Disclaimer; I own the next generation of Sailor scouts. Chibiusa and the originals do not belong to me.
Here's the next story! Please enjoy! Also, I've uploaded two new photos! Alex Hino and Hana Tenoh! Please tell me what you think!
A Years Later
Chapter One: New Girl & Morgan's Scare
Neo-Queen Serenity took a deep breath in, as she looked at her only two friends that had stuck around. Not that she could blame the others, but she had always known they had been reawaken for other reasons. She had lied and said everything would be okay and let everyone go. Eleven years later, she now regretted letting everyone go. Chibiusa was now ten-years-old and to be Eleven this coming up June. Chibiusa was the only one who knew of her destiny, the other children did not.
"Well, I'm going to everyone's houses today." Neo-Queen Serenity said nervously.
"Would you like us to go with you? The kids are in school," Rei pointed out.
Neo-Queen Serenity shook her head, "No, I can do it." She laughed nervously. Rei gave Neo-Queen Serenity a pat on her back, trying to let her know everything would be alright. "Everyone's changed now."
"A lot of things have changed, Serenity. We just have to accept that change and don't worry about what the others say. By June 30th everyone will be here. You can count on it." Ami said, with determination in her voice.
She believed with every fiber in her body that no matter what they say now, they'd all come through by June 30th. "I'm sure Rei has some things to tend to, as do I. You should get started on talking to everyone."
Rei nodded and the two of them dismissed themselves and let Serenity alone. Frowning, she pushed the chair back and stood up. This was going to be a very difficult day for Neo-Queen Serenity. She had a bad feeling that the Outers wouldn't agree and not to mention she knew that Setsuna had been missing for the past eleven years. Serenity looked back at the table that was designed for eighteen Sailor Scouts and Soldiers. Unfortunately, Hotaru's husband, Serenity knew, was not a Soldier.
…
It was track day at Crystal Tokyo's elementary private school. Hana was dancing around anxiously, waiting for the sound of the whistle. She almost couldn't contain herself and before she knew it the whistle was blown and she took off at lightening speed. Hikaru, Ginny, and Morgan all groaned, taking off at slow paces. If track didn't count as a grade they'd all skip out on it. Lilac enjoyed track almost as much as Hana did. Hana was glad because it made it more challenging. The two girls were taking the lead, both very competitive.
"That makes me sick," Morgan groaned. "I get outran by my younger sister."
"It's okay. Only all the boys will make fun of you," Hikaru said.
"Was that supposed to cheer her up?" Ginny asked. "Of course, than you're lucky that your younger brother doesn't come into your class and ends up embarrassing." she said directly to Hikaru. Hikaru shot Ginny a glare and took off at a faster pace.
Hana and Lilac were coming up to the finish line, both pushing off hard on the gravel with their feet. Neither of them wanted to lose. Lilac's foot made it over the finish line first and she tumbled down on the ground, but came in first. Hana came in two seconds behind Lilac mumbling.
"Good race," Hana said defeated. She extended her hand and the two girls shook on it. Hana brought her in closer, "I'll beat you at the next race."
"Sure thing!" Lilac giggled. She had a small cut on her forehead and a few scraps on her arms and legs, but nonetheless she was feeling great. Hikaru had found her speed and managed to make seventh place. Morgan and Ginny were the last ones to come in.
"Running from something?" Hana asked, as she saw her cousin walk up. Their mother's now lived together in a huge seven bedroom mansion. Hikaru rolled her eyes at Hana and walked in front of her. The coaches were signaling everyone to go back to their classes. Morgan, Hana, Lilac, and Ginny caught up with Hikaru.
Over a loud intercom the coach for track announced, "If you'd like to be on the track team tryouts are this Wednesday. You have two days kids."
Hana jumped up in delight, "I'm trying out for track!"
Lilac grinned, "I think I will too." Hana's shoulders slumped down. Lilac grinned mischievously, "That's so you have something to work against."
