PINK REBELLION
Part 9: "It's All Relative"

By Bill K.

"Hello, Chibi-Usa," Usagi said, nodding to Usa. She wore a
pleasant smile on her face and her manner was gentle, but Usa could
see some of the pain her mother-to-be felt behind the mask of
politeness. "Although I guess it's Usa now. Mamo-chan said you
wanted to be called Usa."

"So he's the one who told you I was here," Usa responded softly.

"I'm sorry I'm intruding," Usagi apologized, still trying
valiantly to keep a pleasant face. "I know Mamo-chan said you were
trying to avoid me. I just - - wanted to see you once. I wanted to
see how big you've gotten and how pretty you are. And you're so big
and so pretty - - it must be Mamo-chan's genes." Usagi dropped her
eyes and the mask cracked a little. "Well, I'll go now. Mamo-chan
said you didn't want me to know you were here and I don't want to
interfere any longer. Please excuse me."

Usagi headed for the door, but bumped the end table next to
Haruka and almost upset a lamp. Flushing with embarrassment, she
continued on, skittering past Usa without making eye contact. Usa
turned back to the others. She saw Hotaru eyeing the floor
uncomfortably. Setsuna seemed sad, but sympathetic to her. Haruka
and Michiru, however, each wore silent accusations on their faces.

"All right," groused Usa. "I already feel like a rat! You
don't have to make it worse! I'll go talk to her." She headed for
the door, muttering, "Grown ups!"

No sooner was Usa out the door than Hotaru found Michiru behind
her. She turned questioningly to her mother figure.

"Can we talk in private?" Michiru whispered. "I've got
something important I need to discuss with you."

Hotaru nodded and accompanied Michiru up to her bedroom. That
left Setsuna, Haruka, Momoko and four very mystified Amazon senshi in
the living room. Setsuna placed her hands on her knees and looked up
at them.

"Are you enjoying your stay in this century?" she asked.

The amazons stared back, unsure how to answer. Jun-Jun glanced
nervously at Momo.

"It's OK," Momo grinned. "I know all about it."

"Hotaru," Michiru began after sitting on the edge of the bed
and motioning the girl down near her, "how are things at school?"

"All right," Hotaru responded guardedly, wondering what she was
getting at.

"And are you fitting in well?" Michiru's face was neutral, but
her eyes seemed to dissect the young girl. Hotaru looked down,
searching for a response that would placate her.

"Well enough," she shrugged.

"You're not having any problems with any of the other
students?"

Hotaru shrugged again. "Everybody has problems with a few
people. Not everybody's going to like you. You must remember what
it was like when you were my age."

"Yes, it wasn't THAT long ago," Michiru smiled briefly. "And I
remember what it can be like when you're perceived as an outsider - -
if you're the smartest one in class, or you choose to be different.
You know I started dyeing my hair when I was in ninth grade?"

"That's dyed?" Hotaru said, amazed.

"Um hmm. One day I decided to make a bold statement about my
artistic independence and unwillingness to follow the herd - - and
all that other trivial nonsense we think are important when we're
fifteen. My folks had a coronary, of course, but I liked it and I
kept it. Of course, it didn't win me very much acceptance among my
fellow students and I took my share of grief - - maybe more than my
share, given my other differences. You see, Hotaru, I know what a
trial it can be to be different when you're young."

"Well, then you must know that you just have to face it,"
Hotaru said meekly. "You have to be who you are. You can't change
and you can't hide from the world. You just have to face the bad and
cherish the good and know that you're strong enough to get through it
without striking back and making their ideas of you come true." She
shrugged again. "That's what Sailor Moon would do."

"Perhaps," Michiru said. "But that doesn't mean you can't
defend yourself, or let others defend you. If you have a problem,
I'd hope you'd come to me or Haruka and let us help you."

"But if I let other people fight my battles for me, I'll never
learn how to do it myself. And you won't always be there for me. I
mean, Daddy wasn't." She looked up at Michiru. "I know you're
behind me and I'm grateful, but I have to face these things myself."

