Note: This is the edited version of this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon in any way or form.
Chapter 1: The end of an ordinary life
The future is never set on stone any little change can change it. The world of Crystal Tokyo that was once Princess Serenity's and Prince Endymion's future was changed by the decision of the Queen to leave the world as it was and remain as normal people. Chibiusa was born as a normal child, but somehow retain her memories of Crystal Tokyo and her years of training as a Sailor Senshi in the past.
Tokyo at night was beautiful. The lights of the city made it look absolutely magical and the buzzing cars only added excitement that made your heart speed up. It seem like a magical city were everything could happen just by looking at it. The moon added an even more mysterious, yet magical quality. It was absolutely breathtaking. I looked out the window outside my bedroom trying to paint it exactly the same. Painting with oil paint had recently become my favorite media, and the moon looked even more beautiful than usual in the city night sky. It was no secret I loved the moon. My room had moons everywhere. When I wasn't painting or drawing I was adding more moons to my long collection of moons or to my collection of rabbits.
I myself was descended from a long line of moon royalty, but that's a long story even though it may sound unbelievable. It seems unbelievable to even me sometimes, but it's the truth. You may be asking why if I am descended from the moon as I say do I not live in the moon where I am from? Well that's sort of a tragic story that began before I was born, but it doesn't matter because now I am here on earth and I love earth. It's my home. I continued painting thinking about the past and the moon. I was remembering my past life. Yes past life. I had one or perhaps it's not consider a past life, but a part of me that no longer exist. I just I am not making sense am I? My current self and the current state of thing wasn't like this.
I shouldn't be able to remember, but once I was born in a world called Crystal Tokyo. Yes Tokyo as in Tokyo, Japan. That was what my life should have been like had the future remained that way. It was a world where my mother and father ruled as the rightful rulers and there was peace and no one age. Sounds like a dream huh? Such world did exist however and I remember it clearly as if I lived it which technically I did live it. No one is really sure why I remember this. Everyone else remembers because in their present they visited this future world though time travel, but how do I whom hadn't even been born into the present yet remembered? Setsuna-san says she doesn't know the answer for sure, but she thinks it's because I time traveled to the present so there I retain memories because I was actually alive in the present.
No matter how much I think of this it makes no sense, but I am glad I have them. They remind me of so many important things and so many things I mustn't take for granted no matter what. I sighed as I looked from my painting to the moon. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't seem to completely grasp the full beauty of the moon. It was difficult, but it was an important painting. "Chibiusa," I heard my father call after several minutes. I sighed in relief. I barely got to finish the painting. "Coming," I yelled back. I quickly looked in the mirror and fixed my short naturally pink hair. I used to wear it like my mother with two long pigtails with two buns. It was a very odd, but cute style however recently I decided to try something more mature.
I am already sixteen after all. I ran downstairs in a rush not wanting to make anyone wait for me any longer. Today was special. The painting I was working on was for was for my mother's birthday party. Everyone was downstairs waiting. My mother, my father, Rei-chan, Mako-chan, Minako-chan, Ami-chan, Hakura-chan, Michiru-chan, Setsuna-chan, Hotaru-chan, Luna, Diana, and Atremis. My mother was showered with presents and had a bright smile in her face. I smiled and said, "I made you a painting, but it's still drying," I explained. "Did you wait until the last minute to paint it?" my mother teased breaking away from her dreamy expression. "Mou Okasan! I was just waiting for the perfect scenery to paint!" I protested with a pout. My mother giggled.
"I am just kidding Chibiusa. I am sure it's lovely," my mother told me with a smile. I returned the smile and nodded. "You bet it is!" I exclaimed. The other giggled at my silly outburst. I took a moment to observe my mother's outfit. It was a white long dress with gold equins. It reminded me of the royal dress my mother used to where in the old future, but it wasn't quite the same. Still it was beautiful. My mother looked as stunning as ever. No one would be able to tell it was her 31st birthday. It was a moon royalty thing. We stop aging at a certain age. Same went for everyone else in the room. The other girls were all descent from royalty of their own planets making them royalty at the moon as well.
