Usagi, at age 19, awaited the hour of her birth. In two hours time, she would be 20, a full grown adult. Living on her own had been hard work even sicne she moved out from under her parents roof a few months back. With classes and work, she rarley ahd time to be by herself and relax. She was going to enjoy to the day. She had no work and no school. She'd worry about her term paper later. She was Tsukino Usagi, the most active person she knew. No studying for her. It was party time.
As much as she would of liked her friends coming down for her birthday, they too had to study. Everyone of them were taking summer courses in school. The past year had been hectic with all the work, but she knew she of them had lived through with it.
Ami and Makoto were still in college in the US, and Minako was still in London, as popular as ever. Haruka and Micheru were living the life of luxery in Europe. Minako had written her once telling her how the two older senshi had gone to London, becoming sailors, just to get in to see her during a shoot. Of course, Minako's director went wild with the scouts being there. We wanted to add the two as Sailor V's side kicks. They refused. Rei had come back from the mountains, in whcih that time she had been taking care of her grandfather (Usagi had hung out with Naru while she was gone). Now that she was back, most of ehr time was taken up. She started eccepting students like her grandfather had wanted, and to keep up living expences. Hotaru was now in high school, making a few friends. She visited Usagi when ever she had the chance, but studying on becoming a doctor at such a young age filled up her time.
Usagi sighed. The few freinds she had left probably forgot what day it was or didn't have time for her. She hadn't spoken to any of them in a few days. Those who were away, a few weeks. Luna had been her only compainien, once again.
"What should we do today, Luna?" Usagi asked the black cat.
Luna yawned, stood up and streched. "How about we stop by that ice cream shop you like so much? It should cheer you up."
Usagi shook her head. "My stomach's not into it." USagi had made sure Luna hadn't forgotten her borthday by announcing everyday that she ahd the weekend off.
"How come?"
Usagi shook her head. "As happy as I am to be off for a few days, I just can't help feeling that something isn't right here."
"What do you mean?" Luna asked.
"Well....." Usagi coulsn't answer. "Never mind. Just drop it." She stood up from where she sat on the floor. "Maybe I'll go visit Mom and Dad today. I'm sure they havn't forgotten."
"Why not stop by Rei's afterward?" Luna suggested. "Maybe she didn't forget, but she's just been too busy to call."
Usagi nodded. "Sure. We'll see what she's up to." She yawned and threw on her shoes at the door. "Well, lest get going."
Luna and Usagi walked to her oarents home in record time. Usagi had been right. Her mom hadn't forgot. When she got to the house, the smell of baking cake filled her nose. She opened the door and greeted her parents and brother.
"Welcome home, sweety!" Kenji cried, hugging his daughter.
"Happy birthday, Usagi-chan," Ikuko said, smilign inocently at her daughter. "I knew you would stop by so I made you a cake. Its a shame its still in the oven though."
"That's OK, Mom." Usagi wrapped her mother in a hug. "Hows everything?"
"Its goign great," Shingo said looking up from his video game.
"Shingo! Get off that stupid game and wish your sister a happy birthday."
Shingo looked at Usagi, sighed, then got up from the floor. He had grown in the past couple years. He was now in high school. His short dirty-blonde hair had grown to around his neck. He was much taller than Usagi and more mature, but he still loved his video games.
"Happy birthday, Odango Atama," he said.
"Now that wasn't too hard, now was it?" Ikuko smiled at her son.
"Oh, hey," Shingo said. "You got a call about half an hour ago. Hino-san tried to reach you at your apartment, but you weren't there." He paused to take a breath. "She wants you to go to the Hikawa Jinja as soon as possible."
Usagi laughed and jumped for joy (literally). "She remembered!" She turned to face her suprised pasrents and brother. "Hold onto that cake for me, will ya, Mom? I'll be back in a little while." Usagi spun around, her hair flying behind her as she took off out the door with Luna following behind her. She stopped as she neared the gata nd turned around. Her paretns stood in the doorway. "Thanks, Mom, Dad. I love you guys." SHe looked at Shingo. "See you later, squirt." Then she dashed off.
"Hey!" Shingo cried after her. "I'm not the squirt anymore!"
Ikuko and Kenji sweatdropped. "She'll never change," he said.
"Your right on that one," Ikuko commented.
