Title: The Comic Book
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon as a copyright yet do own Sailor Moon Anime Seasons 1 - 5, the entire comic lot (Whoo hoo! Go Ebay!!) and the Sailor Moon live action which cracks me up till I cam crying from laughter. Sigh... good stuff.
Author's Notes:
I told everyone I wasn't going to finish this... but I lied. It's so intricate and original... I would have loved to make it so much deeper and delve further into the realms of jargon and unneccesary emotions adn turn outs but... I don't have time or energy. I'm very very busy.
This is why my updates are coming so slow.
This chapter is for Amethyst Heart since this is her favorite story and I've always been so uplifted by her reviews.
Arigatou!
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Flood lights filled the deserted comic book store. She heard a grumble and then a swish as comic books sailed to the floor in a heap. With a delicate jump and a few scampers she was beside the culprit. They glanced at the paper books before them.
"These are imported American Comics…" Artemis mumbled staring at them and Luna stepped on one glancing at the cover. With a paw she pushed it over.
"They are backwards…" She muttered curiously and Artemis grinned slightly pushing a few aside, revealing the glossy covers of numerous plots and storylines.
"Americans read from left to right Luna." He replied with a hint of amusement before his sky blue eyes widened. "Max." He hissed and Luna trotted over to him, her red eyes taking in the sight.
"The MisAdventures of Max Carple, the darker side of reason." Luna whispered and a gulp of disgust died down her slender throat. Artemis pushed it away and began frantically searching through others. Luna felt emotion well deep within her breast.
"Sarah Floyd, Kid Detective." Luna read, emotion beginning to well in her voice as she remembered before Max… before others a crazy girl who was bent on solving jewel heists and mysteries and who was convinced Mamoru-san was deranged.
"The Comic Book." Artemis said, his voice slightly raspy as his nails trasped along the last comic left. On it was a small crying girl clutching something to her as rain fell upon her. He bent down and bit at the cover pulling it back as Luna jumped to his side.
"This is the story of Lola… a girl who became trapped in a comic book." Luna whispered and horror filled her eyes as she looked up at Artemis. Artemis felt his heart stop and they flicked through pages, their paws flying frantically as red and blue eyes took in all of the words for the first time. It was about an orphan who was abused in a home and had run away only to escape magically into the world of her favorite comic book… Artemis stopped turning and Luna let out a shriek.
"It's us." Artemis exhaled and Luna stared frozen at the pencil art work of two small cats looking at comic books strewn across a closed comic book store floor. She glanced up and Artemis turned a page catching the black cat's features perfectly. He turned more pages quickly to find them blank. "It's still writing! It isn't over!" He yelled and quickly clamped his teeth around it. "We have to bring this to the others." He garbled and Luna nodded. She gripped another copy of the comic book between her teeth and they both raced out of the deserted store, two comic books in tow.
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He ran up the steps, rain pelting at his skin soaking his clothes to his bones. He approached the paper house and pulled roughly on the cord marking his presence. He stood in the rain. Anger coursed through his veins. He waited. A figure slowly slid the door open and violet eyes encountered the sight before her and she winced. Onyx strands clung to his forehead and she stepped out onto the porch. Lighting crashed in the distance.
"What are you doing!" She yelled into the storm and he clenched his fists.
"How did you know." He yelled back and Rei glanced at him with wonder. Had he lost his mind? She stepped forward and motioned for him to come closer.
"Nani?" She squeaked and he stepped under the protective covering of the porch and she stepped back and gulped. His form was towering over hers.
"How did you know it wasn't Usagi…" He hissed at her and she froze. His eyes. They were empty… cold and empty. She felt tears fill her eyes.
"Mamoru-san… I tried to tell you!" She cried and reached for him but he jerked away.
"What the hell is going on! Did I piss off your god that they have been tormenting me for over a thousand years?!" He screamed, anger raging through him. He grabbed roughly to the priestess and pushed her against a column, his face mere inches from her own and she gasped. "That they let me get so close… tormenting me with her smell, her touch… her love only to rip her from me!!" He screamed and Rei shook her head.
