DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Bishoujo Sailor Moon + Other series in this story are not owned by me.

Please support the official release.

Chapter 31: Lore and Pies

P.S. I now have a discord server! Discord .gg/ceBMM2Zz6c

If you wish to Donate and Support: ptreon DOT com / socialistbukharin

"They know about us?"

Minako was, as one would expect, very tense at this discovery. And as I nodded to her while we were going for a walk, I couldn't help but glance around because I didn't want to get hit by her inquisitive look.

My decision to tell her about this bit before anyone else was not one driven by 'preference', rather I was aware that Minako was the one individual that could plot and meddle without actually going beyond her reasonable limits. Then there was the fact that I doubted anyone else I knew could really have a positive thought on the matter.

The Taimanin were already a bunch of people that had some midling views of the government's grasp around their village, and Luna was not someone that would truly care about this matter beyond the fact it could endanger the rest of the scouts and... label them as enemies because of that.

"How did they do that?"

"They tracked me down and, by relation, they tracked you all down," I explained curtly. "He had me 'invited' for a talk and we agreed on a deal. Nothing scandalous, but he wants answers to his questions."

"...Is he trustworthy?" The blonde asked, and her eyes narrowed as I remained quiet for a while. "Shingo, I need more details-"

"I can't say because I don't know," I confessed bluntly. "I mean, I know who is the guy, but he is so ambiguous at times that it can be difficult to know what sort of plans are in his mind. Not a villain, but he would rather become one if that was to help the world keep its freedom of choice."

There was a pause after that, and we turned to another street. I took a moment to think about where Usagi was in that moment- lest that she may be stalking us. But no, she was busy with homework and 'recovering from that scary event that drained her forces'. She truly needed someone to teach her how to lie, and I know Minako could do that- if she stopped being a prick and tease Usagi with her 'wisdom'. It wasn't outrageous teasing, but these two blondes sure had a thing to be at odds despite my sister's rabid obsession with Sailor V.

Hell, I would say that Minako knew that and she kind of was into it. Which is why she was tame with her teasing.

"So, this guy... Big Boss. Is he truly that big of a deal?"

"At first glance, he can be mistaken as a simple US soldier but... trust me when I say this, Minako: he is not someone we can afford to have as an enemy. He may have a particularly dark past, but the guy has been hurled in various deadly operations during the Cold War and even prevented WWIII several times," I answered thoroughly. "The only issue is that he trusted the wrong people early on and he got framed up in a very unpleasant spot. He either 'lives long enough as a hero' but at the expense of letting these paranoid bastards claim control of the free world, or he goes rogue and fix things up."

Minako huffed. "And you wish to help him more than with just 'answers'."

"It may come down to that-"

"Which is stupid!" The blonde lamented, growling at me. "Shingo, we already had this talk already. You may be a hero, but that doesn't mean you should take burdens that are well beyond your reach."

Usually I would digest this with ease, but I had a really unpleasant feeling by the guts at hearing these words. I couldn't blame Minako - she didn't know half the shit that was soon to come to us. And I found myself looking at her with a serious look.

"I am afraid I will have to do that, just like I willed myself to be what I am now."

I expected her to whip back with a 'how do you even know that you are needed for this?' or a 'where are all part of this', but Minako went suddenly silent at my words and she was like that for a solid two minutes. Then, as suddenly as she went quiet, she spoke up with a hint of awareness.

"You know what we are going to face in the future."

I drew a sigh at that, closed my eyes and then, with as much effort as I would put in pondering about the future and what steps to take to avoid the worst outcomes from any choices, I nodded.

"That's... how bad is it going to be?"

"In the short-term or the long-term?"

"Is there a difference?" She asked back and I sighed. "Well?"

"Yes. Former is a bit on the 'we are going to get a lot of troubles going and dealt with', the latter is 'all decisions lead to a specific outcome'. I know for a thing that the finale will be the same in general terms, but what I can do is remove the worst bits of it."

Minako didn't sound too convinced. "What's our next big foe? Surely it can't get worse than Metalia."

Oh boy, wasn't she up for some surprise?

"A terrorist planet."

...

"Shingo, I appreciate jokes but... what's that supposed to mean?!" The blonde sounded outright baffled by what I had just said.

"It means that in the distant future, a certain Princess-turned-Queen decides that instead of having prisons, we should ditch them all in a far-away planet. It doesn't matter if it is a lesser crime or a war crime - you are going to the desolate planet to die there."

...

"That's dumb."

"Yep. And, guess what happens when a powerful chaos villain gets to take over said planet, mind-control a cast of fellow villains and then cause havoc on Earth itself?" I asked and Minako rolled her eyes. "Sorry for giving up this info like this, but I need to keep some stuff private because butterflies happen and I am quite sure changes in the current timeline will influence what will happen once the next big baddy comes along."

That's where Minako seems to caught upon a very important bit of my lore-giving.

"But you mentioned this villain is forming in the future. Distant future- how distant? Five years? Ten?"

"Nine hundred years."

Minako... stopped. She actually stopped to give me one of the most stunned looks she could muster.

...

"C-Can we stop for a moment? I think I need to think this one through."

