Tension of the Past
Part 5
*~*~*~*
She was so beautiful the last time I saw her... I can't deny that I loved her. She was so radiant and lovely. The brightest star I had ever seen besides our own princess. I lost hope. We all lost hope. But I'm not like Star Healer or Star Maker. I can't bask in the glow of pain, like Yaten. I can't hide it or ignore it like Taiki. I break under it. I knew the only way to stay alive, to keep from drowning in my sorrow, was to be around some one who could take away that pain, or to let me forget about it. I fell in love. I won't say I didn't want to. Because I did. Oh, God how I loved loving her. But in the end, where would I be? Back in the pain... in even more pain because she couldn't return my affection. How could I forget my princess that was waiting for me? How could I forget that she out-shown even Sailor Moon? Was I really that desperate to end the sadness?
And yet, when ever I think of her...
*~*~*~*
Ichigo quietly opened the door to the princess' room, peeking through the crack to see her sitting on the bed and playing with Diana. He sighed and opened the door all the way, watching with dread as the pink head quickly swiveled and locked into his direction.
"Glad to see you're awake," he said, and sat next to her on the bed. Diana quickly leaped onto his lap, mewing a hello, and Ichigo started to scratch her ears, trying not to look in the direction of the princess.
"You left me all alone!" cried Chibi-Usa. "I can't believe you did that! Something could have happened, and you're supposed to take care of me."
"Ah, come on," he said, not taking his eyes away from the blissful kitten. "It was only for a little while. And weren't you the one who was screaming about having to be supervised?"
"I was in a bad mood! Mom never told me she was going to see Pluto."
"Aunt Serenity doesn't need to justify everything she does. Princesses can't have tantrums. There's no way you'll grow up with that attitude."
"What about you, huh? I don't see you aging. And anyway, I AM growing! You even noticed yesterday, and said I was starting to look like a 'real lady'."
"But that was before you stuffed yourself with food." Chibi-Usa glared at him, and Ichigo moved his attention from Diana. "Fine, fine. I'm sorry. But you were getting into one of those fits."
"A fit?! You were the one that kept wanting to wander off and look at Hotaru more than be with me. Maybe if you just told her how you felt, you would grow up."
Ichigo glared at her. "What about you, huh?"
Chibi-Usa smiled, and sighed, a far-away look coming into her eyes. "I already have my Elios... it won't be long until he'll see me again, and I'll a true lady."
The smile turned to a grin, and Ichigo rolled his eyes. Chibi-Usa looked at him and smirked.
"Well maybe if you did something more than just gazing into her eyes, and sighing at every move she makes..." she batted her eye-lashes and clasped her hands to her chest. Ichigo groaned, and suddenly an idea came to Chibi-Usa.
"I know!" she cried, and leaped to her feet from her place next to him on the bed.
"Here it comes..."
"I'll tell her for you!"
Ichigo's mouth fell open. "WHAT?! NO!"
"Of course! It's the only way!" she said. "If you won't tell her, I'll do it."
And with that Chibi-Usa, bounded out of the room cheerfully, Diana scampering after her.
"WAIT! COME BACK!"
"Hotaruuuuuuu? Where are youuuuuuu?"
*~*~*~*
"In. Now."
Taiki01 walked into the dungeon (one that could be compared with the royal chambers), and Jupiter slammed the cell door into place, locked it, fused the lock with electrical heat, melted the key on the floor, watching the bubbling liquid cool on the marble with satisfaction, and then set to work on fusing the dungeon cell bars with the walls, floor and ceiling.
"Going a bit overboard, aren't you?" asked Venus.
"It's the only way. I can't stand it any longer. You've probably been out more than that one time too." She narrowed her eyes at the clone. Taiki only smirked.
"Why is he here anyway?"
"Let's face it. Jails are collecting dust. What better way to protect the queen then have the monster-"
"-I resent that-"
"-Here to be looked after by Sailor Senshi?" Jupiter's face scowled. "But what good is THAT doing?! This is insanity, I swear to God. This is not what a veteran senshi is supposed to be doing! This is a game! These petty acts of crime are making... me... INSANE!!!"
