Second Star

'Do you plan to sleep all day?' the voice asked her. Her heart began beating faster as she sat up, looking at him. He looked the same, his hair, his eyes… nothing had changed.

'No! Not with you here!' she promised, getting out of the bed. 'I've been waiting for you, for a long time! And now you're here with me!'

With a laugh, she took his hand and hugged him. To her surprise, he hugged back and this feeling of warmth shot from her chest.

'Good… I'd hate to die without seeing you one last time.'

Confused, she pulled away to see the shot of warmth was blood coursing from a wound in his chest, and he was holding his heart in his hand. Before she could scream, he crumbled away, and light from the tower shot out, engulfing her and

Bunny fell out of bed. She landed in a heap on her comforter, which had slid off at some point in the night. She groaned and looked up. Her clock said she had twenty minutes before the alarm would go off. Huffing, she turned it off and looked out the window, feeling that dream fade away from memory.

"Who was that person?"


Terra woke up still feeling out of it and went into the kitchen of the okushon she shared with Rubedo. He already had coffee ready.

"Mornin', Fayth." He sat her mug down and went to open the newspaper. She picked it up and began to sip from it, looking to the door, waiting for Chibi-Usa to come out any moment.

'Oh… that's right. She's gone, too.'

"You look like your goldfish died. Want breakfast?"

Terra shook her head and sat down. "I just feel… off. Like I need maintenance. But I'm not a Realian anymore, so that wouldn't work."

Rubedo flipped the page, reading a continuation of the article that reported the attack last night. "Performing maintenance is the same as sending a human to the doctor. Maybe you're coming down with something." He sipped his coffee, wrinkling his nose at it and going to add more creamers.

"This body doesn't get sick. I think I'm just depressed."

"That's a good possibility. So, hey, is shit like this normal?" he wondered, tapping the paper. Terra glanced over at the article.

"Getting attacked, getting the crap kicked out of us, or finding it in the news?"

"Funny."

"All three. The enemy attacks out of nowhere, we win by the skin of our teeth while we gage their strength and compensate, and usually the reporters eat it up like a fat kid eats cake."

Nodding, Rubedo folded it back up and threw the paper to the table for if she wanted to glance through it.

"Fayth… you know I've opened you up – not literally – and glanced through your files, right? That… mouse person last night mentioned something I saw floating around you," he said, looking at her with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

"Project Fragment." She knew what he was getting at.

"The program is a black box, but it was connected to most of your vital functions, so deletion was impossible. We couldn't even figure out how to re-route it or shut it down. What IS that project anyway?"

Terra leaned forward, putting her hands over her face as she thought. "I don't know the details. I don't think U-TIC planned to have me taken out of their control, much less to have Master Gaignun forge my legal documents. I just know my start up instructions, and the mess they caused."

"The Inquisitor mentioned there were 'a few deaths' with your start up. Something like your system got conflicting information." He walked over to her and rubbed her back, something he knew she loved.

"Project Fragment, Find the Seven and Terminate. And Project Fragment, Find the Seven and Return. Beyond that, I don't know shit about it. The information was conflicting. Destroy or protect. In the end, five people were dead and 'Terminate' overrode. U-TIC didn't like that, and that was how they came to their decision to rip me open alive and find out what was wrong."

Rubedo frowned and nodded, sitting next to her. "Hey, I know this stuff; you don't have to bring up bad memories."

Terra wiped her eyes and stood. "I have to go check the mail."

Turning, she left the okushon and went to the mailboxes, cracking it open and looking in. With a sigh, she realized that it was too early for mail.

"Kara would be getting home… so it's dinner time in Massachusetts." She pulled out her phone and looked at it as she began walking down the street. "Why haven't you called or written?"

She wiped her eyes again and ignored Seiya Kou, who was standing on the sidewalk watching her.


Due to school being back in session, Ichinohashi Park was empty of people, so no one was there to watch a small figure float down on an umbrella. She touched down and closed it, looking around. No one at all. Her single pigtail went to her waist and caught a small flower in it, which had cascaded down from a play ship.

Curious, she climbed up, holding the umbrella with her and glanced in. Using all her strength, she got to the top of the deck and looked around, before spotting a woman in an intricate dress and long, red hair who was unconscious.

Fragrant olive blossoms caught in the wind and swirled around her.


Bunny had gone for the day, and Trunks was cleaning out the dishwasher, as the woman who came and cleaned was on maternity leave for the next year. He stood up, feeling his back pop and began putting dishes away. Sometimes, actually doing his own chores was a good thing. It meant he remembered how to do them, after all.

"Okay, laundry is coming out soon and I've got clean dishes to eat off of!" he said, a little proud of himself. "Maybe I should hit the store and restock my pantry."

As he went to check on the washer, he stopped and looked to a cup he'd missed.

