(Chapter Four)

"Whoohoo!" whooped Usagi as they sped across a busy intersection. This is the best! She hugged Gohan's waist even tighter as he sped up to pass a car next to him. They spun a 90 degree turn and stopped in front of… the biggest mall Usagi had ever seen. She swore it was the biggest mall in all of creation. They walked in and the women immediately headed towards a fashion boutique with a 90% off sale. They dragged the unwilling males with them. Trunks sighed, he'd known that this would happen…

Gohan of course, was watching in amazement as Usagi, his mom, Trunks' mom, and Bura totally hit it off. He himself had just gotten in, as there had been a little squabble with security about allowing pets inside the mall. Luna herself had coldly assured him that she was no pet and would not be damaging any priceless clothes any time soon. They'd been allowed in by the dazed guard muttering, "Oh god… they've really gone high-tech with these micro-chip robots…" Some people are too dense to believe in what's right in front of them.

But, there they were, squealing over clothes and heads were turning in the direction of the commotion as the salesgirls tried to calm the mad quartet. It didn't do much as they'd all piled into the change rooms, appearing and disappearing and all the while yelling "I'm getting this!", "Definitely!" and "You're SO getting that!".

When they were through plundering that store, they finally moved to the next. By this time, all of the male species were thoroughly bored by the 10th store (men never have what it takes to know the joy of shopping) and were becoming extremely impatient. Ever seen Vegeta impatient? If you have, you'll know it ain't a pretty sight. Although… the glimpse of his wife wearing a slinky little black dress made his disposition slightly better…

"Oh my gosh! This is so cute!" squealed Usagi as she held up a cute, pink (obviously) little t-shirt. Bulma laughed, "Times haven't changed since you last went shopping, we all know how to find the best bargains for the best clothes!"

"Hey! How about this one!" asked ChiChi holding up a white, shimmering gown. It was beautiful, and they all wondered why on earth would they find such a glamorous gown in such a casual store as the one they were in. Bulma looked at it critically, "You know… it is pretty, but I don't think it would look too good on you…" ChiChi made a frustrated noise with her mouth. "It wasn't supposed to be for me… it was supposed to be for Usagi." She said before holding it against the girl. "Try it, and let us see how you look in it!"

"Oh but I—"

"TRY IT ON!" shrieked all three females at once and pushed her steadily into the change room. "Okay! Okay!" she yelled as she closed the door behind her, slipping out of her clothes and changing into the dress, being careful not to rip it. The lack of cream puffs these days had paid off (she ate 20 instead of 80) and she was looking a little slimmer than before.

"Well?! How does it look?!" when it came to shopping, all that 'with age comes wisdom' crap disappeared out the window and they were as young as Bura and Usagi herself. She felt as comfortable with them, as with her friends— No, better not to think of them right now…

"It's okay… I guess…" she stepped out of the change room to appear before the judges. Bura rolled her eyes. "Only someone as pretty as you could make such an understatement and get away with it." For indeed, Usagi looked gorgeous in it, and even the mirrors and lighting (which I assure you were as bad as the fun-house mirrors and hellhole lighting in all change rooms we have now) she looked beautiful.

It was at this point, Gohan and Trunks walked in, assuredly uneasy for venturing into the 'woman's domain'… or the change room where women were apt to say, "I'M BUSY! WAIT A BIT, ALRIGHT?!"

"Mom… Dad's getting impatient with all of y—" the words died on his lips as he spotted Usagi. "Whoa…" muttered Gohan as he stared at her. Maybe it was his imagination, but he thought, that for a moment, he almost see her, perhaps grown a few inches taller, a regal crown on her head, and fabric made in the semblance of wings behind her… she looked like a queen. But with that moment gone, he could see only the golden angel she was, wearing a white dress.

Of course, the guys' reactions were not lost on the four women. Bura came up slyly behind the two guys, nudging Gohan as he'd hadn't stopped staring at Usagi, even as Trunks had regained composure and told her bluntly that she looked amazing. He'd never been one to stint on the compliments. ChiChi was shaking her head with a hand to her forehead and Bulma was laughing.

"Looks like we have a winner." announced Bulma as she hustled Usagi back in the change room. "We're taking it."

"And that's not all we're taking… we've got to find something more everyday for you too!" Trunks laughed as ChiChi joined his mom on the 'Usagi-like clothes' fabric hunt. "And we'll stay and be the critics. We'll be the ones to assure you, no matter what you're wearing, that you look fabulous." Usagi giggled, "Even in a paper sack?"

"Why wouldn't we? It'd be less expensive should you get caught in a contact sport…" he winked roguishly and she turned red. "Quit it. You act like Shingo."