"Whoa. Whoa whoa whoa. Let's calm down now. Breathe in, breathe out. One more time... good... breathe IN Jupiter! IN! ... There we go. Feel better?"
"...hai," she grumbled. "Let's get out of here."
"Until next time!"
"Why, you little-"
"Oooh," he taunted. "I'm sooo scared."
Jupiter rushed to the bars, but Venus grabbed her arm and shook her head. The brunette flushed angrily, and then cursing, she turned her back to the prisoner. The two senshi left, leaving the prisoner alone to deal with his inner thoughts.
*~*~*~*
"It's beautiful." Yaten, Hotaru and Rei stood in the middle of the Crystal Garden, a small area of a public park that lead into the palace grounds. Roses of all colors were lovingly tended among the seemingly random crystals that grew beside the plants. The sun danced off their shining edges, sending out small rainbows to lie on the petals of the flowers.
"Do you have gardens like this on New Kinmoku?" asked Hotaru.
"Our planet is very different... We modeled it after both Earth and Kinmoku," said Yaten, and smiled. "We aren't attached to a sun, so the planet's light source is from the land itself. Plants grow from the light that is in the ground... but the sky is always night.
"The planet free floats, but we have mobility and defense if any... disaster comes. Luckily, nothing like that has ever happened. We reside in a Divinely Protected area that has been safe for over three thousand millennia, but somehow, we feel we should be prepared."
"Wow," said Rei. "We've only been protected since The Black Moon family disaster ended."
"It's a funny thing, this protection, isn't it?" said Hotaru. "It all depends on the people whether or not to be a part of it." She cupped a flower in her hand, bending it so the rainbow was surrounded by shadow. "Light will always over power dark. If enough people want the light, and are in it, it overrides the darkness' 'authority', as if there was such a thing. It was only until this last disaster that the people realized the fate of the Earth was in their hands as well."
No aliens may come into Earth without our permission now... but the problems of the people must be solved by ourselves.
"Yaten-kun!" They all turned to see a black blob racing towards them.
"Luna!" The cat, finding that using the pathway was too slow, bounded through the flowers and crystals and grass, and stopped at his feet, where Yaten picked her up, and hugged her. "It's good to see you again."
"It seems like forever," she sighed, and then twisted her body so she faced him. "Where have you been?"
"A very long story, one that I don't even really understand," he answered. "But where Taiki and I live there's no reference to time, except star calculations and even then..."
"They thought it had only been nine years," said Rei. Luna nodded.
"It's still a long time though."
Yaten could only shrug. "Where's Artemis? Isn't he usually hanging around you? I didn't see him with Minako."
"Ah..." Luna sighed. "He's traveling with King Endymion overseas... they should be here tomorrow though. If only you had notified us, we would have been able to make arrangements."
"We've... been a little isolated," said Yaten.
"Hotaruuuuuu-chan! There you are! I've been looking all over for you!"
Yaten's gaze turned to a small girl running down the path, her pink hair pulled back in a similar version of Sailor Moon's odangos, only more like rabbit ears. Behind her ran a small gray kitten, and when Luna saw her, she jumped off her perch on Yaten's shoulder. Behind them ran the boy, his face in a scowl of dread, fear, anger, and calculation.
An expression that reminded Yaten so much of Taiki. It was one of those obvious things where hints and just plain blunt comments could be pieced together by less than intelligent creatures, but it was still just as shocking. Taiki had a son. Ami had Taiki's son. Ami had Taiki's son. And a son.
"Ichigo has something-"
"Small Lady!" The small girl abruptly closed her mouth, and looked at the disapproving Luna. "We have a guest. How do you greet strangers?"
Chibi-Usa blinked, and looked at the intense Yaten with curiosity. There was a small, delicate, yet chastising growl, and Chibi-Usa quickly bowed, and said, "Hello, I am Princess Usagi Small Lady Serenity. Welcome to the palace."
"Very good," nodded Luna
The silver haired figure bowed deeply. "Yaten Kou, Sailor Star Healer from New Kinmoku. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Yaten Kou?" asked Chibi-Usa, her eyes widening. There was a similar reaction from the boy. "Really?! Wow! Mom's talked so much about the times when she fought with you as Sailor Moon."
