"A Tangle in the Threads of Fate" by AloshaSitaJasmine (let me know if you
can think of a better title)
Any C&C would be GREATLY appreciated as I am looking to improve my writing,
this is the first fanfic that I have posted to the Internet. Let me know if
you think I should continue it. I'm using the NA names because I have seen
almost all of the NA episodes and almost none of the originals, so I feel
like I "know" the NA characters better. Each part has 2 titles, one in
French and one a song title, because I wanted to make this unique. *wink* I
hope everyone enjoys reading this! (^_^)

Disclaimer: "Sailor Moon" is copyright Naoko Takeuchi and was brought to
North America by DiC. This fanfic is non-profit, written only because I
love "Sailor Moon."

< > = thoughts, dreams, etc.

Part 1: "Un Nuit Incroyable" or "The Rose"

	<The moon shone like a beacon overhead, its silvery light reflecting off
the still water below. Looking over the edge, she could feel the smooth
rock underneath her feet. All was silent and peaceful as she stood there
thinking of him. The cliff rose high above the water, jutting out from it
so that it became a steep incline. She smiled, for she had experienced this
dream before and knew how it would end. She stepped closer to the edge of
the cliff. Her heart beat faster, but she calmed it with reassuring
thoughts of him. She took the final step
off the edge of the cliff and felt the ground rushing closer. She looked
toward the sky, knowing that in a few seconds she would see the familiar
figure silhouetted against the moon, smiling as he came to her rescue. He
would save her and envelop her in his strong arms... where was he? She
snapped out of her reverie and realized that this dream was different from
the others...  
	"DARIEN!" Her cry tore through the still air, and yet he still did not
come. She closed her eyes and hoped that oblivion would come quickly . . .>


                         			*    *    *

     	He watched her as she slept, a peaceful expression gracing her
features. His heart filled with love at the sight of her lithe form curled
up beneath the counterpane. A smile dawned on his face as he wondered what
she was dreaming about. She began to stir in her sleep and he moved closer
to her window, worry apparent upon his dark features. He quietly slid open
the window latch and slipped inside her room. 
    	"Darien," she murmured. "Help me. Please."
     	He started, then realized that she was dreaming about him. As he
moved closer to her, he saw the fear on her face and hurried to her side.
     	"Darien, please come," she whispered, desperation dawning on her
face. "Darien!"
     	He put his arms around her and held her close.
     	"It's okay," he murmured in her ear. "It's just a bad dream.
Everything's all right."
     	She opened her eyes.
     	"Darien?"
     	"I'm here," he said quietly, smiling reassuringly.
     	"It was such a horrible dream!" Tears welled up in her eyes.
     	"Tell me about it."
     	"I... I was falling," she began hesitantly. "And at first, I thought
that you would save me. But then you...  you didn't come. You always came
before. I looked for you and all I saw was an empty sky. So I just gave
up."
     	"You never give up," he said bewilderdly.
     	"I know," she replied, turning away. "Without you, I just
couldn't..." she trailed off and a tear broke free of her eye and traveled
slowly down her cheek. He gently wiped it away.
     	"I understand," he consoled. "I... I feel the same way."
     	Surprise lighted her eyes. "You do?"
     	He nodded shyly.
     	"I-- I don't know what to say."
     	"Then don't say anything." If she had read that in a story, she would
have laughed out loud. But somehow, it just sounded right now.
     	"Raye-- and Serena--" she protested weakly.
     	"I like them, but I love you."
     	"They love you."
     	"No. They're in love with the ida of Tuxedo Mask, not me."
     	"Raye cares about you as Darien."
     	"She doesn't even really know me."
     	"Neither do I!"
     	"But you do." He looked so certain that she almost believed him.
     	"But I don't know anything about you!"
     	"You can't mean that."
     	She felt like crying again, she was so frustrated. "I do mean it. I
don't know the first thing about you."
     	"And just what don't you know?"
     	"Your favorite color. Your favorite song. What you like to do on
rainy days. What classes you take!" she threw up her hands in exasperation.
     	"I can tell you all those things, if you want. But they don't mean
anything. They're just things."
     	"Love is a thing," she countered.
     	"No," he said with profound determination. "Love is so much more."
     	"Right now it seems that way."
     	"Then you admit that you love me?"
     	She conceded. "Yes. And you?"
     	"You know that I love you already," he said teasingly.
     	"Now where are we?"
     	"We're together."
     	"And the others?"
     	"I'll break up with Raye."
     	"That's not what I meant."
     	"Do you think they should know?"
     	"They have a right to. But... maybe it should be just Amy and
Darien-"
     	"And not Sailor Mercury and Tuxedo Mask." He nodded, understanding.
     	"H-How did you know that I was Sailor Mercury?"
     	He laughed. "The same way you knew I was Tuxedo Mask. You acted and
looked the same."
     	She nodded. "And you're connected with the Sailor Scouts, so you saw
me in both forms. They should figure out your identity on their own., I
know Raye suspects, and I think Serena does too."
     	"Much as she'd like to deny it. I don't know how she can like one
part of me and hate the other."
     	"She takes things at face value sometimes." She paused. "We all do.
Someday she'll realize how incredible you are. Then I'll have to start
worrying about the competition."
     	"You have nothing to worry about."
     	She saw the seriousness in his eyes and knew he meant it.
                         *    *    *
     
