Hey, next instalement here. I hope that this story isn't too boring, but I promise that the stories I write in the future will be more exciting. I'm doing my best to finish this story as quickly as possible (I really want to write the others). So bear with me, I'm doing my best:)
Comments? Questions? Advice? E-mail me.
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"Good morning!" said Rini, bounding down the stairs the next day. She had sleep remarkably well, and had woken up way earlier then usual. In fact, she was up so early, that the only other person up was Ikuko. A quick check at the clock told her that it was 7:30.
"Rini, daring, could you please get the paper?" asked Ikuko. "And it's good to see you up so early."
Rini just smiled, and started towards the front door. She opened it and reached for the paper. She looked at it while closing the door. What she saw on the front page made her gasp and all the colour drain from her face. She began panicking, and then took off, clutching the newspaper. She ran as fast as she could to the stairs, then up to Serena's room.
"Rini, what's wrong?" Said Ikuko, as Rini ran past. But she didn't stop to answer. She was too scared. Heart racing, she opened Serena's bedroom door.
"Serena!" Rini cried, with obvious fear in her voice.
"Rini, what's the matter?" Said Luna sleepily. But when she saw Rini's face, she knew something was wrong.
"Serena!" Rini cried. Her voice was still filled with fear and there were tears running down her face. "Serena! Please! Wake up!"
"Rini," Serena said, waking up. She was a little annoyed at the early-morning wake-up call, but one look at Rini made her snap to attention. "Rini, what's wrong?"
Rini just gave her the newspaper and through herself into Serena's arms. Luna knew that something big must have happened, and she ran to Serena's side. Serena picked up the newspaper and looked at the front page. Both her and Luna's reactions were similar to Rini's. And they both panicked. The title on the front page read "Sailors Scouts Reveled". Below were pictures the scouts transforming, with Serena and Rini's in the center.
"This isn't good." Said Luna, pacing the length of the bed. "This just is not good."
Serena meanwhile was reading the article. If there had been any colour left in her face after she read the title, it was gone now. The article said who the scouts were, where they went to school, and tons more. But Serena just couldn't read it. She had bigger things to worry about.
"Alright," she said. "Here's what we're going to do. Rini, I know that you must be scared…" She held the still crying girl, and tilted Rini's face upwards. The look on her face melted Serena's heart. It was a look of pure sadness and fear, one Rini rarely showed. Unfortunately, Serena knew that they had to do some very quick damage control. Otherwise she would have started crying immediately. "…but you have to be brave. These papers are being distributed throughout the city, and the entire town, at least, will know by lunch. Rini, I need you to go wake up Sammy. Tell him to get in here now. Luna, go help her. Your claws might be needed. I'm going to contact the girls. Now go." Serena drew in a deep breath and got out of bed. Rini and Luna knew what she was going to do, and they ran to get Sammy.
Serena grabbed her communicator and pressed the "all call" button.
"Girls" she screamed into the communicator. "Get up NOW!"
"Serena," said Mina, her face appearing on the screen. "You had better have a *really* good reason for waking us up this early."
"Ya Meatball Head," said Raye. "It's Sunday. The day for sleeping late."
"You guys can sleep later." Serena said. "I want all of you to look at the front page of the paper."
"Why?" Asked Lita.
"Just do it."
"Serena," said Sammy, entering the room with Rini and Luna behind him. "What is going on?"
Serena just tossed him the paper. Rini and Luna ran to Serena, and Sammy started to read. He gasped at the title, and looked up. One glance at the faces before him told him to just read.
"Serena, this isn't happening this isn't happening!" "What are we going to do?" "How did they find out?" "This is a major problem!" All the girls began yelling at once. They were totally scared. A secret that they had kept safe for years was out. And they were finding out at the same time as everyone else.
"First of all, where's Artemis?" Serena said.
"Right here." He said.
"Good. Mina will need your help. There's only one way out of this."
The scouts, as well as the cats and Sammy, looked at her with horror on their faces. They knew what she was going to say. But they remained silent. Each of them knew how hard it was for her to say what she was going to.
"We have to tell our families. It's the only way. They'll know in a few hours anyway. So who would you rather tell them, yourself or the hundreds of fans that will be at your doors?"
"I agree." Amy said.
"Okay, I guess." Said Raye.
"You're right." Mina added.
Lita remained silent, but only because she had no family to tell.
"Well, then, you guys better go tell them now. And Lita, could you call Darien. Tell him what we're going to do, and that we shouldn't see each other today. It's going to be just too dangerous. And I want to keep his identity secret as long as possible. I guess I had better go tell my parents now."
"Okay," all four replied in unison, then their faces disappeared from the screen. They knew that she was just putting on a brave face, and really she wanted nothing more then to run away and cry. But what she had to do next would require every ounce of courage she had. A thought ran thorough each of their minds. 'I am *really* glad that I don't have to tell her parents. *Really* glad.'
Serena put her communicator on her wrist and headed for the door. Sammy, with the newspaper, Rini, and Luna all followed her, and together they went downstairs. Towards the kitchen. Towards her and Sammy's parents.
"Mom, Dad, we have to talk." Said Serena entering the kitchen. Her voice contained fear and sorrow, but she was doing her best to sound brave. Her face held the expression that was rarely ever seen, similar to the one that she had used at the mall, only with this one you could see she was trying to hold back tears.
"No!" Rini and Sammy screamed at almost the same time. The radio had been turned on, and neither wanted them to find out any sooner then possible. Sammy darted towards the radio, and turned it off as quickly as possible.
"Sammy, what are you…" Kenji began. But he stopped when he saw the expressions on all three of the children's faces. Looks of pure fear on the youngest two, and Serena's told him to listen.
"Here," she said, handing them the newspaper. "Read this."
Her mother gave her a questioning look, but then went over to where Kenji sat to read the article. She gasped, as her husband had done, when she saw what it was about. But she kept reading, even though Kenji had stopped. He raised his head to look at his daughter.
"This is insane!" he began. "Where do they come up with these crazy ideas? Imagine, my little girl, my little Serena, a Sailor Scout! Sailor Moon even! And Rini as Sailor Mini Moon! That's impossible!"
"Dad…" Serena said, trying to be heard above her father's shouting. "Daddy! It's true."
Those last two words made her parents fall silent and look up at her. Both of their faces held the expression that said 'this isn't possible'.
"Serena…Rini…no" Ikuko said in a barely audible whisper.
Serena just nodded, and both Rini and Luna could see the tears in her eyes. This was something she had never ever really wanted to do. And now she didn't even have a choice. Rini nodded slightly, not taking her eyes off Serena. She hated seeing her like this, especially when she knew nothing could stop what she was about to say and do. Rini only moved closer to her, until they were standing side by side. Luna wanted to stand with Serena as well, but she knew she couldn't go, not yet anyway. Instead, she darted across the room and stood with Sammy.
Serena looked down at Rini. Rini nodded. The colour from Serena's parent's faces drained as they saw what their daughter and niece were doing. Both held their brooches high above their heads, and opened their mouths to speak.
"Moon Eternal Power!"
"Mini Moon Crystal Power!"
In a flash of feathers, where Serena and Rini once stood, now stood Eternal Sailor Moon and Super Sailor Mini Moon. Serena's parents had both horror and fear written across their faces. Neither could truly believe what they were seeing.
"I am Sailor Moon…."
"I am Sailor Mini Moon…"
"We are the champions of love and justice. And, on behalf of the moon we will right all wrongs and triumph over evil!"
"Serena…." Kenji began.
"How? Why? When?" Ikuko asked.
Serena looked at Luna for approval, then, when she nodded, did something that she rarely did by choice. She let her guard drop, and opened herself to her heritage. Her true heritage, and her right. She let the power of the silver crystal and the power of the Moon Kingdom take over her. And she transformed into who she really was.
Her crescent moon shining with all the power of the Moon Kingdom, Serena turned to face her parents. Both of them just stared.
"I am Princess Serenity of the White Moon. Daughter of Queen Serenity and heir to the throne of the Silver Millennium." She looked at her parents when she finished. Her expression read 'I'm sorry'. Sorry for not telling them sooner, and sorry for what she had to say.