"Crap, I'll have to hand wash this one," he grumbled, walking over to the bar and picking it up. There was juice congealing in the bottom and he made a disgusted face at it. "Ewww."

He grumbled and turned the hot water on, planning to let it soak. "Bunny, I swear to god you are a child sometimes…"

He turned it to its side and paused. 'Chibi-Usa' was written on it.

"Chibi-Usa?"

As he spoke, he heard the door click open and he turned to see who was there.

"Chibi-Usa?" He walked over, muttering the name to himself. "Chibi… chibi…"

The little girl with a single Odango and single pigtail looked up at him, smiling.

"Chibi Chibi?"


"RIGHT WHEN YOU FORGET THEM, THEY HIT YOU!" Minako shouted, pounding the table with her fist.

"You sure forgot fast, getting so worked up over your new idols," Artemis reminded.

"Shut up! I thought it was over after beating the Dead Moon!"

Goten scratched his cheek in thought. "They thought it was over after Gohan killed Cell. But seven years later we had to fight Majinn Buu."

"Well, either way, we definitely have a new enemy," Haruka said. "And they're powerful. The sick girl took our attacks like they were nothing."

"Except for the chick in red," Goten pointed out. "I thought I was going to drown in blood! …was she using Tai Chi on me?"

"They knew who we were," Ami mused, pulling her glasses off. "And we never saw this 'Songstress'. That worries me."

"Oh come on! We're practically celebrities! It's no surprise they know who we are!" Minako shouted.

"An enemy from our past lives?" Makoto reasoned.

"Perhaps. However, space is quite large. Perhaps they have followed Kukai-san here." Luna looked up at them from her spot on the table.

"They mentioned fragments. Fragments of what?" Rei held her prayer beads in her hands.

"Nightwind has a book of predictions, doesn't she? No, she never opens it." Haruka spat in frustration.

"Haruka also believes that the Three Lights hold the same power as we do," Michiru explained.

"A new enemy… Mamo-chan and Chibi-Usa-chan have moved on, but we still don't have peace," Bunny said, slouching over.

Haruka smiled at her. "Come on, princess. Let's walk you home."

The group got Bunny home safely and she went inside ahead of Goten, who stayed back to thank the girls for coming with them.

"I'm home, papa! And I'm hungry!" she announced. Curious, she looked down to see an unfamiliar pair of tiny shoes with triangles decorating them.

"Hey, Bunny! I'm glad you're back!" Trunks welcomed, as a little girl followed him, smiling brightly. "Listen, can you watch your sister for a little bit? I'm heading to the store for more food, since Goten's here. Listen to your sister, Chibi Chibi."

Patting the girl on the head, he went to the garage, leaving Bunny to stare at the child. Once she felt he was safely away, she turned to the front door, frantic.

"GOTEN-OJI!"

He ran in at once, followed by the other girls who were ready to transform in a moment's notice. Goten stopped in his tracks and stared.

"Another one?!"

He stared, disbelieving, as the girls surrounded the child.

"Papa said she's my sister! I don't have a sister!" Bunny reminded.

"Bunny-chan's sister? How is that possible, if her mother died?" Rei demanded.

"Maybe she's Chibi-Usa-Chan's sister?" Hotaru offered, noticing the girl was enjoying the attention.

"Or she's Bunny's child," Haruka reminded.

Setsuna smiled brightly. "She could very well be Small Lady's child!"

Goten lifted the girl up by the back of the shirt, like he used to do to Bunny all the time. She just laughed at it.

"So, your name is Chibi Chibi?" Bunny asked.

"Name is Chibi Chibi?" the child mimicked.

"Copycat!"

"Copycat!"

Minako smirked. "Little brat!"

"Little brat!"

Goten tossed her in the air and caught her, watching her laugh as though it were the best thing in the world. The little stuffed rabbit doll she held was swung all over.

"Well, looking at her, I doubt it's urgent, like when Chibi-Usa-chan came."

"Like Chibi-Usa-chan!" she repeated. Goten sat her on the floor, and she went to Bunny, climbing up in her lap and grinned.

"Maybe Chibi-Usa-chan sent her sister, so Terra-san won't be lonely," Minako theorized. "Or she snuck out after hearing stories from her."

"Then why isn't she with Nightwind?" Haruka reminded.

They continued to sit for several minutes, before the girl began to yawn.

"Hey, you girls can head home. I'll stay here and keep an eye on things tonight," Goten offered, walking to the door to open it for them.

"She's probably going to be in the guest room, Goten-oji, where'll you sleep?" Bunny wondered as he closed the door behind the group.

