Chapter 11: Sailor Moon vs. Ensign Mars Hi-yee!!! It's just little ol' me, Chibi-Mamoru Darien Chiba. Gomen for taking so long to write this chapter; I got bogged down in school.:( Anyway I didn't write this story to steal the world of Sailor Moon from Naoko Takeuchi or try to make any money. I could NEVER come up with something as exhaustive as Sailor Moon and have it end up like the Sailor Moon we have grown to know and love. I don't have that much of an imagination. :) Anyway, Ariadne, Hermione, the Adaptation Sceptre, and the tournament judges Shelly Desiree LaPhoenix and Sandra Gregory Naturalier are of my devising, so please ask me before you use them. Well then, on with the story!!! ******************************************************************** *******Crystal Tokyo UltraDome: July 10, 2996, 12:45 pm******* "Will Reenie Chiba and Ariadne Hino please report to the center of the arena?" Shelly announced. After a deep breath and a smile of encouragement from Cara and Hermione, I walk towards the center. On the eastern side of the arena, Ariadne's parents Raye Hino and Chad Kumada had told Ariadne to report as called. I arrive at the center and hand over my transformation brooch to Shelly and Ariadne arrives a few seconds later and hands Shelly her transformation ring. Shelly then places the items at our feet. "All right, girls; face me!!" Shelly belted out from the north. Ariadne and I do as we are told. "Bow." We bow to Shelly and she returns our bow. "Now face me!!" Sandra declared from the south. "Bow." With a voice like that, Ariadne and I couldn't help but to do as we are told. Sandra then bows back and says, "Face your parents!! Bow." I bow to my parents and Ariadne bows to hers. "Face each other!!" Shelly barked. "Bow." Ariadne and I bow to each other. "Out of the inner rectangle." Ariadne and I walk to our respective ends of the inner rectangle, the western end for me and the eastern end for Ariadne. "Yohi?" Shelly asks Sandra. Sandra sets his watch for one hour and nods after he and Shelly back away from us. Shelly sets hers and cries out, "HAJIME!!!" "Kneel before the fire of Mars!!!" Ariadne cried as she runs toward her ring. "Feel the serenity of the Moon!!!" I cried out at Ariadne as I run toward my brooch. I klutz out trying to stop myself and grab my brooch at the same time. Despite this, I manage to avoid dropping it and transform. "Moon prism power!!!!" "You'll wish you had surrendered when I'm finished with you, Reenie!!!" Ariadne growled as she puts on her transformation ring. "Mars quasar power, blast off!!!!" I finish my transformation first and it's only a few seconds before Ariadne finishes hers to Ensign Mars. Ensign Mars and I then begin circling each other. How do I begin to attack Ensign Mars? I know!!! I come in left lunge punch and a right reverse punch to the chest. I then end by flipping Ensign Mars over my head. "You'll have to do better than that if you want to force me to do anything, Ensign Mars," I said. "A LOT better." "Oh, I will, Sailor Moon," Ensign Mars replied. "You can count on that. Mars Celestial Fire, surround!!!!" Now this bears a special account. Most everyone knows the motions Sailor Mars goes through and what happens when she says that command. Well, Ensign Mars goes through all the motions her mom Sailor Mars does, but instead of small rings of fire, two HUGE walls of fire encircle me. Sailor Pluto had warned me of Ariadne/Ensign Mars's capacity to hypnotize by putting her thoughts directly into the minds of her victims, so I decide to reach out to the fire to see if it's real. Dang, touching the air directly next to the fire is like touching a hot stove!!!! Yeppers, the fire is real. I've got to get out of here!!! I leap high as I could into the air and land myself right in Greg's lap. "Reenie, what's wrong?" Greg asked me. Fearing that Greg may be one of Ensign Mars's tricks, I leap up and run from him. Screaming, I run flying past Amy and Hermione literally running over them. "What's wrong with Reenie, Amy?" Hermione asked. "I have no idea, Hermione," Amy replied, "though I REALLY do wish you would not call me Amy. Let's go find out. Mercury star power!!!!" "Mercury quasar power, blast off!!!!" Hermione cried. "Mother-daughter Sailor power!!!!!" Sailor Mercury and Ensign Mercury cried out as a wave of water washes over them and the Mercury symbol shines in the background. As the special effects subside, they notice Greg is standing there with his mouth open in surprise. "Are you catching flies, Greg?" Ensign Mercury asked. This earns her a cold look from Sailor Mercury and Greg. They dismiss the remark and set off after me. When I stop to catch my breath, I find myself in a void and I find that I have reverted back to Reenie. "Reenie, what's the matter?" Sailor Pluto asked as she scoops me up in her arms. I tremble visibly in Sailor Pluto's arms. "Puu, is it really you?" I asked Sailor Pluto. "Yes, Reenie, it is really Sailor Pluto," Sailor Pluto replied. "But I thought that you and I were through," I sobbed to