PINK REBELLION
Chapter 7: "The Olive Branch"
By Bill K.
Hotaru ventured reluctantly into the girl's restroom between
classes. If it were up to her, she would have avoided the room
completely. However, there were some things during certain periods
in a girl's life that just had to be attended to.
Three girls were at the mirror: Kyoko, Tomoyo and Kikoyo.
Instantly their eyes moved to her, silently challenging Hotaru's
right to be there, challenging her right to even exist. They were in
Hotaru's grade level, but there the resemblance ended. Nature had
blessed Kikoyo early on with an ethereal beauty, while puberty had
been very kind to Tomoyo. Kyoko's looks were average, but she made
the most of what she had with a sense of style beyond her years.
Hotaru, on the other hand, was small and shy and dressed in dark
colors. She was different.
That made her prey.
Hotaru walked quietly to the stall, hoping the three would
ignore her.
"How's tricks, Goth Girl?" snickered Kyoko. Hotaru continued
on.
"Kyoko asked you a question," Tomoyo said, intercepting Hotaru
before she reached the stall. "I think it's rude ignoring her like
that."
"She doesn't really care how I am," Hotaru replied, not making
eye contact.
"Are you saying I'm stuck up?" Kyoko demanded. With Kikoyo on
the other side, Hotaru found herself surrounded. "Boy, you are
ill-mannered!"
"And ill-dressed," added Kikoyo. "What mortuary do you shop
at?"
"She must be trying for the 'Wednesday Addams' look," sneered
Kyoko.
"Now be nice to the child," Tomoyo said with false sympathy.
"After all, it's not like she's got anything to show off."
Hotaru shoved past Tomoyo and gained the stall, locking the
door behind her. While she took care of what she came for, the
others lingered outside.
"Don't worry, Witchie-poo," Kikoyo called out. "We'll wait for
you to finish. We're in no hurry."
"Careful she doesn't turn you into a frog," giggled Tomoyo.
"If she really had any powers," snickered Kyoko, "she'd turn
herself into a human."
Hotaru tried to ignore the catcalls as she had so often in the
past. But it was always so hard.
"What are you doing in there?" Kikoyo called out. "Playing
with yourself?"
"Well she's not going to get a boy to do it for her," Kyoko
said.
"I bet she doesn't even like boys," Tomoyo told them. "You
know who she's living with, don't you."
Finished, Hotaru lingered at the door to the stall. She didn't
want to go out. She didn't want to face it again. But she couldn't
stay in the stall for the rest of her life. Hotaru was no sooner out
of the stall then it resumed.
"Hey, yeah!" gasped Kikoyo. "Who was that girl you were with
this morning? Is that your new dyke girlfriend?"
"Leave me alone," Hotaru said, anger and frustration coloring
her tone. She started for the door.
"You don't have to give up on boys just yet, honey," chortled
Kyoko. "All you need is a makeover. How about we give her one!"
Kyoko's hand shot out and seized onto Hotaru's black hair. She
jerked savagely and the girl staggered backwards.
"How do you think she'd look shaved bald?" chuckled Kyoko.
It was the last words Kyoko could get out. Before she could
grab onto the reflex and pull it back, Hotaru felt her mind lunge out
at the girl and poke her through her forehead. Kyoko's face twisted.
She tried to cry out but her vocal cords were paralyzed and her mouth
misshapen, mimicking the symptoms of a stroke. Kyoko staggered back
a step, but her legs would no longer hold her and she crumpled to the
tile floor. All the while she stared back at the horrified Hotaru
with wide, fearful, uncomprehending eyes.
"What did you do to her?" gasped Tomoyo. She knelt by her
friend's side, then glanced fearfully back at Hotaru to see if the
girl was preparing to attack again. Kikoyo pressed against the stall,
afraid to move.
Hotaru could feel the pall of naked animal terror in the room,
the primal fear for life that robbed even the most civilized of their
humanity. She felt it, too. She knew she had gifts, gifts of sight,
gifts of power beyond her abilities as Sailor Saturn - - but this?
The girls gathered their fallen companion, already recovering,
and moved quickly for the door. Hotaru was the furthest thing from
their juvenile minds. And right now, they were the furthest thing
from Hotaru's mind. All she could think of was what had just
happened, how ashamed and disappointed she felt because she'd lost
control and lashed out. Even though it could be seen as self-defense,
she felt bad, because Sailor Moon would never have reacted like that.
This was more the style of Mistress 9. And she wouldn't go through
that again. She'd run off and hide in a cave for the rest of her
life before allowing that to happen again.