"I'll take the couch. I did this all the time when you were this age." He went to the linen closet to pull out a blanket and spare pillow. He remembered that time. "You had nightmares every time you shut your eyes to sleep, and he couldn't take the loss of sleep and still work. So, I moved in until the nightmares stopped. Of course, they probably weren't nightmares, but memories of your past life. You weren't far off from having been reborn, so they were probably fresh. "

Bunny looked at Chibi Chibi who had made herself comfortable in her lap. "Goten-oji, what happened to mama?" she wondered.

Goten hesitated before continuing with his work. "You and Trunks were in America. Your grandmother wasn't feeling well, so Kiyo stayed behind and was going to meet you later. She walked in on a burglary. The bastard is in jail for the rest of his life."

"Why didn't papa wish her back to life?"

That one was easier to answer. "Kiyo's parents. Trunks went to them and explained he could bring her back, but… I dunno. They either didn't believe him, or they got mad. Either way, he left saying it wouldn't be a good idea." Not to mention, when they DID try, Shenron said the wish couldn't be granted for whatever reason.

Bunny nodded and stood. "Okay. I'm gonna put Chibi Chibi-chan to bed. Good night, Goten-oji."

She went up the stairs to the guest room. Once the girl was in bed, Bunny went to her own room and climbed in, ready to pass out and forget all the craziness, when she heard the door creak open. Chibi Chibi was standing there, peering at her.

"…you wanna sleep with me?" Bunny wondered. The little girl put an intricate incense burner on the desk next to the window and climbed into bed with Bunny, going to sleep at once.

"If you're my daughter, then who's your father?" Bunny just sighed and laid down. 'Smells like fragrant olive blossoms…'


Terra left the okushon to meet Bunny outside the school gates. It seemed Minako had 'big big BIG news' for them. She didn't want to deal with it, but agreed to go, anyway. Stopping at the mailbox, she stared at it and hesitated, before clicking it open. An airmail from America sat in there.

"Mamoru?!" She grabbed it and ripped it open. A card that showed a soft, orange sunset was inside, with a letter that was written in English. "Huh? 'Saw this and thought of you'?" It was very familiar handwriting, but she didn't care.

"You don't call, but you send a postcard? And you don't even sign it? I take back all the nice things I've been thinking about you, you're an asshole!" Terra griped, pocketing it and walking on.

As she rounded the corner, she saw Bunny standing outside the gates, behind a huge crowd.

"Bunny, what the hell?"

"Terra-chan, look, look!" Bunny shouted, pointing frantically at the limo that pulled up. That strange, sluggish feeling overwhelmed Terra again as she saw the Three Lights step out.

"That guy…?"

"TERRA-SAN! The THREE LIGHTS are attending OUR SCHOOL!" Minako squealed, grabbing her arm and hugging tight. "And I heard Megaine Rin just transferred to Rei-chan's school!"

A thought overcame Terra, and she ripped her arm away, running off in the direction of the all-girls' school.


Bunny needed a place no one would look for her. She was going to mail a letter to Mamoru, to tell him about everything that had happened. She couldn't get him to answer the phone, so this would have to work. She chose the school roof. After lunch, she would head back to Capsule Corp. for training.

"Hm… Mamo-chan needs to answer his phone," she whined. "Doesn't he keep it charged up, or is he having too much fun in America?"

The last time she'd been was when she'd been a year old. Goten said that she'd done nothing but cry the entire time. Not that she could remember it.

Writing carefully, her head snapped up when she heard the door get thrown open.

"School SUCKS!" Yaten complained. "I want to quit!"

"Learning is fun," Taiki reminded, pulling out his satchel, to check his schedule. Seiya looked up to see Bunny.

"Oh my god, you're the Three Lights!" Bunny cried, holding the letter. Curious, Yaten yanked it out of her hands to read it.

"Dear Mamo-chan, heart, thank you for… don't you ever use Kanji?" he demanded. She snapped it back up faster than he could blink, leaving him a little stunned.

"That is none of your business!" She folded the letter up and watched them carefully. Seiya seemed to be studying her, too.

"So are you writing a letter to your boyfriend?" Taiki asked carefully. Bunny shook her head.

"No… he's an old friend who just went to America to study. I'm Tsukino Bunny," she introduced with a slight bow.

"And this friend… where is he now?" Seiya asked.

Bunny was confused, but before she could answer, Haruka threw the door to the roof open, storming over.

"Leave Bunny-chan alone!" she roared. With a shrug, the three took off, leaving the two behind.

Haruka looked down at Bunny with concern. "Did they do something to you?"

"No… what did they mean about Mamo-chan?"


Terra stood outside the okushon, looking at another airmail package. She wasn't sure how she'd gotten there, to be honest. The last thing she remembered was getting to the gates of Rei's school and seeing that Megaine girl. Everything was fuzzy after that, and she felt groggy again.

Opening it more carefully than she had to the last, she looked to see a card depicting a starry sky on it. Frowning, she turned it this way and that to see if anything had been written on it. Nothing.

