Chapter 80

In a field outside of Tokyo.

"Gentlemen It's time to see who the best Guardian Scout is..because we need to know how we stand," Rick said.

"Are you sure about this?" Greg asked.

"Yeah, I mean..why is this so important?" Mike asked.

"Because...how are we supposed to be an effective team if we don't know who the best individual on that team is?" Rick asked.

"First rule of teamwork, know who's gotta carry the team," Steve said.

Mike and Greg glanced at each other.

"Remember this day Greg. It is one of the rare times we will ever be thinking the same way," Mike said.

"Yeah I know. You don't normally think rationally," Greg said.

"If it weren't true, I'd be offended," Mike replied.

"Quit your yapping you two...it is time," Rick said.

"How exactly are we going to do this anyway?" Mike asked.

"You'll see," Rick said and pulled out his power stick. "Shall we begin?"

"Let's do it," Steve said.

"We'll regret this," Mike and Greg muttered as they pulled out there own.

"Uranus Power!"

"Pluto Power!"

"Neptune Power!"

"Saturn Power!"

And the four went through their transformation.

"Now what?" Neptune asked.

"We will decide who the best scout is in a variety of ways. The first is to test accuracy with the swords," Uranus said.

"We're not going to be aiming at each other right?" Saturn asked.

"Of course not," Pluto said. "We've got a bulls eye."

"So do I," Neptune said and pulled something out of his pocket.

"Hey! Put that away!" The other three shouted as they realized Neptune was holding an eyeball in front of them.

"Geez...it's fake you know," Neptune said and put it back in his pocket.

"Why do you carry a fake eyeball around in your pocket?" Pluto asked.

"It's a spare," Neptune said.

"Ahem....never mind that...now about the bulls eye..." Uranus said.

"Got it right here," Pluto said and pulled a miniature target out of the backpack he had brought along with him.

"Place it at sixty yards," Uranus said.

"Where would sixty yards be?" Pluto asked.

"I don't know," Uranus said. "Just put it out there you know..far away."

"Oh..okay," Pluto said and walked into the field placing the bulls eye in position.

"The contest is simple. The closer you get to the bulls eye the better," Uranus said.

"So we're playing by Swedish rules then," Neptune said.

Uranus shot him a glance.

"Who's up first?" Pluto asked.

"I think I'll go," Neptune said and drew his sword. He took a stance, planting one foot in front of the other.

"Hmm...don't like it," he said and then switched feet in position.

"Nope.." he said and then stood with his feet together and stared at the target.

"Hmm...no, this isn't right," he said and abruptly jumped into a one handed hand stand.

"You think this'll work?" he asked.

"Quit the theatrics," Uranus said.

"Party pooper. You're beginning to sound more like Patterson every day," Neptune said.

"You'll pay for that one," Uranus said and his eyes narrowed.

"Okay,. okay," Neptune said and flipped into a standing position. He took his sword and aimed.

"Watch the birdie!" he said and sent his blast flying. It missed by several feet to the right.

"Well...that's a good start there," Pluto said.

"Uh..that's pathetic," Uranus said.

"Well it is a long distance," Neptune said.

"No excuses..let me show you how it's done," Pluto said and drew his sword. He took a stance, bent his knees slightly, and fired. The blast flew over the top of the target by about four feet.

"I know that in the course of human history, events such as that one have happened many, many times, but it still does not detract from the fact that you look very stupid right now," Neptune said.

"Well..uh..you know it is uh.long distance..you know..ahem.." Pluto said.

"All right, all right, enough joking..let's get serious here," Uranus said and readied his sword. He began to breathe slowly and focus.

"My sword and my mind are one," he announced.

"That oughta help," Neptune said with no sign of reverence.

"It is merely a matter of concentration," Uranus said and fired. The blast slammed into the small post holding the bulls eye up causing the small setup to crash to the ground.

"Hmm.....little low," Neptune said.

"And now I've gotta fix the post," Pluto muttered.