Even so the aging thing was a mystery. We still don't really know why we don't age. Theory was it was because of my mother's Maboroshi no Ginzuishou. At least that was what kept us from aging in the old future of Crystal Tokyo. It would make sense that it would have that effect in this future as well. "Nee should we bring in the cake?" Mako-chan asked clapping her hands. I grinned knowing Makoto's homemade cakes were amazing. She did work in a bakery after all. "Mako-chan's cakes are the best!" my mother beamed happily and looked like an overexcited child. Well that look never changed no matter how old my mother got, but it was a good thing. I like the way things are now.
The room became loud with the prospect of cake. Makoto announced she be bringing the cake and refuse to have anyone follow her, but Ami. The two seemed to be in on a secret which made me wonder what grand surprise had Makoto prepared for my mother. "Hopefully she didn't go overboard," Rei commented as if reading my thoughts. "Ah let her be. It's a special occasion after all," Minako told her. Small talk filled the room and I made my way to Hotaru's side. She was the only senshi around my age so talking to her wasn't weird as it would be if I was talking to the older girls. This is the reason we pretty much became best friends. Of course not the only one though. Hotaru was amazing in every right.
"It's been a while since we had such a big celebration with everyone hasn't it?" I asked Hotaru. Hotaru smiled and nodded. "It has. It's nice. I haven't seen you in a while you know so this is great," Hotaru said. It was true. Lately we been drifting apart a bit. Before we used to constantly have sleepovers and talk on the phone, but I got so distracted from school so naturally we been losing touch. "I am sorry. I been a bit busy with school, but we should hang out one of these days!" I replied. Hotaru smiled and answered, "Don't worry about it. I been quite busy as well. High school is tough isn't it?" "I couldn't agree more! I can't take another exam!" I said thinking about my last test. I wasn't too bad at school, but test were not my thing at all.
Makoto and Ami came back to the room with the biggest cake I had ever seen. I mean it rivaled a wedding cake. The cake had white frosting and was decorated with bunnies and moons. My mom and I are Tsukino Usagi which means bunny and moon, so the idea is pretty cut and creative. I knew the taste would be just as amazing. We walked to the kitchen where I began to set the plates and forks for the cake. Minako tried to cut the cake while getting smacked by Rei for making a mess. At the end Ami ended up cutting the entire cake and serving everyone a piece. I had seconds and thirds. It really was the best cake I had ever tasted. "I am telling you this has got to outdo you wedding cake!" Minako insisted having an argument with my mother over what cake was nicer. "No way. Our wedding cake was more special. Nee Mamo-chan?" my mother said casting a hopeful look at my father.
My father laughed. "I have to agree, but maybe it was the event that made it seem more special," my father pointed out diplomatically. I was laughing as my mother pouted when I noticed someone was missing. Hotaru. "Ah where did Hotaru go?" I asked interrupting their discussion. "Ah that's true. Wasn't she just here?" Michiru said looking at the empty seat next to Setsuna. "I didn't even notice her leave. Maybe she went to the restroom?" Setsuna said. I relaxed. "Probably," I said. I watched the conversation move around, but still no Hotaru. I began to feel a bit anxious so I decided to go look for her. The rest of the house was dark and quiet in comparison to the lively kitchen. Our house wasn't too big, but very beautiful.
There were so many of my paintings in the walls and artifacts from my mother's various journeys in saving the world. To some they might seem ordinary, but to us they held a lot of meaning. Finally at the very end of the living room I saw a curled up figure. Hotaru. I wondered why Hotaru was all alone in a dark room. Something was off. "Is something wrong?" I quickly asked with a worried voice. Hotaru looked up and forced a smile. "Of course. I am fine. Nothing to worry about. I was just feeling tired that's all," Hotaru lied. It wasn't hard to tell when Hotaru lied. She was generally a very honest person and her face instantly gave her away. "Hotaru you and I both know you are terrible at lying so what gives?" I asked again. She gave me a small smile and sighed.
"It's really not that serious," Hotaru reassured me. "If it's not that serious then why are you here and not in the party? I mean look if it's bothering you so much you miss out on awesome cake it's important," I said making the last part dramatic so she would laugh. Hotaru giggled at my silliness for a couple of seconds and then frown. I began to get worried. What could Hotaru be worried about. "Can you keep a secret?" Hotaru asked looking around the room to make sure there was no one listening. I nodded. "Okay it's just I think I had a vision," Hotaru said. I blinked to make sure I heard her correctly. "A vision?" I repeated to make sure I heard her correctly. "Yeah it wasn't a pretty one. I mean I am not even sure what it is. It was more of a bad feeling and flashes of things," Hotaru explained.
