Ranma Half Moon Chapter Twelve - Say Jusenkyo! part 3

Author's note: This episode fits in during and after Sailor Moon episode 17, Usagi a model?

Author's note: Confused who the shadowy figures are? Clue: Which Sailor Moon character has the initials A.M.?

Behind the doors of Ballroom C, Zoisite makes a photographer's work area appear. He also raises a human shaped Yoma Monster.

"Now wait until they get under the lights before you attack."

The Yoma Monster nods.

"I'll be going now. I do have to see for myself how badly Nephrite's plan is failing." Zoisite disappears in a cloud of cherry blossoms. "Zoi!"

...

Ranma-ko and Akane stand in front of Ballroom C. Ranma-ko checks herself out in the mirror by the door.

"Last minute check?"

"I just want to do my best so that I might stop being a freeloader."

Akane smiles. "That's the spirit. Let's knock them dead!"

Akane opens the door to the ballroom. There is an area that is brightly lit. That seems to be where they want to photograph us. "Come on, Ranma!"

Ranma-ko looks around. She sees in the shadows what looks like a photographer and camera equipment. "Coming!"

Ranma-ko and Akane enter the brightly lit area and see two marks on the ground to stand on.

Ranma-ko squints against the intense light. "Is there anything you need us to do?"

Akane and Ranma-ko hear an unearthly voice. "Yes, die!"

Two plant like arms shoot from the fake photographer and wrap around Akane and Ranma-ko and hold them ten feet in the air. Akane passes out. Ranma-ko struggles to free herself, but the Yoma Monster rips her bikini top in the struggle.

All right, now I'm pissed. Nabiki is going to charge me an arm and a leg for that bikini!

The Yoma Monster continues to squeeze Ranma-ko who is close to passing out.

Ranma-ko hears a whistling noise. Two red roses fly through the air, damaging the plant like arms and forcing them to release Ranma-ko and Akane.

"Ranma, I have turned my back."

"Good, no peeping!" Ranma-ko stands up topless in a defiant pose. "Moon Prism Power, Make Up!"

Ranma-ko transforms.

"This hotel was meant to play host to the dreams of maidens who are trying to do their best to present their outwards beauty. Today, you have decided to rob two girls of their dreams. However, unfortunately for you, it is not the external beauty that counts in the end, but a woman's strength inside. I'm Sailor Moon, and in the name of the moon I will clobber you!"

The Yoma Monster turns up the photographer lights, blinding Ranma-ko and Tuxedo Kamen.

"Can't see!"

"Sailor Moon, you don't have to see your opponent with your eyes!"

Ranma-ko closes her eyes. She can sense the Yoma Monster. "Moon Tiara Action!" Ranma-ko throws the Tiara. The Tiara bounces off of three walls and hits the Yoma Monster. The Yoma Monster and the lights turn into dust.

"Well done, Sailor Moon. However, it's a woman's love of justice that is the most important. Farewell." Tuxedo Moon vanishes from the scene.

"Untransform." Ranma-ko gathers up and puts back on her torn bikini top. She looks around at the carnage of the room and sighs.

Suddenly a thought occurs to Ranma-ko. Didn't Mamoru also say that about a woman's love of justice? Ranma-ko shakes her head. The arcade is noisy. It would be easy to mishear him.

...

Zoisite bows before Queen Beryl. "Yes, your majesty?"

"Zoisite. I have heard dark rumors that you have been interfering in Nephrite's work."

"Your majesty, Nephrite does not need my help to fail."

Queen Beryl smiles sinisterly. "Zoisite, if Nephrite continues to fail, I may allow you to interfere in Nephrite's life. But, not before I tell you. Understood?"

"Yes, your majesty."

...

Ranma-kun, Akane and Nabiki sit around the low table.

Nabiki looks a Ranma-kun with scorn. "What happened again?"

"We were suckered. Some perverts tricked us into going to a different room and then attacked us while blinding us with photographer lights. They got the jump on Akane, but I was able to fight them off."

Akane nods. "That was just the worst. How could people stoop that low?"

"Well, it's a good thing in a way that they choose us. Two normal girls wouldn't have been able to fight back."

Akane looks down. "I wasn't much use."

"That's because they concentrated on you. They must have thought I couldn't fight because of the skimpy top."

Nabiki holds up the bikini top, which is ripped. "I see it must have been difficult."

Ranma blushes. "Maybe next time I should stick to a one piece?"

Nabiki sighs. "I guess it's okay. They said in the news that no one won the competition."

"What?"

"Yeah, the photographer said that a woman's true beauty came from her love of justice. Can you imagine? That has to be the dumbest thing I have ever heard."

Ranma-kun nods. Love of justice? Could all this be a mere coincidence?

...

Two shadowed figures move in front of the Crown Arcade. The door seems to open like magic to let them in.

The smaller figure rests on the shoulder of the larger figure as they walk to the Sailor V game.

"Will she come tonight?"

"No doubt. That's what we arranged last time."

The larger figure nods. Suddenly the larger figure notices the high scores for the game. "Look."

"Someone broke your high score."

"Yes, the initials 'S. R.' are above 'A. M.'"

"This is a very significant turn of events. Only someone with power from the Moon Kingdom could have set a score that high."

The larger figure nods. "Yes, this could be the Princess of the Moon that we have been searching for."

The smaller figure pounds out a sequence on the buttons of the game. A window in the plane of glass opens. "We must find out who this 'R. S.' is, at all costs."

The larger figure nods.