A Princess' Homecoming
Content Warning: This chapter contains some transphobia/outing, humiliation, drug use, suicidal ideation/attempt, smoking, blood, and the usual amount of language, bullying, and violence.
Deep within the lair of the Dark Kingdom, six of the generals in their civilian identities were preparing for the plan to strike the Homecoming dance.
"So, tonight's the night," Jake said. "Is everyone ready?"
"I still don't know why we have to target a stupid dance," Nate whined with an eye roll.
"Not only is it going to be a strong source of energy, but all nine soldiers might be there," Larry deduced.
"How do you know they're students?" Red wondered.
"I don't, but whenever a school event has been targeted, they've been right there in the middle of it," Larry answered.
"As long as that primadonna, Venus, is there so I can kick her ass," Red growled, punching her fist.
"What is your deal with her, anyway, Flo?" Danny asked.
"I don't know," Red narrowed her eyes. "Just… When I saw her for the first time, something clicked within me."
"Maybe, it has something to do with our previous lives?" Vivian guessed with a shrug.
"Beryl and Kunzite said that once we obtain the legendary crystal and kill the princess, we'll fully remember who we are, and our human lives will be gone," Larry told them.
"Where is Kunzite, by the way?" Nate looked around, "Too cool for the rest of us?"
"He'll be at the dance tonight," Larry confirmed with a smile.
"Speaking of," Vivian turned to Danny. "Why did you agree to go to the dance with Rodriguez?"
"She's pretty cool," Danny shrugged his shoulders. "Besides, we have to act normal, right?"
"You think she's cool?" Vivian growled with a leer.
"Enough," Jake stepped in between the two. "We have more important things to worry about than your feelings, Viv."
"We better get out of here and get ready for tonight," Nate sighed. "See you all there."
Later that morning, Eric and most of the soldiers were gathered in his basement along with the animal companions they could bring.
"So," Sally sighed. "I think it's safe to say we all need to form a truce to be prepared at the dance tonight."
Eric and Jessica glanced at each other with unsure looks as Esther groaned.
"Whatever happened between you guys needs to be put aside," Nichole said. "We're a team."
"I don't even know why they're mad at me," Eric said to which Esther and Jessica scoffed in response.
"Of course, you don't," the brunette rolled her eyes. "You're so self-centered, it hurts."
"Enlighten me, then," Eric glared at her.
"You're a selfish, chauvinist who didn't care if anyone got hurt during our fights," Esther said as Jessica looked away, still haunted by the Dark Kingdom monster who killed a cop in front of them.
"And what am I supposed to do during a battle, be scared and cry?" Eric interrogated.
"He already did that during his first outing," Aether chuckled.
Eric glared at the cow plush. "Exactly, and I quickly learned we have to focus on the mission, first and foremost, right?"
Aether nodded.
"Funny you say that," Harmony stated. "Because it sure looked like you weren't focused on the mission when you saved Kyle at the ranch or jumped in to protect Heidi at the parade."
"Maybe, that just means he's becoming more, I don't know, heroic?" Sally theorized.
"Either way, you all need to put the past behind you," Henrietta said, smoking her cigarette.
"Whoa! What the hell do you think you're doing?" Eric asked. "My mom will freak if she finds out you're smoking."
"Do I care?" The Goth girl smirked, exhaling smoke.
Jessica sighed and stood to head for Eric, touching his shoulder. "I'm willing to work with ya if you promise no one else gets hurt or killed."
"You know I can't promise that, right?" Eric looked at her, "But, um, I can do my best."
"That's all any of us can do," Sally smiled as Nichole nodded.
"I guess I will, too," Esther groaned. "Even though, I have reservations about having a man as our leader."
"When was I ever the leader?" Eric blinked in confusion.
"You are," Aether trotted up to his foot. "You were the first one awakened, and you're a guardian, not a soldier, thus making you a leader."
"More importantly," Artemis barked. "The girls protect you and one day…"
"They will become strong enough for you to awaken your true potential," Columba chirped.
"But before that, we have to find the princess and the legendary crystal," Lyra said.
"Hold on a second," Sally turned to her pet turtle. "You never mentioned anything about a crystal or a princess."
"Is that our mission, Heracles?" Nichole asked her eagle.
"Hmm," the golden-feathered bird placed a wing on his beak. "It would appear so."
"Did you guys, like, just remember that or something?" Harmony asked her dog.
"Actually, yes," Artemis said, wagging his tail.
"After every soldier is awakened, we unlock new memories," Phobos cooed.
"And now that they're all here…" Deimos added.
"Well, not all of them," Henrietta cut in; "Alex and Michelle are at the farm."
"And ssso are Ariel and Umbrial," Pandora said.
"They're still a part of the group," Esther said. "I think."
"Are they going to Homecoming?" Jessica questioned.
"Aren't they out of high school?" Nichole cross-examined.
"They'll probably be there as chaperones," Sally said.
"They're not that much older than us," Harmony noted.
"No, but it'd give them a good reason to be there when the Dark Kingdom attacks," Henrietta reminded.
Aether noticed Eric was suddenly not paying attention to the conversation. "Um, hey, are you OK?" He asked, crawling up to his neck.
"Yeah," Eric sighed, torn whether he should burden them with his condition.
"Are you sure?" Harmony asked, showing some concern as Eric nodded in reply.
Esther looked at him, feeling he was lying.
"So, I guess we should get ready for tonight?" Sally changed the subject.
"I can't wait," Jessica grinned.
"Yeah, I can't believe Daniel Tanner agreed to go with you," Nichole said.
"You should have seen how jealous Vivian Rose was," Harmony snickered. "It was pretty funny."
"She was?" Jessica frowned. "I don't wanna hurt anyone's feelings. I already have a reputation just because I talk too nicely to guys."
"Is that why people talk shit about you, calling you a slut and all?" Eric asked.
"Yeah," Jessica lowered her head. "I've kissed one girl's boyfriend, who didn't even tell me he was seeing anyone, and from that day on, everyone thinks I slept with him."
"People are just cruel," Eric scoffed. "I tell you straight up when you mess up. I don't bullshit you."
"I guess that's better than spreading rumors," Jessica gave him a half-smile and a one-arm hug.
"Aww," Harmony sighed. "That was easy." She laughed.
"Anywho, does everyone have their tickets?" Sally asked, holding up her cell phone.
The other girls all followed suit with their phones held.
"Um, wait, I didn't get one," Eric revealed with wide eyes.
"Don't worry, Eric, I bought one for you and had Sal send you it, so all you have to do is scan it tonight," Harmony told him with a grin.
