Pearl was so outraged that she could not speak. Her white hands clutched the armrests of her marble chair and shook, her knuckles turning even whiter. She tossed her white blond hair over her shoulder and rose to her feet, crumpling the message indicating the youma’s death and failure. Rage and Vengeance were glad they were not going to be the victims of Pearl’s obvious anger. Rage smiled confidently at Vengeance, making her blush. The two had become ome a little bit closer of friends ever since their lock-up and now felt that they could accomplish any mission as long as they tried. Pearl’s gaze trailed over to the two girls who had changed their gray robes into tight-fitting gray shirts and leggings. She then stepped forward to her servants and smiled a little wickedly at them. "I think I want a little turn at battle, girls. But I’m going to need your help. In order to discover if they know who has the Dark Shard for Diamond, we must capture Sailor Earth, that infernal brat that showed up out of nowhere. Damn it, I thought I was rid of her. But yes, you must try and get her and use her as bait." Rage grinned evilly, wanting more than ever to get revenge on those Sailor Scouts. From the look on Vengeance’s face, you could tell she felt the same way as Rage. They knelt and took turns kissing Pearl’s hand; then they rose and began to walk out of the room...that is, until Pearl stopped them. "Wait! Get the new recruit and bring her to me. I want her to have her first mission alongside me." "I’ll see Orion at once, Mistress Pearl," Rage announced, nodding. "Good. Now go on...I have plans to write out." The two gray-bedecked girls left the throne room. Pearl walked back over to her black, marble throne and sat herself down on it, her eyes shooting daggers at the crumpled letter still in her hand. She tossed it aside and began to smirk. Her eyes flashed and she began to laugh. A laugh that would chill anyone’s soul... In the meantime... "Theodore!" a voice cried out. "Oh, Theo, honey!" The young man mentally groaned, keeping his dark, dark eyes down at his papers. He swept his brown hair away from his eyes (it had a tendency to blow there) and straightened his glasses, pretending to be completely absorbed in his work. He sat there, acting like he was concentrating, as a giggly young woman in a red business suit and black high heels swooped in on him. "Oh, Theo, don’t pretend you can’t hear me," she laughed, slapping him (Hard!) on the shoulder. Theodore couldn’t ignore that. He let out a heavy sigh and turned his chair around, facing his fellow worker. She not only had bright red lipstick on her lips but light black mascara on her eyes. He immediately knew what was going on. "Business meeting today, huh, Catherine?" he said, setting down his black ink pen. "I need that promotion," Catherine whined, giggling. "And I am certain that I’ll get it." Theodore managed a small grin, and he winced when Catherine shot her eyes at him, looking him up and down. "Why don’t you wear something different besides that white coat and jeans?" she suggested hurriedly. "You’d look darling in blue, and black pants would suit you very, very well." "How can you tell?" Theodore muttered under his breath. "Huh? What was that, sweetie? My hearing’s been awful lately," Catherine questioned. "Er, I said ‘I’ll think about it’," Theodore lied. "Ah." The woman didn’t seem convinced. "It’s a shame, really, seeing you cooped up in an office. For heaven’s sake, Theo, you’re 24. You graduated college, I realize, but you’re so young." "What do you propose I do, then?" Theodore asked, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "Get a girl! See the world! I don’t know! Anything besides being stuck in here with me," the middle aged woman nearly shouted. Her red lips curved in what looked like a pouty smile. "I better get to that meeting." And she swept out of Theodore’s office. Theodore shook his head sadly, knowing she was right. He needed a good time before he turned 30, and it was only 6 years until then. And he needed a better outfit. Theodore quickly shoved his papers into his briefcase, signed a letter of leave from the business, and rushed down the hallway. "I’m taking a long vacation," he informed the lady at the desk. "Oh? Where?" "I don’t know. Somewhere...maybe I’ll just tour around here." Before his companions knew it, Theodore was out of the office. Later... "Where’s Amara at?" Comet mewed, watching as Rose sat herself in a chair next to the doorway. "I didn’t think she’d be late." "Me neither. She was very persistent about me being available today." Rose replied, smoothing her wrinkled jeans the best she could. She wasn’t used to being up this early on a Saturday: 8:15 AM. Her hands clutched her flute case and music. Comet meowed in an annoyed tone. Rose scowled at him, knowing that Comet thought Amara wasn’t going to show up. She was worried though; it was going to be 8:20 in a bit, and Rose didn’t want to wait any longer. In order to resist from getting too bothered, she looked through her music, skimming through the pages. A sound of a car driving up brought Rose out of her daze. Comet leapt to the door and stood next to it protectively. Rose timidly got to her feet and slowly opened the door. She relaxed and smiled when she saw Amara standing there, wearing a pair of corduroys and a blue short sleeved Rugby shirt and red male coat. Rose blushed as Amara’s eyes trailed from Rose’s brunette braid to her green shirt and wrinkled jeans. "Sorry that I’m a few minutes late," Amara apologized, ignoring the suggestive hiss that Comet gave out. "Comet doesn’t look pleased, does he?" Rose nodded and