Serena's mind suddenly came to attention. Awareness snapped into existence so quickly that it startled her. Is it happening again? It should... Or am I really crazy? What if I'm still in that awful bed? What if they are still doping me up so I stay `quiet' She heard footsteps and a door open. Holding her breath, she waited for the sound that would confirm her surroundings... and then she heard it... her mother's angry voice, "Serena, wake up!"
Her mother's voice was music to her ears and she sprang out of bed and onto her feet in one excited, hyperactive moment! "Good morning, Mom!" she shouted in an exaggerated movement, throwing her arms around the angry woman and kissing her enthusiastically.
A wide, happy smile spread across the blond teenager's face. "I'm alive! I can't believe it! I'm alive!" She twirled around the room, her arms wide, as if embracing life. "Molly's alive... Rei and Amy are alive, you and Dad are alive, and even that spore Sammy is alive! Isn't it great, Mom?"
Her mother's eyes became wide with anger. She opened her mouth to speak and Serena swore with amusement that she could almost see her breathing fire. "Young lady!" the tall woman shouted, "I woke you up forty-five minutes ago..."
Her angered words were interrupted by the giggling of her teenage daughter. "I know... I know... What did you say? Oh yeah! I won't be alive for long if I don't get a move on." She snorted in her mirth. She crossed her arms and pretended to be her mother. In a parental voice, she mimicked, "Now get moving or you're going to be late again!!"
She watched outrage explode on her mother's face and decided a quick exit was in order. I'd better get a move on it or Mom's going to blow her top! She feigned shock and exclaimed, "OH NO! I'M LATE!!" With a delighted laugh, Serena threw on her clothes and tore from the room. She grabbed her bookbag and sped out of the house, still cackling happily at her pleasure.
Her mother stood at the window and watched the girl run happily down the street. "That's it..." she muttered in disbelief, "The girl has finally lost it. Serena is going mad!"
So I have to do this all over again? she thought, shocked that she had the same contemplation the morning before. She stopped in mid-stride and smiled. But I don't have to do it `all' over again! Let's see... I can be as late as I want! Who cares? It'll happen again tomorrow. I know I'm late again, that's nothing new... I have my books... An evil grin spread over her face. I don't have to anything! Okay Serena, let's have some fun! She giggled and began to make her way quickly towards school, anticipating all the fun she would have.
Before she turned a now familiar corner, she stopped dead in her tracks. Not this time, she thought glancing down at the crack in the sidewalk. Instead, she stuck out her foot daintily. To her delight, Darien sped around the corner, not paying attention to what was in front of him. Missing her foot, he tripped and landed on the hard cement with a cry of alarm.
Hearing amused laughter, Darien pushed himself up onto his forearms to see a meatball headed teenager cackling above him. He groaned and dragged his sore body to its feet.
"What's the matter, Darien," taunted Serena, "forget how to walk this morning?" She saw his annoyed reaction and her delighted smile broadened.
"Very funny, Meatball Head," he stated dryly. I can't believe I'M the one being the klutz...
"Gee," interrupted Serena, "you should be more careful. I wouldn't want this to become a habit!"
"That's highly unlikely. You're undoubtedly the Queen of Klutz." Instead of reacting badly like usual, he was surprised that she only smiled.
He watched in fascination as she took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the one side of his face. She inspected it carefully for a moment, as if studying it and then turned it around for his view. She pointed a finger at the smudge on its otherwise immaculate white surface and said in a serious tone, "It seems to be you eating dirt today!" With a laugh, she patted in on the head as if he were a puppy and skipped off in triumph!
Darien stood still, speechless. "How dare that clumsy, whiny brat!" he exclaimed. But it was too late. She was long gone!
Just before the gates to Crossroads Junior High, she skidded to a halt in a haze of dirt and dust. What am I doing? Why the heck should I go to school? It'll still be there tomorrow. It dawned on her, suddenly, that she could do whatever she wanted with this day. She could go the arcade as many times as she wanted! Hey, she could even get so good at the Sailor V game that she could show Miss High and Mighty Rei how it is done! She could even get good at all the video games in there.
Serena started towards the arcade. I am so lucky it's Monday and Dad gave me my allowance last night! What a day I'm going to have! I am going to relax and have some fun! No more worrying for Serena! In her delight, she practically skipped down the sidewalk. I can go to the park and take a nap! I could even go the movies if I want to! Or... I could spend my whole allowance on a really yummy snack. Oh wait, then I couldn't become a Sailor V game ace! With the thoughts of the day's delights in mind, she continued towards the arcade.
