Many thanks to those of you who reviewed and read the first chapter. Special thank yous going out to Lord Halcyon and Rufael for making me aware of a HUGE formatting issue when I uploaded a slightly revised version the first chapter. Thanks, guys!

Becoming

Chapter 2/?

Introductions

Usagi and Chibi-Usa walked to the Hikawa Jinja, taking the steps slowly. Chibi-Usa because she had small legs. Usagi because she knew that everything in her world had changed.

They waved to Rei's grandfather, all the way on the other side of the courtyard, before going inside.

Usagi felt her anxiety well up in her chest, and she stopped in the hallway to Rei's room. Chibi-Usa looked up at her and took her hand.

"Usagi?"

"Are they still my friends in the future? Or are they just...people? We were told to protect the princess, so will that be all they are?"

Chibi-Usa raspberried. "Papa told me last month that you were thrown out of an, um, what did he call it? Well, a grown-up place, with Sailor Venus, for being too loud."

"Sailor Venus?"

"Yeah." Chibi-Usa looked back on her memories fondly. "It's hard to go outside the palace. Sometimes we go out in disguise so we're not noticed. Mama took Venus out because she was sad and they got in trouble. Venus and Mama are best friends! But...Mama is best friends with all the Senshi. She and Venus just get in trouble a lot." She looked thoughtful. "Both Luna and Artemis say they act like teenagers...but I think they're just being overly cridual. Uh, critical."

Usagi didn't want to ask what a 'grown up place' was, but she was curious about Sailor Venus. Another ally, if she was to go by Chibi-Usa description. And her best friend?

They started walking again, and she flung the door open to have her friends immediately stop talking. Rei shot to her feet and looked as though she wanted to say something but sat down when both Chibi-Usa and Usagi did. Luna came over and poked her head at the little girl who smiled and hugged her a little too tightly. The Senshi had filled her in. She hadn't been thrilled about Tuxedo Mask.

The room was silent for several minutes before Usagi slammed her hands on the table. "My name is Tsukino Usagi. I'm Tsukino Usagi today, I'll be Tsukino Usagi tomorrow. Yeah, I know, I get it. None of us saw this coming, and we're just going to have to wing it. So, look, she literally fell from the sky, has no dark energy in her, and knows us. She even mentioned another Senshi, Sailor Venus."

"Oh, um, yes, about her," Luna interrupted, suddenly very flustered. "I spoke with someone after Ami-chan contacted me. His name is Artemis. In light of what is happening, he is bringing Sailor Venus to this meeting...soon."

"What?" Mako demanded, Rei's voice following hers.

An argument started between the three, with Luna trying to justify herself.

Ami shook her head and turned to the two Usagi's. "Usagi-chan? I'm Mizuno Ami. Sailor Mercury." She smiled widely. "Would you mind if I took a piece of your hair to study? I promise, I've already run all the tests I need to that show me you are a good girl. You're a princess of the moon, too. I want to see how yours and your mother's genes look together. Do you understand?"

Chibi-Usa nodded and pulled a hair out of her head. Usagi did the same, making a face.

"Thank you. I haven't thought about how we may be changing with our powers, if we are from the moon as Luna says." She looked and saw Luna was trying to convince Rei and Mako that she didn't know anything about Venus until today. "Well, I guess I'll talk with her more later."

"GUYS!" Usagi yelled. "We have an important task. Remember? Something happened, and she is here for our help. From the year 2905!"

Rei and Mako sat down. Luna shrank back.

"Maybe we should wait until Sailor Venus comes?" Ami suggested. "We don't want to do this twice."

Mako stretched and ate a cookie. "Good idea. But, you guys know what this means, right?" No one answered. "We beat the Dark Kingdom and live another day!"

"Now that calls for more snacks!" A voice from the door joined in.

Everyone turned. It was too early for it to be Sailor Venus, but...

A girl with long blonde hair tied with a big red bow, wearing a typical sailor school fuku and carrying a white cat on her shoulder had appeared. She also had a box from a bakery and was smiling sheepishly. "I thought it would take me longer to get here...so I know I'm like forty-five minutes early? I know that insanely rude, but ARTEMIS kept complaining that he was hot so...I have cupcakes?"