Hotaru emerged from the restroom. Several of the kids in the
hall stared at her. It was times like this that made Hotaru hate
school.
"Did they gang up on you?"
Hotaru looked up and found Momoko standing there, her pretty
face leaning in to her inquiringly. Hotaru shrugged.
"I guess they didn't have anything better to do," she said.
"The way they ran out of that bathroom, you must have scared
them right down to their designer panties." Momoko instantly noticed
Hotaru's discomfort. "Hey, don't feel guilty. Female dogs like that
have it coming!"
"No one has that coming," Hotaru replied sadly.
"Well, I'm still not going to feel too bad for them. That
Kikoyo went after me last year." Hotaru looked up at her, the silent
question on her lips. Momo smirked. "Well, I don't want to seem
like I'm bragging, but that dental work she got last year wasn't to
straighten her teeth, it was to bend them back."
"That's terrible," Hotaru replied, putting her hand to her
mouth to cover her grin. Then she recalled just exactly who Momo
was. "Momoko, would you like to come to my house for dinner
tonight?"
"Me?" Momo said, unsure about the gesture. She really didn't
know Hotaru THAT well, even though they shared a home room. "Um,
well . . ."
"Please come. I've got someone staying with me that I'm pretty
sure you're going to want to meet."
Momo stared at Hotaru, perplexed. "Well now you've gone and
got me curious," she pronounced. Then she shrugged. "See you
tonight."
* * * *
Usa walked down the street contemplating her conversation with
Haruka.
It was getting harder and harder to stick to the runaway story,
especially under Haruka's experienced and uncompromising scrutiny.
She was beginning to wonder if she'd only gotten away with it this
long because there was some truth to it. Much like her unauthorized
trip to Elysian, she had run away through the Door of Time, but only
because her parents would never have consented to her going if she'd
asked. And, as disagreeable as they both could be at times, she was
beginning to miss them. Seeing Mamoru had only fanned that desire.
But she knew she had to stay strong and she had to stick to her
story. There was no way she could tell anyone the truth. If they
knew what she knew, they'd react differently than history said they
did. That might change history in a way that could actually prevent
her from changing history the way she intended to do.
Her head began to hurt, just like it did whenever she tried to
account for all the angles of her particular problem. If only she
could talk this out with Sailor Pluto - - her Sailor Pluto. Quantum
Chronology was always so confusing and only when she discussed it on
her visits with her Puu did it ever make sense. Puu could make sense
of it. But the Sailor Pluto that existed now hadn't even been
appointed guardian of the Door yet. No, she was on her own.
Turning the corner, she gasped and stepped back. Makoto and
the Amazons were walking down the sidewalk toward her. Less than ten
feet separated them.
"Princess!" cried Jun-Jun.
"Princess?" asked Makoto, then stared at the willowy beauty
with the waist length ribbons of pink hair. "Chibi-Usa?"
"Oh, great!" snapped Usa. "Just what I needed! What, did Mama
send you back to keep an eye on me?"
"That's our job, Princess!" Jun-Jun retorted. "Guarding you is
our primary mission!"
"I don't need your help!" Usa shot back. "Especially your
help!"
"What's wrong with our help, you stuck up little . . ."
growled Ves-Ves.
"You have the nerve to ask that, after what you did?" snarled
Usa venomously. The four Amazons stared at her in shock. "Everybody
knows what you did - - what you tried to do to Helios!"
"But we just wanted to play with the horsie," Palla-Palla
whined.
"Besides, we were under Zirconia's influence!" Cere-Cere
stormed. "We're different now!"
Usa remained unconvinced.
"The queen believes in us," countered Jun-Jun.
"Mama believes in everyone," scowled Usa. "She'll extend a
hand to anyone, no matter what they've done! And it hasn't prevented
her from being bitten more than once!"
"It won't happen with us, Princess," Jun-Jun replied. "We want
this. We want to serve you. There's a lot about you a person can
like when they're not blinded by lies and hate."
"Besides, we all know this is our last chance," Ves-Ves added.
"We screw up again and your parents drop us back into the Amazon and
forget they ever knew us. And I kind of like my new life. So we're
sticking to you, 'Princess', and we're going to defend you whether
you like us or not! So get used to it!"
Usa's jaw set. She seemed about to go at Ves-Ves. However,
Makoto stepped in and held Usa back, while Jun-Jun interceded and
forced her sister Amazon to back away.
