An Unnatural Phenomena

(Fairview Park, a tranquil place in the middle of the city. Serena, Amy, and Raye are taking a walk through the park. They stop at a lake.)

Raye: Wow. Isn't this the greatest?

Serena: Yeah. You can see the whole city.

Amy: You know what'd really be fun? Taking a boat out on the lake and reading a really good book.

(Being an avid reader, Amy would have that in mind, but for Raye...)

Raye: You know what would be even more fun? Being out there with a really cute guy.

(Mr. Baxter has been caring for the park for many years. The girls decide to drop be and say hi to him in his flower garden.)

Amy: Hi, Mr. Baxter.

(He turns around and recognizes Amy.)

Mr. Baxter: Oh, hello, Amy. Good to see you.

(Serena and Raye are surprised. They didn't know that Amy knew Mr. Baxter. The four of them sit on benches and talk as a bird chirps in the trees.)

Serena: So, Amy said you worked here since she was just... a little kid.

Mr. Baxter: That's right, but now I'm about to lose my job.

Amy: What?

(He explains.)

Mr. Baxter: Oh, they're about to put a big office building in this park. I'm so angry about it. They're gonna wipe out the whole park.

Amy: That's terrible.

Mr. Baxter: Yeah. I did everything I could to stop them, but they wouldn't listen. Nobody cares.

Serena: No. Not all your beautiful flowers.

(Mr. Baxter goes back to his flowers.)

Mr. Baxter: Oh, I'm sure they'll bulldoze them down, too. Enjoy the park while you can, girls, cause it's all gonna be gone next week.

(As the girls leave, Raye thinks of a plan to save the park.)

Raye: I've gotta talk to Grandpa. There's gotta be a way to save this place.

(That evening, outside the Crown Arcade, Luna waits for the girls.)

Luna: I guess the girls aren't here yet.

(She decides to take a walk across the street.)

Luna: Oh. This search for the Moon Princess isn't going well...

(She's in the middle of the street, and a car is heading her way! Only a timely leap and grab by Darien keeps Luna from becoming road pizza.)

Darien: You're as accident-prone as Serena.

(Now Luna recognizes the voice as Darien's. When he talks of Serena, she gets a fright. Does he know more then she wants him to know?)

Darien: Gotta be more careful.

(Just then...)

Serena: OH! What have you done to her?

(The girls have arrived, and Serena, seeing Darien with Luna, immediately goes on the offensive.)

Darien: Stopped her from being squished. If it weren't for me, she'd be kitty pancake right now.

(Though Serena wouldn't dream of dating this guy, Raye has a different opinion. She thinks he's cool.)

Serena: Come here, Luna.

(The doors to the arcade open, and Andrew steps out.)

Andrew: Hey, Darien.

Darien: Yo. What's up, Andrew?

(What?! Andrew knows Darien?! This infuriates Serena all over again.)

Serena: Andrew? You know this creep? He nearly mutilated my kitty.

(At the same time, in the forest mansion that has become his temporary home, Nephlite contemplates his next move. Looking to his star map...)

Nephlite: The movement of the stars rules everything. Great powers of the Negaverse, guide me now to my next victim.

(Summoning the power of the stars, they respond by showing him who is approaching peak energy potential.)

Nephlite: A human who is just reaching his maximum energy output. I shall gather it up to feed the Negaforce.

(His intended target: Mr. Baxter!)

Nephlite: This should be a piece of cake. The old gardener from Fairview Park. Who would have guessed?

(At the arcade, Serena is trying desperately to beat the current high score in Sailor V's Video Challenge. So far, it has been untouched since Amy took her first crack at it... and racked up over a hundred thousand points before having to leave for her computer class.)

Serena: OH! You were too slow.

(Meanwhile...)

Andrew: So, how'd you come to be friends with Serena?

(Raye is blushing while talking with Andrew. No wonder Serena has a crush on him. He's cute.)

Raye: Umm... we met at my temple. The one on Cherry Hill?

Andrew: Yeah? So you must be Raye. Right? Serena says you're great at martial arts.

Raye: Yeah. My grandpa's taught me a lot. It's a really great way to build up your confidence.

Andrew: Yeah. Darien's... ha ha ... always sayin' that. He wants me to join his karate club at the University.

(What a scoop!)

