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
"Most maidens are perfectly capable of rescuing themselves in my experience, at least the ones worth something, in any case."
Erin Morgenstern, The Night Circus
~Chapter 7~
~Bohemian Rhapsody~
Lucy hummed, walking under her umbrella, Usagi beside her under her own. It was a sprinkling first of June, Monday morning, much like every other June she'd seen over the past two years. Today the trio were a little distracted, wanting to get to school quickly while Luna lectured Usagi on the merits of living life more nervously, like trying to wake up earlier and spot dangerous situations quicker. Lucy agreed wholeheartedly with this, but it was really hard to change the blonde's thoughts and ways.
"... Tuxedo Mask, right?" Luna was saying once Lucy had decided to pay attention to the conversation again. "We really have no idea who he truly is." Luna, what a lie! "So maybe try to avoid him."
"We just bump into each other." Usagi protested.
"She has a point, Luna." She told the cat on her shoulder. "When you just continuously run into someone you can't- Usa!"
The blonde had walked right passed her into traffic as the crosswalk changed, telling them to stop, and a car came barreling by. She reached out, umbrella falling from her hands as Luna shouted the rabbit's name. Slow motion set in as a brown and tan figure rushed passed her, Usagi lifted into the air and set down on the street.
Lucy ran to her sister, pulling her into a strong hug, letting out a ragged breath. She looked to Usagi's savior, a girl with dark brown hair in a ponytail and rose earrings.
"Thank you."
"It's dangerous." She merely replied with a kind smile, turning to leave. "Be careful!"
Swallowing thickly, Lucy nodded. Usagi twisted in her sister's hold, looking to the girl with wide eyes, still surprised with the near death encounter. "I will!" She assured.
Lucy took hold of Usagi's hand, pulling her in direction of school, grabbing up both their dropped bags and umbrellas. She tugged her toward Minato Ward, older following willingly.
"Usa, what were you thinking...?" She began to lecture, nerves still tense, adrenaline high.
"Holy cow, Naru-chan!" Lucy gushed, looking at the picture of the redhead in a wedding gown. "You're beautiful!"
"It looks fantastic on you!" Usagi agreed.
She giggled, leaning into her hands. "It's my cousin getting married, this time." She explained. "You know that bridal shop near the entrance of the shopping district?" She got nods all around. "They've got a fitting for wedding dress, and I tried on a few!"
"That's sooo nice! When's the wedding?" Kiyoko asked.
"I've never seen an actual wedding ceremony!" Usagi gasped. "I want to go!"
"Oh, it must be beautiful..." Lucy murmured, thinking of the wedding gown and the flowers and exchanging of the vows. The vows were her favorite part.
"Yeah..." Naru's happy air suddenly dropped, and she appeared very sad. "About that..." She went on to explain how her cousin's groom had vanished, gone without a trace, and her cousin hasn't left the bed since.
Lucy winced and Kiyoko frowned. Usagi was a bit more vocal with her surprise and sympathy. "What?! You're cousin's groom has gone missing?!" Naru nodded. "And your cousin is now confined to her bed?!"
Naru nodded again. "That's it! The groom is always so busy, so he's always coming home at all hours of the night." She shrugged, though she still appeared troubled. "I have no idea what happened, but it sure what a shock!"
"I see, so that's why you went to the fitting instead?" Usagi shook her head. "Must be awful!"
Kiyoko was also shaking her head. "And they say that being a June Bride is your ticket to a happy marriage."
"Really?" Lucy, Usagi and Naru looked to the blonde in surprise. Usagi sighed happily when Kiyoko nodded, "They do? That's just wonderful!"
Lucy hummed in agreement, nearly jumping in fright when her friends sang, looking on cloud nine, "Ohh! I want to be a bride!"
The brunette opened her mouth to agree, cut off when the girl from earlier that morning bumped into Usagi, sending the girl forward. Usagi stumbled, grabbing onto Lucy's arm and watching the girl with some minor surprise.
"Be careful!" The girl advised, looking back over her shoulder as she walked, eyes kind but expression serious.
"Oh my!" Naru gasped, blushing furiously in embarrassment for her friend. "That was a shock!" She looked at everyone, curious. "Who is she?"