"Right," Eric looked down at his phone. "Wait a minute, does your brother know?"
"Heh, yeah," Harmony smirked. "Why?"
Eric bemoaned. "That means—"
"Muffin-chan!" his mother called from upstairs.
The girls giggled, including Esther and Henrietta who usually had stoic demeanors.
"Meom!" shrieked Eric in embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, Poopsiekins," Liane opened the door as the others snickered. "Can you come up for a moment?"
Eric grumbled under his breath and then ascended the stairs.
"We better get going, too," Nichole said.
Esther opened the basement window so the three larger birds could escape.
"I hope you girls have a good time," pointed Aether.
"We all know that's not going to happen," Jessica said, "But thanks for the vote of confidence. We crave the normality."
Esther approached Henrietta and snatched her cigarette.
Eric exited the cellar and glared at his mother. "Must you embarrass me in front of my friends?"
"I'm sorry, Mu—Um, Eric," Liane smiled. "I was just wondering why you didn't tell me you were going to the dance."
"I don't know," Eric shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets as he averted his eyes. "I didn't think it was a big deal."
"But it is a big deal, sweetie," Liane walked up to him and hugged him, the girls uttering a collection of 'awws' from the doorway.
"Mom!" growled Eric softly with pink cheeks.
Liane pulled away and held her smile.
"I was so worried when we first moved here that you were starting to cause trouble again, but now I see you with all your friends and on the football team, and that you're taking your medication," Liane sighed, brushing some of her son's brown bangs off his forehead.
The girls exchanged glances, perplexed by that last note.
"I just don't wanna make you sad again," Eric mumbled staring at the floor, fearful the girls heard her blurting out his secret.
"So, are you taking any of your girlfriends?" Liane asked curiously.
Eric flinched when he realized they were listening.
"Um," he turned to look at them.
"Nah, we all have dates of our own," Jessica smiled with Columba perched on her shoulder.
"Well, most of us," Henrietta stated as Pandora coiled around her chest and shoulders.
"He's taking a girl from the group home named Marjorine Stotch," Sally said, holding Lyra in her tank.
"Oh, that's wonderful," Liane sighed. "You should bring her over sometime. I'd love to meet her."
"OK…" Eric mumbled, still avoiding anyone's eyes and hiding a blush.
"Well, on the topic of Homecoming, after Darien asked me to chaperone it, I went out and got you something," Liane went over to the sofa and held up a tuxedo.
"Aww!" the girls exclaimed again.
"Are you sure that will fit him?" Harmony snickered through her hand over her mouth.
"I made sure to get one a little bigger, so I can hem it before tonight if it's too big," Liane replied.
"That's definitely what we meant," Esther smirked.
"Alright," Eric turned to them. "Fun's over time to go."
Mr. Kitty walked down the stairs, triggering Artemis to bark at him.
"Artie, no!" ordered Harmony.
Kitty caterwauled and ran back upstairs. Artemis attempted to follow him, but his owner quickly grabbed him and picked him up in her arms.
"Yeah, Eric's right, we should go get ready," Nichole laughed nervously.
"See you tonight, dude," Sally said as they all passed him to hurry out of the house before either of the Cartmans could react to what happened between the pets.
"I guess Kitty's made a new friend, too," Liane chuckled.
"Mom," Eric rolled his eyes and suspired.
At the boys' group home, as the afternoon progressed, everyone was eagerly getting ready for the dance, except for Kyle.
"Last chance to change your mind, Marjie," Kyle said from his bed on the bottom bunk in the room he shared with her, Pip, and Oliver Petuski.
"Come on, Ky, we're gonna have fun," the blonde assured him with a smile. "You can still ask someone."
"I didn't even want to go," Kyle crossed his arms. "I'm going to look out for you. Have you even told Cartman yet?"
"No," Marjorine glanced to the side.
"And when do you plan on telling him?" Kyle scoffed. "When he's your boyfriend, or beyond that, because we don't know why he was kicked out of his old school. He could be dangerous. He might get violent if he finds out."
"I'm just… afraid how he'll react," Marjorine continued to look away. "I want him to like me, and not care that I'm—"
"You don't care about his past?" Kyle asked.
"Everyone has one, Kyle," Marjorine sighed, looking at him. "Do you tell everyone you like that you're a drug addict who—"
"No, because: one, I'm not interested in anyone, and two, everyone in town knows I screwed up and avoid me like the plague," Kyle reminded.
"That's only because you give people reasons to," Marjorine frowned.
"And? Who cares?" Kyle rolled his eyes and folded his arms over his chest. "Love, friendship, family… They'll all pointless."
Marjorine glowered. "Then what am I, if I'm not your friend?"
"An obligation," Kyle glared at her. "I owed you, remember?"
"Oh," the blonde lowered her head in despondence. "Is that all?"
"Alright, freaks, are you all ready for the dance?" Oliver asked, barging into the bedroom.
"Ugh, I thought I smelled you coming, DogPoo," Kyle mock-retched.
"I don't smell like poop," Oliver growled as Pip and Jake stood on either side of him.
"You gonna put your costume on, dude?" Jake patronized Marjorine.
Marjorine groaned and exited the room to get ready.
"OK, so even she was able to get a date," Pip quipped. "What's your excuse?"
Kyle growled. "I'm not going to entertain myself; I'm going to watch Marjie."
"You really are a weirdo, man," Oliver laughed as the other two boys joined.
"Do you even have anything to wear?" Pip wondered.
"Yeah," Kyle crossed his arms. "Of course, I do."
Minutes later, Marjorine emerged from the restroom in the dress she bought at the mall with her pale blonde hair out of its usual pigtails and down neatly behind her shoulders.
"OK, buddy, you can get dressed now," she held up a mint green tuxedo with a silver bow tie.
"Ugh," Kyle grabbed the outfit. "The part I've been dreading most."
The four watched him make his way to the bathroom.
"Don't forget to lose that hat," Marjorine told him.
Oliver whistled. "Damn, if I didn't know you, I'd think you were a very pretty chick."
Marjorine beamed. "Thanks."
"Yeah, a pretty flat chick," Pip added before the three burst into laughter.
Marjorine's smile faded.
"Did you forget to stuff your bra?" Jake joked.
"Don't worry, there are real girls who do that, too," Oliver noted, nudging Jake.
Marjorine brushed them off and went to her dresser.
In the restroom, Kyle finished putting himself together. He was using a curling iron on his hair when he noticed some leftover glitter in his curls from the Bike Parade. He stopped what he was doing and quickly put away the iron.
"Dude, what the hell am I doing?" He groaned. "Only chicks care so much about their appearance for a stupid dance. It's not like I have a date to impress."
