To reply, post publically or e-mail the author at <arromdee@rahul.net>
Enjoy!
The FFML Refugee List
Here's the new chapter.
This whole fic may be very relevant to the "if I were a magical girl"
thread.
:-)
Sailor Moon: Strategy and Tactics
by Ken Arromdee
Chapter 3
Usagi, Ami, and Rei, at the moment, were sharing the biggest problem in
Usagi's life, which happened to be an upcoming science test. Ami's mother
was going to be home late, so it was just them; just three teenage girls who
worried about school (even Ami did at times), nonexistent boyfriends... and
occasionally saving the city from evil. In the calm of the past two weeks,
evil had been slowly dropping down on the scale, which Usagi was glad for;
she
didn't think she'd relish fighting a constant stream of youmas.
"... and the chemical formula for salt?" asked Ami.
The last question. They'd be finished soon. "Sodium chloride", replied
Usagi, crossing her fingers behind her back where Ami couldn't see it.
Usagi
knew that though Ami was a very sweet person, when it came to helping other
people study for tests she showed little mercy.
"That's right" said Ami, smiling just slightly at Usagi.
"Well, that's all over", said Rei. "Goiod luck on the test. Now why
don't we go to the arcade and..." She noticed Usagi frowning a little bit,
almost like she did when she kept forgetting all those chemical formulas.
Usagi really needed to loosen up, thought Rei; she should forget about tests
except when actually taking them or studying for them. Grabbing Usagi's
hand,
she got up and ran for the door.
"Let go of me!" yelled Usagi. "Rei, I...."
"Now we're going to have some fun, Usagi. Stop moping about that test!"
"It's not the test, Rei. It's Sailor Senshi stuff. We have to find the
other Senshi and the Princess. I didn't do it Friday, because we were
having ice cream. Saturday and Sunday were the weekend. I didn't do it
Monday because we had a test then too. I didn't do it Tuesday because they
were showing a 6 hour Hime-chan's Ribbon marathon. And on Wednesday we were
all at the mall! We have to do it sometime."
"So each day you put it off just a little bit more until you got nervous
enough that you have to do it right now at this very moment?"
"Ah... er... you don't have to put it that way, Rei."
"Come on, let's go. What do you need to do for this anyway?"
"I was going to go through the phone book and check all the names with
the
right kanji... Wait, I know. I have an even better idea!"
Now that sounded like Usagi, thought Rei, not realizing that
spontaneously
generating ideas was really something Usagi was still pretty new at.
"We girls can all go to the arcade after all. And Luna can make all the
phone calls. You can't see that someone's a cat if they're on the phone. I
just know you'd be glad to help us all in our quest to fight evil, right,
Luna? It'll be great!" She talked so fast that Luna could hardly get a
word
in edgewise.
* * * * *
The girls arrived back at Ami's house at ten PM, pockets and purses
empty
of all change. Usagi and Rei were smiling, having reached the end of
Gradius
by playing together. Ami was smiling, having gotten a new high score on
Tetris. Luna, left all alone in the apartment, had an open phone book in
front
of her and wasn't smiling.
"Poor Luna", said Usagi. "It must have been bad in here. Let me get
you
some milk."
"You're the one that left me here, Usagi!"
"You could have said 'no'. I wouldn't have made you do it."
Luna looked at Usagi's innocent face. Did she mean it, wondered Luna.
And the cat realized: there was no doubt; Usagi did mean it. She had
honestly thought that Luna was the best choice to do the job at the time;
the fact that it gave the girls a chance go to the arcade made it more
convenient, but that was all.
"Luna?" wondered Usagi.
"Well, it's okay, but next time, Usagi, we should discuss this a little
longer, okay?"
"Okay?" answered Usagi with a bit of hesitation.
The cat nodded and began her explanation. "There are a hundred and
fifty
names in the phone book that start with 'ki' as in 'Jupiter'. I checked
thirty
of them. None of them have any girls your age in the house, or if they did,
they wouldn't tell it to someone taking polls."
