Day 7
Another day found us all gathered at the Fruits Parlour Crown, sitting at one of the larger booths, drinking soda and discussing this new book that had just come out. It was pretty popular at the moment, and it seemed that everyone in town had a copy of the book for themselves. 'Pegasus In The Moonlight', it was called.
"Yeah, I've read that book too. It's no wonder that it's sold a million copies already." Unazuki told everyone.
"You know I'm actually surprised that Usagi here actually read a real novel instead of one of her mangas." Rei sneered at her, and I couldn't help but snicker silently at that.
"Thank you for the uncalled for diss, Rei-chan. I wonder, if you've read it already, hmm?" Usagi prompted her, but Rei said nothing and just shifted in her seat, dropping her hands from the table.
"I cried so much after reading it, I went through tissues like crazy. It was a really good book." Minako mused.
"I wish I could fall into that kind of love." Unazuki breathed, a soft tone to her voice.
"I don't really need any reasons, I'm just impressed by it." Ami noted.
I smiled, reading over the words in the book slowly, now totally engrossed in what was going on in it.
'I wonder if the author knows anything about the Pegasus I've seen?" I inquired to myself, then looked over at Makoto who had this funny look on her face.
"The author of the book, Takase Tomoko was one of my friends at my last school before I transferred." Makoto stated, crossing her arms behind her head.
"What!" Usagi and I exclaimed, gaping at her. Luna peered at the back cover of the book where Takase-san's picture was featured. She was a pretty looking girl with blue eyes that were covered by glasses and dark blue braided hair.
"She looks to be about your age Usagi." Luna quipped.
"Same age maybe, but that's where the likenesses stop short." Diana declared plainly as if that statement was the normal thing to say.
"Urr, be quiet." Usagi started, then turned her attention to Makoto once more. "How come you kept this a secret from us?" She asked her.
"If I told you, I was afraid that you girls might think that I was bragging about knowing somebody famous." She said softly.
"I think it's so great. I'm sure the girls would find it super cool." Usagi exclaimed, giggling.
"Well if it were you Usagi, you'd go around and tell everyone that you'd ever met about it." Luna said with a grin.
"You talk too much, Luna." Usagi shot back.
I sighed and looked up as Makoto started to talk again, telling us about Takase-san.
"Before Tomoko started writing, she had a lot of short stories already written. I read through them and then convinced her to turn some in to magazines and other such agencies, just to get her work out there. And then she started the book 'Pegasus in the Moonlight'." She said, staring at the sky.
I was impressed by what Makoto did for her. "You mean we wouldn't be able to read and enjoy this good book if you hadn't discovered her and pushed her to continue writing? Wow, Mako-chan that was really nice of you."
"Well I guess you could say that." She told me, smiling a bit.
"Enough about you Makoto. How could you brag so much?" Usagi piped up, gripping at her book tightly.
"It was a long time ago, and I haven't seen her since I transferred. I never even got a chance to congratulate Tomoko on her success." Makoto sighed, lowering her head.
"Makoto.." I said sympathetically, feeling sorry for her.
"Say, I've got an idea. Why don't we all go down to visit Tomoko and get her autograph this Sunday?" Usagi expressed to us.
"But…" Makoto began, a bit hesitantly.
"Don't worry Mako-chan," Usagi told her as she climbed off of the bench, waving her hand at her. "I'm sure she'll be excited to see you."
"Hold on Usagi, is this more for you or Makoto?" Luna asked Usagi.
"I wanna meet her too! I loved the story so much, and I really want to meet the girl who wrote it. Please, Makoto, please?" I begged her, hoping that she would consider the idea.
"All right, we can go. It'll be nice to see her again." Makoto replied.
Usagi and I leaned towards each other, smiles on our faces.
"This is good!"
"I'm so impressed that you know a celebrity. That's a good thing, to be friends with someone famous." She paused for a moment, holding up one finger. "Like the saying goes, 'A friend in need is a friend in lead.'"
'That really isn't the way it goes Minako.' I thought quietly, shaking my head.
"It's 'indeed', Minako." Artemis said exasperatedly, knowing full well that if she started a saying, it wasn't going to come out the way it was supposed to.
"I am so lucky. I brought two books for her to sign." Usagi chirped, holding both copies of the book out in front of her.
