Magical Girl Pretty Ruri
Episode Nine: A New Soldier Appears
By Tailkinker and Kitsy
tailkinker@home.com, kitsy@home.com
*DISCLAIMER* Warning: Java compilation error. Insufficient coffee. Due to this, none of the characters, situations and sites belong to the authors of this story. They are currently just used to explore the effects of sleep deprivation. “The life of a Magical Girl is far from easy. The foes seem to get tougher every day, and the speeches harder to take. At this point, I’m surprised Megumi hasn’t gotten into it. She played a Magical Girl once, when she was working as a voice actress. Before the Nadesico. “But this isn’t an anime. Well, you know.” Tail Kinker and Kitsy present Magical Girl Pretty Ruri Episode Nine: A New Soldier Appears “Ruri! Wake up! Honestly, you’d sleep your whole life away.” The banging on the door subsided. Ruri groaned, and sat up. “Once again...” The cat yawned and stretched. “So why didn’t your alarm clock go off this time?” Ruri staggered over to the computer and squinted at the screen. Then stepped back in confusion. “It isn’t even on.” “Are you sure?” “Yes, I’m sure.” She touched the power button and the computer flared to life. “It was in standby mode. When the power failed, it powered down.” “That’s...odd.” “Must be a Microsoft thing.” She glanced at the computer’s clock. “At least I have twenty minutes to get ready to go.” She grabbed a school uniform and headed for the bathroom. “Ahem...” The cat pawed her on the way by. “What? I’ll feed you when I’m done getting dressed.” “Well, that could take you a while...” The cat pawed the dresser. Ruri groaned. “Right.” She grabbed a pair of socks and some undergarments, then resumed her mad dash. “Like mother, like daughter...” * * * * * “Ruri! Let’s go!” Ruri finished gulping down her soup, grabbed her bookbag, and ran to join Megumi. Megumi grabbed her arm and proceeded to drag her off towards the school. “We get our tests back today. I bet I know how you did.” Ruri smirked. “I bet I aced it.” “No way. No way in hell. It’s strictly impossible.” “Oh, really?” Ruri pulled up to a halt. “I bet you an ice cream sundae that I aced the test.” Megumi considered it. “One of your ice cream sundaes would beggar me...but sure. It’s not like I’m gonna lose.” “I hope you have a lot of money on hand.” Ruri resumed her mad dash to the school. * * * * * The old woman yawned as she closed the door behind her. She picked up the water bucket and ladle and began her daily task of spreading water in front of her house. It was a bit old-fashioned, she admitted; not too many people did it anymore, and there wasn’t too much dust on the roads in modern times. But she was nothing if not old fashioned. It was almost a point of pride for her. And it’s not like she ever splashed anyone intentionally... “Ruri, watch out! There’s a puddle--” She stepped back in a hurry, to see a small pale-haired girl hit the patch of wet concrete and go sliding. She shook her head. Why was it that young girls seemed attracted to water this way? Ruri’s arms were windmilling, as her flat-soled shoes hydroplaned across the wet pavement. Her headlong flight was arrested by her smacking face-first into someone’s chest. Out of reflex, her arms flew forward and wrapped around the person she’d impacted. “Oh, this is cute!” Megumi giggled. “Well, hello, Chibi-Usa!” Ruri looked up suddenly. “A...Akito?” Her face felt horribly warm; detachedly, she mused that she probably looked like a beet right now. “Lucky he was there to save you, eh?” Akito grinned down at her. “Comfortable?” Ruri let go of him and stepped back as quickly as she could. She lost her footing and fell down on her backside. “Ite!” “Just like you to klutz out in front of your boyfriend.” “You die later.” Akito reached down to help her to her feet. “I had no idea you felt that way.” Megumi turned and continued on her way to school. “I’ll just leave you two alone. Ruri, try not to be to late.” “Ack! School!” Glad of the escape, Ruri turned and ran down the street. Akito grinned as he watched the two girls run off. “You know...she’d kinda be cute if she weren’t such a klutz.” * * * * * Homeroom 2-E. Ryoko stood as Uribitake entered the room. “Stand. Bow. Sit down.” “Misumaru Yurika.” “Present.” “Amano Hikaru.” “Present.” “Subaru Ryoko.” “Hi there.” Uribitake stopped the roll call long enough to glare at Ryoko. “Hoshino Ruri.” Silence. “Hohino