Serena woke up with a start. She jerked her head over to look at Luna's still-sleeping form. She rubbed her eyes tiredly and looked at the clock. She groaned.
"I've only slept for three hours. Oh, well, I might as well get up. I can't sleep at all." She smiled faintly. "I'll get to school early-that'll surprise everyone!"
She'd stop every few minutes while she got ready to check on Luna, but there was never any change. Her family walked into the kitchen and stared in shock when they saw that she was finishing breakfast.
"Honey, what are you doing?"
"Eating breakfast, Mom."
"Well, I can see that - why are you up?"
Serena put her spoon down. "Luna doesn't look any better. Even with her appointment later today, I'm very worried. I'm up so early because I couldn't sleep that well. I kept waking up, so I decided to stop trying to sleep."
"I'm sorry, dear, but you know, I think sleeping is more important than your pet. If you don't get enough sleep then you won't do well in school. She's just a cat, after all."
Serena's eyes brimmed with tears. She ran back to her room, snatched up her backpack and ran out again, to school.
*****
Amy, Mina, and Serena strolled down the busy street, a corridor between the rows of glass skyscrapers.
"So, Serena, why did you get to school so early?"
"I couldn't sleep so I just got up and ready early." Serena frowned, slightly annoyed as she remembered the surprise everyone couldn't help but express at her early arrival-over and over again. "I didn't think it would be such a big deal!" She tossed her head and decided to change to subject. "It was nice of you to come to the vet with us, Amy. I'm so worried." Mina nodded in agreement.
Amy smiled, recognizing Serena's ploy. "I could tell the teacher was shocked. You didn't even arrive out of breath. I thought Molly's eyes would never return to their normal size." Mina covered her mouth with one hand. Then she pointed to an office building ahead of them that had reflective glass walls.
"The vet is in there-on the second floor. Our appointment's in ten minutes. I hope the vet doesn't mind you coming."
Serena ran her hand between Luna's limp ears. "I hope so too. I'm sure they have the same problem. If she won't see Luna, at least we'll know what's wrong." Amy reached out and patted Luna too.
*****
While the vet poked and prodded the two cats Serena uncertainly eyed various tools that the vet had brought into the room. She made a face when she noticed a particularly long needle mounted on a syringe. Amy and Mina watched the vet examine the cats, concerned. Finally the vet looked up. "Well, Miss, I don't really know what's wrong with your cat, or the white one here. Do they live in the same house?" The vet lifted his glasses and settled them more firmly on his nose.
"No, sir," Serena looked up from the veterinary instrument she'd been examining and shook her head vigorously. Her pigtails whipped back and forth.
"Well, I'd like to keep them here under observation for awhile. What? Oh, yes. Girls? This is our orderly." He waved in the direction of a tall woman with brown bobbed hair. She smiled widely and nodded at the girls. "She'll be watching your pets while they're here. Excuse me for a minute-I'll be right back." He bustled out of the room. The orderly smiled at the girls, then she bent down to look at the two still sleeping cats.
"Oh, what interesting marks! What's this on their foreheads?" A forefinger softly traced out the crescent moon.
"Uh... nothing. We should have given them baths before we brought them." Mina chuckled uneasily.
"And what beautiful long blonde hair you have!" she continued. She walked toward Mina, who backed away until she was cornered flat against a wall.
"Well-thank you."
Mina looked so uncomfortable that Serena took a step toward her. Amy pulled her back and whispered, "This doesn't feel right. I think-"
Just then a flash of bright light filled the room. Serena blinked furiously to clear her vision. She heard Mina cry out.
"Mina!" she cried.
"What's happening, Mina?!" Amy called.
Finally Serena's eyes cleared. "Oh, no!"
Instead of an ordinary orderly, a giant octopus-like creature was clutching Mina with three tentacles.
"Get out of here!" she shrieked.
Serena whirled to face Amy. She grabbed the front of her shirt with both hands and pulled her close. "If you help me, we can defeat it. If we get rid of it, it won't be able to tell the Negaverse our identities!" she hissed.
Amy shook her head, still concentrating on the creature. "But-"
"I can't wait-it's leaving with Mina." Serena's distress at Mina's peril was palpable. "You call the others and come after us. I'll change! Moon Crystal Power... Make Up!"
Amy opened her compact communicator and whispered urgently "Lita, Rei- come in! Come in!"
"Lita here, what's up?"
"What is it, Amy?"
"There's trouble at the vet's office, get here now! Serena's changed, and I'm going to, but a nega-monster's got Mina. Hurry! Out."
Amy stuffed her compact into her pocket and pulled out her pen.
"Mercury Star Power...Make Up!"
*****
"Well, nega-trash, what do you think you're doing?" A figure stood silhouetted in the doorway, arms akimbo and feet braced a shoulder width apart.
