Usagi sighed, and walked to school. Her mind plagued with thoughts of the party from the night before, dancing with Haruka, and the mysterious Senshi that had appeared, and the kiss she had given her when she left. Usagi had no idea what that had been about. Just the mere thought of that mysterious Senshi left her with a confusing mix of conflicting feelings.
"Usagi? You've been awfully quiet this morning, what's wrong?" Luna asked, from her spot on Usagi's shoulder.
Usagi yawned, sleepily. She was so tired she had strange dreams all night, and she found it hard to get a proper night's rest. Of course the rain wasn't helping either.
"It's just that mysterious Senshi from last night…everytime I think of her I can't help but feel as though I've met her before. I just can't figure out if I really have or not."
Luna sighed,
"Well it's best not to think about it'd be better to just try and avoid her. After all she said she wasn't our ally didn't she?"
Usagi looked at the ground,
"Yeah but she didn't say she was our enemy either, and she saved me. Not only that, she…" Usagi's gaze shifted to her hand, the same one the mysterious Senshi had kissed, and she trailed off.
Usagi didn't know how to feel, when she thought of that mysterious Senshi she felt warm, a feeling that she got when thinking of Michiru and Haruka. Briefly Usagi wondered if Michiru, and the mysterious Senshi were the same. If that were true it would mean Michiru was the one who kissed her then. Just the thought of that made Usagi's face all red. No way it could be true….Yet Usagi couldn't help but think it was…could Michiru really be that Senshi? They both had green hair, and blue eyes. She'd ask if she decided she would ask if she ever saw that Senshi again.
"Usagi!! Move!!" Luna shouted, from the sidewalk when Luna had even left her shoulder. Why?
A car horn was heard, and Usagi looked and saw a car coming her way. Fear shot through Usagi, and she froze.
Just then someone grabbed her, lifting her off the ground, and moving her out of harm's way.
Usagi was abruptly dropped on the sidewalk, standing in front of her was a tall girl, with messy brown hair pulled into a ponytail, and she wore rose earrings.
"It's dangerous to stop in the middle of the street. Please be careful."
Usagi nodded, and watched the girl leave in silence.
_
"Wow Naru, she looks just like you! She's so pretty!" Usagi said, staring at a photo of a young woman in a bridal gown who looked strikingly similar to Naru.
"Thanks, she's my cousin and she's getting married this June. I got to go to the bridal shop with her and they even let me try on a dress!" Naru spoke happily, before her face fell as if she remembered something.
Usagi looked at Naru confused. What was wrong? Shouldn't this be a happy occasion?
"Naru? Are you alright?" Usagi asked concerned,
Naru gave Usagi a weak smile,
"Oh it's just that my cousin's fiancé…he went missing, but I'm sure he's fine."
"But aren't June brides supposed to be the happiest? I'm sure it'll turn out alright!" One of the other girls chimed in.
"Ooh! I wish I could be a bride!" Usagi said, as she spoke she lost her footing, and fell backwards hitting someone.
"Hey, you need to be careful!" The same girl from this morning spoke.
"She startled me! Who is she?" Naru asked,
"Wow! She's really tall!" Another girl exclaimed,
Just than a teacher yelled at the mysterious girl,
"Hey transfer student, why haven't you changed your uniform yet!"
The tall girl looked at the teacher and sighed,
"They didn't have one my size , sir, and before you say anything about my hair it's not dyed."
Usagi watched as the transfer student walked away, she really seemed like a strange girl.
"Usagi it's time for lunch! Where should we eat?" Naru asked, a smile on her face.
Usagi tilted her head in thought,
"Well it's done raining so why don't we go to the courtyard?"
_
Usagi hid behind a tree, and sulked. The transfer student was in their spot! Usagi peaked out from behind the tree staring at the transfer student. Immediately Usagi noticed her lunch, and thought about how good it looked. Oh! Her lunch bag was super cute too!
Meanwhile behind Usagi, one of the boys playing baseball got a homerun, and the ball was heading for the back of Usagi's head. Usagi however was oblivious to this and continued to stare at the transfer student.
"Watch out!" Someone yelled, and the transfer student jumped and pushed Usagi out of the ball's path.
"You need to be more aware of your surroundings!" The transfer student scolded, picking back up her lunch.
Usagi stared, wow that lunch looked really good.
"Oh? Do you want some?" The transfer student asked.
Usagi jumped up,
"Really I could have some?" Usagi asked, taking a rice ball and devouring it. The transfer student was saying something about groceries, but Usagi wasn't really listening.
"Oh yeah, I'm also looking for a good arcade I can try out."
Usagi looked up,
"I can show you a really great arcade!"
