Episode 4: Secrets of Love, Revealed *** Tristan Andres looked silently out the window next to his bed, to the star-dusted sky. He smiled suddenly as Sailor FlowerPower?s image appeared in the reflective surface. In a moment, Sunny?s replaced it, matching perfectly. "Such a pretty one, and so familiar," he said quietly. "I wonder why." He leaned over and pulled a black laptop onto the bed next to him and began typing. In a few moments, a screen came up requesting a password. He entered it and continued. Soon the screen flashed brightly and an image of a white cat with a crescent moon on its forehead appeared. "Artemis," he stated. "Tristan-san," the cat answered. "What do you know?" Tristan smiled. "I seem to have discovered what you wouldn?t tell me, Artemis. I know who Sailor FlowerPower is. The very girl who sits next to me in math class, Sunny Marina." "Ah, so you do know." Artemis nodded. "Then it is time to tell you more. You have heard of the Ginzuishou?" "The Silver Crystal, yes. Mamoru-san told me a little. But he admitted that even he doesn?t know that much." Tristan smiled a little sadly. "He?s more worried about discovering his identity." "Well, as long as you have a basic outline, Tristan-san," Artemis assured. "But there is another like it. The Hanazuishou, the Flower Crystal, and Sailor FlowerPower will need it." "And I?m supposed to find it?" Tristan questioned. "How?" "That is up to you. We have no idea where the Hanazuishou is. We know less about it than the Ginzuishou." Tristan sighed. "And Mamoru thinks he has troubles. I?ve got to do everything on my own." "What was that Tristan-san?" Artemis asked. "Nothing." Tristan grinned. "I?ll get started right away. I?m sensing another Dark Kingdom attack coming." He paused for a moment. "Why can I tell that, Artemis? Even when Sailor FlowerPower isn?t in trouble, I can feel the Dark Force planning something. Why?" "That I cannot tell you either, Tristan-san." Artemis looked down and sighed. "Perhaps..." He stopped. "I don?t know. But you have work to do." Tristan nodded. "Yes. Talk later, Artemis. I?m out." And with that Artemis disappeared. With a sigh, Tristan shut the laptop and put it away. He always felt so in the dark, even more so than Mamoru-san. At least Mamoru-san was getting some clues to who he was. Tristan felt like he was stumbling blindly, with an occasional light shed by Artemis. He wondered briefly how much Artemis knew. Mamoru was getting hints of a past. But Tristan was getting nothing. He didn?t even know if he had a past to discover. He got up and walked out to the living room, moving quickly past his father. Kenny Andres looked up at his pensive son. "Where are you off to this night, Tristan?" Tristan stopped, thinking. "Just out, Dad. Taking a walk." Tristan?s father nodded. "Just be back before ten, and be careful." With that, Tristan nodded and walked out into the moonlight, wondering what would be revealed this night. *** I stared out my window, watching the moon. I did that often now. Maybe I was hoping to gain some knowledge of Sailor Moon that way, I don?t know. Maybe for comfort or strength. Maybe all of those. Suddenly, I felt an evil presence. "The Dark Kingdom again," I thought, frowning. "And close!" I leaped up quickly and headed for the living room, trying to pass my parents without being questioned. Luckily they weren?t there, but in the kitchen. I yelled briefly that I was going for a walk, slipped out the front door, and raced off into the night. "Stellar Park," I whispered. The park just across the street from my house. "Why here?" "Out for a walk too, Sunny?" a voice asked from close behind me. I squeaked a surprised cry and spun to see Tristan Andres standing close to me, smiling. He chuckled quietly and raised his eyebrows. "Did I scare you?" "Yes!" I fairly shouted, still shaking. "Why did you sneak up on me?" He smiled bashfully. "Sorry, didn?t mean to. Just wondering what you were up to, out after dark like this." "Oh." I blinked, finally realizing that my crush had just scared the life out of me. I blushed despite myself. "I?m just out for a walk, that?s all. Er, what about you?" He smiled, and I nearly fainted. "The same." He walked a little closer, moving to my side. "Since we?re both out then, how about we walk together?" My heart fluttered like it had wings and soared like it as well. I smiled shakily. "Sure." We walked into the park, through the thick grass, and toward the fountain at the center of the park. Suddenly, Tristan stopped beside me. I walked a few more paces before I noticed and turned back. "Tristan?" I called. *** Amythite smiled from