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* * * * * * * * * * * *
3184 CE
70th Year After Purification
7th Year of the Reunification:
Green fields, blue skies and crystal clear rivers passed
swiftly by, a panorama in motion of Nature's beauty. The
sense of wonderment and splendor that the scene was supposed
to convey was lost on one Usagi Tsukino-Serenity, Crown
Princess of Crystal Tokyo, Small Lady. Though the term
Small Lady maybe a bit of a misnomer now that she'd grown.
Sixteen years old, with her birthday a few months away, she
was, like her mother, a bit of a late bloomer. Her sudden
growth spurt at the age of fifteen left her at five foot
four inches and still growing. She was starting to become
the very image of a beautiful young princess.
Currently, she was a very bored young princess. She
sighed as she stopped looking out the window and stood up
from her chair to stretch a little. She surveyed the
surroundings of the Royal Coach, the special train
compartment used whenever her parents had need to travel
via rail. The full bookshelf in one corner, along with a
table filled with copies of the latest newspapers and
magazines from the world over. Her father was taking a nap
on the couch and her mother was seated comfortably on one
of the other chairs, a sketchpad in one hand, a pencil
delicately balanced in the other. She was exercising
one of her few passions, drawing.
Usagi noted that even half-finished, Neo-Queen
Serenity's sketch of her husband was starting to look
really well. If she weren't the Queen of the world, the
young princess thought, she'd probably make a great
artist, which she was. She smiled at the thought. She
remembered reading about her mom's previous occupation
before ruling the world: a manga artist with quite a few
best-selling hits under her belt. A few of them were made
into anime and Usagi had often seen them as reruns on
late-night TV. The Serenity Cult gobbled it up like candy.
After the Reawakening and the Purification, her
mother's manga creations, already expensive to collectors
and enthusiasts, were considered as holy artifacts by some
people and the stuff's prices went up astronomically.
Especially those with her mother's autograph. She had
managed to read all of them, borrowing from Aunt Rei's
extensive manga collection and she loved all of them.
They had ranged from romance, fantasy, horror, etc. Name
the genre, Usagi Tsukino wrote it. Ironically enough, her
mother wrote only one series with a magical girl in it. It
was one of her first successes and made her name in the
businness. All of the rest shared all the elements that
made them bestsellers: wonderful characters you can't help
but love, well-made plots that made sense and were
believable and, of course, the gorgeous art. There was
also a second level to it that she had noticed when she
read the old tankoubons. The stories had a depth and
understanding of the human condition that just grabbed
the reader and gave him or her an insight into it. They
made the reader think.
She looked up at the clock and noted that it had
already been an hour and they still hadn't arrived at
where they were supposed to be going. Her mother had
specifically ordered the hyper-train to move at speeds that
were near to those experienced by the steam trains of the
nineteenth century.
All she knew that her mother had received a message and
had declared this rather impromptu trip for the Royal
Family. If Neo-Queen Serenity wanted to get somewhere in a
hurry, she could have just used her powers and teleported
anywhere on the planet. Why go on a sudden trip, on a
train that could get anyone anywhere in the world in a
matter of hours, and purposefully slow it down?
"You're wondering why we aren't hurrying, aren't you,
Small Lady?"
The princess blinked as she noticed her mother setting
aside her sketchpad and looking at her. Then she remembered
what her mother had called her.
"Moooom, will you please calling me Small Lady! I'm
sixteen! At the very least call me with a grown up name
like Usagi or something."
Her mother smiled lightly and shook her head. "You will
always be either Small Lady or Chibi-usa to me, my dear.
Which do you prefer?"
Usagi grimaced at the thought of being called Chibi-usa
again to which her mother responded with a wide smile. Then
Usagi remembered what started the conversation.
"How did you know?"
"You were looking at the clock and had this puzzled
expression on your face. Logical conclusion would be
something troubling you concerning time or something
relating to time. And since you haven't had another lesson
from Setsuna about temporal mechanics recently and the fact
that you looked momentarily out, I deduced your thoughts
related to time and the speed of the train. It would be
elementary to follow the line of thinking to your
questoning why we after going on a sudden trip we are not
going at faster speeds."
"Mom, you're talking like Sherlock Holmes. I hate it
when you talk like Sherlock Holmes. I had enough of that
when he showed up last month."
Her mother laughed. "Sorry about that, Usagi-chan."
"'Usagi-chan'? Where did that come from?"
"You did say you wanted to be called something
different, ne?"
"But you just put a '-chan' at the end!"
"It is significantly better than Chibi-usa, ne?"
This time it was her daughter's turn to shake her head
and smile. The young princess was silent for a few moments,
looking out again at the passing scenery, and returned her
gaze to her mother.
"Mom, to return to the original question, _why_ are we
going by train?"