I nodded, knowing this was some heavy shit to drop on someone- especially someone like Minako that has a rather 'long-term planning' mentality. For her to be told that we were facing a foe that will come from nine centuries into the future definitely hurled her in the most unpredictable spot ever.

We found a nice restaurant just nearby. It was Chinese-themed and it had a fairly large presence of customers enjoying the meal.

As we stepped inside the building, I was surprised a bit by the sudden chirpy greeting we were slapped with.

"Welcome customers!" A young woman greeted, blue eyes flashing in delight as she adjusted her short white hat. "Welcome to High-Cloud Meals, how may I help you?"

"We would like to get a table. We are hungry."

"Sure, sure," The lady, who I now realized was wearing a fairly long skirt that had a large bulge behind her (which I doubted was her butt), led us around. "I always enjoy new clients to satisfy. I am 'Chef Bai', so do address me as that if you need any assistance."

We both nodded, but I couldn't help but feel something about this woman stand out a lot compared to the rest of the people around. I mean, one thing is blue eyes, but her hair was a dull-indigo gray shade that felt unusual for most people. And her accent made it clear she was from... China?

Once we found our seats, I glanced at the menu and I was given confirmation this was indeed a Chinese restaurant of sort. The menu itself was small, but I pointed at one of the names listed there. "Some Moon Pies for me."

"I'll take a Songlotus Cake," Minako said and the giddy chief soon retreated by the kitchen to get the orders done. "I have never heard of any of those recipes before now."

"Same," I admitted thoughtfully, yet I remembered that it wasn't the reason that we were here. "So, have you digested the news?"

"Nope," Minako growled. "Shingo, that's a long time from now. Don't tell me the villain is going to come to the past... when they could do things in the future."

"They do that early one, but one of their targets pulls a... Do you remember when I told you and the rest of the girls to watch that DBZ movie about Trunks?"

The blonde opened her mouth, but she was stopped as the kind chef brought the two plates before leaving to assist other clients.

"You did not," She ultimately muttered. "You mean to tell me that... Usagi's kid is going to the past. To ask for our help:"

"Yep."

"Can't she... do it on her own? I mean, it's not like-"

"She can't turn into a Sailor Scout," I interject and Minako facepalms while taking a bit from her meal.

"Obviously- so, we have to... go to the future."

"Eventually. The lesser villains give chase."

"And we deal with them," She finished for me. "Are they strong? No, don't answer that- is that why you want to train?"

"Yes and... no. I want you to train since if you get a headstart you can deal with the rest of the villains without struggling so much."

"So, the curve of trouble does rise up," Minako sighed, focusing briefly on the food and- oh dear, the Moon pies are delicious. They are small, yummy, and I could get addicted to this. "Also, this is a big question - boy or girl?"

I paused a moment at trying to catch what she meant and then I huffed. "I said 'she'. But I may have to warn you about one thing."

"Which is?"

"Her name is also Usagi, and she has been stuck at 9 for 900 years."

Minako looked away, then closed her eyes and... then looked back at me. "Shingo, tell me that this is all connected to what you are planning to do."

"Yes it is. If things go as smoothly as I plan then... Then the whole situation with Usagi fumbling the ball as a Queen will be avoided, that kind of loop, and a lot of needless deaths can be prevented."

And it would work well in the endgame - Sailor Galaxia is going to be the one entity that could trash us all if we are not going to be well above canon power levels at the beginning of the last season.

"That's all I can say for now. And I am sorry I am dropping all of this on you-"

"No- No, I..." Minako drew a lengthy sigh. "I get it. Luna would flip a storm to ask for everything. Hell, I bet Artemis would be also thorough with the questions. But... thanks. It's a lot, but it's helpful to know that things will get tougher and that's why we need to train."

I nodded and... I paused. "Although, there's something we may be able to work with quite soon."

"And that is?"

"The baddy after this one. They are in the present, and will become active directly after we're done with the future threat."

"...And?"

I smiled unwittingly, almost feeling smug in giving poor Minako a headache. "Did you know there's more Sailor Scouts?"

"...No."

"Like, you and the girls are known as the 'Inner Planets'-"

"No. Shingo, I- I am done today-"

"And one of these 'Outer Planets' can pretty much erase life on Earth as a whole with a single swing of her glaive."

"That's..." Minako's scowl fell as she registered that last bit. "Wait, that's- Saturn? Oh no, you made me remember!"

She put her hands on her head. "Grrr, Shingo! You gave me a migraine."

"Fine, fine, let's just enjoy the food for now," I remarked smugly, knowing that she had warranted the brain-damaging lore-dump. But while this concluded a fairly productive exchange with Minako, I couldn't help but pause a moment to stare at 'Chef Bai' and look at her status and-

'Chef Bai'
The Lost Nameless
Age: 250~

She looked back at me with a nostalgic look.

AN

A tuft of hair and a few drops of blood fell to the floor as evidence of her existence. Those were the only traces she left.

A new interesting entity enters the game... but not for an immediate relevant position. Right now the focus is to 'chill and relax' as Shingo gets pulled into a world of spies, internal warfare, and METAL GEARS!