"So, what do you think?"
"About what?" Chibiusa asked, not looking up from the orange she was peeling.
Mizuki gave a frustrated sigh and snatched the orange from her friend's hand. "Cut it out," she said, sinking to the ground to sit beside Chibiusa. "You know exactly what I'm talking about."
"OK, fine. I do know. What difference does that make?"
"Come on, Usa!" Mizuki exclaimed, starting to peel the orange to give her hands something to do. "This is a big deal; you can't not care about it." The orange was peeled and she broke it in half, handing a share to Chibiusa. "I know I care. I can't believe that Mom and the others have decided to force this, instead of waiting for it to happen in its own time."
Chibiusa toyed with the orange before biting into a slice. "We can't afford to wait for it to naturally happen. I know that, but that doesn't mean I agree with this plan."
Mizuki lay back and crossed her arms beneath her head. "I wonder how they'll react," she mused, her eyes drifting closed. "I can't imagine Mariko or Akemi completely freaking out, but Rio. . ." She sat up quickly, flinging her unbeaten orange away. "What if Rio rejects this like she's rejected everything else her mother wants? What'll we do then?"
Chibiusa stood up and brushed the grass and leaves off of her skirt. "It doesn't matter what Rio, or any of them, think. They don't really have a choice; the heart and soul of a guardian will awaken no matter what." She shrugged. "The only question is whether or not you accept destiny gracefully or fight it tooth and nail."
"What are you fighting tooth and nail this time? Or should that be who?"
Chibiusa turned all of her attention to the remains of the orange in her hand to avoid answering. It was the worst luck in the world that Mariko had found them in the middle of this conversation, of all things.
"Oh, you know Usa," Mizuki replied, waving a hand and looking as casual as possible. "She's always fighting with her brother."
Mariko looked at Chibiusa's bowed head and then back at Mizuki. The expression on her face clearly showed that she didn't believe either Mizuki's act or her answer, but she didn't press. Instead she took a seat on the grass, picked up a leaf and began twirling it in her fingers. "You two sure spend a lot of time together away from everybody else since Mizuki came home," she said, flinging the leaf away. "Does that have anything to do with what our mothers are supposed to tell us this evening?"
Mizuki replied to Mariko's question in her usual joking fashion but Chibiusa barely heard it. She was tired of lying to her friends and feeling guilty for the years of keeping such an enormous secret. Her hand went to the collar of her blouse and her fist clenched around her locket; she was tempted to transform then and there and put an end to the whole charade.
The bell to return to class rang, startling her out of her thoughts. He hand dropped back to her side, but not before Mizuki noticed. Mariko walked ahead of them back towards the building and Mizuki grabbed Chibiusa's arm, halting her. "You can't give in, not now," she whispered. "Hold on for just a few more hours."
Chibiusa wrenched her arm from Mizuki's grasp. "Don't you ever feel guilty?" she asked, her voice pitched low but with an unmistakable angry edge. "You've always known, even before you awakened as Venus. All those years of lying and hiding; doesn't it get to you?"
Mizuki sighed. "Of course I feel guilty," she whispered. "But I won't let it run my life. Not now, not ever. Especially not now, with so much happening and at stake. And I'd suggest you adopt the same attitude, if only to save your sanity."
Chibiusa looked towards the school building; she could still see Mariko as she approached the doors. She blinked several times, clearing the angry tears from her eyes. When she looked at Mizuki again it was to see a worried expression on her friend's face. She laid a hand on Mizuki's sleeve. "You're right," she said, smiling slightly. "And I know just how to do it." And she started to walk away from the school.
"Where are you going?" Mizuki called out after her.
Chibiusa grinned over her shoulder. "To see a man about a cat!" she shouted in reply before breaking into a run and disappearing around the corner.
The bus ride across town took longer than usual. By the time Chibiusa arrived at the shrine she was fairly certain that her mother knew where she had gone and had already alerted Luna and Artemis. So much for a surprise visit, she said to herself when she saw Artemis standing in the archway that led to the garden. He was clearly expecting her; his first words confirmed that.
"Your mother called," he said, looking stern. "Your head teacher is angry and considering disciplinary action, so I hope you have a very good reason for this visit."
"Where's Luna?" Chibiusa asked, looking past Artemis.
"She went to the market." Suddenly Artemis grinned. "I answered your mother's phone call and I sent Luna out with a specific food request. A very specific request. She'll be gone at least two hours."
"Why?"
Artemis turned and walked into the garden, taking a seat in one of the chairs at the koi pond. "Because I had a feeling you wouldn't talk as freely in front of her," he replied, gesturing to the chair beside him. When Chibiusa sat he continued. "Apparently Mizuki told your mother an abridged version of the conversation the two of you had before you ran off."
"And that told you that I wouldn't want to talk to Luna?"
"Pretty much so, yes." Artemis sighed. "You have concerns about revealing the truth to your three friends; Luna believes that the only way we can fight this new enemy is if the three of them know and accept their destinies. And, let's face it, my wife is not one for reconsidering once she's made a decision."
"You mean she's stubborn beyond belief and convinced that she's always right," Chibiusa said with a slight smile.
