Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, it belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. I fully own my original character Lucy.
Key
"Speaking"
Thoughts/Memories/Premonition/Dream
"Speaking in Another Language"
Thoughts in Another Language
Lunarian
"Memories are their own descendents masquerading as the ancestors of the present."
David Mitchell, Ghostwritten
~Chapter 5~
~Not All Legendary Crystals Are Silver~
Lucy found herself at a party.
It wasn't the first time she'd had such a dream, always sitting to the side, watching everyone dance and enjoy themselves, or stand at the top of staircase next to a regal woman Lucy could never see the face of. She was always in a long white gown that made her think of Greek clothes and felt soft to the touch but wasn't quiet silk or cotton or anything like that. Lucy always kept a good portion of her attention on a woman- or was it girl? She never could tell- dancing around, usually with a different person each time. Lucy couldn't see who the girl was, but knew she had white hair and dressed a little differently from Lucy.
This time Lucy wasn't sitting in a corner or standing on a balcony, she was out on the floor this time, a little bit of her skirt gathered into her right hand as the man glided her across the floor. She stared up at him, and though his face was foggy and out of her eyesight he stared back at her she was sure. Lucy knew his hair was blond, and it shifted from this bright sun gold to pale moon dust depending on the lighting as they moved.
He said something and Lucy giggled without consent. It was then she realized it may be not just a dream but a memory and that really intrigued Lucy. She'd had them long before Luna showed up but thought it something cooked up from Usagi's talk of romance all the time. Now that Luna was around it was possible these were dreams from the time long ago Luna hinted at constantly.
"You seem a little distracted," the man commented, voice a little deeper than she expected with such pretty hair and smooth shoulders.
"Mm, things to do with my mother. She doesn't approve of a courtship the Senshi and I think perfect." Came from her mouth as she was spun out and brought in close. "I've never seen her so happy, and I think mother has missed that important fact."
"There is a lot of stress with having so much power. Being an advisor, I would assume you would have guessed as much." He replied lightly, not harsh but not kind.
"I advise the Senshi, not anyone else." He brought her hands up to his neck as the fast ballroom song slowed considerably. The new pace was unexpected but welcome, and Lucy found her body wasn't tensed from the sudden change of stance into something more intimate. "If I did, I'd probably lose my mind. Dealing with friends butting heads is one thing, dealing with kingdoms is another."
There was silence for a while, the two swaying in a circle all their own. No one else paid mind to them and vice versa. When the man she was dancing with spoke, his voice was gentle, as if touching a hostile bird's broken wing. "Once the queen steps down you'll have to be a royal advisor."
Now her body tensed, fingers clenching the fabric of his off white shirt. Her gaze turned to look at the white haired girl and her dancer as they passed by. Something twisted in her chest. "I don't think I couldn't advise a single queen, especially not her." The word wasn't 'her', it was a name, but Lucy couldn't hear it. "I think I'd mess up and then where would we be? Probably at war with Earth or screwing up the treaty with Kinmoku."
"You'd never make that kind of mistake or judgement." There was a gentle press to the crown of her head, she was kissed their she vaguely noticed, and a calloused hand grasping her chin to lift her face. "After all, it would ruin her happiness and yours, my light."
Lucy mumbled, rolling over in bed into thin air. She yelped at catching air as she crashed down, right onto Usagi's bed. Both bounced as Usagi let out a startled scream. The brunette begin to sit up, lifting a hand to rub sleep from her eyes, when her blonde counterpart shot out of bed, stepped out Lucy's back as she did- making her yelp- and into the nearby closet.
The brunette, stunned for a moment by the sheer amount of pain that visceral stab gave the girl's back, laid on her stomach on her sister's bed, gasping quietly in pain. It was killer.
Usagi herself had opened their closet and peeked around the edge. Upon seeing Lucy lying there on her rumpled bed, the bunny went even whiter and threw opened the closet to rush to Lucy's side. She rolled over the younger who winced, closing her eyes to hide the pain in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, Lucy!" The blonde fretted, helping Lucy sit up, tears in her eyes but not falling as much as they wanted to. "You startled me and I'm sorry."
Lucy gave her sister a small smile, shifting a little. "It's alright, Usa." She pressed a hand to her lower back, getting out of bed. "Yeesh, you've got a hard kick."
Usagi blushed, still upset with what she'd done though willing to let it go if Lucy was. About that time Luna jumped from the window into the room with a soft meow. Both looked to her, curious to see what the Mauan was up to, and watched her move to sit at the foot of Usagi's bed.
"It's very early today, more so than usual with you two." The cat commented, eyeing the two in concern before settling on Lucy with her ruby gaze. "What woke you up, Lucy-chan?"
"A dream." Lucy mumbled with some reluctance. "It was... different."
"Oh? I thought dreams didn't have much rhyme or reason?"
"Well, they don't, but mine are usually always a little the same." Lucy explained as the two began to get ready for school, knowing they wouldn't be getting back to sleep now. Lucy's back still hurt like crazy and Usagi was too wired and curious now. "I'm always in this ballroom watching someone, a woman or girl with white hair, as if protecting her, and usually I'm lucid. I ask questions though no one answers. This time," her brow furrowed, "I wasn't lucid. It was like someone was in my body, using it, and I could only look where they looked and do as they did."
