SAILOR MOON Z: Act 2, “Zodiac
Sailor Senshi (Soldiers)”
Scene 1: Roshiva went to pick up the phone.
She swallowed. “Endymion-Serenity residence.”
“Rose?”
“Pollux?” Roshiva asked, confused.
“What are you doing at Princess’ house?”
Suddenly Roshiva was angry. “I was her friend, you know. Where did you get this number?”
“Usa-chan gave it to me,” Pollux replied proudly. “I’m her friend too. And what’s with the past tense? Are you two not friends anymore? What did Tabemono-san tell you?”
Roshiva didn’t speak.
Everything was happening so fast.
“Usa-chan is dead,” Roshiva answered finally.
“Trying to take my place?” he asked, chuckling. “Since I took your place as her best friend, you’re gonna be the person who teases everyone? I may be able to take your place, but you can never take mine. Seriously, Rose, that wasn’t funny. Don’t joke about people dying.”
“Would you shut up and stop being so full of yourself?! I am serious! She’s dead!”
Scene 2:
[Meanwhile]
Pollux hung up the phone.
“It’s impossible,” he told himself. “It can’t be. How can she be dead?”
He closed his eyes as a wave of intense heat swept over him. His head was throbbing.
“Please let Usa-chan be all right,” he whispered. “Let Rose be joking.”
He sucked in a breath. Thoughts were racing through his head. How did she die? Did someone kill her? Who? Why? What was he going to do?
It was
getting hot inside. He decided to take a
walk outside. Whatever he did, he didn’t
want to stay inside. He felt he had to
do something to help
He left his house and let the door slam behind him.
Scene 3:
[Meanwhile]
Two ladies were hiding outside the
“You called me over, Queen Lily-sama,” the taller girl whispered. “So I came. Were you the one who killed --”
“Yes, Giovanna,” Queen Lily hissed.
Giovanna was about 5’7” tall, but she was probably shorter without her knee-high black high-heeled boots. She was wearing tight army colored shorts that revealed most of her thighs, and a matching shirt with a round colar. A plum colored bandana was covering her mouth. Her eyes looked lime color through her yellow shades. Her wavy hair was purple and flowed down past her low back. A black headband held back her bangs.
Queen Lily was about 5’5” tall, but like Giovanna, she was probably shorter without her black platform shoes. Lily was wearing a long maroon skirt which reached her feet. However, the skirt was far from being unrevealing because it had slits on both sides of her legs; the slits practically went up to the top of her skirt. She was wearing a black vest with a V-collar that didn’t have any zipper or buttons to keep it closed. Her skin was ivory white and her curly maroon hair, which reached her low-back, matched the color of her skirt. Her bangs were long and draped over her maroon eyes.
“Was that really necessary?” Giovanna asked quietly.
“Yes!” Queen Lily snapped. “Don’t question my actions!”
Giovanna bowed her head suddenly and whispered hastily, “Please forgive me. I brought the monster you requested. You can use it to kill the witness.”
Giovanna tossed Queen Lily a card and ran off.
Thank goodness for Giovanna’s Science skills, Queen Lily thought, looking at the card. It was a three of clubs.
“You!” a voice shouted at Queen Lily.
Lily’s head shot up at the voice. Roshiva had spotted her.
“Who are you?” Roshiva
demanded, stepping out into the front of the
“I am Queen Lily,” she replied with burning pride, tucking the card into the back of her skirt.
“Queen of what?” Roshiva asked. “Neo Queen Serenity is the queen of the world; there is no other queen.”
“To hell with Neo-Queen Serenity,” Lily said, rolling her eyes and disregarding the matter with a wave of her hand.
Roshiva was appalled. “How dare you!”
Lily was suddenly angry. “No, how dare you, stupid amazon. I will soon be Queen of this world, so bow before me and beg for forgiveness unless you want to get crushed by my almighty power!”
“You murdered Usa-chan, didn’t you?!” Roshiva demanded, glaring at her in rage.
Lily grinned and flipped her hair out of her eyes, but the hair fell back to its original place. “Murder is such a strong word for such a naïve child. What I did was justice.”
Roshiva clenched her fists and ran up to Lily, punching her hard in the stomach and pushing her to the ground.
“I’ll show you justice!” she spat, kicking her.
Lily cowered in a ball and started crying.
“Weak!” Roshiva cursed. “You’re all talk and no action. There was no blood on Usa-chan, so tell me – how did you kill her?”
Lily staggered to her feet, sniffling. “The same way I’ll kill you!” She raised her hands in the air and formed a golden light.
Roshiva
covered her eyes, stepping back. She
thought she would be joining
At least I’ll die with honor, Roshiva thought.
But suddenly the light was gone, and the evening darkness returned. She opened her eyes. Lily looked just as surprised as she was. A rose was near Lily’s black platform shoes. Roshiva knew it was what somehow stopped the blinding light Lily had created from her hands.
“Who threw that rose?!” Lily demanded.
