Faces Of The Moon bibarra@gpu.srv.ualberta.ca (Cathy Ann Bear) Oh, bother. Someone ought to mow this grass once and for all. Obscenely overgrown, muttered Luna between hacks and leaps. No decent way of making your way through! And definitely not worth the trouble to go after a silly girl with an attitude problem. The cabin itself was comfortable, with its foundations of oak and the scent of a freshly felled tree. To the bare foot it gave the sensation of having emerged from nature itself, under a thin veil of tapestries and ragged furniture. Reeny was no doubt fitfully occupied in chasing Artemis from stairway to stairway, the floorboards probably squeaking in resonance to her frantic yelping. Outside, the tended acres were cool and lush from the drizzles of early summer. The housekeeper, Evander, was perpetually trying to perfect the little clearing in any way he could--from planting petunias and forget-me-nots until the midnight hour, right down to fussing over the center of gravity on a makeshift tire-swing left over from the previous tenants. But past the splintery fence, behind the face of the cabin which had no practical purpose, only wilderness held claim to the land. Beyond the shabby little boundary, Luna felt like she was in the company of strangers, metaphysical spectres who knew no cabin or garden. "Serena, you will be absolutely plagued with insect bites tomorrow morning. Why don't you do yourself a favour?" "I wanna go to the ice cream shop." "You won't be able to enjoy your double fudge frostie when you're _scratching like a maniac_. Come on, you senseless girl." "Oh! Can't we go back to that store we passed on the way? Maybe get some Cheez Pops or Nacho Twists?" "The last store we passed was six miles up the road! Serena, be reasonable. Come on back and unpack your case...and for crying out loud, shape up! You have your junkfood and your daytime romance shows seven days a week. Can't you bear to be without for once?" "Luna, you know I'm no good at this out-in-the-country stuff. I need to be in the city! I mean, without the flashy sprawling mass of skyscrapers and shopping malls there's nothing but grass and trees and bushes and that frightens me! I mean, how are people supposed to live in a place when there isn't even anything artificial anymore?" "Would you like a taxi ride back to the cabin?" "You should talk. If it weren't for cities, you would have no place to live! You're a domestic animal, you're no lion. There, I got you!" "Well, I'm sure getting a crash-course in wilderness survival chasing you around. But if you want to be stubborn and stay out here and sulk because you're missing Hunk Connection you can take your time, because I was thinking about eating your supper anyway." Luna hacked her way back through her trail. "Ooh! You eat my supper and I'll make gloves out of you, for the moon's sake!" "For the moon's sake, exactly," said a voice from where the grass was moving. **** "Serena back yet?" Lita asked, bobbing her head in front of the window. "Depends on what you mean," piped in Artemis, out of breath from being chased around by a zealous little pinkster. "Cabin-wise? Maybe. Back in her own head? I'd talk to a private eye if I were you." The eight had made good time, having left early and travelled a tough length to be able to settle in by the evening. It was convenient enough that Evander, a business partner of Raye's folks, happened to have a window between when the last occupants had moved out and the time when the new ones would fill the bill; disliking being lonesome, he had asked if Raye and her friends wanted to come visit, and Luna took it upon herself to convince the Scouts to come along. What they really needed, thought Luna to herself, was to build character. How could they keep back the forces of the Negaverse if they let themselves become too distracted with things like nail polish and four hour phone conversations? No, here they would learn discipline. "Leeee-ta! Come see what we found in Serena's suitcase!" Raye and Amy had galloped to the bottom of the stairs, edgy and giggling. They hadn't let the distraction go to waste, obviously. Artemis had begun to play with the braided string of a tapestry of a lion in the hallway nextdoor. "You went through her stuff? I can't believe you two," scolded the brown-haired girl. "Don't you have any shame?" "...No, but... we _do_ have her love-letters from Darien." "Aw Jesus. You went and took her--wha--what--are you serious?!" a grin began to grow at the side of her mouth, as much as she didn't want it to. "C'mon, Leet. She never tells us anything. Don't you wanna find out what's happening between them?" coaxed the raven, in a cajoling manner that implied that girls will be girls and there is nothing as valuable as the ecstasy of a carefree moment which passes far too rapidly into oblivion. Still, Lita struggled not to be clouded over by the thunder-spark of a conscience-tarnishing impulse as she would be angry at herself later for breaching the trust one is given by a best friend, merely to indulge in a quick but no less disrespectful act of gluttony. Her mouth curved back and forth in indecision. Artemis tugged a little too hard at the string, and the humble decoration