"She's so tall!" Kiyoko gushed, envy in her gaze. "And she looks strong!"
"I dunno who she is," Lucy blinked, a little taken aback the girl went to school here, "but she's certainly new!"
Down the way, a teacher had come up to the girl, heckling her about something. Maybe it was about how she wasn't in the school uniform, or her odd wavy hair. Lucy like the wave and thought it fit her, real or not, though the teacher obviously didn't.
Umino came over, fixing his glasses. He looked down the hall at the teacher and girl, seemingly serious. "She's the student who just transferred to Class 6," he explained. Realization dawned on faces. "She's supposedly has Herculean strength, and rumor has it that she was kicked out of her previous school."
"Really?" Usagi murmured.
Lucy hummed quietly, watching the girl and teacher interact still. She'd like to speak with her about this morning, and find out if the rumors were true. It will have to wait until later, she thought when the bell rung.
"Lucy-chan," Luna mewed, gaining the girl's attention when class was dismissed for lunch. In the background she could hear Usagi and Naru planning to eat lunch in the garden, which she nodded to absently when Usagi asked if she agreed, kneeling next to Luna.
"Yes, Luna?" She asked just as quietly, letting the cat climb up onto her shoulder so she could follow Usagi out. "What is it?"
"I would like to speak with you during lunch. It is time I explain to you in more depth what I know about the princess and Legendary Silver Crystal." The advisor explained. "It shouldn't take long. We should be finding the final Senshi soon and you should know and understand so they will not feel lost when we can fully enter the stage of finding the princess and Crystal."
For a moment Lucy hesitated, then she remembered how the princess was apart of her past, before now, and nodded. The brunette wanted to know all about the princess, or as much as she'd known of her before now.
"Alright." She said, grabbing Usagi's hand, stopping her sister. The blonde looked back at her dark haired counterpart in curiosity and Lucy felt a gap open in her chest. "Luna needs to explain some advisor stuff to me, Usa."
Usagi was confused for a moment, and even seemed a little hurt, then brightened and nodded. "Yeah, of course." She pulled Lucy into a hug before heading off, waving over her shoulder. The girl tasted bitterness on her tongue.
"Don't wait up for me, Usa!" Lucy called after as her shoulders slumped, eyes conveying her sadness, smile melancholy. "No," Lucy said to no one and everyone, "please don't. Ever."
Luna rubbed against the girl's cheek softly. "It's alright, Lucy-chan. We'll be done in ten minutes at most, five at least." The cat jumped to the floor, padding away down the hallway. "Come. Let's return to the classroom. No one will be there."
Holding her bento tighter, she followed after Luna, still feeling that bitter tang and the gaping hole in her chest. It made her a little uneasy, having never missed even a minute of lunch with Usagi except the few times she'd been sick. Thinking about it, she hadn't left Usagi's side much over the two years. The blonde was an anchor for her, and she felt adrift without her.
Lucy frowned some, walking into the classroom and sitting down in the desk. Luna told Lucy to go ahead and begin eating her lunch, and she undid the neat tie of the four corners of her bento's white kerchief with blue and white flowers. She picked up an onigiri, motioning for Luna to begin as she did.
The black animal sat up straight, tail wrapped around her front paws primly. She looked Lucy directly in the eye, honesty there. Lucy returned the look steadfastly. Then she nodded, laying down, still watching the girl but more casually now.
"The princess has the blood of the Moon's royalty," Luna began, beginning at the heart of the matter. "That means you, I and the Senshi are from there as well, a long time ago. When you teach the Senshi and Usgai-chan leads them, you are doing the bidding of the Moon."
The girl choked on her rice ball, needing to quickly pour a cup of tea from her thermos to get it down. "Wh-what? The Moon?"
The cat nodded. "Yes, the Moon." Now she looked perplexed. "Did you think your and Usagi's names were a spur of the moment thing? It is a link to the past you once had."
"Uh, yeah, considering I just spat out the name Selene when saving Naru with Usa." The girl said, sounding a little freaked. "It seemed like a spur of the moment thing!"
"I can understand that, but I shall explain that better tonight, I promise." She mewed. "Now, the Legendary Silver Crystal, if used correctly, could have the power to blow apart an entire star." At the girl's sharp intake of breath, she nodded. "Yes, that is exactly what we are protecting from the enemy."
