Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon
Episode 62.5
I Want To Be The Smartest Ever! Birth of Genius Usagi?
Part C
The sunset of Tokyo was a marvelous sight to behold. Even in the late afternoon, the colors of dusk began to shine through. Greens, yellows and blues.
"Move over." Minako kicked Artemis. "You're heating my socks up and making my feet sweat!"
"Well! Excuuuuuse me." Artemis gave a growl. "There's no room in here."
Ami, Minako, Makoto and Artemis were in an elevator, which was racing up to the floor where Mamoru's apartment was. They decided to go there first on the chance that Usagi was there, though they were unsure of that fact. It was a small elevator that they ended up getting, and so all three girls were cramped and shoved inside.
"Um..." Ami began to sweat as the elevator began to slow down. "Didn't we.....didn't we want to go help Rei-chan?"
"Well, yeah!" Minako held out her hand, almost boking Ami in the nose. "Oops, sorry. But first we have to try to help Usagi-chan! Since we're pretty sure she's infected now..."
"Well," Makoto wiped her hands and cracked her knuckles. "Usagi-chan may be a friend normally, but if Rei's friend is like Usagi-chan, we'll have to be careful. We have no ofudas here."
"Well..."
Finally, the elevator door opened. The three girls stumbled out, gasping for breath.
"Jesus Christ, I can move!" Minako wiggled her hands. "Remind me never to go to Mamoru's apartment again."
"How to do this." Makoto rubbed her chin. "Do we have a plan, Artemis?"
"No, I....I don't have a plan." Artemis clawed Minako's butt. "Off me, Geena!"
"OW!"
"Well, maybe just talking to her....?"
"Shh."
Ami who was up, waved to them, bidding them to silence. She then pointed quietly over towards the end of the hall.
".....There."
The others stood up, looked and stared at what was in front of them. Down at the far end of the hall was a quaking Usagi, her head in knees. Books were scattered all over the hall, with some of them having the pages torn out. Faintly, very faintly, they could hear an almost painful moan.
".....Usagi-chan!"
It was Ami who was first, followed by Makoto, then by Minako, and finally Artemis. Ami almost jumped on her, but checked herself before doing so, resorting instead to bending down towards her.
"Usagi......chan?" Ami slowly brought her hand onto her shoulder. "Are yo-"
The gesture of concern, normally taken graciously by the girl in front of her, was instead jerked off violently. With a snarl, Usagi almost seemed to hug herself into a tight ball.
"Go away" was her muffled, angry reply.
Ami's hand backed away. Her eyes began to tear up, but she forced them back.
"Usagi-chan...." Ami gulped, and held her voice steady. "We need.....we need to talk."
"No."
"Usagi-chan-"
"I'm.....waiting for Mamo-chan." Usagi's voice was filled with irritation and anger. She made herself into a tighter ball, almost to the point where she was shaking violently from the tension. "Go away. Leave me alone. Study something. Maybe you'll catch up to me."
The last sentence left Ami stunned. There was a moment of silence as Minako and Makoto watched, quietly positioning themselves several feet off.
"Just......steady....." Artemis whispered.
Slowly, Usagi's body relaxed ever so slightly, and her head came up, just enough to show one of her eyes. For some reason, the shadows seemed to make her blue eyes look darker, though Ami could not be sure that it was just that.
"I...saved myself." It stared at Ami as its owner spoke again. "I calculated how to walk. I calculated how hard to knock on Mamo-chan's door. I calculated that formula this morning, I know 300,000 words in Japanese, I've memorized thirteen languages, and I know pi up to an accuracy of .023 x 10(-2162617)."
"Usagi-"
Ami went to touch Usagi once more. This time, however, the reaction was more violent. Before she knew it, Ami was on the floor, her head was ringing, and she something warm trickle from her nose. Usagi was in the corner, her eyes wide with paranoia.
"Y-you j-just want to see me fail!" The room swam around Ami as Usagi huddled, her voice almost squeaking. "Mamo-chan's not here because of you!"