"Actually have you guys considered what would happen if one of us actually hit the bulls eye?" Saturn said. The other three immediately realized the logic of his argument.

"I'd guess it'd probably destroy the thing.." Neptune began. "But I'm sure our good buddies here are all set for that eventuality."

"No we're not, but we still kick so much butt, it can't be measured," Pluto said.

"From now I will handle the rebuttals," Uranus said. "Why don't you fix the bulls eye so Saturn can share in the embarrassment that comes from having girlfriends who can fight better then we can."

"Hey we can fight fine when we're human," Pluto said and walked to the bulls eye.

"That doesn't do us much good when there's a ten headed mutant lobster trying to skewer you," Neptune said.

"Yeah, I'd second that motion, because I kinda died once, oh and by the way, I'm still a god on Earth, because of that whole affair," Uranus said.

"Do we really care?" Neptune asked. "Jeez..you go and come back from the grave and you think you're special."

"Bulls eye's all set," Pluto said.

"Okay, here goes," Saturn said and lined up his target. He fired sending out his blue attack. It slammed into the target and blew it apart.

"Hmm...I guess..we won't know how close you were to the bulls eye," Neptune said.

"Does it matter?" Pluto said.

"Hmm...well...you certainly showed us," Uranus said.

"Uh..I've kinda been practicing on the side..well just a little actually," Saturn said.

"Uh huh," the other three said.

Meanwhile.

"So..the creature formed out of a tree?" Amy asked.

"That's right, my charm tree," Raye said.

"Has the tree ever acted strangely before?" Amy asked.

"It's a tree Amy! How can it act strangely?" Raye snapped and then stopped. "Sorry..I'm just a little..upset right now...I've been through a lot."

"It's all right," Amy said. "I'm just trying to conduct a thorough investigation."

"My tree has been just what you'd expect a tree to be," Raye said.

"Hmm..I'm just trying to rule out any forces other than external. But all the signs point to some sort of evil forces involvement, most likely Dr. Tomoe somehow, though I can't be sure," Amy said.

"Well we know that," Lita said.

"Yeah...it's all the other stuff we can't figure out," Mina said.

"Well..trees turning into monsters is a new concept. I wonder if the target has to be alive, or if the same could happen to a book," Amy said thinking things through.

"We'll probably find out," Mina muttered.

"Hmm..well that will have to be a mystery for now," Amy said. "Now these two figures...what do we know about them?"

"Not much," Lita said. "They sounded like women and hey hung in the shadows. They can't be working with Tomoe though."

"Yeah, why would they steal that.whatever is was from the creature if they were?" Mina said.

"And what about that crystal you saw?" Amy said.

"All we know is that it looked shiny and that it came out of Raye," Mina said.

"I hope that's the only time you've heard that sentence in your life," Lita added to Raye.

"Fortunately yes," Raye said.

"Do you have any idea what it was Raye?" Amy asked.

"No," Raye said. "No clue."

"It must have been important though, Raye immediately went unconscious when it was drawn out," Lita said.

"That's right...she needed it to survive I think," Mina said.

"That doesn't make any sense...there's no biological explanation for this. A crystal a human needs to survive..." Amy said becoming immersed in the problem.

"Amy don't think of it biologically, we're dealing with the unknown here," Raye said.

"You're right of course..it just is curious. What could this crystal be...and furthermore, why would anyone else want it?" Amy asked.

"And those two strangers..they took it and then gave it back. Why would they do that?" Mina said.

"We're not finding many answers here," Raye said.

"Yes, it seems that what's going on involves several different interests that we know very little about," Amy said. "I'm afraid we're just going to have to wait and see what happens."

"Kaoolinite..." Dr. Tomoe said.

"She's dead professor, remember?" came a voice from behind him.

"Yes...that is true..I'm disappointed that we were unable to obtain that heart we sought. You didn't get a chance to check it," Tomoe said.

"I wanted to get close sir..but there were all those various goodie tushues around..Sailor Scouts, Guardian Scouts, Tuxedo Masks..they should all get the same name or something.." the voice said.

