Waii, hey all, standard disclaimers here. Happy reading!
Chapter 1: The Real Tsukino
Usagi opened the door to her friends and instantly Ami asked,
"Usagi-chan, are you feeling okay?"
"Daijoobu." Usagi replied. "Minna, I have dumped Mamoru. I realized that I want to live the life I want and not the predestined one. I'm going to start acting like my true self. No longer will I keep up the charade of a klutzy crybaby that cannot achieve anything. No, I will act the way I want to.
Rei was holding back a laugh when she asked, "and, um, how do you plan to change you, um, ways?"
"Rei, I know you want to laugh, but I am far more intelligent then Ami-chan, stronger then Mako-chan, and wiser then you Rei-chan."
This caused everyone to bust out laughing. "What me to prove it?"
"Hai," they coursed. I grabbed Ami's Quantum Physics book, that I had pretended to never understand before and wrote a problem down and in a few seconds I had it solved.
"Oh, Kami-sama, it's right..." Ami said as she watched me do the problem. She looked at me in surprise, and I just gave her a blank stare. "How'd you know how to do that?"
"Ami-chan, I already told you. I am smarter then you think. Me acting the way I was...it was just an act. But someone told me that if you don't believe in destiny, then it doesn't really exist. Well, I don't believe in it anymore." Usagi replied.
"I don't believe it, odango actually is smart?!" Rei exclaimed.
"That hurts, Rei-chan." I said with a glare.
"Well, it's just a little hard to believe, Usagi." Rei muttered in response.
"Usagi, this is really hard to believe." Minako said to her friend.
"How is it so hard to believe?!" Usagi exclaimed.
"Well, you've always acted like a klutzy, whiny crybaby...do you think we will really believe the fact that you are miraculously smarter then Ami, strong then me, and wiser then Rei-chan?" Makoto said.
"You of all people should believe me, Mako-chan." Usagi said to her brunette friend.
"Nande?" Makoto questioned.
"Why?! Makoto-chan! You should have known all along that I acted that way because I was told to, demo, I guess none of you will ever believe me." Usagi said with a fierce, yet hurt, voice.
They all looked at their normally bubbly blonde friend in surprise. She had never used that tone of voice with anyone, not even Galaxia.
Usagi looked up at the people that she thought were her true friends, "just go if you want. I don't care if you don't believe me. All that matters is that I do."
"Usa-" Ami started, but was interrupted.
"Just go," Usagi said with an eerily calm voice. Ami, Rei, and Makoto got up and walked towards the door, Minako was the last to get up and leave her friend who had taught her friendship again. They walked out the door and when it shut, that was the moment that Usagi knew she needed a change of environment and pace.
The odango haired blonde ran up the stairs to her room and pack two suitcases full of shirts, skirts, jeans and pants, undergarments and her shoes. Rummaging threw her dresser drawer she found the money that she had been saving up. Every time the girls, Chibi-Usa, or Mamoru had thought that she spent her allowance on something stupid, it had really been because she had saved it.
Changing into her favorite pair of greenish-brown flare pants, her blue and orange quarter-length shirt that had a spiral design on the front, and her New Balance tennis shoes. Usagi headed downstairs to write her mother a note. Posting it on the fridge, where her mother would go to first since she was out grocery shopping, Usagi took a picture of her family and walked out the door to go to the airport.
When Ikuko got home, she placed the bags on the counter and called out for her daughter, "Usagi? Usagi are you home?" Sighing in defeat of knowing her daughter was probably out with her friends she walked to the fridge and saw the note.
Dear Mom,
I'm sorry for leaving, and not saying goodbye. But I need some time to myself. Earlier today I tried to prove to the girls that I wasn't as stupid as they thought, and they laughed. I also have dumped Mamoru, I realized that I didn't love him, I never did. I'm so sorry to do this now. But I have to. Please understand, momma. You have always been there for me, always and forever. And I will always appreciate it, more than you know. I know you know about me being a Senshi, you have been there waiting for me when I got home after battles and watched me heal my wounds. Arigatoo for not saying anything. It means a lot to me to know that I can trust you with such a big secret. I also know that you knew Chibi-Usa was your future granddaughter. I love you mom. And when I come back, I will explain everything to you, I promise. Please don't tell the girls, but I am going to Aunt Janet's ranch in Montana. I already called her to tell her. She is very willing to take me in. I will write once I get settled. For now, I need to do things my way, at least for a little while. Please understand mom, I don't mean to hurt you, or disappoint you. But if you knew half of the things I go through, you wouldn't blame me at all. I love you always, mom. Always and forever.
