Act Four: The Masquerade Ball
"Ohayo, Ami-chan, Rei-chan," I said welcoming my friends into my modest home; though despite the fact that we were having a meeting, it could not last very long as today I was speaking with my social worker Meioh Setsuna. "Ah, there you girls are," Luna who was in her more humanoid form said with a smile from a chair centered around my kitchenettes table. "I don't know if you have seen the papers this morning, but take a look at this," Luna said sliding the day's paper towards myself as Ami, and Rei who were sitting next to me leaned closer to read over my shoulder. "The Final Mystery of the Century Will be Unveiled Tonight," Ami-chan said reading the main headline. "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," Rei-chan said softly her eyes like my own scanning over the smaller headline below the main one though she was speaking out loud and not to herself as I had been.
"I believe that this Princess D, could very well be the princess we are searching for, this mysterious jewel, the most precious in the world, it could be the legendary Ginzuishou, which only the princess would possess," Luna said. "True, but how would be ever be able to go to such a thing," I said asking the question as Luna smiled, sharing a look with Ami-chan and asking her if she would explain it. "You could use the Luna Pen, Usagi-chan, with that you could easily disguise yourself, and make your way into this Masquerade Party that the Kingdom of D is holding later tonight, Ami-chan said as she as all of us had read about the ball being held below the headlines that had risen Luna's curiosity and now our own. "It is a good thing that I only am speaking with Setsuna-san for a few hours today then, can Ami-chan and Rei-chan use the Pen, Luna," I asked her. "It is possible for any of the senshi to use the pen as it uses the power within you that allows you to henshin to transform you into whatever the need may present," Luna said as we all nodded thinking that it made sense.
"Ami-chan, Rei-chan do you girls have any formal attire, it is most likely that only Usagi-chan will be able to make it inside of the ball being held but I would like you to mingle on the outside of the Kingdom of D's ambassador's mansion here in the city, as many guests will be doing the same. "I have a dress that could work," Rei-chan said thoughtfully. "So do I mama got it for me as a present for having the courage to stand up for what I believe in when I asked to attend public school," Ami-chan added as I smiled though so did Luna and Rei-chan at the resident genius of our group. Ding, dong, which was the familiar sound of my doorbell ringing interrupted us, and Luna in a flash of her own personal magic was back in feline form as I headed for the door, and opening it couldn't help but jump at the person on the other side giving them a large hug.
"Sets-chan," I said to the tall statuesque beauty who was my social worker. "Usagi-chan," she said in her soft but knowledgeable tone, as if she knew the truth of secrets that she could never tell. Besides being tall, Setsuna's skin was a breathtaking bronze in tone, and she had deep black hair, that in the right light seemed to hold a natural forest green like tone and soft amethyst like eyes, that reminded me of Rei's now that I thought about it, it seemed that the two had this one thing in common. "Who are your friends," Setsuna asked me and I blushed having forgotten for a moment about Ami-chan and Rei-chan, and embarrassed about the nickname that I normally only used around Setsuna. "These are some of my best friends. This is Mizuno Ami-chan, and Hino Rei-chan," I said introducing the two who waved, though Rei-chan couldn't help but say, "it is nice to meet you Sets-chan," causing Ami to do her best to try to hide her giggle while I turned quite red, but in the end was laughing just as Setsuna was.
"It is easy to see how you three became friends. Oh, who is this," Setsuna said as Luna who was purring was weaving her way in between Setsuna's legs. "Oh this is Luna, I adopted her after finding her on the streets," I said easily telling the lie that the two of us had come up with when anyone asked about her, that shouldn't know the truth about who she truly was. "Well it is nice to meet you as well chibi-Luna," Sets-chan said kneeling down to pet Luna who purred happily as the two looked at each other for a moment before Setsuna straightened from the crouch she had lowered into. "Gomen nesai for intruding Usagi-chan, but I didn't know you would have guests today," Sets-chan said to me though I quickly waved the apology away saying their was no need for such a thing, and that their was no way she could have possibly known about my friends being over today. "So, are we still going out to lunch today, it's my turn to treat you," I asked Sets-chan who smiled and nodded.