"You seem sure that the heart was not a talisman though?"

"Yes..or else they would have fallen into the hands of you know who.."

"Yes..you're right..those two. They would have taken the talisman if it were there," Tomoe said.

"And they didn't."

"Well..then..it's time for our next target. I have already dispatched the daimon egg. It is waiting. You should be ready to go."

"Yes professor."

"I don't know Serena. I just wish I could have the kind of luck you had," Molly said as the two sat in the restaurant sipping milkshakes.

"We have this conversation too often Molly. You have to stop being so mournful. You've got Neph...that is Maxfield don't you?"

"But we can't be together, he's much older than I am...in both his perceived age and his real one," Molly said.

"Uh..right..but...you love him."

"Yes..sure I do..but you see..it's even worse because I can't have him. So my life is not only keeping me from finding love, it's also teasing me."

"Don't think about it that way. If all else fails you've got Melvin," Serena said and grinned. Molly glanced at the table top sorrowfully.

"Hmm..wrong time for a joke huh?" Serena asked realizing her mistake.

"Yes, but...Serena...the more I see him..the more I realize how he isn't as bad as everyone thinks. He's a flake, that's certain, but...he's also been there for me, even when I haven't cared a bit about him. I've been moaning about wanting to find the man of my dreams, practically in front of him, and still he doesn't go away. If I ever found my true love, well..then I'd have to let Melvin go..and that would probably make things even worse. It's hopeless," Molly said.

"But do you like Melvin?" Serena asked.

"Yes, but as a good friend, you know how that is right?" Molly asked.

"Well I have good friends, but none I'd ever consider dating," Serena said briefly picturing Raye and herself on a date and shaking.

"You all right?" Molly asked.

"Uh..yeah..I'm just going to have some nightmares tonight, uh.very bad ones..." Serena said and started chugging her milkshake, downing an entire soda glass in about four seconds.

"That can't be healthy," Molly said.

"It's..um..." Serena said and paused as it filtered down her system to her stomach. "Sometimes you just have to do it that way. Like now for instance."

Molly started laughing.

"You can always make me laugh Serena, even when I feel as bad as I did."

"I'm glad people enjoy laughing at my life so much," Serena muttered.

"Sorry..it's just part of your charm," Molly said.

"Say...you don't think that's why Darrien dates me is it? Does he think I'm comic relief...no he can't...he wouldn't...then again..when I first met him he was such a jerk...no...no...what am I saying?"

"Serena..uh..you're talking to yourself..." Molly said.

"And believe me..I'm finding myself to be quite an inattentive listener..how do you like that..here I am talking to myself and I can't even listen," Serena said.

"Serena..perhaps..I'd better go.." Molly said.

"No, no...I'll be fine...I..uh..hmm...this may take some time..why don't I catch up with you later," Serena said.

"Uh..good idea," Molly said, paid for her drink and hurried out.

"No..I'm not just comic relief...there's plenty to me..I'm multidimensional..like..my...um..love of poetry...what love of poetry? Well..there's my wonderful..um..personality...yeah..wait a minute...isn't that what he'd be laughing at? But..I'm romantic...well..sort of..I know what romance is...if I'm supplied with some examples, but given an essay test I'd probably fail...it's got to be multiple choice...right A.roses. B.candlelight dinner. C.Ballroom dancing. D.All of the above. Yes it's D, but that can't help me now."

"Uh..Serena?" came the voice of red haired Lizzie Tillman, Andrew's younger sister and a waitress here.

"Wha.." Serena said.

"You're having a spasm or something."

"No, I'm not...I'm just..say...has anyone ever chugged down one of the milkshakes here in four seconds before?"

"Don't tell me you did," Lizzie Tillman.

"Well..yeah.."

"Do you know how much sugar you ingested in such a short amount of time Serena?"

"How much.."

"Enough to make you hyper like this," Lizzie said.

"No...no it was the fear that my boyfriend only keeps me around for my pure comedic value that got me going...but...the..sugar might not be helping any..tell me...Lizzie..am I a living joke?" Serena said.

