Match Point for Sailor Moon

(Queen Beryl has recently put Jedite in permanent storage and has given the job of gathering energy for the Negaforce to the next in line, Nephlite.)

Nephlite: Jedite failed because he tried to collect energy from too many people at once. Ha ha ha ha.

Queen Beryl: Oh, I see, and you believe you have found a better plan, Nephlite?

Nephlite: I can get more energy from one single person than Jedite was able to collect from a hundred.

Queen Beryl: How can this be?

Nephlite: The human race is ruled by the movement of the stars throughout the heavens, and each person lives according to a unique and special rhythm that is theirs alone. Everyone has a moment in their lives when their energy level rises to its very highest point.

(In the background, a young female warrior laughs.)

Zoisite: Ha ha ha. You're sure of yourself, aren't you?

(Floating behind Nephlite is Zoisite, Nephlite's rival in everything. She had been vying for the vacancy, too, but lost to Nephlite. Now, she loves to taunt him at every opportunity.)

Nephlite: Go away, Zoisite. This is not your affair.

Zoisite: You think you can succeed where Jedite failed?

Nephlite: Back off!

Zoisite: Hmph.

(Nephlite turns to Queen Beryl.)

Nephlite: I will find those humans at their peak level of energy, and I will capture their energy for the Negaforce!

(One thing Zoisite loves to use is sarcasm.)

Zoisite: Oh yes, excellent plan. You sound oh so very grand and noble...

(She can be quite annoying and obnoxious at times.)

Zoisite: ...just like Jedite.

(And she disappears in a shower of flower petals.)

Queen Beryl: You may proceed, Nephlite.

(Nephlite soon puts his plan into action. He sets up a mansion residence in the woods. No one ever goes there, so it's perfect for him. It allows him to concentrate on his efforts to gather energy.)

Nephlite: Everything is ruled by the stars.

(Nephlite summons his star map, from which he can consult and locate his victims.)

Nephlite: In them is the power of the Universe. I shall tap into that power to locate those humans as they reach their maximum energy potential.

(He concentrates, tapping into the stellar power.)

Nephlite: I call upon the great archer, Sagittarius. Shoot your arrow from the center of the Milky Way. Find me that person.

(In his mind, a picture of a young lady appears. She is the one he must seek out.)

Nephlite: This is the person selected by the archer.

(Sagittarius' arrow tells him a lot, even the person's name.)

Nephlite: Katie Sandler. Your energy will be mine.

(Katie is a young tennis expert. She's on the courts right now, facing off with a school rival. Everyone's cheering her on. Katie returns the other's serve with stunning power and control. Her opponent doesn't have a chance.)

Girl: What a serve.

(Serena and Molly are watching from outside.)

Molly: Way to go, Katie! My sister's gonna win! Way to go, Katie?

(Katie looks back and recognizes Molly. Serena finds this odd.)

Serena: Why didn't you tell me, Molly?

Molly: Tell you what?

Serena: I'm your best friend. Why didn't you tell me Katie was your sister?

Molly: Huh? Oh, she's not really my sister, Serena. Don't be silly. You know I'm an only child.

Serena: Huh? Uh, but you just said you sister's going to win.

Molly: Oh. Katie's mother and my mother are best friends, so Katie and I have played together since we were kids. We've always been really close to each other.

(And Katie is unstoppable on the tennis courts.)

Molly: Ooh, she's only one year older than I am, so it's like just as if she was really my older sister.

Serena: I think that's really great.

(Soon, a hot red sports car drives up to the tennis courts. A young man steps out and walks in. People quickly notice.)

Young Lady: Oh, he's so cool.

Other Young Lady: He's really handsome.

(Hearing that, Serena and Molly turn.)

Serena: Who is he?

Molly: He's a young businessman.

Serena: Do you know him?

Molly: Well, I know he's president of his own company. He just moved here a few days ago.

Serena: He's so cute.

(They go all mushy.)

Serena & Molly: I'm in love.

(It seems that Nephlite has already developed a cover story to hide his true identity. Everyone believes he is Maxfield Stanton, an eccentric millionaire.)

(Being eccentric, he tends to have unusual tastes. He jumps clean over the safety fence onto the courts.)

Tennis Player: Y-y-you can't come here if you're not a member.

(In a too-forward manner, he advises Katie.)

Maxfield: I want you to put your weight into the ball.

Katie: Huh?

(Serena, like everyone else, is totally puzzled. Maxfield approaches Katie's opponent.)

Tennis Player: Huh?

Maxfield: Your racket.

Tennis Player: Here.

(She hands over the racket. He wants to play Katie for a bit.)

Maxfield: You. Your best shot, please.

