Not a Crybaby Ch. 14

A/N: It seems this is ending up being a once a month sort of thing. I need to pick up my pace if I'm EVER going to get this done. So sorry for my slowness!

Current Camp NaNoWriMo Word Count: 8195

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. . .

"The Crystal Ball is waiting, if you'll excuse me."

. . .

Usagi watches Luna as she prances around Mamoru's apartment. The other girls have left for their respective homes in search of an outfit acceptable for the night's activities. "Luna?"

"Yes?" The cat looks up from her newspaper reading.

The blonde bites her lip, sinking farther into the couch. "What happens if somebody I know is there?" Her biggest worry is Naru. Papers say the most prestigious jewelry shop owners have been invited. As it turns out, OSA-P is very big in Juuban.

Luna gives the leader of the senshi a smile. "Just ignore them. They won't be able to recognize you with your glamour. And as an added bonus, not everybody will be scrambling to turn you into the police." She knows the girl is awfully worried about the missing report on her head and her friend who kidnapped Rei the previous day. And although she cannot herself be there-she can support her at her new home.

Usagi nods trying to push out the fact Luna has yet to mention the actual plan and allows the cat to continue her research. There are too many things twirling in her head. One of the major things being the fact Naru happens to be working with the Dark Kingdom. She could try to attack somebody tonight to trap me, Usagi thinks, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Usagi-chan?"

Mamoru's voice permeates Usagi's thoughts and she looks up from her blank stare. "Hmm?"

The ebony haired man steps out from his bedroom, a midnight blue tuxedo encasing his body. "How do I look?"

A nervous laugh escapes her mouth. "You look great!" This time her mind swarms with new ideas. Ideas about Mamoru. And her. A light blush fills her cheeks.

He moves toward the girl, pulling his mask out of his jacket. "What about now?" He murmurs, placing the white object over his eyes.

Usagi's nervous answer is interrupted by a loud knock at the door. "We're back!" Ami calls from behind the door, her voice slightly muffled. The blonde jumps from the couch and heads for the entryway.

"Welcome back, you two!" Usagi greets, swinging the door open.

Her jaw drops as she takes in her friends' outfits. Rei shines in a tea length burgundy dress with puffed sleeves. Black heels complete the look, keeping it simple. The blue-haired girl, however, makes a statement with a floor length blue strapless number with patent leather black pumps. "You two look great!"

"We know," Ami winks, slinking into the room, pulling Rei behind her. "We're leaving in ten minutes. You better have Luna teach you how to use that pen." She motions to the pink crystal sticking out of Usagi's uniform.

Rei stops short into the room. "Looking good, Mamoru- kun!" She smiles, causing Usagi to look at her friend with narrowed eyes.

Trying to ignore the raven-haired girl, Usagi walks back into the room. "That's a good question. Luna, how do I use the disguise pen?"

The cat closes the newspaper with a sigh. "Shout 'Moon Disguise Power! Turn me into a blank!'" She explains, sitting upright. But I suggest you transform now, you four are going to need all the time you can."

"Moon Disguise Power! Turn me into a Princess!"

A blinding light fills the room and as it fades, Usagi's new form is revealed.

An off-the-shoulder white dress replaced her school uniform. Flowers trail down from the waist to the floor, creating a sheer train. They also sit in her odango-ed hair, tied in the pigtails as well.

Ami gives Usagi a huge smile. "You're looking good, Usa-chan. Now we'll definitely gain entrance!" She nods in agreement with herself and looks over to meet Mamoru's gaze. She winks and nods toward Usagi. 'Hot, ne?' She mouths.

Mamoru's cheeks flush slightly as he nods. 'Very.'

. . .

"It's not going to work." Naru singsongs as she sits at a perch in the ballroom.

Nephrite looks up from his plans and narrows his eyes. "I wasn't asking." Naru, in his opinion, is just itching to watch him die at the hands of the Sailor Senshi. But if he could help it, he would not die. And if the redhead was not such a dire element of the Kingdom, he loves the idea of killing her himself.

She pouts. "I suppose you weren't." She thinks for a minute, tapping at her chin. "What if you fail? What are you going to tell Beryl?" Seeing another man fail before her would make her year. The fewer people who knew her story would be best.

"Tell her the truth." Nephrite says distractedly. He is confident Queen Beryl will not act too irrationally. After all, Jadeite failed many times over. If her was not killed, Nephrite is positive his friend would have continued in his work.

The red head sighs. "Okay, then." She hops down from her perch and waves half-heartedly. "I'll be...somewhere else."

Disappearing into an adjacent hallway, Naru takes a deep breath. Tonight cannot be for merely taking the Silver Crystal from some stranger. Not when Sailor Moon humiliated her last night. No, tonight has to be used to kill the damned senshi. Or just the leader.

