Chapter 1
SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon (aka Tsukino Usagi), Tsukino Ikuko, Tsukino Kenji, Tsukino Shingo, Sailor Mercury (aka Mizuno Ami), Dr. Mizuno, Sailor Mars (aka Hiro Rei), Sailor Jupiter ( Kino Makoto), Sailor Saturn ( aka Tomoe Hotaru ), Sailor Uranus (aka Tenou Haruka ), Sailor Neptune ( Kaiou Michiru), Sailor Pluto (Meiou Setsuna), Tuxedo Kamen (Chiba Mamoru), Oosaka Naru, Uwara Ryo, Kenichi, Kumada Yuuichirou and Umino Gurio, and the Hikawa Shrine/ Cherry Hill Temple (Americanized) and Juuban Junior High School are the copyrighted Property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toie, and DiC. They are not mine.
SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs
Mizuno Ami was scribbling and drawing at hyper-speed in the pre-dawn hours. This dream had awakened her long before her alarm clock did. While not a nightmare, this same dream had recurred for 3 weeks, each time unfolding a little more. Ami had decided to keep a record of it. She called it her "Dream Journal". In this she had written and drawn everything she had remembered about the dream. "Whoever you are," she softly said, "why are you so... familiar ?"
Ami did her usual best at Juuban Junior High, but she seemed a little withdrawn, even from her friends. And those friends- Tsukino Usagi, Kino Makoto, and Naru Oosaka- were more than a little concerned. Ami was being quieter than usual, and it had nothing (that they could see) to do with her studies. She was not keeping her nose in a school book. In fact, the only book she was seen with was a simple notebook. "Are you alright ?" Usagi finally asked Ami with no response. "Earth to Ami ! Earth to Ami !" said a worried Makoto. "Come in Ami."
"Ami's not on Earth," came Ami's whispered reply. "Try Mercury."
"It sounds like it might be Sailor business." Naru said this softly, so none but the other three girls could hear.
After school, the four girls made their way to Hikawa Shrine. Luna, Usagi's feline guide, had joined the Senshi and Naru when they left school. Hino Rei was busy preparing the meeting room. She looked up as the others walked into the courtyard. She was somewhat shocked at seeing Usagi on time. Usually, their leader found herself stuck in detention at school for tardiness. She loved Usagi like a sister, but she still had trouble with her bad habits- including being late. And now she had a new sister.
Oosaka Naru had been Usagi's best friend since childhood. Now, she was her sister. It still took some getting used to the idea on Naru's part. Naru was Usagi's younger sister in the Silver Millinium, although Usagi, Naru, and the others had only learned of it re- cently. Naru had said that was because she was not one of the Senshi. That Queen Serenity had wanted both her daughters to be able to live their lives in peace. However, it turned out that Naru was destined to be the Royal Scribe, minister to her sister.
With Naru's knowledge as Scribe, she had proven a valuable asset to the Senshi. And it was obvious that the Senshi treasured her friendship. This included Rei. Then, Rei turned to her other "sister", Ami.
"I've been doing fire readings, Ami-chan. Want to tell me what's troubling you?"
Ami looked up at Rei, and then to the others, and then took out her Dream Book. "I've been having this dream for the past three weeks", Ami said calmly and slowly. "I can only guess I'm on Mercury, but as it is now. I'm talking to a young man there, a bit older than I am. From the way we're talking- about home and family and pastimes- I think we've known each other for a long time. He almost feels like family."
"He is", Naru said, "if he looks like this." She showed Ami a rough sketch drawn as Ami was speaking. Ami let out at small gasp, then shakily nodded her head.
"Well, what does 'the Almanac' say about this ?" Rei asked with a smile. Naru had been tagged as "The Almanac" almost as soon as she had joined with the Senshi.
"First," Naru smiled back, "what was in the fire ?"
Rei looked at Ami. "I felt no danger. But I did sense trouble- and sadness. Ami, are you going to be alright ?"
"I don't know" Ami said.
"What about this family member ?" Makoto asked. "Who is he?"
"And will I meet him," Ami finally voiced a growing fear, "only to loose him ?"
"Who is Ami's family-member, Naru ?", asked Usagi.
Naru pulled out a notebook from her backpack. "On these pages," she said, "are the genealogies of the Inner Senshi. If you'll look, you'll see how the families are all related. Mainly through the House of Serenity. And, you'll also note that the Senshi are listed as having brothers and sisters." Ami, Minako, Rei, and Makoto gathered around the notebook hungrily while Usagi smiled and hugged her baby sister.
Rei looked at Usagi and sweatdropped. "We're cousins, Odango-Atama ?" Usagi looked at her sister and then back to Rei. "I'm afraid so", Usagi smiled. Rei face-faulted.
" I had a sister..." Makoto softly cried.
" You may still have her, somewhere." Luna told the Senshi of Jupiter. "It seems that the King of Mercury had the same idea as Queen Senerity ! Well- maybe the same thought occured to the other royal houses when the War with the Dark Kingdom ended !"
" Well," answered Rei, "we know that Ami has at least one brother living ! But where is he ? Is he near-by ?"
" I don't think so." Ami said. "In my dreams, my brother spoke English with an American accent !" Ami thought for a momemt. "I'm going to have to tell my Mom about being a Sailor Senshi." She stared at her drawing and Naru's. "Because, whoever he is, I want my mother to know about him."
The other Senshi, save for Usagi, were taken by surprise at this statement. It seems awkward when you get ready to divulge a secret that had been a secret for three and a half years. But Ami knew it could stay a secret no longer, although she was still afraid that her mother could become a target for any Enemies of the Senshi that may appear. Usagi had faced those same fears when she found that Naru had been her baby sister in the Silver Millinium.
