Summary: Kids can be mean; even cruel without realizing. Little Princess Serenity has a problem, and she's not sure what to do about it. AU Silver Millenium. A Two-Parter. Rated PG. Please review! Thanks to a friend of mine for letting me borrow a few characters!
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(A/N: This is a quasi-one-shot. I say quasi, because I am unsure if I will make this a little series of some kind or not. This was inspired by a picture reposted by misshotaru of Tumblr, created by shiratakimoon on Twitter of Makoto ice skating with a much younger Usagi, Potentially (my interpretation), this could have been in the AU of the Silver Millennium; of their past selves (if you go on the assumption that the Senshi upon reaching a certain age no longer age as quickly, or that Usagi is under some type of spell that has rendered her under 10 years old).
Thanks so much to the one of the most talented writers and supporters who I've ever had for letting me borrow her AU SilMil characters from her story (Mokuko, Mizuko, and possible references to Kyte, Reita, and Venus). She's not on this website, and her pics arne't generally PG-13, but if she's reading this, she knows who she is. She owns them. I'm just borrowing. Just to note: I've taken liberties with her character of Mokuko.
I don't own Sailor Moon either….Just borrowing. Storyline however, is mine. Please note, Usagi and friends have not yet transformed. So any references to their Sailor identities are specifically related to the adults).
Please review! ~The Rising Phoenix~)
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Little Usagi face-planted with an 'oomph' and a groan, as her little body sprawled out onto the ice. She heard the other kids giggle quietly amongst themselves.
Sure, they were nice to her when the adults were around.
But when the adults weren't looking?
Usagi did her best not to cry, as she struggled to stand up again; or at least get to her knees. Luckily she was near a wall.
She'd already been on the ice for two hours, before the other kids joined her an hour ago, at 7:30am.
It was super early in the morning by the time she started on the ice, after getting herself breakfast. Her little wristwatch with Pluto's symbol on it said 5:30am. Even her Mommy wasn't up yet. But she always left a note.
She was pretty sure her Mommy didn't need one anymore. Usagi was always on the ice.
No one else was.
She liked being alone on the ice, she just didn't understand why she didn't already know how to do this.
Usagi was a rather quiet child to those who really knew her; with bouts of excitement.
Bouts of excitement that those who loved her most would rather encourage, than to see her quiet side.
Except Usagi was an observer. She watched her friends and her Mommy's scouts on the ice all the time. They were all so good.
Usagi was an observer yes, but did not seek to have her questions answered. She didn't realize they were questions, let alone that those question actually had answers. She simply thought everyone naturally could ice skate. Her Mommy could ice skate so well. She wanted to be like her Mommy.
But Usagi didn't dare tell anyone of the bullying.
A Princess should be self-sufficient; self-reliant, right? Her Mommy always was, even if she did get help sometimes. And her Mommy did say it was okay to have help; it wasn't anything to be ashamed of.
But independence was important.
Usagi wanted to show her Mommy that one day even she could be a Sailor Scout. Wise, passionate, graceful, brave, fierce, patient, silent, deep, and warm.
She didn't need help with those.
Another spill; this time because she was tripped. More laughter was heard.
"Stop it. You guys are mean." Usagi said, as angry tears filled her eyes. She refused to let them fall.
"Just because you're the princess doesn't mean you get to be treated as such. You're nothing special."
"I never said-"
"You don't have to say it, 'Princess.' You think you're better than us? It's all over your face."
"No!" Her little voice echoed through the rink.
"Shh! You want us to be your friends, right? Then you better not get us in trouble."
"But…"
"You want friends, don't you?"
Usagi sighed. As they pushed her back down, and skated away, Usagi watched them skake around the edge of the rink with much more ease. She stood up again, and simply held the wall to keep herself up, as she slowly made her way towards the bench all the way on the other side.
She then heard the metallic whistle belonging to the only one who she saw on the ice more than her Mommy...Maybe even more than herself.
Mokuko AKA Sailor Jupiter.
"Everyone off the ice." She called.
Both Mokuko and Usagi watched as the others skated off with a low groan and grumble, leaving Usagi to struggle.
