Something About That Girl

By : Rhyaniwyn, Lady of Crying Shadows

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and all associated characters are the exclusive property of Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha Ltd., Toei Animation, Co., Ltd. The English dub is copyright 1995 DiC.

Foreword: Here ya' go! I know the last one was short. It was mostly important character developement and an attempt to rope you into the story. Did it work? e-mail at alyanawhitemage@hotmail.com This one will be longer than the others. By the way, asterics * * denote telepathic communication. I usually use these symbols < >, but I thought that might interfere with posting the story, since you use them in http script. I really don't know so I decided to just use * *.

Dedication: For Serena, and her memories. And my boyfriend. :)

~Something About That Girl~ (Part III: Hazy Past, Clear Destiny)

Serena trudged home, tired down into her very bones. Wiping her shoes on the rug and then taking them off, she entered the house.

"Serena!" her mother yelled.

Serena grimaced. She hadn't been sleeping much lately, trying to escape from having that nightmare and she was sore all over, even her ears, "Yes, mother?"

"Give me that test. If you didn't pass..." she trailed off menacingly.

"Don't worry, I didn't." She handed her mother the exam, it wasn't her worst, she'd been trying, but she hadn't studied at all. She'd gotten a 73.

"A seventy-three? Is that a 'D?'" Serena's mother inquired sweetly.

"Yeah. This new grading scale is really hard."

"Out, Serena."

"What?"

"Out. Now."

"Mother!?"

"Go!!" her mother roared.

"I'm going," Serena said resignedly.

"Don't come back until you've thought about it."

"Why not?"

"What do you mean, 'why not'?"

"Exactly, why not think about it?" Serena turned silently and walked out of the door, remembering to grab a jacket on her way.

She walked the streets of Tokyo, hands shoved deeply into her pockets, and avoided the eyes of others. No one payed any attention to her, thinking her just a girl on her way to some chore or another. She walked for hours, from the park to the Tokyo tower and back.

Finally she capitulated and sat down on a bench in front of a University. She watched the students uninterestedly, seeing them pass through the gates on their way to home or class. Not one of them caught her eye. She felt like she was supposed to be here for some reason, and normally she would have run away, for that feeling meant that this had something to do with her dreams... Her death? No. She wouldn't think about it.

A raspy voice jolted her out of her reverie, "Hey, lookie! It's Serena! How are ya' girlie?"

She knew who it was. The boy was in detention more often than she, that was where she'd met him. The difference was that HE was in detention for worse things than tardies and eating or sleeping in class. He was a top rank jerk, and a troublemaker to go along with it. "Fine," she responded shortly. It would have told anyone else that she didn't want to talk, and put them off, but not him.

"So, Serena, hows about a movie?" he leered at her.

She sighed, "No, thank you."

"Whad'da'ya' mean by that?"

"I mean I'm not interested right now."

"Suppose I don't care if you is or not?"

"Then I suppose I'll have to call for help."

"You won't be able to," he said evilly.

She felt her muscles jerked as tight as a spring coiled to the breaking point. Without her own volition, she rose and leaned toward him. 'No' she thought wildly, 'This can't happen!' She was perilously close to panic, and she couldn't seem to stop herself from it, even though her intuition told her that panic would only fuel the power. His lips covered hers obscenely and her carressed her hands, working his way up her arms.

"I told you so," he whispered, then he began to kiss her again, delving into her mouth with his tongue.

He had rancid breath, she noticed, and almost wanted to cry hysterically at such a stupid observation at a time like this. She couldn't move her own body with her will. Inside her mind, she felt a pressure begin to build, slowly. It was causing her forehead to tingle almost unpleasantly. 'HELP!!' her mind cried. She knew no one would hear or help her. God knew he was making her look willing enough, forcing her to draw herself close and trace sensual patterns on his back.

"This is only the beggining," he promised her.

'No, no its not. HELP!' About the only part of her she could still move was her eyes. They rolled around wildly, like a spooked animal. Then they lighted on a young man with rich black hair and eyes so blue she could see them from even this distance, couldn't she? That was beside the point, she knew his eyes were blue. He drew her like no one else had the entire afternoon, he interested her. *HELP!* she cried silently to him, and suddenly she was free! She shoved her attacker violently and the man looked up and walked toward them. His eyes were definately blue, she saw.

He had reached them, "Is there a problem?" He glared pointedly at Yeksan, her attacker. Darien didn't know what to make of this. One moment the girl was kissing the boy, the next she had shoved him away like he was trying to rape her. Worse, he felt--jealous? No, he was just angry that this boy might have been assaulting the girl. The girl nodded at him frantically. "Go away," he growled dangerously to the boy. The boy had looked like he was about to argue, but then his body had jerked straight and he had left. "Are you alright?" he asked the girl.

Serena nodded, "Thank you so much!" she exclaimed fervently.

"Well, that's good. He didn't hurt you? By the way, my name's Darien. What were you doing here, putting yourself in that situation. That was really stupid," he said abruptly.