"I can't believe we never dropped it in the Marinas Trench! That's pretty a dangerous gem." Lucy stated, drinking straight from the thermos this time despite Luna's grimace. "I didn't know it was so powerful. I thought it was just some diamond."
"No, and the princess is not just a princess either. She is a legacy with a power all her own." Luna licked a paw, drawing it over an ear. "And we must find her and protect her. She is the last of the legacy and holder of the Legendary Silver Crystal."
"Okay, but why can't we find her, again?" She asked, confused. "A seal or something like that?"
"Yes." Luna nodded. "It is to protect her and the Silver Crystal. I am not even sure if she knows who she is, but we will find her or vice versa. Hopefully it is us finding her."
This tugged Lucy the wrong way a little too much. She frowned. "How will we know it's her if she doesn't even know herself?"
"You will know."
"Me?" This time, the brunette truly was surprised, to the point of pointing at her chest, mouth unhinged a little.
"Yes, you." Lucy's mouth snapped closed. "You were closest to her, and so you will know. It is all my memory will tell me."
Lucy nodded, sighing once again. "Okay. Is there anything else? Like about my father?"
"Yes." Luna mewed, taking a piece of sushi offered to her from the girl. "You're father was the same as I, a Mautian. You were a half-breed, but I do not know who your mother was or her race. When your father passed on to Elysium, I took you under my care. You chose to become an advisor. I advised the Queen, and you wished to advise the Princess, but instead were taught battle tactics for the Senshi." Luna bit into the fish and rice, chewing and swallowing before saying, a little mournfully, "I know not further. This is all."
Closing the bento box, Lucy nodded. She stood, drank the rest of the tea in her cup before capping the thermos. The girl held her elbow out to Luna. Luna jump onto Lucy's elbow, up to her shoulder where Luna then rested.
Lucy picked up her bento and thermos, heading out into the garden area where Usagi waited. There, under the big oak where Usagi, Ami, her and a few others sat under was exactly those people and a new addition.
Usagi noticed Lucy immediately, waving her over. Lucy willingly came, giving a little smile and nod to the girl from earlier.
"Lu, meet Makoto-chan! Makoto-chan, meet my sister Lucy!" Usagi introduced, pulling Lucy down beside the blonde. She shifted, a little uncomfortably, before settling, Usagi leaned against Lucy as the of inter brunette held out a hand to Makoto.
"Pleased to meet you, Makoto-chan."
"You're sister was just talking to me about a Game Center she know. Crown Game Center was the name, I think." Makoto replied, shaking Lucy's hand, grip a little tight.
Wow! Lucy thought. Makoto-chan sure is strong!
"I bet." She looked to Usagi with a raised brow. "You really want to take everyone to the Game Center, don't you?"
"She asked!" Usagi offended, taking another bite from the bento. "Makoto-chan gave me her bento!"
"That's not a good idea." Lucy grinned teasingly at her sister.
Usagi squawked. "Not funny! I don't eat that much!" She leaned back to lightly hit Lucy on the shoulder. Lucy faked pain before grinning at her sister, giggling a little.
Today, despite everything she now knew, was going to be a good day. Lucy could feel it.
Lucy was a great many things, Ryū could assure many this. She was a loving daughter, devoted sister, loyal warrior and servant of gods, but also more. Once upon a time, Lucy was a trusting wife, a mother, a protector and guardian. Lucy was someone to let hold your life in her hands for she held it with care, with love, with respect.
Ryū knew better than most the very last, as did Usagi if she ever remembered (and he knew she would. He knew this story better than most.)
It was maybe the last that caused him to seek her out before Lucy's memories came back, before she knew who she was to herself, to the Senshi and to him. He was of the few that remembered who he was, once upon a time, which made for a terrible temptation when recalling the brunette he would dance the night away with, who he would wake beside in the morning, who would laugh with not just her family but his. Ryū was simply unable to let go the chance to dance with her again, to make her laugh again, to one day wake next to her again.
