Chapter 352

Guardian Mercury dived out of the way of an energy blast.

This Argosante is proving to be particularly annoying. He thought.

"Hah! Your skill is paltry compared to mine," Argosante said.

"Really?" Gmerc said. "If that's so why don't you stop shooting off the energy bolts and go man to man?"

"And lose my advantage, hah!"

"All right, guess I'll have to get really serious," Gmerc said. "You won't like it."

"I think I'll manage."

Gmerc swept forward avoided Argosante's attack and swung through the creature. The Guardian Scout spun kick, drew both swords and swept them through argosante before finishing him off with a massive blast of energy.

"You just shouldn't get me angry," Gmerc said and promptly avoided another Argosante whop had lunged by him. Maverick leapt over head and spun unleashing a circle of sword blasts which threw Argosante to the ground.

"You're such an idiot!" Maverick shouted driving her sword into the enemy. He exploded.

"Well done," Gmerc said.

"You think so?" Maverick asked with a smile.

"You've got nothing to laugh about," Guardian Jupiter said facing down another one.

"Well..sure every day has it's ups and downs, but," Argosante said.

"Jupiter Star Inferno!"

"Ah..no..don't interrupt!" Argosante said and raced forward swinging his sword. Guardian Jupiter slid under it and delivered a punch to the gut before kneeing Argosante in the face. The enemy staggered back, but quickly blocked Jupiter's sword attack.

"I'm not some pushover you can just pushover," Argosante said.

Jupiter grimaced and avoided another thrust, before jumping backwards. Argosante fired at him several times. He hit the ground hard.

Argosante raced forward.

"MERCURY ICE STORM BLAST!"

The attack flew over Jupiter and hit Argosante dead on, he slammed into the ground and vaporized.

"You just have to know how to fight him," Sailor Mercury said offering her hand to Jupiter.

"I have never been beaten by a woman and that will not change," Argosante said blocking an array of attacks from Sailor Saturn.

"I don't see why I have any interest in maintaining the status quo," Sailor Saturn replied and connected throwing him back.. She spun her staff and began to fire, before finishing her attack off with a mist wave. Argosante dived out of the way, and charged forward. He was blocked in mid stream by Guardian Saturn plowing into him and pushing him into a war, sword out. Argosante leapt over him and the two sparred.

"You should stick to your own battles," Argosante said. "I'm going to give you a scar across your body!"

Sailor Saturn's silence glaive went swinging through him. He vaporized.

"I don't believe he was really a worthy opponent," Sailor Saturn said.

"Oh?" Guardian Saturn asked.

"No..if he had been I wouldn't have attacked him from behind," Sailor Saturn said and turned away. "I had him you know."

"I didn't know," Guardian Saturn said.

"Well then I thank you for your cautious attack anyway."

"Uh..your welcome."

"I see why everyone hates this guy," Guardian Earth said and promptly ducked a sword swing from Argosante..

"Essentially he's the worlds most dangerous waste of time," Sailor Neptune said avoiding another attack.

The two Argosante's laughed.

"Ehh.I'm not in the mood," Guardian Earth said and swept forward delivering a massive attack which cut Argosante to pieces.

"Impressive," Sailor Neptune said.

"Hah..I'll just do that to you Neptune," Argosante said and ran forward.

Neptune leapt into the air. argosante followed.

"Foolish," Neptune said and fired her mirror down at him. Argosante fired off a sword blast, which Neptune promptly reflected and watched as Argosante was hit and fell to the ground.

"Neptune Deep Submerge!" she shouted and blew him apart.

"They're really not that hard are they?" Guardian Earth said.

"Some of them figure out ways to live a little longer," Sailor Neptune said landing.

Back in Tokyo.

"Here I am," Serena said spinning out the door of her room, only to trip and be caught quickly by Lita and Raye. She was clad in her white dress trimmed with red.

"Looking good Serena," Lita said.

"See it wasn't that hard to pick a dress was it?" Raye asked.

"I didn't sleep last night," Serena said.

Lita and Raye glanced at each other.

Mina bounded up the stairs.

"Ah..wow... is something important happening?" She asked.

"The pageant Mina," the three replied.

