Neo-queen Serenity gazed out among her subjects giving a small nervous smile to all those she recognized during her crunch year of lessons. She waved elegantly at Endymion who nodded to her with his boyish smile before dunking his head back into the heady text-book he was reading. All the forced knowledge, time with Ami and others, and that medical text book of his was still gibberish to her, but at least now she could hold a semi-decent conversation with him. Sighing she turned from her ill-fated star-crossed lover prince romance, who became a friend, a close friend in the end. Silently she wondered if the fates had just given up on the pair after the whole mess with Chaos, and she now Cosmos, well when she needs to be, belatedly she looked at her young, barren ring finger and sighed once more. A click of heels behind her had her turning her head to face the wisdom filled orbs of the Plutonian Senshi; she nodded intrigued toward the woman while smiling at her old friend.
"It is time to pick regents Your Majesty while you accept your crown from the moon." Pluto informed her while kneeling and placing a fist above her heart.
"All ready, but I was just coroneted with Endymion's crown and the Earthen throne." The Neo-Queen simpered while gazing at her senshi.
"I know, and I am sorry, but we must make reparations for all the underhanded methods we had to use and all the damage Chaos did." Pluto responded while rising from her kneeling position on behalf of Serenity's wave. Serenity sighed while leaning back a little in the ornate throne, the laurel leaves that extended from the crown digging into her head as she shifted. Fixing the crown so as not to cause anymore discomfort, she wondered what her new future crown would look like when joined with the moon crown, and she silently wondered if she would ever see her precious future daughter again. "I understand it is a lot of responsibilities to take on your young shoulders," she trailed off while tossing a glare Endymion's way, "but none the less it must be done, do not worry you will 'catch a break,' as they say soon enough." Pluto explained while waving her hands to the crowd and where the Neo-Queen would pick the new nobles from that fell just below her senshi in political power. For once the Neo-Queen regretted that she never asked Chibi-Usa how she had achieved her ruling in her time; politics is a very dirty game. Sighing she nodded her acquiesce while glancing at all the power-hungry faces that surrounded the ones she would pick in the end, she definitely will not pick those who would seek to abuse their power, and subconsciously she would repay those who helped her and those who had hindered her.
"How are the generals readapting to their surroundings and to their old positions?" The Neo-Queen inquired while smiling down at her people and friends.
"With Endymion the bond is still there so they are semi-happy, unfortunately the bonds with the senshi are still strained." Pluto answered and Serenity nodded.
"I see, and any word from the front?" She asked, while flicking an observation to the four generals who just walked in with a bow. How interesting was it that when she took the throne the throne brought the generals back to life reborn with the purity they once held.
"No my queen, but we do have some good news from the Northern section, he is healing nicely and thanks you for your help." Kunzite responded while kneeling as Pluto once did.
"It pleases us that his health is in good repair." Serenity returned and smiled when Jadeite snickered at her, the rest of the Shitennou shook their heads at the youngest. "We are interested to know what amuses you about our manner." Serenity spoke and Jadeite snickered some more before nodding.
"I'm sorry it's just so odd hearing you speak that way, as I cannot help but remember a certain whiny senshi or even a rebellious princess who refused her court lessons." Jadeite explained while smiling at her.
"Oh shut up, it's hard enough remembering to do so without you prodding me about it." The Neo-Queen whined at him and the Shitennou smiled.
"Now there is the Tsuki Senshi I remember when I use to fight against you." Jadeite teased fondly while grinning at her.
"It seems that you have not changed that much of all Your Majesty, you've merely matured." Nephrite spoke up with a tender smile.
"Gee thanks guys for your support, I mean it is really flattering, here I am trying my best to be a good queen, when I should be out buying dresses and being a wild child, thanks, thanks a lot." The bunny scolded them and the Shitennou snickered while rising as they were ordered to by the queen. "Zoisite are you all right, you have been awfully quiet?" Serenity inquired.
