When Reality Calls

Two performers from the Sera Myu musicals awaken in a strange new world.

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Note: I finally found the very first Sailor Moon story I ever wrote. This is not related to my Sailor Moon series, but I thought it would be fun to repost it anyway. Hope you like it!

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Chapter 1:

As the curtain fell for the final time that evening, Sailor Moon with Tuxedo Kamen by her side bowed deeply as the audience gave them a last long round of applause. The other four Senshi on stage bowed as well, the actress who had played Mars giving her close friend a big grin and a 'thumbs up' as the curtain reached the floor. The girls broke from their positions and Miyamoto Akako, now no longer in character as Sailor Mars, gave her friend a quick hug. "You were great tonight!" she exclaimed as the other teens began heading backstage.

"You really think so?" Miyako Ayame asked with a frown. "My foot slipped in that last act when I went into my Sailor Moon attack pose."

"I don't think anyone noticed" Akako reassured her.

The actor playing Tuxedo Kamen agreed. "You recovered really well, Ayame-san."

"Arigatou, Takumi-san. You both have more stage experience than me, so I guess my nervousness shows sometimes." Ayame chuckled, "I'm starting to behave as clumsy as my Usagi character!"

The group chatted among themselves as they began the process of changing back into their street clothes. The actress who had played Sailor Venus quickly scanned the room and raised her voice, "Minna, anyone up for karaoke tonight?"

"I'll pass" Ayame replied without looking up. "I'm feeling really tired. Just want to go home and sleep!"

Ninety minutes later, Ayame said goodnight to her mother, set the alarm for her morning classes and settled her short black hair into the down-filled pillow. As was her habit, she began replaying the evening's performance in her mind until fatigue finally caught up to the fifteen-year-old girl and she drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep.

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After what seemed like only the briefest of moments later, the familiar jarring beep of her alarm clock ceased the girl's slumber. Soft, pastel light of early morning Tokyo met her eyes as it began to brighten her room.

Still feeling drowsy, she raised her head just enough to glance at the numbers on the bedside annoyance before collapsing back onto the pillow. 'Six-forty-five' announced the glowing LCD digits. Allowing herself one more moment of comfort beneath the warm sheets, Ayame sighed, 'Ok, may as well get started.' She sat up slowly in the dim light, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as a yet-unnoticed reflection mirrored her movements from a large vanity mirror across the room. Low voices began to carry in from somewhere behind her door. A woman's voice asked someone a question that she couldn't quite make out, followed by a reply from a young boy. Having no siblings, Ayame was puzzled by the sound of a young male in the house. One last blink to help focus her eyes and she finally peered at her reflection in the mirror.

The girl that looked back was about the same age, but incredibly long blond hair streamed down from twin odango, disappearing out of sight beneath wrinkled sheets. Ayame stared at the stranger for a moment, shaking her head to try to wake from what had to be a dream. In the mirror, the blonde's tresses swayed back and forth, matching her exact rhythm. "Nani?"

Her fingers reached questioningly for the golden strands, thinking her parents had played a trick on her while she had slept, only to find it wasn't a Sera Myu wig after all. The hair was real.

She sat speechless, staring at the reflection when a knock sounded on her bedroom door. It was followed by that unfamiliar female voice again, this time addressed to her.

"Usagi-chan! It's time to get up!" Footsteps receded down a hallway as the owner of the voice hurried away.

"What is happening to me? I must be dreaming!" she spoke aloud, her mind awash in confusion.

She swung her feet over the edge of her bed and tried to collect her thoughts. 'If this is a dream, it's certainly realistic!' Even her pajamas had changed, the plain design she wore the night before now replaced by a set in bright pink and covered in cute bunny faces. Opening her door, she peered cautiously into the hallway. No one was visible, though the strange boy's voice could still be heard from somewhere downstairs. Seemingly unable to awaken, after a quick wash she changed into her school fuku, noting that it was similar to the style Usagi wore in the musicals. Not knowing what else to do, she went downstairs for breakfast.

The unfamiliar woman greeted her with a smile as she walked woodenly toward the table. "Good morning, sleepy head." The female added, "Your father has already left for work. And your breakfast is waiting."

A young boy also sat across the table from her. He looked at her with disdain. "You're late again, Usagi-chan. Your food is probably cold by now." He then proceeded to ignore her and tucked back into his breakfast.

"Shingo-chan! Be nice to your older sister" the woman scolded him. The boy mumbled a reply around his chopsticks.

"What is going on here-" Ayame began to ask but the woman hurried away to answer a ringing telephone. She listened in stunned silence to the conversation in the next room.

"Moshi moshi." A short pause, then "Konnichiwa, Rei-chan! Usagi is having breakfast, I'll get her for you." The woman's head appeared around the corner. "Rei is on the phone for you, Usagi-chan."

"Nani? Who...?" Still numb, Ayame got up and went to the phone. Strangely, it was in a different place than the phone in her home. She picked up the handset, not knowing what to say.

"Uh, hello?"

"Ayame-chan!" a familiar voice hissed softly.

"Akako-chan! You're in my dream too?"

"This isn't a dream, Ayame-chan. I'm wide awake. Listen, is anything different about you, or anything strange going on at your home this morning?"

Ayame kept her tone low. "You would not believe what's happening around here!"

"Oh yes I would. For your information, I'm calling you from the Hikawa Jinja."

"The shrine? What on earth are you doing there at this hour?" Her feeling of unease deepened still further as she heard her friend's unbelievable reply.

"What am I doing here? I woke up here!"

Ayame stared at the handset in stunned silence.

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