CHAPTER 12

Luna the talking Cat was wandering the streets of the city thinking to herself. "Perhaps it's about time I started briefing the girls upon the matter of tracking down the lost Princess of the Moon. The Scouts were sworn to protect her in the old days of the Kingdom on the Moon centuries ago."
While this was on her mind she failed to pay strict attention as she walked across the road towards the Video Game arcade that Serena loved to hang out at. Suddenly she had a terrible shock as she looked up and saw a huge truck wheel bearing down upon her. She meowed with terror but just in time she was scooped up in somebody's arms and next thing she knew the person holding her had nimbly leaped out of the vehicles' path to the sidewalk safely.
"That was close." A male voice said stroking Luna's head. "You're even worse than Serena for accident proneness. You'd better be more careful kitty."
Luna looked up to see her rescuer was none other than Darien.

Just then Serena herself appeared accompanied by Raye and Amy. Serena was not pleased to see him holding Luna. "Hey you creep. What are you doing to my cat?"
Next thing the sliding glass doors of the arcade opened and the manager Andrew stepped out. "Hello Serena. Hello Darien."
"Andrew do you actually know this creep? Tell him to give me back my cat."
"Chill out Meatball Head. For your information I just saved your cat from getting run over by a truck. You should be thanking me."
Serena said nothing but snatched Luna out of Darien's hands with a big "Humph".
But Raye was staring at Darien and marvelling quietly at how handsome he was.

Darien left in a huff after saying a brief hello to Andrew. "You ungrateful Meatball Head." He snapped at Serena but she ignored him and went in to play her favourite game, Sailor V while Raye quietly talked to Andrew about Darien in order to find out more about him. Amy just quietly watched Serena play. She was feeling rather worried about a good friend of hers who the three of them had just talked to previously before they made their way to the arcade.

They had met him while they were walking through the park admiring the big, beautiful boating lake, the magnificent trees and the lovely flower gardens. His name was Mr. Baxter and he was the gardener. When they met him he was tending to the flower beds. Amy had said, "Hello Mr. Baxter."
"Hello there Amy." He greeted her cheerfully. After Amy had introduced him to Serena and Raye they all sat down on the benches for a short chat.
"Amy was telling us that she's known you ever since she was a little girl," said Serena.
"And you've been the gardener here for many years." Raye added.
"That's right. But I'm sorry to say I'll be losing my job soon."
The girls all gasped and asked why.
Mr. Baxter sighed and explained. "There won't even be a park anymore. I deeply regret to tell you this, but the city council's planning to demolish everything here and build a new office complex."
The girls were shocked. "How horrible." Amy bemoaned.
"Yes I'm very sad but even more so angry about it. I tried to appeal to them. They're so stubborn they just won't listen. Enjoy the park while you can girls, because it's going to be gone."
As he returned to tending the flower beds Serena cried, "Oh no. Not your lovely flower arrangements."
"I'm afraid so. They'll rip them up to. Nothing will be spared."

As Amy thought back to these events while Serena played Sailor V and Raye found out from Andrew to her excitement that Darien shared her interest in karate, she really fretted for dear Mr. Baxter. The park was what his whole life centered upon. What would become of him when it was destroyed?

But meanwhile others were taking a different sort of interest in Mr. Baxter. At their base all Nephlite's soldiers were watching with bated breath as their Commander tuned into the wavelength of the stars to find their second victim. Nephlite opened his eyes and triumphantly proclaimed, "We have our next target. A human being who is reaching the peak of his energy level through his feelings of anger and resentment at the proposed destruction of the city park. The old gardener Baxter himself."
Everybody roared with laughter at the simplicity of it all. Nephlite made his selection. "Petasos. You will be the best choice for this mission I believe. You have powers that are attuned to plant and animal life. You shall not only control Baxter's own energy but by adding the energy of the wildlife in the park you shall bring back a very good supply for the Negaforce."
"I am at your service my Commander." Petasos climbed into the machine and Nephlite twisted the controls and she came out the tubes as mist and was rubbed into Nephlite's hands.
"My friends," he addressed his team before he left. "Queen Beryl was very pleased with the energy we brought back from Katie Sandler. Now we shall get more and with each new victim we will become one step closer towards unleashing the Negaforce. Then we will have victory over the Sailor Scouts. To Queen Beryl and the Negaverse."
He saluted and his soldiers all saluted in return. "Yes. To our glorious queen and the Negaverse victory."