Rini looked at her with a face that showed pure respect. Even though Serena wasn't looking at her, she could see Rini's face. She could see Sammy and Luna's easily. Sammy couldn't believe how Serena looked. He had heard the stories of the Moon Kingdom, and descriptions of what his sister looked like, but he had never expected something like this. She looked so…so…regal. That was the only word that described her. Luna knew how she would look, but even she believed that Serena looked so much older. So much like the princess she is, and the queen she would be. Luna had to repress the urge to bow before Serena. She that this was not the time, and anyway, Serena never really liked those formalities.
Serena took in a deep breath. She knew the effect that this must be having on her parents. The horror on their faces told her that they were scared, and rather surprised. But she knew that she had to continue. She had to tell them the whole story, or else they would never understand. She took in another deep breath, and tried to fight back the gathering tears. Remembering her home, remembering what happened, she began.
"A thousand years ago, my home was a place called the Moon Kingdom. It was a happy place, the happiest place in the universe. It existed during a wonderful time known as the Silver Millennium. All the planets were at peace, and the Kingdom of the White Moon ruled them all. Queen Serenity was the ruler of Moon, and she was often described as a fair and gentle ruler, the best the solar system could ask for. She had one daughter, Princess Serenity, who she was training to follow in her footsteps. Princess Serenity had fallen in love with a Prince from Earth. They were engaged to be married. But before that could happen, an evil woman named Beryl appeared. She wanted nothing but power, and would do anything to get it. She attacked Earth first, getting more to fight for her. Then she came after the Moon. It was the most powerful place of all, and getting control of it would mean getting control over everything. She attacked without notice, and released her most powerful allies onto us. The scouts fought with all their strength, but it wasn't enough. The shadow warrior destroyed our fighters quickly. Then Beryl came after me. Endymion, the Prince from Earth, came to protect me. Beryl wanted him to join her, but he refused, so Beryl…Beryl…" Serena stopped. Her eyes were filled with tears. Images of the end filled her head. Darien being taken, both being killed, the Moon Kingdom forever destroyed. Rini saw the tears, and came to comfort her. Luna would have finished the story, but her talking would be reveled later, not now. And Rini and Sammy didn't know everything, and they knew that this was something Serena must explain. Rini held her hand, trying her best to do what she could to comfort her future mother. Rini gave her her bravest smile, urging Serena to continue. Serena smiled at her, drew in a deep breath, and wiped away her tears. "Beryl captured him, and was forcing him to come. I went after him; I could bear for him to be hurt. Beryl decided then to destroy us both. When Queen Serenity saw that her daughter had been killed, she decided to use the Empirium Silver Crystal, to send everyone, every member of our court, to a new future on Earth. A future where they could have peace. Unfortunately, to do so, Queen Serenity had to use the full power of the Empirium Silver Crystal. It…it…destroyed her." Serena didn't even try to stop the tears. They were now falling down her face freely. It was so hard to talk about her past, but she knew she had to. "But she hadn't been able to destroy Beryl, for if she had, she would have destroyed us too. Instead, she trapped Beryl in the Silver Crystal. She also sent our advisors with us to protect us in the future and awaken our powers incase Beryl and her forces every escaped." Serena drew in a deep breath. That was the basic history, but now she had to explain about the people. And explaining Darien wouldn't be easy.
"Serena" her mother started. "Is this…is this…is this true?"
Serena nodded. Her mother had a face of confusion. She couldn't believe what was happening. She couldn't believe who her daughter was. Kenji couldn't believe it was true either. He couldn't even look up; he was doing his best to understand what his daughter was saying though.
"Serena, the scouts from the past were…" said Kenji, still looking down. He knew what the answer would be, but he had to know.
"They're the same scouts that defend our planet. Solider of ice and wisdom, Princess of Mercury, Sailor Mercury. Solider of fire and soul, Princess of Mars, Sailor Mars. Solider of thunder and strength, Princess of Jupiter, Sailor Jupiter. Solider of love and beauty, Princess of Venus, Sailor Venus. Members of my court and my guardians. And Protector of the Earth and the Moon Princess, Prince Endymion of Earth, Tuxedo Mask. My Darien."
Those last words made her father look up. It was no secret that he didn't like Darien. He had always thought that he was too old for his little girl. Now, finding out who he was…well, Kenji wasn't very happy. Ikuko was just surprised. She never knew that her daughter could keep these kinds of secrets. Serena was usually an open book, yet she had been keeping a large part of her life a secret. A part of her life that didn't include them, and probably never would. Ikuko looked up, straight into Serena's eyes. She ignored the regal air, the blazing crescent moon, and just stared in the eyes.
"Mom," she said, changing back to Serena. "Mom, Daddy, I love you too more then anything. My past life doesn't matter now. Queen Serenity doesn't affect how I feel about you two. Daddy, please, look at me." Serena begged those last words. Her father was still staring at the floor. He didn't want to believe any of this. Serena hated this. She never wanted to tell. But now she had too, and they weren't taking it well. At least her father wasn't. Her mother could tell how hard this was for her, and was putting on a brave face. Ikuko knew that right now she needed to comfort Serena, for this was hard for her. But there were a few questions she needed to ask. One being why Sammy seemed so okay with this.
"Serena," she began. Serena's head shot straight up. Her mother hadn't said a word in a while, but now it looked like she was going to say a lot. "I have a few questions. Is that okay?" Serena nodded, so she began. "First why is Sammy so calm with this?"
This caused smiles to appear on Serena, Rini, and Sammy's faces. But since Serena knew that her mother was being serious, she straightened up and answered.
"Sammy found out a while ago. It wasn't by choice, he just saw us transform. And he has done a good job of keeping it a secret. But he wasn't okay with it when he found out. He was really surprised"
"Alright, next question. You said your advisors were sent with you. Who are they?"
'I wonder if she'll believe me?' Serena thought. "The guardians are Luna and Artemis. Don't tell me you haven't noticed that they have crescent moons identical to mine?"
"Now that IS impossible!" Serena's father said, surprising everyone. No one had expected him to respond now, especially when he had remained so quite when he found out about Darien. "Luna is just a cat. A stray you picked up off the street. The crescent is merely a coincidence. Cats aren't advisors!"
"Dad, Luna has taught me everything I know! She helped me discover my past, and deal with me being a Sailor Scout! She kept me from giving up or doing something stupid! If it wasn't for her and Artemis, I'd be dead! Luna isn't just a stray! Luna is my best friend!"
"LUNA…IS…JUST…A…CAT!"
Luna couldn't take it any longer. Serena was standing in front of her, with tears streaming down her face. Even though they were going to introduce the talking-cat thing later, Luna decided that 'later' had come. She wasn't going to let Serena be hurt anymore. She ran until she stood in front of Kenji, and then prepared to defend her honor.
"I am not *just a cat*," she began. Both the Tsukinos gasped in horror. They had never imagined a talking cat, even after all they had just heard. "I am advisor to the Royal Family of the Moon. As well as, with Artemis's help, trainer of the Sailor Scouts. I assist in training the Princess to one day rule. So if I was *just a cat* this world would have crumpled ages ago." With that, she sat down and stared at Kenji. Both Ikuko and Kenji continued staring at Luna. A smile appeared on Serena's face. Luna was the one who was always telling her to learn to control her temper, and now Luna was the one who lost it. But Serena knew that Luna had done it only because she couldn't bare to see her cry. Serena made a mental note to thank Luna later, but in the meantime, it was getting later, and the reporters would be here soon.