Artemis grinned. "I was trying to be nicer than that, but essentially, yes. That is what I meant." He grew serious again and gave Chibiusa a searching look. "But I think there's more on your mind than just that. What else has happened?" When she didn't answer right away Artemis laid a hand on her arm. "Or should I guess?"
"Do you think you could?" Chibiusa asked, blinking against the tears that were threatening. Artemis had been absolutely right in thinking that she could not have handled a conversation with Luna. His quiet sympathy, understanding, and lack of judgment were exactly what she needed. Luna would have just made her angry.
"Of course I can guess! I may not be right, but I can always take a shot." He rested his head against the chair back and closed his eyes, extending his long legs. "We've already established that you don't like forcing the truth on your friend's, so there's no need to belabor that point. I'm going to guess that you're bothered by what happened when Seiya saved the day; namely you're worried about what happens to you now that your brother seems to be awakening his powers."
Chibiusa scoffed. "Why would I be worried about that? And who says he's gaining any powers? He used the Silver Crystal once. Once. Big deal."
"And did more with it that one time than you've ever done in - what is it now? - seven years of using it?" Artemis said quietly, without moving or opening his eyes. He waited for his words to sink in before he went on. "You might want to work on your disdainful reaction and scoffing sounds," he said, the corners of his mouth twitching. "It wasn't very convincing."
"Fine!" Chibiusa replied, rising from her chair and beginning to walk in circles around the pond. "Yes, it bothers me! The Silver Crystal is supposed to be the symbol of the heiress to the Moon Kingdom. Meaning me. And I can't use it's power to do anything but transform! So what does that say about me as the Moon Princess?" She stopped walking and abruptly sat on the edge of the pond. "What does it mean for who and what I am?" she asked in a whisper.
"It is a puzzler," Artemis replied, standing and moving to sit beside her, taking her hand in his. "And I don't have an answer, but I would encourage you to remember one thing."
"What?"
"You are just as much, if not more, your father's daughter."
"Meaning?"
Artemis sighed. "I'm going to tell you what I didn't tell you mother the last time we talked, although she probably guessed what I was thinking." He looked Chibiusa squarely in the eye. "In this world, the one that was created by the altered destiny, you might not be the one who follows your mother as the guardian of the Moon. That may be Seiya's destiny."
Chibiusa raised an eyebrow. "So where does that leave me? Am I just supposed to sit back and -" She stopped talking suddenly and Artemis saw the comprehension in her face. "My father's daughter," she whispered. "But that would mean I'm the guardian of Earth."
"Would it?" Artemis asked with one raised brow. "You're right, it more than likely would mean exactly that." He smiled and shook his head. "A Sailor Soldier of the Earth," he mused. "There's never been such a thing; in all of history the guardians of Earth have always been men."
"Maybe that explains something else that's been bothering me."
"You mean there's more?" Artemis asked with an exaggerated sigh.
"Shut up!" Chibiusa swatted his arm and laughed, but quickly grew serious again. "That day, when Seiya used the Crystal, I ended up unconscious. And while I was unconscious I had a dream, or a vision. I'm not sure what. But I was in a temple of some sort with its guardian priest, and he told me that the bond he and I shared was a strong as ever. It didn't make any sense at first, but when I told my father about it. . . Well, he didn't say much but his reaction was quite informative." She looked Artemis squarely in the eye. "That temple was connected to the ancient Earth Kingdom, wasn't it? And I am bound to that priest as Sailor Earth."
"Possibly," Artemis replied, careful to keep his voice steady and not betray that his mind was racing with all of the possibilities. "Unfortunately I'm not the person to ask. Those are question best answered by your parents." When Chibiusa just stared at him he sighed and went on. "There are certain things about the altered timeline that they haven't told you. When Seiya was born it seemed obvious that destiny wouldn't unfold as expected, so we all decided that certain things didn't matter anymore."
"I'm guessing that you're all seeing the error in that assumption now," Chibiusa said with a black look.
Artemis grinned. "Probably, but it's still something that your parents need to tell you about." he glanced at his watch. "But that'll have to wait, since you, and your mother, have something more important to do this evening, correct?"
Chibiusa hesitated outside the door of the old Crown Fruit Parlor, the place that had been the favorite hangout of her mother and her friends during their teen years. She knew what was waiting for her inside and despite knowing how important it was she was still reluctant to meet it head-on. She glanced in the front windows, quickly scanning the place, then let out a sigh of relief. She was actually the first one there; she'd have time to gather herself for what was sure to be the coming storm.
She sat on the steps, content to sit in peace for a time, since she knew that peace was sure to be shattered before too much longer. She tried to empty her mind and focus on simply being, but her worries and concerns refused to be corralled. One in particular kept popping to the surface; she was no longer certain who's reaction she dreaded the most.
Even just a day ago she would have said Rio was the main problem. Rio, with her apathetic attitude and need to rebel against everything that mattered to her mother. It seemed certain that she was the most likely to react badly to the revelation that she was a soldier, a guardian of love and justice, destined to protect the planet. But now Chibiusa wasn't so sure.
"What's got you in such a black mood?"