"I know, I know," Mina said. "Wow Serena you're going to drive him crazy with that look."

"I know," Serena said. "It's wonderful isn't it?"

"As long as you don't get too full of yourself," Raye said.

"When has that happened..recently?" Serena asked.

The other three laughed.

"You enjoy yourself Serena all right?" Luna said.

"Yep, no problems here," Serena said.

Darrien was sitting on the couch.

"You like the stock market Darrien?" Mr. Tsukino asked.

"I follow it."

"So would you invest in it?"

"Possibly."

"Ah..a you're a 'possibly' man then?"

"Uh..."

"Nothing wrong with being a 'possibly' man, just don't let it control you.."

"Control me?"

"Oh yeah..." Mr. Tsukino said. "But that's no time for that. You just have a good time."

Serena walked down the stairs.

Darrien rose and grinned.

"Wow..hi," Serena said.

"You look great Serena," Darrien said.

"I know," Serena said. Raye, Mina, and Lita sighed.

"I mean..glad you think so, I know you look great too," Serena said.

"Bad cover," her three friends muttered as they followed behind her.

"Oh shush, he likes it when I'm a buffoon," Serena said.

"Bet he doesn't," Raye muttered.

Serena glared at her and then headed over to Darrien.

"Well shall we go prove our love is the greatest thing in the universe," Serena said.

"Lets," Darrien said and the two headed out the door.

"How romantic," The three girls said happily.

"Who you talking too?" Mister Tsukino muttered.

"You don't understand," The three said.

"Ehh..don't want to either," he said and headed into another room.

"Well..that ruined the moment," Lita said.

The other two nodded.

Later at a civic auditorium.

"Wow look at all of them," Serena said staring at the stage filled with romantic couples.

"Yeah a lot isn't there?" Darrien asked.

"We'll beat them though."

"You do realize Serena, that most of the reasons we came together we can't tell anyone about right?"

"Of course, I'll just embellish the ambiguities."

"I don't think that's possible," Darrien said.

"Oh...I was close though wasn't I?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Darrien said.

"Well I'll keep trying," Serena said. "I just can't lose. We can't lose, we're so much cuter then everyone else."

"Serena, don't get too into it," Darrien said. "It's not polite."

"Ehh..they probably all feel that way, besides I save the world."

"Well..uh..yes..but.."

Serena grinned.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," she said.

"All right, if you say so," Darrien said.

"Sure, but if those two over there win, I'll kill em," she said pointing at one of the other couples.

"Oh...I see. You don't even know them."

"I know enough just by looking at them."

"That's not a healthy mind set," Darrien muttered.

Sailor Uranus and Pluto were sitting on a nearby rooftop.

"I doubt they'll attack here, but we should take chances," Sailor Uranus said.

"Yes, this means so much to Serena," Sailor Pluto said. "I hope it goes well for her."

"I wonder if they'll win," Uranus said.

"Any idea what the criteria for winning is?"

"Nope," Uranus said. "Then again, Serena and Darrien's romance hardly fits the normal criteria for any romantic interaction."

"That's a bit harsh."

"I didn't mean it that way, they just do things differently."

"Not where their heart is concerned," Pluto said.

"That's what I was trying to say," Uranus said.

"You were?" Pluto asked.

A well clad announcer strode onto a stage, microphone in hand.

"Welcome everyone to the ninety-third annual Romance Pageant! Tonight we will see some couples try to prove their love is stronger than anyone else's. So let's begin shall we. The first event is to explain to everyone why you love your partner!" the announcer shouted.

"Oh..gee.." Serena said. "I don't have a prepared statement."

"Don't worry, you'll do fine," Darrien said.

"Yes, but I.." Serena said. "Well..I..never think about why I like you that often, I just accept that I do."

"That can't be true," Darrien said in surprise.

"Well I hadn't thought about it in a while."

"What you're saying is that you can't put it into words then?"

"Right."

"Well then say that."

"But that makes me look bubbly."

"So what? It's true."

"Yes, but the truth only has so many uses."

"Serena.." Darrien said.

"You're right, I'll give it a try," Serena said.

The other scouts were on an opposite rooftop.

"Mars, let me see your right shoe a second," Venus said.

"Why?" Mars asked.