"Listen," she began. Everybody immediately turned to face her. They didn't expect her to look so calm now when she had been crying a minute ago. They also didn't expect her to be back in her sailor form. She had transformed before she began to talk, because she felt that it would be easier to explain like this. "There are going to be quite a few reporters here soon, so we might want to hurry along our explanations. We still have a lot to go through. And Mom, Dad, please don't interrupt until I have finished. It'll be easier to answer questions then." Serena sat down, and motioned for Rini, Sammy, and Luna to sit around her. She needed all the support she could get. "Now, this all began two years ago, when I was fourteen. If you remember, that was when the Sailor Moon first appeared. Luna found me. A monster had gone after Molly, and Luna needed to reawaken my sailor powers. I fought on my own for a while, well, sort of 'on my own'. I had Luna guiding me and Tuxedo Mask protecting me. Mercury was the first to join. Mars followed her. Then it was just the three of us for a long time. Jupiter and Venus, in that order, joined right before we found out I was the moon princess. Since *all* of our memories were gone, not even Luna and Artemis could figure out who she was. When Zoicite attacked Darien, she nearly killed him. That was just after I found out who he was. My tears caused the rainbow crystals to appear, and combine, to form the Empirium Silver Crystal. Then I transformed to a Princess. Long story short, we defeated Beryl after. Unfortunately, she wasn't our last enemy. Ann and Alan, with the Doom Tree, came next, followed by Wiseman and the Black Moon Family. Then Fiore controlled by the Cassienien blossom, and after the Heart Snatchers ruled by Pharaoh 90. Oh, and we had that Ice Witch and her Snow Dancers. After them was Neherenia and Zirconia, followed by Badyanu with the Sugar Fairies. Our last enemy was Galaxia, and it's a good this she was last, for our enemies kept getting stronger. And any stronger then Galaxia and we'd be dead." Serena whispered that last sentence. But her mother still heard her. Ikuko decided to keep quite about that, but she couldn't keep quite about what Sammy said next. He had been sitting close enough to her to hear what she whispered.
"No kidding you'd be dead. You can't get saved if there's no one to save you. And you were the only one still alive to finish your battle with Galaxia…" Sammy stopped speaking immediately. He hadn't realized what he had said until it was too late. His parents and Rini had looks of pure fear and horror on their faces. 'Serena must have never told Rini.' He thought. Then he saw tears appearing in Rini's eyes, and then she threw her arms around Serena and sobbed softly. That proved it. Serena and Luna gave him looks of anger and betrayal, and then Serena began comforting Rini.
"Rini, it's okay. It's okay." She said softly, holding the little girl close. "We're okay now. Everyone came back. Everyone is okay now. I know that you wish you could have helped, but it would have been too dangerous for you. I don't want to lose you, Small Lady."
Serena's parents simply watched the scene. They had never seen Serena and Rini act like this, Rini rarely cried, and why was she so upset?
"Serena…ho…how….many times have you been se…seriously hurt?" Her mother asked, barely able to get the words out.
"Mom…please not now." Serena said. Her eyes glanced down at the still crying Rini, hinting at her mother that she didn't want Rini crying anymore. "Anyway, we aren't quite done yet. I assume that you guys must be wondering how Rini ties into all this? Why she's *Mini* Moon, and why she's crying like this."
Serena's parents surprised themselves by nodding. In truth, they hadn't been really concerned about Rini; they had sort of forgotten about her. But now they were overwhelmed with curiosity.
"Rini…can you?" Serena said to Rini. Rini nodded and stood up, and then she wiped away her tears. Serena stood right behind her. "Rini comes from the future. The thirtieth century to be exact."
Serena's parents gasped. They had expected her to say a number of things but not this. They were defiantly not prepared for what was to follow.
Serena and Rini both concentrated on letting their royal power overtake them. With crescent moons blazing, Serena and Rini stood in identical princess dresses. Then Rini stepped forward. Her mother had taught her the speech that she was supposed to use when introducing herself in this form, so she took a moment to remember it all. She took in a deep breath and began.
"I am Crown Princess Serenity of Crystal Tokyo, also known as Small Lady. I am the daughter of Neo-Queen Serenity of the White Moon and King Endymion of the Earth, rulers of Crystal Tokyo. " She ended her speech with a small curtsy, then got up to see the reaction. Ikuko and Kenji were just staring at her with their mouths open, looking totally surprised. Ikuko was the first to speak.
"Qu…Queen Serenity? But I thought that you said she was dead?"
"Mom," Serena started, "I said that Queen Serenity was dead. I never mentioned Neo-Queen Serenity. That's because…I'm her. Mom, Dad, Rini is my daughter."
"What!" her father screamed. He did not like this one bit.
"Dad, listen to me. Rini is me and Darien's daughter."
"WHAT!!!" Her father was screaming now. He had never really liked Darien, and now he and Serena had a child! "I'm going to…" he stopped in the middle of his sentence when he saw Rini's face. She looked…scared. More scared then she already was, and she looked like she was about ready to start crying again. So he just sat back down, and resolved to remain silent for a little while. However, he would be having a little talk with his daughter later.
"She comes form the *future*, Daddy. The thirtieth century actually." Then Serena detransformed, so that Serena stood there, not Sailor Moon or Princess Serena, but Serena herself. Rini did the same. "Honestly," Serena began, with a smile on her face, but she sobered quickly. She decided that right now wasn't the time for jokes. More for reassurance. "Mom, Dad, I will always love you, no matter what. No one could take your place."
Serena's mother smiled. She knew that this all must be hard on her. But Serena had done the right thing. She was a bit surprised about Rini, but she had always felt much closer to her then just an Aunt. 'A *grandmother*' she thought, and felt a bit old. "So you're my granddaughter?" she said.
"Yup," Rini replied, and climbed onto her grandmother's lap, which was what Ikuko had been hopping for. Ikuko wrapped her arms around Rini, giving her a hug.
Serena smiled at the scene, it was nice to see the youngest and oldest generations of her family getting along so well. Then she turned to her father. "Daddy?" she said, rather quietly.
"Are you positive that she comes from the that she comes from the future?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm positive."
"The 30th century?"
"Yes."
"So she won't be born until the 30th century."
"As far as we know."
"And she is the oldest child?"
"Yes. Actually only child."
Then Kenji smiled. That was the answer he was hoping for. He didn't like the fact that she had a whole other life that had been kept a secret, but she had taken care of it well. So he turned to Rini, and opened his arms. Rini took the hint and jumped into them, and received a big hug. She sat on his lap then, knowing that another explanation was ahead, and this one she may have to take part in. But right now, she just allowed herself to be cuddled. 'I never had grandparent's before,' she thought. 'I'm glad we told them, and I wish we told them sooner.'
"I guess I should explain Crystal Tokyo." Serena said. Both her parents nodded. Serena took a deep breath and began. "I don't know much about the future. Actually, I know very little. We were never supposed to be told, and shouldn't find out any more then we have to. We know that something is going to happen to the Earth and put it into an eternal sleep. Basically, the Earth will be frozen. Then I will use the Empirium Silver Crystal and reawaken the Earth. Darien and I will then rise to the throne, like we were supposed to do during the Silver Millennium. The world will be filled with peace. We aren't sure of the date that Rini will be born. And we can't find out for two reason – one is that Rini is forbidden to tell us, and obeys because if she doesn't, she could badly hurt the future. And two is that if we badger Rini to tell us, then we get a stern lecture from Pluto. And *no* one wants that." Serena smiled, remembering some of the lectures from Pluto she had received. "Rini has been back a few times, the first when she was five. You guys thought that she had come the summer before, but that was just a cover. Don't get mad at Rini for brainwashing you. She was five and scared. I don't blame her." 'Now' Serena thought. She noticed Rini looking kind of embarrassed, thinking about what she had done, so Serena figured that she had better give an explanation for what had happened. "An enemy had attacked Crystal Tokyo, and Neo-Queen Serenity had been trapped. Rini had been sent into the past for a few reasons. She needed to get the silver crystal to save her mother in the future, and she needed to warn me. The enemy had come from the future into the past to try and capture Rini, so Rini needed to be protected by the Sailor Scouts. If they got her, they could take control. So brainwashing was just a way for you guys to let her stay here. After all, would you have let her in if she just showed up and asked you if she could stay here? It was just for safety."
Serena stopped for a moment, letting it all sink in. She had never realized all that had happened. She decided to leave the whole 'I went to the future thing' till later. There was more to get through now.