Raye: He's into martial arts?

(She thinks of an idea.)

Raye: We've got something in common. That's important in a good relationship.

(She gets up and puts one foot on the stool she was sitting on. Her concentration is surprising Andrew.) Raye: 'Want to train with me?' Yeah. That's what I'll say. If I seem too forward, I'll blow him away with my smoothest move.

(Just as Raye's foot slips off the stool...)

Raye: AAAH!

(...another of Serena's attempts at the high score bombs miserably.)

Serena: No way! I dodged that one!

(Meanwhile, Raye is on the floor. She had hit her head on one of the video games, and now she has a monster headache!)

Andrew: Are you all right, Raye?

(At that same moment, at Fairview Park, construction is already underway. Mr. Baxter looks on in dismay.)

Mr. Baxter: All those years to grow these beautiful trees. What a waste.

Voice: You have something against this project.

Mr. Baxter: Huh?

(He turns to discover a young man not too far from him. It's Nephlite, posing as millionaire Maxfield Stanton.)

Mr. Baxter: Yeah, but it doesn't matter now.

Maxfield: Sure it does. It's a real shame what they're doing to this park. I used to play here as a kid.

(He ad libbed that last one. Something's odd.)

Maxfield: I've come up with a way to save the park. Uh, with your help, of course. Or at least YOUR MEASLY HUMAN BODY! (Nephlite begins the spell.)

Nephlite: I call upon the power of the Negaverse. Increase this human's anger to its maximum peak of energy!

(With that, Nephlite leaves his mark on Mr. Baxter's hat.)

(Minutes later, Mr. Baxter returns to his lookout perch, a little exhausted. The sight of the continued destruction compounded with the influence Nephlite has placed on him...)

Nephlite: Now, spread your anger at what's happening to this park, even to the gentlest of creatures. Intensify your anger a hundred fold!

Mr. Baxter: Yes, Master.

(A giant swarm of butterflies converges on the site, destroying equipment and terrifying workers.)

Worker: What's going on? Get off of me!

(He has to run, though, as his bulldozer begins to blow. All around are confused and terrified workers. As Mr. Baxter's anger increases, the symbol that controls Mr. Baxter begins to tap his energy as well as that of the butterflies.)

Nephlite: Excellent. I'll capture both Baxter's energy and all those creatures'. And, with some luck, I'll lure in the Sailor Scouts, too.

(Next day, Raye comes up with a plan to attract Darien.)

Raye: All right, now. When Darien shows up, I pretend to bump into him by accident.

(Moments later, Darien walks down the street. Then, Raye bumps into him.)

Raye: Oh. I'm so sorry. I'm so clumsy. Are you all right?

Darien: Yeah. Better than ever, now that I've bumped into you. I've been waiting for someone like you to come into my life.

Raye: Oh Darien. I'm so happy.

(Raye then thinks twice about that scenario.)

Raye: No way. If that really happened, I'd probably just die.

(Meanwhile, Serena is walking down the street with an ice cream cone. Luna tries to give Serena some dieting tips.)

Luna: Serena, you ever get sick of sweets?

Serena: Nn, nnn.

Luna: Hey, look. Isn't that Raye?

(Serena stops and takes a look. Sure enough, at a corner, is Raye.)

Luna: Looks like she's waiting for someone.

(Meanwhile, Darien is walking down the street the other way. He is about to reach the corner.)

Raye: All right. Here it comes.

(All set.)

Raye: Ready!

(She runs out, but trips on a raised slab of sidewalk and ends up crashing face-first to the concrete. Darien nearly steps on her head, then hears her yell and steps back. All the while, Serena watches.)

Darien: Oh, I'm so sorry.

(Serena acts sarcastic.)

Serena: Aw, gee. I feel so bad for Raye. She must be so embarrassed.

(Luna comments, also sarcastically.)

Luna: You're so sincere.

Raye: It was all my fault.

(As Darien walks off...)

Darien: I know.

(Uh oh. Think fast. She catches up to Darien and stops him.)

Raye: Hold on.

(This surprises Serena.)

Darien: Raye, I'm kind of in a hurry, you know.

Raye: Oh. You know my name? I thought you might not remember. Are you coming back from martial arts class?

Darien: Yeah. I'm studying karate.