"It's not uncommon for that kind of thing to happen, Lucy-chan." Luna placated, though she looked a little worried for a whole new reason now. "Plenty of people have dreams like that."
Shaking her head, Lucy ran her fingers through her hair, untangling some of the unruly locks. "No, this was different. I wasn't only just looking out, I was dancing. I always sit in a corner or stand on some balcony, keeping an eye on everything. They're the only dreams I've had since Kenji found me and this change was..." The brunette had gotten her shirt and skirt on, stopping in the middle of tying her bow. She stared at the nearest wall with lost eyes. "I don't think it's normal."
"Lu," Usagi hummed from the bathroom, garnering her sister's attention. "Maybe it's because of that party Kazeno-san's taking you to tonight." The blonde came in, running her brush through her hair, look wistful. Lucy froze for a moment, realizing she'd forgot about the party. "Were you dancing with him?"
"I dunno. I can't see anyone's face. Even mine the few times I've glimpsed my reflection is muddled." She finished her bow and sat in the desk chair, pulling on her socks. "He was blond, and he sounded nice when he spoke. It wasn't Ryū, though. They had completely different accents."
"Huh." Usagi began to pull her hair up into her signature bun and streamers. "Then that was an odd dream, though I'm sure it has to do with the party."
"Probably." Came the distracted agreement. Something tells me that isn't it...
"Usagi, Lucy!" Ikuko called from the stairs. "Breakfast!"
"Coming!" Both called together, Luna leaving the room. Usagi grabbed her bag, looking to Lucy who was placing some art paper and color pencils in her bag. She watched as the younger latched the bag closed and picked up her moon clip to pin back her bangs. "You're going to need a hair cut soon, Lu. Your hair is getting longer."
Lucy waved a hand in the air. "I'm thinking of growing it own now. I've had it short for so long a little change is needed." The unspoken everything else is changing hung in the air.
"Then a trim." She shivered as they vacated the room. "Split ends are terrible."
"For you, definitely."
"Hey, at least I can do things with my hair, Miss Pixie Cut."
Lucy held up finger, lifting her chin. "Don't diss the style. It's pretty and you know it."
"Just because a style is pretty doesn't mean it's fun to never do anything with it." Usagi huffed, coming into the kitchen. She kissed her mother on the cheek and so did Lucy.
The pink haired woman blinked in minor surprise at seeing the girls up and dressed. Usually she called for both and they (read: Lucy) came down still in their pajamas, had breakfast, went upstairs to get ready for the day and left for school. The surprise passed in a second and she was smiling at them, kissing the top of their heads and fixing Usagi's own plate before setting them down.
"You're up early, Usagi." Kenji commented as he straightened his tie, newspaper under arm, glasses perched on his nose. "Did Lucy finally get you out of bed before the warning bell?"
Lucy blushed, ducking her head. "Somewhat. I fell out of bed onto her."
"Oh my! Are you alright?" Ikuko fretted, coming closer to the brunette, checking for brushing or cuts. "That must have been a nasty fall."
"'M fine." Lucy tried to calm the mother, sheepish. "Just startled her and Luna."
"You sure you are alright?" Kenji asked, sliding his glasses down to peer over the rim at her. "You might have hurt yourself and not know it."
"I'm sure."
"Okay. Let me know if anything changes." Kenji settled into a seat, opening the newspaper to read as the sisters dug into their rice pancakes.
Half an hour passed before Shingo joined them. He stopped in the doorway, rubbing his eyes while Ikuko put his plate on the table. He continued to stare at Usagi who soon bristled.
"What are you staring at, Shingo?" Lucy asked before Usagi could in a less polite way.
"Usagi's up early." He deadpanned.
"Yes, she is. Now come sit and have breakfast." Lucy replied, standing. She took he dishes to the sink, washing out her plate and cup to set in the rack, fork in its little holder.
He did as told, still looking at Usagi is confusion. Once he missed getting a forkful of pancake to his mouth, smearing it across his cheek, he snapped from the trance. The younger brunette cleaned his face with a nearby napkin, stuffing his mouth a second later. Usagi wrinkled her nose in disgust, moving to clean up her own things.
Ikuko had sat, taking the paper from Kenji who kissed the mother of the house, Shingo and the girls on the head before leaving. She was reading the headline proclaiming how Sailor Moon and her fellow Guardians of Justice had solved a recent case on missing animals. (Lucy was still sore on that one. It had nothing to do with the enemy.) She mumbled something about the girls being very young, eyes on the sketch of Sailor Moon with Selene just behind her, one very chipper and the other more serious.
Her eyes then moved to the below headline of Princess D, the crown princess of the Kingdom of D that was the jewel capital of the world. She'd be revealing a never before seen jewel to the people of Japan at a masquerade in a few weeks.
The girls would have heard Ikuko telling Shingo this if they weren't busy getting into their shoes and taking off for school. They had thirty minutes, and knew they wouldn't be late today like usual, but it was always good to run a little in the mornings to wake up.