     	Rays of light shone through the window as the sun rose to greet the
day.
     	"I should go." He turned towards the window.
     	"I know." She kissed him goodbye, not wanting him to leave. His lips
were sweet and warm against hers. Reluctantly, he broke the embrace and
climbed out the window.
     	"I'll call you." He pulled a single red rose from his pocket and
handed it to her.
     	She nodded silently. Sunlight filtered through the surrounding trees
and lighted his face, giving his beautiful features a golden sheen. The
intensity of her love for him washed over her like a wave, surprising her
with its force.
     	"Goodbye," she whispered.
     	"Goodbye." And he was gone.
     	She smiled. <Sometimes nightmares have happy endings,> she thought to
herself contentedly, going downstairs to start brewing the morning coffee.

Some say love 
It is a river 
That drowns the tender reed.
Some say love 
It is a razor 
That leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love 
It is a hunger 
An endless aching need.
I say love 
It is a flower 
And you it’s only seed.



Part 2: "Dansons-nous?" or "You Are Not Alone"

     	Raye stood in a shadowed corner of the ballroom, watching Amy and
Darien as they slowdanced. A familiar sadness descended upon her and tears
began to form in the corners of her eyes.
     	<He never loved me,> she thought. <It was she that he cared about all
along. I can't believe I was so blind-- they were probably meant for each
other. How could I have been so stupid?>
     	"Hey, um, would you like to dance?" A boy was standing in front of
her, a nervous smile on his face.
     	"Uh, Okay," Raye agreed. Couldn't hurt, might take my mind off of
them.
     	They moved onto the dance floor and started dancing, but Raye
couldn't keep her eyes (and mind) away from Darien and Amy. They were
standing so close! <Darien never danced with me like that,> she thought
ruefully.
     	She realized that the boy was saying something. "Hm?"
     	"I said, what's your name?"
     	"Oh, I'm Raye Hino. And you are?"
     	He sighed. "I'm Justin Rossnagel. Is... something wrong?"
     	"Um, no, it's just..."
     	"It's just you'd rather look at someone more interesting," he said
bluntly.
     	"No, that's not it at all."
     	"Are they friends of yours?"
     	"One of them is a friend and the other is my former boyfriend."
     	"Ouch."
     	Silence ensued.
     	<Think of something, idiot!> He commanded himself.
     	"Have they been together long?" Justin blurted out, immediately
regretting it.
     	<Oh, no, she's going to get all upset again now, and it's all my
fault!>
     	"A few weeks," Raye replied quietly, pain flashing in her eyes.
     	"Hey, um, do you want to go get some punch?"
     	"Sure." She smiled gratefully at him as they walked over to the punch
bowl.
     	"So, uh, how old are you?" he asked brightly.
     	"I'm fourteen."
     	"Cool, I'm sixteen."
     	"That's nice."
     	"Yeah, I'll be seventeen in a few days."
     	"Neat."
     	"Uh-huh."
     	The song ended and she saw Darien coming towards her.
     	<Oh, no. He's coming here because he feels sorry for me. Well I think
I can manage to find guys to dance with on my own!>
     	She turned to Justin. "Would you like to dance?"
     	He saw Darien and realized what was happening.
     	<I just can't abandon her,> he thought determinedly. <Even though she
doesn't even notice I'm alive.>
     	"Sure." He escorted her out onto the dance floor and they began to
dance.

                         				*    *    *

     	Darien saw Raye over by the punch bowl and decided to ask her to
dance.
     	<She always was nice to me, I really owe her that after what happened
with Amy and all. It's just one dance.>
     	"I think I'll go ask Raye to dance," he said to Amy.
     	"Good idea," she replied, feeling guilty. 
     	<It's my fault that this happened, Raye probably feels terrible. What
kind of friend am I?>
     	"You're not blaming yourself for this again, are you?" Darien asked.
     	"It was my fault."
     	"No, it wasn't. If it was anyone's fault it was mine, not yours.
You're completely blameless."
     	"If you say so."
     	"I do. Look, Raye's a nice girl and all, but we just weren't meant
for each other. I'm sure she understands. I'll see you in a few minutes,
ok?"
     	"Okay," she replied quietly, turning away.
     	"Amy."
     	"Yes?"
     	"I love you."
     	She looked back at him and there were tears in her eyes. "I love you,
too." She saw Lita standing over on the side of the room and went to go
talk to her.
     	"Hi, Lita!"
     	"Oh, hey Amy! How are things with Darien?" Lita asked, a smile
tugging at the corners of her mouth.
     	"Oh, fine," she replied seriously. "He decided to ask Raye to dance."
     	"That's good," Lita said. "It should make her feel better." A look
quickly passed over her face.
     	"Not that she's feeling bad or anything, she's been real perky this
week." She tried to cover up with a smile, but the truth had already been
said and they both knew it.
     	"Hey, Lita, do you want to dance?" Ken said, coming up to the group.
"Hi, guys."
     	"Hi," they chorused.
     	Lita and Ken left to dance, smiling.
     	In a few minutes, Darien joined them. 
     	"She was already dancing with someone," he said sheepishly.
     	"That's good, she must be feeling better," Amy responded.
     	"Would you like to dance?"
     	"Do you have to even ask anymore?"