A guy
stepped into view. It was dark, but the
moonlight shown on him. He was wearing a
navy tuxedo and a navy top hat that covered his blond hair. His eyes were covered by a white masquerade
mask. Basically he looked like
“I did,” he snapped.
Lily smiled playfully at him. “Is that so? What might your name be?” She flipped her hair back again and pretended to close her vest in embarrassment.
“My name is Tuxedo Star,” he answered flatly. “And don’t bother flirting with me; I’m far from interested in a busu (hag) who kills helpless girls.”
“I’m not helpless,” Roshiva grumbled through gritted teeth, backing into the shadows.
“If I can’t flirt with you,” Lily growled. “I’ll torture you.” She pulled out the card she had tucked away. Kissing it, she threw it at Tuxedo Star’s navy boots.
He stared at it.
Lily smirked. “Three of clubs!” she summoned. “Kheper!”
The card glowed green. Tuxedo Star stepped away from it. The card’s aura grew larger and then materialized into a giant green scarab with a red clover on its head.
Tuxedo Star pulled out a small navy stick that grew in length as he hit the scarab. There was a slapping sound, but the monster didn’t seem to be affected.
“It’s an ice scarab!” Lily giggled.
“Now you tell me,” he mumbled, running away from the monster as it tried to blow ice at him.
“Don’t run away!” she yelled at him. “You have the audacity to insult me and then you run like a coward?!”
Tuxedo Star
stopped and scowled at her. “Tuxedo Meteor Shower!”
Meteors fell from the night sky.
Lily screamed and ran into the
“What a hypocrite,” Roshiva cursed as she looked up at the moon. “It’s getting late; I should go home.” She took one last look at the scarab chasing Tuxedo Star, and then turned to leave.
“Go Kheper, go!” Roshiva could hear Lily cheer. Lily cackled evilly.
Roshiva stopped and turned back. “I can’t just leave him there . . . he saved my life.”
She watched Tuxedo Star get pinned to the ground by the scarab, who was about to open its mouth and freeze him with its breath. Lily had her head poking out of the palace door, her eyes gleaming with excitement.
“Aries Power, Make Up!” Roshiva yelled with her hand in the air, a red Ram sign glowing on her forehead.
Roshiva’s fingernails turned bright red. Her school uniform disappeared and was replaced by a Sailor Soldier fuku (outfit) with a lavender bow, a red skirt, and red leather high healed boots.
She didn’t have time to think about what was going on. All she knew was that she wasn’t going to let Lily win. She ran out into the Crystal Palcae courtyard where Lily and Tuxedo Star were.
“Fire Cremation!” she yelled, aiming the attack at Kheper. It melted into a green puddle and then disappeared.
Lily gasped. She stared, horrorstruck, at Sailor Aries. “W-ho are you?”
“Sailor Aries,” she answered without hesitation. “I’m here to punish witches like you.”
Lily’s lip quivered, and she looked like she was about to cry.
Sailor Aries sniggered. “Who’s the coward now?”
“Power from the stars,” Lily chanted shakedly. “Take me back to headcourters.”
“And don’t pick on helpless guys!” Aries added as Lily faded away.
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist,” Aries said, turning to where Tuxedo Star was on the ground. “Thanks for--”
But he wasn’t there.
She looked around, surprised. He was gone. For some reason, she felt disappointed. She wanted to get a better look at him.
“You!” someone shouted.
She turned around. Queen Serenity and King Endymion
strode out of the
“When did you get here?” Aries asked, bowing down.
“Rise,” Queen Serenity commanded. “Who are you?”
Aries stood up. “Ramos Roshiva of course.”
They stared at her.
She looked down at her fuku (outfit). “Or Sailor Aries. . . .”
“We teleported here a few seconds ago,” Endymion told Aries. “We saw Small Lady on the floor and the front door open. What happened?”
She hesitated. “I came here to see if Usa-chan was all right, because she seemed upset at school today. The door was slightly ajar when I got here. I went in and saw her on the floor. I checked, and I think she may be dead. . . .”
Serenity looked worriedly at Endymion.
“She can’t die because she is the next heir to rule the world. Plus the Silver Crystal’s power is supposed to keep everyone alive. Small Lady is probably in a coma, but the only way she could’ve gotten like that is if another crystal was used on her. Did you see the creature who did this to Small Lady?”
Relief swept over Aries.
Aries took a deep breath. “When I was inside, I thought I saw two girls outside near the front door. But when I went outside, there was only one girl.”
“So this girl is the one who put Small Lady in a coma?” Serenity asked.
“I’m pretty sure,” Aries answered. “She said her name was Queen Lily. She tried to use her power on me too, but Tuxedo Star stopped her.
“Tuxedo Star?” they said in unison.
“Yeah. He kind of looked like you, King Endymion, only younger and with blond hair.”
Serenity and Endymion exchanged looks.
“Did you see Lily use any crystal?” Endymion asked Aries.
“No. A light just formed in her hands. Though she did summon ‘power from the stars’ to take her back to wherever she came from.”
