Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Lita looked up as the door to her chambers was knocked on.

"Come in."

Daisy laid her head in Lita's lap and closed her eyes. Lita smiled and massaged her temples as she had when she'd been emotionally shattered. It seemed to help.

But when Lita saw who it was, her eyes narrowed.

"Setsuna."

The Keeper of Time nodded. "I can understand your anger, Lita."

"Then why don't you speak up?!"

Setsuna answered calmly, "Because it wasn't supposed to happen."

Lita's anger faded. "What? I thought…"

"That's just it, Lita. The Time Lines show nothing of this. I could never have anticipated this."

Lita sighed, "I suppose we'll hold a meeting tonight."

"Not tonight. Uranus and Neptune have to go to Hope's concert."

Daisy sat up. "I told Hope I'd go!"

Lita shook her head. "No young lady. You need to rest. Hope will understand."

Setsuna smiled. "Mirchiru and Haruka are recording it, Daisy. I'll ask them to make a copy for you, okay?"

Daisy sighed but knew that was the best she would get. Reluctantly she nodded, "Thanks Aunt Setsuna."

The Keeper of Time smiled. "Now, I need to get back to Maggie."

Lita nodded. "You do that. You hardly ever get to have time with her."

Setsuna smiled and nodded. Turning, she left the Jupiter Quarters.

Daisy looked at her mother, "Mom, why can't I go? It's a big thing for Hope."

Lita smiled at her tolerantly, "Because you need to rest. Having your senshi crystal removed hurts and I can tell you're hiding the pain."

Daisy sighed.

Lita smiled, "How about if I make you a batch of my special cookies?"

Daisy beamed. "Yes!"

Lita smiled and got up to make some snacks for her daughter.

* * *

"Why can't I wear tuxedo like Haruka-papa?"

Mirchiru sighed and combed out Faith's blue hair. "Because I said so."

Faith scowled. She hated wearing dresses. Hope didn't mind but Faith despised it.

"How come I gotta dress up?"

"Because it's a formal concert."

Faith groaned but let Mirchiru put a yellow bow in her hair. She wasn't wearing her princess dress but was wearing a dress that was far too girlish for her. It was yellow with puffy sleeves and a sash around her waist. She wanted to rip it off and burn it. But of course she couldn't do that.

"Ready?" a voice called. Faith turned and saw Hope come in with Haruka. Haruka had on a white tuxedo and Hope had on a dress identical to Faith's except it was a light blue color and her bow was blue. She carried her violin in one hand. Faith sighed but got up. Mirchiru smiled.

"Don't be so glum, Faith. You look very nice."

Faith growled. "I don't wanna look nice."

Mirchiru sighed. With Faith she could never win. Haruka chuckled.

"Well one night won't kill you."

Faith followed her sister out after their parents.

"I wouldn't bet on that."

* * *

Lady Phobia got to her feet.

"Isolo!"

The black gargoyle ran to her lady's feet and bowed.

"Rise," the woman spat. "The twins of the Chibi Scouts will be at a concert. I'll provide a way for their parents to be occupied. You will interfere and do your work. Your illusions will be wonderful for twins. Twins I have seen fear being alone without their sibling. These two are no different."

Isolo nodded.

"How do I get in?"

"Come here Isolo."

The gargoyle drew closer and its master placed her hand on her face. The wings of the creature shriveled and vanished into her back. Her claws became slender fingernails. Her blood red eyes dulled to light amber and her eyes became smaller. The black of her skin peeled off and the flesh beneath it became peach colored. The peeled black swung down over her chest and halfway down her thighs. A black dress emerged and the remaining black went to her head and hardened into silky curls.

"Go now Isolo. Once the intermission is called, I'll act. Then you do your work."

"Of course my lady."

That said, Isolo ran out of the chamber. Lady Phobia leapt down from her chair and twisted her long curls around her body. There was a flash of light and then, there stood a whole different character entirely.

"I sincerely doubt that Haruka and Mirchiru would turn down their Hotaru-chan."

That said, a form left that was a dead ringer for the Scout of Saturn.

* * *

"Finally," Faith muttered as the intermission was announced.

"Haruka-papa, Mirchiru-mama? Hope's piece is over. Can we go home now?"

Mirchiru smiled. "It's got another hour, Faith. And it is very rude to leave in middle of a concert."

"Faith!" a new voice called. Hope ran down the stairs and to her family. Mirchiru hugged her. "You did wonderful sweetie."

"I agree," Haruka added.

Faith smiled, "I guess. You did good Hope. Music just ain't my thing,"

"Isn't," Mirchiru gently corrected her. Faith rolled her eyes.

"Whatever."

Before anyone said anything else, Hope ran forward, shrieking, "Aunt Hotaru! You came!"

Hotaru hugged her tightly and then said, "Hi Hope. You did wonderful."

