Chapter 17: Cardinal Signs
"I don't care what Minako says to me. The Zodiac Senshi need to tap into their true powers by acting like their signs say they should act," Fuyumi declared, speaking to the other three dogs. It was at a meeting the dogs were having, on the day after Nadeshiko attacked.
"They're all so stubborn, though. I should praise Taurus for acting that way, but not the others as much," Chinatsu sighed.
"We should lure them into taking lessons from us, then. I'm sure I can convince them," Akimi bragged, "I know what kind of things they like, even if it doesn't fit their signs."
This was the reason why the Johnson sisters and Samantha all ended up being gathered in the palace game room. Bunny and Alexandra had been told that this was going to be a Senshi history lesson. Samantha thought they were going to play another "make up a story" game, and Jasmine was convinced she would be treated to the sight of the dogs wearing glasses, which she thought would be absolutely adorable. She squealed with delight when she saw that her wish had come true; all four dogs had put doll glasses on their faces.
"You're all so cute like that!" she exclaimed happily.
"Do you find smart people to be attractive?" Alexandra suddenly asked her younger sister, "Because I was thinking that could be a reason for your obsession with glasses, since a lot of people with glasses in the movies are smart."
"I don't think so. I mean, I like smart people, like how you and Bunny are smart, but that doesn't have to do with me liking glasses. I also like seeing people wear sunglasses and goggles, too. Maybe I just like eyewear of all kinds, I think it looks neat," Jasmine shrugged.
"It's protective, isn't it. Like how goggles protect your eyes underwater. Glasses are associated with being vulnerable, too. That's actually a good interest for you to have, Sailor Cancer, wanting to protect and take care of people," Fuyumi said with a smile, pawing the glasses off of her face. The other dogs did the same.
"Protecting people? You mean like a superhero? I like to go visit lots of places like the superheroes in movies, which is why I was happy that we got to move to Japan," Jasmine answered, though she had never thought of glasses as symbolizing weakness before. As she had told her sister, she just thought that they looked cool.
"Is this going to be another of these things where you tell us we need to act like our signs again?" Alexandra groaned.
"Why don't you hear us out? Think about the original Sailor Senshi. They fit the images of their planets perfectly, and most of them, with Taiki being a sorry exception, fit their Zodiac signs as well. That's why they were so successful, and that's why they were much more powerful than you," Akimi declared.
"I thought the reason we were weaker was because we were the servants to the original Senshi in the Silver Millennium. At least, that's what Rei told me when she gave me my pendant," Bunny pointed out, "Or are we really held back because we aren't acting like we're supposed to?"
"I guess it might be fun to pretend like we're different people, like putting on a play. Since Cancer is the crab, should I dress up in a giant crab costume? I once played Sebastian the Crab in a Little Mermaid play at school, but I think I left the costume back home in America," Jasmine giggled.
"But I don't think people really act a certain way just because of when in the year they were born. Isn't your family more important, and things that happen in your life? But I know one thing that's different about me because of my birthday. At Christmas, I always get twice as many presents as my sisters, but I don't get a birthday party like they do. I think it's because my birthday is on December 27, which is right after Christmas," Alexandra added.
"I don't want to act like you dogs say I should," Samantha said, and she stuck her tongue out at the dogs.
"You don't think it's fun to play pretend? Is it because you don't have an animal to dress up as? You could be that talking scale from Garfield," Jasmine suggested.
"It's not about playing pretend and dressing up like animals! You're making a mockery of the sacred Zodiac!" Fuyumi snapped at Jasmine, "And yes, Bunny, of course that's why you're weaker. You need to be more of an impulsive warrior!"
"I can pretend to be a serious character, I could just act like I did in the play," Jasmine replied, "Why can't I dress up? It might make my powers work better if I pretend to be the animal my sign is supposed to be."
"Because it's not about playing pretend! You need to start acting like your sign in a serious and very real way!" Fuyumi argued.
