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Mamoru Chiba	They were having a truly productive cram session in the Shed-- so many mahou! But it's the end of finals and nobody wants to fail anything. But anyway, ''truly productive''. Somebody super organized like Rashmi or Kazuo or someone probably set up a rotation of who helps whom for how long. It's not like finals are new, they go through this every year... but every year they're a pain in the neck! At any rate, it hits pizza break time, and the pizzas that the group had ordered aren't present. There is a decided lack of pizza. And certainly, they had ordered twenty pizzas, and it's reasonable that that should take some time to prepare, but it's twenty minutes past when they said the delivery would arrive. Someone (probably Masato) has already called the delivery place, and the delivery guy left twenty minutes ago. They know what direction the delivery guy ''should'' have been taking, and upon examination of available news data (the rumor mill and actually the guys at the pizza place) it's become evident that delivery drivers expect bigger tips for delivering to the school's neighborhood because the drivers keep being found dazed and tired and lacking in pizza, blocks away from their car or bike, or next to manhole covers... Now at this moment, there's a ''crowd'' out looking for the deliverator. They've just turned the first corner out of sight of the school in Mitakihara, and the alleys are chilly and dark in the shadows of the tall buildings. The very first one they come across, in fact, has a steaming empty pizza box in it, half-crumpled.
Usagi Tsukino	Usagi Tsukino love pizza, the general exuberance of a girl who loves all sorts of foods that aren't carrots. Pizza is particularly nice, though, all those ways to customize it, plenty of options, every slice could be different if you ordered enough pizzas. Pizza is not the great food love of her life, but it sure feels like it will be the food of her death if she doesn't get some in her soon. Studying is hungry work, and studying when they're all cramming towards the finish line of finals is even worse, because the tests are here and it's make or break time and she is really, really worried she's going to break. Pizza can't pass her final exams but it can at least be a rewarding break... If they ever find their delivery guy that is! "I know we're all convinced a youma stole our pizza, and even I'm convinced a youma stole our pizza, but what are the odds that it's going to be ''another'' mutant ninja turtle faker in the sewers? Let's think about this, it's been two whole Halloweens since then, someone's got to have finished off any other turtles! If there even were any, because really, who's to say that all four ninja turtles even became sewer dwelling pizza stealing youma? Maybe our delivery guy is just hiding in a corner eating twenty whole pizzas all by himself." Maybe pigs will start flying, Usagi.
Kazuo Saitou	"If he is," Kazuo says solemnly to Usagi, "then it is clearly our duty to save him from himself." He turns his head, scanning the alley, frowning into the dark. This is probably not what he was imagining happening when he came to the cram session. Given that he ''graduated a year ago,'' granted, what he was expecting was probably helping tutor and bail out crying teenagers, and possibly needing a spare shirt to swap for a tear-soaked one.
Minako Aino	If there was a break to be had that involved food, Minako was surely going to be as much 'in line' for this as possible. She certainly had to cram quite a bit after all, but breaks were necessary. Breaks were life. Breaks were... Not meant for hunting down delivery drivers and possibly stolen pizza. Mina steps over to the steaming empty box peering down at it sternly. "While I can't rule out mutant turtle imposters, my years of being a detective are certainly telling me whatever it is, is still nearby. And--" She pauses to lift her head and SNIFF the air. "Ew. Okay, someone else gets to sniff out where the pizza went. Artemis?" The white cat trailing after her looks up, and lifts a paw to bat against his nose. "Nob me, I hab a colb." *sniffle* Poor stuffed up Artemis.
Rashmi Terios	"...Okay back up *this is not a new thing?*" are the first words out of Rashmi's mouth. Because let's be real; magic is weird, magic is wild, magic is bullshit, but who in their right mind expects ninja turtle youma? It's not even the right side of the *planet* for that to be a thing! And yet, the evidence is both over- and underwhelming. She never expected an answer to her exclamation, really. Just needed to get the words out to confirm to herself that, sometimes, her boyfriend is in fact the logical one when it comes to Earth Bullshit. "...Nicomachea... please put 'air-freshening magic' on my spell research list, please? << *BONG!* >>
Ikiko Hisakata	"And who's to say that the delivery guy isn't a youma himself?" Ikiko remarks, carefully peering into the alley from the relative safety of the crowd of mahoujin. "Or at least infected by one, anyway. Or the ''pizzas'' got infused with Dark Energy, or one of any number of mishaps that's basically par for the course for what we deal with." She pauses for a moment, then shrugs apologetically. "First priority is recovering the pizzas, though -- we can deal with the rest of the problem (whatever it is) once we have those," she adds.
Masato Sanjouin	It's not as though Masato has the experience to fully empathise with the life of a dude delivering pizzas to get by, but for the first time-- ever-- he's reconsidering the risks of such a job. Then again, in Tokyo, twenty pizzas could cross some dark energy and become a deep-dish cretin, and try to eat you instead. So, he's conceded, they probably do deserve more respect. Part of completing finals and doing well is also avoiding ever having to deliver pizza, and thus find themselves in such a situation. "What if-- and hear me out," He considers, with a wave of his hand, "What if the pizzas have become an even scarier form of turtle, to intimidate its natural predators?"
Ace Saijou	A noble thief Kaitou Ace might be, but he wouldn't stoop to stealing pizza. Unless it had been ordered-in by an evil organization, in which case it might make for a nice dramatic entrance to have him show up eating a slice of *their* food. Which actually was the case for one of the episodes in his show, wherein it was discovered the reality behind making a dramatic entrance with food, while wearing an all-white outfit. Ace had to apologize profusely to the costuming department at one point. All of which is to say that the late pizza isn't *his* fault, at least. As he has yet to actually commence his studies, Ace isn't part of the cram session at this point. Instead, tonight sees him casually walking the street, hands in pockets as he makes his way along with no real destination in mind. The simple delights -- walking without either the weight of celebrity or some nefarious plot in mind -- those are still novel and enjoyable to him.
Chibiusa Tsukino	Chibiusa Tsukino is not taking her studies seriously.     To her credit, she has been at an elementary level for centuries and has reasons to be confident. She is mostly here for pizza which ''has yet to arrive'' and Luna-P is having some thoughts about that.     "No Luna-P you can't become a pizza cutter the pizza isn't here yet. Also it's usually pre-sliced anyways."     Now they are out searching for the one who has their pizza, or possibly the people who mugged the one who has their pizza, or possibly the ''youma'' who has their pizza, and honestly... as frustrating as it is, Chibiusa is kinda happy to be having an adventure today.     To her alt-mom, she says, "I mean, on the bright side if he just ate 20 pizzas then he'll be a lot easier to catch."
Rei Hino	Rei Hino is less about the pizza and more about the friends (though, lets be honest, Pizza is pretty good for a non-Japanese food. Way better than fried chicken. To her) but she's also very much NOT about NOT getting food. She is also pretty heavily against failing, and if there's one big downside of attending Radiant Heart Academy, it's that unlike TA Girls' Academy, she has to pass finals like the others! Lame.     "But how can I study while I'm hungry?" was Rei's heartfelt question-complaint at the lack of pizza arrival, so of course she's out with the others. "I swear if this is a youma I'm going to need new high heels after this." she says. Of course she'd get them on henshin'ing BUT THAT'S NOT THE POINT. The point is Rei is hungry and someone stole her pizza so someone is going to get cooked if that someone's a youma.     "If it's the delivery guy I'm gonna need new school shoes." she adds, to Usagi's hopeful theory.     But since Rei is hungry and worried about studying, the mask of perfectly polite lady has slipped to being more off than normal for out-of-henshin, and she's practically stomping after the others.
Setsuna Meiou	As the crowd of hungry mahou had trundled past the infirmary on the way out to try to ascertain where their food went, they seem to have picked up an extra in the form of Nurse Meiou, who had been running somewhat late closing up this evening. Upon seeing the crowd, she blinked and, after locking the infirmary door behind her, tagged along with the group, curious at first what had them all in a small mob heading out at this hour. It's not long before the chatter she hears lets her know that this possee has been rounded up to track down their pizza delivery...and even more concerning, that this is NOT the first time this has happened. She looks around, then shakes her head and smiles a little. If this IS the work of some kind of youma, they picked the WRONG person to attack, "I'm honestly curious myself."
Amy Faust	It was just supposed to be pizza for study time! >_<;     "It's a ''little'' concerning that the school's getting a reputation and youma are learning to target deliverypeople, right?"     As she helps search, she looks with alarm at Usagi. "Hold up." she says at the same time as Rashmi, "''another'' teenage mutant hero turtles faker?!" She suddenly has a bandanna with eyeholes appear on her head for emphasis. It's red, even though she's not a party dude -- red is her color! "Like, there was ''already'' a youma-- when did this happen?!"     After Masato's suggestion, she comments "Ooh, you're right. I mean, not about pizzas and turtles but maybe the ''pizza'' has been made ino a youma."
Mamoru Chiba	Mamoru's slouch-walking next to or very near to Usagi, phone in one hand, other hand in pocket, googling something. "Turtles in sewers doesn't make sense anyway," he says absently, "they have keen senses of smell." So, probably it's a bad time just then to hear a gigantic echoing SNIFF coming from deep down in the alley, accompanied by a miasma of dark energy and the scent of overwarm subway stations and twenty pizzas. No one could have expected something like this. All the logic points against it, clearly, despite the evidence... ANYWAY The loud huge sniff is the only warning they get, because a fraction of a second after that sniff, Usagi's getting charged by a Very VERY Angry Tortoise Man Ninja Youma with four muscular arms like Machoke and they are sprouting bone sai as he charges. He's also loud, and wearing a red bandana, and he's big and tough and strong. "PIZZA," he roars in sad fury, bigger and tougher and angrier than the cowabunga one a couple years ago.