Your little bunny,
Usagi
And with that, Ikuko's eyes closed to suppress the tears that were forming in her eyes. She had known things like this would happen, she knew her daughter would be in good hands with her aunt, Ikuko's younger sister.
At the airport...
"Whelp, here goes." Usagi said with nervous sigh. She had never flown... that is, on an airplane before, but she knew in her heart that nothing would happen. She showed her ticket to the flight attendant and soon was sitting in her seat.
When the plane took off, Usagi watched as Tokyo got smaller and smaller looking. 'Maybe it'll be different when I return...just maybe.' She thought. Usagi knew that her plane would land in the Minneapolis / St. Paul airport in Minnesota, then she would transfer flights and be on a plane that would take her directly to Great Falls, where her aunt would be to pick her up.
"Okay, where are you Janet?" Usagi said to herself. 'Follow the sign, baka.' She thought when she saw a sign being held up by a boy with sandy blonde hair. She walked up to the boy with a smile on her face, "Hey, I'm Usagi."
"Hello, Miss Usagi. I'm Quatre." The boy replied with a kind smile.
"Just call me Usagi or Usa, Quatre." She replied as they went to baggage claim.
"Okay, Usagi." Quatre replied.
"Do you live with my Aunt?" Usagi asked when she had her bags and they were walking towards the car.
"No, my friends and I work on her ranch. She had to monitor a foal delivery so she asked me to pick you up."
"Really? Cool! How long until we get to the ranch?" The bubbly blonde questioned as she undid her odangos and let it fall around her.
"It's right outside of town, so it shouldn't be more then 15 minutes." Quatre replied.
"Oh, wow, this town is small compared to Tokyo." Usagi commented as they drove down one of the main roads that went threw the whole town. Usagi looked at everything as they drove by it. When they went under the sign for her Aunts ranch, White Creek, Usagi shifted in her seat excitedly.
"There are some of the horses your Aunt has. The chestnut with the blaze is Lucky, since no one knew if he would live. The coal black one is Pride. The palomino is Wanderer, since we found her wandering on the land. And the foal there is Wanderer's baby, Cocoa." Quatre said as he pointed them out, driving slowly so Usagi could get a good look.
"Cocoa is so kawaii!" Usagi exclaimed, not even caring if Quatre didn't know what she was saying.
"And this is the main farmhouse." Quatre said, slowing the car to a stop in front of a large Victorian style farmhouse that looked at least a 100 years old.
"It's beautiful!" Usagi exclaimed upon exiting the car.
"So are you, my dear!" A women who looked no more then 25 said from a barn doorway.
Usagi spun around to see who had said that and saw her aunt, "Aunt Janet!" She ran towards her favorite aunt and hugged her.
"Hey there, Usagi. How have you been?" Janet asked.
"Great, considering." She replied as they walked back to the car. Usagi had already informed her aunt about what had happened.
"Hey, Janet. Did Kumi foal?" Quatre asked.
"Yup, go check him out. It's your turn to name the foal, so pick a good one!" She said as Quatre walked towards the barn with a smile plastered on his face.
"You're going to be in the room that I had when I moved out here with your Grandpa. It's still the same as when I was in it, I hope you like it." Janet said as they entered the house, walked up some stairs and got to a door at the end of a hallway.
"I know I will." Usagi said with a smile as she opened the door to a room wallpapered with pictures of horses, Tokyo, and other exotic countries. There was a queen sized bed right next to a door, that Usagi assumed lead out to a balcony.
To her left was a desk that had horse figurines on it, next to that was a dresser made out of oak, shining with it's newly applied polish. There were two other doors that Janet said lead to the bathroom and closet.
"Well, I'll let you get settled in. Oh, Quatre and his friends are coming for dinner." Janet said when she was about to leave the room.
