Chapter 21
Protect the Children's Dreams: Friendship Through Anime
Usagi and Sora, sat in the house, watching the trailer for the new Sailor V Movie on the television screen.
"I'm so jealous, Sailor V gets to have her own Anime movie? Why can't someone make a movie about me?" moaned Usagi, feeling disappointment.
"How can she not, Usagi? Still, I'm wondering if we should go and see after it comes out in theaters," said Sora, as Luna glanced at them.
Outside on the streets of Tokyo, two girls were walking towards the studio, with two sketches of their own making.
"I hate to say it, but now I'm just completely depressed," said the girl with short dark hair and glasses.
"So did you understand what the director wanted?" asked her friend, who had long brown hair, with a beige barrette on her head.
"Not even. He always speaks in these abstract terms I don't get," she said, thinking back to what the director said about the Sailor V sketch she made.
She knew that he told her to add a flare of passion into Sailor V's posture, and thought that they should make her look more appealing to the fans, but the director told her that adding too much would make her be too much for anyone to deal with.
"Oh well, might as well face it. I don't have any talent. I should just quit being an animator," the girl with glasses said sadly.
"No! What are you saying Hiromi?" asked her friend.
"I was just kidding, I wouldn't give up my dream that easily," Hiromi said with a light smile.
"Good, that's the Hiromi I know," replied her friend.
She soon darted off ahead of Hiromi, who was mildly annoyed.
"Hey, wait up! Kazuko, slow down!" called Hiromi, as she ran after her.
The two of them didn't notice Ami and Riku were stepping out of the video store, when they noticed her drop something on the ground.
"Uh, Excuse us!" called Ami.
But they had already gotten far away from them, so they didn't hear what they said, as Ami picked up the pamphlet and looked upon it.
"What is this?" she asked.
"Looks like it belongs to a Studio Dive. The address must be inscribed on it," said Riku.
"What should I do, Riku? I have a class to get to right now," wondered Ami.
"For now, the only thing we can do is deliver it to the studio once class has ended," replied Riku.
In his private estate, Nephrite stood contemplating his next target with the stars above. Finally he had found his target, and decided to have a monster tag team gather up fresh energy for his great ruler. That night, as Kazuco searched through a convenience store for fried noodles for Hiromi, Ami and Riku were walking to the animation studio to return the pamphlet that had been left behind.
"That studio should be near here," Ami said.
Suddenly, they heard the sound of a motorcar, making them glance at it's driver. It was Nephrite, and he was heading to the studio as they were.
"That was Masato Sanjouin," said Ami.
"No, Masato Sanjouin is a fiction Nephrite's using to cover up his own agenda. We have to follow him," interjected Riku.
"You're right," replied Ami, and they raced after him.
At Studio Dive, Hiromi was now busily drawing sketches of Sailor V, in the hopes that she could be more popular, but her stress was getting to her head, as she felt that none of her sketches would be helpful for the studio.
"I GIVE UP!" she gripped furiously.
She decided to look at Kazuko's sketches and was shocked to see that she had done even more of a better job than she realized, making her stress surge to even higher levels. She soon learned that Kazuko's artwork was far better than her's, which slowly filled her with unrelenting jealousy and rage. Refusing to be outdone by Kazuko, Hiromi decided to take out the pencils that they had bought in the past when they were students, when they got jobs as animators swore that they'd use them together, and placed a set number of them into their own pencil boxes.
"Wow, I know I made that promise. But, I've already used my pencils without asking Kazuko or telling her," said Hiromi as she opened her pencil box, revealing the last pencil inside of it.
It was far smaller than the way she remembered it.
"The truth is, when I use them I feel more inspired when I use it. And besides, If I don't do something soon, Kazuko will leave me in her dust," she continued.
Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the arrival of Nephrite, who had entered the studio.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"HI, you're Hiromi Natsuno, is that right? Excuse me, but I'm a big fan of yours," said Nephrite.