Serena paled, "My--I went on a walk. You don't even know what was going on! How can you call me stupid?"

"I'm sorry, I don't know what came over me."

He looked genuinely confused, so she relaxed. "I'm Serena."

"That's an interesting hairstyle you have there, odango-atama."

'Dumpling head? How dare he!?'

Before she could retort, he jumped as if startled and said quickly, "I'm sorry, I have to go."

He half-ran in his haste to go. He was running from her... and he knew it. Why, though? She was... "Something about that girl... She's..." he whispered.

Serena shrugged and looked at his departing figure. The part of her that had felt a need to come here was exuding a sense of achievment. Serena felt a chill of fear down her spine. Whatever had happened, it was too late to stop it, still--her fear wasn't rational, and she flew, legs pumping, away from the university.

When she got home, her mother was in a flurry of worry and guilt. She sent Serena to bed with some hot tea, ordering her to rest. "You've been looking so tired lately," she'd commented.

Even though she knew the tea would make it near impossible for her to fight off sleep much longer, she couldn't resist it. Her eyes ached from strain, and she knew she had to close them and let them rest for just a few moments, or she thought they might explode from her skull.

In moments she was sleeping so deeply nothing could have woken her.

Wind blew around her, freezing her to the core. Nothing she had done had prepared her for this cold. She couldn't feel anything from her body, she was so cold. And her outfit wasn't helping.

'What?'

Suddenly she was crying, and the tears were freezing onto her face. She knew she had to stop, she had to face... But they were dead!

'Who?'

Her hands were aching, tingling, she looked at them... They burned with power from the---

'What?'

She knew she had to fight-- No one of the few left would live if she didn't fight--

'Who?'

Suddenly the enemy was hitting her face. She struck out at it wildly, swinging her stinging hands at it. She was rewarded with a pained yowl, like an injured cat's. 'A cat?' She opened her eyes. She was no longer asleep, she noted, and saw the black cat from several weeks ago. She recognized it by the ominous feeling the cat evoked and the strange symbol on its forehead.

"Well," the cat said, "You didn't have to hit so hard!"

"Oh, my god," Serena wailed.

"Your power is already opening. It's lucky I got to you in time, otherwise you might have hurt someone. Well, someone other than me. Here, Serena, take this, it will help you to control your powers until you know how to use them conciously, and with it you will be able to transform into Sailor Moon! Oh, yes. I'm so sorry, my manners have failed me! My name is Luna, and I will be your guard, guide and teacher." Luna looked at Serena strangely. "Is something wrong?"

Serena forced a laugh, a not very convincing one, "Wrong? Oh, no, of course not. How do you know my name, cat?"

"My NAME is Luna. I know your name because I have been observing you to determine if you were Sailor Moon. You ran away too quickly for me to see the first time, and I only have just made sure. You never stay in one spot long enough for me to evaluate you!"

Luna stared at Serena when she did not respond. The girl was sitting on the bed, rocking back and forth, head buried in her arms. Luna thought she was--humming? No, she could hear her saying faintly, "I'm dreaming, this is a dream. It's got to be a dream, I was so careful. Cats don't talk, I don't even know who Sailor Moon is! I'm dreaming. This is a dream!" Serena looked up, a smile on her face, and giggled. "This is a dream, right? I get it, I'm dreaming, and you're in my dream. That makes sense, more than a talking cat does."

"No, Serena, this isn't a dream."

"Yeah, right." Serena smiled brightly.

"I'll prove it to you! Take up the brooch and say, 'Moon Prism Power Make-up'!"

"No," Serena said stubbornly.

"If this is a dream, it doesn't matter, does it?" Luna said slyly.

"Well, okay... Moon Prism Power Make-up!" she muttered relunctantly.

There was a sullen beam of light around the hand that held the brooch. Next, a series of flashing blues and pinks surrounded Serena. Pink ribbons formed an outfit similar to her school uniform, with a shorter skirt. Serena was Sailor Moon.

"Sailor Moon," she murmered, "Sailor Moon. Oh! Just wait until Molly sees what this thing did to my uniform!" she chirped, "She'll freak! This is so weird! Oh, my gosh!"

Luna watched tolerently Serena's tirade of silliness. This was precisely what she'd expected of the girl, vapors. She was shocked to see Serena sigh and sit down onto the bed, her head bent in defeat.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked in a discouraged tone.

Luna as speachless with suprise. The abrupt change of attitude had shocked her immeasurably. Before she could respond, Serena's face went blank and vacant.

*Serena? Someone? Help, please help!* It was Molly's voice, Serena knew, but it seemed to be coming from inside her ears...

"Serena, there's an evil monster on the loose. You've got to kill it before it manages to hurt someone!"

Serena burst into tears. "But I don't wanna go!" she wailed pitifully. "I don't know what to do!"

"Serena, you must fight evil when it confronts you. You cannot give into your fear. It is your destiny to purify the world of an evil force, and to guard the reincarnated princess of the Moon Kingdom. Go and fight. You will know what to do when the time comes. I promise you, you WILL remember!"