"Now, let's not have a cat fight right here in the middle of
the street, huh?" Makoto told them, Usa specifically. "I don't think
that's the way a lady acts, do you?" That got Usa's attention and,
though she was still angry, she relaxed considerably. "Now I don't
know what's gone on between all of you in the thirtieth century, but
I've spent a little time with these four and they're good people. A
little rough around the edges, maybe, but they're a long way from the
delinquents that were working for Neherenia."
"So I'm just supposed to forget what they did?" demanded Usa.
Makoto locked eyes with the teen. "No one's going to forget.
What they did is going to follow them the rest of their lives, just
like my reputation for fighting has followed me around. But you
know, one of the things that got me past that part of my life was
Usagi taking a chance on me. And now I'd rather cut my arm off than
let her down. Maybe you ought to give them a chance, too."
Usa looked at Makoto, her expression a swirling mixture of
chagrin, residual anger and uneasy uncertainty. She recalled all the
good times she'd spent with Makoto in the future when her parents
didn't have time for her and all the good advice the woman had given
her. She saw the same warm heart and sensible advice in this younger
version.
Then she glanced at the four Amazons. Ves-Ves still had her
jaw stuck out defiantly, but Jun-Jun and Cere-Cere stared with
cautious hope. Then Palla-Palla walked up to her.
"Palla-Palla's sorry you don't like her," the girl said
forlornly. "Palla-Palla knows it's her fault, too, because you say
it is and Princesses don't lie." Usa swallowed uneasily. "Can
Palla-Palla give you a gift to tell you she's sorry?"
Helpless to know how to respond, Usa turned back to Makoto.
The girl nodded.
"I guess," mumbled Usa.
Palla-Palla stuck her hand behind her back. When it returned,
it had a doll in it, which she handed to Usa. It was a little wooden
marionette in the shape of the horned Pegasus.
"Here," Palla-Palla smiled innocently. "He's yours now."
Usa felt tears welling. Then her jaw set.
"It's not going to explode, is it?" she asked cautiously.
"Hahahahaha!" cackled Palla-Palla. "You're funny!"
Cere-Cere reached over, took Palla-Palla by the hand and gently
pulled her back. Ves-Ves patted her on the back.
"Maybe you're not so dumb after all," the girl said.
Palla-Palla beamed back at her.
Usa continued to stare at the Pegasus puppet for the longest
time. Everybody waited for her to speak. The air was thick with
tension. Finally the teen summoned words to speak with.
"Don't think this makes up for everything," Usa said gruffly.
"Maybe I have misjudged you four. Or maybe I just don't like my Mom
picking my friends for me. If I was rude, I apologize. And if you
four are serious about turning your lives around, then I guess I can
live with you as my senshi." Then her mouth tightened into a line
and she looked directly at them. "But if ANY of you make a move
toward Helios that I don't like, I will smoke you all!"
"With Pink Sugar Heart Attack?" muttered Ves-Ves. "I doubt
it." Jun-Jun elbowed her in the ribs.
Just then, Makoto heard her Sailor Senshi communicator page
her. She popped the watch open and activated it.
"Makoto, where are you?" Minako asked urgently.
"On my way over to Ami's," Makoto responded. "What's up?"
"I just got a call from Rei! She's on the train back from the
inn. The little girl's father is dead and it looks like she killed
him! I'm on my way to Ami's right now! Get over there as fast as
you can! She may be sitting with a ticking time bomb!"
Makoto flipped the watch closed. She turned to the others.
"We heard," Jun-Jun replied.
"Then let's go!" Makoto said, taking off in a dead run for the
apartment building Ami lived in. Usa and her senshi were right
behind her.
* * * *
Minako piled into the lobby, whizzing past the doorman, and
shot for the elevator. Artemis was on her shoulder, hanging on as
best he could. She shoved a woman out of the way and jabbed the
button for the penthouse.
"Oh!" gasped the woman indignantly. "This younger generation
is so rude!" The door closed, leaving Minako and Artemis alone in
the car.
"Just how strong a telekinetic is this girl?" Artemis asked.
"Strong enough to lay waste to an entire street full of cars,"
Minako replied. She produced her transformation wand.
"That might not be a good idea," Artemis warned her. "If you
go barging into the Mizuno penthouse as Sailor Venus and find her
watching cartoons on Ami's lap, you're going to inspire some awkward
questions at best. At worst, you might spook the girl into
attacking."
"But if I go in as I am now, she might get me before I have a
chance to transform," countered Minako.