Hiromi was surprised, as Nephrite reached towards her desk and picked up her pencil.
"I just dropped by to see how you work," he said.
"Don't touch that," she said, but Nephrite had infused his dark power onto the pencil, leaving his crest upon it.
He accidentally dropped it, but he knew that his work was complete, as he walked out the door.
"Now, all that's left is to lure those heroes of light here," he said.
"Nephrite!" Riku and Sailor Mercury said.
"You're up to no good again, aren't you!? Well I, Sailor Mercury won't stand for it!" Ami said bravely.
"Ah, here already are you?" sneered Nephrite, as he lunged at her.
But Riku charged at him with his Keyblade in hand, forcing Nephrite to summon his blade and block the attack.
"Out of my way, Riku!" he snapped, forcing him back.
Sailor Mercury ran to his side, as he staggered back, just as Nephrite got into his car.
"I've got just the monsters to deal with you, pests, I'd suggest you polish up on your fighting skills," he said.
"You're crazy! Not a chance!" snapped Riku, as he charged at him again.
"Hold on, Riku!" called Ami.
But Nephrite stopped his attack, and blasted Riku next to her.
"Did you really think I'd let you strike me down that easily? Such foolishness, for a coward!" laughed Nephrite, as he raced off into the distance.
"No way, I'm not a coward," seethed Riku.
"Riku," Ami said worriedly.
"Hiromi, I stopped and got us snacks!" Kazuko said as she entered the studio.
But when Hiromi glanced at her, Kazuko thought that she was angry at being held back by her stress, when Ami and Riku showed up.
"Hey, sorry to disturb you, but Ami and I wondered if this belonged to your friend," said Riku.
"Oh, why thank you. These are very important to us," Kazuko said happily, just as Hiromi stepped up to them.
"Hey, Hiromi, look what these nice people brought us," she said.
But Hiromi ignored them and went into another office. Kazuko was worried about her.
"Uh, sorry, she has a lot of work to do. So, she's a bit out of it," Kazuko assured them.
"Don't worry, we'll see you again some other time, so that you can show us around the studio," replied Riku.
"Yeah, we'd love to," agreed Ami.
But they had grown suspicious about Nephrite's plans as Kazuko called to Hiromi. The next day, at Juban Middle School, everyone was gathered at the front entrance.
"That's not like you at all, guys," said Luna.
"Yeah, why in the world would you tackle Nephrite on your own?" asked Sora.
"Look, we're sorry we didn't prepare ourselves first, Luna. We should have contacted you first, then we would have stood a better chance. But, it looks like we underestimated him big time," replied Riku.
"DARN RIGHT RIKU! IF YOU CALLED, SORA AND I WOULD'VE HELPED YOU!" snapped Usagi.
"Oh my, that's not how Usagi normally reacts," mused Luna.
"Sora told me about that studio that's making the Sailor V Movie. But, knowing Usagi, she'd want to look at some of the sketches that were drawn," said Roxas.
"How strange of Roxas to speak up for Usagi," muttered Luna.
"Okay, then we'll all go to studio dive after school," suggested Ami.
"Fair enough, this'll give us a bit of time to check around for clues that Nephrite left behind, so that we can beat his new beasty," smirked Axel.
"You said it Axel!" agreed Usagi.
Inside the studio, everyone was working on the sketches, when Hiromi placed up her drawings of Sailor V, making Kazuko surprised that she had drawn them in a single night.
"Sure, doesn't anybody?" Hiromi said, as she stormed off.
"Kazuko, I want to have this room all to myself. Is that okay?" she asked.
"Um, sure that's fine, but…" replied Kazuko, but Hiromi shut the door.
"What's with her?" she wondered.
Inside the drawing room, Hiromi was now drawing sketches of Sailor V, hoping that she could out do Kazuko, with the pencil that Nephrite placed his dark power inside of, which suddenly returned to its original size from back then. Poor Kazuko was now scared for her friend.
