Chapter Six:
What's Your Costume?

by Angie, Lori, and Emiko

Wilma Verbana wandered out of her History class sleepily, wondering what they had learned today. "Hey, Chris..."

Chris Merindez, her new-found friend at Patrick Henry, turned around, "We learnt about the Revolutionary War, today. Again."

Wilma rubbed her eyes to get the sleep out of them, "Oh...was that our last class?"

Chris snickered, "Yeah. You going to the dance tomorrow?"

"What dance? There was a dance, and I wasn't informed?" Chris pointed to a poster, while walking away, snickering. Wilma peered at the poster, reading it out loud to herself. "Halloween Dance, Saturday 10-28-00, 9:00-12:00, at Hollins University. Only Juniors and Seniors invited to attend...funky...sounds like fun!" Wilma took off at high speed to her home, to cook up Lord knows what kind of costume...

"Hey, Rayya!"

Rayya Veritas looked up from her notebook and smiled. "Oh, hey, Sara. What's up?" Seemingly glad of the intrusion, she slid her pen behind her ear and leaned back.

"I was just wondering if you had finished up the plans for the dance this weekend." The petite brunette dropped into a chair nearby, letting her book bag slide off of her shoulder and hit the floor with a resounding thump.

"Of course, it's a party, isn't it?" Rayya's dark violet eyes sparkled with mischief as she reached for her notebook and flipped through it. After receiving a small blizzard of loose papers for her efforts, she dropped the notebook and began sorting through the pile of white in front of her. "I have it here somewhere. I made a list of what we'll need, the posters are all up." She glanced up with a grin. "It was as good an excuse as any to get out of Philosophy. Ah, here it is!" She pulled a slightly crumpled paper from the pile, notes and doodles covering it. Quickly, she started deciphering it for her friend, pointing with her delicate hands. "Okay, here we have the supplies list. Just charge it to the account. If the University wants this party to be city-wide, they're gonna pay for it." She pointed to another bit, a diagram of sorts. "And here's what I figure would be the best way to set the gym up. We don't know how many people we'll be getting. We can start setting up Saturday morning and that should be plenty of time."

Sara nodded. "Okay, then. I'll just take this and get going." She glanced down at the books in front of Rayya. "And leave you to finish up your homework." With that, she stood, grabbed her bookbag, and started off.

"Yeah, gee, thanks!" Rayya called after her disappearing friend. Then she turned back to her work with a sigh. Why did professors have to ruin the college experience with homework?

While Rayya was distressing over her homework, Wilma was at home, begging her brother for something. Again.

"Andrew, pleeeeeease, let me use your leather jacket. Pleeeeease?"

Andrew Verbana smirked as he dug through the refrigerator, "What's it for again?"

Wilma sighed, "For the 50th time, there's a Halloween dance tomorrow, and I want to go as a punk chick. PLEASE?!"

Andrew covered his ears, "Ah...okay, okay, Willie. Keep the octaves down for awhile, and you can use it."

Wilma squealed, and ran upstairs, while her dog, Dan nipped at her heels...then slammed into the staircase.

"Oy...c'mon, Dan! We have work to do!"

Dan picked himself up and skittered up the stairs, being careful to watch where he was going this time.

Wilma giggled, picking through her closet, "This is going to be loads of fun!"

If asked, Rayya would have agreed with the younger girl whole-heartedly. Homework finally finished, she had retreated to her dorm room and was currently half-submerged in her closet, tossing items of clothing behind her. A Oxford-style shirt hit the black, pot-bellied pig lying on her bed and he grunted in annoyance. "Really, Rayya. Another party? This is getting ridiculous. Especially since you now know what's at stake," he whined.

"I'm not listening to you; I'm not talking to you," came the voice sing-songing from the closet. After a few more minutes spent rustling, she emerged with yards of dark fabric cascading over her arms. "Found it," she announced, dropping it on the bed, deliberately covering the pig.

With an even more irritated grunt, he extricated himself and moved up towards her pillow. "Is that your entire costume?" he asked, eyeing it suspiciously. "Well, at least it has more material than your usual choices."

"No, that's just the skirt." She lifted a muslin shift with a drawstring neck and an undeniably low-cut, lace-up bodice from another area of the bed. "This is my top." She frowned. "And I'm still not talking to you." With that, she spun on her heel and went to find her whip.

Wilma sighed, staring out her window.

"WILLIE! ARE YOU DONE WITH YOUR HOMEWORK?!"

Wilma stared down at her History paper, which lay in front of her, half-finished.

"Yes...."

"Are you telling me the truth?" the voice of her mother echoed up the stairs.

"Maybe.."

"IF YOU DON'T GET DONE WITH YOUR HOMEWORK, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO THIS DANCE!!!!"

"BUT MOOOOOOOOOOOM! IT'S SATURDAY! I HAVE ALL OF TOMORROW TO GET THIS DONE!!!!!"

Wilma's mother appeared at her door, "No ifs, ands, or buts. Get done with it."

