Absolute Destiny Revolution
By David Farr

Characters and situations used in this work are the property of their
respective owners and are used here without permission. This work is
covered by international copyright laws. Permission is given to
distribute this work only if unaltered and no fee is charged.

Warning: Contains spoilers for the Tenchi OAV series, the Utena series,
the Ranma manga and anime series, and Sailor Moon anime series.

*****

The Saga of the New Rose
Chapter 2: Arrogance and Destiny

*****

        The apartment wasn't as spacious as the house they had lived in
back in Tokyo, Haruka reflected. It was almost as sparse as that one had
originally been, but she was sure that as before, life would change that.

        Originally, when only herself and Michuru had lived in the
apartment in Tokyo, they had kept just enough to be comfortable. In the
lounge, for example, there had been a single coffee tables around which
clustered a sofa and a couple of chairs, a few cabinets containing the
necessary appliances, and lots of empty space.

        However they had moved in with Setsuna and Hotaru, the emptiness
had quickly filled up, not just with Setsuna's objects d'art or Hotaru's
knick-knacks and soft toys, but also with their presence. They had gone
from the apartment of a cold lonely couple, to the warmth of a bustling,
energetic, family home.

        Their Ohtori apartment hadn't gained that feeling yet, but it
would only be a short time, Haruka knew, before everyone changed that.
Already Haruka watched the young black haired girl playing a board game -
Monopoly or something - with her new friend, Hanako Asano, the
mysterious, although pleasant, Rose Bride.

        "A yen for your thoughts?" Michuru asked, stepping up behind her.

        Haruka turned away from the kitchen door to face her partner,
only to find she and Setsuna standing not far away, nursing steaming cups
of tea. "Just thinking of the difference between this apartment and the
house in Tokyo."

        "It's a little smaller," Setsuna commented, "but we do not plan
to make this place our home, so it will be enough."

        Haruka winced slightly. "Yeah well, that's true."

        "What do you two think about our Rose Bride?" Michuru stepped up
beside Haruka to peer into the lounge. "She seems like a nice enough
girl."

        "You've got to wonder why she's involved in all of this. What
does she get out it that makes her willing to be so submissive? I mean,
'I follow the will of the person to whom I am engaged' what kind of line
is that?"

        "If we have an answer to that question, I believe we will know
the secret behind the game that is being played here," Setsuna
interjected sagely. "It is possible that Hanako is even more of a pawn
than we are intended to be."

        "A pawn, if well played, can easily become a Queen," Michuru
observed.

        "Does it really matter?" Haruka demanded. "Right at the moment,
she's harmless. I just have to keep winning those stupid duels while we
look for Usagi. If I get the Power of Miracles, or Eternity, or whatever
it is we are fighting for, all the better, but Usagi is our main focus."

        Michuru gently reached out to put a hand on Haruka's shoulder.
"Have you thought that maybe the Power of Miracles might be Usagi? Or at
least have something to do to her?"

        "Huh?"

        "All through the Sailor Wars, you and I saw her rescue corrupted
souls, even those we thought irredeemable like Hotaru and Galaxia. If
anyone can perform miracles, it is Princess Serenity."

*****

        Nanami stood in the elevator, arms crossed before her and
silhouetted against the blue sky beyond the tower. As the elevator
climbed the tower Nanami spoke. "Cloth is formed by threads woven
together to form a pattern."

        Mitsuru leant, back against the elevator wall, holding a camera
up to his eye.

        "If the pattern is flawed, then the weave will unravel." Nanami
intoned.

        Wakaba stood on Nanami's other side, staring out across the
school. She gently rested her curled fingers on her chin, looking
thoughtful.

        "The world is our weave, the duels are the flaw." Nanami
continued. "To protect our destiny, we must change the pattern. Shatter
the rose signet --"

        The elevator slid to a stop and the metal doors rattled open
revealing the student council chambers.

        "-- for the revolution of the world!" the three declared.

        Nanami stood next to the table on the balcony, staring out at the
clear blue sky. Above her head she held a yellow umbrella, from which
came the soft pitter-patter of falling rain. "We have received another
message from The World Beyond. Already the first duel has been won by a
young man by the name of Haruka Ten'ou."

        "Ten'ou is a woman," Mitsuru interjected tossing a photo of a
handsome blonde onto the table. She wore one of the more well cut light
blue men's school uniforms, but the jacket hung open, revealing a white
shirt that, while loose, failed to hide her gender. He quickly returned
to hunching over the minutes book, and scribing down the discussion.

        "A masculine woman," Wakaba added, from where she held both her
own violet umbrella and protected Mitsuru with his aqua umbrella.

