Sebastion Fitsroy wrote:

[The scene opens on a Christmas tree twinkling with light
 situated next to a roaring fire flickering in a fireplace.
 Just in front of those two things is the biggest piece of
 fruitcake ever concieved.  The audience takes in the scene
 for a moment when a loud banging sound eminates from the
 fruitcake.]

Bastion: (muffled) Hey!  Let me out of here!  Darn it, the latch is
stuck!!!!  I know you people are out there, will you please help?

<no response>

*sigh*

I suppose not.

Anyway, it's time to bestow my gift to the FFML, Part 1 of my story.
Why not something better?  I ran out of money.

Now my warnings:
NA names are used!
Original characters are a foot!

Your original character are feet?  

Violence is going on!
The author is lefthanded!

Just like any other starving author on this here list, C&C is very
welcomed.

Oh, and I dedicate this story to Lord Talon and Erin Ellis for
being really patient.  Thanks guys.

Terrible Things To Waste

Part 1: Warm Receptions

        The stars millions of miles away strained against the
dominance of the Tokyo skyline to cast its soft glow.  Their

"their soft glow"

soft glow fueled the motivation of a girl caught in her own

Don't repeat "soft glow".

struggle.  The young girl toyed with her with one of her fair
colored ponytails as she searched for the right words amongst
distractions.  Oh, how she desired to write her memoirs, but the
frustrations of writing seemed so discouraging at times.  Yet,
she reasoned, most people would have the same difficulty putting
her somewhat unusual life into words.  Of course, this didn't
count the lives of her other incarnations.

        *Sigh.*  That was just the beginning.

What?  

        Undeterred, she once more searched for the words, hoping that
someday someone in the future would want to read about her
adventures as an adolescent heroine.

        "Where to begin, where to begin," she pondered aloud.

The fanfic author couldn't figure out where to begin so he tried
to use that frustration to fuel his writing and wrote about a 
character struggling with writer's block...

        "Serena, I believe 'the beginning' would be a good place to
start,"  a proper and stern voice rang out from across the
bedroom.

50,000 years ago, a magical civilisation began to colonize the
moon...

        Upon the corner of the bed, a black cat with a crescent-shaped
birthmark on its forehead sat regally.

        "That would clear up some of the confusion," the cat continued
as it eyes narrowed and her mouth flashed a wry smile, "It's not
like they would be confused enough with you're horrible grammar
anyway."

"It's not they won't be confused enough with your horrible grammar
anyway."  

        The blond returned the smile, picked up the feline, and
proceeded to prance around her room, "Of course, Luna.  I
couldn't leave out the most important four-legged disciplinarian
in my life."

        Luna smiled to herself momentarily.  She could remember a time
not too long ago that this girl would have cried at such an
insult.  Of course, back then, Serena had quite a problem with
maturity.

Which, I suppose, is a natural consequence of being a child.  

        She remembered back during her arduous search for the
reincarnate of Princess Serenity, royalty of a magical kingdom
that fell over a ten thousand years ago.  Upon finding her,
within the body of Serena, she couldn't believe that such a
noble soul could exist within such an irritable, lazy, whiny,
ditzy little child.  Yet, as time wore on, she saw how Serena's
duty as Sailor Moon tested her strength and made her grow.  The
battles she had fought slowly transformed her into a noble and
caring leader Destiny foresaw her to be.

"intended" would probably be a better word.  

        Still, Serena's old habits would creep in, but they were few
and far between.  Her friends and her fellow Sailor Scouts, (or
more specifically her arch-rival Raye), noticed the change in
Serena's character.  Granted, Serena and Raye still had their
differences and arguements, but little did those arguements get

"rarely did those arguments get"

as ridiculous like they used to.  The one most probably most

"as they used to"

pleased with Serena's development was her fiancee, Darien.
Darien had never let Serena's awkwardness and habits get in the
way of his undying love for her, but they did get on his nerves
after a while.

Although he rather enjoyed the occasional vacation from undying
love when the latest bad girl kidnapped and brainwashed him...

        "What is it Luna?"  Serena stopped her activity as she put the
black feline down, regarding her with concern.

        "Oh, nothing imparticular,"  Luna began to stretch and relax
her furry body, "Things on the mind, you know."