Sailor Pluto. "Fugenjiko," Sailor Pluto told me. "What??" I screeched. "Reenie, you know I would never stop being your friend," Sailor Pluto said. "If not for you, I would have killed myself out of sheer loneliness and I don't mean as Sailor Pluto. Being by myself much of the time has given me a lot of time to think. The question of who will guard the Time Gate if something should happen to me is already answered: Claribel will. But one question hasn't: how will I ensure that Claribel will not go insane during her tenure? Your father once got on my case when I said that Claribel was the relief I was expecting from watching the timeline and guarding the Time Gate. Well, he's right; what decent, self-respecting mother would condemn her child to such a fate? It's not like the Time Gate is in any real danger; no one can get to it unless I take them there . . . or Claribel does. You and Kerwin are the only ones who can come to the Time Gate without assistance from Claribel and me." "I don't want to fight Ariadne; I'm scared!!!" I sobbed. "I want to go home and play with my toys, Puu." "So you want to just be an ordinary little girl," Sailor Pluto smiled at me compassionately. "Uh huh," I told Sailor Pluto. "Okay, Reenie, I can understand that," Sailor Pluto said as she looks me in the eyes. "Your mother had similar feelings when she first became Sailor Moon in this life. When I first became Sailor Pluto way back in the days of the Moon Kingdom, I *hated* it. I couldn't love anyone because I would outlive him. I have to make sure that everything turns out okay which may not necessarily be the way I want it to turn out. Reenie, when I joined your mother's court, I was so old that I should have been a decaying skeleton in a casket six feet under. Not everyone gets a chance to go down in the history books; you are one of the few people who do. No one can be Sailor Moon like you can, Reenie. No one." "I can't stand up to firepower like that Ariadne has!!!" I wailed. "I won't do it!!!" "And you won't," Sailor Pluto said. "So I'm off the hook?" I asked. "Banzai!!" "No, honey, you are not off the hook," Sailor Pluto told me flatly as she sets me down. "Your refusal to go back and fight Ariadne is not only detrimental to your emotional growth but also to the future safety of Crystal Tokyo. That makes me VERY angry!!!" I gulp nervously as Sailor Pluto only raises her voice when she is REALLY angry. Sailor Pluto turns her back on me and whispers, "You *can* beat Ariadne if you put forth a sincere effort, Reenie. But when you refuse to do even that, it makes me wish that I had never accepted my job as your personal guardian and teacher. It's at times like this I feel like resigning and leaving you to the mercy of the elements." "Puu?" I asked. No answer. "Sailor Pluto?" "WHAT?!?!" Sailor Pluto snapped at me. "I'm sorry about my poor attitude," I promised. "I'll try my best to defeat Ariadne." "I'll only believe you when I see you do it," Sailor Pluto growled at me as she opens a portal. "This will take you to the exact moment in time you left with me." I head through the portal and soon find myself in the Crystal Tokyo UltraDome. "Reenie, what's the matter?" Ensign Mercury asked me as she arrives on the scene. "Bad meeting . . . Sailor Pluto," I burst out. Ensign Mercury hugs me. "Well, it's over now, Reenie," Ensign Mercury assured me. I look at her and blink quickly several times. "Reenie, you're not going to . . ." "WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" I wailed. This brings Sailor Mercury and my parents in a hurry. My wail detransforms Sailor Mercury and Ensign Mercury. "Mercury quasar power, blast off!!!!" Hermione cried out. Nothing happened, much to her dismay. "That's just great!!! Thanks to Miss Banshee here, I can't transform!!!" "Mercury star power!!!!" Amy shouted. As with Hermione, nothing happened. "Well, Reenie Chiba, what do you have to say for yourself?" "Now come on, ladies," Endymion said to an angry Amy and Hermione. "I have done extensive research on the transformation pens and rings the Sailor Scouts and their daughters use. It takes a lot more than Reenie hollering at the top of her lungs to permanently disable or destroy them. What most likely has happened is that Reenie's wailing just overloaded your pen and ring. Just wait a while and try again later." Amy and Hermione accept Endymion's explanation and walk away. I look up at Endymion and Serenity. "Puu yelled at me, Mommy," I whimpered to Serenity who then picks me up. "Oh, and what did she yell at you about?" Serenity asked me. I recount my recent meeting with Sailor Pluto. "Then I apologized to Sailor Pluto and she replied that she'll only believe me when she sees me defeat Ariadne, Mommy," I sobbed to Serenity. "Reenie, anger can make people say a lot of things they don't really mean," Serenity said to me. "Perhaps Sailor Pluto is having a bad day or is in a bad mood and your refusal to face Ariadne was the straw that broke the camel's back," Endymion suggested to me. "Mommy, can I smack Daddy?" I