Notes: Episode 98, "Save Friends! Moon and Uranus Join Forces". Or: "The one where Usagi and Haruka are handcuffed together for an episode".
Episode 98
Sailor Moon stood atop the cliff and watched with a satisfied smile as Uranus helped Neptune to her feet. She saw them looking up at her and could see their lips moving. It was impossible to hear what they were saying over the crashing waterfall, but it was probably 'thank you'.
She waved.
They didn't wave back.
Well that was okay. Uranus had her hands full supporting Neptune as the other woman tested out her legs and ankles. She looked shaken but mostly all right, Sailor Moon was pleased to note. It was getting late and it was probably going to take them a while to get home. Maybe she should offer to help … them …
Home.
CRAP.
... ... ...
Usagi had been turned around twice as she tried to make her way out of the woods and back to the main road, but it was only twice and not the five or six times she was expecting, so she was in good spirits as the bus sped toward home. There had even been a payphone at the bus stop, and while Mamo-chan had been worried he hadn't been mad, PLUS he promised to act as a buffer and tell Rei and the others why she was so late!
She'd forgotten to have him tell them to save her pizza though. Her stomach growled and gurgled in protest. Soon, soon.
As the grass and trees began to give way to houses and high-rises, Usagi was deep in thought. Her mind turned over the afternoon's events, trying to make sense of them. Uranus and Neptune. Senshi, like them, but so different. It didn't seem possible, how different they were. Again and again Usagi watched as Neptune sailed over the cliff edge. Felt, again and again, as Uranus dragged her away, ignoring her cries and protests.
Uranus had been so certain though. Acted like USAGI was the one not making sense. If the world was in that much danger, then maybe … maybe one or two lives were …
Blinking, Usagi recognized her surroundings a moment too late and the bus began to pull away from the Hikawa Shrine. "H-Hey wait! That's my stop!" she exclaimed, scrambling toward the front of the bus and spouting apologies for all the feet she tripped over on the way.
Today was not a good public transport day.
... ... ...
Fifteen minutes and a brisk walk later, Usagi finally plopped down on the vacant tatami with a dramatic sigh.
Ami smiled in greeting. "Usagi-chan!"
"Good of you to join us," said Rei without looking up from her magazine.
"Usagi's Big Adventure, huh?" Minako waved her finger in admonishment. "I thought I'd made it clear you weren't allowed to have those without me?"
"I didn't mean to!" Usagi protested as she keenly surveyed the room. She lifted the edge of Rei's magazine and peered underneath it, ignoring both Rei's irritated huff and the palm that slapped the pages flat against the table. "Hey, where's the—"
The plate of pizza shoved under her nose cut off the question. Usagi gazed up at Makoto with adoring eyes. Mako simply chuckled in response and settled back next to Minako, and as Usagi wolfed down her first food in hours (possibly a new record), the sleepover resumed.
Food was a good distraction – arguably the best that did not involve both the words "Mamo-chan" and "kiss" – but it wasn't long before the pizza was gone and a familiar image and familiar thoughts crept back into her head.
"Hey, guys?"
Four pairs of eyes turned toward Usagi.
"If I fell over a waterfall, you'd come save me, right?"
Four pairs of eyes blinked.
Minako looked to Ami. "Is this a trick question?"
"It's definitely a stupid one," Rei said, concern mixed into her confusion.
"I mean it," insisted Usagi. "You guys would, right?"
Mako exchanged a glance with the others before answering cautiously, "Of course we would..?"
A vigorous nod at Mako acknowledged her answer as the only sane option. "You would, exactly! I would too, for any of you!"
"Thanks?" Minako offered.
Bolstered by their agreement, Usagi continued. "But Uranus and Neptune said—"
Makoto snorted loudly, making it abundantly clear what she thought of any sentence that began with "Uranus and Neptune said".
"—they'd agreed to abandon each other if they had to. And- And she DID and I just …"
Desperate, watery eyes lingered on each of her friends in turn. "I couldn't do that to any of you! No matter what, no matter how weak that makes me! I couldn't do it." The burst of strength faded, and Usagi's gaze drifted to the hands in her lap. "Not to anyone."
For a moment there was no response, and then Usagi felt a hand on her shoulder. She glanced up to see Rei had moved around the table and was now kneeling next to her. "Nobody's abandoning anyone," Rei said, her voice sure and brimming with confidence.
"We'll find another way," promised Ami.
Mako nodded firmly. "Exactly! We won't give in that easily!"
"What do they know anyway?" said Minako. "Besides how to make an entrance. And be rude as HELL."
Which was all the encouragement Mako needed, and soon she and Minako were involved in a very loud, not especially flattering recreation of some of their favourite encounters to-date with Uranus and Neptune, while Ami tried her hardest to look stern and not laugh.
Rei gave Usagi's shoulder one more reassuring squeeze, then jumped in with a dead-on impression of Neptune that had Minako howling within seconds.
Usagi smiled to herself, her friends' certainty having obliterated any and all doubts. Of course they could do it. They'd find another way, it was that simple. Then all she had to do was make Uranus and Neptune see it.
They were all Senshi, after all.
So how hard could THAT be?