"I was just wondering if I should get you some cheese with that whine for your eighteenth birthday." Zoisite teased, but his frown did not lift from his brow.
"You are lying to me Zoisite, but I understand this isn't the time to talk about it, however, it is the senshi cold and unforgiving response to you guys isn't it." The Neo-Queen stated while nodding to those who waited for her.
"Still so perceptive about the human heart, My Liege, sometimes I wonder if we were better off not reborn again." Zoisite remarked and the Shitennou frowned while the Neo-Queen sighed.
"Give them time, they are young and passionate, to let you in on a little secret it took the Outer Senshi and the Inner Senshi forever to get along and even then they tend to stick to their own circles." Serenity spoke while smiling at her soul sisters across the way.
"Young and passionate, you speak as if you are over ninety years old, aren't you just as young as them, or are all those rebirths catching up to you?" Jadeite spoke up and Serenity was tempted to hit him no matter what the tabloids would say.
"Shut up Jadeite, stop teasing me when I'm supposed to be making an impression." Serenity scolded and though she tried to glare she wound up smiling at them instead.
"The queen is right, we have taken up too much of her time at the moment." Kunzite cut in and the four of them bowed and left her to the wolves of fate. Pluto stifled a smile behind her glove and nodded out into the audience that awaited her young queen. Chaos might have messed up the future, but this one was shaping up to be a much more interesting and better one indeed.
Serenity sighed trying not to slouch in the uncomfortable throne while turning to the people in the room. Once again she mused over their faces, weighing their souls and hearts, the future wasn't too bad if the ones she trusted remained the same souls they were. She waved the advisors forward, making note to get rid of them as soon as possible, for they were of the old regime, and fell back listening to their droll. Subconsciously she wondered why the Earthen throne had preserved these old idiots, as they listed names and ranks and royalties of each person standing in the room. Knowing that it will be a long while before they finished, she cast her gaze once more to the people in the room before falling into familiar memories of those she had met in this last year.
Usagi blinked happily as her soul once more rested on terra firma with her beloved family beside her. They had did it they had won the battle, Chaos was gone and the cauldron stable, now it was time to say good bye to new friends. There were tears, hugs, and fond wishes of farewell and promises to visit as the Star Senshi, along with their princess got ready to leave for their home. Usagi blinked and blushed when Seiya approached, glared daringly at Mamoru before kissing her on the cheek and cheekily waving good-bye to her. "See you around Odango, stay pretty for me, I'll see you again sometime." Seiya stated while bowing to her. Usagi couldn't help herself and leapt forward to hug the senshi, she would miss Seiya very, very much, but the future must go on. After a few minutes of holding one another close with neither side willing to let go, Mamoru stepped up and pulled the blond into his embrace knowing she was struggling not to cry.
"Do not take so long to visit, that wouldn't make Usagi very happy." Mamoru informed him, then they all watched as the ones from a far-away distance locked hands and disappeared into a flash of light. Looking down at the blond in his arms as his shirt began to feel wet he wondered where everything went wrong.
Feeling the solemn atmosphere, Minako cleared her throat and smiled at her princess, but that did little to cheer her up from her cry. Haruka had a better idea, even if she was honestly curious, she knew it would bring a chuckle from the blond. "Why is it everything we senshi do, we have to be so flashy about it?" Haruka inquired while blinking still from the bright flash of light that herald the exit of the senshi from another galaxy.
"You know, I don't know, I mean we tried to keep the media attention away from us right?" Minako responded while tapping her chin with a finger.
"I guess its just one of the things that comes with being a senshi." Makoto said while shrugging her shoulders. The rest of the senshi laughed including Usagi while she unwound herself from Mamoru's embrace.
"I like the pretty sparkles and the magical backgrounds we get when we transform, and the outers get sakura blossoms, that are neat too." Usagi stated while join her family with happier air.
"Poor Mamoru-san though, he gets the prettiest background of all from the magic and he's a guy." Rei remarked causing the Earth prince to sigh.