They grabbed their lunch on the way past, Luna chasing their skirts. Getting to the main road, they slowed down seeing all the police cars and security. Both stopped momentarily, watching a black car with pitch windows go by. Luna jumped onto their shoulders to watch.
"Wonder what that's about?" Lucy wondered aloud.
"Whatever it is it's gonna make it harder to get to school." Usagi grabbed Lucy's hand, pulling her. "For all we know that's gonna make us late."
"Today is such a weird morning." Lucy replied, Luna mewing in agreement.
"You're here early, Usagi." Naru hummed, looking up for the newspaper Kiyoko, Hoshi and her had been reading over.
Usagi pulled her homework from her bag, shrugging. "Lucy got me up."
Naru asked, "Did you notice all the police check-points on the road?"
"We did. Is something going on?"
Nodding, the redhead did a little happy twirl. "The next queen of the world's largest source of jewels, The Kingdom of D, is coming to Japan!"
"Wow! A princess!" Came the bunny's excited chirp. Lucy beside her blinked, thinking, A princess with a kingdom of jewels...
Leaning over the desk, Naru grabbed Lucy by her shirtsleeve to pull her in close as Usagi did. "They're giving a formal dinner party at the embassy tonight! Kingdom of D's embassy is really close to Sendai-zakashita."
Her eyes widened here. Oh my god. Ryū isn't taking me to that, is he? It's a formal party, not a masquerade!
"And, it seems," Naru continued, lacing her fingers and leaning a cheek against them wistfully, "that Princess D is to inherit some secret hidden treasure that's been passed down in the royal family. At the dinner party, it'll be the first time they've ever revealed it to the world!" She sighed. Lucy noticed Luna messing with the newspaper Naru and friends had vacated. "A hidden treasure from the leading jewel producing country! It's gotta be incredible!"
Lucy nodded absentmindedly, walking over to looking over Luna at the paper. She read the headline: THE FINAL MYSTERY OF THE CENTURY WILL BE REVEALED TONIGHT. Before more could be read, Kiyoko rubbed a serious Luna's head.
"Hey," she said cheerfully, "Usagi-chan's and your kitty-chan I doing its best to read the paper!" She giggled. "How cute!"
Lucy nodded, reading the underlying caption: The Heir Apparent to the Throne, Princess D, Arrives in Japan Bearing the World's Most Precious Jewel, a Secret Treasure of The Kingdom of D!
Her blood ran a little cold. Could this be the princess and Legendary. Crystal the Senshi and I are searching for? Or is this a front from the enemy?
She startled a second later, realizing what she'd thought. Hoshi asked if she was okay and Lucy turned a smile on the redhead. "Oh, yeah. Just wishing I could go see it. Would be cool, y'know?"
Hoshi nodded. "It would! Don't you think so, Kiyoko-chan?"
"Definitely!"
At lunch Lucy sat a little away from everyone, book bag with her. She used a hard book inside to rest her sketch paper against it, pencils on top. Ami, Usagi, Naru and the others were talking, and she wanted to be alone for a few minutes.
Luna obviously didn't get the memo and jumped into the tree root next to the advisor-in-training. She nodded to the girls. "Why don't you sit with them, Lucy-chan?"
"I feel the need to be alone." Lucy mumbled quietly, pulling out her black pencil, already starting her rough outline of the girls. "I've got some things on my mind."
"Would you feel better telling me?" Gently asked the cat.
Lucy was silent, letting her hands be the only thing saying she had heard the cat with their momentary stutter. Several minutes passed before Lucy stopped after finishing Usagi and Ami sitting next to each other, bento in Usagi's hand and book in Ami's. Her eyes lifted to Luna's, something akin to being lost reflecting in them.
"I would, yes." She admitted softly.
Luna shifted, moving to lay down, paws and head resting on Lucy's shoulder. It was oddly comforting and she couldn't guess why. "Then tell me. I have no reason to judge."
Lucy wasn't entirely sure about that considering the cat's thoughts on Ryū. (Who better not be talking about that embassy party because, holy cow, she could not meet a princess, even if it was The Princess.) The girl found herself plowing ahead regardless, a little quick and a little scared.
"I'm starting to think about finding the princess and Legendary Crystal and whether things are an enemy front and it's scaring me." She began. "I don't want to think those things, I wanted to be the one to keep reality in sight constantly. I'm starting to not just recommend things for Usa, but advise her and I know I shouldn't worry about that but everything is changing which is scaring me and that's just another thing to change because of a calling to be a hero."
By the time she had finished the first of her rant, she was breathing quickly, eyes wide and near tears. Luna softly purred, rubbing her cheek against the girl, cool nose butting against the flushed skin. The cat never said anything, just let her go on about changing and being scared and upset about seeing even Usagi's changing, though minimal so far.
"I've got a date with some guy who I met while he was getting chased by a trio of idiots, and he's such a sweetheart that I kinda like him and might date him. He's taking me to an embassy masquerade party that might be the one Princess D is at which is really scary." Lucy rushed, hand gripping her pencil tighter. "I feel like I've met him before the more I think about him and see him. It aggravates me that you don't like him and I can understand why with how I met him but if you just watched him for a little bit you'd see how nice he is."