Yaten blinked. "So um... Princess Usagi Small Lady Serenity's the daughter of-"
"Chibi-Usa," she said. "It's much easier. I'm Neo-Queen Serenity's daughter."
Yaten could only nod.
"Sailor Moon's full form is Neo-Queen Serenity. She is married to King Endymion," explained Luna.
"King Endymion?"
"You would know him as 'Mamo-chan'," said Rei. Yaten blinked.
"Oh! Of course."
"You get used to it," continued Rei.
Yaten looked at Ichigo who bowed politely once the stage was set for him.
"I am Prince Ichigo of Mercury, son of Sailor Mercury. It is an honor for you to visit us."
Yaten bowed as well. They searched each other's souls for a brief moment, each getting nothing.
He's carefully guarded, thought Yaten. He has the gift. I had always wondered what a child of Taiki would be like... Will I be here long enough to find out?
"So how do you like Earth so far?" asked Ichigo.
"It's a lot different than I remembered, but there are some things that bring back memories."
"Really?" asked the boy. "Like what?"
"I saw the Crown when we arrived. I can't believe how much it has changed."
Rei nodded, and Yaten began to weave his spell on Ichigo, a spell he had used countless times to find his princess, only to bring in countless girls who didn't even know the meaning of love. Including one who did, but who hid it from everyone.
*~*~*~*
"We need to talk," said Makoto as they walked down the hall to the gardens.
"About what?" asked Minako, her eyes set dead ahead.
"Well, about your... presence, I guess."
"My presence?"
"You haven't been yourself lately, Minako-chan. You hardly ever interact with us, and you're either in town or in your apartments. That tells me there are some real problems going on. I-I'm not saying that you're neglecting your duties. You've been doing an awesome job... but..."
Minako sighed, and stopped walking. Makoto stood next to her.
"I'm worried about you. Really I am."
"Thanks, but you really don't have to be. I've just been doing some thinking."
"For a week? Come on, Mina-chan, I just want to know what's going on."
"I..."
"....You?"
"I... I don't think I can tell you... anyone, really, right now."
"Oh." Makoto nodded. "I understand."
And yet she looked incredibly hurt. Minako's heart burned with guilt.
"B-but, when I'm ready, you'll be the first one I'll tell."
She brightened up. "Great. But if I'm the last to know, I'll lock you up, I swear to God! You and Taiki can have staring contests until you pass out."
"Are you kidding me? No one can beat Aino Minako in a staring contest. Anyway, I don't faint."
"Oh really?"
"Well, the last time I did was when I caught Ichigo sucking down helium from a party balloon... with a look in his eyes that scared to me to death. My God, I thought he was possessed! And he just started bouncing off the walls, and I couldn't catch him. I had to end the pain somehow."
Mako burst out laughing, causing Minako to giggle.
"God, we never change, do we?" said Makoto. "I don't care. Living your life too seriously is a total waste of energy. If we acted as old as we really were... no, I don't want to even get into it... I'd die just thinking about it."
The two women giggled again, and walked with a lighter pace.
It's been a while, she thought, feeling positive. I had forgotten how even acting like you were happy made you feel high.
Finally they entered the gardens, and everyone turned to see them walk down the path, including Yaten.
Minako's heart leapt as his energy moved to her, seeming to caress her soul. They had shared a moment back on the roof in a way she had never shared anything before... when he helped her to remember a part of herself... to remember her ambition.
Makoto and Minako reached the group, and joined in the conversation. A little while later, Ami and Taiki came to the gardens too, looking very happy, and even Ami seemed to have her old strength back. Most of Minako's energy was spent watching Yaten, though. Every move he made, every small glimpse he sent in her direction, would thrill her beyond belief.
Don't do this to yourself, Minako. He'll be gone soon. It's only a visit. And then he won't ever come back. This is a good-bye trip... a time to tie loose ends. Don't make any new ones.
Suddenly, Neo-Queen Serenity appeared at the doorway, a look of confusion and impatience on her sweet face. Yaten's heart stopped.
