Here's the third chapter in The End of the 
Sailor Scouts, entitled, "Dancing and Romancing".  
Though it is not my first attempt at writing fan 
fiction, it is my first attempt in posting any of 
my work on the Net for others to read.  A note, I 
did change the name of the highschool where the 
Scouts attend to something in English.  I did 
change a little history, all right? I respect 
the Japanese version very VERY much, but wanted 
to change the name because it didn't fit in really 
with the English names and such.  I use everyone's 
Japanese last names except for Amy's, which is 
Anderson.  This story takes place after Sailor 
Stars, when the Sailors graduate.Any constructive 
comments are welcome, e-mail SlrUnico@aol.com!  


"You have to go in and ask her, or it won't 
work!"
     "I wanted to dance with you all night, though, 
Raye."
     "Serena is your friend and mine.  Make an exception!  
Someone has to ask her!"
     "Fine."   There was a sound of swiftly running away 
pumps, and the door opened. Chad stepped in.  "Hey, Serena?"
     Go away, she thought.  I heard your little plan.  
Raye wants you to step in and ask me to dance so she can 
feel like she's done her good deed for today - making 
sure I don't look like a fool at the dance.  On the other 
hand...she opened her eyes and stood.  What do you have to 
lose?  "Oh, hi, Chad."  Serena wiped her tears from her 
eyes and pinched her cheeks a little so they looked blushed.  
"What is it?"
     "I was wondering if you would," he paused.  "Like to 
err..go back to the gym with me and do a little dancing?"
     Serena nodded, against her heart's will.  She took his 
hand and smiled.  "I'd love to.  Let's go."
     They both walked out, and headed to the gym where the 
dance was being held.  Most of the parking spaces in the lot 
were gone now, for the relatives and families had all 
gone home, arranging their newly graduated children hitch 
a ride from a friend.  The moon shone on them, it was a 
crescent, Serena's favorite.  It might be odd for some 
people to have a choice phase of the moon, but not Serena. 
It seemed natural.
     Still holding hands they entered the gym.  People were 
dancing to the tunes played by the gym teacher, Coach O'Ryan.  
Serena watched as Mina ran over to him and told him something 
quietly.  She smiled in spite of her mood.  The coach had 
always like Mina best.  She was such a good athlete.  
They must be talking about volleyball plays or something, 
she thought.  Immediately a waltz replaced the upbeat jazz 
of a few moments ago.  There were some groans, but the 
coach held up his hands to shush them.  "You all remember 
how to waltz, right gang?" he bellowed.  He made everything 
seem like a rhetorical question for some reason.
     "Yes, Coach!" several boys shouted.  How could they not?  
They'd taken lessons on modern dance as a result of a meeting 
of the school board last semester.  Now each student knew 
the box step, the waltz, and the fox trot by heart.
     Boys began to ask girls to dance, and when they agreed,
were rewarded with giggles as they swung them around the 
floor like toy dolls.  Chad took Serena in his arms and 
began to waltz.
     Toby and Mina, (minus hat and vest) swung by them, 
flanked by Ken and Lita and Amy and Greg.  All waved. Lita, 
also hatless, looked to another corner in the room, winked, 
and giggled.  When Serena tried to turn to see what she 
was laughing at, Chad deftly switched directions, making 
it impossible for her to even glance.
     "Hey, Serena," Chad said.  "I know you really want to 
be with Darien, right?"
     Serena was knocked out of her semi-happy mood and nodded.  
     "Well, I have an idea.  Try this.  Close your eyes tight
and pretend that I'm him, okay?"
     She was doubtful it would work, but it was worth a 
shot.  Her gown did make things easier, and the waltz did 
too.  She could imagine that she was dancing with Darien 
on the Moon, and they were away from all evil, whether in the 
form of evil red haired queens from another universe or evil 
red haired college girls from another country. 
"How does he hold your waist?" asked Chad.
     "Tighter," Serena whispered, caught up in her dream.  
"Like I'm his to keep."
