Note: Sailor Moon and all related characters are the property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toei Animation, and DIC.

A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed
By D. Pung
Prequel #2
PG-13

The warmth of the sun on Samantha's face slowly woke her up. She glanced around the room. Yes, she was in her bed in the hotel room with her family. She yawned, stretched, and jumped out of bed to begin her morning routine.

After breakfast, she was on the balcony, looking at the beach, when her mother joined her.

"You all packed up and ready to go home?" her mother asked.

"Mm-hmm," nodded Samantha.

"Sam, is something wrong? You've been real quiet lately," her mother said.

A sigh. "Nothing," she said quietly. She still hadn't figured a way to get her parents to let her stay in Tokyo.

"Is it the new friends you've made? I can understand you want to stick around, but we'll be back next year," her mother said.

"I don't want to leave, Mom. They need me here," Samantha said.

"Why?" her mother asked.

"Well..." she trailed off. How to explain she was a Sailor Scout? Luckily, her father saved her.

"Hey girls, let's hit the beach one more time before we leave," he said with a smile.

Samantha sighed and nodded as her mother patted her arm and walked out with her father.

She went to change.

* * * *

Samantha was sunbathing when she caught sight of a familiar set of long pigtails. She jumped up.

"Hey, Serena!" she called.

Serena turned when she heard her name. She was with Amy, Raye, Mina and Lita.

"Hey!" she waved back.

Samantha rushed to join the group.

"I have a problem, guys," Samantha said glumly after greetings were exchanged.

"Still haven't gotten your parents to let you stay here?" asked Amy.

"I can't think of any other way to do it other than reveal my Sailor-self to them,"

Samantha sighed.

"You can't do that," said Serena softly.

"What if it's the only way?" asked Samantha.

"I'm sure there's another way," said Luna, lounging on Serena's shoulder. "We just have to find it."

* * * *

The magical trace Sordrax had cast on Sailor Earth showed up in the ball. She

examined the girl's family closely. I'd better find out what I can before the spell wears off, She thought. If I can take this Sailor Earth out quickly, before she develops into a pain like the other Sailor Brats, it'll make it that much easier to get that dratted Moon Princess! Of course, once I know what's going on......

* * * *

Samantha's brother snuck up on her and her friends with a pail of water behind him. He was Samantha's junior at 10 years old, and he worshipped anything he could find on the Sailor Scouts (like many kids around the world). He got closer.

"I just don't know," Samantha sighed. "I want to stay here, but...."

Just then, the bucket of water splashed all over the girls.

"Aaah! Timmy! You little creep!" Samantha gasped.

"Hey!" gasped Serena.

"Little brat!" snapped Raye.

"If I wanted to be wet I'd be swimming!" Lita and Mina said almost in unison.

"Good thing my watch is waterproof!" Amy said.

Luna just shook herself out as Samantha began chasing her laughing little brother.

* * * *

The scene replayed itself in the ball. Hmmmmm....

* * * *

Samantha gave up, watching him scamper away.

Just then her mother approached the group. "Excuse me girls, but Samantha's not telling me something, and it pertains to why she wants to stay here. Might you girls know what it is?"

"Well, umm," began Serena.

"Very smooth, Serena," whispered Raye.

"It is rather important," Serena began, shooting a mean look at Raye. "But it's a secret."

"What is it? I'm afraid I can't let her stay if I don't know why she should," Samantha's mother said as Samantha rejoined the group, catching Serena's eyes.

"Why can't I?" asked Samantha quietly.

"Honey, if there isn't some real important reason, your father and I see no reason to have you stay here. We are a family, after all," her mother said.

The girls looked at each other in desperation.

"We've got to think on it for a little while at the cafe," Serena said, pointing. "I could really use some cake right now." Serena rubbed her belly.

"Actually, that's a good idea," Samantha said. Her eyes went to her mother.

"Okay dear, but don't be all day at it," she said cheerfully, waving her on. She walked away.

"Great, just great," muttered Samantha.

* * * *

Timmy was working hard on a sand castle when he saw something funny. As he watched, a lady three towels away glared right at him. There was an inverted, black moon on her forehead. He knew where he'd seen that before. His mind went back to his clippings of papers and magazines. His jaw dropped and he started to tremble. He got up and ran.

As he ran past his parents, getting sand all over them, his mother called out.

"Timmy? What's wrong?" she called as a lady rushed by, chasing after him.

"Hey!" his father shouted.

Timmy just kept running. He darted behind a bush in a nearby park and crouched down, trembling.

"Ah-ha! There's my little friend," an evil feminine voice said. He felt energy surround him and lift him off the ground.

"What is the meaning of this? Put down my son!" said Timmy's father and both parents skidded to a halt behind her. She turned and threw Timmy at them. The energy field expanded to trap them all.

Timmy was crying desperately.

"HELP!!! SAILOR MOON!" he yelled.

"Timmy.." his mother began, also frightened.

"Please..If you are really real....help.." and he dissolved into frightened tears.

* * * *

Serena and Samantha both heard the shout at the same time. They stopped and looked at each other. The other girls all looked in the direction it came from.

"That was Timmy," gasped Samantha.

"How would he know?" asked Serena.