Usagi Tsukino	"Kazuo-kun, you're right. Even ''I'' wouldn't eat twenty pizzas in one sitting. We have to save him no matter what." The solemn exchange ends with a cracked smile, and Usagi glances back at Rashmi and Amy and ''sighs'' with all the woe of a young maiden plagued by pizza thieving ninja turtles - "A while before Walpurgisnacht hit the city, when Mamochan's building was still under construction, we'd have date nights in the construction zone, and this cowabunga yelling orange turtle guy tried to rob us. But it's been like, almost ''two years'', so that can't happen again." Surely it can't. One big SNIFF later, and, "I SAID THIS CAN'T HAPPEN AGAIN!!!!" Exit stage ''scream'' as Usagi whips around at the sight of the enormous, four armed, and - then she ships around. "WHERE IS OUR PIZZA?!" Unfortunately, all the four armed enormous Ninja Turtle does is roar for pizza, as he charges, and Usagi's hand flies to her broach, because she recognizes that she is about to get her world rocked and she would really rather not, so she scrambles backwards, shouting out: "Moon Crystal Power! Make Up!" The broach does not glimmer. Ribbons do not spiral. A tiara does not form. In fact... nothing happens to ''Usagi'' at all, while the youma? The enormous, four-armed, smad Ninja Turtle youma? He advances.
Rei Hino	"OH HELL NO." Is what Rei shouts in a high pitched noise as Sai-Machoke-Turtle-Ninja-Pizza-Thief youma comes barreling out of the alley. "NOPE." And to anyone who was watching as Rei skiddaddled out of the alley, they might think she was running from the youma. But to those who know Rei - and know Sailor Mars - she's not running away. She's just getting somewhere that nobody in Obsidian is going to have direct sight on the Shrine Maiden and Daughter of a Politican Rei Hino drawing her henshin pen out of her fashionable purse and becoming Sailor Mars.     But in a moment, there she is, standing atop a nearby building. "Turtle monster! You have ruined pizza, and someone else might have a better speech but I'm just really mad about that and TONIGHT I DINE ON TURTLE SOUP." she says, pointing a finger dramatically in a "I will punish you" stance except there's an orb of fire *already* on that finger, and a stream of fire juts out from it, towards the turtle - or for those who are paying full attention, just in front of the turtle to perhaps give it pause as the fire roars up and creates an incredibly short duration wall of flame and distraction to anybody who wasn't able to scamper away to a henshin spot quick enough. LIKE USAGI GIRL WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE'S A MURDER TURTLE YOUMA is what her face says. Her mouth doesn't, at least. She didn't hear Usagi going for the henshin sequence when she was hiding/vaulting up the side of the building to look cool and dramatic, after all.
Rashmi Terios	"THaaaaat doesn't look like the delivery guy," Rashmi says as the Phantom Sniffer trundles into the dingy light of the alley. She doesn't sound... scared, really. But then again, it may be a massive, creepy-looking Machoke/Kappa hybrid using bones as ninja shanks... but it's facing off against literally a dozen of Tokyo's finest People of Mass Destruction. Honestly, it's kind of sad, really. ...But then Usagi experiences a glitch in her henshin, which is *concerning.* "Usa-chan?!" With a flash of golden light, Rashmi is in her scholarly-looking Barrier Jacket, apready selecting a spell.     << *BONG!* >> << FLIER FIN >> Because it's close quarters and she doesn't want to jam an elbow in anyone's eye while tossing a buff. That would be *awful.* So, she lifts off to near rooftop-level, keeping a birds-eye view of the fracas as she cues up her next spell, trusting that half of the assembled mahou have a personal stake in Usagi's safety and can see to it..     << *BONG!* >> << TIME-SPACE BARRIER >> This youma stole twenty pizzas from Twelve Hungry Mahou. Collateral Demolition is *absolutely* a concern.
Chibiusa Tsukino	Dear Godoka it's a youma get in the car.     Actually, Chibiusa is a mahoujin she just needs to find a safe place to henshin.     She is by far the shortest person here and could hide behind literally anyone.     "Moon Prism Power... MAKE UP!"     Sailor Chibimoon tries to make a justice speech but she is still hiding in a crowd of people far taller than her, so she jumps on top of a streetlight to point dramatically down at the evil turtle.     "Stop right there! Pizza is the life blood of busy students! How are we supposed to cram for exams if you cram all our pizza into your mouth? Dominos pizza may forgive you, but I, Sailor Chibimoon, will not!"     Oh, other people might need cover too. She throws Luna-P down to the ground and says, "Abracadabra Pon! Become a smoke bomb!" The cloud of pink that results should at least provide cover for those who need to henshin or flee.     She glances down, notices Usagi unable to henshin, and is a bit... concerned. "Maybe you didn't say it right? Hurry up!"
Ace Saijou	At some point, Ace is seriously going to have to look into some kind of networking. He doesn't have any kind of early warning system -- no talking device, no helpful talking cat, or less-than-helpful rabbit-feline-mascot-thingy -- to let him know that trouble's nearby. If he *is* intent on lending a hand to his former comrades as well as potentially new ones, he probably should look at finding some kind of method to figure out when that hand is needed. Fortunately, he's spent enough time steeped in darkness to be sensitive to when it stirs nearby (one of the few fortunate things about the situation). So when that miasma gathers, Ace's good cheer immediately evaporates as he turns his head sharply, paused on the street for a moment as he narrows his eyes, trying to home in on what's set his senses on edge. And then turns to start running in the direction in question...
Ikiko Hisakata	Ikiko is nodding at the observations of the others when the obnoxious stench hits, and for a brief moment she's glad that she's ''not'' currently in henshin, with her enhanced sense of smell.     A moment that ends as soon as the tortoise-man-youma charges forward. There's a yelp as Ikiko backpedals in surprise, then she touches her necklace and shouts, "Lycan Locket!" One silvery glow later, Cute Wolf Tsukiko is darting back and to the side, trying to bait the youma out into the Barrier-isolated street -- it's hard to dodge in an alley, and the wolfgirl does '''not''' want to try tanking a hit from that bruiser of a youma. ...the fact that Usagi doesn't seem to be transforming into Sailor Moon is a bit concerning, though.
Minako Aino	Minako Aino whips her hand out not caring if someone might see her hold her henshin pen aloft. It was already in her grasp before she even heard taht sniff because--As she had stated--the culprit was likely nearby. Ever prepared that's her! "Venus Power, Make Up!" "Right, let's punish this pizza thief that's ruining our study break! Seriously get a mint, 'dude'!" It's more instinct than anything that has her stepping forward trying to keep herself between Usagi and the youma. The fact that there's no henshin occuring? That doesn't immediately register just yet. It's just instinct. Protect the Princess until she can smack things herself.
Masato Sanjouin	He was going to say something to Mamoru, before the sniffing sound echoed out. Nobody ever wants to hear a loud sniff in an alleyway. On italian leather shoes, Masato's heel swivel is measured, turning him bodily towards wherever the hell that noise came from. It's just in time to see the monstrosity bursting forth towards Usagi, closing in rather fast with four times the arms and ugly it had any right to have. "Earth Power, Make up!" In a glorious and silvery display, swirling constellations and the brilliance of flowing wavy locks, fine cape, and the sheen of unsheathed metal from Golden Kingdom, Nephrite stands ready to cut through whatever breaches the smoke bomb. He feels a little sorry for the fact that this keeps happening to Sailor Moo-- He glances sidelong at Still-Usagi. "... Usagi, your Henshin..." He whispers urgently.
Amy Faust	Usagi explains she was plagued by Michaelangelyouma before. "Huh." Is all Amy can immediately say to that.     Turtles have very good senses of smell. "They do?" Amy asks, but, thinking about it, she guesses she can't think of any reason turtles ''wouldn't'' have a good sense of smell. Aren't snakes good at smell? So reptiles can be.     And then 4-armed Raphael charges Usagi. "What the ''hell?!'' [Hey dude, you're not cool or a party dude, just rude!]" She tells the monster off with a reference in English, because she's not stopping to try and figure out how to make it translate.     A part of her brain is occupied trying to figure out a quip about turtles, crossovers, and 'you've got the wrong Usagi' but it's not quite coming together.     Another part is wondering if extra arms and growing bone sai are selectible powers if you have enough Bio-E to work with. It does seem like a build someone she once knew would try.     The rest of her is deciding which attack to use as she transforms, and decides on opening with shots from her pistols at the monster. "Hey! What'd you do to Usagi! C'mon, pick on anyone else, uh... Usagis aren't the natural enemies of turtles! Hey look, I'm badly imitating your costume," She re-summons the bandana. "Attack ''me!''"
Kazuo Saitou	Charging at Usagi? This is a problem. But then, that's why Usagi is walking with multiple defenders. "Earth Power, Ma--" Usagi's henshin attempt silently derails. Black screen. No bootup. Not even sad little warning beeps from nonexistent processors. And Kazuo's voice falters. "-ake Up." No change for him, either. But that doesn't keep him from acting. His head whips around, focusing on Mamoru, trading glances storm-gray for clear-blue - and his hand snakes out and ''snags Mamoru's pocketwatch from his pocket." Try number two. "Earth Power, Make Up!" It's much less impressive. There are sparkles, and a line of crawling change, and a swirl of cape, brown-lined white. And then Kaitou Kamen, in white formalwear and darker mask and with a cane in hand, whirls to scoop Usagi out of the line of charge and ''up'' - leaping at a different angle from Chibiusa. Building rather than streetlight. Tall things are still a thing. Hopefully Ace doesn't try to sue him for infringement.