Wilma sighed, scribbling a few illegible answers, then threw her pen across the room.

"DONE!"

Wilma's mother sighed, shaking her head, "Whatever. Where's your costume?"

Wilma gestured to the bed, where a pair of black leather pants with black sequined suspenders lay. Above it, a red crop top lay underneath a sleeping dog, and leather jacket.

"Oy...Willie, are you sure you want to wear that? What're you doing for shoes?"

Wilma grinned, picking up a pair of black, clunky, army boots, "Got 'em. And yes, I want to wear it. Don't you like it?"

Wilma's mother winced, then started down the stairs, "It's lovely honey...."

Wilma grinned. Her mother was so tactful.

"There, that's done," Rayya declared as she descended the ladder. Reaching the floor, she looked up to survey her work with satisfaction. Orange and black streamers hung from the ceiling in varying lengths, moving slightly in the air conditioner's breeze.

Black lights and strobes were scattered throughout the gym, hidden behind various set pieces borrowed from the theater department; gauzy spiderwebs seemed to float on the walls and from the ceiling, spotted here and there with tiny black spiders. Out of the corner of her eye, Rayya saw the others finishing the set-ups for the snacks and the DJ. Suddenly, only seemingly half-alert to the movement, Rayya snatched a falling balloon out of the air near her and jumped up to return it to its place on the wall. Then she smiled, brushed a piece of her dark chestnut hair out of her eyes, and rolled her shoulder experimentally. Finding a small knot, the result of working for over an hour with her arms above her head, she frowned. That solves it, she thought. I'm going to have to go back to my dorm and stretch out. She wasn't about to let one of her famous migraines take that knot as an invitation to ruin her whole night.

With a faint sigh, she pushed up the sleeves of her ratty, yellow flannel shirt and crossed to the girls working on the DJ's table. "Hey, Sara," she called. "I'm outta here. I'm getting a backache and want to take care of it before it gets worse. `Sides, I have to change and feed the pig."

Sara smiled. "Sure thing, Rayya," she answered. "You did more than your share of the work. Go and get yourself lovely. Not too lovely, mind you." Sara released her corner of the tablecloth to shake a mockingly warning finger at her friend. "Those boys are too young for you."

Rayya chuckled. "But there's no law against flirting," she replied with a mischievous wink. She turned on her heel and started off, calling back, "But I promise to behave. I'm not that evil!" Giggling to herself and anticipating the fun ahead, Rayya made her way back to her room. I think I even have enough time for a nice, long shower, she thought dreamily.

While Rayya was hoping for that hot shower, Wilma was at home, teasing her hair. Quite a switch, isn't it?

"Willieeeeee, I have to use the baaaathroom! Can't you do that in your room?!"

Wilma sighed, taking the comb with built in dye out of her hair.

"Annie, stop being a wimp. Holding it for a few minutes longer will give you stronger endurance..."

Andrew sighed, picking up Dan, "Fine, but if my bladder explodes, you'll be sorry!"

Wilma grinned at her reflection, "I'm sure I will." A girl with black hair and red tips stared back at her.

"I'm so glad I didn't use that black hair dye on the first day of school. Now, to add the rhinestones..."

An hour later, Wilma emerged, looking...not at all like herself. Her mother nearly screamed when she saw the dark eyeshadow, black lipstick and...the hair.

Andrew snickered, as her watched Wilma pull on her boots, "You nearly gave Mom a heartattack."

Wilma grunted, struggling with the stubborn boot, "Yeah, I know. But, that's just part of being a teenager, isn't it? Help me with this stupid boot."

Andrew sighed, and knelt down, shoving the boot onto her sore foot, "Fine. Be careful tonight, eh?"

Wilma nodded, "Never knew you cared, Annie."

Andrew grinned, "Me? Not care about my darling little sister? Never, Willie."

Wilma shook her head, watching Andrew leave. Her family was so weird.

Meanwhile, Rayya was experiencing her own difficulties with her costume. "Blast. Darn. Drat."

Julius looked up at her, mildly interested. "You sound like a five year-old," he muttered. "Feel free to curse like a real human being."

Rayya shot him a poisonous glare before going back to pulling on her bodice. "I happen to be trying to not curse, thank you very much," she answered. "Dad was majorly pissed at my language this summer." Her voice grew nearly unintelligible as she gripped a string between her teeth, holding it taut while she yanked on the other end to draw the two halves of her bodice together. "Anyway, there're more creative ways of cursing. Foreign languages are good for that around here. Should learn one..."

"Rayya, you're babbling and I can't understand you anyway." Julius sighed. "Just get dressed already and go."

