Lunch started out simply enough. She made her way to the cafeteria,
managed to get two slices of pizza, some mashed potatoes, and some
chocolate milk, and paid for it. She sat down with a group of Mark's
friends, who all spoke rapid English. She wasn't paying very much
attention, concentrating more on her food. They didn't make pizza like
this in Japan. When she was done, she got up to dump her food in the trash
can. Not looking where she was going, she accidentally bumped into a girl,
overturning her tray on him.
The girl shrieked. Usagi winced. "Gomen nasai," she apologized rapidly. "I-muh sorry-uh. I-muh sorry-uh."
But the girl did not stop. Her shriek turned into a tirade. "Who do you think you are? Do you know who ~I~ am? Let me tell you, I'm Candace Rogers, the richest girl at this filthy school."
Usagi retaliated immediately. "So?" she asked in English, before effectively insulting Candace in Japanese. Admittedly, some of the insults were a bit childish, like "baka atama" and "meanie" and such. But it sounded like she was cursing Candace fluently, and that was what counted.
Candace flushed, but didn't say anything. The look on the face of the tall, bulky, jock that came up behind her spoke a thousand words. "Is somebody bothering you, Candy?" his voice rumbled.
Candace immediately put on a simpering smile. "Oh, Petey, this girl is making fun of me," she wailed. "She's being mean!"
Usagi shot her a disgusted look. Her English wasn't exactly good yet, but she could understand it well enough.
"Are you insulting my girlfriend?" Peter asked menacingly, as "Candy" smirked from behind his back.
"Now, now," a voice said. Usagi turned to see a dark blonde with a blue bow in her hair and green eyes shake her head. She was one who had helped her get to her geometry class. "Don't you know who this wonderful girl is? She's Usagi Tsukino, the new student from Japan. The one whose cousin is Mark Stone. Do you remember Mark? Wasn't he the guy who beat you up when you insulted his family?"
Peter blanched, but kept his threatening facade. "Yeah? What do I care? And what's Mark to you, Jeanine? I thought you didn't hold with Mark's groupies? And his overly inflated ego? Strutting around like he owns the place. Well, he's long gone now, and no puny cousin of his is going to stop me from claiming my rightful place as king of this school."
Usagi walked up to him, and cocked her head, observing him. He stopped his ranting, unnerved. He didn't see the fist make it to his eye, leaving a big, black bruise. "I'm not puny," she said coldly, almost all traces of her accent gone. Anger had always helped her learn better. "And don't insult Mark. He's ten of you." Of course, the last was spoken in Japanese, but she had made her point.
Candy, however, was not happy yet. Her eyes flashed. "I-muh no-tuh pun-yuh," she mimicked, exaggerating Usagi's accent.
Usagi glared. "So sorry to tell you, Candy," she said fake-sadly, "but I'm afraid you are." She fake-sighed. "I'm sure you'll grow soon." Even her accent did not mar the mocking sarcasm in her voice.
Candy flushed, her own joke turned back on her. "I'll get you for this, Tsukino," she hissed ... while badly mispronouncing the "Tsukino."
"Whatever," Jeanine rolled her eyes. "Come on, Serena."
Usagi nodded, and followed Jeanine. As soon as they were out of earshot, Usagi turned to watch Jeanine. "Why did you help me?" she asked curiously.
Jeanine sighed. "Look, we're all friends with Mark. Mark's cousin is like our cousin. Which means we're obligated to protect you. Plus, Mark called people up and called in a lot of favors to make sure your school year goes well. Besides," she added. "He's cute. Think you can put in a good word for me?" She winked, showing that she was joking.
"Favors?" Usagi asked, surprised.
"Yep," Jeanine said. "Some of the people in this school can be vicious. Especially people like Candace and Peter. They number in the minority, though."
"I thought it was Candy," Usagi said, confused. "Isn't that when the Petey guy called her?"
Jeanine smiled. "She hates the name 'Candy', but puts up with it because Peter's the captain of the football team. And he only allows his girlfriends to call him 'Petey.'"
