Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Real Deal ❯ A Day at the Beach to Remember ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter 2: A Day at the Beach to Remember

 

I stare down at the box that holds 3 uniforms in it, one for me and one for both of my younger brothers, “Zac! Get in here! You're not going to believe this!”

My thirteen-year-old brother comes into the room and stares at the box as well, mumbling under his breath, “You're kidding me…”

I sigh, shaking my head while looking to the ceiling, “The administrator's have gone nuts.”

Zac groans, holding up his jacket, which looks like it was about two sizes too small for him, “I'm gonna look like even more of a dork than before!”

I hold up my skirt, “At least you don't have to wear this. I hate skirts!”

Zac snickers, “You're gonna have to actually dress like a girl.”

I roll my eyes, “Shut up dorkboy. At least I won't look like a blimp.”

At this Zac sticks his tongue out at me and leaves, without his uniform. I sigh, gather it and Caleb, my 10-year-old brother's uniform up and go to hang them in their closet. I then go and hang mine up; shoving it in the very back of my closet in an attempt to forget it exists. I then shut my door and hop on my bed, figuring a little `me' time was in order. I lean against the wall and put my hands behind my head. “So much has been happening lately. Teri turning out to be Sailor Moon, Luna appearing, now these stupid uniforms. I wonder who the other Scouts are. Luna said the enemy gave those stories to Naoko so the real Scouts won't believe, so they probably watch the show, or read the manga. So maybe we could organize a party for Sailor Moon fans, and they might show up…but there'd be no guarantee, plus how would we know?” I think out loud to myself.

I sigh and close my eyes, suddenly remembering what Luna had told me that afternoon that seems like ages ago on, `You should not even be here.' She wasn't even angry or anything, it was like she was stating a simple fact, like telling me the sky was blue or something. I think that's what hurt me the most, that she said it so calmly. I'd grown up knowing her and the Sailor Moon story, now my best friend was Sailor Moon, and I'm stuck in the role of Molly. I growl, this is so unfair! I pick up the phone, I may not be a Scout, I decide resolutely, but that doesn't mean I can't help, or at least still hang out with Teri.

I hurrily dial her number and wait for someone to pick up. After a couple rings, Teri picks up, “Hello?”

“Hey Teri, it's Mel. Hey, I was just wondering if you wanted to go hang out somewhere?”

I hear a voice with a English accent ask, “Teri, who are you talking too?”

I strangle a chuckle when Teri respond, “Nunya. I'm still mad at you.” Before turning back to our conversation, “Ok, sure, wanna go to the library?”

I think about the silent place where the librarians are adamant about the `quiet rule'. “Umm…no, let's meet at the park. I feel like being able to talk more then two words without being shushed.”

She laughs, “Good point. Ok, meet you there.” before hanging up. I hang up as well and then go to ask my mom to drive me over to the park.

I arrive at the park and wave good-bye to my mom before turning to see Teri jogging towards me, a familiar black cat running beside her. “Hey Teri, what's up?”

She stops in front of me and smiles, shrugging, “Not much, you?”

I sigh, “Same here. Just trying to forget how big of an idiot the administrative system is.”

She winces, “You got yours today too?”

I take a deep breath and nod, commenting, “The administrators are nuts. Half the school isn't going to wear those things!”

“And why not?” Luna asks indignantly.

“Because, Luna, they're uniforms. That's why. Uniforms and teenagers never mix well.” I say in an exasperated voice.

Teri nods in agreement, looking at Luna with what I can only describe as an accusatory scowl. Luna clears her throat before saying, “Would you girls mind going somewhere a little less open? If people see you talking to a cat, they might wonder.”

Teri and I shrug and seek out one of the nearby benches closest to the lake that was the basic reason why the park was there, facing so we were looking out over it. We sit there, Luna on Teri's lap. I look down at Luna, shaking my head, “To think, just a few days ago you were nothing more than an animation to me. I had no idea you or any of the Scouts really existed. Luna, who's the enemy? I know I'm not a Scout, but I know I could help if you'd let me try.”

Luna huffs and is about to say something when I notice something off shore. I squint against the setting sun, trying to tell what it is. My eyes widen as I realize and turn to push Teri out of the way. “Look out!” I yell as I push, just seeing her fall off the bench when a column of water slams into me full force, sending me flying backwards through the bench and skidding to a stop on the sidewalk behind it. I cough up water, trying to breathe as I look with horror back to Teri.

The grotesque thing that I'd seen on the lake is now standing where I'd been seconds before, sucking the energy right out of her. Still coughing, I somehow am able to get to my feet, stumbling towards them, “No, this can't be right. She's Sailor Moon! She's supposed to protect everyone, not die during her second fight!” I shake my head and steady myself; “I can't let that happen! Not without a fight!” I think before leaping on the `woman's' back, fighting tooth and nail, literally, to get her to drop Teri. “You let her go, you bad excuse for a fish bowl! Do it before I get really ticked off!”