***
"Hello!? Rei-chan! You here!" Usagi cried out as she walked across the grounds of the temple. "Helloooo?"
"Usagi-chan!" Rei's voice came from the inside. "In here!"
Usagi smiled at the sound of her friends voice. "Coming, Rei!" She started jogging up the few steps and into the main doors of the temple. She passed various closed rooms and came upon Rei's bedroom door, which was slightly open. "Rei-chan?" Usagi gently pushed open the door.
Usagi gasped in surprise. Rei was sitting on the edge of her bed with Luna and Artemus beside her. On the floor all around her were boxes covered in pretty paper with bows. She wondered what was going on
"Happy Birthday, Usagi-chan!" Rei said. She looked at the floor and gestured toward them. "These are from the scouts, to say they're sorry they couldn't come."
Usagi's eyes got wider. Tears started to spill out over the sides. "Oh, Rei-chan!" She jumped over the gifts and hugged her best friend tightly. "Did you do this?"
Rei shook her head. "It was Artemus's idea, actually."
Usagi turned to Artemus and wrapped the white cat in big hug hug, almost choaking him. "Thanks, Artemus." Then she relazied something. SHe pulled the gawking cat away from her and looked at him. "Where's Minako-chan?"
Artemus struggled to get free. Once on the ground he smiled. "She couldn't make it. She send her appolagizes. Something came up at the last moment."
USagi nodded in understanment. It was tough being a scout full time.
"Well....." Rei nodded toward the presents.
"Oh, yeah, right." Usagi smiled and sat on the ground between all the gifts. "Which one should I open first?"
"Here," Rei said, handing her a box wrapped in shinny white paper. "Open mine first."
Usagi nodded. She tore the wapping to sherds to see a white box. Usagi cafully opened the box to reviel a folded up piece of cloth. Usagi stood up and pulled the light pink cloth out. It folded out to an elegant dress with soulder straps and a frilly bottom. White rimmed the low backline and neck line.
"Oh, Rei-chan. Its beautiful. Thank you." SHe laid the dress down and hugged her firend.
"I'm glad you like it. It's one of a kind."
Usagi nodded. "I think I'll wear it at your bridal shower."
Rei's face faultered. "Wh...what? Bridal shower?"
Usagi smiled. "Well, everyone knows how you feel about Yuuichirou-san, and it has been a while sence you two started going out."
Rei blushed. "Knock it off, Usagi."
Usagi smiled evilly. She turned back to her other gifts. The next one was heavy and wrapped in blue raindropped paper. She looked at who it was from. "Ami-chan." She ripped off the wrapping to behold a large book. "A book from Ami-chan. What else?"
Rei smiled. "What kind of book?" She got up to look over her shoulder.
"Politics in the Making," Usagi read. "Of course." She opened the the book to the first page and a envelope fell out. She picked it up and opened it. Inside were yen bills, and a note. " 'To get what ever you'd like, Usagi-chan. Your friend, Ami.' "
"How much?" Rei asked.
Usagi counted it. "¥1000," Usagi told her. She smiled and put the money back in the envolope. "I can surly use that."
She picked up the next box. It was a perfect square, close to 5 inches squared. Usagi tore off the forest covered paper to revel a tin can. On the can was a card. Usagi picked it up and read it. " 'To Usagi, the best friend and best partner in all the world. Happy Birthday! Don't eat too many at one time, they're my new recipe, and a great hit here in America. Your friend, Makoto.' "Usagi looked down at the picture on the tin can. It was covered in lusious pictures of mikl chocolate, dark, chocolate, and white chocolate, each one with a different shape and size. Usagi took the lid off and peeked inside. The same chocolate on the cover was the same chocolate in the box.
"Oh! Look!" Usagi cried, digging in and eating one. She handed the box to Rei, who gratfully took one. "These are good!" She stuffed another in her mouth.
"Didn't Mako-chan tell you not to eat so many?" Rei warned.
Usagi shook her head. "I can't help it," she said, chewing the chocloate. "They're so good!" She put a couple more in her mouth.
"Doesn't even think of us, does she?" Luna said, her eyes half closed, starring at a chowing down Usagi.
Artemus nodded, also sweatdropping. "I noticed that. And that chocolate looks really good, too."
Usagi thre the can on the bed toward the cats. "Here. You can have one." She rubbed her hands together, looking at the presents again. Only five presents remained. "I wonder which one I should open next."