(She finds it strange, but does it anyway. Of course, Maxfield (Nephlite) is really doing this to prove his "point." Using his Negaverse power, he sends the ball flying back in a very erratic pattern. Katie is unable to return it. Instead, it hits her wrist.)

Katie: Ow.

Molly: Oh...

Maxfield: There's no attack in your serve.

Katie: Who are you, anyway?

Maxfield: My name is Maxfield Stanton. I'm a tennis coach.

(He approaches Katie's racket.)

Katie: Oh, my racket.

(Behind the scenes, Nephlite performs a little Negamagic.)

Nephlite: I endow this racket with the power of the Negaforce. Give Katie the strength of ten. I'll seize your energy.

(Nephlite's method of capturing the energy is a two-step process. After locating his potential victims and learning about them, he then endows the object closest to that person with Negapower. As time goes on, the object changes the victim as it builds the victim's energy level. Now, Katie's tennis racket has been charged, and his special marker is locked into it. Finished, he picks up the racket and returns it to Katie.)

Maxfield: Just remember to put your weight into the ball.

Katie: Uh, sure.

(When Katie holds the racket, the Negapower begins its work. It increases Katie's arm strength.)

Maxfield: Will someone receive Katie's serve?

(As a volunteer quietly takes the opposite end, Katie starts her serve. When she hits, the ball bullets straight through the opponent's racket and explodes on the ground. The player is knocked down.)

Molly: Terrific!

(The crowd and the player are both awed at the force of that serve. Even Katie is surprised.)

Katie: Wow!

(She turns to where Maxfield was...)

Katie: How did I do that?

(...but he's already left.)

(Maxfield (Nephlite) has relocated himself on the roof of a nearby building to get a better view.)

Nephlite: The more you play with that racket, the more your energy will be increased.

(And what a view. The charmed racket starts to take hold. Katie takes to her newfound strength on a fever pitch. Player after hapless player are knocked off their feet by her monster serves. Soon, no one else is brave enough to try. As she looks at them, there's a strange appearance to her eyes.)

Katie: Hm hm hm. Feels good.

(Serena finds this very exciting...)

Serena: She's great.

(...but Molly senses something wrong.)

Molly: Oh. Katie's acting so strange.

(That night, Luna checks in with central control at the Crown.)

Luna: This is Luna. Password: Kitty stalks in moonlight.

(Central Control gives the return password.)

Central Control: Kitty will be fed.

(And Luna returns her second password.)

Luna: Kitty craves her catnip.

Central Control: Welcome, Luna. We have new information on our enemy.

Luna: Really? Tell me.

Central Control: They are very powerful.

Luna: So I've seen.

Central Control: They come from another dimension called 'Negaverse.'

(Huh? Wasn't Jedite dispatched some time ago?)

Central Control: We believe they are collecting the energy of human beings for some evil purpose.

(So, they're at it again.)

Luna: So that's what they're up to.

(Luna calls a meeting next day at Cherry Hill Temple. Luna has just broken the news to the girls.)

Raye: The Negaverse.

Serena: Uh oh.

Amy: We have to prepare ourselves carefully.

Raye: I'm already prepared. Just lead me to 'em.

Amy: No, Raye. We must not be hasty.

Luna: Amy's right. We need to learn as much as we can about them, then train before we fight them.

Serena: I KNOW! Why don't we all take tennis lessons?!

Amy & Raye: What?

(Serena's still hooked on tennis, for one particular reason.)

Serena: Wait 'til you see that unbelievably cute new tennis coach, Maxfield Stanton.

(It's hard to get most people off their natural tracks, but it's impossible to get Serena off hers, to Luna's dismay.)

Luna: Oh, brother...

Raye: Really? So this means you've abandoned Tuxedo Mask?

(Raye brought up the one subject that can snap Serena out of ANY crush.)

Serena: Huh? Uh, yes.

Raye: So?

(Ouch! Serena called her bluff. Luna is quietly seething.)

Luna: It's a good thing we've got Amy and Raye on our side. If Serena was the only Sailor Scout, the Negaverse would've already sucked up every living thing on this planet.

(Serena is insulted.)

Serena: What's that supposed to mean?

Raye: She means you don't act really serious about being a Sailor Scout.

Serena: Huh? Why are you always picking on me?

Amy: Don't forget. Serena's our leader.

(At last. A vote of confidence. Serena hugs Amy.)

Serena: Oh Amy, you're my only friend. You're the only one who really understands me.

(She lets go.)

Serena: So let's all go take a tennis lesson. Okay?

Amy: You go, okay? We've got to make plans to fight the Negaverse.

Raye & Luna: Good idea.

(Back at the courts, a change has started to come over Katie. Katie's original opponent is literally walloped by Katie's monster serve. Her racket breaks and slides under the net. Katie approaches the net with a sinister chuckle, then steps on the broken racket.)

Player: Hey, stop it. That's a really expensive racket.