        Nanami turned, frowning. "Does she not live with another girl in
an apartment off campus?"

        Mitsuru gave a quick nod, tossing a photo of an elegant girl with
aqua hair on top of the previous one. She wore one of the girl's
uniforms, and somehow managed to make the red tie and stiff, short skirt
look elegant. "Yes,  Michuru Kaiou. They are sharing their apartment with
two others."

        He tossed a photo of a slightly exotic looking woman in a pale
blue business suit. This one's hair was black with hints of a dark green
in it. "Setsuna Mehou. Job unknown, age unknown. Apparently no connection
with Ohtori, except that she too wears the signet."

        A fourth photo joined the others. This showed a young girl,
perhaps eleven or twelve, with dark hair and a pale face. She wore a
soft, sad smile on her face. "Hotaru Tomoe, again, no known relation to
any of the others. She is a student here in the junior school. Thankfully
she doesn't wear a signet."

        "My, what an interesting _family_," Wakaba commented, raising her
voice to be heard over the sound of the rain drumming on their umbrellas.

        "Be that as it may, we must discuss what actions we are to take
in the proceedings. The World Beyond directs us to interfere without
guiding us in a direction. In order to enact this plan, we must first
find out who the new duellists are."

        Mitsuru abandoned the book for a second to pull a folder out of
his bag. "I have found all twelve duellists."

        "Fifteen," Wakaba corrected. "Three have more arrived in the last
fortnight." A whistling wind joined the sound of rain, once again forcing
the student council to speak louder.

        "Ah, other than those three, I have already compiled a file
containing pictures and basic statistics of the duellists. I am afraid
their school files do not contain anything we might use." Mitsuru offered
the file to Wakaba as she leant forward.

        Nanami watched as the other girl flicked through the folder. "Can
you see what you can get us with your connections, Wakaba? I believe you
are familiar with the members of many of the clubs which participate in
interschool activities."

        "Of course, Nanami," Wakaba tossed the file to the table where it
sat amongst the photos, dry and peaceful in the still air.

        "May I ask what you'll be doing?" Mitsuru shouted above the roar
of the wind.

        "I have sources--" Nanami paused while thunder rolled across the
heavens "--of my own. Do we have any other business to discuss?"

        The other two shook their heads, not bothering to try to be heard
over the sounds of the storm.

        "Then I call this meeting of the student council to an end!"
Nanami turned and strode off into the darkness of the tower.

        Wakaba grabbed the file off the table while Mitsuru gathered up
the minutes book and his photos. He accepted his umbrella off the other
student council member, and together they headed back under cover.

*****

        Ryoko was awoken by the sound of a car door slamming outside.
Blearily she raised her head to look around the room. Stark white walls,
check; chandelier, check; poncy furniture, including the piano, check.
She was still in the common room of the dorm. 'Damn, it wasn't been a
dream.'

        She heard the clumping of feet coming down the stairs, heralding
the approach of one of her dorm mates. The door was shoved open by a
fuming Akane. Ryoko could easily see why, the tomboy had elected to wear
the girl's uniform, something Ryoko was still considering.

        On Ryoko, it might look good, she had the sexy body to wear the
tight shirt and extremely short, stiff skirt. Akane on the other hand
looked both embarrassed and embarrassing. The shirt refused to hang
properly on her rather curveless body and she didn't have the long thin
legs to show off like most of the girls at Ohtori.

        "Ryoko, stop being so lazy!" Akane snapped. "Ami has just arrived
and is having trouble with her bags. Come and help!"

        Sighing, Ryoko floated up off the sofa before remembering
herself. She quickly dropped to her feet, and glanced at Akane, feeling a
little relieved when she noticed that the tomboy had already stomped off.
While normally she wouldn't care if strangers knew about her powers, she
had decided to keep them a secret for when things went bad.

        Outside, the taxi driver was pilling bags on the curb next to
Ami. Finished, he offered her a tip of his hat before hurrying back to
the car. In moments Ami was alone on the pavement, with only a distant
cloud of dust to mark the cab's passage.

        Turning Ami regarded the building at which she had been
deposited. It was palatial in both stature and architecture. The
greeko-roman appearance of the building did not fit into modern Japan,
but looking around the neighbourhood, Ami was forced to wonder if perhaps
she wasn't in modern Japan any more. The spacious lawn surrounding a
large building that stretched out, not up, didn't really fit in with her
concepts of Japanese big city construction. Certainly they seemed grand
for student accommodation.

        Her worries were expelled when one of the two girls, Akane if she
remembered rightly, stormed out the front door. Ami looked, half in
horror, half in amusement, at the uniform Akane was wearing.