"It isn't like that!" She cried and he pushed her harder into the wood and she winced as pain registered through her back. She bit back a gasp. He was losing his control completely… she could feel the darkness surrounding him in his agony and misery.
"All of this has been a lie! The past few months… Usagi would never do the things she did… someone is controlling the love of my life and feeding her the right things to say!" He screamed and then pulled away from Rei, her form slumping against the wood. She let out a breath of relief as the pressure ceased against her body. Panic flew to her eyes as she stared at him. Was he serious?
"How did you find out? How did you know? Did you really confirm it?" Rei asked rising and looking at him desperately for answers.
"Now I understand the hollowness in your eyes Rei every time you look at her… I knew how much you meant to her, how much you both needed each other it makes me hate myself for not seeing knowing sooner… Am I worthy of her love? Tell me Rei… can you see the hollowness in my eyes too now?" He asked turning towards her and Rei gasped stepping forward. "It's there now… with the realization that the woman you care so much for no longer dwells among you…" He whispered turning away from her once more and Rei grabbed onto his arm and spun him to face her.
"How did you know!" She screamed. The answer in his eyes was enough to tell her. Before Rei could blink and push him further his form collapsed in her arms. She gasped, his weight bringing her slowly to the ground as he lost consciousness. "Oh my God… Mamoru-san… Prince Endymion… Wake up…" She cried holding onto his form and she looked up towards the stars. "Usagi!!" she screamed. "Where are you!!"
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Red eyes glanced curiously at the girl before her. What was she doing?
"You're doing homework Usagi-chan?" Rini asked curiously and Usagi sat up quickly and then laughed nervously.
"Of course!" She cried and then shut her math book, looking innocently at the pink haired girl glaring at her across the kitchen table.
"Well, it's good to see you're finally growing up." Rini sniffed crossing her arms across her chest. Usagi eyed her curiously and leaned her chin onto her propped up hand.
"You are very rude for a ten year old… did your mother teach you to be that way?" Usagi asked and Rini gasped and gulped looking at her. A stricken look crossed her face and she gripped the table.
"Of course my mother didn't! My mother is kind and nice and the perfect lady!" Rini cried in a panic and Usagi looked at her lazily and then pointed a finger at herself. Rini winced and sat back down with a guilty look. Usagi was her mother.
"Maybe I should write her a letter." Usagi said standing, a smile coming to her face. Panic filled Rini as she jumped up. Her little arms wrapped around Usagi's form and let out a cry.
"No! Don't Usagi!" She screamed and both girls tumbled to the floor. Rini's panic only broke when she heard laughter. Then her panic was replaced by anger. "Oh you meanie!" Rini cried and Usagi laughed when suddenly her fingers attacked Rini's mid-section. Rini went threw a whirl of emotions from panic to anger to now… happiness.
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Red eyes watched silently. Pain etched on her features as she glanced around the Tsukino living room. Two girls wrestled across the floor, their laughter echoing through the room.
"Usagi-chan." The voice said swiftly and both girls stopped, Usagi having a grip on Rini's pigtail and Rini's fingers plugging up Usagi's nose. Luna glanced at her and Usagi pulled Rini off of her and then into a warm hug.
"Go do your homework worm." Usagi grinned and Rini looked at her curiously. The tall elegant form walked out of the room and Rini could only stare at the doorway. She rushed to the table and opened up Usagi's book and she gulped. She grabbed a calculator and started adding a few of the problems together.
Slowly she slumped into the chair and closed the book. Her eyes wondered to the doorway again. All of the problems were correct and done. She hadn't even seen Usagi use a calculator. What was going on?
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Her feet quietly carried her towards Hikawa temple. The sun shined brightly down upon her frame and she forced a smile. Why was she forcing herself?
"Do you feel it too?" A voice said next to her and Ami's startled blue eyes glanced at the relaxed form walking beside her. Green eyes turned to look into her's and Ami's expression looked quizzative. What was Mako-chan talking about?
