Opening Credit sequence:
Naru: I'm tired of always running
I've grown tired of the night
I'm wish I had some cunning,
Had some power, had some might.
We see a collage of Naru running from monsters, grabbed by
monsters, trapped inside big moss balls by monsters, etc.
Sailors: You don't need to keep on running.
You don't need to fear the night.
We can save you with our cunning,
With our power, with our might.
We see a collage of images of Usagi and the other Sailors
saving Naru and many other people from monster attacks.
Naru: I don't want someone to save me;
I'd just like to save myself
I don't want to be a helpless doll
That must sit upon the shelf.
We see Naru sitting at her window, looking out on the starry
night sky of the city. One by one, lines trace out the
constellations.
Pluto: If you want to have the power
You must reach into your heart
Look inside to find your strength
For that's where power starts
We see Pluto holding out a eight-pointed star, which hovers
just above her hand.
*****
Sailor Moon Z:
Series Concept by Jeff Hosmer and John Biles
Primary Writer this Episode: John Biles
Based on the Series Sailor Moon, copyrighted by a whole lot of
people who aren't us.
Episode 1
"Naru-chan's Sweet Sixteenth Birthday!
Will her fortune be good or bad?"
Naru sat on her bed in her orange pajamas, staring out the
window at the starry night. In just five more minutes, she would
be sixteen. The stars glimmered faintly, many of them drowned
out by the ever-present lights of Tokyo. Only the strongest of
them could shine through the glow of the city.
Usagi sat a few feet away, looking out the window also. She
was sleeping over so she wouldn't be late to help Naru prepare
for her birthday party the next day. In her mind, the stars
linked themselves with lines and formed Mamoru's face. She
smiled. "Isn't the night sky beautiful, Naru-chan?"
"Hai, Usagi-chan. It's so peaceful... and... I..." Naru
struggled to express how she felt. It was like they were singing
to her or something. On an impulse, she got up and threw open
the window. A burst of cold air flooded into the room."
Usagi sprang over to Naru. "What are you, nuts? It's the
middle of winter! I don't wanna freeze to death before I can
marry Mamoru!"
Naru's alarm clock went off and the radio clicked on.
"Welcome to the Love Line. It's midnight." Usagi froze up and
turned around, staring at the radio. "We're reading your love
letters and dedications. If we read your letter, you win a
romantic prize."
Naru looked over at Usagi, "It's a new show. I like to
listen to it before I go to bed. And that means it's now my
birthday! I'm sixteen!" She grabbed Usagi by the shoulders and
jumped up and down. "Yaaaaay!"
Usagi got caught up in the moment and forgot all about the
uncanny resemblance of the radio show to a somewhat less than
benevolent one that had provided one of her earliest adventures,
almost two years ago. Or was it one year? She felt she would
never get her memories straight concerning the time she battled
the Dark Kingdom, considering the fact that she lived it twice.
Luckily, this radio show was indeed completely innocent,
even with the deja vu of Miss Haruna writing into it. Indeed, it
had been months since her last adventure, since the last time she
had become Sailor Moon. She didn't mind. When adventure did
come, she usually got far more of it than she could stand.
"I wonder what Umino is doing right now," Naru said,
turning and looking out the window again.
"Probably trying to find out what foods earthworms like to
eat." Usagi said, closing the window before icicles started
growing off her nose. "Or some other weird thing." She reached
for a bag of chips nearby and shoved a handful into her mouth.
"We got anything else to eat?" she mumbled.
Naru plopped down on the bed. "I have the smartest guy in
our school as my boyfriend... but yeah, he is the weirdest one
too. He can be so brave... and such a geek. But he loves me
very much... and I... I love him too."
"We're gonna have a great party for you tomorrow! And I
know you'll love what I'm going to give you!" I just wish I
could remember where I got it, Usagi thought.
Luna snored faintly, having passed out on the floor. Naru
smiled. "I've never heard a cat snore."
Usagi laughed. "Luna does lots of unusual things."
Naru nods. "You'd almost think she was intelligent or
something."
It would be a while before Naru really understood why Usagi
fell down laughing so hard at this point.
*****
Later in that day, Usagi and Naru finished decorating her
house for the party. Her mother had closed Osa-P for the day so
she could attend. This would be both a New Year's Day party and
a Birthday party, for Naru's birthday was the first day of the
year.
Naru's mother smiled. "How soon will your friends be here?"
"They should be here in a half hour or so. Usagi and I are
going to change into some nice kimonos now!" She and Usagi ran
upstairs and started changing into the kimonos they had picked
out for the party and for the trip to the New Year's festival
afterwards.
"Oh, this has been so great, Usagi! I hardly get to spend
Wmuch time with you anymore." Naru carefully wrapped the kimono
around herself.
"I... uh... yeah. I wish we had as much free time to spend
together. But what with school and boyfriends and... all that."
Usagi brushed her hair. I guess I won't mention fighting
monsters... I just... Maybe I should tell her. She's got to
wonder why I vanish all the time.
"And... all those monster attacks." Naru shuddered. "I
feel like I've forgotten more of them than I remember, but I
remember far too many of them for my own good. It seems like
Umino's the only special thing in my life that doesn't result in
monsters coming after me." She sat down hard on the bed. "He's
gonna get killed protecting me one of these days."
Usagi blinked. She hadn't realized this was worrying Naru
so much. "He'll be fine! Don't the Sailor Senshi always save
you and him? Why, you'd almost think they were following you
around or something the way they always show up." Ooh, that's
good, Usagi, she thought. Why don't I just transform in front of
her or something... Well, I do need to cheer her up.
Luna jumped up in Naru's lap and purred comfortingly. Naru
petted Luna and said, "But Umino thinks... or at least he wants
to try to defend me himself... And you know he can't fight any
better than you or me."
Usagi tried not to laugh. If she only knew... I can fight
ten, twenty, maybe a hundred times better than them... and my
boyfriend is a great fighter too! "I won't let you get hurt,
Naru-chan." Oh, that's good, why don't I just blurt it out.
Usagi glanced over at Luna. Luna would explode... but Naru
really ought to know.