"Come on Usagi! Hurry up!"
"No rushing each other. She'll get here." Mokuko chided gnetly.
Eventually Usagi reached her destination, where she carefully grabbed onto other items, such as the bench to make sure she wouldn't fall.
"Now, the rest of you are banned from the ice for the next five days."
Mokuko held up her hands as she heard a number of protests of she not being fair, and that Usagi should share the ice.
"Ah-ah. When it comes to the ice, I'm in charge. My ice, my rules. Now, this is not Usagi's fault, nor anything she asked of me. Nor has her mother. I've been watching you. All of you for quite some time, and I do not like what I've been seeing, or hearing. I gave it a week or so to see if you could all work it out amongst yourselves and am very disappointed to learn otherwise. As part of the Moon, and the Planets 9, you are to help each other; support each other when you need help. Not bring each other down. Now off you go to your tutors. I know a number of you have Mizuko; some Reita, and some Venus. Go on, but not before you go, you all need to apologize to Usagi."
Grumbling, Makoto heard the appropriate amount of 'sorry's' as the kids left the rink to the locker room to take off their skates.
Usagi looked at Mokuko. "What?" She asked.
"I'm wondering if they mean what they say. I hope so. I really, really want them to…"
"Sweetie…" Mokuko thought to the apologies received, and really considered their tone of voices.
She sighed with disappointment.
"They were lying, weren't they? Why? Why don't they like me!? I didn't do anything to them!"
"Usagi-"
"They didn't mean a word of their sorry's did they? They're just doing it because you told them to. It wasn't real. They'll be back to teasing me as soon as your back is turned, or better yet as soon as you're out of the room! Right? That's how it's always gonna be!" Usagi shouted angrily.
Mokuko drew Usagi into a hug. "You can cry you know." She said softly in her ear.
She felt Usagi shake her head. "Why? To be called a crybaby?"
"Not at all. Because I know you feel it very deeply; I know it hurts you."
"But I have to be brave." Came the small whisper.
"Says who?"
"Me."
Mokuko pulled back, looking Usagi in the eyes.
"Usagi, sometimes being brave...Well, it means you know when to cry; when to listen to your feelings; even when you think everything is telling you not to."
Usagi gave a small nod, laying her head on Mokuko's shoulder again. Both remained silent for a few moments, while Usagi lost the battle against her tears.
"It's okay Usa….Let it out."
After Usagi seemed all cried out, Mokuko drew Usagi onto her lap. "Now, you've been dealing with those bullies for two weeks?"
Usaig made a face. 'Yeah."
"Truth?"
Usagi grimaced. She knew she could never lie to Mokuko; not that she ever really wanted to.
"Two months."
"Princess…"
"I'm sorry! I just….thought they'd get bored, and it'd go away...And then I tried to handle it and it only got worse. I...I want them to be my friends, but they say that if I want them to be my friends, then I can't get them in trouble...But they still make fun of me. I really do think they're nice somewhere inside of them...But they just...have trouble finding it. That's all...Right?"
"Usagi, anyone who hurts your feelings as bad as they have; only to say they'll be your friend and pretend to do so when an adult around isn't your friend. Your friends don't treat you like that."
"But-"
"But what, sweetie? Do you see the Scouts treat me like that, or me treat the scouts like that? What about how we treat your Mommy?"
"But you're brave; no one is going to treat you like that. And you're nice, of course you wouldn't do that to anyone else. My Mommy's the Queen. No one is silly enough to make fun of her! I'm just a Princess...Big deal! They're right, I'm not important."
Mokuko gently took Usagi's face in her hands, and kissed her forehead. "You listen to me. You are very important."
"Why?" Usagi challenged.
"Because. I know no one else who tries as hard at something she wants to accomplish as you."
"So,I try hard. And?"
"And, I know no other five year old who gets up an hour before her Mommy, and no matter how hard, or as many times that she falls on the ice, gets back up again to keep trying by herself, and then goes to school all day."
"Why does that make me important?"
"It makes you important because it shows me that you're going to make such a hard-working, dedicated Queen one day, who never gives up."
