Author: Ariel
Email: arielhime21@hotmail.com
Rating: PG-13
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Sailor Moon and the characters of Sailor Moon. I also do not own any song that I have used in my fanfic. I do, however, own my ideas and the ideas of the few characters that I have created. I just combined my ideas, Sailor Moon and a few songs to make up a story.
This fic is still among my earlier works and it goes after "Destined Love" if you go by any order *grin* I hope you like. This Ariel is a bit different from the one I portray her to be now.
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Ariel sat up suddenly, sweating and gasping. She looked over to her right at the clock radio next to her bed. It was 3:30 in the morning. She turned on the lamp. “What a nightmare,” she said softly, trying to catch her breath once again. This is all too weird, she thought. I’ve been having practically the same nightmare for about a week. What does it all mean? she asked herself, trying to figure it out.
Startled, she looked up as her door opened a little bit. “Ariel?” a soft male voice asked.
“Yeah?” she asked, knowing it was Peter, her boyfriend and co-owner of the music shop.
“Sweetheart? Are you okay?” Peter opened the door a little more and stepped in. “I heard you talking in your sleep.” He saw Ariel blush a little and sat down at the edge of her bed. “Did you have another nightmare?” He looked concerned.
Ariel suddenly panicked. “How did you know I was having nightmares?” I hope I never said anything about them when I talked in my sleep. No one is supposed to know about it. She looked Peter straight in the eyes.
Peter took her hand in his. “I was walking over the kitchenette a few nights ago to get a drink and I heard your voice. I opened your door a little bit to check on you. You were tossing and turning and shaking your head. I wanted to go to you, but I figured it would scare you if I just woke you up. So I closed the door and sat by your door just make sure you fell asleep again.” He squeezed Ariel’s hand. She smiled up at him.
“You’re so good to me, Peter,” she said softly as she hugged him.
“It‘s because I love you so much, my princess. One day we’re gonna get married and I want to make sure you are safe and happy.” He hugged her and pushed her back and tucked her in. “Now try to go back to sleep. If you need anything, just call me. I’ll come right in.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
Ariel smiled. “Thanks Peter. Goodnight my love.” Ariel closed her eyes as Peter turned off her lamp and left her room.
She heard her door close and thought to herself before trying to go to sleep once again. Why is my past haunting me? It’s never haunted me before. “I don’t understand,” she mumbled softly as she slipped into another silent sleep.
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Peter leaned on the door after he had left Ariel. What is going on? She’s never had this many nightmares in one week. He looked at the music shop. So quiet. “Oh Glenn. Help me? What can I do to help Ariel? Peter said softly. He hoped that Glenn’s spirit could help him. “We miss you a lot Glenn. I know Ariel above all misses you the most.” Glenn was the late-owner of Golden Sounds Music Shop. He took care of Ariel when she moved to Tokyo a few years back. His death made Ariel suffer a lot. But Ariel being the strong girl she is, moved on although Peter and the others knew she suffered.
Peter moved over to the small kitchenette. The music shop was their home. It had three bedrooms on the side, each having their own bathroom, and a kitchenette. There were TV’s, chairs, tables, and small couches all over the store. All the music supplies were neatly arranged to make customers feel at home and relaxed. The stage where Ariel, Peter, and anyone practiced their singing, dancing, or just plain performing, was dark.
He looked over to the clock on the far side of the kitchenette. It was soon 4:00 in the morning. He took a glass and filled it with water from the refrigerator, drank it, washed the glass, and went back to his room.
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Peter awoke when the sun started hitting him in the face through his windows. He looked over to the clock. 11:30 in the morning. “Oh no! I’m late! Ariel is gonna have a fit. She’s gonna be late for class! I’m supposed to watch the stop for her while she is gone.” He hurriedly got dressed and walked out quickly from his room.
The door slamming shut made Ariel look up. She was sitting at the front desk in a skirt and blouse. “Peter what’s wrong?” she asked.
“Ariel, I’m sorry I didn’t wake up earlier. I made you late for class...” Peter started but was soon interrupted by Ariel.
“Peter? It’s Saturday. We all have off on Saturday.” She smiled and got up to give him a kiss on the cheek. “It’s okay.”
Peter sighed with relief. He spent several hours awake worried about Ariel.
“I have to go to the store real quick. Just stay here for me for a little bit. I’ll be back soon. If Darien and the girls come by tell them that I’ll be back soon. Okay?” She grabbed her purse and left just as Peter nodded.
Ariel walked calmly to the little grocery store a few blocks away. It was across the street from the Tokyo Orphanage. She stared at it for a minute before walking into the store.
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Peter sat at the desk Ariel was sitting at when he heard the front door open. He looked up to see Darien and Serena walk in. “Hi lovebirds! How’s it goin’?” Peter asked as he stood up to shake Darien’s hand and kiss Serena on the cheek.
“Not bad, Peter. Yourself?” Darien asked. Serena smiled and sat on the couch across the desk Peter was working at.
Darien was Ariel’s twin sister and Serena was Darien’s girlfriend. Serena’s friends, who apparently were showing up in a little while, were good friends of Ariel also. Peter and Ariel joined the girls and Darien in a lot of activities. They all hung out and had fun. Their destinies had brought them together once again, either as warriors or just plain people.
“I’m okay. Ariel went to the store a little while ago. She should be coming back soon.” Peter said as he sat back down at the desk. A worried look spread across his face which Darien and Serena both noticed.
“Peter? What’s wrong? What’s going on? Are you all right?” Serena asked, worried about their friend.
“I’m just a little worried about Ariel,” he started. Immediately, two pairs of eyes stared intently at his face. “She has been having nightmares the entire week. She seems to refuse to talk about them. She nearly flipped when I asked her if she had another one last night. Something is going on and I can’t do anything to help her.” Peter sighed and sat back in his chair.
Serena and Darien exchanged glances, both becoming worried also. “Well, I’m sure that if Ariel needs to talk, she’ll open up to you. Just let her be for a while. She probably needs to figure out for herself what it means before she says anything.” Darien told Peter calmly. “Since she is my twin sister, I know she’ll open up to you at some time. Just make sure she knows that you are there for her if and when she needs you to be. Okay?”