Naru laughed, "What, you'll turn into Sailor Moon and punish
them in the name of the moon?" Luna's ears flared. Usagi's eyes
got really big. "I'm joking! I know you'd have told me by now
if you were Sailor Moon." Usagi flinched again, feeling like
she'd had a nail driven into her foot. "Why do you keep making
funny faces at me?"
"Because I... uh... Well, you see... I... ummmmm... My...
Uh... Ever notice that... Uh..." Usagi began pushing opposing
fingers of her two hands together, back and forth.
"Come on, Usagi-chan. Spit it out. You know you can trust
me... with whatever is bothering you." Naru looked over at her
friend, worried. She'd just been joking around, but she had
suspected for a long time that something was bothering Usagi,
something she wouldn't talk about.
Luna stared at Usagi, unable to guess for sure why the girl
was acting strange. Suddenly, she realized what Usagi was about
to say, but by that point it was too late.
"I'mSailorMoonandInevertoldyou.I'mreallysorry" It all came
out in a rush, then Usagi gave a sigh of relief. She had felt so
bad, but now it was out in the open. "And Luna talks too."
Naru blinked, then fell over laughing.
"Hey! Why are you laughing?" Usagi had not expected this
reaction.
"You, Sailor Moon? With a talking cat? HAHAHA!!!! Thanks,
Usagi, I haven't had such a good laugh in a long time." Naru
tried to sit back up. Luna relaxed. The secret was still safe.
"You don't believe me? I'll show you!" Usagi grabbed the
broach off of her dress she had been wearing before she put on
the kimono. Luna gasped and sprang to her feet to stop her, but
was too late. "Moon Cosmic Power, Make up!" Before Naru's
stunned eyes, Usagi transformed into Sailor Moon, striking a
pose. "You know... I think this is one of the few times I've
done this when I didn't intend to fight anyone..."
"I... you... you... you are..." Naru looked down at Luna.
"And you... talk?"
Luna sighed. "Yes, I talk. Usagi, you fool! Why did you
do this?"
"I can't stand to lie to Naru for any longer! She's my
oldest, dearest friend! And I wanted her to know she's safe! I
won't let anything happen to you, Naru-chan! If anyone hurts
you, I'll punish them in the name of the moon!" Usagi struck
another pose.
"What if her mother comes up here?" Luna said, "How will
you explain Sailor Moon in Naru's bedroom?"
Usagi panicked for a moment, then said, "I'll tell her I
came as part of a special birthday present that Umino arranged
for her!"
"And where will you say Usagi went?"
"I... uh... I'll think of something." Usagi looked over at
Naru, who pinched herself.
"You... really... are Sailor Moon! Does Rei or Ami or
Minako or Makoto know? Or... does Mamoru know?" She looks so
different, Naru thought. So confident and powerful, like she
could take on the world. I wish I could be like that. I'm so
tired of being a victim. I... do I even really know you at all,
Usagi? I never guessed you could be Sailor Moon.
Usagi laughed. "I never would have guessed either. Oh,
when Luna first talked to me, I thought I was dreaming... and
when she told me I was Sailor Moon, the fighter for love and
justice, I almost died... Oh there's so much I can tell you about
now, Naru... that I haven't really been able to talk to anyone
about."
"You can talk to me, Usagi." Luna said.
"Yes, but you always tell me I'm slacking off, straighten
up, embrace my destiny. Together we can rule the universe and
all that rot." Usagi wagged a finger at Luna. "I guess I'd
better turn back to normal before Naru's mom walks in."
Luna nodded.
"So if you're Sailor Moon, then... is Mamoru Tuxedo Mask?"
Naru asked. Suddenly, the pieces were all falling into place.
It was like a veil tearing asunder in her mind. She could see
them in her mind's eye... and she knew them!
Usagi said, "How'd you guess?"
"And Ami must be Sailor Mercury, she's the smart one... and
Jupiter is the tallest, so that must be Makoto, and Venus is
blond, so she must be Minako, and that leaves Rei as Mars by
elimination!" Naru smiled. Why couldn't I figure this out
before? I guess I never expected them to be anyone I knew.
"Wow! You're really smart! You got all that from just
knowing I was Sailor Moon?" Usagi transformed back to normal and
went back to finishing putting on her kimono.
Naru nodded. "It was all so clear... Like something used to
keep me from seeing it, but once I saw you change, it lost its
power over me." She finished putting on her kimono, then said,
"How did you get to be a Sailor Senshi, Usagi? I... uh... would
it be possible, I mean... umm..."
"Well, you're sort of born to be one...You have to be from
the Moon Kingdom and..." Usagi sighed. It really would be cool
if Naru could join us! I bet she'd make a great Sailor Senshi!
Luna shook her head. "I'm sure that all of the Senshi have
shown up now."
Naru blinked. "Moon Kingdom? I...I had a dream about a
Moon Kingdom..."
"You did? Wow! Maybe you are supposed to be one of us!
Given that Luna NEVER remembers anything until it's too late to
do any good. Like forgetting that I'm the Moon Princess, so we
spent months looking for someone we'd ALREADY found!" Usagi sat
and thought for a moment. "You could be the Solar Sailor! We
don't have one for the Sun yet!"
Luna rolled her eyes. "There was no Sailor of the Sun." I
think there wasn't. Drat it, I'm not sure... ooh, that Usagi
ties my brain into knots! Luna scratched her head. Surely if
Naru was a Sailor Senshi, we'd have noticed by now... Right? Of
course, I couldn't tell Usagi was the Moon Princess... but...
um... There has to be some excuse for that.
"Yeah, and you thought Sailor V was probably the Moon
Princess! And you didn't even know you were taking orders from
Artemis! And..." Usagi began to rant, dragging out every
mistake Luna had ever made. Luna sweatdropped.
"We'd better get downstairs before Mom wonders if we're dead
or something, Usagi," Naru said.
Luna nodded. "She's right, Usagi." There's not much chance
of that with Usagi making such a racket, she thought.
Usagi smiled. "You just don't want to admit you're ever
wrong, Luna."