She nodded and was silent, lacing up her bodice and tying it off tightly. Then she went to the mirror and rearranged her shirt, yanking it down on her shoulders and displaying a not-quite-indecent amount of cleavage. Experimentally, she took a deep breath. "Yes, I can breathe," she declared. Still, she was glad that she had put on her boots prior to the bodice. It was hard bending over for the first half hour or so that you wear a bodice. Quickly, she looped a wide, leather belt around her waist and attached a belt pouch and a whip to it. Then she picked up a wide-brimmed hat with a feather and set it on her head jauntily. She spun with a smile. "So you want me to go now?" she asked. Julius merely grunted. "Okay, okay." She bent over to plant a quick kiss on the top of his head. "I'll be careful and keep an eye out for others. Those are my orders, right?" Julius nodded. "I'm off then. Night, Jules." With that she was gone in a swirl of skirts, out the door and down the hall.

"I can't believe her father lets her dress like that," Julius muttered grumpily, gazing after her. Then he turned over and slipped into a doze on her bed, blissfully unaware of what she would be doing all night...

"Bye Mom! Bye Annie! See you later!" Wilma waved her arm up at the door, as she wandered out to her ride.

"Willie! Be careful, and don't get into any fights!"

Wilma snickered, sliding into the seat next to Chris, muttering, "Right, Mom. I'm going to ruin a great party just so I can fight. Don't think so."

Chris smirked, glancing her over while he started the car, "You look great."

Wilma smiled, looking at his costume, "Thanks. I like your pirate costume."

Chris rolled his eyes, "Left over from last Halloween."

Wilma looked out the window, watching the trees and houses go by, "So, where is this Hollins University, anyway?"

Chris sighed, "Other side of town. This gives you plenty of time for any very-last-minute adjustments."

Wilma grinned, pulling down the sun-blocker-thing, and popping open the mirror, "Thanks, Chris."

Chris grinned, "Wasn't my idea to put the stupid University across town."

Wilma shrugged, "Oh well. It's your idea now."

Chris shook his head, and kept quiet. 'Better keep my eyes on the road, it's kinda foggy,' rang through his head.

Chris nudged Wilma with his elbow, "Hey, wake up, we're there."

Wilma lifted her head from the window, "Hmmm? When did I fall asleep?"

Chris grinned, "Sometime between 'Shape of My Heart' by BSB and when I changed the radio station."

Wilma punched him lightly in the arm, "Fuuuuunny."

Chris chuckled, and got out, walking around, and opening her door.

"My Lady," Chris muffled a laugh and offered her his hand, "the public awaits your presence."

Wilma giggled, and took his hand, getting out of the car, "Why, thank you. I hope the peasants do not make a scene of my entrance."

Chris laughed, and offering her his arm, the two went up to the door, completely un-aware of the events to come....

Rayya stepped through the doors into the gymnasium, studied the handful of milling students, and then looked at her watch in puzzlement. Oh, that explains it, she thought. The party just started. Using her vast experience as a guideline, she estimated that things would get interesting for at least another half an hour. But that didn't give those who were there an excuse to be doing nothing! With a flounce of her skirt, she set off towards a small group of students. "Sara," she called out. When the brunette turned and waved, Rayya shot her a dazzling grin. "It is, as always, a pleasure to be in attendance of thee, Mistress Sara," she continued, a dead perfect English accent shading her words, "Yet I do not believe that I am acquainted with these, your other followers."

Sara laughed and shook her head. "You're not going to talk like that all night, are you?"

"Of course not." Rayya tilted her head to one side, mock-innocence shining in her violet eyes. "I know it's inappropriate." Then she stood straighter, planted a fist on her hip near the whip, and smiled wickedly. "I thinks I'll just `ave to talk like this to make it all better, right?" Her accent slid downwards into a wonderfully disreputable Cockney drawl, extending the final word `right' into at least three syllables and making it lilt up at the end.

"Great. That's much better." Sara rolled her eyes.

Rayya shrugged, her smile losing none of its infectiousness in the face of sarcasm, and extended her hand to the others standing around. "I'm Rayya, Pirate Wench Rayya," she continued in her normal voice. "Pleased to meet you. Do you go here and can I get any of you some punch?"

As it so happened, Wilma was one of the lucky few to hear Rayya's magnificent accents. Wilma grinned, adjusting her suspenders, "Hiya, Rayya. I'm Wilma, and this pirate dude over here is Chris. We go to Patrick Henry." Chris nodded his hello, and Wilma murmured, "I'm going to the restroom, to make sure I didn't smear anything during my little nap. Tell me if anything interesting happens."

Chris nodded, getting lost in a crowd of college goers and high-schoolers alike.

As he moved off into the crowd, Rayya nodded and smiled, interacting with everyone who looked her way. In the back of her mind, however, she was thinking quite hard. That girl. Wilma? Rayya had the feeling that she already know her. When she had been introduced, she had immediately gotten a tingly, deja vu feeling. Sifting through her emotional memory banks, she frowned. It was a heck of a lot like when she had met that guy, Rufus. Aw, damn, she thought. No way. She's too young. She can't be... Aw, screw it, Rayya thought abruptly. What happens, happens. There is no way I'm going to fight that kid. She's sweet.