Beauty beyond compare... a grace that defies the laws of nature... could this possibly be the former Sailor Moon? She reminds me so much of...
"Mom!" cried Chibi-Usa.
"Everyone!" she called. "I must speak with you urgently!"
Instinctively, all the five women of Earth henshined, their faces masked in emotionless stone.
Yaten and Serenity locked eyes, both incredibly surprised. There was a small pause as she looked over at Taiki, his fingers entwined with Ami's. Her eyebrows lifted, and she beckoned for everyone to enter the palace. They all did so, with an unknown fear.
If Serenity was worried, what did this mean?
*~*~*~*
"What the hell is that thing?!" shouted Uranus.
The two women stared at the small star that had appeared to the left of the sun. No star at noon was bright enough to be seen.
"It is a vessel of a billion stars," said Neptune. Her face was slack, but her heart had stopped.
"Shit. This is all we need," muttered Uranus. "Do you sense any danger?"
"I sense... impatience... and excitement... it's very faint though, they must be far away."
"That's enough for me. We need to contact the inner senshi, and get them up here."
"We have Divine Protection, Haruka," said Neptune.
"That's true," she answered. "But what if it's something different? I don't want to take any chances. Are you getting a signal at all?"
Neptune nodded, but frowned. "It's very faint, though. Almost as if they're obeying the Galactical Law, but not wanting to be overly seen. I can't make out whether it's hostile, though."
"I hate it when people try to be subtle."
"I know," Neptune said with a small smile.
*~*~*~*
"Venus."
"Hai!"
"There is an unknown object heading straight for Earth. First Gate asks assistance from Inner Senshi immediately!"
"Permission granted! We'll meet you at the summoning point."
"Thank you! We'll see you there."
Venus ended the conversation with Neptune and turned to the group who were all now inside the palace, facing the queen.
"We are to meet Uranus and Neptune. I need two people to stay with Serenity for back up."
"I'll stay," answered Mercury.
"Me too," said Jupiter.
"Are five people enough up there?" asked Saturn.
"I'll go!" cried Chibi-Usa hopefully. But Venus shook her head.
"Small Lady, you are the heiress to the throne. You need to be safe with your mother." The princess nodded sadly, and Venus smiled slightly. "Maybe next time..."
"Right," said Chibi-Usa half-heartedly, hanging her head.
"Has anyone contacted the King?"
"I just finished talking to Artemis," said Luna as she stopped at the side of Serenity. "King Endymion saw the star-like object in the sky around the same time as Neptune and Uranus. They are traveling back to Crystal Tokyo, and will arrive within the hour."
"Good," said Venus. "That's everything then. Let's go."
"WAIT!" cried Star Healer. "It's them! I feel it... they mobilized the planet!"
A sun harboring a billion lives speeds to this Earth, a force magnified to ours, bound by strings that no one can see. The lives of the senshi will end when we invite them to our home.
Them? It can't be... will they truly kill us all? What am I supposed to do? How could I ever think of something like that?
"They're coming here?" asked Taiki. "What's going on?"
"I don't know... I can't... they're too far away. All I can sense is that they're here."
Our queen has come here. What's wrong? What happened? I knew I never should have left. I knew it. Why didn't I just refuse to leave? What's going on? If something happened, I would never forgive myself. What if Kakyuu-
"YATEN!" Startled and back in reality, Star Healer looked up at Venus. "We're out of time. I'm sorry."
"Let us come with you!" cried Star Maker. "Please!"
"If our queen is in danger-"
"Go," said Serenity to the Star Lights. "Hurry. And... come back as soon as possible. If anything is wrong, Earth will do everything in its power to help your planet."
"Thank you..."
The five Sailor Senshi rose into the air and sped into the sky.
"The time has come for a new revolution," murmured Serenity. She stood between Mercury and Jupiter, her hands reaching out to be entangled with theirs.
Her heart leaped when each held a hand, and they watched as the speeding stars reached to meet the speeding planet.
"I will protect you all with all my strength," said the queen, and her face filled with determination, transforming her features, if only for a moment... into Sailor Moon.