"Rini came back shortly after my fifteenth birthday. She needed training as a Sailor Scout, and Queen Serenity also wanted her to have a normal childhood. We have had some…err…*problems*, but everything has gotten better, right?" Serena was looking at Rini when she spoke, and waited for a response. Rini nodded, and so Serena continued. "But I think that Rini might have lost that normal childhood thing…"
Rini face became one of horror, but before she could respond, Ikuko spoke.
"So…how do you know so much about the future?" she asked.
"We went." Serena replied. "In order to help Rini, we needed to go into the future. King Endymion explained *almost* everything to us. He had to leave somethings out. Serenity would have helped, but she was trapped. The enemy tried to attack her, but the scouts encased her in crystal before she could be hurt. Endymion is also the one who told Darien and I that we were Rini's parents. Any other questions?"
Serena's mother had a few she still wanted to ask, but she had a feeling they would be answered later. Both her parents shook their heads.
"Okay," Serena began. She was about to say something that she never wanted to ever have to say. She turned to look at Rini, but not in the eyes, she just couldn't do that. "Rini, I think that the safest thing for you to do is…" Serena didn't get to finish her sentence. Rini had already jumped out of her grandfather's lap and was standing up straight, trying to appear tall.
"I won't leave!" She screamed, but not to loudly. She didn't want people to think that she was just a child. But she had to make her point known. "I am not going home just yet! I don't want to leave yet! I want to stay here!"
"But Rini, your mother sent you here so you would have a normal childhood. Now that everyone knows, you can't have a normal childhood anymore."
"I don't have a normal childhood in Crystal Tokyo! There I'm a princess, and an heir to the throne! At least here I'm only a Sailor Scout!"
The others just stood back and watched. They had seen Serena and Rini fight before but never like this. Even Luna who had seen Serena's fights before didn't want to get involved in this one. Each of them understood that this was between Serena and Rini.
"Rini, there you have guards who can protect you so that you don't get hurt! And you can be trained better as a princess and a scout there! It's safer Rini!"
"I'm in as much danger of getting hurt there as here! And my guards are the same Sailor Scouts that we have here! And I don't even need any guards! I can protect myself!"
"Rini, your safety is all that matters right now! If you can go where it's safer, you should!"
"I…am…not…leaving! Don't you get it Serena! If I leave now, I can never come back! And I am not leaving the scouts!"
"But Rini…"
"Serena, NO! And you can't make me go! I have the crystal key, not you! No one here can force me to go! And I won't leave! What if something happens and you get hurt!"
"What if *you* get hurt? Rini, I don't want anything to happen to you!"
"And I…I don't want anything to happen to you or…or Darien! Serena, please…PLEASE don't make me go!" Tears were beginning to run down Rini's face. She truly didn't want to leave.
'Oh, Rini.' Serena thought. "I don't want you to go either. I'd miss you way too much. But I really don't want you to get hurt either."
"Serena," Rini said, moving in to give her a hug, "I won't get hurt. I might not be able to promise that, but I can try. Please, trust me."
Rini gave Serena one of those looks that just made her heart melt. She forgot all her resolutions to be strong and stand firm, and just gave in. "Alright," she said, looking in Rini in the eye. "I'll let you stay only if Queen Serenity says that it'll be okay."
This puzzled everyone. Even Luna couldn't figure out how Serena was planning on talking to Queen Serenity. She didn't have a time key, so she couldn't travel into the future to speak with her, and Pluto wouldn't allow it anyway.
Rini was about to say what Luna was thinking, but then she saw the twinkle in Serena's eye. "Ohhh…." Rini said, and ran up stairs. She knew her mother well enough to tell what she was thinking, and had a fairly good idea what Serena wanted to do. Rini reached her room and grabbed a few sheets of her favorite paper (the paper that Serena had given her for her birthday – it was pink with little bunnies in the corner) and went back down stairs.
Sammy, Luna and Serena's parents were still staring at Serena when Rini entered the room. None had even a clue of what she was planning, and all Serena did was smile. Despite her confusion, Luna felt extremely proud of Serena. She had never seen Serena so calm when she knew how much Serena just wanted to break down and cry. When Rini entered the room carrying the paper, Luna understood what Serena was planning.
"Serena, what are you doing?" Her mother asked her. She couldn't for the life of her figure out what her daughter was planning.
Serena and Luna were seated at the table again with Rini between them before Serena replied. "Mom, what is the best way to communicate with someone that you can't directly talk to? We're writing a letter to send to Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion. They will give us a *bit* of advice."
Serena, Rini, and Luna went back to writing the letter. Sammy and their parents moved in to see what they were writing. They noticed that although the letter was being written to ask for advice, Rini couldn't resist adding her own touches. After quite a few minutes, Rini pronounced the letter done, and she went back upstairs to find a matching envelop. The finished letter read:
Dearest Mommy and Daddy,
How are you? How's Crystal Tokyo and the Scouts? Hope everything is okay. I would fill you in on the gossip, but Serena is right here (This got an angry glare from Serena as Rini wrote it), so I'll write you another letter later to fill you in. But I guess you already know all of it. I'm actually writing this letter for a reason. Mommy, Daddy, something horrible has happened. Everyone knows that we are the Sailor Scouts. It was in the paper. We are really scared. What should we do? Serena thought that maybe I should go home, because it'll be safer in Crystal Tokyo. But I don't want to go home, not yet. Is it okay if I stay a bit longer? I'll understand if you say no. You guys were here, so what is supposed are we supposed to do? Is this how it happened with you guys? Or did we change the future? Please answer me soon! All of us are waiting for your reply. Love you lots.
Your favorite girl,
Small Lady Rini ^.^
P.S. Serena and Luna say Hi.
"Small Lady?" Kenji asked.
"It's the nickname Rini was given in Crystal Tokyo." Serena replied. "Everyone there calls her that."
"Got the envelope!" Rini yelled, running down the stairs and into the kitchen. She grabbed the letter and placed it inside the envelope. Then she took out her crystal key. Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino gasped. They had never seen a key like that; you could almost feel the magic radiating off it. She held both the letter and the key high in the air and chanted the phrase to make the key work.
"Crystal Key! Take this letter to Mommy and Daddy! And HURRY!" Rini yelled. Then a pink cloud appeared right above the letter and took it. "Pluto, make sure that it gets to Mommy and Daddy as fast as possible!"
Sammy, Kenji, and Ikuko were still staring at where the cloud had appeared and disappeared. They had seen quite a lot, especially in the last hour, but they still couldn't believe what they had just seen. Serena, Luna, and Rini all knew that expression – complete and utter amassment. Serena decided that they had other things to do, so they could get them done while they waited for her parents and Sammy to break out of their trances.
"Okay, Rini, could you watch the fans from the upstairs window. We need to have a rough number of how many people and reporters are outside. I already know that there are quite a few already (the sound of them had been there for quite a while, and the sound of the doorbell ringing, pounding on the door, and the people themselves were beginning to get on her nerves), but we need to know if we should install a metal door to keep them out. Oh, and since Sammy is finally out of his trance, take him with you. In the meantime, I am going to go talk to the other girls. I'm sure that they have already talked to there families, and we need a good strategy. Luna, you come with me. And someone call me if we get a response from Crystal Tokyo." With that said, Serena started toward the living room, with Luna on her heals. She settled on the couch as she heard Rini and Sammy running upstairs. Serena then took out her communicator (they had had to unplug their phone so that the ringing would stop). She then pressed the button with the sign of Mercury on it. "Amy, come in…"
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First chapter (if you don't count prologue) done. Next chapter - rest of the scouts. Sorry to the people who like the everyone-finds-out-and-Serena-runs-away stories, but this isn't one of them. Actually, I was never going to even write this, because I thought that it was a really dumb idea that there wasn't a huge problem when they told their parents. But then I read "Spring Break" by Aiko (read it at A Sailor Moon Romance - does anyone know if she ever finished it), and she had them tell their parents in a way where no one ran away, and no one was "disowned". That gave me the courage to write this. Although, I understand that most people prefer those kind of stories, and I hope that you will still at least review my story. Thanks a ton for listening to my ramblings. Next chapter will be out soon.
