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: Hello again all six of you that've read this story and e-mailed me. If you haven't mailed me I'm not saying hello to you because you're mean. I think the last installment went too fast and was kinda weird, how about you? Yeah! Visit my homepage at ** http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Field/9869/ ** my Sailor Moon page is almost (nearly, sort of, kinda, a little bit...) finished. More pictures and a section explaining the series... That about it. Unfortunately my Evangelion and Blue Seed sections... Aren't worth speaking of---and I'm almost out of memory!! New page, new page, new page!! Anyway, you probably want to read the story now, don't you? Oh, yeah! I'm sorry to LadyIvy9 (or something close to that) I can't get through to your e-mail account, it just keeps returning my mail! I did try three times!

Dedication: To LADYIVY9 (is that how it went?!?), because the poor dear was so worried about Darien and Serena in my other story... Read the sequel, "The Day Shall Fade."

~Something About That Girl~ (Part VII: A Prelude to Nightfall)

Her feet hurt. Yes...they hurt. A lot.

That was about all Serena was thinking about or paying attention to as she walked to school on a Monday morning.

"I hate Mondays," she muttered illnaturedly, almost snarling.

Her feet hurt, her back hurt, her eyes were sore... Suddenly she crashed right into a large rock. Shaking her head, she wondered 'What's a rock doing in the middle of the sidewalk?'

Slowly her eyes traveled up the long length of high school student glaring at her.

"Sorry?" she tried.

His friends came up to stand behind him. "Sorry isn't good enough, girlie," one of them leered.

"Nope. Sure isn't..."

Serena began backing away. 'As if this weren't a bad enough day already,' she thought nervously.

As she retreated, they advanced until she was against a wall.

"How about your lunch money or something, kid!" one yelled.

A light feminine voice floated confidently from behind them, "No... I don't really think she should give you her money. I think you dear boys should apoligize to the girl here... And go away."

Serena raised herself up on her toes and hopped a bit. Damn, but she hated being short. She wanted to see who was saving her from these delinquents!

A very tall, leggy brunette stepped forward. "I said that you should apoligize and leave?" she repeated mildly.

Serena groaned a little. Why did everyone she meet have to be so much better looking than she was? Ami was adorable, Rei was gorgeous and this girl was casually lovely without thought. Then she snapped out of it, 'Why am I even thinking about this right now?!' she demanded herself.

"Why do you care, anyway?" one of the boys asked the stranger, "Are you guys gay or something?"

"Yeah, they probably are! But I think the little girl was challenging us, wouldn't you say?"

"Yah... That was definitely a threat," the others agreed.

"You know such an advanced word as 'threat?'" the girl asked them. Then she settled into a relaxed defense position. "Who's first?"

They all rushed her at once, but with a few quick movements the girl deposited them all right on their rears.

"C'mon!" the girl hailed Serena.

"Wait!" Serena saw the girl turn and grabbed her things quickly, "Wait! What's your name?!"

"Lita," the brunette said over her shoulder.

"Lita..."

Gratefully sinking down on a bench at school, Serena listened idely to the conversations going on around her.

"And so then...!"
"Then what?"
"Then... You'll never guess!"
"Just tell me!"

"Yeah, so who won the game?"
"Falcons, I think... You know I don't pay much attention to that!"
"Yeah, right. But your dad does! What was the score?"
"Jeez! Leave me alone! How should I know?!"

"Did not!"
"Yeah!"
"No way!"
"Uh-huh!"
"You're kidding!"
"Nope!"

"Can you believe how many new girls are transferring into our school?"

Serena perked up.

"Yeah... First that genius girl... Ami?"

"Then that really hot chick from the temple, Rei Hino."

"Now there are two more. One's from London, the other got kicked out of Limily for fighting."

'Fighting? I wonder if that could be Lita? Nah, too much of a coincidence,' she thought.

The boys Serena had been listening to paused. "Who's that!?!" one asked.

"That's the one from London," another replied smugly.

"Wow! She's gorgeous!"

"Hell, yes, she is."

"Uh-huh!" they all agreed.

Serena looked up to see a beautiful blonde girl stride past. 'Not fair!' she complained inwardly.

As the bell rang for lunch Serena was dragged out into the courtyard by an overwhelmingly curious Molly and several other friends.

"Do you know anything about those new girls? We've been getting so many new students lately!" Molly asked urgently.

Serena was confused. "Why would I?"

One of the other girls flung her hand toward the school, "You seem to know about things there quicker than the rest of us!"

"Yeah, Serena... DO you know anything?" asked Ami.