Peter smiled and nodded. “She knows. She knows.”
Just then the door opened and Peter, Darien and Serena all looked up. “Hey guys! The party crew is here!!” Lita chimed as she, Amy, Mina, and Raye walked in. Amy was holding Luna, Serena’s cat, and Mina was holding her own cat, Artemis.
“Hey girls! Come on in. Have a seat. Stay awhile,” Peter stood up to greet them all.
After greeting one another, everyone sat. Looking around, Raye asked, “Where’s Ariel?”
Peter breathed in and stopped talking before he could even start.
Darien noticed the very slight worried look on Peter’s face and answered for him. “She went to the store. She’ll be here in a little while.” He looked over at Peter who smiled at him thankfully.
“Oh, okay,” Raye replied. She smiled a little, but she was still a little worried. Trying to keep her mind off Ariel for a little bit, she got up. “Anyone want anything to drink?”
“Pepsi please,” Mina stated out-of-nowhere.
Raye looked at Mina and giggled. “Anyone else?” She got a reply from everyone else and went into the kitchenette to get their drinks.
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Ariel looked at her basket in the store. I think I have everything. She looked over to the aisle to her left. Okay, one more thing. I’ll get chocolate chip cookies for everyone. She picked up two packages and smiled. Ariel walked over to the register and paid for her groceries. She picked up her grocery bags and walked outside.
The sun was shining in her face so she moved away from the entrance and put her bags down while she looked for her sunglasses in her purse. Before she put them on, she looked up and once again saw the orphanage across the street. She squinted to look through the open front door and gasped at what she saw. She grabbed her bags and ran across the street.
Through the open door, an old woman grabbed a girl and yanked her arm. The girl cried out in pain, tears streaming from her eyes. “That is what you get when you don’t do what I say, brat!” The old woman raised her hand and was ready to strike the child in the face.
“DON’T YOU DARE!!!” Ariel yelled at the woman. Both woman and child looked up.
“Who are you?” the woman sneered as she looked Ariel up and down. The little girl pulled her arm away from the woman and backed away, running down the hall. Ariel and the woman stared after the girl. “Aww, great. You made me lose her. Now I have to chase her around the entire building to teach her a lesson.”
Ariel looked at the woman with angered eyes. “How dare you hit a child in that way?!?! I’m sure you could have killed her with the force of the blows you were hitting her!” Ariel’s eyes welled up with silent, angry tears.
“WHO are YOU to judge what I do and don’t do?” The woman got closer to Ariel. “These kids nowadays are not what they used to be. I remember about ten years ago, the orphans were good. I had very few troublemakers. I used to love each and every single one of them. NOW...I can barely stand them! That child was getting what she deserved. She is the one that causes the most trouble.”
This woman looks vaguely familiar. But...from where? Ariel thought as she looked at the woman angrily. She gasped. I remember! She’s the one who sent me away. She was the one who separated Darien and me. But...she used to be so nice. She cried when I was taken away. How can she become so...so awful? The tears welled up even more in Ariel’s eyes.
“What is the matter with you?” The woman angrily asked as she stared at Ariel.
Ariel snapped back to reality. “What is the matter with me, you ask? What is the matter with me? You are the one who practically killed a child!” Ariel stopped. I’ve got to get out of here. “I’m glad I came here in time to save that kid. Just because she is here, your orphanage, I presume?” The woman nodded. “Doesn’t mean you can beat them up for doing something wrong. If you don’t like this job anymore, then why don’t you just look for someone who will take over for you?”
“ARE YOU CRAZY? I’m getting a lot of money for just running this place and you think I should just walk out on it. I don’t think so. Now if you please, you are not welcome here anymore. GoodBYE!” The woman pushed Ariel out the door.
On the porch, Ariel could hear the woman laughing inside. Ariel became very angry. Tears were burning her eyes. How could one that loved children so much become so greedy? She used to be a very nice woman. It’s not like I remember her that much, but I remember that she cried as she hugged me goodbye and I got into the taxi with the other woman that had taken me to the airport. That day was to be the beginning of my new life. In America. Ariel wiped away the few tears that had managed to fall from her eyes. I had just known Darien as a friend. They never told me he was my brother. My twin brother.
Ariel picked up her bags and walked down the steps of the orphanage. She turned onto the street and began walking to the music shop. She arrived there and smiled as she heard everyone’s laughter inside.
“Hi everybody!” Ariel said as she walked in.
Peter took the bags so Ariel could go around hugging everybody. She greeted the girls and stopped by Darien. He looked up at her and got up. She gave him a big hug. Everyone looked at Ariel. She had become very solemn as she hugged Darien.
Darien, noticing a sudden change in Ariel, hugged her back. He looked over at Peter with a confused look. Peter, who had just as a confused look as Darien, shook his head and shrugged. “Ariel?” Darien asked. “You okay sis?”
Ariel nodded. “I just needed a hug from my brother. That’s all.” Darien smiled and hugged his twin. Something is wrong. I know it. Peter knows it. The girls know it. Darien looked around and everyone was quiet.
Ariel breathed in and smiled as she backed away from Darien. “Thanks. I needed that.” She walked over to Peter, who had sat back down on the chair. She stood behind him and put her arms around him. “So what have you guys been up to while I was gone?”
“Nothing much, just chilling,” Peter told her as he gave her a kiss on the cheek. Something is so totally wrong. I wish I knew what it was. She’ll tell me soon enough.
“Oooh!! Chocolate chip cookies!!” Serena squealed as she looked through one of the bags of groceries Ariel had brought. “Yummy!”
The other girls groaned and rolled their eyes. Ariel, Peter and Darien laughed as Serena brought the bag with her to the couch.
Suddenly a loud noise in the kitchenette startled everyone. “What the...?” Ariel started as she stood up.
Peter got up and checked. He was by the sink when the lower cabinet hit his shin. “Ow!” He jumped back.
“Peter? Are you okay?” Ariel asked.
Darien had just started getting up to help when Peter yelled, “AH HA! What the...?” Peter opened the other cabinet door and saw a girl curled up inside. He reached in to get her, but the girl just scratched him and ran out from under the sink. “Ow!”