"Uh..I really don't..."

"I must have an answer," Serena hissed jumping up and grabbing Lizzie's collar.

"Serena..you're..."

"Yes you're right," Serena said letting go. "He wouldn't dare date me for pure comic relief..he knows I can kick his butt..I'd punish him!" she said. Lizzie stared at her.

"Oh..check please," Serena muttered.

"Okay..now. for part two of our little contest," Uranus said.

"There's more," Saturn and Neptune said.

"There's always more," Pluto said and looked from side to side suspiciously.

"Ahem.." Uranus said. "Now we'll see how much damage we can do with each of our powers."

"Is that wise?" Saturn asked.

"Saturn..the first thing you have to learn when hanging with us, is that we get asked that question very often, and we always answer no, but do it anyway," Neptune said.

"I knew this would be trouble right from the start," Saturn said.

"What? The contest?" Pluto asked.

"Nope, everything," Saturn said.

"Hey..we've thoroughly depressed him in record time," Neptune said.

"Anyway..just aim your attack and see how much of these whatever they are in this field you can blow away," Uranus said motioning to the weeds growing out of the grass.

"I'll go first," Pluto said and cracked his knuckles and for some strange reason the sound echoed.

"Woah..that was odd," Neptune said.

"Yeah. Maybe I shouldn't do that again," Pluto said.

"That might be wise," Uranus said.

"Which means you'll do it again," Saturn muttered.

"Hey, he's figured it out!" Neptune said.

"Pluto..we'll you just get on with it?" Uranus said.

"Okay Chief," Pluto said and readied himself. "Pluto!" he shouted gathering his energy. The longer the energy was gathered the more power there was behind the attack. He pulled his fist back and felt the power forming. "Power Fist! Punch!" he shouted and brought his arm swinging upward in an uppercut. A wave of green energy smashed across the field blowing apart much of the weeds that had sprouted up.

"Not bad," Neptune said. "Here I go."

"Neptune! Triton! Impale!" He shouted and sent his attack flying. It flew over the weeds and didn't do a bit of damage. The other three gave him a look.

"Oh..well..uh..." Neptune began before they heard a large crash. A tree at the very edge of the field fell down.

"Hmm...long range there," Neptune said.

"Okay, okay, let's try and bring this event back from absurdity," Uranus said and stepped forward.

"Uranus! Fire Spikes!" Uranus shouted and brought forth a ball of fire that formed into five spikes on each hand surrounding each of his fingers.

"Attack!" he shouted and launched the spikes. They whirled through the weeds, cutting them down with blazing fire. Then the weeds caught fire.

"Oh..well..I think I won the damage category," Uranus said.

"We kinda have a situation here," Neptune said pointing at the fire.

"I'll handle it," Saturn said. "Saturn......" he said calling on his power. "Ice Rings Blast!" he shouted and launched his attack. The ice slammed into the fire and put it out as well as destroying the immediate area.

"It's true you did more damage Uranus, but Saturn's attack is so much cooler," Neptune said. "No pun intended."

"Hmm...well..this hasn't exactly worked out," Uranus said.

"Sure it has, you wanted to see who the best Guardian Scout is, and I think we have," Neptune said.

"Unless of course the idea was for us to see that Uranus was the best Guardian Scout," Pluto said.

"Well then it wouldn't have worked out right," Saturn said.

"What a stupid idea that is..ehh..." Uranus muttered.

When Molly arrived at her house following her eventful talk with Serena, she hadn't expected any trouble. She needed rest and hurried quickly to her room. And that's when her teddy bear grew into a large fearsome monster.

Serena had finally calmed down. At least she thought she had. So she decided to find Molly and somehow convince her that things would be all right. As she got closer to her friend's home she heard some screaming, and as it came into view she realized that the likely source of the commotion was Molly being chased down the street by a six foot tall teddy bear.

"It's so cute," Serena said. "Wait a minute..that shouldn't matter," she said and ducked into a side alley.

