The Apprentice Senshi

Alzrius

Well-Known Member
#1
The tension in the air was palpable as Sailor Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and Pluto walked back in. All of them tried to hide their nervousness, some with more success than others, but no one could resist stealing a quick glance at her fellows. All of them were thinking the same thing. In a few minutesàone of their group would be gone forever.

Despite the mounting anxiety, though, each of them swiftly crossed the board room to pull out chairs and sit at the long table there. Across from them, behind the center of the table, sat Sailor Moon. The future Neo-Queen Serenity looked, for once, like the leader she was. She sat still, suppressing the manic energy that usually radiated off of her; her eyes looked over each of the four girls with an unreadable expression, hands clasped together on the tabletop. To her right sat her future husband, currently in the guise of Tuxedo Mask, while to her left was her daughter from the future, now in her Sailor Chibi-Moon uniform.

Hotaru tried to give a small smile to her pink-haired friend, but it faltered as Chibi-Usa didnÆt so much as look at her. Squirming uncomfortably, she looked down, not noticing as Uranus, reaching below the level of the table, sought out NeptuneÆs hand and gave it a quick squeeze for support. At the far end of the table, across from Tuxedo Mask, Pluto laid her staff across her lap.

ôAll right,ö Sailor Moon started the meeting without any preamble, ôOuter Senshi, your team lost the challenge to vanquish this weekÆs random monster. You and the Inners were each told that a random youma was loose in Juuban somewhere, and you had to track it down and destroy it. The Inner Senshi were able to do so in only two hours, using just MercuryÆs computer. You, however, had a much harder time tracking it down, needing four hours despite having things like the Submarine Mirror and the Time Gates at your disposal. How did you fail so badly?ö

Setsuna spoke up immediately. ôIt was HarukaÆs fault; if weÆd had better leadership, weÆd have brought out our divination abilities earlier, instead of just patrolling and looking for screaming bystanders.ö

ôUranus, is that true?ö Tuxedo Mask queried as he looked at the sandy-haired blonde.

ôNo way!ö snapped Haruka, ôThe plan was a good one; itÆs the same one weÆve been using ever since weÆd awakened as Senshi; just look around, and youÆll inevitably stumble across the monsters doing something. The problem was Pluto and Saturn.ö She felt bad putting the blame on Hotaru, but it needed to be said. ôNeither of them knows anything about actively patrolling, so they were essentially doing nothing while Michiru and I were busting our asses.ö

ôThatÆs not true!ö cried Saturn. ôI-, we were doing the best we could! And itÆs not like I could have done anything anyway, even if IÆd found it! My weakest attack takes out an entire city block!ö

ôSome sacrifices must be made.ö murmured Michiru with a disapproving look at Saturn, who seemed to be on the verge of tears, shrinking into her seat.

ôUranus,ö interrupted Sailor Moon, ôso you stuck to your original plan, but it didnÆt seem like you knew to properly utilize your other teammates. DidnÆt you realize that they had no experience patrolling?ö

ôWell Pluto is always acting like she knows everything,ö Haruka was trying not to sweat as she tried to shift the blame. ôSeriously, I thought sheÆd already foreseen the outcome of this competition, or at least had figured out how to patrol one measly district after spending who-knows how many centuries being a voyeur at the Time Gates.ö

ôAnd what about Hotaru-cha-, er, Sailor Saturn?ö piped up Chibi-Moon.

ôWell what was I supposed to do there?ö HarukaÆs voice rose slightly, her heart beating faster as she realized that everyone seemed to be focusing on her. ôShe doesnÆt have any special information-gathering powers! What else was there for her to do but patrol?ö

ôPluto was acting like she had this in the bag from day one, even though she contributed nothing.ö noted Neptune. ôI think she was trying to undercut HarukaÆs authority because sheÆs jealous she wasnÆt elected leader.ö

ôHey-ô frowned Pluto, but Haruka jumped in before she could get another word out.

ôIÆd also like to mention that after it was becoming clear the youma was in hiding, I did ask Pluto to go to the Time Gates and try and find it there. She was gone for two-and-a-half hours without giving us any word! There was no way to contact her or anything! It was like she just abandoned us!ö

ôShe wasnÆt even there when we fought the youma.ö said Hotaru softly.

ôPluto,ö Sailor Moon cut in again. ôYour teammates are saying that you abandoned them after theyÆd given you a task to do. Do you think thatÆs accurate?ö

ôAbsolutely not,ö responded Pluto curtly. ôThey wanted me to go look into the Time Gates for help, and I did. But thatÆs the sort of thing that canÆt be rushed.ö

ôYouÆre saying that your work couldnÆt be sped up, despite knowing that you were being judged based on how fast you found and eliminated the monster?ö asked Tuxedo Mask pointedly.

ôThe Time Gates see all time-streams and possibilities for the future. I had to weave through the myriad possibilities of what could happen and evaluate the future that was most likely to-ô

ôIt was only a couple of hours!ö interrupted Uranus. ôYou canÆt possibly have had to look through that many parallel universes if you only had to look a few hours into the future!ö

ôItÆs harder to see the immediate future than the distant one!ö snapped Pluto, finally losing her temper.

