When Chibi-usa went into the dining hall that morning, Serenity's guardians were seated in a square, eating quietly. They looked like they were discussing something deep until the pink-haired girl entered; at the sight, they grew silent. "Morning," she said, sitting next to Rei.
"Good morning, Small Lady," they replied, fleeting looks of nervousness upon their faces.
"Don't worry about me," she said. "I'm perfectly fine. I actually have some orders."
The Asteroids, who had come in behind her, all looked surprised. "Small Lady!" shouted Juno, eyebrows raised. "Suddenly you're much more authoritative!"
"It's on behalf of the Moon Kingdom... and my Mama and Papa," Chibi-usa said with determination, standing. "We need to search for her and the Outer Senshi!"
"Well, we have no idea where she could be," Ami said sullenly, pulling out her computer again. "We have no leads... it's as if Galaxia's castle completely disappeared into another dimension that we can't break without having knowledge of it."
Chibi-usa faltered. How would they obtain that knowledge...?
"Also, it's very dangerous out where the Outer Senshi are posted," said Rei. "That's a harsh environment that only they can withstand."
Chibi-usa cried out in frustration and slammed her fists down onto the table. "We need to do something! Hotaru and the others could be floating in space, and my Mama is even worse off!" Tears weren't even near her eyes; her attitude had changed completely overnight.
"They're right, Small Lady," said Ceres. "There's not much we can do right now."
"But we have to," said Chibi-usa. "Lives of our fellow Senshi depend on it!"
"The life of just Neo-Queen Serenity, actually."
That voice was so familiar... everyone turned to look at who had just arrived.
Sailor Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn were draped along the shoulders of the three Starlights. "We're okay," said Uranus weakly, smiling at the group. "Just... a little sore."
"As soon as Galaxia's castle crossed through our Solar System into yours, our Princess felt it," said Sailor Star Maker seriously. "That's when she knew she was pursuing the Moon Kingdom, and we came to assist on our Princess' orders."
"On our way to Crystal Tokyo, though," continued Star Healer, sitting Neptune into a chair, "we ran into these three." She indicated the three injured soldiers, now sitting in chairs with relief.
"They were unconscious, so we scooped them up and brought them to you," said Star Fighter. "Our Princess should be joining us shortly."
Chibi-usa was so taken aback by their visitors, she had no room to speak. Saturn looked up at her and smiled. "I'm sorry if we worried you."
"You did!" she shouted, running up to Hotaru and embracing her. "I was so worried about you!" Tears brimmed at her eyes, and then she realized how childish she was being. Before she could shuffle away and apologize, the dark senshi returned the hug.
"But where's Sailor Pluto?" asked Makoto suddenly.
"She should be at the Time Gate," responded Neptune quietly. "I can imagine she is holding tightly to the Gate, lest Galaxia try to take hold of it." The bluenette sighed miserably. "Chibichibi appeared to us before the castle came through, as if trying to warn us, too. But... we didn't find her."
"What?" Chibi-usa gasped. She turned to the Starlights for a second opinion. They all shook their heads sadly.
"We only located these three," said Star Maker sadly. The group all bowed their heads, wondering if Chibichibi possibly survived.
"Chibichibi survived," came a soothing voice, and Princess Kakyuu entered the room gracefully. The Starlights immediately bowed, and everyone else followed their example. She smiled demurely and beckoned everyone to return to their seats. "Now, please..."
"Princess Kakyuu, we are happy you've arrived safely," said Star Fighter, still low upon the ground.
"Chibichibi simply disappeared to her own time," she explained. "Aware of the danger from her standing point in the future, she tried to fend off Galaxia herself along with the Outer Senshi... but Galaxia's powers have truly advanced." Her fiery eyes were laced with quiet concern. "This will prove to be quite a battle."
"We're ready to follow any leads you may have!" said Minako fiercely.
"Unfortunately, I have none," responded Kakyuu with a frown. "Serenity's aura is far from this galaxy."
Everyone seemed to let out their breath, since they figured that the Kinmoku Princess could possibly have a lead.
"We do have a lead," said a sullen voice, and Sailor Pluto was standing at the door.
"Pluto!" shouted everyone, while Chibi-usa was the only to call, "Puu!"
She smiled graciously before becoming serious again. "Neo-Queen Serenity isn't in this Solar System... she's not even in this dimension," she explained. "The only person who detected where the castle might permanently reside is Sailor Cosmos."
"Chibichibi in the future?" asked Rei suddenly, putting her fist to her chin in thought. "But how could she have figured it out?"
"She sensed it before it even came," explained Setsuna, garnet eyes unchanging. "Decay became present in her time, and she realized that there could only be one culprit: Galaxia. She passed through the Time Gate to this time, taking the form of Chibichibi, to warn them." She indicated the three wounded Outer Senshi. "However, as she predicted, her powers couldn't block Galaxia, and so she disappeared back to her own time."
"So, is there really anything we can do?" asked Minako. "If it's bound to happen..."
"Something can obviously change it," Pluto said curtly. "Otherwise, she would have had no reason to try and stop it."
Everyone contemplated this new information. "Tell me where this lead may be, and I will try to search for it on my computer," Ami said.
"Sailor Cosmos did not say specifically, but I plan to visit her in her time tomorrow morning," replied Pluto. "That way, we may try to locate specifics."
Chibi-usa's mind was buzzing. Her mother was lost in space, her friends wounded, and her allies were present at the Moon Kingdom. There was a reason for all of this...
The whole day went on with a lot of talk of leads and whatnot, but it was all going in circles. Chibi-usa could hardly stand it, especially since Hotaru was in the hospital wing with her father (and Haruka and Michiru). It felt like everyone, including her own guardians, were excluding her! There was no opportunity to speak up, either, since it never ended.
Sighing with defeat, the girl trudged out to the gardens, where she sat by herself for quite some time. She could hear the conversation through the windows, and it didn't stop until the sun was beginning to set. She was called in to dinner, and she ate silently while everyone still discussed the situation.
She felt like she should have a bigger part in this... but no one was giving her the chance. "Do we have anything planned yet?" she asked, annoyed.
"Not really, Small Lady, but we are discussing all of our options," replied Princess Kakyuu. "This is a dangerous task, and it must be treated delicately."
What else can they discuss?! Her eyes rolled, and she departed to go to sleep. When she lay in bed, she continued to believe that there was something everyone was missing, including herself...
But at least she knew something was off.