Wilma sighed, wandering into the women's bathroom, after numerous experiences with stairs, and guys who asked her what her sign was. (Which befuddled her nonetheless.) "Ahhhh....empty. Woo hoo, I could not stand the sight of another human being. It is way too loud out there..."

Wilma poked and prodded in the mirror, mussing her hair up some more, and adding a little black lipstick.

"I really shouldn't have worn this green choker...it totally clashes with my outfit. Luckily, it's dark enough to look black..."

Wilma sighed, when suddenly, a clanging from one of the stalls, interrupted her nice, quiet little reverie...

"W-who....*ahem*", Wilma took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Okay, Wilma, a thought in her head rang out from no where, Just take it easy, and try to sound tough...yeah, tough.

"Who’s there? If you're trying to scare me, I'll kick your...butt!"

Rayya nodded and smiled, interacting with everyone who looked her way. In the back of her mind, however, she was thinking quite hard. That girl. Wilma? Rayya had the feeling that she already know her. When she had been introduced, she had immediately gotten a tingly, deja vu feeling. Sifting through her emotional memory banks, she frowned. It was a heck of a lot like when she had met that guy, Rufus. Aw, damn, she thought. No way. She's too young. She can't be... Aw, screw it, Rayya thought abruptly. What happens, happens. There is no way I'm going to fight that kid. She's sweet.

"What? Oh." Julius woke abruptly and shook his head. The dream came back to him slowly, filtered through sleep. Rayya... As Bacchus. In trouble. Damn that girl, he thought. She never takes anything seriously. Something's going to happen at that dance. Quickly, he hopped off the bed and trotted to the door and... Stopped. The door opened inwards and he had no thumbs. Damn. Snorting loudly, he rammed his side into the door.

A passing sophomore paused on their way to the communal bathroom at an odd sound. Finding the door it was coming from, she identified it as Rayya Veritas' room. Curiously, she pushed the door open and was nearly knocked off her feet by a black blur. In a daze, she watched what she thought was a pig disappear down the hall at a very un-piglike speed. She shook her head. I'm studying too hard, she thought. I could have sworn that that pig just screamed, "Hold on, you dumb girl. I'm coming!"

Chris glanced around, wondering where his date had gone, "Wilma?"

Seeing Rayya standing near the punch table, Chris made his way to her. "Excuse me, Rayya? I'm Chris, we met earlier. You wouldn't by any chance have seen the girl I was with would you? Short black hair with red tips, stunnigly beautiful, that sort of thing? She went to the Ladies room a while ago, and I haven't seen her since." Chris's face showed a mixture of nervousness, worry, and fear all rolled into one. It looked like he was not having very much fun.

Rayya frowned for a second and then shook her head. "I'm sorry, Chris, I haven't seen her. Wilma, right?" When his face fell at her response, she laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure she's fine," she comforted him. "She's probably just mingling." Her free hand indicated the crowd as she turned a smile on for Chris. "It's a packed room." Seeing this didn't seem to satisfy him, she gave his shoulder a quick, comforting squeeze. "I'll tell you what. She might have just gotten lost on her way back so I'll go and have a look for her. With that hair and costume, I'm sure I'll spot her in no time… Now don't worry. I'll find her and bring her back to you safe and sound, okay? A guy can't have fun at a party without his lady-fair." She winked, trying to coax a smile out of him. Then she patted his shoulder again. "I'll be back in two shakes with your girl in tow." After offering him another brilliant smile, she spun on her heel and began to weave her way through the crowd. I have to find her now, she thought. Poor thing.

Chris sighed, leaning against the wall, watching Rayya walk off, "Great. I'll bet anything she gets lost too."

Wilma, however, was currently pressed against a wall in the bathroom, as the clanging in the stall got louder. "STOP TRYING TO SCARE ME AND COME OUT YOU STUPID...COWARD!"

The clanging just got louder...

Wilma sighed, shaking herself slightly. "Alright, if you won't come out, I'll just have to drag you out!" Wilma marched to the stall and kicked open the door.

Only to find the weirdest thing she ever saw...

It seemed that a large bird had fallen into the toilet and was struggling to free itself from the watery depths. Splashing water everywhere, the bird managed to perch on the rim of the seat and look up at Wilma with curious eyes. With a quick ruffle of its feathers, the bird said in a obviously masculine voice, "I hope we're alone."

Wilma's eyes became the size of basket-balls, "Say what?! Why are you talking to me?! WHY ARE YOU IN A TOILET?!.....WHAT ARE YOU?!"

"Don't get upset--" the bird protested, flapping his wings in worry. He scurried of the toilet and approached Wilma. "I need your help, Sailor Persephone."

Wilma backed away slowly, "Sailor Persephone? Isn't that the chick that Hades fell in love with? Why are you calling me that? And once again, What are you, who are you, and why are you in a toilet?!"

Once again the bird ruffled his feathers in an attempt to dry them. "My name is Perdix," he explained, "the leader of the Graikos. You have been given a very special gift: the ability to become Sailor Persephone." Perdix's face took in an almost bashful look. "I didn't mean to be in the toilet. I was trying to get into the party without being noticed so I could find you and I just sort of fell in. But we need your help in order to defeat the Romanus. If I may have a few moment of your time?"