Once upon a time, Ryū had been little more than a Terran lord's son and after meeting Lucy he was still little more than that. He had been selfish back then, spoiled beyond Terran handed repair, and in a way still was now. He didn't want the one who came before him to have her back, hurrying to find her first to save the trouble of such a problem, and was rewarded for his selfishness (he really should have at least told the other who he was chasing when he ran out the door that day, not None of your goddamned business).
Once upon a time, Ryū could say good something or other and Lucy's face would light up, not turn skeptical, silently asking What the hell are you doing here? with distrust. She didn't always look at him that way, but when in a questionable place, say the Crown Game Center, looking like he was about to do a drug deal, she looked at him like he was Lucifer asking for a kiss. (And no, he didn't ask for a hug or anything, just gave a Good afternoon, Aurora which had all her friends awing and her blushing like a sailor's delight.)
"What are you doing here, Ryū?" She demanded, flustered, arms working to fight back crossing over her chest.
"I'm just… hanging around, hoping to see you." Ryū grinned lazily at the brunette, standing from the wall he leaned against, ankles uncrossing. He opened the door for the group of girls, eyes on Lucy the entire time, this glimmer to his eyes.
"You have a boyfriend?" Naru whispered to Lucy, looking over her shoulder at him as she followed her friend inside. "Why didn't I know about this?"
"He's not my boyfriend." Lucy defended. "He's only asked me out twice and we don't even know each other well."
"He nicknamed you Aurora and knows you come here after school frequently. Seems to know you quiet well!" Replied the redhead, glancing at Ryū who was speaking with Motoki. "He's handsome. You should go on a third date, maybe even make it official."
"What if I-" Ryū's eyes turned to them and he grinned, having heard the entire conversation. He looked back to Motoki, excusing himself and saying he'd see him later. He came over to Lucy and Naru, grin leveling into a more tame, less feral smile.
"Who's your friend, Aurora?"
"This is Naru Osaka." Lucy introduced, somewhat begrudgingly.
Naru smiled lightly at him now unsure of how to approach him with the grin he'd given. "Please to meet you."
Ryū took one of her hands holding her bag, shaking it firmly. "The pleasure is all mine, Osaka-san. I'm Ryū Kazeno." Interesting to see one of the servants from that life here. I'd always thought them elsewhere...
A small blush flitted across Naru's when he kissed the knuckles of her hands. She pressed her other hand, curled around her bag, to her mouth, hiding the small gap she gave. He released her hand and a small giggle escaped her. She grabbed Lucy's hand, asked for a moment, and drew away with the brunette.
The two talked, one flustered and the other vehement in her decision. Which was which was anyone's guess because the hand gestures and voice tone was all the same. It recalled way back when they had met for a third time in that other life where Lucy's companion would talk her into going around the small bazaar with him for the day. Lucy had compared it to a Martian bazaar and she'd promised to one day take him, though she was never given the chance.
"Ryū?"
He immediately came back to the current world. "Yes?"
Lucy stood before him, toying with her bag, skirt, anything she could get hold of. Before he could stop himself, Ryū looked to her ring finger, hoping to see a ring being turned there, then he was connecting eyes with her and he knew she'd seen him look there. Save the first time, Lucy always saw.
"I've been talked- er," Lucy stopped talking, back pedaling in her conversation. The slightest of embarrassed blushes touch her freckled cheeks and he wanted her to blush more. She looked very pretty with a blush. "I've been… thinking…"
Ryū didn't prompt further. She spoke on her own time with her own terms. Rushing made her irritable.
"I've been thinking of whether or not you'd like to go see a movie?"
Ryū was suddenly thrown back to their third date. It had started well enough, but ended in rain, yelling, tears and guilt he still felt from destroying the only thing she had left of her first love. A thousand years since and he still felt responsible.
"I'd love to, Lucy." Ryū replied. A mischievous glint entered his eye as he added, "Long as I pay."
"How about we split the bill this time?" She tried, obviously not planning for further compromise.
He nodded, amused adoration clear across his face now. "I think we can compromise that way."
"Good," she nodded as Naru grinned. She bounced up, leaning onto Lucy's shoulder, asking, "So, are you guys going on a date?"
"We haven't set up a time and place yet." Ryū nodded. "How does Wednesday at six sound and we see what movies they've got? Midweek is usually best for that."
