Sailor Heart & Eclipse
sailorheart@hotmail.com
Soulsower
Chapter 3
I pulled the car up to Lita's building as she had asked me to pick her up on the way to the
meeting. Even though we had to go to school today, I was feeling good. Yes, I'd have to put up
with what Hamlet said to Laretes, and what the square root of 18329 was. Truthfully, the only
figure I'd have in my head was that of Lita. She was gorgeous; no doubt about it. Then again, so
were the other girls. But Lita had something that set herself apart from them. I couldn't think of
what it was, but to me, she was special.
She got into the car, gave me a hug, and we took off. I couldn't think of anything to say,
except for what I wanted to tell her. So I decided to see if I could get any information about the
new girl I met last night: Haley.
"So what's the deal with this Haley chick, anyway?" I inquired eager to find out about this
mystery girl who had caused all this tension between the Scouts.
"I don't trust her, that's all." replied Lita softly and then talked on a little louder. "I don't like
how she acts; nothing ever seems to concern her. I mean, she plays too cool for my comfort,
y'know what I'm saying?"
I had to agree with that. From all that I saw last night, that description of her was fair.
"She hardly ever shows any real deep emotion, either," Lita continued. "Her greetings
were less than enthusiastic last night. I mean, for someone who hasn't seen her half-sister in a
long time..." she paused
"You'd think she'd be half-way to ecstatic by now." finished Lita and sighed disconcertedly.
"So what do you think about her?"
"Well, she's definitely got my attention, that's for sure. I'll be up front with you. I have no
problem with how she lives her life; whether she wants to sleep with men or women is really
none of our business, but I don't like the fact that she's messing around with Raye and Darien."
"Right," Lita agreed. " It's not like I have a problem with that either. I just don't think it's
wise to be trying anything with either Darien or Raye. Raye is an innocent and Darien is
committed to Serena. Haley knew that. It just makes me mad."
"There are also a few major things that just don't add up. For starters, if we all got our
memories from the Moon Kingdom back, it would be only logical that Darien would have
mentioned Haley at some point to either Serena or I, right?"
Lita nodded in agreement.
"The other thing I don't like about her," stated Lita, quite point blank, "is the way she's
treating the whole situation. Too cool again. There is just something that feels wrong about her.
I can't put my finger on it."
Something else we agreed on. She didn't feel like she had any part in the Moon Kingdom or
anything else from that era. She certainly wasn't a Scout, right?
"Maybe it's a brainwashing." Lita thought out loud. "At least on Darien's part. After all,
Serena is not the hardest person in the world to snow. Haley could be using some kind of way to
brainwash Darien, much like the way Queen Beryl did. And maybe she figured out a way to trick
the others too. Amy, of all people, normally would have seen right through her, but she's going
on all friendly to her."
At this point we had turned into the Temple parking lot and proceeded up the long,
unending flight of Temple Steps. I motioned Lita to keep quiet about what we'd discussed and
she agreed. It was decided that both of us would talk to the others and see what information we
could dig up on Haley. We knew that there were certain factors that were causing much distress,
suspicion and dissension in the Sailor Ranks.
We reached the top steps and saw everybody there waiting for us. I checked my watch and we
were early. Lita and I were both surprised to see Serena here and early even. Lita mentioned
something about Serena and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse and I couldn't help but laugh.
"My, we're in a good today, are we?" giggled Mina the matchmaker. I smiled at her
directly for friendship and to the others for politeness. Mina was my true friend who had helped
me through some bad times and vica versa.
"Awww c'mon, Mina." said Lita almost blushing. Luna and Artemis had appeared and the
meeting got down to business.
"Haley has mentioned a dream she had last night and I think it could be important."
Luna began. "Proceed Haley."
"My dream was very disjointed. A monster was attacking an innocent who remained faceless.
It was in the late afternoon - I could tell by the sun's shadows. Then the monster fleeing for some
unknown reason."
I looked at Lita and caught a look of disbelief; it went unnoticed by everyone else.
"Well, Raye, did you do a fire reading this morning?" asked Serena, sort of taking charge of
the situation, which surprised all of us.
"Actually, yes I did." replied Raye. "The sacred fires were only able to show me the
feeling of pain. Not physical pain, but emotional pain. I'm sure there must be a connection with
the physical, though. Call it intuition."
"The question is," contended Artemis. "How do proceed from here?"
Everybody looked at Amy who was reading a textbook on ancient Greek history while
listening to our conversation. Still, she managed to speak up as soon as Artemis finished talking,
as if to anticipate everybody's gaze on her.
"The best advice I can give is to hope and pray that we can be there in time to stop this
monster."
We all sighed. We knew that it was the best answer. When it came from Amy, chances were
good that she wasn't wrong.
Luna looked at Serena's watch and noticed that we'd have to leave in order to get to school on
time. Lita and I were joined in my car by Mina, Amy, Raye, and Serena. Darien would have to
work in a few hours, but that gave him more than enough time to hang around with Haley. The
whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth and I could sense Lita's displeasure with that scenario
too.