Miss Haruna glanced at Serena's empty desk and sighed. When is that girl ever going to be on time? I swear she'll be late for her own wedding! "Good morning, class. Let's start out by going over this weekend's assignment. Everyone take out their homework." She noticed that Molly was also missing. I wonder what those two are up to... Sighing, she resigned herself to the fact that there would always be a couple of low achievers in her class.
Just as she finished her thought, Molly came running into the room. She practically flew across the class and into her seat. "Sorry I'm late, Miss H," the girl said breathlessly, while ripping through her bag to find her homework, "My alarm clock didn't go off this morning."
She saw her teacher glance towards the door and noticed in shock that Serena was running really late this morning. Why can't Serena be on time once in a while... She's gonna get creamed!
"Have you seen Serena this morning, Molly?" she asked. Where is that girl? She's never THIS late.
"No, I haven't," Molly responded demurely. Maybe she'll forget I was late.
"Are you sure the two of you weren't up to something before school?" her teacher continued.
"Ah... no, Miss H. Serena never gets up that early, plus I ran as fast as I could to get here... I didn't even stop to catch my breath!" Her eyes suddenly bulged in shock. Darn it! I wasn't supposed to remind her...
"Hmm, I wonder if she's sick. She probably ate too much junk food on the weekend again." Serena was notorious for Monday morning stomachaches. "As for your alarm clock, young lady, Serena used that excuse Friday morning. You can think of a better one after school... in detention."
Molly groaned and noticed a few sympathetic gazes from her classmates. Someone's grumpy this morning... I guess she didn't have a date this weekend after all!
Andrew watched in fascination as Serena lost her ninth Sailor V game in a row. What is that kid doing here so early anyway? We only usually see the college kids skipping their Monday morning classes at this time. He walked up to the blond teenager and leaned against a nearby arcade game. Serena didn't notice, as she was transfixed by the miniature blond warrior blazing her way across the screen.
"Hi Serena," he said cheerfully. "What's up?"
Having been oblivious to his presence, Serena jumped and missed a crucial shot. She gasped in dismay as the miniature Sailor V did for the tenth time. "Look what you made me do!" she scolded pointing at the blinking game over sign. "Now I have to start all over again!"
"You keep this up, Serena, and you're going to blow all your allowance. It's only Monday," he reminded her gently.
"Doesn't matter," she replied hotly, "There's plenty more where that came from!" At least, there will be more tomorrow!
"Did your parents up your allowance?" he asked, his eyebrows raised in surprise. "If I remember correctly, you were in here crying on Friday because your parents were going to find out you'd been late for school all week."
"No, not for that," she said with a nervous smile. What do I tell him? I can't say that this day will happen again... He'll think I'm a meatball head!
"An early birthday gift?" He gave her a suspicious look. "You're birthday is in June. I remember because you announced it to the entire arcade when you turned fourteen. That's not for months!"
He knew something was up when she squirmed and giggled nervously. "Ah well, it was an early birthday gift from my aunt and uncle who live in... who live... in the United States."
"Uh-huh Serena, like I'm going to believe that. So what's really going on? And why aren't you at school? Did something happen?"
Serena grabbed her bag and backed away. "Ah... no, nothing happened. Why would you ask me something silly like that?" Before Andrew could answer, she turned and ran from the arcade.
Andrew shook his head. "I'll just never figure out that girl!"
Serena meandered into the park and sighed in contentment. She silently thanked Andrew for interrupting her game. She had had enough of her allowance left for a half a dozen wonderful Boston cream donuts, still steaming from baking. She licked a little dab of chocolate from the corner of her mouth and smiled. Those donuts had not been long for this world! Settling herself comfortably under a large shady tree, she crossed her arms across her chest and stared at the calmness of the pond. What a great morning it had been! Pretty soon all the kids at school would be having lunch period. I guess I missed the math quiz today, ah chucks! she commented to herself. What does it matter anyway? I'd just fail. Her eyelids became heavy as she started to doze. "I'll just take a little nap..." she muttered to herself.
What a wonderful Monday! Luna thought as she lazedcontentedly on one of the fluffy couch pillows in the living room. After last night's fiasco with Serena at the meeting, I think I deserve a nice long nap. It wasn't as if she had had a lot of sleep. Serena's usually death-like sleep had been restless. The child had tossed and turned the entire night, muttering about fire and Mars and Mercury dying. That must have been some nightmare she was having. Her sympathy for the spacey teenager faded quickly as she reminded herself of Serena's behavior. Well if she had paid some attention to the plan to eliminate Jadeite, Amy and Rei would not have become angry. She would not have had anything to be upset about. She stretched her paws out before her, extending her claws. Retracting them, she turned in typical cat-like fashion on the pillow and settled down conformably again. She was going to continue her nap! Jadeite's defeat could wait until the girls were done with school.