Raye: Gee. I've been thinking of joining a karate class myself, too.

Darien: You should. It's great.

(She considers her options, then decides to change her mood.)

Raye: Too shy.

(She tries something else.)

Raye: Wanna get a milkshake with me?

(The direct approach.)

Darien: Well I'm supposed to be meeting somebody.

Raye: Hey. We can do takeout.

(That did it.)

Darien: Ah. They can wait.

Raye: I can't believe Serena thinks this stud muffin's such a jerk.

(Serena herself thinks that the whole thing is disgusting.)

Serena: What does she think she's doing? And why does she have to hang all over him like that? Eww...

Luna: Oh no, here we go. I can see jealousy rearing its ugly head.

Serena: I'm not jealous. I'm just deeply concerned about Raye. You know how easily she can be distracted from our mission.

(THAT excuse again? It fits Serena better.)

Serena: Let's follow them, Luna. This definitely needs watching.

Luna: This assignment gets tougher every day.

(At a restaurant, Raye begins to probe into Darien while Serena sneaks up to overhear.)

Raye: So, Darien. You have a girlfriend?

Darien: No. Not at the moment.

Raye: Yeah. Who's got time to date? Not me. No way.

(Meanwhile, Serena tries to figure out what they're saying through the glass.)

Serena: I wonder what they're talking about? It better not be my hair.

Luna: Too bad you can't make yourself invisible.

(That gives Serena an idea. She pulls out the Luna Pen.)

Serena: What a great idea.

(Luna realizes her mistake.)

Luna: Give me that!

Serena: What for?

Luna: You know you shouldn't use it for trivial things.

Serena: This is not trivial.

(Suddenly...)

Melvin: Hidey ho!

(Melvin squats down to talk with Serena. Did he overhear the conversation?)

Melvin: Who are you talking to?

Serena: Uh... myself.

(Whew. Wait. Another idea.)

Serena: Melvin, old pal, you got any money on ya?

Melvin: Yeah. Why?

Serena: How about you treat me to a milkshake?

(WHAT?! This HAS to be serious if she's even considering pretending a date with Melvin! Luna just can't believe how low Serena will go.)

Melvin: Really? Can we get vanilla with prunes? That's my favorite.

(Meanwhile, in the restaurant, Raye makes her move.)

Raye: Hey Darien, do you want to go and rent a rowboat over at Fairview Park?

Darien: Sure. That'll be nice.

Raye: This'll be so cool.

(She can't believe her luck!)

Raye: This is working out better than I thought.

(At a nearby table, Serena and Melvin are, supposedly, sharing a vanilla milkshake with prunes. All the while, Serena keeps looking back at the table where Darien and Raye are sitting.)

Serena: Oh. Should've gotten closer. I can't hear anything.

(She continues her act to keep Melvin busy. Suddenly, she goes wild and has ANOTHER idea!)

(At the same time, Amy is walking down the same street, a bit sad.)

Luna: Amy.

Amy: Hey.

(Luna jumps up on her shoulder. It's always so nice to talk to someone who cares.)

Luna: Hey. What's the matter? You're not your cheery self today.

(Also at that same moment, at Mr. Baxter's greenhouse...)

Boss: Look, Baxter. Stop giving me grief. The park's kaput. Dead. Understand? Besides, it's gonna be a beautiful building, and it'll create lots of jobs. I'm sure I can get you in as a janitor or something.

(Mr. Baxter (who has the special power from Nephlite) has other plans.)

Mr. Baxter: Oh, a janitor?

(Amy explains to Luna why she's sad as they walk in the park.)

Luna: You've known Mr. Baxter a long time?

Amy: Yes. Ever since I was a little girl. He taught me so much about plants and nature. The park is his whole life. I don't know what he'll do when it's gone. Oh, I wish I could help.

(Meanwhile...)

Boss: This park project's driving me nuts. Gimme concrete and glass any day.

(A squirrel scampers to a cigarette butt the boss threw on the ground. There's an evil glint to its eyes. As Amy and Luna, continue walking, they suddenly hear someone screaming! The boss is being attack by squirrels! Amy rushes to see the commotion.)

Amy: IT'S THE SQUIRRELS!

Boss: GET OFF, YOU FURRY-TAILED RATS!

(The boss tries desperately to shake them off.)