Kyle sighed before walking over to his discarded clothes, digging through the pants pocket to pull out the drugs Chris gave him at the parade. He stared at them momentarily until he was startled by a knock at the door.
"Kyle, you OK?" Marjorine asked.
"Y-Yeah, I'm coming," Kyle gulped, glancing at himself in the mirror.
He always hated how he looked. Hell, he didn't like a single thing about himself.
After he growled at his reflection, he took a deep breath and took the substance, downing the pills instantly.
On the horse ranch, Michelle watched Umbrial run around with the other horses, exercising before nightfall. Her chocolate brown hair flowed in the light autumn breeze.
Alex wrapped her arms around her from behind and rested her chin on her head.
"You ready to go?" She asked.
Michelle giggled as she turned to look at her girlfriend wearing a white suit and a sky-blue tie.
"Lex, if I didn't know better, I would think you wanted to take me to the dance as your date," she smiled brightly.
"You are my date," Alex smiled back, taking her hand with one of hers and running the other through her hair. "We both didn't exactly have a good childhood or adolescence. So, will you be my date to the dance?"
Michelle kissed her lips and turned to the sunset. "You can go ahead, and I'll meet you there. I have to pray."
"I'll wait for you," Alex smirked. "I have to help Umbrial get everyone in their stables."
Michelle left her to go inside their home, the smile never leaving her face.
"You gonna be OK?" Umbrial asked.
"Everyone will be there, so we should be fine if the Dark Kingdom attacks," Alex told her animal companion.
"Just be on alert," Ariel said from the newly built pond on the property.
Alex nodded as a light wind passed her. "We will."
That night, everyone was getting ready for the dance.
At the condo, Harmony was getting ready with her cheer girlfriends.
"Oh, my God, Wen, you are so going to win Homecoming Lady," Bebe sighed elatedly wearing a red sleeveless dress.
"Thanks, girls, but I just wanna have a good time," Wendy smiled as she wore a purple dress; her usual beret was absent, exposing her black ponytail.
"I can't believe your brother rented a limo just so he could pick up Cartman's mom," Lola said, donning an emerald green dress. Her brown hair was wavy, "So romantic."
"So not," Harmony rebuked annoyed in her brown dress she bought with Marjorine and the other girls at the mall. Her hair was half-up like in her Sailor form decorated with a red rose.
"Luckily, Chris' dad did the same thing, because lord knows Brimmy can't drive or afford one," Heidi chuckled, sporting an orange dress with a purple blossom on her chest.
"I don't even know why you're dating him," Red scoffed wearing a lavender dress decorated with red sequins.
"Same reason Lola is interested in Chris," Harmony rolled her eyes. "They're both blond and hot."
"I know," Heidi sighed. "I may have given him another chance after he abruptly broke up with me, but I'm thinking about ending it."
"Oh, my Gosh, thank you," Harmony sighed in relief.
"Yeah," Heidi smiled. "Besides, I got my eye on someone different—my hero."
"Your what?" asked Harmony in confusion.
"Don't tell me you mean that giant, gold furry again?" Wendy asked with folded arms.
"Golden…" Harmony's eyes widened, "Oh, no."
"He saved me at the parade," Heidi sighed blissfully. "I thought those other vigilantes were whatever, but him…"
"Oh, God, no," Harmony repeated, feeling repulsed. "She's in for a rude awakening." The ravenette murmured.
They heard a car horn beep outside.
"They're here!" Bebe, Lola, Wendy, and Heidi cheered as Harmony sighed.
Red watched the girls with a smirk, the Negaverse's evil plan falling into place.
At the Cartman residence, Liane was fixing her son's tuxedo he wore.
"You look so handsome, Muffin-chan," the brunette praised, wearing a strapless, hot pink dress with white trim at the bottom, and the buns in her hair covered by red hair clips.
"Mom!" Eric growled again in embarrassment, standing still in his burgundy tux with a gold-colored bow tie as his female pals watched, giggling.
"You actually, really do, Eric," Sally smiled in a light pink dress, an icy blue bow tied at the back of a matching belt, and her hair up in a single bun.
"Surprisingly, she's right," Jessica agreed as she wore a sunny orange, strapless dress with a red bow in her long, dark brown hair.
Esther nodded in agreement, donning a simple red dress and her black hair in two ponytails.
"Yup, definitely the cutest white boy on the block," Nichole snickered, sporting a dark yellow dress with pink beads in her braided hair.
"I mean, there's not many on this block anymore, so…" Henrietta uttered, donning a crimson red dress that showed off her curves and cleavage as she retained her normal hairstyle and black make-up.
"I know you're all just messing with me, but thanks," Eric sighed with a slight smile.
A knock at the door got Liane's attention.
"Oh, I'll get it," she grinned before answering.
Eric walked up to the girls and they all looked at him.
"Marjorine is going to love how you look, dude," Nichole smirked.
"Yeah, you should totally ask her to be your girlfriend," Jessica squeaked excitedly.
"My girlfriend?" scoffed Eric with a blush on his cheeks. "Not looking for one right now."
"Yeah, right," Sally disagreed. "But if Heidi was single, you'd jump at the chance to sweep her off her feet."
"Well, duh," Eric retorted. "Heidi's hot. Marjorine is, um, well she's not ugly, but she's too plain."
"You mean, like every other girl naturally in the world?" Esther bemoaned.
"Exactly," Eric said obliviously.
"Hey, ladies," Darien walked in wearing a black tuxedo with gold buttons, holding a single red rose.
"Damn, Darien!" Jessica gasped in intrigue. "You look hot."
"It's a shame you're too old for us," Nichole frowned.
Henrietta smirked. "In this state, he's not too old for me."
"Uh, heh, thanks, girls," Darien rubbed his neck shyly.
"Ahem," Liane cleared her throat. "Girls, Darien brought gifts for a couple of you."
"Hello!" Bradley and Danny greeted from the doorway holding pink and orange flower corsages respectively.
"Hey, guys," Jessica beamed as Sally smiled beside her.
"Hey," Nichole turned to Eric as the two girls were gifted the bouquets. "Did you get a flower for Marjie?"
"Um, no," Eric answered nervously. "Is that bad?"
"Knowing her, no, you're probably fine," Henrietta shrugged.
Eric sighed and looked over at Darien handing his mother the rose.
"Careful," Esther broke his focus. "Pretty soon, you're gonna be calling Harmony 'Auntie'."
"Shut it," Eric growled.
"OK, everyone, your carriage awaits," Darien urged arms outstretched toward the door, "Ladies first."
"Jessica," Danny noticed the wound on her face from Fluorite's whip.