Usagi nodded. "It's our turn now... Luna, are you upset? We're going
to do the rest of the names; I'll get you some milk and you can watch TV for
a while." And again she didn't let Luna get a word in edgewise.
* * * * *
Almost an hour later, Usagi was pretty tired of checking names. The
girls
were taking turns, but even then they didn't have enough time to do much
except chat and occasionally play some of a video game between turns; Usagi
had never used the pause button as many times before in her life. She
crossed
off another name, "Kinomoto Sakura", as Ami finished a call, and she poked
her
finger at the list to pick her own name. "Kino Makoto".
Usagi handed the game controller to Rei, hoping Rei wouldn't get her
character killed, as she dialed the phone. It rang three times and a girl
answered. "Hello?" said the girl.
"Hi, is this Kino-san? I'm Tsukino Usagi, it's a strange question, but
I need to know. You sound as old as me. Are you around fourteen years
old?"
"I..." responded the girl. She sounded very sad. "You're right, I am.
Why are you calling me?"
That was enough to know what Usagi needed to know. She could come over
with the others and Luna and the transformation pen, and see if this really
was Sailor Jupiter. She could put the phone down now... but she wouldn't.
The girl was obviously upset. "I'm sorry about that, I'm really sorry.
It's
something I can't just talk about without you thinking I'm nuts...."
"You're not one of the gang, are you? Spreading rumors, laughing at me
behind my back because they won't dare do it to my face. Everyone seems to
be
taking Sempai's side." What was this girl involved in? Trouble of some
kind,
Usagi knew. She may need some help.
"I'm not any such thing! They sound like very mean people. If... if
you
want to talk to me you can, okay? I'll listen. I won't do whatever those
people in your class would do."
The girl on the other end paused. Maybe she was thinking it over. And
then the words came out in a flurry. "Sempai dumped me for another girl and
everyone thinks I did something to him, that I hurt him or something. The
whole class is taking his side because they never liked me to begin with."
She started crying. "And the teachers don't care.... Sempai was the one
person who didn't hate me... I thought he really loved me... and now it's
down to nobody."
Usagi listened earnestly, and looked around herself... only to see Rei,
Ami, and Luna all crowded around her. Ami blushed a little when Usagi
looked
at her. She covered the phone mouth and told them "I don't know if you
heard that but the girl sounds really really upset. She says that everyone
hates her. I want to go visit her even without all the Sailor Senshi stuff.
What do you think?"
"There are still a lot of names left", said Rei. "We should see if
there
are any more before going."
"Yeah, but she was so upset. If she's the right one we can do it
tomorrow
or sometime else."
"Who is that?" asked the girl on the phone. "And who are you with
anyway?"
"I go to Juuban Junior High" explained Usagi. "It's not your school...
I
don't know the people in your class... I'm just calling because it's a
mission and we have to call a lot of people whether I want to or not. I
wish
I could tell you now but there's no way to. Do you really not have any
friends? Why don't we all come over and we can meet you for real?"
"I... oh, sure. I need some company here. There's nobody around."
Nobody, wondered Usagi? The girl didn't even have parents? "I'll be
right over. The address in the phone book says it's not that far from here
at
all."
"I... I'll be waiting."
* * * * *
Makoto had been trusting enough of this unknown stranger to invite her
over. Perhaps she just wanted to be able to trust someone. And Usagi had
trusted Makoto enough to be willing to come over in the first place.
Usagi knocked on the door, with Ami, Rei, and Luna waiting with her. A
tall girl, several inches taller than Rei, let alone her, answered. "Are
you
Kino Makoto?" she asked.
"That's me" said the girl. "I don't know what this is about, but come
on in. But I should warn you, I'm strong and I know martial arts."
"I..." said Usagi. "How do I say this? We all came over for something
else, but it sounds terrible what happened to you. People hate each other
for such silly things. Like people pick on Umino at school, they say things
about coconut-fried shrimp and inchworms. They say that the nail that
sticks
up gets hammered down. But please could you just try one thing?"