came draping down upon his feline head. Half-frightened by the onslaught of thread and artwork, and half-embarassed because the outcome was predictable, Artemis thought it best to simply remain blanketed for a few seconds and give the impression that it was actually a very important thing to do. That way, when Lita dug him out of the avalanche, he could pretend that she was interrupting an official function of Central Control, and come out looking like a smart cat. Artemis waited and waited. **** She doesn't understand, not one bit. She's not the one who has to live with it, thought the Moon Princess. Okay, she may be a talking cat with a moon on her head but all she has to do is shut up and carry a receipt from a tattoo parlour and she's just like any other beast! Does she really think I'm that shallow? That everything I care about is material, and that I have to be guided around like some kind of plough horse? I'm more than that. My name's Serena Tsukino and I'm fourteen years old and I can be my own person. I can! Why should I have to take orders from a dumb cat? Sailor Moon this, Sailor Moon that. When's my lunchbreak? Serena trudged through the thick brush, the spiky branches scratching up her shins. She knew no one had been impressed with her sudden little fit back there, and were probably wondering why she was such a baby all the time. Well, let them wonder, she huffed. Can they really say they never lose their cool once in a while? Frustrated, Serena vainly flailed around with her reasoning, trying to justify her having been so defensive. The breeze began to chill her, and the cabin seemed ages away through the stickly foliage. Serena stepped over the fence back onto the smooth lawn near the housecorner, and immediately felt better. She could have sworn she had been drowning in self-pity, but now she felt like it was only the weeds that had been bringing her down. A gust of wind blew back her long golden tresses. She felt like running. Without hesitation, the free, young, and healthy girl bolted across the yard. She reached the far fence in a matter of seconds, halted, bent down, and panted. I wonder why I just did that, she thought to herself. I don't know why, replied an echo in the back of her mind, but do it again. Compliant, Serena launched herself again and raced alongside the fence, puffing all the way to the far side of the yard. She was purifying herself, and for a second she felt just like she was flying. Of course, it could have been because of the root she suddenly caught her shoe in. "Hey girlfriend," laughed a voice from somewhere beyond the dirt facepie. "You excited to be here?" Serena looked up at Mina on the tree-swing and hoped she wouldn't have to explain. "Gosh, Serena, your face is full of crumbs again." "WAAAAHHH!!" Mina helped her friend up and wiped the dirt off her face. Serena tried her best to regain her dignity and composure but had a hard time faking it. The girls climbed onto the tire swing together, facing each other, far away from anybody's business. "What do you think of this place?" "I think I need a suit of armor." "I love it. It's so peaceful here. We could do everything! We could have a campfire... tell some ghost stories..." "Now if only Luna would stop nagging me, maybe I could actually start enjoying myself." The two Scouts rocked back and forth slowly under the shade of branches and leaves. "So what was up with you back there, girl? You really flipped something fierce." "I just can't stand it when Raye says things like that. Why is she out to get me all the time, Mina?" "Aw, c'mon, I don't think she was really serious when she was talking about adjusting your pigtails like antennas so she could watch TV on your head. We all just thought it was funny, that's why we were laughing at you." "But she's been like that all week. Ooh! I wish I knew how to pick on _her_." "Maybe she's jealous, Serena. You're the one seeing Darien now...it could be she might be upset over losing her boyfriend to a prettier girl!" Serena scoffed. "Whatever, Mina." "Well, _I_ sure think you're prettier, Serena." Mina passed a gentle finger across her companion's forehead, brushing away the bang in her eye. For a second, Serena thought the wind must be blowing again, and moments later realized the leaves on the trees were perfectly still. **** >Glug-glug-glug-GMMP< "Another one!" >Glug-glug-glug-GMMP< "Another one!" "Reeny, that's going to be your fourth one," exclaimed an exasperated Amy. "You're going to turn into a raspberry if you don't stop. Are you really that thirsty?" "No, but I bet you are!" The sky had deepened to a cold blue, and a rim of daylight still hugged the horizon. The girls had finished unpacking upstairs, and their rooms seemed just as full of clutter as the rooms they had left behind in Crystal Tokyo. The rustic fireplace flickered warm colours in the living room, where Lita, Serena, Artemis, Luna, Raye, Amy, and Mina were curled up in the firey glow. Shadows flitted across their faces, as if they were phantoms of flickering fluorescent light. Once in a while the dance of the flames would reflect in the window of the station wagon outside, as it sat dormant in the driveway. "I sure gave Zoisite a whippin' to