough tomboy, and all?"

Elyon suddenly found herself unexpectedly mute during those rather awkward seconds, unsure of how to respond. Once again, she had managed to upset her new acquaintance, without even trying, honestly, and felt absolutely horrible for it.

Before she could have recovered from her mental block, however, Will had spoken once more.

". . . . A-Anyway, it's getting pretty late now, and I've been here long enough as it is. So, I guess I'll just catch you around then, Elyon," she said with the same emotionlessness as before, however a bit hurriedly this time, before promptly turning on her heel and vacating the premises.

"W-Will? Will!" Elyon called after the redhead in pleading, before her words were effortlessly swallowed up by the renewed round of celebration surrounding her. Distracted, she looked back over towards the swimming pool and saw that it was now empty, with a smirking, water glistening Wiley now standing beside it with a white colored towel draped lazily around his strong neck.

Rolling her eyes within faint disgust, especially upon having then witnessed several females rushing up to him with either cameras or notepads and pens within their hands for a blatant autograph, Elyon then returned her attention back onto where she had last seen the now curiously distressed Will, and sighed.

She did not bother to chase after the girl, as she was fairly certain that even if she had managed to catch up to her, she would have been no more receptive to Elyon's presence than she had been just moments before.

"Oh, Will. . . ." she murmured in sadness and helplessness, exhaling softly, before slowly leaving the swimming pool area and building altogether, herself, while her heart went out to the veiled and dispiriting redhead. . . .

---

After having spent the remainder of that same afternoon, and some of that early evening, aimlessly wandering around the city in order to gather her increasingly unsteady thoughts, Will had at last begun to head back to the junior suite which was her home, feeling hungry in addition to exhausted . . . both emotionally, as well as physically.

She had felt bad for having walked out on Elyon, who, in truth, had honestly done nothing wrong. It seemed to be all Will would do whenever around the cheerful girl.

Walk out on her.

Which is pretty ironic, considering the life I've led up to now, the redhead thought morosely, tiredly making her way through the already empty park, City Hall Park, which was across the street from the Garrick Plaza Hotel, where she disappointingly lived. What a day this has turned out to be. . . .

Why was it that, at any time Elyon was around her, Will would almost immediately become unraveled?? Whatever the reason, she now determined, more than ever, to keep her distance from the petite blonde from now on. . . .

"At least there's no way that today could possibly get any worse, now that I'm back . . . 'home,'" she muttered to herself with a rough sigh of fatigue, kicking at a stray pebble upon the ground before her with one of her new pair of sneakers.

". . . . I was hoping to find you," Will suddenly heard an unknown, strong, and male sounding voice speak from behind, causing her heart to jump in alarm. Turning around abruptly, her soft brown eyes rested upon the vaguely familiar sight of the talented swimmer apparently known as Wiley, who was now dry, fully clothed and smiling softly at her.

She tried her best to ignore her mind, which had then immediately begun to replay the conversation she had shared with Elyon, in regards to her assumption of Will having romantic feelings for the young man. And even though it really had been far from the truth, she nonetheless couldn't help but to softly blush at his rather unexpected presence.

Of all of the girls who had been swarming around him within that recreational center earlier on that day, Wiley had instead chosen to seek her out? But . . . how, and why??

". . . . You were? Why is that?" Will asked calmly, although not without a faint detection of confusion laced within her voice, while her insides admittedly continued to curiously become rattled with nerves. She promptly sucked in her breath the moment the muscular, honestly handsome boy had taken a step toward her, the smile upon his mocha hued face never once fading.

"Because you were the only one who didn't stick around after my practice had ended this afternoon," Wiley revealed gently, continuing his slow, but even pace toward the slender redhead. "Both you, and that little blonde friend of yours I saw you talking to. . . . So, I came to pick you up first, before going to retrieve her, as well. . . . Now, come with me. . . ."

At first feeling rather flustered with unexpected shyness, and even a bit of fleeting excitement by the sudden presence of the tall, raven haired young man, Will abruptly began to experience an overwhelming jolt of unease.

Something just did not feel right about this situation, even without Wiley's peculiar reply. . . .

And what about that?? 'Little blonde friend??' Is he talking about . . . Elyon?? she thought within furthered perplexity and alarm, before promptly beginning to frown darkly at the still grinning Wiley, a fact which was rather eerie in and of itself, as well.

"W-What are you talking about?? What do you want with Elyon?? What do you want with me, for that matter??" Will barked, glaring intensely at the now unsettling male before her, and taking a blind step backward.

Instead of becoming worried or, at the very least, put off (as Will had been hoping for) by the girl's newfound aggressiveness toward him, Wiley merely strengthened his simper, before slowly shaking his dark colored head.

". . . . Patience. You'll see . . . right now, in fact," he replied, his voice suddenly sounding much deeper and admittedly daunting.

Before Will could have even reacted, Wiley suddenly snapped his fingers and caused an immensely black aura to mysteriously appear and engulf the two of them. Crying out in terror, Will could feel her body going limp, as everything around her had become just as dark as the opaque glow which had inexplicably surrounded her.

However, as soon as the horrifying incident had started, it had then ended, and the feeling within her body had returned, with regrettably poor timing, as she'd then felt herself collapse onto a cold and hardened surface.

"O-Ow. . . .!" Will groaned into what she assumed to be the floor, before blindly beginning to lift herself up. Everything around her still remained bathed within shadow, and the sudden, disembodied cackling from whom she assumed to be Wiley did little to console her mounting distress.