The monster turns its head to glare at me, smirking evilly. Then, in a move that I could never duplicate, it somehow jumps off of Teri with me still on its back and then situates itself so it was on top of me as we slam into the beach below. I land on my back and groan; I would scream if I could get enough air. I feel the energy slowly being drained from my body.

As one can imagine, I panic and my hands frantically search for something, anything to get it off of me. Finally, in desperation, I resort to a handful of sand, throwing it into the thing's eyes and temporarily blinding it.

First I take a couple of deep breaths before doing my best to sprint over to Teri while the monster screams in pain. I pant a bit, looking at Luna, “How is she?”

Luna sighs, “She's alright for now, but if that monstrosity gets another go at her…I don't know if she'll make it.”

I look at Luna, then at Teri, gritting my teeth a little, “She'll make it, I'll make sure of it.”

Luna looks at me; “You can't be serious! That thing will tear you to shreds! You're just a normal girl, you don't stand a chance against it!”

I smirk, “Yeah, I know, but hey, haven't you ever heard of miracles?” I half-joked before growing serious again, “Luna, I want you to do whatever possible to get Teri away from here. You know as well as I do that she's meant for greatness.”

Luna eyes look pleadingly at me, “But what about you?”

I smile and turn as the thing starts to recovers, “Me? I'm just a Molly. Now get out of here, I'll hold it off for as long as possible.” I say as I copy a stance that I'd seen in some action movie or other, even though truthfully I don't know a lick of any form of martial arts.

“No! With the moon brat so close, I won't let anything get in the way!” I hear the thing hiss. I try to look as confident as possible, “then you'll have to get through me first!”

The creature just smirks, “Gladly.” Suddenly it's right in my face, hands, if you can call them hands, around my neck as it lifts me a good foot or two off the ground. I start to see spots and all I think is `There's no way that was enough time! I've got to stay awake, for Teri and the whole world's sake!'

I close my eyes to concentrate, hearing thunder in the distance and find it comforting some how. So I think about thunder in an effort to stay awake, I wrap myself in the loud booming sound like I would a blanket. Thoughts of lightning soon follow; flashing in time with the low rumbling which at this time is sounding in with my heart. As my mind concentrates while my body is slowly dying, I feel a power waiting within the thunder and lighting, like a pool just waiting to be dived into. So I slowly dip into the pool of hidden power, and I suddenly feel a new energy run through me. I feel more alive then I ever have before in my life. Like someone has super-charged my entire body.

My eyes fly open as a crack of thunder sounds. I force the monster away simply by tensing. I lift slightly off the ground, lightning circling me. As it passes over me I feel myself change…back. My glasses, which I've had to wear since third grade, disappear and I feel myself grow a good couple of inches while a single bolt of lightning gathers up my auburn hair and put into a high ponytail as my tiara appears across my forehead. The lightning closes in and becomes my uniform, thunder pealing each time. Finally the remaining lightning turns into a pink bow with a polished emerald in the middle and I lightly land back on the sand.

I look down at my now-gloved hands before flexing them, smirking, “Now this kind of uniform I can get used to.” Before looking back to make sure that Teri is alright. She's about where she was last time I looked, Luna doing her best to drag her to safety and gaping at me at the same time.

I wink at her, “Guess I'm not just a Molly, huh?” I chuckle before becoming serious and turning to face the monster, who is presently struggling to get back up. “I told you that you didn't want to tick me off. You did, and now you're going to regret it.” I say, flexing my fist and smirking satisfactorily at the crackling sound of the lightning around it.

The monster suddenly seems to lose quite a bit of confidence, “Wha…What are you?!”

I smirk, “Who me? Oh I'm no one special, just your worst nightmare.” I say before focusing the lightning in my hand and throwing it with all my might at the monster, “Sparkling Wide Pressure!” The orb of electricity flies to the creature and hits it in the gut, making it screech in agony. The lightning then disperses as what is left of the thing crumbles to dust and I feel the energy that it had been able to steal from me mingle with the new-re-found power that now courses through my veins.

I flex my hands a couple of times before letting out a deep breath, letting myself relax. “How could I not see it? The Scout of Protection, one who always places others' safety before her own. Sailor Jupiter, Warrior of Lightning. I should have known when you pushed Teri out of the way.” I turn to see Luna smiling up at me from her place beside Teri, who's slowly coming around. I smile at her and look at myself again, feeling really right about everything, how I look, how I feel, everything is right.

I walk over to Teri and kneel beside her, shaking her a little, “Hey, Teri, you ok? That thing looked like it took a big chunk of energy from you.”

She groans and sits up slowly, rubbing her head, “Oh man, did you get the license plate number of that bus that hit me?”

I chuckle and stand up, holding a hand out to help her up, “Come on, I have a feeling Luna has some explaining to do.” She looks up at me, opening her eyes for the first time.