Comments? Questions? Advice? E-mail me.
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"Good morning!" said Rini, bounding down the stairs the next day. She had sleep remarkably well, and had woken up way earlier then usual. In fact, she was up so early, that the only other person up was Ikuko. A quick check at the clock told her that it was 7:30.
"Rini, daring, could you please get the paper?" asked Ikuko. "And it's good to see you up so early."
Rini just smiled, and started towards the front door. She opened it and reached for the paper. She looked at it while closing the door. What she saw on the front page made her gasp and all the colour drain from her face. She began panicking, and then took off, clutching the newspaper. She ran as fast as she could to the stairs, then up to Serena's room.
"Rini, what's wrong?" Said Ikuko, as Rini ran past. But she didn't stop to answer. She was too scared. Heart racing, she opened Serena's bedroom door.
"Serena!" Rini cried, with obvious fear in her voice.
"Rini, what's the matter?" Said Luna sleepily. But when she saw Rini's face, she knew something was wrong.
"Serena!" Rini cried. Her voice was still filled with fear and there were tears running down her face. "Serena! Please! Wake up!"
"Rini," Serena said, waking up. She was a little annoyed at the early-morning wake-up call, but one look at Rini made her snap to attention. "Rini, what's wrong?"
Rini just gave her the newspaper and through herself into Serena's arms. Luna knew that something big must have happened, and she ran to Serena's side. Serena picked up the newspaper and looked at the front page. Both her and Luna's reactions were similar to Rini's. And they both panicked. The title on the front page read "Sailors Scouts Reveled". Below were pictures the scouts transforming, with Serena and Rini's in the center.
"This isn't good." Said Luna, pacing the length of the bed. "This just is not good."
Serena meanwhile was reading the article. If there had been any colour left in her face after she read the title, it was gone now. The article said who the scouts were, where they went to school, and tons more. But Serena just couldn't read it. She had bigger things to worry about.
"Alright," she said. "Here's what we're going to do. Rini, I know that you must be scared…" She held the still crying girl, and tilted Rini's face upwards. The look on her face melted Serena's heart. It was a look of pure sadness and fear, one Rini rarely showed. Unfortunately, Serena knew that they had to do some very quick damage control. Otherwise she would have started crying immediately. "…but you have to be brave. These papers are being distributed throughout the city, and the entire town, at least, will know by lunch. Rini, I need you to go wake up Sammy. Tell him to get in here now. Luna, go help her. Your claws might be needed. I'm going to contact the girls. Now go." Serena drew in a deep breath and got out of bed. Rini and Luna knew what she was going to do, and they ran to get Sammy.
Serena grabbed her communicator and pressed the "all call" button.
"Girls" she screamed into the communicator. "Get up NOW!"
"Serena," said Mina, her face appearing on the screen. "You had better have a *really* good reason for waking us up this early."
"Ya Meatball Head," said Raye. "It's Sunday. The day for sleeping late."
"You guys can sleep later." Serena said. "I want all of you to look at the front page of the paper."
"Why?" Asked Lita.
"Just do it."
"Serena," said Sammy, entering the room with Rini and Luna behind him. "What is going on?"
Serena just tossed him the paper. Rini and Luna ran to Serena, and Sammy started to read. He gasped at the title, and looked up. One glance at the faces before him told him to just read.
"Serena, this isn't happening this isn't happening!" "What are we going to do?" "How did they find out?" "This is a major problem!" All the girls began yelling at once. They were totally scared. A secret that they had kept safe for years was out. And they were finding out at the same time as everyone else.
"First of all, where's Artemis?" Serena said.
"Right here." He said.
"Good. Mina will need your help. There's only one way out of this."
The scouts, as well as the cats and Sammy, looked at her with horror on their faces. They knew what she was going to say. But they remained silent. Each of them knew how hard it was for her to say what she was going to.
"We have to tell our families. It's the only way. They'll know in a few hours anyway. So who would you rather tell them, yourself or the hundreds of fans that will be at your doors?"
"I agree." Amy said.
"Okay, I guess." Said Raye.
"You're right." Mina added.
Lita remained silent, but only because she had no family to tell.
"Well, then, you guys better go tell them now. And Lita, could you call Darien. Tell him what we're going to do, and that we shouldn't see each other today. It's going to be just too dangerous. And I want to keep his identity secret as long as possible. I guess I had better go tell my parents now."
"Okay," all four replied in unison, then their faces disappeared from the screen. They knew that she was just putting on a brave face, and really she wanted nothing more then to run away and cry. But what she had to do next would require every ounce of courage she had. A thought ran thorough each of their minds. 'I am *really* glad that I don't have to tell her parents. *Really* glad.'
Serena put her communicator on her wrist and headed for the door. Sammy, with the newspaper, Rini, and Luna all followed her, and together they went downstairs. Towards the kitchen. Towards her and Sammy's parents.
"Mom, Dad, we have to talk." Said Serena entering the kitchen. Her voice contained fear and sorrow, but she was doing her best to sound brave. Her face held the expression that was rarely ever seen, similar to the one that she had used at the mall, only with this one you could see she was trying to hold back tears.
"No!" Rini and Sammy screamed at almost the same time. The radio had been turned on, and neither wanted them to find out any sooner then possible. Sammy darted towards the radio, and turned it off as quickly as possible.
"Sammy, what are you…" Kenji began. But he stopped when he saw the expressions on all three of the children's faces. Looks of pure fear on the youngest two, and Serena's told him to listen.
"Here," she said, handing them the newspaper. "Read this."
Her mother gave her a questioning look, but then went over to where Kenji sat to read the article. She gasped, as her husband had done, when she saw what it was about. But she kept reading, even though Kenji had stopped. He raised his head to look at his daughter.
"This is insane!" he began. "Where do they come up with these crazy ideas? Imagine, my little girl, my little Serena, a Sailor Scout! Sailor Moon even! And Rini as Sailor Mini Moon! That's impossible!"
"Dad…" Serena said, trying to be heard above her father's shouting. "Daddy! It's true."
Those last two words made her parents fall silent and look up at her. Both of their faces held the expression that said 'this isn't possible'.
"Serena…Rini…no" Ikuko said in a barely audible whisper.
Serena just nodded, and both Rini and Luna could see the tears in her eyes. This was something she had never ever really wanted to do. And now she didn't even have a choice. Rini nodded slightly, not taking her eyes off Serena. She hated seeing her like this, especially when she knew nothing could stop what she was about to say and do. Rini only moved closer to her, until they were standing side by side. Luna wanted to stand with Serena as well, but she knew she couldn't go, not yet anyway. Instead, she darted across the room and stood with Sammy.
Serena looked down at Rini. Rini nodded. The colour from Serena's parent's faces drained as they saw what their daughter and niece were doing. Both held their brooches high above their heads, and opened their mouths to speak.
"Moon Eternal Power!"
"Mini Moon Crystal Power!"
In a flash of feathers, where Serena and Rini once stood, now stood Eternal Sailor Moon and Super Sailor Mini Moon. Serena's parents had both horror and fear written across their faces. Neither could truly believe what they were seeing.
"I am Sailor Moon…."
"I am Sailor Mini Moon…"
"We are the champions of love and justice. And, on behalf of the moon we will right all wrongs and triumph over evil!"
"Serena…." Kenji began.
"How? Why? When?" Ikuko asked.
Serena looked at Luna for approval, then, when she nodded, did something that she rarely did by choice. She let her guard drop, and opened herself to her heritage. Her true heritage, and her right. She let the power of the silver crystal and the power of the Moon Kingdom take over her. And she transformed into who she really was.
Her crescent moon shining with all the power of the Moon Kingdom, Serena turned to face her parents. Both of them just stared.
"I am Princess Serenity of the White Moon. Daughter of Queen Serenity and heir to the throne of the Silver Millennium." She looked at her parents when she finished. Her expression read 'I'm sorry'. Sorry for not telling them sooner, and sorry for what she had to say.
