Chapter 17: Scholar Sailor Moon vs. Ensign Pluto Hiyee, it's me again, Chibi-Mamoru Darien Chiba. Once again, I remind you that the world of Sailor Moon does NOT belong to me. It belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. Scholar Sailor Moon and her court, Kerwin, the tournament judges, Detective Vitaliter, and this story are mine. King Prometheus will be guest starring this chapter. OK? Oh, and another thing: I thought of a last name for Kerwin!!! He is now known as Mr. Kerwin Del Trabajador. Just to clear up any misunderstandings, "Del Trabajador" is ONE name, not two. What does his name mean? It means "Love/Friend of the Worker." Pretty neat, huh? Let me know what you think. ********************************************************** *******Royal Palace: Reenie's room: July 26, 2996, 3:45 am******* "Reenie, Reenie . . .," a gentle voice calls to me. I recognize the voice: it's Ariadne's. "Ariadne, is that you?" I ask. "Yes, Reenie," the voice replies. I find myself on a volcanic plain and look around at the sea of basalt before me. I decide to start walking and find that it is rough going. At one point, I spot two figures in the distance. "Hermione? Cara? Is that you!?!?" I call out to the two figures. "Is that Reenie over there?" one of the figures asks the other. That sounds like something Hermione would ask. "Reenie!!!" the other shouts as she waves her arms. That just has to be Cara. I make my way over to the two figures and find that they ARE Hermione and Cara!!! "Reenie!!! Boy am I glad it's you!!!" Cara exclaims as she hugs me. I return the hug and as I do, I notice that Cara is trembling. "You guys got the call from Ariadne too?" I ask. "Yeah, we did," Hermione replies. "Let's keep going; this place gives me the creeps." We continue on only to be cut off by a river of lava. "Which way, Reenie?" "Downstream, please," Ariadne's voice suggests. "I guess that answers that," Cara remarks as we turn our steps downstream. As our trek goes on, we run into Clotilda. Our journey ends on an island in the middle of an oxbow lake. "Where are we?" Cecelia asks us, looking around. "I want my mommy!!!" Irvette cries as she cuddles close to her sister. All of a sudden, the bridge of land Hermione, Cara, Clotilda, and I had used to walk onto the island shatters and falls into the lava. Upon seeing how scared Cara and Irvette are, my patience ran out. "ARIADNE!!!!" I scream wrathfully. "SHOW YOURSELF!!!!" For a while, it seems that I had wasted my breath. But then the center of the island caves in and a huge pillar of lava and fire erupts from the hole. On my side of the hole, Cara is holding tightly onto Clotilda for comfort. Then as suddenly as the eruption began, it stops and the center of the island reforms with Ariadne standing patiently in the center of the absent hole. I rush towards Ariadne, but Hermione stops me. "Okay, Ariadne, what's with all fire and brimstone?" Hermione demands, still holding me. "You scared Cara and Irvette half to death." "To scare you guys was not my intention; I was just flexing my muscles," Ariadne tells Irvette and Cara. Clotilda and Cecelia look at Ariadne angrily. "Okay, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare Cara and Irvette. Why I've gathered you here is because I have some very disturbing information that concerns Sandra and Shelly." "Wait a minute; does someone want to tell me and my sister what this is all about?" Cecelia asks. "Irvette, the fireworks are over. You can let go of me now." "Well, you see, Cecelia, Sandra and Shelly are aliens from another planet," I say simply. "Yeah, and so are Irvette and me because we're illegitimate," Cecelia scoffs at me as she shoves Irvette away and storms towards me. "The truth, Reenie!!!" Cecelia now has me a foot in the air. "I'll trust you to put Reenie down!!!" Clotilda thunders at Cecelia. "Cecelia!!! PUT HER DOWN!!!!" Irvette orders. Cecelia reluctantly releases me. Irvette turns to me and says, "Now I think that you know more than you're letting on. I advise you all to go pop some popcorn because Reenie is going to spill her guts as far as how she met them goes." "Reenie, you told us that the judges were aliens from another planet but not how you met them," Cara confronts me. "I think that now would be a good time to tell us." My heart sank; I was hoping to never have to tell that story. "Do I really have to?" I ask. "Reenie, I don't like things being kept from me," Ariadne says as she concentrates really hard. I find myself floating a foot above the red-hot lava. "You have lied to me and everyone here with your silence. Even if you do come clean, I would be completely in the right to drop you in the lava anyway. At this point, you have a choice. You can either tell us what we want to know or I