Rei sweatdropped. "Don't you ever grow up, Usagi-chan?"
"Sorry, Rei. Can't talk. Have presents to open." She picked up the next one. It was light and squeeshy, not at all in a box. It was covered in a light green paper. Usagi easily tore the paper off. She pulled out what seemed to be a stuffed animal. She turned it around to face her. It was a cute little bunny rabbit. Its light gray ears fell down the side of its head and curled in to touched its cute pink nose. Its feet were big and strudy enough for it to stand up on a flat surface. Usagi hugged it tightly. "It's so cute!" She held it up for Rei and the cats to see.
She frowned when she was that Luna and Artemus had chocolate all over their whiskers and that half her chocolate was gone. "Luna! Artemus!"
Artemus smiled weakly. "Cute rabbit."
"Look at that! You ate all my candy!"
"Not all of it," Luna said, cringing.
"I don't think that was a good idea," Artemus said, moaning. "I don't feel well." His cheeks suddenly bloated and he bolted from the room.
"I guess Mako-chan was right!" Usagi started to laugh. Rei soon follwoed her example.
Just then there was a ring from the door bell.
Rrei lookd up. "I'll get it. I'll be right back." She left the room.
Usagi starred at the other presents. She picked up a yellow one she asumed to be from Haruka, since the one she had just opened was from Micheru. Inside the white cloths box was a single shirt. She pulled it out and examined it. There was a large yellow and blue racecar on the front. Standing agaist the car was Haruka, dressed up in her driving cloths. Below in fine black ink she had sighned her name. " 'To Usagi from Haruka.' " She smiled. Haruka was probably a famous race car diver by now.
"Whats that?" Rei asked coming in.
"Oh, a shirt Haruka-san sent."
"How are they?" a small voice said walking into the room.
Usagi looked up to see Hotaru, wearing her usual black, and carrying a large tall box.
"Hotaru-chan!
Hotaru smiled at Usagi. She looked at Rei who nodded and sighed in relief.
"Rei-san asked me to come over today since it was your birthday." She looked at the box in her hands. "As well as other things."
Usagi looked at he box serious. "What is it?" She asked Hotaru.
Hotaru looked up at her and held the the box out. "This belongs to you." Usagi took the box from her and sat on the floor, opening the box. As she did this, Hotaru contined. "You gave it to me a long time ago. I had no idea where it went to. But just the other day, it appeared in my room. I thought you would need it."
Usagi gasped as she lifted what was inside the box. The golden Holy Grial glistened as Usagi held it up int he air. Its jewels sparkeled and its gold case shimmered. It looked as it once had when the Holy Grial was first summond by Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
"I don't understand......" Usagi began.
Hotaru shook her head. "I don't either."
Rei spoke. "Chibi-usa said something a while back about the Holy Grail being in her mothers room in the future."
"Is that why I have it now?" Usagi asked, almost in a whispear, more to the grial then to anyone else.
"I have a theory," Luna spoke up. She sat on the bed beside Rei. "As hard as we all try, we all know that the world is nearing the end of this era. What if the Holy Grial appeared back so that it may help Usagi when she goes to wake the world?"
"But what does that have to with it?" Usagi asked dumbfounded.
Luna sighed. "Why did the grail appear just now? Why didn't it appear after our fight with Mistress Nine? Why now?" She paused for her questions to take effect. "If what I'm thinking is true, the grail made its presence known once again, becuase the time of the disaster is near, or is even at hand."
"But its the middle of summer!" Usagi cried. "Its not the least bit cold."
Rei seemed to snap at her words. Her head shot up and she turned around to look out the window behind her. "Uh, Luna. I think you might want to have a look at this."
Usagi turned around to face Rei to see what she was so worried about. Her curtains on her window were wide open to give them the perfect view of the outside. The wind was blowing, snow covered the ground. It had started.
"But...." Hotaru gasped. "It wasn't like this when I was coming over here."
"Its begun," Luna sighed.
"But...that's impossible!" Usagi cried. "Its the middle of winter! I'm not ready yet!" She started to cry uncontrollably. "It can't be. It just can't!"
Just then there was a beep. Usagi kept on crying as Rei went to her desk and picked up her comunicater. "Hello?"
"Rei?" said a tough voice. It was Haruka. Her face appeared on the little screen.
