A Tiny New Star
(Shooting Stars)
Part II
by Topaze O'Conner

Last time: Serena and Darien were walking along the beach path and saw shooting stars. Haruka and Hotaru who were watching Tv sensed something. Michiru went to discuss it with Setsuna.

Setsuna answered the door, "Michiru?" Michiru replied. "Setsuna Haruka and Hotaru both sensed something has just come to earth." "I know I have just returned from checking in on the time pool and the moment it entered the atmosphere the pool flared with light so blinding... So Pure... then was empty, and clouded once more." Setsuna said. "I wonder what that means?" Michiru thought out loud. "What ever it is it has finally come to earth." Setsuna answered. Both women sat up talking.

The next day found the inner senshi and sailor Saturn doing homework. They were finished by noon and met the others for lunch. Rei made fun of Serena saying that if she porked out Serena would sink to the bottom one the lake. Serena ignored Rei and continued to eat. Serena had done 4 algebraic equations and got them all correct so she was celebrating. "Rei be nice... Getting 4 correct is something for her to celebrate." Lita defended Serena. Serena heard it and began to pout thinking they were still picking on her. Haruka patted Serena on the head and said. "Cheer up Odango Attama they weren't teasing you." Serena smiled and continued to eat when Mina pointed out the yummy chocolate cake. The then went to the lake to go water skiing. Later that afternoon Serena took a small nap before dinner. She had fallen off her skis several times and if it had not been for her life vest she would have drowned. Rei and Mina teased her about it until they too fell. Luna pounced on Serena and woke her up. "You're going to be late for Dinner Serena." Serena looked at her watch... "OHHHH LUNA why didn't you wake me." Serena rushed around for her things. "I did try Serena but I shouldn't have to." Luna replied. Serena tore out the door mumbling something about food. "Oh I do hope she remembers to bring us back something." Luna said to Artimus as she had a small anime sweat drop by her head. Artimus replies. "Me too, Cause Mina hasn't been back yet." They ate and then Serena and Mina returned to their room with food for the cats then while Mina changed Serena waited. They then headed for the dinning area. There they met up with the others again and went outside to the pool side garden theater. "Wow this place is amazing" Lita commented. "Yes you're quite right Lita. This land has been developed but not much has changed. The owner wanted to keep as much of the natural surroundings as possible." Ami replied. "Wow Ami you did research on this place?" chimed in Serena Mina and Rei together. Blushing Ami replies, "well yes." They took their seats.

Serena said she forgot something and left to go back to their room to get it. Earlier that day she had gone to the gift shop, and there she bought Darien a Pencil and Pen set. She had bought it hoping it would remind him of her while he was away. She fully intended to tell him he should once again try to study abroad. She retrieved the set and was hastily making her way back to the others when she ran into someone. She fell back to her butt and was too worried about getting back to the others in time to look up. "Oh Excuse me. I am so sorry. Oh I'm late." She rose to her feet and took off without noticing who it was yet she felt she knew. The man she ran into turned to his companions and chuckled. "She hasn't changed a bit has she Taiki?" Yatten asked. "You're right. She is the same late for everything full of life girl." Taiki looked down at the bundle in his arms. "Kind of reminds me of someone present." He smiles down to the now sleeping toddler. "Yeah they kind of worm their way into your heart don't they?" Yatten asked. "All right all right she ran into me not you. If we don't move we will be late to our own concert." Seiya replied. "Yes but what do you suggest we do with our own little bundle of energy? I mean she is sleeping now but how long will it last? If we awaken her now how long will it take us to get her back to sleep?" Taiki asked and Yatten chuckled. "All this babbling from the one with the cold heart and the high IQ?" Yatten teased. Seiya reached out and took the small child. He gently woke her "Sweaty... come watch Papa Seiya work." The child smiled and giggled with glee.

The announcer went on stage and Serena sat down next to Darien. Serena handed him her gift "here..." she looked a bit distracted. Darien... "Thank you Serena..." he opened the gift and smiled at the very elegant pen and pencil set with little crescent moons on the hook, then looked again at Serena "what's wrong?" Serena blushed 'umm well I ran into someone in the hall on my way back... I think...well I felt like I knew them..." Darien quirked a brow at her statement." I mean someone we know." she points to the eternal moon locket. Darien looked surprised. The announcer interrupted everyone then. "Thank you ladies and gentlemen... Rumors of their break up are just that. Without further adieu and with great Pleasure I give you the Three Lights." He steps back as the curtain rises and the Star Lights are seen on stage. The crowd gasps the Senshi look at each other... "NO WAY!" The Three lights began their songs... the first one told how they left earth after a struggle. The second told how they made a home in two days. The third one told how a star fell two weeks after they built a home. In that star was an infant protected by light. The fourth song told that in a dream warned by a figure that resembled the Moon Goddess herself they took the child to the land where the battle of Chaos came to an end, and how the new story begins from there. They sang of how the goddess warned them to beware the ones searching the Bright soul crystals. They finished and were leaving the stage as the announcer came back... "Ladies and gentle men you can all see the three lights and their little light at the pool where we have a pool side party set up. Thank you for coming."