Wilma sighed, "Yeah, okay, sure. Make it snappy, my date is waiting for me."

"First, I'm not a ventriloquist act, I'm a guardian who was born with the special ability to find senshi and reawaken them. Many years ago a great war was fought with warriors called senshi. These warriors had special abilities akin to magic. During the great war, nearly everyone died, and the senshi all sacrificed themselves, but they were sent through time to be reborn. You-- Eh, what's your name?"

"Waitasec...you mean to tell me, you sneak in here to find me, scare me then, you don't even know my name?! Jeez....the name is Wilma. What's yours? And who are the Ramonus again?"

"Romanus," the bird corrected. "And my name's Perdix. Er... Sorry if I scared you. The Romanus are the enemy who destroyed us once before and are now trying to do it again. I and the others need your help -- there are others, you should know. You're Persephone, and there's also Metis, Hephaestos, Hades, and Aphrodite. It's our destiny to destroy the evil Romanus plague--"

Just then, the door flew open. It was Rayya

Wilma sighed, "Rayya! Thank goodness you're here! Come over here and tell me I'm not nuts, because I just saw this fat bird in a toilet, then it started talking to me, telling me I'm some warrior...I think someone spiked the punch..."

"Spiked the punch? I suppose it's possible." She looked around suspiciously. "A fat bird, you said? In the toilet?" She stepped further into the bathroom and peered into the closest stall, biting her lip. Finding nothing, she turned back to Wilma. "I don't see anything," she continued. She walked over and threw a friendly arm around Wilma's shoulders. "I'll have a look into that punch-spiking theory, okay? But I have to get you back to that dance. Chris was getting worried about you and asked me to come look for you." She flashed a smile and leaned a bit closer conspiratorially. "I think he fancies you, you know."

Wilma blushed, "Nah... we're just good friends."

"Anyway, I'd guess we'd better get back before he sends someone else looking." With that, she gently steered Wilma from the bathroom. As she paused to let the door ease shut behind her, though, she paused and glanced around the interior of the bathroom once more. She could've sworn that she had heard two voices in there before... And she could've sworn that she heard Romanus... Shrugging, she turned back to her task of returning Wilma to Chris.

Wilma looked back at the bathroom, "B-but..I swear, there was a bird in there!"

Suddenly, Wilma noticed something missing on her person. "Oh my gosh! Rayya, could you wait two seconds? I left my purse in the bathroom, and it has my license in it. I want to have it in case Chris wants me to drive home."

Before Rayya could respond, Wilma was back in the bathroom, and into the waiting clutches of Perdix.

"Thank you very much!" Perdix growled instantly upon Wilma's return. "I didn't appreciate having to hide in the trash can. Now the next words I want to hear out of your mouth are 'Persephone Deus Power, Make Up.' Got it?" He fixed Wilma with the angriest stare she had ever seen come from a bird.

Perdix's impressive glare was marred somewhat by the sudden pounding on the bathroom door. "Come on, Wilma," Rayya called through it. "I don't want your Chris worrying too much. He looked like he was going to burst when I left him."

Inside the bathroom, however, Wilma sighed, thoughts of fried partridge going through her head, and complied with Perdix.

"Persephone, Deus Power, Make up!"

Wilma would have opened her mouth to say, "Nothing happened" , but unfortunately, she was automatically covered in vines, and couldn't open her mouth. As they burst off, her eyes widened to behold her new attire of corset, skirt and boots.

"What...WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!"

Wilma then thought of Rayya outside the door. "Erm, sorry, Rayya, my...mascara exploded in my purse. Don't worry, though, I'll get it out in a bit. It'd be totally cool of you if you'd go and tell Chris I won't be out for a while though...please?"

There was a very loud pause and then Rayya responded, the shrug almost audible in her voice, "Sure, Wilma. No worries. I'll even make sure he behaves himself. I'll see you soon then?" Obviously, Rayya assumed a positive answer because the next sound that filtered through the door was the sound of her boots echoing down the hall.

Wilma sighed, turning back to Perdix.

"Well, she's gone. I hope Chris isn't worried..." Wilma almost stepped out the door, when she realized her current attire.

"Oh yeah..Perdix...WOULD YOU KINDLY EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED TO ME?!?!?!?!"

"Listen up and I'll explain it. You were born with the very special ability to transform into a sailor senshi. In your case, Sailor Persephone." Perdix was sounding more and more smug by the minute. "As Sailor Persephone, you can perform a type of special magic. I'd suggest you try it out, but there aren't any suitable targets. Our enemy are the Romanus Senshi, a group of senshi like you, but dedicated to destroying us. Got it?"

Explanation complete, Perdix stood down. He sincerely hoped there were no Romanus around, because there was the small detail that guardians could sense transformed senshi. Then again, without an enemy, Perdix's argument seemed less than convincing. He gave Wilma a hopeful look.