Setsuna Meiou	As, after Usagi's speculation about mutant turtles and the minor discussion that sparked, when the obvious mutant turtle youma comes barreling out of the alley, Setsuna blinks and says, "...Usagi-chan, you jinxed it!" Granted, this is being said as she's busy turning and sprinting out of the way, as standing in the path of the giant...monster...turtle...pokemon...thing sounds like a spectacularly bad idea. A moment later, with a call of "Pluto Planet Power MAKE-UP!, Setsuna goes through a transformation in a way that, worryingly, Usagi does NOT. As she comes out of her transformation, having heard Usagi (and several otghers call henshins, she expects to see the a crowd of magical girls and boys...but that one (allegedly) normal girl in the middle right in front of the monster is...conspicuous. "...oh, dear."
Mamoru Chiba	Mamoru looks alarmed at the SNIFF, then scrambles to jam his phone in his pocket and ''oh no OH NO OH NO OH NO'' Usagi can't henshin, ''Usagi Can't Henshin'', and there's a ninja kappa youma coming at his WIFE and everyone's reacting beautifully well, and all Mamoru has time to do before everyone rightly leaps to arms and to defense is briefly tag Usagi's hand as Kazuo takes his pocketwatch and snags Usagi from behind Venus and heads roofwards as Kaitou Kamen. He can barely choke out the words past his heart in his throat, "Earth Crystal Power, Make Up--" It's Prince Endymion who throws out an arm and and flings a spray of glitterbomb roses at the Ninja Kappa Youma, rose petals and shimmering magical debuff joins Abracadabra Smokepon in filling the alley with confusion and poor visibility, then whips out his sword and throws THAT past Venus, and like, it may be a magic sword, but it's not meant to be ''used'' like that, it's not a spear?? and it doinks off the shell, and so do Amy's bang bangs. Meanwhile the barrier has unfolded around them and Usagi's out of the way and this Kappa Ninja has opened up its last can of pizza.
Usagi Tsukino	In an instant, they're transported to the barrier world, everything sepia tinted, fire in the youma's path, Chibi Moon up high, body after body standing between Usagi and the threat, and the first voice that snaps her out of it is Chibimoon, even as Kazuo glitches right next to her, the both of them unchanged and in danger. "R-right! Maybe I said it wrong, maybe I - Moon Crystal Power, Make up!" Nothing. Kaitou Kamen snags her out of the way, arms cradling her, and she's tucked in his arms, staring up at his masked face in startled surprise, scooped away from danger. And the broach remains a dull, ordinary broach, not a hint of shine or power about it. The moment of silence passes, as Kaitou Kamen carries Usagi up and out of the way - but everyone, on the ground, on the rooftops, atop streetlights, ''wherever they are'', they all hear her voice ring out, shaky with growing panic: "Moon Prism Power, Make Up! Moon Power, Make Up, Moon - Moon ''any'' power, Make Up! Make up!" Nothing happens.
Masato Sanjouin	With Usagi snatched up out of the way, there's more pressing questions-- unfortunately-- than 'why does this thing exist' and 'are we ever going to eat pizza in peace'. Bringing up a hand to make a small series of intentional signs, Nephrite locks onto the Turtle-Thing, and in all the confusion, his shadow starts to extend from his feet. "Bind!" Shooting forth, the darkness runs like ink along the ground to race towards the youma's feet, seeking to keep it in place to get obliterated by the onslaught to come.
Minako Aino	Sailor Venus becomes more aware of the lack of henshin from Usagi as she stands guard. The hiss of concern from Masato, the sudden leap from Kaitou Kamen, the sword wizzing past her head a la spear... And the repitition of the words that *should* work resounding through the air. Venus' hand snaps out to finger-gun point at the youma's head with a cry of, "Crescent Beam!" Light sparks at her fingertip, and streaks out toward the creature. It wasn't her strongest attack but it was her quickest, and right now she was distracted. There were plenty who would help to take this down.
Rei Hino	Rei doesn't know what's going on with Usagi - but she can pick up from the words the others said and their actions that she didn't just shell-shockedly forget to henshin - something is wrong. And it's confirmed again when Usagi tries and fails to henshin where Rei can see her.     And *that* means that there's nothing to do but go all out on this youma. Even if she wasn't mad or hungry - both of which she can forget in the light of whatever's going on with Usagi.     Thankfully everyone else worked to cover her, too. Sailor Mars leaps off the rooftop and lands gracefully next to Minako. "You can't be allowed to put at risk the dreams and hopes of students studying! In the name of Mars, by the power of Mars, this is your last stolen pizza!"     She traces a ring of fire with her outstretched finger, before bringing her hands in front of her. "BURNING... MANDALA!" she calls, as a series of giant fireballs roar out from her hands, aiming to slam into the turtle. There's more fireballs than there are hands, so HA.     "IF YOU STEAL FOOD EXPECT TO GET COOKED." - a line she regrets immediately after saying it. She'll blame the hunger.
Chibiusa Tsukino	Chibimoon watches Kaitou Kamen carry Usagi (not Sailor Moon) away with a concerned frown. She wants to quip, to tease, or to perhaps invoke her jealousy with a comment like 'Well guess I'm just Sailor Moon now'. Yet she can sense her alt-mom's feelings in her body language and right now just isn't the time.     Then she frowns at the turtle, as if Usagi's sudden inability is the youma's fault. As the catball returns to her side, she says, "Guess we're doing it this way. Become the Pink Moon Rod!"     As the catball transforms again, she snatches it out of the air and then aims it down at the pizza thief. "You can't dodge ''all'' of our attacks. Pink Sugar Heart Attack!"     Chibimoon blasts the youma with her full power heartbeam, trying to finish this fight so that she can run over to check on Usagi. Because something's going on with her henshin and there's no way that's actually right.
Rashmi Terios	...Usagi's henshin is not glitching; it's *not working.* Okay now it's a five-alarm problem, and the youma just got downgraded to 'roadbump.' ...Appropriately so, given the battlefield. Mars, Red, Tuxedo, and Tsukiko are selected with a thought, and probably her only contribution to this brief scuffle is thrown out.     << *BONG!* >> << BLAZE BARRIER -- ADVANCE >> Four bright, wispy balls of energy appear around her, shooting down to infuse her targets with both extra fire *and* protection... just in case a hit goes through. Glancing up over her shoulder at the rooftop, she frowns, sending a single-target Telepathy message to Kaitou Kamen. << Hey... She okay up there? >>
Setsuna Meiou	Usagi being unable to transform is something serious going on...but it's something serious that can't be addressed until this...THING is dealt with. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Sailor Pluto realizes that with this crowd, there's not even going to be a stain or scattering of dust in the air left behind...but that thought doesn't consciously percolate through her head until after she's spun in place, leveled the Garnet Rod at the monster and with a whisper of, "....dead scream", she fires a purple ball of Death energy at the youma. As she lets fly, takes a step back, as a VAST array of WILDLY different exotic energies are about to converge on a single point...and being ANYWHERE near it is probably, to put it in medical terms, 'disreccomended'.
Ace Saijou	As Ace feels that dark presence loom, signaling he's definitely headed in the right direction, he skids on his heels as he puts on the brakes, then veers into a nearby side alley. Making a swiping motion across his face and calling out he leaps up -- "Kaitou Change!" -- before snapping his hand out to catch the closest ledge, a surge of strength boosting him enough to let him haul himself up and kick off, leaping across and then across again, up and diagonal to the rooftop as white clothes and mask finish coalescing over him. A leap across to the next roof seems him touching down on the same one as the transformed Kazuo, and just what raiment the other man has transformed into gets a pause for a moment. A second pause as he sees who he's scooped up. "You know, carrying off another man's woman is the sort of thing most people would probably attest to me, not you," he offers lightly. But beneath the humor is tension, and cards are already snapping out into his gloved fingers as he rushes forward past them (the outfit, he'll save for comment later). Because if *those* two are running away, that means trouble is hot on their heels, as he speeds past them to the roof's edge -- -- well. He wasn't quite sure what he was expecting to see, but a riff on a well-known television property (known that way to him, at least, Minako may need to introduce him to comic books next) wasn't it. Even so, he kicks off the roof as he jumps out over the space, flipping and twisting himself to briefly invert in mid-air -- -- and flinging his arms out to let fly, a quartet of playing cards sheathed in razor-edge force streaking down from above, looking to strike and against the majin's bone sai and spoil whatever aim it can muster against the sheer weight of magical fire that's about to come down on it, from multiple sides.
Amy Faust	Amy's microjets bounce off the shell and you know what? Fair, that's on her, she should have just changed angle so there'd be no risk of hitting Usagi and used anti-tank rounds.     Now that Usagi's ''out'' of the way, of course...     Yeah no there are like 10 other mahou here she does ''not'' need to spend soul gem on a finisher, but still, she can try to help stagger it for her allies' finishers! The red Puella Magi leaps up around the alley and starts throwing grenades at it -- stick-and-can shaped, but this time rather than sticking to the target and melting into puddles, the center of gravity makes them hit thick-side first and they explode, her usual shaped charges.     She kicks off a dumpster and lands over by Usagi, looking at her with concern. "Are you alright? What happened?!"     ...She pulls the conjured ninja turtle mask from earlier off her own head and tosses it aside, where it dissolves into pink sparkles.     Now looking less silly but fully concerned, she repeats, "Are you alright? What happened?!"