"Sit right here!" Chibi-Usa said, waving her over.

Minako grinned and sat between Chibi-Usa and Rei who bowed her head in greeting. "Aino Minako! Second year junior high student!"

"Rei Hino."

"Mizuno Ami."

"Kino Makoto."

"And you must BOTH be Tsukino Usagi," Minako said with a smile. "Luna told Artemis what happened, or kinda what happened? Either way, wow, we've got a lot of ground to cover."

"Agreed," said Artemis. "Um...what should I call you?" he asked Chibi-Usa.

Usagi couldn't help but smile. "She's Chibi-Usa!"

"Oh, great," Rei moaned.

"There's two of them," Mako added with a sigh.

"Ditto," Luna agreed.

"Hey!" the two Usagi's exclaimed.

Artemis waved a paw in the air to try and control the girls. "Anyway! Usagi says you're not lying, but can you prove that you're from the future? Is there something you can tell us? Show us?"

Chibi-Usa looked down at her hands and nibbled her lip. There was one thing...but...She shook her head. "I...I don't know what else I can do."

Luna-P floated from out of Chibi-Usa's hands and towards the middle of the table. Rei immediately had a scroll of exorcism out, but waited. It paled and then brightened to show the form of a woman wearing a Senshi fuku. She was kneeling and holding a large staff which looked like a key, looking very serene.

"PUU!" Chibi-Usa exclaimed, looking extremely happy. Then she suddenly pulled back. "Puu...I'm sorry."

"Small Lady...I have been so worried," the new Senshi said as she stood. She was mature, possibly a decade older than the other Senshi, but also seemingly ancient "I was unable to locate you for so long. But I am relieved." She turned to Usagi. "Your Highness, Princess Serenity." Usagi started nd then cocked her head at the woman, intent on listening. "That is something you were not yet to know. It is not Small Lady's fault, fate can take a turn and lead us in unexpected ways. But things were supposed to be different."

"What do you mean? And who are you?" Luna asked.

"Please pardon my rudeness. I am Sailor Pluto. I am the guardian of time and space." Luna and Artemis exchanged an amazed glance. "Small Lady was aiming to arrive at a time when all of you have become more at home in your powers, and the roles you have in life, both this and your previous one. And while speeding these events up would not in and of itself normally be too detrimental something has happened."

Sailor Pluto warred with herself. There was much riding on how she phrased her information. She could not break another Taboo.

"Sailor Pluto," Ami said severely. "We must know."

Yes. They had to know. Time was fluid, much more right now than normal, and if they didn't work to save the future now, the Dark Kingdom would rule. "Yes." Resolved. Firm. "Yes. Someone followed Small Lady back to this time. An enemy that has attacked the future, leaving it all but a barren waste land. There is no one left to fight there."

"What about Usagi?" Rei was panicked.

Pluto looked away. "I cannot say."

"You'd damn well better say something!" Mako yelled.

Minako looked helpless, panicked. "But we're her protectors. We'd be protecting her, wouldn't we?"

"What can we do?" Usagi intervened. "The future, we have to help!"

"That is not an option right now. Because you are still fighting the Dark Kingdom, and the other threat is here, too. You leaving could destroy any hope of that future. And I fear, even with Tuxedo Mask's assistance, you will not be strong enough to fight this enemy."

"That's not possible," Minako whispered.

Usagi considered this for a moment. "So, they are looking for Chibi-Usa?"

"Yes."

Rei leaned forward. "Are they looking for Usagi, too?"

"Her identity as Sailor Moon is a secret in the future. Only those closest to the crown know. Tsukino Usagi is not a target at all, and according to historic records died very young. Sailor Moon, who simply disappeared, will only be marked an enemy since you are an ally to Small Lady."

"What is their name?" Ami asked.

"They call themselves the Black Moon."

Mako kept clenching and unclenching her fist. "Can we trust Tuxedo Mask?"

Sailor Pluto chuckled slightly. Some things were still amusing, no matter how often you reincarnated. "There is no Senshi that would protect better than he will. Always remember that."

"What can you tell us about this enemy? How strong are they? How do we fight them?" Artemis pressed.