ôOkay, now look.ö The argument died down as Sailor Moon spoke up again. It was time to bring this to a close. ôPluto, your teammates say you werenÆt an active help on patrol, and when they did tell you to use your ace in the hole, the Time Gates, you vanished, leaving no contact information, and not only did you not get them the information they needed in a timely fashion, but you werenÆt there to help them complete the task.ö Sailor MoonÆs right hand came up, wrist bending forward and fingers out, thumb tucked under as she pointed at Pluto. ôSailor Moon says æyouÆre firedÆ.ö

Pluto gave an emotionless nod as Haruka glanced at Michiru, a relieved look in her eyes. Wordlessly, all four of the Outer Senshi got up and exited the boardroom.

ôWhat do you think?ö asked Sailor Moon, looking at Tuxedo Mask.

ôIt was absolutely the correct decision. She wasnÆt there when her teammates needed her.ö He nodded in response.

ôAnd what do you think?ö this time she directed her question to her Chibi counterpart.

ôPuu should have been there; this was the right choice.ö

ôI think so too.ö Nodded the leader of the Sailor Senshi.

* * * * *

Outside, Pluto hadnÆt bothered to say anything to anyone as she got her luggage and took the elevator down to the ground floor. Putting her bag and her staff into the cab that was waiting for her there, she climbed in without a backwards glance, letting it take her away.

Glancing at the camera inside, and knowing it was her last chance to make her case, even if it was already over, she couldnÆt help but speak. ôI think todayÆs decision was made on bad information. No one really knows what itÆs like trying to use the Gates of Time to see the future. ItÆs not an exact science; you canÆt just push a button and make it show you whatever you want. Also, the thingÆs in its own pocket plane of existence; I canÆt just pick up a cell phone and call to check in. I think that even Sailor Moon doesnÆt understand just how difficult it is for someone in my position.ö

Having said her piece, Setsuna leaned back in her seat as the cab sped her off into the night.

Author's Notes: This fic is dedicated to Pluto, which has just been declared to no longer be a planet. Tough break Pluto.
 
#3
:yay: :hail: :hail: :yay:
 

Alzrius

Well-Known Member
#4
Hmm, reminds me of this.
Yeah, I talked to RedPriest17 earlier today, and we were both tickled to discover that each of us had seen that headline and immediately written a short fic about it. His uses the news more literally whereas mine is more metaphorical.
 

Lord Raa

Exporter of Juice Tins
#5
That's good to hear. (S)he's written some good episodes on the ol' AA.

Speaking of Red Priest, any chance of you convincing him/her joining us here on the forum?
 

Alzrius

Well-Known Member
#6
Lord Raa said:
Speaking of Red Priest, any chance of you convincing him/her joining us here on the forum?
Well, I pitched the idea of joining; he seemed lukewarm to it, all things considered, but I think that when he has some more free time, he'll look around - and as we all know, you need to become a member here even to glance through the place, so that's half of the battle right there. ^_^
 

toraneko

Well-Known Member
#7
Idea!

Wouldn't it be likely that there would be a set of second-string Senshi based on the dwarf planets? :D
 

Antimatter

Well-Known Member
#8
toraneko said:
Idea!

Wouldn't it be likely that there would be a set of second-string Senshi based on the dwarf planets? :D
For some reason, this brings to mind images of Chiyo-chan leading a group of elementary school aged Senshi.
 

Lord Raa

Exporter of Juice Tins
#9
Antimatter said:
toraneko said:
Idea!

Wouldn't it be likely that there would be a set of second-string Senshi based on the dwarf planets? :D
For some reason, this brings to mind images of Chiyo-chan leading a group of elementary school aged Senshi.
That idea could actually be made of win.
 
#10
Lord Raa said:
Antimatter said:
toraneko said:
Idea!

Wouldn't it be likely that there would be a set of second-string Senshi based on the dwarf planets? :D
For some reason, this brings to mind images of Chiyo-chan leading a group of elementary school aged Senshi.
That idea could actually be made of win.
Sailor Ceres, Sailor Charon and Sailor Xena?

Do it.
 

Alzrius

Well-Known Member
#11
Well, let's not forget that there already is a Sailor Ceres; she's one of the Asteroid Senshi who serve Sailor Chibi-Moon (after they were awakened from having been brainwashed by the Dead Moon Circus).
 

EagleCeres

Well-Known Member
#13
Sailor Mars has Sailor Deimos and Sailor Phobos (in the manga they appear as crows that live in the Hikawa shrine, that later on take human form to become part of Mars' entourage/helpers... i believe in the Stars or SuperS arch).

Phobos and Deimos are the moons of Mars.

Fannon has played with many of the planets' moons (expecially in crossovers), but giving chibimoon her own 'mini squad' would be fun.
 
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