"Hey, it's your call," Artemis responded. "I just think you
should play it cautious." The elevator stopped. As the doors
opened, Artemis jumped down to the floor.
"OK," sighed Minako. "But the last time I played it cautious,
a bomb exploded in my face. And I'm getting the same vibes now I did
then."
Controlling the adrenaline rush, the same one she'd experienced
every time since she'd first become Sailor V, Minako approached the
door. Artemis looked up at her and saw the Minako he knew was gone.
In her place was an efficient fighting machine. At these times it
was like she assumed another personality. Once again, admiration
colored his feelings. She'd have made a great samurai.
Her finger pressed the buzzer. Artemis hung back. He could
see the transformation wand in her left hand, hidden behind her back.
The door opened and everyone tensed, but it was Mrs. Mizuno that
greeted them.
"Hello, Minako," she smiled. "What brings you here?"
"Just wanted to see if Ami wanted to hang out," she grinned,
the warrior slipping deftly back behind the mask of 'daffy Minako'.
"Is she here?"
"Yes," Ami's mother nodded. "Come in."
"I brought Artemis along," Minako said. "I hope you don't
mind." The white cat scampered into the penthouse and instantly
began sniffing the air.
"That's fine," Mrs. Mizuno replied, though Minako could tell it
really wasn't. "Ami. You have a visitor."
Directed by the gaze of the white cat, Minako turned to the far
door. Ami appeared out of it, holding hands with the little girl,
Sakiko.
"Hey, Ames," grinned Minako, trying to look as incompetent and
dizzy as possible. "Just came by to see if you wanted to go shopping
with me." She looked at Sakiko. "How are you doing, honey?"
Sakiko glared at Minako. It was like the girl could look
through her and read her every thought and Minako held on to keep
from betraying herself.
"She's very shy around strangers," Ami alibied.
"Hey, Ames, I've got this absolutely juicy piece of gossip that
you just have to hear," Minako said, maneuvering away from Sakiko and
gesturing for Ami to follow.
Ami started to go, but Sakiko's grip on her hand tightened.
"It's all right, Sakiko," Ami said, patting the girl's
shoulder. "I'm just going across the room."
"Yeah, I'd let you in on it too, honey," Minako said, "but it
involves this absolutely hunky guy and it's way too racy for a kid to
hear." She noticed Ami blushing slightly. "See? It's so hot, Ami
can barely hear it." Minako put her arm on Ami's shoulder and they
huddled in the next room. Sakiko could see them framed by the
doorway, the French doors leading to the balcony behind them.
"Minako, you know I don't listen to . . ." Ami began.
"That was a story," Minako whispered. "I got a call from Rei.
The kid's dad is dead. So are all the others in the inn. So's the
inn, for that matter."
"Goodness," gasped Ami softly. "Did she . . .?"
"Looks like it. How's she been around here?"
"Scared. Nervous. The only thing that seems to keep her calm
is being around me. She seems very distrustful of Mother."
"Is there anyplace we can take this kid?" Minako asked. "I'm
worried about her staying here."
"She's just a scared little girl, Minako," Ami protested
mildly.
"She's already proven that she can kill."
"Sakiko said her father was hurting her. It may have been a
reflex."
"Hey I'm not saying she's a serial killer. But a scared little
girl who can do what she can is a dangerous . . ."
"You're trying to take me away!" they heard Sakiko cry. Minako
and Ami turned and saw the seething girl standing in the middle of
the living room, glaring angrily at them. "You're trying to turn Ami
against me!"
"Hey, relax kid, I'm just . . ." 'daffy Minako' began to say.
"I'LL MAKE YOU SORRY!" spat Sakiko.
Artemis watched the entire scene unfold before he could make
himself move. Sakiko's eyes began to glow almost white. Her hair
flew up, carried by a wind only she felt. Her face, twisted in
anger, flushed with intense effort.
Minako, with the reflexes of an athlete and the experience of
Sailor V, dived for cover behind the doorway, moving faster than the
speed of thought - - at least the speed of Sakiko's thoughts. She
assumed that Ami, being a fellow senshi, had the same reflexes she
did.
But Ami was slower than Minako in reacting. The unseen force
struck her full and her body pitched backwards like it was shot from
a cannon. She crashed through the French doors and over the balcony,
out into thin air.
Ami's mother shrieked her child's name. Minako sprang for the
balcony in a vain effort to try to help. Sakiko stared, transfixed
in horror, as Ami pitched helplessly out into the blue sky.
Then gravity took command and sent Ami plummeting to the street
below.