"W-what?"
"I saw you." The finger pointed at Ami seemed full of hatred and anger. "You and Mamo-chan. The way you talked. The admiring looks you gave. You just want him for yourself!"
"Usagi-"
"Stop it!" Usagi shook again. "You're lying! You know you are!"
Minako and Makoto watched in shock as Usagi stood over Ami. A dark red aura began to surround Usagi as she slowly straightened her stance.
"U-usagi-chan." Ami looked up at Usagi pleadingly. "You have to listen to me. Why, why would I want your boyfriend? All I did was borrow a book from him. It was one I was using to research ultrasound."
"And why should I believe your empty words?"
"Because." Though stung, Ami continued on. "I wouldn't be such a vicious person. You're my friend."
"Oh?" Usagi turned away. "Then what about Luna? She wants to take my powers away! She wants to incapacitate my abilities too!"
"Luna only looks out for you!" This time, Makoto stepped in. "Luna wants you to have a balanced life. We know you're not perfect......but.....Usagi, you've been infected by the enemy. Please, listen to us, please."
There was another moment of silence. Makoto, Minako, Ami, and especially Artemis watched Usagi's reaction to the words. For one moment, she looked about her confusedly - first at Ami, then at the books, then at the other girls and back again. Slowly, the red aura began to disappear.
Come on..... Artemis clenched his teeth. You can hear us, Usagi. Listen to us!
Suddenly, the response came. The aura returned.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!"
Ami barely had the time to dodge as Usagi's foot centered on her crotch. She rolled over, avoiding the kick, though she hit several of the books along the way.
"Stop it! STOP IT!" Usagi shook her head violently with a screech. "You're all LYING!"
"Usagi!" Artemis gasped. "I thought we had her....!"
"Usagi-chan!" Minako's hands went to her face. "You're going to wake up the neighbors!"
"Mina-chan!" Makoto sweat.
"L-let them!" Usagi swerved around. "I don't care! You're just trying to stop me! But I won't be stopped! I'll be the smartest girl in the world, and Mamo-chan will be mine again and.......and.......UUUUGH........"
Usagi's face paled as she suddenly collapsed to the floor. She shuddered violently as her hands went to her head, and she double over in front of them. The aura disappeared.
"......Head............no.......ow......."
Makoto looked at Minako. Minako, in response, looked back at her with a nod. They then looked at Ami, who was on the floor, and then finally at Usagi.
"....Girls?" Artemis looked up at them and gave a nod. "Well..."
There was no more hesitation. The two jumped.
"YAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!"
"AIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIE!!!!!!!!!!"
Usagi was first hit by Makoto, then Minako, and after a moment of reluctance, by Artemis. The two girls grabbed various limbs, but was met again with resistance.
"GET OFF!!!" Usagi smacked Minako in the face. "Get OOOOOOOFF!!!!"
"No!" Minako's hands slipped from Usagi's pulliung, but managed to grab her shirt. "Usagi, you're being brainwashed!"
"NO I'M NOT!!!!!"
"Yes.....you......HOOMPH!"
Makoto was hit in the stomach, which caused her to lose her grip on Usagi's waist. She tried to grab her shirt but was unable to prevent it from ripping. Usagi then clawed at Makoto, who was saved only by Artemis, who instead took the blow.
"YIPE!!"
"Guys....!"
Ami, who had been on the ground, watched the debacle in horror. Slowly, however, she realized talking would not work, and cautiously encircled the three brawlers. Finally, with a silent calculation of angles, she managed to grab one of Usagi's legs with a firm grip.
"UUUGH!"
Despite Ami's involvement, Usagi still resisted. She screeched, she shouted, and she clawed and bit and swiped. She was almost like an animal, and her screeching brought several quizzical people to their doors.
"This isn't.......working!!" Makoto growled. "She........won't......listen!"