"I feel like giving up now."
"I don't think I can let you do that."
"Why not? I've been skating for three months, and I still can't get on the ice. I get on the ice everyday at 5:30 in the morning. I still can't stay on the ice, not 2 minutes without falling! Stupid ice…Maybe I should take up swimming."
"Wait, 5:30?! Usagi, no wonder why you're exhausted and hungry by the time 10am rolls around, and ironically enough in Mizuko's class…Why so early?"
"Because I can be alone for awhile before all the kids come out. Everyone is too busy in the afternoon, and I keep having to go to bed earlier, so at night is out too."
"I think I know how to help you."
"I don't want help! I can do it on my own...Okay fine, I can't! But, but, but…."
"But I know for a fact that your Mommy has said it's okay to get help. I think you might need it...Even though you don't want it."
Usagi was silent for a few moments. "Usagi, why don't you want help?"
"Because i have to do it on my own."
"Did the other kids tell you that?"
"No, but they didn't have help. They can skate; you can skate; everyone can skate. Everyone else, except me."
"Usagi? How do you think they are able to do that? How do you think I'm able to that?"
"They just can. They were born with it. I don't know why I bother trying. No one else needed to."
Mokuko chuckled. "Usagi, the only reason everyone else, including me, are able to skate, is because we practiced. I was taught; your Mommy was taught, and those kids were certainly taught. We weren't born with how to do this...Granted, sure some pick up the skill faster than others, but no one is born with knowing how to skate like we can."
"You weren't?"
"Of course not. It may be a talent, sure. But it's not a magical or natural ability we are born with. It was something we had to learn how to do. Someone else showed us what and how to do so."
Usagi sighed, but remained silent.
"Let me look at you." Mokuko replied, checking Usagi's injuries, as a shiver ran through her small body. "Ow." Came Usagi's soft yelp, as Mokuko gently touched a spot on her chin.
"Be right back." Mokuko said, leaving Usagi to her own thoughts for a few moments. She then returned with two items in her hands.
"Here." Mokuku said with a smile, handing her a pack of ice in one hand and a cup of thick hot cocoa in the other.
"Can't I just put my face on the ice instead?"
Mokuku chuckled. "Silly girl. I wouldn't want you laying on the ice. It wouldn't be safe. Besides, no hot liquids on the ice."
"But isn't that what Mizuko is for? She can just refreeze it, can't she?" Usagi's eyes twinkling with mischief.
Mokuku outright laughed with a wink. "No, little miss. That is not what Mizuko is for my dear. And you know that."
"Fine…"
They sat in silence as Usagi finished her hot chocolate.
"Mokuku?"
"Hmm?"
"Can...Can you help me skate; or learn to skate...Please?"
"Oh, absolutely. That is my self-appointed mission as of now."
"We...We can start now, right?"
"I didn't ban those kids from the ice for nothing, my Princess. Although...I think we should give your tummy 5 minutes to rest."
Usagi smiled. "We aren't in a pool…"
"I know, but we really shouldn't give the attendants a sticky mess to clean up either…"
"Okay…"
"So...You've been getting up on the ice every morning at 5:30 just to practice?"
"I guess...I didn't think I needed to...But...I didn't know any other way to try…"
"You are very perceptive; meaning you are very smart and use what you see to help you."
"I guess so."
"I know so. Seems like someone has been paying more attention when she's with Mizuko than she lets on." Mokuko winked.
"Don't tell Mizuko please?"
"Don't want to stand out anymore than you think you already do?"
Usagi gasped. "How did you know that?"
"When I was your age, I had some of the same feelings. I always seemed to do well at all the things the boys did...Well, except for cooking and gardening."
"Mokuko? If you have a little girl…."
"Usagi! You're five years old! How have you not yet met Makoto?"
"She's yours?"
"You haven't met her?"
"I've seen her around, in the gardens….Not so much here...But...I'm too shy to talk to her...She seems really nice...Alone sometimes too, and I want to talk to her….But.. then…"
"Then what?"