Nephlite met Mr. Baxter at an area where the workers were bulldozing up the trees and gardens. Mr. Baxter had been despairingly watching and muttering, "What a waste after all those years to grow those wonderful trees and shrubbery. And all the work I put into helping make this park what it is today."
"Yes. It is a real shame isn't it?" Nephlite spoke as he approached and heard what Mr. Baxter was saying to himself.
"Huh? Oh hello." Mr. Baxter turned in surprise. "Yes it is an abominable shame. But there's nothing I or anybody can do about it."
"Actually there is something I can do about it." Nephlite smoothly delivered his line.
"What?"
"I can save the park."
"Really? How?" Mr. Baxter was incredulous. Could there be a trace of genuine hope?
"Like this." Nephlite suddenly pressed his palms against Mr. Baxter's temples transferring Petasos into his brain to take control of it. Mr. Baxter gasped and panted as the possession took effect. "Now concentrate all your anger upon the injustice you see before you. Transfer it to the birds and squirrels who live in this park. Let your energy build up to maximum peak."
"Yes Commander." Mr. Baxter spoke, though it wasn't really himself saying those two words. It was the Negaverse soldier Petasos using Mr. Baxter's vocal chords to speak to her Commander and as she controlled him his rage began to increase and the birds fed off it and began to swoop and attack the workmen as they were operating their machinery. They screamed and ran for cover using their arms to protect their faces from the birds sharp beaks. Especially their precious eyes.
Nephlite said, "Very good Petasos. See you back at our base when your job is done." With that he turned and walked away towards his car, a slick grey automobile. Getting behind the wheel he drove back to the isolated cottage where his team were hiding out. Things were underway for another success.

Later that day Raye was waiting around the corner from Darien's karate school. Her plan was to pretend to bump into him by accident when he came out and ask him to go with her for a milkshake. Although she wasn't aware of it she was being observed by Serena and Luna who just so happened to have spotted her across the street. "Hey Serena. Isn't that Raye? She looks like she's waiting for somebody." Luna directed Serena's attention to her and they crouched behind a mailbox out of sight to see what was going on.
Then Raye saw Darien approaching. "Now's my moment," she thought. Unfortunately as she made her way around the corner she stumbled and fell flat on her face. Then Darien stepped on her head.
Serena laughed. "Oh poor Raye. I feel really sorry for her."
"Do you really now?" Luna spoke with sarcasm. She could see that Serena could only just barely control herself from laughing out loud like a hyena.
But Serena wasn't laughing for too much longer because while Darien apologized and helped Raye to her feet she recomposed herself and started flirting with him. "I hear you go to karate classes Darien."
"Yeah. I've just been to one of them now."
"I'm thinking of joining karate myself."
"You should. It's very good exercise."
Raye grabbed his arm. "Hey. Would you like to go for a milkshake?"
Darien was a little surprised but he shrugged and said, "I suppose so."
Raye went walking with Darien still holding his arm and Serena almost gagged.
"What is she doing with that jerk? I'm going to check this out."
"You're not jealous are you Serena?"
"No Luna. But Raye needs to be watched. She's gone bonkers."
As Serena ran after them Luna groaned. "Those two are going to drive me bonkers I swear."

