Adventures of the ChibiScouts III Chapter 1 A Lull before the Storm, a sailor moon fanfic

Adventures of the Chibi-Scouts III
Crossroads to the Future
By "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl and Doug "Candle Light Author" Helm

Authors' Foreword by "Tuxedo" Will (March 2008)

Back in late 1995, I was watching the DiC® version of Sailor Moon and read some of the few Sailor Moon fanfics available on the Net. I had an idea of a good story to tell using the Sailor Moon characters. I invented a new term "Chibi-Scout" to base it round. There were no search engine hits on that term then. That's not the case today. ;) Not being a comfortable writer, the idea languished in my head for months. Somehow by Fate, Doug Helm and I found each other on the Net and an international story writing collaboration (which has now entered its twelfth year) was born. "Adventures of the Chibi-Scouts" was voted one of the top Sailor Moon fanfics back in the day. Certainly, it has inspired a number of stories over the years and "Chibi-Scouts" run around the Net to this day. ;) We promised a trilogy of "Adventures of the Chibi-Scouts" long ago. The second "adventure" was completed in 2000 and left several things unanswered. Finally, the Trilogy of the "Adventures of the Chibi-Scouts" is to be completed. We are sorry it took so long to write it. Doug and I hope you enjoy the final "adventure".

In keeping with the flavor of the original "Adventures of the Chibi-Scouts I and II", names and events will be kept consistent first with the earlier stories and then use that little bit of Tokyo which resides in North America where magical girls still roam.

This story and our other Sailor Moon stories reside at our Shoujo Fiction . com domain.

Rating: PG

Chapter 1 "A Lull before the Storm"

A raindrop struck downwards hitting the young girl right in the center of her forehead. Reenie Serenity Tsukino startled from her gloomy thoughts and craned her neck upwards. 'Figures,' the ten year old grumbled, 'Everybody else has nice sunny blue skies but what do I get, a Serena-sized raincloud.' Sighing, the Crown Princess of Crystal Tokyo got up from her position sitting on the Cherry Hill Temple steps and ascended them until she was sure the cloud above couldn't get her again.

'Stupid thing,' Reenie thought as she plunked herself down, put her elbows on her knees, and cupped her chin in her hands. She let out a long sigh. 'I'm being a baby,' Reenie told herself, 'Aunt Ellen's right. Serena's only eight.' The Leader of the Chibi-Scouts just couldn't help herself though. Even though she knew one day Serena would grow up to be her mother and the Queen of Crystal Tokyo, it was hard to think of the little girl as anything but her cute little sister. 'And it's not like I'm pouting!' After all, her bottom lip wasn't jutting out the way Serena's did when she pouted.

"Hello there," came a voice from behind her.

Reenie straightened. She looked over her shoulder and upwards and saw Raye's grandfather standing at the top of the temple steps.

"Oh hi, Mr. Hino!" the youngster greeted him, "How are you?"

He smiled and came down the steps. "I'm fine, Reenie, 'though you seem to be having a bad day." Reenie gave him a weak grin. "Did you come over to see Raye?"

"No..." was the response and then she continued, "I just wanted to think and it's quiet here and Serena can't find me and..." Realizing whom she was talking to, she stopped.

"Ah," the old Shinto priest remarked and settled himself on the same step as the pink-haired girl. "Serena is a very energetic, just like my little granddaughter!" He smiled as Reenie grinned and nodded in agreement. "It's a good thing that Chad's around. I don't know how I'd keep up with her otherwise."

"You aren't that old, sir," Reenie countered. Grandpa Hino cocked an eyebrow.

'So polite.' "You think so?" The ten year old nodded. "Well, if I'm not old, I don't think you can claim to be old either."

It took Reenie a moment to understand what he was driving at and she laughed and began feeling a little better. "It's not that."

"What is it, Reenie? Or is it a secret?" he asked the girl.

"No..." She grimaced for a moment. "It's just I've been with Aunt Ellen and Uncle Ken a long time and I wanna see my parents... but Serena doesn't get that. She thinks that just because Aunt Ellen loves me, it's the same thing." He nodded his understanding so she went on, "So today, I just said I wished I could go home soon, and Serena gets all mad and I got mad back." She scowled at the remembered quarrel. "Then Aunt Ellen says I shouldn't be mean to Serena because she's younger." 'I couldn't out and tell Aunt Ellen that Serena was mad 'cause I said she wasn't like the mom I wanted.' Which was true in one way. Reenie had wanted the adult version of her mother.