Startled, everyone looked up as the girl ran out and stopped in the center of the room, frozen. Peter got up and rubbed his arm where the girl had scratched him.
Ariel and the girl locked eyes immediately. It’s her! But...what is she doing here? She must have followed me here. But...why? Ariel thought as her face turned pale.
“Look kid! People are welcome here but if you are just gonna hide and play games then do it elsewhere. We don‘t need...” Peter stopped. He noticed Ariel and the girl staring at each other. The room remained quiet.
Ariel slowly walked over to the girl slowly. When she got close to her, she kneeled down. The girl suddenly gasped and threw herself onto Ariel, hugging her tightly. Naturally, Ariel hugged the girl back, looking down at the ground.
“Ariel?” Peter started but stopped immediately. He saw the seriousness in Ariel’s eyes and he and everyone else knew that this was important. He smiled. Ariel is such a good person. Helping all she can, he thought. He moved over to where Darien and Serena were sitting and leaned over between them.
“Hmm...something serious must have happened. I’ve never seen this kid before,” Peter whispered. Serena and Darien nodded their agreement. The girls, who were listening as well, heard and agreed silently.
Ariel let go of the girl and quietly got up. “So...what’s your name kid?”
The little girl who had long pitch-black hair and brown eyes looked at her. “Lydia. What’s yours?” The girl looked up at Ariel intently.
“Ariel,” she said quietly. “How old are you, Lydia?”
“I’m 6. My birthday is in two weeks. I’ll be seven.”
“Why did you follow me?” Ariel asked the child. My Lord, she is the same age I was when I was at the orphanage.
“Cause you are the only one who ever stood up to Old Lady Bertha. You saved my life. I thought I was a goner for sure,” the little girl looked to the ground.
“You still didn’t answer my question though. Why did you follow me?” Ariel bent down to the littler girl again.
“Cause I’m not going back again. I just wanted to go someplace else for a little while. But I’m not going back again. She is gonna kill me that Old Lady Bertha,” Lydia said. Her bottom lip began trembling and her eyes watered. “She hits hard. Real hard Ariel. But she only does it to me. Not to the other kids. Only me. She hates me so much. But she was never like this. Never.” Lydia started crying now.
All the girls and the two guys gasped. “Poor kid,” Serena said quietly as she squeezed Darien’s hand.
Ariel grabbed the girl again and began hugging her. Everyone noticed the tears welling up in Ariel’s eyes. Confused looks immediately spread throughout the room, mostly towards Ariel’s sudden change in behavior.
Ariel fought the tears. They’re all staring at me. I have to be strong. “What do you mean she was never like this?”
Lydia cried in Ariel’s arms. “It started about a week ago. One night, I came in from playing with the other kids and then she just grabbed me. And...and...” Lydia sobbed. “I must have done something to make her angry. I don’t know what I did!”
Ariel rocked the child in her arms. “There there now sweetie pie. It’ll be okay. Is there anyone else there that runs the place? I can go talk to them.”
The sobbing girl looked up with wide eyes. “You’d do that for me? Would you?” More tears streamed down the child’s delicate face.
“Of course I would. Now, who else is there?” Ariel smiled at the child.
“Well, there is Mr. McBride. That’s Wilbert. Old Lady Bertha’s husband. He is nice. He takes me out for ice cream sometimes. You can talk to him.” Lydia released her grip from Ariel. “Thanks a lot. I really appreciate your help.”
“No problem honey. Let’s go talk to Mr. McBride. We gotta get you back to the orphanage before dark.” Ariel went to her desk to pick up her purse.
“The orphanage?” Darien asked quietly. He looked at the little girl and then at his sister.
“Yes, Dare, the orphanage. I’ll talk to you all when I come back. Bye guys!” Ariel took Lydia’s hand and they were off.
“Oh, my. That was something interesting for today,” Peter said with a sigh. He looked over at Darien who had turned pale. “Darien? What’s wrong?”
Darien looked up at Peter. “Now I understand why Ariel was so emotional while hugging the little girl.” All eyes went up to meet him.
“Darien?” Serena said softly. Her eyes were searching his.
“That’s the orphanage I was at. That must mean, that maybe, at some point after my parents’ accident, that...that Ariel was there too. But not for long. I knew practically everybody there since I was there so long. And that Old Lady Bertha...Lydia was right. The woman used to be the nicest woman in the world. She loved the kids at the orphanage. It doesn’t sound like the Old Lady Bertha I knew.” Darien sighed. He looked down at his hands. His fingers intertwined with Serena’s. “Something must be going on. I don’t know if anyone feels it, but I feel as if something bad is going to happen.”
“Ariel has been having nightmares for the past week,” Peter stated. “Almost about the same amount of time that Lydia has been having trouble at the orphanage. Think that there is any link to that?” Peter was sitting at the desk, looking down at the papers Ariel had been playing with the previous week.
“You know, maybe we are all overanalyzing this,” Lita said. “Maybe there isn’t a link. But we won’t know until something happens, right?”
“Yeah. But if there is a link, I would think that it would be rather frightening,” Amy added. “Because for it to involve both Ariel and a child, none less, a little girl, would be rather dangerous.”
“I totally agree with you Amy. But we’ll have to investigate it to be sure,” Mina added as she looked towards Amy’s directions.
“Whatever happens...if there is a link, we have to be sure that we protect both Ariel and Lydia,” Serena interrupted. Everyone looked her way. “It would be devastating to everyone I would assume, especially Ariel, if something happened to Lydia. They seem to have a connection. What it is, I don’t know, but they do.”
Luna and Artemis looked at each other. “Serena? You truly do hold the heart of the moon princess,” Luna told her.
“Yes,” Artemis added. “You would love to protect everyone. Now we need to figure out what to do about this Old Lady Bertha.”
“WAIT!” Raye interrupted. Everyone’s shocked eyes turned to her. “I’ve been having visions lately. I tried getting more information through a fire reading, but I’ve had no luck. There is a connection. Between Ariel and Lydia. And between Ariel’s nightmares and Old Lady Bertha’s apparent sudden change.”