Continued in Chapter 8
Chapter 7: "The Olive Branch"
By Bill K.
Hotaru ventured reluctantly into the girl's restroom between
classes. If it were up to her, she would have avoided the room
completely. However, there were some things during certain periods
in a girl's life that just had to be attended to.
Three girls were at the mirror: Kyoko, Tomoyo and Kikoyo.
Instantly their eyes moved to her, silently challenging Hotaru's
right to be there, challenging her right to even exist. They were in
Hotaru's grade level, but there the resemblance ended. Nature had
blessed Kikoyo early on with an ethereal beauty, while puberty had
been very kind to Tomoyo. Kyoko's looks were average, but she made
the most of what she had with a sense of style beyond her years.
Hotaru, on the other hand, was small and shy and dressed in dark
colors. She was different.
That made her prey.
Hotaru walked quietly to the stall, hoping the three would
ignore her.
"How's tricks, Goth Girl?" snickered Kyoko. Hotaru continued
on.
"Kyoko asked you a question," Tomoyo said, intercepting Hotaru
before she reached the stall. "I think it's rude ignoring her like
that."
"She doesn't really care how I am," Hotaru replied, not making
eye contact.
"Are you saying I'm stuck up?" Kyoko demanded. With Kikoyo on
the other side, Hotaru found herself surrounded. "Boy, you are
ill-mannered!"
"And ill-dressed," added Kikoyo. "What mortuary do you shop
at?"
"She must be trying for the 'Wednesday Addams' look," sneered
Kyoko.
"Now be nice to the child," Tomoyo said with false sympathy.
"After all, it's not like she's got anything to show off."
Hotaru shoved past Tomoyo and gained the stall, locking the
door behind her. While she took care of what she came for, the
others lingered outside.
"Don't worry, Witchie-poo," Kikoyo called out. "We'll wait for
you to finish. We're in no hurry."
"Careful she doesn't turn you into a frog," giggled Tomoyo.
"If she really had any powers," snickered Kyoko, "she'd turn
herself into a human."
Hotaru tried to ignore the catcalls as she had so often in the
past. But it was always so hard.
"What are you doing in there?" Kikoyo called out. "Playing
with yourself?"
"Well she's not going to get a boy to do it for her," Kyoko
said.
"I bet she doesn't even like boys," Tomoyo told them. "You
know who she's living with, don't you."
Finished, Hotaru lingered at the door to the stall. She didn't
want to go out. She didn't want to face it again. But she couldn't
stay in the stall for the rest of her life. Hotaru was no sooner out
of the stall then it resumed.
"Hey, yeah!" gasped Kikoyo. "Who was that girl you were with
this morning? Is that your new dyke girlfriend?"
"Leave me alone," Hotaru said, anger and frustration coloring
her tone. She started for the door.
"You don't have to give up on boys just yet, honey," chortled
Kyoko. "All you need is a makeover. How about we give her one!"
Kyoko's hand shot out and seized onto Hotaru's black hair. She
jerked savagely and the girl staggered backwards.
"How do you think she'd look shaved bald?" chuckled Kyoko.
It was the last words Kyoko could get out. Before she could
grab onto the reflex and pull it back, Hotaru felt her mind lunge out
at the girl and poke her through her forehead. Kyoko's face twisted.
She tried to cry out but her vocal cords were paralyzed and her mouth
misshapen, mimicking the symptoms of a stroke. Kyoko staggered back
a step, but her legs would no longer hold her and she crumpled to the
tile floor. All the while she stared back at the horrified Hotaru
with wide, fearful, uncomprehending eyes.
"What did you do to her?" gasped Tomoyo. She knelt by her
friend's side, then glanced fearfully back at Hotaru to see if the
girl was preparing to attack again. Kikoyo pressed against the stall,
afraid to move.
Hotaru could feel the pall of naked animal terror in the room,
the primal fear for life that robbed even the most civilized of their
humanity. She felt it, too. She knew she had gifts, gifts of sight,
gifts of power beyond her abilities as Sailor Saturn - - but this?
The girls gathered their fallen companion, already recovering,
and moved quickly for the door. Hotaru was the furthest thing from
their juvenile minds. And right now, they were the furthest thing
from Hotaru's mind. All she could think of was what had just
happened, how ashamed and disappointed she felt because she'd lost
control and lashed out. Even though it could be seen as self-defense,
she felt bad, because Sailor Moon would never have reacted like that.
This was more the style of Mistress 9. And she wouldn't go through
that again. She'd run off and hide in a cave for the rest of her
life before allowing that to happen again.