"in particular"

        Serena smiled warmly at her talking pet.  She couldn't help but
remember her inital shock when Luna first spoke to her,

"initial"

revealing that she had powers of remarkable magnitude.  She
looked down at her blank notebook and started to ponder how to
explain it all.  Would she talk about how she saved the world
from a periless odds, not once, not twice, but five times?  Or

"from perilous odds"

would tell her audience of her knowledge that she will become
the future queen of a great kingdom, or should she?

        'No,' she determined, 'I should tell them what it's like to be
Sailor Moon.'

        At first, she remembered her reluctance about accepting her
destiny as a Sailor Scout.  She didn't like the idea of giving
up her normal life.  Yet, as time wore on, she discovered that
were others out there just like her, other adolescent girls with
magical powers, people who could relate to her own unusual
lifestyle.  Though they had their disagreements, they eventually
bonded together to fight against any evil that reared its ugly
head.  In fact, over the years, she grew to appreciate the
comfort they offered her through all the rough times in her
life, even when she did annoy them to no end.

        "There's so much to say, Luna,"  Serena sighed, "It seems
impossible to write it all down."

        Luna smiled at Serena, and purred, "Just take your time,
Serena.  There's no rush."

        Serena smiled once more at her cat, residing next to her on the
bed and began to gently scratch down Luna's back.  Luna arced
and purred indicating her satisfation.  Once the initial

"with" would be a better word than "indicating"

sensations rushed through her body, Luna looked up at the blond
girl and noticed her yawn.

        "It's late Serena.  Let's not worry about your memoirs until
tomorrow."  Luna suggested before she yawned in turn.

        Serena nodded in agreement and went to pick out her nightgown.

        Suddenly, a loud, rampant pounding came from the front door,
making Serena and Luna exchanged a look.

        'I wonder. . . ' Dropping the nightgown, Serena proceeded down
the stairs as the knocking became more desperate.

        "I'm coming, I'm coming, jeez."  Serena whispered to herself as
the knocking continued.

        Who could it be?  Could it be Raye?  No, why would she be out
at this time of night?  In fact, why would any of her friends be
pounding at her door this late without calling her first?  Then,
it occured to her, maybe Darien had cancelled his trip to Osaka
knowing that her parents and her brother went to visit her aunt
in Nagano over the weekend.  Such a possiblity made her step
down the stairs with more earnest.

"That thought sent her racing down the stairs." might work better.
In any case "with more earnest" is wrong.  

        'Very convenient,'  unvirtuious fantasies danced through
Serena's mind.

"unvirtuous"

        Luna gracefully leapt down the stairs after Serena, beating her
to the bottom.  Serena's increased eagerness worried her,
especially when she noticed the wry grin on Serena's face.

        'She's thinking about Darien again,' Luna shook her head.

        "Now, Serena, be weary.  You don't know who's at the door.  It
could be some hulligan or weirdo,"  rung Luna's stern voice as
Serena reached the well pounded door.

"hooligan"

        "Oh, don't worry Luna.  If worse comes to worse, I can just
change and zap 'em"  Serena winked at her cat and dramatically
flung the door open.

        "Darien!" Serena cheered in anticipation.

        What beheld the two was not the tall, dark haired handsome
prince they both had come to know.  Instead, a ragged, weary
blond woman welcome their sight.  When the woman saw Serena,

Perhaps a little more description is in order.  "welcome their
sight" doesn't make sense.

she instantly embraced the girl, nearly taking her to the

She might kneel instead, which would make Serena far more
uncomfortable.  

ground.  An expression of relief came across her face as she
held Serena.

        "Oh, thank the Lords, I've found you!  I need your help, Sailor
Moon!"  the  woman lightened her embrace and looked into
Serena's eyes.

        Serena, feeling quite uncomfortable, could only muster
nervously, "Uhhh, what?  No, uh, um, I'm not her at all.  You
must be mistakened."

"mistaken"

        She heard a very audible sign of disapointment from her
guardian cat, as the woman's face contorted with confusion.

"disappointment"

        "Well, aren't you Sailor Moon?"  The woman reviewed her history
quickly, "Oh, wait.  Are you going by Princess Serenity or it is
Neo-Queen Serenity?  I never can quite get the titles straight."

        Both Luna and Serena exchanged glances of surprise at the
woman's knowledge of Serena's past and future personas.  The
woman observed Serena's apprehension and smiled meakly at their
silence.

        "Serena, what's going on?  Who's at the door?  Is it Darien?!"
came a young, shrill voice from the top of the stairs.

