Disclaimer: All Sailor Moon references and characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi, TOEI, Kodansha & Pioneer. Everything else is mine.
It all started on the morning of my sixteenth birthday, July 14. Summer, the second best season of the year and time to head down to the park for all day laze-a-thons. As I was walking to the park, a strange tune jumped in my head. I now know what the tune was, but back then, I thought it was one of those things that you hear once and forever suffer the repeated tune, so I just continued humming it until I got to the park fountain.
I always loved the fountain. The statue is a replica of the Nike of Samothrace. Ancient Greek artwork is a hobby of mine. I would often go to the park early just to study the textures and lines of the Greek goddess while waiting for Dare and Frat to show up. Dare and Frat have been my best buds since long before I can remember. Gran says that we must have been born connected with as much as we hang out together.
But on that day, for some reason neither one of them showed up. I sat staring at the Nike for at least an hour before I realized that there wasn't anyone else in the park. That had to be the strangest thing of all. Even Athena hasn't figured that one out yet. She surely didn't do anything to make the park deserted. Well, I suppose it could have been Belladonna. Oops, sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself again. Anyway, I was sitting on the fountain ledge when I realized that the park was empty. Now, I'm not one to act on my imagination, but images of pod people and The Stand were dancing the fandango on my brain and fear was moving in to the spare room in my neck. Just then, this white owl swoops out of the old oak tree and lands on the ledge next to me. I tried to shoo it away. I remembered seeing an owl take out a small deer on Discovery channel once so my shooing was as inoffensive as possible.
The owl remained unphased. It sat staring at me like I had been the Nike and when I got up to leave (it was just getting way too creepy) it spoke. "Hello, there. My name is Athena."
Now, I knew I was having a dream brought on by the six pieces of pizza and the five Cokes I had the day before, so, what the hell I spoke back. "Um… Hi… I'm Deli-er… Sendle. I don't believe I've ever met a talking owl before."
"Very few people have." Her tone was matter-of-fact. It's kind of silly hearing the wise old owl talk like an English professor.
"I'm sure. What are you doing here? I mean what would a talking owl be doing in Bramsville? There's nothing here you know. Just this park and fountain."
She flapped her wings, as if they needed adjusting and smiled (if it's at all possible for an owl to smile, Athena manages it.) "I came to see you."
"Oh, really? What's so important about me?" Only about then did I begin to realize that I might not be dreaming after all. If it were a dream, I'd have flown off to meet the leader of the alien owl people or suddenly gotten the urge to pee (That happens a lot when I have stupid dreams) and I would've woken up.
"I have been searching for you for over a year. I thought I had found who I was looking for several years ago, but I was proved wrong. It's you who is needed Deli."
"Yeah, right." I scanned the trees; no one seemed to be hiding in them.
"Right," she replied as if I didn't just respond with heavy sarcasm.
"All right," I yelled into the bushes hoping to flush out the prankster. "Dare. Frat. Get out here! It's not funny anymore." Athena flapped her wings again. "I mean it."
"This is not a prank."
"I refuse to speak with the owl anymore! Dare… Frat…"
"Athena?" The new voice belonged to the cutest, most gorgeous guy I've ever laid eyes on. He had jet-black hair, skin as clean as snow, and the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen. His name was Josh. "Why didn't you wait for me?" He looked up, noticing me for the first time. "Oh, hi. Have you met Athena, yet?"
"Yes, Josh, she has. Unfortunately, she thinks this is all a joke."
"A joke? I wish."
"That is not a proper attitude for the Knight of Temple Draco."
"Yeah, I've heard it all before." He turned to me and smiled. I think I melted into the concrete of the fountain, but I'm not sure. "Well, you haven't met me. I'm Josh."
"Uh… Er… Um, I'm… I'm Deli." Yup, I definitely melted and my brain went with it.
"Nice to meet you. Now, if you'll at least hear Athena out, I'm sure you'll go home both confused and wishing you hadn't gotten out of bed this morning. But, hey, what can you do? Athena, sweet, it's your show."
"Thanks. Now, Deli, I think you should know that Earth is just one of many inhabited planets in the universe. It is not, by far the most advanced in technology, but it is known for the tremendous amount of Sailor Senshi and Knights it produces."
"Huh?"
"I'll get to that in a minute. The last ruler of the universe was a woman named Queen Serenity, the Queen of the Moon and the Universe."
"What? You're telling me that some chick from the moon was the Queen of the universe?"
"Yes."
"Our moon? The silver orb in the night sky?"
"Yes."
"Okay, I just have one more question. Is it really made of cheese?"
"This is serious." But, Josh giggled. At least he thought it was funny. "Let me try a different approach. Have you ever heard of Sailor V?"
"Who hasn't?"
"Sailor V is actually the Sailor Senshi (or Scout) of the planet Venus. All Scouts are females. Their male counterparts are called Knights. They are the protectors of their respective planets. Sailor V is part of a Scout team, lead by Sailor Moon, who is the ultimate Sailor Scout."
"Because she's the scout of the Moon?"
"Very good. Now, Josh here is the Knight of the Temple planet of Draco. Temple is a solar system. The Temple System doesn't have any natives and no real population growth, so the Scouts and Knights destined to protect its planets are often found on Earth."
"Why Earth?"
"We're not really sure. Earth tends to produce a lot of gifted people."
"What's all this have to do with me?"
"You, Deli, are the Sailor Scout of…"
The sky suddenly turned a sickly green, thunder clapping over our heads.
"Floribunda." Josh shook his head at Athena, then suddenly threw up his arms and changed his clothes, in like an eye blink. Except it didn't look anything like him anymore. I had just been introduced to Draco Soul, the Knight of Temple Draco.