I grabbed her hand and blurted out, "We need to tell the others! This is important Hotaru! What if something happens?!" Hotaru shook her head. "Chibiusa it's okay! I don't really think it's that important. If something bad was going to happen I am pretty sure Rei and Michiru would have already sensed it," Hotaru pointed out. I sighed. Hotaru was right. Rei and Michiru had a strong sixth sense. Surely they would have felt something like Hotaru pointed out, but… Hotaru seemed to notice I wasn't convince because then she said, "Besides why ruin their fun? It's the first time they seen each other in months." I fought a debate in my head.
On one side Hotaru was right about Rei or Michiru sensing it, but in the other hand… "Fine, but we tell them tomorrow. I know you don't think it's important, but you never know. We can never be too careful. Not after everything that's happened," I told her. "I guess you are right. I promise I'll tell them tomorrow," Hotaru reassured me. I smiled and grabbed her arm. "C'mon let's go back to the party! Maybe my mom left you some cake," I joked. Hotaru giggled and nodded. "I hope so. Is it good?" Hotaru asked. "Heavenly," I replied as we entered the kitchen.
….
I growled as my alarm clock's beep filled the room alerting me to wake up. All I wanted to do was stay in and sleep for ten more minutes, but I knew that if I did that I wouldn't get up and would end up running to school. My mother's party was fun and merry. It's was like that when we all get together even though we hardly see each other we have a strong bond that will never be broken. Even so now I am cursing the party for my blame of sleep. I lazily put on my uniform and grabbed my school bag.
I expected my mother to be asleep since it was quite early and she did have the tenacity to sleep in when she had a long day, but she was awake and heating up frozen waffles which is the best breakfast I could hope for since my mother was a terrible cook. I open the refrigerator to get some juice and said, "I thought you be asleep. It was a long night." My mother chuckled and replied, "Well my body just woke up early for some odd reason. I didn't think you would wake up as well." I smiled.
"Nonsense! I have school remember? I don't want to have to run to school like you and Minako always did!" I said sitting in the table. "Hey! Rude! Although I'll admit those times were fun in their own way. I miss those days," my mother said with a far off look. "I guess you are right. You are only young once after all," I replied. "Are you calling me old?" my mother asked with a grumpy expression.
"Oh don't complain. It's not like you look your age you know," I answered as she served me waffles. They aren't burned. I guess I got lucky this morning. "I guess you have a point, but it still doesn't sound pretty!" my mother protested. I was thoughtful for a moment and then said, "I wonder if things would have still been like this." My mother looked confused. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"I wonder if things would have still been like this had Crystal Tokyo still exist," I clarified. "Ah I suppose not. Some things would have been different, but I don't know. You were the one there. You would have a better answer," my mother told me. I thought about as I finished my breakfast and finally said, "You made the right choice because I don't think you would have had the time to make breakfast if we were living in Crystal Tokyo," I said before getting out of my seat. "I got to go." I said.
My mother hugged me and whispered, "I love you. I am glad I made this choice as well." I grinned and walked out the door. As I thought walking instead of running to school was way better. I was still tired though. The weather was nice though. It was fresh outside, but the sun was shining as well. It made me believe it was going to be a good day. Well kind off. I was still really really tired.
"Usagi-chan, you look exhausted," my best friend, Chiharu Sato, commented when she saw me walk into class. Chiharu called me Usagi like my other classmates since that was technically my first name and it felt weird to use Chibiusa around them. It would make me seem like a child I thought. "We had a party for my mom last night," I explained with a yawn.
Chiharu was an upbeat girl with curly brown hair with amazing green eyes that reminded me a bit of Minako-chan. They were both athletic and loved to chase idols, but Chiharu was a bit more discreet and shy "Oh, I see no wonder," Chiharu said. I was busying pulling out my notebook and pencil when Chiharu suddenly asks, "Hey, Chibiusa-chan do you ever wish you were a princess?"
"No," I answered as quickly as I could. I was a princess. I was the princess of the moon even though I was leading a normal life now, but had things remained like they were in Crystal Tokyo it would have been so different. Living as a princess was lonesome, hard and came with a lot of responsibly. I got to see my mother live that first hand. It came with pain. I knew that a princess life is no luxury life.
