Chapter 3: Clumsy Giant
Tsubasa Yaten blinked in the morning sun. Where was she? Then she noticed her mother sleeping on a bed near her, and she remembered that they had come to Earth, seeking refuge from their own princess. And they had ended up in the house of the four known as the "Outer Senshi," Haruka Tenou, Michiru Kaiou, Setsuna Meiou, and Hotaru Tomoe. Yaten's eyes opened, and Tsubasa noted that she was smirking.
"How interesting that we've ended up here of all places, after the reception those four, or at least the elder three, gave us before," she commented.
"But since this is a house of all Sailor Senshi, I thought it was a safe place. Or is it not?" worried Tsubasa.
"No, it is safe, so far as I know. Here we can keep a little more secret from the general populace. We're not trying to contact anyone this time. I'm sure these four know the value of secrecy," Yaten reassured her, the smirk leaving her face. There was one thing that she did fear about this place. And it was mainly the fact that Haruka seemed to still harbor some great dislike for her and even her innocent daughter. There was a knock on the door, and then Hotaru stepped in, looking rather nervous.
"I know Haruka-papa still doesn't quite trust you, but I do. Or maybe just because it'll be neat to have someone my own age around," she said with a shy glance to Tsubasa.
"At least she let us live here. She can't be all bad if she did that," Tsubasa said with a giggle. She was thinking that if Miaka were here, she would spin some frightening tale about how Haruka was only keeping them there for scientific research and that she was going to eventually dissect them.
"No, she's not bad. She just was scared when your mother and the other two first came because she thought they were on Galaxia's side. Not to mention she hated Seiya because she feared he was a menace to Usagi and Mamoru's love. But I think she's decided to at least trust you and Taiki, Yaten," Hotaru explained.
"I wonder how Yohko and Miaka are doing? Especially Miaka, since I heard she got attacked yesterday," sighed Tsubasa.
"Almost attacked. The assailants retreated before they harmed her or Makoto, they just spat insults," Hotaru corrected her gently.
"Well, Miaka's used to that, so I'm sure she's okay," Yaten commented slyly. After breakfast, Hotaru went off to school, and so Yaten, Tsubasa and Setsuna went off to go grocery shopping. With two new people in the house, they needed to get some extra food for them. Once there, they found that Rei and Usagi were also there, with some sad news.
"My family...they're gone! They're really gone, Setsuna! Rei's letting me live at the temple with Chibi-Usa until they come back, but I still miss them, even bratty Shingo," Usagi sobbed, grabbing the green-haired woman in a big hug.
"Do you have any idea what happened to them?" asked Setsuna, startled away from pushing the grocery cart. Yaten took it and went off to look for the things they needed, along with Tsubasa.
"No, not really. They've just been gone! I hope my old friends who were turned evil didn't hurt them!" Usagi wailed.
"Come on, Usagi, remember what we came here for. We were going to buy some of your favorite foods to have while you're staying with me," Rei reminded her with an amused sigh. As expected, Usagi's tears turned to ones of joy.
"Oh right! We'll have such a yummy supper! Sushi and taiyaki and cookies and..." Setsuna watched Rei and Usagi leave, and then she went off to find Tsubasa and Yaten. When she caught up with them, she found Tsubasa laying on the floor with a bunch of cans scattered around her.
"I must warn you...she's a super-clutz," Yaten admitted, "She tripped over that cart." Nearby was a basket laying on its side.
"Oh, hello Miss Setsuna. Do you want some...canned peaches?" Tsubasa asked innocently, picking up one of the cans and reading it.
"Are you hurt anywhere?" Setsuna inquired worriedly.
"No, this happens a lot," Tsubasa shrugged, sitting up as if nothing had happened. Yaten nodded.
"What did I say? That's something you're gonna have to watch out for if you're living with her for any amount of time," she noted.
"I see..." Setsuna said, thinking about Usagi. She wondered what Seiya thought about Tsubasa, and then instantly reminded herself that Seiya wasn't a pedophile.
"Eat candy, evil girls!" a man's voice shouted, and hard candies started raining down on the three of them. Tsubasa grabbed the cart and held it over her head as a shield, but she also knocked a bunch of merchandise off the shelves in the process. Setsuna gasped when she saw who the assailant was--Usagi's dad Kenji in a pink bodysuit!
"Good work, Pinky. I knew you were always dependable," complimented a woman in an indigo bodysuit who looked eeriely like Usagi's mother. To make things worse, Usagi and Rei happened to come up behind Yaten, Setsuna, and Tsubasa. Usagi squealed with joy when she saw the pair.
"Mama! Papa! You came back! Why didn't you tell me you just went to the store!" she gushed happily as she ran forward.
"Don't call us that! I am Indigo now!" the woman who was Usagi's mother bellowed, shooting flames out of her hands. Usagi screamed as she was burned; she fell to the floor in tears.
"How dare you do that to Usagi! Mars Crystal Power, Make Up!"
"Pluto Crystal Power, Make Up!"
"Healer Star Power, Make Up!" Rei, Setsuna, and Tsubasa all transformed, while Yaten ran up to Usagi, shaking her.
"Come on, you do it too! Those aren't your parents anymore!" she snapped. Usagi shoved Yaten away, shaking her head.
"No. I believe in my power of love. I can heal them without even transforming. I don't want to hurt them," she said quietly, her eyes filled with the hurt of betrayal by loved ones. Meanwhile, Sailor Pluto was ignoring the scene behind her, and she rushed at Pinky with her Garnet Rod. She never reached her target, however, as Usagi jumped on her back, knocking her to the floor.
"Usagi, you fool! You loveable fool! Face the reality that we hate you now! Chizuru told us all about how you broke Seiya's poor lonely heart!" Indigo laughed maniacally. Yaten glared at them...Chizuru. So she was definitely behind it all.
"Who's Chizuru! I...I...I...It was too late! I didn't MEAN to make Seiya sad! I would've hurt Mamoru if I left him for Seiya, just because Galaxia had stolen his starseed!" Usagi sobbed.
"Usagi, get off of me. Your parents are not themselves any more. They are a danger to you," Sailor Pluto told her.
"You like candy, don't you? Eat some of this!"
"And home cooking, too!" Pinky and Indigo laughed scornfully at Usagi as they threw flaming candies at her that not only burned her, but stuck to her skin painfully. She screamed, but still did not let go of Sailor Pluto.
"I still won't let you hurt them! They're still my parents!" she cried, yelling right into Pluto's ears.
"Mars Flame Sniper!" Sailor Mars shouted, shooting an arrow of fire at them. Indigo dodged it, but Pinky wasn't as fast and he was hit.
"See how you like being on fire, you cruel excuses for parents! Now, Tsubasa, finish them off!" Yaten commanded. Neo Star Healer looked sadly at Pinky and Indigo, and raised her hand to attack. She didn't have the chance, however, because they disappeared in flashes of pink and indigo sparkles.
"I'll teach you yet! I'll defeat you Usagi! And you too, Sailor Mars!" Indigo's angry voice lingered on the air as the last sparkles faded.
"Now please get off of me, Usagi. You need to get those burns taken care of and get the sticky melted candy washed off, too," Sailor Pluto's muffled voice said. Usagi jumped off of her.
"EEEK! Sorry, Setsuna! I just didn't want you to hurt my parents! And Rei...how could you! My father would never deserve to be burned by your Flame Sniper!" Usagi shouted, rounding on Rei.
"Usagi, please. I had to, they were going to hurt you even more," Rei said in a futile attempt to calm Usagi, who ran off, calling for her mother and father to come back.