“The Nova Crystal,” Endymion murmered.
“Um, how do I change back to my school uniform?” Aries asked.
“Just think about it and it’ll turn back,” Serenity replied with a smile.
No sooner had she said it than Aries was Roshiva again.
“Sailor Pluto told us a prophesy,” Endymion told Roshiva thoughtfully. “She said that the presence of the Nova Crystal would bring new evil, and new Sailor Soldiers would awaken – the Zodiac Soldiers.”
“The Nova Crystal belongs to my Aunt Tranquility, who lives on Kaido, the eleventh planet,” Serenity continued. “We used to visit eachother every decade, but one year when it was her turn to come to Earth, she never arrived. I haven’t seen or spoken to her since. I’ll contact her tomorrow morning to see if she knows anything about what’s going on.”
“So where does this leave me?” Roshiva asked. “And what about Usa-chan?”
“You’re a Sailor Soldier now,” Serenity told Roshiva. “You have many more responsibilities. The future rests in your hands. You must battle Lily to the death.”
“That sounds pretty neat,” Roshiva replied. “I’d love to make her pay for what she’s done to Usa-chan.”
“As for Small Lady,” Endymion continued. “She will probably remain in her coma until Lily is defeated.
“Or perhaps Queen Tranquility will know what to do,” Serenity suggested. “The Nova Crystal belonged to her, after all, so she of all people will understand its power.”
“But for now,” Endymion advised. “Just go home and don’t tell anyone you’re Sailor Aries. We’ll let you know if some news comes up about Small Lady or the Nova Crystal.”
Roshiva
bowed and left for her house. All the
street lamp-posts were on now. Besides
them, the only other light was from the moon and the stars. Roshiva wondered if
her parents were worried about her.
She’d probably have to tell them where she was. She would have to tell them about
Roshiva had reached her house. She rang the door bell. Nandi, one of her older brothers, opened the door. He was smiling for once. Usually he was angry at one thing or another.
Nandi’s looks were a little different too. His dark brown hair was combed neater, and his lavender eyes looked brighter.
“What are you so happy about?” Roshiva asked flatly.
Nandi opened the door wider, revealing a girl who was leaning her head on his shoulder. She was 5’2” tall, with lightly tanned skin, deep blue eyes, and straight black hair that reached her shoulders.
They stepped aside to let Roshiva into the house.
“Aren’t you Bullock Oushi, that girl in my Home Economics class?” Roshiva asked the girl.
“Yes, and you must be Roshiva-san?”
“I see you two have already met,” Nandi said. “Shiva-chan, she’s my girlfriend. I invited her over to dinner tonight.”
“Speaking of which--” Roshiva’s mother, Fionnula declared. “It’s ready!”
Everyone sat down at the table. Nandi had to get an extra chair for Oushi. She waited solemnly by the wall, staring at the floor. When Nandi got the chair, she sat down across from Roshiva. Then they all started eating.
Roshiva had a fairly large family. There was herself, Nandi,
her mother Fionnula, her father Ganesh,
her sixteen year old brother Vishu, her twin brother
Braham, her seven year old sister Makara, and her
four year old sister
Fionnula was 5’8” tall with fair skin, pink eyes, and straight light red hair. She was active and talkative, and often childish.
Ganesh was 5’11” tall with dark tanned skin, plum eyes, and straight dark brown hair. He was wise and understanding. He believed no one was completely evil.
Vishnu was 5’9” tall with olive skin, lavender eyes, and straight light red hair. He was caring and thoughtful. He was quiet, but liked to make new friends.
Braham was 5’5” tall with olive skin, lavender eyes, and straight red hair. He was creative and talkative. He never got angry at anyone; like Ganesh, he believed no one was completely evil.
Makara was 4’4” tall with olive skin, lavender eyes, and straight brown hair that reached her shoulders. She was probably the quietest in the family. She cried easily and didn’t have much respect for herself.
“So where were ya, Shiva?” Fionnula asked. “We were worried you’d miss dinner.”
Roshiva took her time chewing her food. Finally she swallowed and said, “I went to Usa-chan’s house.”
“Is that Princess Serenity?” Oushi asked softly, staring at her plate.
“Yeah,” Roshiva answered. “But something happened to her, and now she’s in a coma.”
“Coma?”
“It’s when you fall asleep and don’t wake up for a long
time,” Braham told
“How did that happen?” Fionnula asked in shock.
“I don’t know,” Roshiva answered.
“That’s horrible,” Vishu commented. “I sure hope she gets out of it soon.”
“Yeah,” Roshiva agreed quietly.
Ganesh and Makara didn’t usually talk much, so Roshiva didn’t think much of them being quiet. But she looked at Nandi and Oushi to see their reaction. Nandi looked uncomfortable, and Oushi was concentrating on eating her rice. Her bangs draped over her eyes as she ate. The way the light shined on her hair made it look the same deep blue as her eyes. She and Nandi seemed to have similar personalities, so Roshiva could understand why they liked each other. But she wondered how they met sine Oushi was in seventh grade and Nandi was in ninth.