"That's not enough Usagi! You need three copies of a book." Rei started.
"Why three books?" Ami asked her.
"One for preservation, one to get an autograph, and the other to use to brag to everyone." Rei told her, holding up three copies of the book. My only question was, was where did Usagi get the money to buy two books.
"Rei has a bad habit of that. She must do everything in threes then." Luna quipped, staring after a still walking Rei.
"Her house should be right in this neighborhood. We're getting close." Makoto chimed in, pointing just behind her.
"Makoto looks happy." Diana mentioned, staring after Makoto.
"Yeah, because she's guaranteed to get an autograph from Tomoko." Minako responded, clasping her book tightly.
I could hardly wait to meet this author of this book. 'Soon I'll get to meet the girl who wrote this great story.' I thought, following the girls around the corner, and spotted a large crowd of people standing outside of Tomoko's home. We all walked up to them, and Makoto took the opportunity to ask one man what was going on.
"We're looking for Takase Tomoko. She's late on her deadline for her next manuscript, but she's not home." He told her before turning back to the rest of the people gathered there. Makoto dropped the box of treats she had brought for her, shock on her face.
"Maybe she ran away from her work." Minako noted, looking at her.
"No, writing is all she's got!" Makoto cried out and ran off, not stopping when Usagi yelled after her.
We went to visit Unazuki at the café as she closed up later that evening, and we asked about Makoto and if she'd seen her. She pointed to a booth by the window and we looked over. Her gaze was fixed out the window and she had a really sad, faraway expression on her face.
"Did something happen?" Unazuki asked us, concerned about Makoto.
"More or less, yeah." Usagi said, letting out a sigh. No one said anything for a few minutes, we just stood there quietly observing Makoto as she glanced out the window, lost in thought. I bit my lip, an idea popping into my head. I looked up at Usagi and Unazuki before I grabbed Diana and placed her on my head then took a fee steps backwards, and turned around, sneaking out the door, taking off towards Tomoko's house. I knew that Usagi and Luna were going to be furious with me for running off without saying anything, but I didn't care. All that mattered was doing this one thing.
I stopped in front of her house, staring up at the closed shades of her window before taking a deep breath in then let it out.
"Tomoko!"
I waited for a few seconds, hoping she would come to the window. My face brightened when I saw the curtains rustle and Tomoko's presence appeared in the now open window.
"I've seen the real Pegasus, just like the one you wrote about in your book! I'm so glad that someone has the same dream as me!" I shouted to her, and saw her mouth move, saying something to herself but then she closed the blinds and didn't open them again. I stood there outside of her home, a bit disappointed. I thought maybe she would have said something back to me. Then my ears caught the sound of pounding footsteps approaching fast. It was probably Makoto, Usagi, and Luna coming to get me.
They didn't say anything to me as they got there, but I knew they would later. Makoto stood and stared up at Tomoko's window, talking directly to her.
"But Makoto," I whispered, trying to tell her that Tomoko was hiding in her house and wouldn't come to the window anymore.
"What's happening?" Diana's tiny voice asked. Usagi bent down and shushed us, saying that it was better if we let Makoto handle this by herself.
"Are you really going back to the person you used to be? Are you going to be back to the person who wouldn't let anyone read the novels you have locked up? It was your dream to write a book for anyone, even if it was only for just one person. What you write isn't just for you anymore." Makoto told her, being honest with the friend that she hadn't forgotten even after all this time.
We all waited, looking up towards the window, hoping that Makoto's words would have an effect on Tomoko. All she needed to do was believe in her dream, and believe in herself that she could do it. Then the curtains rustled again, and we saw her appear in them once more, a smile on her face, one that was directed at Makoto.
"Good going, Makoto! I think you gave her the confidence she needs!" I cheered, giggling happily.
"Thanks." Makoto said, laughing and resting a hand behind her head. "I hope she does decide to write again."
"Me too." Usagi replied, smiling. Then we all gasped as the silence of the night was broken by a painful scream, one that belonged to Tomoko! Our new enemy was attacking her! Makoto reached for her henshin pen, growling in anger.
"Jupiter Star Power, Make Up!" She cried out, transforming in a burst of green lightning, posing with her hands clenched tightly. She turned her head and nodded at us, giving us the silent go ahead to henshin.