"Shingo huh? Nahh, I make a better big brother. I can beat the crap out of all the guys you need me to much easier." Conversation ended there as the other females appeared again, making Usagi repeat the process of take, put on, walk out, turn, listen to "ooh" 's and "ah" 's, walk in, take off, and receive another outfit. When they finally finished their shopping spree, Usagi was exhausted and famished and she voted going to the food court and stuffing herself. "Yeah right, any more food intake with you and you'll never be able to fit those clothes again!" teased Trunks.

Gohan finally spoke up, "She always looks nice in what she wears." before he turned red and didn't speak anymore.

It was at the end of the day, and the sun was already beginning to set that their thoughts turned to the evening meal. "Ah-wow, I'm beat." Yawned Usagi after the massive shopping spree. And massive it had been. She'd been a little embarrassed about the money thing, but with their expansiveness over their own shopping, she was a little less tense over it. She reached into her pocket… "OH NO!" she shrieked stopping in mid-step just as they were about to leave the mall. "What?!" asked Goku looking around for anything suspicious. "My star locket! It's missing!" she turned and ran back in. "Her locket? How could she find a locket in there?!"

"Well… might as well help her." replied Gohan walking back in. Trunks was about to follow when Bura grabbed her shirt sleeve with a slightly mischievous look on her face.

Gohan was quite right, although the mall crowds had thinned, it was impossible to see much of the floor, it was even more impossible to believe that some Good Samaritan had found that glinting gold star locket and turned it in.

Why that thing was still special to her she didn't know. She'd been heartbroken after that guy had split with her and she'd tossed everything else of his into the attic. But not that. She kept that with her always. Probably because she wanted to believe in something that would probably turn out to be false. That their future might actually end in Crystal Tokyo, a loving daughter, and a realm of goodness.

Finding herself in the deserted food court, just as the mechanical voice on the loudspeaker informed anyone still inside that they'd be closing down in 10 minutes, she heard the faint, but familiar melody of her locket. She followed the sound, and found some guy who'd just picked it up and was looking at it.

"Um… excuse me, did you just find that?" he looked her up and down before nodding. "Yes… is it yours?"

"Yes."

"You'll have to take it from me, then." He told her slipping it into his pocket. "Huh?" she gaped as she felt that familiar tingling again when she knew something was wrong. "Oh no…" she moaned as the familiar dark wave of wind whirled around the guy and engulfed him. A horrific scream came from a youma standing in front of her grinning maniacally. "DIABOLTE!"

"Not another one…" she thought internally as she eyed the youma. She was tired. And now she was all on her own. "Just give me back my locket and I'll consider letting you free." She told it, holding out a hand to the youma. It grinned at her and held up the shining star taunting her. "DIABOLTE!"

"You asked for it." she said holding up the broach reluctantly. She was exhausted, even before a fight. This was not good. "Moon… Prism… Power! MAKE-UP!" she yelled, transforming instantly and whirled in front of him. She didn't give the speech and instead, took out her wand. "Give me back that locket. Now."

"DIABOLTE!" shock waves appeared from its mouth and she dodged them easily… or at least, in a fashion… you get the point. Several security guards had appeared by this time and were panicking, even though Sailor Moon had firmly told them that shooting, or even threatening to arrest the thing would not be something the youma would listen to. "COME ON! JUST GIVE ME BACK MY LOCKET!" she shrieked, kicking him with a red-booted heel. She snatched at it, but he was still much taller than she was and she found herself jumping up and down looking like a kid.

"DIABOLTE!" she was annoyed. Sure these things didn't know much else other than kill, destroy, blow up (K: hey, sounds like Heero from GW…) stuff but it was getting annoying. Whipping out her wand she glared, "Two seconds, bug breath." She warned (the antenna on its head was whirling like it might make like a helicopter). "DIABOLTE!" it yelled flinging the golden trinket at her and jumped towards the ceiling. She caught it, fumbling with it once before looking up into the snarling youma's face as it sprung to attack.

A male voice yelled something behind her and she was about to tell whoever the fool was behind her that this was not a game, when a ball of blue-white energy blasted into the youma, slamming it off course and into the wall of the mall. Sailor Moon winced, hoping she wouldn't have to pay for that… "MOON HEALING… ACTIVATION!" she yelled, the sparkles and crystal mirages flying around the youma as it inverted back into the human that it had been. A black shadow escaped, screeching before disappearing into nothing. She turned to find Gohan just reaching her. She finally realized it had been him running over to her. She grinned. "A little late, aren't you?"

"What are you talking about?! Do you realize how hard it is to get past a bunch of freaking security guards who are shoving you the other way?"

