The Strength of Friendship 
Chapter 1 

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Spring School Term, 
Juuban High School, 
Class 1. 

Tanya Cambridge tried to listen to the teacher as he dragged 
on the day's lesson in class, but found it impossible. It was 
just too boring. She looked out the window at the blue skies 
and chirping birds, then looked at the other students. She saw 
that most of them was feeling the same way. Boredom restlessness 
showed on their faces. Tanya sighed, laying her chin on her left 
hand. A moment later, she heard a hissing noise behind her. She 
turned around to see what it was. 

It Usagi Tsukino was trying to get her attention. When Tanya looked 
at her, the blonde gave a grin of satisfaction. Tanya sighed in 
annoyance, then gave a look that implied, "Well, what do you want now?" 
and rolled her eyes. Usagi then held up two fingers and pushed up 
against her nose, quietly made a noise of a pig and signifying what 
she thought of the teacher. Tanya couldn't help herself and snickered 
so loud, the rest of the students turned to her, giving her a 
questioning glance. 

"....and so, that is how World War II was supposedly started.....
Ahem! Miss Tsukino, Miss Cambridge? Is there something you would like 
to contribute to class?" Sensei Ichitiru glared at the giggling girls. 

Tanya quickly snapped to attention. "Ahh.., no Ichitiru-sensei!
It was just something we were ..thinking... over. I apologize 
sensei." She bowed her head as customary. 

"Well then I suppose you and your companion will not mind thinking 
over what to do in detention after school today, won't you, for 
disrupting the class?" said the old sensei as he gave a smug expression. 

"What? Again?" Tanya asked angrily. She gasped and blushed when 
the teacher looked at her in shock. *OH NO! He probably would 
give me detention for NEXT week too!* she thought sadly 
"NO Ichitiru-sensei. I suppose not." she said quietly through 
clenched teeth. 

Tanya then looked behind her and gave Usagi a murderous look. 
*I'll GET you for this Odango Atama! Baka no!* thought Tanya, 
then imagined herself dunking Usagi in a cauldron of hot oil 
and screaming her head off. Usagi gave Tanya a helpless expression, 
then shrugged her shoulders. She then looked at Minako Aino, and 
the blonde girl gave her a look of complete understanding. Tanya 
then let her head fall on her folded hands on the desk. 

"Now, if we can continue. In 1956...." began sensei Ichitiru. 

***Later that day after detention 

"USAGI!!!! THAT WAS TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR!!!" exploded Tanya as soon 
as they was off the school grounds and headed for home. Tanya was 
red in the face and breathing hard, barely able to keep herself from 
strangling the girl besides her. 

"Hey, calm down girl!! It was only a joke!" said Usagi as she waved 
her arms. *Man, she's got a hotter temper than Rei-chan!!* she thought, 
hoping she wouldn't get hit. 

"Ha! Nice joke!! Want to explain to my dad why I have detention for 
the THIRD time in one week!" said Tanya angrily. She stopped for a 
moment to sigh and calm down, then continued walking. Usagi watched 
her for a second then walked up faster to catch up with her. 

"Look. I'm sorry Tanya-chan! I didn't mean to get you in so much trouble 
back there. It's just that...ever since...I mean!...." Tears began to 
well in Usagi's eyes, and she bent her head down to try to hide them. 

Tanya looked at her with concern. "What is it Usagi-chan? Please tell 
me you're not going to bawl again!" 

"No I'm not!! It's just that..ever since Mamo-chan.." The petite 
blonde pouted, then lowered her head once again, too heartbroken to 
let her or anyone else know that she hadn't heard from him since the 
day he left. Memories of them arguing filled her memories once more, 
and the pain grew in her heart. 

"Oh right!! You miss him aleady, huh?" Tanya walked back to Usagi and 
laid an arm around her shoulder. "I guess I was a little harsh. Gomen." 
the dark skinned girl whispered. "But I'm not like you, you know!! 
I'm not used to living in detention as you do, Odango!!" she then 
chuckled, playfully pinching Usagi's nose. Usagi frowned slightly, 
then smiled and began to laugh too. 

"Hey, there you guys are!!" yelled Minako running up the sidewalk. 
She stopped right in front of them then bent over with her hands on 
her knees, breathing hard to catch her breath. After a moment, she 
looked up. "Guess what? The Crown Game Center just got the new version 
of the Sailor V game, and I hear it is TOTALLY COOL!! Wanna go check 
it out?" Minako looked at both girls excitedly. 

"A new Sailor V game?" shouted Usagi, "Alright! Let's go!! My mom won't 
expect me to be home so soon after school!" She started to run off, but 
stopped and looked back at Tanya, "You coming?" she asked, her eyes 
shining bright once again. 

"Naaah. You guys go on ahead! I still need to read a couple of chapters 
in science," Tanya said, scrunching up her face and sticking her tongue 
out. "You know I'm not so good in that subject! HEHE!" She gave an 
embarrassed grin and placed her hand in the back of her head. 