"Stupid women. . . ." he chuckled deeply within the darkness, his voice still retaining its unsettling, and almost unnatural deepness. The sound of another snap of his fingers was then heard from behind Will, causing her to whirl around immediately, in the same instant that the newfound area the two were in abruptly exploded with unexpected light.

Several lit candles were sporadically placed about the room . . . if it could have even been referred to as such, as the area was compromised of nothing else. That is, nothing else, except a sea of young women, who all stood at random positions about the room, and all appearing to be as though half sedated. . . .

Will sharply gasped at the sight from her place within what she assumed to be the center of the eerie 'room,' as each female surrounded her from all sides.

"W-What is this place?? What's going on??" she called out with dread, turning around every which way within her spot, and gazed upon each woman and girl standing all around her. They each remained, unmoving, undaunted and apparently entranced by some unknown force, seemingly unaware of the redhead's newfound visit.

"Stupid, stupid women . . . coming day in and day out to see me practice," Wiley spoke once more, inexplicably somehow directly behind Will, as he unsettlingly spoke against her left ear. He let out another soft chuckle upon gazing towards the immensely startled expression of the only female within the room who was evidently cognizant. "And, for what? All so that they could fulfill the desires of their silly little crushes on me. . . . Well, now, their crushes will fulfill the desires of my master, with all of that wasted energy!"

Will frowned deeply at this, gradually beginning to feel far more furious, now, rather than the initial terror she had been experiencing since the start of this intensely bizarre debacle. Although she still could not, for the life of her, comprehend one moment of it, she did, however, find herself starting to feel unexpectedly sympathetic towards the stupefied females surrounding her.

". . . . All these girls . . . they all have feelings for you, and you couldn't care less!" she hissed in disgust, taking a step back from Wiley, who now appeared to be intrigued by her words. "All of them were there at the rec center today to support you, and to show you that they care for you, and you're just throwing it back in each of their faces!!"

The more she spoke, the more fired up Will got, silently realizing the slight correlation the young women's plight held to one of her own within the past. . . . However, none of that honestly mattered to her in that moment, as she was curiously determined to help every last one of them somehow, as well as to teach the rather pompous male before her a lesson.

His smile only faltering momentarily, Wiley then began to chuckle once more, shaking his head within furthered dismissal.

"Oh, really?? And what about you? You were there, as well! It had been the first I had seen of you -- And that blonde -- but you were there, nonetheless! Clearly, you feel the same for me as they do," he mockingly teased, before beginning to slowly advance upon the tall redhead.

Will promptly shook her bob-styled head, balling up the both of her fists in anger and clenched them tightly.

"Hardly! And anyway, even if I did, I don't care about myself! These girls aren't just play things for you to mess around with! They're real people, with real feelings -- Feelings that matter, and you had no right to screw with!" she exclaimed, the rage inside of her growing and growing the more she spoke, saying things that perhaps she should have said long ago, but now was far too late to do so. . . .

Ever the smirking individual, Wiley slowly draped his strong arms behind his back, before lightly cocking his ebony colored head to the side.

". . . . Ah . . . how interesting," his deepened voice responded with intrigue, briefly tapping his left foot upon the cold floor a moment, before taking yet another step forward. "No matter, though. . . . My master is awaiting the deliverance of these ladies' precious energy, you see! And although I will not have the same amount of time to work my spell upon you, for as long as I have on them, I believe you will still be able to serve your purpose for Him all the same!"

Without another word, Wiley facial expression of seemingly eternal calm had abruptly shifted into one of pure malice, as he swiftly lunged towards the now taken aback Will. Startling as it had been, however, she was ready for him, and quickly side stepped the young male, before hurriedly delivering a rather hard knee to his abdomen.

"Argh!!" Wiley groaned heavily within immediate pain, cradling his stomach before falling onto the ground, as Will whirled around to watch. The moment that he had, a sharp surge of white light filtered into the room, effortlessly blinding the redhead and causing her to shield her brown eyes within protection.

Waiting for a few moments, Will then slowly lowered her hands away from her face, and gasped in surprise at what she saw. She was once again back within City Hall Park, along with her previously fellow female captives, who were all huddled together upon the grassy earth at her side, unconscious.

". . . . H-How dare you??" Will could hear Wiley bellow from behind, spinning around in time to witness his snarling countenance and hunched over demeanor. The bravery she had been feeling just moments before regrettably became lost to her then, as she slowly began to back away from the blatantly dangerous man in mounting trepidation. "I will not . . . let you go!!"

With a bone chilling, near deafening and honestly inhuman sort of roar, Will watched in paralyzing terror as Wiley's entire body began to . . . melt? At least, that was what it appeared to be doing, as it inexplicably began to shape shift into something which was blatantly no longer human. . . .

Wiley's skin, once caramel in tone, suddenly took on a black and white hue, with his entire right side being white and his left completely black. His clothing became shredded until there was nothing left, as the muscles upon his body visibly grew larger in size.

Pointed, almost dog, or wolf-like ears had then taken the place of his previously human ones, in the same instant that his entire eye and pupil area had turned disturbingly opaque. Perhaps the most terrifying sight for Will to currently behold was the rest of Wiley's face. While the left side had remained the same, just as handsome as before, the right side had become horrifyingly fleshy, with sharp fangs glinting out towards her.

It was one of, if not the most truly nightmarish scenes she had ever witnessed. . . .