"Feel?" She began and Makoto nodded, a deep sigh leaving her throat.
"The emptiness…" She whispered, a somber smile coming to her worn features. "As if nothing is real around us…" Her voice trailed off and Ami stared hard at the pavement before them. "Do you think we should be going to Rei's call?" She began again and Ami shook her head.
"No, but I can't stop my feet from walking towards her." She struggled out and Makoto nodded in agreement.
"Neither can I."
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"This better be good."
The voice was cold. Rei felt a sting in her soul. She felt the lack of trust in that voice. She straightened her back. She was right… she had to prove it to them now. Her violet eyes took in the other two forms as they lazily walked towards her. She said this was important. Is that how they treated her? She shook away her anger. At least they came.
"If this is about Usagi-chan… I can honestly say I will hardly listen." An annoyed voice sniffed and Rei felt another stab at her heart. Her eyes fell to the ground. She felt empty. Alone.
"I have proof." She whispered and Minako's eyebrows rose in curiosity.
"Proof? You have proof she is not our Princess?" She asked, her voice laden with sarcasm as she stepped forward. "Present your proof." She hissed into Rei's face and Rei took a step back and motioned with her left hand to the almost limp form leaning on the porch.
"Mamoru-san? Are you here too?" Ami asked with a raised eyebrow and he nodded slowly, his arms crossed over his chest. She stepped towards him and then stopped when she saw something in his eyes. It slammed into her breast… it was pain, horrible pain as if something had been ripped from his very soul and then the beginnings of an eternal anger.... She shivered.
"I am her proof." His voice was low and hallow. Minako gulped, her blue eyes glancing at green who held no answers.
"I believe I have better proof." A male voice filled the air and suddenly a book spluttered to the ground before them. Minako let out a nervous laugh and picked it up.
"A comic book Artemis…" She flipped it over and her frame froze.
"Luna has been keeping it from us for months… She had known the truth when we were too blind or perhaps to uneducated to notice that our very own Princess had escaped her own body." Artemis jumped from the roof to land calmly on the dirt ground before them. Mamoru sat up and listened intently. Clouds hung above them. Rain was coming again… Makoto glanced up. Rain always came when she was unsettled. "We should have been able to see it from the very beginning… yet we couldn't because each one of the people who took over our Princess knew her exact history and everything about all of us…"
"Nani?" Ami breathed out and Artemis looked at them, a pained expression held in his eyes.
"Usagi has been missing for over nine months now." His voice hit everyone like a ton of bricks. Mamoru stumbled forward. Nine months!? He could only remember five… Artemis continued. "An alternate dimension has crossed into our world… a dimension that hails us as comic book heros and stars of a generation… we are a cartoon series, movies, live action video and nothing more but pictures. These jumpers into Usagi's life knew so much about us because it was written in comic books like that one… Our lives our on display." His voice was quiet and Minako slumped to the ground trying to hear him more.
"Nani?" She asked her eyes bearing into his and Artemis looked up at her.
"We are not real in her world… and she is not real in ours. Girls from American Comics have been leaping into Usagi's body… Luna has counted at least four different girls including the infamous Max." He mumbled and Rei raced into the temple. Everyone glanced towards the dramatic exit only to see her re-enter the scene with something in her fingertips. Mamoru walked towards them and took the book into his hands.
"The MisAdventures of Max Carple, the Darker side of reason…" He faltered and flipped through the pages. He felt his heart fall to his feet. "What is this?" His breath was raspy now.
"There were others but this is the girl that now has control of Usagi's body…" Minako picked up the comic book Artemis was speaking of and flipped through it. Moans of surprise and then horror left her lips. Ami and Makoto were behind her as Rei could only stare at them.
"Oh my God… we are in this…" Makoto said her voice choking with emotions and Minako raced through the dialogue flipping through pages faster than any manga she had ever poured over.
"There is no ending…" She snapped and the comic was taken from her fingers and Minako gulped glancing into icy blue eyes as he began his trip through the world they had weaved. "Where is the ending Artemis!" Minako snapped towards the cat and he heard the anger and fear in her voice.