                        			 *    *    *

     	"Thanks," Raye said to Justin as Darien turned away. "I just couldn't
take that... knowing that he pities me now."
     	"I'm sure he doesn't pity you," he replied. "I don't think anyone
could."
     	She smiled. "You're really sweet."
     	He smiled back. "I know."
     	Another couple appeared a few paces away from them and Raye didn't
realize for a few minutes who it was, she was caught up in dancing with
Justin. Then she took a good look at them and saw that it was Amy and
Darien.
     	Justin saw the look on her face and looked at them.
     	<Oh, boy.>
     	"Um, Raye, if you want we can go somewhere else."
     	"It's okay," she replied quietly. "I have to learn to deal with
seeing them together. I have to talk about them like it doesn't bother me.
I have to forget."
     	"Forget what?"
     	"Forget how he threw me away like a piece of garbage."
     	"What did he do to you?"
     	She was surprised by the menace in his voice. Surprised by it-- and
pleased by it. He really cared about her.
     	"Oh, nothing. It's all right." The memories overtook her again and
she succumbed to them as always. <I hope Justin doesn't mind,> she thought
blearily as she began to flashback.

                         			*    *    *

     	<It was a sunny day. Raye was sitting in front of the fire, staring
into its depths, when the phone rang.
     	"Hello?"
     	"Hi, Raye, it's me."
     	"Darien!" she couldn't keep the happiness out of her voice. <It's
been a few days since I've heard from him,> she thought. <I wonder if he
wants to go out this Friday!>
     	"Listen, Raye, I think... I think that we should see other people."
The words hit her
like a blow.
     	"But..." she said, trying to think of something, anything, that would
keep this from
happening. <This can't be real. It's all a bad dream. In a few minutes I'll
wake up and
everything will be all right.>
     	"I'm sorry, Raye."
     	Click.
     	Raye stared at the phone in her hand not believing it.  
     	"Darien," she whispered. "Why?"
     	Her eye fell on a piece of paper sitting by the phone.
      	You are cordially invited to a birthday celebration at Rossnagel
Manor, in honor of the seventeenth birthday of Justin Rossnagel. RSVP,'  it
read.
     	Raye picked up the phone and dialed the number on the card.
     	"Rossnagel Manor? I'd like to accept the invitation to the party.
Thank you." She set the phone down and sighed. She needed something to take
her mind off him, and this was the perfect distraction.
     	She sat down in front of the fire again and began to cry.>

                         *    *    *

     	"Raye! Raye, are you all right?" a voice was asking.
     	Raye blearily opened her eyes and saw a concerned face. Justin
Rossnagel, her mind informed her wearily. Justin Rossnagel?
     	"I... I'm okay." She looked around her and saw that she was in a
study of some kind, lying on a couch. Justin was kneeling in front of her,
holding her hand and dabbing at the tears on her cheeks with a kleenex. 
     	"You... you just started crying and you wouldn't answer so I brought
you in here, away from all of the noise. What's wrong?"
     	"I was just... remembering."
     	"Remembering what you were trying to forget."
     	She nodded. Her mind was trying to tell her something about him, but
she just
couldn't remember what.
     	"Thanks for bringing me here."
     	"No problem. You can stay here as long as you want-- you don't have
to go back if you don't want to."
     	"I just need to get away from him... from them... for a while. I'm
sorry."
     	"You have nothing to be sorry for. I didn't mind helping you. Hey,
there's a t.v. in here, would you like to watch something for awhile?"
     	"Um, okay." She finally realized where she had heard that name
before. "But you should go back to your party."
     	"My party?"
     	"Don't play dumb with me, I know you're the guest of honor. You
should be there."
     	"I should be where I'm needed," he replied quietly. "And I'm needed
here."
     	"You're too nice to me."
     	"I could never be too nice to you."
     	<You're never going to get a better time to tell her how you feel.>
     	"Look Raye, if you're not busy tomorrow night, would you consider
going to the movies with me?"
     	"Like a date?"
     	"Well... yeah, I guess."
     	"Justin, I... I'm sorry. You seem like a really nice guy, but I don't
think that I could handle a relationship now, right after..." she trailed
off.
     	"I understand," he replied, looking down.
     	"No, you don't, but that's not the point." 
     	He looked up at her.
     	"What I really need now is a friend." There was a note of pleading in
her voice.
"Someone I can talk to when I'm feeling bad, someone I can cry with,
someone who'll be there when I just want to sit and do nothing."
     	"I'd like to be that friend." He smiled and she smiled back.
     	There was a knock at the door.
     	"Come in," Justin called. It was Lita and Ken.
     	"Raye, are you all right? We saw him take you out of the ballroom so
we followed as soon as we could," Ken said.
     	"I'm okay, just a little... upset. It's all right, really."
     	"Would you like us to stay?" Lita asked, concerned.
     	"If you'd like. We were just about to watch some tv," Amy answered.
     	Lita and Ken sat down and Justin turned on the tv.
	Strangely enough, the song "You Are Not Alone," was playing on VH-1. Raye
listened contentedly to the music, feeling the simple truth of the words.