*****
It was a fairly small birthday party. Most of Naru's
friends were busy with family or at other parties on this day, so
Umino, Usagi, Naru's mom, Ami, Makoto, Minako, and Rei (plus Luna
and Artemis, of course) were the only ones there, all clad in
their best. Usagi smiled a bit, noting that even when Umino was
out of his school uniform for once, he still dressed entirely in
black.
Naru's mom brought out the birthday cake with its sixteen
candles, lighting them one by one. The cake was a lemon cake
with white lemon frosting and green frosting trim. There were
two eight pointed stars on the cake, one white and one black.
Each of the points held one of the candles.
Umino gave Naru a hug as she got ready to blow out the
candles. "Make a wish, Naru-chan!"
Usagi nodded. "Blow out all the candles and your wish will
come true!"
Naru nodded and took a deep breath. She thought to herself,
I wish... I wish I could become a Sailor Senshi like Usagi so I
could defend myself and Mom and Umino-chan and everyone! I don't
want to be a victim anymore! Magic wish, help me be a heroine
like Usagi! She's so brave and strong...
Umino said, "If you don't breathe, you'll die, Naru-chan!
You're starting to turn blue."
Naru-chan laughed and had to breathe in again. The candles
flickered, then went out under the assault of air.
"I have punished these candles in the name of the moon!"
Everyone laughed. "I guess I'll get my wish." I hope so, Naru
thought. Oh man... I need to ask Usagi if I can tell Umino... oh
god, if I tell him, will he blab? But I can't keep it from
him... I'd explode...
"What did you wish for, Naru-chan?" Ami asked, smiling.
"I can't say or it won't come true... but I bet Usagi can
guess what I wished for." She smiled over at Usagi, who smiled
back.
"I bet you wished for Umino to turn into Tuxedo Kamen."
Usagi laughed at her own joke and so did everyone else, even
Umino.
"Open the presents I brought you, Naru-chan!" Umino said.
"I think you'll really like them!"
Minako nodded. "Let's see your loot!"
Naru smiled and tore open the black and gold wrappings of
her first present... an ant farm. She smiled nervously. "Why...
uh... thanks, Umino-chan."
"It's really great! It's a top of the line ant farm!
They're really cool! I have four just like it at home! But I
bought you a new one to show I care!" Rei rolled her eyes at
Umino's babbling, but he didn't notice or care. "Now open the
other one!"
Naru nervously moved to the other package, which was
suspiciously similar in shape to the first one. She opened it.
It was a photograph of Naru and Umino holding hands... but she
was dressed as Sailor Moon and he was dressed as Tuxedo Kamen...
well, Tuxedo Umino Kamen anyway. They stood under a starry sky
in a field of roses. "Wow! How did you make this? I know I
didn't pose for this... did I?"
"I did it all with Photoshop on my computer! I took a
picture of us then I..." Umino began ranting in tech-speak. Ami
listened carefully, nodding and engaging him with questions on
his methods, while everyone else tried not to glaze over.
"It's really wonderful, Umino! Thank you!" Naru hugged
Umino. Now she knew what he had been so secretive about lately.
It was beautiful... and maybe... just maybe it meant her dream...
her wish might come true.
Usagi looked at the picture. "Neat! You're Sailor Moon!
She's the cool one, you know." Luna tried very hard not to groan
or speak in front of Naru's mom and Umino.
Rei rolled her eyes. "Mars is much cooler. Moon's a
crybaby."
"She is not! I... She's not a crybaby, is she Ami?" Usagi
glared at Rei.
"I think you should have done her as Sailor Jupiter. She's
the most beautiful and the strongest," Makoto said.
Pretty soon an entirely unresolvable argument was fully in
progress.
*****
Eventually, Naru's Mom restored some vague semblance of
order. The rest of the presents soon came forth. Ami gave Naru
a collection of history and science tutorial computer games, and
some nice printed out graphics from some of her favorite TV
shows. Makoto gave Naru an embroidered box full of fresh home
made cookies. Minako gave Naru a new jogging outfit and a hand
knit scarf with her initials on it. Rei gave Naru some
videotapes she had been wanting for a long time. Unfortunately,
Usagi's present led to yet more trouble.
Naru unwrapped Usagi's present last. It had three things.
There was a framed drawing of Naru and Usagi together that Usagi
had drawn herself.
"Wow, you're really good at drawing, Usagi!" Naru's mom
said. "I'm impressed."
Everyone crowded around to look. "I have to admit, you
really can draw." Rei said.
"You mean it, Rei?" Usagi asked.
"Hai!" Rei nodded. "Must be all those comic books rubbing
off on you."
The picture was not the problem. Neither was the hand
knit... uh... scarf? Whatever it was besides ugly, it didn't
cause trouble. It was present number three, several manga
collections, that led to trouble.
"Wow! These are really rare! Thanks, Usagi!"
Rei looked over. "Wow, those are rare... Usagi has my
copies of... Hey! Those are MY manga!"
Usagi sweatdropped. "Oh... that's where I got them...
uh..."
Rei loomed over Usagi like the Terminator over Sarah Connor.
"U... S... A... G... I!!!!!"
Naru's mother pushed them apart. Naru handed the manga to
Rei. "I'm sorry, Rei. You know Usagi just forgot. She'd never
be dumb enough to steal your manga and give them away in front of
you on purpose."
Usagi sagged. "I... I'm sorry, Rei... I forgot where I got
them. I feel really stupid."
Rei nodded. "Well, you meant well, and it was generous of
you giving away such valuable manga.... I forgive you."
"Thanks, Rei!" Usagi hugged Rei.
"Do it again and I'll kill you." Everyone laughed.
*****
Soon it was time to cut the cake. Naru's mom said, "Now
everyone be careful! I've baked a magic ring into the cake!
Whoever finds it, gets to keep it!" This happened every year,
although Usagi and Naru had never noticed any real magic in the
rings when they had been lucky enough to get them.
Umino frowned. "But Usagi will eat half the cake, which
means she has a fifty percent chance to win."
Usagi put her fists at her side. "I will not! I'm not a
pig!"
