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Pain. The only thing Usagi felt was pain. She was looking at the man dying with her, a sword in both of their chests piercing them painfully. The man spoke, "Serenity, I'm sorry....". Usagi wanted to comfort him, but she woke up before she could utter a word. The man that she had dubbed the Prince had died again, to be honest with herself, if she was numb to it all after watching it happen countless times.
She decided to distract herself by checking the time; it was 4:00 am. Well, she'd try to do her last homework, or she could read the news on Sailor V. She had 3 hours, after all. "No focus, Usagi," she reminded herself and started on her essay. When she was done, she checked the time: 5:00 am. She packed her bag, showered, and then changed into her uniform. A standard sailor uniform with the emblem of Mugan Academy. Her mother always went on about how it was a wonder how Usagi got in. Usagi had to admit she didn't think she'd be able to go to that high-achiever school herself on a scholarship, nonetheless.
Sailor V, her number 1# idol, even though the heroine had her fair share of skeptics and haters, kept on helping the people of Tokyo. That's what Usagi admired about her: Rain or shine, Sailor V would be there. She wanted to catch her attention and help out more people, just like Sailor V, that was her truest dream, but she wasn't a heroine she was plain old Usagi, but that didn't mean she couldn't help out after all,l even one small act of kindness could make a difference, "USAGI" her mom called out, interrupting her mental monologue "Come down for breakfast"
After her mom had given Usagi her bento, she set off for Mugen. It was just a short walk to the station and then a 10-minute commute on the subway away, but along the way, as she was walking, she tripped over something. It was a shabby black cat with a bandage smack in the middle of its forehead.
"No way, I didn't think I was that clumsy. I'm so sorry," Usagi exclaimed
"You poor thing, you're so adorable, so please forgive this clutz." She kissed the cat on the top of its head
...
Which led to it scratching her furiously
"OW Ow ow! HEY, WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT FOR?!"
The cat looked annoyed, pawing at the X-shaped bandage on its forehead.
"SERIOUSLY, hmph, you lucky you're adorable."
She felt bad for it, so she knelt and took the bandage off its head, revealing a crescent-shaped bald spot. Before she could scold it for being such a nuisance, it leaped onto a nearby ledge, staring at her. It tapped on the ledge almost as if trying to tell her something.
She checked her watch and saw THAT IT WAS ALMOST TIME FOR THE TRAIN TO ARRIVE!!!
She rushed to the station, almost like the porcupine from that Sego game.
She had somehow managed to reach school. Unfortunately for Usagi, the bell rang as she was clambering up the stairs, and she ended up late for Homeroom.
"TSUKINO USAGI!" Miss Haruna's voice boomed, "YOU'RE LATE AGAIN!"
"YOU ARE ATTENDING ONE OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS SCHOOLS IN JAPAN; ACT LIKE IT."
And so, poor Usagi found herself standing outside her classroom, exhausted and hungry. Well, it wouldn't hurt to take a bite of her bento...
"MISS TSUKINO, WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING? IT'S BECAUSE OF SHENANIGANS LIKE THIS YOU ARE GETTING LOW SCORES ON YOUR TESTS."
Miss Haruna handed Usagi her English paper, a 30 on 50, which, by Usagi's standards, was great, but by Mugen's, not so much.
"Tsunko, you may be here on your arts scholarship and recommendation, but you will not bring down the school's reputation your test scores other than art are lacking for someone with your level of capability, I will be sending you to extra lessons during the winter break to learn under Miss Mizuno, you will not cause any trouble for her understood" Miss Huruna lectured.
"Understood"
"Seriously, Usagi, chowing down on lunch early while you're being disciplined is so unladylike," Her friend Naru chided her.
Neru was the perfect example of what a mugen student should be: pretty with an affluent background, agreeable disposition, and thoughtful with good grades. Neru always took the time to look prim and proper, brushing her red hair til it was neat, ironing her uniform so there weren't any creases, no mismatched socks or shoes, and she was athletic as well. If Usagi was honest, she looked up to Neru and was a bit jealous of her.