"You're probably hanging around Ami-chan too much!!" laughed Usagi, 
grabbing Minako's hand to drag her off. "O.K.!! I'll see you in school 
tomorrow. Ja!" She and Minako then rushed off. Tanya shook her head at 
the departing figures, then walked the next block to catch the bus home. 

***Galaxia's Fortress. 

"SAILOR LEAD-CROW!! COME FORTH!!" screamed Sailor Galaxia. She then 
winced in pain. The last battle with the Senshi nearly destroyed her 
and she lost her right-hand henchman, Sailor Iron-Mouse. *Now matter 
what, those Senshi are going to PAY!!!* she thought. *My plan must not 
fail! Those baka humans are done for!* 

"Yes? Most Exalted One?!" said a sly, sexy voice. Sailor Lead-Crow then 
materialized in front of Galaxia. She bowed humbly. 

"You will take Sailor Iron-Mouse's place! I want star seeds, and I want 
them NOW!!" said Galaxia, her eyes glowing red with greed. She then paused 
and her eyes began looking around wildly, as if looking for something, 
hearing something. "What's this!! I feel a tremendous amount of mental 
energy! So strong, so strong! I must have it! It can help me find more 
of the correct Star Seeds!" 

"But where, Your Majesty!" said Lead-Crow, eager for action to start. 
Galaxia opened her right hand and a map of the Juuban 10th District in 
Tokyo appeared. "I believe we will start here!" replied the Golden Senshi, 
the mere thought of so much power making her salivate. 

*****Cambridge Residence 

"Hi! Dad I'm home!!" shouted Tanya. She walked briskly into the kitchen, 
going to the refridgerator and taking out an apple to munch on. Silence 
was all she got. "Oh. He must have went on a trip again." she said, her 
heart sinking. "Can't he say good-bye at least once in a while before he 
leaves?" She sighed. 

"Well, he would have, if you'd been here!!" said a cheery voice as a figure 
of a young girl walking out of the shadows. "SURPRISE!!" 

"Ronnie!" shouted Tanya. She dropped the apple in the sink, ran up to the 
girl and gave her a gigantic hug. Ronnie bent, because she was so tall, 
to kiss Tanya on her forehead and the top of her dark head. The smaller 
girl was so glad to see her, tears filled her eyes. 

"Veronica Nyomi Waters, what in the world are you doing here?" said Tanya, 
wiping away tears and looking up at her god sister and best friend. 
"Why didn't Dad tell me you were coming?" Tanya lead her to the living 
room and sat with her on a big couch. 

"Who do you think told him not to tell you, silly?" grinned Veronica, 
ruffling Tanya's long black hair. "I have been planning this for weeks,
and I wanted to surprise you so badly! Your dad stayed as long as he 
could, but then it got real late. He mumbled something about women and 
time not belonging in the same sentence," She then giggled. 
"He hasn't changed a bit!" she grinned mischievously. 

A clicking was heard in the hallway, and Marco excitedly walked in to 
the living room and sat right in front of Tanya. He gave Veronica a 
curious look. "Hey Ronnie, you remember Marco right?" said Tanya, sitting 
down on the red rug and hugging Marco close. 
"He's the dog that I got for my birthday!!" 

"Of course I do," said Veronica, bending down and scratching his ears, 
"What a nice looking dog! Hi there pooch!" she said softly. 

Marco's ears jerked up, and he gave an outraged look at the taller 
light-skinned girl. He then turned then gave Tanya an expectant look. 
"Oh!" Tanya giggled. "I forgot to tell you. I don't think Marco likes to 
be called "pooch". It's like he can understand us humans!" She looked at 
her golden-furred guardian and gave him a wink only he can see. Marco blew 
out an offended breath and walked away. 

*Strange,* thought Veronica, 

*It feels almost like that dog has high...intelligence?* She shook 
her head. "So what kept you at school?" she asked, giving an amused 
expression. 

"Oh!!...AH....you know...school stuff!" said Tanya. She gave a second 
embarrassed look of the day. "I mean, that school IS tough you know!!" 
she laughed nervously. 

"Mmmm hmmm! I bet," said Veronica, giving her an unbelieving glance. 

Tanya couldn't help but blush at her god sister's knowing look. 
"Hey!! I got an idea," said Tanya, jumping up. "Since you just got here, 
why don't I show you around the neighborhood!" She grabbed the girl's 
hand and dragged her off the couch. "There's this cool park me and my 
friends always hang-out in. It's supposed to be like...60 years old or 
something. It has great water fountains and tons of other stuff!" 

"Sure," said Veronica excitedly, "Let's go!!" 

The girls left the house and they walked the few blocks past Tokyo Tower. 
A little further down, they entered the Ichinohashi Park, which covered 
over two and a half blocks. The girls saw many statues and monuments 
dedicated to Japan's past leaders and heroes, and Tanya showed Veronica 
the flower displays and the world wide famous Cherry Blossom Trees. Yet 
unknown to them, a pair of cat-like eyes watched them, evil in intent, 
waiting for the moment to pounce. 

To be continued..... 

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