Rini looked at her with a face that showed pure respect. Even though Serena wasn't looking at her, she could see Rini's face. She could see Sammy and Luna's easily. Sammy couldn't believe how Serena looked. He had heard the stories of the Moon Kingdom, and descriptions of what his sister looked like, but he had never expected something like this. She looked so…so…regal. That was the only word that described her. Luna knew how she would look, but even she believed that Serena looked so much older. So much like the princess she is, and the queen she would be. Luna had to repress the urge to bow before Serena. She that this was not the time, and anyway, Serena never really liked those formalities.
Serena took in a deep breath. She knew the effect that this must be having on her parents. The horror on their faces told her that they were scared, and rather surprised. But she knew that she had to continue. She had to tell them the whole story, or else they would never understand. She took in another deep breath, and tried to fight back the gathering tears. Remembering her home, remembering what happened, she began.
"A thousand years ago, my home was a place called the Moon Kingdom. It was a happy place, the happiest place in the universe. It existed during a wonderful time known as the Silver Millennium. All the planets were at peace, and the Kingdom of the White Moon ruled them all. Queen Serenity was the ruler of Moon, and she was often described as a fair and gentle ruler, the best the solar system could ask for. She had one daughter, Princess Serenity, who she was training to follow in her footsteps. Princess Serenity had fallen in love with a Prince from Earth. They were engaged to be married. But before that could happen, an evil woman named Beryl appeared. She wanted nothing but power, and would do anything to get it. She attacked Earth first, getting more to fight for her. Then she came after the Moon. It was the most powerful place of all, and getting control of it would mean getting control over everything. She attacked without notice, and released her most powerful allies onto us. The scouts fought with all their strength, but it wasn't enough. The shadow warrior destroyed our fighters quickly. Then Beryl came after me. Endymion, the Prince from Earth, came to protect me. Beryl wanted him to join her, but he refused, so Beryl…Beryl…" Serena stopped. Her eyes were filled with tears. Images of the end filled her head. Darien being taken, both being killed, the Moon Kingdom forever destroyed. Rini saw the tears, and came to comfort her. Luna would have finished the story, but her talking would be reveled later, not now. And Rini and Sammy didn't know everything, and they knew that this was something Serena must explain. Rini held her hand, trying her best to do what she could to comfort her future mother. Rini gave her her bravest smile, urging Serena to continue. Serena smiled at her, drew in a deep breath, and wiped away her tears. "Beryl captured him, and was forcing him to come. I went after him; I could bear for him to be hurt. Beryl decided then to destroy us both. When Queen Serenity saw that her daughter had been killed, she decided to use the Empirium Silver Crystal, to send everyone, every member of our court, to a new future on Earth. A future where they could have peace. Unfortunately, to do so, Queen Serenity had to use the full power of the Empirium Silver Crystal. It…it…destroyed her." Serena didn't even try to stop the tears. They were now falling down her face freely. It was so hard to talk about her past, but she knew she had to. "But she hadn't been able to destroy Beryl, for if she had, she would have destroyed us too. Instead, she trapped Beryl in the Silver Crystal. She also sent our advisors with us to protect us in the future and awaken our powers incase Beryl and her forces every escaped." Serena drew in a deep breath. That was the basic history, but now she had to explain about the people. And explaining Darien wouldn't be easy.
"Serena" her mother started. "Is this…is this…is this true?"
Serena nodded. Her mother had a face of confusion. She couldn't believe what was happening. She couldn't believe who her daughter was. Kenji couldn't believe it was true either. He couldn't even look up; he was doing his best to understand what his daughter was saying though.
"Serena, the scouts from the past were…" said Kenji, still looking down. He knew what the answer would be, but he had to know.
"They're the same scouts that defend our planet. Solider of ice and wisdom, Princess of Mercury, Sailor Mercury. Solider of fire and soul, Princess of Mars, Sailor Mars. Solider of thunder and strength, Princess of Jupiter, Sailor Jupiter. Solider of love and beauty, Princess of Venus, Sailor Venus. Members of my court and my guardians. And Protector of the Earth and the Moon Princess, Prince Endymion of Earth, Tuxedo Mask. My Darien."
Those last words made her father look up. It was no secret that he didn't like Darien. He had always thought that he was too old for his little girl. Now, finding out who he was…well, Kenji wasn't very happy. Ikuko was just surprised. She never knew that her daughter could keep these kinds of secrets. Serena was usually an open book, yet she had been keeping a large part of her life a secret. A part of her life that didn't include them, and probably never would. Ikuko looked up, straight into Serena's eyes. She ignored the regal air, the blazing crescent moon, and just stared in the eyes.
"Mom," she said, changing back to Serena. "Mom, Daddy, I love you too more then anything. My past life doesn't matter now. Queen Serenity doesn't affect how I feel about you two. Daddy, please, look at me." Serena begged those last words. Her father was still staring at the floor. He didn't want to believe any of this. Serena hated this. She never wanted to tell. But now she had too, and they weren't taking it well. At least her father wasn't. Her mother could tell how hard this was for her, and was putting on a brave face. Ikuko knew that right now she needed to comfort Serena, for this was hard for her. But there were a few questions she needed to ask. One being why Sammy seemed so okay with this.
"Serena," she began. Serena's head shot straight up. Her mother hadn't said a word in a while, but now it looked like she was going to say a lot. "I have a few questions. Is that okay?" Serena nodded, so she began. "First why is Sammy so calm with this?"
This caused smiles to appear on Serena, Rini, and Sammy's faces. But since Serena knew that her mother was being serious, she straightened up and answered.
"Sammy found out a while ago. It wasn't by choice, he just saw us transform. And he has done a good job of keeping it a secret. But he wasn't okay with it when he found out. He was really surprised"
"Alright, next question. You said your advisors were sent with you. Who are they?"
'I wonder if she'll believe me?' Serena thought. "The guardians are Luna and Artemis. Don't tell me you haven't noticed that they have crescent moons identical to mine?"
"Now that IS impossible!" Serena's father said, surprising everyone. No one had expected him to respond now, especially when he had remained so quite when he found out about Darien. "Luna is just a cat. A stray you picked up off the street. The crescent is merely a coincidence. Cats aren't advisors!"
"Dad, Luna has taught me everything I know! She helped me discover my past, and deal with me being a Sailor Scout! She kept me from giving up or doing something stupid! If it wasn't for her and Artemis, I'd be dead! Luna isn't just a stray! Luna is my best friend!"
"LUNA…IS…JUST…A…CAT!"
Luna couldn't take it any longer. Serena was standing in front of her, with tears streaming down her face. Even though they were going to introduce the talking-cat thing later, Luna decided that 'later' had come. She wasn't going to let Serena be hurt anymore. She ran until she stood in front of Kenji, and then prepared to defend her honor.
"I am not *just a cat*," she began. Both the Tsukinos gasped in horror. They had never imagined a talking cat, even after all they had just heard. "I am advisor to the Royal Family of the Moon. As well as, with Artemis's help, trainer of the Sailor Scouts. I assist in training the Princess to one day rule. So if I was *just a cat* this world would have crumpled ages ago." With that, she sat down and stared at Kenji. Both Ikuko and Kenji continued staring at Luna. A smile appeared on Serena's face. Luna was the one who was always telling her to learn to control her temper, and now Luna was the one who lost it. But Serena knew that Luna had done it only because she couldn't bare to see her cry. Serena made a mental note to thank Luna later, but in the meantime, it was getting later, and the reporters would be here soon.