"I'm just curious. We wear the same size don't we?"

"Yes," Mars said.

"Come on..you can have my shoe as collateral," Venus said pulling it out.

"Well that's not entirely necessary, but here," Mars said handing Venus her shoe. Venus pulled it onto her foot.

"Kinda nice feel to it..." she said.

"Is there a point to this?" Mars asked.

"Sure, I just wanted to know what it felt like," Venus said. "Try mine."

Mars shrugged and put on Venus shoe.

"Pretty comfortable I Guess."

"Actually I like your shoe better than mine," Venus said.

"Well give it back," Mars said.

"Oh come on let me war the other one too," Venus said. "Just for tonight."

"I don't see what the big deal is," Mars said.

"Come on Mars, it's not a big deal, I just want to see how they feel walking around and such."

"Here," Mars said throwing her shoe. Venus caught it and put it on. She tossed Mars hers.

"These shoes don't match my outfit," Mars said.

"They don't too badly with me," Venus said jumping up and down. "Yeah that's pretty good."

Mars sighed.

"The next event is the ballroom dancing competition. A lot can be seen in how one dances with their love," the announcer said.

"Aw..geez..we should have practiced," Serena said.

"Don't worry Serena, just don't try to do anything too complex," Darrien said.

"Darrien I have trouble just walking sometimes you know that," Serena said.

"Don't worry," Darrien said. "We'll be fine."

Serena sighed.

On yet another rooftop.

"Got any aces?" Guardian Neptune asked.

"Go fish," Guardian Pluto said.

"I hate fishing," Guardian Neptune said and drew a card. "I never get what I want."

"Aw..quit complaining," Pluto said.

"I'm serious, I haven't won a game in seven years," Neptune said.

"Something tells me you're serious about that," Guardian Uranus said.

"I mean it," Neptune said. "I hate this game. Even the cards seem to be laughing at me when I play it."

"Now that is a product of your own warped imagination," Sailor Jupiter said.

"True, but it is brought on by the game," Guardian Neptune said.

"I'll give you that," Sailor Jupiter said.

"Uranus got any twos?" Pluto asked.

"You wish," Uranus said.

"So I do,"Pluto said and drew from the pile.

"Neptune, any sevens?" Uranus said.

"Yeah sure," Neptune said and handed Uranus three of them.

"You're supposed to put them down if you have more than one," Jupiter said.

"Why bother?" Neptune said.

The other three sighed.

Serena and Darrien were at that moment waltzing across the floor of the stage under the watchful eye of the judges.

"You know this doesn't even measure love anyway," Serena said.

"They think it does," Darrien said.

"Yeah, but what do they know?" Serena said.

"Apparently enough to hold a pageant you wanted to participate in."

"Yeah..well..I.." Serena said and stopped to correct her step before she would fall. "I didn't know they'd fall back on ballroom dancing."

"Don't you like the idea of being held close to me?" Darrien said.

"That's fine, it's the trying to keep from pulling you to the floor with me as I collapse that's not so great, couldn't we just stand?" Serena said.

"It doesn't work that way."

"Well..if more people just held each other rather than trying to throw dancing into the mix the world would be a better place I think."

"You may be right," Darrien said.

The two remaining starlights watched the card game from afar.

"You let her play cards with them like that?" Guardian Venus asked Guardian Mars.

"What, I'm supposed to tell her not to? They're here as friends," Guardian Mars said.

"But he's your competition," Guardian Venus said.

"Yes, well..I don't think she'd like the idea of me telling him to go," Mars said.

"I don't know I wouldn't trust any of their antics," Guardian Venus said.

"This isn't antics, it's romance," Mars said. "We'd be wise to tread lightly."

"When did you get to be such a guru?" Guardian Venus snapped.

"I've been learning from Lita," Mars said with a grin. "At the very least I'll be a good date for the next girl I meet."

"Don't you ever think she's too good for him?"

"Sure, but she doesn't think so."

"What's happened to you anyway?"

"I think it's called maturing."

"Oh please," Guardian Venus muttered. "We were mature years ago."

"Not entirely it seems," Mars said. "Lighten up Venus. You've been depressed for years."

"Yes, well there are reasons for that."