Hotaru emerged from the restroom. Several of the kids in the
hall stared at her. It was times like this that made Hotaru hate
school.
"Did they gang up on you?"
Hotaru looked up and found Momoko standing there, her pretty
face leaning in to her inquiringly. Hotaru shrugged.
"I guess they didn't have anything better to do," she said.
"The way they ran out of that bathroom, you must have scared
them right down to their designer panties." Momoko instantly noticed
Hotaru's discomfort. "Hey, don't feel guilty. Female dogs like that
have it coming!"
"No one has that coming," Hotaru replied sadly.
"Well, I'm still not going to feel too bad for them. That
Kikoyo went after me last year." Hotaru looked up at her, the silent
question on her lips. Momo smirked. "Well, I don't want to seem
like I'm bragging, but that dental work she got last year wasn't to
straighten her teeth, it was to bend them back."
"That's terrible," Hotaru replied, putting her hand to her
mouth to cover her grin. Then she recalled just exactly who Momo
was. "Momoko, would you like to come to my house for dinner
tonight?"
"Me?" Momo said, unsure about the gesture. She really didn't
know Hotaru THAT well, even though they shared a home room. "Um,
well . . ."
"Please come. I've got someone staying with me that I'm pretty
sure you're going to want to meet."
Momo stared at Hotaru, perplexed. "Well now you've gone and
got me curious," she pronounced. Then she shrugged. "See you
tonight."
* * * *
Usa walked down the street contemplating her conversation with
Haruka.
It was getting harder and harder to stick to the runaway story,
especially under Haruka's experienced and uncompromising scrutiny.
She was beginning to wonder if she'd only gotten away with it this
long because there was some truth to it. Much like her unauthorized
trip to Elysian, she had run away through the Door of Time, but only
because her parents would never have consented to her going if she'd
asked. And, as disagreeable as they both could be at times, she was
beginning to miss them. Seeing Mamoru had only fanned that desire.
But she knew she had to stay strong and she had to stick to her
story. There was no way she could tell anyone the truth. If they
knew what she knew, they'd react differently than history said they
did. That might change history in a way that could actually prevent
her from changing history the way she intended to do.
Her head began to hurt, just like it did whenever she tried to
account for all the angles of her particular problem. If only she
could talk this out with Sailor Pluto - - her Sailor Pluto. Quantum
Chronology was always so confusing and only when she discussed it on
her visits with her Puu did it ever make sense. Puu could make sense
of it. But the Sailor Pluto that existed now hadn't even been
appointed guardian of the Door yet. No, she was on her own.
Turning the corner, she gasped and stepped back. Makoto and
the Amazons were walking down the sidewalk toward her. Less than ten
feet separated them.
"Princess!" cried Jun-Jun.
"Princess?" asked Makoto, then stared at the willowy beauty
with the waist length ribbons of pink hair. "Chibi-Usa?"
"Oh, great!" snapped Usa. "Just what I needed! What, did Mama
send you back to keep an eye on me?"
"That's our job, Princess!" Jun-Jun retorted. "Guarding you is
our primary mission!"
"I don't need your help!" Usa shot back. "Especially your
help!"
"What's wrong with our help, you stuck up little . . ."
growled Ves-Ves.
"You have the nerve to ask that, after what you did?" snarled
Usa venomously. The four Amazons stared at her in shock. "Everybody
knows what you did - - what you tried to do to Helios!"
"But we just wanted to play with the horsie," Palla-Palla
whined.
"Besides, we were under Zirconia's influence!" Cere-Cere
stormed. "We're different now!"
Usa remained unconvinced.
"The queen believes in us," countered Jun-Jun.
"Mama believes in everyone," scowled Usa. "She'll extend a
hand to anyone, no matter what they've done! And it hasn't prevented
her from being bitten more than once!"
"It won't happen with us, Princess," Jun-Jun replied. "We want
this. We want to serve you. There's a lot about you a person can
like when they're not blinded by lies and hate."
"Besides, we all know this is our last chance," Ves-Ves added.
"We screw up again and your parents drop us back into the Amazon and
forget they ever knew us. And I kind of like my new life. So we're
sticking to you, 'Princess', and we're going to defend you whether
you like us or not! So get used to it!"
Usa's jaw set. She seemed about to go at Ves-Ves. However,
Makoto stepped in and held Usa back, while Jun-Jun interceded and
forced her sister Amazon to back away.
