Fall of 1998
"I can't believe we're all going to the same college. I mean, this is totally awesome." Lita exclaimed
"Yeah, and I can't believe Serena even passed with honors," Raye teased.
"Hey, I had you guys and Darien to help me." Serena cried.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you guys. We've had another person suddenly add to our dorm room. If I remember correctly, her name is Willow Hannigan, she'll be waiting for us." Sunshine told the others.
They were riding the community bus and, little did they know, their dorm roommate had just transported herself off the bus and into the dorm room.
***
Fifteen minutes later, they were at the college. They walked to their rooms and went inside, flopping down on the couches.
"Hello?" A soft melodic voice called from the other room.
Sunshine whispered to her cousin. "That must be her."
Serena didn't answer, but watched in the direction the voice had called from.
A tall and stunning girl came out. She had long, curly red hair and black eyes. In her right hand she held a tall staff. The girl had a gentle smile on her face and a wealth of knowledge in her eyes that surprised Serena.
"I hope you don't mind, but I took one of the beds in the room on the right, but we should talk about that." Willow said in her soft voice with another gentle smile.
***
Half an hour later, they had figured out who was to share what rooms. One room had three beds and the other had four. Sunshine and Serena wanted to be together. Willow wanted to be with Amy and Serena. So, Willow had to move her stuff. The others offered to help, but she told them no.
Willow answered them gently, but firmly, her musical voice ringing out.
"No, thank you. It will take me two seconds to move my things. Watch." She says then walks into her room that held her things.
She waves her left hand in front of her things and they disappeared. Just like that. Then she walked over to the other bedroom and waved her hand over one of the beds in the middle and her things appeared in exactly the right places.
Willow goes over to her bed, reaches under it, and takes out a long wooden box. As she lays the staff down on the bed, Sunshine and Serena see some writing on the staff.
They look at each other and know that they will find out soon.
"By the way, there are only six people on this planet* able to open this box. Please do not touch it." Willow said as she picked up the staff. She placed it in the box, closed the lid, then slid the box back under her bed.
She had heard, of course, Sunshine and Serena planning to check the staff out.
***
"Serena, we need to get a better look at that staff." Sunshine said when no one else was in the dorm room.
"Yeah, I know. Why don't we check it out now?" Serena answered.
"Yeah."
They left the sitting room and went into their bedroom. They knelt down next to Willow's bed and pulled out the box.
"Wait a minute. Didn't Willow say only six people in the world was able to open this? What if we can't open it?"
"That's a good question, Sunshine. Give me the box, Serena." Willow said, walking out of the shadows.
Serena and Sunshine jumped to their feet.
"Give me the box, Serena," Willow said again. "As I said, only six people on this planet can open this box." Willow opened the box. "I am one of them, as you can see." She closed the box and handed it to Sunshine. "Open it, Sunshine."
Sunshine took the box from Willow and flipped the clips open. Then she opened the box. Serena looked on with no expression on her face or in her eyes.
Sunshine's eyes lit with excitement as the box opened. "So, like you, I'm another who can open this box?"
"Yes, Sunshine. Close the box and latch it just like I had it and hand it to Serena, please."
Sunshine latches the box and hands it to Serena. Serena keeps her eyes on Willow as she opens the box. She closes it up without looking at the staff and hands the box to Willow.
With her Slayer sense, Serena feels something from Willow, but she can't tell what it is.
Willow places the box under the bed and leaves the room.
***
The next day, Serena met Raye and Lita in the hallway for one of their morning classes.
"Serena, Raye and I tried opening that box of Willow's this morning. The clasps unclasped, but the box didn't open." Lita said, frowning. "Did you get a chance to try?"
"Yes, I did," Serena said, then lied to them, "but it wouldn't open for me, either," not wanting to hurt their feelings.
Raye and Lita walked away with frowns on their faces.
***
Two weeks later . . . .
Serena was laying on the ground studying (yes, actually studying). Suddenly, a monster appeared out of nowhere.
The monster had four horns coming out of its head.
"Moon Crystal Power!" Serena yelled. (Instead of a broach on her school uniform, it now hangs from a chain around her neck.)
After she transformed, she calls the others over the communicator. Serena stalled the monster with a few choice "Slayer" punches, knowing the others would be there in a second.
As soon as the others arrived, they started taking "Sailor" shots at the monster, but none of their powers would work.
From out of nowhere, they hear a voice yell, "Eternity Blast!"
A beam of blue-white light shot at the monster, and he disintegrated. The Scouts looked up quickly, hoping to see their mysterious helper, but the person was nowhere in sight.
***