"Yeah, you making new ones up to replace the old ones," Mars said.

Venus just scowled and leapt to another rooftop.

Mars walked over to the game.

"What are you playing?" he asked.

"The ever popular Blackjack since it's one of the few games Mike is any good at," Guardian Uranus said.

"But he's not really that good," Jupiter said.

"I'm an ace at Baccarat! You just try me," Guardian Neptune said.

"Can I get in on it?" Mars said.

"Have a seat," Uranus said. "But be warned, getting involved any sort of activity with any of us can lead to permanent inalterable effects to one's internal self."

"He's right, last chance to turn away," Jupiter said.

"Ehh..I'll take the risk," Mars said with a grin.

"Brave man," Uranus said.

"You have no idea what awaits you!" Guardian Neptune said and began to cackle.

"Is it appropriate to hit him at times like this? Mars asked.

"He learns quickly," Jupiter said.

"The final event of tonight is the kissing showcase," the announcer said.

"What a stupid name," Serena muttered.

"We will see and judge just how you kiss and the reactions drawn from it."

"Hey I'm actually good at this," Serena said.

"You think so huh?" Darrien asked.

"What?"

"I'm just kidding," Darrien said.

"Falling off the stage would be quite a drop wouldn't it? Be a pity if that happened to you.." Serena said her eyes narrowing.

"I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you later," Darrien said.

"That's better," Serena said. "It'll cost you though."

"It always does," Darrien said.

"Can I keep these?" Venus asked pointing at Mars' shoes.

"No you can't," Mars said.

"Aw..come on."

"Look, your shoes are gold, mine are red. I wear red."

"Aw..come on there's probably some way to change their color," Venus said. "You know, shoe color change power or something."

"I really don't think there is," Mars said.

"I'll try it out," Venus said.

"Do it with your own shoes," Mars said tossing them at her.

"All right," Venus said and put them back on. "Uh..powers inside me, change the color of my shoes to red.."

There was a flash and her shoes changed to red.

"Wow..look at that..how about a little darker?"

Another flash.

"Well there you go," Venus said.

"I can't believe it," Mars muttered.

"Hey maybe this works for my skirt too..."

"Venus don't.."

"Let's see..uh..power of Venus lend me your strength...

Mars sighed.

"And turn my skirt violet!"

In a sparkle of light her skirt's shade changed.

"Wow..look at that," Venus said.

Mars sighed.

Darrien and Serena walked onto the stage.

"Just show me what you got," Serena said.

The two kissed like they usually did and then soon afterwards broke from their embrace.

"WOW!" Serena shouted.

"Serena," Darrien said. "Show some decorum."

"I don't care! That was great!" Serena shouted.

"Well it should be over soon," Sailor Uranus said.

"The night has gone by uneventfully it seems," Sailor Pluto said.

"The other scouts seemed to have passed.the..time..." Uranus trailed off. Her gaze fixed on another part of the roof.

"What..is...

Pluto looked too.

"Venus? Mars? What did they..." Uranus said.

"Oh...dear.." Pluto said.

Venus now had a blue skirt, with red shoes and a blue collar.

"Sailor V rides again!" Venus said.

Mars surprisingly was wearing a cyan colored dress and shoes, and collar, along with a yellow bow.

"I don't know if this looks that bad on me," she remarked.

Sailor Uranus began to laugh. Pluto joined in.

"Wow!" Guardian Neptune said and raced up to Venus said. "You're even more attractive then usual."

"Really.." Venus said flirting. Everyone sighed.

"So..what do you think?" Mars asked Guardian Uranus.

"I didn't figure you to be a fan of blue," Uranus said.

"But do you like it?"

"You bet, though I like the other one too."

"That's okay, I can always go back."

"Yeah, but that can wait," Uranus said with a grin.

"And now tonight's winning pair.." the announcer said.

The groups all tensed. The announcer announced the pair. It wasn't them. Serena sighed.

"And coming in a close second place with perhaps the most visible of affection ever witnessed in 93 years, Serena Tsukino and Darrien Shields!"

"All right"! Serena said dashing forward grabbing the second place trophy and pulling Darrien off the stage.

"Where are you going?"the announcer said.

"To elope!" Serena said and started laughing

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