"Ahhh!!" Will screeched in terror, blindly rushing backward before falling onto the ground. She watched with widening eyes as the formerly human Wiley began to make his way toward her, at the same moment that the rest of his intended prey began to stir awake.

"Oh, my God!! What is that??" screamed a young, freckle faced girl with short, cherry colored hair like Will's, before clinging onto another female immediately next to her, who, sans facial markings, appeared identical to her. Not waiting for any sort of proper response, the girl (in addition to every other formerly slumbering female lying upon the surrounding ground), promptly scrambled to her feet and took off within ample fright.

None of them had even seemed to take notice of Will, who still lay upon the ground, too riddled with fear to move again. They had merely left her alone.

. . . . Just like my family . . . and my friends, she reflected within solemn silence, slowly turning her attention back onto the nearing, menacingly transformed Wiley. In the end . . . I'm always alone. . . . Even now, when I'm about to die. . . .

Closing her eyes within saddened acceptance of her fate, Will merely awaited to feel the unbearable, agonizing pain of her predator tearing into her flesh and promptly claim her life . . . however nothing happened. Having expected to listen to herself scream within oncoming affliction, Will instead unexpectedly heard sharp wailing emitting before her, from whom she believed to be Wiley.

Immediately reopening her brown eyes, the redhead gasped within renewed alarm, as she then took in the sight of a partially enflamed Wiley . . . and, the unconscious body of Wiley?? Lying upon the ground on his side, and a mere foot away from the slightly engulfed creature whom Will had originally believed him to be, was evidently the real and perfectly human swimmer. . . .

". . . . W-What the --??" she softly stuttered to herself with perplexity, watching within a partial daze as the makeshift, canine-eared monster frantically batted at its body in order to extinguish the fierce flames which had temporarily and inexplicably consumed part of it.

"Nice shot, Sailormars! That hit apparently had been strong enough to jolt the Entity straight from Wiley's body! If you hadn't been quick enough, Will would have been done for!" Will breathlessly listened to an unknown, although curiously familiar sounding female praise from behind to her apparent comrade, as their dual footsteps hurriedly approached the scene.

"Thanks, Sailormeridian! And it seems as though your mild suspicions about him, and that recreational center had been correct! It's a good thing that we were able to get here in time," the one apparently referred to as Sailormars, who'd also sounded quite female, replied in confidence.

'Sailormars??' 'Sailormeridian??' Those names almost sound like that 'Sailor V' character Elyon had been talking about yesterday, the redhead thought in passing, before beginning to feel all the more befuddled, this time over the fact that the premiere female somehow knew her name. . . .

Turning her crimson colored head, Will instantly blinked furiously at the rather peculiar sight of the two individuals rushing toward her, one blonde, while the other was ebony haired. The pair were dressed within the most oddest sort of clothing she had ever seen before, which admittedly made her want to laugh at their appearance, despite the intense situation she was still within.

Although both were adorned within fitted leotards and multicolored tiered skirts, elbow length gloves and knee-high boots, and sailor-like collars and bows decked out to the nines, they were different in color, either a soft blue or pale red, respectfully. Will was beginning to wonder what sort of city she had unfortunately chosen to now live within, when the blue-schemed blonde interrupted her thoughts, as she then spoke.

"Will! Are you all right??" she asked as she was the first to reach the tall redhead, with profoundly worried, blue eyes peering down at her. They curiously shined with the same sort of kindness and light as . . . as. . . .

". . . . Elyon?? Is that . . . you??" Will hesitantly inquired with a small gasp, as she allowed the girl she now believed to be Elyon, and the other she could not yet readily recognize, to carefully help her from off of the ground. She watched as the raven haired girl smiled gently back at her, before doing the same to her now blushing comrade.

". . . . What was it that you'd said again, Csilla? That only fellow Guardian Soldiers could be able to recognize one another within these forms -- Just like I'd eventually done for Miss Brown, as well -- prior to transforming, themselves, correct?" she queried softly, before looking down towards the ground at the fluffy, slate gray colored feline which had just then approached the trio of females. "I suppose, then, that the both of our feelings and assumptions of Miss Vandom being a Guardian, as well was right on, after all."

"Indeed, Sailormars!" the furry, admittedly familiar cat suddenly spoke within reply, causing Will to jump back in alarm.

"W-Whoa! What was that?? D-Did it just talk??" she cried out in affect, taking another step backward and away from the green eyed animal. "I-I don't understand any of this! Monsters, weirdly dressed girls, and talking cats!! It is you, isn't Elyon?? 'Csilla' was the name of the cat that was with you and your friend yesterday, when you'd said it was yours! A-And, you! You just called her 'Miss Brown,' and me 'Miss Vandom!' S-So . . . you must be Elyon's friend, Taranee!"

The girl Will was now absolutely certain to be Elyon nodded meekly within confirmation, before slowly taking a step toward her.

". . . . Y-Yes, Will . . . it's us. And yes, this is the same cat you'd met yesterday, too," she began tentatively, raising her white gloved hands into the air to further signify to the blatantly frazzled girl that she meant no harm. "But, there's no time to explain everything right now, all right?? Just, please . . . trust me. . . ."

Hesitating a moment, Will slowly nodded in compliance, despite the fact that her heart was continually racing, especially upon hearing the word "trust," an act she no longer found easy to do. . . .

"Good! Now, I want you t --" the miraculously speaking feline began, before an unexpected beam of black light suddenly careened through the night air from behind Will, and hit the dark haired girl newly realized to be Taranee squarely within her right shoulder, causing her to fall to the ground.