"Fine!" grumbled Hana and the other girls laughed. Morgan and Ginny went there own separate ways, as they were in different grades.
Hikaru, Hana, and Lilac were entering into Mrs. Ikaria's classroom, when a new little girl came running in. She bumped into Lilac by accident, going red from embarrassment she said sorry and walked into the classroom with her head down. She went straight up to Mrs. Ikaria's desk, whom looked up at her and seemed to recognize her or at least realize that she was a new student. Hikaru, Hana, and Lilac slowly made their way to their seat. They kept staring up at the new girl, wondering exactly why she'd come in right after track. It didn't make sense to a bunch of second graders.
Mrs. Ikaria stood up and directed the new girl to the center of the classroom. She shyly made her way to a circle that literally stood that centered her to the entire class. She froze there, scared out of her mind.
"Miss. Maru Murakami just transferred here from an all girls private school. She'll be joining us for the remainder of the year. I expect you girls and boys will be exceptionally nice to this young lady."
Hana leaned in and whispered to both Hikaru and Lilac, "So she's one of those rich stuck up girls."
Lilac giggled, but Hikaru didn't think it was too funny. She shot Hana the death glare. The teacher took notice to the three girls standing in the back, just a few inches from their tables. "Lilac Kino. Hana Tenoh. And Hikaru Kaioh. These are our three class clowns." The teacher introduced to Maru to them.
"Traitor." Hana hissed, just loud enough for Hikaru and Lilac to hear.
The classroom door opened and Hikaru's little brother stuck his head in. The class turned to Hikaru laughing. One of the boys from her classroom said, "You're brother's lost again."
Hikaru's palm instantly connected with her forehead. She didn't understand why her little brother choose to humiliate her in front of her entire class. This was only the second time he had done this within a week.
"Hikaru please take your brother to his class," Mrs. Ikaria said with a bit of annoyance hidden in her voice. Hikaru nodded and quickly walked to the front of the classroom taking her little brother's hand. Rolling her eyes, she was just about to walk out the door when Mrs. Ikaria told her to stop.
"Why don't you go ahead and give Maru the tour of the school." Mrs. Ikaria suggested.
Hikaru nodded, wanting to get out of the classroom. Finally, she made it out to the hallway and a little bit further down the hallway. She let go of her brother's hand and placed her hands on her hips, "You're going to be six years old. You went to this school last year, so what's the problem?"
Kaimu's eyes started to water. Hikaru groaned, she didn't understand where his whininess suddenly came from. Maru watched from a distance as the two siblings tried to work things out. The words spilled from Kaimu's lips like ice, "I don't want to go to daddy's again." The captive tears spilled from his eyes and splashed on the floor.
Maru stood there not knowing what to do or how to react to any of this, but Hikaru seemed to know what to do. She got down on his level and took her little brother into her arms. "I don't want to either and we've got other plans with Hana, Lilac, and Ginny today."
"You're not going to sneak into the palace aga-" Hikaru quickly placed her hand over his mouth, shaking her head no. She looked over at Maru letting out a small chuckle.
"I don't know where he gets ideas like that. No one sneaks into the palace."
Kaimu removed his sister's hand from his mouth, "Yes you do. All the time."
"How do you sneak into the Palace?" Maru asked, interested.
Hikaru shook her head, "No, we really don't."
Maru didn't seem convinced, but she wasn't going to argue considering she was the new girl. They walked up a flight of stairs, Maru's mind twisting with so many questions. Hikaru turned her head to Maru and asked her, "So where do you live?"
"Close to the ocean side, with my dad."
"What's your dad's name?" Hikaru asked.
"Isao Murakami."
Hikaru and Maru dumped Kaimu off at his classroom. His teacher thanked them and they went on their way. Hikaru was supposed to be using this time to show her around the school, but they weren't interested in the school. No second-graders mind could possibly be so intrigued by showing off a school when they called the place prison.
"Do you have a mom?" Hikaru asked.