"Haruka-san!?"
"It's started, hasn't it?" Rei could only nod her head. "We thought so, too. It started raining rally hard, then snowing. Its unbeilevable. We didn't think it would be this soon."
Haruka was taken from the picture and replaced with Mitcheru. "We both felt it. It was yesturday. We felt a stong pull, and now this. Is it really true?"
Rei nodded. "Luna believes so."
"We should head back, then, shouldn't we?" Mitcheru asked.
Rei sighed. "I'm not sure. The future never told of the Outter Senshi protecting Neo Queen Serenity." She looked at Luna for help.
Luna nodded. "Thats right. They should saty where they are for now. We'll see what happens."
Rei nodded and relaid the message to Mitcheru.
"Its going to be hard just sitting here, knowing the world is about to end."
"Not for good, though," Rei said. "Maybe when its all over we can reunite again. I think for now, The Inner Senshi are whats best."
Haruka came back on. "Are you sure about this?"
Rei looked at Luna again, who only nodded. "Yeah, we're sure."
Haurka nodded. "Well, our grettings to everyone. Has Odango Atama opened her presents yet?"
Rei nodded. "She loved them. She'd tell you herslf but..." she trailed off and looked at Usagi. Artemus was trying to comfort her.
"We understand. Until next time, then, whenever that is." Haruka smiled, adn the communicater went off.
Rei sighed. "What do we do now, Luna?"
"I'm not entirly sure. King Endymion never told us what we were suppose to expect."
Rei nodded and closed her eyes, consentrating. Her eyes poped open and glanced over at the boxes. "Look!" She siad it so loud that even Usagi and Artemus had forgotten their odeal amd looked over to see what Rei was screaming about.
"What's wrong now?" Artemus asked.
"The only other present left should be Minako-chan's. But theres two more there!"
Usagi blinked her eyes. "So?"
"We all should know Minako-chan by now. She wrapped hers up in that heart paper. But who are the others from?"
"Good question," Luna said.
"I feel some kind of vibe from them. I can't tell if its good or bad."
Usagi blinked her eyes and picked up Minako's gift. She tore off the wrapper to reviel a jelwery box in the shape of a star. She opened it. Inside was a little statue of Sialor V dancing to the soft melody that came out of it.
Usagi set it aside so that she could listen to the music as she opend the mysterious gifts. The song somehow seemed familiar.
She picked up the smallest of the two stange boxes. It was barley the size of her fist. She slowly took off the wrapping, the music warping her mind. She lifted the lid of the white box. Inside, lying on white velvet, was a golden heart moon locket. It looked much like her eternal broach, but fancier. The crsent moon now layed in the bottom of the heart, the ends curving up to meet the hearts center. Colored jewels surrounded the moon: orange, blue, green, and res on one side and black, purple, yellow, and aqua green on the other.
"What...."
"Who is it from?" Hotaru asked, looking over her shoulder.
Usagi shook her head. She lifted the locket up to get a better look at it.
"Look!" Rei shouted. She reached her hand out to grap the tiny piece of paper Usagi hadn't seen out of the box.
"What does it say?" Artemus asked.
Usagi continued to look at her locket.
Rei read the little message: " 'The Extreme power of the moon awaits you.' " She looked up at them. "Signed Neo Queen Serenity."
"What!?" Luna cried. "Are you sure you read it right?"
Usagu snapped out of her trace and looked at the other box. She pinned the new locket to her dress and took the other box in hand. She pulled the wrapper off to behold but a single peice of paper on the light weight box.
" 'Be carful with this gift. This is the only one you'll get.' "
Usagi nodded to herself and looked around at her friends. Each one was waiting quielty for her. She took a deep breath and took off the lid.
***
"Usako-chan." A pause. "Usako-chan."
Usagi blinked open her eyes to a blinding white void. She seemed to be floating, once again, like in a pervious dream so many years ago. Only this time she stood naked, the white wings she had aquired during the Galaxy insident, spread out behind her. They were what seemed to be holding her up.
She looked about her for the voice that had called to her. She didn't know where she had heard it before, but she knew the voice was familiar. She just couldn't place a face with it. She thought back to her past. She knew that the voice came from her past and that it had a meaning, but try as she might, she had no idea who it was.
Her mind was a complete blank. Her memories or how she had got to this place didn't seem to exist. Who was she? Was her name Usako? How did she come to be here in place of white? Who did that voice belong to?