will drop you into the lava." "All right, I'll tell you," I decide. Ariadne moves me over dry land. "I'm really sorry for . . . " I'm interrupted by Ariadne slamming me to the ground. "I'm uninterested in your apologies or your excuses, Reenie," Ariadne states bluntly. "Just the truth." If you have friends like this, who needs enemies? Well, where do I begin? I start out by telling them about how Detective Despicability Vitaliter said that she found me and how I met her husband Professor Gravitus La Phoenix and their daughter Selraina. Next comes the information I learned about Pollianus and its culture from books I found and from Gravitus and how Selraina and I became good friends when we found a common element in our lives that plagues us both. After that comes when Gravitus and Despicability were going to have to send me elsewhere because of the law on Pollianus, their fight and its repercussions which include Selraina having to move in with her boyfriend Sandigeo which almost got me caught by his parents Sergeant Tycallie Rockheart and Director Grekari Naturalier and the move to the Vitaliters' vacation cabin. I tell about how Sandigeo and I were almost killed when Selraina became very horny, my dream in which Sailor Pluto told me about the girls' powers and being assaulted by Selraina when she was giving me a bath, and how Selraina assaulted me AGAIN and its ramifications. "And so when Sandigeo and I got back to the cabin, Director Naturalier and Sergeant Rockheart were waiting for us," I explain. "They took him away and then Detective Vitaliter and Professor La Phoenix found Sandigeo's drawings of the Adaptation Sceptre and confronted me about keeping the truth from them. If your mommies hadn't shown up when they did," I point at Hermione, Cara, Clotilda, and Irvette, "I might not have made it off Pollianus. Everything I went through on Pollianus was for the Adaptation Sceptre." "Uh, Reenie, don't you think that's cheating?" Clotilda asks. "My old powers are weak and don't exactly strike fear into the hearts of my opponents, Clotilda," I reply flatly. "My mommy and daddy were just going to send me in there to get beaten up. The Adaptation Sceptre is for making sure that I have a fair chance at winning the tournament by allowing me to use your powers as if they were my very own. Even with the Adaptation Sceptre, it has been a tough fight and I thank you guys for making it that way." "Okay, so what's this news you wanted to tell us, Ariadne?" Cecelia asks. "The judges parents' have landed on Hokkaido a couple of hours ago," Ariadne reports. "I take it the judges' parents are Professor La Phoenix, Director Naturalier, Detective Vitaliter, and Sergeant Rockheart, right, Ariadne?" Cecelia wants to confirm. "Right," Ariadne answers. "This is the BIGGEST fish story I've ever heard!!" Irvette exclaims. "Yeah, but it's all true, Irvette," Hermione says. "Reenie, why didn't you tell somebody about what happened to you on Pollianus?" Cara asks. Cara has me trapped. "I . . . I . . . I don't know," I reply nervously. "I was afraid Selraina would come after me and that I wouldn't be believed." "Well, your story is a bit out of this world," Irvette tells me. "Ohhh, good one, Irvette," Cecelia agrees as she and Irvette exchange a high five. "But of course, it's very hard for me to dismiss a story *that* detailed." "So Shelly is Selraina and Sandra is Sandigeo?" Irvette asks. "Yes, that is the case, Irvette," I answer. "They're here to make sure I have a fair fight." Hermione, Cara, Ariadne, Clotilda, Cecelia, and Irvette say nothing because they're all guilty of being the reason that Shelly and Sandra are here. "There's no telling how Claribel and Cleopatra will act when you fight them, Reenie," Irvette remarks sadly. "Watch yourself." All of a sudden, Ariadne disappears as well as everyone else . . . . *********************************************************** *******Crystal Tokyo UltraDome: July 26, 2996, 8:15 am******* "Welcome, one and all, once again to the Quasar Quarrels!!" Sandra announced. "Boy, we have yet another treat for you today. Today, our well-known and beloved princess, Reenie Chiba, will face off against Claribel Mei'ou and Cleopatra Tomoe, otherwise known as Ensigns Pluto and Saturn, respectively. I can just tell that these will be two very fierce fights and Reenie will need your support more than ever, so be ready to cheer her Royal Highness on to victory!!!" The audience goes wild. "Will Reenie Chiba and Claribel Mei'ou please report to the center of the arena?" Shelly announced. I walk towards the center. On the eastern side of the arena, Claribel's parents Sharon Setsuna Mei'ou and Kerwin Del Trabajador had told Claribel to report as called. I arrive at the center and hand over my transformation