"What?" replied Makoto.
Usagi handed Makoto a pen. "Hold this in the air and say 'Jupiter
Power,
Make Up'. It's got to be right, you're so tall and strong and Jupiter is
the
biggest planet. If we're right you're one of us...."
"That's weird. You're not trying to initiate me into a street gang,
are you?"
"No! Just do it. I promise it's all I'll ask you to do."
Makoto looked at the pen and held it up, saying the phrase. She
transformed, and looked down at herself in disbelief. "Wow..." she said.
Usagi smiled. "I knew it! You're Sailor Jupiter. I'm secretly Sailor
Moon. Ami here is Sailor Mercury and Rei is Sailor Mars." She pointed at
the
cat. "This is Luna. She talks and gives me advice that I follow
sometimes."
The three girls all got their pens out and shouted their transformation
phrases. Makoto watched them all spin and magically change clothing,
amazed.
"Now that that's over", asked Sailor Moon, "can we come in?"
* * * * *
"... and that's why I was thinking of switching schools" explained
Makoto.
"At least I can start again, no rumors, not having to look every day at a
guy
who dumped me...."
"Is that really a good idea, Mako-chan?" wondered Usagi. "You can't run
away from problems. I wish I could, but every time I do it I have to do
them
anyway and then I have to rush!"
"It was just a thought. I really don't know. Maybe I won't. It's nice
of
you to be here anyway... would you like me to get something for you? I have
cake left... I just made it yesterday and I'd be glad to have someone else
eat it."
"We already had dessert", replied Ami.
"But that doesn't matter", added Usagi quickly, whispering "Don't spoil
it"
to Ami.
Makoto brought back the cake and some milk, and Usagi, Rei, and Makoto
began to eat. "Now", said Usagi between bites, "we have the rest of the
Senshi to find, and the Princess... There's still Earth, Venus, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto... Oh, never mind. �'m tired. We can go
looking
some other day.
* * * * *
There were lots of next steps Usagi could take. But the one that
interested her the most was finding out the truth about Tuxedo Mask. He
did look exactly like Mamoru, but could that be coincidence? She didn't
know.
"Usagi!" yelled Haruna.
"Oh... teacher... what is it?"
"You're not paying attention in class. Usagi, what's a square root?"
Usagi tried to remember. "It's the ratio of the circumference of a
square
to its diameter?"
"No! You're not going to amount to anything if you keep dozing in class
and never pay attention to what I'm saying."
"I was not dozing in class! I was just thinking about how to..." Usagi
frowned. There was no way she could tell her about her Sailor Moon
troubles.
"Never mind. I'm sorry, Miss Haruna."
Haruna blinked. "You're sorry? You sounded like you meant that
honestly.
That's not like you. Usagi, is something wrong? Are you sick?" She walked
forwards.
"I'm not sick, Miss Haruna. There's just something that's been on my
mind a lot lately."
Haruna put her hand on Usagi's head. "You seem okay."
"Teacher..." said Usagi.
"Yes?"
"I don't get it. You want me to study. You want me to pay attention
and
you want me to act all grown up. But if I say something that's the
slightest
bit close to being grown up, you start to think that I'm sick and I can't
really mean it and there's no way in the world I could talk like that. It's
hard being me, Miss Haruna! If you want me to act grown up and smart you
should think I really mean it when I do it."
* * * * *
After school, Usagi was excited. "She just walked away! I didn't get
any
detention, Naru. I can't believe that worked. But I wonder if I should
tell
her...."
"What do you mean?" wondered Naru as she walked along with Usagi.
"I wonder if I should tell you too" continued Usagi. "I'm going to have
to. I'm going to have to tell everyone, but it's so big...."
"Before someone dies? Usagi, are you sure you're not sick?"
"Naru-chan, I think I will. I'm going to tell you. But can you keep a
secret? The biggest secret you ever had to keep?"
"Well, Usagi, I think I could."
"You have to be sure!" said Usagi. "It's not an 'I'm in love with
Motoki'
sort of thing, or a 'I'd like to borrow 500 yen' thing. It's a lot bigger
than that. Can you do it? For real? Please...."