"Well I guess we should leave you two then," Rei-chan said. "It was nice meeting you Setsuna-san," Rei-chan said with a bow that Setsuna returned. "Farewell, and it was a pleasure to meet you as well," Ami-chan added as she bowed as well, and once again Setsuna returned the gesture though I could see her rolling her eyes. "Onegai, there is no need to be so formal. Any friend to Usagi-chan is a friend of mine as well. So if you would call me Setsuna-chan," Sets-chan asked of the two who nodded before both said they would see me later, though Sets-chan didn't realize how soon that would be. "Ready to go Usagi-chan," Setsuna asked me. "Hai, Sets-chan," I said in reply as we left my house Luna giving me a wink as I locked the door behind me, so I knew she would be keeping an eye on things until I returned, and might even have something for lunch ready as well, if she could find the time, with all the investigating into the article that I knew she wished to do.
As we often did, myself and Sets-chan easily slipped into conversations about what had been going on in our lives. Sets-chan, besides being my social worker loved fashion, and designed cloths in her spare time, often wearing her own designs much like her purple and black dress she was wearing today. She wasn't famous in any sense of the word, but designers had begun to show an interest in her work, and Sets-chan was seriously conceding each offer made to her to finally display her work to the general public. I told Sets-chan about Ami, Rei, and Luna and made sure to mention Naru-chan and Umino-kun as well, though Sets-chan knew and talked with both of my oldest friends so everything that I could tell Sets-chan about the three newest people in my life was the majority of my side of the conversation. But as often was the case, I was totally absorbed in catching up with Sets-chan so wasn't paying attention to where I was going, which led to me running into someone, the impact sending me spiraling to the ground, where I landed on what was now my sore backside.
"Ooh," I said as the figure I had bumped into offered me his hand gingerly getting to my feet not yet looking up at who I had hit. "Gomen nasai sir. I wasn't paying attention to where I was go…," but here I trailed off as I looked up at a familiar smile and into even more familiar deep blue eyes. "Mamo-chan," I said in excitement flinging my hands around him, as a deep chuckle rumbled from his chest as he whispered, "Usako," causing my cheeks to turn red. Chiba Mamoru, was 17 years old and in his second year at Mato-Azabu Private High School. I had known Mamoru for, well as long as I could remember. He like myself had lost his parents. His mom had died during child birth, his dad only months later from grief over her loss. He was more than a friend, Mamoru was…just Mamo-chan, he always had been their for me, and I hoped he always would be. "It is good to see you again Setsuna," he said to Sets-chan who was smiling at us as Mamoru realizing he was still holding me, gently released me.
"You as well Mamoru, myself and Usagi-chan where going to lunch, would you like to join us," she said asking the question as I turned back towards Mamoru. "Onegai, Mamo-chan," I said folding my hands together, pouting out my lips and making my eyes as big as possible, and if this were like an anime from my childhood, I am sure that their would be a classic sweat drop on the back of Mamoru's head right now, as I knew their was no way he could ever resist my puppy dog eyes. "That's cheating Usa," Mamoru said with a frown that caused me to pout. "Now who isn't playing fair, Mamoru" I said with a wink, letting him know that I wasn't really mad, as Mamoru knew that I didn't like seeing him unhappy even if he was using it as his only true means to counter my own secret weapon against him. "True, but would you like to go to lunch with you," Mamoru said causing me to giggle. "Of course I want you to come, silly," I said playfully slapping him on the arm, before he offered me that same arm that I happily looped my own through.
~ Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon ~
Walking silently behind Mamoru and Usagi, I couldn't help but to smile. I could see the love that they shared for one another, even if neither was willing to admit it. They reminded me so much of….no I couldn't think of that time, the memories to me where still far to painful, even if the Silver Millennium had ended in an age that the human's of this age and time didn't even remember, though bits and pieces did exist in legends and lore. "Sets-chan, are you ok," Usagi-chan asked me bringing me out of my thoughts. "Hai, just lost in thought I guess," I said realizing I had fallen quite behind the two tied by the red string of fate in this life, and every one that they live to always find each other. "Ok," Usagi-chan said as Mamoru squeezed her arm in support and soon the two where lost in their own world once again.