A laugh shimmered over us. "Do you really think you can get away from me again, Draco Soul?"
"I think a lot of things, Thornrose. And now I think it's time for you to leave."
"Oh, but I did so hope that we could play." A silhouette of a woman appeared floating in the sky.
"Not now. Your mama's calling."
"Oh, now. Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" She disappeared and reappeared just in front of Draco Soul. "Ooh, she's a cutie. Floribunda is in need of attractive animals. Can I keep her?"
Draco Soul took a protective stance in front of me. "No, you may not. Earth is not here for you to kidnap its citizens for slavery."
"Animals! You're all part of the same troublesome lot. Give me the girl and I'll let you live."
"Never!"
"What's so important about her anyway?"
"She's human and that's enough for me. Now, leave."
"All right." She jumped up and hovered. "Just one more thing. Thorn Shower!" Her hand shot out a storm of rose thorns. Draco Soul countered them with his Scale shield and launched Breath of Flame. Thornrose dodged it with her teleport reappearing behind the knight. She kicked him in the back and trapped him with her thorny vines.
"No." Athena launched herself into the air crying out three times. Something fell to the ground. "Take the pen, Deli."
"Wha-?" The whole scene still wasn't registering in my brain.
"Pick up the stick." Well if it would get me to wake up. I picked it up. "Now, yell, 'Temple Song Power' and raise your hand."
My hand went up. "Temple Song Power!" I was pulled into a type of whirlwind that filled me with energy and light. I felt better than I had ever.
When, the whirlwind stopped I was dressed in a short sailor suit and high boots, all in pink and blue. The dream was getting interesting at least. "Remember the song you were humming before?" Athena landed next to me.
"Uh, huh."
"Sing it to the words, 'Staccato Beat Flourish,' but make sure you're facing her."
"Staccato Beat Flourish!!!!!" This incredible Voice emerged from my body. I sounded better than anyone I'd ever heard on PBS or any of the Broadway shows I'd attended in my entire life. In my wonderment I missed the true power of the attack.
When I finally looked up, Thornrose was shaking her hands, the vines were nowhere to be seen, Draco Soul lay in the grass panting and Athena's feathers were raised.
"Do it again!" Draco Soul propped himself up to draw Thornrose's attention.
"Just another human, Draco Soul? I don't like it when animals lie to me." Thornrose made her way over to the fallen knight. She kicked him in the stomach making him curl up.
Athena let out a cry of defiance, lofted into the air, aimed her talons for Thornrose's face and was knocked to the ground by the enemy's Thorn Shower Attack. "Don't mess with the Rose, birdie!" Her gaze landed on me.
I didn't like it at all. It was one of those feelings that screamed, "What the hell are you still doing here! Run!" My feet didn't listen. They decided to stay firmly rooted to the spot. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm quite fond of roses when they are docile plants and not walking bullies. Bullies I usually run from, but the situation being what it was, running seemed to elude me.
"The little Senshi isn't scared, is she?"
That was what I needed, I think. It's one thing to acknowledge my own state of cowardice, completely another to call me a chicken. I do have some pride after all. "Listen you little skunk-flower! I am Sailor Temple! Defender of mankind and music! I am here to right wrongs and triumph over overgrown weeds! And that means you! In the name of Melody and the System of Temple, I will punish you! Now, step away from the owl and boy and take your medicine like a good little weed!"
"Weed!?! I am a member of the Royal Family of Floribunda! Remember it, little girl, because you will be serving my family until the day you rot! Thorn Shower!"
Now my feet decided to make their debut racing appearance. They got me out of the way of the attack. Having seen it twice already, I knew when I was clear. I turned. She was recovering from the shock of me dodging her attack.
"What the..."
"Staccato Beat Flourish!!!" A wave of light shot from my chest slamming into Thornrose's head.
Breath of Flame caught her in a circle of fire. Athena was up flying again. She cried out three times and another object fell to the ground. It was a blue cross amulet. I scooped it up. "What's this for?"
"It's a flute! Blow it while pressing the middle of the cross!"
"Right!" I put the flute to my lips.
Unfortunately, Thornrose had broken free of the fire circle. "Maybe next time, Sailor Temple!" She disappeared.
"That is one ugly flower!" Draco Soul fell back to his knees. "You alright, Athena?"
"Yes." They both looked at me. "How did you know that your name is Sailor Temple?"
"Well, you told me."
"Nah. She never got that far. And where did you learn the speech?" Suspicion was not so inconspicuously threading into their attitudes.
"I don't know. It just came to me. It felt right."
"Alright, we'll believe you for now." Athena hopped over to Draco Soul.
"Oh, you will? Do I have to remind you that you came to me? Did I ask for this? I've never even been to Canada, let alone another solar system. What makes me the destined protector?"
Draco Soul stood up; all the suspicion gone from is face. "What you just did makes you protector of Temple. Don't worry about Athena, she's been on guard since the one that wasn't you." He shimmered for a second, returning to his original form.
"How'd you do that?"
"Just thank the power and return it to its source. If you need to it's easier if you say it."
"I think I can do it without saying it." It was just like thanking someone who'd done something profound and allowing him to return home. It kind of tickled and then I was me again.
"Not too bad with that singing attack. I can't wait to see the flute attack."
"I'd rather not, if it's all the same."
"Not a choice, Deli. You're in this now."
"I know."
"Enough of this down talk." Athena perched on Josh's shoulder. "We combat negativity, not produce it."
"We got it. Don't nag so much, mommy."
It was only then that my temper cooled enough for me to remember my crush on Josh. My knees became jellyfish.
"Who's hungry? I'm buying."
Lunch with a dream guy? Was he expecting me to say, no? "Okay."