        In a flash of pink, a small child in light blue nightgown
appeared at the foot of the stairs before Serena could utter any
protest.  It was Reenie, Serena's daughter from the future, and
another person who Serena had trouble dealing with at first.
Since they both had similar personality attributes, they
constantly argued and bickered with each other.  Their recent
content relationship proved to be the greatest testament of
Serena's maturity.

        "Darien!"  Reenie squeaked cutely as she blindly leapt at the
stranger.

        The pink haired girl's excitement quickly faded as she noticed
that the chest she clutched was much softer and rounder than the
muscler, broad one she had expected.  The shocked little girl
let go and looked up at the blond woman smiling down in return.

        "You must be the crowned princess of Crystal Tokyo."  the woman
cheerfully chimed, "I'd recognized that color hair anywhere."

"crown princess"

        The child stared dumbly at the woman, "Uhhh, heh, I don't know
what you're talking about, heh."

        "Who is this woman?"  the girl growled softly to Serena under
her smile.

        "Yes, who are you?" Luna piped in, concluding that if the woman
knew this much, a talking cat wouldn't be much of a surprise.

        "She is a Traveller, a meddler of events and destinies," came
an austere voice.

        Everyone turned their attention just beyond the door where a
woman stood.  Her dark skin and long, enveloping hair made her
hardly distinguishable from the night.  The red orb atop the key
shaped staff she held radiated, like a beacon, in the

Actually her staff has never reminded me of a key.  

surrounding darkness.  The blond stranger immediately noted the

"blonde"

woman's unusual apparel; the dark pleated skirt attacted to a
restricting white bodice topped with a large flowering black bow
covering her chest, and most especially her staff.  From the
stranger's knowledge of this dimension's history, only one
person wore it, the Time Guardian.

        "Puu?"  Reenie approached her friend with curiousity, "What are
you doing here?"

        The woman stepped next to the blond stranger, answering the
child's question, " I will promptly be removing this uninvited
Traveller from this time stream.  I am sorry Small Lady for any
inconvience this intruder has caused you."

"inconvenience"

        The Guardian then faced the stranger with her staff looming,
"Your distrubance has probably caused enough change to the
future already."

"disturbance"

        The blond stranger tried to keep her composure against the
woman's cold stare, "I was expecting you to be upset, Time
Guardian. . . Sailor Pluto, I believe, but I urgently need help
since other 'Travellers'  have pursued me here."

        "All the more for you to leave,"  the Guradian woman retort
chilled the stranger, "If you leave, the others will surely
follow."

        "It doesn't matter if I'm here or not, they will definitely rip
apart the city looking for me,"  the blonde woman's tone had a
slight edge to it, but remained subtly calm,  "So helping me
defeat them now will be the most profitable action, preserving
the possible futures you foresee."

Pluto points out:  "We don't need your help to do that."

        The Time Guardian responded with an unyielding silence.  The

You might want to delete "an"

distreesed Traveller visibly fought her urge to scream at the

"distressed"

Time Guardian, but she knew there would no moving the cold soul
of Pluto.  In desperation, she hoped her cause could move a more
caring soul.

        "Sailor Moon, or Serenity, please listen to my pleas,"  the
feeble calm facade of the blond woman finally crumbled away, "I
am with a rebel group, called the Society, that is fighting the
against the corruption of my world.  I've seen them kill many of
my friends and they even excuted my family before my very eyes.
These Timelords are not only corrupt, but they're ruthless.  And
only the power that you and your Scouts possess are my last hope
for survival.  Yet, Pluto's only care is confromity to the

"conformity"

timeline, but you understand, right Sailor Moon?  You fight for
those who are in grave need, and you fight for justice and all
that's right?"

        Serena stood speechless as the tears flowed down the blond
Traveller's face.  She couldn't help but notice the stranger's
pain and sheer humility to put herself at Serena's mercy.  This
display touched Serena's heart.  She felt an obligation to stand
up for this stranger, just as she had with many others when no
one gave them any hope.  That's what Sailor Moon would do.

        "She stays, Pluto."  Serena stated softly.

        Both Luna and Reenie gaped in shock.  The Scouts had always
adhered to Pluto's advice before because, as the Time Guardian,
she needed to have extensive knowledge of the past and future.
Thus, Serena's assertion came as a total shock to everyone in
the room, except for Sailor Pluto.  The Time Guardian outwardly
displayed indifference toward Serena, but her dark, piercing
eyes were a window to the betrayal she felt.