* * *
In the school yard, the gang was hanging around, chatting and eating lunch together. Serena
noticed Samantha, and decided to invite her over. As Serena walked over to her, she could have
sworn she'd heard Samantha talking to herself. She paid it no mind, and asked if Samantha
would care to join her and her friends. To her surprise, she accepted the invitation. The school
had set up picnic tables for the students, and because Serena's crowd was so large, they took up
an entire table when Samantha joined them.
"So Sam, do you like the school and the city?" started Mina always so friendly.
"It's... different than where I came from. It's... charming... in a way." replied Samantha, not as
coldly as before. Yet there was an odd look on her pale face.
"Oh, and where was that?" asked Amy.
"I really don't want to talk about it; it was a hard life there and I don't want to relive the
memories." Samantha said very firmly as if suddenly slapped, but repressed the full brunt of it. I
saw she was trying her best not to offend anyone.
"Well then, we won't push it." started Lita. "But I suppose introductions are in order.
You already know Serena; my name is Lita, that's Amy, Mina, Raye and... Adrian."
Samantha looked back and forth at Lita and I. She spoke cautiously but assuredly. "You said
Adrian's name with a special look in your eyes. There is something between you two?"
The soda came flying out of my mouth as she said this, reminding me of the "The King
Lives" sketch with Mel Brooks. As Mina helped me recover, Lita, her face looking much like
Rudolph's nose, started to explain that we were just close friends. As I heard this, I sighed
disappointedly, hoping that there was more to it than that. I hadn't met Lita that long ago, but I
knew that neither she nor I had dated anybody else and when we did go out, it was more of a
gang thing. Lita and I seldomly go out alone; just the two of us. Ah, well. The relationship is
still pretty young. Maybe someday...
The five-minute warning bell had gone and the students were starting to go in to their
classes. We always waited for the second bell. The first was only a warning that lunch would be
over soon. Samantha noticed this, excused herself from the table and started to go in.
* * *
I wonder if I can really be their friend? They are unlike anyone I've ever met before.
You should indeed make friends with them.
Do you really think that would be okay?
They are filled with strong energy. They will be of value to the both of us.
* * *
"Well," sighed Serena, "so much for the first encounter." And the group made their way into
the school for class.
* * *
After school, we all piled into my car and headed for home. Serena had asked
me to pick up Darien after I let everybody else, save her, off. I agreed, knowing full well
where we'd find him. Lita and I exchanged dirty looks unnoticed by everybody else.
Reluctantly, Lita was the first to be let out. Next, Mina was the one to go and then, Raye was the
last. Amy decided to stay along for the ride, possibly to ask Darien about Haley. I'd have to
question her later.
We picked up Darien, and sure enough he was with Haley. Big surprise, I thought.
Serena invited them into the back seat and Amy moved to the front seat. Darien sat in
between the two girls and, as I backed out of the parking lot, I thought how that seating position
was very poetic. I thought no more of it when we dropped Serena, Haley and Darien off at his
apartment. That brought a nasty little thought into my head, but I dismissed it seeing that Serena
didn't seem like that type of girl.
Amy and I said our good-byes to the trio, and I sped off to her place. We had the windows
open and we heard an ear-piercing scream. I had to wonder who it was, but Amy recognized that
scream in an instant.
"Sounds like Molly's being attacked by the Negaverse again." she stated. Past experience had
dulled any surprise about Molly for her. "I'd better call the others."
I stopped the car so we could get out and transform.
"Mercury... Power!"
"Heart.... Crystal.... Power!"
Sailor Mercury punched at her communicator. "Serena, Mina, Lita, Raye. Need Sailor help
right now. Location: Near the abandoned cathedral Near Darien's place."
She ended the message and clicked on her VR Visor, all set to investigate. When we got to
the scene, we saw Molly face down on the ground and out cold. The poor girl was just returning
home from the hospital! Mercury started to scan the monster and I started to fight. The creature
was in the shape of a giant cat with huge claws and spikes on his tail. Its dark eyes drilled into us
both as if it could see right into our souls. Sailor Mercury had said that it reminded her of the
time they fought a giant cat who was a "Rainbow Crystal carrier." I decided to ask her about the
reference later as I was barely dodging both claw and spike. It seemed to be more concerned
with me than with Mercury. Probably because she was standing still save for her flying fingers.
"Okay, cat! No more mister nice-mouse." I shouted, feeling very much like a small grey
rodent.
"Heart! Acid! Burn!" I released a barrage of energy and it staggered back. To my surprise, it
made an inhaling motion, and shot my energy back at me! It wasn't as strong as when I threw it
at him, but it was pretty effective.
Now it turned it's attention to Mercury. It pounced upon her unsuspecting form and growled
at her. It raised it's fully-armed paw, set to strike, when a red rose flew down to pierce its
extended manus and prevented it from doing so.
Mercury, the creature and I looked up to see Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask and somebody I'd
never seen before standing on a low building. This woman was unlike anyone I had ever seen.
She seemed to out of place standing on a high-tech complex.... she looked to be from another
time. Her outfit was not like any of the Scouts'. This mysterious woman was captivating though:
her deep red hair, her brilliant blue eyes, and a peculiar symbol on her forehead. What was even
more odd was the erotic aura that surrounded her. She was so unlike the purity of Sailor Moon
who stood next to her.