Part 5
*~*~*~*
She was so beautiful the last time I saw her... I can't deny that I loved her. She was so radiant and lovely. The brightest star I had ever seen besides our own princess. I lost hope. We all lost hope. But I'm not like Star Healer or Star Maker. I can't bask in the glow of pain, like Yaten. I can't hide it or ignore it like Taiki. I break under it. I knew the only way to stay alive, to keep from drowning in my sorrow, was to be around some one who could take away that pain, or to let me forget about it. I fell in love. I won't say I didn't want to. Because I did. Oh, God how I loved loving her. But in the end, where would I be? Back in the pain... in even more pain because she couldn't return my affection. How could I forget my princess that was waiting for me? How could I forget that she out-shown even Sailor Moon? Was I really that desperate to end the sadness?
And yet, when ever I think of her...
*~*~*~*
Ichigo quietly opened the door to the princess' room, peeking through the crack to see her sitting on the bed and playing with Diana. He sighed and opened the door all the way, watching with dread as the pink head quickly swiveled and locked into his direction.
"Glad to see you're awake," he said, and sat next to her on the bed. Diana quickly leaped onto his lap, mewing a hello, and Ichigo started to scratch her ears, trying not to look in the direction of the princess.
"You left me all alone!" cried Chibi-Usa. "I can't believe you did that! Something could have happened, and you're supposed to take care of me."
"Ah, come on," he said, not taking his eyes away from the blissful kitten. "It was only for a little while. And weren't you the one who was screaming about having to be supervised?"
"I was in a bad mood! Mom never told me she was going to see Pluto."
"Aunt Serenity doesn't need to justify everything she does. Princesses can't have tantrums. There's no way you'll grow up with that attitude."
"What about you, huh? I don't see you aging. And anyway, I AM growing! You even noticed yesterday, and said I was starting to look like a 'real lady'."
"But that was before you stuffed yourself with food." Chibi-Usa glared at him, and Ichigo moved his attention from Diana. "Fine, fine. I'm sorry. But you were getting into one of those fits."
"A fit?! You were the one that kept wanting to wander off and look at Hotaru more than be with me. Maybe if you just told her how you felt, you would grow up."
Ichigo glared at her. "What about you, huh?"
Chibi-Usa smiled, and sighed, a far-away look coming into her eyes. "I already have my Elios... it won't be long until he'll see me again, and I'll a true lady."
The smile turned to a grin, and Ichigo rolled his eyes. Chibi-Usa looked at him and smirked.
"Well maybe if you did something more than just gazing into her eyes, and sighing at every move she makes..." she batted her eye-lashes and clasped her hands to her chest. Ichigo groaned, and suddenly an idea came to Chibi-Usa.
"I know!" she cried, and leaped to her feet from her place next to him on the bed.
"Here it comes..."
"I'll tell her for you!"
Ichigo's mouth fell open. "WHAT?! NO!"
"Of course! It's the only way!" she said. "If you won't tell her, I'll do it."
And with that Chibi-Usa, bounded out of the room cheerfully, Diana scampering after her.
"WAIT! COME BACK!"
"Hotaruuuuuuu? Where are youuuuuuu?"
*~*~*~*
"In. Now."
Taiki01 walked into the dungeon (one that could be compared with the royal chambers), and Jupiter slammed the cell door into place, locked it, fused the lock with electrical heat, melted the key on the floor, watching the bubbling liquid cool on the marble with satisfaction, and then set to work on fusing the dungeon cell bars with the walls, floor and ceiling.
"Going a bit overboard, aren't you?" asked Venus.
"It's the only way. I can't stand it any longer. You've probably been out more than that one time too." She narrowed her eyes at the clone. Taiki only smirked.
"Why is he here anyway?"
"Let's face it. Jails are collecting dust. What better way to protect the queen then have the monster-"
"-I resent that-"
"-Here to be looked after by Sailor Senshi?" Jupiter's face scowled. "But what good is THAT doing?! This is insanity, I swear to God. This is not what a veteran senshi is supposed to be doing! This is a game! These petty acts of crime are making... me... INSANE!!!"