"True. Pigs don't have meatballs on their heads." Rei
said.
Ami rolled her eyes quietly. Luna started to speak then
caught herself. She dragged Artemis off to the hall while they
all argued over the cake.
"Ahh, we're going to slip off for some quality time while
they eat cake, eh?" Artemis said. "Just like our liaisons back
on..."
Luna hissed at Artemis. "This is serious!" He sighed at
her. "What do you remember about... the Solar Sailor?"
"The what?" Artemis blinked. What on God's green earth was
Luna babbling about this time?
"You don't remember the Senshi of the Sun?"
"What Senshi of the Sun? There wasn't one... was there?"
Artemis frowned. You forgot a lot in... uh... however long we
were in suspended animation. His clearest memories about the
Moon Kingdom were of the food, and the female cats he had
known...
Luna breathed a sigh of relief. "Usagi has gotten it into
her head that Naru must be a senshi we've forgotten."
"What gave her that crazy idea?" Artemis frowned. Surely
if Naru was one of the Senshi, they should have noticed by now...
right?
"She was dreaming of the Moon Kingdom..."
"Not everyone from the Moon Kingdom was a Senshi! There
were hundreds of thousands of people who were sent to Earth, and
most of them weren't any more powerful than the average human.
Although..." Artemis trailed off.
"Although what? What!"
"I can't remember."
Luna facefaulted.
*****
The party lasted for several hours, including playing the
poetry matching game that was a particular favorite of Umino and
Ami, since they both remembered more poetry than any of the
others.
Finally, as the sun began to set, they headed out to the
festival. It was a maze of booths, full of games, food, fortune
tellers, a small shrine being run by Rei's grandfather and
Kumada, and a large table labeled, "Ginza Takashi, Professional
Astrologer to the Stars." Usagi gravitated first to a snack
booth and got a huge whirl of cotton candy, then to the games.
Naru's mom left them to wander around on their own, while she
wandered with some of her friends. Naru and Umino stuck close
together, holding hands nervously.
"Look, it's one of those goldfish catching contests! Can
you catch me some goldfish, Umino?" Umino nodded.
He went to work, slowly catching the fish, one by one.
Makoto laughed. "You're slow. Let me show you how it's done."
He got back and let her try. Twenty broken nets later,
Makoto said, "Grrr... These nets are too flimsy!"
"I think you're just too strong," Ami said, "You have to be
more gentle."
Minako nodded. "Like this." Within minutes, she caught all
of the goldfish, leaving the game runner staring in awe.
As they got up to go to the next game, Usagi realized she
was out of food. "I'll be right back!" She ran past the games
and the fortunetellers to where the food was, grabbed some donuts
and rice balls and ran back, right into a man consulting some
sort of large book. The book flew into the air, landing in a
nearby garbage can, as he fell.
"Gomen nasai! Let me get your book," Usagi said, oblivious
to the large crowd of reporters approaching, following a man in a
business suit. A very important man, not that Usagi would have
ever recognized him.
"I need it quickly!" the man who had lost his book said.
Usagi pulled it out of the garbage can, only to send it
flying into the donut stand. Powered donuts flew everywhere.
"EEP!"
The man followed by reporters pulled up even with the
currently empty astrologer's booth, empty because the astrologer
was trying to get his book away from the blonde walking disaster
area. By this time, Ami and Makoto had come looking for Usagi.
"What's going on?"
The astrologer said, "This crazy girl is tossing my horary
all over the place!"
The boothkeeper blinked as Usagi dived into the donuts after
the horary, emerging swathed in powdered sugar. "I got it for
you!"
By this time the man with his crowd of followers had moved
on to other parts of the festival. The astrologer groaned.
"No... I missed him... They're going to be so angry..."
"Who is?" Ami asked. "Did someone have an appointment with
you?"
The man grabbed his horary and ran off without answering the
question.
"Geez, how rude," Makoto said. "He didn't even thank you."
*****
Things were going well for the manager of the festival.
Indeed, everything was going according to plan. Then Izuko ran
up. "Sir, this group of girls prevented Mr. Ginza from giving
the Minister of Education the horoscope he was supposed to get."
The manager blinked. "What? A group of pathetic children
has ruined our plan? We spent months setting this up!"
"Some blonde girl pretended to run into him, then kept him
busy trying to get his horary back. It had to be on purpose, no
one could be THAT clumsy. Want us to rub them out?"
The manager sighed. Izuko was a good fighter... but far too
enthusiastic. Just like that Gaijin American nutcase he'd gotten
stuck with on this operation. How he'd let them convince him to
use the fruitcake, he'd never know... Well, what is done is done.
"I'll arrange for them to be caught cheating. Escort them
out. Then find out who sent them... or if they really are just
in the wrong place, at the wrong time." Someone had to have sent
them. Was he being backstabbed again by someone on the Council?
It did happen. He'd done it. But not during his month! No!
You don't directly backstab the man in charge! Whoever had done
this... they would pay. No one messes with me and gets away with
it!
Izuko nodded and went to do her boss's bidding.
*****
Everyone clustered around Ami as she began racking up a
massive number of balls on the Pachinko machine at one booth.
"Go, Ami, go!" Makoto yelled. The booth operator began to sob.
Ami smiled and kept going.
By the time Usagi got back, Ami had accumulated a massive
number of little balls, with no sign of stopping. "Wow! We'll
be able to get all the prizes!"
The operator began to eat his hat in frustration. "I know.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Umino said to Naru, "Now I'm hungry. Want me to get you a
snack?"
Naru nodded. "I could really do with a soda and some
cookies."
"Your wish is my command!" Umino ran off towards the snack
area.
Five security guards walked up, one of them holding an odd
looking box that kept pinging. "We've found it."
"Found what?" Rei said.
"Found that magnet..." the guard said.
"Magnet?" Minkao said.
The guard walked over to Ami and scanned her as she played.
The pinging got louder. He hovered it around her purse. She
glanced over at him for a moment and missed a few balls. "I'm
not carrying a magnet."
"I'm afraid we're going to have to check your purse," the
guard said solemnly.