You are not alone.
I am here with you.
Though we're far away
I am here to stay.
You are not alone.
I am here with you.
Though we're far apart
You're always in my heart.
You are not alone.
     

Part 3-- "Un Nouveau Cher" or "Rainy Day Man"

     	<"Darien, you must help set me free," the woman said. Mist surrounded
her and Darien looked on anxiously, unsure of what to do.
     	"Find me the Silver Empyrean Crystal," she commanded, then began to
fade away. 
     	"Darien, help me..." 
     	And she was gone.
     	"Wait," he said. "Who are you? How do I get the crystal?">

                         *    *    *
     	Darien sat up in bed and sighed.
     	<Always the same dream. She's there and then she's gone. I have to
help her, somehow, even if it means facing the Negaverse to get the rest of
the Rainbow Crystals. I just wish she would tell me who she was. She
seems... familiar, somehow, but why? I've never heard that voice before, I
don't think I've ever seen anyone with that face... wait a minute, her
hair! It was in odangos, just like... Serena? No, it can't be, crybaby
Serena could never be that beautiful. Well, now I know why she looked
familiar. When I get her the crystal, I'll ask her to tell me who she is,
she’ll have to tell me then.>
     	Satisfied, he lay back down and went to sleep, and didn't dream at
all.

                         *    *    *

     	<Ring, ring.>
	Lita picked up the phone. "Hello?"
     	"Hi, Lita, it's me."
     	"Oh, hi Raye. What's up?"
     	"Justin and I are going to the movies this afternoon. Do you want to
come? You can bring a friend if you'd like."
     	"Sure, I'll ask Ken if he wants to come. Who else is going?"
     	"I-I think that I'm going to invite Amy and Darien."
     	"Raye, are you sure?"
     	"Yes, I'm feeling a lot better about... well, y'know, the whole thing
with Darien, and I think it would be a good idea to start hanging out with
them when they're together, too, I have to get used to seeing them like
that."
     	"All right, I'm glad you're feeling better. Maybe you should invite
Serena, too, she might be upset if she found out that we all went without
her."
     	Raye sighed. "I guess, but if she starts whining during the movie,
I'm leaving."
     	"Sure you are," Lita teased.
     	"I mean it this time! I'm tired of Serena ruining everything."
     	"Okay." Lita backed off, knowing that if she didn't Raye would end up
listing all the times Serena had annoyed her in the past month.
     	"We'll meet you in front of the movie theater at 6:30, okay?"
     	"Okay, see you then.'Bye."
     	"’Bye."
     	Lita hung up the phone and then dialed Ken's number.
     	"Hello," 
     	"Hi, Ken, this is Lita-"
     	"We're not home right now so if you would like to leave a message,
please leave your name and phone number after the beep."
     	Lita groaned. <Oh, wonderful, the answering machine.>
     	<Beep.>
     	"Ken, this is Lita. Some of us are going to the movies this
afternoon, if you can go be there at 6:30, we'll be in front of the movie
theater. Hope you can come,  bye!"
     	She hung up the phone and went downstairs to make lunch.