"Sailormars!!" Elyon exclaimed in alarm, whirling around within her place to return to her now injured comrade, when she, too, was abruptly struck, within the back, by the same sort of darkened beam.

Both Will, and a now mute Csilla watched in horror as the petite girl toppled over, who'd begun to winced in immediate pain. Evidently, both attacks had been powerful enough to burn straight the girls' bodysuits, causing unsightly and torn scorch marks within each hit area.

The sudden, sharp sounds of renewed screaming had apparently been just loud enough to promptly stir the formerly unconscious and mildly overlooked Wiley awake in that moment, before beginning to screech in terror at the befuddling display before him, himself.

"W-What is this?? A-Ahh!!" he wailed within petrification and light brown eyes wide open, before immediately scrambling to his feet and began his hurried escape from the danger zone of a park.

Fur now standing completely on end, Csilla moaned loudly within intermingling anger and trepidation, as both she and Will, the only ones still remaining upright, returned their dual attention back onto the momentarily forgotten creature within the distance.

Will watched with fleeting fear, and mounting disgust and returned ire, as the beast, now completely extinguished of its mysterious flames, stiffly wagged a finger into the air toward her, before snarling with unbridled rage of its own.

That's it, I've had it! I'm tired of being afraid, and tired of this . . . thing! she thought with accumulating courage, at the same time that her insides, as well as her forehead, even, curiously began to grow warm and tingly. I don't honestly know how I can somehow . . . protect anyone from it, but I'm going to try! No one else is going to hurt because of me. . . .!

"You said you wanted me, right?? That you 'wouldn't let me go??' Well, here I am!!" Will screamed with continued resolution, the bravery within her practically beginning to overflow, at the same time that the strange sensations going on within her intensified. "Come get me!!"

". . . . W-Will, no, don't! You don't --" Elyon weakly cried out from behind her, in the same moment that the black and white patterned creature swiftly closed the distance between all of them and pounced towards the redhead . . . and a brilliant hue of soft green colored light exploded into the immediate area.

Both Sailors Meridian and Mars, and even Csilla, watched within utter amazement, as the ferocious being they confidently knew to be yet another deployed Entity was effortlessly ricocheted off of Will's now brightly glowing body, and catapulted blindly backwards several feet away.

". . . . Wow . . . she's . . . she's awakening," Sailormars murmured breathlessly, as she slowly rose to her feet, before Sailormeridian had done the same next to her. Both girls then gingerly moved around the still illuminated Will, standing on either side of the softly smiling Csilla, who had moved to stand directly before the girl.

"That she is, Sailormars," the feline remarked with pride, taking in the sight and gazing upon the curious looking and green colored sigil which had appeared upon the redhead's forehead in that moment.

Pausing, Csilla closed her emerald tinted eyes, much in the way that Will's own now were, and began to concentrate. After only a minute or so had passed, a tiny and olive hued orb of light had then manifested itself from out of the mystical cat's seven-pointed shaped scar upon her forehead, within the same manner the others of red and periwinkle had done so for both Taranee and Elyon, respectfully, several weeks before.

In that same instant, the jade fueled aura encasing Will began to die down, and the glowing symbol, which resembled a slightly curved number four upon her forehead began to fade away. Slowly opening her honey brown, lightly glazed over eyes within an apparent daze, she reached out to seize the floating green orb, which had risen higher within the air to greet her.

". . . . That was the planetary symbol of Jupiter," Sailormars whispered knowingly, in reference to the now disappeared sigil, in the same moment that a silver band ring, which looked identical to the one that she, herself, now wore regularly and helped her to transform into her Guardian form, had suddenly appeared upon the ring finger of her redhead's right hand.

The only difference, however, between her ring, and the one that Sailormars possessed, was that Will's held an emerald jewel upon it rather than a crimson one, and instead possessed the same, dark green symbol which had been upon the middle of Will's forehead and now currently shined brilliantly within the ring's center.

Jupiter's symbol. . . .

Before anyone else could have said another word, Will slowly took a confident step forward, frowning lightly towards the further injured Entity in the distance, before suddenly shouting, "Jupiter Power, Make Up!!"

Without warning, a large bolt of lightning inexplicably rocketed from the darkened skies just then, causing Sailors Meridian and Mars, in addition to Csilla, to immediately dive out of the way, as it effortlessly struck Will's now lightly hovering and naked body.

The harshness and speed of the impact seemed to have done nothing to harm her, quite miraculously, however, and in fact had merely made the girl stretch out her strong limbs and arch her back slightly, while the lightning continued to surge and crackle all about her unclothed form.

White, elbow length gloves, much like those of Sailormars and Sailormeridian (although instead with forest green colored bands at the top) appeared upon Will's slender arms within a flourish of soft pink carnation petals. And then, in the same manner that Sailormars's right glove held the symbol of the planet Mars upon the back palm, Will's own right glove mimicked the same notion, however instead carried the resilient, emerald colored sigil of Jupiter.

Another wave of pink carnation petals suddenly then passed over the redhead's toned upper body, and in its wake an olive drab, sleeveless body suit then appeared to shelter her previously naked form. Blindly tilting her head back ever so slightly, Will's formerly free and bob styled crimson locks began to twist and turn, as it weaved itself into a brand new hairstyle . . . an up do, consisting of a row of seven miniature buns which, due to the natural coloring of her hair, strongly resembled a series of rose buds. Each were then fastened together with the spring green tinted and laced individual ribbons, which had then magically appeared within a small, bright flash of olive colored light.

