Title: Alternate Identities, Part VII - Starlight, Starbright Author: Mina, Warrior Princess Rating: PGish, or PG-13ish Feedback: sailor_v@mail.com Disclaimer: I don't think you really WANT to steal the characters I have 'created' to be the reborn Starlights (Ducky, Darien, William) but if you do, then boy do you have problems. :) Although I did sorta 'create' them (well, I didn't really, they're all based on real life people, with changed names!), I did NOT create the Sailormoon anime or the actual Starlights (Fighter, Maker, Healer), etc. Naoko Takeuchi did, don't sue, yadda, yadda, you know the deal. Author's Note: Hola mina-san!! This is the chapter where the Darien, Ducky, and William finally become senshi... :) muahahaha! Hope ya don't mind the little interjected 'image song lyrics' (written by other artists, naturally) for the characters before their sections... :) I just wanted to give you guys a better of an idea of what they're feelin'. K? Enjoy! P.S. * W * R * I * T * E * * M * E * ! * ! * ! * ! * ! * ! * (I've emphazised it so many times, yet no one continues to write!!) >:( ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ A l t e r n a t e * I d e n t i t i e s ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ p a r t 7 - s t a r l i g h t , s t a r b r i g h t -Darien- I wish you made sense You're like a joke that no one gets Me, I get free Every night the moon is mine But when the morning comes Don't say you love me Don't say you need me I really don't think that's fair I'm not so dumb, but when you leave me I'll be wishing I was there with you "Wishing I Was There" (Natalie Imbruglia) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Well, this had most definetely been an *interesting* day for me. First, our school gets snowed in, then I find myself lost in this weird so-called 'Time Warp', and then I find out that people from my school are the Sailor Scouts. Like I said. It was certainly NOT boring! And now, I was floating through space. I guess it was somewhere between the present and the future, because Sailor Pluto had sent us into this portal to the future. I was simply floating, not having even the slightest clue to where I was or what I was doing. "CHAD!!!! WILL!!!!! MANDI!!!!!!" I shouted. No response. Hmmm.... I thought. "VENUS????" Still nothing. "Amazing, even VENUS abandoned me...." I sighed. Speaking of Venus, what a Crackhead. That girl is the biggest spaz I've ever met in my life. She is like insane, or something. She once yelled at me for 'obviously flirting' with her. HA! That's a laugh. As if I'd ever flirt with a mental case like her. Just because I like teasing someone doesn't mean I'm flirting with them, ESPECIALLY in **her** case!! Yet... I suppose there *was* something in that transformation sequence that- AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!! WHAT AM I * S A Y I N G * ?!?!?!?!? Well anyway, if you haven't figured out by now then my name is Darien Cross. I suppose I *might* have a slight eensy teeny invisible to the naked eye microscopic electron particle sized crush on Kate Peters, but if I do, I have as of yet to admit it to myself. Which is certainly FINE with me, because if I *DO* ever come to the conclusion that I like a spastic freak like her, I think I am going to begin seeking my O W N mental help!!! I turned 16 in May, and I'm in 10th grade. Some of my friends are named Mandi, Chad, William, Shawn, Kate (welllll... maybe on her GOOD days) and John. And I just found out that Mandi is Sailor Moon, Shawn is Tuxedo Mask, and Kate is Sailor Venus, all people whom I *thought* were only anime characters. Oh, what a twisted web we weave. As if * that * wasn't twisted enough for you, here's another one: this senior that I used to flirt with named Cerra is Sailor Pluto. She is the girlfriend of this guy that Kate's had a crush on for lord knows how long. And HE is one of the people we are going to rescue in the future, so says Venus. She says he's supposed to be one of the Ronins. Hehe!!! That is just supremely weird, neh? Well *I* thought so. . . "DARIEN? That you?" Hooray, someone was speaking to me. "Yeah, is that you, Ducks?" "Not unless he grew long blond hair and became a soprano...." HEHE!!! OOPS! "Sorry Mandi." "Quite alright." "Darien??" "Now THAT must be you, Chad." "Yeah... it's me... I think..." He THINKS?! "Darien? Chad?" It was William. Shortly followed by, "HEY GUY I KNOW!!!!" I think you all can figure out who THAT was... "Why are we just FLOATING AROUND?? Why don't we just *DO* something while we're in here to get to the future? Why waste time floating?!" What a moron! What a complete and total moron!! "And what sorts of wonderful things are you referring to, Venus?! What exactly COULD we DO to stop floating?!?!" "How am I supposed to