     The hand around her waist tightened. She moaned a little, 
imagining the things Darien would say to her, about kissing, 
and laughter and signing.  In her mind she WAS Princess Serena 
and Chad...was sort of a substitute Prince Darien - there 
certainly was no replacement for the real thing.  Her eyes 
relaxed until she was almost asleep, letting her feet do the 
moving.
     For a split second she opened one eye and saw they 
were approaching a large fern, very tall and bushy.  
Then they closed again and she submitted to the dance.
     And then something strange happened.  Chad's arms 
left her for a moment, though before she could open her 
eyes they were back, stronger somehow, different, but 
more fitting.  Serena smiled, attributing the change to 
the realistic day dream in her mind, which was obviously 
why the hands felt right. Her body unconsciously melted 
into "Darien's".  I hope Raye isn't watching, she'll KILL 
me after this dance, but I feel better pretending I'm with 
Darien.  This makes the dream real.
     To take it beyond reality, Serena murmured.  
"Oh Darien, I wish you'd kiss me."
     As soon as she said the words Chad bent and kissed 
her deeply.  Her eyes shot open...and saw it wasn't Chad 
she was dancing with...but DARIEN!  She gasped.  He pulled 
his mouth from hers.  "Surprised?"
     Serena nodded a little. and then gasped again.  
"What...how....when...??"
     Darien laughed and silenced her with another kiss. 
For the moment Serena didn't care, so long as he was with 
her.  As they waltzed the kiss grew deeper with each 
step, and when it finally ended it took Raye, Chad, Mina, 
and Toby to pull them off the floor and out to the side.
     Darien collapsed in a chair and pulled Serena onto 
his lap.  She hugged him, so happy she was dizzy!
     The girls' dates went off to get punch for them, 
so Amy, Lita, Raye, and Mina were left with the couple.
     "I don't understand!" said Serena.  "You were all 
in on it??"
     "Yes!" exclaimed the four girls in unison.
     "For how long??" she demanded.
     "Not till we left you in the auditorium," supplied Mina.  
"When we came back to the gym we all kinda saw Darien at 
once, looking for you.  Then Raye," she poked Raye's arm 
teasingly, "decided to surprise you using her little plan.  
She got Chad to dance with you, and he somehow, I don't 
know how, got you to close your eyes.  Then he spun you 
behind the ferns and there was Darien, waiting."
     Raye flipped her hair with a knowing face.  "Admit it, 
I came up with a great plan. I mean, Serena looked so pathetic, 
sobbing hysterically, I HAD to do something."  Her voice was 
exasperated, but her eyes were filled with friendship.  
"So I remembered this old American movie Granpa showed me 
once, called Meet Me in St. Louis.  Might have been a 
little corny, but it was cute, and it had that scene in it, 
where the girl is surprised during a waltz with her boyfriend, 
like Serena."
     Serena smiled at Darien.  "He told me to imagine he 
was you.  I kind of relished in the idea, and dreamed 
about it while we danced.  The gown made me feel like a 
Princess, so I pictured us dancing on the Moon."  She blushed.  
"Chad even asked me how you held my waist.  I told him, 'tight', 
and he held me tighter. I doubt I would have noticed you 
instead of Chad unless you had kissed me.  I was so into 
the dream, and when I said I wanted you to kiss me that 
was a mistake on my part.  When you did, that's when I 
panicked big time and the dream of you and I dancing 
turned into one of Raye boiling me alive in her fire!"
     They all laughed.  "I have a question, Darien," 
said Mina.  "The doors were locked after we got in and 
sat down.  But Serena says she saw you.  How did you 
get in - you certainly were not there when we went in, 
I searched the room for everyone I knew, you didn't 
turn up."
     "Think, Mina," Darien prompted.  "Locked doors 
affect ORDIANRY people, but not," he took out a domino 
mask from his pocket and put it on over his eyes.  
"Tuxedo Mask."
     The Scouts murmured in automatic understanding.  
Darian moved to take off the mask, but Serena stopped him.  