Usagi rolled her eyes. "Silly. Why would he let people call him Petey? That reminds me of a movie I saw three days ago. About . dinosaurs?"
Jeanine nodded. "I know which one you mean." She glanced at her watch. "We'd better start getting to our next class, or we'll never get there in time. What's your next class?"
Usagi paused. "Gym."
"That's what I have, too. Come one. It's this way."
++++++++++
Usagi Tsukino was a very level-headed girl. When pressured, she was a force to be reckoned with. After all, as the saying goes, "When ordinary people are put in extraordinary circumstances, they do extraordinary things." After facing down youma, Beryl, Alan, Ann, Fiore, Snow Queen Kaguya, Galaxia, the Death Busters, Mistress Nine, Pharoah 90, Queen Nehelenia, Wiseman/Death Phantom, and even Uranus and Neptune at one point, Usagi was not about to be intimidated by some snobby prep who thought she owned the school.
What Usagi did not know was that while Candace did not own the school, her father Mr. Dennis Rogers did. He was on the school board, owned a large part of the school, and made generous donations each year. And the school, unfortunately, had to give way to him in his decisions several times, no matter how much they did not wish to. If Usagi had known this, she might have been suitably terrified. But probably not. After all, she would have reasoned, what would Mr. Rogers have against her?
Usagi's first week of school was relatively harmless. Nothing interesting. Nothing too big. And there were no more confrontations with "Candy." That wasn't because Candy had given up on her, but because Candy was putting her plan into action. After all, even though it was extraordinarily easy to get your own way in the movies, it was less easy in real life. You didn't just strut up to your father and demand that a certain student be removed. Especially not if your father was a lawyer- wannabe (who never exactly made it through law school) who liked evidence. Candy was not at the top of the social ladder (if captain of the Varsity Cheerleaders-who won every game-counted as top of the social ladder) for nothing. She was cunning, if not exactly smart.
What Candy wanted wasn't just to kick Usagi out of school. No, she wanted blackmail.
++++++++++
Usagi was exhausted. Luna had decided that as she had a three-day weekend today, she would be working out the entire day. She understood that she needed to work on her physical attacks, but between a battle against a monster and a training session with youma, she would choose the battle with the monster any day. As she headed back inside, she could have sworn she saw someone hiding in the bushes . but no. It must have been her imagination? Why would anyone spy on her?
++++++++++
A dark figure enshrouded in a light so brilliant it hurt one's eyes was sitting on an onyx throne inlaid with silver. The paradox of its appearance was reflected throughout the entire room, dark and light, black and white, good and evil, all sides represented. Kneeling before him was Lady Aurora Borealis.
"Creator," she breathed with awe, not lifting her eyes from the black and white tiled floor.
"You may rest your eyes upon me." The voice was baritone, tenor, and soprano, male and female, old and young. It was loud and soft at the same time, belligerent and peaceful, as paradoxical as its owner.
Lady Aurora Borealis raised her eyes, her hands trembling as she did so. She had only rested her eyes upon the Creator several times before, and each time was a privilege. The light pierced her eyes and blinded her, even as the darkness soothed the pain. She felt of a cry of both ecstasy and religious epiphany and pain and utter misery overwhelm her. She controlled the urge to cry out within seconds.
"My lord."
"How goes your quest?"
"Badly, Milord Creator. The Guardians have gained a new ally, one I cannot fathom."
"Are you failing me?" The voice was now supreme in its danger, no longer any other quality.
"No, my lord, of course not. I have almost pinned down her aura, but it keeps on eluding me at the last second. Mayhaps I may have some aid in this task of mine?"
"Ask, and ye shall receive," the voice said. "Petra."
A slight figure enshrouded entire in a blue silk that veiled her face as well as formed a toga-like outfit around her approached. "Yes?" Her voice was distinctly less reverent.
"Are you insolent?" The paradoxical voice was now both dangerous in warning and gentle in guidance.
Petra twitched as if in pain. "No, Milord Creator," she finally bit out.
"Good." The voice was now satisfied and merciful. "Help Aurora in her quest."