"Whoa. Whoa whoa whoa. Let's calm down now. Breathe in, breathe out. One more time... good... breathe IN Jupiter! IN! ... There we go. Feel better?"
"...hai," she grumbled. "Let's get out of here."
"Until next time!"
"Why, you little-"
"Oooh," he taunted. "I'm sooo scared."
Jupiter rushed to the bars, but Venus grabbed her arm and shook her head. The brunette flushed angrily, and then cursing, she turned her back to the prisoner. The two senshi left, leaving the prisoner alone to deal with his inner thoughts.
*~*~*~*
"It's beautiful." Yaten, Hotaru and Rei stood in the middle of the Crystal Garden, a small area of a public park that lead into the palace grounds. Roses of all colors were lovingly tended among the seemingly random crystals that grew beside the plants. The sun danced off their shining edges, sending out small rainbows to lie on the petals of the flowers.
"Do you have gardens like this on New Kinmoku?" asked Hotaru.
"Our planet is very different... We modeled it after both Earth and Kinmoku," said Yaten, and smiled. "We aren't attached to a sun, so the planet's light source is from the land itself. Plants grow from the light that is in the ground... but the sky is always night.
"The planet free floats, but we have mobility and defense if any... disaster comes. Luckily, nothing like that has ever happened. We reside in a Divinely Protected area that has been safe for over three thousand millennia, but somehow, we feel we should be prepared."
"Wow," said Rei. "We've only been protected since The Black Moon family disaster ended."
"It's a funny thing, this protection, isn't it?" said Hotaru. "It all depends on the people whether or not to be a part of it." She cupped a flower in her hand, bending it so the rainbow was surrounded by shadow. "Light will always over power dark. If enough people want the light, and are in it, it overrides the darkness' 'authority', as if there was such a thing. It was only until this last disaster that the people realized the fate of the Earth was in their hands as well."
No aliens may come into Earth without our permission now... but the problems of the people must be solved by ourselves.
"Yaten-kun!" They all turned to see a black blob racing towards them.
"Luna!" The cat, finding that using the pathway was too slow, bounded through the flowers and crystals and grass, and stopped at his feet, where Yaten picked her up, and hugged her. "It's good to see you again."
"It seems like forever," she sighed, and then twisted her body so she faced him. "Where have you been?"
"A very long story, one that I don't even really understand," he answered. "But where Taiki and I live there's no reference to time, except star calculations and even then..."
"They thought it had only been nine years," said Rei. Luna nodded.
"It's still a long time though."
Yaten could only shrug. "Where's Artemis? Isn't he usually hanging around you? I didn't see him with Minako."
"Ah..." Luna sighed. "He's traveling with King Endymion overseas... they should be here tomorrow though. If only you had notified us, we would have been able to make arrangements."
"We've... been a little isolated," said Yaten.
"Hotaruuuuuu-chan! There you are! I've been looking all over for you!"
Yaten's gaze turned to a small girl running down the path, her pink hair pulled back in a similar version of Sailor Moon's odangos, only more like rabbit ears. Behind her ran a small gray kitten, and when Luna saw her, she jumped off her perch on Yaten's shoulder. Behind them ran the boy, his face in a scowl of dread, fear, anger, and calculation.
An expression that reminded Yaten so much of Taiki. It was one of those obvious things where hints and just plain blunt comments could be pieced together by less than intelligent creatures, but it was still just as shocking. Taiki had a son. Ami had Taiki's son. Ami had Taiki's son. And a son.
"Ichigo has something-"
"Small Lady!" The small girl abruptly closed her mouth, and looked at the disapproving Luna. "We have a guest. How do you greet strangers?"
Chibi-Usa blinked, and looked at the intense Yaten with curiosity. There was a small, delicate, yet chastising growl, and Chibi-Usa quickly bowed, and said, "Hello, I am Princess Usagi Small Lady Serenity. Welcome to the palace."
"Very good," nodded Luna
The silver haired figure bowed deeply. "Yaten Kou, Sailor Star Healer from New Kinmoku. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"Yaten Kou?" asked Chibi-Usa, her eyes widening. There was a similar reaction from the boy. "Really?! Wow! Mom's talked so much about the times when she fought with you as Sailor Moon."
