Chapter 6: The Carrier Revealed

Serena ran down the sidewalk, pigtails flying in the breeze. “I am so late,” she whined. It would mean detention for her, again, for sure.

“Serena!!” Luna called, the lunch bag muffling the words. “Serena, wait!”

She stopped, looking annoyed at the feline. “Luna, why didn’t you wake me up?” she demanded, grabbing the lunch bag out of the cat’s mouth.

“Your alarm clock is suppose to do that!” Luna replied. “Now go on. You’re going to get detention again.”

“You’re such a nag, Luna!” Serena called over her shoulder, continuing her race to the school.

Luna watched the girl until she turned a corner. “What is to become of that girl?” the cat wondered. Slowly, she turned around and headed back to Serena’s house.

* * * * *

Serena flew through the halls. She had made record time. 'Hopefully I came just sneak to my seat and Ms. Haruna will never know,' she thought.

She arrived at her classroom door. She peered into the window. To her surprise, the students were milling around, talking. There was no sign of Ms. Haruna anywhere.

Smiling, Serena opened the door. She was greeted by several classmates as she walked to her seat. Molly was waiting for her.

“Boy, you lucked out today, Serena,” Molly said, leaning against Serena’s desk.

“Really?” Serena asked.

“Yeah, Ms. Haruna was called to the office for a phone call before she could even call roll. She won’t be able to tell if you were late.”

“That’s great, Molly. Now I can finish my breakfast.” Serena opened her lunch bag and quickly ate a roll.

“Even better, you won’t get detention,” Molly said, turning away from the spectacle of Serena eating.

“Yeah, that, too,” Serena agreed. “Hey, Mol, can you help with a homework problem?”

“Sure.” Molly bent over Serena’s desk, rereading a problem from last night’s homework. “You know that Ms. Haruna is going to be ill with you for not finishing your assignment, Serena,” she commented, still working on the problem.

“That’s why I am getting you to help me, Molly.” Serena watched as Molly’s pencil flew across the notebook paper. Then Serena noticed that the pendant was glowing with lavender light.

“Molly?!” she gasped. She quickly covered the pendant with her hand.

“Yeah, Serena?” Molly looked up from the problem at her friend. Confusion was written all over her face.

“I didn’t realize that you were so good at this stuff,” Serena said, laughing to cover up her nervousness.

“Well, it would be easier if you did your homework once and a while,” Molly said. With a few more marks, Molly finished the problem.

“Thanks, Molly,” Serena said.

“Sure, anytime.” Molly went back to her desk, allowing Serena to study the problem.

'Molly’s the carrier,' Serena thought, staring at the piece of paper at her desk. 'No, there had to be some mistake.'

* * * * *

“What do you mean ‘Molly’s the carrier’?” Rei demanded. The Sailor Scouts, the cats, and Darien had gathered at the temple. They had listened in amazement as Serena told about the pendant’s reaction to Molly.

“I mean that the pendant glowed whenever Molly was around,” Serena answered, annoyed at Rei.

“Are you sure that it didn’t glow around someone else?” Rei continued.

“No, I checked,” Serena replied, sticking her tongue out at Rei.

“Wow. Who would have thought that Molly would be the carrier?” Lita said in a thoughtful voice.

“Well, stranger things have happened,” Luna remarked.

“That’s for sure,” Rei muttered, rolling her eyes at Serena.

“What does that mean, Rei?!” Serena demanded, just inches away from Rei’s face.

“Well, I would have been my last pick as the princess or Serenity,” Rei said.

“Of all the . . .”

“Enough!” Darien cried, pushing the two girls apart. “Arguing will not help us find out anything further.”

“Darien’s right,” Mina seconded.

“We need to find out all we can about this Cassandra and the Stone of Hope,” Ami added. “Luna, Artemis, do you know anything about this Stone of Hope?”

“Never heard of it before,” Artemis stated, looking at Luna.

“Neither have I,” Luna said, sighing. “I don’t remember any Stone of Hope or a person named Cassandra from the Moon Kingdom.”

“Well, that’s one avenue closed,” Lita said. “Hey, Rei, think that you could consult the sacred fire.”

Rei thought it over briefly. “Wouldn’t hurt to try.”

“That’s why we are here in the first place,” Serena huffed.

“I guess I am to feel honored by your presence?” Rei asked, the question dripping with sarcasm.

“Let’s consult the sacred flame, everybody,” Artemis suggested, nudging Mina and Lita into the temple.