"Celestial Moon Power!" she shouted and began her transformation.

Molly gasped as the teddy bear kept racing after her.

"Why me?" she said.

"Do not fear, I will protect you!" came a shout from ahead of her. She looked up to see a figure standing there. He had a grey outfit on with black knee boots, and a blue cape trailing behind him. And on his face were a pair of round glasses.

"MELVIN?" Molly shouted in surprise as she kept running.

"Not just Melvin! I am MAVERICK MELVIN! Stand behind me, and I will defeat this evil being!" Melvin squeaked.

"Melvin, don't be stupid!" Molly said and raced past him.

"Hah..prepare for combat," Melvin said.

The bear stopped in front of him.

"You're not the real Maverick are you?"

"Uh..no...I'm tougher," Melvin said.

"I'll bet," the bear said and punched him. Melvin went flying ten feet and landed in a dumpster.

"Heh..so much for him!" the bear shouted and ran after Molly.

Sailor Moon meanwhile appeared out of the alley.

"Okay..first plan," Sailor Moon said. " Moon Tiara! Magic!" she shouted and launched her attack. It hit the bear in the back and bounced off.

"Hmm.that wasn't good," Sailor Moon muttered and hurried up to where her tiara lay on the ground. She picked it up and hurried after the bear.

"Hey you! Stop!" Sailor Moon shouted racing after him. She was too close to jump...and the thought of jumping over the bear to get to Molly hadn't occurred to her in her haste.

The bear whirled around quickly.

"Uh oh," Sailor Moon said letting her fear get the best of her. The bear punched her knocking her into the air. She smashed through a second floor window and found herself sitting in the living room of an apartment. A group of kids was sitting there watching television.

"Sailor Moon! Wow!" one of them shouted.

"You're our favorite hero!" another one shouted.

"Why did you break our window though?" a third asked.

"Uh..." Sailor Moon muttered recovering and sitting up. "I uh..gotta go.."

She jumped out of the window and landed awkwardly. By leapt forward and found that the bear had caught Molly. She was lying on the ground and the bear was drawing her heart out of her.

"Maybe a jump kick," Sailor Moon said and brought on Mars's aura. She leapt into the air and flew at the creature's head. It glanced at her. Raised it's left paw and knocked her into a flower bed.

Out of nowhere flew two energy attacks. One yellow, one aquamarine. They smashed into the bear and knocked it into the side wall of a nearby store. Something quickly moved to Molly and grabbed the crystal floating above her and then moved on. Sailor Moon looked around worriedly.

"Where did they.." she said.

The bear roared and turned towards her.

"Uh oh," she said. A rose flew out of nowhere and landed in front of the bear.

"A rose..how quaint," The bear said and stepped on it.

"Use your attack Sailor Moon!" came Tuxedo Mask's voice.

"Uh...Moon Spiral..." Sailor Moon began. The bear charged at her. Tuxedo Mask jumped at it. It knocked him away.

"Hearts...Attack!" Sailor Moon shouted quickly as the bear came within a foot of her. The attack smashed into it and destroyed it in front of her.

"Whew..." she said and sighed.

It was at this point the crystal came floating back down and landed on Molly's chest where it was reabsorbed.

"She'll be okay," Sailor Moon said and hurried to change into human form.

CHAPTER 66 CHAPTER 67 CHAPTER 68 CHAPTER 69 CHAPTER 70  CHAPTER 71 

CHAPTER 72 CHAPTER 73 CHAPTER 74 CHAPTER 75  CHAPTER 76 CHAPTER 77

 CHAPTER 78 CHAPTER 79 CHAPTER 80  CHAPTER 81  CHAPTER 82 CHAPTER 83

CHAPTER 84 CHAPTER 85  CHAPTER 86 CHAPTER 87 CHAPTER 88 CHAPTER 89

 CHAPTER 90 CHAPTER 91 CHAPTER 92 CHAPTER 93 CHAPTER 94 CHAPTER 95

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