"The weekend too, but I'm fine with Wednesday." Lucy agreed, forcing down her small smile. "And let's make it five-thirty so we get there at six."
After a moment of contemplation, Ryū agreed, resisting the urge to take Lucy's hand and kiss it, one of the few stupid habits he retained and tried to not do. But as proof he'd failed with Naru, but he wasn't going to with Lucy. And yet…
"Lu!" Usagi called as Ryū took Lucy's hand, squeezing lightly before dropping it. Both looked to the blonde rabbit who stood with Ami and Makoto, ready to go already. Ryū supposed a good amount of time had passed without his own knowledge.
Lucy turned away from him, walking to her friends. Not for the first time he felt the urge to reach out to here whether to stop Lucy or see if her hair was as soft as his memory said, he wasn't sure. For whatever reason it was, Ryū didn't act on it. He let her go, letting Lucy come closer to knowing herself on her own.
At the door, Naru went the other way, heading home, and he was tempted to do the same. Motoki came up to him as he began to make for the doors, eager to speak with him.
"Kazeno-san, your father came by the other day."
A pale brow rose, moving from the door with the shop manager. "Oh? Tell me, what did my Father have to say?"
"I heard the strangest rumor on the way over today." Ami scratch at Luna who was nestled into Lucy's arms.
"What was it?" Lucy asked, handing Luna off to Usagi when the cat's nails dug in for a fourth time since they left the arcade. Luna wasn't doing it on purpose, she was just stretching too much which she could help if a little tired.
"You've all heard about that big bridal shop at the entrence to the shopping district, right?" The water guardian asked.
"Yeah!" Usgai nodded, petting Luna who purred. "The one Naru-chan went to?"
"Yes." Ami nodded.
Makoto sighed, look thoughtful as they walked. "I can still picture that mannequin on the balcony, looking ready to jump. Beautiful! I'd love to be a bride!"
The brunette flushed, ducking her head. Usagi turned to Makoto, look innocently curious at the girl's reaction.
About this moment, the four were passing by the shopping district and Makoto pointed toward the bridal shop with it's jumping mannequin. "See? That's the bridal shop."
"The one that's cursed?" Ami asked. Makoto gave her a confused look. "On the bus, a few women were talking. They talked about a bride's ghost."
Lucy jerked, startled, eyes growing a fraction. Usagi reacted similar, with a gasped thrown in. Makoto blinked, taken aback and unsure how to react. Luna mewed, gaping.
"They say the mannequin on the balcony wanders at night, trying to seduce all the men who lass by." Ami explains, continuing to walk which forcing the others to follow as well. "And if you buy a dress from the shop, you're cursed by the ghost bride and spend your life in misery."
"Eh?" Usagi shivered, holding Luna a little tighter. "Well, when I do get married, I'm not going there for a dress!"
They hurried a little quicker passed, heading toward Hikawa shrine. Grandpa Hino saw them and came over, smiling. He showed them up the steps, calling for Rei's attention.
Rei turned, a little surprised to see them, only to be exasperated a moment later by her grandfather flirting with the four girls, asking if they'd like to be mikos. "Grandfather! Really?" She growled, hand clenching around the broom she held. Rei was trying very heard not to stomp her foot, rolling her eyes at the older man.
"I'm sorry, Hino-sama," Lucy grinned, flushed a little, "but I don't think being a miko is in my future."
Usagi giggled, while Ami smiled and Makoto seemed unimpressed. Rei shooed Grandpa Hino off, and for a while the five spoke about the ghost bride, filling Rei in on the rumors. Makoto decided to leave eventually, claiming this was way above her head, after Rei declared she didn't trust men. Lucy ran after her, stopping her with a call of her name.
"Hey, hold on," Lucy smiled lightly at her, digging into her bag, pulling out the first paper she got a hold of which happened to be a half finished drawing. She balanced on a foot as Makoto rose a brow, lips quirked up in a little smile. Lucy pressed her bag into her knee, writing on the paper Usagi's and her house number. She tore off the edge, holding it out to Makoto. "I should be home about six or so. Call about six thirty, seven o'clock?"