                         		*    *    * 

     	Lita, Amy, Raye, Justin, Darien, and Ken stood outside of the movie
theater, talking and waiting for Serena.
     	"Raye, what time did you ask her to be here? It's already 6:45, and
the movie starts at 7:00. If we don't go inside soon we won't get good
seats."
     	Like it matters to her, she probably won't even be paying attention
to the movie, Raye thought, but answered politely, "I told her to be here
at 6:00, I guess she's even later than usual today."
     	"You told her to be here at 6:00? What if were you thinking? If she
had been on time-"
     	"You know Serena, she's never on time." Raye responded, impatience
creeping into her voice.
     	"But if she had been, she would have thought that we ditched her,"
Amy said angrily.
     	"Amy, calm down," Darien said, laying a reassuring hand on her arm.
"It's okay. Raye just did what she thought was right."
     	"You're right," she said, sighing and leaning against him. "I don't
know what got
into me."
     	Raye wanted to turn away, but instead she dug her nails into her palm
and looked on as though it didn't bother her.
     	"Guys, wait for me!" a voice called. They turned and saw Serena
running up the street, pulling Molly along with her. 
     	"Hi, Serena," Lita said brightly, trying to ease the tension in the
air. "Where've you been?"
	“Sorry we’re late,” Serena panted. “So, what movie are we going to see?”
	“Um, we thought we’d watch ‘The Empire Strikes Back.’ Is that all right?”
Ken asked Serena.
	“Uh, sure, it’s fine.”
	Amy looked at her watch. “We should probably go in now,” she advised.
	Without a word the others turned and followed her.
	“What’s wrong?” Serena whispered to Lita, trying to be discreet, but
everyone else heard her.
	“Oh, everything’s fine.” Raye said, steel in her voice. “Right, Amy?”
	“Yes, of course. Nothing’s wrong.”
	Serena contemplated whining that everyone always lied to her but decided
against it because the movie was going to start in a few minutes and she
didn’t want to miss it. Instead she gave them both a ‘that’s completely
bogus and you know it’ look.
	They both looked away and she sighed. <There’s something going on here and
I want to know what it is!> She looked at them, trying to think of what it
could be. Then it hit her. 
	<Oh, duh, Amy and Darien are... together? Wow, no wonder Raye’s ticked
off, I would be too. Why didn’t anyone tell me? Everyone else knew, but
they couldn’t be bothered to tell me. Some friends!>
	 “Come _on_, Serena!” Molly said, pulling her towards the front of the
movie theater. “There are some really good seats right here!”
	Serena followed Molly, sitting down next to the others. 
	In a moment, she realized that something was missing. “Hey, where’s the
munchies?” she complained.
	“Maybe you should get them since you’re on the end, Serena,” Darien
suggested helpfully.
	“But the movie’ll start any minute, I don’t want to miss it!” she whined.
	“Oh, all right! I’ll go!” Raye stood up impatiently and walked out to the
refreshment stand. 
	“I’ll go with her,” Justin said, following.
	“Don’t forget-- extra butter on the popcorn and lots of sugary candy,” she
called as he left.
	In a minute, the movie started and they all tried to read the text that
was scrolling across the screen. Raye, Justin, and the munchies were soon
forgotten as the battle between the Rebels and the Imperials progressed.

				*	*	* 

	Justin hurried out of the theater, looking for Raye, but there was no one
at the concession stand except a bored-looking college student.
	“Excuse me, did you see a pretty young girl with long black hair come out
of the theater a minute ago?” he asked.
	The employee nodded. “She went that way,” he said, pointing down the
hallway. “Um, thanks,” Justin said, turning away.
	“Uh-huh,” he said, pulling a magazine out from under the counter. “See
ya.”
	Justin walked down the hallway and saw that it dead-ended at the women’s
bathroom.
	<She must be in here,> he thought. Checking to make sure no one was
watching, opened the door and went inside.
	“Raye?” he called uncertainly.
	She was sitting in a corner of the room, angrily dabbing at her eyes with
a kleenex.
	“Raye, what’s wrong?”
	“I’m sorry, it was just too much for me, seeing them together like that.”
	“We don’t have to go back in, they’ll understand. Would you like to go for
a walk?”
	“Okay.” She got up and together they walked out of the theater and into
the cool night.
	As they turned the corner, they saw Zoicite attacking a young boy.
 	“Be a clever boy, accept your fate,” Zoicite said as she held up her
crystal. It began to glow and the boy grabbed his throat.
	<Oh, no!> Raye thought. <She must be after another rainbow crystal, I’ll
have to try to stop her... but what will Justin think if he finds out I’m a
Sailor Scout?> 
	Immediately she felt guilty. <How can I be thinking about myself at a time
like this? It’s my job to fight the Negaverse, no matter what.>
	She pulled her transformation stick out of her purse and shouted, “Mars
Power!”
	Justin gaped as she transformed into Sailor Mars.
	“You-- you’re one of the Sailor Senshi!” he said, amazed.
	She nodded brusquely and tuned to face Zoicite.
	“Zoicite! In the name of Mars I shall right wrongs and triumph over
Negatrash like you! Release him now!”
	“Not in your lifetime,” Zoicite answered.
	“Mars Fire Ignite!” she shouted, but Zoicite disappeared.
	She reappeared a few feet away and smiled wickedly. “Nice try, but no
dice. Zoi!” She blasted Mars with pure energy, and Mars dropped to the
ground, weakened. 
	“Raye!” Justin cried, running to her side.
	“How dare you do that to my friend!” a voice said angrily. “In the name of
the moon I’ll punish you!”
	“In the name of Mercury, I’ll punish you!”
	“In the name of Jupiter, I’ll punish you!”
	The other senshi appeared on the scene, looking angry.
	“Oh, great, more sailor-suited brats!” Zoicite muttered disgustedly.
	“Greg!” Sailor Mercury said, seeing the limp body lying on the sidewalk.
	“You take him to safety,” Sailor Jupiter advised. “Jupiter Thunder Crash!”
	Zoicite just laughed. “I don’t have time to play around with little girls.
Zoi!” She released a burst of energy that knocked Sailor Jupiter out and
surprised Sailor Moon.
	Zoicite disappeared, and Ken ran up to them.
	“Why did all of you guys leave? The movie was just getting to the good
part- Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else. Hey, you’re Sailor
Moon, aren’t you?”
	“Yes I am,” Sailor Moon said, smiling.
	Ken noticed Sailor Jupiter sprawled on the ground and gasped. “Lita?”
	He hurried over to her. “Lita, are you all right? Oh, no it’s all my
fault. I should have been there for her.”
	She didn’t move. “What happened to her?”
	“Zoicite happened,” Sailor Moon said grimly. “And she’ll be going after
Sailor Mercury next to get the rainbow crystal. She won’t stop until she
gets it.”
	“Then we have to stop her,” Ken said. “Can you find them?”
	“I’ll use the Crescent Moon Wand to find them, you and Justin stay here
with Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter, we might need their help later.”
	She took out the wand and left to search for Greg and Sailor Mercury.