"Hotaru!" Mirchiru called, surprised. "I thought you were staying home with Madelyn."

"I…something urgent came up. I need to talk to you." She turned to hope and Faith. "There's free food in the lodge."

The twins turned to their, parents. Haruka nodded.

"Just stay there and wait for us."

The two nodded and ran off.

* * *

Isolo was waiting, acting as a saleswoman behind a counter. She spied her first target, Hope.

"Little girl?" she called. Hope turned, bewildered.

"Yes?"

"I heard you playing there, you were amazing."

Hope flushed deep red. "Thank you."

"In fact, I actually have some coupons and things you might be able to sue. My brother's in charge of a violin shop. Maybe I could ask him to give yours a free tuning."

Hope almost said yes but remembered what Mirchiru had told her,

"Thank you but my Mirchiru-mama has to check the shop out first."

Isolo came from behind the counter and sat on the ground by Hope.

"Now that's reasonable. Your mother sounds as if she knows a great deal about music herself."

Hope smiled. "She does. She taught me how to play."

"And you have natural talent."

Hope smiled. "Thanks again."

Faith stuck to the side. The wind blew in through the door. An odd feeling came over her. Before she knew it, the wind was whispering in her ear. She actually heard words as the breeze blew her blue hair. It whispered,

"Beware of the black haired one."

That was all Faith needed, she dashed into the ladies room and ducked into one of the stalls. All the food was outside so that's where all the people had gone. Hope and Faith were alone in the lobby. Faith drew her henshin pen.

"Uranus Power! Make Up!"

As the power flowed through her, she heard Hope scream.

* * *

"Madelyn, stay in the car, I'll be right back."

Madelyn smiled at her mother. "Okay Mommy. You're just gonna talk to Aunt Mirchiru and Haruka right?"

"That's right, I'll be right back."

Hotaru closed the door and decided to head in the side door. There was a crowd in the front. It was an improvement from the twentieth century. The doors and walls were soundproof now. Knowing her 'parents' they would still be in the main hall.

Hotaru almost headed in and then spied the last person she expected to see…. herself.

* * *

"Hotaru? You seem stressed tonight," Mirchiru noted. 'Hotaru' nodded.

"I am, it's Madelyn."

"What about her?"

"She has never acted like this before. Yesterday I had to pry her to scout practice…"

"HOLD IT!"

The three turned as the new voice rang out.

Hotaru stepped into the light.

The two other's mouths dropped while the other Hotaru growled.

"I have proof, Haruka-papa, Mirchiru-mama." That said, she held out her henshin wand.

The fake one immediately morphed to Lady Phobia and sprung at Hotaru knocking her wand from her. Her hands clamped over her throat.

"Hotaru!"

Then, a new voice ran,

"Destruction Ray!"

A blast knocked the woman from Hotaru.

Sailor Chibi Saturn ran in, her glaive raised.

"How dare you attack my mother!"

Lady Phobia merely smiled,

"You're my next target, Sailor Chibi Saturn. After Hope and Faith!"

"What?!" the two parents screamed. The woman laughed and vanished. Everyone tore to the lobby.

* * *

Isolo tore Hope's shirt open and howled,

"Appear Senshi Crystal!"

Faith shielded her eyes at the light. A diamond shaped crystal appeared, a deep aqua color.

"Hope!" Faith screamed as she raced towards her foe.

Isolo growled. "The Senshi of Harmony. You're not who I want."

"Then try me!"

Isolo turned just as Sailor Chibi Uranus leapt on her, pounding her with her fists. She rolled on to of her, forced her away from her sister. The door swung open and Haruka, Mirchiru, Hotaru, and Chibi Saturn came pouring in. Faith forced Isolo on her back gave her a swift punch in the stomach and delivered an 'Earthquake Tremors' at point blank range.

The force knocked her backward.

Isolo ran and grabbed Faith despite the pain.

She ripped the shirt open and howled, "Appear Senshi Crystal."

The pain was agonizing. Faith saw her crystal appear, a diamond shaped golden crystal.

"The Senshi of Strength I see."

Then, Isolo was flung forward. Haruka growled and punched her again.

Faith forced herself up, grabbed her own crystal and using the last of her strength made it to Hope. Mirchiru was already there. The others handled Isolo.

Isolo tried to get away from Haruka but she was too fast.

Then, finally, Isolo hit Haruka enough to make her stumble.

Taking her chance, Isolo vanished.

Haruka cursed, "Come back here, you damn coward!"

Hotaru helped Haruka up.

"We will defeat her, Haruka-papa," she assured her. "I sensed some danger and that's why I came but now isn't the time! The twins!"

Haruka nodded and ran over where the others had gathered.

Faith managed a smile, "as soon as this pain stops, she is so history."

Mirchiru smiled, "You'll be fine."