"Animation studio?" asked Rei.
"Yep. But you should know that Anime's a form of art that should be treated with respect. It's not meant to be just for kids, or be considered a mistake," said Sora.
"Yeah, I know. Just give me some time to meet you guys," replied Rei.
"Oh dear, look at the time, we gotta go," said Ami.
"Listen, if and at all possible, we'll all get watches for you guys," said Terra.
"Thanks Terra," replied Usagi.
"You're late," came the sharp voice of Rei.
Everyone was surprised to see her.
"Sorry we took so long, Usagi here needed to stay after school to catch up on her homework," boasted Axel, making Usagi rather upset.
"Geez, Axel, why do you have to be as rude as Rei?" she groaned.
"Watch what you say, Bunhead, or I'm gonna scorch your hide!" warned Axel.
"HEY! Don't go trash talking Usagi when I'm around!" shouted Rei.
"ENOUGH!" bellowed Sora, making everyone glance at him.
"If we don't set aside our differences, Nephrite could use this infighting to his advantage and turn us all into Heartless! So put them aside, or we all face the unforeseen consequences!" warned Sora.
"Geez, Sora, what's with you today?" asked Luna.
"He's right, we'd better go," agreed Rei.
But as she turned her bag ripped revealing several sketch pads falling out from the bottom.
"Looks like somebody is expecting to get a lot of autographs signed," mused Luna.
"Well, my friends are big fans and wanted some stuff signed," Rei said quickly.
"Yeah, yeah. But we don't have time for this. We gotta hit the studio now, or everything's gonna become Dark Kingdomville," Sora said as he walked off.
"Wait Sora! You need to know that some of us are starting highschool soon," piped in Ami.
"I don't care if you guys are starting High School later, Ami. We still have a job to do, for three reasons. 1: Now that we know Nephrite's been to studio dive, he's most likely gone after someone who has a unique talent in artwork. 2: I'll bet you guys anything that whoever Nephrite targeted is most certainly allowing their heart to be so consumed with darkness, that their life force will snatched up by one of his new monsters. And 3: The worst thing Nephrite would do is try to take advantage of our weakness and exploit them to whoever his leader is. I'm sorry, but, anytime you guys allow your social differences to get the better of you, that's when they could be exploited, and allow Nephrite to turn everyone in Juban into Heartless. So let's move out!" explained Sora.
Usagi and Ami were aghast at what they heard, but Rei could sense the darkness building up in his heart, and was growing worried about him, and how he acted very much like she did whenever Usagi got on her nerves.
"Hey, Sora," she said.
"What is it, Rei?" he asked.
"Listen, I may be rather difficult to get along with most of the time, but I want you to know that you're starting to act a bit different, like you're giving us the cold shoulder by letting your judgement be clouded by your own duty," explained Rei.
"You're right, I have been letting the whole Hero of Light thing go to my head. But still, whatever Nephrite's plotting can't be good," replied Sora.
"There you go. That's the Sora we remember. But, I'll admit that we like your more happy-go-lucky self, rather than your serious self, from time to time," said Ami.
"Ami's right, Sora. You don't need to go it alone forever," agreed Usagi.
Everyone else nodded in agreement, even Rei and Luna, who understood Sora's feelings.
"Thanks guys," he said, and they walked off to Studio Dive.
Meanwhile, Nephrite was quietly sitting on the balcony of his manor, when Zoisite and Pete arrived.
"Well, well, shouldn't you be working?" asked Zoisite.
"Oh, he's working alright. Especially after he beat that Sailor Brat and one of the Keybladers," said Pete.
"Indeed," muttered Nephrite.
"So, we take it that your plan is going quite well this time?" Zoisite asked.
"Everything is going perfectly," replied Nephrite.
"I see. And how well do you think it will go?" asked Sephiroth, who appeared before him.