Ikiko Hisakata	Okay -- Usagi's out of harms way, and practically everyone else is opening fire on the youma. Tsukiko hesitates a moment, sizing up the volleys being unleashed and comparing how much velocity she currently has. Rashmi's buff helps tip the scale towards dashing in for a quick strike...     ...and then Pluto's orb of destruction is unleashed. The wolfgirl screeches to a halt. While she trusts the Devicer's defensive augment to handle a youma and ''most'' forms of friendly fire, some things are better given a '''wide''' berth.
Kazuo Saitou	Out of the way of the fight, Kaitou Kamen keeps his cape draped around Usagi, shielding her just in case the pizza thief has allies nearby. That possibility isn't anyone's biggest problem, though. He slides down to one knee, bringing himself more onto a level with Usagi. "Breathe," he says softly to her. "Just breathe for a moment. We'll figure this out." ... and then he is not the only person in formalwear, and his eyebrows lift - not at Ace's appearance, just at the comment. "You seem to have the possessive backward there," he says aloud. (The arm still around Usagi tightens just a tiny bit, somehow conveying light indignation about anyone calling Usagi someone's woman, other than her own.) -- and then there is an Amy, and Kaitou Kamen relaxes just a little bit, nodding to her. Not trying to answer the question. Well. To Rashmi. << Physically, yes. >> That leaves a lot to be desired.
Mamoru Chiba	The youma very nearly faceplants when Nephrite's shadow grabs his ankles-- nearly faceplants ''into Venus'' because now she's RIGHT THERE; she gets him in the face with crescent beam, and he's blinded by the light and burnt by the attack but he rakes bone-sai at her as he goes down. He catches himself with one set of hands and tries to crawl away from the shadow hands, scratching wildly at the air in front of Venus and not quite able to reach her. Rashmi was right, it ''is'' sad. Rashmi is also super right about those buffs she sends out, too. Kaitou Ace looses his magical force-razor cards on the bone sai, they slice clean off! And the ninja turtle youma can't even drag himself along with them anymore. Endymion drops to his hands, but not like a push-up like Ninja Youma MaKappachoke. Like a crouch with the tips of his fingers on the ground. He calls out "Tuxedo la Smoking Crater!" as Rei calls out Burning Mandala, and as Pluto calls out Dead Scream and Chibimoon lets cry her Pink Sugar Heart Attack, Amy throws shaped charge sticky grenades, and Cute Wolf Tsukiko decides that those who carefully stay at a tactical distance live to fight another day. There's a ''TREMENDOUS'' inversion of air and a crater that opens up underneath the shadow and explodes rock and asphalt up at the same time as the concept of death weaponized meets with huge explosions and an entire mandala's worth of HUGE FIREBALLS and explosions that eat the oxygen, and a stream of shining magical blunt force trauma hearts... ...and there's a thin green film coating the inside of the slagged and brittle crater taking out chunks of building on each side out. As the deliverator's energy whisps away from it, the word 'Bogus...' in English can faintly be heard.
Usagi Tsukino	"Make up -" It's not happening, and Usagi Tsukino is down, kneeling on the ground, a hand digging into the dirty concrete of the alley as she chokes the command out, and it's not answering. The broach has been pried open, split to reveal the Silver Crystal and it's a dull, ordinary jewel, shining with no more light than the flickers cast off by the attacks destroying the enemy. Usagi is gripping it too hard for her hand to shake, her knuckles white, and Kaitou Kamen's timely reminder to breathe makes her choke on an exhale, an inhale, and she leans into him, trusts his strong body to brace her as she reckons with it. (She hadn't asked for power. Luna had come, and she had given her the broach, and she had commanded her to use it, as Naru's screams rang impossibly in her ears. There had not been a choice.) "I'm - I'm breathing -" she gasps, and jerks her head up at approaching footsteps, caution meeting fear, heart thumping a mile a minute, rabbit fast, vulnerable in a fight, a civilian on the battlefield as she hasn't been in years, broach forgotten in her room when Jadeite's youma attacked the school - but it's just Ace. It's just Ace, and the silly things he says, and while Kazuo is offended, the bewilderment is enough to curtail some of the burgeoning panic as she says, baffled, "You've really misunderstood this dynamic, if you think anything of Mamochan's isn't mine." Perhaps its a good thing that Amy is there, then, to keep the topic focused, and she shakes the broach, her hand still clutching it tight enough for the metal to dig into her skin, the dull crystal visible. "It's not - it's not ''working''."
Minako Aino	Sailor Venus inhales deeply, regretting the smell of the creature only a moment, because the next she's leaping backward away from it's flailing approach. Holding her ground was kind of dumb once the attack had already been sent it's way. Everyone else is scrambling in to finish it off as well and she had no desire to be collateral damage. A quick glance is cast toward the others that were closing in on the youma, then over toward the roof where Kazuo had dragged Usagi to safety. Clearly torn she hesitates only a heartbeat more. Then she leaps again landing with a click of heels on the rooftop as she, too, hurries toward her fellow senshi. "Usagi-chan! You're okay? What... Is the it broken? You're not old enough yet!" Not old enough yet for the Fade, for sure.
Rei Hino	Sailor Mars rushes over. "What do you mean it's not working?" She asks, sharply, quickly, very business-focused for a moment. Then she looks at Usagi, worried, and her face softens. "Does it feel like it's trying or... different somehow?" She asks softly.     "Maybe we should see if Luna will pick up on the communicator, she should know, she gave us the pens right?" She asks, a bit hurridly.     "And you're okay? Everyone's okay?" She asks, looking around, the concern leaking out of her voice as her black hair whips around and she mentally counts everybody. Picking up on what Venus says, her eyes widen. "You still remember who we are, right? and who Sailor Moon is?" Oh, THAT thought brought her panic.
Chibiusa Tsukino	The turtle is now soup, along with all of the pizza it ''stole from them''. Yet even this horrible food theft is not the biggest problem on Chibiusa's mind right now. She releases her weapon, allowing it to turn back to Luna-P, and then hops over to Usagi's side. Small Lady doesn't want to crowd but that's her mom, dangit. She kneels next to Usagi, looks at the crystal with shock, and then blinks at it.     Turning to the rest of the group, she says, "Whoever swapped out the Guizinshou for a fake, it wasn't funny and we'd like it back now."     Because that's what this is, right? A prank. It can't be anything other than that, right? Except, who would pull a prank like this? Would anyone? Her mind goes through the mental list of people she knows and... who would even get close enough to do it?     Venus mentions the Fade. No. It's way too soon. Small Lady pretends her small ears didn't hear that.
Setsuna Meiou	Sailor Pluto sets herself to leap for where Usagi got moved to...but before she does, she pauses momentarily to give the shallow crater a second look...just to assure herself that that's what's left behind is a 'flattened turtle youma' green and not a 'ooze that made a turtle youma' green. Not that she's ENTIRELY sure what the difference is...but as long as there's no glowing involved, she'll take it as the former and not the latter...then, assured, she leaps over to where Usagi is." She looks back and forth between the various people espousing theories before focusing on Chibimoon as her theory makes the most sense, "...I doubt it was a prank...but I'm rather HOPING it was one...as the alternative would be someone somehow STOLE it, and that would be WAY worse..."
Masato Sanjouin	With a small shake of his head, and perhaps in solidarity with Mars, he felt the words leave him before he could think better of it. "That's justice swiftly delivered, in thirty minutes or less." And set his sword away with a sense of finality. Next, he turns his attention up towards the others, and Usagi. He hadn't missed that Kazuo's second transformation had been sluggish, after the first failure to launch, as well. A few jumps up, and he'd join them just behind Venus, peering over her shoulder at the now dulled crystal. "It can't be... The Fade is just that, isn't it? A fading over time? They don't call it the 'cut-off'," Well, maybe this is just reassurance for what they're all thinking, but he shakes his head. "Kazu-kun is older, and until now..." More than that, though, he clears his throat and points at the crystal bluntly. "That... if that's really the Guizinshou... feels like it has terrifying potential knock-on consequences, right?"
Amy Faust	Usagi looks ''afraid''. The fear of someone without magic worried they're about to get pasted.     ...Amy's not sure she can honestly reassure her. As what's left of the youma shows (and, Amy remembers, that night when she decided to make sure Koan ''stayed'' dead and discovered what her explosions ''do'' to nonmagic flesh and bone) this fear is healthy and correct.     Usagi's taken the crystal out of its compact, and Amy kneels by her to look at it (just look, she doesn't lift her hands or make any gesture that could even be ''mistaken'' for reaching for it) but it only takes a second or two to confirm 1. it ''does'' look dull, somehow, and 2. Amy still has no idea how it works.     "That's not how the Fade works." Amy quietly states, re: Venus's hypothesis.     Chibiusa's hypothesis, on the other hand... "...That might be it. But when could it have been stolen?"     Amy takes a breath. "The other thing I can think of, is... what if one of our enemies has come up with a way to nullify someone's powers temporarily? Like, as long as they've got it focused on you, you can't--"     Amy suddenly looks around, and stands up. << Does anyone have detection magic? Could a Dark General be hiding nearby? Or a scrying sensor? ''Anything?'' >>
Rashmi Terios	The youma is now a painted crater, and Rashmi turns her attention to the *real* concern of the day. Turning in the air, she floats up above rooftop-level, just in time to see Senshi, Shitennou, and... someone Shitennou-adjacent? converging on poor Usagi, with questions, concerns, theories... In this moment, she and Tsukiko share a tactical braincell, for the Devicer seems to content herself with floating nearby, and looping Tuxedo in on her telepathy, allowing her to address the Kamens at once. << ...Is there anything I can do to help? >> Theories, concerns, whateverelse is already covered; Rashmi's primary concern is having a material task to accomplish. << I'm gonna keep the Barrier up until someone asks. I think they're all gonna need it. >>
Mamoru Chiba	Endymion's stepped through the air of the alley into the air of the safe place a moment later, crouching next to Usagi and Kazuo, then on one knee, and his heart practically jumps out of his chest at Venus's question to Usagi. "Oh god it can't be," he says in a voice that sounds wounded. He's got his bare hands on Usagi and Kazuo a second later, briefly reassuring and solid and warm with his own magic. "I can't tell. But. It can't be. Let's not think that's it, okay?" He lets go, and stands up, and he shivers suddenly, like it's colder than it is, or like someone stepped over his grave. "We can go back to the Shed, or to my place... we have to turn off the barrier so I can heal the delivery guy and we can... can see if I need to order twenty more pizzas. Let's... let's keep moving? Usako... should we keep moving?" He sounds small. The Senshi of Earth sounds small.
