Marc sat quietly at his desk and watched the events of the classroom as they unfolded before his dark, serious eyes. He watched Miss Haruna as she leaned against her desk, waiting for class to begin. He groaned inwardly at the deep look of hostility in her eyes. Great, she's got the look of an angry bear... Today is going to be so much fun! She began to drum her fingers impatiently against her desk and then asked for the students to produce their homework.
Serena came skidding breathlessly into class and threw herself into her desk just as the bell rang for class to begin. I can't believe it, thought Marc in surprise and noticed the shocked look on his teacher's miserable face. Well I'll be damned, the ditz made it to school on time... But look at her. What'd she do, trip on a crack in the sidewalk?
He smiled as Serena's equally ditzy friend Molly came running into class, excusing her lateness with a lame excuse about her alarm clock. What a pair those two are... like Mutt and Jeff. As his redheaded teacher admonished her student for using one of Serena's pathetic excuses, he pulled out his superbly done homework. Why is it that the slackers get all the attention? She never gushes over my homework, and it's always immaculate. One day, I'll show that old woman who really deserves attention, and who deserves to be kicked out of class. He regarded his typed out homework with pride. Not only did he do the reading and answer the questions at the end of the textbook, but also he included a three-page essay regarding the Voyages of the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria.
Miss Haruna handed Serena back her homework in an exasperated manner and told her to do it over again. She wouldn't give me that chance, ever. It's just not fair! You do the work and it doesn't pay off. But I'll show her; I'll show them all. If everything goes as planned this afternoon, it'll be the Nobel Peace Prize for me.
Oh yeah, remember about Christopher Columbus but forget the math quiz... This day's going to have to repeat a thousand times before I get it all right, Serena muttered to herself as she sat under a shady tree at lunch. At least I thought to bring my communicator. No more high and mighty Rei asking me if I'd forget my brain too!
Molly's loud exaggerated yawn pulled the teenage girl from her thoughts. "My mom had a two for one sale at the jewelry store last night and I had to help," she complained. "I'm bushed. My alarm clock went off for an hour before I woke up."
But a dull beeping coming from Serena's pocket distracted her from responding to her best friend. Ah, it's my communicator, now? It's lunch time!
"Earth to Serena," called Molly, "Ya listenin' to me?"
Serena snapped to attention, "Ah yeah, Molly. Hey listen, I forgot something, I'll be right back!" She bumped into Melvin as he sneaked up behind her. "Sorry Melvin, no time to hear you gloat about your answer to the bonus question!" she said as she ran away.
"Where's she going in such a hurry?" asked the confused computer nerd, "And how did she know I knew the answer to the bonus question?"
Molly shrugged her shoulder and took a long sip of her pop. "Who knows? This is SERENA we're talking about!"
Why the heck can't that Meatball Head ever take responsibility? Rei raged as she transformed into Sailor Mars. Someone's going to get killed one of the days because neither Amy or I will be around to save her sorry butt! Sailor Mars opened her eyes to be faced with Sailor Mercury. She could see her blue haired friend's reluctance to fight a Negaverse monster without Sailor Moon. Well with or without you, Meatball Head, we have to face this threat. What's the difference anyway? She'd only fall on her butt!
They found their enemy, harassing a bunch of schoolgirls eating their lunch. As the girls ran for their lives, screaming loudly in fear, Mercury opened her mouth to distract the ugly female monster when a teenager bellowed from behind.
"Stop it right there, Pyro-Head!" Sailor Moon shouted. She's here at lunch? Sailor Moon quickly pondered, No wonder Amy wasn't around. "How dare you interrupt the relaxation of students eating their lunches?! I'll make you pay!"
Pyro-Head was shocked. Was this the cowardly Sailor Moon that Lord Jadeite had carried on about? And how did the lowly brat know her name? "You know who I am?!"
"I sure do," the Sailor Scout of the Moon said proudly. Let Amy and Rei figure this one out! "You are the hideous Negaverse monster Pyro-Head, bent on destroying this school!"
"Oh and I supposed YOU are going to stop me?" sneered the leather-skinned Negaverse minion.
"Absolutely! I am Sailor Moon, the Champion of Justice! On behalf of the Moon, I will right wrongs and triumph over evil! And last time I checked, you're it!"
"Great speech, Sailor Moon," sneered Mars, her arms crossed over her chest. "What did you do, rehearse that brain dead speech when you should have been answering your communicator?"
