Wake Me Up Inside

By CH33T4H GRL

Co written and edited by Senshi of Valis

Setsuna was no stranger to migraines and killer headaches but the current pain in her head has so far beyond anything that she ever experienced. She had finally managed to isolate the two girls who would become Usagi's friends and almost lost all sanity when she learned who the red head was. How could the avatar of order develop such a strong bond with the avatar of chaos? It just wasn't possible but yet it had happened and it was because of the foolishness of the people in Usagi's life. The time gates might not be very clear where the future was concerned but the present and past was still viewable.

She didn't blame the inners a whole lot though she was pissed at them. The damage was all ready being done to their princess and the few positive things that they did could never outweigh all the negative it the blonde girl's life. Usagi's family was another matter, Setsuna blamed them greatly for what happened but after looking in on them she couldn't hate them. Ikuko was a wreck with worry for her daughter and Setsuna thought that maybe the woman would learn a lesson. The one who she blamed and hated the most was the foolish man who was the prince of earth, Mamoru. She had to struggle to keep herself from rushing off to shove her garnet rod somewhere that wasn't nice or break it over the stupid bastard's head.

Now the path was clear on what she must do and she all ready had everything set up for the immediate future but she was still having trouble trying to figure out who and where the new threat was going to come from. She would have to deal with that later as she tried to patiently await the other girl that was going to help Usagi to make an appearance before Setsuna could act.

WAKE ME UP INSIDE

Nabiki hated early morning but she wanted to get up early after talking to Tofu on the phone he previous night. She was now on her way to the clinic where she now knew Ranma was staying at as she carried a bag with a couple changes of his clothes and some food that Kasumi had packed for him, Tofu and the girl that was staying there as well. Nabiki couldn't help feel a little stab of jealousy thinking about Ranma being under the same roof as this strange girl but she knew that she lost her chance with Ranma a long time ago.

As she neared the clinic she heard noises like fighting coming from there so she hurried up her pace until she made it to where she saw Ranma going over a kata as Tofu and a blonde haired girl with what looked like meatballs with hair streaming from them. It was the strangest hairstyle that Nabiki had ever seen and yet it looked so familiar for some reason.

"That was awesome!" the blonde cried happily clapping her hands.

"Thanks." Ranma said tugging on her pony tail in embarrassment.

"You shouldn't be so embarrassed Saotome, you were awesome." Nabiki said with a genuine smile.

"Nabiki?" Ranma asked, a confused yet guarded expression on her face.

"I brought some clothes for you and Kasumi sent food for all of you." Nabiki said then gasped as she realized what she just said. Looking over to Tofu she saw his glasses fog over for a few moments as he took deep breaths that actually worked in calming him down.

"Thanks Nabiki." Ranma said taking the offered bag. "How much do I owe you?"

Nabiki had a hard time hiding the hurt look from her face but she knew she deserved it after all of the trouble she had caused for Ranma in the past and especially the ruined wedding that Nabiki knew was the turning point with Nodoka. The Saotome matriarch had grown colder ever since then and treated Ranma worse and worse and Nabiki felt increasingly guilty over it especially with what happened last night.

"Well for once just a promise." Nabiki said, "Promise me that you won't do anything stupid."

"What do you mean?" Ranma asked in shock by the way Nabiki was acting.

"Nothing." Nabiki sighed losing her nerve. Looking over at the blonde girl though Nabiki was sure that she understood.

"Won't you come inside and join us for breakfast?" Tofu asked with a smile.

"Sure." Nabiki said.

WAKE ME UP INSIDE

Finally, the three of them was together and Setsuna knew it was the best time to act if she was going to get this to work. All she knew about the new enemy was that they were going to be strong, much stronger than even Galaxia was. She knew she could trust these two girls as well as this doctor with their secrets. Opening a gate she stepped through inside of the small clinic just as the small group of people came back inside.

Setsuna smiled as both the red haired girl and doctor dropped into defensive stances in front of Usagi and the brown haired girl. They wouldn't let any harm fall on the two behind them.

"Sailor Pluto?" Usagi asked in shock and worry.

"It's okay princess, I'm not here to take you back." Setsuna said with a sad smile, "But I did come to make you three an offer."

"An offer?" The brown haired girl asked, curiousness written on her face. Unfortunately there was a sad, hurt look on the red head's face with a slight hint of anger. Why would the girl be feeling that?

"There is a new threat coming, a very powerful threat and I don't think the senshi can handle it alone." Setsuna said sadly, "I want to give you a chance to become stronger as well as getting to know each other. A chance for you all to grow and mature and work on your growing friendship."

"How?" Usagi asked.