        On most of the girls Ami knew, herself included, the outfit would
have been flattering, although only a breath away from exhibitionism.
Unfortunately Akane's frame wasn't suited to it, and it was obvious that
the other girl wasn't pleased with this. She also briefly wondered who
had decided on the wide red tie added to the ensemble.

        Ryoko followed Akane out the door, arms hanging loosely. The punk
girl wasn't wearing a school uniform, instead favouring an outfit that
made Ami wonder about her fashion sense. The outfit hugged Ryoko's form,
and emphasised the girl's breasts with a rather disturbing pair of cat's
eyes. A black tail dragged lazily on the ground behind her.

        Akane's face softened as she approached the gate, and by the time
she reached Ami, the girl was smiling. "Ami, it's good to see you again!"

        "It is good to see you too Akane," she nodded. "Umm, is that the
school uniform?"

        A look of irritation passed over Akane's face. "Unfortunately. In
fact it arrived today." She gave the other girl a wry grin. "Your's came
too, I hung it up in the closest in our room."

        "Thank you." She turned to Ryoko, to find the other girl carrying
the entire pile of bags in one hand. She started at that, but decided
against commenting. "What about you Ryoko? Why aren't you in uniform?"

        A brief snort came from the other girl. "You're kidding right.
That outfit is made for perverts to look at. I'm not going to waste it
when Tenchi isn't around." She grinned and gave Ami a wink. "Actually I
got both a guys and girls. But I'm finding it tough to chose between
them, neither is really my style." She turned towards the dorm. "Come on,
let's get you moved in."

        Inside, Ami marvelled at the spacious entrance hall. A stairway
went up one side of the room to a landing that passed over the dorm
mother's office. The silence of the place, broken only by their footsteps
was eerie. "Where is everybody?"

        "What everybody?" Ryoko shot back as she mounted the staircase.

        "There doesn't seem to be anyone else in the dorm," Akane
explained. "All the other rooms are empty and locked. We have the entire
place just between the three of us."

        "It'll make holding parties easy," Ryoko added.

        "You mean we don't even have a dorm mother?"

        "I haven't seen one," Akane returned.

        "Isn't that kind of strange?"

        "Well, yes." Akane looked around. "But it's nice to be out on my
own for once." She paused looking a little uncomfortable. "I hope this
doesn't sound too strange, but I was wondering if you can cook?"

        "Yes, why?"

        Relief flooded Akane's face. "Neither Ryoko or I are very good
cooks. I was getting bored of instant noodles and curry."

        "Hey, it's not my fault that I usually cook only for myself. I
have a cast iron stomach you know!" Ryoko commented from ahead as she
turned into one of the passages.

        "And no sense of taste," Akane joked. "You enjoyed a dinner that
had me throwing up!"

        "You cooked it!"

        "Maybe when we divide up the chores, I should take most of the
cooking duties," Ami suggested. "If you two don't mind, of course."

        "Would you? Thank you."

        "Here we go!" Ryoko announced, stopping at a door. "You room."
She reached out, the pile of bags still balanced easily on one hand, and
pushed open the door. Deftly she manoeuvred the bags through the door,
before dumping them on the ground.

        Ami was amazed at the room. It was bigger than some apartments
she had seen in the city, with more than enough space for the small table
in the centre of the room. One wall was taken up by a pair of bunks, the
lower of which was unmade, marking it as Akane's. Opposite them sat two
oaken writing desks, one pristine, the other covered in books and scraps
of paper. A single window adorned the window opposite the door, and the
closet that Akane had talked about sat next to the latter.

        "This is a student's room?"

        "Personally I can't see why anyone would want avoid this place,"
Ryoko commented. "I ain't seen a single ghost the whole time I've been
staying here?"

        "Ghost?"

        Akane nodded, her face taking a solemn and secretive cast.
"Rumour has it that this dorm is haunted, and that's why nobody stays
here.

        "It is said that the last two people who lived here left under
mysterious circumstances. One vanished one night while both slept soundly
in this very room. The next morning when the other awoke she found the
only other living thing in the dorm to be a horrid creature that she
found eating its way through the food in the pantry. She left the school
and dedicated her to life wandering the world looking for her friend, the
strange creature her only companion." She laughed, breaking the mood. "At
least that was one tale I heard. Another was that they moved into the
Chairman's wing and something scandalous happened there that caused them
both to transfer to another school."

        "How long have you two been here?" Ami asked.

        Ryoko shrugged. "Me, about two weeks. Her five days."

        "You came here the day after we talked?"

        "Sure, nothing keeping me at home. Just had to say goodbye to
Nobuyuki and the old man, then grab a lift with Ryo-ohki, and wham, I'm
here."