"I miss the time when you all were younger and actually admired me." Mamoru said while ruffling his raven hair.
"Oh well, we grew up, is it such a shame you do not have your little fan club anymore." Makoto teased and punch Mamoru lightly in the arm.
"It seems like a perfectly good waste of magic the backgrounds use in our transformation, certainly it could be geared toward something else." Ami intoned while pushing up her glasses.
"Oh come on Ami-chan, you know you like it, and Mako-chan don't punch Mamo-chan, and I'm sure there is a reason for the pretty backgrounds." Usagi chimed checking on her love one's arm. Luna chuckled from her place on the ground, oh she knew why they had such elaborate displays, and she had an inkling Setsuna did too. Princess Serenity had more in common with her Queen mother and the rest of Selene's line than she would think. A clearing of a throat drew the senshi attention to their last guest and silent some wondered why she was still here. "Yes, what is it Galaxia?" Usagi posed while gazing at the nervous senshi. While looking over though she swore she saw something out of the corner of her eye.
"Well, you should have died…" Galaxia spoke softly and immediately all eyes riveted on the senshi.
"What do you mean I should have died?" Usagi inquired while wrapping her arms around herself.
"Chaos interrupted the path of you future and mess with time, you are about to become queen…and…" Galaxia trailed off when she saw Usagi head snap to the side.
"Did I just see myself vanquish a Lemures?" Usagi inquired while starring at the image across from them. The rest of the senshi temu turned and sure enough they saw the battle that had once taken place before. "Okay, what is going on?" Usagi questioned as she turned away from the battle and the images that bring painful reminders.
"That was what I was trying to explain, Chaos has sent the timeline into a scramble because, it appeared too early, and since you did not die or accept you ascension completely this is the result." Galaxia stated while Setsuna went white and cast her senses to the Gates. "If you had died you would have been reborn in the right position in time, or if you had chosen to ascend to your rightful throne among the stars you would have been free." She added.
"So you are saying it's my fault that I actually survived an encounter with an enemy or that I chose to resurrect my friends, my family, instead of merrily going about my way." Usagi exclaimed, slightly put off that things had gotten so out of hand.
"Not at all, you now have the power of Cosmos within, but not at your command, your reign of Neo-Queen is about to begin, and it's all Chaos's fault that you are not ready at all." Galaxia responded. "For the great freeze hasn't happen that would purify and basically brainwash the people of earth into accepting your rule." She continued, sighing as the senshi got more and more anxious.
"Wait a minute, brainwash, we aren't the dark kingdom, or nemesis." Usagi cried out, trying to process the information that was being given to her.
"Technically you were never supposed to know, you were just to awaken, accept your coronation, and bring peace to the great utopia." Setsuna spoke up while Usagi tried to wrap her mind around the information, and was shock to find that her senshi along with Mamoru weren't all that surprised.
"I'm not surprised Usako, my people, they are too indebted in their personal desires to give up their independence to a foreign rule." Mamoru explained while running a hand through his hair. "I'm almost ashamed of them, but they are my people." He stated sighing all the while.
"They wouldn't be giving up their independence they would be insuring their safety!" Usagi yelped, and Rei stepped up to hug her.
"Usagi, picture my father, he's like the majority in charge, they would never let Crystal Tokyo come to pass, and the other countries would never accept the seat of power to be anywhere but in their country." Rei commented much aware of politics and all the evil that infests such a needed necessity.
"Koneko, you are too pure, kind, and naïve to understand, but it was either that, or we kill them all." Haruka finally ended the discussion.
"No one remembers the Silver Alliance, and even if they did hime it wouldn't matter for the Earth still hated us except for the Earthain Royal Family." Michiru added, and Usagi collapsed to her knees in shock.
"It is different now Hime, you get a new chance at the throne, but this time you have to play, and play dirty, learn and become the queen you would become many centuries later." Hotaru stated and Usagi gazed at her family.