Serena and the inner senshi looked at each other and were shocked. Michiru looked at Haruka and Setsuna and they knew that this tiny child had something to do with the events yet to come. They had decided to check out this new addition to the three lights. They were outside the door to the three lights dressing room when they heard a scream. Haruka burst through the door. The outer senshi were shocked to see the stunned faces of the star Lights. Seiya was holding the toddler up in the air paused to toss her again. Taiki was the first to recover. "Excuse me but may I ask why you felt it necessary to break down the door?" Haruka blushed a little and Hotaru stepped forward and walked to Seiya and the toddler. The toddler smiled and Hotaru smiles back at them. Then the toddler begins to coo. "I am sorry. We heard her scream. Michiru says that the tides are churning and Setsuna says that the Time pool has clouded and our future has become uncertain." Yatten steps toward the delicate child and soldier of destruction. "You thought we were being attacked?" "No we felt the urge to protect her." Hotaru looks at the child and sticks out her finger letting the child grab onto it. "Why we felt such a sudden urge I can not explain. One thing is for certain however..." The outer three senshi finished her sentence in unison. "She is not what endangers our world." Seiya Yatten and Taiki looked at them "right." "However she maybe the reason the new evil comes." Hotaru states. The outer senshi took a defensive stance. Seiya holds the toddler protectively "What if she is what are you planning to do about it?" "We are the outer guardians who protect this solar System."Haruka replies. "And we won't let you harm her!" Taiki said. All the senshi in the room transform except Hotaru and the toddler begins to cry. The toddler squirms in Sailor Star Fighters arms and Hotaru reaches out to her. The toddler reaches back. The senshi begin to circle each other. It gets quiet in the room and you can feel the energy rise. The only sounds were of the crying toddler.

Suddenly a Calm Commanding Voice breaks the tension and the toddler stills at the sound of the voice. "STOP THIS NOW!" Serena stood in the open door looking very regal and Darien stood behind her. Serena steps into the room followed by Darien and she stops in front of Hotaru and the child. "Hotaru you hold her Does she pose a threat to us or our world?" All look to Hotaru. "No your highness. She does not pose a threat to our world. However she does posses a power that even we can not fathom (meaning herself and Setsuna). The light of her soul shines as brightly as the combined light from the both of yours your majesties. I also sense Fear in this child... Fear sadness and loneliness." Hotaru replied to the princess of the moon. "Very well then Pluto Neptune Uranus, What seams to be the problem?" Serena asks her tone still regal. The toddler wiggles and reaches out to the Moon Princess. "Rena" The sailor Star Lights look shocked. "Her first word and it's the name of someone she doesn't even know..." Sailor Star Fighter looked a bit sad. The outer senshi look on stunned as the toddler touches Serena and her clothing instantly melts into that of the Princess of the Moon. The princess takes the toddler in her arms and smiles at her, the toddler smiles back.

A light flares in the room and a ghostly form appears. Luna had felt something and was standing in the doorway when the form appears. Luna whispers in awe. "Queen Nova" She gives a deep cat like bow. The figure nods to the cat. Images flash in the minds eye of the earth's senshi. Setsuna stepped forward and knelt on one knee followed by the other earth senshi. "Queen Nova." The woman's figure looks so much like Queen serenity the only difference is the style of hair instead of ponytails hers are braided. Her eyes are Green where Serenity's were blue. The Sailor Star Lights felt urged to bow as well"Serenity this is your cousin and my daughter. Her planetary soldiers and guardians sent her to the Sailor Star Lights just before the evil befell them. Using her own powers as well has caused her to revert to this child like form you see. The Star Lights were asked to bring her here." "By you Queen Nova?" Setsuna asked. The form shook its head and looked at the toddler. The toddler was pulling lightly on one of Serena's ponytails. "Even in this currant form she tries's to stop those searching for the bright soul crystals." The Queen replied. Sailor Star Maker steps forward... "This is the second time we have been told of the Bright Soul Crystals. What exactly are they?" Queen Nova looks toward the Sailor Star Lights. "They are the Bright souls of special individuals. At this time that is all I can tell you about them." Sailor Uranus intoned "what's so important about these soul crystals?" Queen Nova began to fade. "Princess Serenity?" Serenity looks to her aunt's ghostly form "yes?" Queen Nova "It will please me greatly if you and your planetary soldiers would look after her." Serenity replied "yes aunt Nova it will be a pleasure." Sailor Star Fighter steps forward " She came to us we will take care of her. You guardians of Earth can help if you like but she is our responsibility. We won't be dismissed." Queen Nova nodded to Sailor Star Fighter. "Very well Sailor Star Fighter, The fate of the cosmos rests upon her, so protect her." The ghostly form looks to her daughter in Serenity's arms and her fading fingers reach out to caress the soft little cheek. "Be well my daughter Grow strong in mind and duty." The ghostly form fades.

Serena was still in her princess form... "Well isn't this a switch?" Darien whom had remained quiet until now asked what she met. "Well you saw how much like my mother my aunt looked? heads nod all around Well they were twins. Aunt Nova Ruled the Zodiac Galaxy and protected the rest of the cosmos. Topaze here was born a few hundred years before I was. When I visited her it was always she who took care of me. Serenity handed the cooing toddler to Sailor Star Fighter then with a flash of light reverted back to Serena. Darien and Uranus both had moved behind her to hold onto her knowing that using her princess form took much out of her. Hotaru smiled at the toddler while Sailor Pluto stood aloof keeping her own council. The toddler cooed at Hotaru and Sailor Star Fighter. Sailor Star fighter handed the child over to the girl and all the senshi in the room un transformed. Serena blinked and mentioned something about Food. All the others in the room chuckled Hotaru handed the child back to Seiya and he placed her in a child carrier on his back. They then headed to the party and the toddler waved her arms about and made gurgling noises toward Hotaru and Setsuna who followed them all. Then when they entered the pool area Seiya, Yatten, and Taiki were swarmed with Fans. Serena and Darien stood apart and watched them. Haruka and Michiru moved closer to Hotaru and Setsuna. Haruka asked "well what do you think?" Setsuna looked worried but said nothing.

TBC

What are the bright soul crystals and who is after the cooing toddler? Will the senshi work with the Star lights? Will there be 12 senshi or will there be a battle between the inner and outer senshi on weather or not to trust the Sailor Star Lights? Will darkness fall on earth once more?

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