Author's Notes- This is the first of a new series of cosplay stories titled Cosplay Angels (Named after this group). The characters are drawn upon from real people that I know on the web... enjoy the tale.

A Cosplay Group Of Their Own
By Dale Speer

It was the first day of her freshman year in high school- and yet Dale Speer felt sad already.

She was looking forward to trying out for the various womens' sports teams, but it seems all of them were filled with both new students and old-timers. At 5ft. 9in. tall and 135lbs, she would make a wonderful point guard or power forward on the women's varsity basketball team... and it was a basketball coach who visited her jr. high that said she would be assured of a spot when she became a freshman.

Yet every team she tried out for- even the girls' soccer squad- said that they were full. So she went over to the auditorium to try out for dramatics- and lo, it was filled for the fall production, mostly due to the number of returning thespians.

Finally, without anything else to do, she walked over to the cafeteria and bought herself some lunch. Finding an empty table she sat there until 5 muscular guys walked up and said, "This is our table, half-pint. Move it or lose it!" "So where's your name stating that you 5 own this table," Dale said with a sense of false bravado until 2 young women walked up to her from opposite directions. 1 was concerned with Dale's well-being... the other was literally sparking with fury as they could see it.

"I thought you seniors had so much respect for the freshmen that you would ignore someone sitting at a regular gathering spot," the other young woman, Brandie Flowers, told the Captains, "but it seems that you don't have that respect with this freshman." "Uh," the big guy who acted as the leader said, "We were going to find us another table to claim as our own. Come on, guys." The group of 5 were definitely scared- both due to the anger in Brandie's eyes and in the manner of her dress. Brandie dressed Gothic- black makeup and leather. Even the Defensive Captain of the football team knew never to mess around with Brandie- as she held 2nd. Degree Black Belts in both Shudokan Karate & Tae-Kwon-Do.

After the 5 had filed off elsewhere, the one who came from near the stage waved to her 2 other friends and they walked over with their trays. "Would you like some company today?" the leader asked Dale, and she nodded her head. Turning to Brandie, Dale said, "Would you mind terribly staying here with me?" "Anything to help a freshman survive the begining," she replied. So she walked up and got herself some lunch before joining the group, "My name is Brandie Flowers, but my friends nicknamed me Martial Arts Vamp. I guess it's due to the fact that I look like a vampire when I dress like this."

The leader of the trio came next... "My name's Marie, but my friends here nicknamed me Minako-chan because of my sunny nature." "I'm Chris," the next person said. She had long black hair that stretched to her buns, which she said she earned her nickname with- Rei-chan. "And I'm Louise," came from the last person. She had even longer black hair than Chris, so she was nicknamed Setsuna-chan because of it. "And Brandie," Marie said, "I think that you're not a vampire... but you're like Hotaru in the body of Mako-chan." "Well," Brandie said, "my hair color was a lovely redhead until I was discovered with early-stage leukemia in my childhood. Now I have to wear wigs because of the chemotherapy I had to endure during that time."

"So," Brandie said to Dale, "Now that we've told you about us, why don't you tell us about yourself? We would like to get to know you better." So Dale told them about herself and how she was promised a spot on the women's varsity basketball team when she came here. "But now," she added, "I don't have anyone to be friends with- and that will make it hard for me this year."

"That isn't true, Dale-chan," Marie said, "You're now with us as friends." "That's true, Dale-chan," Brandie said, "Now that we know you, we want you to be in our circle."

"You want to know something?" Louise asked Dale... and when she nodded, Louise said, "You're a lot like Usagi from our favorite anime, Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon." "But I don't know what that is," Dale said, "the only other show I watch when I get home from school is Sailor Moon."

"Then you already know of our favorite show," Chris said, "Sailor Moon is interpreted from Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon. Tell us, which characters from Sailor Moon do we look like?" So Dale pointed to Marie and said, "You look a lot like Mina, aka Sailor Venus, from the series." As she pointed around, Dale said that Chris looked like Raye, Louise was a near twin to Sailor Pluto, and Brandie was a cross between Lita and Hotaru from SM-Super. "Dale," Brandie said, "you couldn't have done any worse than what you just did." Each of the girls then related their North American name with their Japanese name. "Then I was correct all along?" Dale asked in surprise, "That's awesome." "And in the North American edition," Chris said, "Usagi became known as Serena." "So what you said before," Dale said, "makes sense, Louise."