        "Ryo-ohki? Was not that the name of your pet?" Ami looked around.
"Where is she?"

        "Come to think of it, I haven't seen the little carrot muncher
around all day," Akane added.

        "Oh, she's out exploring. She'll come back when she's hungry."
She cocked her head to one side. "Ah, that voice sounds familiar." She
squeezed past the other two and out the door.

        "Wha?" Ami and Akane stared at each for a second, before
straining to hear the distant voice calling out Ryoko's name.

*****

        Mitsuru spotted her across the cafe. It wasn't hard, since she
still habitually wore the massive spatula on her back stuck up above the
crowd. She wore, as usual, one of the men's uniforms, but not one of the
stylishly cut ones that he now remembered another girl wearing so many
years ago. Instead she could easily have passed as "one of the boys", and
her school record informed him that she indeed had many times.

        Still, unlike his fellow students, Mitsuru had trained himself to
spot the hidden potential in another. With this skill he had excelled at
his favourite hobby, photography. As he gazed on Ukyo Kounji he could see
a cute girl, with a fragile happiness covering a deep pain. Some day, he
was sure, she would blossom into a beautiful woman, if she let herself.

        And as he stared, he realised that she was looking for an empty
seat. He waved at her, a gesture she noticed and headed over.

        "This seat is free, if you don't mind sharing a table," he
offered.

        She smiled at him brightly, before placing her tray on the table.
"Thank you... ah..." she trailed off as she started to pull her spatula
from her back.

        He nodded his head. "Mitsuru Tsuwabuki. I'm the secretary on the
student council."

        "Oh, pleased to meet you. I'm Ukyo Kounji, I just transferred to
this school."

        Mitsuru gave her a charming smile. "I thought so. I didn't
recognise you, and I pay attention to the faces around me." He gently
sliced a piece of meet from his lunch.

        "Really?" Ukyo shifted uncomfortably.

        "Yes, it's for my hobby," he waved his fork at the camera sitting
on the table. "I like taking pictures of students around the school. A
number of people have modelled for me in the past, but I'm always on the
look out for more talent."

        "Oh, and I caught your eye?"

        "Well yes," Mitsuru smiled. "We don't get many girls who are
daring enough to wear a boy's uniform, and most can't pull it off as well
as you." He paused, acting as if thinking for a moment. "In fact I can
think of only one other, and she left before I took up photography."

        Ukyo leaned forward across the table, a gleam in her eye. "So, do
you want me to pose for you?"

        "I'm not sure. The student council takes up so much of my time
now. I'm afraid I just can't drop everything and take pictures of some
pretty girl." He smiled. "Can I ask you a question?"

        "Shoot."

        "Why do you carry that around?" he indicated the large spatula.
"You really shouldn't."

        "Oh. Habit I guess," she replied. "I use it in my martial art,
and at my last school you always needed to be ready to fight."

        "You must be relieved that Ohtori has a no strict no fighting
policy."

        Ukyo wilted a little. "I'm not really sure. There are a few
people I've seen around that I would love to pound into the ground."

        "Oh?" Mitsuru smiled. "Not me I hope."

        Ukyo brightened again. "No, definitely not you."

        Mitsuru glanced at his watch, then frowned. "I'm sorry, I must
go, important student council business." He stood, sliding in his chair.
"I hope we can eat lunch again like this."

*****

        "Ryoko!"

        "Miya!" Ryo-ohki was glad to have her playmate and perch back.
She looked happily over sky blue pigtails sprouting from the hair atop
Sasami's head. The happy little girl wore an Ohtori uniform similar,
except that she had added the embellishment of a pair of small pompoms
the hung just below her neck on her back.

        The girl next to her glanced around, a little embarrassed by her
friend's exuberance. "Sasami, maybe she isn't around." Hotaru was a
fairly tall girl for her age, who, until recently, had spent most of her
day in a sick bed. The resulting pale skin made a stunning counterpart
for her glossy black hair, adding to her fragile appearance. The frail
look didn't quite reach her eyes, though. A single glance in those deep
purple pools found the determination of a survivor.

        "Sasami!" Hotaru turned to see a spiky haired woman in an outfit
that looked like a cat's face leap over the banister and drop to the
floor with practiced ease.

        "Ryoko!" Her young friend dashed over to the woman. "How long
have you been here? Why haven't you been around to visit sister Aeka and
me?"

        Ryoko smiled happy at the young girl. "Hey, sorry, but you guys
never sent me the address. How was I supposed to know?"

        "Oh yeah, I kept forgetting." Sasami dimmed a little as a
thoughtful look passed over her face. "I wonder why?"