compact to Shelly and Claribel 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. Claribel 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." Claribel and I do as we are told. Sandra then bows back and says, "Face your parents!! Bow." I bow to my parents and Claribel bows to hers. "Face each other!!" Shelly barked. "Bow." Claribel and I bow to each other. "Out of the inner rectangle." Claribel and I walk to our respective ends of the inner rectangle, the western end for me and the eastern end for Claribel. "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!!!" "Destiny says that you will not defeat me!!!" Claribel declared as she runs toward her transformation ring. "I don't believe in destiny!!" I screamed as I charge towards my transformation compact. "Moon quasar scholar power!!!!" "Pluto quasar power, blast off!!!!" Claribel screamed. Both our transformations complete, Ensign Pluto and I circle each other deciding what's the best way to strike the other with very little effort. Ensign Pluto decides to open up with a left roundhouse kick. I answer with a quick side block and a foot sweep. I then cut loose with an uppercut to the ribs that sends Ensign Pluto flying all the way to the opposite side of the arena. "You're not so tough, Ensign Pluto," I declared as I beckon for her to get to her feet. "On the contrary, Scholar Sailor Moon, I'm just getting warmed up," Ensign Pluto smiled as she gets to her feet. "Dead Scream -- triple seven." Quickly taking flight enables me to avoid the first seven. #8 through 12 get me while I'm summoning the Adaptation Sceptre and assuming the Uranus battle mode. "World Shaking -- double ten!!!" I yelled. My first eight World Shakings neutralize Ensign Pluto's last eight Dead Screams while the other twelve zero in on Ensign Pluto herself. "Not bad, Scholar Sailor Moon," Ensign Pluto said. "Defeating you will take longer than I originally anticipated." "You'll have to do better than that if you want to defeat me," I bravely averred to Ensign Pluto. "And I will!!!" Ensign Pluto promised me. "Pluto Hyperspace Fold!!!" I could not believe my eyes as I watch Ensign Pluto cover the 30 feet between us in seconds to deliver a side kick in the blink of an eye!!! I've got to fight back somehow!!!! I return to using my regular powers and try to take off into the air, but Ensign Pluto grabs me and asks, "Just where do you think you're going!?!? I'm not done with you yet!!! Dead Scream -- double three." All six Dead Screams get me and I fall to the floor like a rock. ******************************************************** ******************************************************** "Reenie!!! What happened to you!?!?" a concerned Queen Serenity asks. "Not what, Grandma; who," I tell Serenity. "I've been fearing this for some time now," King Prometheus sighs. "Ensign Pluto has the ability to cover large distances in short periods of time." "But how is that possible, Grandpa?" I ask Prometheus. "Well, you see, Reenie, it's like this," Prometheus explains as he draws two dots and a line on a piece of paper. "This represents a distance between any two points. When Ensign Pluto does her Pluto Hyperspace Fold, what she is doing is taking out the distance between these two points in such a way that the two points are literally the same point." "Huh???" I ask Prometheus, totally confused. Serenity sighs and snatches up the paper. "Reenie, I think what happened is something like this," Serenity explains as she folds the paper in half in such a way that the two dots appear as one point. "This is why what Ensign Pluto did is called a hyperspace fold. She is literally folding space." "Is there a way to counter this?" I ask. Serenity and Prometheus turn to each other and talk. "If you're talking about stopping this process once it has begun, there's no way to do that, Reenie," Serenity tells me flatly. "However, Ensign Pluto cannot do anything until she lands from a fold and even then she is very vulnerable." "If you fly upwards quickly as soon as you hear Ensign Pluto call out the words 'Pluto Hyperspace Fold,' you'll quickly find that this attack is just for show," Prometheus says. "What about leaving a surprise for Ensign Pluto when she lands?" I suggest. "A surprise? Like what?" Serenity asks me. "How about one of Ensign Uranus's Uranus Thunder Mines?" I suggest. "If Ensign Pluto wins the next round, I'll lose the match." "So what if she does?" Prometheus asks me. "What's the worst thing that's likely to happen to you, Reenie? As long as you do your best and learn something from the experience, what does it matter if you win or lose? Nobody here will think any less of you if your winning streak ends with Ensign Pluto." "Your grandpa is right, Reenie," Serenity agrees with Prometheus. "The