Several new surges of lightning, this time lime tinted in contrast, suddenly then careened down Will's otherwise still electrified, partially clothed body, before sharply hitting the ground and beginning to twirl around her within a newfound, circled trio of ball lightning.

From the ground up did the soft green colored, powerful energy slowly begin to travel as it continued its cycling path, causing more pieces of the redhead's attire to appear in the process. A pair of white, knee high boots, the same style as both Sailormeridian and Sailormars, appeared upon Will's previously bare feet within a bright flash of olive light in addition the sharp booming sound of thunder, with the very top band of the boots being shaped like an upside down letter v, and magenta in color.

Next, at the returned sight and sound of olive drab colored light and loud thunder, a two tiered skirt then manifested itself and promptly wrapped itself snugly around Will's slim waist, with the top half reflecting an asparagus sort of shade, while the bottom part shone within renewed magenta.

Within the same manner as its predecessors, another jolt of thunderous, greenish hued light briefly exploded over the tall redhead's chest, creating a beautiful, thin bow the same darkened pink color as the bottom half of her tiered skirt . . . before two, longer and much thicker tea green and coral pink hued ribbons lightly kissed at her backside, before interweaving themselves in order to form a larger bow at the back. The mystical, dark green colored symbol of the planet Jupiter then shined proudly within the center of Will's front, much thinner bow, and briefly sizzled with unbridled and electrified energy.

At last reaching the very top of her body, the encircling trio of olive drab tinged ball lightning flashed brightly one more time before vanishing altogether, leaving behind a forest green colored, sailor-like collar flap above Will's front bow, whipping lightly within the cool night air as it delicately draped itself against her strong back. Within the same instant, a plainly designed choker, the same shade as her newfound sailor collar, suddenly then appeared, as well, delicately fastening itself around her smooth and tawny neck.

Will then let out a soft breath of air from in between her newly lip glossed lips, as soft green sparkles, the remaining aftermath of the recently vanished ball lightning, and currently wafting gently within the air directly in front of her before caressing her bare ears and forehead, suddenly transformed into a pair of white gold, dangling and Tree Frog shaped earrings, with dark emerald jewels within the center.

Finally, the lightning which had continued to careen back and forth throughout and all around Will's body suddenly collected itself before swiftly traveling up to her side bang covered forehead, where it intensified in sheer brightness for a few passing moments, until abruptly dying out to reveal a golden tiara sporting the returned sigil of Jupiter within its center.

Having just then returned to the ground, the newly transformed Will slowly reopened her honey brown orbs, and momentarily locked eyes with the now awe-struck Elyon, and the duly impressed Taranee. Before either female could have spoken a word upon having witnessed such an astounding sight, the newfound Sailorjupiter promptly maneuvered around the both of them, and faced down the struggling to stand creature now before her.

"Supreme . . . Thunder!!" she strongly cried out, crisscrossing her gloved arms and balled up fists across her chest, just as the heavenly skies above instantly darkened with newly menacing clouds. Then suddenly, a pillar of white hot lightning catapulted down to the earth and struck her, much like the one before it, prior to her mystical transformation . . . and it, too, did not seem to negatively harm her in any way.

Concentrating, Sailorjupiter allowed the otherwise dangerous electricity to collect and build within her strong, conduit of a body, before violently swinging her arms apart and extended them out towards the admittedly defenseless Entity.

The lightning which had been previously housed within the whole of Sailorjupiter's body had, in that moment, snaked its way up her slender arms, before powerfully spilling forth from out of her glowing, open palms and slamming straight into the creature's chest within a sickening clamor.

"Yarrrgh!!!!" it screeched within understandable suffering and collapsing to its knees, as it began to cook from the inside out, and its death wail echoed throughout the atmosphere. Sailorjupiter watched with abundant satisfaction as the Entity had then fallen forward onto its now completely charred face, before slowly vanishing away into oblivion.

Wow . . . she has such immense power, Sailormeridian thought with reverence, light blue eyes widened to its max at the previous sight. Sailorjupiter, panting heavily with obvious fatigue, gingerly collapsed onto the ground, her entire body now dormant of any electrical charge.

"Sailorjupiter! Are you all right??" Csilla was the first speak, rushing towards the heavily breathing redhead, before both Sailormars and Sailormeridian did the same.

"You were phenomenal, Sailorjupiter," the raven haired Guardian Soldier shyly complimented with a smile, slowly crouching down onto the ground next to Sailorjupiter.

". . . . I am . . . Sailorjupiter??" the green and pink schemed heroine murmured within a partial daze, her breathing already back under control. She peered down at her white gloved, open palms, completely mesmerized by what she had miraculously done mere moments before with their help.

Csilla nodded firmly, softly beginning to purr as her grayish blue fur began to slowly settle down, now that the immediate danger had been at last taken care of.

"You are the Guardian Soldier of Thunder and Courage, and the third member of our team . . . our comrade," she explained delicately, not wishing to startle the young girl once again, due to somehow being able to speak. However, the strong teenager merely gazed upon her with tired, although vaguely comprehending eyes, which prompted the feline to continue. "And I am the one who will help guide all of you through your newfound destinies as the saviors to this planet. . . ."

Sailormeridian grinned happily towards a still hunched over Sailorjupiter, before lightly resting a gloved hand upon her back.