“What is it Raye?” Peter asked abruptly. He suddenly got a bad feeling. I hope Ariel will be all right. This doesn’t sound too good.
“I’ve sensed an evil presence lately. Not too long. About a week, actually,” Raye started. “I don’t know exactly what the connection is between Ariel, Lydia and Old Lady Bertha, but I do know that there is one. Very bad negative energy. I doubt it is Queen Beryl’s doing. She is long gone. As is the Nega-Moon. I don’t know what it is. But it is here, and it will attack soon.”
Everyone nodded. They silently knew that it was a mission for the scouts. They decided, since nobody knew when the attack would occur or by whom, to wait until somebody sensed it. They continued chatting and having fun. But it was obvious that what was on everyone’s mind was this future attack.
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Ariel walked hand-in-hand with Lydia. “Okay Lydia. I will talk to Wilbert McBride. But you must promise that you will stay at the orphanage. No running away or anything. Do you promise?”
“Aww, Ariel. Do I have to?” Lydia looked up Ariel who nodded. “Okay, but will you promise to come visit me often? I promise to stay there if you do.”
Ariel stopped and knelt down facing the child. She looks just like me. I just hope that she doesn’t runaway. Not to make the same mistake that I did. “I promise to come by and visit. I will talk to Mr. McBride and see if he’ll let me even take you with me back to the shop once a week. How about that?”
“I’d love that Ariel! Thanks! Then, I promise I’ll stay at the orphanage,” Lydia chirped happily. She hugged Ariel again.
They got to the orphanage and Ariel knocked on the door. Lydia held Ariel’s hand and hid behind her, peering through the side.
The door opened. A sincere looking man asked, “May I help you?”
“Yes,” Ariel stated. “I would like to speak to Mr. Wilbert McBride.”
“I am he,” the man replied. He saw Lydia peeking from behind Ariel. “Lydia?! My child. I’ve been worried about you. Where have you been?”
“Actually, sir, that is what I would like to speak to you about,” Ariel told him.
“Really?” he asked. Ariel nodded. “Please come in then. Follow me to my office.” Mr. McBride closed the door to the orphanage and led Ariel and Lydia to an office.
Mr. McBride closed the door after he entered and sat down at his office. “How may I help you, Miss?”
“My name is Ariel. I was at the grocery store across the street this morning. I got out and I noticed a woman acting violently towards this child. I stopped her because I could not bear seeing children get struck. Anyway, after I had left, I was back at my store, Golden Sounds Music Shop, when my friends and I discovered that Lydia here, had followed me and snuck in,” Ariel said as she saw Lydia look at the ground. Ariel squeezed her hand. “She told me that she didn’t want to return here. That she was afraid of being struck again.”
The look on Mr. McBride’s face was one full of shock and horror. “Lydia? Who hit you?” he asked sternly.
“Well, sir, please don’t hit me for telling you,” Lydia’s eyes welled up with tears.
“No, no, child. I would never hit you. I promise. Now, tell me, who hit you?” the man asked again.
“It was Old Lady Bertha, sir.” Lydia closed her eyes preparing to take a blow. But none came. Instead, she felt arms embrace her in a hug. She opened her eyes to see Mr. McBride hugging her.
“Ariel, I thank you very much for bringing her back and for stopping my wife from abusing her. This is very odd. My wife has never struck a child before. I will look into this. Actually, my wife has been acting rather strange lately. Not too long either. About a week, I believe.”
Ariel gasped. A week? Same time my nightmares started. Something is really wrong. First I meet Lydia, a wannabe orphan runaway. If it weren’t for me being there to coax her into returning back to the orphanage, she would have probably suffered as much as I had. And now, Mr. McBride’s wife sudden change. This is too weird. “Mr. McBride? I trust you to take care of Lydia from any more abuse. I would like to know if it would be alright for me take Lydia over to my music shop a few times a week and for me to stop by and play with her.” She smiled at Lydia.
The old man stood up and smiled. “I think that would be wonderful for her. She is a special girl. I cannot believe why my wife would want to hit her. I take her out to ice cream sometimes. I was looking for her today, and when I didn’t find her, I panicked.”
“She is safe now. Well, I must return back to my shop. I’ll come by again soon. I promise,” Ariel told the man as she shook his hand. She knelt down by Lydia. “Hey pumpkin, I promise you that I will take care of you, okay? I’ll be back soon.”
“Okay Ariel! I’ll wait for you!” Lydia happily chirped. “Bye!”
“Bye sweetie. Bye Mr. McBride.” Ariel said as she turned to leave.
“Please...call me Wilbert,” the man told her.
Ariel smiled, nodded, and waved bye.
Wow! What a day! Well, Lydia will be better now. I’m gonna have to think of some stuff to do when I bring her over. Ariel quickly walked back to the shop.
She knew everyone was still there. Darien’s car was parked in her driveway to the right. She walked in and said hi.
“So, Ariel? How did it go?” Peter asked her.
“It went well, actually. Mr. McBride is a very, very loving person. He was very worried about Lydia.” Ariel looked around the room. Everyone was staring at her. “What?” she asked quietly.
“Nothing,” Darien replied. “Are you okay?”
Ariel smiled at her brother. “Yeah,” she sighed, “I’m fine. I just wanted to make sure she was going to be okay.” She looked at the clock. It was around dinner time. “Anyone want to order pizza?”
“That sounds good but I have to get home,” Serena said. “My mom told me to be sure that I made it for dinner. So I have to get going. Sorry Ariel.”
Ariel looked at her friend. “It’s okay Serena. Darien, you’re gonna give her a ride home right?”
He smiled at his sister. “Yeah, I’ll see you later Ariel, Peter.” He and Serena, along with Luna, left.
Mina and Lita got up. “We better be on our way also. Mina is coming over to my house tonight and we have to stop by her house so she can get some stuff. So we’ll see you tomorrow Ariel. Take care, Peter,” Lita said.
“Bye sweetie!” Mina hugged Ariel and Peter. She picked up Artemis and she and Lita were on their way.