"The other kids...they always trick me into going away before I can say hi to her…And sometimes, she's with the other scouts' kids...Some of them seem nice, but never ask me to play either...And sometimes all the other scouts kids are a lot to take in…I like hanging out with Ami sometimes, but she is always studying...She likes to read a lot more, and that's good...I don't know...But haven't really talked to the others...Does...Does Makoto notice me?"
"She does. She wants to say hi to you too. But like you, the other kids take you away too soon, or the other scouts usually pull Mako away before she can say hi. And...As her mother, I think even she's a little shy to say anything to the others just yet about including you. But I can say for sure, that I know she really wants you to come play."
Usagi looked up at Mokuko, hopeful.
Mokuko ruffled her hair a little. "Come on, let's get you out on the ice."
"Wait...Mokuko, why do my feet always hurt?"
"Skating too much?"
"No...I mean my skates are always tight…"
Mokuko narrowed her eyes. "How tight?"
"My feet always have blisters, sometimes cuts, and are super red when I take off my skates…"
Mokuko grabbed two pairs of nearby clean skates, placing them next to her.
"Take off your skates, Usa. Let's see."
Mokuko watched as Usagi struggled to take her skates off. "They're also hard to get on."
"Honey, it's because they don't fit you, barely at all. They're way too small. They're not supposed to be that small. And you're barefoot."
"But…I guess she was wrong."
"Did one of the other kids tell you this was the size you needed?"
"Yeah, she's been doing this for years...I thought she was telling me the truth; that she was my friend."
"I'll be sure to talk to both her mom, and yours. This never should have happened."
Makoto grabbed the ice packs, and then grabbed the nearby first aid kit. "No wonder why you don't like to stay on your feet either after you skate…Usagi, we can't skate anymore today. Your feet need to heal."
"Please, please, please?" Usagi begged.
Mokuko shook her head. "I'm sorry Usagi. Not today. Like new shoes, new skates take time to break in; to be comfortable. Yes they may come with blisters, but not like this." Mokuko wrapped and bandaged Usagi's feet.
Usagi sighed, disappointed. "Okay.."
"I'm sorry sweetie. I know you really, really wanted to get back out there. But if you'd like, I'd be happy to carry you to all of your classes today." Usagi smiled, nodding.
"It's okay...Hey Mokuko, does Makoto like to ice skate too?"
"She is interested, but not yet ready to learn...Or so she says. I bet she'd like a friend on the ice, though."
"The others don't like to skate?" Usagi asked.
"Not really. Just Mako. Maybe next time, we can bring Mako with us."
"Tomorrow in the morning, when no one else is around?"
Mokuko laughed. "Oh, Usagi...no."
"Why not?"
Mokuko chuckled. "Sweetie, at this point, I am no longer, nor is my daughter at 6 years old a morning person. It's wayyyyy too early." Mokuko lightly tickled Usagi, loving her giggles. "I didn't become a morning person until I was a teenager, and even then it didn't last long. Besides, I don't recommend being out on the ice for at least for another two days, if not longer."
Usagi looked longingly at the ice.
"Come on." Mokuko smiled, standing.
"Huh?" Usagi asked, but quickly giggled, as she was picked up and placed on Mokuko's shoulders and taken out onto the ice.
Usagi squealed with delight as she felt the wind through her hair. She loved the gentle speed she was going, even though it felt like she was going super fast.
"Want to do some tricks?"
"Tricks?"
'Yeah, when you watch skating, do you ever watch when it's in pairs, or when they're two skaters?"
"Yeah! That's one of my favorites!"
"Wanna do some of those?"
"Really? You know how to do that?!"
"Do I know how to do that? Who are you talking to, Usagi?" Mokuko laughed.
"Yay! Let's do it!"
"Okay, but you have to stay still. Do you think you can do that?""
'Uh-huh!"
"Ready!?"
"Ready!"
Makoto did a number of tricks with Usagi securely in her arms. She flipped and twirled Usagi, spinning her too. Usagi's delighted screams filled the arena.
Finally Mokuko slowed down, bringing them back to the bench.
"That was so much FUN! Thank you Mokuko!"