"Now, let's not have a cat fight right here in the middle of
the street, huh?" Makoto told them, Usa specifically. "I don't think
that's the way a lady acts, do you?" That got Usa's attention and,
though she was still angry, she relaxed considerably. "Now I don't
know what's gone on between all of you in the thirtieth century, but
I've spent a little time with these four and they're good people. A
little rough around the edges, maybe, but they're a long way from the
delinquents that were working for Neherenia."
"So I'm just supposed to forget what they did?" demanded Usa.
Makoto locked eyes with the teen. "No one's going to forget.
What they did is going to follow them the rest of their lives, just
like my reputation for fighting has followed me around. But you
know, one of the things that got me past that part of my life was
Usagi taking a chance on me. And now I'd rather cut my arm off than
let her down. Maybe you ought to give them a chance, too."
Usa looked at Makoto, her expression a swirling mixture of
chagrin, residual anger and uneasy uncertainty. She recalled all the
good times she'd spent with Makoto in the future when her parents
didn't have time for her and all the good advice the woman had given
her. She saw the same warm heart and sensible advice in this younger
version.
Then she glanced at the four Amazons. Ves-Ves still had her
jaw stuck out defiantly, but Jun-Jun and Cere-Cere stared with
cautious hope. Then Palla-Palla walked up to her.
"Palla-Palla's sorry you don't like her," the girl said
forlornly. "Palla-Palla knows it's her fault, too, because you say
it is and Princesses don't lie." Usa swallowed uneasily. "Can
Palla-Palla give you a gift to tell you she's sorry?"
Helpless to know how to respond, Usa turned back to Makoto.
The girl nodded.
"I guess," mumbled Usa.
Palla-Palla stuck her hand behind her back. When it returned,
it had a doll in it, which she handed to Usa. It was a little wooden
marionette in the shape of the horned Pegasus.
"Here," Palla-Palla smiled innocently. "He's yours now."
Usa felt tears welling. Then her jaw set.
"It's not going to explode, is it?" she asked cautiously.
"Hahahahaha!" cackled Palla-Palla. "You're funny!"
Cere-Cere reached over, took Palla-Palla by the hand and gently
pulled her back. Ves-Ves patted her on the back.
"Maybe you're not so dumb after all," the girl said.
Palla-Palla beamed back at her.
Usa continued to stare at the Pegasus puppet for the longest
time. Everybody waited for her to speak. The air was thick with
tension. Finally the teen summoned words to speak with.
"Don't think this makes up for everything," Usa said gruffly.
"Maybe I have misjudged you four. Or maybe I just don't like my Mom
picking my friends for me. If I was rude, I apologize. And if you
four are serious about turning your lives around, then I guess I can
live with you as my senshi." Then her mouth tightened into a line
and she looked directly at them. "But if ANY of you make a move
toward Helios that I don't like, I will smoke you all!"
"With Pink Sugar Heart Attack?" muttered Ves-Ves. "I doubt
it." Jun-Jun elbowed her in the ribs.
Just then, Makoto heard her Sailor Senshi communicator page
her. She popped the watch open and activated it.
"Makoto, where are you?" Minako asked urgently.
"On my way over to Ami's," Makoto responded. "What's up?"
"I just got a call from Rei! She's on the train back from the
inn. The little girl's father is dead and it looks like she killed
him! I'm on my way to Ami's right now! Get over there as fast as
you can! She may be sitting with a ticking time bomb!"
Makoto flipped the watch closed. She turned to the others.
"We heard," Jun-Jun replied.
"Then let's go!" Makoto said, taking off in a dead run for the
apartment building Ami lived in. Usa and her senshi were right
behind her.
* * * *
Minako piled into the lobby, whizzing past the doorman, and
shot for the elevator. Artemis was on her shoulder, hanging on as
best he could. She shoved a woman out of the way and jabbed the
button for the penthouse.
"Oh!" gasped the woman indignantly. "This younger generation
is so rude!" The door closed, leaving Minako and Artemis alone in
the car.
"Just how strong a telekinetic is this girl?" Artemis asked.
"Strong enough to lay waste to an entire street full of cars,"
Minako replied. She produced her transformation wand.
"That might not be a good idea," Artemis warned her. "If you
go barging into the Mizuno penthouse as Sailor Venus and find her
watching cartoons on Ami's lap, you're going to inspire some awkward
questions at best. At worst, you might spook the girl into
attacking."
"But if I go in as I am now, she might get me before I have a
chance to transform," countered Minako.