Rei came up behind her, scowling, "Shoulda known I'd find you gossiping." Leaning close to her ear, she added, "I'm feeling a strange energy here."

"Like what?" Serena whispered back, "Like those other monsters?"

Rei shook her head slightly, "Get away from these ravanous beasts here and we'll all talk about it..." She and Ami waved and left, saying that they had some studying to do.

"Jeez, Serena, you were right about that girl Ami. She studies all the time! I don't know how you found the time to be friends with her... Or rather, how you caught her in a moment when her head wasn't in a book!" a girl said.

"She's not THAT bad," Serena asserted.

"Yeah, but you could make friends with a dead toad, Serena. Don't be so modest!" Molly laughed.

"Maybe." Serena smiled brightly and giggled. "But, speaking of spending all your time reading, I've got to go get a book from Ms. Haruna. She absolutely insists that I read it for extra credit."

"Oh, you're no fun, Serena!"

"You're abandoning us for a book!?"

"Hey, guys, lets leave her to her books? Have you heard about that remake of 'Godzilla?' I heard that it was even worse than our old films here!"

"Well, everyone knows that Americans can never capture the true spirit of a Japanese monster movie!"

"Not that there's much spirit to capture..." the words faded off as the girls walked away.

Serena breathed a sigh half of relief and half of disapointment. It was really too bad that she couldn't have stayed and talked to Molly and her old friends... She really missed them. "Hey! But, the scouts await!" she said brightly.

"Did you say something?" a slightly familiar voice asked.

'Not again!' Serena thought, 'I've really gotta stop thinking out loud!' She turned to see Lita leaning on a tree holding a bulging lunch bag. "Not really... I was just--uh--thinking out loud," she said.

"What was your name again?" the girl asked her.

"Serena."

"Yeah, Serena. Well, see ya later, Serena." Lita walked off to a bench some distance off.

Then Umino popped up from behind the tree, adjusting his glasses. "You were actually TALKING to her!?"

"Yeah, so?"

"Well, Serena, I don't know if you've heard, but that girl got kicked out of her old school for fighting. She goes around LOOKING for fights, Serena. I'd stay out of her way if I were you. No one's going near her!"

"Well, it's lucky for me that you're not me, then, isn't it? If you were, I might have to be you--and then where would I be looking like you?" Serena retorted.

She bounced over to where Lita sat alone. "So, Lita, what are you eating for lunch?"

Lita looked up at her and sighed. "I'd made a whole huge lunch for myself, but now I'm not very hungry. Everyone's been so mean to me today, no one'll talk to me."

"I'm sorry," Serena said. "Oooh, is that a piece of cherry pie?"

"Yeah. Do you want some?" Lita asked, holding out the little plate.

"Well, if you're sure..."

"I told you I wasn't hungry didn't I?" Lita replied.

"Okay!" Serena took a bite of everything in the tray. "Wow! This is really good! Where did you get it?"

"I made it," Lita preened a little. "I'm glad you like it."

"I do! But, I've got to go meet Ami and Rei... Would you like to come over to my house after school?"

Lita blushed a little. "I... Well, why?"

"So you can make me dinner, of course! No, I just want to talk to you and I feel kinda bad for eating that and then running off. Do you want to come or not?"

"Well, sure!"

"What took you so long?" Rei asked.

"I stopped to talk to that new girl, Lita. She's very nice. And she's a really good cook... I invited her over--"

"That's nice, Serena. Can we have a SERIOUS discussion now?"

Serena stuck her tongue out at Rei.

"So, Rei, what is it about the energy you're feeling that's so important? You're being so secrative. Just come on and tell us," Ami said.

Rei looked around suspicously. "This is just really weird, guys. I'm not sure how to explain it. It's kinda like before a storm, when the air is all heavy. It's not evil, it's not good, it... It's potential."

Serena's eyebrows drew together, "Potential? Potential for what?"

"I'm not sure..."

Rei jumped as the bell rang.

"Time for class, Serena!" Ami said cheerfully.

As Rei and Ami left, Serena's hands clenched nervously. "The calm before the storm," she murmered.

Somehow she'd managed to become late getting to class after lunch. She wasn't sure how... She'd only waited for a minute after Rei and Ami had gone. How long did they have to get to class after a bell? Ooooh, she hoped Ms. Haruna wouldn't give her another---

CRASH!!!

"Ooof!" Serena grunted.

"Ow!" an equally pained voice exclaimed.

The two blondes looked at each other and began to laugh.

"I'm so sorry!" said Serena.