Katie: Oh well. You paid too much, 'cause it's sure not doing you much good. Get up and play...”

(Molly has been watching, and she's terribly worried.)

Katie: ... or get off the court!

Molly: What's going on? Katie never used to be this mean.

(Later, Molly calls Serena and asks her to come over.)

Molly: Thanks for coming over.

Serena: Hey, no problem. Are you in trouble?

Molly: It's not me. I'm worried about Katie. I think something's wrong with her.

Serena: Yeah?

Molly: She's turned really aggressive all of a sudden, and she's so mean to the other players. It's like she's not the same person.

Serena: She's probably just nervous because of the big tournament.

Molly: At first, I really thought that's all it was, too, but now...

(She starts crying. Serena realizes that something is terribly wrong.)

Molly: What's happened to her?

(Molly recalls her earliest days with Katie, back when they were just kids. Katie was always there to protect Molly from bullies, and she taught Molly so many things, and when Katie took up tennis, she would let Molly have a little fun. It was such a beautiful friendship... until yesterday. Molly walked up behind Katie after the session that day and asked her...)

Molly: Katie, is something the matter? I'd like to help, if I can.

(Katie turns to her.)

Katie: Why don't you mind your own business?

(The callousness of her reply shocks Molly.)

Molly: Oh, I'm sorry, Katie.

(No wonder she's worried.)

Molly: She's like a completely different person. I'm sure of it. Something really terrible has happened to her, but... she won't even talk to me.

Serena: I see.

Serena: Don't worry, Molly. We'll find out what's going on with her. We'll do it together, okay?

Molly: You'll help?

Serena: Sure, what are friends for?

(Katie is practicing late at the tennis club.)

Serena: Katie's still at the tennis club?

Molly: Yeah, she's been practicing really late every night this week.

(Molly notices a strange expression on Serena's face.)

Molly: What's wrong?

Serena: Oh, nothing. Uh, I'm getting a bad feeling. (Might be something from the Negaverse. If I can defeat them all by myself, oh boy. Wouldn't that show snotty Raye and Luna.)

(Her smug look attracts Molly's attention again.)

Molly: Serena?

(That's put aside, however, as a now-familiar sound comes from the courts.)

(Katie, looking for a challenge, is now going one-on-two with local pros. However, one of them is doubled over as another ball bursts from Katie's serve.)

Tennis Pro #1: Are you all right?

Tennis Pro #2: Woah, what a killer serve arm she has.

Katie: Giving up so soon? What's the matter? I thought you were supposed to be professionals.

Tennis Pro #1: Excuse us. It's getting very late.

Katie: Just one more game. Ha ha ha ha.

(She readies for another serve.)

Molly: KATIE, STOP!

(Serena and Molly step between her and the pros.)

Katie: GET OUT!

(The pros waste no time in leaving.)

Molly: No, Katie! We're not leaving! You have to stop now!

Katie: Get out of here, both of you!

Molly: NO!

Serena: Katie, Molly's only trying to help you! Listen to her!

Katie: LAST WARNING!

(Then she does something no one expected. Her racket glows...)

Katie: OOKAY!

(...then, in one mean swing, an energy swirl sends Molly and Serena flying into nearby bushes. At this point, Katie's energy maxes out...)

(...and Nephlite is ready to let it all loose.)

Nephlite: Her energy is at it's peak. Get her, Tensie!

(At his command, the marker on her racket glows, and suddenly Katie's energy is sapped from her as Tensie emerges. This is the other half of Nephlite's process. When his victim's energy maxes out, Nephlite releases the Negapower, turning it into a monster that drains all the victim's energy. The marker becomes a conduit to allow the Negamonster to emerge.)

Tensie: Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. And now, your energy is mine.

(Back in the bushes, Molly is knocked cold, but Serena is still alert, and she saw the whole thing.)

Serena: She's from the Negaverse. I knew it.

(She ducks behind a wall.)

Serena: This is my chance to prove myself to the others. MOON PRISM POWER!

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

(Tensie's laughing is interrupted.)

Sailor Moon: Hey! Creep from the Negaverse! I'm Sailor Moon, the Champion of Justice. You've abused the game of tennis. In the name of the Moon, I am going to punish YOU. Sailor Moon! Game, set, and match. You lose.

Tensie: You challenge me?

(Tensie produces a very strange tennis racket. Where strings should be is only a ball of dark energy. She sends it flying at Sailor Moon, who tries to run away and it tags her in the back...)

Sailor Moon: Ah! Yah!

(...and traps her body in a giant tennis ball! Well, at least her hands, feet, and head are only free.)

Sailor Moon: AAAAH! What's going on with me? I don't like this.

(Tensie decides to have a little fun with her helpless victim. She sends the balled-up heroine high into the air...)

