Chapter 18: Psychics and Lesbians

Parallax floated in the palace, looking down at Maria, who was chasing a gigantic version of her yellow Senshi bracelet, and she was being pursued by Angel Lily, who was yelling at her.

"Break up with Akane! You're a traitor to peaceloving people everywhere! Akane is a violent girl!" Angel Lily was shouting. Parallax tried to transform, but she couldn't open her mouth. She just had to watch as Angel Lily used her "Saint Lipliner Lily Rainbow" attack on Maria, which began to choke the helpless girl to death.

"Parallax, wake up!"

"Let her sleep, Maria, she's having one of her psychic dreams. Let her finish it so we can know the whole story." Parallax woke up to hearing a small argument between Chibi-Usa and Maria, who were kneeling over her, both of them looking quite worried. Parallax raised her hand and pointed at Maria.

"You're going to be targetted today," she stated, still partly in her trance.

"Oooh, that's scary. I hope I can get out of it nonviolently," Maria shivered.

"I think they're going to try to steal your bracelet," Parallax continued.

"Then maybe you shouldn't wear it and instead put it somewhere safe. That way you don't have to fight," suggested Chibi-Usa.

"That would be nice, except Akane's coming over for a date at the palace. I don't think she would like the idea of me being unarmed," Maria said.

"Then I shall protect the two of you, as a guard," Parallax declared, sitting back up, much more alert. Chibi-Usa rolled her eyes.

"I don't think they need a guard; they're Sailor Senshi. And I know enough about romantic couples to think you might be an annoying 'third wheel,' so to speak," she warned the psychic girl.

"That's okay, Chibi-Usa. She can stand guard if it makes her not worry about us as much," Maria intervened, noticing that Parallax seemed a bit angry at Chibi-Usa for saying that about her.

"Really? You don't mind someone watching you and Akane? Usagi always hated it when I spied on her and Mamoru," Chibi-Usa commented.

"That's different. She could just stand outside the door; she doesn't have to be in the room exactly. If there is going to be an attack, we'll need the spirit of teamwork," Maria said.

When Akane arrived, Maria explained to her what Parallax had told them that morning, so she would be prepared to fight, if it came down to it.

"I'm a Senshi, so of course I'm going to be prepared to fight. You're the one who'll need to stay on guard more, my absent-minded pacifist cutie," Akane teased, giving Maria a kiss.

"Do not worry and feel safe in your love. I shall guard you," Parallax said importantly, or rather, Sailor Cinnamon, who was standing nearby, already transformed and holding a baseball bat for good measure.

"Oh...you don't need to be violent. Unless you're going to play baseball?" Maria asked hopefully.

"No, why would I play something while I'm guarding you? This bat is meant for the heads of any invading Love Angels who dare to intrude on your lovely couple's time together," Sailor Cinnamon explained, still sounding oddly formal and pompous. This annoyed Akane.

"Look, you, we're both Sailor Senshi, and you don't need to act like you're better than us just because you're already transformed and holding a baseball bat," she snapped.

"I did not mean to act superior. I am merely acting how a royal guard would in a book or movie," Sailor Cinnamon replied, in that same snooty tone.

"Well, stop it. Just because you're in the palace and guarding people doesn't mean you have to be a snob. Snobs are bad people who only want fancier and more expensive things for themselves and hate the poor people simply because they don't have as much money as they do!" Akane ranted. This simply confused Sailor Cinnamon, as she wasn't thinking at all about money or economics; she was just trying to be dramatic.

"I don't think she said anything about money. Could you please just let her guard us? That might be safer," Maria pleaded, frightened that Akane might transform and start a Sailor Senshi battle before the predicted Love Angels even arrived. Akane sighed in exasperation.

"Fine, you can guard us, but don't act all snobby just because that's how they do it in the movies or because we happen to be in the Crystal Palace," she snapped. Sailor Cinnamon shrugged and went back to watching diligently for any intrusions, especially those of the romantic and seraphic persuasion.

"Moon Prism Power, Make Up!" Akane was startled to hear the sound of Chibi-Usa calling her transformation phrase, and then Sailor Cinnamon came to them.

"Angel Lily has arrived and she was chasing the Princess. You two should transform, and I'll go help Chibi-Usa," she told them before hurrying off to battle.

"Akane, I don't think we should transform. We should show them that lesbians don't have to be bad people," Maria pleaded.

"But we're supposed to fight them! If we kill the Love Angels, they'll go back to their world and be safe! Remember? That's what happened to the Magic Knights, and what happened when some of us 'died' in that video game!" Akane shouted, and then held up her bracelet. "Lollipop Prism Power, Make Up!" Maria sighed and held up hers, just in case she needed to use it.

"Butterscotch Power, Make Up!" The two of them went off in search of Angel Lily, and ended up finding not only the homophobic angel, but also Sailor Cinnamon and Sailor Chibi Moon, who were tied up at the end of a multicolored ribbon that Angel Lily was holding.

"Good job. Now just hand over your magic bracelet, Sailor Butterscotch, and I'll free these two. Refuse, and I'll squeeze them to death," Angel Lily said smugly. Sailor Lollipop glared at her.

"There's always a third choice, you stupid evil anime characters! Lollipop Tiara Action!" she yelled, and she flung her disk of indigo energy at the ribbons, which were cut, and Chibi Moon and Sailor Cinnamon fell over, still tied up but not attached to Angel Lily.

"Then I'll just stop you, you violent freak of nature! Saint Lipliner Lily Rainbow!" Angel Lily retorted, and this time she tied up Sailor Lollipop's wrists.

"I'm only trying to save you! You're being used by Sailor Nemesis!" Sailor Lollipop argued. Angel Lily smirked.

"Wrong answer," she said, and she yanked Sailor Lollipop out of her wheelchair and onto the palace floor.

"Aurora Hypnosis!" Sailor Butterscotch called, and Angel Lily began to show the familiar effects of the hallucination.

"Pretty lights! Lots of pretty lights! Is this what it would be like if I was inside a rainbow?" she giggled to herself, dancing around dizzily. She let go of the ribbon that held Sailor Lollipop down, and it loosened. Lollipop jerked her hands free, and then aimed, sitting on the floor.

"Lollipop Tiara Action!"

"Pink Sugar Heart Attack!"

"Fire Soul!" This time, two other Senshi joined their powers, as Sailor Butterscotch had used the chance to untie Chibi Moon and Sailor Cinnamon from their bondage. Angel Lily fell over, unconscious, and she disappeared in a flash of blue light.

"See? We could save ourselves, Parallax," Akane said as she detransformed and climbed back into her wheelchair.

"I guess I was kind of being arrogant. The job just made me feel important," Parallax admitted sheepishly.

"That's okay, you were able to help in the end after I untied you," shrugged Maria, glad that the fight was over for the moment.

"Now we can have our date together! Let's go!" giggled Akane, and Maria followed her off to the palace gardens, which was quite a romantic spot.

"I wish I could have a love like that when I grow up," sighed Chibi-Usa.

"I bet you will. You're a kind girl, even with all the hardship you've gone through," Parallax said gently.