"It's okay. I wasn't watching out where I was going. It's really my fault," the blonde girl replied.

Serena gazed at the girl. "I really love your hair. It's so long. My hair looks really horrible when I take it down."

The girl looked surprised. "Thanks!" She held out her hand. "My name's Mina."

"I'm Serena. Are you the new girl from England?"

"How'd you know?"

"Oh, I heard somebody say something about a new blonde from London... How has your day been?"

"Well... It's been all right, I guess. No one's talked to me, really. I guess I did something, but I'm not sure what."

"No, of course you didn't. It just takes kids here a while to get used to new people. Lita--Hey! I'm having another girl over today that's also new here. Do you want to come too?"

"I--I guess so," Mina said cautiously.

"Great! I just know you'll like Lita. We'll go out for ice cream!"

Mina offered her a hand up, smiling. "Sure we will!" As she took Serena's hand, she froze.

Ice.

Darkness.

Cold.

LIGHT!!!

Too much light, it was blinding her.

*Something is wrong.*

'Why can't I transform?'

*What's going on?*

'Something bad is about to happen...'

*It's so dark here, Mina.*

'Who's talking to me?'

'Why can't I see?'

*The rose...*

'Why isn't there any sound?'

*The crystal...*

'I can't see!!'

*You're the princess, you're the princess, you're the princess, you're the princess, you're the princess, you're the princess, you're the princess, you're the princess, you're the princess, you're the princess, you're the princess, you're the princess, you're the princess you're the princess, you're the princess...*

'I'm NOT!!'

Mina shook herself as she pulled on Serena's arm. 'What the HELL was that?!' she thought.

*There's something wrong...* something whispered.

"I've got to get to class, Serena. Okay?" Mina walked off dazedly.

"That's strange," said Serena. "What happened to her? Must've been my imagination--but I thought she was acting weird."

Serena then realized that she was REALLY late getting back to class-- and ran.

The three girls sat in Serena's living room, looking through a magazine and giggling, with a Sailor V cartoon playing in the background.

Mina pointed to a tall musclebound weight lifter in an advertisement. "He's cute!" she cried.

Lita made a face, sticking out her tongue. "Ewww. No, I HATE big guys, I think skinnier guys are cute!

Mina noticed that Serena had gotten quiet. "What about you?"

Wordlessly, Serena pointed to a tall, slender man posing for a T-shirt ad. He had slightly longish black hair and blue eyes.

"Him?" Lita asked. "Well, I guess so... Yeah, he's pretty hot."

Serena's head flew up, eyes wide, and she gasped. "No! No--no! I know him, that's all... I was really surprised to see him in a magazine is all..."

"Well," Mina said, looking at the cover to check the date. "This one's pretty old. He probably quit. Modeling's hard work, you know? I'd give anything to be one, though! Ah, to be a superstar--I'd love it!"

"Where did you meet him?" Lita asked.

"Oh. I was sitting on a bench outside that University on Tharpe, and he went there. We talked for a second is all. He had a horrible personality. He was soooo rude!"

The girls promptly forgot Darien and went back to flipping through the magazine.

Mina looked up suddenly, a mischivious look on her face. "Hey, Serena, didn't you say we could get ice cream?"

"Yeah!" Lita chimed in.

"Well, yeah. Do you want to go now?"

"Maybe... If you pay!" Mina said.

"Hey, wait! I never said I'd treat you!"

"She was just kidding, Serena! Let's go now!" Lita said.

"Okay!"

The girls walked the four blocks to the nearby ice cream parlor. Lita ordered vanilla, Mina ordered strawberry, while Serena dawdled.

"C'mon, Serena, hurry!" Lita urged.

"Well, I really like chocolate. But, I think I'll get mint."

Mina looked at her, "You're weird."

Serena stuck her tongue out at her.

The managment was shooting them dirty looks by the time they left. Three girls took a while to eat ice cream cones through all their laughter.

Lita open the door and looked back to say something to Serena. Mina had gone out ahead.

Suddenly glass shards were flying around the two. Lita jumped over Serena, knocking her to the ground. One sliver hit the cashier in his arm, and he promptly passed out from shock.

The two girls looked up nervously.

In the center of the shop, convulsing and slobbering was a huge green thing. Its eyes glowed yellow as it looked at the two. "Death energy," it rasped.

"Death energy?" Serena quivered.

"What in the hell!?" Lita yelled.

Running over to it, the tall brunette attempted to flip it. The thing held out its hand, and the air rippled, sending Lita flying back.