"I see... Does Mrs. Tsukino know where you are?"

"Sorta... She told me to go play outside, Mr. Hino," Reenie replied, "'Cause she didn't want me and Serena to argue, so I came over here."

Grandpa Hino nodded. "It must be hard being away from your parents for so long, Reenie."

"It is." Reenie frowned down at the sidewalk far below. "I haven't heard from them in a really long time. I tried calling them a few times but I didn't get an answer." 'What's happening in Crystal Tokyo? Why is the Time Gate closed?' Reenie mentally winced at the remembered failure the previous day to open the Gate of Time with her Time Key. 'Why did Puu close it?!'

Reenie hadn't informed the Chibi-Scouts about losing contact with Crystal Tokyo, nor the closure of the Gate of Time. It would only worry them more than was necessary and their understanding of the concept was limited. 'They're just kids... But what...'

"Reenie?"

Reenie blinked and realized that Raye's grandfather had said something. "Sorry...?"

He smiled gently. "Maybe if you explain it to Mrs. Tsukino, she can talk to Serena." Reenie stared at the old man as if he'd turned into a Martian. "I think Serena was trying to cheer you up and she does not understand that some things just cannot be fixed by happy thoughts alone." Reenie couldn't help herself -- she laughed. It was either that or cry, and she really did not want to cry again. She had to be strong; she was the oldest. "See?" Grandpa Hino asked, "It's not the end of the world, Reenie. Just a really hard test you didn't study for."

Reenie started to feel a little less gloomy. "How come grownups are so smart?"

He patted her gently on the head. "It's not how smart you are, it's how much experience you have. And despite your nice comment, young lady, I'm an old fellow."

"Nah," Reenie giggled and stood up. "I guess I should go home before Aunt Ellen sends Sammy out to find me."

"I'm serious, Reenie. You talk to your aunt," Grandpa Hino directed as he stood up as well. Reenie made a non-committal noise and went down the stairs pausing at the bottom momentarily to turn and wave back up at the old priest before heading down the sidewalk.

'It's not as simple as that though... Am I supposed to come right out and spill the beans? Aunt Ellen might not hit the roof but Uncle Ken would.' She grimaced. The real problem was, except for the Chibi-Scouts, there was only one other person she could talk to. Unfortunately, (her future father) Darien had left for the States during the summer to attend university.

A blast of icy wind reminded her that it wasn't summer any longer. It was mid-November although there wasn't any snow and most days you could get away with just a fall jacket. The ten year old hunched her shoulders and walked down the Tokyo street. 'Should I go get the other Serena?' She considered that and then shook her head. 'That takes Sailor Jupiter and Mercury at least and I'm not sure Mercury would go for me doing a hop, especially considering I'm supposed to be the leader and everything. Lita wouldn't mind but still...' She chewed on her lower lip as she waited for a traffic light. 'At least, it's quiet. No enemies have shown up since the Amazoness Quartet decided to leave and we cleaned the Dead Moon Circus pretty quickly after that.' They had turned out to be nice little girls (if a bit weird) once you got to know them. PallaPalla and Mina together... She didn't want to think about that. She giggled.

The thought of the Amazoness Quartet made Reenie wonder what the other Serena had had to deal with in her universe. The Amazons would have been adults, or near adults, she guessed. 'They'd probably still want to fight.'

The pink-haired girl trotted across the street and turned to cross the other way. 'If Pluto would only just tell me what's happening...' She brooded for a few moments and then crossed when the light turned green. 'Okay... Let's run it again. The gate's closed. No way to call home. Serena thinks I wouldn't take it seriously...' She blew out a breath. 'Jeez! I'm screwed!'

She froze in mid-step. "That's a thought," she said aloud as her hand drifted up to touch the magical broach -- the one that contained the Imperium Silver Crystal. She pushed it away. Using the Crystal was dangerous at best and potentially lethal.

'The older Serena would use it though...' Reenie's thoughts turned back to the grown Serena, a Serena who would understand and not get bent out of shape. A Serena, however, that was alas in another dimension.