Sailor Moon ignored the taunt and pointed a white-gloved finger at her enemy. "Prepare to be Moondusted!"
"Nice speech," said Pyro-Head, yawning in her oredom, "But what are you going to do to stop me?" With that taunt, she threw the first of her deadly fireballs.
Sailor Moon threw herself to the ground and rolled out of the way. There was no way she would be a toasted Sailor Scout this time! As the flames flew, Mercury held her ground. "Mercury Bubbles Blast!" The schoolyard clouded with a thick, white mist.
Sailor Moon watched in fascination as Mars began her attack, sending a powerful blaze of fire towards the Negaverse creep. Pyro-Head's attack was stopped midway to its target and erupted with a loud explosion. "She's weaker now!" Sailor Moon uttered in shock. "She must gain power during the day. No wonder she's so hard to beat after school!"
Pyro-Head eyed Mars and Mercury who had been thrown to the ground in the brief explosion. Just as she was about to attack, an evil voice stopped her, "You are not strong enough to face Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts. Retreat at once!"
"As you wish, My Lord Jadeite," said the fiery monster, disgusted. "Next time we meet, Sailor Brats," she taunted the Sailor Scouts now on their knees before her, "you won't survive."
Sailor Moon's eyebrows raised in interest as the Negaverse monster disappeared in a brief blast of fire. So that's why they didn't dust that thing at lunch... She runs off!
She looked up to find two figures looming above her. "Nice of you to show up, Meatball Head. Next time would you mind being useful?>
Mercury helped Sailor Moon to her feet. "I'm curious, how did you know who that Negaverse Monster was? We have not fought it before."
Before she could answer, the bell rang to signify the end of the lunch period. "Oh crap, we're late!" said Sailor Moon as she bolted away. "I can't Miss Haruna's history lesson!"
"Did I hear her right?" asked Mars, before reverting to her student form.
"No, I don't think so, but what is the likelihood that we were both hallucinating?"
Serena ran into class just as the review lesson on Christopher Columbus began. She bumped right into the surprisingly solid form of her angry teacher. "Oh sorry, Miss H, I must've lost track of time."
"Just because you were BARELY on time this morning, young lady, doesn't mean you can be late after lunch. You know what I told your parents if you were late one more time, don't you?"
The teenager took on a look of horror. "Oh, no Miss H, not the Principal's office, please..." she pleaded in terror. "You can't send me. I studied and everything."
"I've heard that before, Serena. It's too little, too late," her teacher replied, pointing out of the classroom.
Serena's shoulders slumped in dismay and she began to make her way dejectedly towards the door. I was ready for this class. I studied and everything. I can't very well tell her I was late because I'm Sailor Moon and I was fighting a monster... or can I? She stopped just before the doorway, her face brightening. "Can I talk to you outside, Miss H?"
Miss Haruna sighed, "What is it, Serena? I won't stand for any more of your ridiculous excuses."
"I understand. This will just take a minute."
Serena's teacher followed her out of the class and shut the door behind her. Crossing her arms in front of her, she said, "Okay Serena, what is it?"
"Well, Miss Haruna, I have a really good reason why I was late for class." She began to wring her hands nervously in front of her. I've never told an adult about being a Sailor Scout before. "Okay, it's like this. I was eating lunch when my communicator beeped..."
Miss Haruna raised her eyebrows in surprise. "A communicator?"
"Yeah, yeah, there was a Negaverse monster in the schoolyard and I had to go fight it..."
The teenager's explanation was interrupted by her teacher's hysterical laughter. "Oh Serena, let me guess, you're going to tell me that you're Sailor Moon, the legendary Champion of Justice. Oh please, who do you think I am? I think you've been reading too many Sailor V comic books again."
Serena face melted into a look of despair and she began to sniffle. "But it's true! Look, let me transform and prove it to you!"
Miss Haruna began to laugh so hard, she clutched at her sides. "Serena, you expect me to believe, that you, a girl who can't even pass a simple math quiz, are a Sailor Scout. Come on, Serena, you must think I'm pretty stupid. Now that's enough, off to the Principal's office."
"But Miss H..." her student began.
"No buts, young lady," answered the redheaded woman, still chuckling, "You may have just provided me with the only enjoyment of my day, but you were still late for class." She gave her student a gentle shove in the right direction, turned, and made her way back into her class, still chuckling. "Sailor Moon... Serena? Oh now that is funny!"