Whichever comes first. Her mind frantically searches for a plan. Something to make the blond senshi come out to play. Instigating, she has learned, does not work. But-damsels in distress seem to always catch her attention.

A random attendee of the ball will do. Maybe even a group of them.

. . .

"This place is beautiful!" Rei screeches upon entering the ballroom with the others following close behind. She twirls herself and the girls grin.

Ami steps forward and grabs Rei's wrist softly. "Remember, we have work to do."

The raven-haired girl sighs, gazing wistfully at the dancefloor before shaking it out. "Right, we have a princess to protect." She understands her duty as a senshi, but cannot fathom anybody not wanting to instantly start dancing the night away.

Usagi's grin broadens as she watches her two friends and their antics. Unconsciously she moves closer into Mamoru, his hand finding her waist easily. The blonde's cheeks flush, grabbing his hand and interlaces their fingers. "Come on, we have work to do." She leads her friends into the maze of hallways in hope of finding the Crystal Princess.

Outside the room, Naru catches a flash of blond hair. Usagi? she thinks to herself, her lips pursing. There is no way her friend could have managed to receive an invitation. Not when she is wanted all over the city. She studies the girl and takes in the white dress covered in delicate white flowers. Not her, Naru decides as she turns back to the party.

Now to pick a girl.

. . .

Mamoru pushes his hair out of his eyes as his hold on Usagi tightens. "Did Luna tell you guys how we will know if she is your princess?" He keeps his eyes averted knowing the princess is not only theirs. The thought has been plaguing him since the dreams started when he found out Usagi is Sailor Moon.

A princess, dressed in white calls to him. Tells him to save her. And every night he fails to do so. He shudders.

"She said we will just know," Ami explains, opening one of the doors and peering in. "Nothing."

Rei groans and purses her lips in frustration. "I think we should take a break." She glances over at Usagi and Mamoru in disdain. "Besides, it looks like the two of them need a little alone time."

The blue haired girl looks at the duo and grins. "I suppose it sounds like a plan." She grabs Rei's hand and leads her out of the hall, leaving Usagi alone with Mamoru.

. . .

"May I have this dance?" A deep voice asks, causing Naru to jump.

Her green eyes raise to meet Nephrite's and she groans. "Can you maybe leave me alone for once?" She snaps crossing her arms over the bodice of her green dress.

Nephrite grins. "Don't be like that, Princess. Live a little!" He grabs her by the waist and leads Naru to the dancefloor. "Learn to live, Naru-chan."

She sighs, giving up on correcting him that she is not their princess. Instead she settles into his embrace happy that even for a moment she does not have to worry about either of their plans. From what she can tell, the Sailor Scouts are not in attendance and the Nephrite's plane should work.

After going a couple turns across the floor, Nephrite's fingers meet her chin and softly caresses her face. "You look beautiful tonight, princess."

Naru fails to hear, having stopped all thought process. A raven-haired girl followed by four others walk into the ballroom.

Hino Rei-the miko. Sailor Mars.

The blond from earlier is with her as well as the blue haired girl from the computer class she attended with Usagi. Sailor Moon and Mercury, she decides instantly.

It seems she does not need to take a random girl hostage. Instead, just a girl she knows very well.

Sailor Moon is going down.

She breaks away from Nephrite causing him to groan and mutter a few choice words as she walks away without a single word.

. . .

"If you will all excuse the interruption-The Crystal Princess will be making her debut in twenty minutes. Until then, please enjoy the entertainment."

The crowd murmurs in excitement, knowing the wait will be almost too long. Usagi and the girls look at each other. They might as well just wait for the formal debut. It is not like meeting her prior will make the knowing anymore special.

"May I have this dance, my lady?"

Usagi turns and giggles at the sight of Mamoru in a deep bow. She gives him a mock curtsey and accepts his hand. "Of course, good sir."

As they are about to begin, a hand grasps Usagi's shoulder. She whips around to see the smiling face of Naru. The blonde realizes to her old friend, she is merely a stranger. She hopes. "H-hello?"

Naru grins. "Hello, I cannot help but admire how you look tonight! Would you be so kind and tell me where you found such an exquisite dress?"

"I-I made it myself," Usagi stammers, quickly coming up with a lie.

Ami looks over to see Naru chatting up a storm with the disguised Usagi. She pokes Rei and the ribs and motions to the blonde. "Trouble," she mouths.

"You must tell me how! Please, come with me!"

Usagi looks back at Mamoru. "B-but, my date!"

The red-headed girl laughs. "Don't worry, I'm sure he can dance with one of your friends for the time being." She pulls Usagi away from the crowd, successfully separating the group. "I mean, Tuxedo Mask has to get along with the other Senshi, ne?"

. . .

A/N: *Grins* Please review!