Boss: HELP! SOMEBODY HELP!

(In the meantime, more squirrels are gathering, with evil intentions in mind.)

Luna: I've never seen squirrels act like that.

Amy: Me neither.

Luna: Better get the Scouts to look into this.

Amy: Right, Luna. I just hope I can find them in time.

(Elsewhere in the park, Raye and Darien are out in a rowboat, enjoying a romantic afternoon.)

Darien: Wow. This lake is really beautiful.

Raye: Yeah. I can't believe they're gonna cover it all in concrete.

Darien: Huh?

Raye: They're gonna fill it in for an office building.

Darien: That's terrible. Pretty soon, there won't be a green space left in this whole city.

Raye: You wanna go see the flowers?

Darien: Yeah. I hear the rose garden's amazing. I'd like to see it before it's destroyed.

(Roses? It rings a bell in Raye's head.)

Raye: Oh. You like roses?

(Does it ring a bell for you?)

(Anyway, Serena and Melvin are at the lookout point next to the lake. Serena is still keeping an eye on them.)

Serena: Oh. What could they be talking about all this time? They're starting to look too much like lovebirds.

(Melvin, with his back to her, is absolutely nuts!)

Melvin: Serena, I can't tell you how much this means to me. I've never dreamed of this moment, and now, you feel the same, too. We must seal our feelings with a kiss.

(By the time he turns, however, Serena has left.)

Melvin: Serena? Where are you? Serena!

(Amy hears footsteps and she turns.)

Amy: Serena!

(Serena sees Amy.)

Serena: Oh. Boy, am I glad to see you. I got stuck walking through the woods with Melvin.

Luna: It's a crime the way you treat that boy.

Amy: Listen, Serena. Did you see anything weird? Animals acting strange?

Serena: You mean besides Melvin?

Mr. Baxter: What are you doing?

Amy: Mr. Baxter!

(It's Mr. Baxter, all right, but something's weird.)

Mr. Baxter: No one's allowed in my park!

(What's with him?)

Mr. Baxter: I'm gonna punish you for abusing nature!

(The symbol on his forehead glows. He's maxed out...)

Mr. Baxter: AND I'M AFRAID IT'S NOT GONNA BE PLEASANT!

(...and that's Nephlite's cue.)

Nephlite: All right, Petasos. Unleash your full power!

(The marker comes to life. Petasos, the Negamonster and controller of evil nature, appears and saps Mr. Baxter's energy.)

Amy: Mr. Baxter!

Petasos: Forget about that clumsy old fool. He's a memory.

(Petasos screams, sending flocks of birds flying.)

Amy: Not yet he isn't. MERCURY POWER!

(Amy transforms into Sailor Mercury. Serena realizes that she needs to transform as well.)

Luna: She's going to need your help, Serena.

Serena: I was getting there. MOON PRISM POWER!

(Serena summons the power of her Moon Prism Locket and transforms into Sailor Moon, Champion of Justice.)

(At the boat, Darien gets a strange vibe. Then he begins to suffer a headache.)

Raye: Darien, what's wrong? Aren't you feeling well?

(Just then, the flocks of birds scared by Petasos scream across the lake towards the boat!)

Raye: The birds have gone wild!

Darien: Watch out!

(As Darien tries to shield Raye, the boat rocks and capsizes, sending both into the lake.)

(Meanwhile, Petasos is starting to get down to business. She's sent a bunch of butterflies at the two Sailor Scouts while squirrels harass Luna.)

Luna: Get away, you nasty fuzzballs!

(Sailor Mercury gets an opening.)

Sailor Mercury: MERCURY BUBBLES BLAST!

(The cold from the Mercury Bubbles quiets the animals.)

Sailor Mercury: What have you done to Mr. Baxter, you monster?

Sailor Moon: And why are all the animals going berserk?

Petasos: Why? To get rid of pests like you, dear! POLLEN POWER!

(One of her hands becomes a flower. It blooms and shoots a ball of evil pollen.)

Sailor Mercury: Look out!

(The pollen turns into vines, which wrap around Sailor Moon, trapping her.)

Sailor Mercury: It's wrapping her up!

Petasos: Your turn...

(She sends her vine-like hair at Sailor Mercury and binds her, too. At the boat dock, Darien and Raye have managed to swim back.)

Darien: Are you all right?