"Listen!" Artemis shouted over the fray. "I think.....ow! I have......an ide-MEH!....idea now to....help UsagIIIIIIAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!"
The resulting plan, one that was spur-of-the-moment, was shouted out in intervals as Artemis was pulled and pushed with the rest of the girls. Usagi's attempts to escape, meanwhile, became more and more animated as the full plan took form and was reiterated.
"No! NO!!!!!!!" Usagi struggled violently. "None of you understand! I want this, I want this, I want to be smart!!!! I WANT-"
Usagi's protest was suddenly transformed into a squeak. A powerful fist connected to her chest, knocking the breath out of Usagi. Instantly, whatever fight she had was gone, and she simply fell limp in Ami and Minako's arms.
"There....."
Ami and Minako gawked as Makoto put her sleeves down. A slightly satisfied look came on her face.
"Mako-chan...." Minako's voice squeaked. "You.....you punched Usagi-chan!"
"It was either that," Makoto shrugged. "Or have her kicking and screaming to the center."
"Do we really want to do this?" Ami looked worried. "Once we start..."
"Its the only way, Ami-chan." Makoto looked down at Usagi. "Remember our theory: if we had let her get wherever she wanted to go after seeing Mamoru-san...."
"...She will simply return to the point where the dark energy was administered and get more of it into her." Artemis nodded. "It's addicting, in whatever form the energy's taken in its victims. If she had more put in her, that would have made it more difficult for her to be flushed of the power. But right now, we have a very good chance; she probably only went last night."
There was a short silence at this.
"Well, then." Finally, Makoto slung the semi-conscious girl onto her shoulders. "Let's get going, then!"
So the group began down the hall, ignoring the stares of those who had beheld the fight. One old lady, in particular, began to swear against them. She tapped her worn brown slippers as she watched girl girls off with an aged air.
"Stupid children...." she mumbled as she glared at them. "Don't they know manners.......beating up a girl......Hmph! It's the schools, it is!"
"Do you have a problem?"
The old lady's attention was caught by the voice. She looked down and gave a screech as Artemis stared at her with an a look of disgruntlement.
"Mind your own business."
"I.....oh, I've gone.....maad......."
With a snobbish lash of his tail, the white cat scampered off to catch the elevator with the other girls, leaving the old lady to faint in the middle of the hall.
----------------------
"Rei-chan, this is the place!"
Luna and Rei stood in front of the large, pearl-white building that housed the Juuban Learning Center. The sun, again, was beginning to set, but both the cat and the black-haired girl were wide awake, their eyes set on the groups of students entering the building.
"The aura...." Rei's eyes furrowed. "The enemy is here!"
"And there they are!" Luna looked worriedly at the droves of students entering. "The students! We have to save them!"
"Is..." Rei closed her eyes. "I....I can't feel Usagi......but....."
"There's no time, Rei-chan!" Luna crouched, her claws out. "We'd better get started! We can't wait for the other girls."
"Right!" Rei took out her transformation wand. "Mars Star Power, Make-Up!"
-
The cherry red lips pursed. Slowly, dark purple eyes opened as Beruche and Calaveras watched.
"Is it..."
"Transgressor alert....Sailor soldiers, commander Calaveras." The figure floated next to the teacher's desk. "My all-seeing eyes.....wait.....Syruubein. No, only one sailor. Identity of DNA and power matter: Sailor Mars. Also, a feline agent. Syruuben."
"Dammit!" Calaveras threw a desk over onto its side. "We haven't even been here at the Crystal Point for one day and they already found us!"
"Patience, elder sister!" Beruche caught Calaveras' hand. "Don't get violent. We're not completely lost."
"We're....." Calaveras looked at Beruche. "....We're not?"
"Of course not!" Beruche smiled. "We have several tricks up our sleeves, don't we, Droid Syruuben?"
"Indeed, commander Beruche." The figure came into the light, revealing a bespeckled woman dressed in a schoolteacher uniform. Her cherry red lips formed into a malicious smile. "The first line of defense will be given. Students, activate!"