"That's right, Sailorjupiter! Csilla, Sailormars and I, Sailormeridian, are your friends! Isn't it great??" she asked within giddiness, looking towards a silent Sailormars, who merely smiled faintly back up at her, before the two returned their gaze back onto their newest companion.

Suddenly, the tallest female of the trio let out a strangled sob from where she sat, causing both the blonde and ebony haired girl on either side of her to gasp within alarm.

"A-Are you all right??" Sailormars queried awkwardly, hesitantly raising her own hand to place upon the redhead's back, before promptly lowering it back down onto her red schemed skirt. Although she was now honestly concerned for the new girl, her new comrade, the talented genius's natural reservations still remained. Although slowly, but surely making a bit of progress, she was still unable to be as open and forthright as Sailormeridian, even if her guise as Sailormars did always seem to manage to grant her a bit more confidence each time. . . .

". . . . 'Friends . . .' am I really capable of having them again??" Sailorjupiter lightly whispered, more so to herself than to her fellow Guardian Soldiers on either side of her. She was careful to keep her cardinal colored head bowed so as to properly conceal her face, as the tears from her wounded heart freely began to fall.

". . . . O-Of course! Why would you ever think otherwise??" Sailormeridian asked within utter disbelief, her own eyes already beginning to water, as she was forced to helplessly listen to the redhead continue to cry.

". . . . Because I'm no good, that's why," Sailorjupiter despondently replied, squeezing her brown eyes shut, as her heart and mind began to unlock and once again recall the tragic memory she had been thinking upon earlier that afternoon. ". . . . I-It's why my father never loved me, and w-why my mother a-abandoned me!"

". . . . A-Abandoned you?? But, Sailormeridian, I thought you'd said that both of Jupiter's parents had passed away, when you'd told me about it last night," Csilla remarked with a sharp gasp of shock, before moving closer to the emotional girl and curled up next to her in comfort.

Sailormeridian shook her pigtailed head at this, her heart jumping for having been put on the spot.

"I-It's true, though! A-At least . . . wasn't it??" she trailed off in confusion, gazing down at the Thunder and Lightning Guardian Soldier through tear-blurred eyes.

Sailorjupiter began to sob more loudly, shaking her own ruby colored head repeatedly before responding.

". . . . I-I didn't want to tell y-you the whole truth about my family yesterday, Elyon, b-because it's something I've had to try to cope with for the last year and a half, now!" she began to explain through her tears, referring to the leader of their growing group by her civilian name. "M-My father had passed away when I was twelve . . . a-and then, a year later, my m-mother had decided that she couldn't deal with trying t-to raise me all by herself anymore, and so she l-left . . . left me alone. . . ."

No one could say a word upon having listened to the outwardly strong girl reveal the heart wrenching truth of her young life. There was honestly not much which could have been said for that, for neither remaining female had ever been privy to such an occurrence before, let alone in regards to someone so young. . . .

Sailorjupiter slowly began to calm down, although the unwanted tears of her pain continued to fall as she continued on.

". . . . I've . . . I've always had to do everything on my own since then . . . always had to fight . . . m-maybe even before the both of my parents had gone," she started with a hollow exhale, reaching up to slowly wipe her tear stained face. ". . . . I think that I had always been aware that my father had never cared for me, even from a very early age. My mother, up until she'd decided to do what was best for her, had been an initially loving and caring woman, so growing up with that man hadn't always been super terrible. . . .

Still . . . even though I knew that it had been pointless to try, I had always done all that I could to win his affection somehow . . . to fight for his approval . . . but nothing had ever worked. He was a man entirely driven by the 'Survival of the Fittest' mentality, you see, and absolutely hated weakness and losers. . . . Little to nothing pleased him, either, I can remember, except his business, his money, and sports -- Swimming to be exact. . . .

And so, of course, once I had learned that my school at the time was holding swim team tryouts one year, when I finally felt confident enough to participate, I had been one of the first kids to sign up. I mean, after all, this was finally my chance to show my father what I was made of . . . that I wasn't just some loser kid he couldn't be proud of, let alone love. . . .

I'd been practicing my swimming nearly every day a year prior to by then, soon after I had learned that it was one of my father's favorite sports, and knew that I'd be a shoe-in for the team, because . . . well, not to sound too cocky, but I was 'better than the best,' as some of my fellow townspeople used to say about me. . . .

And I was, too, just about . . . I'd won first place within the majority of each division I'd competed in. But, even after all of that, my father had still never once shown up to any of my meets . . . until the time came for the big Regional Finals of that same year, which . . . was in open water. . . .

It had been the talk of the town, and the championship to witness, since 'Will Vandom the Shark,' as I'd been nicknamed, was going to be competing. . . . Somehow, my mother had managed to convince my father to come with her to see me compete . . . although, when I think about it now, it had probably been more so one of his business colleague's doing, whom I'd later found out had started a pool run and had bet to see which swimmer would win what division. . . . He probably just didn't want to miss out on the chance to make a little more money on the side, and at his own daughter's expense. . . .

Even though I was feeling incredibly nervous to finally have him there, I was also extremely excited. This was my moment; my one opportunity to shine and show him what I could do . . . and then maybe, hopefully he'd finally give me his love. . . ."

Sailorjupiter paused for a few moments after this, inhaling deeply and lightly frowning, as she struggled to cease her tears. Her tawny hued face then became flush with absolute shame by her heartfelt words, before she'd then forced herself to complete the remainder of her tale.