only person you have to worry about thinking any less of you if you lose is yourself. As for leaving a surprise for Ensign Pluto when she lands from her fold, you can do it if you wish, but be advised, though, that you do so at your own risk." "Ensign Pluto said that destiny says that I will not defeat her," I say. "Yeah, so??!" Prometheus declares. "Reenie, the only destiny you should believe in is the one *you* write for yourself, not that written by someone else. True, Ensign Pluto is a challenge to defeat, but remember that you have the power of the solar wind which we know will disconnect Ensign Pluto from her energy supply." "At this moment, Ensign Pluto has won the last round and will probably think that she can defeat you easily," Serenity predicts. "At this point, your best bet is to make this round as hard for her to win as possible. If you're victorious, use the solar wind right at the very beginning of the next round and then attack Ensign Pluto any way you can as fast as you can." ********************************************************* ********************************************************* "Reenie?" a feminine voice whispered. I open my eyes to see my mom Neo-Queen Serenity. "Oh, Reenie, you're awake." "My head hurts," I scowled. "Boy, Ensign Pluto sure packs a punch!!!" "Well, Reenie, Ensign Pluto had better pack a punch if she is going to be the next Guardian of the Time Gate," my dad King Endymion said. "As I was watching you two go at it, I suspect that Ensign Pluto has more powers than she's letting on." "Like what, Daddy?" I asked Endymion. "I don't know, Reenie," Endymion replied. "But if I were you, I'd keep my eyes peeled for anything." "How am I going to stop Ensign Pluto now?" I asked myself out loud. "If she scores another victory, she'll have won this match." "Reenie, don't put this kind of pressure on yourself," Serenity advised me. "Just concentrate on learning as much as you can and doing your best." "Yeah, as long as you do your best, you're a winner in my book, Reenie," Endymion agreed. "So what are you waiting for? Get out there and show me what you're really made of!!!" *******Crystal Tokyo UltraDome battle arena: July 26, 2996, 9 am******* "Surrender, Scholar Sailor Moon!!!" Ensign Pluto said. "You're not going to win against me." "I prefer to work my way towards victory, Ensign Pluto," I declared. "Yohi?" Shelly asked Sandra as they set their watches and back out of the way. Sandra nods his head and Shelly hesitates for a while before belting out, "HAJIME!!!" Before Ensign Pluto can do anything, I instantly sail in with a left lunge punch and several reverse punches and four hook punches. "ARRGGHHHHHH!!!!" Ensign Pluto screeched as she collapses. "Claribel, use what Professor Tomoe taught you!!!" Kerwin shouted from the box. Ensign Pluto looks at Kerwin and then at me. I'm not going to like this. "Get a load of this, Scholar Sailor Moon!!!" Ensign Pluto said cockily. "Cereberus Concussion." A bubble the size of a baseball sails towards me. I'm about to scoff at this when Ensign Pluto snaps her fingers. When she does, the bubble pops and this LOUD noise assaults my ears. Ensign Pluto is going to pay dearly for this!!!! I fly over Ensign Pluto, grab her from behind, and take off with her about 100 feet in the air. "Scholar Sailor Moon, what are you doing?!?!?" "I'm going to find out if you can really stand the heat of battle," I told Ensign Pluto with an evil grin on my face. "Solar Corona, shine!!!!" Ensign Pluto begins to struggle, but I remind her that she and I are 100 feet in the air. Ensign Pluto screams out in pain in the beginning and tries to wiggle free, but eventually she passes out from the intense heat and detransforms. I wasn't expecting her to detransform, but nevertheless, I am victorious. "I think this is yours," I tell Sharon and Kerwin as I fly by and drop the unconscious Claribel in their laps. "This round goes to Scholar Sailor Moon!!!!" Shelly declared. Everyone then breaks into a monumental roar. I would have stayed to enjoy the glory that's being showered upon me, but I want the glory of actually finishing this awful tournament and putting it behind me. "Hiya, Reenie," Cecelia greeted me as I make a very poor landing and detransform. "You going to make it?" "Yeah, I think so, Cecelia," I gasped as I collapse. "I think it's safe to say that I earned this victory." "Oh, I quite agree," Irvette chipped in. "Claribel is very tough. Claribel, Cecelia, and I have been trained to defeat our opponents as quickly and as soundly as possible, but Claribel places special emphasis on speed, which just happens to be one of the traits that Sailor Pluto is most known for." "And I must say that you and Cecelia were well- trained," I told Irvette. "Say, where