Sailor Moon: Generation Gap Side Story 1 - A Crowning Achievement! Sailor Corona Arrives Meiou Setsuna walked into the classroom. It was the first day of class for the school year, with new students about to come through the same door she just had. She sat at her desk at the front of the class and prepared for the day. She scanned over the list of new students. None of the names were familiar to Setsuna. The first bell rang. A trickle of students walked into the classroom, chatting among themselves. Setsuna ignored them. If the girl she was looking for was anything like her mother, she wouldn't arrive until the second bell, if then. Getting up, she left the room to let the teens talk without having to be worried about being heard by the teacher. As she walked through the door, Setsuna bumped into another student, a girl who was talking to her friends. "Sorry, Sensei," the girl said. She turned her head to see Setsuna, her long red pony tails flowing behind her. "I should have been watching where I was going." A brief spark of recognition struck Setsuna, then flared out as the girl entered the classroom. Setsuna shrugged and walked down the hall, glancing at each student. Her search was going to be difficult if Queen Serenity invoked the magic of the Silver Crystal to hide the Little Princess. 'The Queen's fondness for her youth should help in the search,' Setsuna mused Hearing the second bell, Setsuna returned to the classroom. The girl she who had run into her had the class stand and bow. A quick glance over the rows showed two students absent. As the class sat back down, there was a commotion from the back. Heads turned as two girls ran in, out of breath. They quickly found their seats under Setsuna's stern glare. 'One of these two must be her,' Setsuna thought. After taking attendance she sent the two late-arrivals into the hall. Setsuna had one of the students take over after getting the class started on the day's history lesson, then went out into the hall. The two girls straightened up when they saw her. One of the girls tried to cover up smudges on her blouse. Setsuna sighed. "First day, and already late. I suppose you have excuses? Seishin'no Hikaru-chan?" She waited for Seishin'no-chan to identify herself. "I, um, I slept in, Sensei," Hikaru stammered, hanging her head. "I forgot to set my alarm this morning. It won't happen again." "I see," Setsuna said, intently staring at Hikaru. She turned her attention to the other girl. "Gin'no Arimi-chan, what's your excuse? What happened to your blouse?" "I-I-I s-st-stopped to h-h-help s-someone who h-h-had a b-breakdown," Arimi stammered. "S-s-s-some g-gr-grease got on my bl-bl-blouse. H-H-Hikaru-chan helped m-m-me out. Sh-She w-would have b-been on t-t-time if sh-she h-hadn't." "I'm not in the habit of handing out detentions on the first day of class," Setsuna said. "Go back to class. Arimi-chan, I don't know what we'll do about your blouse." Before Arimi could say anything, Hikaru said, "I have a spare, Sensei. Arimi-chan can borrow it." "Th-thank you, H-Hikaru-chan," Arimi said. "You can change at the break," Setsuna told Arimi. "Thank you, Seishin'no-chan." Hikaru and Arimi bowed to Setsuna, who then ushered the girls back to class. -**- At the midmorning break, Hikaru took Arimi to the girls' change room. Rooting through her book bag, Hikaru found her spare blouse and handed it to Arimi. "Here, Arimi-chan," Hikaru said. "This should fit you. I'm sorry for getting your blouse dirty." "Th-thank you," Arimi said, putting on the loaned blouse. "I-it's not your f-fault. I sh-should have b-been more c-careful." "I didn't realize that the guy didn't run you over. Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" "You h-helped me t-talk to the dr-driver," Arimi stuttered. "I-I m-made you l-late." "Well, to tell the truth," Hikaru said, kicking at the floor with her toe, "I'm not always on time. If you ask around, people will tell you that I'm always late. School just starts too early for me." She glanced to the clock on the wall. "Oh no! We're going to be late again! Want to meet for lunch? I could show around, seeing that you're new here and all." Arimi finished straightening the blouse. "I-I'd like that, Hikaru-chan. S-see you at n-noon then." The two girls ran off to their next class. -**- Noon found Arimi was waiting in the cafeteria. She found an empty table and sat. She pulled out her lunch from her bag and sighed. 