					*	*	*

	Sailor Mercury put a wet cloth on Greg’s head and he groaned.
	“Don’t worry, you’ll be safe here with me, Greg,” she said, kneeling next
to him.
	He opened his eyes and saw her. “Thanks... Amy,” he said, and went
unconscious again.
	“What? How does he know my name?” 
	Sailor Mercury saw a picture in Greg’s shirt pocket and pulled it out. It
was of her, eating a hamburger.
	<What’s he doing with this?> she wondered.
	She replaced it in his pocket as he began to stir.
	“Horrible future,” he muttered, waking up.
	“You’re just having a bad dream,” she consoled.
	“It’s no dream. I was seeing my future, and it isn’t pretty, Amy.”
	“What??”
	“I have this really weird power to predict things in the future. That’s
how I did so well on that exam, psychic cheating,” he admitted.
	She sat down next to him. “What are you saying?”
	“I know all about you, Amy.” 
	She gasped.
	“I care about you a lot. Even though-- I know I’ll end up fighting against
you.”
	“What makes you think my name is Amy?” she asked, not wanting to hear
anymore. <I love Darien, and no one else,> she thought. <Greg seems nice, I
don’t want to hurt his feelings.>
	“Okay, fine, have it your way. You can never change the future. Only--
when I start to change into a monster, you have to _promise_ you’ll destroy
me!”
	“No!” she said angrily. 
	“Promise me... you must promise me,” he said, leaning his head on his
hands.
	“Listen to me,” she commanded, standing up. “The future is something that
you build by yourself! You have to decide what your own future will be,
Greg, if you give up you’ll never control your own destiny!”
	He looked at her and she nodded firmly.
	“You’re right, Amy-- Sailor Mercury.”
	“It’s a shame to interrupt such a tender scene, but unfortunately, I
require Bumboo’s services and he’s mine now,” Zoicite cut in.
	<What did she mean by ‘tender scene?’> Sailor Mercury thought as she moved
in front of Greg protectively.
	“Zoicite-” she started.
	“You’d like to protect him, but the truth is, he cannot resist the power
of the black crystal,” she said, levitating the crystal out of her hand as
it began to glow.
	Greg screamed.
	“Greg!” Amy cried.
	“Believe me, you won’t feel s protective when you’ve seen his true self,”
Zoicite said nastily.
	Smoke surrounded Greg and a yellow crystal appeared, flying into Zoicite’s
outstretched hand.
	“All right, Bumboo Kid!” Zoicite commanded. “Show the girl some of your
better tricks!”
	“Your destiny!” Mercury realized as she was confronted with the Bumboo
Kid. He was every inch monster, from his metal armor to his glassy red eyes
to the Swiss army knives on the ends of his arms.
	“Oh, Greg!” she said.
	The monster growled and started towards her.
	“The future is something you build by yourself!” For an instant she
thought she saw Greg underneath the monster, and it vaulted over her to
attack Zoicite instead. The yellow crystal fell from Zoicite’s hand as she
was knocked off her feet, landing in Mercury’s hands.
	“How can his heart still be human?” she complained.
	The monster fell into the lake and Zoicite reappeared above it, holding
the dark crystal.
	“Bumboo! It is the Sailor Scouts you must destroy!”
	He rose up out of the water, turning to Zoicite.
	“Now! Recover the black crystal from her!” Zoicite commanded.
	A glow surrounded the monster and he tripled in size. 
	“Bumboo!” he said, going after Mercury.
	She screamed and started to run.
	“Yo, Zoicite!” Sailor Moon called. “Since when do you need some helpless
kid to fight your battles for ya, huh?”
	“Hah, Bumboo helpless? Really, check him out Sailor Moon, this kid’s not
so helpless.”
	“You gotta be stopped Zoicite, now. So, in the name of the moon, I punish
you!”
	“Sailor Moon!” Mercury cried. “Quick! First change Greg back to himself!
Hurry!”
	Moon pulled out her wand. “That’s easy! Moon Healing Activation!”
	Moon and Mercury turned toward him, expecting him to change, but when the
mist, cleared, he was still a monster. They screamed and ran.
	“Why didn’t it work?” Sailor Moon whined.
	“Maybe it’s because he’s too powerful for you to heal him,” Sailor Mercury
suggested. “We’ll have to wear him down and then try it again!”
	Blades shot out of the monster’s mouth and severed a branch from one of
the trees in front of them. They were trapped.
	“Try it! Now, Sailor Moon, now!” Sailor Mercury cried. She still remember
Greg’s words-- <When I turn into a monster you have to promise to destroy
me!>
	 <I won’t destroy you, Greg!> she thought. <We’ll get you back the way you
were!>
	The monster threw compasses and scissors at them, just barely missing. He
released another two that headed straight for them.
	“Mars Fire Ignite!”
	“Jupiter Thunder Crash!”
	The electricity and fire intercepted the weapons and destroyed them.
	“Sorry we were late, we wouldn’t want to miss this,” Sailor Jupiter said.
	“Yeah, no way!” Sailor Mars added.
	“Mercury Bubbles Blast!” Fog blanketed the area and the monster growled.
	“Sailor Moon help him, he’s weak enough now, you can change him!” Sailor
Mercury said desperately.
	Sailor Moon pulled off her tiara. “Moon Tiara Magic!”
	The tiara attached itself t the monster’s forehead and started to drain
its energy.
	“His energy is starting to die out! Now, Sailor Moon!”
	“Moon Healing Activation!”
	The monster morphed back into Greg and he fell to the ground.
	Sailor Mercury gasped. “Greg! Are you all right?”
	“You’re gonna pay for this!” Zoicite snarled, and disappeared.
	“Oh, Greg!” Sailor Mercury cried.
	<How can she care about Greg?> Sailor Mars thought angrily. <She already
has Darien, and now the little witch is going after another guy too!>
	Tuxedo Mask looked on from the shadows. He had seen the fight from the
sidelines, always to see if the senshi needed his help.
	<I’m sure Amy doesn’t mean anything by being nice to Greg. She must
sympathize with him, and she hates to see people get hurt. I’m sure she’ll
forget all about him in a few days.>
	He turned away and started down the dark street. <So, the Sailor Scouts
got the third rainbow crystal. I guess I might as well leave it with them--
for now.>
	He continued down the street until the park was out of sight, his dark
silhouette merging with the night.