laughed, "He’s extremely protective of me." "By the way, Serena and the others told me all about your Senshi form and past and Comet and such. I hope you don’t mind," Amara added hastily. "It’s perfectly fine," Rose informed, a small smile lingering on her lips. "Well, let’s get moving," Amara suggested, stepping to the side as Rose walked out the door. "And Comet had better stay here." A meow. Amara laughed. "I think he almost wants to." "Bye, Comet. Behave yourself!" Rose called in a mocking singsong voice. "Hey!" Comet snapped as Rose and Amara closed the door behind them, chuckling as they walked down the driveway. Amara opened the front door for Rose, and the brunette gladly climbed in, happy to feel the soothing comfort of the leather seats. Amara got into the driver’s seat, and the two girls buckled their seatbelts. Turning the key, Amara smiled as a satisfying burst of energy rushed through the car and they sped off down the street. "You have the piano music too, right?" Amara asked, breaking the awkward silence at they stopped at a stop sign. "I sure do. Would be bad without it." "Yeah." Silence reigned once more as Amara headed towards the intersection and began to drive across. "So, you like gardening, huh?" Amara asked; her eyebrows rose in a quizzical air. "Yeah..." Rose let out a gasp as Amara sped forward. "Amara! There's a man running across the street! Stop!" Amara slammed her foot on the brake, for what Rose had yelled was true. A man had been crossing the street almost too late, and now he stopped, tripping and nearly crushing his ankle underneath him. Rose heard his cry of pain and motioned for Amara to park. Frowning, the shorthaired girl did so, and Rose leaped out of the car and crushed out to the crosswalk. Honking cars surrounded them as Rose knelt down beside the young man, who was moaning in agony. "What happened? Are you all right?" Rose asked frantically. Amara cleared her throat loudly, as if saying, "Rose, let’s get going!" Rose glared at her in response, and Amara frowned and kept silent as the man, his dark eyes full of pain, replied: "I think I sprained my ankle; it hurts terribly. Sorry to trouble you." Rose’s eyes trailed over the young man. He had glasses over his dark, dark eyes, and brown hair that blew in the wind. She stared in astonishment. Even though the man was now wearing a blue short-sleeved shirt instead of his white jacket and black pants instead of his dull jeans, she recognized him; he was the man she had seen when she was going home from school! "Do I know you?" The words fell out of her mouth before she could stop herself. Now the man looked up and really looked at her: really looked. He gazed at her face, and it seemed like the face of an angel, with beautiful bright eyes surrounded by brunette hair caught in a braid. His dark eyes lit up, and he smiled sweetly. "Come to think of it, we did pass each other one day, didn’t we? Right at the crosswalk...?" he murmured gently. "Yes...yes!" Rose squealed, laughing. The man’s smile widened. "My name’s Theodore; Theo for short." "I’m Rosemary. Call me Rose." Rose had surprised herself by saying the full name that she never used. Amara rolled her eyes, and the other drivers looked irritated. Rose sweat-dropped and motioned to Amara. Amara sighed and walked over, helping Rose get Theo to his feet. Theo winced as his ankle hit the sidewalk, and Rose quickly wrapped her arm around his shoulders to steady the man who was obviously taller than her. Amara helped Theo into the car, and Theo smiled gratefully as Rose got in beside him. "I know I’m a nuisance, but thank you very much for letting me in for a ride," Theo told Amara. Amara’s face twisted into a smile. "Well, my friend Michelle will probably treat your ankle while Rose and I practice for the upcoming music festival. Hope you don’t mind being at our house for a while." "Not at all," Theo quickly answered, winking at Rose. Rose flushed bright red, yet Amara didn’t notice and started the car. Amara hummed to herself while Theo rubbed his ankle and leaned over to Rose’s ear. "What’s your friend’s name?" he whispered. "He seems nice enough." Rose stifled a laugh. "Her name is Amara." Theo turned almost as crimson as Rose had been when he’d winked at her. Rose giggled, and Amara caught it in the mirror. She smiled at Rose, who mouthed "He mistook you for a guy" and Amara shrugged nonchalantly, as if saying, "Oh well, I’m used to it." Theo adjusted his glasses absentmindedly and looked out the window, watching as they passed a row of buildings and arrived at a two-story house. The weather wasn’t too grand, being a little dismal and drizzly, so Rose expected not to see anyone outside. She pulled her flute and music from under the seat and climbed out of the car. Amara, slamming the door behind her, also went out and helped Theo out so he could lean against the car. "I’m going to get my friends," Amara informed Theo. "They can help carry you. We wouldn’t want to make your ankle any worse." Theo nodded slowly, and Rose couldn’t find any way to decipher the expression on his face. Amara trotted up to the door and flung it open. Rose heard people talking, and soon Michelle and Setsuna came out, following Amara. "Ok..." Setsuna thought aloud. "Michelle, arm around his waist, Amara do the same on his other side. Then use your other arms like a chair...I’ll help..." Theo let out a little laugh as the three girls swung him up and began to carry him to the door. Rose giggled and quickly rushed after them. Theo smiled sweetly as they walked inside and set him down on a couch. Setsuna brought out an ice pack and Michelle elevated his ankle