"Knowing you? You could've, you just didn't want to hurt anyone and get sent to court." She de-transformed awkwardly before slumping against the wall, exhausted. "Come on, we're leaving now…"

"It'd better be for food or else you won't have much else to worry about other than to bury me or incinerate me after I die of hunger."

He laughed as she loped alongside to catch up to his big strides. "Don't worry, when we reach the restaurant, you'll wish you never pigged out at the food court."

She laughed, "That'll be the day."

~*~*~*~

"…And now Usagi's alone trying to find those 'Dragonballs', Rei has disappeared to an unknown dimension, and we won't be able to find them now that my staff is gone." Pluto told the King grimly.

All present stared at her. "Now what?"

She shook her head helplessly, "I don't know."

~*~*~*~

Rei woke up to a sunny blue sky and she sat up. "What? Where am I now?" wondered Rei as she looked around. She could see that she was in a forest next to a great castle. She began to walk towards it, almost mechanically when the great, wooden doors opened and a giant machine-like robot came running out. As she stared, the castle behind them burst into flame. "Help! Please!" she shrieked as she watched the fire consume the castle quicker than she could believe it was happening.

Surprisingly, the robot paused. She could see that the robot was holding a young man in a red shirt. The robot bent down and the face plate slid open. She could see a blond man inside of it.

"Hurry! Get on!" The young man on the robot's hand gave her a hand up and all three continued on the way, to wherever… just as long as they were heading away from that castle, Rei would be fine. They stopped at the edge of a great waterfall. Without hesitation, the guymellef (so the huge armor of that world was called) surged forward. "Aaaahh!" her screams could be heard as they dropped down. The young man held her tight, lest she fall away from them. They landed on a flying contraption. Rei could see flying robots following them from a short distance. Maybe hitching a ride with these guys was a bad idea… a really bad idea.

~*~*~*~

They all went home (with insistence from every female present) to change, shower, do the hair/make-up while all males present groaned, clutched their stomachs, and muttered about the foolishness of women and their appearances. Not exactly true, all males are not completely immune to a carefully dressed female (as they all were).

"Wear your new dress." Bura cast the deciding vote as she shoved it into Usagi's arms. ChiChi was already burrowing through the packages for the pair of shoes they'd bought for her and which were mysteriously missing.

Luna watched all four women in their fashion frenzy and sighed, licking a paw as she watched. As soon as they were suited up (or at least wearing proper attire), they appeared in the living room where all conversation (or moaning and groaning about their stomachs) stopped immediately. The two younger guys couldn't take their eyes off of Usagi and Gohan had to try hard to keep from drooling. "What? Is it on weird or something?" she asked trying to twist around to see the back (which is physically impossible). "NO! No, it looks great on you!" said Gohan hastily as they readied themselves to leave. The cars again wouldn't fit everyone and there was much mumbling about just flying. ChiChi and Bulma however were enough to handle their husbands about the decency. Only Gohan, Trunks and Usagi (Luna stayed in Bura's lap) took to the air. They'd meet them there.

Usagi was eyeing them van moving away from them, and also of her rumbling tummy. She needed food. "I'll carry you." offered Trunks suddenly from behind her. "Great! Let's get moving, I'm starved!" Gohan leaped into the air after them as they flew towards the place where they wanted to go… a very nice, fancy restaurant (at ChiChi and Bulma's insistence).

Still above the air, Usagi finally got the nerve to look down. What she saw dazzled her, the lights were already turning on and the sun was already setting. "It's beautiful!" she gasped as she marveled at the sights. Trunks laughed, "And to think how many people miss this."
"Sucks to think."

After that, they flew in silence. Trunks' hair blew on his forehead softly as they weren't flying in any particular rush. He looked at the girl in his arms in the beautiful dress. He liked this girl, and he'd spoken the truth when he'd said he'd rather be a big brother. She had that look that just yelled "I'm still young and I need protecting."

"Do you miss your family?" he asked softly in her ear. She tensed a little but answered. "Yes, of course I do. My mom, dad, even my little brother. All my friends aren't with me here anymore. And I don't have a snowball's chance in hell here without you guys…" she drifted off and took out her star locket. "You know, this locket was from my so-called destined to be my husband and instead, he just leaves and breaks my heart just like that." and she snapped her fingers.

"What do you mean by destined?" Usagi looked into his face scrunched with confusion. "It's a long story… I could tell you tonight if you're not too busy." Trunks eagerly agreed and he told her. "We're here." he landed smoothly and her dress shimmered in the sudden lights of the city restaurant. Usagi straightened her dress and all three strolled in to view the sights of the magnificent restaurant.