are the other girls?" "Cara told us that they and she were going to go answer a call of nature," Cecelia told me. "I can tell already that to Cara, the phrase 'a call of nature' means a lot more than just relieving yourself. Come on." Cecelia then leads Irvette and me to the women's room. "Clotilda, can you let me do something to you to show you how much I love you?" we heard Cara say. "Where are Hermione and Ariadne?" I asked. "I don't know, but I'm going to find out," Irvette replied as she leaves. "I ... I guess so," we heard Clotilda reply. Cecelia winces at this response. "Why are you wincing?" I asked Cecelia. "Three reasons, Reenie," Cecelia replied. "One, because if you become friends with Cara, you'll be expected to scratch Cara somewhere or do something like that to show her how much you love her or let her do something to you to show you how much she loves you. Two, if you're unlucky enough to be caught alone with Cara and she decides to pop that question to you, it's a no-win situation. If you refuse, Cara throws a temper tantrum which ends with a cry of the phrase 'Disappointment Desperation' and you wrapped in chains. But if you do what Cara wants you to do or let Cara do what she wants to you and someone, like a teacher, or another adult sees you, you're in a world of shit. Three, Cara becomes addicted to that type of contact and the next thing you know, you're at her mercy. I worry that if something drastic isn't done soon, Cara will eventually encounter a guy who will take advantage of this behavior and use it to put her at *his* mercy instead of him at her mercy like she wants it. I don't even want to think about what will happen next after that." Cecelia then peeks in and snaps back, her eyes a very pale yellow. "What are they doing?" I asked Cecelia. "Reenie, *do* NOT look in there," Cecelia thundered as she shakes me roughly by the shoulders. "Okay, I won't, but what are Cara and Clotilda doing?" I asked. "Cara has her hand up Clotilda's dress," Cecelia exclaimed. "That's so nasty!! Reenie, you stay here; I'm going to go get one of the Sailor Scouts." Cecelia then leaves. She hasn't gone far when she runs into Sailors Jupiter and Uranus. "Jupiter, Uranus!!! Thank God I found you guys!!!" Cecelia gasped. "Cecelia, where's the fire?" Sailor Uranus asked. "Cara . . . is . . . feeling on . . . Clotilda," Cecelia replied. "WHAT?!?!?!" Sailor Jupiter shrieked angrily. "Lead the way, Cecelia!!" Sailor Uranus yelled. Once Cecelia had led the two Sailor Scouts back here, they waste no time going in and straightening things out. Sailor Uranus comes out carrying an angry and struggling Cara and soon, Sailor Jupiter comes out leading a crying and violated Clotilda by the hand. "Put me down, you ugly transsexual gorilla!!!!" Cara snarled at Sailor Uranus. "I suggest you apologize before I take my Space Sword and dissect you, young lady," Sailor Uranus threatened Cara heartlessly. "NO!!!!" Cara spat defiantly at Sailor Uranus. "Disappointment Desperation!!!!" Metal chains from out of nowhere wrap around Sailor Uranus's legs, causing Sailor Uranus to fall over forward and release Cara. Cara gets to her feet and orders the chains to bind Sailor Uranus's arms behind her back and then to the floor. A gleam in Cara's orange eyes smiles at her handiwork as Cara turns and leaves. "JUPITER!!!!!" Sailor Uranus cried. "GET ME OUT OF THIS!!!!!" Sailor Jupiter disengages from Clotilda and tries to pull out the chains, but Cara returns and uses her Disappointment Desperation to bind up Sailor Jupiter in chains. "Hey, you little brat!!! Let us out of this!!!" Sailors Jupiter and Uranus shouted at Cara as they struggle. "Two gorillas in chains as they should be," Cara giggled as she turns and walks away. "Cara, you come back here and free our mothers!!!" Cecelia shouted. Cecelia then storms off after Cara, but I stop her. "We need to get Jupiter and Uranus freed first," I said to the smoldering Cecelia. "We'll bring Cara to justice later." "Yeah, Reenie; I suppose you're right," Cecelia agreed with a sigh. "Mom, you okay?" "Yeah, Cecelia, but I'm very uncomfortable," Sailor Uranus grunted. "Mommy, how are you holding up?" Clotilda asked Sailor Jupiter. "These chains are squeezing the air out of my lungs and making it very hard for me to breathe, Clotilda," Sailor Jupiter wheezed out. "You going to make it, Clotilda?" Cecelia asked. "I don't understand why you said yes when you wanted to say no." "Guys, can we discuss this later?" I interrupted, stopping Clotilda from saying anything. "Paging Reenie Chiba . . . will Reenie Chiba please report to the arena," an announcement chimed. "Okay, guys, I have to run," I told Clotilda and Cecelia. Sailors Jupiter and Uranus and their daughters wish me good luck as I head