Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is copyright © 1992 Naoko Takeuchi / Kodansha, TOEI
Animation. English Language Adaptation © 1995 DiC Entertainment. I'm just
borrowing the characters and dialogue for a bit.
Narrated by the Senshi of Silence herself,
I Could Only Watch
By Ceila
Part 1 - Growth and Friendship
Rated PG, Just in case
************************
Would I ever remember why I was here? It's an odd feeling to watch and listen to a world that you can't touch. You begin to doubt your own existence and well, I was beginning to doubt mine. I knew I was here to protect the body that housed my mind but I could not remember how I ended up in the mind of a two-year-old.
"Papa," said Hotaru when her father walked into the nursery.
"Hello angel," said her father.
My body's father was a good man. He stood tall over her small bed and his white hair fell in all directions. Gentle pale blue eyes peered at her from behind silver rimmed glasses and the smile on his face was reflected there as well.
"Papa," she said again as she held her chubby arms up toward him.
"So you want to be held huh. Come here then angel, I'll take you with me today."
Tome Souichi carried the two year old Hotaru over to her dresser and pulled out a little black dress with dark purple flowers on it. I must admit that I did influence my body's taste in clothing, I love black and purple. Hotaru tried to help but her efforts only made it harder to get the dress on. All of us were laughing by the time she was dressed and ready to go, but of course no one heard my laughter.
He carried the small girl protectively in his arms as they left the house and began the short walk to the cemetery. How did I know he was taking us to the cemetery? My body's mind might have been to young to remember the route but I knew it well. I wanted to know where we were going so I encouraged Hotaru to voice my wish.
"Up piggyback," she said and pointed to her father's shoulders.
"Ah so you want the scenic ride ne?" he asked the little girl who smiled in return.
"Piggyback," she said again.
"All right all right, up you go angel."
Hotaru giggled and clapped her hands in her father's hair as he sat her on his shoulders. I found this to be the best vantage point for our walks. I wanted to familiarize myself with this city. Before long we arrived at the cemetery gates and Tome Souichi took his daughter from his shoulders and held her close again. Hotaru stopped giggling and mimicked her father's sad face on her own small one. I too remember the reason we are here and remain silent.
We walk together, weaving a well-worn path to a familiar spot. He stopped, set us down on the ground, and looked down at the marker,
Tome Keiko mother and wife
"The flame of eternal love shall never be extinguished."
1950-1980
Hotaru looked to her father and studied his face as he cried silent tears for his wife, her mother. I felt genuinely sorry for him, but I couldn't comfort him, I could only watch. Together they placed white roses beside the marker and then once again we were off and walking.
I could tell Souichi was walking without thinking and soon we were at the very hospital where they spent their last moments together. Then I felt it, in the back of my mind, the warmth of an ancient power. That's when the memories started flowing back to me. I was no longer a drifting soul, I had a name, Saturn. I gasped as my body was surrounded by a purple aura and my past memories were returned to me. A single tear streaked down my cheek as the last, most painful, memory replayed itself in my mind. "Princess I'm sorry," I whisper to the emptiness.
Was my princess here as well? Was she suffering the same fate as myself, watching a world she could not take part in? Hotaru played with papa's hair completely oblivious to her father's pensive state and my own agitation. As he stood there a blue four-door sedan screeched to a halt and a very frazzled father jumped out carrying a suitcase with him. When the door opened the warmth increased ten fold. I felt the ancient strength coming to me again as I took control of Hotaru's body.
"Kenji, wait!" shouted his wife from her seat in the car. "You don't need to rush you'll only hurt yourself."
"Yes dear but you need a doctor right away I'll be just a minute."
"Friend," said another voice that was attached to a small girl with sunshine gold hair.
"Where Usagi?" asked the woman as she unfastened her daughter from her car seat.
"There." She was pointing to me.
"Should we go meet her?"
"Yes!"
The woman opened the door and removed her very pregnant form slowly. Next she reached in for her daughter who was bouncing happily as she tried to play with her twin golden pigtails. Through Hotaru's eyes I watched as the mother and daughter approached us. The princess was here! The hair was a dead give away. Only the daughters of the royal line could pull off the ondongo hairstyle.
"Hi lady," said Hotaru as I directed her large purple eyes directly on the little girl that the woman held. "Hi ondongo atma." I was sure that would get the princess's attention, she always hated that nickname.
"Me no ondongo!" shouted Usagi as she stuck her tong out at me.
"Hotaru are you causing trouble?" asked Souichi as he pulled me from his shoulders into his arms.
"Hotaru good girl poppa," I said. Well it was the truth, it wasn't Hotaru stirring up trouble, I was.
"Of course angel. I'm sorry I didn't see you coming over my name is Tome Souichi and this is my daughter Hotaru."
"That's all right Usagi just wanted to come over and make a new friend. My name is Tsukino Ikuko."
"It's nice to meet you."
Tsukino, so that was her name in this life. I made a mental note to remember that name for later after all I still had my duty to protect her. Then I saw the man return pushing a wheelchair rather fast and I had to laugh.
"Ikuko, honey I have the wheelchair come on," said Kenji as he came running out of the hospital doors.
"He seems rather anxious," said Souichi as he looked at the panting father.