Yaten blinked. "So um... Princess Usagi Small Lady Serenity's the daughter of-"
"Chibi-Usa," she said. "It's much easier. I'm Neo-Queen Serenity's daughter."
Yaten could only nod.
"Sailor Moon's full form is Neo-Queen Serenity. She is married to King Endymion," explained Luna.
"King Endymion?"
"You would know him as 'Mamo-chan'," said Rei. Yaten blinked.
"Oh! Of course."
"You get used to it," continued Rei.
Yaten looked at Ichigo who bowed politely once the stage was set for him.
"I am Prince Ichigo of Mercury, son of Sailor Mercury. It is an honor for you to visit us."
Yaten bowed as well. They searched each other's souls for a brief moment, each getting nothing.
He's carefully guarded, thought Yaten. He has the gift. I had always wondered what a child of Taiki would be like... Will I be here long enough to find out?
"So how do you like Earth so far?" asked Ichigo.
"It's a lot different than I remembered, but there are some things that bring back memories."
"Really?" asked the boy. "Like what?"
"I saw the Crown when we arrived. I can't believe how much it has changed."
Rei nodded, and Yaten began to weave his spell on Ichigo, a spell he had used countless times to find his princess, only to bring in countless girls who didn't even know the meaning of love. Including one who did, but who hid it from everyone.
*~*~*~*
"We need to talk," said Makoto as they walked down the hall to the gardens.
"About what?" asked Minako, her eyes set dead ahead.
"Well, about your... presence, I guess."
"My presence?"
"You haven't been yourself lately, Minako-chan. You hardly ever interact with us, and you're either in town or in your apartments. That tells me there are some real problems going on. I-I'm not saying that you're neglecting your duties. You've been doing an awesome job... but..."
Minako sighed, and stopped walking. Makoto stood next to her.
"I'm worried about you. Really I am."
"Thanks, but you really don't have to be. I've just been doing some thinking."
"For a week? Come on, Mina-chan, I just want to know what's going on."
"I..."
"....You?"
"I... I don't think I can tell you... anyone, really, right now."
"Oh." Makoto nodded. "I understand."
And yet she looked incredibly hurt. Minako's heart burned with guilt.
"B-but, when I'm ready, you'll be the first one I'll tell."
She brightened up. "Great. But if I'm the last to know, I'll lock you up, I swear to God! You and Taiki can have staring contests until you pass out."
"Are you kidding me? No one can beat Aino Minako in a staring contest. Anyway, I don't faint."
"Oh really?"
"Well, the last time I did was when I caught Ichigo sucking down helium from a party balloon... with a look in his eyes that scared to me to death. My God, I thought he was possessed! And he just started bouncing off the walls, and I couldn't catch him. I had to end the pain somehow."
Mako burst out laughing, causing Minako to giggle.
"God, we never change, do we?" said Makoto. "I don't care. Living your life too seriously is a total waste of energy. If we acted as old as we really were... no, I don't want to even get into it... I'd die just thinking about it."
The two women giggled again, and walked with a lighter pace.
It's been a while, she thought, feeling positive. I had forgotten how even acting like you were happy made you feel high.
Finally they entered the gardens, and everyone turned to see them walk down the path, including Yaten.
Minako's heart leapt as his energy moved to her, seeming to caress her soul. They had shared a moment back on the roof in a way she had never shared anything before... when he helped her to remember a part of herself... to remember her ambition.
Makoto and Minako reached the group, and joined in the conversation. A little while later, Ami and Taiki came to the gardens too, looking very happy, and even Ami seemed to have her old strength back. Most of Minako's energy was spent watching Yaten, though. Every move he made, every small glimpse he sent in her direction, would thrill her beyond belief.
Don't do this to yourself, Minako. He'll be gone soon. It's only a visit. And then he won't ever come back. This is a good-bye trip... a time to tie loose ends. Don't make any new ones.
Suddenly, Neo-Queen Serenity appeared at the doorway, a look of confusion and impatience on her sweet face. Yaten's heart stopped.