off to the arena. *******Crystal Tokyo UltraDome battle arena: July 26, 2996, 9:45 am******* "Clutch city, Scholar Sailor Moon," Ensign Pluto said. I look around fearfully. There's not a single one of my court members in sight. I look up and see that my mom Neo-Queen Serenity and my dad King Endymion are not in their spectators' box. Mommy, Daddy, where are you?? "Where are my mommy and daddy??!?!" I demanded hysterically of Shelly and Sandra as I grab them and shake them. "We don't know, Reenie," Sandra replied. "They just left for some reason. I'm sure they'll be back soon." "But I need them NOW!!!" I screamed. "Your parents told me that they had to go take care of something, Reenie," Shelly said as she covers her ears. I start to tune up to wail when she clamps a hand over my mouth. "I don't need another demonstration, Reenie, thank you very much. Nice set of lungs you got there." I look up into the stands and notice Detective Vitaliter. I peel Shelly's hand away and direct her to bend down so I can tell her the news. Shelly scoops me up, calls Sandra, and heads out the western entrance. "You saw my mom in the stands!?!?" Shelly asks me in disbelief. "Yes, I did," I replied. "This is terrible," Sandra said. "It looks like we'll have to go back to Pollianus sooner than we had planned, Shelly." "No, Sandra!!!" Shelly declared. "We help Reenie win her court members FIRST for as long as it takes and then and only THEN do we return to Pollianus!!! We settled this on the way here over to Earth. Even if our parents are in the audience, we're going to judge this tournament all the way to the last blow!!!" "Well, Mom and Dad are always telling me how important it is to think of and help others," Sandra recalled. "Shelly, I'm going to stick by you through this even if my parents are watching." "Now that's the Sandigeo Grekari Rockheart I fell in love with," Shelly whispered as she kisses Sandra. "Now we have a tournament to finish up." I look at Shelly blankly and she returns the glare. "I said *WE* have a tournament to finish up!!!" Shelly repeats herself, indicating the arena with her head. It's only now that I catch the hint. I lead the way into the arena and take up fighting position. "Yohi?" Shelly asks Sandra when they take up their positions on either side of Ensign Pluto and me. Sandra nods. Shelly hesitates and then cries out, "HAJIME!!!!" Ensign Pluto hits me in the head with a back-spinning kick which sends me flying against my parents' spectators' box as if to rub my face in the fact that my parents are not with me giving me their support like hers are. What I feel the kick is indicating, not the kick itself, is what really hurts. "YAME!!!" Shelly barked as she and Sandra run over to me. "Reenie, are you okay?" "Yeah," I replied, trying not to cry. "Reenie, Shelly and I really wish we knew where your parents were," Sandra said. "C'mon, get up off the floor; feeling sorry for yourself won't do anything to help you." Sandra then helps me up. "As for you, Claribel," Shelly upbraided as she storms toward and grabs Ensign Pluto, "I don't know what your problem is and, at this point, I could care less what it is!!! That kick you made was a cheap shot!!! I think it's only fair that you lose that last victory. Don't go anywhere; I'll be right back." Shelly then releases Ensign Pluto and confers with Sandra. "Because of Ensign Pluto's atrocious conduct as a sportswoman, her previous victory is now null and void!!!!" Sandra declared. "Mama!!!" Ensign Pluto shouted at Sharon. "Go ahead and call your mother, Claribel," Sandra encouraged as he and Shelly turn their backs. "See if we care." "Papa!!!" Ensign Pluto screamed at Kerwin. "Fine, Claribel, you're disqualified," Shelly said to Ensign Pluto. "Scholar Sailor Moon wins this match by default." "WHAT!????!!?" Ensign Pluto asked. "I'm disqualified?!!?!?" "Yes, Claribel, you are," Sandra replied. "And you want to know why? All because of your mouth and immaturity. An intelligent child like you who had bothered to take a quick glance at the situation she was getting herself into would have shut up and realized that, right or wrong, Shelly and I are in charge and what we say GOES!!! Now if you behave yourself and bow out graciously like the sportswoman I can sense that you are, we may buy you lunch, but you will have to eat it away from us. Shelly and I have some things that we need to discuss. Okay?" "Okay," Ensign Pluto, or should I say, Claribel agreed. I follow suit in detransforming. "All right, girls; face me!!" Shelly belted out from the north. Claribel 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, Claribel and I do as we are told. Sandra then bows back and says, "Face your parents!! Bow." I bow to my parents, or rather where they're supposed to be, and