“Yeah, I better be going too, Grandpa wanted me to do some chores around the temple with Chad. So, I’ll be seeing you. Bye Peter.” Raye walked over to Ariel. “If you need to talk, just stop by. It doesn’t matter what time it is, okay?” Raye told her friend quietly. “Bye!” Raye opened the shop door and left.
“So...Peter? Darling? Do you want pizza? Or are you going to leave to?” Ariel asked him.
“Actually I was just going to go to the video store...” he saw Ariel’s disappointed look. “Nah! I was just joking. Besides, I’m hungry. Let’s order some pizza!” Ariel smiled and picked up the phone and started dialing.
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That night was another bad night for Ariel. She tossed and turned. Peter had checked up on her a few times.
This is way weird. I’m in her room now. Usually she senses me or someone in here. But nothing. She just keeps tossing and turning. Oh...Ariel. What is going on? He sat on a chair in the darkest corner of her room. He was practically asleep when Ariel suddenly screamed out.
“NO! LYDIA!” Ariel’s face was white with horror. She got up, dressed quickly and ran out of her room.
Peter was shocked at his girlfriend’s behavior. He followed her out of her room just in time to see her running out of the front door.
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Ariel ran towards the orphanage. She looked at her watch. 3:30AM. Why has everything been happening to me at around 3:30 in the morning? It doesn’t matter. I have to get to the orphanage right away.
Ariel stopped running about a block away. A strange light was emitting from the top floor of the orphanage. She stood there in total shock. She ran up to the front of the building. She heard a scream. A child’s scream. She decided to transform.
“Universal Crystal Power!” she shouted. Immediate a rainbow swirl from the pendant on her necklace surrounded her. In no time, she was wearing her warrior outfit.
Another scream was heard and Ariel started running up the stairs to the door. Right before she got to it, the door burst open and there stood Old Lady Bertha. At least the body of Bertha holding Lydia by the waist with one hand and covering her mouth with the other.
“Bertha! Let her go! What do you want with her anyway?” Ariel yelled.
“Oh my dearest. It is not her that I want. It is YOU! She was just the perfect bait to get you back here!” Bertha cackled.
“ME?! What do you want with me?” Ariel yelled back, taking her stance, ready to attack if at all necessary.
“You will find out soon enough! If you want the child back safely, meet me in the park!” With that, the witch left in a swirl of the mysterious light, leaving behind the body of Old Lady Bertha.
Ariel ran up to the old woman. Poor Bertha, she thought, it wasn’t you hitting Lydia. It was that witch! You are still the loving old woman who cares for orphans. Ariel noticed an old man slightly stumble down the stairs.
“Who are you?” he asked. It was Mr. McBride. He knelt down beside his wife who was still laying on the floor.
“I’m the Universal Guardian, sir. Your wife will be okay. She never meant to hurt Lydia. She was just another victim of evil. I will get the girl back here. I promise.” Ariel left quickly.
The man just stared at her. He smiled. He had recognized the voice of this Universal Guardian. I know you’ll get her back here, Ariel. He held his wife in his arms.
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Ariel ran to the park. Of all places to choose the park was where we fight a lot of our battles, Ariel thought as she stopped by the lake. “All right, witch! I’m here! What do you want? Give me the child! She has nothing to do with this!” Ariel yelled out looking around.
Peter had transformed into the Galactic Knight and had contacted the girls. They all met at the orphanage. Darien was the last to arrive. “They are at the park!” he yelled as he pulled up in the parking spot near the orphanage. “Let’s transform and go!”
“Right!” everyone said in unison.
“Mercury Star Power!”
“Jupiter Star Power!”
“Venus Star Power!”
“Mars Star Power!”
“Moon Crystal Power!”
All the girls transformed, as had Darien, now Tuxedo Mask. They all followed the Galactic Knight as he ran to the park. “We have to get there soon. I don’t know what is going on!”
They arrived and remained quiet behind a few bushes and trees. They saw Ariel yelling at someone. The only problem was that the being was nowhere to be seen.
“What the heck?” Sailor Jupiter said quietly as she peered over Sailor Mercury’s shoulder.
“Shh...listen. I think the thing is trying to mess with Ariel’s mind,” Sailor Mars said solemnly as she shifted herself to the other knee.
“Huh? That is really low...” Sailor Moon said.
***********************
“OKAY?! SHOW YOURSELF! I’M HERE! THAT’S WHAT YOU WANTED! WHERE’S LYDIA? HEL-LO?!” Ariel screamed. Her voice was getting hoarse.
“Ha ha! I just love making you cry brat! I’ll show myself soon enough. Look up over the lake. The girl is over there!” The witch cackled once again.
Ariel and everyone else who has hiding looked out over the lake. Lydia was tied up in a chain and just floating over the lake. She managed to get the cloth covering her mouth and scream out to Ariel! “Ariel! She knows who you are! Be careful! Save yourself! AHH!!!”
“Why don’t you just let her go? Huh?” Ariel asked the witch, her eyes welling up with tears. “It’s me you want, so here I am!”
“You’re right! I shouldn’t stall anymore. So Ariel? How was the United States? When I took you away from this Tokyo Orphanage. How was it?” the witch asked.
“What are you talking about?” Ariel asked.
“Didn’t you just love all the special attention I gave you! All the special treatment!”
Ariel gasped. She was remembering back to her early childhood in the United States.
**flashback**
“No! Please don’t! I promise I’ll be good!” a little girl cried out.
“You? Be good? That is a laugh! I have to punish you forever. I have to teach you a lesson!” the older woman laughed.
A belt was swung and hit the girl on her side. A repeated number of times the belt was swung. Hitting the girl’s back, sides, and legs.
“Stay STILL!” the woman yelled. A closed fist hit the girl across the face, knocking her across the room.
**end flashback**
“You!?!” Ariel cried out.
“Ha ha!” the witch cried out.
*************************
“What’s going on?” Sailor Venus whispered. No one answered her. Everyone was staring at the witch which had suddenly appeared in front of Ariel.
*****************************
“Here ARIEL!” the witch, dressed in a long red robe with a mask on, taunted Ariel once again. This time filling a section of the sky with what was going on in Ariel’s mind as she remembered.