"Hotaru, it's very noble to want to face your battles head on.
But the wise warrior knows which battles she can face alone and which
battles need to be faced with reinforcements. Please don't let pride
stand in the way of your warrior's judgment. Please remember I'm
here if you need help, and so are Haruka and Setsuna. Or you can go
to Usagi or any of the inners. Just don't take on odds you can't
handle because of some misguided code of honor."

"OK," Hotaru mumbled.

"Now let's go down to dinner. I don't know how long Usa'll be
with Usagi."
* * * *
Sprinting out the gate, Usa saw Usagi walking slowly down the
street. "Usagi!" she shouted and ran to catch up. "Boy, I thought
you could only throw guilt as an adult!"

"I never meant to make you feel guilty," Usagi replied.

"Yeah, you never seem to mean doing a lot of things you end up
doing," Usa countered sadly.

They walked along a few paces.

"Usa," Usagi offered. "I'm sorry I'm a bad mother."

Usa sighed. "I guess there are worse in the world."

"Well I must be terrible if I made you run away. Do I beat
you?"

"You? Heck, you feel guilty about swatting flies."

"Well am I cruel to you?"

"No. You just don't trust me."

"I'm sorry," Usagi said. "Now that I know, maybe I can do
better in the future. What don't I trust you in?"

"Life. Love. Being Sailor Moon. You name it. You won't
admit that I'm fifteen and I do know what I'm doing."

"You make me sound just like Mom," Usagi said glumly. "And I
swore I'd never treat my child like she treats me."

"I thought you liked Ikuko-Mama," Usa inquired.

"I do," smiled Usagi. "She nags too much, but," and Usagi
began to get self-conscious, "I found out she loves me a lot more
than I thought she did. I found out she knows I'm Sailor Moon and
that she's proud of me for being Sailor Moon. I never thought she'd
be proud of anything I did." Suddenly Usagi's eyes widened with
inspiration. "Usa, I know you don't want to be around me, but could
you grant me just one favor? Could you come home and meet Mom?"

"Usagi," gasped Usa incredulously. "I've already met
Ikuko-Mama! I stayed at your place the last two times I was here!"

"I know! But those times Mom was hypnotized by Luna-P into
thinking you were Aunt Reika's daughter! Now that she knows I'm
Sailor Moon, I want her to meet her granddaughter."

That request threw Usa off balance.

"Please?" begged Usagi. "You never met her in the future. Am
I right?"

Usa nodded.

"Then obviously she doesn't live to the thirtieth century. So
I want her to know that she has a granddaughter. I know I'm probably
imposing . . ."

"All right, enough with the guilt!" sighed Usa. "I'll do it."

"Usa, I'm not trying to make you feel guilty!" protested Usagi.

"Well I'd hate to think how I'd feel if you were trying!"
grumbled Usa.

"Well maybe you wouldn't feel so guilty if you didn't act like
such a brat!" fumed Usagi.

"And maybe you wouldn't fall over so much if you wouldn't be
baka-Usagi!" Usa volleyed back.

"Brat!"

"Baka!"

Both girls leaned forward spouting raspberries at the other,
but leaned in too close and butted foreheads. They each staggered
back, clutching their heads. Exchanging malicious glares that were
mirror images of each other, the pair stalked off toward the Tsukino
home.
* * * *
Rei had joined up with Makoto and Minako shortly after they
left Ami's apartment building and the three had searched fruitlessly
for Sakiko's trail. Rei then suggested adjourning to Hikawa Shrine
so she could try a fire reading. Ami met up with the three there.

Standing outside the room where Rei did her fire readings,
Minako peeked in through the slightly opened sliding door. Rei was
kneeling before a fire pit in the center of the room, chanting in low
tones to the flame as it crackled before her. Minako turned back
toward the group.

"Has anyone ever wondered how she does that?" Minako asked,
leaning against the wall in boredom.

"No," Makoto answered emphatically. "Why, you want to try it?"

"Yeah," grinned Minako. Then she sobered. "I'd ask it how
much longer I have to wait until I become a star."

"Selfless to the end, I see," Makoto commented.

"I still can't believe Sakiko was capable of killing her
father," Ami said.

