Chapter 15: Chemistry Market
"Bye, Madoka and Daisuke! Have fun on your father-daughter outing! I'm going to take Jessica to the market today," Rei called as her husband and daughter left the house, and she was alone with Jessica. As she slipped into the driver's seat, Jessica in the back, she did not let the small girl see her worried eyes. If there were any other Senshi at the market, she hoped they would agree to keep an eye on Jessica. Something was definitely afoot with the Love Angels.
Rei did have reason to worry, as Angel Ivy, in her regular form as Mozzerella Rigatoni, was out at the market too, looking for a Sailor Senshi to steal a bracelet from. She hoped that it would be that little Jamaican girl; she wanted to burn away her coldness and make her act more like a cute, warm-hearted girl, the type that the Love Angels preferred. At least, that was what she was told to do. In truth, she more wanted to shake up the girl and play a few tricks on her before taking that purple bracelet protected by the planet Saturn.
However, Akane and Maria were also at the market, and Rei spotted them immediately. Of course, it was easy to do so, since Akane was, at the moment, arguing with one of the vendors, accusing him of pricing his merchandise too high.
"Akane, Maria! I'm so glad I found you! I have a mission for you girls, and it's a secret one," Rei called, in an oddly loud voice for saying it was a secret.
"Does it have to do with rescuing those who are less fortunate?" Akane asked, somewhat curious but also annoyed that her tirade had been interrupted.
"Well, yes. You see, Jessica here is probably going to be attacked by one of the Love Angels, and I thought that she might need someone to help her since she usually gets the worst of it in the battles, always getting captured or grabbed or tied up by someone who just wants to take advantage of her size," Rei explained in a hushed voice, so that Jessica could not hear her. While Rei was talking to the lesbian couple, Jessica had wandered off, as she had spied a sign that read "Chemistry Lab Booth."
"Then we're going to need to find her," Maria said. Rei turned around and shrieked when she realized what had happened. Yes, Jessica was walking right into a trap, although she did think it was rather suspicious. Perhaps she could trap the enemy when they least expected it. It was at least worth a try, and a part of her was quite curious as to why it seemed to be made just for her, with the purple sign, silver lettering and all. Well, there was one way to make sure they didn't steal her bracelet. Ducking between two stalls, she held up her bracelet.
"Jellybean Prism Power, Make Up!" Akane spotted the burst of purple light and panicked.
"MONSTER ALREADY! TRANSFORM! Lollipop Prism Power, Make Up!"
"Butterscotch Power, Make Up!" Maria followed, and she and Sailor Lollipop hurried over to the eerie "Chemistry" booth.
"It's deserted! Why is there no one here?" Sailor Lollipop asked, confused.
"I AM here! I knew there was something I forgot, like a stool!" shouted a familiar Italian child's voice. Sailor Butterscotch peeked over the edge of the booth and there was Mozzarella looking up at her. There didn't seem to be any chemistry items in the booth, though. Mozzarella then lifted a gun at the frightened Senshi's face, standing on her tiptoes so even Sailor Lollipop could see what was going on.
"Stop that! Lollipop Tiara Action!" she shouted, throwing her magical indigo glowing disk at the booth. It smashed a hole in the wall and flew out the other side, causing some of the looser boards to fall out.
"Wedding Powerful Flower! Angel Crystal Ivy, Oironoshi!" Mozzarella shouted the two magical phrases from the inside, emerging fully transformed in her Angel Ivy outfit. At that moment, Rei approached, her shopping basket full of things she had bought at the market. She dropped it in shock when she saw the transformed Senshi, and Sailor Jellybean took her chance. She rushed over and took a bottle of lemon juice and a box of baking soda. Angel Ivy was approaching, and Rei smirked, getting an idea.
"Do you want a lemon shake-up?" she asked teasingly as Jellybean poured the baking soda into the bottle of lemon juice. It began to foam, but Angel Ivy could not see through Jessica to know that. Jellybean quickly put the cap back on it and shook it up.