"Oh he's doing much better this time. Last time he was so nervous he ran in carrying my suitcase and said that it was having his baby."
"Good luck with your family Mrs. Tsukino."
"Good luck with yours as well," said Ikuko as Kenji wheeled her and Usagi into the hospital.
"Bye bye hime," I said quietly as I once again faded into the back of Hotaru's mind. "I will find you again Serenity."
* * *
Professor Tome led a group of researchers through his lab at the prestigious Mugen Gakuen high school genetic engineering lab. Everyone in the group was dressed in long white lab coats except for us; about eight years old, with innocent purple eyes and short black hair. We wore a purple dress with white lace trim and skipped along after our father. I was once again watching from within. Something was wrong here and I could almost sense the negative energy waves coming from this very lab. Father was oblivious to it, as most humans are, and I was once again gaining control of Hotaru's mind. I had to find the evil and destroy it if possible.
"You'll notice this special space in the machine is for exchanging delicate DNA," said Professor Tome as he showed the complex machines to his fellow scientists.
I directed Hotaru over to the big machines and I began to examine them. We moved up close to one of them and I pressed her small hands to the protective plastic shield. As we stood there a black ball of energy began to pulse in the heart of the dome. It formed a ghostly shape and began growing larger. I could sense the evil energy coming from it and I knew it was time to sound the alert.
"Papa what's that?" we asked breaking into the conversation even after we had promised to be quite.
Professor Tome didn't have time to reply as the black energy grew and filled the room. In that split second it exploded throwing Hotaru across the room and killing all the scientists sparing only Professor Tome. I lost control of the body as the fire and force of impact sent her into unconsciousness. The lab was on fire and the building shook around him as he crawled over to his daughter's limp form. I could hear him but Hotaru was loosing the battle for her life. The one good thing about this is that if she dies, even if it means I failed to protect her, I can once again be a free spirit.
"Hotaru! Answer me, Hotaru! Hotaru! No, it can't be, Hotaru!" he cried as he shook his precious baby.
The last spark of her life blinked out and I was free again. My memories of the past and future return to me completely as I look around the now burning lab. Hotaru's father is reliving his wife's death as I watch him cry over Hotaru's small form. "I'm here papa don't worry I'm fine," I whisper but I know he can't hear me. To him I'm not even his daughter.
Then it comes again. The black monster of death that killed my body and set me free. "I will destroy you in the name of Saturn!" My threat goes unheard as it offers to save my body and my father as well. "Don't listen to it! It's evil let me kill it. Papa don't!" But as before my words are only for my ears as the monster enters my father's body and I'm pulled once again into the fog of Hotaru's mortal mind.
* * *
Sixteen-year-old Tome Hotaru sat on the park bench reading from one of her many books and I sat inside bored. For the past eight years I had watched as our father worked for the very evil I was sworn to destroy. I could only watch as the man I had grown to love disappeared almost all together. He was nothing more than a shell, yet in the back of my mind I could sense that he was in there, trapped just like me.
Hotaru had grown into a beautiful, yet weak, young woman. I used my powers, as little as they are in this state, to help her health. I was resigned to reading the pages along with her when a high pitched voice triggered a familiar feeling. At first it was just a whisper that tugged at my mind. A memory trying to surface. It was like the ancient power of the crystal, but different, and that in itself was most confusing.
"Please catch it that hat's important!" the voice was louder this time and Hotaru looked up to see a pink haired girl running after a hat caught in the wind.
"I'm close enough that I could catch it for her," thought Hotaru as she put down her book and ran after the hat. "Wait!" She called to it in hopes that it would stop before she ran out of breath. I was helping her, lending her my strength, but I too was weakening. Luckily just as her lungs began to get the tightening sensation that accompanied one of her "spells" Hotaru reached it and collapsed to the ground holding the hat still with both hands.
The young girl caught up with her and bent down to pick up the hat but Hotaru beat her to it. "Here you go," she said as she handed the hat to the pink haired girl.
"Thank you," the pink haired girl said as she crushed the hat to her small body.
"You're very lucky that it didn't land in the stream."
"Are you ok?"
Hotaru had begun to fight for breath as she sat on the ground and I couldn't do anything to help her. One hand automatically came up to her chest as if it could possibly help her breathing. "I'll be fine," she gasped. "It's just a fit...it will pass."
The pink haired girl just stood there unable to do anything for us. We stayed like that for five minutes. Hotaru fighting to control her fit and the pink haired girl watching with worry. Finally Hotaru sat up straight and looked to the pink haired girl. What I saw in her cinnamon eyes made me jump. Serenity, no it couldn't be, could it?
"I'm ok now," said Hotaru.
"I'm glad. Would you like to play with me?" she asked with a smile. "I'm Chibiusa."
"I'm Hotaru," she replied and the two shook hands for the first time. I felt it then, different somehow, the power of the crystal. This was Serenity, but not quite Serenity, another incarnation perhaps? No, because Serenity was incarnated in Tsukino Usagi, not Chibiusa.
The two friends were disturbed by a noise near the filming of a movie in the park so they decided to investigate. I knew what it was. It was the same energy that I lived with every day, the Death Busters. Together Hotaru and Chibiusa hid behind some bushes and watched the daimon attack the movie star. As usual I could only watch as another innocent suffered.