"Oh, it's just a scratch from Cartman's cat," she lied with a giggle.
Everyone filed out with their date: Bradley and Sally; Jessica and Danny; Esther, Nichole, and Henrietta; Liane and Darien; and Eric shut the door behind everyone.
They soon arrived at the school and rushed inside to join their classmates and chaperones living it up in the space-themed, decorated auditorium.
"You guys made it!" Harmony saluted them in excitement, hugging each of her fellow warriors.
"Hey," a voice alerted Liane and Darien. It belonged to Alex standing next to Michelle dressed in a blue dress with a sea-green hijab.
"You kids have fun," Darien prided.
"But not too much fun," Liane reminded with a chuckle before joining the other adults.
"What does she think we're gonna do, bang on the dance floor?" Nichole asked with a brow.
"I don't know what you losers are doing, but if you need me, I'll be outside," Henrietta said, pointing in the direction they entered before leaving.
"Super, I guess that just leaves you as my date, Nikki?" Esther said with a smile.
"I'm cool with that," Nichole shrugged.
Eric looked around, "So, where's—"
"Eric!" Marjorine exclaimed when she noticed him, rushing over to hug him.
"Damn, girl, that dress looks better than it did on you in the store," Harmony noted with an approving nod.
"Thanks, H," Marjorine beamed proudly, slightly pulling away from Eric who got a better look at her.
"Wow! You look great," Eric said, scanning her frame multiple times.
"Thank you," Marjorine giggled before she pecked his cheek. "You look hot, too."
Nichole, Esther, and Jessica stifled a laugh.
"Oh, my God, girl, your dress glows in the dark!" pointed out Harmony.
"I know, isn't it cool?" Marjorine took a few steps back to do a twirl. "They look like sparkling stars in the night sky. It's pretty appropriate for the night's theme."
"Well, it makes you look like a real woman," Esther said, earning a light elbow nudge from Sally. "Heh, I mean—you get it."
"So," Eric rubbed the back of his neck, still in awe by his date. "Where's your shadow?"
"You mean, Kyle?" Marjorine wondered with a smile.
Eric nodded in reply.
"He's over there at the drinks' table," the blonde pointed.
Kyle sat alone, glaring at the couple.
"Jesus, he's scary," Eric cringed. "Is he gonna stare at us all night?"
"I hope not," Marjorine took his hand. "Come on, we didn't come here to stand around."
"Neither did we," Bradley offered his hand to Sally.
"Jess?" Danny made the same gesture.
Both girls took their dates' hands and walked onto the dance floor.
"I'm gonna go get Craig," Harmony said, leaving the others.
"I guess it's just you and me, Essie," Nichole smirked.
Esther was busy watching her brother dance with his girlfriend, Red, getting a bad feeling.
"Are you OK?" Nichole asked.
"Yeah," Esther smiled. "I'm gonna get a drink and sit down for a bit."
As she made her way to a chair, she was surprised to see her cousin sitting with Jessica's brother, David.
"Terry, what are you doing here?" She asked, crossing her arms.
"Just wanted to see what all the hype is about," Terrance smirked. Two of his friends stepped up behind him and began to chuckle.
"Yeah, it's gay," laughed a boy with black, stringy hair and thick eyebrows.
"Totally gay," snickered a boy with short brown hair.
"Zip it, you two," Terrance rebuked, glaring at the duo.
"Oh, boys," Riley and Jordan called them, waving their fingers.
They both chuckled before joining them.
"Let me guess, is he your date?" Esther asked, referring to David.
"No way," David cut in before Terrance could say anything.
"Good, then you can stop Glarin' Karen over there," Esther nudged toward Kyle still leering at Marjorine and Eric.
"No problem, cuz," Terrance winked, clicking his teeth.
"Thanks for saving me from him," David said after breathing a sigh of relief.
"No problem," Esther smirked, sitting where her cousin previously sat.
"Hey, Craig," Harmony approached her date who was talking to Tweek.
Craig was wearing a granite-colored shit and black tie while Tweek wore a dark green tux and a rainbow bowtie.
"Oh, hey, Harmony," Craig turned to her.
"You wanna dance?" Harmony held out her arm.
Craig glanced at Tweek who nodded with a frown.
"Sure," he agreed, linking his arm around hers afore joining the others mingling.
Tweek sighed at the sight.
"What up, Red?" Terrance snapped Kyle out of his thoughts as he sat in the empty chair beside him.
"Why are you here?" Kyle growled with an eye roll.
"To stop you from staring," Terrance smirked. "Who are you more jealous of, the bubbly blonde or the fat piece of eye candy?"
"Gross," Kyle groaned, "Neither."
"You know, I can take you out there," Terrance patted behind his shoulder.
"How many times do I have to tell you I'm not interested before it's drilled into your head, Mephesto?" Kyle sighed.
"Oh, sorry we're all not rich, hot, and full of drugs like Donnely," Terrance mock-whined before laughing.
Kyle bemoaned, lightly banging his head on the table in annoyance.
Nichole sat down a few feet away from her friends and was noticed by a boy with dark brown skin, black hair, and hazel eyes. He wore a grey suit and white tie.
"Hey, Nichole," greeted the boy with a smile.
"Oh, hi, Token," Nichole gave him a weak smile.
"It's been a while," Token said. "How you been?"
"Better and worse," Nichole narrowed her eyes.
Token frowned at her answer.
Liane, Darien, Alex, and Michelle were talking when a woman with long red hair, reddish brown eyes in a white and purple dress.
"Darien, I'm so glad you showed up," the redhead greeted with a huge smile. "How are you?"
"Melissa, it's good to see you," Darien grinned and hugged her.
"My, which one of these lovely women is your date?" Melissa asked with a smirk.
"This is Liane Cartman," Darien placed a hand on the small of her back and introduced her. "Liane, this is Melissa Weatherly. She runs the group home where Eric's date lives."
"Oh, is that right?" Liane smiled, holding out her hand. "Hello."
"So, you're Liane Cartman," Melissa grinned, accepting her handshake. "You sure look younger than someone with a teenage son."
Liane chuckled in embarrassment.
"And this is her niece, Alex, and their girlfriend, Michelle," Darien continued.
"And it's wonderful to meet the both of you, as well," Melissa shook their hands.
"Yeah, same," Alex and Michelle glanced at each other.
"Well, I hope you have a good time here and in South Park," Melissa's eyes landed on Liane coldly before she beamed at Darien. "See you around."
"Is it me, or was she giving off jealous ex-girlfriend vibes?" Michelle asked.
"She was never my girlfriend," Darien replied. "She's just had a silly crush on me. That's all."