'Another lonely lunch,' she thought. 'Hikaru-chan probably forgot.' She took a bite of her sandwich. "Arimi-chan!" Arimi looked up, still chewing her bite. She looked to the entrance. Hikaru was in the doorway, scanning the cafeteria. "Arimi-chan!" Hikaru called again. Arimi swallowed her sandwich. Too fast, she started choking. She gulped down a mouthful of milk to help her sandwich go down. "Arimi-chan!" Arimi stood up and waved to get Hikaru's attention. Hikaru skipped over to where Arimi was sitting. Both sat back down as Hikaru pulled out her lunch. "You're eating alone? You didn't wait for me?" Hikaru asked. "I-I d-didn't know if you w-were going to sh-show up." "I was running late." Both girls laughed at Hikaru's comment. "Why did you come to this school? I didn't see you here last year?" "M-my father was transferred to Tokyo o-over the break. W-we moved from Sapporo. W-we're still unpacking." "That must be tough." "I-it's not that bad, r-really. W-we're managing." "You must miss your friends." Arimi shrugged. "I d-didn't have that many close friends in Sapporo. I'm n-not what you'd call a 'p-people person'. I p-preferred to work on engines." "I can show you around the neighbourhood after school," Hikaru suggested. "I know this mall with the greatest selections." "Th-thanks, Hikaru-chan." Arimi grinned shyly. "Anything for a friend." Hikaru smiled warmly. "Did you notice anything strange about Meiou-sensei?" "S-strange? H-how do you m-mean?" "She's been giving me strange looks all day. Creepy at times." Hikaru shivered. "I'm s-sure it's just your i-imagination, Hikaru-chan. Why w-would S-sensei want to do that?" "Dunno. Maybe I remind her of someone?" "C-could be." Arimi shrugged. "Strange," Hikaru repeated. "Ready for the school tour, Arimi-chan?" -**- The afternoon classes came and went, slowly for Hikaru, quickly for Arimi. Meiou-sensei had Hikaru clean up after class, so Arimi sat on the steps in the front of the school. She took the time to read further ahead in her science texts. Hikaru ran out of the classroom as soon as she had finished the cleanup. 'Late again,' she thought, running through the halls. 'Which entrance was Arimi-chan going to wait at?' Hikaru exited from the nearest doors, but Arimi wasn't in sight. 'Not these.' Hikaru sighed, then remembered. She tore around the side of the school. Arimi was still sitting on the front steps, completely engrossed in her textbook. Hikaru slowed to a walk, and started to say "Hi" when she noticed a dark shape approach Arimi. "Arimi-chan! Look out!" Hikaru warned. Arimi looked up and, seeing the figure, screamed in terror. "Run!" Hikaru shouted. Arimi got up and dashed back into the school. The shape turned its attention to Hikaru and floated towards her. Hikaru backed up nervously, trying not to scream. -**- Setsuna sat at her desk marking the quiz she had her class write. She was certain Seishin'no-chan was the Little Princess. No-one else could be that late after lunch. Now to think of a way to tell her who she really was. Running footsteps alerted her. As Setsuna got up to tell the student not to run in the halls, the door flew open. Arimi-chan was in the doorway, huffing, terror on her face. "S-sen-sensei!" Arimi-chan huffed. "Slow down, Arimi-chan," Setsuna admonished. "What is the problem?" "H-H-Hikaru-ch-ch-ch-chan n-n-n-needs h-h-h-help," Arimi stammered. Setsuna walked over to the terrified girl and knelt down. "Everything will be alright, Gin'no-chan," she said, trying to comfort Arimi. "What's wrong with Seishin'no-chan?" "Sh-sh-sh-she g-g-g-g-got . . . " Arimi stopped, in tears. She took a deep breath and tried again. "M-m-m-m-m-monsters," she finally said with great effort. Setsuna stood up, concerned. "Stay here, Gin'no-chan. I'll get help for her." She left the classroom, leaving Arimi standing and shivering. Setsuna ran down the corridor, avoiding the panicking students. Getting closer to the main entrance, Setsuna looked around and found a relatively secluded niche. She ducked into the niche and pulled out her transformation pen. "Pluto Planet Power, Make Up!" she called. A curtain of purple energy surrounded her as her clothes transformed into a white leotard and purple