Serena kept wailing and sniffling. "Oh, all right!" she snapped, "Just let me finish first! Molly, I'm coming!"

"Molly? What does she have to do with this?"

"Come on, Luna! Let's go save Molly!" Serena wiped her eyes free of tears and ran to Molly, guided by some internal instinct, somehow knowing exactly where she was.

The monster's shape was of a beautiful, beguiling woman. It had long, silky black hair and dark, mysterious eyes. Serena wondered if that was what it always looked like. The monster must have noticed her out of the corner of its eyes, because it turned to her, grinning cruelly.

"So, you've finally come to join us, Sailor--Moon? How... interesting...a name. I tell you, no one of the Negaverse could have missed feel of the shock waves your transformation gave out. It seems Luna has finally suceeded at reviving a scout. Funny that I don't remember a Moon. Who are you?"

"I'm, well, err... I am Sailor Moon, the defender of justice! On behalf of the Moon, I will punish you!"

"Unimpressive. You must have died at the beggining. And so, you must be weak!" It raised its hands, a whirling ball of darkness forming between them.

Dodge! something commanded her. She sprang to the side as the monster released the ball. Words welled up in her from somewhere, like a hazy memory, "Moon Tiara Discus!" she cried and tossed the Tiara, now a razor sharp frizbee imbued with power, at the monster.

It screamed horribly as it slowly disentigrated. Then, when only its ragged face and arms were left it smiled. "Harghhh!" it grunted, throwing a whirling ball at Molly just before it completely disappeared.

Molly collapsed weakly, thousands of cuts covered her, bleeding sluggishly, but profusely. She was badly burned, and all of her skin was black.

"No! Molly!" Serena cried, and tossing her mask off of her face, ran over to where her friend lay. She folded her dying friend protectively in her arms, and sobbed over her pain-racked, but not unconcious, body.

Her tears fell on Molly's wounds in great profusion, sparkling with some internal power. Amazingly, as the tears contacted Molly's skin, the rends closed over without scarring and the burns vanished.

Molly opened her eyes and smiled at Sailor Moon. "I--" she cut off and her face went still. She saw a winged horse flying over the moon, and a palace of crystal. Outside the palace and astride the pegusus was the same woman. A beautiful, light-haired woman in a flowing white gown trimmed in silver and gold. Her hair was in what many called odango-atama or meat-balls. It was the same style that her friend Serena wore, and that this amazing heroine was wearing. Molly wasn't stupid. Tears gathered in her eyes. She jumped up, and kissed Sailor Moon on the cheek. "Thank you," she whispered and fled before the girl could see her crying. She understood clearly now how different Serena's destiny was from her own. Those blue eyes held secrets now, or would soon.

Serena climbed into her bedroom window, and wearily collapsed onto her bed. In moments, she was sleeping soundly.

Luna watched as Sailor Moon's outfit faded into the clothes Serena had been wearing when she had transformed. The more time the girl spent in her Sailor Moon form, the more her power would grow, and the more her memory of her previous incarnation would return. She'd suprised Luna a lot this day, saying things Luna wouldn't have expected from her and being brave...even if she did cry. What other suprises did the girl hold in store?

Serena saw a man with thick, wavy red brown hair, as long and silky as a woman's but with broad shoulders and an obvious strength. Then she saw Molly run up to him, and he embraced her, but his eyes held a faint tinge of red that wouldn't be banished. Then she saw the same man, looking younger and with no evil aura about him, kissing a woman with her long brown hair bound into a ponytail. Who was he? Serena woke slowly, confused and trying to escape from the dream. Before she could open her eyes she saw a flash of blue and heard many male voices echo, "Get out of the way, Mercury!" The voices faded away resoundingly as she open her eyes and blinked.

She gripped the brooch tightly in her hands and cried silently. Were her dreams going to come true? She wiped at her eyes and sat up, waking Luna. She pasted a smile on her face and said brightly, "Hi, Luna! Did I wake you?"

She got out of bed and changed into her uniform. She would get to school on time today, at least.

Her smile faded and she turned again to Luna. "It's going to happen now, isn't it?" She turned slowly, walking briskly from her room.

Luna's kitty brow furrowed, "What?" Oh, well, she thought. It's probably nothing. She forgot about it as she settled in for a cat-nap.

End Part III

Afterword: Hmmm. What did I use in here that needs explanation? For those few who might not know, odango-atama is what the word for meatball head is in Japanese. But it really translates to dumpling head. The pegusus is from some series much later than what's been aired in America. I do not believe that it ever lets anyone ride it, all I know is that it was in the show at some point. The riding part was symbolic. Ummmm... In the manga translation I read the "Moon Tiara Magic" was called "Moon Frizbee." I took an artists license and changed it, since I hate the way "Moon Tiara Magic" sounds. Please e-mail me with any ?'s or comments. Remeber that I like to get any e-mail at all, and will always try to answer.