Neo-Queen Serenity inclined her head a bit to the side,
obviously thinking something over. After a few seconds, her
neck straightened and she motioned for her daughter to take
the seat opposite her.
Usagi sat down and waited for her mother to explain.
There was a peculiar look on her mother's face that she
couldn't put her finger on. Usually she was pretty good at
reading her mother's moods but this time was an exception.
"Well, it's time for you to find out about a lot of
things, because the person we will be visiting is the
reason for most aspects of life in Crsytal Tokyo and the
rest of the world."
"I thought that was supposed to be you?", Usagi said
with a puzzled look.
Her mother laughed gently at this and shook her head.
"Technically, but that person made me into what I am
today, by teaching me all that I know. You don't
understand, do you?"
The look on her daughter's face said it all.
"Do you remember that letter I gave you when you came
back to the past for the second time?"
"Yes. That always bothered me. You knew kanji well
enough. Why did you use katakana?"
"Because if the earlier version of me found out how
much I would change to become the Queen, I don't think
I'd ever have gone through with it."
Usagi nodded. "I remember thinking of you and the
past version of you as two different people since you
were so... so..."
"Opposite?" Her mother sugested.
"No! Not that! You're still the Usagi I knew in the
past at times. But, you're more refined, more graceful,
and much more -"
"Harder? I remember one of the newspapers nowadays
describing me as ruling with a velvet-gloved iron fist,"
the Queen said with a smile, "Intelligent? I remember a
time when I was a failing at Japanese, Usagi-chan.
Nowadays, I am fluent in fifteen languages. When I was
a teenager, I would never have even dreamed of getting
a Ph.D. in Political Theory. Along with my degrees in
Literature, Philosophy and History."
Neo-Queen Serenity looked out the window sadly.
"When I was young I would only read simple books and
manga. Now I read reports on economies, political
situations and other things that would have put me to
sleep back then."
The Queen returned to look at her daughter again,
smiling a little. "The person we're going to visit
suggested that we take the scenic route. I think my
old friend is trying to teach me a lesson again."
"The person we will be visiting taught me
everything. Sensei first taught me how to learn and
how to love to learn. Then we started on from there.
Along the way, I met every intelligent person that
has ever lived: Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Pythagoras,
Confucius, Lao-Tze to Machiavelli and Aquinas to Locke,
Hobbes, Rousseau and all the others. I disagreed with
Nietzche and flirted with Marx." The Queen of Crystal
Tokyo had a look of nostalgia on her face as she said
all of this to her daughter. "I got taught the sum
entirety of human philosophy and knowledge. At least,
those of three thousand years. And even beyond that.
Sensei thought that I needed all of it. I don't know how,
but Sensei was right about that."
"Since I see you're quite confused, Usagi-chan.
Since this trip will probably be a long one, I might as
well tell you the story of how I learned to be a Queen. Or
as Sensei puts it, learned to be a human being."
So as her daughter listened, entranced, Neo-Queen
Serenity, who used to be a young girl by the name of Usagi
Tsukino in the city of Tokyo in the later half of the
twentieth century, began her story where it all began.
Breakfast.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Lesson 0
The Education of Usagi Tsukino:
Meeting the Teacher
by
Elsa Bibat
Part of the "Dances Set To The Music Of Time" sequence
* * * * * * * * * * * *
1996:
Usagi Tsukino paused in mid-bite and mid-run. It was
painfully obvious that this was an unnatural position since
she teetered on her one foot. The inevitable was, as always,
unavoidable.
Ikuko Tsukino winced in sympathy as her eldest child
crashed to the floor in an undignified heap.
"Ow."
The matriarch of the Tsukino family sighed a long-
suffering sigh and helped her daughter up, wiping some of
the butter and toast off her face.
"You got me a tutor?"
"Yes, Usagi."
"Why?"
"As if that weren't obvious." Shingo wisecracked as
he danced around his mother and sister to reach the door
and leave for school.
"Shut up, Shingo!" Usagi shouted after her brother
as her mother and father both shook their heads.
"Shingo's partially right, Usagi-chan. You're not
exactly the picture of scholastic excellence." Kenji
said as he sipped coffee at the breakfast table while
reading the newspaper.
"But my grades have gotten better!"
"Better, yes, and we're proud of you for that."
Ikuko personally thought it was that Mizuno girl's
influence and she silently thanked the kami for small
favors. "But they're not good enough for a university.
You do want to go to college don't you?"
The question was met by nervous silence.
Kenji peeked over his newspaper with an arched
eyebrow. Usagi was twiddling her thumbs and his wife
was getting that look again.
Oh yeah, defuse-the-ticking-time-bomb-that-is-
my-wife time.
And I quit my old job to marry her, Kenji thought
with a smirk. This was at least twice as dangerous as what
I used to do.
"Of course, Usagi-chan wants to go to college, Dear.
