Chapter 324

It was 8 A.M. at the A.P.T. house. Amy was slowing sipping on some tea and glancing at the morning paper. Greg sat across from her eating his breakfast.

"The yen's down again," she said.

"Hmm..never much cared for each nation having its own currency," Greg replied.

"I got it!" came a shout from upstairs.

"I hope she's got something good," Greg said.

"Me too," Amy said.

Serena leapt over the railing of the stairs and dropped to the ground. She jumped into the kitchen.

"I've got it!" she said.

"What have you got Serena?" Amy asked.

"Wait.." Serena said and dashed to the refrigerator. "I need to recharge."

She pulled out a loaf of bread and began to eat off it.

"Now..here's what I've got," Serena said. "A plan!"

She said excitedly.

"Well it's good that you're enthusiastic about it," Greg said.

"No, don't you see, it's perfect, I'm going to cheer myself up by cheering up everyone," Serena said. "You know like I always do."

"Serena do you remember the last time we tried to do that?" Amy asked. "It didn't go well."

"Sure it did, aside from the mess," Serena said. "So I'm going to go out and use the old Serena charm to make my mark on the city."

"That's good Serena," Amy said. "But are you sure this is the way?"

"Amy, are you saying I shouldn't help people?" Serena asked.

"No, not at all," Amy said. "I just meant that things can be a little weird when you actively go out trying to help people."

"Oh..you mean how it goes smoother when I just stumble into it," Serena said.

"To be honest..." Amy began.

"It doesn't matter," Serena said. "Because I'm going anyway!"

She pulled off another piece of bread and chewed it.

"Now there we go," she said. "I've gotta get dressed."

She hurried back up stairs.

"Looks like we're going to have to keep an eye on her," Amy said.

"Unless we want to feel someway responsible for the consequences, guess you're right," Greg said.

"It worries me when she gets like this," Amy said.

"If it works.." Greg said.

"But it doesn't work right?" Amy said.

"Oh. I've had trouble figuring her out," Greg said.

"What makes you think that figuring her out is even possible?" Amy asked.

"All right!" Serena said sliding back into the room.

"Let's roll," she said.

"This early?" the two asked.

"Of course," Serena said. "Gotta go while the spirits with me."

Greg and Amy shrugged.

"We're coming," They said.

And across the city at a travel agency.

"I don't understand this concept," Rubeus said looking at the brochure.

"We've been at this for months, what don't you understand?" Catsie said.

"Well...why take this boat, when you could just fly down there?" Rubeus asked. "I mean, the boat costs more and is slower?"

"No Rubeus, that's a cruise ship, it's supposed to be a nicer trip then a plane is," Catsie said. "Why hasn't this come up before?"

"I've been handling airlines remember, this just caught my eye. And what primitive air travel it is too," Rubeus said.

"Well, I guess," Catsie said. "Anyway, people like to go on cruises."

"It's stupid if you ask me, don't they worry about pirates?" Rubeus asked.

"There aren't really that many pirates out there," Catsie said.

"Hmm...still, how well armed are these cruise ships?"

"They aren't warships. They don't have weaponry."

"Then how can one expect to relax on board? When at any moment an enemy warship could appear," Rubeus said.

"I don't know," Catsie said and sighed. "That really isn't the point."

"Ehh..you'll never catch me on one of those things," Rubeus muttered.

"What's going on here?" Bertie asked.

"Nothing important, I can assure you," Catsie said.

"Ehh...this civilization is doomed to fail," Rubeus said.

"Because of cruise ships?" Catsie said and sighed.

"Cruise ships?" Bertie asked. "Sorry I asked. Rubeus get with the program."

"I don't think I'll ever fully understand this planet," Rubeus said.

And in the inner office, Diamond was staring at a graph on the wall.

"So what does this mean exactly?" he asked.

"Well it means we've made a profit," Sapphire said.

"That's good," Diamond said.

"The problem is we're not making enough of one," Sapphire said.

"To do what?" Diamond asked.

"Well..to afford to keep living in those apartments we have," Sapphire said.

"How'd that happen?" Diamond asked.

"Not sure," Sapphire said. "But then again we're not business experts."

"Then we must find a business expert and have him explain it to us," Diamond said. "Better yet possess one and get him over here."

"Diamond, we can't just possess him," Sapphire said.

"Good point, old habits ey...well..so what do we do?"