        "My Queen, I suggest you take into account these Travellers
offer nothing but trouble.  The consequnces of their actions are
unpredictable to anyone. . . . even me,"  Pluto lectured, "It
would be wise not to involve all of us in their problems."

        Serena stepped back from Pluto's imposing stance.  She then
narrowed her eyes, met the Time Guardian's gaze, and stated with
the confidence of royalty, "I fight for love, justice, and
helping those who are in need.  This woman is in need of our
help, and you are telling me to ignore her pleas.  I can't do
that, I wouldn't be Sailor Moon, or your Queen, if I deny her
and others who are in need."

        Luna stared in amazement at Serena, the backbone she had been
growing for the past three years finally manifested itself in
the form of her stuborness against Sailor Pluto.  Reenie, on the
other hand, noticed how much Serena sounded like her mother in
Crystal Tokyo, and then shook her head, realizing that she was
her mother.

        Sailor Pluto, herself, was amazed, though doing her best not to
reveal it.  She knew that this naive child, Serena, would
eventually become the assertive Queen of the future, and therein
lied her problem.  With the Traveller's presence in the

"lay" 

timestream she could not foresee if disobeying Serena would
affect her trust with the Serena of the future, Queen Serenity
II.  A trust she couldn't afford to risk.

        The Time Guardian sighed to indicate her reconsideration, "You
make a good point your Highness, though I feel it is an error in
your judgement.  I will permit this Traveller stay here, but I
will put her some place where she will be protected and safely
away from you."

        The blond looked with sudden optimisim at the turn of events

"optimism"

and excitedly hugged Serena, "Oh thank you Sailor Moon! I knew
you would understand!"

        Serena smiled wearily and looked at the woman with
gradification, "Thanks, I guess.  Ummm, but who are you?"

        The blond let go of the girl and smiled warmly, "My name is
Xendyte, but, please, just call me Cindy."



------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

        "Stop thief!!"  screamed the shop manager as a lanky young man
jetted out the door with an article of clothing.

        A heavy-set man in a semi-formal attire bolted after the thief
down the street, knocking over many pedestrians who were trying
to enjoy the cool autumn night.  The thief quickly weaved in and
out of the crowds along the strip, eventually losing the obese
store manager.  The thief kept going until he found a dark alley
to safely look over his stolen bounty.  He unfolded and studied
the long, black trenchcoat, it's thick material and blanketing
length would easily keep him warm on cold nights.  He ran his
hand across material's rough cloth, satisfied with the results
of his efforts.  As the thief threw on the coat, a gleam of
light appeared from behind the dumpster further down the alley.
The growing gleam of light eventually caught the thief's eye.
When he turned to look, he came face to face with a smirking
visage covered with long black locks of hair.  The thief gasped
as he felt a barrel of a gun poking his stomach.  The thief
stared in disbelief at the aggressor that appeared from thin
air, gazing at his apparel, a simple black jumpsuit that covered
him from his neck to what looked to be shoes.

        "A being entering into your dimension, I bet you don't see
something like that everyday." laughed the strange man as he
snapped his head back to remove the black, greasy locks from his
vision.

Are you kidding?  I live in Juuban...

        The thief gasped as he saw the  long visible scar from the top
of the stranger's right brow to lower part of his cheek.

        "Now give me your coat or I will kill you. . . slowly."  The
man huffed impatiently as he jabbed the gun harder into the
thief's stomach.

Simply threatening to kill him should be adequate, unless this character
really is a sadist.  

        The thief quickly tore off the trenchcoat and ran for his life
out the alley, letting the coat fall to the damp pavement.  The
man picked up the trenchcoat and surveyed his location.  He
noticed all the litter lining the sides of the alley and the
heavy smell of garbage from the dumpster to his left.  The
radiance of neon across the street in front of him and the full
moon high in the night sky were about the only illumination in
the dark alley.  The man confirmed his location by the symbols
flashing in the window of a small shop across the way.

        Tokyo.

        'This coat should keep me inconspicuous enough,'  the man
slipped on the heavy material, 'and they still think I'm dead in
that explosion, so that's to my advantage.'

        The man padded himself to make sure he still had everything,
his guns strapped to his sides, the shot gun on his back. . .

        He paused as he felt the wooden hilt of his sword strapped to
his hip.  A mysterious object with a strange power that had
somehow protected him from certain death.  The man knew it would
be his ultimate weapon in his revenge.