"But...are there any of these Romanus characters around for me to hurt? Or did someone actually spike the punch?" Wilma peered at Perdix, "I hope for your sake there's someone or something for me to test my 'powers' on..."

Weird girl, Rayya thought to herself as she moved down the hallway. I hope she's okay. I wonder what she really had to go back for and why she was in such a rush to get rid of me. With a frown, she remembered one of her old friends and how she used to disappear into bathrooms after meals. Wilma couldn't possibly be..? Her mind fully occupied with her new acquaintance, Rayya never saw the low black blur hurtling towards her.

"Oof!" With a gasp, Rayya hit the wall and slumped slightly.

Focusing her eyes, she looked down to see Julius staring back up at her, panting so hard he seemed to be hyperventilating. She frowned. "I thought you were taking a nap in my room," she finally said, making it sound almost like a question.

"I was but I had this dream and I was wor…" Suddenly, Julius cut off and pulled himself together again. He straightened as much as a smallish pot-bellied pig could and shook his head. "I've just decided that you should really be performing your duties instead of screwing around at a party," he growled.

Rayya squatted to be closer to him. The last thing she needed was someone walking by and hearing her talking to a pig; it would do amazing things to her reputation. She still grinned, however, and patted his head. "Aw, how sweet. You were going to say you were worried, right?"

"No," he replied quickly, a bit too quickly actually. He shook his head again to rid himself of her hand. "I had a dream and something is going to happen. I've got a bad feeling."

Rayya raised an eyebrow. "You're really becoming a bit mad on this, Jules," she commented drily. "What happened to my lazy old guardian?"

"Stop it. I didn't run here to…" He trailed off suddenly and looked up the hallway. "There's a Graikos here," he muttered finally. He pointed his snout back the way Rayya had come. "There."

"Ohmigod. Wilma!" Standing quickly, Rayya took off up the hall.

"Rayya, no!" Julius sped after her and managed to get far enough ahead to block her mad dash.

"Julius!" Swerving to avoid the pig, Rayya slammed into the wall. "What the hell's your problem? I have to get to Wilma before.."

"Who's Wilma? Where is she?" Rayya pointed towards the bathroom, glaring at her guardian. Julius ignored her magnificently. "That's where the Graikos is. Transform now."

"I won't." Rayya crossed her arms defiantly. "I just want to get Wilma out of there. That's it. No more slugfests for me. I don't like `em."

"Stop your whining and go." Without looking back, Julius trotted towards the bathroom. Sullenly, Rayya followed. Once there, she silently pressed her ear to the door. There were two voices in there. One of them sounded angry and the other sounded like a soulmate to Julius. Cracking the door, she could just about see a girl wearing, of all things, a corset and skirt and a fat bird of some kind. Suddenly, Rayya felt sick to her stomach. Wilma wasn't in there. Where was she? She pulled back from the door and slouched against the nearby wall. If that Graikos tramp did something to her new friend… Angry now, Rayya moved away from the door and around the corner. With a vicious jerk, she pulled the ring from the middle finger of her left hand and threw it into the air, muttering "Bacchus Deus Power, Make-up!" Laughter erupted from nowhere and then purple liquid cascaded over her, froze, and exploded into silver sparkles, revealing her in her uniform. Julius looked at her in amazement. He had never seen her so gung-ho before. Thus transformed, Rayya headed back to the bathroom with Julius trailing behind. She threw the door open noisily and then stepped inside. "Okay, lady. I don't know who you are and I don't care," she growled. "What are you doing here?"

Wilma sighed, "Okay, Perdix, who is that?! I'm Persephone, Graikos warrior, apparently here to take care of a Romanus... I hope it ain't you... ou seem kinda advanced at this, and see this fat bird just told me I'm Persephone... waitaminute... Do I get to use my powers on you?" Wilma gulped, watching Bacchus's actions...she seemed kinda out of whack. I wonder... maybe... she looks familiar... nah... Wilma shook her head, clearing her thoughts. "Listen, I haven't a clue who you are, but I do know you're coming in here acting pretty darn mean, so if you don't shape up right now, I'll have to use an attack on you... as soon as the bird-man tells me what to use... Perdix? Help?"

At Persephone's reaction, Bacchus froze and blinked stupidly. This wasn't the answer she was expecting. It wasn't the bold and cruel response that she had figured would be issued from someone who had done something to her new friend, Wilma. Maybe I got this wrong, she thought. She shifted from foot to foot and tugged on one of the loose pieces of hair framing her face. "Um, well... I don't... That is..."

Julius rammed into her leg and grunted. "What are you waiting for? Attack!"

Bacchus frowned down at her guardian. "Julius, stop it," she hissed. Then she looked back up at Persephone. "Now what?" Her right hand twitched nervously at her side. "Are we going to fight?"