"Really? Why not?" Chiharu asked in shock. "A princess life isn't what it seems like. At least I think so. Imagine all the lessons they must have, plus it sounds lonesome," I told her. "You're so mature, Usagi-chan. I would never look at it that way. All I saw was a life of glamour," Chiharu admitted and looked out the window thoughtfully.
Our teacher walked in and began our lesson, but I couldn't concentrate. I was thinking about the life where I lived as a princess and the world wasn't at peace. The time when it was my mother's job and mine along with the sailor senshi was to protect the earth. I never wanted to return to those times again. I wanted to be normal. And now things are normal. It's more than I couldn't possibly wish for. I was happy. The day went by fast with several lessons. Finally, school was out and Chiharu and I were walking home. "Usagi-chan, want to go for a smoothie?" Chiharu asked. I nodded still lost in thought.
Something didn't feel right. I just couldn't pinpoint what it was. Could it have something to do with Hotaru's odd vision last night? No. It couldn't possibly be right. I was just being restless because Chiharu brought up my past life as a princess. I listened to Chiharu talk about her latest idol group obsession while we walked to our favorite smoothie place near my house. I felt bad for not listening to Chiharu, but I was anxious. Should I be ignoring my senshi senses?
Finally, we reached the smoothie placed and I ordered my favorite smoothie. "Are you ok?" Chiharu asked, but I never answer. Something, no someone caught my eye. Someone who didn't fit in a smoothie shop in Tokyo. It couldn't be, but there was no one in Tokyo that had that unusual white hair or golden eyes or who had ever made my heart beat that fast. Someone I only met in my dreams I got up in a rush, and our eyes met. I blinked and it took a couple of second for my head to function again. "Helios?" I wondered out loud. "Helios?" Chiharu asked sounding confused.
He walked towards me and there was no longer any doubt that was Helios. His gentle mystic aura gave him away. It wasn't something that didn't belong to this world and it was beautiful. I hoped I wasn't blushing because that would have been an embarrassing thing to do in front of old crush. "Hello, Chibiusa," Helios said politely as if he didn't know what he should say. It's not like I did. It have been years since I last saw him and that was in my past life even though the memory was so clear.
"Usagi-chan, who is that?" Chiharu asked with her eyebrow raised. I ignored her question and finally found my voice, "Why are you here? You…" I wanted to say more, but Chiharu was listening. I couldn't have her listening. It was too private even for my best friend. I felt awful for thinking that way, but it was how I felt. "Sorry Chiharu, but I have to go," I said in a small voice and grabbed Helios's hand. I dragged us out of their before Chiharu had the chance to ask questions. What was I suppose to say? Hey this is my long lost love from my other life? Oh yeah we met in my dreams and he was a white winged horse. Yeah I would sound like I lost it.
Anxiety began to take over me. This was the first time I seen Helios in years. Something big must have happened for him to suddenly appear in the real world. "Usagi!" Chiharu called out. I ignored her and ran as fast as I could to avoid her. Finally I stopped when we reached a secluded place. I was quiet for a moment still trying to hold my breath from the sudden escape we had made. Helios waited for me to get my strength back patiently. God he was as handsome as ever. I thought maybe my dreams overdid his good looks, but seeing him here now made me realize he looked better than in my dreams.
"Why are you here, Helios? What's going on?" I asked as my previous anxiety returned. "I was looking for you. Evil approaches. It's you. It's after you." Helios explain. The look in his eyes was intense. I found myself drowning in them. "What evil, Helios?" I asked softly my voice laced with fear. "I wish I knew. I wish I could help more. It's always this way. I never know enough information to actually be helpful. It was like this last time too," Helios said the frustration evident in his voice.
"Don't say that! You're helping us enough by informing me! Beside what happened last time wasn't your fault. It just was out of your control!" I told him. Helios simply shook his head. "I have no powers to help not even the golden crystal. I am nothing beside last time was my fault. I should have trusted you more," Helios insisted sadly. "Stop saying that!" I exclaimed and hugged him. I've missed him so much even though the memory was so distant. A memory from my past life as a princess of Crystal Tokyo who was visiting the present and met the love of her life in her dream.
Even without that memory I would meet him in my dreams every day. The memory was the only thing that let me know he was real. That memory was still so deep in my heart. "Don't say that ever again Helios. You're worth something to me. You leave me breathless every time I think of you even though we didn't meet in this lifetime I can remember it like it was yesterday. I see you in my dreams every day," I whispered while holding him tight. I wasn't too sure when this turned into a sudden love declaration, but I guess that didn't really matter. Helios blushed. "I wasn't sure if you remembered I was real," Helios stuttered nervously.