-
"YAH!"
Mars kicked the door down to one of the first classrooms on the first floor. She gave a pause.
"What the...."
Mars looked around confusedly, as did Luna. The class was filled with students, all bent down and in studious silence. Not a sound was uttered, yet there was no one supervising them.
"How....?" Mars began to sweat. "Oh dear...."
"I.....uh, I don't like the looks of this...." Luna turned around. "We'd better get out of-"
The sentence turned into a shriek as the classroom door abruptly slid and shut behind the two. The students slowly began to rise up, and their pupils dilated into nothing.
"Students." A voice came onto the loudspeakers. "Your quest is threatened. Kill the intruders!"
The Black Moon sign appeared on each student's forehead as they lunged forth at Mars and Luna with a yell of battle.
--------------------
The Black Moon sign appeared on Usagi's head just as the girls made it into the control center. Her eyes dilated, and she suddenly spasmed as the red aura reappeared as dark as ever.
"RAAAAAAH!"
"EEEP!" Minako barely dodged a swipe from Usagi. "Quick, quick! Strap her into the gurney!"
"I'm trying to!" Ami dodged a kick. "But she's struggling too hard! The enemy must be calling her! We have to calm her down before she hurts herself!"
"OW!" Makoto took a smack on her lips. "Geez, anymore of this and I'll be hurting!"
The three girls managed to heave her onto a table and strap her down. However, the new Usagi was struggling furiously, and it was obvious that she was under enemy control. Her skin was paler, clashing with the faint Black Moon sign, her eyes were dilated to the point where only the white remained, and even her teeth looked longer, like a vampire's. She snarled and gnashed at the girls as the tried to calm her down to no avail.
"...AAUUUUUUUGH!"
Finally, Usagi managed another hit, this time on Minako. With a swift turn of her neck, her sharper teeth bared onto Minako's arm, resulting gushing blood everywhere.
"GET.....OFF......OF.....ME!!!" Minako punched Usagi's head, and with a squeaky roar Usagi unlatched herself. "Uuugh, this is getting to be too much! We have to calm her down!"
"Ah....HAAAAAAAAAA!!!"
The next thing Artemis knew, he was right on top of Usagi, glaring right into her face. For a moment, Usagi looked blank, even in the depths of the black energy that overtook her.
"Take THIS!!!!!!!"
Several screams came from Usagi as Artemis proceeded to scratch every crevasse of the girl's face. She screamed, spasmed, gnashed and sturggled, but the white cat won out. Soon, both were bloody balls of mush - Artemis being bitten, Usagi being scratched - but Artemis, being the latecomer, won, and Usagi, her darkest energies exhausted, was reduced to a mumbling lump of blood, hair and school clothes.
"Le.....lemme.....go......mommy.....I...."
"....Thank......you.....ARTEMIS!" Minako grabbed her arm. "That was.....woah!"
"Let's hope this never happens again." Makoto looked exhausted. "Ami-chan, do you have the brain wave thingies?"
"Yes, I....have the.....'brain wave thingies'."
Ami dragged over a small square machine, one that looked similar to a guitar amp. With a grunt, she put it alongside the table next to Usagi, and began taking out wires and knobs.
"This will plug her schematics into the central control computer." Ami began taping various wire nodes onto Usagi's head. "Using it, we'll be able to at least calm Usagi-chan down until we can get Rei. To do it until we've defeated the monster....that may be a long shot."
"Pi......full...." Usagi simply stared up as she was attached. "3.........14......78.........21........."
"Especially if Usagi-chan acts up like she just did!" Makoto looked at Artemis, who was more pink than white. "I'm beginning not to like this idea."
"Don't worry." Artemis nodded. "If I could get her this time, I can get her again. I don't think we have to worry about another such outburst, though; she looks worn as it is. I'll keep tabs on her monitors."
".....48.......4325.....7901............"