        "Doesn't matter now. You're welcome to come visit anytime you
want. Maybe we can get everyone together and have a party." She looked
over at the dark haired girl standing not far away. "You can even invite
your friend here."

        Sasami brightened again. "Ryoko, this is a friend I met here in
Ohtori. She's just moved here too."

        Hotaru stepped forward. "Hello, my name is--"

        "Hotaru?!" the cry from the upper level startled all three,
causing them to look up. Ami was hurrying along the balcony, Akane close
in tow.

        "Ami? What are you doing in Ohtori?" Hotaru asked.

        "I was about to ask you the same question," Ami returned as she
came off the stairway to walk over to the small gathering. "Wait, if you
are here, then..." She paused. "Are Haruka and Michuru here too?"

        Hotaru nodded. "And Setsuna-mama too."

        "They're looking for Usagi too then," Ami mused. "Interesting."

        "You four all know each other?" Akane inquired, looking between
them.

        "Small galaxy, ain't it." Ryoko chuckled. "Sasami here is the
younger sister of my rival for Tenchi. Despite that, we get along great."

        "Miya!" Ryo-ohki added.

        Ami nodded. "Hotaru and I met through another friend. She wasn't
feeling very well at the time, and we all worried about her."

        "Ami, you're wearing a ring!" Hotaru exclaimed, then placed her
hands over her mouth.

        "Wow, Hotaru, you know someone who's in the duels too?!" Sasami
cried.

        Hotaru nodded slowly. "I'm not supposed to talk about it."

        "Why not? Everyone here has one..." Ryoko waved her hand with her
own ring, "...or in Sasami's case knows about it."

        "Yeah, my sister Aeka, Washuu and Mihoshi all have rings! And
Ryoko too now!"

        "Miya!" Ryo-ohki agreed from the top of her head.

        "Well, I suppose it's okay then."

        "Hotaru, do Michuru, Haruka and Setsuna all have rings?" Ami
inquired.

        "Yes, and Haruka-papa won the last duel. She says that means
everyone is going to be challenging her from now on."

        Ami turned to stare at Akane and Ryoko. "I see."

*****

        The student cafeteria at Ohtori was unlike anything any student
would have believed. The food was gourmet quality, and supplied without
cost to the students. The staff were helpful and pleasant, always willing
to go that extra distance for students with special or just unusual
needs. And then there was the seating.

        The main eating area was a spacious covered square surrounded by
pillared arches. While the many tables were large, only four chairs sat
at each table, allowing much space for the dinners. Even at the height of
lunchtime, the room held an atmosphere that encouraged quite discussion,
as opposed to the cacophonic conversations often found in public dining
places.

        "Where is she?" Haruka demanded, looking around.

        "I'm sure she has just met a friend and lost track of time,
Haruka-sama," Hanako offered before Michuru could. "Hotaru-chan seems
more than able to take care of herself." The Rose Bride smiled sweetly
when Haruka glared at her.

        "Hanako is right, Haruka," Michuru added. "I doubt Hotaru can get
into much trouble on school grounds, and she knows not to leave the
grounds without supervision."

        Haruka frowned. "Don't forget, she's had trouble with bullies
before."

        "Those reasons don't exist anymore." Setsuna scowled, thinking
back to when the other personality that had dwelt within Hotaru had
lashed out violently at the girl's friends. In the end Hotaru had become
shunned as a freak by her schoolmates.

        "Oh, that kind of thing would never happen at Ohtori," Hanako
interjected. "Nanami-senpei would be most displeased, and everyone seems
to dislike her in that mood." The other three looked at her in interest.

        "The student council president?" Michuru inquired. "Why would she
be so against it?"

        "A memory of an old friend, I believe she says," Hanako replied.
"Although I've heard that she was involved in similar before she took her
place on the council."

        "Sounds like our Student Council president is a very complex
person," Haruka commented.

        Hanako smiled sweetly. "More than you think, I imagine. I have
found that is the way with people."

        Haruka stared at the quiet girl for a few seconds, and was about
to reply when she sensed a presence behind her. She turned slowly to find
an unexpected sight. "Makoto?"

        The pony-tailed senshi smiled and nodded. "Haruka, Michuru,
Setsuna, nice to see you." She grabbed a chair, dragging it towards the
table. "Mind if I join you?"

        "Of course," Michuru replied, "please do."

        Makoto looked across the table at Hanako. "Haruka, I hear you got
engaged recently. Congratulations."

        Haruka's face darkened. "You're involved in this too?"

        Makoto held up her hand, showing them the ring there. "I thought
I was the only one in our little group to get one. Guess I was wrong."
She turned to look at Setsuna and Michuru. "And you?" The others nodded.

        "What of the others?" Michuru inquired.