She's just worried that it would be too much for her." Hope
Usagi sees the winking and Ikuko doesn't.
"Weeeell, yes. I think." Usagi twiddled her thumbs
some more.
"Usagi, you are going to go to college and to do that
you'll need a tutor. Mei'ou-san, that nice guardian of young
Hotaru-chan suggested a tutor that would be just right for
you."
"Setsuna gave you suggestions for a tutor?" Usagi
blinked. This was either one of those Guardian of Time
intricate plot things or Setsuna just being helpful. Or it
could be both.
"Yes. And you'll be going there this afternoon."
"But, Moooooom, me and the girls are going out!"
"Well, I'm sorry, Usagi. But Weyland-san was a
difficult person to get and she insisted on screening you
personally."
She's probably some evil entity from beyond space and
time and Setsuna wants me to get properly introduced before
we start with the insanity again, Usagi thought darkly as
she reluctantly agreed to go to her new tutor's house and be
subjected to an interview.
It was shaping out to be a bad day.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The ravens cawed at her as Usagi looked up at the
iron gate that barred her from the large estate beyond. The
pair of them gave her regarding looks, as if they were royal
guards considering a petitioner to a queen.It wasn't exactly
what she was expecting from a private tutor, but Setsuna was
involved thus strangeness was bound to happen.
"Just my luck. I'm betting she's gonna be like Rei."
Usagi whined under her voice as she suffered the avian gazes
aimed at her.
With a simultaneous squawk, both birds launched
themselves from their perches and disappeared from view.
The iron gate yawned open. Moments later, one of the ravens
fluttered gracefully lighted on her shoulder as if from
nowhere in a move so silent that she only noticed its arrival
when she felt the sudden addition of weight and the talons
pressing through her uniform blouse.
She would have shrieked in surprise but there was a
restraining power in the look that the raven gave her, a
glint in the eye that betokened supernatural intelligence,
that she only tilted her head in response.
The raven nodded and cawed with seeming delight. It
gyrated its head in an odd motion that Usagi quickly
interpreted.
"You want me to follow you?"
Nod, nod.
It was times like this that Usagi really wanted to
rather bad, long and painful things to the Guardian of Time.
Having no other recourse, she followed the bird as
it fairly leaped from its perch into the estate within.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The trip inside was an eerie one. The estate was vast
in its own way, rather spacious for suburban Tokyo. The
place must have cost more than a bundle.
The raven winged its way slowly giving the blonde a
chance to follow. The cobbled path slowly gave way to a
marble one lined with rosebushes.
The path led to a looming Gothic-style mansion. The
great oak door yawned open as she and the raven approached.
They entered and Usagi was awed by the dark beauty of the
mansion's interior. Items radiated age and wealth in an
understated way that only added to their worth. Suits of
armor from East and West, Turkish rugs and Hindu tapestries,
this was an incredible treaure trove from all over the
world.
Another raven joined the one that led her and they
led her into a dark roomm filled with books. The voice
surprised her.
"You have arrived it seems."
It was a woman, sitting in a high backed chair, black
leather gloved hands steepled before her. The room's only
window was behind the chair, the setting sun's rays
creating the peculiar effect of a blood-red halo around
the chair and its occupant. Dressed in a black high collar
military-style tunic and matching trousers, her white face
made even more striking by her dark surroundings.
The twin ravens swooped to land on opposing sides of
the chair. The woman regarded Usagi with a single eye, an
eye that seemed to glow with fearsome power in the afternoon
twilight. That eye was set in an aristocratic heart-shaped
face framed by reddish black hair cut in a helmet style. The
eyepatch over the left ey\e only emphasized the cyclopean
nature of the woman before her. The eye was the center of
everything about Weyland-san.
"Ah...Weyland-san-"
"You are the Tsukino girl?" The voice was like honey
on broken glass, a harshness barely disguised by a soprano
voice.
"Yes, I-"
"All you have to do is answer three questions,
Tsukino-san. Then I will determine whether you are worthy."
The statement had a weird tone of finality that made
Usagi nervous.
"Er...worthy of what?"
"Everything, Tsukino-san. Everything." A dagger-sharp
smile flashed on that terribly beautiful one-eyed face.
"Look into my eye and we shall begin."
Hesitating for a moment, Usagi squared her shoulders.
Whatever this woman may say, she was _worthy_. Besides,
Mom would be totally kick my behind if I don't get a tutor.
A bare moment after that thought, another flashed through
her mind and she just had to ask something first.
"Ah....there isn't going to be a math question, is
there?"
Weyland-san's lips quirked in amusement.
"No. There won't be math questions, Tsukino-san. May
we begin?"
"Er...yeah."
Taking a deep breath, she gazed into Weyland-san's eye
and was suddenly swallowed by the fiery power radiated by
that cyclopean orb. The word boomed ins
"Who are you?"
