The Ghost Bride
After the shock of seeing the human generals, Usagi told her parents she won a trip to a ranch for a week
to learn how things are done in the country. They agreed and plans were made for Usagi to visit the Rhea
ranch the following month. Usagi was so excited to get a chance to spend more time with Mamoru,
Katherine and their family. The only thing she had to worry about was how to make it till then.
Meanwhile Usagi and Mamoru's routine went back to normal. Luna, Ami and Rei continued to train and
look for the other Senshi. Everytime the subject of the Princess came up, Usagi giggled secretly as she
was hidden in plain sight. The Ginzoishou was another story, Usagi knew that somewhere in her
memories the answer to it's location was hidden but she just couldn't find it.
The school slowly started buzzing with a rumor about a ghost bride in the shopping district. Everyone in
Juban Junior High was talking about it and the missing grooms. Usagi and some other classmates were
admiring a picture that Molly had brought in of herself in a wedding gown that had been taken as she
modeled a dress in place of her cousin. "It was taken at the shop just outside the shopping district.
Something came up and my cousin was unable to make the dress fitting and as weI are similar sizes I
went in her place."
"You look beautiful." one girl said.
"I can't wait to be a bride," another commented.
"Is that the shop that has the ghost bride that steals the grooms," Someone asked.
"The grooms just disappear in the middle of the night. Never to be seen or heard from again." Umino
said in a creepy voice.
"Get lost, Umino. I am sure there is a more logical reason for the rumors," a new voice said. Several
classmates stepped back from the voice in what appeared to be fear. "Whatever!" The tall stranger said
as she left hurt by their reactions.
Usagi looked after the new girl in curiosity and excused herself from the group. Usagi had a feeling that
she knew this girl and so made a point of following her to try to jog her memory. It wasn't until lunch
that she was able to approach her. "Hey, that lunch looks delicious."
The girl looked up in surprise. "It is easy to make."
"You made all that yourself? I am Tsukino Usagi."
"Nice to meet you, I am Kino Makoto. Yes I made it myself, but everyone has been so mean I lost my
appetite." She explained as she played with her lunch bag.
"Do you like video games?" Usagi asked cheerfully, still trying to figure out why Makoto seemed so
familiar.
"Yeah, why?"
"Meet me at the west gate after school and I will give you the rundown of the area and show you my
favorite hang out," Usagi answered as the bell rang.
After school Makoto met up with Usagi who as promised took her around the district showing her the
discount market, her favorite trinket stores, and lastly the arcade. Usagi watched as her new friend
played Sailor V.
"Hey, Usa. You're here early."
"Oh, Ami. This is Makoto, she just transferred to Juban Junior High." Usagi introduced.
"Usagi, are all your friends as beautiful as you?" Motoki asked with a smile.
Usagi and Ami turned to greet the young arcade worker and suddenly the sound of the game over.
Makoto stared at Motoki, "You… are you? Oh, sorry." She stuttered and got up heading for the door.
Usagi chased after her with Ami following behind.
"Usagi, we need to get to the temple." Ami reminded Usagi.
"Makoto, would you like to come with us? Our friend Rei lives at a beautiful shrine." Usagi asked her
newest friend. Makoto shrugged and followed Ami and Usagi as they headed to the bus stop and made
their way up the grand staircase to the shrine.
Rei looked up from her chores as she heard her friends' voices as they came through the gate. Stopping
as she sensed something, not bad but something or someone. As they got closer she saw a new girl with
them 'Could that be who I sense the energy from?' Rei contemplated as she started to listen in on what
her friends were talking about.
"Do you believe in ghosts, Ami?" Usagi was asking.
" I doubt it, Usagi. Science has yet to find proof or anything like a ghost or phantom. What do you think,
Rei?" Ami asked as they faced the shrine maiden.
"I think it is more likely that these missing grooms are just weak minded men that allowed themselves to
get seduced and are too ashamed to face their fiances. "
"I think this is just too complicated. Love should be simple and pure. That being said, I have to go and get
some groceries for supper, see you later." Makoto said, taking her leave and heading for the shrine gate.
"Do any of you sense anything from that girl, besides me?" Luna asked coming to rest on Rei's shoulder.
Rei nodded, "I don't think we have seen the last of her."
Just then a young woman came to the prayer bell crying softly with an older woman comforting her,
"Please, please, I beg you! Let my fiance come back to me."
The older woman held her as she prayed, "Don't worry. The ghost bride is just an urban legend. He
hasn't been kidnapped. I am sure he will turn up soon." She told the younger woman as they left the
shrine.
Luna followed them with her eyes as they departed, "Ghost or not, this is something we need to look
into."