        Makoto replied with a shrug. "Minako managed to convince her
family to send her here with me, so she brought Artemis along. Last time
I saw Ami, she was head down in a book, trying to tune everything out,
and Raye's... well, she's just Raye."

        Haruka snorted. "Sounds like the Sailor Team has fallen apart."

        "What's it to you?" Makoto snapped. She paused briefly, forcing
the anger off her face. "Anyway, I was wondering, what are you three
doing? I thought your territory was out there. You know, beyond the solar
system."

        Haruka snorted. "Like that mattered to you guys, you were always
treading on our toes."

        "And it's a good thing we did, or we would have lost!" Makoto
snapped back.

        "Makoto," Setsuna interjected soothingly, "our domain is things
not of this world at this time. Ohtori has an otherworldly and eternal
field about it."

        "Besides which, WE were invited!" Haruka added. Across the table
Michuru groaned quietly.

        "So was I!" Makoto returned.

        "A token gesture," Haruka returned with a snort. "Can you do
anything without your FRIENDS?" She twisted the last word, spitting it
like an insult.

        "Just watch me!" Makoto growled, leaning forward her face a
barely controlled mask of fury.

        Haruka gave a short bark of laughter. "If you think you can do
better, maybe you should challenge me to the duels."

        Makoto leapt to her feat. "I'll do that! Be at the duelling arena
after school!" She spun and stormed off, knocking aside another girl in
boy's uniform as she went.

*****

        The children danced in a circle, cavorting around their caregiver
as Morrison dancers do a maypole. "Story time. Story time," they chanted.
As one they stopped and bowed low to the woman. "Please tell us a story?"

        "Settle down, now children," the woman said. The children
gathered before her, one bringing a chair on which she could sit.

        Smiling she started her tale. "Once upon a time - for all great
stories start so - there were two knights of a kingdom fair."

        On the wall behind her popped up two shadows, both bulked up as
if clothed in heavy armour. One wore a ribbon in her hair, and the other
braids hanging out from her head.

        "Both knights, who were friends of old, sought the favour of the
Queen for a tourney that approached," the Narrator told them, "but this
lead to unfortunate circumstances, for the Queen could but favour one
competitor at a time."

        "My friend, I wish you to step aside in this quest," announced
the braided shadow, swinging the shadow of a sword. "Our swords should
not meet in this manner."

        The shadow with the ribbon also brandished its sword. "I too seek
not to come to blows with you! However I will not falter in my pursuit of
our Lady's favour."

        "Then, old friend, we must fight!" The braided shadow stabbed
forward, a blow his opponent failed to deflect.

        "And so," continued the Narrator, "the knight did defeat his
friend, winning the right to seek the Queen's favour. A rare prize
indeed, for a lady's favour brings luck in battle."

        "Now there is nothing that stands in my way!" the remaining
knight declared, standing victorious.

        Again a shadow popped up beside her, its body covered in the
silhouette of a fabulous ball gown and a crown sitting atop the ribbon on
her head. "But surely, oh brave knight, you must know that I can only
favour my husband, the King, in the coming tourney."

*****

        Minako looked up the stairs with trepidation. The forest was
foreboding at the best of times, but the setting sun had painted dark
shadows amongst the closely knit trees. The entrance to the forest, an
ornate gateway inset into the stone wall that surrounded it, was lit, but
from the angle she stood, she could see nothing inside.

        "Are you sure your going to be alright?" she asked, of her
friend.

        "I'm sure," Makoto replied. Minako however noted a slight tremor
in her voice.

        "Here, Haruka should be waiting." Minako held out the sword she
held in her hands. "Take care of it and it will serve you cookies," she
said solemnly.

Taking the sword, Makoto looked her friend in the eye. "Minako, you sure
know how to spoil a moment." She smiled. "But thank you anyway."

        She was three steps up the stairs when a second voice called out.
"Makoto." She turned back to look at the white cat standing next to her
friend. "Don't fight with your anger, you can't win like that."

        Makoto nodded once, then turned to ascend once more.

        The entrance groto was stone, with basins to either side of a
raised pathway. A gateway stood at the far end, a relief of a bird in
flight looming over it. Ignoring all of this, Makoto confidently strode
down and gripped the ornate handle in the centre of the gate.

        She watched the drop of water fall away from glossy black pool to
strike the ring on her finger and turned at the sudden sound of falling
water behind her. Rivers of water were following from the top of the
wall, filling the basins with water, that then flowed out and down past
the stairs she had just come up. Turning back once again, Makoto saw the
gateway finish opening, the relief above it now fanned out to form a
rose.