Ruri.” *BANG* *CRUNCH* “Present!” “Also late. Go stand in the hall. You too, Megumi.” * * * * * “Did you have to knock all the desks out of alignment like that?” “Hey, it’s not my fault they put them that close to the door. Besides, I didn’t want to be late.” “I thought you’d be used to that by now.” “Megumi...you’re mean.” “Am I?” “Yes.” “Okay. Then there shouldn’t be a problem with my telling Yurika about your little...encounter...with Akito.” “What encounter?” “Well, you with your arms around him, nuzzling his chest.” “It’s not like that! You know that!” The door slammed open. Yurika grabbed Ruri by the shirt collar. “You leave my Akito alone!” “He even has a pet name for her!” “A PET NAME!?” “Hai. He called her ‘Chibi-Usa.’” *SMACK* “Ite!” The chalkboard brush flipped around several times after impact, before landing at Yurika’s feet. “If you really wish to stand in the hall, fine! But be quiet!” “H...Hai.” * * * * * “Now, class, I have here the results of the examination that you took this Tuesday, and I am pleased to say that, without exception, the results were quite good.” The science teacher passed the exams to Ryoko; as class rep, it was her job to hand them back to the students. “However, one of these examinations was so well done that I was forced to disbelieve the results. It was, in my opinion, impossible that this student could conceivably have scored so high after having repeatedly demonstrated so little ability to study or aptitude for the sciences in general. Therefore, I have come to the inescapable conclusion that this student in all probability--no, absolutely must have had access to an advance copy of the examination.” He stopped directly in front of Ruri’s desk. “This sort of obvious cheating cannot and will not be tolerated, as it is demeaning to not only the student in question, but to the entire class, and to a degree, the entire Japanese school system.” He looked down at Ruri. “Hoshino Ruri, you will take this examination again. It will be a new examination, prepared only minutes before you receive it.” “But I didn’t cheat.” “I find that difficult to believe. After all, you completed the test far ahead of the rest of the class, and your result was one hundred percent. Whereas, your normal results for science examinations is around sixty percent. The highest you have ever scored is seventy-three percent.” He walked away. “You will have a chance to vindicate yourself on the make-up examination.” Ruri was strongly tempted to Mars Guardian Make-Up and Gravity Blast this asshole into next week. ~ I am not a violent person...I am not a violent person...I am not a violent person...~ “Hey, Ruri. I’m not buying you that ice cream. It doesn’t count if you cheated.” “Lean...where did you get the advance copy, anyway?” “Yukina! You wouldn’t cheat on a test, would you?” “...No...” “Well, Ruri IS a really good computer hacker...” “Minna baka.” * * * * * Tsukumo pulled a massive tome from the bookshelf. He opened it and scanned through the text, mumbling under his breath. “Hoping to find some mystical secret, like the identity of Magical Girl Pretty Ruri?” Tsukumo blinked, and looked up at Genichiro. The other Dark General was leaning against the desk, arms crossed in front of his chest. “Well, so far you’ve been of little or no help.” Tsukumo snapped the book shut. “Perhaps the answer is here; I just haven’t found it.” “The answer is staring you in the face.” Tsukumo looked at the book, puzzled. “No, you idiot. Think. One mortal has consistently blundered into the midst of your operations, and every time she does, Ruri shows up to rescue her. What does that tell you?” “Hmmm...that there is some insidious plot, by some higher forces, to keep that girl in danger of monster attacks?” “Ah...No.” “That she’s a designated victim?” “No! It should tell you that this person obviously means something to Pretty Ruri! Continually expose her to danger, and you will flush the target out.” Tsukumo frowned. “I don’t know if I like this idea.” “Remember, the Martian Warriors existed to protect their princess. Maybe this Megumi person is the princess.” “Possibly...She does have a very high Kirlian aura.” Tsukumo nodded. “Just as easily, though, I could take her hostage. Use her as bait in an elaborate trap!” Genichiro sighed. “You’d never make a truly great villain. Still, I suppose that that might work. Just do yourself a favour: make it a simple trap. They work just as