**flashback (in sky)**
“NO!! PLEASE!!” a little girl screamed as she was thrown against another wall. Bruises all over her face and body. The girl lay limp by the wall.
“That’s enough for now. I’ll continue teaching your lesson again later, before your bedtime!” the woman cackled.
The woman left and shut the door. The little girl looked up, squinting. “I don’t think so!” the girl struggled to get up. Once she did, she took a moment for her vision to adjust and then moved. She went to her room, grabbed a little bag and put a few things in there: some clothes, a brush, toothbrush and toothpaste, a water bottle, her walkman and her favorite tape, Elton John’s Greatest Hits, and a picture. She looked at the picture before putting it in her bag. It was a picture of her and a little boy...
**end flashback**
Ariel gasped. I lost that picture. I always kept it with me because I felt as if I needed to. Although I had no idea who it was. “Why are you doing this?!?” Ariel screamed.
“Because you still have to pay child! You are never good!! Ha ha! You will truly pay for all you have done. WATCH!!” the witch cackled again and Ariel began remembering some more.
“NO!! NO MORE!! PLEASE!!!” Ariel cried out as tears flowed from her eyes. She grabbed her side.
**flashback**
The little girl ran through the dark alley near the orphanage in the strange new orphanage in the United States. She didn’t dare look back. “I have to keep going! I can’t let her find me!” She ran and ran. Her blackish-brownish-blue hair flowing behind her. She kept running until she was out of breath and collapse in the darker part of the alley.
“Hey kid!” a deep voice called to her. “Didn’t your parents ever tell you that it is not safe to be outside in dark streets alone?”
The girl tried to scream, but the man grabbed her and covered her mouth with his hand. He took her to a corner. The girl finally stopped struggling and the man removed the hand covering her mouth. He gave a disgusting smile and got closer to the child.
The girl gasped and her eyes opened wide with horror. As the man moved closer, she closed her eyes tighter. Suddenly she opened them, startling the snickering man. She looked at the man with a deep, angering intensity. The man slowly back away. The little girl actually frightened him.
The little girl raised her hand up to the sky and the man was suddenly surrounded with a rainbow swirl. The little girl got her bag and continued running away.
**end flashback**
“STOP!!” Ariel cried out. “You MONSTER!” Ariel’s tears flowed from her eyes. She grabbed her side again, and collapsed to the ground. She looked up with anger at the witch.
“NOW I’VE GOT YOU WHERE I WANT YOU, BRAT!!” the witch yelled at her. She lifted her arms up and looked up.
*****************************
“I can’t believe it!” Tuxedo Mask said in total disbelief.
“I knew it!” Sailor Mars said silently. “I knew there was a connection with the witch and Ariel. And poor Lydia was used as bait and didn’t even know it.” She pounded her gloved fist into her other palm.
“Ariel...” Galactic Knight said. “She had to face her destiny at such a young age.” He shook his head in disbelief.
“That look on her eyes was odd. It looked like something had given her strength to go against that guy,” Sailor Moon stated. Everyone looked at her. “Didn’t you see it?”
“Like a black haze you mean?” Sailor Venus asked. Sailor Moon nodded. “I noticed it too.”
“Then what can it mean?” Sailor Jupiter asked.
“Someone or something helped Ariel that night,” Sailor Mercury interrupted.
“What?” Tuxedo Mask asked. He shook his head.
“I’m saying that someone or something must have helped Ariel step up to that guy. One thing we do know is that Ariel has been a warrior for a long time, right? Well, what if maybe she is destined to have a guardian. Like you Sailor Moon, you have Luna. Sailor Venus, you have Artemis. Maybe since she was all alone in the United States, could it be possible that...” Sailor Mercury was interrupted.
“You are finished girl! FINISHED!” the witch cackled. Her hands lowered and pointed at Ariel. An attack came and hit Ariel, sending her flying through the air, landing next to a tree.
“NO!! ARIEL!!” the Galactic Knight started to run towards her but a hand held her back.
“No Peter. We mustn’t interrupt!” Sailor Mars said.
“But we can’t leave her laying out there. I can’t,” Peter complained.
“She won’t be laying there for much longer.” Sailor Mars looked at the sky. The others did as well. “Something is coming. I can feel it.”
“What?” Peter protested but stopped as he and the others saw the witch prepare for another attack.
The attack readied itself in the hands of the witch. A huge green and magenta colored ball formed and the witch in red looked at Ariel. “I will finally make sure you are destroyed child!” Once again the witch pointed out at Ariel, who had the black vacant look in her eyes. The same eyes as the little girl in the flashback of Ariel’s life.
A voice boomed through the air saying, “NOW ARIEL!”
The attacked left the witch’s hands before she could react to the mysterious voice.
Just as it neared Ariel, she shakily stood up and cried out, “Universal Rainbow Shower!” A rainbow swirl blocked her from getting hit with the attack.
“WHAT?!?” the witch yelled. “It can’t be! I’ll get you yet!”
“Not if we can help it!” Sailor Jupiter cried out.
“We will stand proud to help our friends,” Sailor Venus added.
“We will right wrong,” started Sailor Mercury.
“And triumph over evil!” finished Sailor Mars.
“In the name of the moon,” Sailor Moon said. Tuxedo Mask jumped out beside her and finished the phrase off with her. Together, “You’re dusted!”
“What? More people for me to teach a lesson to? Good! I have lessons to go all around!” the witch started attacking.
“Jupiter Thunder...CRASH!” Sailor Jupiter cried out. The thunderbolt blocked one of the attacks.
“Mars Fire...IGNITE!” Sailor Mars yelled as her power hit another attacked and she just in the nick of time jumped out of the way of another.
“Venus Love Chain...ENCIRCLE!” Sailor Venus’s power managed to grab hold of the witch.
“Good job Sailor Venus! Hold her steady!” Sailor Moon yelled over to her fellow scout as she prepared her scepter. “Moon Scepter...”
“Mercury Bubbles...BLAST!” Sailor Mercury cried out as her bubbles temporarily blinded the witch.
A rose from Tuxedo Mask flew in the air, leading a path through the bubbles towards the witch so Sailor Moon could aim her scepter at it. “Activation!” Sailor Moon pointed her scepter to the path made by the crimson rose.