"I kinda like it on," she smirked.  "But now I have a question."
     "Ask away, darling."
     "Well, you said you had finals to do...that's why 
you couldn't come in the first place.  Was that part of 
the plan too?"
     Darien shook his head.  "No, I did have my last 
final today, but the professor is a soft hearted old 
guy, and let me take it ahead of time so I could get 
here to see you. It was so awesome watching you 
graduate, Serena.  I remember the day we met when you
accidentally bonked me on the head with that failing 
test paper.  You've come a long way."
     Serena sighed and nodded.  "I know..."
     It was then that the boys returned holding 
cups of punch for their girls.  
     Toby stepped back and eyed the couple in the chair.  
"You know," he commented in an off hand manner, "you two 
look real cute together, those outfits match.  Did 
you, like, plan ahead?"
     The group looked at Darien, who was dressed in 
a stunning black tuxedo and Serena in her dress.  
Then the girls and the couple laughed.  "I wonder why?" 
whispered Mina, causing them to break into more 
giggling.  
     "Well," Serena answered, "not really, just 
intuition I guess."
     Before the other boys could ask questions another 
dance began and they thought it better to take their 
dates onto the floor.  Darien waited until they had 
gone and then asked Serena if she was up to another 
dance.
     "You kidding?" she answered.  "With you I could 
dance forever!"
     He laughed and led her out to the center of the 
gym.  Then he took her in his arms and they began to 
sway with the beat.  "Darien," Serena murmured, 
snuggling her head against his shoulder, "It's strange.  
When I was up getting my diploma, I was nervous and 
everything...but then I got calm and I felt there 
was someone else watching me.  When I was looking 
around the room for the feeling, I saw you, you were 
staring right at me!"
     Darien nodded.  "Yeah."
     "You knew I could see you?"
     "Of course!  I had been watching you ever since 
I got in.  I was a little late, just in time to hear 
them call your name.  At first I wasn't sure you could 
see me, I was in the back.  But then you turned for 
the photographer, and your eyes, they were there, 
connecting with mine..." He trailed off and shook 
his head.  "It was a deep feeling."
     "Like we were touching," Serena said.
     "Exactly.  Then I could hear the girls telling 
you to get off and someone moved in my way.  I couldn't 
see, for the rest of the ceremony.  So when this flood 
of girls ran out, and Amy, Lita, and Mina were with 
them, I thought you were there so I followed. Little 
did I know you were still in there crying."  His brow 
furrowed.  "Why were you?" 
     Serena tilted her head away from his gaze in 
embarrassment.  "I thought you didn't care enough 
to come, maybe that you had - "
     "Found another girl?" Darien finished.  
     She nodded, cheeks flushed.  "Kind of."
     "Serena," Darien half moaned, not a moan like 
he was exasperated, but a soft and loving moan. He 
tipped her head back to look at him with two fingers.  
"Listen. I love you, only you, forever you.  Our love 
has lasted a thousand years!  It's not a silly crush.  
It's a love that most people don't get to experience 
in a lifetime.  We're so lucky."
     For what seemed like the hundredth time that night 
Serena felt her eyes fill with tears. "You're right...it's 
just hard to believe, I mean after..."
     They both were silent.  The memories of the times 
Darien had unwillingly broke it off with Serena were 
still fresh in their minds.  When Queen Beryl had 
brainwashed him, and when he received the dreams 
that caused him to, for fear of her safety, tell her 
he no longer loved her, were harsh remembrances.  But 
he knew how to take the fears away.
     "Serena," he said softly.  "What I mean is true.  
I love you.  Our love is strong.  If you don't believe 
in it, there's nothing worth believing in."
     Serena's mind whirled.  Where had she heard that
before?  Oh, right!  Mina said something like that at 
the end of school...."If you don't have faith in that, 
Serena, then nothing else is worth believing in.  
Nothing else will be true."  I'm so grateful to have 
special people who care for me like the Scouts and Darien. 
Where would I be without them?