Mokuko smiled, kissing her forehead. "Anytime. All you have to do is ask."
(A/N: Please Review! Part #2 Coming Soon! ~TRP~)
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(A/N: This is a quasi-one-shot. I say quasi, because I am unsure if I will make this a little series of some kind or not. This was inspired by a picture reposted by misshotaru of Tumblr, created by shiratakimoon on Twitter of Makoto ice skating with a much younger Usagi, Potentially (my interpretation), this could have been in the AU of the Silver Millennium; of their past selves (if you go on the assumption that the Senshi upon reaching a certain age no longer age as quickly, or that Usagi is under some type of spell that has rendered her under 10 years old).
Thanks so much to the one of the most talented writers and supporters who I've ever had for letting me borrow her AU SilMil characters from her story (Mokuko, Mizuko, and possible references to Kyte, Reita, and Venus). She's not on this website, and her pics arne't generally PG-13, but if she's reading this, she knows who she is. She owns them. I'm just borrowing. Just to note: I've taken liberties with her character of Mokuko.
I don't own Sailor Moon either….Just borrowing. Storyline however, is mine. Please note, Usagi and friends have not yet transformed. So any references to their Sailor identities are specifically related to the adults).
Please review! ~The Rising Phoenix~)
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Little Usagi face-planted with an 'oomph' and a groan, as her little body sprawled out onto the ice. She heard the other kids giggle quietly amongst themselves.
Sure, they were nice to her when the adults were around.
But when the adults weren't looking?
Usagi did her best not to cry, as she struggled to stand up again; or at least get to her knees. Luckily she was near a wall.
She'd already been on the ice for two hours, before the other kids joined her an hour ago, at 7:30am.
It was super early in the morning by the time she started on the ice, after getting herself breakfast. Her little wristwatch with Pluto's symbol on it said 5:30am. Even her Mommy wasn't up yet. But she always left a note.
She was pretty sure her Mommy didn't need one anymore. Usagi was always on the ice.
No one else was.
She liked being alone on the ice, she just didn't understand why she didn't already know how to do this.
Usagi was a rather quiet child to those who really knew her; with bouts of excitement.
Bouts of excitement that those who loved her most would rather encourage, than to see her quiet side.
Except Usagi was an observer. She watched her friends and her Mommy's scouts on the ice all the time. They were all so good.
Usagi was an observer yes, but did not seek to have her questions answered. She didn't realize they were questions, let alone that those question actually had answers. She simply thought everyone naturally could ice skate. Her Mommy could ice skate so well. She wanted to be like her Mommy.
But Usagi didn't dare tell anyone of the bullying.
A Princess should be self-sufficient; self-reliant, right? Her Mommy always was, even if she did get help sometimes. And her Mommy did say it was okay to have help; it wasn't anything to be ashamed of.
But independence was important.
Usagi wanted to show her Mommy that one day even she could be a Sailor Scout. Wise, passionate, graceful, brave, fierce, patient, silent, deep, and warm.
She didn't need help with those.
Another spill; this time because she was tripped. More laughter was heard.
"Stop it. You guys are mean." Usagi said, as angry tears filled her eyes. She refused to let them fall.
"Just because you're the princess doesn't mean you get to be treated as such. You're nothing special."
"I never said-"
"You don't have to say it, 'Princess.' You think you're better than us? It's all over your face."
"No!" Her little voice echoed through the rink.
"Shh! You want us to be your friends, right? Then you better not get us in trouble."
"But…"
"You want friends, don't you?"
Usagi sighed. As they pushed her back down, and skated away, Usagi watched them skake around the edge of the rink with much more ease. She stood up again, and simply held the wall to keep herself up, as she slowly made her way towards the bench all the way on the other side.
She then heard the metallic whistle belonging to the only one who she saw on the ice more than her Mommy...Maybe even more than herself.
Mokuko AKA Sailor Jupiter.
"Everyone off the ice." She called.
Both Mokuko and Usagi watched as the others skated off with a low groan and grumble, leaving Usagi to struggle.
"Come on Usagi! Hurry up!"
"No rushing each other. She'll get here." Mokuko chided gnetly.