"Listen," she began. Everybody immediately turned to face her. They didn't expect her to look so calm now when she had been crying a minute ago. They also didn't expect her to be back in her sailor form. She had transformed before she began to talk, because she felt that it would be easier to explain like this. "There are going to be quite a few reporters here soon, so we might want to hurry along our explanations. We still have a lot to go through. And Mom, Dad, please don't interrupt until I have finished. It'll be easier to answer questions then." Serena sat down, and motioned for Rini, Sammy, and Luna to sit around her. She needed all the support she could get. "Now, this all began two years ago, when I was fourteen. If you remember, that was when the Sailor Moon first appeared. Luna found me. A monster had gone after Molly, and Luna needed to reawaken my sailor powers. I fought on my own for a while, well, sort of 'on my own'. I had Luna guiding me and Tuxedo Mask protecting me. Mercury was the first to join. Mars followed her. Then it was just the three of us for a long time. Jupiter and Venus, in that order, joined right before we found out I was the moon princess. Since *all* of our memories were gone, not even Luna and Artemis could figure out who she was. When Zoicite attacked Darien, she nearly killed him. That was just after I found out who he was. My tears caused the rainbow crystals to appear, and combine, to form the Empirium Silver Crystal. Then I transformed to a Princess. Long story short, we defeated Beryl after. Unfortunately, she wasn't our last enemy. Ann and Alan, with the Doom Tree, came next, followed by Wiseman and the Black Moon Family. Then Fiore controlled by the Cassienien blossom, and after the Heart Snatchers ruled by Pharaoh 90. Oh, and we had that Ice Witch and her Snow Dancers. After them was Neherenia and Zirconia, followed by Badyanu with the Sugar Fairies. Our last enemy was Galaxia, and it's a good this she was last, for our enemies kept getting stronger. And any stronger then Galaxia and we'd be dead." Serena whispered that last sentence. But her mother still heard her. Ikuko decided to keep quite about that, but she couldn't keep quite about what Sammy said next. He had been sitting close enough to her to hear what she whispered.
"No kidding you'd be dead. You can't get saved if there's no one to save you. And you were the only one still alive to finish your battle with Galaxia…" Sammy stopped speaking immediately. He hadn't realized what he had said until it was too late. His parents and Rini had looks of pure fear and horror on their faces. 'Serena must have never told Rini.' He thought. Then he saw tears appearing in Rini's eyes, and then she threw her arms around Serena and sobbed softly. That proved it. Serena and Luna gave him looks of anger and betrayal, and then Serena began comforting Rini.
"Rini, it's okay. It's okay." She said softly, holding the little girl close. "We're okay now. Everyone came back. Everyone is okay now. I know that you wish you could have helped, but it would have been too dangerous for you. I don't want to lose you, Small Lady."
Serena's parents simply watched the scene. They had never seen Serena and Rini act like this, Rini rarely cried, and why was she so upset?
"Serena…ho…how….many times have you been se…seriously hurt?" Her mother asked, barely able to get the words out.
"Mom…please not now." Serena said. Her eyes glanced down at the still crying Rini, hinting at her mother that she didn't want Rini crying anymore. "Anyway, we aren't quite done yet. I assume that you guys must be wondering how Rini ties into all this? Why she's *Mini* Moon, and why she's crying like this."
Serena's parents surprised themselves by nodding. In truth, they hadn't been really concerned about Rini; they had sort of forgotten about her. But now they were overwhelmed with curiosity.
"Rini…can you?" Serena said to Rini. Rini nodded and stood up, and then she wiped away her tears. Serena stood right behind her. "Rini comes from the future. The thirtieth century to be exact."
Serena's parents gasped. They had expected her to say a number of things but not this. They were defiantly not prepared for what was to follow.
Serena and Rini both concentrated on letting their royal power overtake them. With crescent moons blazing, Serena and Rini stood in identical princess dresses. Then Rini stepped forward. Her mother had taught her the speech that she was supposed to use when introducing herself in this form, so she took a moment to remember it all. She took in a deep breath and began.
"I am Crown Princess Serenity of Crystal Tokyo, also known as Small Lady. I am the daughter of Neo-Queen Serenity of the White Moon and King Endymion of the Earth, rulers of Crystal Tokyo. " She ended her speech with a small curtsy, then got up to see the reaction. Ikuko and Kenji were just staring at her with their mouths open, looking totally surprised. Ikuko was the first to speak.
"Qu…Queen Serenity? But I thought that you said she was dead?"
"Mom," Serena started, "I said that Queen Serenity was dead. I never mentioned Neo-Queen Serenity. That's because…I'm her. Mom, Dad, Rini is my daughter."
"What!" her father screamed. He did not like this one bit.
"Dad, listen to me. Rini is me and Darien's daughter."
"WHAT!!!" Her father was screaming now. He had never really liked Darien, and now he and Serena had a child! "I'm going to…" he stopped in the middle of his sentence when he saw Rini's face. She looked…scared. More scared then she already was, and she looked like she was about ready to start crying again. So he just sat back down, and resolved to remain silent for a little while. However, he would be having a little talk with his daughter later.
"She comes form the *future*, Daddy. The thirtieth century actually." Then Serena detransformed, so that Serena stood there, not Sailor Moon or Princess Serena, but Serena herself. Rini did the same. "Honestly," Serena began, with a smile on her face, but she sobered quickly. She decided that right now wasn't the time for jokes. More for reassurance. "Mom, Dad, I will always love you, no matter what. No one could take your place."
Serena's mother smiled. She knew that this all must be hard on her. But Serena had done the right thing. She was a bit surprised about Rini, but she had always felt much closer to her then just an Aunt. 'A *grandmother*' she thought, and felt a bit old. "So you're my granddaughter?" she said.
"Yup," Rini replied, and climbed onto her grandmother's lap, which was what Ikuko had been hopping for. Ikuko wrapped her arms around Rini, giving her a hug.
Serena smiled at the scene, it was nice to see the youngest and oldest generations of her family getting along so well. Then she turned to her father. "Daddy?" she said, rather quietly.
"Are you positive that she comes from the that she comes from the future?" he asked.
"Yes, I'm positive."
"The 30th century?"
"Yes."
"So she won't be born until the 30th century."
"As far as we know."
"And she is the oldest child?"
"Yes. Actually only child."
Then Kenji smiled. That was the answer he was hoping for. He didn't like the fact that she had a whole other life that had been kept a secret, but she had taken care of it well. So he turned to Rini, and opened his arms. Rini took the hint and jumped into them, and received a big hug. She sat on his lap then, knowing that another explanation was ahead, and this one she may have to take part in. But right now, she just allowed herself to be cuddled. 'I never had grandparent's before,' she thought. 'I'm glad we told them, and I wish we told them sooner.'
"I guess I should explain Crystal Tokyo." Serena said. Both her parents nodded. Serena took a deep breath and began. "I don't know much about the future. Actually, I know very little. We were never supposed to be told, and shouldn't find out any more then we have to. We know that something is going to happen to the Earth and put it into an eternal sleep. Basically, the Earth will be frozen. Then I will use the Empirium Silver Crystal and reawaken the Earth. Darien and I will then rise to the throne, like we were supposed to do during the Silver Millennium. The world will be filled with peace. We aren't sure of the date that Rini will be born. And we can't find out for two reason – one is that Rini is forbidden to tell us, and obeys because if she doesn't, she could badly hurt the future. And two is that if we badger Rini to tell us, then we get a stern lecture from Pluto. And *no* one wants that." Serena smiled, remembering some of the lectures from Pluto she had received. "Rini has been back a few times, the first when she was five. You guys thought that she had come the summer before, but that was just a cover. Don't get mad at Rini for brainwashing you. She was five and scared. I don't blame her." 'Now' Serena thought. She noticed Rini looking kind of embarrassed, thinking about what she had done, so Serena figured that she had better give an explanation for what had happened. "An enemy had attacked Crystal Tokyo, and Neo-Queen Serenity had been trapped. Rini had been sent into the past for a few reasons. She needed to get the silver crystal to save her mother in the future, and she needed to warn me. The enemy had come from the future into the past to try and capture Rini, so Rini needed to be protected by the Sailor Scouts. If they got her, they could take control. So brainwashing was just a way for you guys to let her stay here. After all, would you have let her in if she just showed up and asked you if she could stay here? It was just for safety."
Serena stopped for a moment, letting it all sink in. She had never realized all that had happened. She decided to leave the whole 'I went to the future thing' till later. There was more to get through now.