"You saw what happened up in your penthouse," Minako replied.
"She almost killed you. And accident or no, you'd still be as dead
as her father right now." Minako shifted uncomfortably. "Sure,
she's not evil. But you know how bratty ten-year-olds are. Put a
dangerous weapon in the hands of that same bratty ten-year-old and
you've got trouble."

"I was never bratty when I was ten," Ami told her.

"Yeah, neither was I," added Makoto. Then she raised an
eyebrow and smirked at Minako. "Anything you'd care to tell us?"

A nervous smile grew on Minako's face. Her eyes sought the
ceiling. "Gee, I wonder how long those fire readings are supposed to
take?"

Just then the door slid open. Everyone gathered around Rei.

"Anything?" Ami asked hopefully.

"Just impressions," Rei sighed, fatigued. "She seems to be
holed up in some dark, empty building. I didn't recognize where,
though."

"Could you sense her mental state?"

"Scared. Hungry. If I read it right, I think she thinks Hell
itself is going to descend on her and carry her away for what she's
done."

"Sounds like she's desperate," Minako judged. "And desperate
people can become violent at the slightest provocation."

"Any chance you could pick up some vibration or something if we
scout around?" Makoto asked.

"What am I, a tuning fork?" bristled Rei.

"Don't get huffy! You know what I mean!"

"I suppose we could wander around, see if I see anything
familiar," shrugged Rei. "But can I get a drink first? Fire
readings always dehydrate me."

"Slacker," needled Minako. Rei responded with a hip shove as
she passed.
* * * *
Ikuko heard the door, glanced at the clock and figured it was
Usagi or Shingo entering. She peered out the kitchen door and saw
her daughter accompanied by a strange girl.

"Who's your friend, Usagi?" the woman asked. It was not
uncommon for her effervescent daughter to make new friends easily and
bring them home.

"Hi, Mom," Usagi smiled. She pulled Usa up next to her. "This
is Usa. Do you remember meeting her?"

Ikuko looked at the tall, willowy teenager with the pink hair
and the familiar face. Her brow furrowed.

"I can't say as I do," she stared, "and yet you seem familiar.
Have we met before?"

Usa looked down guiltily. "Well, the last time you saw me, I
was just a little kid."

"Mom, sit down," Usagi said, tingling with excitement over her
news. The energy she exhibited was a pleasant surprise to Usa.
Ikuko complied. "I know you're not going to believe this, but Usa's
my daughter!"

"Usagi!" gasped Ikuko in exasperation. "What kind of a prank
is this?"

"It's not a prank!" wailed Usagi.

"Usagi, she's as old as you are!"

"I know that! She's from the future!"

"Oh, of course," nodded Ikuko skeptically.

"What, you can believe I'm Sailor Moon, but you can't believe
Usa's from the future?"

"Usagi!" hissed Usa.

"It's OK," Usagi waived her hand dismissively. "She already
knows about that."

"Really, Usagi, is this another of your Sailor friends?" asked
Ikuko.

"MOM!"

"It's true, Ikuko-Mama," Usa said politely. "I really am from
the future." Ikuko stared at her uncomprehendingly. "My full name
is Usagi Chiba and Usagi's my mother in the thirtieth century."

Ikuko just stared. For a moment Usa was worried her mind had
shut down, while Usagi worried she still wouldn't believe. Then the
connection was made and Ikuko's face lit up.

"Of course," whispered Ikuko, her hand flying to her mouth.
"That's why you look so familiar. The hair threw me, but - - oh my
goodness, you look so much like her!" Ikuko started to laugh, then
forgot how. She sputtered for a few moments, her thoughts scattering
in every direction. "Then - - then that means you - - and that I - -
well, don't just stand there," she said, bolting out of the chair
toward Usa, "give your grandmother a hug!"

Before she could react, Ikuko had Usa captured in the mother of
all grandmotherly hugs. Startled at first, Usa quickly began to warm
up to the sensation. She timidly brought her arms up and returned it
while Usagi stood to the side and beamed.

"Oh, my goodness, but you're so beautiful!" gasped Ikuko. "And
you're even taller than Usagi is now!"

"Yeah, it's that way in the thirtieth century, too," grinned
Usa. "Mama's always been kind of short."