Eventually Usagi reached her destination, where she carefully grabbed onto other items, such as the bench to make sure she wouldn't fall.
"Now, the rest of you are banned from the ice for the next five days."
Mokuko held up her hands as she heard a number of protests of she not being fair, and that Usagi should share the ice.
"Ah-ah. When it comes to the ice, I'm in charge. My ice, my rules. Now, this is not Usagi's fault, nor anything she asked of me. Nor has her mother. I've been watching you. All of you for quite some time, and I do not like what I've been seeing, or hearing. I gave it a week or so to see if you could all work it out amongst yourselves and am very disappointed to learn otherwise. As part of the Moon, and the Planets 9, you are to help each other; support each other when you need help. Not bring each other down. Now off you go to your tutors. I know a number of you have Mizuko; some Reita, and some Venus. Go on, but not before you go, you all need to apologize to Usagi."
Grumbling, Makoto heard the appropriate amount of 'sorry's' as the kids left the rink to the locker room to take off their skates.
Usagi looked at Mokuko. "What?" She asked.
"I'm wondering if they mean what they say. I hope so. I really, really want them to…"
"Sweetie…" Mokuko thought to the apologies received, and really considered their tone of voices.
She sighed with disappointment.
"They were lying, weren't they? Why? Why don't they like me!? I didn't do anything to them!"
"Usagi-"
"They didn't mean a word of their sorry's did they? They're just doing it because you told them to. It wasn't real. They'll be back to teasing me as soon as your back is turned, or better yet as soon as you're out of the room! Right? That's how it's always gonna be!" Usagi shouted angrily.
Mokuko drew Usagi into a hug. "You can cry you know." She said softly in her ear.
She felt Usagi shake her head. "Why? To be called a crybaby?"
"Not at all. Because I know you feel it very deeply; I know it hurts you."
"But I have to be brave." Came the small whisper.
"Says who?"
"Me."
Mokuko pulled back, looking Usagi in the eyes.
"Usagi, sometimes being brave...Well, it means you know when to cry; when to listen to your feelings; even when you think everything is telling you not to."
Usagi gave a small nod, laying her head on Mokuko's shoulder again. Both remained silent for a few moments, while Usagi lost the battle against her tears.
"It's okay Usa….Let it out."
After Usagi seemed all cried out, Mokuko drew Usagi onto her lap. "Now, you've been dealing with those bullies for two weeks?"
Usaig made a face. 'Yeah."
"Truth?"
Usagi grimaced. She knew she could never lie to Mokuko; not that she ever really wanted to.
"Two months."
"Princess…"
"I'm sorry! I just….thought they'd get bored, and it'd go away...And then I tried to handle it and it only got worse. I...I want them to be my friends, but they say that if I want them to be my friends, then I can't get them in trouble...But they still make fun of me. I really do think they're nice somewhere inside of them...But they just...have trouble finding it. That's all...Right?"
"Usagi, anyone who hurts your feelings as bad as they have; only to say they'll be your friend and pretend to do so when an adult around isn't your friend. Your friends don't treat you like that."
"But-"
"But what, sweetie? Do you see the Scouts treat me like that, or me treat the scouts like that? What about how we treat your Mommy?"
"But you're brave; no one is going to treat you like that. And you're nice, of course you wouldn't do that to anyone else. My Mommy's the Queen. No one is silly enough to make fun of her! I'm just a Princess...Big deal! They're right, I'm not important."
Mokuko gently took Usagi's face in her hands, and kissed her forehead. "You listen to me. You are very important."
"Why?" Usagi challenged.
"Because. I know no one else who tries as hard at something she wants to accomplish as you."
"So,I try hard. And?"
"And, I know no other five year old who gets up an hour before her Mommy, and no matter how hard, or as many times that she falls on the ice, gets back up again to keep trying by herself, and then goes to school all day."
"Why does that make me important?"
"It makes you important because it shows me that you're going to make such a hard-working, dedicated Queen one day, who never gives up."
"I feel like giving up now."
"I don't think I can let you do that."