the top of a tree a few feet away from the two. She laughed inwardly. "Love, what a pathetic weakness in humans," she sneered. "But these two will prove useful. The energy in their feelings for each other will greatly benefit the Dark Kingdom." She waved a hand and the youma appeared, a vision of terror. It was a twisted form of a Cupid statue, the wings black bat wings instead of white angel wings, a demon twin. Amythite smiled wickedly. "Get them." She shimmered away to collect the energy to come. *** Tristan hand just opened his mouth to speak when I heard a wicked laugh echo through the park, and there was a flash of violet lightning above the fountain. Tristan threw his arms around me, turning us away from the light. "Tristan!" I shouted, worried. It was the Dark Force, I had to get him out of there! "Sunny, transform!" he returned. He pushed me to arm's length, smiling expectantly. I stared back at him, confused. He just winked and, from nowhere, produced a blue rose. I gasped. "Tr-Tristan? You..." I tried desperately to get the words out. "You?re Tuxedo Rose?" He only nodded, smiling, and waved the blue rose in a semi-circle away from himself. A shower of water-like blue light surrounded him and then faded, revealing the mysterious caped hero I?d come to love just as much as Tristan himself. I stared in shock, but then the violet light flashed again and the creature appeared. This one was a terrible, twisted form of the Cupid statue atop the fountain. It smiled menacingly at us and spread its black wings. Evil non-light shot toward us. But Tuxedo Rose swept me up quickly, jumping into the high branches of a near tree. Setting me on my feet, one arm still around my waist, he threw a blue rose at the devil look-alike. The rose spun in midair and hit the monster petals first. The creature cried out in anger, clawing at its face. Tuxedo turned to me. "That will distract it for now, but you must transform, Sunny! You are the only one with the power to beat it!" He looked me in the eyes, then suddenly was kissing me. After a few moments of sweetness, he backed away, leaving my head spinning. "Now Sunny, transform!" he ordered. I nodded, still reeling, but ready for the world now. I raised my hand, Locket held tightly in it. "Flower Prism Power, -Make Up!-" I spun joyfully into my Sailor suit, and posed with no time to waste. I turned to the now recovered monster. "How dare you spoil this wonderful evening?" I pointed at the devil-creature, saying, "You have disturbed what could have been a lovely night, and for that, in the name of Thalassa, I?ll punish you! I?m Sailor FlowerPower!" The creature only laughed and cast another beam of non-light at Tuxedo Rose and me. We leaped simultaneously, the blast striking the branch below us. That was no trouble though, as Tuxedo caught me around the waist once more and carried us both gently to the ground. He set me on my feet and nodded. "Game?s over, bat-breath!" I slipped off my tiara, holding it high. "Flower Tiara Action!" The bright disc rocketed toward the demon and hit full force, disintegrating it in moments. I shouted triumphantly, turning to hug Tuxedo Rose tightly. He hugged me back, but then I realized what had just happened. I backed away, looking at him in confusion. "How did you know who I was?" He smiled. "I saw you transform the other day in the cafeteria." He grinned. "You and Merlyn weren?t the only ones late for lunch that day." I sighed, still shocked. Then I started again. "Why," I couldn?t help blushing, "did you kiss me?" He smiled sweetly at that, coming forward to take my hands. "Because I wanted to, Sunny." And kissed me again, right then and there. And this time, I kissed him back. So, just like in any fairy tale, the hero and heroine get together. But I got an extra incentive: Tristan in real life. We were the hottest new item in school. Amberle was thrilled for me, as were the rest of my friends. Merlyn was particularly impressed, probably because she knew who he was now too. Merlyn, Tristan, and I all knowing each other?s identities now made things a bit easier to talk about. Tristan told me about talking to Artemis, and about the Hanazuishou. But I had no idea where to find the Flower Crystal either. I knew things were going to get better for all of us from now on. And I feel secure every time I find the blue rose waiting for me in my locker in the morning. Ep. 4 - http://eternal.dreamhost.com/fanfics/ss4.txt Beverly "Usagi" Alliss - beverly@magicalgirls.net Merlyn "Ami" Baker - yumesan@yahoo.com First Written, 1998. Recent Editing, May 2000. Tsuki no Yume http://eternal.dreamhost.com/fanfics/