Chibiusa looked up at the familiar voice and just managed to keep from grimacing. It was as if her thoughts had conjured up reality, for Rio stood a couple of steps down from where she sat, an eyebrow raised and an expectant look on her face.
"I'm not in a black mood," Chibiusa replied, not quite meeting Rio's eyes. "I'm just trying out a new meditation technique."
"Uh huh," Rio said, looking skeptical as she sat beside her friend. She didn't argue the point, though, for which Chibiusa was grateful. She simply stared forward, into the glare of the setting sun. The pair sat in that companionable silence for a while before Rio spoke again.
"Do you know what this whole get together is about?" she asked, startling Chibiusa out of the almost-doze she had slipped into. "I asked my mother but she wouldn't tell me anything."
"You asked your mother?" Chibiusa blurted out before she could stop herself. She blushed fiercely when Rio shot her a look. "Sorry, I didn't mean it to sound like that," she continued. "I guess I've just gotten used to you and your mother barely speaking that it took me by surprise."
"Yeah, well, it took Mom by surprise as well."
Chibiusa bit her lip to stifle her laughter until she caught a glimpse of Rio's face. The two girls laughed until they had to lean against each other for support, wiping tears from their cheeks. It had been a long time since they had shared a moment like that.
"But back to my question," Rio said after taking a couple of deep breaths to calm herself. "Why, exactly, are we here this evening?" She met her friend's eyes. "You know, Usa, I can tell."
Chibiusa was spared the need to make a response when she caught a glimpse of her mother approaching, followed by Mariko, Akemi and Mizuki. The other girls' mothers brought up the rear, and even from a distance the apprehensive looks on the faces of Rei, Ami, and Makoto were clear. Minako looked calm, but then she always did. When her mother lifted a hand in greeting Chibiusa rose to her feet, a tentative smile on her lips.
And was quickly knocked off of her feet by a blast that shook the entire street, shattering glass and knocking streetlamps askew. Chibiusa's fall knocked her into Rio and the two girls fell down the steps, bouncing painfully along, blinded by a searing light and choking on dust. When she recovered her senses Chibiusa saw Mizuki hovering over her, helping her rise to her feet.
"Are you all right?" Mizuki asked, her face pale. When Chibiusa nodded her friend gripped her hand tightly. "We have work to do," was all she said before she started running toward the disturbance. Her mother followed swiftly after her, then Usagi, Ami, and Makoto.
Chibiusa stayed behind, helping Rio to stand. She gave the other girl a shaky smile. "You wanted to know what all of this was about," Chibiusa said, tugging her locket free of her blouse. "I didn't want you to find out like this." She stepped away from where Rio stood with her mother's arm wrapped around her shoulders. "MOON CRYSTAL POWER MAKE UP!" There was a flash of light that caused Rio, Mariko and Akemi to flinch and then blink rapidly to clear their vision. Rio was the first to recover, and what she saw left her slack-jawed in shock.
It was Chibiusa, but not. It was her lifelong friend as Rio had never seen her before. Her clothes had changed and her hair had re-arranged itself into the odango style she had always worn when they were younger. But the biggest change was in her demeanor; she was no longer just a sixteen year old girl out with her friends, but instead a powerful and determined young woman. If pressed Rio would have said that goddess wasn't too strong a word for what her friend appeared to be.
And then she ran off in the same direction the others had taken. Rio let out the breath she had been holding and tried to pull away from her mother, but Rei held fast. She turned her daughter to face her. "There's more you need to know but we haven't time now," she said. She thrust a red and gold pen into her daughter's hands. "Take this," she commanded as she pulled a similar red and gold wand from the inside pocket of her jacket, and then Rei was gone as quickly as all the others.
Rio looked to where Akemi and Mariko stood, looking as confused as she felt. Anger at her mother's cavalier dismissal of her began to grow, and her hands balled into fists. As soon as her hand clenched around the pen she felt a strange warmth flood her body, spreading outward from her heart. Out of nowhere a wind swirled around her, lifting her hair away from her face. She caught a glimpse of Mariko and Akemi looking shocked before her vision was obscured by the roar and flash of flames surrounding her.
When she could see again Rio noticed that Akemi and Mariko had fallen to the ground, shocked expressions still in place. Mariko lurched to her knees, her eyes never straying from her friend. "Rio, you. . ." Her voice died away.
The warm feeling from before had intensified, as hot as a fire but without burning. It swelled inside of her, and for a moment Rio fought against it. But when it threatened to overwhelm her she gave herself up to that power and rode it like the crest of a wave. When she came back down she could see her friends had tears in their eyes.
"I. . ." she began, not quite knowing what to say. She glanced down at herself, at the fiery red of her skirt and the deep purple bow across her chest. Her hands, in pristine white gloves, unclenched and relaxed at her sides. "I am the warrior of fire and passion," she said, not knowing where the words came from. "The guardian of the Red Planet." There was a moment of absolute silence. "I am Sailor Mars."*
*This speech is taken from Luna's description of Sailor Mars in the new English translation of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon (Act 3 Rei, Sailor Mars), published by Kodansha Comics.