well, and they’re a lot easier to set up.” “A good point. And, of course, they cost less money.” * * * * * Akito rang the sale into the till and handed the customer her change. “Thank you, come again!” As she left, he sat down behind the counter and mopped his brow. Houmei stepped through the doors from the back room. “Akito, we just got a new shipment at the back. If you want to put it away, I’d really appreciate it.” “Sure! You can cover the front?” “Hai.” Akito hopped up and headed for the back door. The shipment was small; mostly fruit, and about twenty litres of vanilla ice cream. It was a quick restock after the power failure, and would hold them until their next big order. Assuming, of course, that Chibi-Usa did not happen by for a snack. He smiled at the thought of Ruri. She was a cute girl, if a little uncertain on her feet, and obviously had some horrible crush on him; no doubt encouraged by her mother. He glanced down at the fruit as he put it away. “An orange wouldn’t take too much out of my pay...” He selected a nice, large one, and though about the look on Ruri’s face as he handed it to her...looking up at him and thanking him...brown hair in twin pigtails...No, Ruri’s hair was pale...A flash of yellow, with a crimson eye...many red eyes, glowing in the darkness... “They’re back.” * * * * * Tsukumo faded into the girl’s restroom of the school, a Batto Golem on either side of him. Megumi gasped and stumbled back a step, dropping an armload of books. “You will come with me.” Megumi’s face flushed red. “O...okay.” Tsukumo blinked. ~That was way too easy.~ * * * * * Ruri popped open the bento and looked at the contents. “Your mother gave you curry for lunch?” Ruri glanced up at Yurika. “I don’t think it was meant to be curry...” “Looks like curry.” “I think that when I slipped this morning, the food in the bento got...scrambled.” “Well, food is food.” Ruri shuddered, but she was far too hungry to merely discard the food. She tore into it, hoping to get it all put away before the taste hit. “You know, you really do eat like a Sailor Scout.” “Baka.” “Run run run pant pant pant pant...” “What’s wrong, Yukina?” “Ruri...Megumi...bathroom...books...note...” Ruri leaned forward. “What’s wrong?” Yukina dropped a note in Ruri’s hands. Ruri scanned it. Yurika leaned over. “What does it say?” Ruri read from the note. “‘To whom it may concern; Young Megumi has been taken hostage. If you wish her released safely, notify Pretty Ruri to meet me at the park.’” “What is she, Designated Monster Bait?” “Blink...” Ruri stood up. “Yukina, go call the police.” She handed her the note. “When they get here, give them this.” “Okay.” Yukina ran off. “Why did you do that? The police are the last people we want around right now.” “Wrong. Yukina is the last person we want around right now. The police are a close second. Besides, it’ll will take the police a year and a day to get organized.” Ruri grabbed Yurika’s arm and dragged her around behind the school. She glanced both ways, to ensure that no-one could see them, then pulled out the Kasei no Henshin. “Mars Guardian, Make-UP!” The light seared her eyes, all blue and gold. The air around her rippled, and she felt waves of incredible heat pounding her. Her clothes shredded and re-formed into the blue skirt, tight-fitting golden bodysuit and long blue boots and gloves. The tiara formed on her brow, and the Henshin lengthened to quarterstaff proportions. Yurika pulled out her own Henshin and shouted the command phrase. “Mars Warrior, Make-UP!” Flames seemed to dance around her, burning the clothing off of her, then reforming itself into a short red skirt, white bodysuit, thigh-height red boots, elbow-length red gloves and a bow at the back, red and white striped. Her hair lightened, and shifted to a flame-red colour. A silver tiara, with a single red gem centered in it, appeared on her brow. The Henshin stick lengthened and curved in on itself, becoming a silver bow. The two jumped up to the roof of the school and bounded towards the park. ~Don’t worry, Megumi. We’re on our way.