_
Ami walked into the arcade, holding Luna. Almost immediately she noticed Usagi, with another girl she did not know.
"Oh! Usagi you're here already!"
Usagi looked at her with a smile,
"Hey Ami! Look how good she is at the Sailor V game!"
Ami looked at the girl playing the game, and then the screen. Indeed she had gotten far.
"Oh, Usagi, is this one of your friends? She's wearing a different uniform than you so she must go to a different school!" The worker who was usually at this time spoke,
"I'm a transfer student at Juuban, I'm in grade eight class six. I'm Kino Makato. It's nice to meet you."
"Oh! My name is Furuhata Motoki." The worker replied, to Miss Kino.
"Oh is that your name, what all your friends call you?" Usagi asked, excitedly.
A laugh was heard in response,
"Well most of my college friends call me Furu for short!"
"Aw! That's cute! Anyway, Makato you're part of the group now so we're gonna call you The Strong and Powerful Makato!"
Ami sighed, Usagi really was a social butterfly. Was there anyone she couldn't make friends with?
"On another topic, have you heard about the bridal shop at the entrance of the shopping district? There's some strange rumors going around about it. I want to go check it out."
Usagi smiled brightly,
"Alright let's go! You should come to Makato!"
_
Makato stared at the tall building that was the bridal shop. In one of the windows she could see a gorgeous mannequin, in a wedding gown. It looked so real…Makato wished she could be a bride.
Makato looked at Usagi, who was also staring at the bridal shop in awe. Makato wondered what Usagi was thinking about.
"Did you hear about that bridal shop?" A woman spoke, talking to another woman behind her.
"Yeah, it's haunted right? They say that bridal figure up there is actually a ghost!" The other woman responded,
"Yeah they say the mannequin swoops down at night from the balcony, and seduces men who are nearby! They also say if you buy a dress there the mannequin will haunt you forever!"
Makato stepped back, what a creepy story.
"Wow even after I get married…I'm never gonna buy a dress at this store." Makato spoke, earning a strange look from Ami and the cat.
_
"Rei! Your friends are here!" Rei heard her grandpa call and Rei turned to see Ami, and Usagi.
"You girls are quite a sight! Would you like to work at the shrine?" Rei heard her grandpa speak.
Rei was mortified at her grandfather, and she was about to hit with the back of the broom, when she noticed a girl with brown hair and a ponytail standing next to Usagi. Rei felt something strange about her…could she be?
"A haunted bridal shop?" Rei asked, as Ami told of the day's occurrences.
"There are people whose finances have disappeared. I wonder if they were seduced by the ghost bride?"
Rei crossed her arms, and turned away from Ami,
"I for one don't care if they were seduced by a ghost. It's their fault for letting themselves get seduced in the first place!" Rei spoke, quickly and firmly.
"But, Rei!" Usagi started to speak, but Rei cut her off,
"I don't trust men."
The brown haired girl laughed uncomfortably,
"This conversation is getting a little intense for me. I'm going to head home."
Rei watched her leave, and she spoke,
"Luna, I think the day our group will be complete is closer than we thought."
_
Furuhata walked away from the closed game shop, thank goodness the day was over. Opening his eyes, Furuhata saw something peculiar. He saw a bride in a beautiful white wedding dress staring at him.
Look into my eyes, and become my slave.
Offer your energy to me, and our great ruler!
_
Makato reached down into the vending machine, and pulled out her drink. She sighed, and looked at the sky,
"It's getting pretty late already."
Makato turned to leave and saw Furuhata Motoki standing there, leaning against the wall.
"Hey Makato, I've been waiting for you." He spoke, his voice sounded rather empty.
Makato stepped back realizing something wasn't right, but it was too late.
Look into my eyes
I love you…
_
Usagi awoke with a fright, and bounded up in bed. Something was wrong. She didn't know what but something was wrong. Usagi looked out the window, and then at Luna who was somehow still curled up, asleep. She needed to see what was wrong. She had to, because something was terribly wrong.
Slowly Usagi climbed out of her covers, and undid the latch on the windowsill. Usagi opened the window, and climbed out of it into the darkness of the night.
_
Usagi ran. She ran through the streets, looking for something, anything that wasn't right. What was wrong? Why did she feel such dread? Where? Where did she need to go?
Usagi was abruptly pulled to a stop, someone had grabbed her wrist.
"You shouldn't be out here this late. It's dangerous."
Usagi turned, to see who spoke. She turned, and saw that Mysterious Senshi standing behind her, with her hand holding her wrist. Why? Why now? Why did she have to show up now? To try and stop her from doing anything dangerous Usagi realized. Usagi looked at the Senshi, studying her features. She really did look like Michiru, same green curls, and the same deep blue eyes.