Awakening the guardians of the outer sol system, had been a calculated risk on my own part, but to protect the princess, to insure that nothing like….that ever happened again, it was more than worth the risk. Usagi's awakening as Sailor Moon, I am glad that Luna had found her, she was always what held us together, now and then. Mercury the tactician, Mars second in command, at least Ami, and Rei where at Usagi's side, they would all protect each other until the fourth had been found. "And then," I whispered low enough that neither Mamoru or Usagi could here me as I thought of the fifth. "The weight of the world, within the symbol upon her brow." I truly didn't know if my own true awakening was necessary, for now I would continue to stay away from the gates of time that I was destined to watch, and live here in this time, using the knowledge I had to help guide things as best as I could, after all it was my duty as the guardian of time and revelation. "Come on Sets-chan, we don't want anyone else getting our table," Usagi-chan said causing me to laugh, and once again bringing me out of my thoughts. "Hai, Usagi-chan," I replied following her and Mamoru into the Crown Diner.
~ Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon ~
Lunch went by far to quickly for me, catching up with Sets-chan was great, but seeing Mamo-chan again had just been the icing on the cake. But soon enough lunch was done, and Sets-chan had to make her report for work, while Mamo-chan unfortunately had homework he wanted to finish for tomorrow when school would resume for another week. "Take care Usa, see you soon," Mamoru said giving me a hug. "You as well Mamo-chan, call me more often ok," I asked and with a soft smile he nodded before with a wave he was gone. "I should be heading out as well Usagi-chan," Setsuna told me. "Oh, okay. Till next time," I said giving Sets-chan a hug, something that I think may have slightly surprised her. "Till next time," she whispered in my ear as with a wave she was gone as well. I pulled out a little pink phone with a heart design that housed the digital display where the date and time where displayed. It had been a gift from Luna who had given a similar blue phone to Ami-chan and a red one to Rei, before dialing my home number. "I'm on my way home Luna-chan," I said as Luna answered the phone, "ok, I'll let the other girls know," she said in reply before saying goodbye and hanging up the phone leaving me in my thoughts of the day so far.
~ Origins ~
It was decided that using the Luna Pen I would disguise myself as a Duchess of the Kingdom of D. I had to admit the dress was beautiful. It was a princess style pink dress with a white flower design around the collar that was V cut, but not to deeply, and dipped in a U in the back, though it only showed off my shoulder blades and upper back. "You look amazing Usagi-chan," Ami who's dress was a form fitting blue said as Rei nodded in agreement. "Beautiful," she whispered with a twinkle in her eye that caused me to blush, as one day while we had been walking home I had seen a group of boys and pointed them out to Rei-chan and Ami-chan. Ami had blushed but admitted they were handsome but Rei-chan had said that she had no interest in men. Honestly I didn't know if Rei, who was dressed in a red dress with a golden sash, made her comment, if she was truly trying to flirt with me or simply teasing me because I knew her preferences but still. "Arigato" I said accepting the complement, from both Ami and Rei which made the miko smile softly and nod her head while Ami-chan simply giggled looking between myself and Rei.
"Honestly, we need to go so that we aren't late," Luna said before taking her feline form as we all nodded in agreement heading out the door of the Hikawa Shrine that was closest to the Kingdom of D's ambassadors mansion where the Masquerade Ball was being held. "You should put on you mask Usagi-chan," Luna told me and with a nod I concentrated on my connection to my henshin power smiling when my elegant white domino mask that I wore as Sailor Moon appeared in my hands, before quickly affixing it over my eyes. "This is risky," Ami-chan whispered. "Hai, the enemy may have heard of this jewel as well, and could recognize that mask, and your hair isn't silver like it is when you are Sailor Moon Usagi," Rei-chan added as I turned to look at them. "Sadly it is necessary, and the Luna Pen has made me look older, so I don't look exactly the same," I said too the two who had to admit the truth of my words. "Still," Rei-chan said surprising me by taking one of my hands into her own. "Be careful, ok," Ami-chan said as Rei-chan nodded in agreement. "Ok, promise," I said smiling softly at the two as Luna remained silent but looked proudly between the three of us.