"Moon Crisis Power, Make Up!" Usagi and I called out, transforming quickly before coming to stand besides Jupiter. We watched as the balcony doors flew open, Tomoko running out onto them and being chased by Tigers Eye who snapped his fingers, trapping her on his board and summoning her mirror to check for Pegasus.
"Sparkling Wide Pressure!" Jupiter chanted, lightning coalescing into her open hand then she tossed it right for Tigers Eye as he was about to lean into the mirror.
"What the..!" He growled, glaring down at us.
"How dare you take advantage of a girl's dream to write! I won't stand for it!"
"The agents for love and justice are here!" I yelled, looking up at him.
"Sailor Moon!"
"Sailor Chibi Moon!"
"In the name of the moon," We began, posing and pointing our fingers at Tigers Eye. "We shall punish you!"
Tigers Eye rolled his eyes and cracked his whip once, eyeing his shadow. "Tenko, come out!"
A female lemure rose up out of the shadow, chains wrapped around her hands, and a funny look on her face as she grinned at us. "Tenko!" She cried out, tilting her head then floated up above us, throwing out her hands and wrapping us up in chains.
"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter cried out, the electricity crackling around her and lancing out for her target. But the metal chains that we were wrapped in absorbed the lightning and electrocuted us instead. I screamed out in pain, struggling in the chains as the electricity shot through me.
Tigers Eye stuck his head through the mirror, moving his head around as he looked for Pegasus, but as he pulled his head out, he stomped his foot, growling at the floating mirror before him. 'I really thought this would be the one! Zirconia picked this target especially.' He turned to Tenko, nodding sharply. "Take care of them all Tenko."
Tenko chuckled and pulled out a clock, throwing it down at our feet. I glanced at it, quirking an eyebrow. A clock of all things? Why didn't you just give it to Usagi so she can wake up early for school?
"What is that for?" Sailor Moon asked the lemure.
"It's a time bomb!" Tenko called out, pinwheeling her legs in mid-air as she watched us.
"A time bomb? I don't wanna blow up!" Sailor Moon shrieked, backing away from the rapidly ticking clock. I'd have to second her on that thought. I clutched at the handle of the Crystal Carillon tightly, preparing to give it a ring when a rose zoomed down and lashed through the chains, setting us free.
"Chains aren't suited for pretty girls. They're used to hold vicious criminals and dogs." Tuxedo Kamen said, standing on top of one of the walls surrounding the home. Jupiter ran forward and picked up the bomb, hurling it back at Tenko with a yell as she caught it, staring at it in confusion before it blew up, turning the lemure's face all black.
"Now's your chance Chibi Moon!" Diana quickly told me.
I held the bell aloft, spinning around and ringing it loud, the sound echoing around us. "Twinkle Yell!" I shouted, looking up as Pegasus appeared floating in the air. "Now your turn Sailor Moon!"
She nodded at me and went through the maneuvers of her attack, twirling the wand and pointing it right for Tenko as the shards of glass shot out, surrounding the beam of light as it shot towards Tenko, dispatching her in an instant as she shrunk back into the shadow.
"I'm out of here!" Tigers Eye said and disappeared through the portal that he opened up. The board flickered and disappeared, dropping Tomoko to the balcony's ground. Sailor Jupiter gasped, pressing her hands against the gate as she de-henshined back into her street clothes, as we did the same thing.
"Tomoko!" Makoto cried out, watching her limp form stir and slowly get up, grasping at the balcony for leverage as she looked down at us.
"I've seen the real Pegasus. Since I can have such a beautiful dream, I know I can write more, for everyone." She said to us, smiling, a new light entering her eyes. She looked more determined than ever to start writing. "Oh and Makoto?"
Makoto turned her head around as we were walking away, looking back at Tomoko with a grin. "Yeah?"
"Would you please read my book first?" She questioned, still smiling.
I watched as Makoto smiled, beaming at her friend. "Of course, Tomoko. I'll always be the first one to read your books."
It was a week later when Takase Tomoko's new book finally came out. This one was entitled 'Illusion of Pegasus'. I stood outside the shop with my new book in hand and opened it, reading on the inside cover.
"This book is dedicated to my best friend Mako-chan, and to everyone in the world who has beautiful dreams."