     "I'll believe in that," she whispered. "I promise."
     "We'll always be together," he vowed, taking her 
hand in his and, bringing it to his lips, he kissed it.
     Serena smiled, feeling warm all over.  She leaned 
back against him as the song ended, her eyes closed and 
heart heaving.
     Suddenly there was a loud commotion.  "Hey," 
exclaimed a boy nearby to his friend.  "They just 
caught two cats outside!"
     Serena jerked to attention.  "No, no," Darien 
said.  "Let me guess." 
     "Don't bother, it must be them."  The song then 
changed to a fast pace one. "I'll go see."  Serena gave 
him a quick kiss on the cheek and fled to the back 
door where the noise was coming from, Mina right
 behind her.
     "I heard," her friend panted.  "Did they really 
come?  You think?"
     "With Luna and Artemis," Serena gasped for air, 
"I'd believe anything."
     When they reached the door they found two teachers
and a janitor there, yelling at something in the opening.  
"Go on," said one of the women. "Scat!"
     Mina jumped in front of her.  "Ha ha," she said, 
turning to the door.  There on the pavement were Luna 
and Artemis, both a little bruised.  "Well, ARTEMIS!"
she exclaimed, scooping him up.  Serena pushed to the 
front and got Luna.
     "These kitties yours' girls?" asked the burly janitor.
     Serena nodded.  She held Luna out in front of 
her and shook her finger in a "naughty" gesture.  
"Bad, BAD Luna!  I told you not to follow me!"  From 
the look the annoyed cat shot her, Serena was in no 
hurry to speak one on one with Luna. 
     Mina turned to the teachers.  "We're really 
sorry about this."
     One of them sniffed.  "Those animals acted like 
they were much more than they really are!  Imagine, 
sneaking into a dance!"
     "Outrageous," agreed the other.
     "Well," Serena giggled nervously.  "They like 
to pretend they're human sometimes, right Luna?"
     She could have sworn she heard the black cat 
mumble something sarcastic, but decided the merits 
of ignoring it outweighed those of drawing it to 
the adult's attention.
     "We'll get them straight home," Mina assured them.  
After a reproving glare, the teachers departed.  The 
janitor smiled and winked.  "You know," he told Mina, 
"I swear that white one said something to me, but I 
think I must be imagining it."
     "Ya' never know," quipped Serena, who was then 
stomped on the foot by Mina.
     After a weird look, he left as well.  Both girls 
stepped outside with the cats and closed the door 
behind them.  "Well?" asked Mina harshly, but with a 
teasing look in her eyes, as she set Artemis on the ground.
     He was pouting.  "Can we help it if we wanted to 
see the graduation?"
     "If it wasn't for the stop at the grocer's DUMPSTER,"
Luna said with a glare at her companion, "for a certain 
cat's soooo important tuna fish sandwich leftovers, 
we would have been here in time!"
     "Hey, you wanted that tuna too, admit it!"
     Serena held up a hand.  "All right, okay, we 
get it.  I'm touched that you two decided to come 
and see us, but as you noticed, you missed the ceremony.  
The question is what will we do with you?"
     "Serena," asked Luna cautiously, jumping out 
of Serena's arms to sit beside Artemis. "You do have 
the Luna Pen, don't you?"
     "Ummm...nope.  Sorry."
     "I was thinking you could, oh, maybe transform 
into someone who could convince a teacher to let us 
stay, off in a corner of the gym maybe."
     "Who would be able to do that??  No pets allowed!"
     All four thought.  "A vet?" asked Mina.
     "What would a vet be doing at a dance?" Artemis 
replied indignantly.
     "How about another teacher," questioned Luna.  
"Maybe one who could charm her other chaperons into 
letting her dear sweet kitties stay."
     Serena shook her head.  "Won't work, I just 
remembered the janitor and those other two teachers 
saw you.  They would know something was going on.  
Besides, they know all the teachers here."
     "Then transform into a motherly figure.  You 
could convince them that your daughter's cats left 
home and there was no way to get them back."