“Good idea,” Darien agreed, grateful that another fight had been diverted. Completely ignoring each other, Serena and Rei stalked into the building.

* * * * *

“Sacred flame, show us the one who calls herself Cassandra.” The flame blazed before the group. Gradually an image of a girl with violet hair and contrasting emerald eyes emerged.

“That’s her!” Serena exclaimed, pointing at the image. “That’s Cassandra.”

“Sacred flame, show us more,” Rei commanded.

The flame blazed again, erasing the previous image. Slowly, a landscape of ice emerged. Cassandra and two other girls appeared. They approached a shadow in the shape of a human.

The shadow gave each girl an item. Cassandra was given was given a lavender pendant in the shape of an eight-pointed star. The blonde girl was given a periwinkle locket in the shape of a tear drop. The
green-haired girl was given a sugar pink braclet with a large heart charm.

“Luna, do you recognize that place?” Lita asked, mesmerized by the scene.

“No,” the cat answered, still studying the screen. “I don’t recognize the girls, the items, any of it.”

“Cassandra’s pendant is exactly like the pendant she gave me,” Serena said, pulling it out from under the collar of her shirt.

“Show us more,” Rei commanded again.

Another scene surfaced. There was a clearing by a lake. A young girl dressed as a Sailor Scout was being held in the arms of a man in a cape. He was crying over her. Other Sailors could be seen in the background crying, too.

“Who is that?” Mina asked aloud.

“I don’t know,” Artemis replied. “Rei, could this be an image of the future?”

“I can’t be sure,” Rei answered. “The flame can reveal the past as well as the future. But there is no way to tell one from the other.”

“What does Cassandra have to do with this image?” Serena asked, wiping away a tear.

“Wait,” Ami said. “It’s changing.”

Another figure appeared. It too had violet hair but no one could be sure it was Cassandra. Suddenly, a bright light covered the scene, and the fire returned to normal.

“That’s it,” Rei said, turning to her friends. “The fire can show us no more.”

“I don’t know about everyone else,” Ami began, “but I am now more confused.”

“I am, too,” Darien said. “I don’t know what we should do.”

“I have a feeling that we should trust her,” Rei said. “If that helps.”

“But can I remove the Stone from Molly?” Serena asked softly.

No one answered.