Then like a course, different voices rang out to greet her. And as they did, her memories slowly floated back to her.
"Usagi-chan!" She knew that voice. It was her adviser and friend: Luna. Her first memories of Luna hit her like a brick. Hurt cat....moon on forehead....in her room...talking to her...broach....Sailor Moon....
"Usagi!" More memories. Nerdy girl.....disk...evil...monster.....Sailor Mercury....
"Usagi-chan!" Fire....spirits....temple.....negaspace.....Sailor Mars.....
"Usagi!" Bully....fighter....cooking.....boys...Sailor Jupiter.....
"Usagi-chan!" Warrior....love....boys.....beauty.....Sailor Venus....
The memories of each of her friends came back to her. All the events and trurama they had gone though. Her being Sailor Moon....Pricess Serenity...and....
"Mamo-chan!" She cried, realizing whose voice had awakened her. "Minna-san!"
"Usako." Mamoru, garbbed in his prince outfit appeared, slowly coming out from the mist like void.
"We're here, Odango Atama," Rei said. Each scout stated coming forth from the mist.
"Minna-san," she whimpered.It had been so long since she had seen her friends. She didn't know why she felt that way.
As much as she would of liked her friends coming down for her birthday, they too had to study. Everyone of them were taking summer courses in school. The past year had been hectic with all the work, but she knew she of them had lived through with it.
Ami and Makoto were still in college in the US, and Minako was still in London, as popular as ever. Haruka and Micheru were living the life of luxery in Europe. Minako had written her once telling her how the two older senshi had gone to London, becoming sailors, just to get in to see her during a shoot. Of course, Minako's director went wild with the scouts being there. We wanted to add the two as Sailor V's side kicks. They refused. Rei had come back from the mountains, in whcih that time she had been taking care of her grandfather (Usagi had hung out with Naru while she was gone). Now that she was back, most of ehr time was taken up. She started eccepting students like her grandfather had wanted, and to keep up living expences. Hotaru was now in high school, making a few friends. She visited Usagi when ever she had the chance, but studying on becoming a doctor at such a young age filled up her time.
Usagi sighed. The few freinds she had left probably forgot what day it was or didn't have time for her. She hadn't spoken to any of them in a few days. Those who were away, a few weeks. Luna had been her only compainien, once again.
"What should we do today, Luna?" Usagi asked the black cat.
Luna yawned, stood up and streched. "How about we stop by that ice cream shop you like so much? It should cheer you up."
Usagi shook her head. "My stomach's not into it." USagi had made sure Luna hadn't forgotten her borthday by announcing everyday that she ahd the weekend off.
"How come?"
Usagi shook her head. "As happy as I am to be off for a few days, I just can't help feeling that something isn't right here."
"What do you mean?" Luna asked.
"Well....." Usagi coulsn't answer. "Never mind. Just drop it." She stood up from where she sat on the floor. "Maybe I'll go visit Mom and Dad today. I'm sure they havn't forgotten."
"Why not stop by Rei's afterward?" Luna suggested. "Maybe she didn't forget, but she's just been too busy to call."
Usagi nodded. "Sure. We'll see what she's up to." She yawned and threw on her shoes at the door. "Well, lest get going."
Luna and Usagi walked to her oarents home in record time. Usagi had been right. Her mom hadn't forgot. When she got to the house, the smell of baking cake filled her nose. She opened the door and greeted her parents and brother.
"Welcome home, sweety!" Kenji cried, hugging his daughter.
"Happy birthday, Usagi-chan," Ikuko said, smilign inocently at her daughter. "I knew you would stop by so I made you a cake. Its a shame its still in the oven though."
"That's OK, Mom." Usagi wrapped her mother in a hug. "Hows everything?"
"Its goign great," Shingo said looking up from his video game.
"Shingo! Get off that stupid game and wish your sister a happy birthday."
Shingo looked at Usagi, sighed, then got up from the floor. He had grown in the past couple years. He was now in high school. His short dirty-blonde hair had grown to around his neck. He was much taller than Usagi and more mature, but he still loved his video games.
"Happy birthday, Odango Atama," he said.
"Now that wasn't too hard, now was it?" Ikuko smiled at her son.