- - - - -

"Can I go to the park, Mommy?" Dr. Mary Anderson lifted her gaze from perusing the local newspaper to regard her eight year old daughter. Amy had gone through a small growth spurt over the past couple of years so had caught up with her sister Lita in height but she was still as skinny as ever. The youngster was wearing a set of jeans, a white T-shirt, and a baggy purple sweater, which had long ago belonged to her mother. She was also sporting a spectacular black eye.

"No," Mary said firmly. Amy crossed her arms and stuck her bottom lip out revealing that it too had suffered in the incident, which had given her a black eye. "You got into a fight yesterday so you can just stay home today, young lady."

"But Moooom... That brat was pickin' on Lita!" Amy argued feeling annoyed that her mother was being unsympathetic.

"I'm glad you stuck up for your sister but I won't condone fighting." She smiled at the blue-haired girl who was scowling at her. "That's the only reason why I didn't ground you... or would you prefer to be in your room for the rest of today?"

"It's not fair," Amy grumbled but uncrossed her arms.

"I know, pumpkin," the mother of two soothed, patting her daughter on the shoulder, "Where's Lita?"

"Sleeping," was the reply. Amy looked like she wanted to say more but the doorbell interrupted her.

Mary got up, walked out of the kitchen, and into the front entranceway. Upon opening the door, she saw Reenie Tsukino standing outside. "Hello Reenie, how are you?"

"I'm fine, Ms. Anderson," Reenie answered. "Can Amy and Lita come out 'n' play?"

Mary turned to regard Amy who was looking subdued. She turned back to the pink-haired girl. "Well... I'm afraid Amy can't leave the house today but you're welcome to come in and stay for a bit."

"Thanks, Ms. Anderson, that'd be great!" the ten year old chirped. She stepped inside when her two friends' mother moved aside. "May I use your phone? I should call Aunt Ellen and let her know where I am."

"Certainly dear, help yourself." She grinned as Amy came over with a bounce in her step and hugged her before turning to greet Reenie.

Even before the eight year old could say anything, Reenie asked, "Amy! What the heck happened to you?"

"She was sticking up for Lita," Mary answered for her daughter and then moved off to give the two girls some privacy. 'Reenie is such a responsible girl,' Mary mused, 'Maybe I should go rouse Lita up. She seems to be sleeping all the time.'

Reenie gave her friend Amy a critical look before picking up the phone and dialing the Tsukino home number. "Tsukino residence," came a cheery high-pitched voice, "Serena Tsukino speaking."

"Hi Serena. It's Reenie. I..." There was a click and then the sound of the dial tone. Reenie pulled the receiver away and stared at it for a moment before redialing. "Hello Tsukino residence. Serena Tsukino speaking."

"Hey, what the heck happ..." Reenie stopped as there was another click. She hung up the phone and frowned at it.

"Problem dear?" Ms. Anderson asked.

"The phone keeps hanging up," Reenie whined.

"That's very odd. Here, Reenie, let me try," the woman offered and lifted the handset up before dialing. After a moment, she said, "Hello Serena. This is Ms. Anderson. Could I talk with your mother please?" There was a pause and then she continued, "Thanks." She only smiled at Reenie's mildly puzzled look. "Hi Ellen. How are you?" A pause... "Oh, not too much. Reenie was having trouble getting through. It seems the phone kept hanging up. Yes, just a second." She handed the phone to her young guest.

"Thanks," the ten year old said and took the handset, "Hi Aunt Ellen."

"Were you at the Andersons since you left?" her aunt questioned. She didn't sound upset, merely curious.

"No, I went to Raye's and then came here. I can come home if you want."

"No," Ellen said, "I just wondered. Everything okay?" When Reenie answered in the affirmative, she continued, "And don't worry about the phone trouble, Reenie. I'll put it in the corner." Reenie couldn't suppress a grin as she heard Serena wail in the background.

"She must be really cheesed at me," Reenie commented. 'Sorry Mommy.'

"Things will work out, Reenie. Don't worry about it. So, are you coming home for dinner?"