Ace Saijou	Kaitou Ace finishes his twisting in air, righting himself and dropping sharply out of his arc. Striking the ground in a low crouch that would probably leave a gymnast weeping, but the same power that bolsters him also keeps him from having his joins cracked into powder with a fall from that height. What's left of the youma gets a cursory glance, as there really isn't much that needs looking-over after all of *that*! Clearly, they picked the wrong study group to leave hungry. Immediately, his glance falls to Sailor Venus -- but she's already making her way to check on Usagi. Of course she is, and Kaitou can't help but smile a little as he sees that. Which just leaves the question -- does he join them? There are familiar faces here, and unfamiliar ones as well... For the moment, he stays as the Moon Princess becomes the sharpest point of concern in the aftermath. "It wasn't me, I assure you," the masked thief murmurs as he alights on the roof's edge once more, just in time for Chibiusa's demand.
Ikiko Hisakata	Tsukiko leaps up to the roof of the building everyone's gathering on, although she stays close to the edge so that she can keep an eye on the Crater del Youma -- partially because there's already a significant crowd around Usagi, and partially in case anything tries to do... something (anything?) with the remnants of the youma.     Not that she's expecting anything... but at the same time, she wasn't expecting Usagi to not be able to henshin, and yet -- ''it happened.'' The wolfgirl shivers from nervousness. "Or maybe morale ice cream," she says to Endymion. "Just to take the edge off of our nerves."
Kazuo Saitou	Kazuo, the anything of Mamochan's currently here, smiles a little at what Usagi says, and leans his head lightly against Usagi's for a moment. Silver hair mingles briefly with gold, then separates neatly as he straightens. Not too much. Still supporting Usagi as she leans. "Page Mage, while we're here, can you handle scanning for anything that might be interfering? You're more reliable than I am on it right now." Endymion has the delivery and pizza in hand. Who's likely to have money on them - "Nephrite, on the way back, can you take a quick detour to pick up some --" Ikiko says ice cream. "-- ice cream or other sweets? Then we can get Luna to look at her. Usagi, may I carry you till Endymion catches up?" Hopefully Venus will play intermediary with Kaitou Ace about the Shed if necessaary. That leaves a couple of Sailor Senshi for contacting Luna.
Usagi Tsukino	"Of course I know who you all are, it - ''it's'' broken, not me!" The words are sharper than she means them to be, and Usagi immediately backs off, shifting from knelt over to sitting on her knees, her free hand no longer gripping the ground but closing around Chibiusa where she's knelt against her. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry - I didn't mean to yell -" It's just that everyone's talking, worrying, wondering, theories passing over her head, questions asked of her, but she stares down at the dull crystal and shakes her head at all the theories, because ''she'' knows that ''this'' is most definitely the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou. "This is it. No one stole it. I'd have noticed, it never leaves my side. It's just - it's not ''working''. It's like there's... nothing there at all." The words are quiet, and when Prince Endymion's hands touch her, there's his fear and concern and his love, but there's also her answering fear, her confusion, the pit in her stomach that's growing because she hadn't asked for power, but she ''had'' asked to lose it and what if she's done something, what if she's ''broken'' it, what if it's ''gone'' - (What if it's over?) Questions without answers, for now. A question ''with'' an answer, for now: "We should keep moving," words, falling out of her mouth, answer to question asked, voice stronger where Endymion's is small, pulling herself back together in a way that leaves the cracks barely visible. "Back to the Shed. We all left our stuff there, and we didn't even clean up before we went looking for all this pizza. We should take care of this guy, and then we should go back. If it ''is'' an enemy - maybe it will work, there." Kazuo is firing his cylinders too, and that helps. He even asked another question she can answer, and she does just that - "You can. Luna - she's probably with Makochan, Ami-chan, or at my dorm, but she'll have her communicator on, she always does - maybe she'll know what's going on?" There's an edge to her voice, hope and nerves. Luna would know what to do, right?
Amy Faust	Pizza isn't the first thing on Amy's mind, although she wouldn't say no to some. "Your place?" she suggests, to Endymion. It's more... homey, and comfy, than the Shed.     He sounds small. So she can't be small right now. She's stuck in 'is there important critical action to be taken right now? find it and do it' mode and can't relax and... ''think'' about things like long-term implications right now.     Usagi yells -- Amy's lost track of who she's responding to -- and apologizes. "It's fine to be stressed right now..."     This is it. It's just not ''working''.     Amy looks at her Soul Gem. Could it ever be 'not working'? Wouldn't she die? But, if she couldn't henshin, what would she do...     Usagi points out all their stuff is still at the Shed. "Oh right. I guess we should go there. Umm... who... knows things about the Ginzuishou? Maybe... Luna forgot to tell you that it needs a day to recharge every few years...?"     Amy's brain works faster than hope, though -- if that were the case, Crystal Tokyo couldn't have been so dependent on it.
Rashmi Terios	Scan for any lingering presences. Rashmi can do that. Take down the Barrier when they're on the street. She can do that too. It helps to have something to focus on, even if half the group is pretty sure that there's nothing to find. Being honest, Rashmi is too, but it wouldn't be the first time hubris has had consequences, and a new threat taking advantage of a depowered Usagi... Let's call that a few steps *above* 'sweater covered in soup' on the consequences-of-your-hubris scale... "Nicomachea? Exia Mode, please," she says, and with an obliging *BONG!* Her Barrier Jacket glows bright yellow, then shatters away to reveal her armor-and-military-vest-and-frilly-dress getup. And as the rest of the group ends up in the alley, she rises higher into the air, taking down the Barrier and trusting in the Veil to allow her to do her scans uninterrupted.     << *BONG!* >> << WIDE-AREA INVESTIGATION >> Little screens *bwip* into existence over the armored-book Device, each paired to one of four balls of yellow magic that dart out in four different directions. And the entire way home, Rashmi will be doing a roving grid-search, covering her friends as they concentrate on what really matters; keeping Usagi safe.
Rei Hino	Rei feels words in her head again, similar to Kyubey but in Amy's voice, and so she responds. <<No, actually, I don't sense any evil around now that the youma's gone. Or anything evil going on near Usagi. But... I've been having a lot of trouble figuring out what's going on with Obsidian lately, so maybe my senses aren't foolproof.>> Sailor Mars admits, worry coming through the telepathic 'tone'.     Sailor Mars' eyes dart to Kaitou Ace. "That's suspicious. Nobody else felt the need to clarify." Then again, nobody else but Kunzite is pulling off Phantom Thief Mode right now. Maybe she just doesn't know Ace quite as well as the others to make her glare at him like that. "But I hope you're not that dumb, as to touch anything of Usagi's - you saw what happened to the turtle." she warns.     Usagi's sharpness makes Rei turn back to face her. "It's okay, Usagi. I was worried about you not... trying to accuse you." Unlike Ace who she seemed to directly accuse.     "I'll ping Luna and tell her to meet us at the shed... and I'm staying in Henshin until you're there." she says with a firmness that's very absolute.
Minako Aino	Sailor Venus purses her lips together tightly as she keeps close to Usagi. It made more sense for those stronger than her to carry Usagi... though frankly, she could too if she wanted! But Kaitou Kamen had it handled for the moment. Hearing Kaitou Ace specify she glances his direction with a wan smile that quickly turns to an embarassed kind of 'urk' when Mars points out the oddity if that remark. "Well he is the Phantom Thief but it's okay, Mars, he's one of mine." A hand lifts to flip her bangs out of her face as she sighs. The other lifts to gesture in a 'follow me' manner as she remarks, "Come on, Ace, you may as well join us. Artemis can help Luna as well if we need to check you over, Usagi."
Chibiusa Tsukino	"Nobody can blame you for being upset, Usa-chan," says Small Lady, trying to be supportive. Her suspicions are laid to rest by Usagi's verification. If anyone in the world would know, it would be her. She leans in to offer her alt-mom a hug, but only briefly because they do need to keep moving. The finals wont wait, and Usagi might be having a bit of extra study time if fighting evil is no longer on the docket.     "Pizza and ice cream sound good to me," she says, with far less enthusiasm than any child has any right to say those words. She's sticking close to Usagi, more for emotional support than anything, but she glances towards Endymion and asks, "Do you need help with the pizza?"     A typical small child probably couldn't help with that, but a typical small child doesn't have a catball that can turn into a floating pizza box or something.     Small Lady's still a little bit in the denial/bargaining phase, but she can't stay there for long. She has to be strong, to adapt, to make up for the temporary weakness of her allies and...     It's temporary, right?