"Dark Lady Aurora Borealis?" Petra asked with a sneer evident in her voice.
"Do as I say." The voice was level, but Petra shrunk away immediately.
"Yes, Milord."
To be continued .
The girl shrieked. Usagi winced. "Gomen nasai," she apologized rapidly. "I-muh sorry-uh. I-muh sorry-uh."
But the girl did not stop. Her shriek turned into a tirade. "Who do you think you are? Do you know who ~I~ am? Let me tell you, I'm Candace Rogers, the richest girl at this filthy school."
Usagi retaliated immediately. "So?" she asked in English, before effectively insulting Candace in Japanese. Admittedly, some of the insults were a bit childish, like "baka atama" and "meanie" and such. But it sounded like she was cursing Candace fluently, and that was what counted.
Candace flushed, but didn't say anything. The look on the face of the tall, bulky, jock that came up behind her spoke a thousand words. "Is somebody bothering you, Candy?" his voice rumbled.
Candace immediately put on a simpering smile. "Oh, Petey, this girl is making fun of me," she wailed. "She's being mean!"
Usagi shot her a disgusted look. Her English wasn't exactly good yet, but she could understand it well enough.
"Are you insulting my girlfriend?" Peter asked menacingly, as "Candy" smirked from behind his back.
"Now, now," a voice said. Usagi turned to see a dark blonde with a blue bow in her hair and green eyes shake her head. She was one who had helped her get to her geometry class. "Don't you know who this wonderful girl is? She's Usagi Tsukino, the new student from Japan. The one whose cousin is Mark Stone. Do you remember Mark? Wasn't he the guy who beat you up when you insulted his family?"
Peter blanched, but kept his threatening facade. "Yeah? What do I care? And what's Mark to you, Jeanine? I thought you didn't hold with Mark's groupies? And his overly inflated ego? Strutting around like he owns the place. Well, he's long gone now, and no puny cousin of his is going to stop me from claiming my rightful place as king of this school."
Usagi walked up to him, and cocked her head, observing him. He stopped his ranting, unnerved. He didn't see the fist make it to his eye, leaving a big, black bruise. "I'm not puny," she said coldly, almost all traces of her accent gone. Anger had always helped her learn better. "And don't insult Mark. He's ten of you." Of course, the last was spoken in Japanese, but she had made her point.
Candy, however, was not happy yet. Her eyes flashed. "I-muh no-tuh pun-yuh," she mimicked, exaggerating Usagi's accent.
Usagi glared. "So sorry to tell you, Candy," she said fake-sadly, "but I'm afraid you are." She fake-sighed. "I'm sure you'll grow soon." Even her accent did not mar the mocking sarcasm in her voice.
Candy flushed, her own joke turned back on her. "I'll get you for this, Tsukino," she hissed ... while badly mispronouncing the "Tsukino."
"Whatever," Jeanine rolled her eyes. "Come on, Serena."
Usagi nodded, and followed Jeanine. As soon as they were out of earshot, Usagi turned to watch Jeanine. "Why did you help me?" she asked curiously.
Jeanine sighed. "Look, we're all friends with Mark. Mark's cousin is like our cousin. Which means we're obligated to protect you. Plus, Mark called people up and called in a lot of favors to make sure your school year goes well. Besides," she added. "He's cute. Think you can put in a good word for me?" She winked, showing that she was joking.
"Favors?" Usagi asked, surprised.
"Yep," Jeanine said. "Some of the people in this school can be vicious. Especially people like Candace and Peter. They number in the minority, though."
"I thought it was Candy," Usagi said, confused. "Isn't that when the Petey guy called her?"
Jeanine smiled. "She hates the name 'Candy', but puts up with it because Peter's the captain of the football team. And he only allows his girlfriends to call him 'Petey.'"
Usagi rolled her eyes. "Silly. Why would he let people call him Petey? That reminds me of a movie I saw three days ago. About . dinosaurs?"
Jeanine nodded. "I know which one you mean." She glanced at her watch. "We'd better start getting to our next class, or we'll never get there in time. What's your next class?"