"What if I just decline, what if I say skip this queen business let's all be normal, what if I just don't do it?" Usagi rambled and Galaxia shook her head.
"It's a destiny of this planet and of all planets for you to rule." Galaxia answered.
"Well what if I say screw destiny, people should always be able to decide shouldn't they?" Usagi asked.
"Well, to put it lightly and as easily as possible hime, then the planet goes boom." Ami answered this time, and seeing the confusion elaborated. "There is too much magic in the core with no control, and it has only gotten more unstable with us being here and then being forced to fight numerous magical enemies." She continued and kneeled down beside the shocked blond. "It's an evil necessity but if you do not have the coronation, thus become the controller of Gaia's magic, then Earth as we knew will cease to exist and while we will be reborn the terrans would not." Ami finished and Usagi fished for any thought that would help her grasp the situation.
"What about you Mamoru, aren't you the prince of this world, couldn't you just stop it?" Usagi inquired.
"No Usagi, it has not been me who has healed my home, it has not been my magic that has made everything possible, and it is not me who now rules the stars willing or not." Mamoru stated while hugging the kneeling girl. "This time I cannot help you, this time I cannot offer any assistance this you'll have to accept and do on your own." Mamoru explained and kissed Usagi gently on the cheek. "It seems like I have my own path to take, and lessons I need to learn, I also need to train with the Kinshou, I think it would be better if we put our relationship off." Mamoru said, and kissed her deeply once. "You need to find where you stand and who you are now, you need to spread your wings." He said and backed away. "No matter what I love and care about you, but this time we got to let each other go." Then he turned and walked off as the final battle with Nehelenia finished in the distance and the world warped. Usagi felt everything displace, time went back to its proper alignment, her emotions fell, and Mamoru disappear to a castle that had been hidden from the rest of the Earth for many years. Then the emptiness came and the warrior along with the princess within looked up at her assorted family with a sad smile.
"When I pictured the future, this was not what I imagined." She told them softly. Setsuna kneeled before her dashed and confused hime, lifted one of Usagi's hands in her own and kissed her right ring finger knuckle.
"Then make the future that you imagine, my lady, remember the future is not set in stone." She whispered in comfort.
"No it seems more like the future is set in jello." Minako remarked and the rest of the senshi blinked at her before laughing.
"I do not even want to know how you came to that conclusion Mina-chan." Rei responded and Usagi stood up on shaky legs but with a determine grin.
"I understand, I'll find a way to do this right, and I'll become the best queen they will ever see!" She declared all fire and love in her voice.
"That's the way princess, tomorrow we start your lessons." Galaxia intruded.
"Lessons…?" Usagi parroted.
"You have a year until you take the throne on your eighteenth birthday, so you better get started, no more laziness your majesty." Galaxia informed her and Usagi nodded.
"Girl, we have a lot of work to do." Minako stated as she saw Usagi step forward and trip.
"No, we don't, as far as her majesty is concerned." Setsuna spoke while the garnet rod appeared in her hand. "Only I, Uranus, and Neptune will be actively interacting with the princess, well not even that." Setsuna now Pluto spoke.
"What do you mean Meiousei-san?" Rei spoke up as she stared at Pluto.
"I'm going to set up the situations she needs to grow and Uranus and Neptune, I mean Tennousei and Kaiousei are going as her guards, nothing more nothing less." Pluto explained. "The rest of you have to set up the coronation and ascend to your own planetary lines, I will be joining you shortly, but Neptune and Uranus are all ready the claimed rulers of their planets, so they will stay as Serenity's guards." Pluto added, and tapped her rod to the ground once before disappearing. However, before completely leaving she offered an envelope to the future sovereign of Earth, Moon, and Stars. "Get some rest, you are going to need it for your new school tomorrow." Pluto ordered and Usagi nodded dumbly, her whole world had completely spun off its axis. "Don't worry, you'll enjoy it there, and consider all the new friends you will make…eventually." She trailed off as the last wind died away from her transportation.