Setsuna Meiou	As Usagi increasingly edges towards breakdown...and the rest of the assembled mahou (and most especially the Senshi and those immediately adjacent to them) start working out the various implications of all of this, Sailor Pluto chews her bottom lip a little. She waits to see where Usagi wants to go, be it back to the safety of the campus and Shed or to the alternate safety of Mamoru's place. Tsukiko's additional suggestion about Ice Cream, however, gets a blink from the tallest Senshi, and a nod, "...that actually sounds like a fairly good idea no matter what. Ice Cream therapy IS a thing, after all." She sighs, then says, "No matter where we're going, I'm happy to personally grab food and desserts while the rest of you head wherever and meet you there."
Mamoru Chiba	So once the barrier's down, the delivery guy is healed and paid, more pizzas have been ordered and ''picked up'' thank you... ...our heroes are back at the Shed. "We're definitely going to have to hunt the rest of those guys down. Because there were two. So there have to be four. They probably escaped from an Obsidian lab or something," Mamoru says, leaning... somewhere, but definitely in contact with Usagi and with Kazuo. He's evening out, not so shocked anymore, not so kicked by the fear of the Fade.
Kazuo Saitou	Kazuo passed Mamoru back his watch at the first opportunity, and has been quietly doing his leaning thing himself, which makes it relatively easy for Mamoru to have that contact. He's pulled a chair over in case Usagi wants one, and made certain it's in reach of a table, so that she can have sweets on tap. Because Setsuna is entirely right about Ice Cream Therapy. Especially for certain mahou. ... and if she doesn't want them, well, that would say a good deal about Usagi's state of mind.
Usagi Tsukino	"I know, Mars-chan," Usagi offers, quiet. "I'm sorry for yelling. I didn't mean to. It's - it's going to be fine, right? We'll figure this out." They have to. Don't they? Chibi Moon is given a hug, tight, and in henshin, even with her smaller frame compared to Usagi's larger one, she's at no risk of being squished. Between future mother and daughter, the daughter is stronger, now. Back at the Shed, Usagi sits among her things, in the chair Kazuo pulled, still holding her broach, the bow on her school uniform looking lopsided and lonely without the usual accompaniment. She's staring down into the Silver Crystal, but there's nothing more to see - it's as bright as a diamond, and ''only'' that. There's no magical glow, not gleam of power, no shine of internal light. She's not eating the ice cream.
Ikiko Hisakata	Tsukiko was one of the last ones to enter the Shed, having assisted Rashmi on overwatch duty by being an outrider -- what better use for a mobility-focused mahoujin than moving where additional eyes are needed?     (although this ''did'' make her feel like the canine part of her soul was a ''sheep''dog, instead of a ''sled''dog...) Once everyone else was inside, she walked in, dropped her henshin, then headed over to give Usagi a much-needed hug.     It might be hard to tell which of them needed the hug more.
Masato Sanjouin	Masato returned slightly later than everyone else, of course, but he came bearing multiple bags with 'Cremia' on them and a plastic carry case. At least twelve different tubs of icecream, and ten soft serve cones. "Right, we have Vanilla, Quattro, Hokkaido Milk, Chocolate, Matcha, and Sakura," He announces, as if these are different medical cures for whatever might be ailing Usagi-- or at least, a good balm to anxieties about it. He's already holding a chocolate cone out towards Mamoru. Maybe just because Usagi hasn't so much as looked at the ice cream, in lieu of the faded stone.
Ace Saijou	"I am all sorts of fool where pretty girls are involved, but I am not *that* much of a fool," Kaitou Ace assures in response to Sailor Mars' warning -- his lip quirking in a smile for just a moment before fading. The quip is an idle one, as despite the shadows in his memory, he can already feel how serious the situation is. Otherwise he would feel much more pleased at Venus referring to him as 'hers,' even in the formal sense. As it is, he simply nods and turns to fall in step alongside Venus. Normally, he wouldn't unmask in front of anyone who wasn't one of his comrades, but clearly everyone here is known to the Moon Princess and has her trust. That's enough for Ace, and soon he's back into his civilian garb and form as he joins the rest of them in the Shed. Standing a bit aside from everyone and leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest, watching the proceedings with a solemn look now. An echo of his former life as a soldier perhaps, waiting and observing in what is very clearly a crisis situation, until he can see how he can best be of use.
Rei Hino	It's not the most important thing to address, but it's been rattling around in Rei's head, and it might help take some of the edge off the situation. "You know, there might still only be two of those turtle guys ever. Obsidian kinda sucks at doing everything else right, I'm not sure they'd get the number of turtles right." she says, smiling.     But it's hard to smile much, with the Silver Crystal's power in doubt. "I don't know what to do about that." she says, looking at it and shaking her head. "But I know things are gonna be OK, because they always are." she tells Usagi. "The rest of us were still able to transform, even Chibi-moon. Maybe it's just... having an off day?" hshe asks.
Amy Faust	Amy offers a hug when Usagi's standing again. She's shifted back to her school uniform, but she's still in henshin.     Setsuna offers desserts. "I remember reading somewhere that ice cream is better for you than you expect... um, maybe like, get some boba tea or milk tea or something too? An' potato chips?" She tries to think of comfort snacks but her brain isn't engaging right.     She's on edge the whole trip back, expecting some Dark General to hop out and say haha, now that Sailor Moon can't transform, you can't stop us! or something like that.     But they get to the shed uneventfully. > So there have to be four.     "What about Venus? Or Slash? Who knows how they're counting... is there a Splinter?"     She double-takes at Usagi not eating the ice cream. She opens her mouth to offer some of her own -- birthday-cake flavor! -- but the words die on her lips. She can't make light of this.     "We'll. We'll figure things out." She starts to sound a little small, now.     Red eyes look into the red gem on her ring for a moment, but while bright as ever, it contains no answers, no Pattern.
Chibiusa Tsukino	After some time after they get to the Shed and are all settled in, Chibiusa is standing behind the table with an ice cream scoop and a little hat that says 'Small Lady's Big Ice Cream and Pizza Parlor', putting ice cream in bowls, pizzas on plates, and possibly smiles on faces (as best she can right now.)     Yes, she has her textbook open and Diana has her paws on the page to flip it when needed. Chibiusa hasn't forgotten.
Usagi Tsukino	There's the suggestion that the Silver Crystal needs to charge. That maybe it's having an off-day. And maybe it is. Maybe it is. Except. "...I haven't transformed since that fight at the grocery store." Quiet. "That was... over a week ago. What if... what if it's been since then? The study schedule Ami-chan made me - I've been trying to stick to it, and to -" The words 'do normal things' do not want to leave her lips, not now, not with what this could mean. "It's - it's at ''most'' since then."
Minako Aino	Sailor Venus watches carefully to ensure no one is following on the trip back to the Shed. She didn't really think it was necessary in all honesty but it made her feel ever so slightly better for being able to DO something for the time being. Even if the thing she was doing, was being paranoid. Once in the shed her own henshin melts away. She waits only long enough for the line of well wishers seeking to hug Usagi to be out of the way before she, too, dives in to wrap her arms around her friend. "It's okay. It'll be okay." She hopes very much at least. "It's probably just stress from studying too much. Not enough carbs? It takes a lot of energy after all!"
Rashmi Terios	Finding nothing -- as she suspected she would -- Rashmi doesn't come down from the air until they near the Shed's location, and doesn't drop henshin until after she's thanks Tsukiko for her help. But she does, and she does, and she cannot help but smile when Chibiusa takes on the server's role. The girl knows she's adorable, and makes good use of it when adorable is needed. Reaching over the table to give the little pink senshi a fond headpat, she picks up a plate with two slices, and a bowl of Hokkaido Milk ice cream, and takes both to where Ace is sentinel-ing in the corner. "Here," she says, offering both with a quiet smile. "Pick one, and join us. If you're in the Shed you're already one of us, the rest is just introductions. I'm Rashmi, by the way." And as much as she wants to go in to add to the hug-pile, her instincts keep her to the periphery. Maybe some clue, some key to the problem, will show itself while everyone's distracted. It's *definitely not* old reflexes glomming on to new mindsets, why would you even think that? Besides, Ace looks like he doesn't think he belongs, and that's a problem that can be solved *right now.*
Mamoru Chiba	Yes: Mamoru's watch is back in its home, his pocket. He briefly leans against Kazuo, personally, and then there's ice cream dispensing. He's kind of hesitant about the ice cream himself, but then takes it before getting a scoop of matcha on top of the chocolate from Chibiusa. He goes over to sit next to Usagi, then closer. Then closer. "Maybe, Rei-san, you can do a fire reading? And Masa-kun, ask the stars?" he suggests, thinking ice cream's not a great way to stop feeling cold, but licking it anyway. He can't track very well, there are too many moving parts to this conversation. And his primary concern is Usagi.
Masato Sanjouin	Masato furrows his brows-- a lack of carbs certainly wasn't the problem with Usagi. But he remembered the mecha-fight in that store, and how off Usagi seemed even after it was over. But nothing specific about that fight stood out to his memory as having caused this. At least, nothing that Corona had done. He recalled the picture of Sailor Moon, huddled in a ball. "Usagi-chan," He speaks softly, more of an open prompt to say whatever she isn't saying.
Setsuna Meiou	Sailor Pluto arrives back at the Shed a little behind everyone else, as like Masato, she'd also made a bit of a side-run for supplies. Having seen him going to get ice cream, she makes a quick trip off...then as she arrives at the shed, she's absently carrying a large pair of igloo coolers which she deposits near where Chibiusa has set up her food dispensary, and opens them to reveal a wide variety of canned sodas in mostly ice icewater. Once she's done so, she drops henshin, accepts some pizza from Chibiusa with thanks, snags a Pespi for herself, then goes to lean up against a wall and listen for a few minutes to find out what's been discussed and/or discovered so far.