"Then there's the dreams which used to always be practically the same and now some guy wants to dance with me and apparently I'm really familiar with him because he has a nickname for me, calling me his light, and I'm an advisor in my dreams too, I'm an advisor that'll be some royal advisor once this one queen steps down."
Luna finally reacted, tensing. Lucy went silent, taking a deep shuttering breath.
"What's wrong, Luna?" Luna looked up at Lucy, surprise in her gaze.
Lucy stared back with just as much surprise. Then the cat lost her tenseness and smiled softly at Lucy. "I was right when I first saw you. You are from back then," Luna purred quietly, nudging the girl's cheek more, calming her. "Long ago, before this life, you were an advisor of both the Senshi and the princess, and you were very, very close to the princess. So close you went to many lengths to protect her."
She stared at her hands, unable to think fully of what the Mauan explained. When much of it had settled, she asked softly, "What about the man?"
Luna stilled purred, though it was more somber. "You loved the princess very much, but their was one loyalty you could not give her no matter how hard you tried; all of your eternal love. The man was someone you loved just as dearly."
Oddly, Lucy was glad to know she was so loyal to someone, just as she was to Usagi. She was also glad to know she loved someone, even if in a past only whispered to her through dreams. "Did he have a name? Did either of them have names?"
Luna nodded, silken fur soothing the brunette's cheek. "Yes, though they are lost in time. I do not remember them. You have to remember to know their names from your memory."
Some of her unrest settled in Lucy at this, as if she finally understood something she had never gotten before. Lucy eased her grip on the pencil, nestling it back in its package. She shifted her head to rub her nose against Luna's cheek, giving her own purr.
"Thank you, Luna." She murmured, sliding her things into her bag. "I now know what to do. One is advise my friends, my Senshi and my sister, the other is to remember the name of my princess and my lover. Both were important to me back then, and they will be important to me now."
Standing, brushing off her skirt, Lucy brushed a hand down Luna back, watching her arch in pleasure. Bending, she grabbed her bag and bento, walking to her friends.
"Hey, guys!" Lucy smiled brightly. Usagi grabbed the brunette's hand, pulling her down to sit beside her, snuggling close. "Sorry for being late."
"Thats fine, Lucy-chan." Ami smiled shyly over her book. "We were just discussing your date tonight."
Luna chuckled from the wall, watching as Lucy was interrogated further on Kazeno Ryū. She turned to leave, heading to the Crown Game Center.
"Usagi-chan, Lucy-chan!" Ami waved once she saw the two enter the arcade area. She was playing a mock of a lottery machine and that thought of Ami playing that game was scary. She could probably figure out how to stop them all at the right moment and win.
Rei herself held a disapproving look, arms crossed. "You're late," she informed them as if neither know they were thirty minutes passed their meeting time.
"Hehe, about that..." Usagi chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of her head. Lucy beside her rolled her eyes.
"She got a ton of red marks on her test again, so she had to stay after again." Luna explained with a shake of the head.
Lucy clasped her hands together, looking to Ami with wide pleading eyes, bottom lip stuck out. She was doing her best puppy impression and was sure it sucked. "Ami-chan, can you help her with studying sometimes? Nothing but English ever sticks in her head with me."
Ami giggled. "Of course, Lucy-chan."
"Oh, for pity's sake!" Rei huffed, running a hand through her hair. "Why do I have to be some Guardian of Justice? I'm a busy woman!" Lucy turned to the girl, suddenly feeling a little aggravated with the raven haired miko. "Also, Luna, Lucy!" She never gave permission to be addressed without her honorific. "About this 'princess' we're supposed to find. What kingdom is she from? How will we know her?"
Lucy opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by Rei who forged right on, hands on hips, eyes on the black cat resting on Lucy's shoulder.
"One more thing; if you don't explain on where you came from, Luna, and what you actually are, then I don't think I can help you people." Her haughty tone didn't help the girl very much, but she tried not to grind her teeth or show annoyance.
"I'm afraid that I can't tell you that at the moment." She mewed, watching as Usagi went to play pac-man. "As even if I did, I doubt you would believe me."
Both the water and fire guardians blinked at cat, one curious and the other upset. Ami, rubbing Luna's head after the cat jumped down onto a nearby console, said, "But Luna, you have to admit we need to data for analysis. We need data on the enemy and this 'Legendary Silver Crystal'..."
Luna sighed, frowning a little. She looked to Lucy who raised her hands. Lucy knew more than the others, but only a little bit and only because Luna had to tell her right then. The cat's gaze turned back to the two Senshi. "The true form of the enemy is, honestly, something I'm not fully clear on either." She little shoulders seemed to slump. "I wouldn't have believed that such an enemy could be hiding in Tokyo..."
Here, Ami looked especially confused. "Didn't we become Senshi in order to defeat the enemy?"
Her Lucy finally spoke shaking her head. "No." Suddenly three sets of eyes were on her. Lucy fidgeted as she spoke, a little nervous. "I don't know much more than you, but you're to find and protect the princess. You're duty as a Senshi is to protect the princess."
Rei rose a brow, unimpressed. "What about you, Lucy? Aren't you also supposed to protect the princess?"