"Nothing. What I have already told you is pushing the limits of my Taboo." At the word 'Taboo', Chibi-Usa sunk down again. Sailor Pluto sent her a reassuring smile. "Small Lady, don't worry. I know you are scared. Usagi-san is a good person, and she will help you. But never forget that she is also young. She's not your mother. But she is Sailor Moon. There is no one stronger."

"Why us, Pluto? What's so special about us?" Rei asked. The question they had all asked before, since they had awakened, but Luna had been unable to answer.

Simple enough to say what she wanted without giving away too much. "We are the reincarnations of the Silver Millennium, a race of beings from different planets in the solar system and their moons – ruled by the Earth's moon and Queen Serenity. Queen Serenity's seal of the evil has broken, which is why you have awakened to your powers. Though not all of them yet. It will take time."

"It sounds like you're over simplifying it," Ami said. Her eyes burned, a question, a thought, hope, in her mind.

"There are things that even I don't know, and others that are not my story to tell. But, what is your question, Ami-san?"

"You're Pluto, so there has to be a Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn, right? There's more."

"They are not yet supposed to awaken. Their mission is different. However, timelines are changing." Pluto smiled, mysteriously. "Usagi-san. Beware of race cars."

"Huh?"

Pluto sighed, but there was a ghost of a smile still on her lips. "Now I have said too much. Good bye, Sailor Senshi. Good bye, Small Lady."

"Puu!"

The light turned off of the Luna P and it gently floated back into its' owners' arms. Chibi-Usa clung to it for her life and tried not to cry again.

"Two enemies," Ami whispered. "How are we going to fight two enemies at once, and one that we're not strong enough to fight?"

"First things first," Minako took charge, "is that we find out who Tuxedo Mask is and bring him in. We need all the help we can get. And Sailor Pluto had a lot of faith in him."

Mako snorted. "Like an insulting amount! Protect her better than us?"

"I know! It's our job to protect Usagi-chan, not some chump in a cheap suit!" Rei snapped, as angry as though Pluto had personally insulted her.

Even Ami gave a nod as she began to analyze Usagi and Chibi-Usa's hair strands.

"I'll show that - "

"Girls?" Luna interrupted. "After finding Tuxedo Mask, what should we do?"

"Train," Minako said. "A lot. We need to be open to whatever extra powers we may have that Pluto was hinting at."

Usagi took a sip of her tea and thought it over. What Pluto had confirmed. That things had changed. She wasn't showing any signs that she was the princess, so whatever power that was locked in there wasn't helping right now. And who knew how long it would be? They needed more power until they could make themselves strong enough to fight the new threat they were warned about.

"We need to find the other Senshi," Usagi said firmly. "There's three of them, and Pluto hinted that they weren't supposed to wake up for a while, but things changed. Maybe we can find them and awaken them. Then we'll have extra power."

Chibi-Usa thought briefly on the three Outer Senshi that she was only passingly familiar with. Saturn was the youngest, she knew that, but when you were almost 1000 years old, age really didn't matter. Saturn also brought her surprises and toys from other worlds all the time. Uranus and Neptune had been together since their previous life, just like her parents.

She had caught them kissing under the mistletoe during last year's Christmas Party. Being the mature person she was, Chibi-Usa had merely wrinkled her nose at them and rolled her eyes, which caused Uranus to laugh at her. Yeah. Just like her parents.

Her Mama had explained that Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn were all very good at diplomatic situations and other worlds, so they weren't around too often because they were negotiating with their neighboring star systems, working as a team.

Sailor Mars later told her that Sailor Uranus was actually not legally allowed to speak at a diplomatic meeting because she always got in trouble. She was there for intimidation.

But they were Senshi, so they were good people.

OoOoO

The sun had set and Mamoru was still sitting on his couch, staring blankly at this television, wondering what the hell had happened today.

Usagi. Tsukino Usagi. Girl who he had met due to a failed test paper. Girl who he went out of his way to see for no reason. Girl who he waited for every day before school. So-called 'odango' because of her hair style...which her daughter copied.

Her daughter.

"Holy shit, her daughter! She's...Okay, think again. Her daughter said it was the 30th century. The Senshi didn't seem too shocked about that. Is that within the lifespan of someone like that? Maybe, okay, we'll go with maybe and it doesn't matter right now, Chiba. Usagi is the princess and she needs the Ginzuishou. The Senshi want the exact same thing because...the princess needs the Ginzuishou! UGH!"