The brunette's smile grew wider, eyes warming over. Makoto took the paper, tucking it into her bag. "Thank you, Lucy-chan."
Lucy smiled back, so widely her eyes scrunched closed. "Thank you, Makoto-chan."
With goodbyes, the darker brunette left. Usagi, Ami, Rei and Lucy spoke a little more about the ghost bride, of what it could be and what it couldn't be. They all agreed on the possibility of it being the enemy or a malevolent spirit. Otherwise, they had trouble coming to other conclusions.
"It's getting late," Ami commented, looking at her watch. "It's almost five-thirty."
Lucy looked to her own, a little surprised. "Oh, it is. I told Makoto-chan we'd be home about six."
Ami picked up her bag, standing. She brushed off her skirt, nodding to each of her friends. "I should be going, everyone. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Hey, wait!" Lucy called, holding out a slip of paper to the blue haired girl. "Here. So you can call us. I realized today none of us have each other's cellphone numbers. I know we have communicators but I'd also like us to have each other's numbers in case communicators don't work."
"Oh." Ami took it, obviously surprised. She blushed a little. "Thank you, Lucy-chan. I'll be sure to call later."
The water senshi left with a lighter air, happier. Lucy passed Rei one as well, grinning at the miko. "This one is for you, Rei-san."
"Thank you, Lucy-san, Usagi-chan." She nodded to each of them, looking at her watch. "I'll be closing the shrine in a few minutes. Would you like to stay for some tea?"
"I can't today," Lucy said, looking to Usagi. "But I'm sure Usa can stay."
"Yeah!" Usagi nodded, readying to,say more before Luna said, "No, Usagi-chan, you cannot. You have homework to do!"
Usagi sighed and Lucy patted her sister's shoulder, sympathy clear across her face. "Sorry, Usa."
Rei nodded. "Very well. It was nice to see you both." She smiled lightly at them, "I think you'd make good miko, even for a day."
The sisters laughed, exchanged goodbyes, and headed home.
Lucy climbed up the ladder to her bed and flopped down, damp hair fanned out under her. She sighed heavily, feeling disappointed. Neither Ami nor Makoto had called. Rei had called to make sure the two got home safe and Lucy got to write down Rei's number. The sisters had done their homework (Usagi was coerced), both had eaten dinner and taken a bath before it was now bed time.
"Hey, Lu." Usagi called quietly, not wanting to disturb Luna who had settled down. "What do you think of Makoto-chan?"
Lucy sat up, leaning over the rail to look down at her sister's dark outline. She grinned a little, disappointment clearing. "I like her. We should talk with her again tomorrow."
"Do you think she's a Senshi like me?" Usagi asked, voice softening. She sounded hopeful, but unsure of letting it be known. She knew Lucy wasn't very happy with Rei and Ami being Senshi.
Lucy was quiet for a moment, not taken aback by the words but… understanding. It probably explained why she had taken to Makoto so quickly. It explained a lot.
Lucy didn't answer after a few more minutes, Usagi thought the girl wouldn't reply, and was ready to say she was kidding or something like that, Lucy did. "I think she might be. I'm not upset about it or anything like that, just surprised. I didn't notice until you said something."
"I didn't think of it until I was in the bath," Usagi replied, voice still soft but showing her hope for it. "She's nice, not what people think. And even if she isn't a Senshi, I'd like to get to know her."
Lucy nodded. "Same. She's sweet."
"You two should be sleeping," Luna murmured from the foot of Usagi's bed, not bothering to move or open even a single eye. Both girls startled, blushed and giggled nervously.
"Oh, yeah." Lucy giggled softly, laying down, snuggling down under her blanket. Usagi followed suit.
An hour or so passed, them sleeping peacefully, waiting for the next day, before Lucy was sharply woken by Luna pouncing on her. She yelped, bolting up in bed. Luna jumped to the window sill after, leaving her alone.
Lucy scrambled out of bed, nearly falling and cracking her head as she went as she went. Usagi's bed was messy, as if left in a hurry, and the moon, a perfect crescent, shone in the room, also lighting Tuxedo Mask in the street being followed by Usagi who was followed by Luna. Lucy left the bedroom through the window and followed, opening her communicator in a hurry, chasing after.