on a pillow. "Like being served hand and foot?" Rose whispered to the patient, who chuckled. Amara disappeared into the living room with Rose’s flute and music while Rose sat with Theo and Setsuna and Michiru were conversing with each other about something or other; Rose couldn’t quite catch it, and she bit her lip as she felt a little left out. Theo smiled at her and she lowered her eyes in an embarrassed way. While she hardly knew the guy, she felt a little...odd, as if she knew him too well and he was...trying to humiliate her or something. She couldn’t explain it. Amara came back in and beckoned to Rose. Without saying a word, Rose followed the piano-player into the room, and soon sounds of flute and piano floated from the room... While this was going on... "Man, do I have a headache," Irene groaned, sitting up in bed when her mother came in. "Sweetie, it’s almost 9:00 AM. Normally you’re up," her mother called from the hall. "Wake me up when it’s 12:00," Irene shouted, falling back down on the pillows. "Lately I’ve been feeling like crap, pardon my language." She heard her mother’s heavy sigh following this statement, and the sounds of sheets being stuffed into a hamper. Irene put her hand to her forehead, disappointed when it wasn’t hot. Darn it; she could have had an excuse for being in bed for a long time. As if her mother would believe her anyway. Irene scowled and brushed her green bangs from her face, touching her cheeks where her freckles, normally hid, stood out like chocolate chips in vanilla pudding. Lately, she had felt like she was fading at certain points in time. Suddenly she’d have urges to leave, and without feeling it, she’d told her parents that she was either going to the library, to Tracey’s house, or even to the arcade. But soon after she’d left the house, she’d black out, and then suddenly be...someone different. Someone evil. Someone named...Dark Nature. Or something like that. And this Orion person would be training her with such sadness in his eyes. But soon afterwards she’d wake up and be back, not really remembering a thing of what had just happened. Now she was feeling it again. The urge to leave, that is. She rolled over onto her stomach and buried her face into the white pillow, trying her best to remain still under the cool sheets. Her quilt felt too warm, and without trying she kicked her covers off and sat up on the edge of the bed, her pajamas feeling baggy around her middle. She stood up in a zombie-like trance and pulled off her pajamas, redressing herself in her undergarments, jeans, and a long-sleeved shirt. Struggling to stop herself, she clamped her hands onto the dresser but was somehow forced to let go. Now she felt relaxed...comfortable. It felt...normal to go to her mother and ask to go to the arcade. It felt normal to go outside and feel the breeze on her face. She closed her eyes, willing the blackness to come...and it did. She woke up in a bed, dressed in a uniform of a skirt, bows, and a bodice... "Dark Nature," Orion whispered. "It’s time for the battle." "I am ready," Sailor Dark Nature answered. Inside a voice was screaming, "No!!! NO!!" Back to Rose... It was 10:30 AM when Amara and Rose finally emerged from the room, both looking pleased with the song they had played. Michelle was bringing out a plate of crackers so Theo could have a snack, and Rose couldn’t resist snatching a few off the plate. Michelle laughed gently and set the plate down next to Theo. Theo nibbled on a cracker, smiling to himself as Rose practically swallowed one of her crackers down in one bite while holding her flute and music against her side. "That was great. Thanks for agreeing to accompany me, Amara," Rose said happily, biting a chunk out of her second cracker that she had swiped. "Anytime, Rose," Amara replied, smiling slyly. "You’re an excellent flutist." Michelle looked up at the clock and murmured, "Amara, we better get Theo and Rose home." Rose held up her hand and swallowed her cracker. "Ah, ah. You don’t have to take me. Get Theo home; I can walk." "But your house is pretty far from here," Setsuna informed, gazing out the window. "I don’t think it’s safe." "Setsuna, I think Tracey, the girl I met at the Junior High Dance, has a house near here. I’ll be fine. I can go to her and ask for a ride," Rose argued. There was a heated discussion, but Rose finally got her way. Theo shook her hand, and, thanking Amara and the others, Rose gathered her things and walked out the door. It seemed to be a busy morning; cars buzzed up and down the streets, and early risers walked up and down the streets, arm in arm or alone. Rose felt her flute case thumping against her leg as she turned and face the intersection. The light changed to walk... Suddenly, Rose felt a hand grasp her shoulder. Without any time to react, she was thrown onto the hard concrete. Bystanders shrieked and pointed to the two gray-clad figures that were looming above Rose. "Vengeance and Rage!" Rose thought furiously, watching Rage pick up the flute and music. "Ooooh, Miss Princess has a musical side," Rage mocked softly, tossing them to Vengeance, who set them down. "But now’s not the time to discuss Bach, right?" Rose stretched out and swung her leg against Rage’s legs. Rage, not expecting the attack, was knocked down, giving Rose time to get up to her feet. Rose jerked her necklace off and twirled it in her hand. "Earth Life Force Power!" Spectators threw their hands over their eyes to avoid being blinded by the light. Soon they saw a curious sight: a girl dressed in a fuku facing two obvious villains. "Make my day, creeps!" Sailor Earth shouted. "For I will destroy you!"