"Why not? I've been skating for three months, and I still can't get on the ice. I get on the ice everyday at 5:30 in the morning. I still can't stay on the ice, not 2 minutes without falling! Stupid ice…Maybe I should take up swimming."
"Wait, 5:30?! Usagi, no wonder why you're exhausted and hungry by the time 10am rolls around, and ironically enough in Mizuko's class…Why so early?"
"Because I can be alone for awhile before all the kids come out. Everyone is too busy in the afternoon, and I keep having to go to bed earlier, so at night is out too."
"I think I know how to help you."
"I don't want help! I can do it on my own...Okay fine, I can't! But, but, but…."
"But I know for a fact that your Mommy has said it's okay to get help. I think you might need it...Even though you don't want it."
Usagi was silent for a few moments. "Usagi, why don't you want help?"
"Because i have to do it on my own."
"Did the other kids tell you that?"
"No, but they didn't have help. They can skate; you can skate; everyone can skate. Everyone else, except me."
"Usagi? How do you think they are able to do that? How do you think I'm able to that?"
"They just can. They were born with it. I don't know why I bother trying. No one else needed to."
Mokuko chuckled. "Usagi, the only reason everyone else, including me, are able to skate, is because we practiced. I was taught; your Mommy was taught, and those kids were certainly taught. We weren't born with how to do this...Granted, sure some pick up the skill faster than others, but no one is born with knowing how to skate like we can."
"You weren't?"
"Of course not. It may be a talent, sure. But it's not a magical or natural ability we are born with. It was something we had to learn how to do. Someone else showed us what and how to do so."
Usagi sighed, but remained silent.
"Let me look at you." Mokuko replied, checking Usagi's injuries, as a shiver ran through her small body. "Ow." Came Usagi's soft yelp, as Mokuko gently touched a spot on her chin.
"Be right back." Mokuko said, leaving Usagi to her own thoughts for a few moments. She then returned with two items in her hands.
"Here." Mokuku said with a smile, handing her a pack of ice in one hand and a cup of thick hot cocoa in the other.
"Can't I just put my face on the ice instead?"
Mokuku chuckled. "Silly girl. I wouldn't want you laying on the ice. It wouldn't be safe. Besides, no hot liquids on the ice."
"But isn't that what Mizuko is for? She can just refreeze it, can't she?" Usagi's eyes twinkling with mischief.
Mokuku outright laughed with a wink. "No, little miss. That is not what Mizuko is for my dear. And you know that."
"Fine…"
They sat in silence as Usagi finished her hot chocolate.
"Mokuku?"
"Hmm?"
"Can...Can you help me skate; or learn to skate...Please?"
"Oh, absolutely. That is my self-appointed mission as of now."
"We...We can start now, right?"
"I didn't ban those kids from the ice for nothing, my Princess. Although...I think we should give your tummy 5 minutes to rest."
Usagi smiled. "We aren't in a pool…"
"I know, but we really shouldn't give the attendants a sticky mess to clean up either…"
"Okay…"
"So...You've been getting up on the ice every morning at 5:30 just to practice?"
"I guess...I didn't think I needed to...But...I didn't know any other way to try…"
"You are very perceptive; meaning you are very smart and use what you see to help you."
"I guess so."
"I know so. Seems like someone has been paying more attention when she's with Mizuko than she lets on." Mokuko winked.
"Don't tell Mizuko please?"
"Don't want to stand out anymore than you think you already do?"
Usagi gasped. "How did you know that?"
"When I was your age, I had some of the same feelings. I always seemed to do well at all the things the boys did...Well, except for cooking and gardening."
"Mokuko? If you have a little girl…."
"Usagi! You're five years old! How have you not yet met Makoto?"
"She's yours?"
"You haven't met her?"
"I've seen her around, in the gardens….Not so much here...But...I'm too shy to talk to her...She seems really nice...Alone sometimes too, and I want to talk to her….But.. then…"
"Then what?"
"The other kids...they always trick me into going away before I can say hi to her…And sometimes, she's with the other scouts' kids...Some of them seem nice, but never ask me to play either...And sometimes all the other scouts kids are a lot to take in…I like hanging out with Ami sometimes, but she is always studying...She likes to read a lot more, and that's good...I don't know...But haven't really talked to the others...Does...Does Makoto notice me?"