(Raye struggles to get up.)

Raye: What do you think happened?

Darien: It's like nature's gone wacko.

Raye: In a big way.

Darien: Look over there.

(Raye looks. The sky, for a second, is dark, then it's light again. The Negaverse is at work!)

Raye: Something's really wrong. I gotta go. Hope you don't mind. There's something I forgot to do.

(Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury are in big trouble. Bound and helpless, they're at the mercy of Petasos, and knowing the Negaverse, she doesn't have any mercy.)

Sailor Moon: Luna, can you help us?

(Luna, unfortunately, is out cold after dealing with rabid squirrels.)

Petasos: Ha ha! No one can help you! Not now, not ever!

(It seems hopeless...)

Sailor Mercury: Oh no! I've got to save Mr. Baxter!

Petasos: Ha ha ha!

Sailor Mercury: I can't get these things to budge!

(...but then...)

Sailor Mars: MARS FIRE IGNITE!

(Raye had transformed to Sailor Mars in the interim and is now burning the vines. Now both are free.)

Sailor Mars: Are you all right?

Sailor Moon: Barely. You almost set ME on fire, Mars.

Sailor Mars: Oh, great. Nice thanks for saving your backside. Now let's take care of this nasty weed.

Sailor Mercury: We are Sailor Scouts, Champions of Justice!

Sailor Mars: We will right wrongs and triumph over evil like you!

Mercury & Mars: On behalf of Mars and Mercury, WE WILL PUNISH YOU!

(They stole her line! How rude!)

Sailor Moon: HEY! You guys are stealing all my lines!

Petasos: You can't beat me, Sailor Scouts! You're nothing!

(More evil pollen! Before she can shoot, however, a rose grazes her head. Sailor Moon turns around.)

Sailor Moon: Hey!

(Tuxedo Mask has come through in the clutch again!)

Sailor Moon: It's Tuxedo Mask!

Tuxedo Mask: Be strong, Sailor Moon! You can beat her!

Sailor Moon: Right.

(She readies the Moon Tiara.)

Sailor Moon: MOON TIARA MAGIC!

(With a throw of her tiara, Petasos is moon dusted. Soon, nature is calm again, and Mr. Baxter's face returns to normal as well.)

Tuxedo Mask: You've broken the spell, Sailors. So long.

(He leaves the Sailor Scouts dreaming. He never ceases to drive them wild, especially Sailor Moon.)

Sailor Moon: He's dreamy.

(Later, after everything has settled down...)

Mr. Baxter: Oh. What happened? What am I doing here?

Amy: Oh, nothing. You just had a little too much sun today, I think.

(Then Darien appears.)

Darien: What a day. Now what's gonna happen?

Raye: There's Darien. I ditched him. I hope he's not mad.

Serena: Huh?

Darien: Raye. I thought you had to leave.

(Raye fuels Serena's fire of jealousy, anger and temper.)

Raye: Hey. We're going back out on the lake to watch the sunset. Jealous, Serena?

Serena: YOU CAN WASTE AS MUCH OF YOUR TIME ON THIS CREEP AS YOU WANT!

(Darien asks both of them...)

Darien: Hey. Ladies. Why don't we get a milkshake?

Raye: Oh yes. I'd love one, Darien. (Maybe we can do that romantic thing where you have two straws in the glass.)

(Just when things could get worse, Melvin catches up with Serena.)

Melvin: Ah! There you are!

Serena: Melvin...

Melvin: Glad I found you! I thought we'd go for a boat ride out on the lake. It'll be so romantic.

(Oh no! He spilled the beans!)

Serena: We're not on a date, you big dork.

Melvin: But we shared that prune milkshake and then took that lovely walk in the woods.

Darien: Sounds like a date to me.

Serena: YOU stay out of it. I am NOT on a date with Melvin. Okay?

Others: Looks like one to me.

SAILOR MOON SAYS

Serena: Nature's a blessing we mustn't take for granted. We're not the only ones living here, you know!

Luna: Oh, I'm glad you noticed.

Serena: It's easy to forget, paper comes from trees. There are lots of ways to save on paper. Try using reusable cups and utensils, instead of the disposable kind. And make sure your parents and friends recycle so these paper products are processed into something else. Let's keep our trees in the parks, not in the waste dump.