Beauty beyond compare... a grace that defies the laws of nature... could this possibly be the former Sailor Moon? She reminds me so much of...
"Mom!" cried Chibi-Usa.
"Everyone!" she called. "I must speak with you urgently!"
Instinctively, all the five women of Earth henshined, their faces masked in emotionless stone.
Yaten and Serenity locked eyes, both incredibly surprised. There was a small pause as she looked over at Taiki, his fingers entwined with Ami's. Her eyebrows lifted, and she beckoned for everyone to enter the palace. They all did so, with an unknown fear.
If Serenity was worried, what did this mean?
*~*~*~*
"What the hell is that thing?!" shouted Uranus.
The two women stared at the small star that had appeared to the left of the sun. No star at noon was bright enough to be seen.
"It is a vessel of a billion stars," said Neptune. Her face was slack, but her heart had stopped.
"Shit. This is all we need," muttered Uranus. "Do you sense any danger?"
"I sense... impatience... and excitement... it's very faint though, they must be far away."
"That's enough for me. We need to contact the inner senshi, and get them up here."
"We have Divine Protection, Haruka," said Neptune.
"That's true," she answered. "But what if it's something different? I don't want to take any chances. Are you getting a signal at all?"
Neptune nodded, but frowned. "It's very faint, though. Almost as if they're obeying the Galactical Law, but not wanting to be overly seen. I can't make out whether it's hostile, though."
"I hate it when people try to be subtle."
"I know," Neptune said with a small smile.
*~*~*~*
"Venus."
"Hai!"
"There is an unknown object heading straight for Earth. First Gate asks assistance from Inner Senshi immediately!"
"Permission granted! We'll meet you at the summoning point."
"Thank you! We'll see you there."
Venus ended the conversation with Neptune and turned to the group who were all now inside the palace, facing the queen.
"We are to meet Uranus and Neptune. I need two people to stay with Serenity for back up."
"I'll stay," answered Mercury.
"Me too," said Jupiter.
"Are five people enough up there?" asked Saturn.
"I'll go!" cried Chibi-Usa hopefully. But Venus shook her head.
"Small Lady, you are the heiress to the throne. You need to be safe with your mother." The princess nodded sadly, and Venus smiled slightly. "Maybe next time..."
"Right," said Chibi-Usa half-heartedly, hanging her head.
"Has anyone contacted the King?"
"I just finished talking to Artemis," said Luna as she stopped at the side of Serenity. "King Endymion saw the star-like object in the sky around the same time as Neptune and Uranus. They are traveling back to Crystal Tokyo, and will arrive within the hour."
"Good," said Venus. "That's everything then. Let's go."
"WAIT!" cried Star Healer. "It's them! I feel it... they mobilized the planet!"
A sun harboring a billion lives speeds to this Earth, a force magnified to ours, bound by strings that no one can see. The lives of the senshi will end when we invite them to our home.
Them? It can't be... will they truly kill us all? What am I supposed to do? How could I ever think of something like that?
"They're coming here?" asked Taiki. "What's going on?"
"I don't know... I can't... they're too far away. All I can sense is that they're here."
Our queen has come here. What's wrong? What happened? I knew I never should have left. I knew it. Why didn't I just refuse to leave? What's going on? If something happened, I would never forgive myself. What if Kakyuu-
"YATEN!" Startled and back in reality, Star Healer looked up at Venus. "We're out of time. I'm sorry."
"Let us come with you!" cried Star Maker. "Please!"
"If our queen is in danger-"
"Go," said Serenity to the Star Lights. "Hurry. And... come back as soon as possible. If anything is wrong, Earth will do everything in its power to help your planet."
"Thank you..."
The five Sailor Senshi rose into the air and sped into the sky.
"The time has come for a new revolution," murmured Serenity. She stood between Mercury and Jupiter, her hands reaching out to be entangled with theirs.
Her heart leaped when each held a hand, and they watched as the speeding stars reached to meet the speeding planet.
"I will protect you all with all my strength," said the queen, and her face filled with determination, transforming her features, if only for a moment... into Sailor Moon.