Elsewhere…
Makoto was walking home with her groceries when she was sucked in by the gaze of an older boy. Slowly
just as he had been put in a trance Makoto was falling into one as well almost as if it was contagious.
While above them a shadowy figure in a elegant wedding gown looked down laughing at the make-shift
couple.
Mamoru was headed to meet Usagi after her scout meeting when he suddenly felt a chill run down his
spine, 'An evil aura.'
Usagi, Ami and Rei rounded the corner heading to investigate the bridal shop when they saw Makoto
being held in a prone position as her energy was drained. Hearing the evil laughter they looked up and
saw, "Is that the ghost bride? No, it is a demon. Transform!"
In flashes of blue, red and rainbow lights the trio transformed into Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars and Sailor
Moon. "We are the guardians of love and justice and we are here to punish you."
"I was expecting you guardians, take this," The monster said releasing the petals from her dead bouquet
in a fury of wind attacking them.
"Evil Spirit Be gone!" Sailor Mars said as her flames turned all the petals to ashes.
The demon lept unharmed by the flames and grabbed Makoto from the ground. "Don't move or i will kill
her." She threatened. As she backed away a portal opened and a man stepped out.
"You pathetic humans so easily deceived by appearances," Nephrite laughed.
Makoto stirred in the demoness' grasp, falling into a depression at the thought of how many times a boy
had deceived her and how much it hurt. "Was it all a lie?" She asked herself.
"What? How can she still be conscious?" He growled.
"Motoki looked like the boy I loved. He told me he loved me but it was a lie."
"Ridiculous humans. So obsessed with trivial emotions. Why can't they just face the truth?" Nephrite
asked. While Makoto was still lost in her own thoughts as she heard all the rumors and nasty things
people had said about her. "How could you ever believe anyone would love you?" He taunted as he
could hear the whispers of her delusions.
"I was a fool to believe in love. He never loved me. Love isn't real. I don't believe in anything anymore,"
Makoto said as she felt herself giving up.
"Don't say that, Mako! To love another person isn't wrong." Sailor Moon said with conviction.
"Usagi… you're…" Makoto started as she was awaken from her delusions.
"I believe in Love. I believe we each have a soul mate that we are destined to be with." Sailor moon said
as she reached out her mind and felt Mamoru reaching for her, filling her soul with his love. "I know I will
find that person." *I already have.* "The one that's meant for me, that I'll love with my whole heart!" As
she said the words she felt the bond she shared with Mamoru springing to life like a blade of grass
bursting forth from the last of the snow in the spring. " I know there is someone out there for you, too,
Mako. I know there is! So please don't stop believing. Believe in love! Love can conquer anything!"
Both Usagi and Mamoru felt something in the dormant bond change, was it growing? All they knew was
something was changing.
"Thank you, Usagi," Makoto said still in the grasp of the enemy but free of the brainwashing.
"Fine, then. Sailor guardians. Believe in love all you want, Let it be the death of you." Nephrite said as the
demon let out a powerful attack that immobilized the Senshi.
Makoto with new found strength said, "I am not going to let you get away with this. I will show you how
powerful love can be. You want to use love to defeat me? Then bring it on." As she stood there
challenging Nephrite her forehead began to glow and a symbol appeared.
Luna, recognizing Makoto now for her true identity of Sailor Jupiter, jumped into action sending the
thunder warrior her transformation wand. As soon as Makoto had the wand in her hand she erupted a
flash of green light and transformed into the amazonian warrior Sailor Jupiter. " I am the pretty guardian
that fights for love and courage, I am sailor Jupiter. I will fill you with regret, it will leave you numb!"
Sailor Moon looked up in surprise. Now, she knew why Makoto looked so familiar.
"Damn it! Not another one! You're a sailor guardian, too?" Nephrite cursed.
"No one can defeat the power of love!" Jupiter told him before unleashing her attack, "Flower
Hurricane!" Immobilizing both the general and demoness. " Jupiter, my guardian planet, bring forth the
storm and bring down your thunder! Jupiter ThunderBolts!" She screamed, releasing the attack and
destroying the demoness.
Mamoru nodded to Sailor Moon as he ducked away and headed home for the night leaving the senshi to
welcome the newest of their ranks.
The Senshi left the area and headed to the sanctity of the park. "Now, that there are four guardians,
Sailor Moon, you are the leader. Here is the moon wand, it is a very powerful weapon."
'I remember this wand from the Moon. Mom said it was the weapon of the Queen. Am I a Queen?' Usagi
thought as she picked up the wand. After saying good night to the others Usagi headed home with a lot
on her mind.