“You like the rice?” Fionnula asked Oushi, clearing her throat.
“Yes. Rice is my favorite food.”
“Do you like the beef?” Fionnula asked. “I didn’t know if you liked it rare or not.”
“I don’t eat beef.”
“Oh,” she replied, embarrassed.
“But the rice is ddelicious.”
“Vegetarian, ne?”
Oushi didn’t answer.
“So how did you meet my brother?” Roshiva asked, breaking the silence.
“We’re in the same class.”
“Really?”
“Math,” Nandi replied. “She’s in advanced math, and I didn’t pass it last year, so we’re both in eighth grade level math.”
“You like math?” Vishnu asked Oushi.
“No.”
“She likes World History,” Nandi told Vishnu.
“I like P.E.,” Roshiva said.
“I hate it,” Oushi replied softly.
[Scene flashes to the night sky with the sounds of crickets; then Nandi comes into the house as Roshiva climbs the stairs.]
“Shiva-chan,” Nandi said. “Wait up.”
Roshiva stopped on the stairs and looked at him. “Did you have fun walking Oushi-san home? She sure seems cold.”
“She’s really a great person,” Nandi replied, catching up with Roshiva on the stairs. We get into the deepest conversations. She just doesn’t talk much to other people.”
“As long as she makes you happy . . .” Roshiva sighed, turning for the stairs.
“Wait, I wanted to ask you something. Oushi-chan’s twelfth birthday is coming up, and I was wondering what to get her. . . .”
Roshiva chuckled. “Did you get me anything? Did you even know today was my birthday?”
“Just help me out, would ya?”
“What is her favorite flower?”
“A Scylla, but I want to get her something better than that.”
“Geez, you really got it bad for the girl. She better not break your heart or I’ll break her body.”
“Shut up and just give me another idea.”
“What’s her favorite gem?”
“Sapphire!” he exclaimed. “That’s perfect. I’ll get her jewelry. Thank you, Shiva-chan.”
He hugged her.
“And happy birthday!” he called as he ran up the stairs.
Scene 4: [scene changes to Roshiva’s dream]
Sailor Aries was with a bunch of other girls. Tuxedo Star was there too. They were standing outside a classroom door at a school Aries wasn’t familiar with. They were apparently all waiting for someone to come out of the classroom, but whoever it was was taking the longest time. And Aries was in no mood to wait around. Finally the one they were waiting for came out. It was Queen Lily.
“We’ve heard you’ve been saying mean things about the princess,” Aries told her impatiently.
“Aries,” Lily said, startled. “Hello to you too.”
“Cut the small talk,” a short girl next to Aries said. “Why are you telling everyone that the princess tried to kill herself last night?”
“With the Nova Crystal,” Tuxedo Star added.
“You also told everyone that the princess hates everyone, even us,” Aries continued.
“At least, that is what we’ve heard,” another girl said thoughtfully.
“It’s all true,” Lily answered. “I was at the palace last night, and she told me that she wanted to destroy everyone on the planet, and then she would destroy the universe. She said she hated everyone, especially the king and queen . . . oh yeah, and all you too. I told her that I was going to tell everyone, but then she threatened to commit suicide, telling me that everyone would think I killed her. So I had to promise her that I wouldn’t tell anyone.”
“You broke your promise,” Tuxedo Star pointed out.
“Aren’t you smart?” Lily replied sarcastically.
There was a long silence. Aries and everyone else was speechless.
“Well if you don’t mind,” Lily said. “I’d like to go now.”
Aries and the others stepped out of the way so Lily could pass. Lily strode to the school exit, where many other students were going. Not many kids were still on campus. It must’ve been the end of school.
“What do we do now?” one of the girls asked.
“We find the princess,” Aries answered coldly. “I want to have a serious talk with that girl. We’ll split up in four groups and look around campus for her; she’s probably still here.”
All the groups started off to search for the princess except one group. Aries glared at the three girls. One of them was Sasori Masago.
“Well? What’re you waiting for?”
“I think she is lying,” Masago said.
“Frankly, I don’t care what you think,” Aries said dryly. “Why should anyone believe you? You never liked the girl in the first place. You’re probably jealous. There is no evidence you can present that will prove she is lying.”
Masago’s face turned red with anger.
“I believe her,” one of the girls told Aries. “I always thought there was something suspicious about that girl.”
“No one will believe you either,” Aries said, forcing a laugh. “You have such a pathetic life that you create absurd stories about people just to make your life interesting.”
The girl started to cry. The other girl hugged her and stroked her head like a mother.
“Aries,” the mother-like one scolded. “Just because you’re angry doesn’t mean you have to take it out on everyone else.”
“And you,” Aries continued, raising her voice. “Always giving people the benefit of the doubt. Even if you saw a murderer killing someone, you would say they were innocent.”
The girl looked down, ashamed.
“I don’t have time for this,” Aries told him, waving her hand. “Good riddance.”