". . . . Although I had been pretty confident -- Maybe too confident -- that I was going to win the overall championship for my team and my school, there had been one thing that had admittedly worried me . . . and her name was Ophelia Tornincasa. . . ." she spoke with a small shiver, whether due to the cooling, surrounding atmosphere of the evening, or due to something far less innocent, the remaining Guardian Soldiers were not entirely sure. "I guess you could say that she had been my counterpart when it came to swimming, because she, too, was 'the best of the best' at her own school. . . .

She and I had competed against one another earlier on that year, and she would win a few divisions over me, and I would do the same to her in return. But this was it; the big one. Neither of us wanted to lose this one, even if the two of us had always managed to maintain good sportsmanship with one another . . . but I knew, I just knew that I simply wanted it more than she did, for obvious reasons. . . .

So, when it came time for the final event, the 'women's five kilometer swim,' I was raring to go . . . even though short distances had always been my stronger suit, and I had only been able to practice majority of the time within a swimming pool, versus the ocean the actual race had been held within. . . .

There had been so many signs, when I think about it even more now, that I never should have competed in that race . . . not when the majority of my swimming career and style had been built upon speed and shorter distances, and I'd begun to have a bad feeling about the whole thing. . . . But I'd chosen to compete within that race, even after a few of my teammates and even my coach, initially, had been hesitant about it, all for my father, of course. Because, I'd felt as though he had been counting on me, now more than ever, to succeed. . . .

So . . . once the race had started, that was all I'd held within my mind, over and over: 'Win no matter what! Win no matter what!' And I had been too, at the start, taking a fairly good lead early on, even ahead of Ophelia, who was right behind me in second place. . . .

But, by the time I'd reached the turn buoy to head back to shore in the second half of the race, I was already completely winded, and my left calf had begun to cramp up . . . I hadn't paced myself properly. Ophelia, of course, had caught up to me, along with the rest of the swimmers, and all were already turning back . . . but by then, I was too panicked to think straight any longer, and the weather had slowly taken a turn for the worse, causing the waters to become just a little bit choppy. . . .

She . . . she was the closest thing to grab onto to stay afloat . . . so I-I did. . . . She never even saw it coming . . . and because she hadn't, she'd become just as panicked as I had been, kicking and punching at me to break free, while I began to do the same to her on instinct. . . .

Un . . . Unfortunately . . . one of my final hits against Ophelia had accidentally been to her throat, which immediately knocked the air out of her, and caused her to inhale a great deal of water, as a result. . . . The . . . the last thing I can remember is . . . is the two of us going underneath the water after she'd managed to kick me away, before cradling her bruised throat . . . a-and her drifting away from me and sinking a lot faster than I had been. . . ."

Sailormeridian swallowed hard upon hearing this, her stomach lurching as she feared the answer to the question she was about to ask within the following moment.

". . . . W-What . . . what happened to her?" the petite teenager just barely managed to query, resuming her efforts to physically console the emotional redhead, by softly rubbing at her olive drab colored back.

Sailorjupiter, fists now tightly clenched and light brown eyes screwed shut, moaned out in misery as she replied, ". . . . I'd woken up in the hospital a day later, after having spent nearly six and a half hours in a coma. . . . T-The . . . the doctors told me that I had been really lucky, as I had inhaled a fair amount of water before the lifeguards had caught up to me and pulled me back up to the surface. . . .

B-But, when I'd asked about Ophelia, and if she was okay, they . . . she . . . she'd taken too much water into her own lungs by comparison . . . and the current, even though it'd had had us both, had taken her a bit further out than me, as well. . . .

. . . . The other swim coaches and mine had never blamed me for what happened . . . they'd said that the procedures and regulations had been fairly lax within the open water swimming circuit for a while in that town, and this had been the tragic, real eye opener to finally make some changes. . . .

No one seemed to blame me for what had happened, at first . . . no one more than me, anyway. . . . My teammates and even some of my friends had begun to treat me differently after that, though . . . including some of the people in town who'd heard about the accident, as well. . . . It wasn't until later on that same year that I'd begun to hear rumors about how I had possibly planned and staged the whole incident . . . had f-faked having had the cramp within my calf, so that I'd have a proper alibi when . . . w-when I'd 'eliminated my biggest competition,' as one of my schoolmates had phrased it. . . .

I didn't know what to think, what to believe or feel anymore after that . . . and I no longer had any of my friends to turn to by that time, as they'd all alienated themselves from me. . . . I quit swimming altogether because of it, and haven't been inside of any pools or oceans since. . . .

And I definitely didn't want to go to school anymore, and could barely eat or sleep, either. . . . My m-mother had done all that she could to properly console me, of course, and in time it slightly began to help, but . . . my father . . . he hadn't even gone to visit me while I was in the hospital, so I knew better than to go to him. . . . After all, there was suddenly controversy going on within his own home, with his own daughter swiftly becoming the town's social pariah, which, of course, didn't look too well for his business. . . .

I was well aware that, by then, I had permanently blown all chances of ever winning his approval . . . but, by that time, it had been too late, regardless . . . b-because he had died of an aneurysm while at work that early summer. . . ."

The evening atmosphere surrounding the four beings present was so overwhelmingly wrought with despair by that point, with not a dry eye, nor unaffected heart within the bunch. It now finally made perfect sense to Sailormeridian, in particular, as to why the red haired Guardian Solider was the way that she was . . . why she had been so well guarded . . . so distant.

