AN: Oh look! Another chapter! And it didn't take... okay, it did take over a month, but the next one shouldn't!

Usagi slammed her hand down on the alarm clock. She hated getting up early. Throwing the covers back, she quickly got dressed then headed to the kitchen. While on this weekend trip, she hoped she got time to speak to Mamoru. They needed to talk and she wanted to do it before the other girls were back in her life. She froze when she entered the kitchen. There at the table was a pink-haired girl. Usagi asked. "Who are you?"

Irritated, Ikuko said. "You know who Chibiusa is. She's your cousin and has been living with us for the past two years."

Usagi shook her head. "No, she hasn't-" She turned to gesture to the rest of the house to ask where has the girl been sleeping and where are her belongings, but she was shocked when she saw the family portrait in the living room that had been taken 6 months ago. There in the portrait was Chibiusa. Usagi knew the girl hadn't been in it yesterday.

Ikuko glared. "That was rude of you to kick her out of bed last night."

Usagi shook her head as she faced her mother. "I don't know what you're talking about. She wasn't here last night."

Ikuko said. "Chibiusa came to me crying because you not only kicked her out of bed, you locked her out of your room."

Usagi blinked, completely and utterly confused at what was happening. "Mama, she lied to you..."

Ikuko huffed, placing her hands on her hips. "You're unbelievable. When we get back from this trip, you're grounded." Usagi glared at a smug Chibiusa. Now she was back to not being able to go anywhere. At least she got everything didn't want to lose moved to the Moon.

Mamoru let Motoki in, eyeing the backpack suspiciously as he closed the door. "Why are you here? You know I'm leaving for the weekend."

Motoki said. "You're alone 90% of the time and are perfectly content to stay holed up in this apartment. Yet, you're going to this resort in the woods so you can be alone." Mamoru sighed. Motoki held up his hands. "I figured it has to do with superhero stuff."

Nodding, Mamoru asked. "Then why are you here?"

Motoki chuckled. "I told people who know about your plans that I'm going with you because I will not be the only one to find it odd if you go alone. Besides, sometimes authorities get involved with the aftermath of a youma attack. I can be your alibi if needed."

Sighing, Mamoru nodded. Even though a possible youma wasn't why he was going, it wouldn't hurt to have Motoki there to be an alibi. He didn't need to risk running into Usagi's family and making them suspicious of him. If they knew a male close to their daughter's age was in one of the other cabins, they'd probably give her a hard time. After all, it was a hot springs resort.

Motoki smiled. "Great." Then he asked. "So… exactly how much danger am I going to be in?"

Mamoru chuckled as he reached for the doorknob, but paused. Facing his friend, he asked. "You remember, don't you? How else would you know authorities got involved in the aftermath of a youma attack?"

Motoki nodded. "I wasn't sure how to bring it up but at first I was more concerned with not making my family suspicious of me. It was very strange to wake up in the past and I had to be careful to not talk about things that hadn't happened yet."

Mamoru said. "It was strange, but we do have time to study for that surprise exam." He furrowed his brow. "I wonder if this counts as cheating?"

Motoki shrugged. "Who cares. I'm going to study and write that paper too. That will be the best paper the professor has ever read." They chuckled and Motoki looked down as he gradually stopped laughing. "Yeah, the best… paper." Looking back up, he said. "On a more serious note, at some point after Beryl's defeat, I thought I heard someone say everything will happen as it had in the past, just without the Dark Kingdom interfering. If it was something the Dark Kingdom was behind then it will be different. Was Shingo's death caused by the Dark Kingdom?"

Solemnly shaking his head, Mamoru said. "No. If they don't manage to save him this time around, then it won't be Usagi finding him. At least… I hope not. She was out there because of the Dark Kingdom." Sighing he said. "I guess you know Usagi is the Princess."

Motoki said. "I know and I heard the conversation she had with Sailor Venus while on the Moon. She asked Sailor Venus to continue being the decoy for the time being. We can finish this conversation at the cabin, but I want you to know I'll help out however I can… Well, without the senshi knowing. Their line of questioning when they thought I woke up on the rooftop was quite… intense."

Diana stayed hidden as she approached the house. She had orders from the King and Sailor Pluto to only observe and quickly report back. Do not interact with anyone and definitely don't let Small Lady see her. However, the King told her if Small Lady went far enough back in time then to report to Sailor Venus of that time period.

She sighed as she entered the garden at the back of the house. King Endymion did not say why he hoped Small Lady had not gone back in time to before July 20th, but it was evident that something big happened on that day.

Coming out of hiding, Diana quickly approached the patio where Minako and Artemis were sitting. They would ask a lot of questions, but there was one the King forbade her from answering. They would get the answer in due time from the King himself.