The witch screamed in pain and faded. “You haven’t seen the last of me!”
Ariel’s rainbow power faded around her. She fell to her knees, trembling. The Galactic Knight ran to her side. “Ariel? Please answer me. Ariel?”
Ariel slowly looked up at Peter. “Peter? It was so horrible! I...I...tried to forget...my...my past.” She stopped as she sensed something approaching. Something evil.
Slowly, the Universal Guardian rose to her feet. Standing close beside her was the Galactic Knight. Ariel looked over to the lake and noticed that the little girl, Lydia, was still chained and floating above the water. “The witch is not dead!” Ariel stated. “She is alive and apparently has a sufficient amount of power.”
“Didn’t my scepter destroy her?” Sailor Moon asked.
Shaking her head, Ariel said, “No. It merely wounded her for a moment.” She looked over at Lydia. “I have to destroy her...for Lydia’s sake. I’ve come to realize what my dreams mean. Someone I grew to care for was going through the same things I went through in my childhood. The only difference is that I had to runaway. I was getting beaten up left and right. My destiny came to my rescue. And now, my destiny is going to rescue someone else. Lydia has no need to runaway anymore. Old Lady Bertha and Wilbert McBride are going to be safe. And they’ll take care of her like they’ve always had.”
Ariel turned her back to the scouts, Tuxedo Mask, and Galactic Knight. She took a few steps forward. Everyone looked at her silently. “All right witch! Show yourself!” She walked a few more steps in front of her friends and looked back. She quietly said to them, “I’ll need your help.” The scouts nodded and continued watching.
“Brave child! Stepping up to me alone! FOOL!” the witch reappeared above the shoreline of the lake. “You will NEVER destroy me!” She rose her hands again, this time the red robe falling to the ground. It revealed a slender woman with a long navy blue dress. She had piercing orange eyes and sapphire colored shoulder-length hair.
Ariel gasped. “Madame Samantha?!?!” Ariel shook her head in disbelief. “It was you...you ruined my childhood. I was forced to accept my destiny at a very early age. I can’t believe it! You dare show your face to me again?!” Ariel’s face grew red with anger. “You will pay for what you did to me! And for what you did to poor Lydia!” “You think so Ariel? I don’t believe you can destroy me. I played with your mind and I can keep on doing it!” Madame Samantha raised her hands one more time.
“I don’t think so!” Sailor Mars cried out. “Mars...Celestial...Fire...SURROUND!” The witch flicked the fire disks away. “WHAT?! NO!” Mars jumped out of the way.
“MARS!” Ariel cried. Her anger slowly rising.
“Let me go next! Venus...Crescent...Beam...SMASH!” Sailor Venus looked on as her crescent beam was redirected to another direction by the witch.
“This isn’t good!” Sailor Mercury said. “She can block all of our attacks!”
“Is there anything we can do?” Tuxedo Mask asked. He put his arms around Sailor Moon who was shaking her head sadly. Tears were welling up in her eyes.
“A major attack from us is all that can maybe do it,” Sailor Mercury said softly.
“Well, I’m not gonna wait around. I’m gonna give it a try!” Sailor Jupiter yelled. “Jupiter....thunder...DRAGON!” The dragon hit the witch put was immediately put to waste. Fortunately, it zapped her leg a little. “Man! This witch is really hard to beat. But we can’t give up. Not for Ariel’s sake.”
Ariel noticed her friends various attacks towards the witch. She noticed the witch lift her hand again, this time pointing at the girls. “DON’T YOU EVEN DARE!” Ariel cried out. “YOU HURT THEM AND YOU’RE IN DEEP TROUBLE!”
“Ohh...I’m shaking! Little Ariel doesn’t like it when I play with her friends!” the witch mocked. “I’m scared to death!”
“YOU BETTER BE!” the mysterious voice boomed loudly.
This time, everyone was startled, except Ariel. She began emitting a translucent rainbow light around her.
“Oh no! Ariel’s strongest power has awaken!” Peter cried. “I’m going to help her. Scouts, I think she may like your help.” With that, Peter ran off to his girlfriend’s side.
“Go get her girls!” Tuxedo Mask held Sailor Moon’s hand.
“Venus Star Power!”
“Mercury Star Power!”
“Jupiter Star Power!”
“Mars Star Power!”
“Moon Crystal Power!”
The powers of all the girls combined into one big attack. It neared Madame Samantha, but her powers tried blocking it.
The voice boomed again. “GO FOR IT ARIEL!”
Ariel nodded as she lifted her head up. She noticed Peter standing beside her. She took hold of her necklace and lifted it up to the air. “Universal Star Crystal...POWER!” Immediately a rainbow light burst from the crystal in the pendant of the necklace. Ariel stood with her head up, shaking as the power drained her from energy.
“Ariel!” Peter cried out. Her most powerful attack and it can kill her? WHY? It doesn’t make sense!
“Yes it does Prince!” the mysterious voice that boomed before told him.
“Who are you?” Peter asked, looking around.
“I’m Midnight! Guardian of Ariel! I have returned to help her once again. It is time for me to be by her side until you both take the throne.” The voice ceased once again.
Peter looked around for it and for its beholder but found nothing. He looked back at Ariel. She suddenly transformed into the Princess of the Universe. She was wearing a long black dress with spaghetti straps. A slit on her right side and the same black open-toe sandal-like heels she wore as a warrior. Her blackish-brownish-blue hair flowed loosely behind her. A sparkling tiara appeared on her head. She wasn’t shaking anymore.
The witch fought the attack for a few seconds. But could not last. She screamed at Ariel one last time, “I almost had you Ariel! I almost had you!”
Ariel’s power still grew strong. She began to shake once again and looked over the lake. “Lydia!” she cried. The sailor scouts and Tuxedo Mask looked over at the child whose chains disappeared and she began to fall right towards the water.
“NO!!” Ariel cried out. “HELP HER!”
“I WILL!” the mysterious voice boomed again and suddenly appeared over the edge of the lake.