Without any words to her friends she dashed off to home, she just needed to be by herself. Before vanishing over the hill she heard Haruka say they would pick her up for school in the morning. However, when she got home her parents ushered her into the car while exclaiming she was almost late. They pulled into the Juuban High's parking lot with smiles and wished her the best while pushing her toward the school. Bewildered she walked on only to see Pluto nod out of the corner of her eye before encountering her sensei.
"I think it is admiral that you are trying that entrance exam Tsukino-san, do your best and make us proud." Her sensei spoke while leading her into an empty classroom with one desk that had a few sheets of paper on it. Usagi knew she would have to give it her all, she wasn't all to fail because she needed to get into this school. Her friends, her love, and the world were riding on her becoming queen. Glancing down at the questions she picked up her pencil and began to work. Two hours later she was still at it, frowning, scribbling, crossing out and erasing, before sighing loudly slapping her pencil down and leaning back in her chair.
"Sensei, I am finished, thank you for this chance." Usagi stated and the woman nodded and picked up the test. Wearily Usagi walked out to the car feeling drain and strangely triumphant. As she crawled into the waiting car with her excited parents, she began to drift off, before a thought wiggled into her exhausted brain, exactly which school was she trying to get into? She shrugged and fell asleep instead, it had been a long day and it was only lunch time. Usagi didn't awake when her parents pulled up to the house, or when her father gently lifted her from the back seat and carried her in to her bedroom. She wouldn't wake until later that evening when the fated phone call arrived.
"Minna, did you hear we are getting a new student who passed the entrance exams!" A chipper voice exclaimed, while a group of mismatched people turned and raised an eyebrow as one.
"Really, isn't that fascinating, I think we will be good friends." Another stated watching as the portrayer of the news tried to weasel out more information from the more technologic savvy one.
"What's the student's name?" The one at the computer asked.
"Tsukino Usagi, a Juuban resident." Was the response.
"Her records are sealed…..extremely tight." The one at the computer answered, surprise they were having so much trouble finding information on the new student, slightly intrigued they flipped open a cell phone and began to speak.
Ami sighed leaning back in the chair as Setsuna patted her on the shoulder. It was tough finding every single scrap on her princess and pulling it all into one file while locking it with Mercurian Codes. Belatedly she wondered if it was such a good idea as one could get amazingly lucky, but Setsuna had said not to destroy the information they would need it later. Ami wondered what was going on, but then jumped when Setsuna leaned forward and typed a few things into the computer. A second locked formed in Plutonian before another screen came up, glancing at it Ami gasped before looking surprised at the woman. Setsuna nodded and Ami blinked before leaning forward to engage in something she knew was illegal by Terran standards, but anything for her princess and future queen. She wondered absently if she'll be able to study for her medical exams coming up and she caught the mysterious smile on Setsuna face. Well, not for nothing it was time to get to work building the future they desired.
Usagi yawned tiredly as the shaking continued and she cracked up her eyes to see her excited father gesturing toward the phone. Knowing that her exam had been examined she curiously approached the phone while her parents along with Shingo leaned interestedly forward in the background. "Tsukino Usagi speaking." Usagi said into the receiver.
"Ah, Tsukino-san, first off thank you for taking our exam." A rather studious, but curiously enough happy voice stated over the phone. "Tsukino Usagi allow me to be the first to welcome you to Ouran Private Academy." The voice greeted, Usagi fell into shock, before hastily getting the rest of instructions and thank you's out of the way before hanging up.
"Ouran…I'm in Ouran…" She managed to get out while fainting in shock to her family's cheering in the background.
AN : Okay, listen up, well read up, whatever, someone emailed me asking about what the something new might stand for on the poll, so I decided to show you. This is the start of a multi-cross I have sitting on my hard drive along with several other ideas..however, it's all up to you guys, so vote on the poll on my bio please.