"And whoooo," it hissed, "are yoooooou?"
"I am Sailor Moon, champion of love and justice. You shouldn't be kidnapping helpless girls. In the name of the Moon, I'll punish you!" Sailor Moon cried with a flourish.
"Aaahh, yessss, I have hearrd of yooou, Sssailor Moon." With a yell it threw Mina to the floor and rushed at Sailor Moon. Mina cried out when she hit the floor, then lay still. Sailor Moon leaped out of the creature's path with a shriek. She landed next to Mina.
"Mina!" she shook her, then glanced up as the monster snarled. "I wasss under the missstaken impresssion that she wassss yoooou." Its beak cracked a smile. "She wasn't as clumsssssy or ssstupid assss yoooou." Sailor Moon ignored the jibe as Mina opened her eyes. Suddenly Mina gasped.
"Behind you!" she pointed.
Sailor Moon whirled around in a crouch. "Moon...Tiara...Magic!" she yelled as she threw her tiara at the advancing creature. It dodged, and the tiara missed on its first pass but nicked one of its tentacles as it flew back to Sailor Moon. She caught it, and was about to throw it again in hopeless desperation.
"Shabon Spray!"
An dense fog enveloped the room.
"Hurry!" Sailor Moon hissed as she lifted Mina up to her feet. Mina shook off her help.
"You use the Moon Scepter-I'll handle myself," she gasped. "Venus Star Power...Make Up!" While she transformed Sailor Moon took out her scepter and readied it. She may not be able to see yet, but as soon as she could, that monster was toast! She noticed a dark shadow moving toward her.
"Moon Princess-"
"Sailor Moon, it's me!"
"Mars! Over here!"
"We're coming!" Jupiter called out.
Suddenly a concussion shook the building.
"Guys? Guys! Are you all right?" Sailor Moon shrieked.
"Can't see, can't shoot. This tactic didn't work," Venus mumbled to herself as she intently scanned the room.
"Fire Soul!"
An orange glow filled the room and the fog burnt off. Sailor Moon strained to see the monster. She gasped in horror as she saw Mercury sprawled out on the ground. Mars stood in front of her, crouched defensively.
"Burning..."
"Venus..."
"SSSSSStop!" the creature thundered, "or I'll kill your frrrrriend here." He shook one tentacle violently, and the Scouts gasped to see Jupiter clutched within it.
"Kill it! Don't worry about me!" she cried as she struggled to free her arms.
Venus got a determined look in her face. Sailor Moon turned to her, and gasped as she realized what was going through Venus' mind. "Don't!" she pleaded.
"I can aim it carefully..." she was tracking the monster's movement with her index finger.
"But-"
"I have to try-no more time for discussion. Crescent Beam!" With her cry she pointed directly at the creature's head. It dodged and with a keening scream it threw Jupiter at the wall with all its strength. She crashed into the wall and slid down it slowly until she reached the floor. She slouched there, unmoving. Still screaming, it shot three tentacles each at Mars and Venus. With a couple vicious snaps it tossed the Scouts at Jupiter's still form. Venus was already weakened, and didn't move. As the monster turned toward Sailor Moon, Mars struggled to her knees. With a negligent flip he slapped her across her face and she fell back, silent.
"Mars!" Sailor Moon tried to run for her, but the octopus-like monster stepped into her path. Determinedly she lifted up her scepter.
"Moon Princess Hala - ouch!"
The creature held her scepter as Sailor Moon clutched her injured arm. "Weeeeell, Ssssailor Moooon? What nooow? Yoooou are defencsssselessssss. I thought it woooould be mooore difficult to defeeeeeeeat you." It tossed the scepter behind its back. Sailor Moon tensed apprehensively as it hit the floor with a hollow clatter.
A red rose appeared in the air, and embedded itself in the sterile tile floor to quiver few feet in front of the monster.
"Stop right there! I don't know your purpose for being here, but I won't allow you to hurt these ladies while I am here to prevent it!"
"Tuxedo Mask!" Despite the danger Sailor Moon flushed a little when she saw his dark figure step between herself and the monster.
He flashed her a quick smile before he waded into the fray. The creature shot a tentacle out at him. He whirled his cane around and with a sharp snap he repelled the blow. They traded blows back and forth but the creature's eight arms were too much for him. He began to retreat slowly. Suddenly Sailor Moon noticed a tentacle sneaking through Tuxedo Mask's defenses.
"Watch out!" she cried, too late.
Tuxedo Mask went down heavily. In a desperate move she dived for her scepter, but the nega-monster snatched her up.
"Now I have yooooou!" it growled.
"Tuxedo Mask! Darien!" Sailor Moon cried out as the monster wrapped more slimy sucker-covered tentacles around her.
"Darien!!!!!"