When it seemed that the daimon was about to take the pure crystal heart Sailor Moon and the Sailor Senshi showed up to save the day. It was the first time that I had seen my friends from so long ago and my heart nearly broke at the sight. I recognized Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus but Sailor Moon was new. I wondered briefly if while I had slept in my tomb Serenity had appointed another guardian. The daimon stole the pure heart crystal. Then the Outer Senshi arrived, my family from so long ago, and blasted the Daimon. The blasts merely distracted the daimon and that's when it noticed us hiding in the bushes. I wanted to blast it, but of course, I could only watch.
"Woo Western!" it shouted as it sent a lasso toward us.
"Look out!" said Chibiusa as she shoved Hotaru out of the way only to be captured herself.
"Chibiusa," whispered Hotaru as fear crept into her mind. She wanted to do something, this was my chance to break free and become the warrior I was, but even if the mind was willing the body still wasn't. Hotaru looked directly at Sailor Moon and that's when I noticed it, the eyes gave it away, Serenity was Sailor Moon!
I watched as the princess I had known as delicate and sweet created a power tier, and with a cry of "Rainbow Moon Heart Ache!", destroyed one of our father's creations. It sickened me to think that our father had been reduced to using his talent for this evil. But I could stomp around Hotaru's mind all I wanted and it wouldn't make a difference. I could only watch.
"Chibiusa!" cried Hotaru as she saw her friend was ok.
"Hotaru. Ouch," said Chibiusa as she fell to the ground landing gracefully on her bottom.
"Your hurt! I'm sorry you tried to protect me."
"It's just a scratch, it's not a problem."
"Let me see it."
This I could help with. The one power that she allowed herself to use, the healing. Hotaru placed a hand over the scrape on Chibiusa's leg and a purple light began to form around the wound. It grew brighter and brighter until the wound was completely gone. It was exhausting but it felt good for even a moment to touch the world.
"Incredible!" said Chibiusa as she looked disbelieving at her healed leg.
"My classmates don't think so. They think it's weird and they don't like me because of it. It's scary to have that kind of power."
"No its not I think it's wonderful."
"You think so?"
"Yes."
A blush crept onto Hotaru's cheeks as Chibiusa smiled at her. I smiled too. This was her first friend. There was no doubt in my mind now that this was another Serenity. Hotaru was about to say something when her eyes went wide and she crumpled to the ground in another fit. I couldn't help her fight it this time because I was still weak myself.
"Hotaru!"
"I'll be alright," gasped Hotaru as she fought for air.
"Hang in there Hotaru."
* * *
Chibiusa insisted on escorting us home after what happened in the park. She claimed that it was too dangerous for a girl to be walking alone so she would protect her. I laughed at that statement. It was my job to protect Hotaru until I could awaken her memories of her duty but until then the pink haired girl would have to do. After all if she was another Serenity she could control the crystal and probably defend us from any daimon father could create.
"I'm sorry to worry you," said Hotaru as we neared her home.
"It's ok," said Chibiusa with a smile that lit up her small face.
"Papa?"
Tome Souichi walked out of the front door and Hotaru ran to him. I cringed every time she touched him. The dark energy would try to reach out for us but I kept it away.
"Hotaru? What happened I was worried you were so late," he said as he looked over us.
"I had a small fit. This is Chibiusa she came to see me off."
"Did she?" I didn't like the way he looked at her. He was dissecting her in his mind. Probably looking for a way to use her for a new source of power. "Thank you Chibiusa. Good bye now."
"Bye," she called in return.
"Can I see you again Chibiusa?" asked Hotaru. I didn't even have to prompt her to ask; perhaps now I could have a chance to find out why I thought she was Serenity.
"Of course were friends now!"
"Friends!"
"I'm glad for you Hotaru," father said through a rehearsed smile.
"Bye Hotaru!"
"Bye Chibiusa!"
"Please come and visit us you're invited," father shouted after her with a final wave.
As we walked into the house I couldn't help but feel a new hope building inside of me. Maybe it was time to start fighting for control of this body. If that was Serenity, no matter what incarnation, I had an obligation to protect her from the dangers in this house. She would come to visit and I would be ready to protect her.
* * *
It was getting crowded in here now. There was a part of Hotaru's mind that was blocked off and I could sense the evil inside of it. I knew it was dangerous but I couldn't get to it to destroy it. Maybe when Hotaru's new friend Chibiusa visited today the small power boost from being close to a Serenity would help me break into it. This evil, no matter how small it was, was a cause for worry and needed to be destroyed.
There had been another black out earlier today. They had been happening more often and the block in Hotaru's mind was slowly growing in size. If not for my abilities I probably would have started feeling a tad bit crowded inside of her mind. Hotaru finally got it together and made it slowly down the hall and into the living room. When she opened the door I was knocked over by the energy waves.
There on the sofa were two girls, one was Chibiusa, and the other was an older blonde girl. Both wore their hair up in two buns with ponytails falling from them. If they hadn't been there at the same time I would have thought it odd, the feeling of two crystals, but somehow I expected it. I had found my princess once again.
"Chibiusa!" said Hotaru as I tried to scream out Serenity's name.
