Chapter 16: Scholar Sailor Moon vs. Ensign Neptune Well, hello again. I'm Chibi-Mamoru Darien Chiba. The world of Sailor Moon and its inhabitants belong to Naoko Takeuchi; however, the tournament judges Shelly Desiree LaPhoenix and Sandra Gregory Naturalier, the Sailor Scouts' daughters, Griffith MacGrinrun, and the Adaptation Sceptre are mine. Appearing as a special guest star is King Prometheus of the Sun Kingdom as Neo- Queen Serenity's dad from the Silver Millennium. He's also mine. OK, on with the story!!! ********************************************************* *******Crystal Tokyo UltraDome: July 24, 2996, 1:15 pm******* "Will Reenie Chiba and Irvette Kai'oh-MacGrinrun please report to the center of the arena?" Shelly announced. I walk towards the center. On the eastern side of the arena, Irvette's parents Michelle Michiru Kai'oh and Griffith MacGrinrun had told Irvette to report as called. I arrive at the center and hand over my transformation compact to Shelly and Irvette arrives a few seconds later and hands Shelly her transformation ring. Shelly then places the items at our feet. "Everyone, we're going to do something a little different from what we have been doing before," Sandra announced. There is cross-talk among the audience as to what that could be. "Shelly and I talked it over with Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion and we decided to award victory to the contestant who has won two rounds out of three instead of the first one that gets to three points like we've been doing. Are you going to be okay with that?" Serenity and Endymion agree as do Griffith MacGrinrun and Michelle Michiru Kai'oh. Irvette and I also agree. "All right, girls; face me!!" Shelly belted out from the north. Irvette 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." Irvette and I, of course, do as we are told. Sandra then bows back and says, "Face your parents!! Bow." I bow to my parents and Irvette bows to hers. "Face each other!!" Shelly barked. "Bow." Irvette and I bow to each other. "Out of the inner rectangle." Irvette and I walk to our respective ends of the inner rectangle, the western end for me and the eastern end for Irvette. "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!!!" "I will rise to victory like Venus did from the sea!!!" Irvette declared as she runs toward her transformation ring. "That'll be if my will allows it!!!" I shot back as I dash towards my transformation compact. Unfortunately, Irvette gets to her transformation ring first and puts it on. "Neptune quasar power, blast off!!!!" Irvette screamed. I waste no time in grabbing my compact. "Moon quasar scholar power!!!!" I yelled. Transformations complete, Ensign Neptune and I circle each other and wait for the other to make the first move. Ensign Neptune gets the ball rolling by pecking me with a left front snap kick which drives me back. She then throws a right hook punch which I catch and use to throw her 20 feet into the air. "Ahhhhhhhhhh!!! Uffff!!!!" Ensign Neptune grunted as she gets up from her rough landing. I'm tempted to taunt Ensign Neptune by asking if that's the best she can do but remember what happened when Cecelia made the mistake of underestimating me and decide that I don't want to repeat that mistake. As soon as Ensign Neptune is on her feet, I fly towards her to deliver a powerful lunge punch and five reverse punches. I decide to back off a little. This is too easy. Ensign Neptune has more than enough power to wipe the floor with me without half trying. But the question is: what's she waiting for? Queen Serenity appears and warns me that Ensign Neptune will unleash a barrage of Deep Submerges. Sure enough: "Deep Submerge -- triple ten!!!!" I successfully sidestep the first five, get hit by #6 and 8, and duck #9, 10, and 11. Although unable to fly because of my drenched costume, I was able to summon the Adaptation Sceptre, convert to the Mars battle mode and use the Mars Fire to stop #12 through 20. "Ouch, that hurts!!!" Ensign Neptune cried of my fiery attack as the last ten Deep Submerges go everywhere, wetting up everyone. "Sorry, everybody!!!" "Mars Celestial Fire, surround!!!!" I cried out, being careful to not actually hit Ensign Neptune with the fire and knowing full well what may happen to me if I do. Okay, now how can I score a victory here without causing my opponent a lot of unnecessary pain? I know!!! I assume the Jupiter battle mode. "Jupiter Thunder Clap, zap!!!!" I hear a shriek over the thunder and then when the noise and light die down, I see Ensign Neptune cowering fearfully in the northeast corner. Sandra walks over and counts down from ten. "This round goes to Scholar Sailor Moon!!!!" Shelly declared. Everyone breaks into a wild cheer. I curtsy thankfully while Sandra scoops up the scared and now crying Ensign Neptune and checks her over for injuries. When Griffith and Michelle walk out onto the arena and take over, I head up to the bleachers where my court awaits me. "Ohhhh, you sure showed Irvette!!!" Hermione congratulated me as I detransform. "Yeah, I saw the way she curled up in a ball when you cut loose with the fire and lightning, Reenie," Cara