The phone rang loudly, startling Luna from her peaceful sleep. She was about to growl at the phone when Serena's mother walked in. "Good afternoon!" she answered cheerfully.
It was good, until the phone rang! Luna thought in dismay. I can't have one quiet day to myself, can I? The blue haired woman's words suddenly caught her attention.
"Serena? No, she isn't here. She didn't show up for school? How terrible!"
"Why that rotten..." the black cat began to mutter darkly. Thankfully, she stopped herself. It wouldn't do to have Serena's mother catch her talking. I'm going to kill her! she vowed.
"Thank you," she said in her most polite, mild tone. "Her father and I will deal with her as soon as she comes home." She looked, and then she violently slammed the phone down and spun around. Advancing towards Luna, she waved an angry fist in the air. "First, that snotty attitude in the morning, and now she pulls a stunt like this!" Luna saw the danger in her walk and decided it would be a good time to exit. She didn't want to stay and suffer the wrath of Serena's mother in the teenager's place. She quickly jumped out the living room window just in time to hear the woman vow, "Serena, your days are numbered!"
Amy walked out of the front gates of the school with a pile of books in her hands. This is going to be one of my best science projects! I am so glad I started it two months ago! She could envision the complexity of the presentation. She would make her science teacher proud!
She was surprised to see that Rei was waiting for her just a few feet from the front gates. She pulled the blue haired teenager into the nearby alley. Looking around to make sure they were alone, she said, "Quick Amy, we have to transform. There are serious nega-vibes emanating from the school! I think Pyro-Head is coming back to finish off the job!"
Amy pulled her communicator from her pocket and tried to contact Serena. There was no answer, just as there had been when the monster attacked at lunchtime. She shot her friend a worried look and shook her head. "Serena is not responding to her communicator."
"You mean that scatter-brained Meatball Head forgot it!" growled Rei. "Oh well, at least we won't have to worry about keeping her butt out of trouble." She lifted her transformation wand out of her pocket, held in high in the air and shouted:
"Mars power!"
Amy nodded reluctantly. Lately, Serena was proving herself even more irresponsible than she had ever imagined possible. She produced her transformation wand and shouted, "Mercury Power!" They would have to proceed without her. As her transformation took place, she worried. They had been unable to stop the Negaverse monster this afternoon. Would it be any different now? Serena, where on earth are you?
Luna made her way out of the crowded arcade and shook her head. Where is that girl anyway? She walked down the street a ways until she arrived at the restaurant where the girls like to eat after school. She noticed Darien at the counter looking unusually disappointed. "You have no Boston creams left?" he asked in vain.
"Sorry Darien," the ponytailed girl said. "The last half dozen were bought early this afternoon." She shook her head, remembering the blonde's delight at the sight of six steaming donuts being placed in the donut box. "By a girl with blond hair, she looked like she was young enough that she should have been in school."
Still perplexed by the morning's events, Darien raised an eyebrow. "She didn't happen to have two pompoms and pigtails, did she?"
"Come to think of it, she did. Why? Is she a friend of yours?" replied the waitress.
"No," said Darien, "she's not a friend." He turned, empty handed and headed towards the door. "She's just someone I bumped into this morning." First, she interrupts my morning and now, she ruins my afternoon! What a meatball head!
Luna watched him walk down the street and shook her head. Well now, at least I know where Serena's been. She should be making her way home now. She snickered all of the sudden. To her doom!
"Serena!" she heard Luna shout as the cat jumped in front of her. "Where have you been all day?"
Normally, Luna's angry glare would have caused her to back away, but the knowledge that the day would repeat itself tomorrow made her a brave teenager. "Around," she responded nonchalantly.
"Around? You didn't even go to school today! Miss Haruna called your mother today; she's furious."
"Probably," said Serena, unconcerned.
Luna gasped in shock. "Probably? What has gotten into you today? You didn't even bring your communicator!"
"I took a day off, Luna," answered Serena. She actually considered explaining the entire situation to her feline guardian and then dismissed the idea.
"A day off? You can't take a day off. You're Sailor Moon! What about your responsibility to the other Sailor Scouts?"
"I just did, Luna," retorted the blond teenager. "Plus, Rei was probably glad not to have me around." Without another word, Serena made her way into her house to face her fate. How bad can it be? She'll probably just ground me!