"Why do we need to change? If you believe that our Zodiac signs determine our personalities, then why are you worried that we aren't acting properly? Do you not trust the stars as much as you say you do?" Bunny asked quietly.
"But then why don't you act the way the astrology books say you should? Did we read the wrong books?" Chinatsu wondered.
"The astrology books I read mentioned more than just the sun signs. Maybe we need to know the entire astrological charts of these girls to be able to help them be true Zodiac Senshi. Like the signs all the planets and the Moon were in when each of these girls was born. I read that real astrologers look at all of those things too, not just the sun signs," Akimi pointed out.
"How can the planets be in a sign, anyway? Do they go away from the Sun and fly around the other stars that are in those constellations?" Alexandra asked, "I've never heard of the planets leaving the solar system, and if the Sun was in Capricorn when I was born, does that mean it left and went to where those stars are? Or does the whole solar system go through the Zodiac constellations when it goes around the galaxy?"
"Stop it! No more! No more mentioning that evil science stuff! How do you know the stars are that far away? You can't prove that the Earth ISN'T the center of the universe, can you? Those teachers and scientists are lying! They don't want to admit that they have to act like their signs!" Fuyumi ranted, "The Earth is the center of the universe, and the stars are in a big dome that circles it, and the planets are too! And you have to start acting like real Zodiac Senshi and fit your signs before you lose your powers! Because I'm going to take them away from you and find new Senshi!"
"You're delusional, puppy," Alexandra said, rolling her eyes, "You have a serious case of not being able to face reality."
"She's just a dog, maybe she doesn't know any better. The dog my friend Brittany has back home wouldn't know about the stars either," Jasmine shrugged.
"HOW DARE YOU!!! ASTROLOGY IS THE TRUTH!!!" Fuyumi screamed, "I WILL PUNISH YOU IN THE NAME OF THE STARS!!" Jasmine yelped in shock and pain as Fuyumi lunged forward and bit her on the arm.
"Stop it, Fuyumi. The Zodiac Senshi won't listen to us now. We're supposed to guide them, not hurt them," Chinatsu scolded her, but Fuyumi seemed beyond reason. She snarled and turned on the little Yorkshire Terrier, who dodged out of the way, ducking under a chair. Alexandra ran out of the room to find something to bandage Jasmine's arm with and Miharu followed her. Jasmine sat on the floor, shocked as silent tears came out of her orange eyes. Suddenly, in a flash of light, Isuzu Tomoe appeared nearby, holding a sword.
"You want to fight us, right? Libra Zodiac Power, Make Up!" Samantha called, the black and silver Senshi outfit appearing on her body.
"Capricorn Zodiac Power, Make Up!" Alexandra added, stepping in front of Jasmine to protect her.
"How can the two of you stop me? All you can do is throw sweets at me," Isuzu giggled, and she lunged at Sailor Capricorn with her sword. Capricorn yelped and jumped out of the way, landing on top of Jasmine in the process.
"Bertha probably put a spell on the Zodiac Senshi and messed up their personalities. It's her fault! HER FAULT!!" Fuyumi snarled, and she tackled Isuzu, knocking the sword out of her hands, "How can you work for someone who committed a crime against astrology?!"
"You're psycho, doggie! How can you commit a crime against astrology?!" Isuzu panicked, as the weight of the big blue dog on top of her was preventing her from reaching her sword. Sailor Libra picked it up and pointed it at Isuzu's head.
"You are my captive now. Tell me who this Bertha person is and why she wants Chibi-Usa to be the ruler instead of Neo-Queen Serenity," she demanded. Fuyumi looked up at Sailor Libra, sadness filling her eyes.
"You're too decisive, Libra! You shouldn't be so aggressive, either! But it's not your fault, it's Bertha's, isn't it?" she pleaded. Isuzu smirked.
"You can't trap me," she realized, and she teleported away, leaving the sword with the Sailor Senshi.