Everyone gasped. Flying towards the falling child was a black-winged horse. “Midnight,” Peter said silently. The girl landed on the horse’s back and he flew her back to short.
Tuxedo Mask went to the horse and pulled the girl off, checking her vital signs. “She’ll be okay.”
Ariel smiled as her powers suddenly ceased. She collapsed to the ground. “Ariel...” the black horse spoke.
Peter held Ariel, trying to awaken her. She slowly opened her eyes. “Is Lydia okay?”
Peter smiled. “Yes, she is.”
Ariel sat up slowly, seeing the sailor scouts around her. Tuxedo Mask with Sailor Moon were with a sleeping Lydia. Peter was by her side. “Midnight.”
The winged-steed walked towards Ariel. “Princess...it was time for me to return to guide you. Forgive me for not coming sooner. I tried to stop Madame Samantha from going into your dreams, but I failed. I’m sorry.” Midnight looked down, closing his eyes.
“You did not fail me Midnight,” Ariel started. She slowly got up. “On the contrary, you did catch my dreams. You managed to get me to be able to save Lydia. My dreams for the future and hers as well are safe once again. Thanks to you. I would not have been able to use my power if it weren’t for your help.” She walked slowly to the horse. Lifting his head, she placed a kiss on his forehead. “I assume you know everyone here,” Ariel stated as she nodded to her friends.
“Yes, Ariel, I do.” The horse neighed. “Let me introduce myself to you all now. I’m Midnight, Ariel’s guardian. I always knew of my destiny but it was not time for me to appear until Ariel saved one like her.”
Everyone smiled and hugged one another.
Ariel walked over to her twin brother who was holding Lydia. She knelt down and transformed back to her street clothes. She picked up the child and carried her back to the orphanage. Peter went with her. The scouts and Tuxedo Mask changed back and showed Midnight were the shop was. They all decided to spend the night at the music shop.
*******************
Ariel and Peter walked quietly back to the orphanage. Sitting on the porch were Mr. and Mrs. McBride. Bertha was crying and Wilbert was hugging her. They looked up when they heard footsteps.
“Lydia!” Old Lady Bertha cried out. The child woke up and saw the woman. She panicked a little and when she looked at Ariel, who nodded, smiled back at the woman. Ariel put her down and the girl hugged the old woman.
Wilbert McBride walked down towards Ariel and Peter. “You saved her! Thank you very much. Please stop by again soon!” Ariel and Peter both shook the old man’s hand and headed back to the music shop.
They arrived to see everyone sleeping on the floor already. Ariel smiled and kissed Peter goodnight.
**************************************************************
The next morning Ariel woke up early. She did not have nightmares or anything. She got dressed and walked into the kitchenette. The girls and Darien were starting to wake up because of the sunlight shining through the windows. Ariel smiled at all of them.
Once they were all awake, Ariel opened the locks on the doors of the shop and sat down at the desk. Peter still had not been out. My poor love...he must be very tired. She moved her head over to the front door that had opened slowly. It wasn’t the girls because they were making their breakfast in the kitchenette. Darien was sitting on the couch. Midnight was making his way into the shop.
“ARIEL!” a happy voice chirped. “GOOD MORNING!” A little girl finished opening the front door and ran around to give Ariel a hug.
“Lydia!” Ariel smiled and hugged the little girl back. “What are you doing here? Did you leave the orphanage again like I told you not to do?”
“No! He brought me!” Ariel looked to where the little girl pointed. Peter stood there smiling at Ariel.
Ariel smiled at him. “I thought seeing her would make you happy,” Peter said quietly.
“Oh, Peter! Thank you!” Ariel softly said.
“Ariel?” Lydia asked. “Can you sing me a song? Peter said you sing and I’m sure you sing beautifully. Can I hear you? Can I? Can I? Can I?” the pleading girl made Ariel giggle.
“All right pumpkin. I’ll sing you a song,” Ariel got up and sat Ariel on the couch next to Darien. The other girls left the kitchenette and sat on the floor. Except for Serena who sat on the other side of Darien on the couch.
Ariel placed a CD in the radio and the music started. She sat on a stool near her audience. She picked up a microphone and began to sing.
“Call you up in the middle of the night
Like a firefly without a light
You were there like a blowtorch burning
I was a key that could use a little turning
So tired that I couldn’t even sleep
So many secrets I couldn’t keep
I promised myself I wouldn’t weep
One more promise I couldn’t keep
It seems no one can help me no
I’m in too deep; there’s no way out
This time I have really lead myself astray
Runaway train, never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I’ neither here nor there
Can you help me remember how to smile?
Make it somehow all seem worthwhile
How on earth did I get so jaded?
Life’s mystery seems so faded
I can go where no one else can go
I know what no one else knows
Here I am just a-drownin’ in the rain
With a ticket for a runaway train
And everything seems cut and dried,
Day and night, earth and sky,
Somehow I just don’t believe it
Runaway train, never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I’m neither here nor there”
The music continued to play and Ariel had tears streaming down her face. All the girls were nearing closer to tears as Ariel sang. Darien and Peter looked at each other.
Ariel walked over to Lydia and knelt down beside her. She took her small hand, stared at her face and continued singing.
“Bought a ticket for a runaway train
Like a madman laughing at the rain
A little out of touch, a little insane
It’s just easier than dealing with the pain
Runaway train, never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I’m neither here nor there”
Ariel let go of Lydia’s hand and stood up. Peter joined her singing the “Runaway Train” in the background.
“Runaway train...Never coming back
Runaway train....Tearing up the track
Runaway train...Burning in my veins
I run away but it always seems the same.”
The song continued until its ending. Everyone clapped and gave Ariel a hug. Lydia ran up to Ariel and gave her a big hug.
“Ariel?” Lydia asked when everyone quieted down.
“Yeah pumpkin?” Ariel knelt down beside the child.
“Would you mind if I asked you to be my big sister?” Lydia looked shyly at Ariel.
“Mind?” Ariel smiled. “Of course I don’t mind. I would be very proud to be your big sister!” With that, Ariel picked up Lydia and hugged her tightly. Everyone cheered and Midnight whinnied.
******************** The End *********************
Universal Guardian Series
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