She sighed and dropped her purse, returning her attention to
the Pachinko game. The guard dug around for a moment, then
pulled out a large black metal bar with a N on one end and a S on
the other.
Usagi said, "N... S. What does that stand for?"
The guard said, "Looks like you are cheating with this
magnet." Everyone gasped.
Ami blushed. "I... that's not mine. I don't cheat, either!
I'm just good at Pachinko."
The guard said, "I'm afraid we're going to have to escort
you out, ma'am. We can't take that risk."
"Hey, you can't throw Ami out! She's the most honest, nice
person I know!" Usagi said, then pointed a finger at the guard's
chest. "If you throw her out, you'll have to throw us all out!
And you can't do that!"
The guards muttered back and forth to each other for a
moment, then the guard nodded. "Right. Out you all go."
As the guards started to hustle Usagi, Rei, Ami, Makoto,
Minako, and Naru out of the festival, Usagi yelled, "Hey!!!! I
didn't mean for you to actually throw us all out!!!!!"
*****
Before they could hardly react, they found they had been
hustled back behind all of the booths and through the rear gate
of the festival. Makoto stopped letting herself be pushed. "All
right! I've had enough of this! There's no way Ami would EVER
cheat! Now you're going to let us back in, or I'm going to make
you let us in!"
One of the guards, an obnoxious looking man with short
blonde hair and a pale caucasian complexion, spoke up in heavily
accented Japanese. "Ohhh, I'm so afraid. The little girlie is
threatening us."
"Can it, Hudson. We're here to get information, not play
taunting games. Look. We know you messed up our operation. We
want to know why and who you're working for," the woman in
charge of the group of guards said.
The six girls blinked in unison. "Working for? Operation?
We're just here having fun," Usagi said.
Minako nodded. "All we've done is eat, listen to people
sing, and play games."
The woman pointed at Usagi. "Look, blondie here messed up
our whole purpose for organizing this thing by keeping Ginza away
from his booth when the minister of Education was going to come
by for a horoscope. Now it could take us months to set this up
again."
Hesitantly, Ami said, "Umm... we had no idea about your plan
until you just told us. We're just a bunch of junior high
students celebrating our friend's birthday."
The woman rolled her eyes. "Yeah, right. No one could just
accidentally wander in and mess up our operation. Not with the
level of planning we had. Of course, Ginza's gonna get yelled at
too for leaving his post to go to the bathroom, but that's
another story. Now do we beat it out of you or do you do this
the nice way?"
Makoto glared, almost spoke, then began to laugh. "You...
you... actually think you can beat ANYTHING out of us? You don't
know who you're dealing with."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "You have spirit, though
anyone who'd send a bunch of kids to do their dirty work is
pretty low on my hit parade. Look kid, we're armed, we're
trained, and you don't even have a junior high diploma yet. I'd
rather not have to hurt anyone."
"Aww, I wanna slap them around some. Especially the
loudmouth." Hudson smiled menacingly at Makoto.
"Why, you!" Makoto lashed out at Hudson, punching him in
the gut. He gave a cry of surprise and fell down.
"You bitch!" He growled and staggered to his feet, reaching
for his nightstick.
Izuko sighed. Why did I ever get stuck with that moron
gaijin, anyway? The boss shouldn't have assigned him to this
job... he has NO subtlety. By the time she finished thinking, a
full scale brawl was in progress.
Hudson soon found he had more than he could handle. As his
hand closed on his nightstick, Makoto's fist closed on his nose.
He fell down and his nightstick went flying. As he got up again,
she kicked him, then boxed his ears.
The others, however, weren't doing so well. One of the
guards was chasing Usagi round and round and round the alleyway,
as she kept trying unsuccessfully to hide. "Stop running, kid!"
he yelled.
"I'm not that stupid!" Usagi yelled.
Rei was duking it out with one of the guards. He was slowly
getting the better of her, but it was clear that the martial arts
training she had been getting over the years had paid off.
While Ami tried desperately to dodge blows from another
guard, Minako picked up Naru and hid her in a garbage can. "Stay
here and you'll be safe."
"But I... shouldn't I help?" Naru said. She was beginning
to wonder if she had dreamed the whole business with Usagi
earlier... Why didn't they just transform and... oh, that would
blow their secret identities... but if they didn't transform,
they'd get creamed... They needed some kind of distraction...
there had to be something she could do. If only Tuxedo Kamen
would show up or something...
"We'll handle this... uh, somehow." Minako thought
desperately. We can't beat these guys unless we transform... but
if we transform, we'll blow our covers... Wait, maybe I can blind
them with the flashbulb... no, they'll see we're gone, and still
put two and two together... maybe... Hmmm.
Her reverie was broken as one of the guards grabbed Ami,
right as Makoto began beating Hudson in the head with his own
nightstick. "All right, girls, surrender or your friend gets
it." His knife came out and he held it to Ami's throat. They
all froze in place. Naru began praying from inside the garbage
can. Someone save us! We need help!
For a moment, all was silent. Izuko came over to Ami.
"Now, do we find out who you are working for, or does your friend
get a second pretty smile?"
Silence descended again. One of the guards blinked. "Hey,
the auburn haired one got away!"
Izuko cursed. "Go find her."
The guard nodded and started off down the alleyway.
Suddenly, the sound of hoofbeats echoed down the alleyway. The
guard stared, then said, "Hey, there's some guy on..." A white
horse galloped out of the alley and slammed into him, sending him
flying.
Time seemed to slow down as the horseman rode into sight.
He was clad in shining white samurai armor with a black circle on
the chest. A white, eight-pointed star shone from the center of
the circle. His horse was a pure white stallion, and he bore a
white sword in his left hand. The guard holding Ami watched as
the knight raised his right hand, releasing the reins. A small
glowing sphere appeared in the Knight's hand, and he said,
"Harassing young girls seeking only to enjoy the fun to be found
at a festival is truly ignoble. I cannot allow that, for I am
the White Knight, defender of innocents everywhere."
He hurled the sphere, which became an eight pointed star, at
the guard, who was unable to do more than blink as it struck him.