Persephone glared at the pig, "Hey now! She knows her attacks and I don't! THIS ISN'T FAIR! This isn't in my contract, and I quit!" Persephone put her hands on her hips, "And I'll fight you in a minute. After I figure out what the heck my attacks are."

Though still sore at being called "fat," Perdix decided he had better stir Persephone into action before the Romanus in front of him decided attack really was the best idea. "Don't worry, Persephone," he instructed, "just say 'Persephone Life Drain." Perdix wasn't about to let the tricky Romanus get in the first blow.

Persephone sighed, "THANK you, Perdix. Right-io, let's do this. PERSEPHONE LIFE DRAIN!" Persephone's body was suddenly put through many movements albeit awkwardly, and vines suddenly shot out of the ground near Bacchus and began shooting towards her... Persephone's eyes widened, but her arm was still stuck in it's extended position, "AIEEEEE!"

Bacchus yelped and jumped sideways, trying to avoid the seeking vines. "Hey! I didn't attack you! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"Bacchus, just fight her already! You can bitch later!" Julius scolded as he moved closer to the wall.

Bacchus just growled in response, too busy avoiding the vines to answer the pig properly. Panting slightly, she directed her next comments to Persephone. "Come on. I don't want to hurt you! Let's stop this!" She paused and a vine began to wrap itself around her ankle, squeezing her. Oh, shoot, she thought, she means this fight. "Alright then. But we can stop anytime you want," she muttered. With effort, she turned her profile to the other girl, muttered something inaudible, and pulled back her arm. White light formed in her palm and she threw it, screaming "The Morning After!"

Persephone's eyes went wide, as she tried to dodge the light but got smashed quickly, "OW! HEY NOW! Ohhh...I don't feel so good...um...'scuse me..." Persephone made a sudden bolt for a stall, and began retching. "My head! Oh my goodness, my head! Make it stop, please God, make it stop!" Persephone had managed to slide down the wall of a stall, holding her head...for a few seconds. "What the...it went away...ew...my mouth tastes like barf!" Persephone came out of the stall, eyes flashing, "That's it. You're in some deep shit now. Persephone Life Drain...go for the rib cage this time!"

"I'm in deep shit?" Bacchus yelled back incredulously. "You're the trigger happy one here!" Vines erupted from the ground around her, forcing her to dodge back and forth quickly, trying to avoid them. "I just gave you a headache! Damn..." A vine slid past her defenses and wrapped around her waist. Bacchus stepped backwards, pulling against the vine. With a grunt, she grabbed for the bathroom door's handle and held on tightly. Seemingly frustrated, the vine squeezed her harder. "Ouch," she whimpered. Pulling one hand from the handle, she pulled it back, barely managed to squeak out "The Morning After," and threw another ball of white light at her opponent; this time, it was brighter and faster as if glowing with anger and desperation.

Persephone squeaked, and got blasted in the stomach with the ball, sending her back into the stall, "OW! Durnit...my head..." The vine around Bacchus' waist squeezed tighter as Persephone's wails grew louder. "I hope that thing snaps you in two! Oh...my head! My aching head! AND MY STOMACH, TOO! Ow... that hurt!" Persephone kneeled on the ground, rocking back and forth with her head in her hands, "Grrr...Perdix! Is there anything else I can do? Please? I need to knock her out before I get a concussion! Ohhh... my head..."

"Good," Bacchus gasped. "I'm glad it hurts!" Her eyes widened at the vehemence in her voice (as well as at the increasing pressure of the vine around her waist). This was awful! She didn't want to be hurting this other girl... Even if she was horribly mean and nasty... "Julius!" Bacchus cried in frustration.

Worried at Bacchus' predicament, Julius trotted over to her, denying his natural cowardice as best he could. "Hold on there. You'll be fine," he called to her. Then he set his jaw. "Right then." Suddenly, he dived at the vine attacking it with his mouth, trying to nip and nibble his way through it. "Yuck, yuck, yuck," he thought. "You'd better appreciate this, girl." The vine loosened slightly around Bacchus at his attack and she slumped to the ground, clutching at her stomach and looking decidedly green. "Get up!" Julius shouted. "Do something!"

Shakily, Bacchus stood and leaned against the wall. It was hard to focus but, if she could just... It wasn't going to be particularly effective, she knew, but it should work... Suddenly, she pushed herself off the wall and spun. Laughter erupted from nowhere and she thrust her hands towards Persephone as she yelled "Bacchanal Frenzy." A ribbon of purple light erupted from her fingers and flew towards Persephone.

Persephone dove away from the ribbon, but just to the point it caught her arm. "Hey, now! Copy cat! Wha..."

Persephone automatically shut-up as the ribbon wove around her body, sending her whirling like a shirt in the spin cycle.

"I...think...I'm...gonna...be...sick..." Then Persephone sighed, relieved, for a moment, and began dancing...and dancing... "HEY! What's going on?! PERDIX! HELP!"

Perdix, who was hiding practically underneath one of the toilets, yelped, "Try saying 'Persephone Living Torch!' And then RUN FOR IT!" In a show of cowardice, Perdix began to dash for the door.