"It has not been written yet." He mumbled and Mamoru stopped at the last page that was drawn.
"Luna is telling her right now about your discovery… She knew…" He said, his heart palpitating in his ears. He covered his eyes letting the book fall to the ground. The girls stared at him. Rei slowly picked up the book and looked through the pages slowly until she fell on the reason why the girls stared at him so.
"Oh God…" She hissed and slammed the frail pages shut. Her eyes hardened and she shook her head. "She took advantage of you…"
"We need to fix this." Ami almost yelled out and gulped. She couldn't believe there was that much force behind her voice.
"Wait a minute!" A voice cried drawing attention to the only member who had been silent the entire time. She took a stumbling step towards Artemis and Minako. "Are you trying to tell us that we are nothing but figments of someone's imagionation… a comic book character on display for millions to read and see? That our lives are not real?" She cried, emotion choking through her voice. "That we have been living this destiny, this life because someone in an alternate demnsion wrote it?" She cried and Rei gasped.
"I'm not sure if we should read into it that much." Ami stuttered out and pain and panic was etched upon Makoto's features as stears began to slide down her cheeks.
"Not read…" Makoto breathed and forced her voice to have volume. "Not read too much into this… we are nothing but things to be read Ami-chan… all of the things that happened to us can be explained because we are some comic book?" She cried and Minako's slim form began to shake.
"This can't be happening…" Mamoru mumbled with a shake of his head.
"Wait…. Our lives are comic books for another dimension and Lola's life is a comic book for ours… If Lola is here living inside of Usagi…Where is Usagi-chan?" Makoto's voice trailed off and Mamoru collapsed to the ground. Minako sucked in a shattering breath. She pulled out her communicator.
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Usagi let out a breath leaning against her closed door. She was happy for the first time in her life. She felt warm and loved. She slid down the door and looked at Luna contently.
"Lola." A voice suddenly filled her room and blue eyes stared with a slightly dazed expression towards the rigid cat.
"What did you call me?" Usagi asked quietly and Luna choked back a sob.
"Lola." She repeated and Usagi felt her form stiffen as her features hardened. "I found your comic book…" She cried motioning to a thin paper book near her feet. Slowly Usagi crawled towards it and then snatched it off of the pink-carpeted floor. She stared with wide eyes as she began turning the pages… it was her life. Tears filled her eyes as she saw her entire ordeal poured out in black and white images before her. "I think I've figured out what has happened… Lola… Our two dimensions have crossed…"
"If I am a comic book… does that mean I'm not real?" Usagi asked quietly staring at the pictures as they passed in a blur. "Did someone write my life?" She asked quietly and Luna could only stare at her. Usagi looked up at her. "Is this the life I was meant to live?" She asked quietly and Luna immediately shot out.
"No! This is not your life Lola!" She cried and put a paw firmly on the comic book. "This is your life… You cannot claim Usagi's as your own… you've been playing out a role." She hissed and Usagi pulled the comic book towards her away from Luna's claws.
"I know Luna… I don't know how to get home!" She cried when suddenly a beeping went off in her room. Her eyes darted around and an ominous feeling flooded her stomach. "What is that?" She asked, panic lacing her voice and Luna padded to a small watch and pushed it off of the table to land near Usagi's feet.
"Answer it." The cat like voice washed over Usagi and she reached for the silver object. She pushed a small button and a face appeared.
"Usagi. Minako-chan… meet us at Hikawa temple immediately for an emergency meeting." The voice snapped out and Usagi nodded numbly. The image fizzeled away and Usagi turned to Luna who now held the comic book in her teeth.
"Let's go." Luna garbled and Usagi stood with a nod. An ominous feeling passed over her. She glanced around the pink room and felt it crash around her. She sucked in a deep breath suddenly hearing her heart pound through her ears. She stared at the black cat and forced words out of her mouth.
"Should I get Rini?" She inquired towards the door and Luna shook her head.