"I guess, anyone at any age can feel scorned," Alex shrugged.
Back in the basement of the Cartman house, Aether was resting on the floor by the computer, when a beep sounded from the desktop.
The cow plush hopped onto the chair to check out the computer.
The other animal companions stopped what they were doing and joined him.
Aether opened up a message he received a static video with a distorted voice.
"Lord Aether, this is Princess…" the audio crackled, concealing the name. "…I am en route to South Park to stop the Dark Kingdom…"
The message was cut prematurely.
"The princess?" wondered Aether.
Returning to the dance, everyone was still enjoying themselves.
Vivian glared at Danny and Jessica dancing and laughing. She then turned to her other comrades with their partners: Red and Kevin; Larry and Keifer; Jake and a girl with strawberry blonde hair; and Nate with a brunette.
"When are we doing this?" She growled, growing impatient.
A slow song was finishing up and Marjorine and Eric were close, hands held together tightly.
Kyle continued to watch them with nothing but bitter malice.
Terrance noticed the light redness in his eyes.
"Dude, you are high, don't do it," he begged, softly clutching the redhead's arm.
Marjorine and Eric gazed at each other, and Marjorine leaned in to kiss him, but the song ending put a stop to that attempt, when the cheerleaders and their dates walked up to them.
Kyle stood up angrily; squashing the soda can in his fist as Terrance flinched.
"O-M-G, you look so hot, Marjorine!" Bebe squealed with Clyde next to her dressed in a brown tux with a red bowtie.
"And you, Eric, are so brave and awesome for dancing with her…in public, too," Heidi giggled, holding Brimmy's hand.
"Was that a jab at my weight?" Eric asked with a glower, but Marjorine's eyes shifted to the side, knowing the real reason they were acting that way.
"Oh, no," Wendy waved her hand next to Stan who smiled, wearing a navy blue suit with a copper-colored tie.
"We just didn't know you were so progressive," Lola smirked as Chris stood beside her wearing a white suit and a rainbow tie, giving him a thumbs-up.
"Uh, what?" Eric was confused but was becoming aware of Marjorine's discomfort.
"You know," Daisy said next to Trevor. "Don't you?"
Kyle growled deeply, listening to the conversation, and was tired of Eric's naivety.
"No," Eric said.
Kyle pushed through the couple, breaking their connection, and stood in the middle, glaring at Eric.
"They're trying to tell you Marjorine is transgender, dumbass!" Kyle snarled venomously.
Everyone around them gasped, except for Eric and Marjorine, as the music stopped.
"What's going on?" Darien asked with the other adults.
"She…what?" Eric looked at a heartbroken Marjorine who slowly turned to look back at him, observing his stunned expression which, to her, gave her the impression he was disgusted. "You're a…You're a dude?"
"N-No," Marjorine backed up slightly, soul crushed at her friend's betrayal.
"Kyle!" Wendy yelled.
"Why are you so mean?" Heidi asked angrily.
"I'm not the one who's lying!" Kyle spat.
"Who?" Bebe crossed her arms, "Marjorine to him or about herself?"
"Both!" Kyle answered and everyone gasped again.
"W-What do you mean?" Marjorine asked, welling up with tears.
"I mean, I'm tired of lying to everyone for you who says you're a boy," Kyle glared at her. "Go ahead; show him that you stuff your bra!"
Marjorine started to sob, pulling out a pair of socks from inside her dress and tossing them to the floor.
Eric stared at them with his eyes wide and mouth slightly agape. He tried to say something, but Marjorine, completely humiliated, ran out of the auditorium in tears.
"You're a monster, Kyle," Wendy told him angrily.
"Oh, shut up, all of you," Kyle admonished. "You all used to bully him relentlessly before high school. You're all fake."
"No, we just changed," Harmony said as Jessica nodded in agreement.
"But you sure as hell didn't," Stan scoffed. "Obviously, because I can tell you're high."
"Mind your own business, Marsh!" Kyle retorted, getting close to his face as both glared harshly at the other.
"Oh, you mean like you did with Marjorine?" Nichole scoffed, crossing her arms with Esther nodding beside her.
"Why are you so jealous of her?" Sally asked softly but with a hint of annoyance on her face. Bradley held her hand as he watched everything.
"I wasn't!" Kyle seethed, narrowing his eyes to the floor.
"What's going on here?" Alex asked accompanied by Liane, Darien, and Michelle.
Jake and the other disguised Dark Kingdom members observed from behind everyone else.
"They're distracted," he said.
"It's a good thing Broflovski loves being the center of attention," Vivian scoffed.
"Let's go," Larry urged.
The six of them snuck away from everyone.
"Oh, nothing, just Kyle ruining things for everyone again," Clyde said.
"What did you do?" Michelle asked, eyeing him.
"He outed Marjorine," Craig deadpanned.
"What does he mean?" Liane asked and then Darien whispered in her ear. "Oh, my," she sighed sympathetically.
After being frozen throughout, Eric finally moved from his spot, picking up the discarded socks before rushing to find Marjorine.
"Eric!" Liane called, wanting to follow him, but Darien stopped her.
"Leave, Kyle," Stan uttered. "Before you hurt someone else and cause their death, like your parents."
"Screw you, asshole!" Kyle yelled, pushing him.
The two then grabbed each other by the shirt.
"Whoa!" Darien pulled them apart, holding out his arms. "That's enough!"
"Leave, Kyle," Alex glared at him.
Kyle scanned the room at everyone flashing death glares at him as he started to breathe heavily. He pushed past those in front of him by the door and left.
"I guess you can't escape this type of drama no matter where you go," Liane mumbled to herself as Darien rejoined her.
"Are you OK?" Chris asked Stan.
"Don't talk to me," Stan growled. "This is your fault."
"Alright, how about we all just calm down, now and try to enjoy the rest of the night," Michelle advised.
The music resumed and most of the room brushed off the conflict.
"Alright, everyone, in just a few minutes, we'll announce the winners of this year's royal court, so get your votes in," Melissa Weatherly said over the microphone.
The other chaperones walked up to her.
"Oh, don't worry," she stepped off the podium and smiled at them. "I'll reprimand Broflovski when we get home."
"What's wrong with him?" Liane asked with an empathetic glower.
"Just a kid with a laundry list of problems," Darien told her. "Once a troublemaker, always a troublemaker, I say."
Liane leered at him slightly. "You mean like my little Muffin-chan?"
"Um, well," Darien rubbed his neck nervously. "You said he was medicated, right?"
"That doesn't make anything better," Liane sighed.
"OK," Alex chuckled. "We don't need another fight."