"Hotaru!" said Chibiusa.
"A girl?" questioned the older girl. I laughed, Serenity was obviously hoping for a matchmaking scheme for Chibiusa. Some things never change. Serenity was always trying to fix her Senshi up with visiting nobles.
"I never said it was a boy," whispered Chibiusa. That confirmed it.
"Is she your sister?" asked Hotaru. Now that got me thinking, a sister for the princess? No that still wouldn't explain why I felt two crystals. But if Chibiusa were her daughter, that would explain it. The thought nearly floored me. Serenity couldn't have a child already she was too young!
"No, she's my cousin, Usagi. She followed me because she thought I was dating a handsome boy."
"What! Chibiusa I didn't," protested Usagi.
"It's true," countered Chibiusa.
"I wanted to say hello since I am your guardian."
"What are you talking about? I know what you were thinking."
"Well you do follow boys all the time."
"Unlike you, baka Usagi, it's the boys chasing after me."
At this point we both started laughing. It was actually fun to watch the two Serenity's fighting like this. Hotaru was enjoying it as much as I was because it was a welcomed change from the regular dull atmosphere around this house. When we started laughing they both fell silent and by the looks on their faces they were both embarrassed.
"I'm sorry welcome to my house I'm Tomoe Hotaru."
"Thank you for inviting us," said Usagi.
"Would you like to see my room?" asked Hotaru. Maybe if they came into her room they could sense the same evil that I could. That would cause Serenity to come and investigate and maybe on her next visit I would be free.
"Then I'll take this coffee to your room," said Kaolinite as she turned to go down the hall.
"That's all right don't stick your nose into my business Kaolinite," snapped Hotaru as she grabbed the tray from the woman and gave her a look that would have scared any normal human. On the position of Kaolinite we agreed that she was no good.
Hotaru led our guests into the hall and towards her room. "I'm sorry for that. My father is a scientist and she comes to help sometimes but I don't like her very much."
"Where's your mother Hotaru," asked Usagi.
She stopped and I could feel the sadness overwhelm her as she remained turned from their gaze and whispered, "She died a long time ago."
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to."
"No that's all right I want to get to know more about you Chibiusa."
She opened the door to her room and both of them stared in awe at the sight. The drapes were drawn and her lamp collection lit the room nicely. Chibiusa ran inside and started twirling around amazed. Then I felt it again, the weakening sensation that would send her crashing to the floor. I fought it but in the end exhaustion claimed us both.
Usagi and Chibiusa both tried to comfort us but as Hotaru tried to explain to them, it was only a fit. That's when I saw it, a small heart shaped locket with a crescent moon in it's center sticking out of Serenity's bag. Out of curiosity we picked it up, but I wish that we had left it alone. When Hotaru touched it I felt the crystal. I was holding the ancient gem that I had vowed to protect so long ago. The energy from the locket made me stronger and I tried to use that to take control and tell them who we were.
I wasn't fast enough as my world suddenly went darker and finally gone as the evil that had moved into our mind took control of Hotaru. I called out my glaive and tried to at least hurt the evil. I struck blow after blow against it but the darkness didn't budge until it retreated back into it's safe house and suddenly the world was there again. I stood blinking against the dim light of Hotaru's room, the locket was still in our hands.
"Hotaru?" they both asked at the same time.
"Did I say something? You must think I'm very strange," said Hotaru as she returned the locket.
"No I was just worried that's all," said Chibiusa.
"Chibiusa your present," said Usagi as she nudged the smaller girl.
"Oh yes! Here Hotaru for you," she handed us two new manga and a paper that must have been between them fell to the floor.
"There's an autograph session today!" said Usagi as she picked up the piece of paper that had fallen from the present.
"No way!" said Chibiusa as she grabbed the flyer from Usagi. "Let's take Hotaru."
"It's almost over now you should have told me sooner."
"It's not my fault baka."
"We're gonna miss it and it's all your fault!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
I couldn't help but laugh again as the two started one of their arguments again. It was easy to see that they had argued like this before. Each serenity used facial expressions so similar it was like watching Serenity argue with her vanity mirror. I sighed and sat down suddenly saddened. I don't think until that very moment I realized how much I missed my friends from so long ago.
* * *
Usagi was running ahead of us and yelling for us to hurry but Chibiusa walked patiently with Hotaru holding her hand the entire way. I could see just a bit of the Serenity that I knew in her eyes as she looked at Hotaru but then it was gone. Chibiusa was not my princess. Looking up we noticed that Usagi had stopped running and was staring at a parking lot. I felt the danger then, a delayed reaction of sorts, to the evil I knew so well.
Chibiusa ran ahead and followed Usagi's gaze with her own. They whispered something and then Chibiusa was pulling us away. I wanted to stay and help, to protect my princess that I had finally found again, but Chibiusa dragged Hotaru away and I could only sit and wait for the feeling of danger to go away. "Be careful my princess," I whispered though no one could hear me.
* * *
Author's Note: So have I hooked you yet? Saturn and Hotaru are slowly merging together but it's going to take longer than either could possibly expect. Come back for part 2, Strengthening, available in January.