"Sure. Especially one with sugar in it," Angel Ivy shrugged. Sailor Jellybean then spun around, whipped the cap off, and flung the foaming bottle at Angel Ivy, spewing the yellow mixture all over the ground and on Angel Ivy's outfit. She shrieked and jumped away.
"Saint Metallic Ring Strike!" she yelled, and Jellybean was struck with the giant ring, throwing her into Rei.
"Lollipop Tiara Action!" countered Sailor Lollipop, and this time it was Angel Ivy's turn to get hit by the indigo disk. Angel Ivy grabbed a bottle of ketchup and spewed it all over Sailor Lollipop, covering her with red tomato gunk.
"She's got the Ebola virus! That's what you get when you're a lesbian! Run away from her blood!" she started screaming, waving her hands wildly in Lollipop's direction. Some people panicked and ran away from them, but others were more scornful.
"You idiot! You just threw ketchup on her and called it blood!" one heckler shouted. Sailor Butterscotch snuck up behind the ranting Love Angel, wanting to make her stop telling lies about Akane without hurting her.
"Aurora Hypnosis!" the Mexican Senshi called, and Angel Ivy was distracted by imaginary rainbow lights. Sailor Jellybean stood back up.
"In the name of science, I shall punish you, mon. Death Reborn Revolution!" she called.
"Lollipop Tiara Action!" Sailor Lollipop added. The two attacks hit Angel Ivy, knocking her out, and she disappeared with a green aura. As she detransformed, Jessica was immediately pulled off her feet into the air.
"You are in BIG trouble, young lady. This would not have happened if you hadn't run off like that and stayed under Maria and Akane's watchful care," Rei snarled. Jessica looked away.
"I knew it might be a trap, so I thought I could defeat the trickster," she mumbled. Akane glared at her.
"Well, why didn't you tell us, then, instead of transforming like that and making me think that there was a battle? It's your fault I got ketchup thrown at me and accused of spreading a deadly virus!" Akane ranted. Jessica did not answer, and Rei set her down roughly.
"Quit trying to be so overly independent. I know you beat Umi on your own that one time, but that doesn't mean that you would have the same success with Angel Ivy. As I recall, she was able to put you in a cage before," she snapped.
"Please don't be so harsh on her. She probably wanted to prove herself because she's so little," Maria pleaded.
"It had nothing to do with compensating for size. I was not aware that I was supposed to be under supervision, and I figured I could beat any of the Love Angels in a battle of chemistry knowledge," Jessica admitted.
"Look, you may know something about atoms and elements, but that doesn't mean you're going to be able to fight alone. Quit being so cold and aloof and accept our loving care. I think you should be punished and be forced to get hugs from everyone," Akane snapped.
"You're not helping either, Akane," Rei groaned, "I'm her guardian while she's in Japan, so I decide the punishments."
"Please stop, this isn't going to get anywhere if you fight," Maria whimpered, afraid they might start using their Senshi powers on each other.
"I still think she should be forced to get hugs. Then she'll absorb the power of love into her body," grumbled Akane.
"That doesn't work and you know it. Forcing someone to do something only makes them hate that thing more. You two can get on with your shopping, and Jessica, you're coming home with me," Rei said, and Jessica reluctantly followed her. When they got to the car, though, a familiar girl was sitting on top.
"YEEEEK! It's the freak show girl! Hey, everyone, it's the...OW!" she shrieked as Rei yanked her off the car.
"Go away and stop bothering people," she growled.
"Okay, but you're missing out. I was going to give you free tickets to the amusement park where we met," the girl giggled, wagging her finger in mock-punishment. Rei shoved Jessica into the car and slammed the door, driving off.
"Hoseki, when will you stop trying to steal people's money and calling people freaks?" another girl sighed.
"Never, Seika! I am the Freak Show Queen! The P.T. Barnum of Japan!" Hoseki bragged.