"SAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYY! I THOUGHT I TOLD YOU TO STAY OUTA MY
R...", Serena trailed off, eyes wide as she noticed a small form
hiding behind her door. "Hi Serena, I see you haven't changed a bit,
still hyperventilating, as usual." The pink-haired girl sighed as her
eyes met with her would-be mother.
At eighteen, Serena still lived with her parents and brother,
working as a residential care attendant at the local nursing home.
Her friends, fiancee and family had faced more than their share of
excitement over the last four years since she became Sailor Moon.
After Galaxia was defeated, it seemed that all was calm and peace
returned to Tokyo. The city was rebuilding and the scouts were taking
the first steps to following their dreams. It was a bit of a shock
then to Serena seeing Rini behind her bedroom door and the room a
mess after she returned from a long day at work. Rini returning to
the past could only mean that something was wrong. The last time Rini
left was indeed to be her 'last time' since she was now a true sailor
soldier and her training was complete.
Rini was getting a little annoyed with the blank look on Serena's
face as she stood there staring a hole into the wall, still in shock.
The pink-haired girl waved her hand in front of the older girl's face
with no reaction. Finally after a few minutes Serena blinked, then
blinked again. "I'll show you hyperventilating! You little spore!
What did you do to my room?! Do you think it's okay for you to just
pop outa the sky whenever you want leaving a disaster zone behind
you?" Serena seethed behind gritted teeth her had raised about to
strike Rini across the face. Rini looked at her in terror then closed
her eyes waiting for the impact...which was then replaced bit a
great bearhug and a sobbing Serena. "I never thought I'd see you
again," Serena choked between sobs. " I missed you so much!". Rini
smiled and hugged her back, tears now trickling down her porcelain
cheeks. "I missed you too Serena."
After a long session of crying and hugging, Serena sat Rini on her
bed next to her. Both of their faces swollen and wet they both
giggled a little as they looked at one another. Serena's face then
went serious, remembering there has to be a reason for her being
there. "What are you doing here Rini, your training's done, you're
supposed to be with your mom and dad now", Serena said softly,
surprised at how maternal she sounded."What I can't come back cuz I
missed you guys?" Rini whined. Serena knew better than this. She may
have been a naive crybaby when Rini left (well maybe she still is)
but she was wise enough to see that behind the pink hair and innocent
expression staring back at her that there was something very wrong
for Rini to have been allowed to use the time key again. Serena's
expression turned stern towards the girl, "Come on, spill. I know
Pluto and your parents in the future don't just let you pop in and
out of timespace to visit. There has to be an important reason for
you to be here Rini, now tell me what happened in the future".
Rini skwirmed a bit on the bed staring at the floor. "Okay, I didn't
exactly have permission to come here. I kind of 'borrowed' one of
Pluto's keys--but I swear, I think something's changed in the
future--specifically with you and Darien." Serena gazed at the
picture of her, Darien and Rini on her desk, then looked at Rini
again who had new tears forming in the corners of her eyes. "I'm so
sorry Serena, I know I disobeyed mom and dad but I couldn't just sit
back and pretend not to notice". Serena was concerned.There was peace
now and would be until Rini's time with the dark moon family (well
except for the whole ecological disaster thing in which the world is
frozen over and Crystal Tokyo is formed) as far as she knew. So what
in the world could have happened between then and now that would
change the future? "Notice what?" Serena asked. Rini looked up and
caught Serena's eyes. "I can't give you details, because Pluto said
all time would change even worse than it has, but you have to know
that in the future our family is well, different. I can't say anymore
but just want you to think about the choices you make, that's all."
Well that explains it all--NOT. Serena didn't have the time to even
try to understand what her future daughter meant before Rini kissed
her on the cheek and ran out. She followed her outside, but it was
too late. A pick cloud hovered above he driveway with Rini levitating
towards it. "What do you mean our family is different?!" Serena
yelled up to the small girl. "Good-bye Mamma, just remember what I
said!" And with a poof Rini was gone and a stunned-looking Serena
stood in the driveway looking at the sky.
"Maybe there's a new enemy", Lita suggested. It had been about two
hours since the incident with Rini. Serena stared at the sacred fire
watching the flame licking the wood. "No, I don't think so, it
sounded like I made some sort of change, like I made a different
choice than I should have", she said just barely loud enough to be
heard, eyes not leaving the fire. Darien put his arm around her and
looked upon her sad face. "Don't worry meatball-head I'm sure she's
just over-reacting, if it were true she wouldn't have had to 'borrow'
the key from Pluto, right? I'm sure Pluto would have let her come
here if it was important. She is still a child. Maybe she just doen't
like the changes going on in her life. I mean after all, we only know
a part of our future Serena." Serena sighed, still staring at the
flames snuggling into Darien's elbow. "Or maybe", Mina said grinning
"she doesn't like the idea of not being the only princess anymore".
She tapped Darien's shoulder as his face turned beat read and the
rest of the scouts sweat-dropped and almost fell on the floor. Serena
just sat there staring at the fire, lost in thought.
1 Hour Later in another part of Tokyo...
Three men walked into their old appartment. One of the men flicked
the light switch on and off and on again. "Guess we need new bulbs",
he stated finding his way through the dark appartment and plunking
himself down on the couch. The other man followed, let a breath out
he didn't know he was holding and started walking into one of the
bedrooms. "It's too late to go buy any now, we'll have to make due
until morning", and with that shut the bedroom door. The taller of
the three had a stack of boxes filled with books in his arms and, not
seeing an obstacle placed infront of the door, tripped over it with a
loud thud and a scream of profanity. Books now spilled over the
darkened floor, the man got up and stomped towards the closed bedroom
door. Yelling into it saying, "Damn it Seiya! Take your crap into
your room with you!".