"Rini came back shortly after my fifteenth birthday. She needed training as a Sailor Scout, and Queen Serenity also wanted her to have a normal childhood. We have had some…err…*problems*, but everything has gotten better, right?" Serena was looking at Rini when she spoke, and waited for a response. Rini nodded, and so Serena continued. "But I think that Rini might have lost that normal childhood thing…"
Rini face became one of horror, but before she could respond, Ikuko spoke.
"So…how do you know so much about the future?" she asked.
"We went." Serena replied. "In order to help Rini, we needed to go into the future. King Endymion explained *almost* everything to us. He had to leave somethings out. Serenity would have helped, but she was trapped. The enemy tried to attack her, but the scouts encased her in crystal before she could be hurt. Endymion is also the one who told Darien and I that we were Rini's parents. Any other questions?"
Serena's mother had a few she still wanted to ask, but she had a feeling they would be answered later. Both her parents shook their heads.
"Okay," Serena began. She was about to say something that she never wanted to ever have to say. She turned to look at Rini, but not in the eyes, she just couldn't do that. "Rini, I think that the safest thing for you to do is…" Serena didn't get to finish her sentence. Rini had already jumped out of her grandfather's lap and was standing up straight, trying to appear tall.
"I won't leave!" She screamed, but not to loudly. She didn't want people to think that she was just a child. But she had to make her point known. "I am not going home just yet! I don't want to leave yet! I want to stay here!"
"But Rini, your mother sent you here so you would have a normal childhood. Now that everyone knows, you can't have a normal childhood anymore."
"I don't have a normal childhood in Crystal Tokyo! There I'm a princess, and an heir to the throne! At least here I'm only a Sailor Scout!"
The others just stood back and watched. They had seen Serena and Rini fight before but never like this. Even Luna who had seen Serena's fights before didn't want to get involved in this one. Each of them understood that this was between Serena and Rini.
"Rini, there you have guards who can protect you so that you don't get hurt! And you can be trained better as a princess and a scout there! It's safer Rini!"
"I'm in as much danger of getting hurt there as here! And my guards are the same Sailor Scouts that we have here! And I don't even need any guards! I can protect myself!"
"Rini, your safety is all that matters right now! If you can go where it's safer, you should!"
"I…am…not…leaving! Don't you get it Serena! If I leave now, I can never come back! And I am not leaving the scouts!"
"But Rini…"
"Serena, NO! And you can't make me go! I have the crystal key, not you! No one here can force me to go! And I won't leave! What if something happens and you get hurt!"
"What if *you* get hurt? Rini, I don't want anything to happen to you!"
"And I…I don't want anything to happen to you or…or Darien! Serena, please…PLEASE don't make me go!" Tears were beginning to run down Rini's face. She truly didn't want to leave.
'Oh, Rini.' Serena thought. "I don't want you to go either. I'd miss you way too much. But I really don't want you to get hurt either."
"Serena," Rini said, moving in to give her a hug, "I won't get hurt. I might not be able to promise that, but I can try. Please, trust me."
Rini gave Serena one of those looks that just made her heart melt. She forgot all her resolutions to be strong and stand firm, and just gave in. "Alright," she said, looking in Rini in the eye. "I'll let you stay only if Queen Serenity says that it'll be okay."
This puzzled everyone. Even Luna couldn't figure out how Serena was planning on talking to Queen Serenity. She didn't have a time key, so she couldn't travel into the future to speak with her, and Pluto wouldn't allow it anyway.
Rini was about to say what Luna was thinking, but then she saw the twinkle in Serena's eye. "Ohhh…." Rini said, and ran up stairs. She knew her mother well enough to tell what she was thinking, and had a fairly good idea what Serena wanted to do. Rini reached her room and grabbed a few sheets of her favorite paper (the paper that Serena had given her for her birthday – it was pink with little bunnies in the corner) and went back down stairs.
Sammy, Luna and Serena's parents were still staring at Serena when Rini entered the room. None had even a clue of what she was planning, and all Serena did was smile. Despite her confusion, Luna felt extremely proud of Serena. She had never seen Serena so calm when she knew how much Serena just wanted to break down and cry. When Rini entered the room carrying the paper, Luna understood what Serena was planning.
"Serena, what are you doing?" Her mother asked her. She couldn't for the life of her figure out what her daughter was planning.
Serena and Luna were seated at the table again with Rini between them before Serena replied. "Mom, what is the best way to communicate with someone that you can't directly talk to? We're writing a letter to send to Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion. They will give us a *bit* of advice."
Serena, Rini, and Luna went back to writing the letter. Sammy and their parents moved in to see what they were writing. They noticed that although the letter was being written to ask for advice, Rini couldn't resist adding her own touches. After quite a few minutes, Rini pronounced the letter done, and she went back upstairs to find a matching envelop. The finished letter read:
Dearest Mommy and Daddy,
How are you? How's Crystal Tokyo and the Scouts? Hope everything is okay. I would fill you in on the gossip, but Serena is right here (This got an angry glare from Serena as Rini wrote it), so I'll write you another letter later to fill you in. But I guess you already know all of it. I'm actually writing this letter for a reason. Mommy, Daddy, something horrible has happened. Everyone knows that we are the Sailor Scouts. It was in the paper. We are really scared. What should we do? Serena thought that maybe I should go home, because it'll be safer in Crystal Tokyo. But I don't want to go home, not yet. Is it okay if I stay a bit longer? I'll understand if you say no. You guys were here, so what is supposed are we supposed to do? Is this how it happened with you guys? Or did we change the future? Please answer me soon! All of us are waiting for your reply. Love you lots.
Your favorite girl,
Small Lady Rini ^.^
P.S. Serena and Luna say Hi.
"Small Lady?" Kenji asked.
"It's the nickname Rini was given in Crystal Tokyo." Serena replied. "Everyone there calls her that."
"Got the envelope!" Rini yelled, running down the stairs and into the kitchen. She grabbed the letter and placed it inside the envelope. Then she took out her crystal key. Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino gasped. They had never seen a key like that; you could almost feel the magic radiating off it. She held both the letter and the key high in the air and chanted the phrase to make the key work.
"Crystal Key! Take this letter to Mommy and Daddy! And HURRY!" Rini yelled. Then a pink cloud appeared right above the letter and took it. "Pluto, make sure that it gets to Mommy and Daddy as fast as possible!"
Sammy, Kenji, and Ikuko were still staring at where the cloud had appeared and disappeared. They had seen quite a lot, especially in the last hour, but they still couldn't believe what they had just seen. Serena, Luna, and Rini all knew that expression – complete and utter amassment. Serena decided that they had other things to do, so they could get them done while they waited for her parents and Sammy to break out of their trances.
"Okay, Rini, could you watch the fans from the upstairs window. We need to have a rough number of how many people and reporters are outside. I already know that there are quite a few already (the sound of them had been there for quite a while, and the sound of the doorbell ringing, pounding on the door, and the people themselves were beginning to get on her nerves), but we need to know if we should install a metal door to keep them out. Oh, and since Sammy is finally out of his trance, take him with you. In the meantime, I am going to go talk to the other girls. I'm sure that they have already talked to there families, and we need a good strategy. Luna, you come with me. And someone call me if we get a response from Crystal Tokyo." With that said, Serena started toward the living room, with Luna on her heals. She settled on the couch as she heard Rini and Sammy running upstairs. Serena then took out her communicator (they had had to unplug their phone so that the ringing would stop). She then pressed the button with the sign of Mercury on it. "Amy, come in…"
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First chapter (if you don't count prologue) done. Next chapter - rest of the scouts. Sorry to the people who like the everyone-finds-out-and-Serena-runs-away stories, but this isn't one of them. Actually, I was never going to even write this, because I thought that it was a really dumb idea that there wasn't a huge problem when they told their parents. But then I read "Spring Break" by Aiko (read it at A Sailor Moon Romance - does anyone know if she ever finished it), and she had them tell their parents in a way where no one ran away, and no one was "disowned". That gave me the courage to write this. Although, I understand that most people prefer those kind of stories, and I hope that you will still at least review my story. Thanks a ton for listening to my ramblings. Next chapter will be out soon.