E-Mail the author at k340029@excite.com
Catch sneak peeks of all my work, and other talented authors works, at Daydream - www.scribbles.0catch.com
Narrated by the Senshi of Silence herself,
I Could Only Watch
By Ceila
Part 1 - Growth and Friendship
Rated PG, Just in case
************************
Would I ever remember why I was here? It's an odd feeling to watch and listen to a world that you can't touch. You begin to doubt your own existence and well, I was beginning to doubt mine. I knew I was here to protect the body that housed my mind but I could not remember how I ended up in the mind of a two-year-old.
"Papa," said Hotaru when her father walked into the nursery.
"Hello angel," said her father.
My body's father was a good man. He stood tall over her small bed and his white hair fell in all directions. Gentle pale blue eyes peered at her from behind silver rimmed glasses and the smile on his face was reflected there as well.
"Papa," she said again as she held her chubby arms up toward him.
"So you want to be held huh. Come here then angel, I'll take you with me today."
Tome Souichi carried the two year old Hotaru over to her dresser and pulled out a little black dress with dark purple flowers on it. I must admit that I did influence my body's taste in clothing, I love black and purple. Hotaru tried to help but her efforts only made it harder to get the dress on. All of us were laughing by the time she was dressed and ready to go, but of course no one heard my laughter.
He carried the small girl protectively in his arms as they left the house and began the short walk to the cemetery. How did I know he was taking us to the cemetery? My body's mind might have been to young to remember the route but I knew it well. I wanted to know where we were going so I encouraged Hotaru to voice my wish.
"Up piggyback," she said and pointed to her father's shoulders.
"Ah so you want the scenic ride ne?" he asked the little girl who smiled in return.
"Piggyback," she said again.
"All right all right, up you go angel."
Hotaru giggled and clapped her hands in her father's hair as he sat her on his shoulders. I found this to be the best vantage point for our walks. I wanted to familiarize myself with this city. Before long we arrived at the cemetery gates and Tome Souichi took his daughter from his shoulders and held her close again. Hotaru stopped giggling and mimicked her father's sad face on her own small one. I too remember the reason we are here and remain silent.
We walk together, weaving a well-worn path to a familiar spot. He stopped, set us down on the ground, and looked down at the marker,
Tome Keiko mother and wife
"The flame of eternal love shall never be extinguished."
1950-1980
Hotaru looked to her father and studied his face as he cried silent tears for his wife, her mother. I felt genuinely sorry for him, but I couldn't comfort him, I could only watch. Together they placed white roses beside the marker and then once again we were off and walking.
I could tell Souichi was walking without thinking and soon we were at the very hospital where they spent their last moments together. Then I felt it, in the back of my mind, the warmth of an ancient power. That's when the memories started flowing back to me. I was no longer a drifting soul, I had a name, Saturn. I gasped as my body was surrounded by a purple aura and my past memories were returned to me. A single tear streaked down my cheek as the last, most painful, memory replayed itself in my mind. "Princess I'm sorry," I whisper to the emptiness.
Was my princess here as well? Was she suffering the same fate as myself, watching a world she could not take part in? Hotaru played with papa's hair completely oblivious to her father's pensive state and my own agitation. As he stood there a blue four-door sedan screeched to a halt and a very frazzled father jumped out carrying a suitcase with him. When the door opened the warmth increased ten fold. I felt the ancient strength coming to me again as I took control of Hotaru's body.
"Kenji, wait!" shouted his wife from her seat in the car. "You don't need to rush you'll only hurt yourself."
"Yes dear but you need a doctor right away I'll be just a minute."
"Friend," said another voice that was attached to a small girl with sunshine gold hair.
"Where Usagi?" asked the woman as she unfastened her daughter from her car seat.
"There." She was pointing to me.
"Should we go meet her?"
"Yes!"
The woman opened the door and removed her very pregnant form slowly. Next she reached in for her daughter who was bouncing happily as she tried to play with her twin golden pigtails. Through Hotaru's eyes I watched as the mother and daughter approached us. The princess was here! The hair was a dead give away. Only the daughters of the royal line could pull off the ondongo hairstyle.
"Hi lady," said Hotaru as I directed her large purple eyes directly on the little girl that the woman held. "Hi ondongo atma." I was sure that would get the princess's attention, she always hated that nickname.
"Me no ondongo!" shouted Usagi as she stuck her tong out at me.
"Hotaru are you causing trouble?" asked Souichi as he pulled me from his shoulders into his arms.
"Hotaru good girl poppa," I said. Well it was the truth, it wasn't Hotaru stirring up trouble, I was.
"Of course angel. I'm sorry I didn't see you coming over my name is Tome Souichi and this is my daughter Hotaru."
"That's all right Usagi just wanted to come over and make a new friend. My name is Tsukino Ikuko."
"It's nice to meet you."
Tsukino, so that was her name in this life. I made a mental note to remember that name for later after all I still had my duty to protect her. Then I saw the man return pushing a wheelchair rather fast and I had to laugh.
"Ikuko, honey I have the wheelchair come on," said Kenji as he came running out of the hospital doors.
"He seems rather anxious," said Souichi as he looked at the panting father.
"Oh he's doing much better this time. Last time he was so nervous he ran in carrying my suitcase and said that it was having his baby."