					*	*	*

	“So you’re moving again, Greg, you sure didn’t stay very long,” Lita
commented as she, Serena, and Amy, and Greg waited at the subway station
for his tram to leave.
	“Yeah, well, see, it’s ‘cause of my dad’s job. It’s a real drag, ‘know,”
he answered.
	“And we were just getting to be friends, too,” Serena said with implied
sadness, as though some of them should be more upset about it than others.
	“Well, uh, Amy, I, uh-” he started.
	“Uh, I’ll really miss you, Greg!” Amy said.
	<There’s nothing wrong with being nice to him,> she reminded herself
guiltily.
	He took the picture of her out of his pocket and handed it to her.
“I...better... give this back to you,” he said hesitantly.
	“No, keep it!” Serena cut in, frustrated. <Greg would make a much better
boyfriend for Amy than cranky old Darien, I have to make her see that!>
	Amy looked at the picture fondly.  
	<I can’t believe he kept this, that’s so sweet.>
	Greg stepped into the tram, then turned back towards them.
	“I’m still trying to be as good as you, y’know, beat you on an exam, but
without the special power...”
	“Here, Greg,” Amy said cheerfully handing him a picture of herself.
	He looked at it and smiled. “Huh, cool!”
	“Take this one instead, it’s a lot better. I don’t have my mouth open like
Serena!” 
	The door of the tram closed and it pulled away.
	“I don’t always have my mouth open,” Serena muttered.
	“‘Bye!” Greg called.
	“‘Bye!” Serena replied.
	“See you again, Greg! Hope it’s soon!” Amy called, running to the edge of
the platform. She felt like she was in a dream.
	<Well, it’s not a dream, it’s real life>, she told herself sternly. <And
in real life I have to be true to Darien.> Her spirits fell as she realized
that she could never see him again. <Well, I’m lucky enough to have a great
guy like Darien and good friends like the senshi, they mean everything to
me! How could I even think of someone else?>
	“You like him, don’t you? Admit it!” Serena commanded.
	“Yes, I do! But it doesn’t matter!” Amy found herself growing impatient.
“How can you be so insensitive? Just leave me alone!” She ran out of the
station.
	Lita looked at Serena. “I’ll go after her,” she said, following her. “Hey,
Amy! Wait up?”
	<Am I insensitive?> Serena asked herself. <I know she likes him, and she’s
better off with him than with Darien, I don’t see what the problem is!
People are always calling me insensitive, but I never try to hurt their
feelings! It’s just not fair.>
	Serena left the station and walked home alone, depressed.