Weyland-san's voice held undeniable power, the question
suddenly seeming to reverbrate in Usagi's mind, giving the
simple query a dire import.
Who am I? The question drew forth separate answers
from her mind, almost as if they were summoned at the woman's
call. From this multitude of voices, rose four voices
I am Princess Serenity of the Line Serenity. Inheritor
of the Silver Throne. Protectress of the Silver Sea. Champion
of the White Order. Wielder of the Power Argent under the
Pact Serenity. In my blood lives all of my line, and under
their guidance and grace, I live to rule.
I am Sailor Moon, warrior of love and justice. I have
defended this world from forces that would destroy it a
thousand times over. I fight reluctantly for peace.
I am Usagi Tsukino, daughter to Kenji and Ikuko
Tsukino. I am normal girl, though a bit lazy, with all the
normal wants. I go to school and date my boyfriend. I go
out with my friends. I live a normal life, hoping for a
happy future for all the ones I love.
I am Neo-Queen Serenity, the future yet to be born. I
lie asleep and wait in fearful anticipation for what is to
come.
Usagi was confused at the answers that seemed to bubble
up from within her, as if summoned magically by the woman's
voice. Groping for an answer from the multitude, she blurted
out the most honest answer she could find.
"I don't know."
Well, that totally blew it. To Usagi's surprise,
Weyland-san only just smiled and asked another question.
"What do you want?"
Another explosion occured within Usagi's consciousness,
the power in that voice was once again irresistible and her
mind responded.
I want peace on earth.
I want peace for me.
I want love.
I want to put an end to all pain and evil.
I want an ice-cream sundae. With chocolate syrup,
sprinkles...mmm...better make that a double. Plus maybe
a few more sweets on the side. Plus a milkshake.
Usagi noticed Weyland-san arching an eyebrow, obviously
noticing the hungry-glazed look in her eyes. Wincing, she
just blurted out what she honestly knew.
"I don't know."
The eye concentrated on her and focused like a
camera. The smile on Weyland-san's face was wider. She spoke
but her voice seemed to be missing the earlier power that
it had.
"Two rather distinct and very old philosophies
summarized into two questions. And answered rather well by
a sixteen year old. Now, my dear, the final question, why
are you here?"
"Er...I thought I was here for a bit of tutoring for
the college entrance exams. Now...I don't know."
A grin was evident on Weyland-san's face as she
regarded her. "Expectations, as my sister is oft to say,
are always shattered. Tsukino-san, as of this moment, you
will call me Sensei and I expect you to do your best in all
the things that I seek to teach you."
"You mean I passed?"
A throaty laugh preceded her new tutor's answer. "Yes,
Tsukino-san. Passed with rather flying colors if you might
ask."
Weyland-sensei gestured with a hand and one of the
ravens left its perch. "Huggin, will show you out. I expect
you to come here at the same time tommorrow."
Usagi could only nod as the raven called Huggin landed
on her shoulder with a squawk. Before she forgot, she better
tell Weylan-sensei.
"Weyland-sensei, my mother was asking about your pay-"
"Teaching someone like you, Tsukino-san, is reward
enough. Tell your mother I'll take you on free as a favor to
Mei'ou-san."
"Uh...thank you, Weyland-sensei."
"Don't thank me yet, Tsukino-san." Weyland-sensei
dismissed her with a perfunctory gesture.
As Usagi followed Huggin out, she could swear that
mad laughter echoed from within the dark mansion.
Great. More insanity. I will really kick Setsuna's
ass for this.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Author's Note:
The "godesses" are now complete. Well, they're godesses
in a cosmology that is a synthesis of Lovecraft, Hodgson,
Haggard, Blackwood, Machen, Tipler, Isamov, Wollheim, and
de Chardin. Really weird shit.
Anyway, the plan for the "Education" is to release
disjointed stand-alone "Lessons". That's still the same,
but I won't be releasing to the FFML. Most of the "Lessons"
are and will be philosophical ruminations on the
foundations of the universe that "Dances" occurs in.
In other words, talking heads. ^_^
Good philosophy and great education but is not exactly
writing that is appropriate for the FFML. Plus considering
that I have opinions and beliefs that would most probably
contradict most people's beliefs so I'll just ask Larry F
to post thge "Lessons" on his site and have people who
want to read my very annoying belief system. ^_^
***********************************************************
* *
* DANCES SET TO THE MUSIC OF TIME *
* An Epic History of Humanity *
* From The Age of Silver *
* To The Age of Crystal *
* And Beyond *
* *
* http://rakhal.com/florestica/elsa-bibat/index.html *
* *
* Other fanfiction by the same author: *
* http://rakhal.com/florestica/elsa-bibat/index.html *
* *
* Kindly archived by Larry F and *
* The Lost Library of Florestica: *
* http://rakhal.com/florestica/ *
* *
***********************************************************
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