"As far as I know," Reenie hedged. ''Though in which universe it'll be in is a different question.' She'd finally decided to hop over to the other dimension and talk out her troubles with the older, more mature Serena. 'If I can't have Mommy, she's the next best thing. Aunt Ellen would be great too but she isn't a Sailor Scout.' The thought made Reenie giggle so it was with a chuckle in her voice that she said good-bye to her "grandmother".

"What's so funny?" Amy asked her friend and leader.

"I was just thinking what Aunt Ellen would be like as a Chibi-Scout," Reenie remarked. The eight year old beside her giggled.

"That would be like Molly being one!" The older girl grinned. Now that was a funny thought.

- - - - -

A short time later, Reenie, Amy, along with a very groggy looking Lita were in the twin's bedroom. Lita was wearing a dark green skirt, white blouse, and a bright yellow sweater that made Reenie squint the first time she spotted it.

"Want me to brush your hair out?" Reenie offered after Lita ran a hand through her loose brown hair. She knew it would soon be in the girl's trademark ponytail. Instead, Lita only shrugged and hugged a pillow to herself looking almost ready to go back to sleep. "Listen," Reenie began after making sure that the girls' mother was out of earshot, "I have a little job for you two."

"Really? What sort of job, Reenie? The Negaverse?" Amy wondered.

"A job for Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter," the pink-haired girl replied softly. She was happy to see Lita perk up at that. "But you can't tell Serena."

"Why?" the brunette asked suspiciously.

"Because she'll get bent out of shape if you do."

"You mean she wouldn't like it," Lita challenged. She always stood up for Serena against anyone or anything. Only her sister Amy garnered more loyalty from the little Jovian Scout.

Reenie paused for a moment, took a deep breath, and explained, "Listen... I can't get a hold of no one in Crystal Tokyo." Both younger girls stared at her. "I tried... I mean after Diana left, I got a message that she got back okay and everything but then... when there weren't anymore enemies and..."

"You wanna go home," the blue-haired youngster completed for her friend and leader. Reenie nodded. Lita gave her an understanding look as she pulled her hair into a ponytail. "And Serena doesn't want you to go home." 'Neither do I.'

"Yeah," was the reply with a gusty sigh.

"Figures." When Reenie gave her a puzzled look, the little brunette grumbled, "When you finally go home, Mom will want me to talk about how I feel to 'Baloney'."

"Lita!" Amy squawked. "Don't call her that."

"Well, that's what she smells like," Lita asserted.

"Who?" Reenie asked.

"Dr. Mahoney," Amy answered while giving her sister a dirty look, "She's nice." Lita grumbled something fairly crude so the blue-haired eight year old turned to Reenie and added, "Lita goes to Dr. Mahoney now. You know for 'stuff'."

"Oh... And she smells like baloney?" the pink-haired girl asked, struggling to suppress a giggle that wanted to escape.

"Yes!" the ponytailed brunette growled.

"No," her sister countered. "Lita's just mad 'cause Dr. Mahoney said she shouldn't be embarrassed about wetting the..." The rest of Amy's words were cut off as a pillow solidly hit her on the side of the head. The youngster was sprawled sideways across her bed. Reenie glanced towards its source and found Lita looking more than a little perturbed.

"Oops," came the muffled voice of Amy. "Sorry Sis..."

"It'd be a lot easier if I could tell them I was a Chibi-Scout."

"Lita..." Reenie began.

Lita sighed, looked like she was going to cry, and then shook her head. "Okay, boss, so you can't call your mommy and daddy. But what do you want with us? I can see wanting Mercury. She could test your key and stuff but Sailor Jupiter...?"

Amy sat up, tossed the pillow back to Lita's bed, and announced firmly, "We're a team. We look out for each other." She pointedly tapped her black eye.

The brunette eight year old smiled at her sister with great affection. "Yeah, Sis, I know." Lita got up and came over to sit beside her sister while throwing one arm about Amy in a loose hug.

Reenie gave both girls a long look before saying, "See that's the thing. My Time Key don't work. Luna Ball don't do anything either. I mean totally NOTHING!"

"That sounds way bad," Lita remarked after a moment.

"It is," Reenie agreed. "It should give me static or something but it doesn't."

"What would cause it?" Amy asked quizzically.

"Just one thing I can think of. Puu's sealed the Gate." Again, both sister's eyes opened wide and they exchanged a long look. "Puu could've done that for lotsa reasons that I wouldn't know about but it's been too long and I don't know what to do."