"What should I wear?" Usagi asked her aunt.
"It's just a dinner at home, so wear something comfortable." Janet said, then she closed the door and walked back downstairs.
'Okay, I'll take a quick shower, get dressed, and run to the barn to check up on that new foal.' Usagi thought as she got undressed to take her shower.
Washing her hair faster then she usually did Usagi was out of the shower in twenty minutes and was drying her hair. "Okay, first order of business... get the hair cut." She muttered as she left it down to dry.
"Second... what to wear." She rummaged threw her suitcases and decided on a pair of blue jeans that fit her snugly, a tee-shirt that said 'White Creek' on it; Janet had given it to her for her birthday last year, and her boots.
She walked quickly out of her room, her long golden hair flowing behind her as she checked the kitchen to see if her aunt was there. Upon seeing no one, she walked out the door towards the barn that her aunt had come out of earlier.
"Usagi, that you?" Came Janet's voice when the barn door was slid open.
"Hai. Where are you?" She replied.
"Six stalls back on your right," was the reply she got. Usagi shrugged and walked down six stalls and looked inside.
"Oh, wow. He's so kawaii, Aunt Janet." Usagi commented at the new foal that was lying there asleep in the hay.
"Yeah, he is. Come in, Kumi doesn't mind visitors."
Usagi unlatched the door and walked inside the spacious stall, putting her hand out for Kumi to sniff. Once the mare got used to Usagis smell she snorted and shoved her muzzle into Usagi's open palm. "How old is she?"
"She's six. I bought her at an auction last year." Was Janet's reply.
"Cool. Did Quatre name him yet?" She asked.
"Yeah, I think he did. You can ask him at dinner. Which, by the way, will be at 7:30. So you have just enough time to get a four-wheeler out of the shed and check out the land. If you stay on the paths you won't get lost." Janet said as she and her niece left the stall.
"Okay, thanks." Usagi said as she jogged off towards the shed to get a four-wheeler. She grabbed a set of keys off the wall by the door and started one of them up and she drove around the ranch, taking in everything there was to see.
"Hey, watch out!" A voice yelled from behind her when she got closer to the creek the ranch was named after.
Usagi's head snapped around quickly to see what was going on, only to see a horse galloping up from behind her...obviously out of control. "Kuso!" Usagi swore as she steered the four-wheeler to the edge of the path. "What is its name?" Usagi yelled to the boy.
"Her name is Sandy and she's out of control!" The boy yelled back as they got closer.
"Try a pulley rein! Put one fist on the side of her neck, and give three sharp tugs with the other one!" Usagi yelled as she jumped off the four-wheeler.
"Okay." The boy did as Usagi had told him and soon Sandy was slowing down.
"Keep it up until she slows to a trot." Usagi said as the boy and Sandy passed her by. She jogged after them and watched as the Strawberry roan filly went down to a trot.
"Whoa, Sandy," the boy commanded. The filly stopped and waited for someone to give her a signal to do something.
Usagi caught up to them and immediately ran her hands over the filly's legs to check for any heat...a sign of something might be wrong with her legs. "Good, no heat." Usagi said as she straightened up and patted Sandy on the neck. "What got you so spooked girl?" She asked the filly.
"I think she got scared by the four-wheeler." The boy replied for the horse. "Thanks for helping me get her to stop. By the way...who are you?"
Usagi smiled at the boy, "I'm Usagi Tsukino. Janet's niece from Tokyo."
"Oh! You're Usagi! Well, nice to meet 'cha, Usagi, I'm Duo Maxwell." Duo replied.
"Nice to meet you, too, Duo." She said, then added, "I'll keep your little escapade a moment ago a secret."
"Thanks!" Duo said with an extremely cheerful smile.
"Jeez, I'm hungry, lets get back before all the food is gone!" Usagi said.
"Now you're talking my language!" Duo said as he turned Sandy towards the barns.
"Go on ahead, I don't want to risk spooking Sandy again," Usagi said to Duo. He nodded and tapped Sandy's side and she cantered away. Usagi soon started up the four-wheeler and went back to the house. She parked it back in the shed and ran inside to wash her face and hands quickly.