Persephone gulped, "PERSEPHONE LIVING TORCH!" She sighed as her body halted, then nearly screamed as it went into another set of movements. The green ball in her hands was fairly large due to anger and frustration, and was launched directly at Bacchus. "Terribly sorry, must be going now!" Persephone made a mad dash for the door, not caring whether or not the ball actually hit Bacchus.

"Oh, shit!" Bacchus screamed as she fell to the cold tile floor in an attempt to avoid the green light. It grazed her shoulder and she grimaced as the skin it touched began to burn painfully. Years of dealing with her migraines lent her the strength to keep moving, though, and her hands swung to follow Persephone's movements. The purple streamer nipped at the other girl's ankles.

Persephone screeched as she hit the floor, the purple streamer grabbing hold of her feet.

"DAMNIT!", Persephone's voice rang off the walls as she began to twist and turn on the floor, rolling into the wall and the bottom of the sink. "Shooby...ow...ow...HELP! THIS HURTS!"

Persephone's little screech fest was cut short however, when a banging was heard on the door.

"WILMA?" it was Chris, " 'THAT YOU? I SENT THAT RAYYA GIRL TO LOOK FOR YOU BUT SHE NEVER CAME BACK...WILMA?"

Persephone's eyes widened as she got sent into a stall door, grunting out a single word...

"Uh-oh...."

Bacchus echoed her thoughts with a small whimper. "Uh-oh is right," she muttered. Then she shook her head as if to clear it. "Okay, we obviously can't let anyone else get hurt," she said quickly. "How about a truce for now? If I let you go, you're not gonna blast me, right?" The purple light emanating from her hands faded a bit to a violet. "Let's just get out of here," she added, standing up with a pained frown. "No more fighting now. Please?"

Persephone frowned, "If I agree, you're not going to suddenly trip me are you?" Without waiting for an answer, she went on, "Alright, I agree. But, we have to de-transform before we leave...but we can't do it in front of each other. How about we both go into a stall, de-transform, then wait for the other to leave? I'll go first."

Persephone tried to stand up, but fell once again, due to the twisting and turning of the violet stream. "Ah...wanna let me go?"

"Oh, heh, sorry." If Persephone had glanced over at Bacchus, she would have been surprised to see a faint blush spread over her cheeks. Quickly, she dropped her hands and the violet light faded into nothingness. "There you go." She pointed to a stall near her. "I'll take this one and you take the one next to it. Knock when you're leaving so I know it's safe to come out." She smiled faintly and crossed her heart. "I promise not to peek if you promise."

Persephone sighed, standing and trying her legs out, "Yeah, I promise. Ah, one more thing...how exactly DO you de-transform? I'm a little new at this..." Persephone looked over her fuku, "Is there a mechanism, or a special phrase or something?" Her bewildered look at Bacchus was mixed with embarrassment.

Bacchus paused with her hand resting on the stall's door and frowned. "You just kind of focus on how you look naturally," she answered. Then she grinned suddenly. "I'd look into getting a new guardian if I were you. That bird is a bit on the useless side and he's supposed to tell you that sort of thing. Good luck with it, anyway." She stepped into the stall and closed the door behind her, adding, "This is just so surreal."

Persephone sighed, "Tell me about it. I think I'll kill it and make barbecue...whatever it is for my Mom."

Persephone went into the stall, closing the door behind her, "This is creepy, ya know? Two enemies next door to each other, and detransforming...totally weird. I'm sure Perdix will reem me out later."

Persephone closed her eyes and concentrated on her former appearance, and gasped as her other attire formed to her body in a blast of green sparkles. "Whoa...." Wilma stepped out of the stall and knocked on Bacchus's door, before running out.

Chris sighed, "There you are. Where's Rayya?"

Wilma, "I haven't a clue. Let's just get going, and dance. I don't want to miss it..."

Chris grinned and led her away, "Y'know, you look like you've been in a fight..."

Wilma shook her head, "Me? Fight? Never."

As Wilma and Chris made their way down the hall, Rayya raised up on her toes and peeked over the stall door. Seeing no one, she shoved the door open and crossed over to a mirror. With a frown, she smoothed her skirt and adjusted her bodice. "Ooo, that left a bit of a mark," she murmured, inspecting the faint redness on her shoulder.

Julius trotted out of the stall. "I told you to be more aggressive," he scowled. "Then you don't get hurt."

"I wouldn't get hurt if we didn't have to fight," she shot back. Then she reached up to fix her blouse to cover the mark. "I'm going back to the party and I want you to go back to my room." She raised her hand to cut off Julius. "No, I don't want to talk about this." She frowned determinedly. "I'm going to have fun tonight." She spun on her heel and started for the door. "I'm going to find Wilma and Chris now. Goodnight, Julius." Geez, I hope that was the last time I run into that Persephone, she thought as she walked away. She seems just as unsure about this whole battle of the gods thing as I am... Why can't we all just get along?

return to the legend