"Come on, Dale," Marie said, "the 3 of us were going to go to my house and watch some anime on DVD. But how would you like it if we got you a complete makeover- including a hair coloring session- at one of the local salons?" "Please, Dale," Brandie added, "it would make us proud to see that sad face washed away as that black haircolor goes down the drain."

But just then, the secretary came through the door and approached their table with a message from the police. Handing it to Dale, she scurried off while the young woman read it. "Would you ladies please accompany me to my house?" Dale asked them, "I need some emotional support at this time."

"I've got my jeep here," Marie said, "I drove the 3 of us to school today from where we lived, and we could follow you home, Dale-chan." Brandie said, "I've got my convertable here. I could drive Dale home while you 3 followed us." So Dale got into Brandie's Mustang convertable while Marie and her friends piled into her jeep and they drove off for Dale's home.

It was a total mob scene when the 5 arrived. Police & Fire units were everywhere as Dale suddenly saw what happened. She ran up to the lieutenant in charge and asked what was going on. "Your parents were shot by an assassin," he said, "and he was trying to find you so that he could do the same. Since he couldn't, he went and torched the house and everything inside- including their bodies."

Dale was heartbroken at what happened. "First my brothers were killed," she said in tears, "and now this. When will it ever end?!" The 4 other girls came and put Dale on her feet, giving her a group hug and offering their own consolation as they tried to cheer the young woman up. The lieutenant came up and said, "Dale, this is no time for tears. If you was going to do something that could make you happy, then do it... you have one of your parents' credit cards, if I remember well." "Yes, Dale-chan," Brandie said, "we were going to take you for a makeover." So the 5 piled into their cars and drove in the opposite direction.

Arriving at one of Anaheim's best salons, the 4 girls told the desk clerk to give Dale the full treatment- facial, manicure, pedicure, hair coloring and treatment. In other words, the works- and they surprised Dale by saying that they'll pick up the tab for the day there. "Alright," Dale said, "but on one condition." When the girls asked what the condition was, Dale said, "You 4 each do the same thing for yourself. Why should I be treated like a Princess when you deserve the same for yourselves?" So the girls gave in and joined Dale in her experience... and in splitting up the cost of the makeovers, they included their own makeover in the cost of the breakup.

It may have taken them 3 and a half hours to have them finished, but when they walked out you couldn't tell if they were high school girls or Princesses from far away kingdoms. But before departing, they did Dale's newly colored blonde hair into Usagi's trademark hairdo... when it was done and Dale was looking in a mirror, she couldn't tell if she was herself or Serena. "Thank you, everyone," Dale said, "for what you've done for me today."

"We wanted to make you happy, Dale-chan," Marie said, "For us, your bright smile is all the thanks we will ever need." "Speaking of needs," Brandie said, "Dale needs not only some new clothes, but also a place to stay." "Yeah," Chris said, "when the assassin torched Dale's only home, he also burned her clothes and her life."

"Do you have any way of communicating with others when you're gone, Dale-chan?" Louise asked her. "No," Dale replied, "I don't even have a cell phone because my parents forbade me to have one, even though now they're quickly becoming necessity." "That does it," Marie said, "Dale, we're going to help you get back on your feet- and the first place we're going to is Radio Shack to get you a Sprint PCS Photo Phone." But just then, Dale's stomach rumbled... and it was nearly 6pm. "Just when we're getting organized," Chris said, "Dale's food-alarm makes ours go off."

"Hey," Brandie said, "that's a good idea, Chris-chan. Besides chowing down on some good food, we can organize a front for doing what Dale needs done. Man, I'm thinking of Oriental food, but I remember that I also cook for myself in my home. What does everyone want?" "I'd like some italian cooking right now," Dale said, "My mother used to make her own ravioli and other pastas, stuffed and topped." "Well then," Louise said, "why don't we all go to Olive Garden for their 'Never Ending Pasta Bowl'?" "Now that I could go for," Brandie said, "If they have it, I think I'll have their cheese-stuffed tortellini." "Ooh!" Dale said, "If they got ravioli, I'm going bonkers for it!" So the 5 piled into their cars and made tracks for the nearest Olive Garden. Once seated, they did order the Pasta Bowl and the waitress asked what they wanted.