Amy Faust	"But what happened then? Mecha-Corona didn't like, cast any strange curses..." Amy tries to think, and starts pacing near the study table.     A thought strikes her.     "Does the disguise pen still work?"     She holds fingers to her forehead. "...I mean, not for personal interest reasons, like... I mean for testing whether this is affecting the Ginzuishou, or ''you'' and everything linked to you... where's Luna? Is she OK?"     Setsuna brought sodas. Amy grabs a diet Dr. Pepper.     It doesn't really make her feel any better, though.
Ace Saijou	Ace blinks as he's approached by Rashmi with treats in hand, clearly not having expected that. Paused for a moment in surprise, rather than wariness, before offering them a faint smile and a nod. "Thank you." Looking contemplatively at the two bowls before reaching to take the ice cream for himself. "I'm Ace," he returns. "Pleased to meet you, Rashmi, although I could wish it was under better circumstances." Fiddling with the spoon as he looks over to where Usagi is getting much-needed hugs from those who are best at giving them. "But at least the M- the good Miss Tsukino," he corrects himself (everyone here may be known, but he realizes not everyone may know everything, or need to), "will have plenty of people who can help her through them."
Kazuo Saitou	One of Kazuo's hands finds Mamoru's shoulder and rests there for a few moments; then he detaches himself from the wall, and goes to hunt through the canned sodas for something pineapple. This is brought back to Mamoru. Probably for post ice cream, unless Mamoru ''likes'' chocolate matcha pineapple. Admittedly, Kazuo wouldn't put it past him.
Chibiusa Tsukino	Chibiusa offers Rashmi a bright smile in response to the headpat, and a bowl of Hokkaido Milk ice cream. Some of the pizza is already on plates so that people can just grab some food without needing to ask, but the ice cream needs to be scooped out into bowls on demand.     Mamoru, also, gets pleasant polite service with a smile as well as ice cream. She brushes her hand against his for a moment to silently say that it's gonna be okay. Chibiusa has faith in that at least, even without proof.     Puu brings soda to go along with the pizza, so Small Lady says, "Thanks!" and offers her a plate of pizza.     Once in a while she looks over at Usagi. She's paying attention even if she doesn't have much to say to that.
Usagi Tsukino	Masato's voice is quiet, soft. There's nothing accusatory there. Amy's voice isn't sharp either, curious instead, and she's asked a very fair question (well, a couple of questions, and -) "I lost it, remember?" She does. She remembers, falling down on the job, collapsing in on herself because killing the monster was supposed to make it over and there was Corona, acting like Frieza, going this isn't even my final form - "I freaked out and I haven't transformed in over a week and now it's not working, and I - the disguise pen? I didn't even..." she reaches for it, fingers slipping sideways the way they do whenever she pulls out the - and nothing happens. There's another frisson of horror. "I can't - reach it. I - usually I just tuck it in my bag, but I put it away, in the same place all my Rods go, and it's - " gone. Where is Luna? The door to the Shed creaks open, and a blur of black dashes across the floor, resolving into a cat standing on two legs on the table in front of Usagi, her front paws pressed against one of Usagi's shoulders. "Usagi, Artemis says you can't transform!" There's Luna. Usagi winces. "Artemis is right," and she shows her the broach. Luna recoils, ears pinned back, fur bristling briefly, before she sticks her face close to it, examining the crystal from facet to facet, the Moon on her forehead lighting up, even - "There's... ''nothing''?"
Masato Sanjouin	Mamoru asks after the stars, and Masato grimaces. He's already set the cone carrier down and sighs now, pushing long fingers back through wavy locks. For once, it seems he's almost hesitant to offer such insight. "Well, Usagi-chan is a Cancer... naturally, being who she is, aligned with the Moon..." He frowns a little, "Right now, the tenth house is very active for her. It's a powerful time, with the Sun in Aries, for sombody like her to think about the danger of over-giving, and take a good look the gap between where they are and want to be. Movement into Gemini pushes for communication with loved ones, favouring alignment and... mutual understanding about things that may not otherwise be obvious." He cleared his throat, glancing at Usagi. "And... Well, that includes public reputation, and a good long look at who they're percieved to be. Setting boundaries, honouring needs..." He trailed off there.
Minako Aino	Minako Aino steps back from Usagi watching as she tries to reach for her disguise pen. The steps turn slow, faltering, as she continues to walk backwards giving space. Needing space. A look of sympathy and horror flash over her face as she watches the lack of anything happening. Luna's proclaimation doesn't help. "Maybe... Is something... Blocking the moon? I mean. I don't know. We should go there and see." Her mind is scrambling for ideas frantically as her hands ball into fists at her sides feeling helpless to help her friend on this issue. Masato's star reading causes her to fall silent with the hope there may be an answer there. It doesn't seem to happen though or at least it's not obvious to HER. "Chocolate," she murmers to herself before turning to snag a bit of icecream for herself to stress eat for a moment.
Amy Faust	Amy gives Ace a brief look of surprise when Rashmi calls to him, "Oh, had you not come to the Shed yet? Yeah, you're one of us... and one of them, too." Amy nods towards the Senshi and Shitennou, whose circus the current problem is part of, and Ace is also part of, as far as Amy understands. "Right?" She nods her head towards Minako to indicate that Ace's princess is right there!     When Amy asks about the Disguise Pen, Usagi discovers she can't access her Inventory. Amy grimaces and sucks air in through her teeth.     And then Luna's there, and the redhead breathes a small sigh of relief, because, really, they had no idea how far this goes. "At least Luna's okay..." After the Mauian has had a moment to examine the Ginzuishou, Amy leans over, curiously. "So, what does it mean?"     Is something blocking the moon? Amy points at Minako. "Ooh! Good thought. Can it work that way?"
Rashmi Terios	"It'd be nice," Rashmi says in answer to Ace's sentiment. "But I'll take the good things as they come..." Letting out a quiet breath through her nose, she rests a hip against the desk near her, taking fully half the pizza slice at a bite and watching. Mamoru settling, but still overwhelmed. Kazuo, as ever, giving away almost nothing about his state of mind except through action. Amy, trying so hard to find an answer. Concern and support and everything Usagi needs, and now the world has somehow *once more* found a way to give her what she asked for in exactly the worst way. It's enough to make you want to find a deserving foot to stomp on, really. Luna's entrance, and examination of the Crystal, seem to confirm their worst fears. It's not a fake, not suppressed or corrupted... *empty.* And in that moment, it's hard *not* to feel irrational resentment toward the damn rock.
Mamoru Chiba	Mamoru's jaw works at Masato's read on the situation. Seems he's more familiar with Neph's readings than one might notice. The moment that Kazuo's hand is on his shoulder, he leans his head against it, but that was then-- Now he's got a pineapple soda in front of him, and an ice cream cone but he asks a little piteously, "Can I have a bowl? It's going to drip all over and I don't want to get up." He doesn't want to be any further away from Usagi than is strictly necessary.
Chibiusa Tsukino	More food is handed out. Pizza plates once taken are replaced. Chibiusa will either scoop out ice cream, hand out pizza or sodas, and if someone wants to serve themselves she will not stop them.     Luna shows up, and Diana looks up at her own alt-mom. The small cat apologizes to Small Lady and hops down from the table to go pad closer to Usagi.     "I don't remember any mention of this back home. Unless... is your Princess Serenity henshin still locked, too?" After all, Neo Queen Serenity kinda works on different rules than this era's Sailor Moon.     When Mamoru asks for a bowl, Small Lady grabs an empty one and hands it to... whoever grabs it to take to him.
Ikiko Hisakata	"Well, damn," Ikiko swears at Luna's observation, swapping to Canine for the last word -- but the ''sentiment'' is plain enough. Mamoru's request for a bowl gets a nod of confirmation, then Ikiko snags the bowl from Chibiusa with a smoothness as if they'd practiced it. The bowl is placed in front of Mamoru, as close to the cone as feasible.
Usagi Tsukino	The Stars have wisdom to share - wisdom that Masato can share, and she listens, swallowing at the astrological explanation. She's never really looked into Western astrology, but Masato definitely makes it sound - ''accurate''. Usagi's shoulders hunch inwards when he mentions public reputation and taking a look at who one is perceived to be. Boundaries, needs. She's spilled her guts to maybe two people in this room, but in this moment, she feels as transparent as the crystal in her broach, and just as useless. "If she goes to the Moon like this," Luna starts, and then - pauses, glancing down at her own future daughter, considering her words, and not looking at her charge, her princess, her friend as she continues. "The domes are back up... it might be safe..." (What she had been about to say, was - 'if she goes to the Moon like this, she'll suffocate. Usagi knows it. Most of her friends probably know it, too, or they can put the pieces together.) Then, Luna shakes her head, butting up against Usagi, trying to coax a smile from her, even as she flicks an ear in Amy's direction, answering, "It means that I can't sense any power in the Silver Crystal. And - the Silver Crystal's power source, is..." "Is me," Usagi cuts in. "So that means... what it ''all'' means... isthat the Silver Crystal is empty because ''I'm'' empty. Because... I didn't want to do this anymore. And now I can't."
Ace Saijou	Ace blinks as Amy -- one of the familiar faces here at least -- calls out to him. And with something that he can't really dispute, his own disquiets aside. "Right," he agrees with quiet smile. Whether or not he can actually be of help here, being near is a help all its own, in a way. Amy's nod towards the one person who's mere presence brings him comfort, is all he the reminder he needs of that fact He looks back over in Usagi's direction though, as he feels *something* in the mood significantly shift just now...