"Good luck with your family Mrs. Tsukino."
"Good luck with yours as well," said Ikuko as Kenji wheeled her and Usagi into the hospital.
"Bye bye hime," I said quietly as I once again faded into the back of Hotaru's mind. "I will find you again Serenity."
* * *
Professor Tome led a group of researchers through his lab at the prestigious Mugen Gakuen high school genetic engineering lab. Everyone in the group was dressed in long white lab coats except for us; about eight years old, with innocent purple eyes and short black hair. We wore a purple dress with white lace trim and skipped along after our father. I was once again watching from within. Something was wrong here and I could almost sense the negative energy waves coming from this very lab. Father was oblivious to it, as most humans are, and I was once again gaining control of Hotaru's mind. I had to find the evil and destroy it if possible.
"You'll notice this special space in the machine is for exchanging delicate DNA," said Professor Tome as he showed the complex machines to his fellow scientists.
I directed Hotaru over to the big machines and I began to examine them. We moved up close to one of them and I pressed her small hands to the protective plastic shield. As we stood there a black ball of energy began to pulse in the heart of the dome. It formed a ghostly shape and began growing larger. I could sense the evil energy coming from it and I knew it was time to sound the alert.
"Papa what's that?" we asked breaking into the conversation even after we had promised to be quite.
Professor Tome didn't have time to reply as the black energy grew and filled the room. In that split second it exploded throwing Hotaru across the room and killing all the scientists sparing only Professor Tome. I lost control of the body as the fire and force of impact sent her into unconsciousness. The lab was on fire and the building shook around him as he crawled over to his daughter's limp form. I could hear him but Hotaru was loosing the battle for her life. The one good thing about this is that if she dies, even if it means I failed to protect her, I can once again be a free spirit.
"Hotaru! Answer me, Hotaru! Hotaru! No, it can't be, Hotaru!" he cried as he shook his precious baby.
The last spark of her life blinked out and I was free again. My memories of the past and future return to me completely as I look around the now burning lab. Hotaru's father is reliving his wife's death as I watch him cry over Hotaru's small form. "I'm here papa don't worry I'm fine," I whisper but I know he can't hear me. To him I'm not even his daughter.
Then it comes again. The black monster of death that killed my body and set me free. "I will destroy you in the name of Saturn!" My threat goes unheard as it offers to save my body and my father as well. "Don't listen to it! It's evil let me kill it. Papa don't!" But as before my words are only for my ears as the monster enters my father's body and I'm pulled once again into the fog of Hotaru's mortal mind.
* * *
Sixteen-year-old Tome Hotaru sat on the park bench reading from one of her many books and I sat inside bored. For the past eight years I had watched as our father worked for the very evil I was sworn to destroy. I could only watch as the man I had grown to love disappeared almost all together. He was nothing more than a shell, yet in the back of my mind I could sense that he was in there, trapped just like me.
Hotaru had grown into a beautiful, yet weak, young woman. I used my powers, as little as they are in this state, to help her health. I was resigned to reading the pages along with her when a high pitched voice triggered a familiar feeling. At first it was just a whisper that tugged at my mind. A memory trying to surface. It was like the ancient power of the crystal, but different, and that in itself was most confusing.
"Please catch it that hat's important!" the voice was louder this time and Hotaru looked up to see a pink haired girl running after a hat caught in the wind.
"I'm close enough that I could catch it for her," thought Hotaru as she put down her book and ran after the hat. "Wait!" She called to it in hopes that it would stop before she ran out of breath. I was helping her, lending her my strength, but I too was weakening. Luckily just as her lungs began to get the tightening sensation that accompanied one of her "spells" Hotaru reached it and collapsed to the ground holding the hat still with both hands.
The young girl caught up with her and bent down to pick up the hat but Hotaru beat her to it. "Here you go," she said as she handed the hat to the pink haired girl.
"Thank you," the pink haired girl said as she crushed the hat to her small body.
"You're very lucky that it didn't land in the stream."
"Are you ok?"
Hotaru had begun to fight for breath as she sat on the ground and I couldn't do anything to help her. One hand automatically came up to her chest as if it could possibly help her breathing. "I'll be fine," she gasped. "It's just a fit...it will pass."
The pink haired girl just stood there unable to do anything for us. We stayed like that for five minutes. Hotaru fighting to control her fit and the pink haired girl watching with worry. Finally Hotaru sat up straight and looked to the pink haired girl. What I saw in her cinnamon eyes made me jump. Serenity, no it couldn't be, could it?
"I'm ok now," said Hotaru.
"I'm glad. Would you like to play with me?" she asked with a smile. "I'm Chibiusa."
"I'm Hotaru," she replied and the two shook hands for the first time. I felt it then, different somehow, the power of the crystal. This was Serenity, but not quite Serenity, another incarnation perhaps? No, because Serenity was incarnated in Tsukino Usagi, not Chibiusa.
The two friends were disturbed by a noise near the filming of a movie in the park so they decided to investigate. I knew what it was. It was the same energy that I lived with every day, the Death Busters. Together Hotaru and Chibiusa hid behind some bushes and watched the daimon attack the movie star. As usual I could only watch as another innocent suffered.