Naru blinked. "You're in love with Motoki?"
"I just think he's cute. I don't know if that counts."
"Aww, everyone thinks he's cute. So what's your secret, Usagi? I
promise,
cross my heart and hope to die, that I'll never tell anyone your secret even
if they paid me and gave me a 100 on every test."
Usagi looked around and saw nobody watching. Besides, if she didn't
have
any problems with bystanders watching when there was an actual battle, she
probably wouldn't have any now. "I'm Sailor Moon." She summoned her wand
and
yelled "Moon Prism Power, MAKE UP!"
"Wow!" exclaimed Naru.
Well, thought Usagi, that's at least less embarrassing than 'I knew it
all
along', which she was half expecting.
"No wonder you two looked so much alike... say, do you know Sailor V?
I really want to meet her."
"Naru, I only know Sailor Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter."
"You don't know Sailor Venus?"
"Sailor Venus?"
"That's what V stands for."
"What makes you think something like that?"
"Well I heard her give a speech once and she says that she's Sailor
Venus, so I just bet that's who she is."
"Oh. That's cool. Say, Naru-chan, do you want to meet the others that
I
do know?"
Naru nodded eagerly.
"I just have to ask them first. I guess it'll have to wait...."
* * * * *
The three other Senshi looked at Usagi in disbelief, but it was Luna who
finally spoke her mind. "You told her *what*?" she screeched.
"I told her I'm Sailor Moon, Luna. We're all going to have to tell
everyone."
"Usagi, there's no need to--"
"Listen, Luna. I'm supposed to lead the Sailor Senshi... if I am I
have
to make decisions like this. I know you give me advice but I had to decide
it myself. It's my job."
"But you didn't even *ask* for advice."
"I had been thinking about it but it was a little spur-of-the-moment.
Besides, I know what you would have said. You would have told me not to do
it."
"Of course I would. What benefit would you get from telling everyone?"
"Well to begin with, I wouldn't find that I can't transform because if I
did I'll reveal my true identity. And if I tell the teachers... and I
didn't,
Luna, I just told Naru so far... I'd be able to fight a youma without it
making me late for school... and if I tell Mom and Dad nobody would die if
I was grounded and I couldn't leave to rescue someone like I had to leave in
the middle of the night to rescue Naru."
"But that'll put your friends and family in danger, Usagi."
"Luna, they're already in danger. Naru got attacked by the first youma
and
even I didn't know who I was then! The next person to get attacked was
Umino. Then it was Naru again, and then Miss Haruna and then my brother.
My friends and family can't be in any more danger than they already are. At
least this way I'll be able to protect them without so much trouble.
Besides,
I got some good information from Naru."
Luna sighed. "Okay, tell us your 'good information'."
"Sailor V is Sailor Venus."
"Why would she know something like that?"
"Because Sailor Venus says it? It's not supposed to be a secret that
she's
Sailor Venus, if she says it every time. We just happened never to see her,
and never hear her say it, that's all."
"So our next mission is..." said Luna.
"... the same as always, Luna. Wait for the next youma."
"I think that isn't what she means, dumpling head" said Rei.
"Yeah, you're right, I should make a list. That way I'll remember it.
I'm sure the youma's will come sooner or later, though."
Meanwhile, Queen Beryl was finally getting her act together. Jadeite's
early defeat had abruptly ended the Dark Kingdom's supply of energy. She
barely even had enough to awaken another Dark Kingdom soldier. But if she
didn't want to lose, a millennium after the defeat of Serenity, she would
have
to. Her resources would be stretched thin, but she had no choice. "Arise,
Nephrite", she said, and the man sat up from his crystal prison and
stretched.
"Get me energy for Metallia and for the Kingdom", she said. And Jadeite
bowed to her. "As you wish, my Queen. Through the stars I will find the
person in the city with the most energy... the Dark Kingdom shall reign
forever more."
And the youmas would indeed come again.
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