"An orange star? Huh…"

"It's a satellite," a deep voice said. Terra glanced over to see a familiar figure stand there.

"Satellite, is that so?" She put the card in her pocket. "Don't you have curfew?"

The boy smiled. "What of you? You're in high school, aren't you?"

Terra shook her head. "I look young." She pulled out her wallet to show her identification card.

"Your name is written in Katakana? Family and personal both… are you a foreigner? Terra Nightwind… there was a performer long ago with that name."

"That's none of your business. I'm an adult and I don't have to take crap from a kid," she said, turning to walk off.

"Even if that 'kid' knows about Project Fragment?"

Terra nearly fell forward from stopping so fast. She turned around to stare at him. "Who are you?"

"Seiya Kou."

"How do you know about Project Fragment?"

He smiled and looked up at the starry sky. "Does that matter? They don't realize it… but you are far more tangled up in the project than they ever expected you to be. After what happened with The Fugitive, and all."

Recalling the 'curse' placed by Neherenia, Terra grabbed him by the shoulders.

"What do you know?!"

She had to let go and stepped back as though she were burned. Sailor Senshi power radiated off him. And it felt… familiar. As the power grew in strength, two others ran up, furious.

"Seiya! You IDIOT! What are you doing?!" the man with silver hair demanded.

"Don't use that power!" the brown-haired man warned. "They're tracking us!"

A moment later, he was lifted off the ground and thrown into a building. The woman in red stood there, in a Tai Chi pose. Terra turned to look at her.

"There you are! Don't try to hide from me!" she warned, moving her hands and sending him into another wall, before motioning to Terra and lifting her up. Every muscle in her body was lost to her. This woman was in control of the strings.

"I am The Puppetmaster!" she laughed. "None can escape me! I can control the very blood in your veins!"

Terra gasped and opened her mouth. A stream of singing flowed out as best she could force it. Moments later, a bullet whizzed down, missing The Puppetmaster by inches.

"Drop her!" Rubedo warned, having felt the Resonance. He fired several more shots, scratching her leg at one point. Feeling a presence behind him, the sick woman shoved him out the window to let him crash to the ground below.

"ANIKI!"

"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"

The sick woman knocked them away once more, as though they were nothing. "You cannot best me in combat. I am The Tainted."

She brought her sword down, only to find it blocked by Goten. He powered up a blast of Ki and threw it at The Tainted's gut. She was staggered back, but it didn't even seem to bother her. She responded with a kick to him.

"Maker take you!" she roared, attacking again. This time, Eternal Sailor Moon got in the way. She swung her staff at The Puppetmaster, making her drop Terra and then turned to face The Tainted.

"So you are growing in power. As is to be expected from you," The Tainted said, standing straight. "Let us see how well you fare against my battle-hardened senses!"

Moon weaved in and out of the attacks, having just gotten out of training with her grandfather. She was moving far quicker than the older woman.

"Spend seven years training in over fifty times the normal gravity of Earth and THEN try to outmaneuver me!" Moon responded. The Puppetmaster 'grabbed' her again and responded with several fast maneuvers that resulted in Moon nearly getting snapped in half. Glaring, Rubedo brought a shaking hand up and fired off an Ether Bullet that hit the woman in the arm. Her eyes went wide and she cursed up a storm, dropping the girl.

From nowhere, a shriek that shattered the windows of every building on the street ran through them all, and reverberated in Mercury and Jupiter. Their bodies crumbled away to nothing.

Terra saw it and she collapsed to her knees, holding her head as though in pain. Moon went to help her at once, while Goten looked up to see a third figure standing there. She wore yellow and black, and was smiling as she held two crystals in her hands.

"These belong to our boss, now," she said with an air of superiority, but closed her eyes and opened them again. "Please don't get yourselves hurt."

"So even in that state, you are allowed on the field," The Tainted complained. "Songstress, why have you come?"

Her eyes closed and then opened. "You do not question me! You're RUINING all of my plans! Away with you, be gone from my sight!"

"While you may have been a princess, I am a queen and will not listen to the words of a child!"

"Or else you'll kill me, like you did-"

"Fighter Star Power!"

"Maker Star Power!"

"Healer Star Power!"

"MAKE UP!"

Those still conscious turned to look, seeing The Three Lights transform into Sailor Senshi.

"Star Serious Laser!" The attack struck The Songstress, causing her to fall back. In opposition to her brash actions a moment ago, she was quick to flee, leaving the other two behind.

Before The Puppetmaster could attempt another attack on the group, Moon held her staff out.

"Starlight Honey Moon Therapy Kiss!" The attack forced the remaining two to retreat as well. Those still conscious from the fight looked up.

"Who the fuck are you?" Goten demanded.

Fighter smiled and crossed her arms. "We are the Sailor Starlights."