A/N: Ok, so I went on hiatus for awhile, but I finally sat my butt down and forced myself to write. So here's chapter 10 at last!
Chapter 10: The Princess Awakens
The bright light surrounding Chibi-Usa slowly faded as she came nearer to Earth. Finally, it disappeared altogether, and her feet touched the sandy ground of a deserted beach. She looked around, waiting for something to happen as her mother had said, but nothing did. She frowned and crossed her arms. "So, Mother was lying after all," she said, her red eyes narrowing.
She walked forward. Some invisible force tugged at her, drawing her to its source. "Fine then," Chibi-Usa spoke as she walked. "If that's how she wants to play, then I'll show her I am entitled to become Sailor Moon, not some unknown sister of mine!"
Set with determination, she allowed the force to pull her towards it. The force drew her to the deep blue waters of the ocean. Taking a step out into the water, she found that rather than sinking, her foot rested on top of the water as though it were solid. She took another step, and another, until she was walking on top of the water. Waves rolled beneath her feet, gentle at first, but slowly becoming stronger as she came nearer to whatever was drawing her. Before long, Chibi-Usa could see an enormous black circle on the water's surface. Lightning shot out of it and above it, filling the sky with a dark storm that stretched on for miles around the circle.
Cautiously, she approached the circle, hesitation slowing her steps. She could sense that something was wrong, that she should turn back now while she still could, but still she kept going, moving forward until at last she reached the edge of the circle. She knelt down beside it, staring into the circle's depths.
Someone giggled just above her head. Looking up with a start, Chibi-Usa saw her mirror reflection smiling down at her, only this Chibi-Usa wore a black, elegant dress with a slit traveling up the side to her hip, and her red eyes twinkled with a dark power.
"Hello, Chibi-Usa," this darker Chibi-Usa said.
Chibi-Usa stood up, not taking her eyes off of the woman in front of her. "Who are you?" she asked.
"I? I am Dark Lady," the woman replied. "I have come to help you."
"What do you mean, help me?" Chibi-Usa asked.
The woman, Dark Lady, reached out a hand to Chibi-Usa, gently stroking her face. "Oh, Chibi-Usa. My poor, dear Chibi-Usa," she whispered soothingly, holding Chibi-Usa's eyes with her own. "How terrible your family has been to you, forsaking you for a sister you never even knew about. How you must hate them."
"How do you know all this?" Chibi-Usa whispered, staring entranced at the woman.
"I know all that you know," Dark Lady replied. "I am your past, and I am your future."
"My past, and my future?" Chibi-Usa repeated. "I don't understand."
"You do not need to. Simply allow me to help you, and we will prove to everyone that you are the true Sailor Moon."
"You'll help me?" Chibi-Usa asked. Dark Lady nodded, smiling gently. "I want to prove to them that I am worthy," Chibi-Usa said.
Dark Lady grinned. "Then together, we shall prove it."
Dark Lady stepped towards Chibi-Usa, and a dark, black and red light shown around them. Dark Lady's form disappeared into Chibi-Usa's body. The pink-haired girl let out a cry of pain, her hands clutching her heart as her knees gave way beneath her. The light faded away, and she regained herself, standing once again. Her eyes narrowed at the black circle before.
She held out her hand, palm up, to the sky above the circle. "Beautiful darkness from the Earth's core," she began, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Release your true power, and revive for me a piece of the Black Crystal!" As she uttered this command, her voice raised to a shout.
The storm coming from the black circle seemed to increase tenfold. Lightning shattered the sky, flashing in the dark air. Something formed in the center of the circle, and slowly began to raise up. A black crystal, it's edges sharp and jagged, floated into the air above the circle, and into Chibi-Usa's outstretched hand.
A malevolent grin spread across her face as her fingers closed around the Black Crystal. "Now," she said, "I shall prove to the whole universe that I was meant to become Sailor Moon. I will kill that false little bitch, my supposed sister, and I will take her place, as she tried to take mine."
"Hey, isn't that her?" Kiyoko said, pointing at something outside the window.
"Where?" Yori asked, her eyes searching for the blonde. She caught sight of a blob lying on the ground, getting stepped on. "Oh, never mind!"
Yori stopped the car, putting it in park. "So, who wants to get it?" Kiyoko asked.