     Mina nodded.  "Good thinking!  Do that, Serena!"
     Finally Serena gave in.  "Okay.  But you're 
forgetting...I don't have the pen."
     Luna sighed in impatience and, taking a step back,
 flipped in the air, the pen falling on the ground.  
"Oh," Mina exclaimed.  "Wicked cool!"
     Serena picked up the pen.  "You sure you 
remember how?" asked Luna.  "It's been a very long 
time since you last...uh oh," she said suspiciously.  
"I don't like the look on your face.  You have used 
it recently, haven't you??  For non-Scout business!!!"
     "Kinda.  Just to get into this ritzy boutique 
at the mall for adults..."
     Luna, exasperated, shut her eyes and waved her 
paw for Serena to continue.  "Just disguise, for 
heaven's sake."
     She held the pen up.  "DISGUISE POWER, TURN ME 
INTO AN ADULT MOM TYPE PERSON!!!"  Lights blazed 
around her as the dress disappeared, and a modern 
business suit took it's place.  Her hair was cut 
in a tidy bob, and a strand of jade beads adorned 
her neck.  Besides that she was much taller, and 
older looking.  The other three present could not 
hold back their shock, as they should have gotten 
used to the effects of the Luna Pen on Serena by then.
     "Don't look so shocked, gang," Serena retorted.  
"It's just me, 20 years older."
     They relaxed and Luna and Artemis hopped into 
Mina's arms.  "How about you be my mom instead," said 
Mina.  "We look a little like each other, and it would 
look stupid to say you were your mom if I'm the one 
that goes with you."
     "Quite right, Venus," Artemis congratulated. "Serena,
 you are now Mrs. Aino."
     "Thrilled," Serena replied, patting the purse that
 matched her suit, which had come with the outfit.  
Then after another self confident pat on the back, she 
walked in with Mina at her heels.
     It didn't take long to find the teachers they 
had encountered earlier.  They were practically the 
last adults left at the dance, as it was getting late.  
With assured strides, "Mrs. Aino" approached them.
     "May I help you, miss?" asked one of the teachers. 
Then she saw the cats.  "I trust you came to get your 
daughter's animals?"
     "Well," Serena replied in what she hoped was a 
mature sounding voice, "I realize this is of great 
importance to you that you rid the school of pets, 
but I have gotten into a bit of a fudge. First I'd 
like to introduce myself.  My name is Elise Aino, 
and I am the mother of Mina," she gestured behind her, 
then held out her hand.  Both ladies shook it.  "As 
I was saying, my daughter's cats, well, I was taking 
them to a friend's for the night, and I stopped by 
here to see Mina and they escaped, which is when 
she says you found them.  I regret the trouble you 
went through because of our dear little fur balls, 
but it was unavoidable.
     "More to the point, I just got a call on my 
cell phone that my mother has gotten extremely ill...I 
was going to see her, at the time her condition was 
stable. There was plenty of time - no rush - to see 
my darling Mina and to drop the cats off at my friend's. 
But now I must get to Mom immediately, and there is 
no time to run anywhere else.
     "What it boils down to, ladies, is that I 
need to leave the cats with Mina and her friends 
here at the dance until my friend is able to come pick 
them up."  Serena watched the teachers with eager eyes.  
"Is it...all right...?"  Then she cast her face down.  
"I know it's against the rules, but Mom..."  After a bit 
of concentration, the young girl forced a tear down her 
cheek, only then at that moment raising her head so the 
women could see her, or rather, Mrs. Aino's anguish.
     One of the teachers gasped and placed a hand on 
Serena's arm.  "Oh my dear, of course it's all right!!!"
     "You poor darling," said the other.  "You go on, 
little Mina will be able to take care of your precious 
cats here.  Don't worry about a thing."
     Serena's eyes shone with genuine happiness.  "Wow, 
thanks a zillion...I mean, thank you ever so much!"  
Almost slipped there, girl.  Keep it steady.  "I can't 
thank you enough!!"