Raye and Darian were seated in a cafe enjoying their milkshakes. Serena crouched down outside by the window but she could hear nothing because it was all glass that could not opened. She was getting really frustrated. "They'd better not be talking about my hair Luna."
Luna remarked that it was too bad she couldn't turn invisible but then Serena said, "Hey I can use the disguise power pen you gave me."
"No Serena. You can't keep using that device for trivial matters."
Serena was just on the verge of producing the pen and arguing that this was not a trivial matter to her when a familiar voice said, "Who are you talking to?"
Serena and Luna were both startled to notice that Melvin had just come along and crouched down nearby them. Serena gulped and stammered, "Oh. J-just myself." Then she had a wicked idea and asked Melvin if he'd like to treat her to a milkshake.
"You want me to buy you a milkshake?" Melvin couldn't believe his good fortune. "Oh Serena. I'd be delighted."
Luna frowned. She knew Serena was playing upon Melvin's affection for her in order to try to spy on Raye and Darien. She ran off in disgust and met Amy. Luna noticed that Amy didn't seem very happy and asked her what was wrong.
"It's my dear friend Mr. Baxter." With that Amy explained all her concerns to Luna.

Meanwhile Serena managed to overhear Raye ask Darien if he'd like to hire a boat at the lake in the park. She was just a couple of tables behind them where she and Melvin were drinking milkshakes of their own. Neither Raye nor Darien had noticed them enter since the door was at the other end of the cafe and Serena had insisted on choosing a table where they could be inconspicuous but close enough for her to try to eavesdrop on their conversation. Though of course Melvin didn't know this. He just assumed Serena wanted to sit in her own preferred place. When she heard Darien say "Okay. That sounds like fun," she was incensed. She turned to Melvin and quietly said to him, "When we finish here, I'd like to go to the park." Melvin's eyes glowed with joy behind his glasses and he grinned deeply with his straw in his mouth as he sucked on his shake. Serena inwardly groaned. "I'm ditching this dweeb the first chance I get."

Later Raye and Darien were sitting in a rowboat together. "This is a lovely lake," remarked Darien as he pulled on the oars.
"Yeah. Unfortunately they're going to fill it all in with concrete," replied Raye gloomily.
"What's that?"
"They're going to destroy the entire park and construct office buildings in its place."
"Disgusting." Darien looked around in dismay. "Soon there won't be any garden areas left in our city."
"I agree." Raye sighed. "Do you want to go look at the flowers later while we still can?"
"Yes. I hear that the roses look very attractive."
Raye was surprised. "Oh you like roses?"
"I do. In fact they are my favourite flower."

Serena was watching them from a distance and she was getting intensely frustrated. "What are they talking about?" She thought to herself. "They're starting to look romantic. How gross."
Suddenly she heard Melvin speak up startling her. Turning round she noticed he was speaking with his back to her. "Serena. This means so much to me. I've always had deep feelings for you and now you feel the same way. I'm the happiest boy in town."
He turned quickly. "Oh Serena. Let's seal our bonding with a kiss."
But he looked around in surprise. Serena had vanished. "Serena. Where are you? Serena!"
Serena had quickly concealed herself in the bushes and while he ran off calling her name she sneaked off in the opposite direction. Turning the corner she met Amy and Luna. "Hey. I'm glad to see you. I was trapped walking in the park with Melvin."
Luna reproached Serena. "You should be ashamed of the way you play upon that poor boy's feelings."

Before they could argue about the matter suddenly they heard screaming. It was the boss in charge of the redevelopment project. A bunch of squirrels had attached themselves to his clothing and their sharp little teeth were biting through into his arms, legs, shoulders and back as he ran off in pain and shock. "Get off me! Help! Somebody help!"
Other squirrels were starting to approach Luna and the two girls. Their eyes glowed red and eerie.
"Serena. I think we'd better transform. Mercury Power."
"Moon Prism Power"
As soon as they transformed Mr. Baxter suddenly appeared and began to yell at them. "GET OUT OF MY PARK! YOU WILL BE PUNISHED FOR DESTROYING NATURE!"
While they were watching in horror as Mr. Baxter screamed and roared in anger Nephlite's soldier, Petasos burst forth from his body as he reached maximum energy peak. Mr. Baxter collapsed in an unconscious heap as Petasos swirled around in mist before coming together and standing over him laughing in triumph.