Kaito rolled her eyes. "I'll go."
She climbed out of the car and walked over to the blonde girl lying face first on the pavement, and reached down, pulling the girl up by the ear. "Come on, Bumu-chan," Kaito said, dragging Bumu behind her to the car.
Kiyoko and Yori could hear Bumu screaming "Ow! Ow! Let go!" quite clearly, even with the windows closed. They exchanged glances, and burst out laughing at the poor girl's pain.
Kaito opened the door to the backseat and shoved Bumu into the middle before climbing in beside her. The girls had decided long ago that Bumu was not allowed to ride in the front seat. She might do something stupid, like covering the driver's eyes with her hands.
"Kaito, that hurt!" Bumu said, glaring at Kaito. She turned to Yori, and punched her hard in the arm. "Stupid Yori! It's all your fault!"
"Ow!" Yori cried, rubbing her arm. "What did I do?" She turned around, trying to punch Bumu back.
"Yori, no fighting," Kaito said, giving Yori a stern look.
"But she hit me!" Yori said, waving an accusing finger at Bumu. Kiyoko rolled her eyes. They were at it again.
Kaito punched Bumu hard in the arm. "Bumu! No hitting Yori!"
"Aww! You always gang up on me!" Bumu whined, sticking out her bottom lip.
"Would you guys shut up?" Kiyoko said before either of them could do anything else. "We need to get back to my house so we can discuss stuff."
"Oh yeah!" Yori said, remembering what they were supposed to be doing. "Okay! To Kiyoko's house!"
Once they arrived at Kiyoko's house, the four girls filed out of the car, Kiyoko carrying the Pirates of the Carribean bag now containing Luna once again. Bumu ran to the door, but the other three turned and headed in the opposite direction, walking down the subdivision street.
"Bumu, we're going to the playground," Kiyoko called back over her shoulder.
The blonde jumped, and hurried to catch up with the others. "Why are we going there?" she asked, running up to them.
"You'll see," Kiyoko said.
"But I wanna know now!" Bumu cried.
"Bumu, just shut up," Kiyoko said, shaking her head.
Bumu crossed her arms over her chest, pouting again, but did not say anything else.
When they had reached the playground and gone to the back where no one could see them from the street, Kaito, Yori, and Kiyoko stopped walking, and Bumu, who hadn't been paying attention, nearly ran into Yori.
"Okay. What now?" Kiyoko asked, looking to the other two for suggestions.
"Uh, I guess we transform?" Yori said.
"Yeah, that sounds good," the redhead agreed.
Behind them, Bumu looked confused. "Transform? What's that?" she asked.
"Bumu, go stand over there, and close your eyes," Kaito said, pushing Bumu away from them.
"Aww! Why do I have to close my eyes?" Bumu protested.
"Bumu, just do it," Kiyoko said.
"Meanies," Bumu muttered, closing her eyes and crossing her arms over her chest.
The other three rolled their eyes, then turned serious once again. They took out their pens, each holding them up and shouting their transforming phrases. The flashes of light enveloped them, and then they stood in the grass in their sailor fuku.
"Why are you guys shouting Sailor Moon phrases? Can I open my eyes now?" Bumu asked from a few feet away.
"No!" the three Senshi shouted in unison.
"Okay, I guess now we just do like we did with the portal thingy?" Yori asked.
"Yeah," Kiyoko said.
The three walked up to Bumu, who remained oblivious, her eyes still closed. Holding out their hands, the girls focused their energies on the girl standing before them. Red, green, and purple lights shot out of their hands, enveloping the girl.
Bumu's body suddenly went rigid. Her eyes shot open, a deep, pupiless blue, staring straight ahead. A golden crescent moon appeared on her forehead, and a bright, white light shone out of it, nearly blinding the three Senshi who watched, staring in awe as their friend's appearance changed before their eyes. Her hair turned a blonde so pale it was nearly white, and grew so that it hung past her waist, held in a similar style as Sailor Moon's with two heart-shaped buns. Her clothes disappeared, and a sheer, pale orange dress flowed down her body. The white glow faded away, and she collapsed on the ground, slowly opening her eyes.
"It's her," Luna whispered, having come out of the bag to watch. "It's Princess Selenia."
A/N: Bwa ha ha. Yay for the cheesiness...