Waii, la de da, please review!
Chapter 1: The Real Tsukino
Usagi opened the door to her friends and instantly Ami asked,
"Usagi-chan, are you feeling okay?"
"Daijoobu." Usagi replied. "Minna, I have dumped Mamoru. I realized that I want to live the life I want and not the predestined one. I'm going to start acting like my true self. No longer will I keep up the charade of a klutzy crybaby that cannot achieve anything. No, I will act the way I want to.
Rei was holding back a laugh when she asked, "and, um, how do you plan to change you, um, ways?"
"Rei, I know you want to laugh, but I am far more intelligent then Ami-chan, stronger then Mako-chan, and wiser then you Rei-chan."
This caused everyone to bust out laughing. "What me to prove it?"
"Hai," they coursed. I grabbed Ami's Quantum Physics book, that I had pretended to never understand before and wrote a problem down and in a few seconds I had it solved.
"Oh, Kami-sama, it's right..." Ami said as she watched me do the problem. She looked at me in surprise, and I just gave her a blank stare. "How'd you know how to do that?"
"Ami-chan, I already told you. I am smarter then you think. Me acting the way I was...it was just an act. But someone told me that if you don't believe in destiny, then it doesn't really exist. Well, I don't believe in it anymore." Usagi replied.
"I don't believe it, odango actually is smart?!" Rei exclaimed.
"That hurts, Rei-chan." I said with a glare.
"Well, it's just a little hard to believe, Usagi." Rei muttered in response.
"Usagi, this is really hard to believe." Minako said to her friend.
"How is it so hard to believe?!" Usagi exclaimed.
"Well, you've always acted like a klutzy, whiny crybaby...do you think we will really believe the fact that you are miraculously smarter then Ami, strong then me, and wiser then Rei-chan?" Makoto said.
"You of all people should believe me, Mako-chan." Usagi said to her brunette friend.
"Nande?" Makoto questioned.
"Why?! Makoto-chan! You should have known all along that I acted that way because I was told to, demo, I guess none of you will ever believe me." Usagi said with a fierce, yet hurt, voice.
They all looked at their normally bubbly blonde friend in surprise. She had never used that tone of voice with anyone, not even Galaxia.
Usagi looked up at the people that she thought were her true friends, "just go if you want. I don't care if you don't believe me. All that matters is that I do."
"Usa-" Ami started, but was interrupted.
"Just go," Usagi said with an eerily calm voice. Ami, Rei, and Makoto got up and walked towards the door, Minako was the last to get up and leave her friend who had taught her friendship again. They walked out the door and when it shut, that was the moment that Usagi knew she needed a change of environment and pace.
The odango haired blonde ran up the stairs to her room and pack two suitcases full of shirts, skirts, jeans and pants, undergarments and her shoes. Rummaging threw her dresser drawer she found the money that she had been saving up. Every time the girls, Chibi-Usa, or Mamoru had thought that she spent her allowance on something stupid, it had really been because she had saved it.
Changing into her favorite pair of greenish-brown flare pants, her blue and orange quarter-length shirt that had a spiral design on the front, and her New Balance tennis shoes. Usagi headed downstairs to write her mother a note. Posting it on the fridge, where her mother would go to first since she was out grocery shopping, Usagi took a picture of her family and walked out the door to go to the airport.
When Ikuko got home, she placed the bags on the counter and called out for her daughter, "Usagi? Usagi are you home?" Sighing in defeat of knowing her daughter was probably out with her friends she walked to the fridge and saw the note.
Dear Mom,
I'm sorry for leaving, and not saying goodbye. But I need some time to myself. Earlier today I tried to prove to the girls that I wasn't as stupid as they thought, and they laughed. I also have dumped Mamoru, I realized that I didn't love him, I never did. I'm so sorry to do this now. But I have to. Please understand, momma. You have always been there for me, always and forever. And I will always appreciate it, more than you know. I know you know about me being a Senshi, you have been there waiting for me when I got home after battles and watched me heal my wounds. Arigatoo for not saying anything. It means a lot to me to know that I can trust you with such a big secret. I also know that you knew Chibi-Usa was your future granddaughter. I love you mom. And when I come back, I will explain everything to you, I promise. Please don't tell the girls, but I am going to Aunt Janet's ranch in Montana. I already called her to tell her. She is very willing to take me in. I will write once I get settled. For now, I need to do things my way, at least for a little while. Please understand mom, I don't mean to hurt you, or disappoint you. But if you knew half of the things I go through, you wouldn't blame me at all. I love you always, mom. Always and forever.