He glowed and for a moment became a negative image of himself,
then crumpled to the ground. His knife fell with a clatter from
his hand.
Naru peeked out of the garbage can. "Wow! Someone's come
to save us! What a dreamy voice..."
Usagi pulled her pony-tails. Aargh, Mamoru's gone nuts
again, and now he thinks he's the White Knight! Great, if he
forgets he's in love with me again, I'll... I'll... I won't be
happy!
Hudson looked over at the collapsing guard. "Oh man, he
killed Fujiko!"
Another guard said, "I'm Fujiko, that's Kenjiro."
Hudson blinked, and, while distracted, got knocked off his
feet by the flat of the White Knight's sword. The Knight now
charged over to the garbage can where Naru was hiding, reached
down, and swept her up behind him on the saddle.
Usagi growled. And now that idiot is saving Naru instead of
me! Maybe he has lost his memory again! AAAARGH!
The guards started to chase after the White Knight, except
for Hudson who was too busy getting his butt kicked. While they
were distracted, Usagi said, "I've had enough from these guys!
Come on, Sailors, let's show them who they're messing with!"
Makoto blinked. Usagi WANTING to get in a fight? Well, I
guess everyone changes. Then again, maybe she's just angry
because the White Knight saved Naru instead of her...
"Moon Cosmic Power, MAKE UP!" Usagi shouted, transforming
into Sailor Moon. The others soon followed suit. Hudson just
stared.
Damn, I forgot this idiot was watching me, Sailor Jupiter
thought. Oh well. "Tell anyone what you've seen, and I'll find
you and rip off your head, punk."
Hudson began to cry. "She's gonna throw the magic frisbee
at me and cut me in half and I'm gonna die and I still haven't
even seen Casablanca yet and I'm too young to die, die like some
monster, fried and frozen and electrocuted and lasered and killed
with a freaking frisbee of doom! WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!"
Hudson entered super deluxe nervous breakdown mode.
Sailor Jupiter began waving her hands. "Don't cry, I'm
sorry, I didn't mean it... I mean..."
Hudson cowered. "I won't tell! I promise! Don't KILL
ME!!!!"
Meanwhile, the rest of the Sailor Senshi charged off after
the guards, who had given up on chasing a man on horseback.
Turning aroumd, the three remaining guards suddenly found
themselves face to face with four Sailor Senshi.
Sailor Moon struck a pose. "I am the beautiful
sailor-suited fighter for love and justice, Sailor Moon! In the
name of the moon, I will punish you!"
Everyone began shouting out their favorite speeches and
Izuko bigsweatdropped. No one had told her these superheroes
were going to show up. This operation was turning into a hundred
percent disaster, except for losing Hudson, which was the first
thing that had gone right today.
"I am the reasonably well dressed Izuko! I work for cash!
I'm outta here!" Izuko ran for it, as did Fujiko and Toshi, who
fled down the alleyway, which rapidly filled with fog, fireballs,
and laserbeams.
Soon everything calmed down to normal, more or less. Sailor
Jupiter rejoined the others after Hudson finally fainted. "Wow,
that was easy."
"Well, they were only ordinary humans. They're no match for
the Sailor Senshi. We must have stumbled into some kind of
Yakuza plot." Sailor Mercury checked her computer. "I'm not
picking up any odd readings, except..."
"Except what, Ami?" Sailor Venus asked.
"Now it's gone... I must have been picking up the White
Knight... Well, I know where he took Naru, I suspect. Let's go
find her." Sailor Mercury said, turning to go.
"We'd better change back to our normal clothing first, Ami."
Sailor Venus said. "Naru doesn't know we're the sailor senshi,
and neither does Umino who ought to be looking for us right now."
"Uhh... well, actually..." Sailor Moon began to say
nervously.
"You think there might still be more danger we need to watch
out for?" Sailor Mars asked. "Or do you just want to go find
the White Knight so you can moon over him?"
"He kind of reminds me of my old boyfriend," Sailor Jupiter
said. Everyone facefaulted.
Once they recovered, Sailor Moon said, "Umm... Actually,
Naru sort of knows we're the Sailor Senshi."
"She figured it out?" Sailor Mercury asked. "Smart girl."
"Uh, yeah. She kinda... uh... realized it this morning."
Sailor Moon began doing the fingers pushing each other back and
forth trick.
Sailor Mars zoomed over to Sailor Moon. "Kinda... realized?
You blabbed, in other words."
"She'smybestfriend.Icouldn'tstandtodeceiveheranylonger.
Wecantrusther!Shewon'ttell!" The story of how Naru learned about
their secret spilled out in a torrent.
"Well, what's done is done," Sailor Venus said.
Sailor Mercury nodded. "Naru is a very brave girl, and I
think we can trust her. If she has dreamed of the Moon Kingdom,
it might be important. I think we ought to talk to her about
that when Luna is around. Luna might even be able to figure out
who she was."
"Umm... Umino's been dreaming about the Moon Kingdom too, I
think..." Sailor Jupiter said hesitantly.
"He has?" Sailor Mercury said. "Even more reason to maybe
talk to him too."
Sailor Mars blinked. "How did you know that, Jupiter?"
"He told me."
"He told you?"
"What are you, deaf? Yeah, he was over at my place with
Naru and he told me." Sailor Jupiter rolled her eyes.
"What was he doing at your place?"
"What is this? Twenty Questions? They came over and
watched some movies with me that night you all were busy or gone
about two weeks ago."
Sailor Moon smiled. "Does he remind you of your old
boyfriend now?"
"USAGI!" Sailor Jupiter began chasing a giggling Sailor
Moon down the alleyway.
*****
Umino ran everywhere, looking for Naru. She had vanished
while he had gone to get snacks. Finally, he found her, staring
off dreamy-eyed into space. "Naru-chan! Where is everyone? I
got you your chocolate ice cream, just like you like! Are you
okay?"
He handed her a slightly melted chocolate ice cream. "He's
so dreamy... he saved me," Naru said.
"Who, what? You were in danger?" Umino blinked. And where
is everyone?