agreed with Hermione. "I think I saw my sister pee in her pants," Cecelia laughed. "That'll be good for a laugh tonight." "You mean for a few nights of sleeping with one eye open, Cecelia," Clotilda disagreed. "Clotilda, you worry too much," Cecelia smiled. "Irvette only has so much energy as herself. After that, she's no threat to anyone. I've played with her and I have gotten pretty good at predicting when Irvette is going to get exhausted. I will say this, though; I have noticed that Irvette is slowly getting stronger as my dad and I work with her." "I'd say that you're making a lot of progress in the physical department, Cecelia," I remarked. "Actually, that burst of energy that Irvette just displayed against you was due to her quasar-driven powers and not the training she's been through, Reenie," Cecelia corrected. "I'd better go make sure that she doesn't detransform without resting first." "What happens if she does?" Ariadne asked Cecelia. "Well, Ariadne, if Irvette detransforms before resting, well . . .," Cecelia began, "what's an example I can use that everyone will relate to? Dang, I can't think of one offhand right now, Ariadne. Let me go check on my sister and I'll see if I can't explain it to you better then." Cecelia then leaves. "Well, Reenie, all you have to do is win another round and Irvette is on our side," Cara said. (Yeah, like I'm really going to make things that simple for Reenie. Chibi-Mamoru.) "If I were Irvette and I were if this position, I'd fight like crazy to keep you from scoring another victory," Clotilda reasoned with me. "I'd be on my guard if I were you, Reenie. I have a feeling that you ain't seen nothing yet from Irvette Kai'oh-MacGrinrun." "Yes, but what could that be, Clotilda?" I asked. "And more importantly, how do I counter it?" "Well, we know that fire and lightning will keep Ensign Neptune at bay," Ariadne reasoned. "Did you get Cecelia's powers, Reenie?" I summon the Adaptation Sceptre and take inventory of its captured powers. Fortunately, Cecelia's powers are among them and I breathe a sigh of relief knowing that I can handle whatever is thrown at me during this tournament. I nod and tell Ariadne that I can practically taste victory not just over Irvette, but Claribel and Cleopatra as well. "I can actually see myself defeating them, Ariadne," I said confidently. "I know in my heart that I can win this tournament and get back to enjoying my summer vacation." "We all feel the same way, Reenie," Hermione agreed. "We have faith that you'll be victorious." "However, you must guard against your confidence becoming arrogance, Reenie," Clotilda warned me. "If Irvette does by some chance win this next round, you cannot give in to despair, Reenie," Ariadne reminded me. "It's still possible to win the next one. And even if she does defeat you, Irvette may decide to join us anyway like I did." I look down into the arena and see that Ensign Neptune is in position to begin the next round. "Well, it's time to face my destiny, guys," I sighed sadly. "Good luck, Reenie," Cara bade me as she gives me a kiss. "Please be careful." "I will, Cara," I promised as I run my fingers through Cara's long blond hair. "All I have to do is win just one more round and I'll be three-quarters of the way through this awful tournament." I then disengage Cara and notice that she is crying. "Uhh, Cara, why are you crying?" "I can't believe our mommies are making us fight you, Reenie," Cara sobbed. "I like you, Reenie; the last thing I would want to do is get into a fight with you or allow anyone to fight you for any reason. When I was introduced to you, I wanted to spend the summer getting to know you, not training to fight you, Reenie." "Cara, save your tears; this tournament is just as cruel to us as it is to Reenie," Hermione advised. "Although I enjoy fighting and other strenuous physical activities very much, I can think of other vehicles for that than this tournament!!" Hermione then turns on the waterworks. Ariadne and Clotilda hug the weeping Hermione and Cara. "Moon quasar scholar power!!!!" I cried. Transformation to Scholar Sailor Moon complete, I leap down into the arena. "Just one more victory and you're on my court," I vow to Ensign Neptune. "I'll make sure that you never get that victory, Scholar Sailor Moon!!!" Ensign Neptune shot back. "Yohi?" Shelly asked Sandra. Sandra nods and he and Shelly then step back. Shelly hesitates for a while, then says, "HAJIME!!!!" Ensign Neptune breaks the ice with a right spear hand to my solar plexus which I answer with an outside block and a chop to her right elbow. "Arrgggghhhhhhh!!!!!" Ensign Neptune screeched, holding her right arm. "Curse you, Scholar Sailor Moon!!!" "Irvette, use the attacks your mother and I taught you!!!" Griffith shouted at Ensign Neptune from the box. Ensign Neptune turns to look at me and I get a funny feeling in my stomach that I'm not going to like what those dark green eyes of hers are telling me. "Hey, Scholar Sailor Moon, try this on for size!!!" Ensign Neptune shouted at me. "Neptune Tectonic Tsunami!!!!" I could only stare in shock at the big wave of water that's rushing