Tomorrow he would have to gently pry into her life. More than he already did. She had just made a new friend called Makoto according to Motoki.

And Sailor Moon had just added another Senshi...

"I cannot believe I am just realizing this."

Ami and Rei were Mercury and Mars. He could see them now as one and the other. And the new girl, Makoto, was tall and a brunette. And they were all around Usagi, the Moon Princess. Protecting her. Sailor Moon, he noted, was absent, but maybe she took a background approach?

"Geeze, Odango. No wonder I couldn't leave you alone. You were screaming at me that you were there."

He looked out the window as the night cooled and the few visible stars came out.

It was going to be an interesting walk to school in the morning.

OoOoO

Usagi had to keep reminding herself that as creepy as it was that her family was doting on Chibi-Usa, talking about things that had never happened, and making arrangements to clean the attic and make it a room for her, it was necessary. They had to sell it to the everyone that this was their distant cousin staying with them while her mother was ill.

Somehow documents appeared, making it possible to enroll Chibi-Usa in school. Chibi-Usa was set to stay home the first few days so she could 'transition' to her new home. After that, Ikuko and Kenji made sure she knew she had to go to school.

That didn't stop Chibi-Usa from cheerfully waving goodbye to Usagi from the door when she took off for school, not as late as normal.

Usagi ran as usual, though. If she didn't, she wouldn't-

OOF

-run into Mamoru.

"Need a hand?" He asked, as he did most mornings these days.

Usagi turned away his offer and stood on her own. "You could stop waiting for me to hit you."

"How could I possibly do that, Odango?"

"I don't know, step six inches to the left?"

Mamoru smiled. "Nah."

"Usagi-chan!"

Usagi turned away from Mamoru and waved over her new friend. "Mako-chan! You sleep in, too?"

The tall brunette, yep Sailor Jupiter as he thought, smiled at Mamoru. "Friend of yours, Usagi-chan?"

"Oh, um, Chiba Mamoru this is Kino Makoto. She just transferred to Juuban and makes really good food! Mako-chan, Mamoru and I um...run into each other a lot."

Mako had heard about this guy from Luna and Rei. Nice, but kinda mysterious. Rei said she was pretty sure he was interested in Usagi in more than just running into her on 'accident' every day.

"Ooh, sure, I get it." She winked at Usagi who immediately blushed.

"No no! Not like that! We're um, friends, I guess."

"What? Of course we're friends!" Mamoru said a little shocked. "We've been friends since you beaned me with a test."

"That makes you my trash can, not my friend. You're the one who always calls me names!"

"But odango sounds so cute."

Mako nodded sagely. "Yup, it's like that."

This time both of them blushed and Mamoru managed to stammer out, "Aren't you ladies late?"

Mako and Usagi both gave little screeches and ran, Usagi calling out, "See ya later, Mamoru!" over her shoulder.

"It is so like that," Mako insisted with a huge grin on her face.

"He's just...I don't know," Usagi admitted. "Every day I run into him! But he always offers to help me up if I fall. And I'm not blind either, ya know?"

"Oh, yeah!"

They giggled and then high fived when they made it into the building as the bell rang.

OoOoO

Rubeus quirked an eyebrow as Koan gave her report.

Koan had seen active Sailor Senshi, though they looked very young, fighting some sort of youma. Petz was there as well and saw someone the Senshi called "Zoisite."

"In a gray uniform?" Rubeus clarified.

"Yes, sir," Petz affirmed. "Is that relevant?"

"Youma, Sailor Senshi, and a gray clad man named Zoisite. Sounds like the Dark Kingdom," Rubeus said.

Berthier pursed her blue lips together. "The Dark Kingdom? According to Sapphire-sama, during that really long and boring debriefing, that was the first awakening of the Sailor Senshi and the Ginzuishou. The first appearance of 'Chaos' in the solar system since the fall of Silver Millennium." Her sisters were all looking at her. "Well, one of us had to pay attention! And it wasn't going to be Petz-onee-sama."

Calaveras waved her sisters off before a fight broke out. "So, they're young and weak. Shouldn't be a problem to get the Rabbit."

To Be Continued...

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