"So, Usagi, how did you do on the test, huh?" Umino, her nerdy acquaintance, asked
Umino was her nerd neighbor, and he never missed a chance to make her look like an utter fool to her parents, not to mention his habit of popping out from the aether creeped her out. He, too, was a fan of Sailor V, which redeemed him for most of his antics, BUT that didn't mean he would miss out on her chasing him around when he pushed it.
"A 30. DO YOU DARE MAKE FUN OF ME, UMINO?"
"Wow, I guess we both were unlucky this time," Umino sighed
"REALLY"
"Yeah, I got a 42." He ran, knowing all too well that Usagi would chuck him in the nearest trash can if she caught up to him.
"UMINO, YOU LYING PUNK!" Usagi shouted, ready to run after him
Neru spoke up, "Now, Usagi, it would be un-ladylike to chase him around, and besides, let's not waste our break, okay?"
"Yeah," Usagi sighed, defeated
"I hear that another jewelry store was robbed today," Yumiko informed
"Don't worry, girls. Sailor V will stop the., She's the pretty soldier of love and justice, after all," Usagi exclaimed
"If someone like that has appeared, then we're nearing the apocalypse," Yuki declared
Neru spoke, "On top of there have been strange incidences and crimes committed recently; the news has been talking about them recently."
"Still, I'd understand wanting to break into a jewelry store," Kuri sighed. "I'd love to be surrounded by sparkling jewels. "
"Neru, doesn't your mom own a jewelry store?" Yumiko questioned
"Yeah, we have a sale going. On. We could buy some pieces with our allowance," Neru informed
"No way! We have to check it out," Kuri exclaimed
Usagi had to admit she was also pretty excited. Ms. Osaka rarely held sales, and maybe she still had enough allowance to buy something.
As they got to Osa. P JEWELS Usagi couldn't help but admire the shining crystals and gems embedded in each piece of jewelry. Her attention was quickly stolen by a silver crystal shaped into a teardrop attached to a necklace; something about the jewel was almost familiar...
"Ah, hello, girls, you're just in time for my sale. Since you are my daughter's friend, how would you like a special discount?" Ms. Osaka joyfully greeted them
At this, Usagi checked if she had enough to buy that necklace...
UGH, SHE RAN OUT OF MONEY, and besides, it's not like Mama would give her any with her recent results...
WHY DID SHE HAVE SUCH BAD LUCK
"Those right there are called a Pigeon's Blood Ruby. They're worth a million dollars, and the one on the left is a necklace made of a rare yellow diamond. As you can imagine, these aren't for sale," Usagi was brought back to the real world by her friend's chatter.
Neru was very knowledgeable about gemstones and minerals. Usagi knew it was her friend's truest wish to run OSA.P JEWELS. Yumiko wanted to break into the fashion industry, and Kuri wanted to travel the world. Even though nerd Umino knew that he wanted to be a researcher and left Usagi with nothing in truth. She didn't know where she would go now that she thought about it. Did she even have a true desire?...
Usagi was deep in her self-reflection until she heard something truly sinister: "I need more of that youthful energy... I must gather more of it". It almost sounded like... Ms. Osaka and someone else's, no, what was she thinking? She was just daydreaming again. She... she should go home. This place was way too crowded anyway. She said goodbye to Neru and the others and went on her merry way.
But first, she needed to throw that test away. Eh, it's not like anyone would look at a crumpled piece of paper on the road. She tossed it
"Oi Bunhead, don't you know littering is a crime?" a man's voice behind her spoke in a clear deadpan.
She turned around, ready to confront this man head-on, when this JERK was checking HER MARKS.
