Is Your Love Strong Enough

Is Your Love Strong Enough

I do not own Sailor Moon. With the exception of Rini, the Chibi Scouts are property of Angel Raye. However, this story and any new characters are mine.

Chapter One

            Gloria Aino sat on her bed, kicking her feet back and forth. It was no fun being grounded. She had just played a little joke! Okay, granted spreading butter on the floor had been irresponsible but seeing Faith tumble back on her butt was worth it. But she did not mean for Annika to get hurt. But she had. Like always, she tried to help Faith but slipped herself and twisted her ankle.

            But that had not been the worst of it. Not even the lecture and spanking from her mother had been the worst. It had been Annika's eyes. They had looked at her and they looked so hurt, so angry. Gloria had turned her face away. Then of course Faith had started to yell and that had brought Rini in.

            Her parents found out shortly after.

            Gloria looked up as the door opened. Instead of her mother as she had expected, it was Rini.

            "Rini?"

            The Princess of Crystal Tokyo nodded. Her eyes were empty, emotionless. But the anger was clear in her voice.

            "Gloria…Sailor Chibi Venus…"

            Gloria leapt up. She feared what Rini sounded like she was going to do.

            "Rini! Neo-Princess Serenity!"

            That halted Rini. Gloria had never called her by her 'formal' title before.

            "You aren't going to kick me out are you?"

            Rini gave her a smile of reassurance. "No, Gloria. Sit down."

            Gloria sat and Rini took a seat beside her, her pink hair trailing into her eyes. She smiled at her younger friend. Although Gloria was a brat most of time, Rini knew that she was a good person. She had been given that gift, to see a person's true colors, from her mother.

            "Gloria I'm not going to kick you out but I thought that I should tell you that Annika is going to be out of action for about two weeks."

            "I didn't mean for her to get hurt!"

            "I know but the fact is that she did. I'm down a teammate and the others aren't very happy with you. Especially not Daisy or Faith."

            Gloria nodded. "I know. But it was just a joke."

            Rini sighed. "That's always your excuse Gloria. One of these days…"

            "Please don't lecture me. My mom already did that."

            Rini got to her feet. "I'm just saying Gloria to watch it. One day, you'll regret it."

            Gloria watched her leader leave, a sinking feeling in her stomach. Her mother had told her that and she'd cast it away. But the way Rini said it, with such gravity and that gleam in her eyes; it made Gloria feel sick to her stomach with worry.

            She muttered, "I'll lay off a few days."

* * *

            "Just shut up, okay?"

            Daisy and Faith pressed on, rushing to catch up with Gloria.

            "Well, it is your fault, you know."

            Gloria ground her teeth. Everyone was reminding her about Annika today. Rini had not been kidding. Faith and Daisy were really on her case about it. Ariel was less aggressive about it but she was obviously angry. Madelyn too. Maggie and Hope had stated their opinion and then ceased speaking to her.

            Gloria was tempted to throw a punch at Daisy or Faith but stopped herself. She would only get in more trouble. That was the last thing she wanted. So she merely set her sights ahead and tried to block their comments. They still reached her ears but she tried not to let it bug her.

            She spied Rini walking towards the palace, her backpack weighted down a bit on her shoulder. Anxious to get away from the others she raced over towards her leader.

            "Rini!"

            The pink haired Princess turned around. She smiled as she saw Gloria. The girl had been nicer the last few days. It was a rarity and Rini knew she should enjoy it while it lasted. Besides, with Gloria to talk to, she could delay going home a bit longer. Just because she was a Princess, did not mean that she was immune to teenage trouble.

            She had not gotten into trouble but she had gotten some tongue-lashing for the way she handled a boy. He had been flirting with her big time. She had pushed him away, saying she had a boyfriend and he had jumped on her, kissing her. It had been reflex. She kneed him in the gut and punched him away. Her teacher was stern that because she was the future Queen she should have known better ways of handling a situation.

            "Hey Gloria! What's up?"

            "You were right. They are bugging me."

            Rini rolled her eyes. "Told you."

            Gloria was about to say something else when Daisy and Faith ran over.

            "Gloria! Are you going to see Annika this afternoon?"

            "Yes…"

            "Why don't you leave her alone?" Hope cut in, rushing over. Rini sent the scout of Neptune a stern glare. Hope grimaced under her leader's look but did not apologize.

            Finally, Rini shouted, her anger having gotten the best of her,

            "All of you! KNOCK IT OFF!"

            Dead silence followed. Rini took a deep breath.

            "Thank you."  She groaned and rubbed her forehead. "Nothing can be done about it now, so can we try to be civil with each other?"

            Daisy sent Gloria a death glare. "First the ice, now this. When is it gonna connect Gloria?"

            "Will you drop the ice? I still regret that!"

            Faith broke in, "Then why do yous till play these stupid jokes? You're going to kill someone one day!"

            Gloria glared at her. "Those were accidents."

            Hope stood by her sister, her blue eyes shining. "But what happens when one of those accidents kills someone or severally hurts them? What then?"

            Gloria looked down. She couldn't look at her. She just muttered, "Leave me alone."

            Gloria was cracking. The insults stung and the memory of the ice stung fresh. Besides that, she had been getting nightmares lately, of someone attacking Annika and pulling her into a black void. And then everyone shouting, "It's your fault, Gloria. It's your fault!"

            Before anyone said anything else, the gate to the palace opened and King Darien and Neo-Queen Serenity walked out. It had been fifteen minutes since the time the girls usually got home so they ventured out to look for her. As soon as they saw the mass they rushed over.

            "What's all the commotion?" the queen inquired. Gloria stuck close to Rini. She felt like Rini was her only ally right now. Rini answered her mother through clenched teeth,

            "We're having a bit of a dispute right now."

            Faith burst out, "Cause Gloria won't stop those stupid jokes."

            Gloria found herself fighting tears. She was normally so tough, why was she getting hurt right now? She was pulling an Annika. Annika would cry. She never did. She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to hide the tears.

            The queen tried to make peace,

            "Girls, Gloria tries. You know that Annika's ankle was an accident."

            Daisy interrupted, "That SHE caused!"

            Rini's temper burst.

            "Drop it! All of you drop it!"

            The two royals stared at their daughter, shocked. The younger girls looked back at her. Hope intervened.

            "It's…it's…" her anger returned as she thought of Annika. "It's because I doubt your loyalty, Gloria."

            Gloria's mouth dropped. She knew they got agitated but she always believed that they kept their faith in her. But as she stared at Hope and then at Faith and Daisy, her belief shattered.

            And so did her will power.

            She buried her face into Rini's hip and fought to keep her tears in.

            Rini's glare told the girls what to do. They fled.

            Gloria felt Rini smoothing her hair. She knew Rini believed in her. But the others…how could she…

            Unknown to them, a pair of red eyes watched this with interest before vanishing away.