Meanwhile back in the rowboat on the lake Darien suddenly doubled over clutching his head. "What's wrong? Are you sick?" Raye reached out and touched his shoulder. But before Darien could reply the birds suddenly swooped down attacking them.
"Look out!" Darien yelled but as he and Raye ducked down into the boat the birds actually pushed against it flipping it over between them. Raye and Darien swam to the pier while the flock of birds flew away.
They hauled themselves out of the lake and gasped to catch their breath. "Nature's gone crazy," said Darien.
Raye agreed. "I hope you don't mind. I need to go and do something very important Darien."
"Okay. See you later Raye."

Back to the others, Petasos had summoned the squirrels to attack them and Luna until Sailor Mercury had chilled them out with her bubbles blast. But Petasos had thrown a ball of vines at Sailor Moon and tied her up tight. Then she tied up Sailor Mercury with her own hair. It stretched out from her head like vines themselves and secured her. They both struggled in vain to free themselves. "Luna can you help us?" Sailor Moon desperately called out. Unfortunately Luna was still in a half unconscious daze from the squirrel attack.
"Nobody can help you Scouts." Petasos cackled.
But next moment Raye appeared transformed as Sailor Mars and used her fire power to break the bonds on her friends. Petasos gave a startled jump as her hair was burnt off Sailor Mercury and Sailor Moon rolled over to get away from the flames that freed her. "Whoa. Are you crazy? You could have made me go in flames."
As Sailor Mars landed beside her she snapped, "Oh you're most welcome. Very grateful for me saving you, yeah."
"Hey you two. Let's concentrate on stamping out this weed." Sailor Mercury desperately implored but Petasos had quickly and professionally composed herself.
"You will never stamp me out." She had the drop on the girls as she prepared to throw two more vine balls at them. They all gasped in fright but then a rose flew through the air and scratched Petasos' cheek making her shriek. The Scouts all saw Tuxedo Mask standing on the branch of a tall tree.
"Now's your chance Sailor Moon." He called out and Sailor Moon answered.
"Thank you Tuxedo Mask. MOON TIARA MAGIC!"
The tiara flew through the air but Petasos pressed the button on her wristband and it bounced off the force shield before she disappeared. "Aw no. Not again." Sailor Moon stamped her feet and clenched her fists like a child who had been denied a special treat.

But Mr. Baxter began to stir and groggily sat up. "W-what happened? The Sailor Scouts?"
"It's okay sir." Sailor Mercury spoke while she and Sailor Mars helped him get to his feet. "We've saved you. We'll get you to a doctor."
Sailor Moon looked up at the tree but Tuxedo Mask had already gone. Luna was just recovering and standing up herself.

The Scouts delivered Mr. Baxter to where he would receive the appropriate medical care and left him in the doctor's hands. Then they went back to the park and changed back to their civilian identities. There they met Darien.
"Hey Raye? Did you take care of that important business of yours?"
"Uh why yes I did Darien."
"Well then would you like to go for another milkshake?"
Raye's eyes lit up. "I'd love to."
Serena was incensed. "If you want to waste your time with this idiot Raye see if I care."

Suddenly Melvin appeared. "Hey Serena."
She gasped. "Melvin!"
"I'm glad I found you. I thought we'd take a boat ride out on the lake. Doesn't that sound romantic?"
As Raye and Darien began to smile Serena gulped and said, "This is all a big mistake Melvin. We're not on a date."
"But Serena. You and I had milkshakes together. And next we took a wonderful walk in the park."
"That sounds like a date to me." Darien snickered.
"You mind your own business creep." Serena said to him. "Look I am not on a date with Melvin. Understand?"
But Darien, Raye and even Amy all spoke at the same time. "It looks like you are to me."
As Serena groaned Luna thought to herself, "Serves the twit right."

Incidentally while the doctor was nursing Mr. Baxter back to health, he and his nursing staff heard from him all about the threat to the park. The doctor had some nephews and nieces who loved the area and the nurses were all dismayed that their families would be deprived also. They started a protest meeting and the people of the city all got together and petitioned the government using television and radio. They received mass support from other cities who sympathized and flocked to their cause and eventually they won. The government overruled the city council. The park was saved and Mr. Baxter stayed employed as the gardener.