"We could hire a professional to analyze what we're doing."

"That's some job, just wait around for someone to call up and say analyze us," Diamond said.

"It's the way things are done," Sapphire said.

"All right, then we'll do that," Diamond said.

"I'll find one."

"Right Sapphire, but remember what happens if you should fail me..."

"What?"

Diamond started laughing.

"Just kidding," he said.

Sapphire sighed and headed out the door. He found the rest of the dark moon contingent having an argument.

"Now look," Rubeus said. "If a missile or alternatively, an energy blast is flying at an airplane, it can move out of the way."

He visualized this by banking a model airplane out the way.

"But a cruise ship," he said putting a ceramic boat on the table. "Will take the hit! Now what's safer."

"Rubeus, we don't base travel arrangements on tactical concerns!" Avery said.

"Well why not?" Rubeus said.

"The customers don't care about that, they just want a good time," Emerald chimed in.

"Yeah, both forms of travel are pretty safe," Prisma said. "Haven't you seen the statistics?"

"Show me these statistics," Rubeus said.

"Here," Prisma said and tossed him a paper.

"Ah hah! Pirate attacks!"

"One!" Prisma shouted back.

"Well would you wanted to have been on that ship?" Rubeus asked.

The conversation degraded into an argument between the five women and Rubeus over the whole concept of vacations.

Sapphire watched in surprise.

"Well that's a good job there," Mr. Fujimori said staring at his damaged house. Rick stood silently at his side.

"I always thought you were the one who wouldn't cause this type of damage," his father said.

"I didn't, I was on the roof at the time," Rick said.

"That doesn't explain it! You started it."

"Kino started it."

"No, you started it."

"Maybe."

"You did," his father said. "Now listen, I've been thinking about other things, like that girl of yours."

"Yeah, so?"

"Don't you yeah so me..I'm your father and I'm also the man, now listen, I don't like the way this relationship is going, you living over there."

"What? I moved over there because the house was trashed."

"And how do I know the trashing of the house was not an elaborate ploy to get me to let you live over there?"

"It wasn't," Rick said in surprise.

"Well I can't be sure," his father said. "You move back here right away. And I don't want you seeing that girl."

"WHAT?" Rick said in shock.

"You heard me."

"But why?"

"Because she's not right for you."

"And how do you know!"

"I have a sense about these things."

"You do not, what are you even talking about!" Rick shouted.

"See..she's brainwashed you."

"Are you even thinking straight, you have no right to say this," Rick said.

"Wanna fight?" his father said.

"You bet," Rick said.

"Then bring it on!"

The two faced off.

Mr. Fujimori shot forward, Rick dodged the attack and kneed his father in the stomach, he then threw him to the ground.

"Now...what were you saying?" Rick asked. His father leapt up and tackled him.

"HAH! See look how I got ya!" he said. "She's wrong for you!"

"You're full of it!" Rick said rolling away.

"Am I!" his father shouted throwing a kick. Rick dodged it.

"I don't know what you find wrong with her, just tell me!" Rick said.

"I'll tell you what's wrong, you want her too much, no woman's worth that."

"Are you kidding!" Rick said throwing a punch.

"Yeah!" Mr. Fujimori said and blocked it flinging Rick to the ground.

"You better get yourself straight," his father said. "Now we're going to go move you out of there."

"You're going to have to beat me to a pulp before I'll agree."

"Oh..really? Well then..if I have to."

"What's your problem anyway!" Rick shouted.

"How can I honestly believe your serious about a girl at your age!"

"I have my reasons. Reasons you couldn't understand!"

"I'll bet! You're just deluding yourself. She's a good friend that's all, and I think you're all confused."

"Oh I'm confused!" Rick shouted. "What about you! And besides if she was a good friend, what would be wrong with seeing her?"

"Well you've got problems!"

"You idiot!" Rick shouted and punched his father again.

"Yeah well...that's what it is!" His father shouted back and the two continued to brawl.

"I won't lose to you," Rick said.

"You don't have the skills not to," his father said with a grin.

In the city streets.

"What a slow day," Serena moaned. "Doesn't anyone need help around here?"

Amy and Greg said nothing.

"I know," Serena said. "I'll swing by the playground. There's always kids picking on other kids. Serena the self esteem builder will show them!"

She hurried off.

Amy and Greg sighed and followed.