"And if you're wrong about her, we're all screwed." Minako wiped the hair from her eyes. "Look, let's find and get to the place quickly. Ami-chan?"
"Right."
With a quick twist of her hand, Ami produced the small blue computer from her pocket. With several quick gestures, the computer blinked and beeped.
"Got it. The coordinates are not far from here." Ami turned to the other two. "We'd better hurry."
"Right!" Minako pulled out her wand. "You ready, Mako-chan?"
"You bet!" Makoto took out her wand as well. "Let's do this."
----------------------
"Aku Ryo........Tai San!"
The ofuda scrolls came onto the students by the dozens. As they hit the students, the Black Moon signs disappeared, and each collapsed on the floor.
"There." Mars went into a fighting stance. "At least these students are down."
"Rei-chan...." Luna began to sweat. "I hope you have about a thousand more of those."
"Well," Mars looked at the window with an annoyed glare. "I wouldn't have to depend on my scrolls if certain parties came when they said they would."
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"
The sliding door behind the two suddenly shattered. More students began to pile into the room.
"Gah!" Mars grabbed Luna and crouched down. "Hold on. Agility....don't fail me!"
With a fantastic leap, Mars jumped up over the students, landing on top of one girl's head. The spike end of her high heel knocked the girl out.
"YAAAH!!!"
Mars landed on her feet running, for as soon as the students figured out what had happened, they all began to rush her in a blinding, raging stampede down the hall.
----------------------
"All right......"
Artemis plugged the final wire into Usagi. At the touch of her scalp, the computer sprang to life.
"Ok." Artemis hobbled over to the monitor. "This will allow me to watch your brain activities, Usagi. Let's see how this power affects you..."
With that, he jumped on the computer and waited for it to boot up.
-
Ma......mo..........chan........
Mam.....mo-chan.
Where. are. you.
I'm here, Mamo-chan. I went you your house and......you were gone.
Mamo-chan.......I've become smarter, just like I promised I would. Why is it everyone is against it? Don't.....don't they understand?
-
At the computer, Artemis watched Usagi's vital signs carefully. Her brain waves were shown with two lines, one black, one green. Both were fast erratic in their lines.
"The black energy in her is making her brain produce several chemicals at several times their normal speed," the cat mused worriedly. "The norepinephrine and dopamine being produced in her brain, especially, are dangerously high. The dark energy that has infected her is causing this, to be sure."
There was a silence at this. Usagi, meanwhile, kept mumbling.
"The.........square root.........tirangle......"
"Maybe in the short run its ok - in moderate levels, and in tense times, the brain is conjoled into producing more chemicals. But this initiative isn't normal at all; at this level, someone could go into shock! If nothing is done..." Artemis began to pace nervously. "It's bad enough if the energy enslaves her to the enemy cause, but there seems to be more adverse side effects to this - if the dark energy isn't dispersed quickly, in the long run it may actually even cause brain damage and destroy vital brain cells....and Usagi....Usagi doesn't have any that she can spare as it is!"
-
They're jealous, aren't they? They're all jealous of me! They.....they don't mind me being stupid, but when I get a jot smarter......my own friends.....they turned on me! Its betrayal! A stab in the back! Its not fair!
All I want is for Mamo-chan to like me. Can't they see that? Can't they see the only way to get him back is to be smart? Because.....because he wouldn't want me in any way.....I've seen it. He wants Ami, someone like her. That's what I'm giving him. What's their problem? He's not their boyfriend! They're not the one who needs him......I need him.....I want him.....I'll do anything for him.....
---------------
"AAAUUUUUGH!"
Mars jumped on the banister to dodge a chair being thrown at her. The chair shattered into several pieces. She then turned and kicked a student downstairs, which allowed the others to fall as well.
"Hurry, Rei-chan!" Mars jumped onto the stairs and ran up as the students recovered and began to swarm after her once more. "The enemy is probably on the next floor!"
-
"Syruuben." The red eyes flashed. "The sailor is escaping the students. She is approaching us."