Maru nodded, "How about you?"
"Uhm, yeah. Michiru Kaioh."
Maru's eyes widened, "The famous violinist?'
Hikaru nodded, "And then there was my dad, but they divorced. So now I live with my mama and Aunty Ruka."
"I see. Why'd your mom get a divorce?"
"Because she felt like it." Hikaru shrugged, not really wanting to get into it. Taylor and Isamu just happened to be walking by with their class at the time. They snuck away long enough to meet up with Hikaru and ask her what she was doing.
"Are you supposed to be just wandering the halls?" Taylor asked.
Hikaru nodded, "I'm showing her around the school. You know how that goes."
"Do I ever. Ugh, I hate it when the teachers make me show people around the school. At least you don't have my last name." Taylor said, rolling her eyes.
"At least your name hasn't been brought to the ground." Hikaru backfired.
Isamu cut in the middle of the two, "She has a point."
Both girls rolled their eyes and then Hikaru told Maru who they were, "This is Taylor Aino. She was a singer, but she decided to take a break. And this is Isamu Kino."
"Is he Lilac's brother?" Maru asked, trying to connect the dots.
"Geez, she catches on quick." Isamu grunted. "How old are you? Seven or eight?"
"Seven… I turn eight in July." Maru spoke softly.
"Man, if you were any older I'd have you as my girlfriend." Isamu said. Taylor growled at him. She took him by the collar and led him away yelling out,
"Sorry!"
Hikaru turned around to explain, but Maru was cherry red. Hikaru decided it'd be best to completely change the subject and head back toward their classroom. They talked a little about how the school worked and then Maru asked, "Was she really Taylor Aino?"
Hikaru nodded, "Yes, and she still is. Her name didn't change. She just now has one little sister and another coming. She didn't feel like continuing the music thing. I have all her CD's though."
"Oh, that's so neat! I wish I had a little sister," Maru smiled. "Or a brother."
Hikaru's eyes widened, "You don't have any siblings?" She couldn't comprehend the issue at hand. She had always had a little brother, and now a sister. Each of her friends had brothers or sisters. She hadn't met someone who didn't have at least one sibling.
Maru seemed to struggle with the answer, "I…kind of did, but mom couldn't keep him, but I'm not supposed to tell anyone. So can you keep that a secret?"
Hikaru nodded slowly, "Yeah, I'll keep your secret." She was surprised that Maru had even told her something like that, if it was supposed to be kept a secret. Maru and Hikaru had only known each other for ten minutes and she was already revealing secrets to her.
"How do you choose which house to have Christmas at and all the other holidays?" Maru asked suddenly. "My parents are still together. I've never met anyone who didn't have both parents."
Hikaru's stomach felt like it had just dropped, "Well… I haven't seen my dad since the divorce went through and I'm really not sure that I want to right now."
"So you just live with your mom and brother then?" Maru asked as they neared their classroom.
"Nah, I live with Haruka-mama and my mama. Then there's Haruka-mama's kids, Hana and Morgan. They're almost like my sisters. Then there's Kaimu and Lily." Hikaru said, counting up the numbers on her fingers. "There's five of us!"
"Wow! You must have one of the biggest families." Maru gasped.
"I don't know… Taylor's mom is trying to catch up. She's going to have her third child. That's a lot of babies." Hikaru pointed out as she opened the classroom door. Hikaru's eyes met with Hana's momentarily. Hana was glaring harshly at Hikaru. Hikaru went and took her seat across from Hana.
"You're not going to replace me, are you?" Hana hissed.
Lilac rolled her eyes. Hikaru shook her head no which seemed to relieve Hana a lot. By the end of the day Hikaru, Hana, Lilac, Ginny, and Kaimu were all heading over toward the Palace. Each of them had their own little unique way of getting in. Hikaru and Kaimu found that they could hold their breath for quite a long while and were able to swim through the bars of the Palace. Hana on the other hand found that if she got a really good running start that she could scale up the wall. Lilac had to use the tree that went over the palace wall. She had to help Ginny get over.