"It's not that I don't understand what she's doing, but Serena is Serena," Amy said.

"She uses a little to much enthusiasm if you ask me," Greg said.

"Almost euphoria."

"Uh huh.."

"I just can't believe this is a proper emotional response to the stress she's under."

"I agree," Greg said.

Serena slid to a stop.

"What's going on in there?" she said and peered in a window.

"Isn't this the dark moon's travel agency?" Greg asked.

"Uh huh," Amy said.

"Looks like they're arguing about something," Serena said.

"Serena, maybe we should just leave this to them," Amy said.

"No, that would be neglecting my duty," Serena said and hurried in the door.

"I've got a real bad feeling about this," Greg said.

"Hey everyone," Serena said. "What's the problem."

"Rubeus is an idiot!" the five women shouted.

"Ah..." Serena said. "And uh..why is that?"

"I'm am merely looking out for the customers safety," Rubeus said.

"We have work to do you know," Sapphire said.

"This is important Sapphire," Rubeus said. "Look at the tactical inadequacies.."

"They're cruise ships!" the five women shouted back.

"Ah..a challenge," Serena said.

"It's just like a black hole," Amy muttered.

"Only without the dangerous X-rays being emitted," Greg moaned.

"But still the strong pull into the abyss," Amy said.

"The strong pressure compacting matter into nothingness," Greg said.

"Maybe we should run," Amy said.

"She might need someone to pull her out," Greg said.

"I'm not sure I'm ready to make such a sacrifice," Amy said.

"Strange how all sense of morals goes out the window at this point."

"Actually I've done some research into the concept."

"Really?" Greg asked.

"Yes, it has some fascinating information on emotional responses such as these," Amy replied.

"I'll have to read it, it sounds interesting."

"It is. It's a groundbreaking piece of work into the field."

"I can always go for that kind of thing," Greg said.

"I wonder how the argument's going," Amy said. The two looked back at the group.

"Well of course it could be dangerous, but so's a walk down the street for me," Serena said. "Come on, the chances of being attacked by pirates are just the same as me being ambushed by some hideous enemy monster."

"But that happens all the time," Rubeus said.

"Actually, what did I mean by all this?" Serena asked. "Oh wait..no I meant was that the chances of being attack on a ship are small compared to the chance of me being ambushed by a monster, that's it."

"Serena, are you sure?" Prisma asked.

"Look Rubeus, if I were someone going on a cruise I'd be more afraid of the evil forces trying to invade planet Earth, then some patch wearing parrot on the shoulder wearing "argh saying" guy with a beard!" Serena said.

"Well put," everyone else said.

"Now come on, you shouldn't argue," Serena said.

"Especially over something like this," Amy and Greg quickly added.

"They started it," Rubeus said. "I'm just not going to sell anyone a cruise."

"You don't have to," the women said.

"I just have to wonder if it's morally right for anyone to sell a ticket on these undefended sitting ducks."

Everyone sighed.

"Ah..Serena," Diamond said emerging from his office with a cup of wine in his hand. "Welcome."

"Hi," Serena said.

"Say, what is going on out here anyway?" Diamond asked.

"I was merely.." Rubeus began before being tackled by the women.

"We were discussing uh...something.." Emerald said. "It's not important though."

"Ah..I see," Diamond said.

"I'm sure everyone has work to do," Sapphire quickly added.

"Yes!" they all said and returned to their desks.

"So what brings you by Serena?" Diamond asked.

"I was just in the neighborhood," Serena said. "You know, thought I'd stop in."

"Ah..well as you can see, we're doing fine even after all these long months," Diamond said. "Except for that little lack of profits thing."

Greg and Amy glanced at each other.

"Hah! You know what I found in one of the closets," he said.

He held up a human shaped crystal figurine. It was obviously a left over dark energy object from the original Dark Moon's attack on the city.

"I wonder what we were going to use these for," he said.

"Uh...can I have that.." Amy said quickly.

"Why?" Diamond asked.

"It's uh...uh..beautiful," Serena added sliding up to it. "We girls we love this kind of thing. I mean you don't know what it is right?"

"Well I guess, sure, here," Diamond said and handed it to them.

"Uh..good," Serena said. "Thanks, gotta go!"

The three hurried out.

"I uh..don't think we should leave this thing lying around," Serena said.

"What is it?" Greg said.