"Hey, it's your call," Artemis responded. "I just think you
should play it cautious." The elevator stopped. As the doors
opened, Artemis jumped down to the floor.
"OK," sighed Minako. "But the last time I played it cautious,
a bomb exploded in my face. And I'm getting the same vibes now I did
then."
Controlling the adrenaline rush, the same one she'd experienced
every time since she'd first become Sailor V, Minako approached the
door. Artemis looked up at her and saw the Minako he knew was gone.
In her place was an efficient fighting machine. At these times it
was like she assumed another personality. Once again, admiration
colored his feelings. She'd have made a great samurai.
Her finger pressed the buzzer. Artemis hung back. He could
see the transformation wand in her left hand, hidden behind her back.
The door opened and everyone tensed, but it was Mrs. Mizuno that
greeted them.
"Hello, Minako," she smiled. "What brings you here?"
"Just wanted to see if Ami wanted to hang out," she grinned,
the warrior slipping deftly back behind the mask of 'daffy Minako'.
"Is she here?"
"Yes," Ami's mother nodded. "Come in."
"I brought Artemis along," Minako said. "I hope you don't
mind." The white cat scampered into the penthouse and instantly
began sniffing the air.
"That's fine," Mrs. Mizuno replied, though Minako could tell it
really wasn't. "Ami. You have a visitor."
Directed by the gaze of the white cat, Minako turned to the far
door. Ami appeared out of it, holding hands with the little girl,
Sakiko.
"Hey, Ames," grinned Minako, trying to look as incompetent and
dizzy as possible. "Just came by to see if you wanted to go shopping
with me." She looked at Sakiko. "How are you doing, honey?"
Sakiko glared at Minako. It was like the girl could look
through her and read her every thought and Minako held on to keep
from betraying herself.
"She's very shy around strangers," Ami alibied.
"Hey, Ames, I've got this absolutely juicy piece of gossip that
you just have to hear," Minako said, maneuvering away from Sakiko and
gesturing for Ami to follow.
Ami started to go, but Sakiko's grip on her hand tightened.
"It's all right, Sakiko," Ami said, patting the girl's
shoulder. "I'm just going across the room."
"Yeah, I'd let you in on it too, honey," Minako said, "but it
involves this absolutely hunky guy and it's way too racy for a kid to
hear." She noticed Ami blushing slightly. "See? It's so hot, Ami
can barely hear it." Minako put her arm on Ami's shoulder and they
huddled in the next room. Sakiko could see them framed by the
doorway, the French doors leading to the balcony behind them.
"Minako, you know I don't listen to . . ." Ami began.
"That was a story," Minako whispered. "I got a call from Rei.
The kid's dad is dead. So are all the others in the inn. So's the
inn, for that matter."
"Goodness," gasped Ami softly. "Did she . . .?"
"Looks like it. How's she been around here?"
"Scared. Nervous. The only thing that seems to keep her calm
is being around me. She seems very distrustful of Mother."
"Is there anyplace we can take this kid?" Minako asked. "I'm
worried about her staying here."
"She's just a scared little girl, Minako," Ami protested
mildly.
"She's already proven that she can kill."
"Sakiko said her father was hurting her. It may have been a
reflex."
"Hey I'm not saying she's a serial killer. But a scared little
girl who can do what she can is a dangerous . . ."
"You're trying to take me away!" they heard Sakiko cry. Minako
and Ami turned and saw the seething girl standing in the middle of
the living room, glaring angrily at them. "You're trying to turn Ami
against me!"
"Hey, relax kid, I'm just . . ." 'daffy Minako' began to say.
"I'LL MAKE YOU SORRY!" spat Sakiko.
Artemis watched the entire scene unfold before he could make
himself move. Sakiko's eyes began to glow almost white. Her hair
flew up, carried by a wind only she felt. Her face, twisted in
anger, flushed with intense effort.
Minako, with the reflexes of an athlete and the experience of
Sailor V, dived for cover behind the doorway, moving faster than the
speed of thought - - at least the speed of Sakiko's thoughts. She
assumed that Ami, being a fellow senshi, had the same reflexes she
did.
But Ami was slower than Minako in reacting. The unseen force
struck her full and her body pitched backwards like it was shot from
a cannon. She crashed through the French doors and over the balcony,
out into thin air.
Ami's mother shrieked her child's name. Minako sprang for the
balcony in a vain effort to try to help. Sakiko stared, transfixed
in horror, as Ami pitched helplessly out into the blue sky.
Then gravity took command and sent Ami plummeting to the street
below.
Continued in Chapter 8