"A 30, damn, this almost makes me feel bad but explains a lot, too"
If Usagi were to be honest with herself, she would say he was an ultra mega hottie, a total catch, but since he had to go and PISS HER OFF. He looked like a stupid try-hard with his shades and TUXIDO OF ALL THINGS. Did this man have the fashion sense of a goat? He looked like a total priss WHAT A POMPOUS DWEEB THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED HIM WAS HIS STUPID FACE!
"Well, maybe if you study harder, even someone like you could improve."
Scratch that; this face was ugly, too.
"Welp, Dumplings, you've wasted enough of my time, so do us both a favor and go study, okay?"
THIS GUY
"HEY WHY DONT YOU MIND YOUR OWN DAMN BUSINESS HUH"
But he just walked away with a shit-eating grin slapped on his face. She should have punched him like she really should have punched him.
"If any place should have it, it would be here, the silver crystal." She heard him mutter under his breath. She felt an odd sense of deja vu at that.
Because of her marks, Mama had grounded her from going to the arcade for a month. No gaming at the arcade FOR. A. MONTH AND UMINO HAD TO GO SHOWING OFF HIS SCORE EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW SHE GOT CRAP grades and Shingo, her dearest BRATTY BROTHER Had to insult her TOO.
Well, it's not like she'll follow Mama's rules. After all, gaming was her way to vent, and who said Mama had to know about it?
So, she sneaked off to the game center crown to play some good old platformers. She saw a new title that made her giddy with delight: Sailor V: Champion Love & Justice; she rushed to play it. If only she could beat this stupid wimpy boss
"Hey, Usagi, so you're here before going home again," Furuhata, the dreamy part-timer, had said. Usagi wished she wouldn't make a fool of herself in front of him.
"If you wanna beat this guy, you're going to have to go on a faster pace," Furuhata explained.
"Mrow." Usagi turned around to see. "Huh, it's the black cat from yesterday."
"Oh, so you met her before Usagi. She has been wandering around here for a few days."
"Yeah, and it's so cute, that little crescent spot on her head. Ack, sorry, Furuhata, I should be heading home now."
"USAGI SNEAKING OFF TO THE ARCADE AFTER THOSE AWFUL GRADES, YOU'RE GROUNDED GO TO YOUR ROOM!!!" Her mom yelled at her again.
Shingo was snickering at her as she slumped into her seat. That was all she needed to hear to know that he had snitched on her, the little brat.
She practically fell onto her bed.
"Ugh, I've been crying for so long that I'm exhausted. Mama didn't need to overreact like that; it was just a bad grade. I'll do better next time," she sighed.
"I don't want to do all this homework, I'll just lie down for a little while."
...
"Stealing all this youthful energy was easy. Now, I can take the real gems as well, and the commander will be so happy with me, but the piece I'm looking for isn't here."
"Huh, this is a weird dream," Usagi thought. "Was that, Ms. Osaka"
"Mom, what are you doing?"
''Wait NERU," Usagi thought. "Ugh". Usagi felt a strange pull. She couldn't see Neru anymore, the room was spinning. The last thing she heard was,
"Wait please someone HELP ME "
...
"NERU". Usagi woke in her room. What was she going to do? Was her friend in danger? Was it all a dream?
"Usagi", "Usagi.. hello"
She turned her head to see who was there, it was "THAT CAT WITH A BALD SPOT"
"How rude I don't have a bald spot and my name is Luna, Normally I wouldn't drag a civilian into this but I need your help," Luna spoke.
"But why me." Usagi wondered"Because Usagi I sense a great power from you, and I know you want to help your friend, here I have something to help you awaken" The brooch was golden with four jewels shaped into smooth spheres, one ruby in the southern direction, one sapphire in the western direction, one amber in the northern direction, and one emerald eastern direction."It's a brooch, it's so pretty, now how do I help Neru" "Usagi listen up, put this brooch on, and shout Moon prism power make up.""MOON PRISM POWER MAKE UP""What all this wow I look like Sailor V, Now lets go save Neru, Luna"