towards me. Before I could fly away, the wave washes me roughly against the opposing arena wall. If only I had anticipated that Ensign Neptune was going to do that sooner, I wouldn't be in this mess. Although I know that I'm probably not going to succeed at it, I try to take flight. Much to my surprise, I am still able to fly although it does take some effort because of my wet costume. King Prometheus, Neo-Queen Serenity's father from the Silver Millenium, appears and dries off my costume so I don't have to try as hard to stay aloft. He warns me that Ensign Neptune will launch another attack soon and wishes me good luck before leaving. "Sand Dollar Slicer!!!!" Ensign Neptune cries out almost as soon as Prometheus left. I summon the Adaptation Sceptre and use it to deflect as many of the razor-sharp disks as I can while I outfly the rest. All right, Ensign Neptune, if you're going to be like that, I'm going to have to cut off your power supply just like I did your sister. But how? ************************************************************ ************************************************************ "Hey, Reenie, how's it going?" King Prometheus asks. "I just need to win this round and Ensign Neptune is on my court, Grandpa," I happily report to Prometheus. "Your grandma told me about these quasar-driven girls you're trying to induct onto your court, Reenie," Prometheus says. "She said that you had to cut off Ensign Uranus's power supply at one point in order to beat her." "It looks like I'll have to repeat the strategy with Ensign Neptune, Grandpa," I tell Prometheus dejectedly. "I'm afraid that cutting off the power supplies of the Outers' daughters will become more invaluable and necessary as you near the end of the tournament, Reenie," Prometheus says frankly as he reaches forward, picks me up, and lays me on my stomach across his lap. "Grandpa, what are you doing?" I ask Prometheus when I feel his hand on my bottom. Prometheus doesn't answer, but that quickly yields precedence to a excruciating burning sensation on my butt. "AAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" I scream as I try to wriggle out of Prometheus's death grip but to no avail. "Grandpa, stop it!!! You're hurting me!!!" "I know you don't like this, Reenie," Prometheus says as he pushes down firmly on me, "but take comfort, I'm almost done." Prometheus then finishes and sets me down. "Now just what the *hell* was that all about!!?!" I demand of Prometheus, fanning my burning butt. "I just gave you some new solar based powers, Reenie," Prometheus explains as he hands me an ice pack wrapped in towels which I promptly apply to my butt. Ahhhhhhh!!!!! Relief at last!!! "The power you'll find of immediate interest is the ability to use the solar wind which is triggered by the words 'Solar Wind, bluster'. This will form an invisible fog over your opponent which will disrupt her connection with the quasars and prevent her from gaining any more energy, enabling you to have a fair chance of defeating her. However, there are two minuses to this, Reenie. One, it's very hard to aim, but it lasts longer than shooting the Jupiter Thunder into their jewels. Two, its effects are temporary, so work fast. Tell your mother that her father King Prometheus loves her very much and hopes that she is well, but do *not* under any circumstances divulge how you got these powers, Reenie. The idea here is to make everyone think you have always had these powers just like you're doing with the Adaptation Sceptre. Understand?" "Yes, I understand," I reply. "I'm glad you do, Reenie," Prometheus smiles as he reaches down and hugs me. "Just hang in there a little while longer and you'll be through this awful tournament. I have faith that you'll be victorious, Reenie." "Time to rock and roll!!!!" I cry out. ************************************************************ ************************************************************ "Okay, Ensign Neptune, I have a surprise for you!!!" I called out, retiring the Adaptation Sceptre. Ensign Neptune raises an eyebrow as I cry out, "Solar Wind, bluster!!!!" Please let this attack work!! "That's it?" Ensign Neptune asked me as she makes no effort to hide the fact that she's not impressed. "Stunts like that make me wonder about your age at times. I guess I'll have to spank you. Neptune Sea Star, deplete!!!!" I float up five feet in case my new attack doesn't work only to find that nothing happened. "Hey, what gives!?!? WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY POWERS!??!!?" I then begin to assail Ensign Neptune with a series of front kicks and roundhouse kicks, making sure to not go above the collarbones. I then end the fight by grabbing Ensign Neptune by the hair and flipping her over my shoulder. "Surrender, Ensign Neptune!!!" I shouted. "You've lost!!!" Ensign Neptune scrambles to her feet, but I quickly sweep them out from under her with a shrill, "Hiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeyya!!!!" "I haven't lost yet, Scholar Sailor Moon!!!" Ensign Neptune declared. "Ecto-Parasitic Barnacles, expend!!!!" I quickly find myself covered in tiny creatures the