					*	*	*

	Lita lay in bed trying to sleep, staring blankly at the ceiling
	She sighed. <Why can’t I sleep? It’s a simple thing, really. I’ve been
doing it simply for fourteen years, why can’t I do it NOW? It must be
because of him, for some reason I can’t stop thinking about him. The last
time I cared about someone this much was Freddie, oh, Freddie, I loved him
so much... but Ken is different. More... more like a brother, always
watching over me, always there when I need him the most.>
	<Except now,> she amended. <He’s not here now. Maybe if he knew how I felt
he would be... If he knew how I felt? I don’t even know how I feel. He-- I
don’t know what he is. He’s my best friend... but is that all? I’m so
confused. Maybe listening to music will help me sleep, it’s supposed to be
therapeutic.>
	She turned her radio on as a soft rock ballad started.
	#When I think about the first time/Thought I found someone who cared for
me/But things were not as they appeared to be...#
	<Freddie,> she realized, and her mind slipped back in time to a day she’d
tried to forget.

					*	*	*

	<She and Freddie were in the gazebo at the school playground, looking
out at the misty day. She waited for him to say something, hoping that he
would finally tell her that he loved her.
	<I can't believe this is really happening, I knew that he felt the same
way I did. He called me here to tell me, now he's just getting up the
courage. That must be what it is, why else would he ask me to meet him
here?>
	She turned around and walked up to him, putting her hand on his arm. He
looked away.
	<Something's wrong, why won't he look at me?> Tears blossomed in her eyes
and his image turned bleary as she watched him pick up his umbrella and
leave.
	<Freddie, no!> she thought, running out after him. He hurried away down
the path, not able to face her anymore.
	She stood out in the rain, feeling it mingle with her tears. It didn't
matter anymore.
	<How could he do this? What happened?> she wondered, in shock. <I was
wrong. He doesn't love me, he hates me! I was an idiot to think otherwise.>

	She watched his retreating figure as it passed out of sight, hoping that
somehow he would come back, that it was all a joke and everything would be
all right...
	Someone put an umbrella over her head. Disbelievingly, she turned and saw
Ken smiling at her.
	<He... he came to help me, he must have been watching me. He still cares.
Oh, Ken, what would I ever do without you?> 
She turned to him and smiled, and they walked home together.

				*	*	*

	<I do love him>, she thought perplexedly. <I never realized it before. All
those times he's taken care of me. He must be my Guardian Angel... no,
he's... he’s my Rainy Day Man, when something happens to me, he's there,
just like on that day. He’s so nice to me, he always has been, it must have
hurt him when he saw how much I cared about Freddie, but he came to help me
anyway. I  hope that someday I can be there for him like that, he deserves
to have someone watch over him.>
	She reached over and turned off the radio.
	<Whatever that voice was, it was right, that song did help me remember.
Maybe now when I think of Ken I'll think of that song-- it suits him.>

When I think about the first time
Thought I'd found someone who cared for me,
But things were not as they appeared to be.
Rainy day man, 
On your shoulder I cried
When my first brush with love
Left me shaking inside.
Rainy day man.
Ever since I can remember
Like a brother you've been strong and true
Always been there to see me through.
Rainy day man
You're much more than a friend.
I would give anything
Just to see you again.
Rainy day man.
Rainy day man.

AloshaSitaJasmine aka Sailor Avalon
subramrs@slic.com
http://members.wbs.net/homepages/s/a/i/sailoravalon.html
"We are what we are." Elisa, "The Gathering"
"For all my life and forever; There's a truth I will always know. When my
world divides and shatters, your love is where I'll go." --from "The First
Time I Loved Forever," the theme of "Beauty and the Beast"
"List to the mournful tradition, still sung by the pines of the forest;
List to a Tale of Love in Acadie, home of the happy. "--from "Evangeline,"
by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
~~Priestess of Music in the High Church of Usagi~~
moonie code:
SM:5-m+ F:sTx+[+]> In+:vJa Ne D:En Be- O:d [-]s [-]o [-] p:a
:s52|110:eBrDz:hBrBkRD+:x-:r+| [+]