"But you have a plan, huh Reenie?" Amy surmised. She knew their leader well. Reenie nodded. "So what is it?"

"I wanna do a hop." Puzzled silence greeted the older girl's statement. "You know a dimensional hop like the Sailor Scouts did before."

Amy gave her sister a nervous look. She really didn't understand everything about it, as much as she tried to. Lita for her part had her brow wrinkled as if something was on the edge of her mind, and then spat out, "But they're dead, aren't they?"

"That didn't happen," Amy stated firmly. She turned to Reenie. "Right Reenie?"

"But last night..." her sister started.

"That was a bad dream, Lita." She sounded nervous.

"Oh." Lita's brow smoothed and she seemed relieved. Amy was smart and wouldn't lie to her. She gave her sister a hug before asking, "I'm thirsty, guys. Ya wanna drink?" Both her sister and Reenie nodded. "I'll go get 'em," she declared and left the room.

"Did I say something wrong?" the pink-haired ten year old asked with concern.

"Lita's remembering D Point."

"Where you guys fought Queen Beryl?" Amy nodded. Her memories of the events were quite fuzzy and disjointed to say the least. "Oh..."

"So," Amy said with the air of a person wanting to change the subject, "You want to do a hop, huh?" Reenie nodded. "Well... let's get started." Amy flicked out her minicomputer and started tapping away.

'What was that about?' Reenie wondered but then shrugged it off. She'd find out eventually. She concentrated on the figures Amy was entering.

- - - - -

Reenie Tsukino groaned as reality swam back into focus. At first, she thought she'd gone blind from the brilliance of Sailor Jupiter's lightning but as things grew clearer, she realized she was simply in a darkened room. She definitely wasn't in the park where she had started. 'Did it work?' the ten year wondered then winced. 'Everything hurts.' She felt like she'd been turned inside-out.

Gingerly sitting up, the young lady looked about. 'Where... ' she frowned a little, 'Some things look... ' Shifting about, she managed to turn on a bedside lamp and blinked in its soft warm glow. 'Am I home?' It looked like her room although there were definite differences.

Carefully getting out of the large canopy bed, Reenie poked about the room and felt her heart soar with delight. 'I'm home! But how?' She was back in the future back in the Crystal Palace. While she didn't fully recognize the room she was in (she had been away nearly two years after all), she did recognize the photographs and other mementoes of her childhood scattered about the room.

"What the heck am I doing here?!" Reenie asked her room. She pinched herself to make sure she wasn't dreaming. 'Ow! That hurt...' The pink-haired girl rubbed her arm. 'Well okay, so I'm here, but why was I in bed?' A glance at the clock showed her the reason. 'Well past my bedtime.' Then a thought struck her, 'If I'm here then, that means...' Her eyes opened wide.

Nearly bursting with excitement, Reenie dashed out of her room and spotting a light down at one end of a hallway that led to her parents' bedroom suite. She headed that way. 'There's no way I'm sleeping! Mom's got to know I'm back! But what happened when I first showed up?' That mystery was soon forgotten -- she was home! 'Serena will be mad but I can send her a note telling her I got here okay.' She came out into a softly lit living room and stopped dead in her tracks. There was her mother standing by a large window. 'Mom...' Neo-Queen Serenity had her back to her daughter and was gazing out forlornly into the night. Her long golden pigtails streamed nearly to the floor. She wanted to jump into her mother's arms but she decided to surprise her instead. Reenie padded over as softly as she could, not wanting to startle her mother.

Serenity must have heard her for she turned and smiled at the approaching ten year old. "Did I wake you up, Small Lady?"

"No, Mom," Reenie replied while shaking her head. 'Why isn't she hugging me?' Shouldn't her mother be happy that she'd returned after so long? The child opened her mouth to ask what had happened since her departure but the words died as something odd about her mother's form registered. Frowning, she moved around a little and let out a little gasp. Neo-Queen Serenity, her mother and the Queen of Crystal Tokyo, was very clearly pregnant.

"Is something wrong, Reenie?" Serenity asked in a slightly worried tone.

"Is that why Puu sealed the gate?" Reenie asked herself softly. She couldn't help the hurt tone. 'Didn't Mom want me around?'