~ * * * * * Megumi wasn’t worried. On the other hand, Tsukumo was starting to get really worried. Ever since he had kidnapped this girl, she had been hanging off of his arm, gazing up at him with stars and hearts in her eyes. It was like she had no sense of reality. “Umm...why are you looking at me like that?” Megumi blushed, and looked down at her feet. “Because you’ve been really sweet to me. And you took me out on this wonderful date.” “Uh...date?” “And to such a romantic place.” She sighed. “Can we go for a ride on the boats. They have those cute little swan paddle boats here. Want a corn dog?” “Huh?” “They have great corn dogs here. That yatai over there sells them. They also have hamburgers - done western style, nice and rare - and french fries. Come on, it’ll be great! My treat.” “I don’t think--” But he was already being dragged off towards the yatai. There was a rustling in the bushes as the Golems tried desperately to keep formation. “Two corn dogs, please!” Megumi slapped a thousand yen bill on the yatai. Tsukumo gulped. “They’re five hundred each?!” “Well, yeah. But they’re worth it.” Ruri and Yurika were seated on a rooftop at the edge of the park, watched the goings-on with disbelief. “THIS is a kidnapping?” Ruri almost smiled. “Maybe we should consider going in for the rescue.” “I don’t think she wants to be rescued!” “I wasn’t talking about Megumi.” The Golems shuffled around again, following their leader as he was dragged along to the docks. “At least it’s easy to track him. Just follow the Golems.” Megumi poked the boatman. “Hi! I’d like to rent a swan boat for fifteen minutes!” “Five hundred yen.” Yurika grinned. “You suppose the Battos are gonna swim after them?” “It would make our lives easier.” The Battos proved to be a little smarter than Yurika expected; they rapidly encircled the lake, still trying vainly to maintain their cover. Yurika sighed. “Well, they make a cute couple.” “Kind of like me and Akito.” “Are you looking to pick up a Flame Arrow?” “Baka.” In the boat, Tsukumo was trying not to let his nervousness show. Not only was Pretty Ruri late to show up, but he had no support if he were attacked here - the Golems couldn’t swim. And for that matter, neither could he. Megumi trailed a hand in the water. “Isn’t this peaceful?” “Yeah...peaceful...You wanna pedal for a while?” “Thank you for this lovely date.” “I thought that my taking you to the park was--” “Really really sweet! Thank you!” Tsukumo gave up. There was just no convincing this girl that her life was in danger here. At least, not from him. He steered the boat back towards the dock, and helped her out of the boat. She grabbed his hand and dragged him off towards the swings. Yurika stood up. “All right, I think he’s had all the punishment he can stand. Let’s go rescue Megumi.” “Right.” Ruri stood and drew her pistol. Megumi was trying to convince Tsukumo to push her on the swing when there was an explosion from one of the bushes. Tsukumo grabbed Megumi, and concentrated, mentally summoned the Battos. A Batto head bounced over the bush and came to rest at his feet, smoking. ~Not a good omen.~ The other fifteen Battos formed a protective circle around him. He looked around for the source of the attack, but saw nothing. “What, no stupid opening speech today?” Yurika and Ruri dropped into the playground. Yurika was gasping for breath. “Sorry...I fell behind...you would kidnap this innocent child, this youth...” Megumi gave her an odd look. “I’m not that young.” Tsukumo smirked. “Or that innocent.” Yurika continued, unfazed. “...and take her for your evil plans!” “You had evil plans for me? Tell me more!” “It’s not like that!” “Oh really?” Ruri smirked. “Then why did you kidnap her from the girl’s washroom?” “Ack!” “In the name of the Martian Successors, prepare to be--” “Enough, Yurika. I don’t think they care.” Ruri raised the plasma pistol, then hesitated. “We can’t fire on them!” “Why not? Flame Arrow!” Yurika raised the bow, and pulled back the string. A flaming arrow appeared at her fingertips. She aimed at a Golem, and let it fly. The arrow smashed into the Golem, blowing it to fragments, but the blast came close enough to Megumi to send her right into Tsukumo’s arms. Tsukumo glanced down at her - and then back up, hopefully fast enough that she didn’t notice where he’d looked... Ruri holstered the pistol and readied her quarterstaff. “We can’t use any energy attacks. The risk to Megumi is too great. Distortion Field!” Ruri spun the staff in front of her. A glowing blue cloud formed all around her, then stabilized into a light blue sphere. “Great. So I have to go hand to hand, while you hide behind your shield. Flare Punch!” Yurika’s fist glowed a bright orange, and there was a blast of light when she hit the Golem. It