"Oh sure," Serena muttered to herself as she shoved the toothbrush into the bucket of soapy water, "She probably just ground me! That would be more fun!" She was on her hands and knees carefully scrubbing a ceramic tile in the hallway. She was about halfway through though, finally! A few minutes ago, her mother saw that she had missed a spot and made her start all over again! I just don't see what the big deal is! I only skipped a Monday class! And now after having had a fantastic day, she could look forward to scrubbing the kitchen floor and the entire bathroom in the same fashion. Ew... the toilet is going to be gross.
Her mother sat quietly on the couch watching the news. You want to have an attitude, young lady, I'll make you pay for it! This will teach you not to skip out! It worked for me when I was your age! "And don't forget to do the corner really well, Serena," she commanded sternly.
Her daughter pushed herself painfully into a sitting position, wincing at the bruises that had formed on her knees. "Yes Mother!" she responded darkly. How could I forget? You've made me do them twice already!
"You should be glad your father isn't home from work yet or you would have get more than extra housework." She was quickly reminded. Serena wasn't scared by this. With the bruises on my knees, a spanking, while embarrassing, would have been less painful! But she didn't dare put her thoughts into words for fear her mother would retaliate.
Suddenly she heard her mother gasp. "Serena, come here quick!"
"Why, Mom, did you think of something ELSE for me to do?" she retaliated?
The woman shook her head. "No, it's the news. It's about your school!"
Oh yeah, the explosion. I almost forgot. She walked over to the TV and almost fainted from the view of the school. She had never ever seen the aftermath of the explosion. Where once had stood Crossroads Junior High, was a pile of charred wood and rubble. Tears began to stream down the teenager's face. The damage was far worse than she had ever imagined! The school was completely destroyed!
She heard the reporter give details of the dreadful incident. "There were many casualties in this explosion, and as you can see here, the body count is still rising." The reported stepped aside to show a row of bodies covered by white sheets. But there are so many? Why? The camera focused on a pair of bodies covered further away from the rest. Why didn't Mercury and Mars take care of that Negamonster? She gasped at what she saw next. Two bodies covered in a white sheet as all the rest. "And these are the bodies, of what many have described as the legendary Sailor Scouts, Mercury and Mars." From under one of the sheets, part of a charred red ribbon peek out, as if confirming the reporters words. "The question asked by many tonight, where was Sailor Moon? Why wasn't she here to stop the destruction?"
Reality hit Serena very hard. I wasn't there to stop this! So many people died. Sobbing, she ran upstairs slamming the door to her bedroom behind her.
Luna was sleeping peacefully on Serena's pillow when the girl launched herself onto the bed and began to violently sob. "What is it, Serena?" asked the black cat, "What's wrong?"
"A Negaverse monster attacked at school today. The school is gone..." she cried, hiding her face in the pillows.
"And Mercury, Mars?" asked Luna.
"D-Deeaad!" sobbed Serena.
"Oh Serena!" Luna exclaimed, as she too began to cry.
There was a knocking at the door. "Serena honey, can I come in?" It was her mother, but Serena wasn't interested in being consoled.
"Go away, Mom. You're just here to give me more punishments."
"Oh Serena, that doesn't matter anymore. Are you all right?" the voice from behind the door answered.
"NO, I'M NOT!" shouted Serena, "I'll never be all right ever again!"
Her mother started to open the door anyway, but Serena launched a pillow angrily at the door. "GO AWAY I SAID!"
A hand stopped the woman from opening it anyway. It was her husband. He had heard the news on the radio on the way home and had expected a scene like this. "Leave her be, she needs the time to grieve by herself."
"But my baby is upset," she responded with tears of her own. "I can't just abandon her!"
He pulled his wife into her arms and held her tightly. "She doesn't want comfort now. Let her deal with this in her own way, when she's ready, later, then we'll come up again."
Serena heard them make their way downstairs and lifted her face from the pillow. "It's all my fault, Luna. Now they're all gone. How do I stop the Negaverse without them? And what about that plan to get Jadeite? I can't do that by myself."
"You didn't know, Serena," answered Luna. She had put her own grief aside for the time to help her charge. "You didn't even have you communicator with you."
Serena leaned on her side and pulled the communicator from her pocket. "Yes, I did," she said tearfully, "It went off when I was at the park," a sob overtook her and she tried to continue, "but I ignored it!"
Luna closed her eyes and tried to hide the look of dismay. I was always afraid something like this would happen one day. Now what do we do?
"You didn't know this would happen, Serena."
"Yes, I did. It happened three times this way!"
"What? You fought this monster before and never told me?" gasped Luna.
"No, no. Never mind, Luna, you wouldn't understand," she sniffled. "No one will ever understand. It's all my fault! It always will be!" Feeling wholeheartedly sorry for herself, the girl began to sob in earnest once again.