"This man on a white horse. He saved me from the awful men
who tried to beat us up for messing up something nasty they were
up to..." Naru sighed happily and began eating her ice cream.
"But what about everyone else? Usagi could still be in
danger!" Umino wondered why Naru was so blase and happy about
this.
"Oh, she'll be fine, Umino. She's tougher than you think.
Thanks for bringing me some ice cream." It was her favorite.
Umino might be socially graceless, but once you told him
something he never forgot. He remembers my birthday, my favorite
foods, my favorite songs, our anniversary of our first date...
everything. If he had the power to back up his bravery, he'd be
so perfect... Well, at least then everyone wouldn't make fun of
him. "You're always so good to me."
Umino began pacing back and forth. "We have to go look for
her! Something awful could be happening to her!"
Naru pointed. "There they are." Usagi, Ami, Minako, Rei,
and Makoto came around a corner into sight. "See, I told you
they'd be safe."
Umino ran over to Usagi. "Are you okay? Naru said a white
knight saved her from some thugs or something? What happened?
Anyone want some Vanilla and Prune ice cream? I bought an extra
cone, then remembered Naru doesn't like that flavor..."
Minako smiled and began spinning an edited version of the
events for Umino's benefit.
*****
"So who is the White Knight?" Ami asked Luna.
The girls were all assembled at Naru's house, having a
sleep-over that night. Naru's mom had already made Umino go
home, but she had let them stay up late. They were scattered all
over Naru's bedroom, talking about the day's discoveries.
"He's not Mamo-chan. I called him and he's still in Osaka
with Motoki and his family. At least he hasn't forgotten me or
anything. I was so worried..." Usagi fidgeted on Naru's bed.
"And we've got to figure out who Naru is, or was, or... you
know!"
"Yeah, Luna, who was Naru in the Moon Kingdom?" Makoto
said.
"Maybe she was married to Nephrite," Rei said.
"Who's Nephrite?" Naru said. The name sounded familiar,
like she should know him. Her emotions stirred. A vague memory
floated through her mind... something about tearing her
pajamas... and death. She shuddered.
Ami, Usagi, and Rei stared at her. "YOU DON'T REMEMBER
HIM?"
Naru staggered under the auditory assault. "I... He sounds
familiar... was he someone in the Moon...? My dream... He was in
my dream... He was someone's fiancee... I..."
"You were in love with him, Naru... when we were fighting
the... Oh... That's why you don't remember him!" Ami said.
"Everyone forgot everything that happened when we fought the Dark
Kingdom because Usagi turned back the clock! We all forgot about
it. Luna, can you bring back Naru's memories... Luna... Are you
okay?"
Luna was sitting quietly with her face screwed up in a look
of frustration.
"Is something wrong, Luna?" Artemis asked. She remained
silent. "I didn't say something to make you mad, did I?"
"I... I don't remember the White Knight at all..." Luna
said hesitantly. "But I think Artemis and I might be able to
find a way to restore Naru's memories from our war with the Dark
Kingdom. I... Artemis, do you remember the White Knight?"
He shook his head. "He wasn't a servant of the Moon
Kingdom... but there were other kingdoms. Not everyone with
powers is from the Moon Kingdom, anyway."
"Why would he show up and help us if he wasn't from the Moon
Kingdom? Or was it just a coincidence? Why did he save Naru and
not us?" Ami said. "Hmm. This will take some thinking."
"Maybe he could tell I was the only one who needed saving.
I don't have any powers. Makoto was doing pretty well even
before she transformed..." Naru said, sighing. "I wanted to
help, but I don't even know how to fight."
"Don't worry, Naru. I'll teach you and Umino like I
promised. Rei can help you too. She's been studying martial
arts for two years now." Makoto leaned back in her chair.
Rei nodded. "It's really great for building up your
self-confidence and defending yourself. Hmm... I bet you were
one of Usagi's ladies in waiting in the Moon Kingdom. You'd have
been one of her closest friends, and a Princess' closest friends
are her ladies in waiting usually."
"Wow! I was a noblewoman? Yeah, just like my dream." Naru
smiled. "I wish I could remember more of it. The Moon Kingdom
was so beautiful. I remember dancing, and parties and balls, and
picnics under the night sky with the Earth hanging there so
big..."
Luna nodded. "It was a wonderful place, the greatest of all
of the Kingdoms."
"Which I bet you can't remember the names of," Rei said.
"I can too!" Luna said, glaring at Rei.
"Yeah, right. You never remember anything until it's too
late. Like not being able to tell Usagi was the Moon
Princess..." Rei smirked at Luna. "Probably the White Knight is
Umino or something and you won't remember that until we find out
ourselves."
"Well, he does remember the Moon Kingdom," Makoto said.
"We didn't see him and the White Knight at the same time..."
"No way!" Usagi said. "There's NO WAY he could ever become
that cool."
"Just like Tuxedo Mask could never be that creep Mamoru,
eh?" Rei said.
Usagi flinched. "Okay, okay, maybe he is the White
Knight... but I won't believe it unless I see him transform!
Besides, wouldn't he tell Naru if he was?"
"If he remembers... Mamoru didn't remember at first either,"
Rei said.
"Not if he's from the Moon Kingdom," Luna said. "I KNOW
there was no White Knight in the Moon Kingdom."
"Are you sure you don't have a transformation pen for Naru
you've forgotten about? That's she not Sailor Sun or something?"
Usagi said.
"We've already covered this! There was NO Sailor Sun! If
she was one of the Senshi, I'd have remembered by now! I'm not
senile!" Luna leapt up on the bookcase and pouted. I'm not
going senile! I'm not!
"How about you, Artemis? Backing Luna up on this one?"
Minako asked.
"For once I have to agree with Luna. If there were more
than nine Senshi, I never heard of them... although..."
"What, What, Artemis?"
"There were other kingdoms... they had champions too. I
wouldn't get your hopes up... but... just maybe..." He trailed
off.
Usagi hugged Naru. "We'll find out who you were! And then
you can fight for Love and Justice with us! Of course, Luna will
probably wake up tomorrow and find a transformation pen for you
under her pillow or something..."