"Hmm," Melissa looked at them with a sinister smirk.
Chris tried to leave, but Lola stopped him.
"What are you doing?" She asked, holding his arm. "They're gonna announce the Homecoming duke and duchess."
"Lo, I don't care," Chris said. "I need to find Kyle. He can't just walk home alone at night in his condition."
Lola growled, watching her date leave, "You and this damn freak."
Kyle stumbled outside, holding his head in pain.
"Having fun?" Henrietta's voice startled him as she puffed on a cigarette.
"So much fun," Kyle said sarcastically.
"You want some?" Henrietta offered the butt.
Kyle shook his head. "I have enough drugs in my system."
Henrietta shrugged. "Suit yourself."
Before she could put it back in her mouth, Kyle snatched it from her and took a long drag before exhaling a thick cloud of smoke.
Henrietta grinned, shaking her head. "You told fatso about the tranny, didn't you?"
"Don't call hi…her that," Kyle sighed exasperatedly.
"Kyle," Chris appeared. "Thank, God, you're still here."
"Leave me alone," Kyle growled, avoiding his eyes.
"I already called my driver to come pick you up," Chris said, trying to touch him, but the redhead kept evading.
"I'm done, Chris, just leave me alone," Kyle said, voice cracking.
"We'll talk about this in the morning," Chris continued to try to reach out, "Right now; you need to sleep this off."
Kyle sighed in defeat. "Whatever, you never take no for an answer, so why start, now?"
Chris rested his hand on his shoulder, pulling him against him as he turned to Henrietta.
"Don't mind me," she stomped on the cigarette she reclaimed from Kyle afore going inside the school.
Eric searched the halls for Marjorine, hoping she didn't somehow leave. After checking the girl's bathroom, he went to the boy's and saw her roughly wiping off the makeup from her face as tears continued to cascade down her cheeks.
"There…you are," he said out of breath from running.
"W-What are you doing here?" Marjorine asked, looking away in embarrassment.
"I wanted to see if you were OK?" Eric said, stepping next to her.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Marjorine bit her lip.
"You thought I would be grossed out?" Eric guessed as she nodded in reply. He then sighed. "I'm not gonna pretend I understand it, because I don't, but I'm not disgusted."
"You…You're not?" Marjorine looked at him sadly.
"Why should I be?" Eric cocked an eyebrow.
"Because I'm a…" Marjorine exhaled sharply, "Dude pretending to be a chick."
"I don't think it's pretend," Eric said seriously but cautiously. "Pretending is a game. This is your life."
"So, you don't think I'm a freak?" Marjorine wondered, a weak smile appearing on her smeared lips.
"We all have things within us we can't help," Eric smiled, grabbing some paper towels from the dispenser and wetting them. "Besides, you were the first person to be nice to me when I came here. I'd be the biggest dick ever if I wasn't at least a little supportive."
Marjorine simpered and reddened as she watched him gently wipe the makeup from her face and remove her fake eyelashes.
But it soon faded. "I should have known Kyle didn't really care about me." She scoffed. "I mean, he's the one who suggested the name 'Marjorine'. You know, like margarine—a fake butter."
Eric looked at her confused.
"Everyone used to call me Butters," Marjorine frowned.
"Damn, I actually didn't think that was why," Eric grinned weakly. "I thought it was a cool-sounding version of Marjorie."
"Nope," Marjorine sighed.
"Well, maybe you should think of it as that," Eric said. "Uh, I mean, Marjorie means 'pearl', I think, and you're pretty like one, so why not?"
"You think I'm pretty?" Marjorine questioned with a deeper blush.
"Yeah," Eric smirked. "Just, a little advice though, easy on the makeup. You only need some light lipstick. You already have pretty eyelashes and nice skin."
"Heh, thanks," Marjorine beamed hopefully. "You sure know your stuff."
"Well, just between us," Eric leaned closer to her face. "I cross-dress, so I've had people interested before and girls telling me how to really use cosmetics."
"Thanks, Eric," Marjorine wrapped her arms around him and since she was feeling more confident, she attempted to kiss him again.
But a screeching sound crippled Eric's ears, causing him to back away in pain.
"Eric, what's wrong?" Marjorine asked concerned, reaching out for him.
Screams were then heard from the auditorium.
"Oh, no!" freaked Marjorine. "What's going on?"
Eric growled, still in agony, and stood protectively in front of her. "Get out, now!"
"B-But, what about you?" she asked fearfully, holding onto his arm.
Eric's claws unsheathed from his fingernails, but the pain he was already in lessened what he would've felt from that action as his fingers began to bleed from the unnatural movement.
"I'm gonna help everyone else," he took her hand. "But I don't want you to get hurt, so go!"
He hurried to the auditorium as Marjorine stood there for a moment stunned.
The adults helped the teens evacuate the school as Zoisite stood in the middle of the room.
"Oh, Sailor Soldiers!" he called mockingly in a singsong tone. "Come out and play."
The nine female warriors faced them when everyone was gone. The other five knights of the Dark Kingdom joined Zoisite.
"So, this is how you wanna play this game?" Jupiter asked, holding her lightning daggers.
"Now that you're all finally together," Fluorite slapped her thorny whip.
"We're gonna enjoy killing you," Nephrite posed his fingers together on a single hand, cosmic energy covering it.
"So are we, Venus Love-Me Chain!" Venus tossed her metal whip at them.
"Rose Whip!" Fluorite entangled her weapon with the orange-clad soldier as they struggled to pull the other.
"Hinotama!" Jadeite clasped a giant fireball in his hand and threw it at them.
"Scarlet Tempest!" Earth intercepted the flames with a rock bomb, but it blasted through it, setting some of the room ablaze.
"Don't burn the school down, dude!" Mars exclaimed.
"Icy Mist!" Mercury used her fog to suppress the flames.
"Sky Shaking!"
"Deep Submerge!"
Uranus and Neptune absorbed some moist air to send their attacks toward the enemy.
"Mirror Wall!" Danburite erected a structure from the ground to protect them from the attack, reflecting it on the couple.
Zoisite jumped off his shoulder. "Raigeki!" He tossed lightning bolts at the soldiers, severing the cords and striking Venus.
Danburite noticed an old wound on the warrior's cheek and remembered his date had one in the same spot.
Mars growled, seeing her teammates get hurt and she charged for them, but Nephrite bounced in front of her, and the two broke out into hand-to-hand combat with the soldier of flame's hands burning and the knight of the Dark Kingdom's fist draped in starlight.
"Jupiter Thunderbolts!" The yellow-donned warrior threw her daggers at Zoisite who caught them and tossed them back at her, but Earth jumped in the way to take the attack.