"Well these kind of things were used to unleash the dark energy here, we don't know what it's capable of doing," Amy said.

"That's just great/ I set out to help people and this happens," Serena said.

"Serena, you know this happens every time you try this," Amy said.

"Well I didn't think live was that simply constructed," Serena said. "Now what do we do with this thing?"

"I guess we should use our scout powers to destroy it," Amy said.

"Good idea," Serena said.

"I wonder just what that thing was," Diamond said.

"It was an odd statue wasn't it," Sapphire said.

"Well, they obviously liked it," Diamond said.

Seconds later a massive burst of energy smashed into the front of the building blasting the doors inward and throwing most of the dark moon contingent to the ground. Four figures leapt in the front and started blasting.

"A surprise attack ey!" Diamond shouted and launched a counter attack.

"Mercury Ice Storm Blast!"

The attack flew out at the figurine and slammed into it. The figurine remained.

"What?" Mercury said.

"Saturn Blade of Galaxies," Saturn shouted. The attack smashed into the crystal and dissipated.

"Moon Sword," Sailor Moon said and moved towards it. She swung her sword down at it. A blast of energy came up and hit her, knocking her back.

"This is a problem," Sailor Mercury said.

"I'm so glad we found this," Sailor Moon said.

The three heard an explosion.

"What's that?" Sailor Moon muttered.

"It was coming from the way we came," Mercury said.

"Great," Sailor Moon said.

"Saturn watch the crystal, we should check it out!" Mercury said.

"Right," Sailor Moon said and the two Sailor Scouts leapt off.

"Great," Saturn said staring at the apparently indestructible figurine.

Energy flew across the travel agency. The three scouts and Jasen firing madly, the eight dark moon members returned fire using all they had.

The energy exploded blasting both sides backward. The dark moon group hit the far wall, but it began to crumble.

"This is not the place to fight!" Sapphire said and the group all hurried out the back door. A massive energy burst blew at them. They all dived out of the way as it blew the far wall apart. The building collapsed.

The eight dark moon soldiers waited.

Rick dodged his father's latest attack.

"I can't believe you treating me like this!" he shouted.

"Respect your elders!" his father shouted back. The two connected and stumbled back.

"You know you could have talked to me about this," Rick said. "We could have discussed this instead of this misguided proclamation!"

"That's what you think this is?" his father asked. "Well aren't you just the man then?"

"Shut up!" Rick shouted unleashing a spin kick.

"I know better!" his father said and leapt right into it, knocking Rick to the ground. Rick countered and rolled away. The two charged at each other and passed each hitting the other. They spun.

"So you really want to go out on me do ya?" his father said.

Rick faced him and then paused as his communicator went off in his head.

"No more," he said and hurried off.

"Where are you going!" His father shouted and chased after him.

"We'll finish this later," Rick said disappearing the brush.

"He's not getting away that easily!" His father shouted.

"This is becoming more of a chore than I expected!" Guardian Moon shouted diving out of the way of multiple energy attacks.

"Ehh..we can take them!" Guardian Earth shouted and unleashed a barrage at the four sisters.

"Mercury! FRIGID TSUNAMI!"

The blue blast shot through the air and smashed into Guardian Earth slamming him into the still standing building.

"The sailor scouts," Guardian Moon said and whirled unleashing his own attack at Sailor Mercury. It connected knocking her down.

Sailor Moon leapt off of a rooftop.

"What am I doing?" She screeched as she dove at Guardian Moon.

He leapt out of the way. She crashed to the ground.

"OUCH!" She shouted.

Guardian Moon whirled towards her, sword drawn.

"Not today!" came a shout. Tuxedo Mask leapt to the ground swinging his battle staff, Guardian Moon barely blocked it.

"Out of my way!" he shouted firing off a barrage that threw Tuxedo Mask into Sailor Moon. The two fell to the ground.

"Now let's settle this!" he shouted.

"I couldn't agree more!" Malichite said dropping to the ground. Nephlite and Zoisite followed.

"Come and get it," Sailor Jupiter said as the other sailor scouts appeared in the street.

"Hey..come get some!" Guardian Neptune said menacingly.

"Well then," Guardian Moon said. "I guess we will decide something today."

Guardian Earth and Sailor Earth stood ready beside him. Jasen readied himself.

The various other forces stood ready for the battle to begin.

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