"Why would we take her?" Came the swift response as the black cat headed for the door. Usagi looked down and nodded, the pounding was getting louder and her feet moved forward. It felt like everything was in slow motion… the feeling you get when you know the end of the story is coming, the heroine is about to be killed or the bad guy is about to show up… None of that happened.
"Right… wrong season." She mumbled to herself and then followed the black feline out of the window.
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Thunder rolled in the distance as the sky began to darken. No rain yet. She sighed as her feet pounded against the hard pavement. Her feet carried her through the willow trees up and up the steps of the holy temple. She slowed when she reached the top five. The feelings came back and slammed into her chest. Something in her heart stopped and she looked towards the peaked roofs.
Luna's form halted when she felt Usagi not running behind her anymore. She turned, red eyes glancing into blue.
"You told Artemis?" Usagi asked softly and Luna could only stare at her. She walked down the steps and rubbed against her ankles.
"I like you Lola… but…" She began and Usagi scooped the cat up into her arms and pulled her into her warm embrace. Tears filled Usagi's tender eyes.
"I don't belong in your world… I'm not sure I belong anywhere. I love you Luna… you were my first real friend." She choked out and Luna closed her eyes sadly and let out a deep purr.
"I will always be your friend." With those words Usagi pounded up the last remaining steps, her fingers not letting go of the furred object clutched there and then she halted before them. They stood waiting for her.
"Usagi-chan!" It was Minako's voice and she called her over with an arm. A small droplet hit Usagi's head and she slowly walked towards them. Rei stared at her and she could only stare back into those deep violet eyes. She pushed on a smile even though she knew her eyes were filled with tears.
"Konnechiwa!" She cried walking up to them and then she saw him. He was sitting against the porch where they all stood. "Mamo-chan…" She called out excitedly and he lifted his head, his blue eyes reaching hers and she felt her heart constrict. She clutched Luna tighter. So, they all knew now.
"Don't be afraid." A voice said near her and she snapped her head around to stare into violet eyes. "We just want the truth…" She cried and Usagi grabbed onto Luna and Luna gulped as Usagi stood away from them. Her eyes fell to Mamoru once again and then she let out a cry and lunged forward snatching a book out of his hand.
"No!" She screamed. She felt her world crash around her. She wanted to deny this… this wasn't happening… they all loved her… they needed her. Please God let someone need her. She ripped through the book mercilessly, Luna crawling into her shoulder. The girls gasped and took a step back watching the pieces of paper fall to the ground. Small droplets continued to fall sporadically and Usagi watched as one collided with torn shreds of her life.
"You have to go back!" A frantic voice cried next to her and Usagi gulped turning her eyes to stare into blue. Ami-chan? "Please…" She cried, and Usagi saw tears fill her eyes as desperation lined her voice. Ami always had needed Usagi the most… Usagi was their friend, their first friend to bring all of them out of their lonliness. She looked down miserably. Usagi had done for them what no one had ever done for her. Be her friend.
"My name is Tsukino, Usagi… I am fourteen… I'm in the eighth grade and I'm the Super Hero Sailor moon…" Usagi's voice stuttered out as tears slipped down her pale cheeks. Rei felt a sob tear through her and she put a hand to her stomach. Minako closed her eyes miserably. Ami's mouth hung ajar until a frame tore Usagi's eyes away from her own and Usagi gasped feeling a strong arm grab her and whip her around.
"Lola… You are not real here…" Mamoru struggled out and Usagi shook her head and grabbed onto him.
"You are not real… none of this is real!" She cried frantically and gripped onto his clothes. He felt his heart tug. Makoto felt something slam into her muscles and her knees buckled at those words. Usagi's angelic features called to him and Mamoru resisted the urge to pull her into his arms and hold her there forever, calming all of her fears.
"I need her…" He croaked out and Lola let out a painful wail as her legs failed. He supported her weakly as she fell against his chest.
"Why can't anyone need me!" She screamed and the leaves shook around them. His arms wrapped around her and held her.