asked Serenity. Endymion gulps at this point. "Interesting idea; wish I had thought of it first," Serenity said to me as she sets me down and slaps Endymion in the face. "Endymion, you may be the king of Earth, but your head is in the clouds. Sailor Pluto does NOT act mean when she's in a bad mood." "Then why did she yell at me, Daddy?" I asked. "Well, Reenie, put yourself in Sailor Pluto's shoes," Endymion told me as he kneels down to my eye level. "How would you feel if you wanted your ward to do something difficult but necessary and she didn't want to do it?" "Very disappointed," I told Endymion. "Exactly, Reenie!!" Endymion exclaimed. "Perhaps Sailor Pluto yelled at you because she expected you to get back in the fight right away and you disappointed her by giving up. Your mother and I saw you make that leap into the air and then run away." "But Ensign Mars had this big wall of fire around me and she was about to barbecue me, Daddy," I sniffed. Endymion and Serenity look at each other. "Reenie, I didn't see any fire," Serenity said as she shakes her head. "How about you, Endymion?" "Not a single flame," Endymion agreed. "But it seemed so real, Daddy," I whined. "Reenie, look at me," Endymion declared as he puts a finger over my mouth to silence me. I look into Endymion's calm but firm blue eyes. "What you saw *was* NOT real. There was no fire. Raye and Ariadne are known for their ability to create very realistic illusions, Reenie." "But how will I know what's real from what's not, Daddy?" I asked Endymion. "Your father and I will help you," Serenity said to me. "But we must begin at once!! The judges have already awarded Ariadne two points because you fled." "What??" I asked, shocked. Now I'm *really* mad!!! I storm off to the arena, much to the shock of my parents. I'm going to extinguish Ariadne Hino if it's the last thing I do!!! "Ariadne, prepare to be extinguished!!!" I vow to myself. "Moon prism . . . POWER!!!!" "If you add too much fuel to your fire, you might get burned!!!" Ariadne laughed cockily at me. "Mars quasar power, blast off!!!!" I complete my transformation only seconds before Ariadne completes hers to Ensign Mars. I could tell in Ensign Mars's eyes that I have a hard fight ahead of me. "All right, girls," Sandra said as he steps between us. "You'll have your chance at each other soon enough. Yohi, Shelly?" "Yohi, Sandra," Shelly replied as she and Sandra withdraw slightly. Ensign Mars growls at me. "Wait for my signal. . . . HAJIME!!!" Ensign Mars gets me with a lunge punch, but I block the reverse punch and counter with a front kick. "Mars Fire, ignite!!!!" Ensign Mars cried out. This looks real enough to me, so I leap high into the air to avoid the red-hot sphere. Ensign Mars is awestruck at first but then whips around and starts launching the Mars Fire at me while I'm airborne. The fireballs don't hit me, but they come so close to doing so that I can feel their intense heat roasting me alive. Man, this is SUPPOSED to be my summer vacation!!! I should be swimming in a swimming pool or even better, the ocean, right now!!! I'm yanked from my thoughts when I find that my costume is on fire!!! "AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" I screamed as I run around. Endymion jumps out of the box and yells at me to get down on the ground and roll. Right now, I'm too scared to listen to anyone. Raye and Chad hurry over to see if I'm okay. Chad tells Raye to keep an eye on Ariadne and wrestles me to the ground. "You're going to be all right, Reenie," Chad encouraged me as he rolls me on the floor. "Just keep rolling; I think the fire's going out." "Permit me to speed things along," Ensign Mercury said. "Mercury Ice Storm, blast!!!!" The torrent of cold water puts out the fire on my costume in a hurry and not a second too soon. I'm visibly shaking in fright right now. *******Royal Palace: July 10, 2996, 8 pm******* "I failed, Daddy," I sobbed to Endymion. "Ariadne won." "No, you didn't, Reenie," Endymion said. "Ariadne was way out of line to set your costume on fire and I bet Raye and Chad are severely punishing her for it right now." "But I wanted to show you that I can succeed at something instead being a flamingo-headed pain in the ass, Daddy," I whimpered to Endymion. "Reenie, who said you were a flamingo-headed pain in the ass?" Endymion asked although he very well knows the answer. "You did," Serenity said to Endymion as she walks in. Endymion's skin lightens several shades of pink at Serenity's words. "Don't you look at me like I don't know what I'm talking about; I heard *every* word you were yelling at Reenie from the main garden!!! I also told you that you wouldn't get any affection from me until you apologized to Reenie and I meant that." "Look, Reenie; your mother and I know that you can succeed at whatever you put your mind to," Endymion apologized, "so there's no need for you to feel bad if you should ever lose a duel as long as you do your best. Although I was angry with you, I should never have said some of the things I did to