"I have prepared an area in my castle that will flow outside the normal time line. Every year spent there will be one day here and it will last for four years worth there before the enhancements will collapse and will realign with normal time. None of you will age though while there and you will each train the others while there. Nabiki will train you both to use your minds and teach you many of the things you are lacking in the intellectual department. Ranma will train you in the martial arts and help build your strength. Usagi will teach you all you need to know about the Silver Millennium and who we are." Setsuna explained, "When you come back I will have an apartment ready in Juuban and your school records transferred there Nabiki and Ranma."

"How will we support ourselves?" Nabiki asked.

"I will set you each up with trusts that will probably last you the rest of your lives." Setsuna said.

"I don't know, can we have time to think about this?" Nabiki asked, "And if I decided to go along with this can I bring one more person?"

"Who?" Setsuna asked not expecting this or the strange looks Ranma kept giving Usagi.

"My older sister." Nabiki said.

"Of course she can come but it will add to the stress of the time flow and will reduce it by a year." Setsuna said wishing that she anticipated this so she could have added more power to it. "I'll give you until this evening but I must know by then. Meet me back here just before sunset."

"Thanks." Nabiki said just as Setsuna disappeared.

WAKE ME UP INSIDE

"Bunny, you know who that was?" Tofu asked as he relaxed.

Ranma looked at the blonde unsure of what to say or do. If what the strange woman said was true then this girl was some princess who was probably just playing with them which angered Ranma for some reason. Was the blonde lying to them all along and her only problems was which dress went with which shoes?

"Yes, she was Sailor Pluto, the guardian of time." Bunny said looking at the floor.

"If its true then I think it might be a good thing for all of you to do." Tofu said, "But I want to be able to keep tabs on all of you."

"Can we trust her though?" Nabiki asked, her voice betraying how excited she was but Ranma only thought it was because of the promise of money for a minute before mentally berating herself. Nabiki may have acted like that but Ranma was sure that there was more to the girl than she let on at times.

"Yes, she wouldn't do anything to hurt me and jeopardize the future." Bunny said.

"I need to go back home and talk to Kasumi" Nabiki said turning to leave.

"Make sure you are back here before sunset if you decide to go." Tofu called.

"I will." Nabiki replied forgetting about breakfast as she hurried out of the clinic.

"Ranma, what's wrong?" Tofu asked turning to the angry red head.

"Why?" Ranma asked turning to Bunny, "Why did you lie to us, to me?"

"I didn't lie." Bunny said, "Not really."

"You're some princess, what kind of problems can you really have?" Ranma asked, angry and hurt at the same time. A voice kept asking about why Ranma hadn't told the blonde about the curse yet but she ignored it.

"I'm not a princess, Ranma." Usagi said, rubbing at her eyes, "I'm the reincarnation of a princess. She was smart, beautiful and graceful while I'm ugly, worthless and stupid. All everyone cares about is her but I'm not her, I'm Usagi Tsukino not Princess Serenity."

"Usagi?" Tofu said, "Do you really have any family?" Tofu asked.

"They hate me, I'm a failure and disappointment to them." Usagi cried as Ranma sighed and hugged her.

"I'm sorry Usagi." Ranma said.

"Nothing I do is ever good enough." Usagi cried in Ranma's warm embrace, "They hate me and when my mom hit me I ran away."

"I won't let anyone else hurt you ever again." Ranma whispered to Usagi.

WAKE ME UP INSIDE

"That's her!" Nabiki exclaimed pointing to the television where Kasumi put in a tape of a news broadcast. It showed the senshi fighting some monster woman when Sailor Pluto appeared out of nowhere and attacked it. An aqua haired senshi and sandy blonde haired senshi then showed up both throwing their own attacks at it before a familiar looking blonde finished it off with a giant pink heart. Nabiki was tempted to laugh at it but the adoration on Kasumi's face stopped her.

"It must be real then but why would she want us unless, oh my." Kasumi said in shock.

"What's wrong, Kasumi?" Nabiki asked in worry.

"We might become new senshi!" Kasumi giggled in excitement, "But what about father?"

"Kasumi, I hate to say this but our dad died the day we buried mom." Nabiki sighed, "Our father would never have did what he did last night to Ranma. Its time we both got out of here before they decide to try and engage us to someone like Kuno."

"I guess you are right." Kasumi sighed, "Let's go pack."

WAKE ME UP INSIDE

Setsuna smiled as she stepped out of a portal inside of the small clinic. There everyone stood and she knew that they all decided to go which was a great relief to Setsuna.

"I want to be able to keep tabs on them." Tofu said,

"Of course." Setsuna said anticipating this at least as she pulled out her cell phone number, "Just call this number, its my cell phone."

"You have got to be kidding me, a magical girl who guards time has a cell phone?" Nabiki asked.

"How else would I order pizza?" Setsuna asked with a smirk.