"Cheese-stuffed tortellini topped with marinara sauce for me," Brandie said with a smile as a second waitress arrived with a tray filled with bowls of tossed salad and 3 baskets of warm breadsticks for them all. "I'll have spaghetti with marinara sauce and meatballs," Marie said, and Louise said she wanted the same thing. "Fettucini with alfredo sauce for me," Chris said. "And I'll have meat-stuffed ravioli with marinara sauce for myself," Dale replied, "and do you have any ranch or thousand island dressing for the salad?" When the waitress nodded yes, Dale asked for some thousand island for her salad.

Once they were served, the talk started about what to do for Dale. "I know one thing we're going to do is help Dale-chan get herself a wireless phone so that she can keep in touch with us," Marie said, "But we also need to help her put together some new memories that will keep her happy." "Well," Brandie said, "the way I see it, we became worried for Dale when she was confronted by the football captains. We could literally become Dale's family... and we can all live in my home. Why not, after dinner, we go there and let you see it for yourself."

"I would like it if you became my family," Dale said- and it was then that Brandie and Marie hugged Dale. "You've asked," Marie said, "and we're glad to." "Then it looks like we're all sisters," Louise said, "even though we wear different names." So the group continued to lay out strategy for themselves...

"I think we can hold off getting our stuff out of our present homes," Marie said, "Since Dale's home was burned, she needs some new clothes and other things." "I agree," Louise said, "and I think we should also do something for the 5 of us that will make it great for us all." It was then that Brandie asked, "Out of the 4 of us who love anime, who here has made and worn a costume of their favorite character?" At her question, she got surprised glances from the other 3... until she said, "Whoa, that surprises me. I take it you don't know about Cosplay, then?"

"No, Brandie-chan," Marie said, "we never knew people would go that far and do that." "Then I think that we should go up to my house and let you see what I've done as of late," Brandie suggested, "but we do it after dinner is over with."

It was 30 minutes and 3 bowls each of pasta, salad and breadsticks later that the group of 5 filed out and drove the distance to where Brandie led them... and what they saw literally surprised them. From the outside, it looked like a rustic old barn painted white and ready to house cows and horses... but when they looked inside, man were their shoes knocked off! "And here I thought you lived like a troublemaker, Brandie-chan," Marie said, "This is incredible!"

What used to be 5 barns in size was converted into a wonderful home. 2 entire wings of the house was converted into bedrooms with full baths and walk in closets, the kitchen had its own firepit for open-roasting any meats, and it even had its own sewing room. But when they saw the A / V Center, Dale nearly passed out! Wall-sized monitor, 2 5-disc DVD Changers, 2 VCRs and a fully blown DishNetwork Satellite System with PVR & the full Asian Package- including TOKYO TV. All of it was wired to an 8 speaker Theater-Sound package. "Brandie," Dale said, "this is incredible!"

Brandie took them into the sewing room where 2 amazing sights were in front of them... On an adjustable mannequin was a costume of Sailor Jupiter from the anime, and on a still mannequin in the corner was a similarly styled costume, complete with boots and weapon, of Sailor Saturn. "We didn't know you was into this, Brandie-chan," Marie said. "I was hoping to surprise you when you saw these," Brandie said, "and it looks like I did, Marie-chan."

Dale was looking on a drawing easel at a set of patterns for some Sailor Moon costumes that she never saw before in the anime. When Chris came over, she too was surprised at what she saw, and asked Brandie what the patterns were. "Those are the Sailor Outfits from the Musicals over in Japan," their hostess replied, "They're known over there as 'Sera Myu', and everyone gets out to see them every time they're in the Sunshine Theater in Tokyo."

"We'll have plenty of time to talk about it when we get back from shopping," Marie said, "I think that Dale could use some clean clothes and a shower about now, but she doesn't have any clothes to change into." "There are clothes in the bedrooms that she could wear until we get her shopping done," Brandie said, "This way we don't smell like we're just come back from working on the farm." So Brandie led them to the bedroom wings and put them into a bedroom each, letting them use the shower and choose a change of clothes for them to wear.

After she did that, Brandie went back to the sewing room and got out a tube with a special pattern inside. She took one look at the pattern and thought, "Dale deserves to be dressed like a princess herself... and this pattern will let her do just that." The sheet was the dress pattern for Princess Selenity's gown...