"Usagi..." Luna said.
"Maybe you should try shouting Solar Power... Make Up! just
in case." Usagi said.
"USAGI, THERE WAS NO SOLAR SAILOR! THERE WASN'T! THERE
WASN'T!" Luna began breathing heavily.
"Calm down, Luna. It can't hurt to try..." Artemis said.
"It wouldn't work without her transformation pen, anyway,"
Makoto said.
"I'll talk to Luna and Artemis and write a program for my
computer so we can figure out how to restore Naru's memories and
see if she really is a Senshi like us," Ami said.
"Hey... maybe she's the sailor for the Asteroid Belt!"
Minako said. "Steven was telling me all about it the other day.
There's hundreds and thousands of Asteroids. She could be Ceres
or Pallas or Io or..."
"Io's one of the moons of my planet," Makoto said.
"Who'd wanna be Sailor Ceres, anyway? Sounds like a bad
disease..." Rei said. "If she was Sailor Asteroid Belt though,
she'd probably hurl rocks at people."
"And tumble slowly through space around the sun." Ami said.
Everyone stared.
"Like an asteroid... never mind." Ami sighed. Not everyone
appreciates my sense of humor sometimes.
The discussion of who Naru might be dragged on late into the
night with no conclusive results. Yet, they sensed that perhaps
a new adventure was just beginning.
*****
The festival manager listened as Izuko reported on the
disaster that had taken place. "Hmm. The White Knight... that
means..."
"Yes, sir?" Izuko had no idea that meant anything. Except
that he had humiliated her. One way or another, she'd get even
with that White Knight character. Especially for leaving Hudson
alive. Stupid Gaijin.
"The Princess not only has been reborn... she is here. In
Tokyo. The White Knight would never go far from her side. This
long search is over, and I shall have the credit. Now it only
remains to be seen which of the six is the Princess. Once we
find her, the day for which the Council has so long awaited shall
come. Tell me every petty detail you can remember, Izuko. We
must find them and determine which one of them is the Princess.
Then, we can take her power for our own. " The manager sat back
and smiled. After millennia of waiting, she is finally in our
grasp. The Plan will finally be able to go forward. All will
know it was Capricorn who made it possible. The glory and the
credit shall be mine.
*****
Naru says!
Naru: Today on Sailor Moon Z, we learned that the White Knight
has a dreamy voice!
Ami: That's not much of a moral.
Naru: Also, we learned not to give other people's property away
as presents in front of them.
Rei: 'Cause it makes me ANGRY!
Ami: There's got to be some kind of good moral to this.
Usagi: Hey! Isn't this supposed to be Sailor Moon Says? Who
died and put Naru in charge?
Makoto: Next time, it's gonna be Sailor Jupiter says!
Minako: Why?
Makoto: It was part of my contract. Why didn't you guys think
to ask for that in your contract?
[Everyone sweatdrops but Naru and Makoto.]
Naru: Well, I'm sure we learned something! Naru says! Hehe.
*****
Closing Credits:
"My road leads me far away."
We see Nephrite telling Juno that he must go soon for a great
conflict is about to begin.
"Though my heart tells me to stay,"
We see Princess Serenity clinging to a worried looking Endymion.
"When my duty calls, I must go"
We see Pluto appearing in the midst of the ballroom at the
Diamond Gala.
"'Twixt worlds of fire and worlds of snow."
We cut to a shot of the solar system, with the nine planets and
the moon lined up from the Sun at the left to Pluto at the right,
with the Senshi and Prince Endymion standing on their planets as
shadowy figures.
"The road I travel will be long"
We see the White Knight galloping down a Tokyo street on
horseback.
"To set things right, to end the wrongs."
We see Tuxedo Mask tossing a red rose into the barrel of a gun,
which backfires and explodes.
"But this message will I send,"
We see Rei picking up a blue crystal, which starts to play back a
message.
"Wait for me at Journey's End."
We see Naru waiting for Umino outside a restaurant.
"Do not forget the love we share"
We see Princess Serenity and Endymion tearfully bidding each
other farewell.
"Though I must leave, my heart will stay."
We see Naru crying as Nephrite dissolves away in her arms.
"Do not think I ceased to care"
We see Beryl implanting crystals in the foreheads of the four
Guardians and cackling maniacally.
"When my duty took me away."
We see Steven waiting at a restaurant, then sighing as he checks
his watch.
"The road I travel will be long"
We see the Sailors using the Sailor Teleport to travel to the
ruins of the Moon Kingdom.
"To set things right, to end the wrongs."
We see Umino trying to fight a monster in "Tuxedo Umino Kamen"
mode.
"But this message will I send,"
We see Luna trying to use a dial only phone.
"Wait for me at Journey's End."
We see Umino leap to his feet as Naru comes running up the
sidewalk to him with Usagi and company.
"I have only my heart to give"
We see Haruka and Michiru sharing a quiet moment.
"For my life is not my own."
We see the baby Saturn in a crib.
"It is for others that I must live"
We see Pluto having a frustrating time trying to counsel a young
girl.
"But it is for you that I come home."
We see Mamoru following a trail of smoke to Usagi in his kitchen.
"The road I travel will be long"
We see Capricorn vanishing through a portal.
"To set things right, to end the wrongs."
We see a chamber with stars for a ceiling and a horoscope on the
floor. A man stands in grey robes in the center and stares down
at the horoscope.
"But this message will I send,"
We see Usagi listening to a message on the phone, her eyes
getting big.
"Wait for me at Journey's End."
We see a closing tableaux of the Sailors, Umino, Naru, Steven,
Tuxedo Mask, and twelve shadowy figures standing on a Zodiac
wheel.
John Walter Biles : MA-History, Ph.D Wannabe at U. Kansas
ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu http://falcon.cc.ukans.edu/~ranma/falcon.html
http://www.dhp.com/~wraven/john/index.html
"He's a try hard homie... those idiots who hang around wearing baggy pants
and have hats on the top of their heads (not *on* their heads) who just
go 'Yo, man' all the time, hanging around in groups. Bleh."--Caroline
Seawright, speaking of an obnoxious person.