"Dammit!" Calaveras glared. "Isn't there something else you can do?!"
"Sister!" Beruche put a hand on Calaveras' shoulder. "You shouldn't lose faith so quickly! We have other ways of subduing trespassers. Or have you already forgotten....?"
-
As Mars ran, a small red light began to beep at the top of the stairs. A light near the end of the hall began to blink.
"Mars!" Luna pointed. "The enemy is at the end of the hall!"
"Right...."
Suddenly, Mars stopped. Her eyes slit.
"Rei-chan...?"
".....An energy...." Mars' hand went to her temple. ".....A.....strange energy...... I......Luna...."
Luna turned and gave a gasp. The light fixture at the end of the hall began to blink profusely.
"Rei-chan!" Luna leaped out of Mars' arms. "Rei-chan, its a trap!"
"........So tired.......suddenly......"
"REI-CHAN!"
"I.....can't........fight........"
Without another word, Mars collapsed into the arms of the students. Unceremoniously, they picked her up and began to carry her down the second floor hallway.
"Rei-chan! No!..."
Luna jumped up to attack the students, but was caught in mid-air. Despite her struggles, Luna found herself unable to break free, and she was brought off kicking and screaming.
"Bring them in here." Syruuben's eyes flashed. "We will teach her a lesson for interrupting class. Syruuben."
------------------------
Those bitches, those.....those horrible......
That's right. All they wish to do is see me fail. They all can do something and I can't. Ami-chan, a genius. Rei-chan, a priestess. Mako-chan, a fighter. Mina-chan, a singer. What am I? Nothing!
And then I become something. And they stop me. Ooh, how I want to.......to......
to........
tooooo..........
Oh.......my head...........Why do I feel so.......strange......
I........I what.......what's wrong with me.......I'm smart and then I.......
I
Syruuben.
-
Usagi's hand twitched. The monitor waves began to become more erratic, then straighten, then become unstable once more. Artemis watched it closely, with a worried eye.
-
Huh? What...
Syruuben. Come to me.
Who are you?
You. Syruuben.
You're....
Knowledge. Genius. Intelligence. Your Smart Part. Syruuben.
....You actually have a name?
Syruuben.
Thats an odd name for my smart part.
Names do not matter. You are mine.
No.....no I'm not.....
But you are. Now you are intelligence.
I am.....?.....I guess I am.
How do you feel?
Well, I....
Are you happy? Syruuben. Because you should be. You are better than all of your peers. And all you need to do to sustain it is be studious.
Studious?
You must come to the Learning Center. Syruuben.
....I'd love to....to become smarter, and to increase my knowledge, and to prove my friends wrong because they're acting mean. I want Mamo-chan back, to impress him.....I could be the smartest girl in the world.........
Of course you do. Syruuben. You wish for power. For truth. For the ultimate sacrifice.
.......but.....I'm incapacitated at the moment.....
To give me your energy.
I want to beco.....Waitaminute, did you just say-
Yes. For the ultimate sacrifice. Syruuben.
No no, after that.
Syruuben?
"To give me your energy."
....I didn't say that.
What? You most certainly did!
I didn't.
Yes you DID!
I did NOT.
You......you're hiding something from me, intelligent side.....I.......all of a sudden, I can feel it! You.....why.....why would you deny....?
SYRUUBEN.
-
If Artemis had been paying more attention to Usagi, he would have realized the incredible battle going on within her. She had stopped counting, and was staring at the ceiling; at first glance, she still seemed incapacitated by the energy.
Upon a further look, however, one noticed something unusual about her eyes. They seemed to respond to something, something not seen by others, yet seen by them. For they seemed to brighten somewhat with a strange kind of inner certainty.
-
The fog.....no..........
Yes. Forget. Syruuben. You are my slave.
("Today, we will be beginning our classes." )
What the...?
A light. Engulfing. Then, a room.