With the tragic sort of life like the one she's lived up to now, it's no wonder, the blue eyed girl thought morosely, simultaneously reaching up to clear her fair visage of tears, alongside a visibly distraught Sailormars next to her. All of this must also be the reason why everyone at school is so afraid of her, too . . . they must have somehow heard about what had happened to Ophelia, and Will's involvement in it. . . .

". . . . O-Oh, Will . . . Will, I-I'm so -- We're so, so sorry for all of the pain you've gone through in the past," the pigtailed girl tried her absolute best to console the emotionally raw Sailorjupiter, who finally began to slowly rise to her feet. "B-But, you can't blame yourself for Ophelia's death! You just can't!"

Sailormars nodded firmly in agreement at this, straightening her own posture and gazing pleadingly at the still frowning Sailorjupiter next to her.

"Yes, Sailormeridian is right, Jupiter! It was an accident! A tragic, horrible accident you had absolutely no control over, or could have possibly ever seen coming!" she remarked with a gasp, clasping both of her gloved hands together.

Unfortunately for the ebony haired beauty, her words had seemed to strike a greater chord within Sailorjupiter than those of Sailormeridian, for she'd abruptly then turned to face her, the both of them, for the first time since the very beginning of her heartfelt revelation.

"Wasn't it?? I had known, deep down inside, that I wasn't ready for that kind of a race!" she spat vehemently, honey brown eyes livid and alight with blatant self-loathing. "But I did it, anyway!! And for what?? To impress a soulless man who couldn't even be bothered enough to visit his hospitalized daughter, and all at the expense of an innocent girl's life!! You try and tell me again how it wasn't my fault!!"

Both Sailors Meridian and Mars lightly winced at the dual sound and sight of the tallest girl's rage, unsure of how to respond. Csilla, who had been silent throughout the remainder of her newest charge's heartbreaking account, promptly then took it upon herself to act as mediator, before things could perhaps grow even further out of hand.

". . . . P-Please, Sailorjupiter! There is . . . there is nothing which can be done to bring that poor girl back, least of all continuing to find yourself to blame for her passing," the furry, grayish blue feline tentatively began from her place at Sailorjupiter's feet, looking up at her with greatly sympathetic eyes. ". . . . And, it certainly wasn't your fault that your father had apparently been a rather . . . unpleasant man, or that your mother had decided to leave you. But . . . you're no longer alone, you have to know that. The life you've led up to this point has indeed been a very sad one . . . but it's all going to change, for the better now, because you have us. . . ."

Rather than take comfort within the wise feline's words, as her newfound companions had been hoping for, Sailorjupiter merely scoffed loudly, before turning her back to each of them once more.

"No . . . you're wrong -- You're all wrong. . . . I really am no good, and bad luck, even. . . . It's why everyone I've ever cared about have all gone away in some way . . . I'm probably the primary reason why my father had died so suddenly, as well. . . ." she spoke bitterly, clenching her gloved fists once more. "No . . . I'm meant to be alone . . . to stay alone, forever. . . ."

"N-No, that's not true!! W-What about us?? What about our team??" Sailormeridian cried within dual affect and disbelief, reaching out to touch the self-pitied redhead once again, however stopped herself at the last minute. She watched in heartache as Sailorjupiter turned her bright colored head to the side, and gazed at her within the corner of her eye before responding.

". . . . There is no 'us,' or 'team,'" she spoke hollowly, before returning her attention straight ahead. "And if you're smart, you'll all just keep away from me . . . for your own good. . . ."

Positively stunned by the rather unexpected development, even amidst the continually ongoing tension, the remaining trio found themselves cemented within each of their spots, as they helplessly watched the slender, newly turned superheroine swiftly retreat from the scene.

"H-Hey, wait! Sailorjupiter, come back!!" Csilla called out within astonishment, after having successfully found her voice in that moment. Her heart began to pound soundly within her tiny chest due to anxiety, as she and her two remaining pupils witnessed Sailorjupiter's Guardian Soldier uniform vanish within a burst of soft green colored light and sparkles.

"W-What are we going to do??" a very taken aback and flummoxed Sailormars lightly whispered, her unease growing the longer she watched Will's newly returned civilian form rapidly continue to increase the distance between them all.

Sailormeridian slowly took a wobbly step forward, renewed tears forming within her gentle blue eyes as she, too, looked after the redhead.

". . . . I-I don't know . . . I don't know," she forlornly replied in faintness, feeling honestly unsure of whether or not things were going to be all right from that moment on. . . .

-- End of Act 4

---

(A.N. HOLY CHRISTMAS BUTTER!!!! 79 pages!! 79, ever loving pages, FINALLY finished being edited, AND successfully posted up here. Oh, my GOD, I may love writing, but I honestly have to take a serious vacation after this one, for sure…. Like I'd stated in my premiere note at the start of this chapter, SINCE this is a fantastically long chapter, I'm not gonna bother to address each thing which had been – Or purposefully hadn't been – covered within THIS A/N as I usually would. Instead, I'll do so over in my fanfiction forum a little later on, to save people time from hounding me with questions or comments of "That didn't make sense," or "How come….??"'s left and right. LoL

Just please…PLEASE, for the LOVE of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, leave that review!! I KNOW it was long, but you can do it! LoL Oh, and stay tuned for Act 5…which probably won't be up for a bit, even though I've already started to write THAT, too…….I'm crazy. LoL Rest for me, now, wee!! HeHe)