remember, didn't I?" boasted Lita. "Now she'll think twice before messing with the Titan." "No way, Lita, I got her, not you," argued Mina. "Square in the chest. She was shaking her fist at me and everything." "If I remember correctly, I believe it was my Mercury Bubble Blast that hit her the hardest," interjected Amy. "No no no! She was specifically trying to bust _my_ bubble, knucklehead, and she got what she was askin' for. In spades," insisted Lita. "Ex-cuuuse me, dimwits, but aren't you all wrong? Wasn't it me who did most of the work putting that Nega-bitch in her place?" All eyes turned to Serena. "...hm...well, um, didn't I make it a whole lot easier for you guys to beat her?" "You made it a whole lot easier for Tuxedo Mask to see up your skirt, meatball head!" Serena flushed as red as the fire in the wave of chuckling. "Hey, do you think that when Tuxedo Mask retires, he'll just open up a mens' clothing store?" "Are you serious? Can you really imagine Tuxedo Mask in golfing pants and a fishing hat and still trying to be all serious? _'I'm warning you, Mr. Jones. I want those hushpuppies! This time I'm not leaving without them!_' "Okay then, a flower shop." "But he would end up killing everyone!" "Fine, then, what do you think, Luna? Where's Tuxedo Mask going to be in 20 years?" "Oh, I imagine he'll be snagged up by some famous model who will make more than enough money for two, and he'll never have to leave the house. He'll probably change his name to Tuxedo Butler!" Into the night, the group chitted and chatted, downing their fair share of drinks in the process. Luna shot a snarly look at Evander when he brought out the stuff, but was helpless to voice any complaint except 'meow'. Raye later eased the cat's anxiety with a little rum in the saucer of milk, away from the housekeeper's eyes. When the sky had grown so dark that only firelight was visible in the window pane, Mina started having the idea of heading down to the lakeshore down the road for a midnight dip. No longer kept in silence by the presence of the generous old codger, Luna was the first to protest. "Are you absolutely out of your mind? You can't see a blasted thing at this time of night. It's dangerous! And don't forget--you've had a few, Mina. The only thing you're fit to be doing is sleeping!" "Aw, you're nothing but a squinky drag, Luna," mumbled an inebriated Sailor Venus. "You're just sore 'cause you can't swim." Artemis chimed in with the war support. "That squinky drag is right, you know. There's no way we can let you do something that reckless." Luna wasn't sure whether to feel complimented or not. "Why don't you wait until tomorrow morning, Mina? The water's probably freezing right now," said Lita. "Wait until the sun comes up, why dont'cha." "Come on! I'll be alright! I've got all my senses, really!" "Oh yeah?" challenged Raye. "Quick, what's twelve times seven, genius?" "........" It took a little bit of debate, but the girls eventually got Mina to concede. The scouts rubbed their eyes and headed upstairs to hit the sack, while Luna and Artemis crawled into their baskets to travel to the land of slumber. Not too far away, in the patch of overgrown grass and weeds, a chorus of crickets' legs seeped into the black air, like the creeping drone of a Ligetian cacophony. **** A couple of seconds went by before the shot of pain in Serena's head receded and the headboard stopped wiggling. Her eyes unadjusted to the night, only the invisible, scentless but familiar darkness envelopped the room. Serena could feel the nightgown that covered her form, and over top of them, the thick down blanket; but she seemed to be floating in outer space--a cold and deathlike void, with not a star in sight. She had been dreaming before she woke up. She had dreamt that she had returned to the cabin from the wilderness as she had the afternoon beforehand, only to find that her companions had packed up and left as quickly as they had arrived. Serena was stranded, miles away from any human being, with sinister black clouds swirling over her head. She ran into the cabin searching for Evander, but sensed that the whole place was stone dead. Scrambling into the upstairs hallway, she abruptly halted in front of a potted fern. Serena suddenly remembered that Evander was not a real person at all, that someone had named the plant Evander for some affectionate reason. With that resolved, she felt much better, although somewhat boneheaded for having freaked out. She descended into the living room and sat down on the couch named Sammy, where she would munch on a bag of woodchips while waiting for the others to return from the gentleman's clothing store. Suddenly it occurred to her that the tea kettle had died, and death-mold was already turning the walls green. No longer safe, Serena jumped out the front door to discover that the yard was not a yard at all but a cleverly placed postcard, on which she bumped her forehead rather hard. Shaking away the bizarre imagery of the whole adventure, Serena sat up in bed and took a few deep breaths to make sure she was still as alive as anyone else. Then she realized that Mina was not in the bed across the room from her. Too tense to want to bother waking up everyone else (for that certainly would have caused a scandal), Serena shook on her slippers and trod with light feet down into the living room. The embers were barely glowing in the hearth, after having burned all night. The front door was an inch open, scaring the teen for a second into thinking Mina may have been carried off by a bear. Serena then spied a spilled bowl of trail mix on the dining table, and fear turned to scorn as Serena landed upon her conclusion. Mina had probably snuck off for her swim in the middle of the night, and thought nobody would notice. Well, she's saved my ass from the Negaverse before, bargained Serena, so one favour deserves another. Still, I'd better tiptoe down the road to check if she's alright. Without making a sound, Serena slipped her lithe body through the smallest possible opening in the door, so as to not make it creak. The subtle wind of the small hours blew right through her nightgown as if she were bare to the cool air. She hopped down the steps of the exterior deck and hobbled down the path towards the main road. In school, sports was really Mina's thing, Serena thought to herself. Of all people, wouldn't she be really careful of what she did? Sure, she can't swim like Amy can, but she's not a tomato brain either. One thing's for sure, we're never letting Mina get drunk again! Gravel crunched under Serena's slippers as she dragged her feet downhill. Far down the road, the landscape stretched out to a magnificent silhouette of nature in stasis. What an isolated place! If Raye's father weren't some fat cat politician, she thought, we'd probably be shacked up in the nearest Motel 6 by now. Out-of-the-way? Heck, I didn't even know this part of Japan existed! Hm...Chances are, neither do Mr. Hino's constituents. Still, it is beautiful...I could get used to this outback stuff. If I only didn't have to put up with a certain few unnamed people...! A narrow sideroad branched out and led beyond the row of trees that followed the main road. Serena knew she had already gone quite far from the cabin, but could not stand not knowing if her friend was alright or not. Of course she would be, because it would be a cruel and senseless trick of fate if she wasn't. So why was Serena so worried? She herself wasn't quite too sure; she only knew that something was missing. Serena rounded the corner and damned the night for not letting her see clearly out into the lake. A little ways offshore, sure enough, the midnight deviant was paddling in circles on her back, staring up at the crescent moon as if she were in love with it. In a half-shout, half-whisper, Serena called out the girl's name. "Mina!" Mina must not have seen her at first, for she continued drifting peacefully on the surface of the sparkling water. The quiet slush of her arms cutting the water added a second motif of sonority above the whine of the crickets. "Mina!" This time, the swimmer turned her head. "Sailor Moon!" recoiled Mina, not too concerned about being quiet. "Sailor Moon, you've come to rescue me!" "Mina, get out of there. You're gonna catch something way harsh!" "The emperium crystal's down there. I saw it!" "Look, I'm trying to get you out of big trouble, alright?" "I'm not letting Queen Beryl get her hands on it. Not in this lifetime!" And with that, Mina's figure slipped beneath the frigid, aqueous plane. Without a further thought, Serena threw off her nightgown and slippers, and dove into the freezing blackness. She didn't notice the temperature shock; she was much too concerned about losing her friend than body heat. Tension took hold of Serena's heart tightly as she kicked and fought her way across the lake, and burbled the words that guided her so well through distorted bubbles underwater: "I--stand--for--love--" Through the deep, Serena could make out the silhouette of a young girl sinking quickly to her doom. Hurry! "And--I--stand--for--justice--" Serena thrust her head up to take a lung-bursting breath. Mina had disappeared completely, and was heading towards the bottom of the lake. Don't you dare drown on me, you stupid girl! Serena felt the sting of salt in her eyes as she plunged downwards. She couldn't see a thing. Mina had to be down here somewhere! Oh God, please don't let me lose her! "In--the--name--of--the--moon--" Everywhere was darkness, everywhere was death. The nightmare had not ended yet. There were no stars here, only endless loneliness. WHERE IS SHE?! A limp, wilting arm was suddenly gripped by a stronger, forceful one. From out of the depths of sorrow, a spark of light rose like a shot from a flaregun. An entity floated up into heaven, carrying with it salvation. Serena struggled to keep her hacking and coughing friend's head above water, burning up her strength quickly. I won't let you go, Mina! God, the shore's so far away... A year seemed to pass before Serena reached the level where she could touch the inundated ground with her feet. Like a phoenix bird, she exhaustedly made her way back to shore, Mina in her arms, the jagged pebbles and mossy seaweed scraping her toes and heels. Upon reaching the mudbank, Serena lay down her quivering friend, and a rush of horror swept over her as she thought about what might have happened had she not