Serena looked at the moaning girl. "Moon Prism Power!" 'Oh, I hope Rei and Ami get here soon! Please, Luna, someone... I don't think I can do this alone! I'm not good enough!' she thought frantically.

Like a miracle, the cat and Sailors Mercury and Mars burst through the broken window.

"I am Sailor Mars! On behalf of fire and the planet Mars, I'll vanquish you!"

"I am Sailor Mercury! For Mercury and water, I'll defeat you!"

The sight of these two gave Serena a leap of confidence. Hearing chimes in her head, she struck a pose. " _I_ am Sailor Moon, defender of love and justice. On behalf of the Moon, I'll punish you!"

The thing snarled, sending drool flying onto nearby tabletops.

"Ewww," Serena shrieked.

Rei looked at her impatiently. "Did you expect table manners?" she inquired sweetly.

"Hush, Rei," Ami mediated.

Lita stirred and got up. "Who are you?" she asked upon seeing the three scouts. She looked at Sailor Moon with disbelief. "SERENA!?"

Luna looked at the sitting girl through narrowed eyes. 'No one should be able to recognize the scouts. Those uniforms are supposed to blur them, make the person see what they expect to see. Why would she expect Serena?' the cat thought.

As the three girls stared at Lita in shock, the monster lept behind them silently. It made a gesture to grab Sailor Moon, and Lita jumped up, eyes blazing.

"No way!" she cried, leaping at the sludge. Her foot connected, and her forehead blazed green light.

"Ah-hah!" Luna exclaimed. "Lita! Take this!" She tossed the girl a green pen with a symbol matching the one that now adorned her head. "Say, 'Jupiter Power!'"

"I know," Lita whispered. Flashing through her head were clouds, trees, flowers... There was a beautiful woman in a white dress, and--something silver was shining. She saw two girls with crescents on their foreheads, and a whirling darkness.... Alone? Lita shook her head in determination. "Jupiter Power!" she shouted. Energy like lightning bolts streamed from the wand. Lita rose into the air, spinning. The energy formed a sign around her, and a green uniform with pink bows formed on her ephemeral body.

"Ha!" she trumpeted. "I am Sailor Jupiter of the planet Jupiter. In the name of nature, I'll char you to dust!"

"Artemis!" Mina cried. "Artemis?! Is it time? They're in there, all of them! I have to help them!" Not waiting for the cat to answer, she cried, "Venus Power!"

Out of her orange pen streamed yellow streaks of light. They formed a womb of stars about the nearly formless girl, then blazed as she spiriled out as Sailor Venus.

In this form, she wasn't "Sailor Venus" but Sailor V, wearing a slightly different outfit and a mask. A golden crescent moon adorned her white choker.

She flew through the shattered window crying, "Sailor V!"

The other girls looked up.

"With the power of light and the protection of the planet of love, I am Sailor V!" Mina cried.

Serena eyed her hero appraisingly. "Mina," she said confidently.

Sailor V smiled at her.

Lita looked at her and smiled too. "Lets do it, Sailor V," she said.

The two girls faced the monster.

"Jupiter Flower Hurricane!"

Rose petals swirled about the monster, tearing gashes into its hide and sucking its energy.

"Venus Crescent Boomerang!" Mina called.

The beam of light struck the blinded, struggling creature and destroyed it.

Abruptly Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Sailor Moon began to glow softly with colored light.

Artemis wandered in as Sailor V recipricated the glow.

"Hmmm," he said. "It's a bit too early."

"Who is she?" Luna asked.

"The Moon Princess. Watch."

The two-peice blue and red Sailor V outfit became the bodysuit of the other scouts, turning orange, blue and yellow. In the place of a tiara formed a golden crescent moon.

"Mina, Lita!" Serena cried. "I'm so glad you're scouts too!"

Lita grinned and Mina smiled, "We're glad too," they said together.

"Humph," Rei grunted. Then she too grinned, "You did a good job on that monster!"

Ami smiled also, and sighed. "This is probably just going to make Serena and Rei fight more... But I'm glad too," she told the new scouts.

End Part VII

Afterword: Dum-di-dah-dah... I hope LadyIvy read this, 'cause if she didn't, then she's gonna be mad at me and never read my stories again. For those of you who might not know, in the manga (which I consider the original Sailor Moon, as it was drawn and written solely by the creator) Mina is actually thought to be the Moon Princess. You'll find out later what went wrong... But I'm not gonna tell you so you can suffer, wondering "Why? Why?" Anyways. Tell me what you think, alyanawhitemage@hotmail.com Visit my homepage at http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Field/9869/

Part 8 "A Chance Encounter" to come soon!"