She needed to ask. But something was wrong, she needed to leave. However Usagi had to ask or she might never get her answer.
"You really should go home. Whatever's happening, someone else can deal with it."
Usagi studied the Senshi's features again, she really did look like Michiru. But was she really? She had to ask, or she might never know.
"Uh…are you…I…is it you Michiru?" Usagi asked, having trouble forming her words for a moment.
The Senshi's face betrayed her, and she looked utterly shocked. So she had to be….
It was then the Senshi spoke,
"I…how…did you?"
_
Neptune looked at Usagi in shock, and her mouth moved on its own. Neptune wished she could go back the minute she spoke those words. Now there was no possibility of denying Usagi's guess. What to do? She didn't know. Neptune didn't know. She underestimated her Princess. She didn't think she'd figure out who she was. How to fix this? Neptune was at a loss. She didn't expect this to happen.
"Sorry! I really can't stay here right now! Bye!" Usagi shouted quickly before running off.
Oh she had let go of Usagi's wrist in her stupor hadn't she? Neptune needed to figure out how to fix this, or do something. But she was at a loss. A complete and utter loss.
_
Usagi ran, and she ran. She ran as fast as she could so the Senshi or Michiru couldn't catch up with her. That's when she saw two familiar figures, standing in the distance. Was that Makato, and Motoki? Wait…who was that behind them? Was that the mannequin from the bridal shop? So the ghost bride was real? Immediately Usagi knew what to do,
"Moon Prism Power Make Up!"
In a flash of light she was Sailor Moon and she shouted,
"How dare you take on the form of a beautiful bride to manipulate people! I can't allow you to use the sweet murmurings of love to possess people! I am the pretty sailor suited Senshi of Love and Justice Sailor Moon! In the name of the moon I'll punish you!"
"I am the Senshi of Water and Wisdom Sailor Mercury!Wisdom should be used to benefit humanity! How dare you use it to trick people! I'll douse you in water and make you repent!" Sailor Mercury yelled, running up to be next to Usagi.
"I am the Senshi of Flame and Passion Sailor Mars! How dare you play a woman's heart for fools! With the power of Mars I'll chastise you!"
Usagi felt a wave of relief wash over her at sight of her companions thank goodness they where here.
_
"Trick…Manipulate?" Makato muttered, and she looked at the ghost bride. Anger rose in her chest,
"You were lying to me?" Quickly Makato moved, she had always been strong, it was time to put it to use.
Makato grabbed the ghost bride, and lifted her up,
"I'll show you the power an innocent girl like me has!"
It was then that the cat came running forward, and shouted her name? The cat threw a pen at her, a light shined on her forehead, and in a flash of lightning she had changed, and the bride was on the floor dead.
A sickening laughter was heard, and Makato turned to see a man with long brown hair, and ornate gray clothes,
"You only destroyed my shadow, not the real me!"
Makato felt an anger like she never did before, and her body moved on it's own as if it already new what to do.
"Flower Hurricane!"
At her yell before Makato's eyes millions of flowers bloomed around the man, and swarmed him. But that wasn't enough to finish him,
"My planet Jupiter create a storm! Send down bolts of lightning! Jupiter ThunderBolt!"
Green lightning rained down from the sky, striking the man repeatedly. When the storm cleared the man was strewn on the ground.
Nephrite of the Four Heavenly Kings was dead.
_
Usagi ran forward as the storm cleared with Mercury, and Mars following close behind.
"Makato!" Usagi yelled, relieved her new friend was okay.
Makato looked at Usagi with a sad smile,
"There was a guy at my old school who broke my heart you see…and after that it hurt to face him everyday at school. After that I decided to transfer schools…Motoki looks a lot like that old crush…I just feel the need to tell you this. Just like I felt the need to come here."
Rei smiled at Makato,
"You don't need to cry over some guy. After all you're protected by Jupiter…you're Sailor Jupiter the Senshi of Thunder, and Courage!"
Makato looked at her hands, and curled them into fists,
"Yeah…Sailor Jupiter that's who I really am, I swear I'll carry out my mission no matter what."
A clattering sound was heard and Usagi turned, she was Luna sitting there in front of a sort of wand with the Moon on it.
Usagi tilted her head confused. It was than that Luna spoke,
"Sailor Moon the four warriors have now assembled. You must be brave and be their leader. You must find, and protect the Moon Princess and her Silver Crystal."
_
Neptune watched from the rooftops, and realized something was wrong. Why did that cat not realize Usagi was the Moon Princess? Usagi wasn't the leader Venus was. This wasn't right. What was going on?
Neptune felt a sense of dread, what would the future bring?