"Somewhat. My main duty is to advise you and once we find the princess, her as well." Lucy replied, setting her shoulders. "And I would very much like if you added chan when you use my name. It's disrespectful not to and only Usa can drop it. We're family."
Rei held her gaze for a moment, nodded and looked back to Luna. "Why haven't we found our princess yet, if we're to find and protect her?"
"I think," began the cat cautiously, "the reason we have yet to find the princess is because she has been placed under a certain type of seal."
"A seal?" All three echoed.
Her dark head dipped in a nod. "Yes. My theory is that the seal serves to protect her identity."
Lucy's hand fisted her skirt, brow furrowed. She was just as confused as her friends. "Why would that be necessary?"
Luna sighed, frown becoming a little more prominent. "The likelihood is high that the reason for the seal is that the princess possesses the 'Legendary Silver Crystal'." Sitting up straighter, she wrapped her tail around her from paws, staring each in the eye. "The 'Legendary Silver Crystal' is a scared stone, and said to hold limitless power and so everyone craves it. However, if it fell into evil hands, it could spell disaster."
She stood again, as if she was having trouble with this topic. She moved from one of the console to the next. "You have yet to fully awaken as Senshi and advisor yet." She looked to Usagi across the way. "When all the Senshi are gathered and all have fully awoken, the princess's seal will dissolve." Her eyes turned to Lucy, using her in place. "Then, only then, will we understand everything." Looking to the other two, "That's all I can say at this moment."
Rei stepped closer, leaning down toward the cat. "Awaken, you say? How are we...?" She trailed, unsure.
Luna did not reply. Lucy knew what it was though. They had just had the conversation at lunch, practically. "We awake through memory." Luna nodded in approval. "The only way to get any of this is to remember."
"Remember?" Murmured the miko, staring wide-eyed.
"Yep." Lucy nodded, looking to the her watch. "Ami-chan, you're cram classes start soon, so I'd catch the bus if I were you."
Ami checked her watch as well, moving to grab and leave. She waved as she went. "See you tomorrow, Lucy-chan, Rei-chan!"
Lucy waved back. Rei was grabbing her own bag, moving to leave. "I should go to. I have a shrine to look after." She nodded to Lucy. "Goodbye, Lucy-san," she smiled lightly at the brunette.
"See ya, Rei-san," Lucy replied as Rei left.
Luna wrinkled her nose from beside Lucy, "Usagi-chan need to remember most."
The cat turned, ran across the console, and jumped, landing squarely on the bunny's head. Patting at Usagi's forehead constantly, the cat began to pester her. "Come on, Usagi-chan! We were having a very important conversation and all you're doing is playing games!"
"Wait a minute!" Usagi whined, shaking her head to try and throw off the cat, glaring at the screen. "I'm almost..."
"Shape up, will you?" Huffed the cat, going deathly silent as Motoki came into the arcade area, looking back out the door to the streets.
"Whoa. There are a lot of police out there today." He continued walking, saw Usagi, Luna and the girls and grinned. He gave a little pat to the blonde's head before ruffling Lucy's own. "'Sup, Usagi-chan, Lucy-chan! See you brought your gorgeous friends with you today!"
Usagi giggled as Lucy grunted, fixing her ruffled hair with minor fond annoyance. "Onii-san! I know why the police are there!" He gave her a curiously pleasant look. "A princess is coming to the Kingdom of D embassy."
Lucy could see Luna thinking over what Usagi had said, coming up with a plan. Motoki himself was rubbing his chin, looking very thoughtful. "A real princess? Blonde and glamorous, probably."
At that moment Lucy let out a little shriek, Umino popping up next to her, rolled up poster in hand. Usagi whipped around, hand going to her brooch, fear clear on her face. When she saw what, more specifically who, had startled Lucy she relaxed, hand going back to her side.
"I," Umino began with a chuckle, "happen to have a hard-to-find photo of the reclusive Princess D!"
The otaku unraveled the poster, showing a girl in a pretty dress and tiara who looked like a female version of Umino right down to those giant glasses of his. Usagi and Lucy shared looks, sweatdropping. Lucy thought she was cute, but the likeness to Umino unsettled her. Usagi herself wasn't sure what to make of the picture.
Motoki's eyebrows shot passed his hairline. "Whoa, this is the princess... Really?"
"She looks a lot like you, Umino!" Usagi blurted before she could stop herself. To cover her blunder she forged on, getting a little excited, "But it must be so nice! I'll bet that Princess D will be wearing an unbelievable dress to the party tonight!" She squealed. "I want to go too! I wanna go!"
Lucy rolled her eyes, though being reminded of tonight had Lucy feeling a little on edge. She needed to get ready for her date, whether it was to the Kingdom of D embassy or another.
Her hands were grabbed up, pulling Lucy close. "I also want to see that secret treasure. Don't you, Lu?"
Smiling indulgently at Usagi, she nodded. "Yes." She might be my princess, after all.
Lucy stood in front of the mirror, fussing with her hair. She was trying to tie a little back and was dressed like Miaka from Fushigi Yuugi in her priestess garb.
"Lu, what are you doing?" Asked Usagi, standing in the doorway with Luna at her ankles. Her arms were crossed and she looked completely appalled.