size of a quarter. I immediately try to pull them off me, but their grip is too strong. King Prometheus appears and tells me to burn them off using the command 'Solar Corona, shine'. "Solar Corona, shine!!!!" I cried as I close my eyes. After a few moments, the intense light subsides and I gather my courage to open my eyes and look around. Ensign Neptune is crouched over shielding her eyes. The tiny creatures are gone. Everyone is speechless. Sandra walks over and counts down from ten. "This match goes to Scholar Sailor Moon!!!!" Shelly declared. Everyone breaks into a wild cheer. I curtsy thankfully while Sandra helps Ensign Neptune to her feet and over to the center of the arena. I, too, head to the center of the arena and Ensign Neptune and I assume our positions to the east and west, respectively. Shelly and Sandra assume theirs to the north and south of us. "All right, girls; face me!!" Shelly belts out from the north. Irvette 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." Again, Irvette and I do as we are told. Sandra then bows back and says, "Face your parents!! Bow." I bow to my parents and Irvette bows to hers. "Face each other!!" Shelly barked at Irvette and me. "Bow." Irvette and I bow to each other. "Good job, ladies. You are both dismissed." *******A clearing west of Cherry Hill Temple: July 24, 2996, 4 pm******* "Congratulations, you're three quarters of the way through the tournament, Reenie!!!" Cecelia exclaimed happily. "Ugh!!! Don't remind me!!" I groaned to Cecelia. "I hate to rub it in, but . . .," Irvette began. "Then don't," I told Irvette bluntly as I stare into Irvette's dark green eyes. "Reenie, why are you being so touchy?" Hermione asked. "I don't mean to be touchy, Hermione," I apologized, "but all we've done this summer is train and fight. I never wanted to fight you guys; meeting you was the best belated birthday present I could ever receive. I was looking forward to playing and having fun with you guys. You know, kid stuff." "Look at it this way, Reenie," Clotilda advised. "If you can fight your friends, then you can fight just about anyone." I turn and give Clotilda a dirty look. "Okay, everyone!!!" Cecelia shouted. "Let's get off the tournament. It's out of our control and there's nothing we can do about it. The question is: what are we going to do for the rest of the afternoon?" "I know what we can do!!!" Cara giggled. "Let's play Hide-and-Seek. But let's add in this rule: instead of tagging someone, you have to kiss her and rub her butt." Cara then demonstrates on Hermione. "Hey!!! Keep your hands to yourself, Cara!!!" Hermione protested as she pushes Cara away. "Hermione, it's not going to kill you," Irvette justified. "Of course, it does take some getting used to. When Cecelia touched me like that for the first time, I was scared but eventually got used to it and now I like being touched like that." "I'm game!!" Ariadne chirped. "Let's do it," Clotilda agreed. "I guess I'll try anything once," Hermione sighed. "I'm in!!" I said. "Ditto!!!" Cecelia and Irvette chorused. "Okay, guys, I'm it," Cara declared. "Base is here. I'll stay here and count to 20 real loud while you hide yourselves. When I'm done, I'll try to find you and if I do, get ready to run or suffer the consequences." Cara then turns to face the tree and starts counting while we hide ourselves. " . . . jyu-roku, jyu-shichi, jyu-hachi, jyu-kyu, NI-JYU!!!" Cara shouts. "Ready or not, here I come!!!" I could hear Cara tromping towards me from my hiding place. "Reenie, I know you're here; I can feel you," Cara yells. I don't know whether to stay where I am and hope that Cara will give up looking for me and pass by me or run towards base and risk being caught. Unfortunately, all this is a moot point now since Cara caught me and I'm now it. To make a long story short, we continue this for the next three hours and when our parents came looking for us and saw what we were doing, we all got a free dancing lesson with our parents setting the beat by swatting our bottoms along with a lecture about letting someone know where you're going and watching the time. *******Royal Palace: Reenie's room: July 24, 2996, 7:30 pm******* Well, I have a day to rest before I have to get in that arena again for the last time. What will Claribel and Cleopatra be like? King Prometheus said that cutting off the Outers' daughters' energy supply will become more crucial as I get closer to the end of the tournament. I don't know if I want to break the news of King Prometheus to my mom just yet or even if I should, but Prometheus did save my hide when I was fighting Ensign Neptune. As I lay down to sleep, I pray that I be watched over as I prepare myself to engage Ensigns Saturn and Pluto. THE END Well, Reenie's done it again!! Once again, she has persevered against insurmountable odds and come out victorious. Okay, okay, I'm exaggerating. So what do you think? Do you think Reenie will have a chance against Claribel and Cleopatra when she takes them on the day after tomorrow? I think that she'll do well. Of course I know she will; I'm the author ^_^ 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.