Chapter 1
"Break fast"
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DISCLAIMER: Tsukino Usagi/ Sailor Moon/ Neo-Queen Serenity, Chiba Mamoru/ Tuxedo-Kamen/ King Endymion, Chibiusa/ Small Lady, Mizuno Ami/ Sailor Mercury, Hino Rei/ Sailor Mars, Kino Makoto/ Sailor Jupiter, Aino Minako/ Sailor Venus/ Meiou Setsuma/ Sailor Pluto, Ten'ou Haruka/ Sailor Uranus, Kaiou Michiru/ Sailor Neptune, Tomoe Hotaru/ Sailor Saturn, Oosaka Naru, Gurio Umino, Tsukino Shingo, General Nephrite, Queen Beryl, and Queen Serenity; The Ginziushou; and Crystal Tokyo, the Silver Millenium and the Crystal Millenium are Copyrighted to Noako Takeuchi, and to Toie, DiC, and a couple of other coprorations I can't remember. I can not claim them, nor do I try.
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NOTES: This fan-fiction is a sequel to my previous fiction, "Release", which was an answer to an ealier fan-fiction, "Tsukino Usagi is Dead" by I also appreciate the help given by Darren Schivo and especially Edgaric, who actually suggested an idea used in Chapter 4.
Usagi calls herself and Mamoru "MPDs", short for "Multiple-Personality- Disorder" sufferers.
Lastly a bit of History, the names I for the feuding neighbors Usagi has to mediate between were actual kingdoms. Silla and Koryo were medieval kingdoms on the Korean peninsula.
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Tsukino Usagi awoke early one morning to a strange sensation. She felt the cool softness of the bed sheets next to her and the firm pillow under her head. She was in the Royal Bedroom. This wasn't unusual. However, that she felt this CLOSE to everything WAS unusual ! Usually, Tsukino Usagi was "watching" Neo-Queen Serenity from a corner of the brain they shared with Sailor Moon.
Neo-Queen Serenity and Sailor Moon, the monarch and the senshi, Usagi's roommates over the past two millenia. She used to hate them. But, then, that was before Chibi-Usa had used the Ginzuishou to split the three minds into separate bodies so they could all talk to each other. With that action, Usagi was able to talk to Serenity and Sailor Moon, and the three became friends. But, the Crystal Millenium was most-foreign to Usagi, so she chose most times to withdraw, to let the other two run things. But, Serenity was still able to give Usagi the time outside she needed.
Like today.
"Hello, Your Majesty." Someone whispered in a sleepy voice.
"Good morning... Endymion ?" Usagi responded.
"Ah ! Good Morning, Usagi ! Serenity told me you would probably be out today." Endymion smiled a little and tried not to laugh.
"Very funny, Endymion !" Usagi groaned. "I see you were warned. Well, I guess I am the obvious choice to be let out. Serenity must be tired. And Sailor Moon claims she's just a warrior. I just hope I'm up to this job."
There was a bit of silence, followed by a sigh.
"You always have been, Odango !" The voice came back.
"Mamo-chan !" Usagi turned to hug and kiss her husband. "You were let out !" she giggled.
"Well, when Serenity said she was taking a break from reality, Endymion decided to take a nap!"
"So you're on watch ?" Serena asked.
"Afraid so", Mamoru said as he embraced his wife.
Usagi giggled. "I wonder how the subjects of the Millenium would react if they knew they were ruled by a couple of MPDs ?"
There was a quiet knock at their door. "May I come in ?" Chibiusa almost whispered.
"Of course you can come in !" Usagi said.
Chibiusa came in quietly and looked at her parents. 'Alright,' the Princess thought to her- self, 'who's in charge today ?' Chibiusa took a quick glance at her parents- then ran over and pounced on the bed !
"Kaasan ! Tousan !" Chibiusa smiled as she huged her parents. "So ! Serenity and Endymion decided to let Usagi and Mamoru out !" Chibiusa giggled at this. She knew that the two physical people here before her were her parents always, but she also knew that both bodies shared three distinct spirits. And, she knew about the battles that had gone on in those bodies before peace was declared three years ago.
The Princess remembered the turmoil that was uncorked the night that she was supposed to take her place as heir-apparent of the Crystal Millenium. Chibusa had wanted to let Usagi out of her imprisonment that she had been in ever since Princess Serenity had assumed dominence. Chibiusa had met Usagi when Chibiusa was sent into the past- first to save the Neo-Queen and then to train to become Senshi. What the Princess did not know was that part of the "training" had been to make friends with Usagi. It was a friendship Serenity had lost ages ago, and one that she wanted dearly to regain. But, the hurt felt by Usagi because of the imprisonment was almost too much of a hurtle for Serenity to cross. It had almost killed Usagi. But, the gamble taken by Chibiusa had allowed her mother to talk to her warring selves and to come back together. However, Neo-Queen Serenity, Tsukino Usagi, and Sailor Moon came back together much weaker than they were when they split apart. The healing of Usagi's selves continued to this day. And the process was still not complete.
That healing process was being made easier because King Endymion, Tuxedo Kamen, and Chiba Mamoru were able to see each other as brothers. Of course, that did not mean there were no mis-understandings or fights. They did have some rough going- especially after they were split by the Ginzuishou. But, Endymion, Tuxedo Kamen, and Mamoru had been able to focus on themselves and on Serenity, Sailor Moon, Usagi, and Chibiusa. At least.. they were reacting better than the Senshi snd their other halves.