Claribel bows to hers. "Face each other!!" Shelly barked at Claribel and me. "Bow." Claribel and I bow to each other. Shelly pauses a while and looks Claribel in the eyes. A full minute passes before Shelly smiles and says to us, "Good job, ladies. You are both dismissed." *******An observation deck: July 26, 2996, 11:30 am******* After my fight with Claribel, I decide to sit all alone here staring out over Crystal Tokyo. Neo-Queen Serenity's home planet, the Moon, passes overhead and I can't help but to wonder why that witch Queen Beryl had to go and spoil everything. What was the Silver Millennium like? What would things be like if my court and I were born during the Silver Millennium instead of in Crystal Tokyo? All right, enough of the hypothetical questions. The main question I want answered right now is where the hell my parents are. I'm going to need their support if I am to defeat Ensign Saturn. Question #2 I want answered: Cara's condition and whereabouts. Cara has been there from the very beginning of this tournament. With Cara on my side and my own efforts, I felt as if I could never lose . . . and I haven't. As for my fight with Ariadne, I look at that as a minor setback. Question #3 I want answered: Clotilda's condition. After all, Clotilda did go through a traumatic experience and Cara, although she's very friendly and hasn't a mean or malicious bone in her body, can be weird and a little intimidating at times. As leader, one of my responsibilities will be to keep order among my court members. What Cara did to Clotilda was wrong and she should be brought to justice, but I have to do it in a way that lets Cara know that while I still love and accept her as a person, I disapprove of what she did. "Reenie!!! What are you doing out here?" Irvette asked as she arrives on the scene followed by Hermione, Ariadne, and Cecelia. "We've been looking everywhere for you." "Thinking about some stuff," I replied. "So who won?" Hermione asked me. "Reenie won by default because the judges disqualified Claribel, Hermione," Cecelia replied. "So, Reenie, you only have Cleopatra to deal and it's all over with. I wonder if there'll be a big party at the end." "Humph!!! I could care less about this tournament!!!" I exclaimed. My outburst catches my court by surprise. "Uh, Reenie, is something wrong?" Irvette asked. "Guys, don't you get it??!" I whined. "I wasn't happy with my victories over you for their own sakes!!! I was happy because I was able to share them with my parents and, later on as the tournament progressed, you guys. That back there," I indicate the arena, "was NOT a victory because my parents aren't here to share it with me!!! I didn't earn that victory by even the loosest sense of the word." I turn around to face out over Crystal Tokyo. "Reenie?" Cecelia ventured to ask as she taps me on the shoulder. "What, Cecelia?" I asked. "I got a look at the rules for this tournament, Reenie," Cecelia replied, "and while defeating your opponent by sheer force of arms is the main way of advancing in this tournament, it is NOT the only way. Unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of your opponent is one way besides the regular show of muscle and brains. Reenie, the outcome of that last fight was valid. Another way you can advance is when your opponent gives up or is unable or unwilling to continue fighting. So according to those rules, what happened in there was a valid victory, Reenie." "But I still wish my parents were here to share this moment with me," I sighed. "That's not an unreasonable wish," King Endymion said as he and Neo-Queen Serenity step out from behind a bush. "Mommy!!! Daddy!!!" I cried out as I run towards Endymion and Serenity. Endymion lifts me and gives me a hug. "Where were you guys?!?! The victory I won over Claribel doesn't mean anything if you're not there to share it." "I know, Reenie," Serenity agreed. "Some business came up that we just had to take care of in a hurry. I know this probably won't make up for us not being there earlier, but your father and I are here now." "We're very proud of you, Teenie Reenie," Endymion said. "Awwww, a touching moment with Mommy and Daddy," Cleopatra sneered with her hands on her hips. Cecelia abruptly starts toward Cleopatra, but Irvette quickly interposes herself between her sister and the offender. Everybody's glare shifts toward Cleopatra. "So, Reenie, you're all lined up to end the tournament with me, eh? You were lucky that you were able to end your fight with Claribel on a technicality, but with me, the only way to victory is through sheer force of arms. If I were you, I'd surrender because, if you challenge me, you'll soon find out that you haven't a ghost of a chance." Cleopatra then marches away. "That creep Cleopatra!!!" Cecelia