"Sure Serena," she muttered to herself as she sat outside the Principal's office, "tell the world your secret. And where did it get you? The Principal's office. It doesn't pay to be a Champion of Justice."
It had been a long afternoon. First, she had been forced to sit and listen to a long, stern lecture from the Principal. Then she had to sit there and listen as he called her mother and informed her of Serena's tardiness for class. Then she had been forced to get on the phone and apologize to her mother, who had promised her a grave punishment when she returned home. Lovely, more floor scrubbing with toothbrushes, she had thought.
Next, the Principal had marched her into class and had forced her to apologize to Miss Haruna and all the students. How humiliating! I'd rather get toasted by Pyro-Head, it would be much more fun! She had figured.
Finally, she had been forced into the cafeteria to scrub the large, crusty pots from lunchtime. Gross!! I'd rather study for an algebra test!
Now she sat in outside the Principal's office once again. School was about to end and she knew that she had a Negaverse monster to stop and a school to keep from exploding. But what am I going to do if he makes me go to detention? I'll be toast just like everyone else... Serena sighed miserably as the halls crowded with students leaving for the day. But then they did warn me what would happen if I was late one more time!
She saw Molly make her way towards the detention room and she knew there was no time to waste. I can't wait any longer to be dismissed. I have people to save and Negatrash to dust! She jumped to her feet and started running down the hall when a powerful hand stopped her.
"Young lady, where do you think you are going?" asked Miss Haruna.
Serena gulped and turned around. "Really Miss H, I hafta go now!" She tried to go around her teacher but the woman just wouldn't let her pass. "Come on, Miss H, people are depending on me!"
"Who the Negaverse monster?" asked Miss H. This delusion of hers was just getting out of hand.
Serena sighed and plucked her locket from its customary resting place on the bow of her school uniform. "Well Miss H, you leave me no choice." She lifted the locked into the air and with great authority said, "Moon Prism Power!"
In a swirl of multicolored light and ribbons, Serena's school uniform melted away to be replaced by a white bodice and blue sailor skirt and collar. Red boots and a red bow emerged and shiny red jewels appeared on the buns on top of her head. As the tiara appeared on her forehead and her transformation was complete, Sailor Moon opened her eyes to see the shocked face of her teacher.
"I can't believe..." Miss Haruna began.
"Sorry Miss Haruna, I really have to go!" Sailor Moon said pushing her way through a crowd of stunned students.
By the time she joined the battle in progress, Mercury was unconscious on the ground and Mars was barely standing. "You'll never defeat us, you Negacreep."
Sailor Moon was stunned at how much more powerful the Negaverse monster had become. "No wonder I've been killed trying to stop that thing!" she said to herself in understanding.
"Serena!" shouted Luna in angry voice. "What are you doing? Don't just watch, go in there in fight! It's your duty as the Sailor Scout of the Moon."
"OH I know, Luna," said the blond Sailor Scout, watching the battle with fascination, "It's my destiny to fight evil and trash the Negaverse. But how am I going to do that if I don't know what I'm fighting?"
"But Pyro-Head is hurting them. How can you just stand there and do nothing?" Luna asked, shocked at her charge's behavior.
Sailor Moon sighed in irritation. "I told you yesterday and you didn't believe me, why should I get into it now?"
"You did, when?" asked the cat.
"Never mind," Sailor Moon said dramatically.
"But, Serena, if you don't do something NOW, they'll die!" the cat said desperately trying to get the teenager to understand.
But that was the problem, she did understand, all too well. She had seen them die, had seen the entire school die, and had died herself. She knew the day would repeat itself again and didn't want to lose the opportunity to figure out what was happening. She was tired of crying over Molly, Amy, or even Rei. She just wanted it to stop.
Luna had enough. She jumped into the air and tried to scratch the Scout with her claws. This only served to anger Sailor Moon who plucked the cat from midair and held her at arm's length. "Listen Luna, I get it, but I can't stop what's happening until I figure out what is happening. If you're so upset about it, you go fight!" and she threw the cat none too gently into the direction of the battle.
But it was too late; the battle was over. Pyro-Head had defeated the Scouts in one, last, fiery blast. A tear rolled down Sailor Moon's face as she saw her defeated friends. I'm so sorry, guys, but I know you'll be okay tomorrow... At least, I hope so.
She turned just as the school exploded behind her and chaos erupted all around. Tears streamed down her face, with the understanding of what she had just let happen. I'll figure this out, Molly, I promise, if it takes me a lifetime!