Lucy startled, turning to face her, voice and look portraying how sheepish she felt. "Well, I was gonna go as Miaka since her priestess clothes are kinda," not, "formal."
"Good lord." Luna mewed, rolling her eyes. "Go get your clip, Lucy-chan. I forgot to mention another function it has."
Lucy, head ducked, did as told. She scooted passed Usagi into their room. She stood on the second rung of the ladder to her bed, grabbing the clip.
"It turns me into a cat, what else is there to it?" Lucy asked, raising an eyebrow at the cat curiously.
"It's main function is to revert you to your cat form," explained the cat, "but it can also be used much like Usagi-chan's Lunar Pen. The only difference is instead of using 'transform' as one of the key words, it is instead 'change,' just as Usagi's."
"Why are telling me this?" Lucy asked. "You don't Ryū."
Luna sighed. "It is not that I do not like him, it is because of how you met him and how he is a civilian. If your identity was found out by the enemy, they could go after him. However," she looked between the sisters, "you seem very happy with this boy and if the recap of the date you gave Usagi-chan and his calls are anything to go off of, he seems like a nice one." She grimaced. "No matter how bad it was when you met him."
Something similar to happiness pressed against Lucy's chest, leading her to pick up he cat and hug her close. She kissed the Mauan's brow, humming happily as Luna did the cat equivalent of a blush. "Oh, thank you, Luna!"
Usagi grinned. "Try it out! I wonder if it's as cool as mine, with all those and flashes."
"Probably since our transformations are the same." Lucy replied, setting Luna upon the desk. She put the clip in, about to call out, then looked down at herself and grimaced. "I don't want to come back to this."
With some help, Lucy quickly got out of her outfit and into a pair of jeans and a t-shirt. She brushed her hair thoroughly and clipped back her bangs to the side. She took a deep breath, grinning nervously at Usagi.
"Let's do this." Lucy brushed the clip, "Lunar Power Change me into a... a..." She faultered, unsure of what she was supposed to be.
"Princess!" Usagi supplied.
"Change me into a masquerade princess!" Lucy breathed, warm light taking her in just like when she becomes a cat. Her hands clenched, pressing over her heart, eyes closing. She took a deep breath, letting it out slowly just as Usagi let out a low whistle.
Lucy's hands released, reaching up to feel a mask there. She slipped it off, turning it to face her. Staring back at her was a silvery periwinkle mask with netting over it. The smooth edges reminded her of a crown, the slits for eyes seeming to mock her.
Taking a step toward the bathroom, heels dug into the carpet, startling the brunette. She wobbled, leaning to Usagi who caught her sister. They shared surprised looks then grinned.
"Seems your gonna have to learn to use heels tonight." Usagi teased, making Lucy groan in annoyance. To help, she pointed out in good nature. "Hey, at least you don't have to fight in them."
"Dancing is practically the same, Usa."
Usagi shrugged, walking beside Lucy to the bathroom. In the mirror, she stared back at herself though it wasn't quiet herself. Her eyes seemed wider from the silver-gray eyeshadow, lips a little dark, freckles lighter and brunette hair braided sweetly with some loose strands framing her face in pretty curls and little silver tiara on her head with a moonstone drop.
The same periwinkle of her mask had transferred to the dress with its ruched, embellished natural waist, sweetheart neckline and sheer back with matching cap sleeves. She blinked at the choice, never thinking to ever wear something like this. It wasn't something for her and yet...
"Wow, your dress is so pretty, Lu!" Usagi gushed from just behind her, eyes looking the gown with want. "Sometimes I wish I could wear that blue."
The younger sister turned to the elder. "What do you mean?"
"Blue, or at least that shade, isn't my color. I'd only worn that skirt I leant you once but it was terrible for me." Usagi explained. "It's really pretty on you though. I'm envious."
Lucy flushed, looking away. "No one can pull off that scarlet or sunset red like you can, save Rei-san," came her reply.
"There are plenty of people out there. It just depends on the person." Usagi dismissed, watching Lucy take her earrings and put them on. They didn't clash with the clothing, surprisingly.
There was a knock on the from door downstairs and Lucy went ramrod straight, eyes wide. Her breath was held hostage in her lungs suddenly, staring at Usagi who stared back. Luna came in as the door downstairs opened and the sound of Kenji greeting Ryū downstairs was heard.
"Oh my god," she breathed in English. "I never told Kenji about Ryū."
Usagi's eyes widened. "Oh... That isn't good."
When they got downstairs, Kenji was dressed in a suit, tie around his neck, sitting on the couch facing Ryū who stood there, shifting his feet awkwardly. He looked up when he heard the heels on the stairs and turned a little pink when he saw Lucy.
"Erm," he mumbled, waving at Lucy who returned it.
Kenji stood, turning to face Lucy and Usagi who stood on the steps, Lucy on the final step with Usagi once above her. He crossed his arms, looking expectant with an arched brow.
"Kenji, this is my, uh, escort," like I'm throwing Ryū under a bus, it's my fault this happened," to the party at the embassy tonight." She shifted a little. "It's a masquerade."
"I know what it is. Ikuko and I are going so I can cover the story for the magazine."
Usagi made a sound of surprise in the back of her throat as Lucy internally winced, hoping it was a different embassy party.
