Ch.3
Michiru comes upon the seaside park in Tokyo Bay. Comparing her hand drawn coordinates to an actual map.
"Seems this is it. Strange that it does align… I'm so nervous."
It's early evening, the chilly breeze doesn't even phase her. As she watches the waves embracing the sensation of the sea. Salty moist air and the trickling of the water gently rolling upon shore. Listening to the sizzle of sea foam taking in the sight of the waves and the open expanse of the pacific ocean. Being near the airport, there are planes coming and going.
"There's no one here, perfect."
She stands. Listening.
"Nothing's happening. Why does my intuition always do this to me? I swear!" Stomping her foot as the anxiety of doubt tries to seep into her psyche. "What have I gotten myself into this time?"
The song from her dream wafts into her ears, she tunes in to listen closer.
She hums it out loud, echoing it.
"Ah, you are here, at last. Finally the time has come. Can you hear me Michiru?"
Michiru reflects upon her sanity.
"Uh, okay this is uncanny." Michiru keens in on her sense of hearing and listens even deeper.
"This is so surreal. Okay but how? What is going on here?"
"You are experiencing telepathy and yes, this is real.
Do you give me permission to come ashore?"
Michiru can't fathom what is about to happen, all she knows is that her heart says 'yes'. Her intuition pointing the direction into the unknown but yet so familiar. Something she instinctively knows to listen to no matter what or where it leads.
"Yes, strange and mysterious spirit."
"Is the coast clear?"
Michiru checks once more turning to look in all directions.
"All… clear."
"Alright then, Michiru, your life is about to change forever but for the better!" Said the mysterious, gentle voice.
Michiru begins to recognize these scenes from her dream.
"Deja vu!"
She notices herself panning left to right only to come back to center, focusing straight ahead. "Whoa, just like in my dream." Knowing exactly where to look, sure enough, off in the distance a plume of water sprays into the sky.
The other worldly song of the blue whale flows through the atmosphere, caressing Michiru's ears same as in her dream. Listening as the music draws her to wade in the water. Soon she could hear the rush of the waves as the whale glides through the ocean.
"Oh my stars! The whale is real!"
She braces herself. Space and time seem to move in slow motion. As the whale approaches, Michiru's heart begins to pound in her chest. She checks the world around her just to make sure she is still in this reality. Only to look ahead once more to see that the whale was indeed there.
This massive yet gentle and gracious animal reaches the shallows.
"Thank you for coming, Michiru. It's been so long."
"How did you know my name?"
Struggling to keep her cool, she can't help but have a sense of awe, in the face of this beautiful encounter.
Holy cow! I'm speaking to a whale!
She thinks trying to hide her thoughts knowing this whale is telepathic.
"Why have you beckoned me?"
Please tell me why I have been summoned."
"You clearly want to know what those dreams and nightmares are all about. After all you have chosen to come.
"Are… are you the one who's been sending me those messages through my dreams?"
"Yes, Michiru."
"Wait what do you mean, 'It's been so long.' Do I know you? How do you know who I am? And who are you if you don't mind me asking?"
Stillness grows between Michiru and the whale, heightening their senses. The trickling and rush of the ocean waters as they wash upon shore, sounds all around them.
"You may call me Akira… and yes we do know each other, quite well. In fact our history goes way back. Our paths have finally crossed once again, and this is no accident.
Michiru, It is time for you to awaken! To take up arms and vanquish the evil that threatens us all. The evil that only you can defeat."
Michiru catches herself leaning forward in deep curiosity.
"What exactly? Does this have anything to do with the horrific entity in my nightmares?"
The whale blinks with a heavy sigh.
"Yes it does Michiru, you are never faint of heart. That is why we need you. The seas are threatened by pollution brought upon by the greedy, jealous, god with vengeful intentions. That god is non other than Poseidon of Greek myth. Do not be fooled for he will manipulate you to get his way, but only if you let him. He is rotten to the core!"
"What can I do about it?"
Akira smiles.
"Here, let me show you. Now remember who you are."
Two items appear in front of her. As they float down she grasps them in her hands.
"Listen, I bestow upon thee The Deep Aqua Mirror and your henshin stick. Use them to accomplish your mission. Hold up the henshin stick and say, 'Neptune planet power, make up!'"
Michiru does so transforming into Sailor Neptune for the first time, in this lifetime.
The essence of the ocean swirls around her. Energies ignite from within, resonating with the mysterious presence in her dreams. Then it hit… it's her.
The footage of her dreams and nightmares reel in her head.
"What, impossible!" She shouts peering into her reflection in the ocean waters, then into the Deep Aqua Mirror.