Your little bunny,
Usagi
And with that, Ikuko's eyes closed to suppress the tears that were forming in her eyes. She had known things like this would happen, she knew her daughter would be in good hands with her aunt, Ikuko's younger sister.
At the airport...
"Whelp, here goes." Usagi said with nervous sigh. She had never flown... that is, on an airplane before, but she knew in her heart that nothing would happen. She showed her ticket to the flight attendant and soon was sitting in her seat.
When the plane took off, Usagi watched as Tokyo got smaller and smaller looking. 'Maybe it'll be different when I return...just maybe.' She thought. Usagi knew that her plane would land in the Minneapolis / St. Paul airport in Minnesota, then she would transfer flights and be on a plane that would take her directly to Great Falls, where her aunt would be to pick her up.
"Okay, where are you Janet?" Usagi said to herself. 'Follow the sign, baka.' She thought when she saw a sign being held up by a boy with sandy blonde hair. She walked up to the boy with a smile on her face, "Hey, I'm Usagi."
"Hello, Miss Usagi. I'm Quatre." The boy replied with a kind smile.
"Just call me Usagi or Usa, Quatre." She replied as they went to baggage claim.
"Okay, Usagi." Quatre replied.
"Do you live with my Aunt?" Usagi asked when she had her bags and they were walking towards the car.
"No, my friends and I work on her ranch. She had to monitor a foal delivery so she asked me to pick you up."
"Really? Cool! How long until we get to the ranch?" The bubbly blonde questioned as she undid her odangos and let it fall around her.
"It's right outside of town, so it shouldn't be more then 15 minutes." Quatre replied.
"Oh, wow, this town is small compared to Tokyo." Usagi commented as they drove down one of the main roads that went threw the whole town. Usagi looked at everything as they drove by it. When they went under the sign for her Aunts ranch, White Creek, Usagi shifted in her seat excitedly.
"There are some of the horses your Aunt has. The chestnut with the blaze is Lucky, since no one knew if he would live. The coal black one is Pride. The palomino is Wanderer, since we found her wandering on the land. And the foal there is Wanderer's baby, Cocoa." Quatre said as he pointed them out, driving slowly so Usagi could get a good look.
"Cocoa is so kawaii!" Usagi exclaimed, not even caring if Quatre didn't know what she was saying.
"And this is the main farmhouse." Quatre said, slowing the car to a stop in front of a large Victorian style farmhouse that looked at least a 100 years old.
"It's beautiful!" Usagi exclaimed upon exiting the car.
"So are you, my dear!" A women who looked no more then 25 said from a barn doorway.
Usagi spun around to see who had said that and saw her aunt, "Aunt Janet!" She ran towards her favorite aunt and hugged her.
"Hey there, Usagi. How have you been?" Janet asked.
"Great, considering." She replied as they walked back to the car. Usagi had already informed her aunt about what had happened.
"Hey, Janet. Did Kumi foal?" Quatre asked.
"Yup, go check him out. It's your turn to name the foal, so pick a good one!" She said as Quatre walked towards the barn with a smile plastered on his face.
"You're going to be in the room that I had when I moved out here with your Grandpa. It's still the same as when I was in it, I hope you like it." Janet said as they entered the house, walked up some stairs and got to a door at the end of a hallway.
"I know I will." Usagi said with a smile as she opened the door to a room wallpapered with pictures of horses, Tokyo, and other exotic countries. There was a queen sized bed right next to a door, that Usagi assumed lead out to a balcony.
To her left was a desk that had horse figurines on it, next to that was a dresser made out of oak, shining with it's newly applied polish. There were two other doors that Janet said lead to the bathroom and closet.
"Well, I'll let you get settled in. Oh, Quatre and his friends are coming for dinner." Janet said when she was about to leave the room.