With that, Aries ran off to catch up with her group, Tuxedo Star and that one short girl. They searched the school and didn’t find the princess anywhere. When Aries and her group gave up the search, they met up with the rest of the girls. But Masago’s group wasn’t there.
Just then
Aries’ watch had Masago’s deep voice coming out of
it. “We need all Zodiac Soldiers at the
There were no need for words; everyone heard what Masago said. They all started running as fast as they could to the Palace. It wasn’t exactly just around the corner though, so they had a ways to go. (Aries was leading.)
When they finally got to the palace (which wasn’t Queen Serenity’s), the door was already open. They all ran in. Masago and the two other girls were already there. Masago was standing next to the king and queen, but Aries couldn’t see their faces because Masago was in the way. The two girls who were on Masago’s team were kneeling on the floor. The princess must have been there, but Aries couldn’t see her. But she did see Lily was lying behind the princess. Aries strained her eyes to see the princess, but the harder she tried the harder it got to see clearly. Soon everything went blurry and everyone had disappeared.
“Sailor Aries,” a sad voice called. “You are the first of the Zodiac Sailor Soldiers. Others will awaken. You must work together to win the battles ahead. Be patient, for this war will last for months and months. Do not show mercy to the evil queen, for that was the mistake I made. But do not let vengeance consume your soul or you will be as evil as she. . . .”
Roshiva woke up to the sound of her alarm. She remembered every part of her dream like it was real. Too bad she couldn’t see people’s faces very well.
Scene 5: [scene changes to Roshiva’s first period class]
Roshiva usually came into class later that everyone else so
she was used to seeing the desks full when she came in. It was strange to see
Roshiva took off her backpack and sat down in her desk. She turned around in her seat to face Kazari.
“I guess you heard what happened?” Roshiva asked quietly.
Kazari looked at Roshiva cloudily. “Huh?”
Suddenly the bell rang. Roshiva turned around to face the teacher.
“If any of you didn’t watch the news last night or this morning,” he began. “I’ll inform you about what happened. Princess Serenity—or Usa-san, as you know her—was put in a coma last night. So you shouldn’t expect to do much work today; probably all of your teachers will just let you relax and perhaps discuss this tragedy and how we each feel about it. . . .”
Roshiva glanced back at Kazari. She still looked dazed. Roshiva wondered
how terrible Kazari felt;
Well if she didn’t know before, Roshiva thought, she knows now. . . .
Roshiva looked at Masago. Masago looked
serious as usual. Roshiva
wondered why Masago was in her dream. What did she
have to do with anything? Rosvhia remembered how
Just then Masago looked Roshiva in the eye. Her eyes flashed from yellow to pink. Roshiva quickly looked down at her desk.
[scene changes]
Roshiva was in her second period class now—Home Economics.
“I realize that Princess Serenity is in a coma,” the teacher told the class. “But that’s no reason to put everything on hold and stop doing our jobs. We were supposed to cook today, and that’s what we’re going to do. So get in your assigned pairs!”
Just then Pollux came into the room. He must have just gotten to school. Roshiva stared at him. He looked terrible. The news must have hit him hard.
Roshiva stood up and met with her partner in their assigned kitchen. Roshiva wasn’t looked forward to cooking. She never did as long as her partner was O’Brien Keshi, the biggest snob in the school. Keshi was 5’3” tall with normal skin, red colored eyes, and wavey orange hair pulled back in a downward ponytail that reached her mid-back.
Roshiva started getting out the ingredients to cook.
“Here, Ramos-san,” Keshi said impatiently, pushing her out of the way. “Let me do the cooking this time. I don’t want you messing up again like you did last time.”
Roshiva gritted her teeth and clenched her fist in rage.
“Roshiva-san,” a soft voice greeted.
She turned around. Oushi and Polux were in the kitchen next to hers.
“Oushi-san! I almost forgot you were here. How are you? Did you have a good time with Nandi?”
Oushi smiled. “I’m all right. And yes I had a good time.” She looked down. “I’m sorry I was rude last night. I’m not very good with socializing. I’m not very good at anything really.”
“Oh, don’t say that,” Roshiva said. “You’re in an advanced math class. That’s gotta say something!” She winked at her.
“It was only by chance. . . .”
“I hear your birthday’s coming up. Mine was yesterday. My family’s celebrating it this weekend. When’s your birthday?”
“May thirteenth. . . .”
“No way! That’s the same day Nandi’s is!”
Oushi smiled. “Yes. I’ve already gotten him something.”
“You two must be meant to be,” Roshiva replied, winking again. “So are you gonna have a party?”
“Oh, no,” Oushi answered, losing her smile.
“What? Why not? You gotta have a party. If you don’t have many friends, just celebrate with your family.”
“My parents don’t want to celebrate. . . .”
“That’s weird. Are you sure? Have you asked?”
“I’d rather not talk about it. . . .”
“Oh, okay. Sorry. Maybe you can come over when we celebrate Nandi’s birthday? Then we can celebrate yours too. We’re having a barbeque in the park. And don’t worry, it’s not beef.”