you. For that, I can only apologize and hope that you can forgive me." "You sounded awfully sincere to me," I coldly told Endymion as I turn my back to my dad. "Well, you do have a point there, Reenie," Endymion assented as he kneels down and turns me around. "But you do know that your mother and I love you very much and only want you to live a safe and happy life, have a good, long reign over Crystal Tokyo (if it's still here), and be the best you can be, don't you?" "Yeah, Daddy," I replied with some hesitation. "Well, you can't do that if you're in the clutches of a kidnapper or a pedophile, Reenie," Serenity told me. "Or, worse, dead," Endymion added. "That's why I closed off the city and why your mother sent the Sailor Scouts out after you. Crystal Tokyo is a great accomplishment, but if you have no one to share it with, reigning over it just doesn't mean anything. That's our main reason for having you. Without you, Crystal Tokyo is just a worthless sea of metal, glass, and concrete. Now do you understand why I was furious with you for running off the other night, Reenie?" I hug Endymion tightly around the neck. Endymion picks me up and plants a wet one on my cheek. "That was one heck of a speech you gave," Serenity told Endymion. "I hope you meant all that." "I did, Serenity," Endymion replied. "You gave my life meaning and Reenie gives our lives and reign over Crystal Tokyo meaning. Without you girls, I might as well tear down Crystal Tokyo and kill myself." "Don't be so morbid!!!" Serenity snapped at Endymion. "Reenie may be listening." And I was, of course. I shudder slightly at my dad's last statement, but knowing that I'm giving Serenity and Endymion's lives and reign meaning stills me. "Daddy?" I asked Endymion. "Yes, Reenie?" Endymion responded. "Did I win against Ensign Mars?" I asked. Endymion and Serenity look at each other and then at me not sure of how to answer my question. I answer by staring back at them with my red eyes. "Well, er . . . um," Endymion began, at a loss for words. "You see, Reenie; it's . . . like this . . .," Serenity began. "No, I don't see, Mommy," I told Serenity. "Did I win against Ensign Mars? Yes or no?" No answer. I ready my obnoxious routine just in case. "Is that a trick question, Serenity?" Endymion puts me down, kneels down to eye level and firmly grabs my arm in one hand and my lower jaw in the other. "Reenie Chiba, I don't want to *ever* hear you refer to your mother by her first name again," Endymion scolded me, looking at me with eyes of blue ice. "You OK it with the adult before you call him or her by first name. Do you understand me?" I hesitate and Endymion gives my arm a sharp squeeze which hurts. I asset and Endymion reminds me as he points to Serenity, "That is not your friend but your mother and you will treat her as such." Endymion then points to himself and says, "I am not your friend but your father and you will treat me accordingly. Understand?" I nod. "Good. In time we can be best friends . . . or worst enemies, depending on how you behave toward us. But for now, we are your parents and you *will* be respectful of us, young lady." "Now to answer your question, Reenie," Serenity said, "to be really frank with you, the judges, Ariadne's parents, your father, and I really are not certain who to award victory to." I start to get angry because this is not the answer I wanted. "Have you forgotten what your father just told you??" Serenity asks me in a such steel tone I cringe. "Or were you even paying attention?" Wailing would not help me because Endymion and Serenity would make me stop that in a hurry. So I simply turn and walk away without a word. "Reenie, where are you going?!!" Serenity demands. "Good night, Mommy and Daddy," I said calmly, not stopping until I reach my chambers. I slam the door, change into my nightclothes, and flop on my bed crying. I know that I should respect my parents because they have been around longer than I have, but how do you respect someone who won't give you straight, honest answers to your questions? Ensign Mars scored two points because I panicked and ran away, but she lost control and set my costume on fire, nearly roasting me alive!!! I should have won!!! Ensign Venus is on my court now because of a technicality. She lost control and her chance to resist induction onto my court was cancelled. I also defeated Ensign Mercury but with the help of Ensign Venus. But now Endymion and Serenity don't know what to call this. I don't get it!!! But . . . I'm too tired to do any reasoning tonight. So I get under the covers and call it a night. THE END So what do you think? I don't think you were expecting this chapter to end like this. I certainly wasn't!!! So what judgment call would you make on this battle and why? Do you think that I made the battle against Ariadne/Ensign Mars too hard for Reenie/Sailor Moon? I think I did.:( Email address: CMDChiba@hotmail.com Please put the title of this fanfic in the subject line of your letter. Doing so will enable me to get back to you much faster.