"Pluto sealed the Gate of Time?!" Serenity looked mildly alarmed, "When? Why didn't Susan tell me? Wait a second... How do you know she sealed it?"

Reenie was confused. "Sere... Mom... I mean... I thought you would have asked... unless you didn't want me here." 'Doesn't she want me to be a real big sister? Are you still mad at me, Serena?' After 1000 years, it seemed unlikely but...

Serenity's alarmed look changed to confusion and then worry. "Small Lady..." 'What's she talking about?' She paused and turning fully to her daughter, placed her hands on Reenie's shoulders. "Sweetheart, start from the beginning, please?"

Feeling a little guilty about doubting her mother, Reenie took a deep breath, blew it out, and explained, "Mom, I tried calling after Diana left. I mean there wasn't no Negaverse after a bit and I was starting to miss you and Dad and everybody." Reenie swallowed trying hard not to cry. "But I couldn't get through with Luna Ball... I mean there wasn't any static or anything and my Time Key didn't work at all." Serenity was giving her a concerned look, as if she was trying to work something out but wasn't sure she wanted Reenie to know she was. The youngster lowered her head and shuffled a little bit. "And after a little while, I just got fed up. I was gonna make a hop to talk with the other Serena, to see what I should do 'cause the younger you just wanted to me to stay forever."

"Reenie?" The voice held so much affection it was like being hugged. A slender hand delicately lifted Reenie's chin so her eyes were looking directly into her mother's. "How'd you get here?"

"You should know, didn't they tell you?" The ten year old could feel her head starting to hurt. She would've expected Amy and Lita to tell her after she disappeared.

"Please Reenie?"

"I went to Lita and Amy, Mommy. I kinda figured they could help me do what the other Sailor Scouts did." Reenie watched in puzzlement as the woman's face smoothed into lines of understanding and relief. She let her mother guide her over the couch and she sat down as Serenity did.

"Reenie," Serenity began and her eyes were dancing with delight, "I'm afraid that you were only 'partially' successful in your mission."

"Huh?"

The Queen of Crystal Tokyo grinned. "Well... You showed up a little later than you wanted."

"I know," Reenie chewed her lip, "I just can't understand what Puu was doing. I mean if you really wanted me around for the baby and stuff..."

"Oh, I wanted to see you for so long," Serenity assured the youngster, "And you managed a dimensional hop all by yourself." She let out a gentle laugh as the pink-haired girl gave her such a confused look it was almost comical. 'She's just a little girl.' She was proud of her daughter's ingenuity if not her judgment. "Unless you really did want to come to Crystal Tokyo?"

"Of course, I did!" Reenie was annoyed and got even more annoyed as Serenity laughed and hugged her. "MO-TH-ER!"

"Small Lady, I'm not the Serenity you think I am." Seeing the completely befuddled look, she took pity on her daughter and explained, "You did cross the dimensions. I'm the OTHER Reenie's mother. I used to be a Sailor Scout, not a Chibi-Scout."

"I... you..." Reenie seemed at a loss for words as her perception of what had happened was turned completely upside-down. "We tried our best," Reenie stated firmly.

"Of course you did, Princess, especially with the gates closed." At the last bit, Serenity frowned. "I really didn't know. Unless Pluto thinks it would hurt Crystal Tokyo or the past... She doesn't say much."

"So I'm in the OTHER Crystal Tokyo? The one for the Sailor Scouts?!"

"Yes," Serenity said with a smile.

"And would you mind if I called you 'Mom'?"

"To save from complicating things, I think that would be best."

"And you didn't close the gate because you were going to have a baby?" Reenie cringed at the disapproving look her mother gave her.

"Honestly, Reenie, the only person I told ahead of you, I mean my Reenie, was Endymion."

"Yea! I'm gonna be a big sister!" There was a pause and then the ten year old added, "I think." She rubbed her head. "This whole dimensional thing hurts my head. How'd you do it twice?"

"I had help from a great big sister," Serenity replied while winking at Reenie who grinned. Serenity patted her belly. 'You proved that to little Serena.'

"But why'd uh, your Reenie leave her big sister?"

"I think you'll have to ask Serena that question."