"Oh, hey," Shingo said. "You got a call about half an hour ago. Hino-san tried to reach you at your apartment, but you weren't there." He paused to take a breath. "She wants you to go to the Hikawa Jinja as soon as possible."
Usagi laughed and jumped for joy (literally). "She remembered!" She turned to face her suprised pasrents and brother. "Hold onto that cake for me, will ya, Mom? I'll be back in a little while." Usagi spun around, her hair flying behind her as she took off out the door with Luna following behind her. She stopped as she neared the gata nd turned around. Her paretns stood in the doorway. "Thanks, Mom, Dad. I love you guys." SHe looked at Shingo. "See you later, squirt." Then she dashed off.
"Hey!" Shingo cried after her. "I'm not the squirt anymore!"
Ikuko and Kenji sweatdropped. "She'll never change," he said.
"Your right on that one," Ikuko commented.
***
"Hello!? Rei-chan! You here!" Usagi cried out as she walked across the grounds of the temple. "Helloooo?"
"Usagi-chan!" Rei's voice came from the inside. "In here!"
Usagi smiled at the sound of her friends voice. "Coming, Rei!" She started jogging up the few steps and into the main doors of the temple. She passed various closed rooms and came upon Rei's bedroom door, which was slightly open. "Rei-chan?" Usagi gently pushed open the door.
Usagi gasped in surprise. Rei was sitting on the edge of her bed with Luna and Artemus beside her. On the floor all around her were boxes covered in pretty paper with bows. She wondered what was going on
"Happy Birthday, Usagi-chan!" Rei said. She looked at the floor and gestured toward them. "These are from the scouts, to say they're sorry they couldn't come."
Usagi's eyes got wider. Tears started to spill out over the sides. "Oh, Rei-chan!" She jumped over the gifts and hugged her best friend tightly. "Did you do this?"
Rei shook her head. "It was Artemus's idea, actually."
Usagi turned to Artemus and wrapped the white cat in big hug hug, almost choaking him. "Thanks, Artemus." Then she relazied something. SHe pulled the gawking cat away from her and looked at him. "Where's Minako-chan?"
Artemus struggled to get free. Once on the ground he smiled. "She couldn't make it. She send her appolagizes. Something came up at the last moment."
USagi nodded in understanment. It was tough being a scout full time.
"Well....." Rei nodded toward the presents.
"Oh, yeah, right." Usagi smiled and sat on the ground between all the gifts. "Which one should I open first?"
"Here," Rei said, handing her a box wrapped in shinny white paper. "Open mine first."
Usagi nodded. She tore the wapping to sherds to see a white box. Usagi cafully opened the box to reviel a folded up piece of cloth. Usagi stood up and pulled the light pink cloth out. It folded out to an elegant dress with soulder straps and a frilly bottom. White rimmed the low backline and neck line.
"Oh, Rei-chan. Its beautiful. Thank you." SHe laid the dress down and hugged her firend.
"I'm glad you like it. It's one of a kind."
Usagi nodded. "I think I'll wear it at your bridal shower."
Rei's face faultered. "Wh...what? Bridal shower?"
Usagi smiled. "Well, everyone knows how you feel about Yuuichirou-san, and it has been a while sence you two started going out."
Rei blushed. "Knock it off, Usagi."
Usagi smiled evilly. She turned back to her other gifts. The next one was heavy and wrapped in blue raindropped paper. She looked at who it was from. "Ami-chan." She ripped off the wrapping to behold a large book. "A book from Ami-chan. What else?"
Rei smiled. "What kind of book?" She got up to look over her shoulder.
"Politics in the Making," Usagi read. "Of course." She opened the the book to the first page and a envelope fell out. She picked it up and opened it. Inside were yen bills, and a note. " 'To get what ever you'd like, Usagi-chan. Your friend, Ami.' "
"How much?" Rei asked.
Usagi counted it. "¥1000," Usagi told her. She smiled and put the money back in the envolope. "I can surly use that."
She picked up the next box. It was a perfect square, close to 5 inches squared. Usagi tore off the forest covered paper to revel a tin can. On the can was a card. Usagi picked it up and read it. " 'To Usagi, the best friend and best partner in all the world. Happy Birthday! Don't eat too many at one time, they're my new recipe, and a great hit here in America. Your friend, Makoto.' "Usagi looked down at the picture on the tin can. It was covered in lusious pictures of mikl chocolate, dark, chocolate, and white chocolate, each one with a different shape and size. Usagi took the lid off and peeked inside. The same chocolate on the cover was the same chocolate in the box.