I didn't think such a beautiful person could get even get nervous or flustered. It was actually sort of cute. "How could I ever forget, Helios? You were everything to me," I whispered softly. I don't know how long we stayed like that just in each other's arms. I just knew I never wanted to let go. People might laugh saying that it's impossible to find true love at such a young age, but I did and I knew it was true. Suddenly, my phone began to ring bringing me back to reality. I struggled to find my phone in my red backpack. It took a couple of second before I felt it in the smaller pocket. "Hello?" I answered.
Silence… "Hello?" I asked again. I check the caller id. It was Hotaru-chan. "Hotaru! Is something wrong?" I asked getting worried. "I… I couldn't do anything… I am so sorry..." Hotaru mumbled. I began to get even more worried. "Where are you?" I demanded my heart pounding under my chest. "I… I am at your house…" Hotaru managed in a chocked voice. "I'am going over there!" I told her and hanged up. "Come on! Something is wrong," I explained to Helios and grabbed his hand. I was walking fast. Helios looked confused, but he didn't question me and followed me. Something was seriously wrong. Hotaru was my best friend and I had never seen her sound so distraught. I began to think the absolute worst.
Once I reached my two story red house I ran straight inside. I found Hotaru lying in ground sobbing. Beneath her laid the bodies of all the senshi, my mother and father, and our guardian cats. I screamed and Helios grabbed me trying to calm me down. The bodies were motionless as if frozen by stone and their eyes wide open with fear. "I… I don't know what happened…. I should have been here to help, but I was at school. I failed as my duty as a Sailor Senshi," Hotaru cried. "No, it's better Hotaru! I couldn't stand to lose you too!" I sobbed and hugged her. My mother, my father, and my friends they all laid before me. They were gone. I sobbed. I couldn't do anything to save them. I felt so helpless. What if I could have helped? I couldn't stop thinking that even though it was a dumb thought. After all what could I have possibly done? My powers are weak and useless compared to my mother.
Helios went up to the bodies and bend down to examine them. "They are not dead," Helios declared. "Thank goodness," I said in relief. There was still hope to get them back. If hope still remained I wouldn't give up. I had to be strong for their sake, for Hotaru's sake. "It's a spell. It probably has to do with the evil I came here to warn you about. I was too late," Helios said sadly. "I should of have known. I felt it the day before. I should have warn them!" Hotoru exclaimed. "It isn't anyone's fault. We have to get to the bottom of this! We will fix this. We just need to stay calm and stop blaming our self. What happened happened. It won't do us any good to keep thinking of what we should have done" I told them. The two looked at me and nodded. "Come on, we need to move them somewhere more comfortable," I said. As we moved them I couldn't help, but to wonder even though I was telling them that everything would be alright how would we fix this? We were only two Sailor Senshi and well Helios.
What could we do if everyone else even my mother failed to stop this evil? We finished settling everyone and Hotaru and Helios agreed to stay my house for safely. I looked out the balcony of a window and sighed. "What are you thinking of?" Helios asked behind. I spun around to face him my lip trembling. "I am wondering if we really have a chance to fight whatever this is if my mother and all her Senshi couldn't defeat it. I mean we are only three people after all and we don't have the same fighting experience." I told him with tears in my eyes."We have to try. We have no other choice. We can't just sit back," Helios said crossing his arms. I could tell he didn't know what else to say to me. What could he possibly say in this situation? Even if it seemed impossible we had to try to do something. This was my family we were talking about after all.
"You're right," I replied with sigh. We were silent for a moment just looking up at the night sky. I felt surprisingly calm in spite of the situation. I guess Helios had that effect on me. "You cut your hair," Helios spoke up awkwardly trying to diffuse the situation. My hair reached out to grab my hair. I remembered that the last time he saw me I was a child. "I've grown up," I simply said. "It looks nice," Helios replied. After standing there again in silence and glancing at the night sky we exchanged our goodnights even though we knew we would meet again in my dreamland. Tomorrow… I dreaded it, but I knew we had to get to the bottom of whatever evil had put the spell on the senshi. And this is how my normal life came to an end and I reclaimed my duty as a princess and senshi.