And, Usagi had been afraid that her mother and father would no longer trust her when they found out that she had lied to them for so long. And, indeed, what she told them (and showed them, to drive home the point),it took the Tsukinos some getting used to, but Ikuko and Kenji did not draw away from their daughter. Usagi was their daughter, even if she was the daughter of an ancient lunar queen. They were actually relieved to learn the truth. They had figured something was wrong, with Usagi running off at odd hours. Shingo was even relieved to hear the truth, although he was becoming very protective of his older sister since learning of Sailor Moon.
Mrs. Oosaka was a bit more relieved at learning Naru's identity than the Tsukinos at learning Usagi's. Naru had said her mother was always amazed at the frequency with which the youmas of the Dark Kingdom and Droids of the Blackmoon had attacked her and her daught- er. It helped calm Mrs. Oosaka down farther when she realized that Usagi and Naru would always be there for each other. Usagi also found comfort in this fact.
Luna spoke up, breaking the sudden silence. "Ami, if you're going to tell your mother, I think I should go with you. Just to back your story."
"Well," said Ami, "that would help convince her I'm not crazy." Ami thought for a moment. "Usagi ?" She said nervously, " Can you come, too ?"
"I don't see why not," said Usagi, smiling, "especially when you consider I'm to blame for this! Let me call home, first, OK ?"
That evening found Ami, Usagi, and Luna at the Mizuno house, waiting for Dr. Mizuno to arrive from the hospital. Luna tried to make herself comfortable. Usagi, who was watch- ing Ami, was fidgeting a little. Ami was nervously pacing the floor.
"Ami," Usagi said, "you're making ME nervous !".
"Gomen, Usagi", Ami apologized. "It is just that the more I wait, the more scared I get."
"Remember this, Ami-chan," Usagi smiled and hugged Ami, "I will always be here!"
It was then that the door opened.
"Mom !"
"Hello, Ami ! Sorry I'm late. I had to stay a little late to cover for my replacement." Dr. Mizuno said. "Oh ! Hello, Usagi -chan !" Dr. Mizuno then noticed Luna. " I am sorry, Usagi-chan, but I cannot allow cats in my house."
"I understand, Dr. Mizuno." Luna said apologetically.
Dr. Mizuno spun towards Luna.
"Did this cat just ... talk ?"
"I did", Luna said.
Ami took a deep bresth. "Mom ? There's something I need to tell you. You best sit down."
After Dr. Mizuno sat down comfortably, Ami took out her henshin-stick. "Mercury Star Power- MAKE UP !"
Ribbons of blue energy-bands swirled around Ami, transforming into a watery cocoon. When the cocoon was shed with a blinding flash of light, Mizuno Ami was no more. In her place stood Sailor Mercury.
Ami's mom was as silent- as still- as a stone.
"Dr. Mizuno ?" Usagi asked.
"Mom ?" Ami said nervously, taking her mother's pulse.
"Ami," her mother said weakly, "you .. have .. some explaining to do."
"Hai. Mom.." Ami started haltingly, "I've never wanted to hide anything from you,
or lie to you. But I was always afraid our enemies would take you away from me!
Like they did before "
" Be.. fore ?" Dr. Mizuno asked, searching the eyes of the young woman who she
had always taken to be her child. It was then that she noticed how old those
eyes seemed. How tired and frail they appeared.
" Ami ?" Dr. Mizuno asked her daughter hesitently. "Who are you ?"
" I am your daughter, Mizuno Ami." The Senshi stated. "I am also Princess Ami, ruler of the planet Mercury, and royal guard of the Princess Usagi of the Moon Kingdom of a thousand years ago."
Serena, meanwhile, had transformed to Sailor Moon and them to the Moon-Prin- cess Serena. Dr. Mizuno looked towards Serena, only to see a regal figure in the room. It took a few seconds to register in Dr. Mizuno's mind that who she was seeing was Tsukino Usagi.
"Your.. Highness ?" Dr. Mizuno stammered. Serena curtsied deeply to Dr. Mizuno. "So," Dr. Mizuno asked her daughter, "how did.. the Princess of Mercury.. become my daughter ?"
" It's a sad tale, Dr. Mizuno." Usagi sighed. "A thousand years ago, the Moon Kingdom was in a terrible war ! Everyone on the moom perished- the Queen, the Princess, the Prince the Princess was supposed to marry, and the entire Royal Court ! It was the Queen's- my mother's- wish that I and my friends get another chance at the happy lives we were robbed of ! So, she used the last of her magical powers to gather our spirits, and the Royal advisors, and sent us into the river of time, praying that we would find those happy lives. Unfortunately, to save us, she had to also save the lives of our enemies. So, she sent our advisors, including Luna," Usagi pointed to the dark cat, "to awaken our warrior's memories if the enemies ever returned. So, I am afraid that I am responsible for bringing Sailor Mercury here. I am sorry."
" Do not be, Your Highness !" Dr. Mizuno said. "I have always been proud of my daughter. I am now more so !" Dr. Mizuno hugged her daughter as both women cried.
" I am glad to finally know what has been happening to you, Ami-chan !" Dr. Mizuno said, " But, why are you telling me now ?"
Ami took out her dream book. "Because, mom, I have a brother someplace. A brother from my other life."
Dr. Mizuno carefully read through Ami's notebook. Then she turned to her daughter.
"Oh, Mama!" Ami cried. "I don't want to lose you ! Demo, I have to see my niisan - before I have the chance of losing him !"
Dr. Mizuno spend a long dark night comforting her daughter.
To be continued in.
Chapter 2