Usagi paused. "Gym."
"That's what I have, too. Come one. It's this way."
++++++++++
Usagi Tsukino was a very level-headed girl. When pressured, she was a force to be reckoned with. After all, as the saying goes, "When ordinary people are put in extraordinary circumstances, they do extraordinary things." After facing down youma, Beryl, Alan, Ann, Fiore, Snow Queen Kaguya, Galaxia, the Death Busters, Mistress Nine, Pharoah 90, Queen Nehelenia, Wiseman/Death Phantom, and even Uranus and Neptune at one point, Usagi was not about to be intimidated by some snobby prep who thought she owned the school.
What Usagi did not know was that while Candace did not own the school, her father Mr. Dennis Rogers did. He was on the school board, owned a large part of the school, and made generous donations each year. And the school, unfortunately, had to give way to him in his decisions several times, no matter how much they did not wish to. If Usagi had known this, she might have been suitably terrified. But probably not. After all, she would have reasoned, what would Mr. Rogers have against her?
Usagi's first week of school was relatively harmless. Nothing interesting. Nothing too big. And there were no more confrontations with "Candy." That wasn't because Candy had given up on her, but because Candy was putting her plan into action. After all, even though it was extraordinarily easy to get your own way in the movies, it was less easy in real life. You didn't just strut up to your father and demand that a certain student be removed. Especially not if your father was a lawyer- wannabe (who never exactly made it through law school) who liked evidence. Candy was not at the top of the social ladder (if captain of the Varsity Cheerleaders-who won every game-counted as top of the social ladder) for nothing. She was cunning, if not exactly smart.
What Candy wanted wasn't just to kick Usagi out of school. No, she wanted blackmail.
++++++++++
Usagi was exhausted. Luna had decided that as she had a three-day weekend today, she would be working out the entire day. She understood that she needed to work on her physical attacks, but between a battle against a monster and a training session with youma, she would choose the battle with the monster any day. As she headed back inside, she could have sworn she saw someone hiding in the bushes . but no. It must have been her imagination? Why would anyone spy on her?
++++++++++
A dark figure enshrouded in a light so brilliant it hurt one's eyes was sitting on an onyx throne inlaid with silver. The paradox of its appearance was reflected throughout the entire room, dark and light, black and white, good and evil, all sides represented. Kneeling before him was Lady Aurora Borealis.
"Creator," she breathed with awe, not lifting her eyes from the black and white tiled floor.
"You may rest your eyes upon me." The voice was baritone, tenor, and soprano, male and female, old and young. It was loud and soft at the same time, belligerent and peaceful, as paradoxical as its owner.
Lady Aurora Borealis raised her eyes, her hands trembling as she did so. She had only rested her eyes upon the Creator several times before, and each time was a privilege. The light pierced her eyes and blinded her, even as the darkness soothed the pain. She felt of a cry of both ecstasy and religious epiphany and pain and utter misery overwhelm her. She controlled the urge to cry out within seconds.
"My lord."
"How goes your quest?"
"Badly, Milord Creator. The Guardians have gained a new ally, one I cannot fathom."
"Are you failing me?" The voice was now supreme in its danger, no longer any other quality.
"No, my lord, of course not. I have almost pinned down her aura, but it keeps on eluding me at the last second. Mayhaps I may have some aid in this task of mine?"
"Ask, and ye shall receive," the voice said. "Petra."
A slight figure enshrouded entire in a blue silk that veiled her face as well as formed a toga-like outfit around her approached. "Yes?" Her voice was distinctly less reverent.
"Are you insolent?" The paradoxical voice was now both dangerous in warning and gentle in guidance.
Petra twitched as if in pain. "No, Milord Creator," she finally bit out.
"Good." The voice was now satisfied and merciful. "Help Aurora in her quest."
"Dark Lady Aurora Borealis?" Petra asked with a sneer evident in her voice.
"Do as I say." The voice was level, but Petra shrunk away immediately.
"Yes, Milord."
To be continued .