        Moving forward, Makoto passed through the gate into the forest
beyond. The pathway became a cobblestone pavement, lined with ancient
lamps and beyond that the darkness of the dense forest. Briskly, she
moved along towards the ancient support that rose into the air above the
forest.

        Without a thought, she mounted the stairway the spiralled around
the column, taking her up and up and up and up and up. She past the tree
tops, passing into the darkening sky. Around her the sky seemed to be
arcing up to a peak, somewhere above the column, like the tip of an egg.

        Light filtered down over the lip of the arena above, and as
Makoto approached she caught sight of something she had only read about
in the letters from "Ends of the World."

        Above the arena, in the apex of the sky dome, floated a castle of
light, its parapets and towers reaching down towards the arena. As Makoto
looked up, stars danced in and out of its windows, and the lines seemed
to blur like a half remembered dream.

        "So, you had the courage to join us after all," Haruka sneered.

        Makoto lowered her gaze to stare at the other Senshi. Haruka
stood, still wearing her dark blue men's uniform, only now a few
interesting touches had been added. A brass bar now padded each shoulder,
and a single tassel hung down from her right shoulder to tie into the
centre. White silk tails had been added to the bottom of the jacket.

        Not far away from her stood Hanako Asano, the rose bride. Her red
hair still streamed down her back, only instead of the school uniform she
always seemed to wear, she was now clothed in a long scarlet dress the
billowed out at her waist to reach down to touch the ground. As always,
she wore a sweet smile.

        "Of course I came," Makoto returned calmly. "You should know I
never run from a fight."

        Haruka smirked for a second. "Well then, shall we begin?"

        "Aren't you forgetting something? Like a sword."

        Again, Haruka replied with a smirk. "Let me show you one
advantage of being engaged to the rose bride. Hanako, prepare us!"

        "Yes, Haruka-sama." Hanako turned, and stepped up to Haruka, a
rose in her hand. As she stepped away, Makoto could she it was a delicate
flower with a pink centre and splashes of gold on the tips of petals.
Hanako then stepped up to Makoto herself. Looking down, Makoto saw a rose
whose petals that faded from a golden heart to a beautiful orange at
their tips.

        "Thank you, Hanako," Makoto smiled at the girl, who returned the
smile.

        Returning to Haruka's side, Hanako took a deep breath, and
reached up to the other girl's chest. "Oh rose of Devotion," a small
glowing glob appeared beneath the girls hand, "reveal the power sleeping
within," Hankao gripped the globe, "and grant us the power..." as Haruka
arched back, Hanako drew forward a long bejewelled blade.

        "...to revolutionise the world!" Haruka finished, taking the
sword in one hand and wrapping the other around Hanako.

*****

        On a balcony not far away, three pairs of watched the arena with
interest. Nanami lowered her opera glasses briefly. "Curious, when we
first duelled, the champion drew the sword from the bride. It wasn't
until later that the situation reversed."

        Mitsuru looked up from where he lay staring through the telefocus
lens of his camera. "Maybe it is a sign that Ends of the World is
starting where he left off."

        Wakaba stopped squinting through her telescope long enough to
look at the other two for a moment. "Or maybe it happens differently
every time."

        Above them, in the office of the chairman, a dark skinned man
watched the proceedings. He simply leaned against one of the archways, a
glass in one hand, smirking. "Excellent, it begins again."

*****

        Makoto raised an eyebrow. "Tell me that isn't the sword I think
it."

        Haruka examined the blade as Hanako retreated back some distance.
"It certainly resembles it." She grinned, lowering the sword to point at
Makoto. "Shall we find out?"

        Makoto raised her own sword to salute Haruka, then lowered it
into the enguarde position Minako had taught her. "As you wish."

        Haruka dove forward, her blade flashing in the light of the
castle. Makoto easily deflected the blow, then feinted around, to strike
at Haruka's flower. Haruka leapt back, grinning.

        "I see you've been learning. Where did you find a teacher?"
Haruka sword flashed out again, and Makoto dodged backwards.

        "Minako, that's why she insisted she come with me." Makoto
sidestepped another jab, and then struck out.

        Haruka deftly parried the blow. "She knows how to fence? Seems a
little too flaky to me." She slid the sword along Makoto's, and then
pulled up hoping to snag the other's rose.

        Makoto twisted aside, slashing out with her sword. "Minako's been
a senshi longer than any of us! Leave her out of this!"

        Haruka arched back to avoid the wild swing then stabbed forward,
hoping to push the other girl off guard. "You and the others are WEAK!"
She stabbed forward again, pushing Makoto further back. "Look at the way
you rely on each other." Another thrust sent Makoto back another few
steps. "Ami or Rei has to think or sense things." A fourth thrust forced
Makoto back further. "You and Minako bring strength and skill!" Her sword
dove in again, this time striking dangerously close to Makoto's rose.
"And without Usagi, you are all NOTHING!" She struck out again, her sword
flying straight towards the rose.