     The teachers said it was the least they could do, 
and they hoped her mother got to feeling better. Then 
a punch spitting contest came to view on the other 
side of the gym, and both excused themselves to take 
care of the situation.  Serena waited until they were 
out of earshot and then turned to Mina.  "How was I?"
     Mina gave her the thumbs up, and Luna beamed.  
"Except for the end," the cat said, "you had even 
ME fooled!"
     "You should major in acting for college!" Mina
exclaimed.  "But for now we better book it to the 
rest room or something so you can get back to being 
good old Serena." Serena stopped her.  "Wait, split 
for a sec.  I wanna see if Darien recognizes me in 
this get up."
     "Okay, we'll wait for you in the girls rest 
room."
     "The girls!" Artemis said, shocked, but Serena 
moved away before he could protest further.  Walking 
as best she could in the very high heels, pining 
away for her dancing slippers, she made her way to 
the corner where her boyfriend sat alone, waiting 
for her to return.
     "Hey there," said Serena when she reached him.
     "Hey yourself," answered Darienin a flirting voice.  
He had taken off his mask and looked as if he was 
waiting for her return.  "Who might you be?"  
     Startled, Serena lost her composure.  That was 
not the kind of reaction she had expected.  He sounded 
as if he really didn't know her.  His face had that 
it's-an-older-woman look on it and his voice had a 
reserved tone used for strangers or unfamiliar people. 
"Umm...I'm, err, Sherrie," she answered.
     "Nice to meet you, Sherrie.  Care to dance?  I 
was waiting for my date, but she hasn't been back for 
awhile."  He stood up and offered his hand.  "I was 
getting a little bored.  I'm glad to see there's a real 
woman to...have fun with..."
     He's joking, he knows it's me.  Please, let him 
know it's me!  Oh my God, what if he doesn't????  
AGGHH!
     Serena, full of rage, spit at his palm.  "Ohhhh, 
how DARE you!??  You...JERK!"
     Darien, not surprised, wiped his hand on his pants 
and chuckled.  "Meatball Head, you never fail to 
surprise me."
     "Oh!  You...knew who it was?"
     He raised an eyebrow.  "That was just a little 
lesson, Serena dear.  When I say I love you, I mean 
it. I knew it was you all along, trying to test me.  
But when it comes to us, there's nothing I can't pass 
with flying colors."
     She flushed with embarrassment.  "Ohhhh...I'm 
sorry, Darien."
     "Don't be," He took her hand.  "It was fun.  
But, I have a small request before we dance."
     "What?"
     "Could you, do that pen thing and get back 
to being Serena?  Because I'd really feel uncomfortable 
dancing with a woman who didn't have her hair 
in meatballs."
     She gasped. "Oh, that's right, Mina, in the 
girls' room!"  Kissing his lips quickly she darted 
off in the direction of the rest rooms.
     On the way she bumped into Amy and Greg.  
"Serena??" cried an alarmed Amy before she could stop 
herself.  Greg looked confused.
     Serena made a little gesture at the bathroom.  
"Yes, I am going to go get her now, her boyfriend 
is looking for her.  Bye bye!"  With that she ran 
off again as best she could in her heels, Amy and 
Greg staring after her.
     Then, out of the blue, she bumped into Raye and 
Chad.  "Oh, excuse me," Raye said.  "I didn't-"  Her 
eyes met Serena's, and her mouth gaped at her.  
"What?"
     "Sorry!!!" quipped Serena.  "Have to book it!"  
She made the Sailor salute with her fingers and once 
again dashed off.  
     "Who was that?" asked Chad when she'd gone.  
"Looked familiar."
     "Oh," Raye answered nonchalantly.  "Just one 
of your typical wackos."
    Finally, after having to steer away from Lita 
and Ken, Serena reached the girls' room and bustled 
in, practically throwing herself at the door.  
Inside Mina was holding Luna, and Artemis was on 
the counter, covering his eyes.  "It's about time, 
Serena," scolded Luna.  "What were you doing?  It 
took ages!"