When it seemed that the daimon was about to take the pure crystal heart Sailor Moon and the Sailor Senshi showed up to save the day. It was the first time that I had seen my friends from so long ago and my heart nearly broke at the sight. I recognized Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus but Sailor Moon was new. I wondered briefly if while I had slept in my tomb Serenity had appointed another guardian. The daimon stole the pure heart crystal. Then the Outer Senshi arrived, my family from so long ago, and blasted the Daimon. The blasts merely distracted the daimon and that's when it noticed us hiding in the bushes. I wanted to blast it, but of course, I could only watch.
"Woo Western!" it shouted as it sent a lasso toward us.
"Look out!" said Chibiusa as she shoved Hotaru out of the way only to be captured herself.
"Chibiusa," whispered Hotaru as fear crept into her mind. She wanted to do something, this was my chance to break free and become the warrior I was, but even if the mind was willing the body still wasn't. Hotaru looked directly at Sailor Moon and that's when I noticed it, the eyes gave it away, Serenity was Sailor Moon!
I watched as the princess I had known as delicate and sweet created a power tier, and with a cry of "Rainbow Moon Heart Ache!", destroyed one of our father's creations. It sickened me to think that our father had been reduced to using his talent for this evil. But I could stomp around Hotaru's mind all I wanted and it wouldn't make a difference. I could only watch.
"Chibiusa!" cried Hotaru as she saw her friend was ok.
"Hotaru. Ouch," said Chibiusa as she fell to the ground landing gracefully on her bottom.
"Your hurt! I'm sorry you tried to protect me."
"It's just a scratch, it's not a problem."
"Let me see it."
This I could help with. The one power that she allowed herself to use, the healing. Hotaru placed a hand over the scrape on Chibiusa's leg and a purple light began to form around the wound. It grew brighter and brighter until the wound was completely gone. It was exhausting but it felt good for even a moment to touch the world.
"Incredible!" said Chibiusa as she looked disbelieving at her healed leg.
"My classmates don't think so. They think it's weird and they don't like me because of it. It's scary to have that kind of power."
"No its not I think it's wonderful."
"You think so?"
"Yes."
A blush crept onto Hotaru's cheeks as Chibiusa smiled at her. I smiled too. This was her first friend. There was no doubt in my mind now that this was another Serenity. Hotaru was about to say something when her eyes went wide and she crumpled to the ground in another fit. I couldn't help her fight it this time because I was still weak myself.
"Hotaru!"
"I'll be alright," gasped Hotaru as she fought for air.
"Hang in there Hotaru."
* * *
Chibiusa insisted on escorting us home after what happened in the park. She claimed that it was too dangerous for a girl to be walking alone so she would protect her. I laughed at that statement. It was my job to protect Hotaru until I could awaken her memories of her duty but until then the pink haired girl would have to do. After all if she was another Serenity she could control the crystal and probably defend us from any daimon father could create.
"I'm sorry to worry you," said Hotaru as we neared her home.
"It's ok," said Chibiusa with a smile that lit up her small face.
"Papa?"
Tome Souichi walked out of the front door and Hotaru ran to him. I cringed every time she touched him. The dark energy would try to reach out for us but I kept it away.
"Hotaru? What happened I was worried you were so late," he said as he looked over us.
"I had a small fit. This is Chibiusa she came to see me off."
"Did she?" I didn't like the way he looked at her. He was dissecting her in his mind. Probably looking for a way to use her for a new source of power. "Thank you Chibiusa. Good bye now."
"Bye," she called in return.
"Can I see you again Chibiusa?" asked Hotaru. I didn't even have to prompt her to ask; perhaps now I could have a chance to find out why I thought she was Serenity.
"Of course were friends now!"
"Friends!"
"I'm glad for you Hotaru," father said through a rehearsed smile.
"Bye Hotaru!"
"Bye Chibiusa!"
"Please come and visit us you're invited," father shouted after her with a final wave.
As we walked into the house I couldn't help but feel a new hope building inside of me. Maybe it was time to start fighting for control of this body. If that was Serenity, no matter what incarnation, I had an obligation to protect her from the dangers in this house. She would come to visit and I would be ready to protect her.
* * *
It was getting crowded in here now. There was a part of Hotaru's mind that was blocked off and I could sense the evil inside of it. I knew it was dangerous but I couldn't get to it to destroy it. Maybe when Hotaru's new friend Chibiusa visited today the small power boost from being close to a Serenity would help me break into it. This evil, no matter how small it was, was a cause for worry and needed to be destroyed.
There had been another black out earlier today. They had been happening more often and the block in Hotaru's mind was slowly growing in size. If not for my abilities I probably would have started feeling a tad bit crowded inside of her mind. Hotaru finally got it together and made it slowly down the hall and into the living room. When she opened the door I was knocked over by the energy waves.
There on the sofa were two girls, one was Chibiusa, and the other was an older blonde girl. Both wore their hair up in two buns with ponytails falling from them. If they hadn't been there at the same time I would have thought it odd, the feeling of two crystals, but somehow I expected it. I had found my princess once again.
"Chibiusa!" said Hotaru as I tried to scream out Serenity's name.
"Hotaru!" said Chibiusa.