Chibiusa was brought back from her memories when Usagi asked, "What's up today, Chibi ?"
"I came up to announce breakfast is ready !" Chibiusa thought she heard Usagi groan a little at this.
"But.. we can delay breakfast if you want, mom." Chibiusa smiled and hugged her mom and dad protectively. Chibiusa knew why her mother was not that crazy about having breakfast right now. Breakfasts were always shared by shared all the Senshi. And, while the Senshi revered Serenity, the feelings did not necessarily extend to Usagi, especially among the Outer Senshi. There seemed to be a condencendency toward Usagi, except for Sailor Saturn. A rift had even developed between Chibiusa and Sailo Pluto, and between Serenity and Sailor Pluto.
"Well," Usagi sighed, "maybe we can sneak down to the kitchen before everybody else does. But, I guess, Sailor Jupiter's already there. Let's go." They were joined shortly by Luna and Diana.
Sailor Jupiter and her daughter were already in the kitchen. "Breakfast will be ready in a minute, Usagi!" The chef sang out.
"Jupiter ?" Usagi asked with a start. "How did you know..?"
"It's me, Usagi, Makoto." Mako-chan reasured her friend. "Sailor Jupiter and I look through the same eyes many times. We saw how weary Serenity was becoming, especially with all the madness that our neighbors are showing. So, we and our daughter have been on guard, awaiting your arrival." Makoto and Naoko smiled. Except for Naoko's fiery red hair, mother and daughter were identical.
"So.." Usagi let out a slow breath. "I should have guessed there was delicate trouble here. Serenity has let me out before since what happened three years ago, but she's never seemed this tired. But Sailor Moon refused to come out. She always says she's no ruler, that she is just a warrior. I guess that is what gave me the hope that nothing was terribly wrong.
"Oh, well.." Usagi smiled sadly between bites of pancake and fruit, "who has the notes on the bickering neighbors ?"
"The Diplomatic Papers that have not been given over for your signing are still with Sailor Venus." Chibiusa said. "However," she smiled slyly, "Kyoto gave me some copies. Just for safe-keeping !"
Mamoru chuckled. "Still conspiring, Chibiusa ?"
Chibiusa smiled at her parents. "Everybody needs a Chibi-cabinet !" "I can guess you don't want to run into the Senshi?" Makoto said as she served up some more pancakes and some cocoa. She hugged a sad-eyed Usagi.
"Oh, Makoto !" Usagi cried. "Every time I come out, it seems I start a small Civil War ! And I hate driving a wedge between the Senshi ! Serenity deserves better than that ! I knew she was a frail spirit, although she seems powerful ! It's only recently that I've found out just how frail she really is ! And I don't know if I'm strong enough to help her !"
"You ARE strong enough, Usagi ! You proved that, to ME, over and over again !" A voice came from behind her.
"Ami ?" Usagi turned around to face the new arrival. Ami stood with her arms folded over her breasts.
"Mercury said I'd probably be needed today. She told me your last run-in with the Outer Senshi did not go too well. Satern was the only one who stood up for you?" Ami's blue eyes searched Usagi.
"I guess.. Hotaru will always be there for me." Usagi let out a sigh. "I don't know what Saturn sees in me to make her stand by me, though."
"She sees the same things we do, Usagi-sama", a voice said clearly from behind Ami. Uwada Keiko appeared from behind her mother. Ami's blue hair and eyes were replaced by steel-gray hair the same length as Ami's and eyes as mysterious in color as a thundercloud. Keiko stepped into the kitchen and poured a glass of orange juice. "How are you this morning, Your Highness ?" She said and bowed to Chibiusa.
"You KNOW I hate that !" Chibiusa whined. Keiko stopped drinking long enough to grin and giggle. Chibiusa hated royal formalities as much as Usagi. It was one of many traits the family had found over the years that the two woman shared. Chibiusa harrumphed and then giggled at the look of shocked "innocence" that came over Keiko.
"It did get you laughing, though." Uwada Keiko smiled. Chibiusa hugged Keiko, as Ami supported Usagi as they made their way to the table.
"I echo Ami !", Rei said as she entered the kitchen, "and so does Sailor Mars !" She and her daughter, Kumada Yuko, flocked around Usagi and Chibiusa. "I came over right after this morning's fire-reading. Usagi," the priestess looked into Usagi's eyes, "things are going to be dark today. You'll have to face the Senshi."
"NO ! I'm not ready !" Usagi trembled and cried. "I'm never ready." She took Rei's hand for support. "Thank you, Rei, for.. the warning.. and for being here." Yuko moved over to Chibiusa with Keiko and Naoko.
"That is why I came to breakfast early," Usagi sighed, "I knew that Serenity was more tired than when she usually withdraws. And, I knew that what affected her would probably affect me. And I did not want a fight with the Senshi complicating things ! If I can get through this day without facing Uranus or Neptune- or Pluto- I can deal with the other problems." Usagi finished her breakfast in silence, studying the diplomatic papers. Then she arose. "Chibiusa ?" Usagi said silently. "I'll be in the palace-gardens for now. Will you cover for me ?"
To be continued in.
Chapter 2, "Battle of the Senshi, Round I"