miniskirt. A staff materialized in her hand. She ran out the main entrance. The skies were filled with dark figures, laughing hideously. One had Hikaru's chin held in its hand so that her feet were barely touching the ground. The creature spotted Setsuna, and twisted its head to an unnatural angle. Hikaru's eyes opened wider. "Who are you?" the creature asked. "Ushering in a new age, I am the sailor-suited warrior of time, Sailor Pluto!" Pluto announced. "For the planet Pluto and for Crystal Tokyo, I will punish you!" The creature dropped Hikaru and turned its full attention to Sailor Pluto. "You were defeated before," it warned. "You will be again." "Leave the girl alone." "Ah, she is special to you? Perhaps she is the heir?" The shadow looked back at Hikaru. "Lady Muerte will reward me if I destroy the last ruler of Crystal Tokyo." Hikaru shrank back from the shadow's malevolent glare. "Dead . . . Scream," Pluto whispered, levelling her Time Key at the shadow. A ball of purple energy engulfed the creature, destroying it. As the dust of the shadow blew away in the breeze, Pluto finally looked at Hikaru. The girl was sprawled on the ground, weeping. Pluto knelt down beside Hikaru. "Look at me," she commanded. Hikaru looked up. Pluto gasped. A sigil appeared on Hikaru's forehead. 'The sign of Corona,' Pluto noted, her heart falling. 'This isn't the Little Princess.' Hiding her dismay, Pluto concentrated on her staff. The orb glowed brightly as a pen emerged from within. "Seishin'no Hikaru-chan," Pluto said, getting the girl's attention. "You, like me, are a warrior." "A . . . a warrior?" Hikaru asked. "Me?" "This pen will allow you to transform into Sailor Corona." Pluto gave the pen to Hikaru, then looked around. There were still shadows flying about, though none had noticed them. "Repeat after me: Corona Star Power, Make Up!" Hikaru nodded. "Corona Star Power, Make Up!" Shimmering grass-green energy showered over Hikaru. Her school uniform faded away as a new uniform coalesced around her. A white bodysuit and green skirt appeared, followed by light blue ribbons front and back. A tiara materialized on Hikaru's forehead. Knee-high forest green boots and long white gloves with green trim finished off the uniform. The energy faded. Hikaru looked at herself, marvelling over the change that had happened. "Now what?" she asked Pluto. "Take care of these shadows," Pluto answered, pointing at a group trying to break into the school. "I'm going to try to find the person responsible." "Wait! Sailor Pluto!" Corona called. "Just take care of those shadows. You'll know what to do when the time comes." "Yes, Pluto." Sailor Corona turned to see how many shadows there were. Stopping at twenty, she turned back. "I can't - Sailor Pluto?" Sailor Pluto had left. Corona gulped. 'Alright, Hikaru. Don't panic. Everything will be okay. They can't be all that dangerous.' She advanced on the shadows. "I am the beautiful sailor-soldier of love and justice, Sailor Corona!" she announced. "In the name of the Crown, I will punish you!" The shadows twisted to see the newcomer. One large one grinned evilly, revealing long fangs. It swooped low, aiming at Corona. She started to dive to one side, but tripped and fell sprawling. "Aie!" she yelled as she rolled over to find the shadow. It had pulled up and was now diving once more at Corona. She dodged the creature several more times, none too gracefully. In the meantime, several of the other shadows had flown to different windows to try to get into the school. Corona finally noticed. 'I can't let them in,' she thought. 'All my classmates, Arimi-chan . . . I can't let these creatures inside.' The large shadow she was fighting turned for another attack run. Corona stood in her place, bringing her hands together in front of her. "Majestic . . ." Corona began. A blue-white ball of energy formed in her hands, growing each moment. "Vitality!" Corona launched her ball at the shadow. Already in mid-dive, the shadow could not react at all to the ball of energy that slammed into it. "Yes!" she cried, thrusting one hand into the air. The remaining shadows looked at her. Corona lowered her arm. "Oops." -**- Pluto felt a twinge of guilt having left Corona behind, but if the shadows were around, then Muerte had returned. She couldn't let her destroy the world, not