"Deadly Harvest!" Saturn retrieved some of the rubble on the ground and contaminated it with her toxic magic before blowing it on Zoisite.
"Ah!" He screamed. "My face, you bitch!"
Outside the building, everyone was discussing what was happening.
"The police are on their way," Melissa said.
"Where's Eric?" Liane asked panicking.
"And Esther and Red?" added Kevin.
"Jessica, too," David adjoined.
"Harmony's also missing," Darien said.
"And my sister," Stan concluded.
"Eric said he was going to help," Marjorine told his mother, trembling as Pip consoled her.
"Muffin-chan!" exclaimed Liane, rushing for the doors, but they wouldn't budge.
Marjorine looked down at her hand and saw some blood. Knowing it wasn't hers, she wondered if Eric was bleeding.
On the other end of the doors, Keifer Weatherly walked away, a dark force preventing the doors from moving.
He pulled out a crystal and made his way to the fight.
"Torrential Funeral!" Vivianite harnessed the rest of Mercury's ice and blasted the soldiers with a forceful water blast, slamming all nine of them against the wall.
Gold Tanuki then barged through the doors, snarling furiously, breaking the glass wall protecting the generals.
"Gold…" Earth exhaled weakly.
He snarled and swiftly slashed at the six knights, weakening them in a blind, rabid rage.
"Finally," a man with long, silver hair appeared from a void. "The giant rat shows himself."
"I'm gonna frigging kill all of you," Gold bellowed in a deep, husky voice as he bared his claws and roared again.
"Y-You'd think he was a tiger or something with how scary he's trying to be," Jadeite said, slightly shaking as he held his injured arm from the guardian's assault.
Kunzite, the silver-haired knight, summoned a sharp, jagged blade.
Gold screamed viciously and charged for him as the two clashed, trading blows and slashing each other back and forth, both sides' companions looking on in awe and fright.
Kunzite managed to land some hits, cutting Gold's arm, and making him bleed, but the gold giant didn't flinch as he kept biting and clawing at him messily. Kunzite soon got the upper hand and kicked him to the floor, pushing himself on top of him with his blade to the guardian's throat.
"Eric…" Venus muttered to herself afraid.
Gold growled and struggled against him, his weapon breaking some skin.
"You're a good fighter," Kunzite smirked. "But not good enough." He prepared to slit his throat.
"Moon Tiara Boomerang!" a voice echoed throughout the room and a glowing discus crashed into Kunzite's weapon, forcing him to drop it.
Everyone looked up and saw someone on top of the closed bleachers catch the disc which turned into a golden tiara before it was replaced on their forehead with a crescent moon tattoo.
"Who the hell are you?" Kunzite interrogated with a growl.
"You know exactly who I am, Negaverse scum!" the warrior leaped from her spot and held up a wand with a crescent moon on the end. She had silver hair in long pigtails with purple streaks and magenta eyes, donning a light grey skirt and shorts, a mask, brooch, gloves, choker, and heels; a lilac-colored chest, and back bow.
"S-She has the stick," pointed out Danburite.
"It's the Moon Princess!" gasped Nephrite.
The princess smirked. "Sailor Moon to be precise, Nephrite. And if you don't run back to your Beryl, I'll show you exactly why you should fear me."
Five of the knights trembled as a disfigured Zoisite hurried to Kunzite.
"W-We have to go, love," he said, clutching his arm tightly.
"This isn't over," Kunzite threatened.
"I know," Moon smirked. "It's just getting started."
The Dark Kingdom warriors disappeared through their portals, Kunzite's glare staying on her until he vanished.
The Sailor Soldiers helped each other stand as Gold groggily did the same. Moon turned to them.
"Alright," Gold breathed heavily, seemingly returning to his senses. "Who the hell are you?"
"Oh, my God, you're that princess Aether and the gang were talking about, aren't you?" Mercury asked in shock, supporting Earth.
"I can't speak, now," Moon sighed, keeping her composure. "But we'll talk soon." She stared at Gold. "I'll meet you at Gold Raccoon's house."
Gold growled as she snuck out through the broken window. "I'm not a raccoon!"
"Guys," Uranus sighed. "That means she knows who we are."
The soldiers looked at each other as Gold exhaled sharply.
"We better get going, the others are worried about us," Neptune said, holding Uranus by her waist.
"And it's late," Jupiter groaned, "Some night, huh?"
"Heh, you wish Kyle being a dick was the highlight," Saturn chuckled dryly.
The police arrived just as Darien and Melissa were able to open the doors.
"What happened?" Sgt. Yates asked being joined by Detective Murphy and some other officers.
"We were all attacked by those monsters that have been stalking the town," Oliver said.
"Maybe there's just something in the air and we're all high," Pip sighed.
"No, we believe you," Yates affirmed. "Are those bastard vigilantes inside?"
"Just us," Eric muttered in the doorway with the girls.
He was as battered and bruised as the first night he faced off against a Dark Kingdom monster while the girls were soaked from Vivianite's attack, some had minor cuts and bruises, and Harmony's arm was burned from Zoisite's lightning.
"Muffin!" Liane hugged her son tightly as he winced in pain.
"I'm fine, Mom," he groaned.
"What about you, Lex?" Liane asked her niece while also checking on her girlfriend.
"We're fine, Liane," Michelle smiled, hair damp and messy under her headwear.
Stan breathed a sigh of relief from where he was with Wendy, but he went unnoticed by his sibling.
"You OK, Powder?" Heidi asked, making sure her cousin was safe.
"Yup," the redhead nodded, still holding an injured Harmony.
"Rose," Darien rushed to her side and gently took her from her friend.
"It's not so bad, Dare," the ravenette chuckled coyly, "Just a simple burn."
David, Bradley, and Kevin reunited with their sisters while Nichole sighed enviously, wishing she had a family member there.
"Eric!" Marjorine called, squeezing past people between her and him.
"Hey," he smiled at her weakly when she tried to hug him, but noticed his cuts. "Shit, who did this to you?"
"Just one of those dumb monsters," Eric scoffed but chuckled. "But the Sailor Warriors saved us."
"What? Are they still in there?" Yates wondered. "Murphy, get in there and arrest them!"
"Anyways, I'm glad you made it out safely," Eric smiled at Marjorine. He turned to his mom and grabbed the rose Darien gave her and handed it to the blonde.
Darien glared at him. "Dude, what are you—"
Harmony slapped his arm to silence him.
"I didn't get you anything, and the night was a bust, so, here you go," Eric smiled, tucking it in her hair behind her ear.