"I want to know why I didn't know about you having an escort or how you were going in general." He continued as if Usagi hadn't said anything, looking over his shoulder to Ryū "That's very important, don't you think so, Kazeno?"
Oh. No honorifics and it's the surname. Here's Kenji-papa.
"Yes, sir." He nodded.
"That's what I thought." He turned back to Lucy. "So, why didn't I know about you meeting this boy and going on a date several weeks ago?"
Lucy winced visibly this time. She could deny it being a date but it was. She'd admitted that on the date. "Things have been a little busy lately. I've been reaching Usagi English and a lot of crime. I actually forgot about the party until this morning."
Ryū made a wounded sound and she flapped her hand at him to keep quiet. Kenji however kept his eyes on Lucy. She'd start sweating under his gaze, it was so intense. Then his face broke out into a grin and he opened his arms.
"You've grown up quick in two years, come give me a hug before you go off." Kenji said, nearly flooring the three teens.
"What?!" Lucy yelped in English. "I thought I was gonna get grounded for the rest of my life!"
Kenji shrugged. "We'll discuss keeping things from your parents later."
Lucy nodded, moving to Ryū's side as steadily as she could. It wasn't even a one-heel she was in and the girl was having trouble. She hated heels and if she had to wear them preferred block heels for better stability. These were harassment at best.
"Alright. If neither of us are dead on our feet afterward."
"I expect to see a lot of dancing when I get there!" He called after brightly. Lucy shook her head, rueful smile on lips, and Ryū let out the shakiest breath she'd ever heard. She grinned at him.
"I don't think Kenji'll kill you." Lucy chuckled as he walked her up to a near black green car. She thought it might be a Honda or Toyota of sorts. "But I'd stay nice if I were you. Journalists can be scary."
"Don't give me nightmares, please." The blond asked of her, helping her into the car. He went around the hood, doing a fancy slide across its dark surface, before slipping into the passenger seat. Starting the car, he pulled out. "I don't do well with nightmares."
"No one does." Pointed out the brunette.
"Well, I'm especially bad at them."
"I'll take your word for it."
Lucy slid her mask on as Ryū slipped a dark green, dragon-like mask over his own face. She rose a brow, though it was blocked by her mask. "Overkill on your name meaning, don't you think?"
"Nope." He smirked, taking hold of her hand to pull her out on the floor. She yelped as her heels betrayed her, falling into his chest. Ryū chuckled, the feeling vibrating through his chest and into her, teasing a small blush from her.
"So," he wrapped a finger around one of Lucy's loose curls, eyes thoughtful through the mask as he held her close, leading her across the floor, "guess your the princess stolen by the dragon? Will there be a knight coming for you?"
Lucy smiled as sweetly as she could. "I thought you were the knight?"
"I'm your Prince Philip. There's a difference."
"Not really. A prince can also be a knight. Mine happens to also be the beast." Lucy herself appear thoughtful here. "Hey, wouldn't that make you the beast from Beauty and the Beast?"
"I'm hurt you think me a monster." He let go of the little ring of hair, pressing that hand over his heart. "How cruel, fair princess."
Lucy snorted. "I called you a beast, not a monster." She shrugged lightly. "And I break your curse, making you a pretty boy again, so I don't see the problem with that. I learned to love a beast and I got love in return."
"I never liked the story. The Beast also learned to love himself and the Beauty learn to love him so instead of living like that forever he was made human again." Ryū shrugged. "It's not my favorite. Like, they taught a valuable lesson then ruined it."
"Hmm," she thought about it for a moment. "Yeah, I can see your reasoning for that. It does kinda suck." Lucy looked to the ceiling then back to him. "I preferred the story of The Seven Crows."
"I don't think I know that one. Is it like The Seven Swans?"
Lucy shook her head. "Not at all. A mother accidentally turns her seven sons into crows and they run off. They have a little sister who's really young and when she gets older goes to find them. She talks them into coming home and when their mother accepts them the curse breaks and they're human again. It's a family story and maybe the least bloody Brothers Grimm story ever."
He laughed. "Most of the stories they found at bloody, aren't that?"
"You have no idea. I've read them all and I just..." She shrugged, lips turned in that what-can-you-do smile. "I can't believe they were kids stories."
"I don't think many people can nowadays." He agreed.
"Reading them all in on sitting because all the books in the house are in Japanese and you don't know it is fun." Lucy said with some tiredness to her voice. "It gets your imagination going like mad. My bed and the walls were cover in drawings based on them."
"Must have startled your sister."
She gave a solemn nod. "Kenji explained the stories to her for me and I put them away in a box. They really spooked her." Lucy looked at him very seriously. "She's not made for scary things. Sweet is what she was born to be."
"Must be hard for her in this world then." He opened to his mouth to say something else but a young girl in a nice pink dress ran by, startling them.
The two stepped back, Lucy nearly falling over, mainly kept on her feet by Ryū the entire time. He held her securely to his side, holding her back when a girl who looked a lot like Usagi (because it was) launched after who Lucy's recalled was Princess D.
"U-" Lucy cut herself off, not about to give Usagi away. When the bunny was thrown over the edge of the balcony there were gasps but only one near hysterical yelp. Ryū turned her, tucking her head under his chin.
