Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.



Title:

By: Junshin Aino

Prolog: The Mysterious Lady

The small, almost three-year old stared unblinking into her mother's mirror, vaguely comprehending that the

image she saw was her own. Her was very intelligent for a child her age, one who caught onto things

quickly, like the tricks her parents used to distract her from her half- formed questions, or playtime demands.

Her pink hair and ruby eyes, wide and expressive, made her seem more like a doll than a real girl, and all to

often people forgot that she never forgot the things that were said around her.

Since her first birthday, she remembered everything with perfect clarity, even if she wasn't always able to

put the images in her mind into words. She could remember, for instance, the green haired woman who had

attended both of her birthday parties, but was never seen around the Palace at any other time. She

remembered that the woman's eyes were the same as her own, and wondered if they were related. She

seemed almost as regal as her Lady Mother, so perhaps they were sisters.

The inner court was careful to never speak this woman's name around the girl, and never gave any mention

of who she was or what she did. She had no idea why the woman came to her parties, or why she seemed so

familiar. Her mother and father refused to answer any questions she posed about the mysterious woman, and

she had left before the girl could make her way over to talk to her.

But Mystery Lady always left wonderful presents for her… on her first birthday she had received a small

mirror that never broke, and always showed beautiful nature scenes from all over the Earth. On her second

birthday she had received a stuffed Pegasus, which would fly short distances when told to do so.

She wondered what she would receive for her birthday this year… there were only four more days, and she

couldn't wait until that day. Her parents had promised to get away from work early, and have her a party at

the Crystal Lake. This time, she would get to talk to the Mystery Lady, and find out who she was. She

promised herself this, an end to the intrigue, and perhaps even a reward. And if not, she would exert every

bit of charm and cuteness she possessed to get an answer about her identity, even if she had to sneak into the

servants rooms and ask the people there.

The servants always seemed to know everything.

She blinked and broke the staring contest she had been engaged in with her reflection and hopped off her

chair. The tinkling of a bell told her that Diana had come to retrieve her for dinner, and she didn't want to be

late. Her behavior would be perfect until her birthday party was over.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Four days later:

Hands folded neatly in her lap, Small Lady Serenity smiled affectionately at everyone who sat around her,

trying her best not to fidget while she sat there. Her parents where exchanging pleasantries with their

friends, her mother's Sailor Senshi, and Guardian Cats, but the only two people that Small Lady herself had

to speak with where her own Guardian Cat, Diana, and Sailor Saturn, who, no matter what, always managed

to find time for Small Lady.

The summer day was uncommonly mild, a gentle breeze fanning the princess' pigtails out behind her. She

could tell from the way her Mother kept glancing around that she was expecting a visitor, and she dearly

wanted to know for certain who her mother was expecting. Yet, she kept her curiosity carefully suppressed,

so her Mother wouldn't suspect that she knew something was up. After all, most children her age had the

attention span less that ten minutes long, and she should be tingling with anticipation over her gifts.

Waiting, waiting, and more waiting…

After a half hour more had passed the dark green haired woman that Small Lady had been seeking walked

out through the trees, and headed straight towards Serenity and Endymion. Setsuna didn't look at Small

Lady, though she wanted too. Today was not the day when they would meet again, and become friends. No,

both she and Small Lady must wait…

Once Setsuna had reached Serenity, the queen stood and gave her friend a hug. Setsuna swiftly pressed

Small Lady's gift into her Queen's hands before bowing and walking away again. Small Lady watched the

exchange, her expression smoothly interested only in the present left behind, and not in the bearer, though

inside she frowned, wishing the woman had stayed long enough to give her name.

Serenity walked over to Small Lady, and gave her Setsuna's present. "Happy Birthday, my Small Lady.

Time for you to open your gifts."

She smiled as eagerly as she could and offered a grin, "Yay! Finally, I get to see what my friends have

gifted me with, so I can thank them properly."

Serenity smiled and patted her daughter on the head, grateful for how wonderful she was.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Hours later Small Lady sat in her favorite chair, her Pegasus doll squashed into the chair beside her. In her

hands she held Setsuna's gift, and turned the package over and over. Her mother had given it to her only

after the party was over, as she had done the past two times. Carefully she undid the pink bunny wrapping

and pulled out a small, intricately carved wooden box. On the lid was an ivory Pegasus, with broken silver

chains dangling from its forelegs. Smiling, she opened the lid and looked inside, finding a delicate silver

necklace with a pink crystal rose hanging in the middle. She slipped the necklace over her head, and then

picked up the piece of paper that had been hidden under the rose.

There, in neatly written letters was, a short message.

'My name is Setsuna.'

Smiling, she folded the paper back neatly and tucked it carefully into the side lining of the box. So, her

mystery lady had a name. Perhaps next year she would know more.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

To Be Continued:

This story begins three years after Small Lady's birth, but will take place when she is, oh, five or so, when

she'll 'find' the Gates of Time, and Setsuna.