"Nah, it was fine," she smiled back, but it quickly turned to a grimace when she saw how much he was bleeding. "You really should go to the hospital."
"OK," Melissa Weatherly announced holding a megaphone, which hurt Eric's more sensitive ears. "Everybody here can call your parents or drive home if you came here that way. Um, Mr. Cartman and Ms. Shields should definitely go to the hospital first, and what else…Oh, yeah, the student council will reveal the results of the Homecoming royal court on Monday, but of course, all scheduled assemblies, P.E. classes, and sports games will be moved to the football field…"
Craig whispered something in her ear.
"What?... Oh, um," Melissa resumed. "Apparently, the football field is still under construction from the last monster attack, so, those things are on hold until further notice—really, though? What the hell is taking them so long?"
"Come on, Eric," Liane took off the jacket she was wearing over her dress and tightly wrapped it around her son's arm to stop the bleeding, ignoring his painful yelp.
"I'll drive you both," Alex said, "If you can squeeze in the back of the car."
"Sky, it's OK, I'll get a ride home," Michelle assured.
"Are you sure?" Alex wondered with worry.
Michelle quickly glanced at Stan and returned to smile at her girlfriend. "Yeah, go ahead."
"Thanks, babe," Alex pecked her lips and went to the car with her family, Darien, and Harmony.
"Everyone else," Melissa chuckled before a serious demeanor formed on her face. "Go…Straight…Home."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Weatherly, but you and your boys will have to stay here while I ask you some questions," Yates informed her.
"What?" Melissa groaned. "Great, I'm never getting any sleep."
"Where's your son?" Det. Murphy asked.
"He went to take his boyfriend home when everything was happening," Melissa told him.
"Awesome," Oliver sighed. "Kyle sure dodged a bullet."
"Lucky wanker," Pip growled.
"I guess it's just us for a bit, huh?" Jake appeared, rubbing his hurt arm.
"Were you here the whole time?" Marjorine asked.
"Yeah, why?" fibbed Jake with a nervous chuckle.
And so, all of the students went home; the Sailor Soldiers tended to their wounds before bed; Harmony's burns were treated and Eric obtained several stitches in his arm.
When he was dropped off, Eric was entrusted to sleep by his mother who immediately retired to her room, but the teen couldn't sleep.
After taking his pills, he thought going for a walk in the shadows as Gold would calm his nerves since the drugs usually dulled his sensory powers, but, for some reason, they weren't working tonight.
He gritted through the pain, hoping they were taking longer to work, but a familiar voice murmuring, a rapid heartbeat, and heavy breathing caught his attention as he rushed toward it.
The car pulled up to the group home and Chris emerged, assisting Kyle with a blank stare. The blond walked him to the building and sighed.
"OK, Gingerbread, just take a deep breath and get some sleep, and maybe this will all blow over and you'll feel better," Chris said with a weak smile.
"Uh-huh," Kyle uttered dully.
"Maybe, we should look into rehab again," Chris added.
"No need," Kyle stated. "I'm done with you."
"Um," Chris raised an eyebrow as he watched the redhead rub his arm and sniffle. "Easier said than done, but it's my fault for enabling you and getting you drugs in the first place."
"Like I said, you don't have to worry about that anymore," Kyle muttered, still emotionlessly.
Yet Chris was not getting the hint. "Right, um, I'll see you at school?"
Kyle didn't answer, instead just went inside, leaving Chris flabbergasted and slightly worried.
That was about an hour or two ago. Now, Kyle was dressed in pajamas standing on the roof close to the end, shaking with his eyes tightly shut and his hands over his ears. Images of various events that happened involving him flashed through his mind with the last one being someone falling from a very tall building to their death.
Kyle's eyes shot open and when he realized where he was, he panicked and almost fell before being grabbed from the back and yanked against someone's firm chest and into their strong embrace.
Feeling déjà vu, a trembling Kyle looked up into the blazing red eyes of Gold Tanuki.
"W-W-What are you doing here?" He stammered, holding onto his black shirt tightly and still staring into his eyes. "W-Why are you here? Are you s-stalking me?"
"No," was all Gold said before Kyle started feeling around the gold, pink-tinted fur on his neck, noticing a wound.
"What happened to you?" Kyle asked, wanting to avoid the obvious. He also pointed out the tear in his suit and visible stitches on the bald spot on his arm.
"There was an attack at the school," Gold uttered straight-faced, following his roaming hand with his eyes.
"Of course, I miss that," Kyle scoffed but then realized what he said. "Wait, is anyone—"
"No one was seriously injured," Gold reassured, nose twitching. "So, what were you doing?"
Kyle let go of him and sat down with his legs crossed, planting his palms firmly on the surface, trying to steady his racing pulse.
"You weren't…" Gold narrowed his eyes over the edge and returned to gaze into the troubled boy's green ones. "You weren't going to hurt yourself, were you?"
"I…" Kyle exhaled a shaky breath as his body shuddered slightly from the cold and his stress. "I screwed up…badly. I keep hurting people that care about me, and now I have no one, so I just wanna…stop it."
"You know that doesn't solve anything, right?" Gold bluntly told him.
"What the hell do you know?" Kyle asked, voice catching in his throat as he tightly shut his eyes, tears falling and his shaking worsening. "It hurts so bad…day after day, all I do is repeat my failures…I'm just…lost…" He sobbed.
Gold's ears drooped as he frowned, guilt and empathy panging through his chest. Before Kyle could say another word, he pulled the weeping adolescent into a warm hug.
"Then…find something to help you…anything…Just don't give up," the guardian mumbled into his hair to soothe him.
Kyle chuckled amid his blubbering. "You're probably just a drug hallucination…"
He buried his face in Gold's upper chest fur, inhaling his scent and absorbing his warmth before falling asleep from exhaustion.
Gold heard others approaching, probably Ms. Weatherly and her kids who were previously busy with the cops. He stealthily snuck Kyle into the building, sniffing out for his bedroom and tucking him into his bed.
Before he could leave undetected, Gold stepped on a stuffed narwhal plush that played a melody similar to a music box. It looked familiar, but he couldn't quite place where he saw the purple stuffed animal, so he laid it in Kyle's arms, snuggling it in his sleep as the song played softly.
When he left, watching from his bedroom was Keifer Weatherly holding an ice pack to his wrist, the same one that held the weapon that earlier was struck by Sailor Moon's tiara. He remained there intrigued, wondering what Kyle had to do with the leader and strongest member of the Sailor Warriors.
To be continued…
Next time: After returning from the mid-season hiatus, the Sailor Soldiers and the Dark Kingdom will be on the hunt for the legendary Rainbow Crystals.