kn-AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Cue the most hideous, glass shattering scream that ranks beyond readable on the decibel scale. "FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, QUIT SCREAMING BEFORE I GO DEAF!!!!" But she just kept going. I thought my ears were going to explode. "Alright, WHAT is the problem-?!" And that was when I realized that she might actually be in... trouble? Venus? Trouble? HA!! As if there was any demon that she couldn't take on with her hands tied behind her back and blindfolded. But she just kept on screaming... After a few more seconds, it really sounded serious. "Venus, WHAT'S HAPPENING?? More demons?!?" Still no answer. Just more piercing screams. It sounded as if she was being tortured or something. I was beginning to get sort of worried. SORT of. Just one question: WHY??? Why did I care if the Crackhead was being tortured? I didn't care to find out the answer to that, so I just dropped it. "HELP!!!! SOMEBODY HELP ME!!!!!!" It was getting really bad. She sounded really hurt. Well, even if she *WAS* just a spaz, I wasn't going to just stand around and let her be tortured. Oh no, not me. Not if my name isn't Darien Cross!! Wait a minute here. IS IT?? For some reason the name 'Kou Taiki' suddenly popped into my head.... whoa, weird............ "DARIEN!!!! PLEASE SAVE ME!!!!!" Wimp. Damsel. Freak. Well, let's see here.. hmm... what could I possibly do?? "Alright, Demons!!! Listen here! You leave Venus alone or else... or else..." Or else WHAT?!?!? Quick Darien, make up a lie!! "...or else I'll blast you with my super powers!!!! A-HAHAHA!!" There was an evil cackle of laughter in the distance. "What powers?!" "The demons can TALK now?! My... um..." I said the first thing that I could think of. "MAKER STAR POWER!!!!!" Sure enough.... something DID happen!!! I let loose some sort of an energy, and blasted away a demon that turned out to be a FAKE Venus!!! "Oh.... my.... GOD... I'm a Starlight.... NOOOO.... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * -William- Battle through this war of nerves When your life it takes a turn What I have is what I feel Well in my mind, you're lying here Fear that unholy drift There's a piece of me in all he says I don't ever wanna feel pain Wanna be ready when you call my name I don't ever wanna feel fear This war of nerves that I reserve for when you're here Don't wanna be like a voice without words ('cause I need you here with me) Don't wanna be alone in this world (will I surress my fear?) And will I beat this war of nerves? "War of Nerves" (All Saints) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Where was I? There was nothing around me that I could see except for purple, white, and black lights. And a bunch of other swirly things. I had no clue as to what I was supposed to look for to get the the future... another door maybe? A light? Something to that extent? Oh, hello. I'm William Lowe. I was born on February 8. I've got three really messed up friends named Chad (although most of us call him Ducky), Darien (who is obviously in love with this incredibly screwed up and mean, spazzy girl named Kate, yet he would probably *die* before admitting to it), and Shawn (who's girlfriend is also one of my best friends, and I've known her for a reeealy long time.). Don't believe me that they're messed up yet? Well, I'll put it this way: Chad got down on his knees and proposed to me at my locker one day. Hehe, funny ain't it? Not quite, because it's true, so that makes it sort of frightening. Although we were only kidding of course. It's also an inside joke, so don't ask. Well, then. I was really bored until I heard Chad's voice. "Hey Will... you there?" I turned my head and looked in every direction, but I couldn't see him anywhere. "Yeah... I'm here..." "WILLIAM???" That was Shawn. I thought he was supposed to be in the future...? Weird... "Where are you guys? I can't see you." "We need you to help us, Will." "WHAT?" Huh? "HELP US!!!! WE'RE IN TROUBLE!" "WHAT?!? But... HOW??" "JUST HELP US!!!! WE KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!!" How was I supposed to help them?! I wanted to, they were my best friends. But HOW could I when I didn't have any powers?? Or maybe....... "HEALER STAR POWER... MAKE-UP!!!" * cue a transformation sequence in which William turns into Sailor Star Healer, and is wearing black leather, a very revealing outfit.* "Whoa.... AWESOME CLOTHES!!!!!" I paused for a moment and looked down at myself. My voice was considerably high, which wasn't all that different from my NORMAL voice... "I'm a... GIRL???" Another pause. "COOOOOOOL!!!!!" "DON'T JUST STAND THERE..... HELP US!!!" "Okay, okay! Just let me savor the moment..." * " H E L P U S ! ! ! !" * "OKAY!!! GEEZ!!!! Um.... STAR SENSITIVE INFERNO???" * cue another sequence in which Star Healer spins and lets out electric bolt looking type things from his (her o_O) hands, and suddenly there are more demon screams. 