"What should I wear?" Usagi asked her aunt.
"It's just a dinner at home, so wear something comfortable." Janet said, then she closed the door and walked back downstairs.
'Okay, I'll take a quick shower, get dressed, and run to the barn to check up on that new foal.' Usagi thought as she got undressed to take her shower.
Washing her hair faster then she usually did Usagi was out of the shower in twenty minutes and was drying her hair. "Okay, first order of business... get the hair cut." She muttered as she left it down to dry.
"Second... what to wear." She rummaged threw her suitcases and decided on a pair of blue jeans that fit her snugly, a tee-shirt that said 'White Creek' on it; Janet had given it to her for her birthday last year, and her boots.
She walked quickly out of her room, her long golden hair flowing behind her as she checked the kitchen to see if her aunt was there. Upon seeing no one, she walked out the door towards the barn that her aunt had come out of earlier.
"Usagi, that you?" Came Janet's voice when the barn door was slid open.
"Hai. Where are you?" She replied.
"Six stalls back on your right," was the reply she got. Usagi shrugged and walked down six stalls and looked inside.
"Oh, wow. He's so kawaii, Aunt Janet." Usagi commented at the new foal that was lying there asleep in the hay.
"Yeah, he is. Come in, Kumi doesn't mind visitors."
Usagi unlatched the door and walked inside the spacious stall, putting her hand out for Kumi to sniff. Once the mare got used to Usagis smell she snorted and shoved her muzzle into Usagi's open palm. "How old is she?"
"She's six. I bought her at an auction last year." Was Janet's reply.
"Cool. Did Quatre name him yet?" She asked.
"Yeah, I think he did. You can ask him at dinner. Which, by the way, will be at 7:30. So you have just enough time to get a four-wheeler out of the shed and check out the land. If you stay on the paths you won't get lost." Janet said as she and her niece left the stall.
"Okay, thanks." Usagi said as she jogged off towards the shed to get a four-wheeler. She grabbed a set of keys off the wall by the door and started one of them up and she drove around the ranch, taking in everything there was to see.
"Hey, watch out!" A voice yelled from behind her when she got closer to the creek the ranch was named after.
Usagi's head snapped around quickly to see what was going on, only to see a horse galloping up from behind her...obviously out of control. "Kuso!" Usagi swore as she steered the four-wheeler to the edge of the path. "What is its name?" Usagi yelled to the boy.
"Her name is Sandy and she's out of control!" The boy yelled back as they got closer.
"Try a pulley rein! Put one fist on the side of her neck, and give three sharp tugs with the other one!" Usagi yelled as she jumped off the four-wheeler.
"Okay." The boy did as Usagi had told him and soon Sandy was slowing down.
"Keep it up until she slows to a trot." Usagi said as the boy and Sandy passed her by. She jogged after them and watched as the Strawberry roan filly went down to a trot.
"Whoa, Sandy," the boy commanded. The filly stopped and waited for someone to give her a signal to do something.
Usagi caught up to them and immediately ran her hands over the filly's legs to check for any heat...a sign of something might be wrong with her legs. "Good, no heat." Usagi said as she straightened up and patted Sandy on the neck. "What got you so spooked girl?" She asked the filly.
"I think she got scared by the four-wheeler." The boy replied for the horse. "Thanks for helping me get her to stop. By the way...who are you?"
Usagi smiled at the boy, "I'm Usagi Tsukino. Janet's niece from Tokyo."
"Oh! You're Usagi! Well, nice to meet 'cha, Usagi, I'm Duo Maxwell." Duo replied.
"Nice to meet you, too, Duo." She said, then added, "I'll keep your little escapade a moment ago a secret."
"Thanks!" Duo said with an extremely cheerful smile.
"Jeez, I'm hungry, lets get back before all the food is gone!" Usagi said.
"Now you're talking my language!" Duo said as he turned Sandy towards the barns.
"Go on ahead, I don't want to risk spooking Sandy again," Usagi said to Duo. He nodded and tapped Sandy's side and she cantered away. Usagi soon started up the four-wheeler and went back to the house. She parked it back in the shed and ran inside to wash her face and hands quickly.
Waii, la de da, please review!