"Rei-san! Ami-chan!" Lucy called, getting beeps to signal them hearing. "Get up! Usagi is following Tuxedo Mask somewhere!"
"Coming!" Came from both.
They were heading in the direction of the shopping district, a place that gave Lucy a sick feeling. She wanted to scream, angry at herself for not noticing earlier. It seemed all day her thoughts and judgement had been impaired. It was like she-
The brunette stopped short, eyes widening as they zeroed in on Makoto being entranced by Motoki, surrounding by an ugly dark light. The ghost bride was there too, dressed in white, a malevolent aura coming off her in thick waves. It nearly choked Lucy.
"Usagi-chan!" Ami and Rei yelled, arriving. "Lucy-chan/-san!"
"It's the enemy," Usagi said lifting her transformation pen into the sky. "We have to save them!"
There was a light and Usagi became a groom and, for a moment, Lucy thought she'd seen Usagi like this before, dressed like a man but in more ragged clothing, then her sister was there again, righteous fury in her gaze. Lucy missed all her sister said, but the gist was there when her sister threw her henshin into the air, crying out her transformation words.
"Stealing the sacred for of the blushing bride and whispering of love!" Usagi declared. "We won't stand for it!"
On each side, Rei and Ami flanked her, frowning with disappointment. Lucy, now in advisor form, stood to the side, feeling queasy still and unable to help. She stumbled to Makoto's side, grabbing her hand and pulling her away from Motoki. She yelped when the girl's touch shocked her like electricity, nearly jumping away, tail fur fluffed.
"I, the Pretty Guardian of Love and Justice in a sailor suit, will punish you in the name of the Moon!"
"I am the Guardian of Water and Wisdom, Sailor Mercury! I'll wash you down with Mercury Power! One with wisdom must use it for the sake of humanity and the world!"
"The Guardian of Fire, Sailor Mars! You will refrain from underestimating women! And with Mars Power, you will burn!"
The words of the Senshi snapped Makoto from the trance she had been placed under, hurt and pain in her gaze. She stood up straighter, placing a hand to the crown of her head. "You were– you were controlling and tricking people?!" Anger made her shoulders tense, and Lucy pulled away now, fury crackling over the taller girl's skin. Her forehead glowed green, the symbol of Jupiter on her brow.
"Damn it!" She grabbed the ghost bride, lifting the enemy into the air. Green enveloped her as the enemy screeched "I'll show you a woman's pure feelings with raw strength!"
Luna, another henshin pen in her maw, jumped over Lucy, jerking her head up, tossing the pen at Makoto. Makoto threw the ghost, the creature disintegrating into dust, to catch the pen, fumbled with it before suddenly transforming into a Senshi. She stood, surprised, and Lucy smiled shakily, stumbling to her knees, Luna heading back to Lucy to encourage her to stand.
She shook her head tiredly, watching Makoto fight the enemy, a red haired man.
"Flower Hurricane!" Makoto commanded, lifting her arms, bent at the elbow, to summon a storm of roses. They attacked the man, creating a smokescreen of petals and smell.
He shouted, throwing up an arm to protect himself to little avail.
"Jupiter, the planet I protect, bring a storm!" Lucy chuckled weakly. Of course she was Jupiter. Moon, Mercury, Mars and now Jupiter. Senshi of the Inner Planets. "Being your thunder down!"
Raising her arms above her, an antenna sprouted from the green gem on Makoto's tiara. "Jupiter Thunderbolt!" She yelled, summoning down lightening. It struck the antenna, arcing out to hit the man.
With a scream of rage, he shriveled up, resembling a grotesque mummy, sinking into the ground by a black light.
Breathless, the newfound Senshi sank to her knees, holding herself up by one arm, other holding her shoulder. The antenna disappeared as Usagi ran up to the Jupiter Senshi, calling her name.
To the side, as Ami and Rei joined Usagi with Makoto, a gloved hand took gentle hold of Lucy's elbow. Helping her rise onto shaky legs, Tuxedo Mask nodded to a surprised Luna, small smile in place. He placed a hand to small of Lucy's back to hold her steady before slowly pulling away, making sure she could stand before jumping to the first balcony of the bridal shop, cape billowing. Lucy watched him go, feeling, from the things he had just done, that on some level Tuxedo Mask could be trusted.