Sailor Moon: Too high. I hate heights.

(...then sends her dropping to the ground, where she starts bouncing everywhere.)

Sailor Moon: YAH! Why'd I have to go and prove myself?

Tensie: Ha ha ha ha. Too bad, kid.

(The abuse continues. On more than one occasion, she's bounced on her face. Tensie would've kept going with this, but something whizzes past her face. It's a familiar rose.)

Tensie: Who's that?

Tuxedo Mask: Heh. You don't wanna know.

Sailor Moon: Tuxedo Mask, help! AAH!

Tensie: Stay out of this, or I'll do the same thing to you!

Tuxedo Mask: It looks like it might be fun. Go ahead and try.

Tensie: Ha ha ha ha. You asked for it. Now let's see how much you enjoy it.

(Tensie underestimates Tuxedo's agility as he jumps over her shot. In midair, he pulls out his walking stick, which extends and jabs at her.)

Tensie: AAAH!

Sailor Moon: You are so great, Tuxedo Mask!

(With Tensie out for the moment...)

Sailor Moon: So great...

(...the spell breaks, and Sailor Moon is freed. Tuxedo Mask lands next to her.)

Sailor Moon: You have arrived in time.

Tuxedo Mask: It's not over yet.

Sailor Moon: No?

(Tensie has regained her senses, and she's angry and deranged.)

Tensie: I'll destroy you!

Tuxedo Mask: Get ready.

Sailor Moon: Right. (I'm so lucky to be teamed up with Tuxedo Mask. He's so cute.)

(Tensie switches balls and tries to scorch them with fireballs, but both jump out of the way.)

Sailor Moon: AAAH!

Tensie: And again! Again! Again!

(Sailor Moon is scrambling to avoid a scorching.)

Sailor Moon: Oh no. Fireballs. I hate fireballs. There's too many. She's not playing fair.

(She ends up falling on her face again... and another scorcher is heading straight for her!)

Sailor Moon: AAAH!

(Whew! Tuxedo Mask pulls her out at the last second.)

Tuxedo Mask: Shall we finish her off together?

Sailor Moon: You bet.

Tensie: Take that!

(They both dodge another fireball as Tuxedo Mask pulls out another rose and throws it in the face, blinding her.)

Tuxedo Mask: Got her!

(Suddenly, something weird comes over him, and he can't think straight.)

Tuxedo Mask: Sailor Moon!

Sailor Moon: What?

(He's on his knees, struggling with some unknown force.)

Sailor Moon: Oh! Tuxedo Mask! Are you okay?!

Tuxedo Mask: Never mind. Attack her now!

(There was still the matter of Tensie. She's about to get the rose petals off her face.)

Sailor Moon: Huh? Oh!

(Quickly, she readies her Moon Tiara...)

Sailor Moon: MOON TIARA MAGIC!

(...and lets it fly.)

(Moments later, Sailors Mercury and Mars, and Luna rush to the scene... only to find that they are late. They're just in time to see the moon-dusted Tensie disintegrate. With her defeated and gone, the spell on Katie is broken, and she regains all her lost energy.)

Sailor Mercury: Sailor Moon...

Sailor Mars: She did THAT?

Luna: What do you know? Maybe she's not such a wimp after all.

(Meanwhile, Sailor Moon has other concerns, and for better reasons than before, Tuxedo Mask doesn't stick around.)

Sailor Moon: I can't believe he's gone. Tuxedo Mask. I hope he's all right.

(Katie is back to her old friendly self, but something strange had happened.)

Molly: Katie doesn't remember anything about what happened or any of the things she did.

Serena: Yeah, but we know she's okay now. That's all that matters.

Molly: I guess.

(Katie approaches them.)

Katie: Hi, Molly. Do you wanna play a game?

Molly: Sure, if you go easy on me.

(It's nice to see them friends (or "sisters") again.)

Molly: I get to serve, okay?

Katie: Sure, if you want to.

(They take positions as Serena watches.)

Katie: Okay, Molly. Anytime.

Molly: Get ready. Here comes my power serve.

(Serena sighs and quietly talks to herself...)

Serena: Ah, I wonder if Tuxedo Mask knows how to play tennis.

(...and doesn't notice Molly's serve connect right on her face!)

Molly: Watch out!

(Rather late. Serena drops cold.)

Molly: Oh Serena. Oh no. Are you all right? Oh Serena, talk to me.

SAILOR MOON SAYS

Serena: It's hard to be brave, I know. But there are lots more ways to be brave, then fighting monsters from the Negaverse, like telling the truth when it really matters, or standing up for someone who's totally geeked out in embarassment. Or doing what's right when you know it's not anything you wanna do.

Luna: You mean like doing your homework that's been stacking up on your bed?

Serena: Homework, heroic? No way!