"She needs you… she needs you to believe in her like you always have Lola…" The voice washed into her ears and Usagi felt sobs tear through her chest. "We need you to believe in us… we are real in your imagination." Minako's voice continued and her hand gently grasped the petite blonde's shoulder. Makoto and Ami gasped at the words and they stood close together watching Minako with rapt attention. Ami turned to Usagi's frame and felt a smile tug at her lips.
"You've made us real…" Ami whispered quietly, tears streaking down her cheeks.
Usagi's eyes fluttered open to stare into warm blue ones and a smile that was waiting for her.
"You are our biggest fan…" Minako whispered and Rei stomped towards them.
"Yes, and if you return to your world I'll promise to be yours." She struggled out and pulled Usagi frantically away from Mamoru's arms. Mamoru gulped and staggered back. Emotion was tearing through him ripping at his insides. He didn't know how much longer he could last. He felt arms wrap around him and he leaned into them wrapping an arm around the small genius's fragile shoulders as they watched Rei and Usagi. Rei grabbed onto her hands and held back her sobs. She smiled looking up at her. "Please be our hero…" She whispered and Usagi felt all of the air leave her lungs. "Please give us back our Princess." She whispered and Usagi sucked in a shattering breath.
Silence filled the area. Only the occasional sound of raindrops echoed. Makoto held her breath. This was the most they had ever talked to her while they were in a group. She smiled sardonically. They always ignored her… as if she really wasn't there… because in reality she really wasn't. Their Usagi wasn't there… only an empty shell. They were waiting for an answer… Luna and Artemis stared up at her with pleading eyes. She sniffed. Her name was Lola… she was only fourteen years old and her mother died when she was young. Her brother ran away when his legs were strong enough to carry him. She ran away when her imagination was all she lad left holding her up…
"I don't know how." The faint whisper shattered the world around her and Rei let out an agonized cry. She fell forward and gripped onto Usagi's frail body.
"No!!!" She screamed.
"Stop it! Stop it!" Minako screamed pulling at Rei's body and Rei clutched to her. Tears filled Minako's eyes and she held the priestess tightly.
"Forgive me for not having the proof…" Rei sobbed onto her shoulder and Minako shook her head frantically.
"Forgive me for not believing you… I should have always trusted you." She whispered out, her fingers gripping to Rei's robes. Rain began to fall, light at first yet consistent.
"Maybe I can figure out a way…" Ami began and pulled out her computer. Rain droplets crashed into her blue hair as Makoto sunk to the ground. Energy seemed to be completely drained from her system. "Maybe I can open a dimensional hole! Maybe I can get her!" She cried, her words becoming frantic and Minako looked at her sadly. Ami was shooting in the dark. None of them had answers…She glanced at Artemis and Luna… they were talking quietly amongst themselves yet from their look they had no more answers then she. She gasped holding onto Rei. Their world had been shattered. Their world that had been created by one beautiful carefree girl who wasn't afraid to make friends with them… to bring them out of their lonliness.
"I don't care if I am a comic book character! I love my Princess and I will defend her until I go out of print!" Minako cried suddenly and Makoto looked at her with a raised eyebrow. Minako flustered. "Or they stop writing my character… whatever! You know what I mean!" She cried annoyed and Rei looked up at her and sniffed, hope slightly shining in her eyes.
"What person doesn't want to be a comic book hero?" Rei asked with a slight smile and then Minako's smile fell. Things began to turn in her head and Ami gasped putting her free hand over her mouth, the other supporting her Prince.
"That is how she got to this world!" Minako cried and then turned to Usagi. "Lola!" She cried and then her breath halted. Five sets of eyes and two felines stared at the damp mud covered spot. She was gone.
Ah... I also have great news. I think I'll only have ONE more chapter after this and I plan to have it out by this weekend
Yay me! That would be TWO STORIES Finished!!! Ah... that feels good. Next I will work on Touch me There and gasp I have to many new story ideas! I just have to remember them...
Good Night and God Bless!
Marronett
Don't forget to REVIEW!!!! Its the polite thing to do.