"She does. She wants to say hi to you too. But like you, the other kids take you away too soon, or the other scouts usually pull Mako away before she can say hi. And...As her mother, I think even she's a little shy to say anything to the others just yet about including you. But I can say for sure, that I know she really wants you to come play."
Usagi looked up at Mokuko, hopeful.
Mokuko ruffled her hair a little. "Come on, let's get you out on the ice."
"Wait...Mokuko, why do my feet always hurt?"
"Skating too much?"
"No...I mean my skates are always tight…"
Mokuko narrowed her eyes. "How tight?"
"My feet always have blisters, sometimes cuts, and are super red when I take off my skates…"
Mokuko grabbed two pairs of nearby clean skates, placing them next to her.
"Take off your skates, Usa. Let's see."
Mokuko watched as Usagi struggled to take her skates off. "They're also hard to get on."
"Honey, it's because they don't fit you, barely at all. They're way too small. They're not supposed to be that small. And you're barefoot."
"But…I guess she was wrong."
"Did one of the other kids tell you this was the size you needed?"
"Yeah, she's been doing this for years...I thought she was telling me the truth; that she was my friend."
"I'll be sure to talk to both her mom, and yours. This never should have happened."
Makoto grabbed the ice packs, and then grabbed the nearby first aid kit. "No wonder why you don't like to stay on your feet either after you skate…Usagi, we can't skate anymore today. Your feet need to heal."
"Please, please, please?" Usagi begged.
Mokuko shook her head. "I'm sorry Usagi. Not today. Like new shoes, new skates take time to break in; to be comfortable. Yes they may come with blisters, but not like this." Mokuko wrapped and bandaged Usagi's feet.
Usagi sighed, disappointed. "Okay.."
"I'm sorry sweetie. I know you really, really wanted to get back out there. But if you'd like, I'd be happy to carry you to all of your classes today." Usagi smiled, nodding.
"It's okay...Hey Mokuko, does Makoto like to ice skate too?"
"She is interested, but not yet ready to learn...Or so she says. I bet she'd like a friend on the ice, though."
"The others don't like to skate?" Usagi asked.
"Not really. Just Mako. Maybe next time, we can bring Mako with us."
"Tomorrow in the morning, when no one else is around?"
Mokuko laughed. "Oh, Usagi...no."
"Why not?"
Mokuko chuckled. "Sweetie, at this point, I am no longer, nor is my daughter at 6 years old a morning person. It's wayyyyy too early." Mokuko lightly tickled Usagi, loving her giggles. "I didn't become a morning person until I was a teenager, and even then it didn't last long. Besides, I don't recommend being out on the ice for at least for another two days, if not longer."
Usagi looked longingly at the ice.
"Come on." Mokuko smiled, standing.
"Huh?" Usagi asked, but quickly giggled, as she was picked up and placed on Mokuko's shoulders and taken out onto the ice.
Usagi squealed with delight as she felt the wind through her hair. She loved the gentle speed she was going, even though it felt like she was going super fast.
"Want to do some tricks?"
"Tricks?"
'Yeah, when you watch skating, do you ever watch when it's in pairs, or when they're two skaters?"
"Yeah! That's one of my favorites!"
"Wanna do some of those?"
"Really? You know how to do that?!"
"Do I know how to do that? Who are you talking to, Usagi?" Mokuko laughed.
"Yay! Let's do it!"
"Okay, but you have to stay still. Do you think you can do that?""
'Uh-huh!"
"Ready!?"
"Ready!"
Makoto did a number of tricks with Usagi securely in her arms. She flipped and twirled Usagi, spinning her too. Usagi's delighted screams filled the arena.
Finally Mokuko slowed down, bringing them back to the bench.
"That was so much FUN! Thank you Mokuko!"
Mokuko smiled, kissing her forehead. "Anytime. All you have to do is ask."
(A/N: Please Review! Part #2 Coming Soon! ~TRP~)
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