(The female stood at the front of the classroom, her cherry-red lips curled into a smile. All around Usagi, many students from other schools. She wore a very simple coat and dress, and her black hair was in a bun.
"Now, we here at Juuban Learning Center have a special oath we like to recite." The teacher put a hand on her chest. "I would be happy if everyone would please stand, and repeat it after me.")
Syruuben?
Wait a minute.....the classroom, I remember....
No, no, this isn't real!
("I shall do my best to fulfill my desires." The class repeated after the teacher. "I shall do my best to study with vigor."
Usagi looked slightly bored, but did as she was told. The teacher looked at her, and smiled.)
Wait....
You are not looking! You must not look.....this is not real......this is a figment of yo-
STOP! Stop it! Why....
("You." Suddenly, the teacher stood up above Usagi. "Your name."
"U...." Usagi began to sweat. "Ts-t-su.....U......"
"Good enough." The smiled curled. "You have a desire for knowledge. I can see it in your eyes."
"Y-yeah...."
"Then look at me, and pay attention.")
NO! Syruuben. This is a trick, your mind is playing games on you. This NEVER happened!
(Usagi, with a quick glance, suddenly noticed something about the light. It had begun to flicker on and off, ever so slightly.)/i
-
Usagi's monitors began to fluctuate. Artemis looked over at Usagi, then back at the monitors.
"Usagi....." He began to sweat. "Hang on...."
-
("That...."
"You." The teacher's eyes slit. "Don't look."
Suddenly, a jolt of light flashed out, hitting Usagi in the side.
"OW!!!" Usagi fell out of her seat. "Ow.....that hurt.....")
Stop, stop! STOP!
NO! Make me!
("I told you not to look...."
The other students began to jump up in protest. As a response, the teacher's eyes flashed, and the doors and windows shut.
"AAH! aaaah! oh no whats going wevegottogetut...."
Things began to blur as the lights began to flash again. This time, dark bolts began to flash everywhere, hitting students.
"AAAAAH!!!" Usagi was hit by a large piece of black lightning. She fell to the floor. "Ma.....mo......chan......."
"Syruuben......")
......YOU.
(The Black Moon sign appeared on Usagi's forehead as she landed on the floor. All around her, students began to fall, even as they clawed desperately at the doors and windows.)
It was YOU!
("Now, class......" The teacher's shape began to waver and change. Her eyes turned red. "Let us.....................begin.")
....Usagi.......
Syruuben....you......you are the enemy!
No, NO! Don't fool yourself!
On her uniform, the locket began to pulse slightly. The red aura flickered around Usagi again, only to disappear.
No....you fooled me.......you played with me......Is…..is intelligence…….that its the only thing I care about? That's what you thought?! No, I care for Mamoru….
Usagi suddenly twitched. On the monitor, everything jumped.
"Huh?!" Artemis' head went up as the monitor beeped. "Usagi!?"
I care for……..I……….That's why I……but……
The waves on the monitors began to fluctuate wildly. Usagi's right hand began to move.
"Usagi!"
Maybe…..I was wrong…..
NO! SYRUUBEN! NO! You-
Usagi. Really. Such an odango. But you're mine. Always.
....Mamo-chan.
The right hand clenched.
SYRUUBEEEEEEEEEEEN!!
FLAAAAAAAAAAAAAASH
Usagi's eyes opened, and her other hand went to her brooch. It opened up, and the crystal began to shine brilliantly. The light filled the room, and Artemis gave a gasp as the monitor flickered and shorted out.
"Usagi!" Artemis jumped off the console. "The crystal....!!"
A black mist began to appear around the light. The sound of a howling wind blasted into Artemis' ears ad the black mist was first repelled, then dissipated, the black myst. An echo of a scream died out as the crystal's power faded.
".....Usagi?"
Artemis stared in shock. With a yawn, Usagi's eyes slowly dilated until they had returned to normal.
"....Uuuugh.........................." A small moan came from Usagi. "...............I want candy."