The Carrier Revealed Serena ran down the sidewalk, pigtails flying in the breeze. “I am so late,” she whined. It would mean detention for her, again, for sure. “Serena!!” Luna called, the lunch bag muffling the words. “Serena, wait!” She stopped, looking annoyed at the feline. “Luna, why didn’t you wake me up?” she demanded, grabbing the lunch bag out of the cat’s mouth. “Your alarm clock is suppose to do that!” Luna replied. “Now go on. You’re going to get detention again.” “You’re such a nag, Luna!” Serena called over her shoulder, continuing her race to the school. Luna watched the girl until she turned a corner. “What is to become of that girl?” the cat wondered. Slowly, she turned around and headed back to Serena’s house. * * * * * Serena flew through the halls. She had made record time. 'Hopefully I came just sneak to my seat and Ms. Haruna will never know,' she thought. She arrived at her classroom door. She peered into the window. To her surprise, the students were milling around, talking. There was no sign of Ms. Haruna anywhere. Smiling, Serena opened the door. She was greeted by several classmates as she walked to her seat. Molly was waiting for her. “Boy, you lucked out today, Serena,” Molly said, leaning against Serena’s desk. “Really?” Serena asked. “Yeah, Ms. Haruna was called to the office for a phone call before she could even call roll. She won’t be able to tell if you were late.” “That’s great, Molly. Now I can finish my breakfast.” Serena opened her lunch bag and quickly ate a roll. “Even better, you won’t get detention,” Molly said, turning away from the spectacle of Serena eating. “Yeah, that, too,” Serena agreed. “Hey, Mol, can you help with a homework problem?” “Sure.” Molly bent over Serena’s desk, rereading a problem from last night’s homework. “You know that Ms. Haruna is going to be ill with you for not finishing your assignment, Serena,” she commented, still working on the problem. “That’s why I am getting you to help me, Molly.” Serena watched as Molly’s pencil flew across the notebook paper. Then Serena noticed that the pendant was glowing with lavender light. “Molly?!” she gasped. She quickly covered the pendant with her hand. “Yeah, Serena?” Molly looked up from the problem at her friend. Confusion was written all over her face. “I didn’t realize that you were so good at this stuff,” Serena said, laughing to cover up her nervousness. “Well, it would be easier if you did your homework once and a while,” Molly said. With a few more marks, Molly finished the problem. “Thanks, Molly,” Serena said. “Sure, anytime.” Molly went back to her desk, allowing Serena to study the problem. 'Molly’s the carrier,' Serena thought, staring at the piece of paper at her desk. 'No, there had to be some mistake.' * * * * * “What do you mean ‘Molly’s the carrier’?” Rei demanded. The Sailor Scouts, the cats, and Darien had gathered at the temple. They had listened in amazement as Serena told about the pendant’s reaction to Molly. “I mean that the pendant glowed whenever Molly was around,” Serena answered, annoyed at Rei. “Are you sure that it didn’t glow around someone else?” Rei continued. “No, I checked,” Serena replied, sticking her tongue out at Rei. “Wow. Who would have thought that Molly would be the carrier?” Lita said in a thoughtful voice. “Well, stranger things have happened,” Luna remarked. “That’s for sure,” Rei muttered, rolling her eyes at Serena. “What does that mean, Rei?!” Serena demanded, just inches away from Rei’s face. “Well, I would have been my last pick as the princess or Serenity,” Rei said. “Of all the . . .” “Enough!” Darien cried, pushing the two girls apart. “Arguing will not help us find out anything further.” “Darien’s right,” Mina seconded. “We need to find out all we can about this Cassandra and the Stone of Hope,” Ami added. “Luna, Artemis, do you know anything about this Stone of Hope?” “Never heard of it before,” Artemis stated, looking at Luna. “Neither have I,” Luna said, sighing. “I don’t remember any Stone of Hope or a person named Cassandra from the Moon Kingdom.” “Well, that’s one avenue closed,” Lita said. “Hey, Rei, think that you could consult the sacred fire.” Rei thought it over briefly. “Wouldn’t hurt to try.” “That’s why we are here in the first place,” Serena huffed. “I guess I am to feel honored by your presence?” Rei asked, the question dripping with sarcasm. “Let’s consult the sacred flame, everybody,” Artemis suggested, nudging Mina and Lita into the temple. “Good idea,” Darien agreed, grateful that another fight had been diverted. Completely ignoring each other, Serena and Rei stalked into the building. * * * * * “Sacred flame, show us the one who calls herself Cassandra.” The flame blazed before the group. Gradually an image of a girl with violet hair and contrasting emerald eyes emerged. “That’s her!” Serena exclaimed, pointing at the image. “That’s Cassandra.” “Sacred flame, show us more,” Rei commanded. The flame blazed again, erasing the previous image. Slowly, a landscape of ice emerged. Cassandra and two other girls appeared. They approached a shadow in the shape of a human. The shadow gave each girl an item. Cassandra was given was given a lavender pendant in the shape of an eight-pointed star. The blonde girl was given a periwinkle locket in the shape of a tear drop. The green-haired girl was given a sugar pink braclet with a large heart charm. “Luna, do you recognize that place?” Lita asked, mesmerized by the scene. “No,” the cat answered, still studying the screen. “I don’t recognize the girls, the items, any of it.” “Cassandra’s pendant is exactly like the pendant she gave me,” Serena said, pulling it out from under the collar of her shirt. “Show us more,” Rei commanded again. Another scene surfaced. There was a clearing by a lake. A young girl dressed as a Sailor Scout was being held in the arms of a man in a cape. He was crying over her. Other Sailors could be seen in the background crying, too. “Who is that?” Mina asked aloud. “I don’t know,” Artemis replied. “Rei, could this be an image of the future?” “I can’t be sure,” Rei answered. “The flame can reveal the past as well as the future. But there is no way to tell one from the other.” “What does Cassandra have to do with this image?” Serena asked, wiping away a tear. “Wait,” Ami said. “It’s changing.” Another figure appeared. It too had violet hair but no one could be sure it was Cassandra. Suddenly, a bright light covered the scene, and the fire returned to normal. “That’s it,” Rei said, turning to her friends. “The fire can show us no more.” “I don’t know about everyone else,” Ami began, “but I am now more confused.” “I am, too,” Darien said. “I don’t know what we should do.” “I have a feeling that we should trust her,” Rei said. “If that helps.” “But can I remove the Stone from Molly?” Serena asked softly. No one answered.


Chapter 7: The Awakening Jupiter's Gone