“Well Ramos-san,” Keshi said. “I didn’t realize you were so desperate for friends that you have to replace Serenity-san with . . . her.”
“Shut-up about Usa-chan!” Roshiva yelled.
Keshi put her hands up defensively. “Touchy, touchy. . . .”
“The way you ramble, Rose,” Pollux said quietly. “I was beginning to think you didn’t care.”
Roshiva whirled around to face him. She was ready to yell at him too, but she stopped when she saw his expression. He wasn’t wearing his normal smirk; instead he looked sad.
Scene 6: Roshiva heaved a sigh as she walked through the door and dropped her backpack down. She was finally home. Her parents were gone at work and most of her other siblings were still at school because the high school and the elementary school got out a little later than the junior high. Nandi should have been the only other person home, but she didn’t see him anywhere.
There was a message on the answering machine, so Roshiva played it while she made herself a steak sandwich, her favorite food:
“Roshiva-chan, we have some news for you. You know what to do.”
It was Queen Serenity. Roshiva deleted the message, took her sandwich, and went out the door.
Scene 7: Roshiva had
arrived at the
“Come in,” she said.
Roshiva stepped into the marble foyer. She stared at it as Serenity shut the
door. Roshiva
remembered seeing
“Follow me,” Serenity said, leading the way through the palace.
They walked
straight until they reached the back of the palace. All that was in the room was a big quartz
case. And
“That quartz case is keeping Small Lady alive,” Serenity told Roshiva.
Roshiva stared at the sleeping
“Anyway, I called you because of what I discovered on my visit to Kaido. It was completely in ruins. The planet was deserted except for my Aunt Tranquility . . . but all that was left of her was her corpse. I also found her daughter Princess Hoshi, and she was dead too. I can’t imagine what happened. That Queen Lily must have done this . . . and stolen the Nova Crystal while she was at it. How horrible. . . .”
“I think I may have some news too,” Roshiva replied. “I had a dream last night. I don’t know if it means anything, but I’ll tell you anyway.”
[time passes as we see
“I doubt that was just a dream,” Serenity told Roshiva. “It was probably a memory of your past life on Kaido. Right now, you’re the only link we have to what happened. Princess Tranquility was probably the princess everyone was talking about in your dream. But you said both she and Lily were unconscious on the floor. I didn’t see any other bodies on Kaido besides Aunt Tranquility and Princess Hoshi. Lily is here on Earth now.”
“Yeah, so how could she have revived?”
“I suppose that is something you will have to find out.”
Scene 8: Giovanna stood in the shadows, the sound of her heart pounding in her ears. There were candles all through the room—maroon candles. The light shown against the covering hanging along the walls—a maroon material. She stared at the candle light’s flickering movements. The light reflected in her yellow shades as she remembered the last time she approached Queen Lily:
“What if you run into trouble?” Giovanna had been asking Lily.
“What do you mean?” Lily had demanded. “I won’t get in trouble!”
“Someone might see you.”
Lily had been suddenly worried. “What should I do?”
“I can make creatures out of chemicals and animal DNA--”
“Yeah, yeah, get to the point,” she had said, suddenly bored.
“I could make you a monster concealed in a common object, and with a simple summoning, it would emerge to its true form and fight at your command. Except . . . I need a power source to bring the creatures to life.”
A smile had curled on Lily’s lip. “I have the perfect source.”
[back to the current time]
Giovanna sighed hopelessly, then sucked in a big breath and stepped up to Lily. She was sitting in a throne made of stones, looking depressed.
“At first things went great . . .” Lily sniffled. “Even when this rude Tuxedo Star guy came. But then this Sailor Aries came right when your monster was about to kill Tuxedo Star. Sailor Aries melted my monster . . . with such ease! I was so humiliated.”
Giovanna knelt down on one knee, bowing her head, and clutching her fist to her heart. “Please forgive me, my queen. My creature wasn’t the right type. The Sailor Soldier destroyed it easily because fire is strong against ice. I will make you a stronger creature, if you like.”
Lily seemed pleased. “Thank you. Sailor Aries must be killed. She already got in the way of my plan and will undoubtedly cause more trouble. Plus her power was fire! That’s nto fair! I’m the goddess of fire!”
“As you wish, Himegami (Goddess of Fire)-sama,” Giovanna said, standing up. “—May I call you that?”
Lily snickered.
Scene 9: [a month or so passes]
It was May thirteenth. Roshiva and her family were barbequing chicken in the park. Oushi came. Everyone had a good time talking around the picnic tables. Even Oushi laughed a little.
After eating, it was time to open gifts. Ganesh handed Nandi the gift he got for him. It was a calculator.
“Maybe that’ll help you with your math,” Oushi told Nandi with a smile.
“Thanks Oto-san,” Nandi said as a sweat drop formed on his head.
He set the calculator on the picnic table and opened the gift Fionnula handed him. It was a black tee-shirt. Nandi folded it and put it back in the box. Vishnu gave him his gift. It was a portable CD player.