But the person in the mirror didn't look like her. First she sees herself in a sailor uniform. As she stares into her reflection it ripples and warps to reveal a woman in a beautiful gown in different shades of sea greens.
Michiru looks at Akira for answers. The whale acknowledges her with grace and patience.
"That mirror is not just any relic, but a divine and ancient talisman. Unlike an ordinary mirror, this one shows who you really are and also reveals who and what you were in your most significant past life. Among its many other tricks."
"Who am I?"
"You are the Sailor Guardian of the seas, Sailor Neptune. Princess and ruler of the planet Neptune. Specifically, one of the three Senshi in charge of keeping foreign invaders from infiltrating the solar system."
"Sailor Guardian?"
"I can tell you need some time to digest all this. Call upon me in your dreams if you need me. Say my name telepathically and I will be there. In the physical realm, you can always find me here in Tokyo Bay. I won't be far for these are important times we are in."
Michiru puts the mirror and henshin stick in her bag.
Akira shoots a plume of water into the air.
"Follow your intuitive instincts, Michiru, as you have been. Be prepared to catch the wave. It will take you exactly where you need to be."
"What wave? I still have so many questions!"
"To return to your civilian form just will it with your thoughts and you will be back to normal.
Don't worry, it'll all come back to you. Deep dive into your soul and you will understand."
"Wait!"
With that Akira backs up like a ship leaving the harbor and swims back out to sea.
Michiru stands alone collecting her thoughts as a universal sea breeze breaths into her.
"I will… do my best… to vanquish this evil, brought on by Poseidon and end these nightmares. But what of the little girl and the darkness?Just when it all starts to make sense all the more confusing it gets."
~
Sitting on a park bench, Michiru collects herself after about an hour and a half walk to get there. Being the middle of March the sakura trees are just about ready to bloom.
She pulls out the Deep Aqua Mirror, holding it kindly in her hands. Michiru sighs, reflecting on the peculiar situation she finds herself in.
"Sailor Senshi? Princess of planet Neptune? She is the mysterious presence in my dreams and that presence…is me. How can that be?"
Her attention back on the mirror, she studies it, admiring its elegant design. Turning it to look at both sides.
"And this is supposed to be a divine talisman. This whole thing is so silly but I'm drawn to it like a moth to the flame. For what it's worth it sure is a beautiful thing."
Peering into the mirror, she fixes her hair and puts some lipstick on. Extending it out in front of her to get a look at her work.
"Beautiful and functional. Of course beauty simply will not do without practicality."
In that instant her reflection ripples to see the princess within staring back at her.
"As insane as this all is, it sure feels right. I can't look away. But… What hardships and burdens shall fall upon my shoulders now?
As with anything you gotta find out the truth. The more one knows the better decisions one can make."
Her spirit lights up the same time she notices the warrior princess smile back at her.
"What must my past life have been like? What do you know that I don't?" She says talking to her past self in the mirror.
She watches as the mirror warps into a clear image of Planet Neptune. She watches as it's moon, Triton, eclipses the planet. Eerie sounds of the Neptunian winds echos in her consciousness.
"The seas are getting stormy…"
Michiru looks up at the sakura buds on some near by trees.
"Now that I've rested a bit I suppose I could go for a stroll along the boardwalk... I think I will." She gets up and stretches out breathing in the ocean air, near by.
Moving along, Michiru enjoys the signs of spring. Despite the overcast conditions, birds are singing and other varieties of flowers are blooming. Meandering along the path, she observes the trees around the park.
"In a week or so these beauties will be ready to burst. Guess I'm a bit early."
Lost in a day dream, in her mind theater, she imagines performing her music in a great concert hall in the shape of a giant clam, on Neptune. Humming some original tunes that compliment the many moods of the sea. The currents carry her away, eventually wandering to a dark place inside her mind. Then the blue lightning flashes and the image of the greedy and jealous god, that now she knows is Poseidon. Feelings and emotions from so long ago, shake her from her daydream. She shutters, grounding back in reality.
Passing by the playground. She looks up and there sits a slide shaped like a whale! Catching her by surprise, scaring her a little bit.
Michiru giggles, politely covering her mouth with a gentle fist. "That goony kids toy kinda looks like Akira."
She sighs looking into the mirror again.
"I know there's a catch to this, that whale knows more then he's letting on!
Should there be battles like there is in my nightmares… oh hell how am I supposed to fight them!"
The few children playing amongst themselves on the playground look up in horror and slink away to their mommies in fear.
Blushing, her face beat red, the anxiety and embracement set in. Awkwardly, she makes her escape.