Samantha gave a brief grin. "He worships Sailor Moon. He knows everything that has ever been reported about the Sailor Scouts...including the news about Sailor Earth.....and if he's shouting for you..." she trailed off, a worried expression on her face. Their eyes met.

"Oh no," said Serena.

The girls all took off for the commotion.

They stopped behind the crowd and climbed up a tree so they could see what was going on. An evil Nega-creature had Samantha's family! Serena glanced at Samantha. White-hot rage showed in her features. Serena looked around, examining the tree. No one should see us up here, she thought. She glanced at Luna and Artemis. They nodded.

"Okay, let's do this!" Serena said to the others. "MOON COSMIC POWER!"

"MERCURY CRYSTAL POWER!"

"MARS CRYSTAL POWER!"

"VENUS CRYSTAL POWER!"

"JUPITER CRYSTAL POWER!"

"Damn straight," snapped Samantha.

"EARTH CRYSTAL POWER!"

* * * *

Timmy kept sobbing. "Help us, please..."

"Enough!" the thing commanded. Timmy's parents were stricken.

A bolt of crackling energy launched out, penetrating the energy field and hitting Timmy hard. He faded from consciousness.

"Hey!" said Timmy's father as his mother bent to hold her son, tears in her eyes. "Why are you doing this to us?"

"I said shut up!" the creature cried out. Another bolt crackled towards them.

"EARTH LOVE SHIELD!" cried Sailor Earth.

The bolt impacted on the energy field as the crowd backed off. The Sailor Scouts took up protective positions in front of Samantha's family. Her parents looked at each other in astonishment.

"I am Sailor Moon, fighting for-"

A bolt flew towards her. Sailor Moon jumped sideways to avoid it. "I guess it doesn't want to chat," said Moon.

"Good," said Sailor Earth angrily. "I don't want to either!"

She charged the creature, dodging bolts and darting in to land a punch. She was promptly kicked backwards by an energy bolt hitting her directly. She shook her head and regained her feet.

"VENUS LOVE CHAIN ENCIRCLE!" cried out Sailor Venus. Energy whipped around, but the explosion didn't seem to faze the creature.

It turned on Sailor Venus. As it raised its hands, a rose impaled itself in the creature's palm.

"Tuxedo Mask!" exclaimed Sailor Moon.

Now the creature turned to face Tuxedo Mask. Crackling energy launched towards him, fully twenty to thirty bolts of Nega-power. He jumped gracefully aside, but the energy followed him.

Suddenly, Sailor Earth rolled up in front of him.

"EARTH LOVE SHIELD!" she shouted as the energy bolts again impacted on her screen. She focused her anger as the energy threatened to punch through, trying to redirect the threatening energy. The strain was almost too much for her. She fell to one knee.

Samantha's parents were now just spectators, watching the struggle between the creature and Sailor Earth.

Sailor Moon glanced at Sailor Mercury, who nodded.

"MERCURY SHINE AQUA ILLUSION!"

"MOON SPIRAL HEART ATTACK!"

The combined onslaught took the creature's attention away from Earth. Weakened from the Moon Scepter, dazed by the water, it looked away for the crucial half-second Earth needed. It stopped concentrating on its energy.

"EARTH LOVE REFLECT!"

Sailor Earth's eyes opened as she sent the creature's energy back to it with a huge explosion. The field around her family shimmered and disappeared. The creature fell to its knees.

Sailor Mars smiled to Sailor Jupiter.

"MARS CELESTIAL FIRE SURROUND!"

"JUPITER SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE!"

The resultant explosion caused much of the crowd to duck out of the way, enabling the Sailor Scouts to grab Samantha's family (Samantha herself scooped up her little brother) and leave without notice.

The smoke cleared, and the creature was toast. Its shattered form disintegrated in the wind. The crowd cheered, and slowly began dissipating.

* * * *

Back in Samantha's hotel room, Sailor Earth slowly set Timmy on his bed. Then she concentrated.

"EARTH LOVE REFRESHED!"

Timmy blinked his eyes open as the mist revitalized everyone. He sat straight up as he realized who was standing in his hotel room.

"The Sailor Scouts!" he gasped with joy. "Did you guys get that thing?"

Sailor Moon nodded. "Yes we did, Timmy."

Timmy and both parents' jaws were agape.

"H-how did you know my name?" stuttered Timmy.

Sailor Earth moved forward. "Can the three of you keep a big secret? You will have to to avoid what just happened."

"You're the new Scout, Sailor Earth right?" asked Timmy.

"Yes, now, can you keep a secret?"

All three nodded.

"We know your name, Timmy, because...." she trailed off and willed herself back to normal.

Timmy and both parents gasped as Sailor Earth became Samantha's swim-suited form.

"..I'm your sister," she finished. She looked at her parents and gave a little smile. "I told you it was important."

"Then...then..." Timmy gulped.

The other five Scouts smiled and transformed back to normal.

Timmy blushed deep red. "I-I'm sorry," he said, feeling very small. "I shouldn't have gotten you all wet."

"It's ok, Timmy," said Serena. She giggled. "If I can tolerate Reeni, there isn't a thing you can do to upset me!"

"Uhh, ok.." he trailed off.

"I guess that's a good enough reason.....maybe we should talk to some of your parents," Samantha's mother said.

Samantha just smiled and rolled her eyes.

THE END (of this story, anyway!)

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