'Chad' and 'Shawn' were both demons.* "Huh??? They died? They were demons?? What is going on here?!" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * -Chad- Every moment marked with apparitions of your self I'm every-swiftly moving, trying to escape this desire The yearning to be near you I do what I have to do A glowing ember burning hot and burning slow Deep within, I'm shaken by the violence of existing for only you I know I can't be with you I do what I have to do And I have the sense to recognize But I don't know how to let you go "Do What You Have to Do" (Sarah McLachlan) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I kept hearing laughter and snickering coming from every direction that I turned. I knew it was just Will and Darien, acting like dorks, as if that was a big surprise. "Guuuuuuuys... this isn't funny. Where are you?" No answer. Just more laughter. "Fine, be that way!!" I grunted. I had better things to worry about than if they were making fun of me or not. Like... if Mandi was still okay. "MANDI???" Nothing. "MANDI, WHERE ARE YOU???" "I'm... right... here." "MANDI?" She didn't sound like her usual perky self. Actually, she sounded downright depressed. Probably because Shawn's gone, I realized. "Are you alright Mandi? You sound upset." "Fine. Just... fine." "Oh, Mandi..." That last comment was from another male voice. It was... could it be? Shawn?? Wasn't he in the future? "Yes, Shawn...?" "Let's leave here. Let's go somewhere more.. private." "Yes. Who cares about Chad, that loser." "Stupid fat idiot!" They were laughing at me. Making fun of me. Right while I was there!! What nerve they had!!! "He's so blind. He doesn't even realize that we're not his friends. That we could care less about him." "I know. God, what an ass." More laughter. MORE laughter!!! "I love you. How could he be so stupid as to fall in love with me... when it was always you that I wanted. That I only got close to him to get closer to you. That I... used him." USED ME!! MANDI.... My FRIEND.... right?? SHE..... USED ME!?!?! I suppose I had always known it. They were right. I was just stupid for not believing my instincts. She never gave a damn about me. She only made 'friends' with me because of Shawn. WHY DID I HAVE TO FALL IN LOVE WITH HER, ANYWAY?!?!? Though practically every guy on Earth has made the same mistake... And Shawn just doesn't seem to realize how lucky he is to have her.... ...all to himself... And then they came into view, kissing, and clinging to each other almost desperately. "MANDI!!" I screamed, in complete misery, breaking down. I act tough to hide it, but she's always known the way I feel about her. I pretend I don't care when I watch my best friend kiss her. I pretend that I'm not jealous. That I don't think murderous thoughts about him. But.. WHY? WHY does it have to be this way?!?!? WHY THE HELL CAN'T I JUST FORGET HER?!? WHY CAN'T I LET HER GO?! I could hear their evil laughter cackling inside of my head. Driving me insane! Driving me crazy!! "SHAWN! MANDI!!!! PLEASE! PLEASE STOP!! YOU DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THIS... HOW MUCH THIS HURTS..." No relief. Not one bit. And I was powerless to stop it. I knew now that it was the demons, playing with my mind. But it was working. They were beating me the one way they could, by using my one weakness. The one person that I cared about. They were defeating me by my own emotions. My own pointless emotions!!! No. NO!! I WAS NOT GOING TO LOSE THAT EASILY!!! NOT TO MYSELF! I was so much stronger than that! "FIGHTER.... STAR POWER...." What was the rest? God damnit, what the hell was the rest of it?!? ".... M A K E - U P ! ! !" * cue a transformation sequence in which Chad turns into Sailor Star Fighter, instantly becomes taller (and thinner o_O lol), and is wearing black leather, a very revealing outfit.* YES. THIS WAS IT. This was the reason I never fit in. Why I was an outcast. It was all coming back to me. My past. I remembered everything. I was Seiya, Star Fighter, leader of the Starlights. We were searching for our beloved Princess, and I had fallen in love with another one, Tsukino Usagi. We were aliens from another world... "STAR.... SERIOUS...... LASER!!!!!!!!" * cue another sequence in which stars spin around Star Fighter and come together to form a laser type thing which he shoots out, and suddenly there are more demon screams. 'Mandi' and 'Shawn' were both demons.* "YES... YES!!! YES!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" I leaped up and down, and laughed to myself. And for once, I was happy. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ e n d p a r t 7 ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^