“Oh thanks Vishnu,” Nandi said. “I needed one of these.”
He put it down and opened the gift Braham gave him. It was a journal.
“I knew you keep in a lot of your thoughts,” Brahma told him. “So I got you a journal.”
“Thanks.”
“What did you get him, Shiva-chan?” Fionnula asked.
“I already gave him his present,” she replied, eying him. “When I helped him out with a favor he needed.”
“I guess I’ll give you my gift now then,” Oushi told Nandi, passing him a package.
It was a blue stone with a white design that resembled a star. The stone was an oval shape with an indentation the size of a thumb.
“It’s a star sapphire,” Oushi explained. “The three intersecting arms represent faith, hope, and destiny. It’s also one of those stones where you rub your thumb on it to relieve tension.”
He hugged her. “That you, Oushi-chan. I love it. Now for the gift I got you--”
He handed her a package. It was a gold necklace with a heart shaped sapphire pendant.
Tears formed in her eyes. “Thank you, Nandi-kun.”
“Would you like me to put it on for you?” he asked her with a smile.
“Yes.”
She turned around so he could put it around her neck.
“Hey, don’t forget dessert!” Fionnula said, bringing a cake to the table.
The icing read, “Happy Birthday Nandi + Oushi.”
Oushi smiled as a tear rolled down her face.
Roshiva smiled too. She was glad to see Oushi happy. Just then she heard a rustle in the bushes. Roshiva looked at the bushes. There were a pair of maroon eyes staring back at her. Then with another rustle of the bushes they were gone.
[scene changes to a plum kite flying in the sky]
“Aries Power, Make Up!”
Luckily, the park was big, so Sailor Aries could look for Lily without coming in contact with her family. Most of the park was a bunch of grassy hills. Aries walked over hill after hill, looking everywhere for Lily. Aries was saving the tallest hill for last. She walked up to the top and was about to sit down when she saw Lily down below on the other side of the hill. And she was with Nandi and Oushi.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Aries shouted to Lily as she walked to the bottom of the hill.
“Sailor Aries,” Lily said, facing her with a cool expression. “I didn’t expect you to show up.”
“It’s a good thing I did.”
“Lighten up,” Lily replied, rolling her eyes. “I’m not murdering anyone. I’m simply getting a little romance. Is that a crime?”
Lily grabbed Nandi by his arm and pulled him close.
“Get away from me!” Nandi exclaimed, pushing her away.
Lily narrowed her eyes. “Fine, I didn’t like you that much anyway. You have something I want, and I’m taking it.”
A golden beam shot out of Lily’s hands and to Nandi’s chest. A blue crystal in the shape of a small star flew from his chest and Lily caught it.
“No!” Aries cried.
She ran to Lily and pushed her down.
“Take him and leave,” Aries told Oushi.
Oushi rushed to Nandi.
“Not murdering anyone, ne?” Aries asked Lily sarcastically.
Lily got off the ground slowly, brushing herself off. “I wouldn’t have killed him if he was nice to me. But since he was, I did what I was planning to do in the first place—take his star crystal. Now that you’re here, I’ll give you someone to play with.”
She pulled out a card, kissed it,a nd threw it on the ground.
“Four of Diamonds!” Lily summoned. “Gargon!”
The card glowed blue. The card’s aura grew larger and materialized into a stone dragon with a red diamond on its head.
“Gargon! I order you to punish Sailor Aries for her lack of judgment!”
“Whaaaat?!” Aries cried, her mouth hanging open.
The stone dragon thumped across the grass to where Aries was. It spit water out at her. She dodged it. The water hit the grass and turned the part it hit to stone. Aries ran a few steps and then turned around to face Gargon.
“Fire Cremation!” Aries shouted.
The ball of fire rushed towards Gargon’s head. But then he shot water from his mouth to put out the fire before it even reached him.
“Damn,” Aries cursed.
She started running again. She had no idea what to do now that her fire attack didn’t work. She saw Oushi and Nandi were still there on the ground. They didn’t look like they were going to leave anytime soon.
“Get out of here!” Aries yelled to them.
Neither of them paid attention.
Aries ran to where they were. She was about to speak, but Oushi spoke before she could.
Oushi turned to Aries with a blank expression. “He’s lost consciousness.”
Aries heard the thumping dragon coming closer.
[commercial break]
Aries ran the opposite direction so Gargon wouldn’t attack Oushi and Nandi.
Oushi took Nandi’s hand. “It’ll be all right, Nandi-kun.”
A black platform shoe kicked her hand away from his. Oushi looked up, clutching her hand to her chest. It was Queen Lily.
“Take your filthy hands away from him,” Lily snapped. “You don’t’ deserve him. He doesn’t want a girl who is so unloved that she has to sponge off strangers for a little affection.”
Oushi’s eyes filled with tears. She ran away in anguish. Oushi went behind a tree and sat down. She covered her face with her hands and started crying.
She remembered when she was a little girl and how much her parents hated her:
Oushi had ran into the kitchen with a big smile on her face. Her parents were in there, kissing.