        Makoto reeled back, overbalancing and falling back. "How dare
you?" Makoto cried as she struck the ground.

        Haruka stood over her fallen opponent, sword directed at the
rose. "How dare I? Because I have strength. I only work with others
because we are stronger together, not because we are weak alone!"

        "HOW DARE YOU!" Makoto's sword flashed upwards, forcing Haruka
back. She followed up pushing herself up off the ground, somersaulting
upwards. At the peak of her leap, a lightning forked down from the
castle, striking the twisting girl. Electricty and light played across
Makoto's body, then arced out to form three rings around her. In a burst
of bright green she vanished, forcing those watching to look away or
shield their faces.

*****

        On the balcony the three watchers made no comment, just continued
to stare, with the click and whirr of Mitsuru's camera. However the
watching above them reacted differently. The smirk fell from his face,
even as his drink fell from his hand, the glass shattering on the ground.

*****

        Sailor Jupiter tightened her gaze to focus her opponent. She
stood in the skintight white leotard with pink bows and a short green
skirt around her waist. A golden tiara adorned her brow, a single green
gem resting in the centre of her forehead.

        "I may not be as smart as Ami, or have experience like Minako,
Rei's spiritual talents, or even be as loving as Usagi. But they are my
friends despite that!" She raised her sword, diving forward. "THAT'S WHY
I LOVE THEM!"

        There was a clash of metal on metal as sword meet sword, then
silence. Haruka turned to see Sailor Jupiter kneeling on the arena floor,
panting heavily. Slowly the other girl stood, and turned, revealing the
rose still whole upon her chest, even as the pink and gold petals floated
past Haruka's face, born away by the winds.

        Bells rung out, announcing a new engagement.

*****

        Akio stared out across the empty sky. "How? How is it possible?
Are you favouring this girl? Why? She is no prince, she has little
nobility. Why does she have this power?"

        Even as he mused on these questions, a level beneath him, a
curtain fell back into place over a window that looked into the only
bedroom in the Chairman's wing.

*****

        _1_ 2 3 _1_ 2 3

        Two golden and pink petals waltzed through the air up and over
Ohtori. They twisted and bobbed in the winds. As they floated up and
closer to the sun, one's colour faded, becoming pure white, while the
other darkened, becoming purple.

        _1_ 2 3 _1_ 2 3

        The white and purple petal continued their dance, floating higher
and higher. They passed above the tower of Ohtori, twisting around to
climb upwards, past a ghostly image that floated above the school.

        _1_ 2 3 _1_ 2 3

        A flash of light. Two girls waltzed upon the sky blue carpet. One
wore princely suit of white, the other the purple grown of a princess.

        "Friendship is such a fragile thing," the princess murmured, as
she was held in her prince's arms.

        _1_ 2 3 _1_ 2 3

        Smiling, the prince continued to lead her partner in the dance.
"Is it?"

        "It is so easily abandoned, so easily twisted by jealousy and
envy." The princess inquired.

        _1_ 2 3 _1_ 2 3

        "Friendship is a living thing. The more often it is tested, the
stronger it becomes." The prince replied. "Her strength came from the
friendship she shared, even if she had abandoned it." A gentle smile. "A
friend will return to you, if you return to them."

        _1_ 2 3 _1_ 2 3

*****

        "Are you sure you want to do this Makoto?" Minako inquired.

        The senshi of nature nodded. "Yes." She reached out, to gasp the
receiver with a shaking hand. "We should have done it when we first
started. Thankfully it is not too late now." She smiled. "But Usagi would
say it could never be too late."

        Makoto lifted the telephone, then dialled. "Hello, Rei, we have
to talk."

---------

Author's Notes:
        A realisation hit me as I was writing Makoto's ascension up to
the arena. I could see the dome like shape of the sky in my mind's eye,
and had always dismissed it as an artefact of production, except that it
was a nice touch to add to the description, so I decided to include it. As
I was reaching for a metaphor or simile to describe it, I realised it was
an egg, with the world nestled in the wide end, and the castle floating
at the thinner "sharper" end. I'm not sure if this image was indeed
intended by the creators, but it's there, and is too fitting to give up.


-----------
David Farr
http://homepages.ihug.co.nz/~djfarr/
djfarr@ihug.co.nz        katsuhito@planetjurai.com
"I wonder, I wonder. Do you know what I wonder?"
   - The Shadow Play Girls, Revolutionary Girl Utena 


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