Chapter Three or Episode Three: Feelings Intensify.

(In the previous chapter, Usagi Tsukino spends a date with Seiya, only to make her think about how she truly feels. Rei Hino's grandpa has decided he isn't going to return for a while, leaving Rei alone at the shrine! Usagi knows just how to help, cheers her friend up, and, stays with her through the night.)

*Usagi's dream state…*

"Why is it so dark…? Where am I?"

Usagi's body floated in what seemed to be dark, empty space. As soon she asked her previous questions, a bright red light lit up in the distance. She attempted to make her body move towards the warm and only light in her dream.

'I just wish that I knew exactly how I feel, I don't want to hurt anyone ever...'

Usagi thought as faces of Seiya and Mamoru floated near to her.

At once after seeing her close friend and lover, the pictures meshed together and then retreated slowly, joining the red spark in the distance.

Usagi once again attempted to move towards that light, something about it made her feel like everything was okay, while hanging in this darkness made her feel opposite. Tears ran down her face as she struggled.

"Usagi!" The dark void lit up

"USAGI!" This time it entirely work up a sleeping Usagi who realized she was attempting to cling herself to a freshly woken up Rei.

Usagi's eyes adjusted to the lights. "I'm sorry Rei; I was just having this strange dream…"

"About what?"

*Bang Bang Bang* A gentle but abrupt banging interrupted the two. Usagi went to stand up, and looked back at her friend. "I forgot already." Usagi said with a smile, as she made her way to the door.

Usagi opened it up to see her friends Minako, Ami, and, Makoto standing there, all very chipper! Usagi had texted them last night to see if they by chance wanted to come to the shrine to help Rei with her chores!

Over the next couple hours, the girls cleaned up messes and detailed items that would normally take a good day, if it had been just Rei and Yuichiro. The exhausted girls sat down on the front porch of the shrine, wiping the sweat from their foreheads, and, enjoying cool beverages.

*Somewhere in an alternate dimension at current time.*

"I have sensed them approaching, they are now in the present. This will mean huge trouble."

"I will watch their arrival from a distance."

"Thank you, my moon princess."

*Back to the shrine!*

"So why haven't we heard from three lights lately?" Minako asked as sincere as possible. Makoto made a fun face, and replied with, "It's only been a few days! They probably have more important things than to hang around here! I'm sure we will see them soon." Makoto offered a genuine smile, causing Minako to smile and agree.

Makoto was sitting next to Ami on this also warm spring's day, and, noticed her friends face was very pink. "Ami-chan? Are you feeling okay? Did you get over-heated?"

Ami became embarrassed as soon as Makoto ended her question, realizing Makoto had noticed the change of color in her face. "No! No! I'm fine." Ami said in an almost unbelievable manner, with a smile on her face that portrayed embarrassment and a secret. Makoto smiled and nodded it off, turning way looking to her friends Usagi and Rei who got into another argument when Usagi accidently spilled some of her lemonade on Rei. Ami took that moment to look over her friend again; she was blushing before because she was starting to feel something incredible when she looked at Makoto. She just didn't know what yet.

A few birds chirping, a couple wind chimes making soft music, and, the noise of Usagi and Rei's bickering filled the simple spring air. But then, another noise shot in the area!

An exciting amount of happy yells grew from the stairs of the temple only to show the face of a very excited Hotaru running up to them. Not as fast behind them followed Setsuna Meioh, Haruka Tenou, and, Michiru Kaiou, also carrying delighted expressions on their face.

"Guess what? Guess what? Guess what?" Hotaru asked the inner senshi, still yelling, and, not caring if they wanted to hear her answer or not!

"Setsuna has felt a rift in the time-space continuum that matches up when Chibi-Usa time travels, which means, Chibi-Usa is on her way here right now!"

The Inner Senshi all were joyous and cheered. Usagi's face lit up, thinking just how having Chibi-Usa around might make some of her questions disappear, and, cure the odd feeling she has been feeling! They were all very excited for the news as well.

"She should arrive in about an hour." Setsuna added, "But we came early because Hotaru wanted to see you guys as well."

Everyone was okay with that, and, the nine girls just spent time in each others company, sharing the warm feeling they had of the return of Chibi-Usa.

*45 minutes later…*

"I wish Chibi-Usa would be here now, I'm bored with hanging out with all you adults! I just wish that there were more kids..." Hotaru said, hardly being noticed, by a serious conversation between the inner and outer senshi about the return of the star lights. The outer senshi were at first slightly outraged, but knew that, the princess could tell what was right and wrong. Michiru and Setsuna accepted them almost immediately; however Haruka just may have been jealous of attractive males around.

"It's time." Setsuna said calmly.

All of the girls got comfortable, and sat, as a very colorful light show lit up the sunny sky at the shrine! They were amazed by how unusually beautiful the time-space continuum path appeared this time. After a few moments, the path touched the ground in front of the shine, still emanating bright and dark shades of red, blue, green, yellow, purple, and, white.

Figures began to take shape in this colorful inferno.

"Why is there more than one figure appearing…?" Rei asked almost in a frightened tone.

"I don't know! Keep your guard up!" Haruka shouted, taking a fighting stance, and pushing the moon princess behind her.

All the girls could do was stare as the figures in front of them became clearer and the light disappeared…

"WHAT?!" Almost all of them shouted in unison at what they saw before them!

In front of the senshi of this solar system, a group of children appeared, some looking very young and others possibly older than Chibi-Usa. The unknown children all appeared to look friendly and had smiles upon their faces. It wasn't enough though, to make the senshi put their guard down.

(End of Chapter)

**Author's Note: This is only part one of this chapter, a second part will be released shortly!**