Event 7D: Showtime!!! "Pluto dark star power!!!" Sharon and I cried. Here I go again, conducting a transformation that I had done with Sharon ever since I began my training as Quasar Sailor Pluto. Sailor Pluto once told me when we were training at the Time Gate that the day would come when I would receive the ability to transform on my own without her help and be fully open to power that is beyond human understanding. It is for this power, Sailor Pluto said, that I am training. Now that day Sailor Pluto spoke so vaguely of is here. Am I excited? No, I'm terrified!!! Well, I'm not accomplishing anything by just standing here. I look around at everyone. Cecelia is trying to comfort Irvette although I know that she would enjoy this. Save your tears, Irvette; this is just as cruel to me as it is to you, Cecelia, and Cleopatra. And what about the Inners' daughters? The soon-to-be five Clotilda Kino, the just-turned-four Ariadne Hino, and the now- four Hermione Mizuno will find this quite a shock when they come back the next day. And sweet, innocent Cara Aino . . . don't get me started!!! She's just a baby; she shouldn't have to prove herself like this. I'd give anything if I or somebody could go in for Cara when her turn comes. Forcing my pity for Cara from my mind for the moment, I walk out into the triangle. "Young Pluto!!!" Serenity called out to me from my right. I turn to face Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion. They bow to me and I return the bow. "Fight well, Young Pluto," Sailor Pluto told me. I turn and she and Kerwin bow to me. I reply in kind. "Bow to your judges, Young Pluto," Zaccheus told me as he and Griffith bow to me and I them. "Alpha Pluto, present yourself!!" Griffith called. As Alpha Pluto steps forward in front of me, I could see that he's fairly big for his age. Griffith probably meant him to dance with Cecelia. "Alpha Pluto, Young Pluto, bow." Alpha Pluto and I bow to each other. What a very respectful gentleman!!! "Iota Pluto, present yourself!!" A boy close to my size jogs out and takes up a position behind me and to my left. I turn around and face him. "Iota Pluto, Young Pluto, bow." Iota Pluto and I bow to each other. I look Iota Pluto over and I can tell that I'll have my hands full. "Rho Pluto, present yourself!!" A boy only a head shorter than me runs out and takes up the last unoccupied position. "Rho Pluto, Young Pluto, bow." I turn towards Rho Pluto and then he and I bow to each other. "Alpha Pluto, Iota Pluto, Rho Pluto, enter the triangle." The three boys do as they're told. "Fighting time is one hour," Zaccheus reminded us. "All ready?" "Osu," Alpha Pluto replied. "Osu," Iota Pluto chirped. "Osu," Rho Pluto chimed. "Osu," I returned. "Hajime!!!" Zaccheus barked. Alpha Pluto launches a front kick which I block with an outside block. I then feel a thump to my left kidney. Iota Pluto had slid in with a lunge punch. This group assault is not fair!!! I side kick Alpha Pluto and hook kick Iota Pluto, sending both boys to the floor. Hey, wait a minute!! Rho Pluto is just standing there. I wonder what he's waiting for. Could Rho Pluto be Gary, the boy I was dancing with earlier? Only one way to find out . . . "Gary, is that you?" I asked Rho Pluto. "Claribel, is that you?" Rho Pluto asked, nodding. I nod my head. "Gary, why is this happening?" I asked Rho Pluto. "I don't know, Claribel," Rho Pluto replied. "Adults are weird, I suppose." Rho Pluto looks over his shoulder. "Claribel, Arnold Scherezenagger and his pal are starting to get suspicious as to what we're doing. We gotta make this look good." "Right," I agreed. Rho Pluto starts out with a reverse punch and a shuto strike. I outside block the shuto and reply with a backfist. Rho Pluto then lashes out with a backspin kick which I duck. I answer with a left roundhouse kick which Rho Pluto dodges. This knocks me off balance and I land on the triangle. "Young Pluto, strike one!!!" Zaccheus declared. "All yame!!!" Endymion and Serenity clap lightly. "Your majesties are pleased?" Kerwin asked Endymion and Serenity. "Yes, we are," Endymion told Kerwin. "I'm impressed with the way Young Pluto recovered herself after her rough start. I want to see more." "Zaccheus, Griffith, I hope your daughters were paying attention," Serenity said, "because this is the type of fighting I will expect of them." "Rest assured, ma'am, Cecelia will surpass even your wildest expectations," Griffith bragged to Serenity. "Uh, Serenity, I'd like to recommend that my baby daughter Irma be allowed to go first." "Griffith, we all agreed to conduct this in the order of our daughters' birth," Zaccheus said. "I know, Zaccheus," Griffith conceded, "but Irma may lose her nerve if I let Cecelia go first. Claribel has already set quite an example." "I see," Serenity said as she sinks into deep thought. "Zaccheus, Griffith, you both have valid points. Sailor Uranus has told me that Young Neptune is a bit stiff and sluggish as far as her Sailor Scout training goes and Sailor Mars reported that Young Neptune's fighting is not as fluid as the others but makes an effort to tow the line as best she can. I think that everybody would win big if Irma does go ahead of Cecelia." "But, Serenity, you can't do that!!" Zaccheus protested. "I had this planned for several months now!!!" "The best plans of mice and men often go awry, Zaccheus," Serenity replied, "as will your employment to me if you ever address me in that tone of voice again." Zaccheus gulps. "I know that even though Cecelia is a very fierce and talented fighter, coming out here and strutting her stuff is, to Irma, a Herculean effort. It's cruel enough that the Sailor Scouts' daughters are being trained to fight at such a young age when they should be out and about playing and frolicking in the sunshine, but it's downright callous of us to get Irma all fired up and then tell her to wait her turn. In fact, after July 3, I'd like the girls to get out and have some fun." "That's one proclamation that I'd be glad to deliver," Zaccheus said excitedly. "I will inform my daughters of your decision," Griffith told Serenity as he leaves. "How am I doing so far?" I asked Zaccheus. "You're doing very well, Young Pluto," Zaccheus told me. "Their Majesties would like to see more." "Oh, really?" I asked, careful not to show any reluctance or enthusiasm at Serenity and Endymion's request. "Well, I'll see what I can do." With that, I return to the floor and the fighting begins. For the next 50 minutes, Alpha Pluto, Iota Pluto, and Rho Pluto take turns exchanging combinations with me. Zaccheus calls out for the fighting to stop and Griffith has the boys and me shake hands and bow out before leading them away to be checked over for injuries. Sailor Pluto hugs me and tells me that I did very well as she and I cancel our transformation. Sharon and Kerwin then take me by the hand and lead me away from the Royal Palace.