"Don't worry, some guy is helping her." He told her, even going so far as to mention the umbrella that helped the two land safely when the man- Tuxedo Mask, Lucy was sure- couldn't pull her up.
"Ryū, take me to the bathroom." She murmured, not lifting her face from his chest. "I feel sick."
The blond obliged her, leaving the ballroom. Once at a bathroom, Lucy rushed in, transforming and leaving through the window. She was as late as Usagi, but she wasn't going to hide in a bathroom. As far as she could tell everyone was under some spell save the Senshi, Luna and her.
"What's going on?" She asked as soon as she arrived.
"The enemy has possessed Princess D." Ami informed the advisor. "And they've taken hold of everyone's mind."
While Ami was filling her in she caught sight if Kenji and Ikuko, looking vicious and ready to fight. Tears stung at the back of her eyes and upon looking at Usagi it was apparent hit her just as bad, if not worse.
"Everyone will be sucked up into the darkness!" Usagi said in distress.
"Yes," a dark figure with long hair appeared before them, hovering over Princess D, smile spread in a horrible grin. "I, Nephrite, will claim this secret treasure and these people as sacrifices to our great ruler."
"Never!" Rei yelled, planting a foot upon a ledge. She threw one of her fire talismans at the figure, "Evil spirit, be gone!"
In minor shock and horror, Rei's attack did not affect She stepped back, body tense. "It didn't work!"
"Sailor Moon!"
Both Usagi and Lucy turned at the call of the name. "The only way to banish the darkness is with an even greater light!"
The blonde's brow furrowed, perplexed. "Greater light...?"
"Usa," Lucy turned to her sister, grabbing her upper arms, getting what the man was talking about, "use your tiara to refract the moonlight and hit Princess D! It'll dispel the darkness!"
Realization shined on Usagi's face and she spun to face Nephrite, intent on her purpose. She took tender hold her tiara's gem, turning it to he light. "What a terrible villain! To possess the body of a princess, how shameless!" Usagi stepped forward, pointing at him. "In the name of the Moon, I will punish you!"
"Moon Twilight Flash!"
The moonlight struck the gem just then, flooding the room with warm silver light. Nephrite disappeared and right before them Princess D collapsed with the rest of the room. Lucy moved to catch her, holding up the younger girl.
Princess D mumbled, shifting and sitting up in Lucy's arms. Her glasses fell to the floor with a clatter and the advisor froze, staring at the girl's face. The other four blanched as well, not expecting the pretty girl underneath the giant, thick glasses.
The princess stood, Lucy helping her stand, and she looking about in confusion. "What have..." She looked up to Lucy and back around. "...I just been doing...?"
Catching sight of her glasses, Princess D knelt to pick them up and place them on. Lucy immediately backed up next to her friends, trying to process what she'd just seen and if that was what was under Umino's glasses like the others.
"Lucy?"
Lucy turned, seeing Ryū enter the ballroom, looking around in confusion.
"Have you seen my date? Her name's Lucy." He was asking, describing her to people who shrugged or said they had seen her leave for the bathroom.
Rei nudged her. "I would go change. He sees you and I'm pretty sure he'll know. You're... unique."
Lucy nodded, hugged her sister, and ducked behind a curtain next to the refreshment table and changed back into her gown. When she moved this time, she was less wobbly on her heels from being blocked and she waved at Ryū from over by the refreshment table.
He noticed and came over. Worry was written all across his visage as he came to her. His hands, cool and warm at the same time, settled on her upper arms, leaning down to be face-to-face with her.
"Are you alright? You disappeared and I thought something happened." He explained. "Are there other doors in the bathroom or something?"
"Um," she scrambled for an idea, and thankfully it came in the form of Ami and Rei, both sidling up on either side of her.
"Hello." Ami held out a hand, smiling kindly. "I'm Mizuno Ami and this is Hino Rei. You must be the Kazeno Ryū Lucy-chan talks about."
He blinked, look black before morphing into something akin to be pleased. "Lucy talks about me?"
"Oh, yes." Rei picked up. "We were just talking actually and heard the secret treasure was going to be shown- a pretty diamond bust of the first Princess D, by the way- so came out here."
Lucy caught Rei's eye and immediately knew the diamond bust wasn't what they were looking for. Lucy relaxed a little more knowing this.
"Oh, look at the time!" Ami said, looking to her wristwatch. "Come on, Rei-chan. Let's go dance a little before going home."
"I agree." Rei nodded, the two hook elbows and disappearing into the crowd.
The two watched them go. Ryū turned to her, corner of his mouth quirked up as he said, "You talk about me to your friends?"
Lucy blushed. "N-not always willingly!"
"But you talk about me."
"Let's dance."
He laughed, but he rested a hand on her waist and other in her hand, leading her across the floor. "Of course."
And for a moment, Lucy thought she saw Ryū as that man, her past lover, from her dreams.
Words w/o additional script: 8,243
You guys have no clue how smug this makes me feel to get this out in so short a time with such a large word count. Like, whoa. This was always my favorite chapter of the manga next to a few others but I never expected it to motivate me so much!