“Mama! Papa!” Oushi had exclaimed. “It’s my birthday! I’m six years old now!”
Her parents had stopped kissing and scowled at her.
“Well don’t expect a party or anything,” Oushi’s father had told her.
“Why not?” Oushi had asked, walking up to them. “All the other kids have parties on their birthdays.”
“You don’t deserve one,” her mother had replied. “You’re a curse.”
“A curse?” Oushi had asked sadly.
“Yes, a curse,” her mom had snarled bitterly. “I should’ve had an abortion like I did with all the others.”
The father had sighed and looked down at Oushi with disgust.
“I don’t know why you didn’t, Shina,” he had told the mother. “You should’ve listened to me.”
“I know Ouray-kun,” she had replied, holding him close. “Now we have to live with the brat forever.”
Oushi’s eyes had filled with tears then too. “I hate you, Mama and Papa! I always will!”
With that, she had run to her room.
[back to the present]
Oushi stood up angrily. Through the bushes, she saw Nandi was still lying on the ground. Sailor Aries was still running from the stone dragon. Queen Lily was just laughing at the sight.
Oushi had the sudden urge to do something.
“I won’t let you take away the only person I love,” she whispered as a blue Bull sign glowed on her forehead.
She put her hand up in the air. “Taurus Power, Make Up!”
Oushi’s fingernails turned blue and her school uniform disappeared. It was replaced by a Sailor Soldier fuku with a dark blue bow, a light blue skirt, and knee-high light blue laced boots.
She stepped out over the bushes. “Stop,” she said to Gargon coldly.
Everyone’s eyes turned to her.
“Who are you?!” Lily demanded.
“I am the soldier of pain, Sailor Taurus. I shall make you feel the pain of all those you’ve hurt.”
“Oh I’m so scared,” Lily said sarcastically.
Taurus scowled at Lily. Her stare was so cold that Lily shifted her eyes back to Gargon.
“Don’t just stand there!” Lily yelled at it. “Kill them both!”
But before Gargon could move, Taurus shouted, “Energy—Switch Blast!”
A blue blast came from Taurus’ hands and struck Gargon. Gargon was weakened and fell to the ground. The blue stream of power shot back at Taurus and gave her Gargon’s energy. Taurus’ hair lifted as the energy created an aura around her.
Aries had been staring at Taurus the whole time. But now that Gargon was weakened, it was Aries’ chance to try attacking again.
“Fire Cremation!” Aries shouted at Gargon.
The stone dragon looked up wearily just as the blaze of fire came spiraling toward him. He turned to ash and then disappeared.
“Power from the stars,” Lily chanted bitterly. “Take me back . . .”
She disappeared.
Aries watched Taurus as she ran to Nandi. He was still lying on the ground, unconscious. Taurus took his wounded arm and put one hand on his head.
“Oushi-san?” Aries whispered, now realizing who Sailor Taurus was.
Taurus was too far away to hear her.
Aries walked slowly towards her. As she got closer, she saw that Taurus’ eyes were closed, and that same blue aura from before was around her again. However, this time, the aura was flowing onto Nandi. He was healing; his strength was returning.
Aries watched in shock. Before she could say anything to her, Taurus collapsed. The aura vanished and she changed back into Oushi. Aries knelt down. He was completely healed. She looked over at Oushi, who was now unconscious too.
“Oushi-san used all her energy to heal Nandi. . . .” Aries murmered, amazed.
Just then, Nandi moved. She looked back at him. He was waking up. Aries stood up as he opened his eyes.
“You’re very lucky to have her,” she told him.
With that, she ran off through the trees. She detransformed behind some bushes and went back to the picnic table where her parents and Vishnu were sitting.
Meanwhile, Nandi was sitting up. He put his hand through his dark brown hair, took a deep breath, and tried to remember what happened. Then he turned around and saw Oushi lying on the ground.
“Oushi-chan!” he cried, going to her side.
He shook her gently. “Oushi-chan! Shisukatesute (Hang in there)!”
Oushi opened her eyes slowly. “Nandi-kun. . . .”
“Oushi-chan!” he exclaimed, hugging her as she sat up.
She put her arms around him and held him tight.
Finally he pulled away and looked into her deep blue eyes. “What happened?”
Oushi was silent.
Scene 10: The next day when school ended, Roshiva saw Oushi walking home. She caught up with her.
“Hey Oushi-san,” she began. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
Oushi turned and looked at her, still walking.
“I know who you are,” Roshiva said quietly.
“Who I am?”
“I know you’re Sailor Taurus,” she replied even more quietly.
Oushi stopped walking. “How?”
“Because I’m Sailor Aries.”
She stared at Roshiva. “Does Nandi-kun know?”
“No. No one knows except us and Usa-chan’s parents. Did you tell Nandi about your other identity?”
“No.”
“Good. We’re not supposed to tell anyone. So far you’re the only other Sailor Soldier besides me.”
“Are we partners then?”
“I guess so.”
They
continued walking home together.