From afar, Maru was watching, wondering exactly what they did on the other side of that wall. How long had they been doing this and how did they get away with it? Wasn't Neo-Queen Serenity, after all, the Queen of Crystal Palace and Tokyo itself? Didn't she know she had outsiders coming in to her Palace? Was it a crime?
---
Neo-Queen Serenity felt her stomach turning and flipping inside as she stepped onto the stone walkway, to Haruka and Michiru's house. It was a huge, elegant, two-story mansion, and possibly a basement as well. Neo-Queen Serenity's hand was shaking as she raised it up to knock on the door. She went to knock just as the door opened, her fist colliding with Haruka's forehead.
"Yup! She's still the same Queen," Haruka grimaced. "Would you like to step in?"
"Uhm, sure," Neo-Queen Serenity said and stepped inside to reveal a breathtaking site. In the foyer hung a crystal chandelier, the walls and ceiling were painted with gorgeous elegant paintings of cherub angels.
"Haruka, whose at the door?" Michiru asked, coming into the foyer with a blanket draped around her. Her jaw dropped when she saw that it was Neo-Queen Serenity. She tried to hide her disbelief, but it showed greatly through her eyes and expression. She didn't want Serenity here, at all.
Neo-Queen Serenity knew she was losing time quickly, she began to explain, "You both received a letter about a year ago-"
She was cut off shortly, by Michiru, "And the later plainly states we have until June 30th to decide! It's been eleven years Serenity, don't you think it's time to let it go?"
Serenity was shocked by Michiru's bitterness, usually it had always come from Haruka, but not this time. Serenity straightened herself back up, trying hard to come to terms with what Michiru was saying. Certainly, she wasn't saying it was completely over, that they had already made their decision?
"As much as I'd like for you and your children to continue living normal lives; you know just as well as I do that the time is coming for the Next Generation of Senshi's to be reawaken. You can feel it in the ocean, no matter how dormant you're powers are, you know soon enough evil will be reawaken and there's nothing we can do to stop it." Neo-Queen Serenity went on to explain. "I don't know how many children you have or what they're names even are, but I know each one of us was given a child to fulfill the next generation. And without Chibi Uranus and Neptune, I don't know if the team will survive."
"And what about Setsuna?" Michiru snapped.
Neo-Queen Serenity's heart puttered, they hadn't seen Setsuna either. Though, if Setsuna were still alive then she'd come on her own time, they'd just have to do without the Senshi of Pluto until that time.
"I hope and pray that she will come around. Now I have to be on my way." She turned to walk out, but then stopped when something else occurred to her. Turning back to Michiru and Haruka she said, "You can't stop your children from being Senshi's. They will be given that choice and only then will it be for them to decide, but if they chose the destiny then they will do it alone, just as you two did in the very beginning."
Neo-Queen Serenity turned and walked out for good. She wasn't the same clumsy girl that they knew for all them years. She had voice inside of her and though it pained her to use it, sometimes she didn't have a choice. She saw out of the corner of her eye a blond haired girl. By the time she turned around to get a better look at her she had disappeared. Serenity sighed and continued walking on.
Morgan heaved a sigh of relief, when the Queen was out of sight. Any other time she would've enjoyed to show herself off to the Queen, but not this time. Not with the fact that her little sister was continuously sneaking into the Palace. She didn't want the Queen to put two and two together and find out that they were related. As soon as her anxiety died down she started walking back toward the house when she realized that the Queen had been at their house! Freaking out, that Hana had been caught she ran inside to see Michiru and Haruka sitting calmly on the couch, with Lily in her playpen sleeping.
"I'm home!" Morgan called out and started up the marble staircase. "And everyone else went to the park!" She disappeared before they could question her any further, just incase Serenity had found out about the invasion. Why else would the Queen of Crystal Palace be in their house?