"So is it a boy or a girl?" Reenie asked seeing she wasn't going to get a straight answer out of her mother.

"I don't know. DOCTOR Anderson does and so does Raye but your father and I decided we wanted it to be a surprise," Serenity explained and then leaning closer whispered conspiratorially, "I think it's a boy though."

"Why?"

"You were never this much trouble when I was carrying you," Serenity declared which drew a giggle from Reenie. The ten year old shifted around and hugged her mother fiercely. She nearly melted when Serenity returned the hug just as hard and both "royal" girls sat in contented silence for several minutes, then remarked, "Well, if we're going to get you off to the past tomorrow, you should get some sleep, young lady."

"Mom, can't I stay here?"

"You could, but didn't you want to see Serena?"

"Well yeah, I know I have to go to the past... I mean can't I stay with YOU for a bit, please Mommy?" Serenity hugged her and kissed the top of her head.

"Of course, you can, Reenie. You're my little girl." The pink-haired youngster snuggled as close as she could and sighed as she closed her eyes. 'This is nice.' She'd have to thank Amy and Lita when she got back. 'But if it wasn't the baby, why'd Puu close the gates?'

- - - - -

Serena Tsukino was your typical example of a high school teen. She liked boys, food, shopping, and making her little brother's life miserable. Of course, at seventeen, the pigtailed blonde already had a steady boyfriend in the form of one Darien Shields, her one and only destined love. He was currently attending university in America. Food and shopping varied their importance depending on her current mood or circumstance. Picking on Sammy had always been at the bottom of the list. She just wasn't the overbearing big sister type even if Sammy might argue the point on occasion.

Of course, Serena also had another priority, or at least had had one, that of fighting for love and justice as the Pretty Sailor-suited Soldier Sailor Moon. That one had seemed to be placed on hold however since Galaxia had been defeated. Serena was frankly finding being a "normal" high school girl, something she had always wished to be, rather boring.

'What I wouldn't give for a good...'

"HEY SPACE CADET!" Serena shrieked as she was jerked out of her lazy contemplation of the television screen, which was currently not switched on. She looked around frantically, her heart thumping, only to spot her annoying little brother Sammy. Sammy of course was killing himself laughing. More annoyingly, Sammy had a friend beside him who was grinning like a Cheshire cat as well.

"Isn't it kinda hard to watch the television when it's off?" Sammy's friend remarked sarcastically.

"That's okay," Sammy said through his snickers, "My sister's such a bubble-brain, her imagination replaces reality a lot."

"SA-MM-EE!" the blonde teen growled as she stood up.

"Oh scary!" Sammy's friend continued, "The Sailor Scouts could hire you out as a decoy." He blushed. 'Although she is kinda cute.'

"She'd defeat the bad guy with LOVE..." Sammy commented with a wicked grin and proceeded to make smooching sounds.

The meatball-headed blonde briefly considered arguing but decided instead to get even. "You're right!" Serena declared cheerily, "Just like that!" And before Sammy could do anything, his sister stepped over to him, wrapped her arms about him, and gave him a massive hug.

"Serena, let go..." the young teen shouted in embarrassment.

"Say the magic words, little brother."

"What magic words?" the thirteen year old sputtered while trying to wriggle free of her embrace. Unfortunately for him, not only was Serena shapely because of all her running due to being late for school but also defending the world from the Negaverse over the last three years had improved her muscle tone as well.

"Serena is the bestest big sister ever."

"Gak! No way I'm saying that!" he squealed before glaring at his friend who was nearly on the floor laughing. Serena was a good sister, even if she was a bit ditzy, but he wasn't giving her the satisfaction. Also, her friends were hotties especially...

"Say it, or else..."

"Or else what?" Sammy asked, eyes widening slightly.

"I start giving you kisses, little brother." The young teen capitulated quickly after that and Serena let her brother go. She silently laughed as both boys made a hasty retreat upstairs. Shaking her head, she sat down.

Reaching for the remote, Serena paused when she heard the front door opening. 'Mom?' She cocked her head to listen and was jerked into a standing position when she heard a familiar but totally unexpected voice.

"I'm home!" came the voice of ten year old Reenie Tsukino.

End of Chapter 1

Coming next in Chapter 2 "Mama's an Eleventh Grader"