~ Origins ~
"Name ma'am," a security guard asked me as Luna, Ami-chan and Rei-chan had already easily blinded into the crowds of guests assembled around the embassy. "Duchess Moon of the Kingdom of D," I said making sure to tap the guard's security check list with the Luna Pen, its magic adding my name to the list. "Ah, yes here you are, enjoy your stay here Duchess," the guard said with a short bow of his head. "I will good sir," I replied before walking inside. The embassy mansion was breathtakingly beautiful, and seemed to gain much influence from the Greek style with its columns and arched ceilings, that like the floors were made of polished grey stone. Dancers, the ladies in gowns and dresses the men in dress suits were mingling with each other around the edges of the room, or dancing in its center. A single photographer, an older gentleman with dark hair just beginning to show signs of grey, and glasses covering his dark brown eyes was taking pictures, so I knew he must represent a respectable newspaper or perhaps even a TV company and was taking the photo's for their website it was impossible to tell which unless I actually spoke with him, something I could not do.
So far the princess had not shown herself, and being at a ball alone was turning out to not only lonely but boring as well. "May I have this dance," a familiar voice asked as I looked up at a familiar white domino mask. "Hai," I replied taking Tuxedo Kamen's gloved hand as he led me into the center of the dance floor. "You look beautiful tonight Moon-san," he said causing me to gasp, in in reply to my unasked question he ran a single finger over the rim of my own mask. "Forgive me, your mask is easy enough for my eyes to recognize Sailor Moon," he said as I nodded. "I have to admit you look handsome as well Tuxedo Kamen-san," I replied my cheeks blushing a familiar pink as he drew me closer as we moved around the dance floor. Their was something very familiar about all of this, the warmth of his arms, his smell, even the dance it was if somewhere, sometime we had done this before. "Are you here because you think Princess D, could be the one you are sworn to protect," Tuxedo Kamen asked me. "Hai," I admitted, feeling that I could trust him, and besides that I didn't want to lie to him.
"We think that she could be our princess, the precious jewel she holds," but here I stopped speaking before I said to much. "It is strange, I know so little about who I am," Tuxedo Kamen whispred next to my ear causing a shiver to run the length of my spine. "And yet in dream I see a figure shrouded in mist, she asks me to find the Illusion Silver Crystal, and return it to her, I believe she is the key to who I truly am," he said drawing away our eyes meeting though I could not see his because of his mask. "The Ginzuishou," I barely whispred though he heard me anyway. "Hai, I think we search for the same person Moon-san," he said as the music drew to a close. "Be wary, something is not right here, but know I shall always stand by your side, and aid you in any way I can," Tuxedo Kamen said to me causing me to turn pink as I nodded my head and he walked away vanishing into the darkness of the night. "Iie," a feminine voice rang out her screams echoing around the grounds. "The princess is in danger," a nearby guard yelled out and with determination in my eyes I let my hands close around my broach as I dashed back inside and up the nearest staircase where the screams had come from.
~ Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon ~
"Foolish girl, alerting your guard like that. Why can you not simply just give me the jewel," a young man with pale blue almost silver eyes and long curly deep brown hair with natural red highlights said to the young woman before him. She was dressed in a silver princess style gown with golden flower design around the collar with short but beautifully styled hair that fell just to her shoulders, small but elegant glasses covering her soft amber like eyes as she clutched with white knuckles a box in her hands. "It is a precious family heirloom, I can not….will not give it to you," she said her voice faltering but still having a hint of strength within it. "I would have let you live girl, but now you leave me little choice. Farewell princess," the man dressed in a black dress uniform with green trim said raising an elegant dagger with a single emerald in its hilt was raised into the air. "Stop right there," a voice cried out from behind the man causing him to turn. "Who, are you," he said facing the young blond woman in a pink princess style dress with a white flower design.
~ Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon ~
Throwing my mask into the air I grasped my broach in my hands facing this man that because of the way he was dressed I knew to be one of the Shitennou. "Moon Prism Power, Make-up," I yelled out transforming into my senshi form my mask no longer covering my eyes, though my hair was still silver. "I am the pretty soldier in a sailor fuku. Guardian of love and justice, I am Sailor Moon," I yelled out causing the man before me to smile, though it was wickedly at me. "Sailor Moon, come to protect your princess. I am the commander of North America, Nephrite, one of the Shitennou," he said and I was secretly glad that his attention now seemed to be focused upon me. "Die," he said dashing towards me, and for a reason I didn't quite understand I held out my hand as if to block him only to find a rod within my hands blocking Nephrite's blade. It was small only just slightly larger than the blade I was blocking. A soft sea-shell pink in color with golden hearts and lines adorning it in decoration, a crescent moon of gold adorning the top.