succeeded. Mina was breathing, but pale, and utterly weakened. "Crystal..."she whispered. "Don't talk, Mina. I'm taking you home," said the lifesaver. Serena lay down the soaked Scout in her abandoned bed, listening and hoping no one had heard her come in. She carefully moved the straps down off Mina's shoulders, and tugged her arms through. Feeling a little weird, she then pulled the wet bathing suit down to Mina's waist, and struggled a little to yank the suit out from underneath her bottom. After Serena had managed to slide the suit down and off the girl's legs, she threw it in the corner and towelled off Mina's body, lest she catch cold, if she already hadn't. "I'm sorry," breathed Mina softly. "Just glad you're alive, girlfriend," came a sugary voice from above. Mina pushed a smile. Right then, Serena started thinking about what she had done in a new light. This body of yours, Mina, is here because of me. Your lips, your shoulders, your navel, the palms of your feet--so gentle here in the moonlight--you're alive, Mina, you're still in one piece...you're a real-life human being...it's beautiful. I feel like I created you. Serena reached for Mina's hand and clasped it tenderly, entwining her fingers with hers. A confusing wave of emotion came over Serena; she knew not if what she was feeling was relief, or fear, or gratitude, or if she was just spacing out the way she did in class. I think I love you, Mina. God, this is so weird! Why did I just think that? I don't know, came the reply, but think it again. Serena covered her friend with a down blanket and put her hand on the girl's cheek. Mina was as cold as an icecube! Serena hoped she would be alright in the morning, after a good night's sleep. Silently, Serena spun back and began creeping towards her own bunk. "Don't leave me, Serena..." As much as she wanted to stay, Serena knew that if Mina woke up tomorrow with another girl in her bed, she would probably do something the equivalent of sounding a fire alarm in a coal mine. Heartbroken, Serena crawled under her sheets, secretly wishing that Mina had never been under the influence. **** "Rise and shine, dorkbrain!!" Serena woke with an awful start. Oh no, I'm going to be late again! "Seven o'clock already? There must be some mistake! I didn't have time to finish my homework, I mean I was too busy collecting money for the poor...Don't let the bus leave without me! Anyone seen my hairbrush?!" "Quick, Serena, it's leaving without you! Hurry," pressed Raye. Serena ran on fire out her bedroom door. Amy was the first to muffle a chuckle from behind Mina's bed. All the girls grinned evilly at each other, waiting for the bomb to go off. A flustered scream reverberated downstairs. Artemis poked his head through the door, sporting disbelief on his face. "What the hell did you say to her?" "Relax, cat-man. Sit back and enjoy," chuckled Lita. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Stomp. Wham! "That's IT that is so totally IT you are NOT allowed to do that to me anymore I am SICK of being made a fool of now GET OUT of my room and I'll come DOWN when I FEEL LIKE IT!!" yapped the blonde. "Please calm down, Serena, we just thought we would play a little trick on you. We didn't mean to hurt your feelings," pleaded Amy. Inevitably, Luna stepped in. "What's all this racket about?!" "For chrissake, Serena, stop being so childish," said Raye. "You're gonna wreck our trip if you keep it up!" Mina forwarded the motion. "Yeah, Serena." All Serena could do was look into the eyes of the girl whose life she saved last night and feel infinitely hurt. Was it not worth anything, now that Serena was 'being a baby' again? Would Mina really never remember the love they shared for an instant, a fleeting, mutual attraction for one another, now obviously nothing more than a drunken hallucination? I was closer to her than I'd ever been to any other girl--I even kissed her, for the moon's sake--and now all she's got to say to me is 'Yeah, Serena'?! She couldn't help but burst into sobs. "Everyone clear out," commanded Luna. "Ms. Tsukino and I are going to have a little CHAT." The five others obeyed. It was time for the shakedown. Downstairs in the kitchen, Artemis and the girls chewed their food nervously. The general mood in the air had wound up like a box spring from the fierce lecturing upstairs. "I feel bad now," murmured Amy. "I didn't want there to be a big fight. Now everyone is upset." "Well, there shouldn't have been a big fight. Serena's just a crybaby! She can't ever stand being in a position where she's not in control. Girl's got to learn," rambled Raye. "Funny that, coming from you, Raye," said Lita. "Weren't _you_ the one who voted yourself leader a while back, when we weren't too sure about blondie?" "And I gave that up, Lita. I can deal with it--she can't--that's my point exactly. Sometimes I wonder if the way we're going with her is the best way after all." "Sounds like you're jealous." "Jealous? Give me a break, Leet. Why would anyone be jealous of Serena?" Feeling even worse, Amy decided she had better just keep her mouth shut. (if anyone likes the way this story is turning out, drop me a line. It sure took me long enough to reformat it to post!!) Cathy.