        The man broke from his momentary trance as a soft roar of an
engine caught his ear, a sound he associated with one thing.  He
had only a split second to dive behind the dumpster before the
pavement he stood upon was blasted to rumble.  The black haired
man peeked around the dumpster to see an armored suit landing in
front of the exit of the alley, a suit occupied by an old
adversary.

        "Malance, " the man whispered hoarsely under his breath as he
groped for both his guns, "Damn it, there goes my element of
surprise!"

        Malance's smiling face was hidden behind a dark visor of his
helmet connected by circuitry to the broad shoulders on either
side.  The armor was equipped with a large cannon on its right
arm and a claw hand on the other.  The thick reflective metal
protected every inch of the eight feet tall frame that loomed
over anything in its path, specifically its target behind the
dumpster a few feet away.

        "You survived the blast at that old warehouse, hmpf.  The
General will be interested on this development,"  Malance's
voice resonated from within the suit.

        The man could feel Malance's cannon aiming at the dumpster as
he heard the metallic footsteps come closer.

        'This is no time to think, just react.'  the man sprang to his
feet and opened fire.

        The man's guns, though as small as a regular handgun, inflicted
massive damage to the mechanical suit as it staggered backwards.
 Malance cursed himself for underestimating Tracer's firepower,
and responded quickly to the attack.  Unfortunately, the
penetrating bullets made his targeting system malfunction, thus
he aim was reckless.  Though the shots easily missed their mark,
they instead blasted away the wall of the alley.  The resulting
avalanche of bricks from the collapsing wall buried Tracer and
the entire area of the alley.  Malance paused for moment to get
his bearings.  Upon seeing the rumble he created, Malance
quickly started to dig through the rumble for his fallen foe.
After a few moments of clawing through the pile of bricks, a
voice came over his communicator.

        "Malance, why have you not reported back to base,"  the cold
and irritated voice of his general ordered.

        "I was delayed, General."  Malance tried to hide his
nervousness caused by the agitated tone of the General's voice.

        "I am disappointed in you, Malance,"  the unemotional voice
continued without acknowledgment of his soldier's excuse, "I
don't want delays."

        "Yes, General."  Malance barked without hesitation.

        Malance charged up the thrusters on the back of the suit and
growled, "I will relish killing you, Timelord."

        As the metal suit disappeared into the darkness, the man
emerged from underneath the pile of rumble.  He look up into the
starry night.  Now his only advantage became obsolete, and they
would surely be expecting him.

        'They will die.  All of the Society must die.'  Tracer fumed to
himself as he stared intently at the full moon.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

        After the Time Guardian transported the Traveller, Cindy,
safely away, Serena, Luna and Reenie ascended the stairs in a
shocked silence, going to their respective rooms.  Serena
quietly  sat on her bed, still trying to sort out what she was
feeling or what she should be feeling.

        Serena looked to her advisor for approval, "Are you sure that I
made the right decision, Luna?"

        Luna paused a moment to think, "I'm not sure, Serena.  You did
what was morally right, but Pluto doesn't usually make
statements like that without consequence."

        Serena stared out her window once more, hoping that maybe the
stars might give her some condolence.

"consolation"  

        "How do you suppose the others will take this?"  Luna leapt
onto the bed and seated herself next to Serena.

        Serena stayed silent for a long moment still looking out her
window, focusing on the full moon, "Probably not too well, but,
either way, we'll definitely find out tomorrow."

        Serena opened a drawer near her bed and found a thin device
which looked similar to a credit card.  She pressed a button
near the bottom, and an image of her friend, Amy, flashed into
view near the opposing corner.   The girl's short blue hair was
in disarray and she struggled to keep her head straight up.  She
rubbed her eyes, swollen with sleep, before yawning;

        "What is it Serena?"

        Serena forced an apologetic smile to her drowsy friend, "Amy,
it's time for an emergency Scout meeting."

-End of part 1-

Welp, there's one part done.  Part 2 will be next week, I hope you'll
be there, and I hope you liked it.  If you did like it, please let me know.
If you didn't like it, please let me know.  (Notice a pattern yet?)

All original characters are owned and copyrighted Bastion (c)1998
And Sailor Moon is owned by Naoko Takeuchi and in America by DIC.

Thanks for reading, and please come again.

Merry Christmas!!!!!

Bastion
bastion@ix.netcom.com