"No sweat, looks like I'm in the clear." Her demeanor changes rapidly to a somber serenity.
If only the world knew what it's like to walk a mile in my shoes. People and social expectations can be so harsh, so dysfunctional and difficult. Sometimes I wish I could escape into my own world and be free from it all.
Coming out onto the boardwalk Michiru catches a whiff of the sea but then is struck by the rancid smell of death and decay. She trots up to the rail peering over and sure enough there is a dead fish, with a small pile of trash surrounding it. Horror of this image sends Michiru in a rage, from some depth inside her she never knew exists.
"It's just like in my nightmares… the smell of dead fish, the pollution, that image of the greedy god. It's all starting to add up… but in reality."
Leaning against the rail she looks into the mirror.
"This is Scary. What do I do, mirror? How can I make everything okay?"
Then a strange feeling comes over Michiru's consciousness. Listening to the ocean she tunes in as if the sounds of those Neptunian winds are stirring the very pot of chaos itself.
"Seems this may be a darkness of which I can not run from. The sea is no stranger to the dark. I only hope I can find the light in all this mess."
Michiru pans up from the mirror to get a clear view of Mugenzu Island. An artificially built island just across the water to the north. Where there is construction happening on the far end of the isle.
"That must be the new elite academy my father spoke of. Seeing as he is affiliated with the project. He wants me to attend, but I have to say, I'm really not interested. Something's off about that island, I just can't quite put my finger on it."
She looks at her watch.
"Guess I ought to be heading home."
Then the mirror flashes grabbing back her attention. In the mirror a scene plays out of innocent people being attacked by a hideous thing.
"What is that? Looks as though it is all the way in Shiba Park. Those people need help but there's no way I can get there in time.
She stomps her foot.
"Oh, but why me? I'm compelled to solve this mystery, that's why. A strange sense of duty calls me!
I wish I could transport to Shiba Park! If only I really could?"
Michiru looks back at the mirror.
Out of the blue with a flash finds herself standing before a multidimensional portal that opens from inside the mirror. She plays along and leaps into it, teleporting her to Shiba Park.
~
Traveling through a space-time super highway, Michiru doesn't bother to ask questions. Following her heart all the way to the portal at the end of the tunnel. The light and image of Shiba Park on the other side, guiding her. Jumping out of the portal with grace she lands on her feet. The Deep Aqua Mirror still in hand.
Surveying her surroundings she recognizes she is on the lawn of the park. It's starting to get dark as the evening grows older. A couple of trees stand behind her, their silhouettes hover over her cast by the light of the peace lantern not too far away. Michiru looks up to see the magnificent spectacle of Tokyo Tower to the northwest.
She pulls out her henshin stick from her bag. "Okay then… Warrior princess of Neptune, here we go. Neptune planet power, make up!"
Ocean waters and mysterious energies erupt from within. The waters fall away dissipating into the abyss. There she stands.
In a white sailor uniform sporting a green-blue collar and mini skirt. With navy blue bows, one on the back of her skirt and the other on her chest with a circle emblem. Gloves that stretch to mid arm length with green-blue cuffs on the end. A choker necklace and earrings with unique charms resembling the sun. The finishing touch, a brass tiara with a sea-green gem in the middle upon her forehead.
Sailor Neptune looks herself over then in the mirror. "Okay now talk! Where is the monster?"
The mirror shows the image of the small forest, the creature causing havoc.
"Coming from behind!"
On reflex she turns gracefully shining the mirror in its face. It grumbles and screams in pain. Sailor Neptune looks upon the creature in horror. With the mirror at the ready if need be.
The gnarly trash monster emits a haze that distorts the playing field. All Sailor Neptune can think about is to defend herself. To her surprise she senses a response from The Deep Aqua Mirror. It's energy wraps around her, creating a force field. Providing clarity of truth in the haze of deceit.
The Corruption Troll attacks, jumping in the air to sink it's nasty haze into Sailor Neptune. As she dodges backward, the magic of the sea churns inside her. Instincts take over, she feels energy flowing from her center through to her arms. Her hands become sweaty but pulsing. Without a second thought she raises her arms. "Deep Submerge!"
The hydro power of her attack blasts the corruption troll over into the small forest slamming into a giant ginkgo tree. As it peals itself up off its base, Sailor Neptune watches its haze distort the tree.
Bracing herself, she picks up a rock
And throws it at the monster. The rock distorts and grows polluted proving her theory.
"Just as I thought, the monster seems to pollute everything it touches. Ought to not let it touch me."
"Submarine Reflection!"