Nephrite scoffed, and sipped his drink. That night, at Studio Dive, Sora, Usagi and their friends had arrived, but Rei and USagi were amazed by the sketches the artists had made, while Ami, Sora and their friends sat with Kazuko.
"So, Sorry to barge in on you like this," said Ami.
"It's fine, we're glad to have you," replied Kazuko.
"Thank you. But, uh, we were wondering if you could answer a few questions we have for you," said Sora.
"Why, sure, what is it you want to know?" smiled Kazuko.
"So, has anything happened here recently that you consider out of the ordinary?" asked Ami.
"What do you mean?" asked Kazuko, just as Hiromi stormed out of the office, to yell out Rei and Usagi.
"Be quiet! Can't you see that we're all working!? Can't you see we're trying to work here!? You're being rude and distracting!" she barked.
"That's it! What's with you!?" snapped Sora, brandishing his Keyblade.
"Easy, Sora. We'll leave this to Kazuko," said Ami.
"Hiromi, that's no way to talk to people who are fans of what we do here!" she said.
"Ha, I bet they're here to get autographs and free drawings!" scoffed Hiromi.
"That's not true! We're not just a bunch of freeloaders! And we are not going to be treated like dirt! Because right now, all you want us to do, is to make everyone think you don't want us to praise your work!" Sora said as he stood next to Kazuko, making Ami worried.
When the phone rang, one of the animators was talking to a client, as Hiromi told them that visitors weren't permitted. Just then, one of the artists in the studio informed Hiromi that the director was on the phone.
"Hello," said Hiromi.
"Hey, Hiromi, we were just reviewing the drawings you sent us, and, WHOA! These drawings are full of energy, I can't wait to take a look at your work on the final scene," said the director.
"I've got a great ending," sneered Hiromi.
You do?" asked the director.
"Well, you see, in the last scene, I'm going to kill off Sailor V!" she said wickedly.
Everyone was shocked by what they heard.
"That's the kind of story that the children of today want to see," Hiromi said with a crazed grin.
Then she hung up the phone, as the director tried to talk to her, but Kazuko was horrified.
"Hiromi, what you just said, you weren't serious," she gasped.
"Yes I am, completely. Since I've been entrusted with the final scene, I'll decide what to do with it," replied Hiromi.
"Hiromi, what has gotten into you? Remember that Anime is something that we all work on together. You used to say that all the time. To create Anime, you have to have teamwork," Kazuko said, trying to reach her heart.
"I do hear what you're saying, but it's just Anime. Teamwork's dead, who needs it!?" scoffed Hiromi.
"You rotten-!" shouted Sora.
"Hold it, Sora. I sense a great darkness within her," said Rei.
"I sense it too, Rei. It must be coming from HIromi," added Riku.
Hiromi stormed off, but Kazuko told the others that she had to try and speak with her.
"We'll go too, Kazuko," said Sora.
They quickly followed her out of the studio, searching for her, when Usagi noticed that she had gone up to the roof of the studio. Quickly they followed her up, only to see her emanating a terrible darkness, from within her heart, as Kazuko tried to talk to her.
"Kazuko, you really think you're better than me, don't you?" Hiromi said in an unhinged tone.
"That's a lie, Hiromi! There's no way that Kazuko would ever prove she's better than you!" barked Sora.
"That's a lie, Sora! Just because she has more talent, she thinks she's so great! Now, I'm the one who's on a roll! All I need is this PENCIL!" replied Hiromi.
The pencil began to radiate a powerful darkness, as Nephrite summoned Castor and Pollux to the battlefield. Kazuko was so shocked, that she fainted into Ami's arms, as the monster duo emerged before them, with a squad of Heartless at their side.
"All right guys, let's go!" Sora said.
Everyone nodded, and readied their weapons.
"Moon Prism Power!" cried Usagi.
"Mercury Power!" called Ami.