"Here kitty, kitty, kitty!" taunted the stranger, and with amazing agility, she became the
mouse. Though she was acting as the prey, her movements were very feline. The cat turned it's
attention to it's new target and lunged for her.
This gave Tuxedo Mask the opportunity to swoop down and collect Sailor Mercury to
bring her out of harm's way. But the cat was quicker than we thought. He was able to swipe
Mercury's leg with the back of his paw, and whipped Tuxedo Mask into submission with his tail.
When the paw hit Mercury, we all heard the sickening snap of all the bones in her leg. Mercury
screamed out in pain as Tuxedo Mask dropped her and she hit the concrete knocking her out.
Tuxedo Mask, having been thrown off balance by the tail, was also on the ground, groaning but
still conscious. He held his right arm and shoulder which had connected with the pavement first.
We were all surprised to see that he was still alive.
Sailor Moon, filled with mixed emotions, managed to repress a flood of tears and use her
tiara, but the creature disappeared before it could make contact. Sailor Moon jumped down to
where Mercury lay. She reached over and felt for a pulse, almost fainting from relief when she
found one. At this point, Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars arrived.
"What happened?" asked Mars rushing over to her fallen comrades.
"It got Sailor Mercury and Tuxedo Mask." Sailor Moon sobbed softly.
"Are they..." Sailor Venus could not bring herself to say that word for her throat clenched up
when she saw Mercury unconscious on the pavement.
"No," I replied, just recovering from the attack on me. "Darien is still conscious but Amy's
out of it. She's got a few broken leg bones."
The stranger went over to Darien first - rather obviously, I thought - and helped him up
onto his feet. At this point, I realized that the stranger was Haley! Haley was one of us?! She
didn't appear to be a Scout but she was transformed into something. What was that weird symbol
on her forehead? It included a crescent moon within it.... what did it all mean? And why hadn't
anyone told me that she fought with the Scouts? I was sure there was a story behind it all, but I
was lost in confusion for the moment.
Haley didn't seem to care about the rest of us, especially Sailor Mercury. I was about to say
something to her, but Sailor Jupiter stopped me, by shaking her head. We all de-transformed,
and somehow Amy did too. Probably through a type of unconscious will. Her body may be
injured, but she still has a strong mind.
Lita and Mina, having called an ambulance, spread Amy out on the hood of my car with her
head and back resting against my windshield. While the others were looking after her, Haley
pulled my arm and yanked me out of earshot.
"What were you doing just standing there?! Why didn't you try to do something?" she hissed.
"I did. I was hit, remember?" I was slightly annoyed but successfully masking it.
"You could have done something to prevent hi.... them from getting hurt." she spat grinding
her teeth.
It was one thing to tell me I did something wrong; I would have accepted it. But this person
was telling me what I should have done when I was in no condition to do so? Wrong chord to
strike. The mask came off.
"Listen... I try my damnedest for this team, if you don't like it, or think I'm doing it wrong,
take a walk!" I snapped standing directly over her.
That took her aback a bit; enough to be noticed. I wanted to follow up with the fact that she
had said "him" first instead of "them" but I decided that it wasn't the time nor place. Besides
that, the ambulances were arriving.
Several EMTs rushed out and placed Amy on a stretcher. She was still out but alive. Darien,
able to walk but limping badly, was escorted into the second ambulance. Raye and Mina rode
with Amy while Serena and Haley rode with Darien.
"Now, she's gonna be concerned about Serena, I'll bet." I muttered to no one in particular.
I guess I'd said that too loud because Lita, who was planning on going with Raye and Mina,
stopped and said she'd go with me. I prayed that she was the only one who heard me. She
walked back toward me and motioned me to go. We got to my car and followed the ambulances
into the hospital. We weren't allowed into the emergency lot so we had to settle for a regular
parking spot.
We hurried to where the other girls were waiting. Raye and Mina were playing cards. Serena
and Haley standing by the window, Serena's head resting on her sister's shoulder. A quick glance
Mina's face told me that Amy was going to be all right but her injured leg would keep her out of
physical Scout action for a while. As Lita went over to join the card game, I went to the window
and placed my hand on Serena's shoulder. I was far enough away to see her reflection in the
glass as she stared at the setting sun. She had vengeance on her mind and a loathing in her heart
for whatever that cat-creature was.
"They'll be okay. We'll do everything in our power to avenge them." Haley was consoling her
but the way she said those words sounded icy and dead, as if she really didn't care at all what
happened to any of us. I knew now that she probably wasn't fond of me, and to be honest, I was
really starting to not like her. My eyes met with Haley's and she gave me the weirdest look I'd
ever been given in my entire life. It was as if she was saying 'this is all your fault', but there was
something else there I couldn't quite read.
I turned and looked at Lita, who instinctively looked at me. She saw the distrust welling up in
my eyes. I turned to look out the window again.
"I will do this for you.... for you... my friends." Serena sniffed quietly and closed her eyes
burying her head on Haley's shoulder as the tears fell.
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