"A girl?" questioned the older girl. I laughed, Serenity was obviously hoping for a matchmaking scheme for Chibiusa. Some things never change. Serenity was always trying to fix her Senshi up with visiting nobles.
"I never said it was a boy," whispered Chibiusa. That confirmed it.
"Is she your sister?" asked Hotaru. Now that got me thinking, a sister for the princess? No that still wouldn't explain why I felt two crystals. But if Chibiusa were her daughter, that would explain it. The thought nearly floored me. Serenity couldn't have a child already she was too young!
"No, she's my cousin, Usagi. She followed me because she thought I was dating a handsome boy."
"What! Chibiusa I didn't," protested Usagi.
"It's true," countered Chibiusa.
"I wanted to say hello since I am your guardian."
"What are you talking about? I know what you were thinking."
"Well you do follow boys all the time."
"Unlike you, baka Usagi, it's the boys chasing after me."
At this point we both started laughing. It was actually fun to watch the two Serenity's fighting like this. Hotaru was enjoying it as much as I was because it was a welcomed change from the regular dull atmosphere around this house. When we started laughing they both fell silent and by the looks on their faces they were both embarrassed.
"I'm sorry welcome to my house I'm Tomoe Hotaru."
"Thank you for inviting us," said Usagi.
"Would you like to see my room?" asked Hotaru. Maybe if they came into her room they could sense the same evil that I could. That would cause Serenity to come and investigate and maybe on her next visit I would be free.
"Then I'll take this coffee to your room," said Kaolinite as she turned to go down the hall.
"That's all right don't stick your nose into my business Kaolinite," snapped Hotaru as she grabbed the tray from the woman and gave her a look that would have scared any normal human. On the position of Kaolinite we agreed that she was no good.
Hotaru led our guests into the hall and towards her room. "I'm sorry for that. My father is a scientist and she comes to help sometimes but I don't like her very much."
"Where's your mother Hotaru," asked Usagi.
She stopped and I could feel the sadness overwhelm her as she remained turned from their gaze and whispered, "She died a long time ago."
"I'm sorry I didn't mean to."
"No that's all right I want to get to know more about you Chibiusa."
She opened the door to her room and both of them stared in awe at the sight. The drapes were drawn and her lamp collection lit the room nicely. Chibiusa ran inside and started twirling around amazed. Then I felt it again, the weakening sensation that would send her crashing to the floor. I fought it but in the end exhaustion claimed us both.
Usagi and Chibiusa both tried to comfort us but as Hotaru tried to explain to them, it was only a fit. That's when I saw it, a small heart shaped locket with a crescent moon in it's center sticking out of Serenity's bag. Out of curiosity we picked it up, but I wish that we had left it alone. When Hotaru touched it I felt the crystal. I was holding the ancient gem that I had vowed to protect so long ago. The energy from the locket made me stronger and I tried to use that to take control and tell them who we were.
I wasn't fast enough as my world suddenly went darker and finally gone as the evil that had moved into our mind took control of Hotaru. I called out my glaive and tried to at least hurt the evil. I struck blow after blow against it but the darkness didn't budge until it retreated back into it's safe house and suddenly the world was there again. I stood blinking against the dim light of Hotaru's room, the locket was still in our hands.
"Hotaru?" they both asked at the same time.
"Did I say something? You must think I'm very strange," said Hotaru as she returned the locket.
"No I was just worried that's all," said Chibiusa.
"Chibiusa your present," said Usagi as she nudged the smaller girl.
"Oh yes! Here Hotaru for you," she handed us two new manga and a paper that must have been between them fell to the floor.
"There's an autograph session today!" said Usagi as she picked up the piece of paper that had fallen from the present.
"No way!" said Chibiusa as she grabbed the flyer from Usagi. "Let's take Hotaru."
"It's almost over now you should have told me sooner."
"It's not my fault baka."
"We're gonna miss it and it's all your fault!"
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
I couldn't help but laugh again as the two started one of their arguments again. It was easy to see that they had argued like this before. Each serenity used facial expressions so similar it was like watching Serenity argue with her vanity mirror. I sighed and sat down suddenly saddened. I don't think until that very moment I realized how much I missed my friends from so long ago.
* * *
Usagi was running ahead of us and yelling for us to hurry but Chibiusa walked patiently with Hotaru holding her hand the entire way. I could see just a bit of the Serenity that I knew in her eyes as she looked at Hotaru but then it was gone. Chibiusa was not my princess. Looking up we noticed that Usagi had stopped running and was staring at a parking lot. I felt the danger then, a delayed reaction of sorts, to the evil I knew so well.
Chibiusa ran ahead and followed Usagi's gaze with her own. They whispered something and then Chibiusa was pulling us away. I wanted to stay and help, to protect my princess that I had finally found again, but Chibiusa dragged Hotaru away and I could only sit and wait for the feeling of danger to go away. "Be careful my princess," I whispered though no one could hear me.
* * *
Author's Note: So have I hooked you yet? Saturn and Hotaru are slowly merging together but it's going to take longer than either could possibly expect. Come back for part 2, Strengthening, available in January.
E-Mail the author at k340029@excite.com
Catch sneak peeks of all my work, and other talented authors works, at Daydream - www.scribbles.0catch.com