with the Little Princess still missing. She found another group of eight shadows, escorting a man. She raised her staff. "Dead . . . Scream." The purple ball destroyed two on her left. "Let the human go," she commanded. "Let me go?" the human asked. "Why ever would they let their General go unguarded? My name is ," he introduced himself. "These are my honour guard." Aside, he ordered, "Kill her." The remaining shadows rushed Pluto. She didn't have time to user her power against the shadows. Instead, she twirled her staff over her head. Two shadows were knocked away. Pluto rolled underneath the shadows' attacks, coming up with four in a small group. "Dead . . . Scream." The four shadows disintegrated. Pluto spun to face . Fear showed on his face. He started to run away. "Temporal Bubble," Pluto whispered. Famine slammed into a purple wall of force. Looking around, he saw that he was trapped in a large transparent purple ball. "Call the other two off, or I'll close the bubble for good," Pluto threatened. obeyed. "Now tell me, where is Muerte?" "I - I don't know! I was being taken to her!" said. "Then maybe you can deliver a message for me. Tell her: As long as there is one living Senshi, he will never have this planet. The Little Princess will never be found by the likes of her." Pluto turned her back and walked away. "The bubble will fade in a few minutes. I do not suggest following me." -**- Sailor Corona panted for breath. 'I should have worked harder in Gym class.' She was covered with many scrapes and bruises, a result of dodging the multitude of shadows. The shadows, however, had fared worse. Once Corona had figured out her attack, she used it to cut down the number of shadows trying to invade the school. 'Pluto, please return soon. I can't do this much longer.' One last shadow found Corona. It flew low, just barely above the ground. Corona tried to raise her arms one more time, but they felt leaden. "Pluto!" she called. "Dead . . . Scream." Pluto seemed to appear at Corona's cry for help. The shadow turned to dust. "Sailor Pluto!" Corona gasped before collapsing to the ground. "Corona!" Pluto ran over to check on the fallen Senshi. "I'm okay, I think. Just exhausted." Pluto helped Corona back to her feet. "I saw the end of your fight against these shadows. My faith in you wasn't misplaced, Sailor Corona," Pluto praised. "Thank you," Corona panted. "Right now, I just want to make sure Arimi-chan is okay." Corona let go of Pluto's arms. She took a couple of staggering steps towards the school. "Sailor Corona, you can't go in like that," Pluto said. "Change back, first." "I don't know if I have the strength to do that, Pluto." "It's for your safety and your friends'. If anyone found out Sailor Corona is really Seishin'no Hikaru, then their lives could be in jeopardy. Muerte or one of her agents could use that person to get to you." "I hadn't thought of that." "There is a lot for you to learn about being a Sailor Senshi. I hope we'll have the time." -**- Arimi sat huddled in the corner of the closet. Meiou-sensei was gone far too long for Arimi's comfort, and she dared not think about what happened to Hikaru. The creatures, dark as night, had thrown themselves against the window, and she could hear their banging through the closet doors. As the banging grew quieter, Arimi risked peeking to see what was occurring. The creatures were still at the windows, but their attention was being drawn away by lightning-like flashes. Now it had gone completely quiet. Slowly, Arimi crept out of the closet. She heard footsteps approach the classroom door. Arimi got to her feet, ready to bolt. The door opened. "Hikaru-chan!" Arimi exclaimed. "Sensei!" She ran up and embraced Hikaru tightly. "I-I th-thought you w-w-were -" Arimi said, tears falling from her eyes. Hikaru returned the hug. "I'm okay, Arimi-chan. Meiou-sensei found me and helped me." [To Be Continued in Chapter 2] "Hi! My name is Seishin'no Hikaru. I'm sixteen years old and go to Juuban High School. I discovered that not only am I the pretty soldier Sailor Corona, but my teacher, Meiou-sensei is also a Sailor Senshi, Sailor Pluto. We've just begun battling Lady Muerte, but are two of us enough to stop him? And what is Meiou-sensei's real mission? Next in Sailor Moon: Generation Gap Side Story 2: Enter the Dragon!"