The mirror locates its true weakness. A nugget in the center inside it's distorted carcass. That must be its wretched soul.
Just as she reaches up to launch another Deep Submerge it retreats back into the small forest.
"Cowardly thing, is it seriously going to make me chase it all around the park? If only I could get its attention and lure it into a trap… I need a strategy."
Running after it, Sailor Neptune comes to a Shinto Shrine hidden in the woods of the park. Acting with caution and grace she surveys the area to springboard some ideas.
"Seems a bit rude to be fighting around these shrines and temples. What choice do I have though, I must fight!"
She looks at the lanterns lit up for the night and notices her mirror reflecting their light. Tilting it and playing with the balance. Bouncing the light off the mirror.
Just then she hears screams of terror on the other side of the shrine. She stealthily sneaks over. Around the bend, she sees some people knocked unconscious, their bodies slathered in sludge. The monster standing over them.
Sailor Neptune beams the light from the lantern above with her mirror, getting the corruption troll's attention.
It leers at her and then charges. Neptune makes a break for it. Seeking shelter behind the bamboo fountain of cleansing water. It teases her as she tries to keep it at bay. Finds herself trapped instead of the monster. She gets clever and splashes the troll. It screams and hollers in pain and runs off.
Sailor Neptune takes off after it doing her best to keep up. Now coming out of the woods out onto the grounds of a large hotel. She can see it leaving a trail of pollution across the grass. Looks like it's heading towards Tokyo Tower.
As the corruption troll crosses the street, Neptune witnesses it toss a truck in the air and land in a catastrophic explosion. Corroding into a polluted heap of trash.
The horror forced her to freeze in shock for a few moments. She shakes back into action and trots across the street onto the nature trails in front of Tokyo Tower.
There she finds it launches an attack. "Deep Submerge!"
Slamming it in the back, the corruption troll crashes and face plants into the ground. It lays there moaning and groaning like a zombie.
Sailor Neptune stands in stillness breathing and anticipating what's to happen next.
Staring the corruption troll down, unsure of what to do next but going with it anyway. The troll expresses its haze.
"I don't know what you are but I'm sending you to your grave!
Deep Submerge!"
The blue planetary sphere shoots at the monster, impacting it like a cannon ball.
In its haze the troll disappears and is nowhere to be found. It appears behind Neptune grabbing her by the left arm. She fears for the worst as the haze turns to sludge. Snaps out of the pain.
"Whirlpool Kick!" A roundhouse kick with a boost of hydropower.
Breaking her arm free, she hears the monster thud to the ground.
Surfing the waves of the adrenaline rush, launches another attack.
"Deep Submerge!"
Hitting it almost point blank. Sailor Neptune watches as her attack tares through its molten polluted flesh. Popping the nugget inside of it. It screams and screeches a high pitched wale dissipating into haze and fading away.
"I see now, this is what it truly feels like." She stands looking at her own hands then feels the heavy burden of the sludge on her arm.
"This sucks… dammit… my concert is tomorrow evening."
Kneeling down in searing pain, she puts the mirror down and touches the sludge with her other hand. Pulling her fingers away to see the gunk on her glove.
"What am I to do now? I can't play like this."
She sighs in despair hanging her head just breathing against the pain. She sobs a bit feeling stuck. Cornered like a scared animal. Shifting her position her knee taps the Deep Aqua Mirror.
"There is no one to rescue me. How could I ever explain if someone did? I can't just sit here and cry, I've got to solve the problem."
She goes to grab hold of the mirror. Hovering her hand over it. It shines through the pollution revealing answers. Reminding her of her truths.
"That's right, I believe in myself. Even in the parts of myself I can't explain. No matter what trouble I get into there's always a solution."
Salty water pulses from her palm of her hand. She tuns it over face up and watches as the water heals away the sludge. She breathes in and wiggles her fingers. Taking in what she just experienced she then begins working on her left arm.
"I can't hold up my violin without this arm. I can't even feel my fingers anymore, this sludge is constricting blood flow."
As the water melts the sludge it dissipates into the haze. Soon feeling her arm again she works it till she feels the cool healing waters reach the tips of her fingers. Slowly moving them again, it surprises her that her whole arm is as good as new.
"Amazing! How did I do that? Whatever the story I'm grateful and so relieved."
The tension of the crisis washes from her being as she releases a huge sigh.
She proceeds to stand up, moving with caution. Realizing everything is okay Neptune wills herself back to normal.
"If I'm to do this I've got to learn how to fight better.
To be Awakened as Sailors Neptune, sovereign of planet Neptune… why does it seem the answer to all my problems infringe on my sanity? I'm so confused."