"Mars Power!" shouted Rei.
"MAKE UP!" all three of them said.
In a colorful flash of light, they had become Sailors Moon, Mercury, and Mars. Meanwhile in Nephrite's manor, Zoisite, Sephiroth, and Pete were watching the battle unfolding before them.
"Are these monsters really that powerful?" asked Zoisite.
"Absolutely. Like true twins, they're bound by a deep connection. Those two will finish off those foolish heroes," replied Nephrite.
"That's just what I want to hear, Nephrite. I hope they're ready for their demise," smirked Pete.
Back on the studio roof, everyone prepared themselves as the Warriors of light stood before them.
"Anime foster's kids' minds and foster's their dreams!" said Sailor Mars.
"How dare you take advantage of youthful passion!" added Sailor Mercury.
"Your evil actions have made Anime lovers like us mad!" piped in Sailor Moon.
"And now, our hearts are saying they want to stop you!" cried Sora.
"It's very silly to think that you even have a chance against us," Castor and Pollux said to them.
"Yeah sure, and what makes you think we won't stand a chance against you two?" asked Sora.
They showed them their connection.
"The powerful bond that we share together makes us invincible. You fools have no chance to win!" said Pollux and Castor.
They soon began casting Fire Soul and Bubble Spray at them, forcing them to dodge and avoid the attacks, while Sora's friends took care of the Heartless that tried to ambush them.
"See, our teamwork has knocked you out!" they declared triumphantly.
"Ha! So what if you guys are working together. So I wonder who's gonna deliver the finishing blow first," smirked Sora.
"It's going to be me," said Castor.
"No way, that's my job thank you!" barked Pollux.
"What finishing is my job!" argued Castor.
"No way, I get to do it!" Polluxed argued back.
The twins decided that they had no need of working together, and decided to sever their connection.
"Big mistake, you two. Because now, you've become your demise!" Sora said, as he readied his Keyblade.
"Sora's right, let's take advantage of their situation," added Luna.
"Okay, we'll show them what real teamwork can do," said Sailor Moon.
The others nodded in agreement, and prepared for their ultimate attacks. Then they unleashed them all together upon them, as Sora used Ancient Light to finish them off.
"By choosing to sever your bond, you've both become the instrument of your own demise!" Sora said.
"He's right, it's the end of us!" cried Pollux and Castor, who were wiped out and reduced to dust.
"We did it!" cheered Sora and Usagi.
In his estate, Nephrite was aghast at what he had seen.
"This can't be!" he cried out.
"How amusing watching you fail," snickered Zoisite who vanished, as Nephrite realized that he had underestimated his foes for the final time.
"Come on Hiromi, please cheer up," Kazuko said comfortingly.
"Kazuko, the truth is I've been using those pencils," sobbed Hiromi.
"Hiromi there's something I've been keeping from you too," replied Kazuko.
She showed her her own pencil box and revealed that she had the same ones they had from before.
"Sorry, I broke your promise too. I've always been frustrated because you've always done great work, and these inspired me to do better," she said.
"So you did it too?" asked Hiromi.
"Come on you two, I know that you wanted to do your best in making that Sailor V Movie, but nothing comes from breaking a promise that you made. Sometimes the best thing we can do, is to learn from our previous mistakes, and keep that connection strong. The reason being, is that, you both felt the same way, and wanted to try and become better than what you used to be. But, when that guy showed up and made a mess of things, it nearly tore you apart. So don't give up on making Anime. It should be treated with love and respect, not just for children, but for adults too," said Sora.
Hiromi and Kazuko nodded at Sora, and decided that from then on, they would always work together and make Sailor V have a happily ever after, as Sora left them quietly.
"Now I really want to see the Sailor V Anime when they finish it," said Luna.
"Heh, me too, Luna," replied Sora.
The others nodded, as they saw Hiromi and Kazuko swear that they'd work together forevermore.