Chibiusa smiled as she clung to Ikuko. Usagi glared. Who the hell does this child think she is? Upon entering the cabin, the girl let go and ran into the middle of the living room, spinning around as she giggled. Kenji smiled as he watched Chibiusa. "We're lucky this three-bedroom was available. If it hadn't been, we would have been stuck in a two-bedroom cabin. It cost a bit more, but it's good for everyone to have their own bedroom. Although, one person will have to sleep on the inflatable mattress in the living room."

Ikuko nodded. "We were going to ask who wanted to sleep on it, but I think Usagi should. If she thinks it's okay to mistreat her family, then she shouldn't have a problem with sleeping there. Right sweetie?"

Usagi sighed. Chibiusa pouted. "I want to sleep on it! It will feel more like camping than having a regular bed and room!" Usagi listened as her mother and this girl went back and forth and was relieved when Ikuko finally gave in to Chibiusa's request. She would have more privacy than she would have had if she had been stuck sleeping in the living room. Still, she wasn't sure if she could sneak away to meet Mamoru with Chibiusa around.

After everyone unpacked, Chibiusa clasped her hands together and asked with the biggest puppy eyes the child could muster. "Can we go for a hike?" Usagi bit her tongue to keep from saying. Yes, you can, you pink-haired snot.

Kenji said. "How about right now?"

Ikuko clasped her hands together, smiling. "That is an excellent idea. We can stop by the lake and I'll tell you about the statue there and the legendary lovers." Usagi followed her family out of the cabin to begin the hike. She knew it was going to be different without the Dark Kingdom attacking, but wondered if this pink-haired girl meant there was a new enemy. Sighing, she knew she had to find time to alert the other senshi.

several minutes later

Usagi glared at Chibiusa as they hiked. She had wanted to spend more time with Shingo. Everything had been planned so he doesn't meet the same fate. Instead, this child appears, brainwashes her family and now she doesn't get any time with her brother. On top of that, this child managed to get her grounded again so she was going to be stuck at home once they returned. Chibiusa hadn't stopped talking since they began the hike and Usagi wanted to scream at her.

"Would you shut the hell up!"

She smirked when she heard it, but paused because she hadn't said it and neither had Shingo or their parents. They looked up at the sky to see an agitated man sitting on a tree branch. Chibiusa began screaming and clung to Ikuko. "It's that bad man! He's trying to take me away! He's going to hurt me!" Ikuko wrapped her arms around the girl, trying to soothe her while glaring at the man.

Kenji said. "Ikuko, take Chibiusa back to the cabin and I'll hold this creep off if he tries to chase you."

The man rolled his eyes. They had no idea he didn't have to run, he could teleport to them. However, he smirked when he noticed Usagi standing there all alone. A new plan formed in his mind. "I'm not going to take you away. I only climbed up here for some solitude and hoped my headache would go away. Forgive me for my rudeness. I have no intention of hurting anyone."

Kenji said. "You must be in one of the other cabins, so why are you all the way over here?"

The man said. "The cabins form a semi-circle around this statue. Some are farther away than others. I think mine is the farthest away. If will make you feel better, I promise I won't come back out this way. I'm going to jump down now." He jumped down and leaned against the tree.

Chibiusa yelled. "You're lying!" Breaking free of Ikuko's arms, the girl bolted and Ikuko ran after her.

The man sighed and began walking in the opposite direction, calling out over his shoulder. "Again, I apologize for the trouble I've caused."

Kenji and Shingo ran back to the cabin. They probably assumed Usagi would be right behind them and soon she would be. First, she needed to confront the man. No human could have made that jump without injury. She grabbed her broach. "Moon Prism-"

"There's no need for that. I only want to talk."

She whirled around to see the man standing there. He said. "As you know, that girl is a liar. She's tricked your family into thinking she's part of it." Usagi nodded. He said. "Where I'm from, some people think the silver crystal is an artifact that can be wielded by anyone. A replica was made so people would think the real thing was stored away and not try to do what this child is doing. She figured out it's fake, stole it and we fear she will try swapping it out with the real one. Sailor Moon, you must not let that child get it. Can you imagine the damage she'd do if she got her hands on it?"

Usagi said. "I won't let her get it. However, you haven't told me your name and where are you from?"

The man smiled. "My name is Rubeus and I'm from a place far away from here. In the group I'm part of, the leader wants to speak with you about this child and what is trying to be accomplished. He looks forward to meeting you and hopes something can be worked out."

Usagi nodded. "I can call the other senshi-"

Rubeus shook his head. "No, just you." Usagi sighed as she looked in the direction her family had gone. Rubeus said. "You've got to catch up to your family before they notice your absence. I'll tell my leader to go to you. He'll keep an eye out for you to climb onto the roof of your cabin tonight. Can you do that?"

She bit her lip. She really shouldn't agree to meet the person, but they knew this Chibiusa. For whatever reason, this girl is after the Silver Crystal. Usagi needed more information about why this child was doing this. Maybe they'll take her back to where she came from. Usagi sighed. "I'll try, but I can't promise that I will be able to sneak away."