staggered back, head caved in. “Tornado Kick!” Yurika’s body spun around a complete three hundred and sixty degrees, and her foot impacted with another Golem, knocking it into the air. Ruri drew the plasma pistol and took aim at the flying Golem. “Pull!” *ZORCH* Tuxedo Ken dropped into the fray, seemingly from nowhere, sword drawn. “Blazing Slash!” The massive sword glowed a dull red, and as Tuxedo Ken swung it, it left a trail of fire in the air. The flaming crescent blew through two Golems. Tsukumo observed the wreckage and began to worry. Five Golems down in under five seconds, and it seemed that the Martian Successors were not going to slow down anytime soon. He waved his hand, and ten more Golems appeared. Ruri gasped. “He can call these things all day, and they will eventually wear us down. We have to get Megumi away from him.” “There’s no way.” Tuxedo Ken shook his head. “None of our physical attacks will affect him, and we cannot use any high-power attacks with Megumi in the middle of the target area.” “We’re done this time!” Yurika was gasping for air. “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.” There was a flash of movement behind Tsukumo. Ruri blinked. Standing on the climbing dome behind Tsukumo and Megumi was a girl, dressed similarly to herself and Yurika. She blinked again, unwilling to trust her eyes. The girl was, in almost every way, a dead ringer for Sailor V. Her skirt, and the bow behind it, were a dark golden colour, and her jumpsuit was white. Low golden boots, golden gloves and a tiara with a yellow gem completed the ensemble. Her hair was held back from her face by two small barrettes, but the bulk of it was unrestrained. She raised a hand and pointed at Tsukumo. “Static Haze!” The ground under Tsukumo’s feet exploded upward, dust and soil rising up all around him and obscuring his vision. As he flailed about, trying to find his assailant, he felt a foot impact with the back of his head. The Sailor V clone landed beside Ruri, Megumi in her arms. “Your target area is clear.” “Oh, crap.” Tsukumo managed to make the jump back to the Dark World, just in time... Ruri held the quarterstaff in front of her, eyes closed. A wind began to swirl around her, and her hair fluttered, drawn out to its full length. She opened her eyes, swept the staff around her and brought it to rest, pointing directly at him. “Gravity Blast!” A black field of energy formed around the tip of the staff, then flowed down to encompass Ruri completely. It swelled outward, and exploded into a cone of black energy. The remaining Golems, lacking direction, merely stood and absorbed the blast, and were blotted out of existence. The Sailor V clone tilted her head. “Sirens. Best not be here for when the police show up. Too many questions to answer.” She turned, leaping onto the climbing dome again. “Wait! Who are you?” “You’ll find out soon enough.” From the dome, she leapt off, clearing several trees, and disappeared. Yurika walked up to Ruri. “You know, she’s right. Thanks, Tuxedo Ken--Drat! He’s gone, too!” Megumi smacked Yurika. “You wrecked my date!” * * * * * Yurika glared at the beanbag chair, currently occupied by Omoikane. “You know, this cat of yours is awfully worthless. At least Luna goes out and helps in the fight.” She flopped down on the bed. Ruri scowled. “Now I see why you hurried up here.” She sat down on the pink chair and shuddered. “So who do you figure that blonde woman was?” “I have no idea.” “Oh, the third Soldier has shown up?” “You know about this?” “Yes. Control notified me that she’d be here to help out. Her assistance should prove invaluable in defeating the Dark World.” “Maybe she knows why we’re all here!” Yurika looked excited. “Maybe she can exp--ITE!” Omoikane sheathed his claws. “That’s for calling me worthless.” * * * * * Author’s Notes: Hi, Kenko. :) We haven’t seen anything from you in so long we’re going into withdrawal. Comments and Criticism can be sent to tailkinker@home.com or to kitsy@home.com. This story tends to be archived at both www.geocities.com/groves_ca and members.home.net/kitsy. Finally, there is a mailing list associated with this story. To subscribe, send mail to tailkinker@home.com with ‘subscribe MGPR’ as the subject. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, we choose who gets top billing in the C&C blurb by playing jan-ken-pow. Hey, it worked for picking the captain of the Nadesico. :)