"But if you're from the thirtieth century, why are you here?"

"I've got business to attend to," Usa answered reluctantly.
"You see, in the thirtieth century, I'm Sailor Moon - - when Mama
lets me."

"Little brat," muttered Usagi.

"Now, Usagi," Ikuko said. "Usa, is it? I'm sure she has very
good reasons. After all, she was Sailor Moon, too, and she knows a
little something about it. So what's this business? Is it
dangerous?"

"I really can't say anything," Usa said.

"Yeah, Mom, she isn't supposed to tell us too much about our
future," added Usagi.

"I suppose you're right," Ikuko sighed in disappointment.

"That's why I had to hypnotize you into thinking I was Great
Aunt Reika's daughter the last time I was here," Usa admitted.

"You were here before?" Ikuko asked.

"Uh, yeah," Usagi said. "She had to hypnotize you into
thinking she was Aunt Reika's daughter!"

"Thank you, Usagi," scowled Ikuko.

"She didn't want to come this time," Usagi said, "but I thought
you deserved to know you had a granddaughter."

"Thank you, honey," Ikuko said, hugging Usagi. "That's very
sweet of you." She turned to Usa. "How long can you stay?"

"Actually, I should be getting back. My mission, you know."

"Oh. Of course." Ikuko thought for a moment, then reached
into a cabinet. "If you're any relation to my daughter, you've got a
sweet tooth. Here," and she presented Usa with a bag of lemon
cookies. "If you ever get a chance to come by again, don't hesitate.
You're always welcome here."

"Thank you, Ik - - um, grandmother," Usa said, somewhat
overwhelmed by events. "You know, I've never had a reason to use
that word before, because I've never had a grandmother." Tears
welled at the side of her eyes. "It's a real nice word." Suddenly
she lunged at Ikuko and hugged her tight. "I'm glad Usagi dragged me
down here now!"

Tearing herself away because she feared if she didn't she'd
never leave, Usa headed for the door. She stopped and turned back
- - and saw Usagi staring expectantly at her mother.

"Was there something else, Usagi?" Ikuko asked.

"Where's my cookies?" asked Usagi, her face forlorn.

"Baka," muttered Usa, rolling her eyes.
* * * *
While Hotaru entertained Momo inside, the Amazoness senshi
gathered in the patio behind the house.

"You know why she's probably here, don't you?" Cere-Cere said
to the rest.

"Would she do something that reckless?" Jun-Jun asked.

"In a heartbeat," scowled Ves-Ves.

"Palla-Palla wants to play 'Chutes And Ladders'," Palla-Palla
whined.

"Oh shut up, Stupid!" hissed Ves-Ves.

"We should stop her," Cere-Cere said.

"You remember what Queen Serenity told us," Jun-Jun replied,
shaking her head.

"Then we should find this kid with the mental powers and stop
her ahead of time," Ves-Ves recommended. "That'll keep the Princess
from changing history."

"Yeah, but then we'll be changing history," Jun-Jun countered.
"The file said the girl's defeated by Sailor Moon, not us."

"That poor girl," Palla-Palla said sadly. "She's so scared and
lonely."

"How do you know?" Cere-Cere asked.

"Palla-Palla can feel her thoughts sometimes - - when she's
really scared or lonely. She hates herself so much right now.
Palla-Palla wishes she could bring the girl a pretty dolly."

"Hey, maybe we could use Palla-Palla to track her down,"
Ves-Ves said. "Then call in Sailor Moon, let her take care of the
problem - - and then we can go back to civilization."

"Except that would be changing history, too, genius!" Cere-Cere
scowled. Ves-Ves responded by pulling her eyelid down, angering her
prim sister Amazon even further.

"The best thing for us to do is just guard the Princess and let
history unfold around us on its own," Jun-Jun sighed. "We all know
what's going to happen. Let's just let it happen."

"Jun-Jun, that solution officially bites," pronounced Ves-Ves.

"I have to say I'm not too crazy about it, either," Cere-Cere
said.

"You think I am?" Jun-Jun replied. "I've met Hotaru now.
She's kind of a nice person. I'm going to really hate watching her
die."

Continued in Chapter 10