Disclaimer: As usual, I disavow any rights to the characters from Pretty Guardian SailorMoon. They all belong to Takeuchi Naoko and Bandai.
The following story is based on the Live Action version of SailorMoon (PGSM). I hope you enjoy it!
Two reviews! Yeah! And one from a first time (for me) reviewer, too. A double blessing. (smile) Greetings to aserene and to Serenathy. Haha, sorry. I seem to have this habit of starting off with small chapters and finishing with big ones. I guess it's just easier to break down the buildup. This one is a little longer, but as usual the really "long" ones are chapters 5 and 6. 3 and 4 are at least medium sized, though, so this is the last of the short ones. Enjoy, minna! - Raya
Pretty Guardian SailorMoon R - Prelude
Waxing Moon
"Luna," Usagi called as she staggered into the apartment. "Luna, are you here?"
"Yes. Hi, Usagi-chan!" Luna called as she waltzed into the foyer wearing her human guise and carrying a glass of milk. Her eyes widened as she saw all of the plastic bags Usagi was trying to manage. Quickly, she put the glass on a nearby table and ran to help her mistress. "What on earth is all of this? Did you buy out the store?"
Usagi laughed as she kicked the door closed behind her. "No, it's just a few groceries." She and Luna studied the bags piled on the floor. Suddenly, her stomach growled which caused them both to jump. Luna burst out laughing and picked up two bags as Usagi rubbed a hand on her stomach and smiled sheepishly.
"You shouldn't go grocery shopping hungry," Luna told her as they moved the bags to the kitchen and began to put things away. She eyed a giant box of strawberry Pocky. "You end up buying too much of everything and a bunch of junk food besides." She turned and grinned at her mistress. "Of course, you always buy too much junk food anyway..."
"Luna!" Usagi protested with a playful hurt expression on her face. Her purple haired friend just laughed, and put the Pocky away.
Usagi sighed as the last of the groceries were put away. With a tired expression, she wandered into the living room and collapsed on the couch.
"Usagi-chan?" Luna called looking and sounding a little surprised.
The dark haired woman smiled reassuringly at her, and then yawned and rubbed her tired brown eyes. "It's okay, Luna," she told the girl. "I just haven't been sleeping too well recently." Luna transformed into her plushy cat form and jumped into her mistress' lap with a curious look. "I keep having these strange dreams," Usagi continued as she slumped back into the couch and let her head lean across the top of the cushion.
"Dreams?" Luna asked when Usagi didn't say any more. She waited, and then frowned suspiciously when Usagi didn't answer. She gathered herself, and then leapt up to the back of the couch. With a sigh, she hung her head and shook it. As expected, Usagi was asleep.
Luna transformed back into her human form, and made her princess more comfortable on the couch. Then, she transformed back into her cat form one last time, curled up on Usagi's stomach, and joined her in slumber.
Usagi turned her head and tried to peer through the dark hallways, frowning as she saw strange, formless lumps randomly scattered on the floor. The little girl was crying again. As with every dream over the past week, it was a little louder than the time before. Instinctively lifting her long skirts, she hurried through the halls and rooms of the strange, yet familiar building, dodging around the lumps.
'Mama... Mama... Mama...' the little girl sobbed from somewhere in the dark. That was the only thing the child ever said, and Usagi anxiously wondered what had happened to cause the pain and fear that she heard.
'Mama... Ma... ma... Mama' The child's terror filled scream made Usagi jerk awake. Quickly she sat up, spilling Luna onto the floor. The plush cat squawked in groggy surprise as she somehow managed to spin and land on her feet.
"Where are you!" Usagi called as she looked around the room. She strained her ears, trying to hear the little girl. The only thing she heard was Luna grumbling on the floor. "Did you hear her, Luna?" she asked as she turned her brown eyes down to the plush cat. "Where is she?"
"Who?" Luna asked in confusion. She, too, looked around the room, and then back up at Usagi.
"The... the little girl..." Usagi said. Her voice faded as she slumped back into the couch. "It must have been another dream," she added softly. "Ah! Is that the time?" she exclaimed as the clock caught her eye. "Mamoru will be home soon! I'd better get to work on dinner."
Low on the horizon, the waxing moon shone softly in the evening sky.