Using the advantage that the weapon that had magically appeared within my hands to my advantage I pushed Nephrite backwards and rushed forward using my own momentum to grab the princess and rush towards the balcony. "Clever, Sailor Moon, but not nearly enough," Nephrite said as with a smile I looked below to see Mercury and Mars looking up at me using my eyes to convey that for now they shouldn't interfere, and the two nodded in understanding. "Sayonara," he said pulling another dagger from within his uniform before rushing towards me with amazing speed only for a streak of red to flash in front of his path striking the Shitennou's hand and causing him to stagger into the princess and myself causing us to fall over the balcony, Ami-chan and Rei-chan managing to catch the princess while a gloved hand had caught me. "Tuxedo Kamen," I said looking up at him.
"Another fool I see, to bad you can't hold on to her and defend yourself at the same moment," Nephrite said his dagger glinting maliciously in the light of the moon. Realizing what he was about to do, Tuxedo Kamen shared a look with me and I nodded as he launched himself into the air, taking me with him and into his familiar warmth before we landed safely on the ground, Nephrite right behind us. "Sailor Moon that is the Moon Stick, use it's power feel the words you need within you," Luna said to me and I nodded closing my eyes feeling the words come into my heart. "Moon Twilight Flash," I yelled out as an array of golden and silver sparkling like energy burst forth from the tip of the Moon Stick and towards Nephrite who just barely managed to block the attack with his dagger, though I could see the deep crack it had created in the otherwise polished steel. "This isn't over," he said with hatred in his eyes looking towards me before vanishing in an array of dark shadow like energy.
"I thank you all for aiding me against that vial villain but I must ask, who are you," Princess D asked of us causing Luna who had been hidden in the shadows to come forward the confusion evident in her eyes. "You do not recognize us my lady," Luna said causing the princess's eyes to widen as she looked down at Luna in shock. "A…a talking…cat," she managed to stutter out before her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she began to fall, and luck was with her as Rei-chan who was nearby caught her safely guiding her to the ground and resting the princess's head in her lap. "She is not the one," Tuxedo Kamen said in a questioning manor resting his hand softly on my shoulder, and I was silently glad of his show of comfort. "Iie. Our princess would have been expecting me," Luna said looking up at Tuxedo Kamen before with a sigh and a flash of silver light she took her more humanoid form. "Forgive me, princess of the Kingdom of D," Luna said resting her hand upon the princess's forehead her silver like magical energy glowing around the princess's head causing her to sigh, her features much more relaxed than they had been.
"She will remember nothing of us now, which is for the best," Luna said getting back to her feet. "I'll take her to her room, it will be the first place the guard will check," Rei-chan said easily lifting the princess into her arms before using her enhanced strength to jump onto the princess's balcony. "I shall take my leave as well Sailor Moon, farewell," Tuxedo Kamen said with a tip of his hat he began to walk away. "Farewell," I whispered watching him before a gloved hand rested upon my shoulder. "Usagi-chan," Ami said in a questioning manor. "I'm alright, it is just…nothing forget about it," I said and Ami-chan knowing not to push simply nodded. "We should go as well," Rei-chan said rejoining us. "That is a good idea, let's be off," Luna said her feline ears twitching and I could here others closing in on where we where standing as well. "Let's go," I softly whispred and like that we were gone as guards rushed into the grounds below the princess's balcony as others rushed into her room, only to find Princess D, not only was she safe, but safely asleep in her bed, none of them, not even the Princess herself would ever know what had made her scream . . . .
Authors Note
It is honestly a surprise, but a welcomed one at how quickly this act of my story came to me, as the words just simply flowed in its creation. So I am posting today, though I am sure there will be none on the boards being what day it is. Still I wish you all my readers a very Merry Christmas and a well and Happy New Year!
Carpe Diem, and till next we meet,
I humbly remain a . . . .
KuRSeofTime