Luna mewed, brushing Lucy's legs, and she glanced down at the cat. Luna looked back, face conveying sympathy. "You will feel better if you release the pent up lunar energy inside you."
"Lunar energy?" Lucy murmured, holding her head where the pain mostly was.
"Yes," Luna nodded. "It has built up in you, and needs to be released. It's why you didn't realize the enemy was here until too late and why you are feeling so terrible now."
Lucy nodded slowly, watching the Senshi talk. "How do I get rid of it?"
"Think of something that can harness the energy, and imagine it as real. The energy will make it." Luna explained. "It can then be used by Usagi-chan seeing as she is the leader of the Senshi." She brushed against Lucy's ankles again, as a form of comfort for the queasy, woozy girl. "You don't even have to close your eyes unless it helps."
Lucy nodded, closing her eyes just to block out the spinning world. She thought of the little Sailor V, holding the Crescent Moon Wand in the video game. All of the pain and sick feeling left her in a rush, letting in a fresh feeling, like you get when you first set foot under the stream of a nice shower. The energy pooled at her feet, and Lucy opened her eyes just to see the same wand from the video game at her feet, Usagi watching her curiously.
"Lu?"
Lucy picked up the wand, holding it out to Usagi. As Usagi took it, their fingers brushed and Lucy felt it. She felt her heart, so unsure these past few weeks, finally settle. She didn't fully understand, just as Luna and the others didn't, but she understood enough. Her place was at Usagi's side, no matter what that meant, and she'd be there.
"Usa, you're the leader of the Senshi," Lucy said, smile tiny but assuring, "and you, with the others, must protect the Legendary Silver Crystal and the Moon Princess."
Lucy realized a moment too late she'd said Moon Princess instead of just princess, but Luna didn't make a sound of disapproval so she supposed it was fine. Usagi looked at the wand, glancing up at Lucy.
"I'm the leader?" Lucy nodded. "I must protect the Legendary Silver Crystal and the Moon Princess?"
"Yes," Lucy once again nodded, reverting to her sleep garb as the other girls do. "You are to be the leader of you four to defeat the enemy so you can protect the Legendary Silver Crystal and the Moon Princess."
She took her sister's hand, placing her hand over Usagi's so the handle of the Moon Stick, as Lucy had dubbed it, was covered completely. "The Moon Stick is a new item. It'll help you fight the enemies." Lucy suddenly realized she had no clue how it was supposed to work, but oddly knew that Usagi would know. "You'll know how to use it when the time comes."
Usagi looked to the friends the sisters shared, down at the Moon Stick then to Luna and back to her sister. She did not smile, but an understanding passed between them. Lucy had accepted this new part of their lives and was willing to change for it, just as Usagi was.
Usagi looked to their friends, waiting patiently. Taking a shaky breath to calm her nerves, she smiled to them. "It's late. We should all return home and to bed."
They voiced agreement and, after brief goodbyes, headed separate ways.
Heading down the street, going much slower, the sisters were silent, Luna a few paces ahead of them. The Moon Stick was tucked into the waistband of the bow on Lucy's gown, and Usagi's walk was lazy at best. It was clear they all were tired, even Luna.
"Lu?" Whispered the blonde.
"Hm?" Came the near nonexistent reply.
"How am I supposed to lead the Senshi?" She asked. "I don't even wake up on time in the morning."
Usually, Lucy would shrugged at this type of question when only half awake, but she gave effort this time, saying, "You may not get up in the morning, Usa," a pause for a yawn, "but you can lead. You draw people in, like a light, and people want to listen and do better." She turned her head to smile lazily, patting the blonde's shoulder. "Do as your heart tells you. It never lies."
The blonde stopped walking, just watching her brunette counterpart, then returned her sister's lazy smiled. She hooked her elbow with the other's and began walking forward again, ready for sleep and the new day to come after.
Lucy herself was feeling more at peace with herself than she had in a long while, even before all this Senshi business.
Words w/o : 6aditional script: 6,659
I know I said I'd stop posting Lucy of the Moon here, but I kept wanting to keep posting new chapters here. So, I've decided to start posting this here on .