seethed. "*I'M* supposed to be the bully here, not her!!!!" "Even though her arrogance is raw and wild, Cleopatra is right on the money with the pun she used," Irvette sighed. "Nobody has a ghost of a chance against that intangibility shield of Cleopatra's. Oh, Reenie; it's hopeless!!!" "Irvette Kai'oh-MacGrinrun!!!!" Cecelia fulminated as she slaps Irvette who looks up at her with a shocked look on her face, eyes a bright yellow. "Cecelia!!! You WILL apologize to your sister!!!" Endymion demanded as he sets me down. "I REFUSE to believe that there's no way to defeat Cleopatra!!!" Cecelia screamed, ignoring Endymion's demand. "Come on, guys. Cleopatra is only human and her powers do have limits. We just need to find out what those limits are and how to exceed them." "That, in fact, is the main reason for this tournament," Serenity agreed with Cecelia. "Finding her weaknesses is going to be difficult," I remarked. "Yeah, I'm having a hard time thinking of a way to defeat Cleopatra, Reenie," Hermione sighed. "We need more information." "Hey, Mama!!! Quit pushing!!" Claribel protested as her mother Sharon Setsuna Mei'ou gives her a sharp shove from behind. "If you weren't such a sore loser who doesn't know when to SHUT UP," Kerwin Del Trabajador told Claribel as he looks directly at her, "your mother and I wouldn't be making you do this now." Kerwin then gives Claribel a stinging smack which causes her to jump. Claribel rubs her butt and stares angrily at her parents for a while. Grumbling, Claribel then walks towards me. "Princess Reenie, I'm sorry I lost it earlier," Claribel apologized as she kneels down on one knee. "I want to ally myself with you, if you'll have me." "Of course I'll have you, Claribel," I replied. "I'll need all the help I can get against Cleopatra. >From what I hear, she's REALLY tough." "I know this doesn't help matters, but I have no data that will help you against Cleopatra," Claribel told me. "I do know, though, that she is a master of sound harmonics. And of course she also has the intangibility shield which lasts for 15 minutes . . ." "What did you say?" Hermione demanded of Claribel. "About what, Hermione?" Claribel asked. "Oh, yeah, I remember. Cleopatra's intangibility shield will stay erected for 15 minutes before collapsing on its own. That news provides comfort and provides a chance for Reenie to conquer Cleopatra, but waiting for the shield to collapse on its own could prove to be almost impossible if it turns out that Cleopatra can attack while intangible. Reenie needs a way to attack her while the shield is still up." "I wish that Cleopatra would come over to our side without a fight," Ariadne said. "Awww no, we can't have that," Cecelia disagreed with Ariadne. "What fun would that be?" Everybody groans. "I wonder at times what your mother was eating and drinking when she was pregnant with you, Cecelia," Sharon said. "What's that supposed to mean?" Cecelia demanded of Sharon belligerently, eyes still a bright yellow. "It means exactly what it says," Sharon told Cecelia with a slight chuckle. "I always did find it easy to get a rise out of you." "You need to work on your self-esteem, Cecelia," Endymion said. "What makes you think I need to work on my self- esteem?" Cecelia asked Endymion, her eyes dimming slightly but not by much. "I don't think you want to get us started," Kerwin told Cecelia. "I've seen signs that something's not right with you and your sister. Sharon's seen them; the King and Neo-Queen have seen them. Actually, King Endymion is incorrect; it's not just you whose self- esteem needs work, Irvette's self-esteem needs work as well." "I'm telling my mommy and daddy what you said!!" Irvette sobbed as she walks off. "Irvette, wait!!!" Cecelia yelled as she runs after her sister. "Kerwin, I think you just said too much," Sharon interrupted. "Alex, Michelle, and Griffith are going to have a field day beating you up for upsetting their kids." "Yeah, I guess I did run off at the mouth," Kerwin admitted, his face falling. "Sharon, you'll protect me, won't you? I didn't mean what I said in an insulting way." "Awww, of course I will, Kerwin," Sharon replied as she grabs her husband close and puckers up. "Ewwwwww!!!!! They're going to kiss!!!" Hermione and Ariadne complained as Sharon and Kerwin French kiss each other. "I wish they would get a room," Claribel groaned of her kissing parents as she scoops up Hermione and Ariadne and leaves. Serenity picks me up and she and Endymion leave the scene. THE END So what do you think? Does Reenie/Scholar Sailor Moon have a chance against Cleopatra/Ensign Saturn? Why? How did you like Reenie's fight with Claribel? I don't think you were expecting things to end like they 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.