Chapter 4: I Wanna Be a Star! Chikara’s Dream! Megumi sighed. Most girls would want to be outgoing and popular. But not her. She longed to be the aloof, reserved type like her mother. Why did everyone like her? It was so strange. She hated herself for not being able to control herself, for having such an effusive personality. She was thinking so much, immersed in self-pity, that she crashed into her friend Chikara Tenou, who was also leaving Ichiban High. “AH! Megumi-sempai, is that you?!” Chikara exclaimed, a small book falling out of her hands. “Sorry, Chikara-chan...is that a Sailor Moon manga? The biographical manga and anime that tells the story of our mothers’ past battles?” Megumi gushed, touching the book Chikara had dropped. “Yes, it is. And I was going to visit the studio where they make that marvelous anime. Minako-sama and Rei-sama invited me, to help further my career as an actress. Would you like to accompany me on my road to stardom?” Chikara inquired. Megumi smiled. She liked being around other extroverts, as it made her own curse of sociability stand out less. “Of course, if they’ll let me,” Megumi agreed. “Then, let us proceed to the silver screen!” Chikara proclaimed, ready to go. Chikara, leading the way, went up to the main desk at the front room of the anime production building. “Pardon me, but my friend and I have an appointment with Minako-sama and Rei-sama for this afternoon,” she said, bowing politely as she handed the receptionist her note. The receptionist looked at the note, then nodded. Then he pressed a button on a pager. “Minako Aino-san and Rei Hino-san to the front desk. There’s a girl out there who says she has an appointment with you,” he said, talking into the microphone. Chikara and Megumi looked at each other and smiled; the tour would be very interesting and fun. It was certainly informative. They saw the animators making the drawings, they got to hear their mothers do their voice acting parts, and they were allowed bit parts as kids in the episode as a treat. Afterward, they went out with Minako and Rei to a nearby coffee shop for some snacks. “That was so sad how all the kids picked on Mie. She knew the truth,” sniffled Megumi. “Yes, Sailor Venus is truly real; we are conversing with her now!” Chikara added. “Megumi-chan, I have something to tell you. This is a profession in which it’s good to be outgoing. Don’t you see? All different personalities make up the world,” she said, taking the green-haired girl’s hand. “I know...it’s just that I should be like Mama. I hate myself, seeing how she acts and then seeing my own personality...” Megumi started sobbing into Chikara’s brown ponytail. “Megumi-chan...” Rei started to say. “I can’t control myself like Mama! She’s so dignified!” blubbered Megumi. “It is perfectly okay to not act like one’s mother; Mama Haruka and I don’t act a thing alike, and Kuniko does not resemble her either,” Chikara said helpfully. “Yeah, and if you think Chibi-chan and Kaori-chan are like me, then you’ve been talking to some other Minako,” Minako added, giggling. “And I’m the fiery type, but all three of my kids are quiet,” Rei finished. “Maybe,” Megumi sniffled, letting go of Chikara’s hair. “Are you sure that girl is a Sailor Senshi? I thought they were confident, Rachel” whispered a purple-haired girl who was behind the serving counter. “Yes, Rebecca, she is the daughter of Sailor Pluto. And all the daughters of the Senshi are Senshi themselves,” said her green-haired companion. “Watch out for the two elder Senshi,” warned Rebecca. Rei looked at the two of them suspiciously. “I feel some very strange auras from them. I sense those two are evil, but their auras are similar to those of Sailor Jupiter and Sailor Saturn,” she said softly, trying to speak so only Minako, Chikara, and Megumi could hear her. “Should we transform?” whispered Minako. “Yes. Let’s do it in the...AAHHH!!” Rei shrieked as an electric bolt hit her. “Rei-sama! Those girls are attacking!” Chikara shouted. “Come on, transform before anyone else gets hurt. Venus Crystal Power, Make Up!” Minako ordered. “Comet Cosmic Power, Make UP!” “Pluto Prism Power, Make Up!” “How DARE you injure my idol Rei-sama!” Sailor Comet accused. “A restaurant is not a place to zap people either!” added Sailor Venus. “I am the mysterious girl, Sailor Chibi Pluto!” “Sailor Comet!” “And Sailor Venus!” The three of them struck battle poses, looking fierce. “Mysterious? You? Chibi Pluto, you are NOT like the original,” snorted Rebecca. “I know that! I hate that! You don’t have to rub it in! Chronos Typhoon!” screamed Chibi Pluto, turning some of her self-hatred against the enemy. Rebecca jumped aside, but the attack hit Rachel, spinning her into a rack of American donuts. “We don’t need you girls. We’ll just take this consolation prize,” jeered Rebecca as she teleported herself and Rachel away, taking Rei along too. “NOOO!!! REI-SAMA!!!!” Sailor Comet screamed. “Well? Who’s going to tell her kids? I guess I will,” said Minako, afraid of having to tell poor Harumi, Atsuko, and Arashi that their mother had been kidnapped by the enemy.