Her mouth drops open, “M..Mel! You…You're…”

I smile, “A Scout?” I offer. “Yeah, it was a shocker for me too. And here I thought I'd get stuck as Molly.” I chuckle before grabbing her hand and helping her up.

After she's up I look at my hands again. “What's wrong?” Luna asks.

I gulp and laugh nervously, “Oh nothing much, I just realized that I don't know how to transform back to normal!”

At this Luna falls over, which is actually pretty funny to watch. When she is able to stand again she looks at me with exasperation. “Close your eyes and think about changing back. That should do it.”

I nod, blushing a little and feeling a tad stupid for asking. I do as she explained and thankfully I change back. Only difference from Teri is that I transform all the way back, glasses and all. “Well that wasn't what I expected.” I say, looking myself over.

The only evidence of my transformation that I can see is the `hair-tie' that holds my hair up.

“Well, that wasn't there before.” Teri comments.

I tilt my head a little, “What?”

Teri stares at me, “Your forehead…it's…”

Before she can finish I run to one of the nearby windows of the park pavilion, groaning when I see what Teri was talking about, “Oh no…” There, etched on my forehead so it almost looks like an old scar, is the sign of Jupiter.

I groan again, “Oh man!” as Luna hops up on the sill, “What's wrong this time? You should be proud to wear your planet's sign on your brow. Jovians were a great and noble race, everyone knew a Jovian always keeps their word.”

I sigh, “But Luna, people are gonna notice! And even if they don't, the enemy sure as heck will! I'll be a walking target!”

Luna thinks for a moment before sighing, “That may be a problem. But sooner or later all of the Scouts are going to be, to use your words, `a walking target'. So you might as well get used to it now. At the moment, it's all we can do.”

I sigh, “Great, so I'm a walking bulls-eye, well whatever. So, you mind answering my earlier question? Who's the enemy?”

Luna looks like she's about to say something, but decides against it, saying instead, “Honestly, I have no idea. And beyond gathering energy, their purpose is a mystery as well.”

Teri tilts her head a little “Well, if we're not supposed to be kickin' monster behind, then what are we trying to do?”

Luna sighs, “Remember when I said Naoko Takeuchi almost got things right? Well, there was a major detail that was intentionally left out by the enemy. Your families were not the only ruling families on your respective planets. There were, on each planet, two ruling families. Together the two ruled better than any one could have alone. Now, in the Silver Millenium, a very peculiar thing happened. It happened that, on every planet, one ruling family had a girl as their eldest and the other had a boy. To celebrate this peculiarity, each planet pledged their heirs to be married on the moon princess' eighteenth birthday. Years passed and the lot of you grew together, becoming the best of friends and, at the appropriate age, began to feel natural affection for your promised. Indeed, when it was revealed to you on Teri's seventeenth birthday that in one year's time you would all be wed, none of you seemed the least bit hesitant.

Then the glorious day came, oh it was wonderful! But just as the festivities had started, they attacked. To this day I don't know who did it or why they did, but you all fought bravely, Princes and Princesses. But in the end, we were defeated, and you know the rest. Your mother sent us here and now we have three main objectives. First, we must find your fellow Scouts. Second, you must find your promised. And lastly, you must defeat the enemy at all costs.”

I nod, “Got it. Friends, boyfriends, buttkicking. Sounds easy enough.”

Teri sighs, “I don't know, the Sailor Moon that we grew up with never had an easy time with enemies. We should be careful.”

I stare at her, “What?” she asks.

I continue to stare at her, “You…you just said we should be careful. I never thought I'd ever hear you say that!”

She almost says something but then looks like she realizes something, “You're right…woah.”

Luna nods, “Well of course you're going to change. You now have an entire other part of your existence that you didn't before. You didn't think it would just be your appearance did you?”

I tilt my head, “Well, I guess that makes sense…but why'd I change back? Teri didn't.”

Luna shakes her head, “I'm not sure, maybe it's because you didn't transform with your pen…or maybe only Teri will fully change until you find all the other Scouts. I really don't know, it could be any number of reasons.”

“Okay, so basically you're as clueless as we are. So, anything else we should know about before I call Mom so I can go home? I'm not gonna cause a tornado when I have a nightmare or anything, will I?”

Luna chuckles softly, “Oh heavens no. It might rain a little when you're sad, but that's all. Nothing too drastic. Oh, and be on the lookout for stray animals.”

I raise an eyebrow but nod, yawning a little, “Man, kicking monster butt takes a lot out of a person. I'm exhausted.”

Luna nods, “It will be that way for a while until your body gets used to your awakened powers. Add in getting some of your energy stolen and it's a wonder you're still standing at all. Both of you should get some rest, you have a lot of work ahead of you.”

“Shoot,” Teri says, “I'm not one bit tired!” she argues even as she herself stifles a yawn.

I chuckle and go to a nearby payphone, get some change out of my pocket and call my mom to let her know to come and pick me up. I then return to Teri and Luna, who have gotten into and argument about school uniforms.