     "Oh, this and that."  Serena paused.  "Don't
 mess with me, cat.  This has been one hectic night."  
Then she murmured the detransformation phrase and was 
back in her gown.  "Presto, Mrs. Aino is bye bye, and 
Serena is back and in business."
     "I think I'm going to miss Mrs. Aino," muttered 
Artemis through his paws covering half his face.  
"She didn't seem to talk nearly as much."
     "Wanna more up close and personal view of the 
little girls' room, Artie?  I'm sure I could arrange 
for you to take a non expense paid trip down the 
toilet."
     "Thanks, but I think I'll pass."
     "Your loss."  Serena flipped her hair.  "What 
are we going to do with you two fur balls anyway?  I 
mean, I have a life beyond cat-sitting.  And so does 
Mina."
     "We can watch ourselves," Luna said crisply.  "We 
aren't babies, Serena.  You forget those teachers 
gave us run of the house, or rather, gym."
     "Yeah," Serena laughed.  She tugged Mina after 
her.  "Let's go!"

~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~

The rest of the evening found all of the girls with 
their favorite guys.  Towards the end the class 
president and a few of the more popular seniors gave 
good bye speeches to their friends.  Club leaders 
also got up and recognized their members who had achieved 
high honors in one thing or another, including those 
who had gotten scholarships to universities around 
the world.
     Serena didn't really pay attention to anything 
going on up on the platform, preferring instead to 
snuggle against Darien in their seats.  But then the 
president of the computer Club called Amy's name and 
she sat up straight.  "What?"
     Amy was walking to the stage.  "Amy Mizuno," the 
president was saying, "applied and won a scholarship 
to the La Rouge University in Paris, France to be 
educated in their pediatrician program.  We wish you 
luck, Amy."  He went on to talk about Amy's grades 
and her promise in the world of doctoring.  But Serena 
watched in total and complete shock as her friend went 
up to the microphone.  She whipped around to face Raye.  
"Raye!  What's going on, I don't understand, Amy's 
leaving??"
     Raye nodded, a concerned look on her face and 
motioned toward the stage.
     Amy was there, looking out over the sea of students.  
Her eyes stopped on her friends and she began to speak.  
"I can't tell you what an honor it was for me to be 
accepted into La Rouge," the blue haired girl said, her 
voice wavering as her blue eyes stayed on Serena and 
the others.  "When I was fourteen I was asked to 
participate at a prestigious school in Germany, but 
I declined because I realized I was needed here in 
Tokyo more than abroad.
     "My friends are the most important thing in the 
world to me.  They were the main reason I did not 
accept, even though all of them supported my dream 
of becoming a doctor with their whole hearts.  No one 
here but them knows just how much we have been through 
together, no one.  I did not tell them when I received 
word, and I know now they have alot of questions for 
me, so if you'll excuse me I should go.  Thank you 
everyone.  Thanks to my teachers, my peers, and to
all of Lakeside.  I couldn't have done it without you. 
You'll all be in my heart.  I bid you farewell."  
     As Amy pulled away from the mic everyone broke 
into applause and cheering, even though some did it 
with confusion, such as Mina, Raye and Lita.  Serena 
stood there, gaping.  Thoughts were whizzing through
her mind, trying so hard to bury the harsh reality 
of what she had just heard.
     Then suddenly the voices were gone...the clapping 
was gone, the noise, everything, and they were replaced 
by a sharp and cold silence as the thoughts of denial 
that she had not just heard what she indeed had lit 
out of her head leaving one truth.  The Sailor Scouts 
were breaking up.
     There was only one option for a girl who had 
been what she had been through the entire evening to do.  
So she did.  The last thing she recalled hearing was 
Mina's voice saying urgently, "Oh no, Serena, she's 
fainted!"  Then she blanked out.

What has happened to Serena, and what will become 
of the Sailor Team?  Find out in the next chapter 
of this series, "How to Say Good Bye".  E-mail 
SlrUnico@aol.com to comment!