Rei Hino	Rei pauses. And something inside Rei just kind of... breaks. It's not that she's actually as mad at the words that Usagi's saying as she's about to sound - but that she's worried about her friend, and this isn't something she knows how to fix.     "But... Usagi-chan, I don't think ANY of us wanted to do this." she pauses. She doesn't know everyone in the room. "Or at least, I didn't! But... if we give up and stop, that means bad things for the world." she says, shaking her head. "So you can't just not... want to." she says, confusion rife in her voice.     "Or if you didn't, then stop, because the world needs Sailor Moon." And maybe that's not the right thing to say right now. Maybe she should have said the world needs Usagi Tsukino to ''be'' Sailor Moon. Maybe she'll kick herself for that later.     "Obsidian's always up to some stupid crap, we just fought a four-arm demon ninja turtle, Mamoru's brother is doing who knows what, that spanish-speaking Device Diva is out there probably stirring up trouble RIGHT NOW, there's fish monsters in the ocean - none of us just get to WALK AWAY from that and leave people... to what you just dealt with, having to run away and be unable to fight!"
Minako Aino	Minako's first selfish thought: 'I want something stronger than icecream.' Minako's second selfish thought: 'I don't want to diguise myself as Sailor Moon again.' Minako's third selfish thought: 'Why can't Artemis be as cute as Diana?' A quick shake of her head drags Mina out of such distracting thoughts. It was giving her flashbacks to the weeks she'd been parading around as pretend Sailor Moon so that they could keep the secret about her being tainted by dark energy. As the star reading is translated properly she lets out a breath. "But you *can't* be empty you're not a bucket! You're a person. And people strain muscles all the time! Magic ... muscles could maybe strain too?" A smile that attempts to be reassuring comes though she still seems uncertain. Not to mention there was another thing. "... You didn't want to do this anymore?" Her hands wring together tight letting them drain of color from the pressure. "Usagi-chan. ... Most of our enemies are defeated. If-If this is what you want...?" Another forced grin. "You know I can body double for you but I can't actually *be* you. If you need a break though, I can for a bit."
Mamoru Chiba	"She wouldn't suffocate. We dropped henshin there the second we saw the dome was back up," Mamoru says, his voice sounding automatic as he puts the ice cream in the bowl Small Lady and Ikiko provide. He holds the bowl and watches the ice cream. "It's burnout. It's just burnout, Usa, you need a vacation if you didn't want it so hard that you made it true." Finally, Mamoru's head turns to look down at Usagi's own downturned head, and he leans slightly to bump her shoulder. "Pretty sure you just need to wish it back as hard as you wished it away, and I really think you need a break before you do that." He nods firmly in agreement with Minako. "See? Not just me that thinks so."
Setsuna Meiou	Setsuna watches the various byplays, keeping her own counsel for the moment. Mostly, she's racking her brain for various artefacts or sources of power that can potentially be used to 'jumpstart' the Silver Crystal if that turns out to be what's needed...but the list of potential sources for that kind of power is vanishingly small. And then Usagi lets drop with a major reveal...and the older woman blinks. That...that theory makes a WHOLE LOT more sense than any other that's been forwarded recently. A hand moves up to cover her mouth...and then she winces as Rei says something with the potential to blow up spectacularly.
Kazuo Saitou	"What it means," Kazuo says quietly, "is that you're tired. That your faith is shaken." His hand finds Mamoru's shoulder again, once Ikiko and Chibiusa have supplied bowl. This time, his other hand finds Usagi's, a touch to match Luna's nudging her head. "That you haven't had the kind of rest you need." His eyes flicker to Rei, to Minako, to Setsuna. To Rashmi and Amy, a little more thoughtful. "Masato and I - and yes, even Izou - spend a good deal of our time trying to make sure Mamoru has somewhere he can have that kind of rest. Would you think about letting us try to do that for you, too?"
Rashmi Terios	Luna's hesitant theory, followed by Usagi's admission, does indeed suck the air out of the room, and Rashmi closes her eyes. Her own first selfish thought is 'At least it came out naturally and I don't have to go behind anyone's back.' And Rei's reflex argument is... something that gives Rashmi a brief spike of fury, and for the barest flicker of a heartbeat it looks like she's about to make good on her promise to Usagi... but then others make the connection, and see the path forward, and she just sets her now-empty plate aside -- girl is nearly a food ninja like that -- and approaches Rei, touching her shoulder to get the priestess' attention. "I get it," she says quietly. "I'm scared for her too. But pushing someone running on a bad leg is a great way to strain something till it breaks, y'know?" Looking past Rei, to Kazuo and Mamoru and Usagi, she can't help but nod along with Kazuo's suggestion. "Remember what we talked about, Usa-chan. We can cover for you till you get your feet under you, no problem."
Amy Faust	Amy double-takes at Masato when she realizes what he just said.     She quirks an eyebrow. Really? An astrological read--     ''Oh my god '''is astrology real?!'''''     She ''barely'' manages to not blurt it out out loud, although she looks pretty shocked for a moment.     And then Usagi and Luna put two and two together and lay out a reasoning for what happened.     "Well... I mean..." Amy rubs the back of her head and attempts a reassuring smile but it's just awkward. "If your dream was to ''not'' do this, that... I mean, maybe..."     "Maybe it's a good thing???" She doesn't sound certain at all. "I mean, you shouldn't ''have'' to..."     Hino-san is saying rather the opposite, which makes things even more awkward, and Amy's not sure what to say to that. "There... there ''are'' people who want to do this, though. There's... there's..." She gestures vaguely, fumbling for words.     "Thinking you have to be strong all the time... it ''hurts'' people. Maybe... Maybe she ''needs''... Maybe the Silver Crystal is giving her a break, because otherwise ''she'll'' break?"     And then she looks back at Usagi and watches her for a long moment, scrutinizing, wondering if she, Amy, can tell the difference between fear of not living up to expectations, and fear of not being able to be who you really are. But alarms are blaring in her head screaming ''do not analyze this in real people, you do not know them as well as they know themselves'' and eventually she just looks away and lets out a breath in somewhat exasperated frustration. What to do, then?
Chibiusa Tsukino	Diana looks up at Usagi, and then sits down. "I think it makes sense. The Ginzuishou is your heart, and your heart isn't in it." She places a paw on Usagi's foot while looking up at her. "If you need a break, we can cover for you, right?" The kitten looks back at Chibiusa.     Small Lady is frowning. She is very unsurprised, not because she saw that answer coming, but because it makes too much sense. The future princess can't imagine her mother wanting to set things down and ''not do this anymore'', but she has to remind herself that what she's seeing is a version of Serenity that has had a very different path in life.     Her mouth opens to say something, but the words escape her, so she just takes a bowl, fills it with chocolate ice cream, covers it in pink sprinkles, and just starts eating silently by herself.     She's a little mad that Usagi would give up what Chibiusa had been coveting for centuries, but she's not sure her incredulity is helpful right now, so she keeps it to herself.
Masato Sanjouin	Masato feels mildly sorry for having made it so plain, though he did his best not to go too deeply into it all. What he said of the surface of it, was plenty. His gaze turns towards each Mahou, their reactions different, and he decides to be honest enough. "You're not the only one who's felt this way, Usagi-chan." A small admission, and he glanced towards Chibiusa, "And I agree. We can cover for you. You have time."
Usagi Tsukino	Rashmi-chan might be supportive. Masato, too. Amy-chan might think the best of her. Mamochan might be hopeful, and terrified, and hiding it in the pit of his stomach, and Chibiusa quiet and disappointed, and Setsuna watchful and wondering - But Rei and Minako are the two people in this room closest to the pit in her stomach, the dog biting at her heels, the ''thing'' that's kept her driving forward: the knowledge that they don't get a choice. So when Rei breaks and Minako retreats, Usagi breaks a little, too. Maybe not so much a little. "''I know''. I ''know''. I didn't say anything for a reason! It's not - it's not fair to any of you - it's not fair, to all the people who want to do something and can't, when I just got ''handed'' all of this power, but I - I ''don't know how to want to'', Rei-chan! I don't know how! I never wanted to! I just wanted to save Naru-chan! I just didn't want her to ''die'', and then I didn't want Darien to be sick, and then I didn't want my friends to be hurt, and then I didn't want my ''boyfriend'' to die, and then, ''then'' I didn't want the ''world'' to end, and it never stops!" She doesn't quite know when she started standing, but she turns to Minako, and she says, with all the sincerity in her soul, all the aching, bone-deep exhaustion, all the horrors she's seen, "Minako-chan, ''I'' don't even want to be me, anymore. I don't want you to do it, either. I don't want you to be my body double. I don't want you to be my guardian. I want you to be my ''friend'', I want to have ''friends'', I want to be a ''normal girl who stops having nightmares about all the people I killed and the people I saw die and the life I don't get to have anymore!''" And it's all out, and she's shaking, gasping for breath, in the aftermath of that, Luna climbing up her blouse, little claws digging until she can curl on her shoulders and purr and purr and ''purr'' to help her breathe, like something done a million times before, until Usagi pulls herself back together, piece by piece, reaching out with shaking hands for a bowl of ice cream, and taking a bite, and another bite, and a third, until her voice is something normal. "Sorry. Sorry. I'm sorry, everyone. Maybe you're right Maybe it's just burnout. Maybe it will come back. I'm... tired." Understatement. And she looks down at Kazuo, who is so quiet, and solid, and tucks herself against Mamoru. "I want to go home."