"Oh! Look!" Usagi cried, digging in and eating one. She handed the box to Rei, who gratfully took one. "These are good!" She stuffed another in her mouth.
"Didn't Mako-chan tell you not to eat so many?" Rei warned.
Usagi shook her head. "I can't help it," she said, chewing the chocloate. "They're so good!" She put a couple more in her mouth.
"Doesn't even think of us, does she?" Luna said, her eyes half closed, starring at a chowing down Usagi.
Artemus nodded, also sweatdropping. "I noticed that. And that chocolate looks really good, too."
Usagi thre the can on the bed toward the cats. "Here. You can have one." She rubbed her hands together, looking at the presents again. Only five presents remained. "I wonder which one I should open next."
Rei sweatdropped. "Don't you ever grow up, Usagi-chan?"
"Sorry, Rei. Can't talk. Have presents to open." She picked up the next one. It was light and squeeshy, not at all in a box. It was covered in a light green paper. Usagi easily tore the paper off. She pulled out what seemed to be a stuffed animal. She turned it around to face her. It was a cute little bunny rabbit. Its light gray ears fell down the side of its head and curled in to touched its cute pink nose. Its feet were big and strudy enough for it to stand up on a flat surface. Usagi hugged it tightly. "It's so cute!" She held it up for Rei and the cats to see.
She frowned when she was that Luna and Artemus had chocolate all over their whiskers and that half her chocolate was gone. "Luna! Artemus!"
Artemus smiled weakly. "Cute rabbit."
"Look at that! You ate all my candy!"
"Not all of it," Luna said, cringing.
"I don't think that was a good idea," Artemus said, moaning. "I don't feel well." His cheeks suddenly bloated and he bolted from the room.
"I guess Mako-chan was right!" Usagi started to laugh. Rei soon follwoed her example.
Just then there was a ring from the door bell.
Rrei lookd up. "I'll get it. I'll be right back." She left the room.
Usagi starred at the other presents. She picked up a yellow one she asumed to be from Haruka, since the one she had just opened was from Micheru. Inside the white cloths box was a single shirt. She pulled it out and examined it. There was a large yellow and blue racecar on the front. Standing agaist the car was Haruka, dressed up in her driving cloths. Below in fine black ink she had sighned her name. " 'To Usagi from Haruka.' " She smiled. Haruka was probably a famous race car diver by now.
"Whats that?" Rei asked coming in.
"Oh, a shirt Haruka-san sent."
"How are they?" a small voice said walking into the room.
Usagi looked up to see Hotaru, wearing her usual black, and carrying a large tall box.
"Hotaru-chan!
Hotaru smiled at Usagi. She looked at Rei who nodded and sighed in relief.
"Rei-san asked me to come over today since it was your birthday." She looked at the box in her hands. "As well as other things."
Usagi looked at he box serious. "What is it?" She asked Hotaru.
Hotaru looked up at her and held the the box out. "This belongs to you." Usagi took the box from her and sat on the floor, opening the box. As she did this, Hotaru contined. "You gave it to me a long time ago. I had no idea where it went to. But just the other day, it appeared in my room. I thought you would need it."
Usagi gasped as she lifted what was inside the box. The golden Holy Grial glistened as Usagi held it up int he air. Its jewels sparkeled and its gold case shimmered. It looked as it once had when the Holy Grial was first summond by Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
"I don't understand......" Usagi began.
Hotaru shook her head. "I don't either."
Rei spoke. "Chibi-usa said something a while back about the Holy Grail being in her mothers room in the future."
"Is that why I have it now?" Usagi asked, almost in a whispear, more to the grial then to anyone else.
"I have a theory," Luna spoke up. She sat on the bed beside Rei. "As hard as we all try, we all know that the world is nearing the end of this era. What if the Holy Grial appeared back so that it may help Usagi when she goes to wake the world?"
"But what does that have to with it?" Usagi asked dumbfounded.
Luna sighed. "Why did the grail appear just now? Why didn't it appear after our fight with Mistress Nine? Why now?" She paused for her questions to take effect. "If what I'm thinking is true, the grail made its presence known once again, becuase the time of the disaster is near, or is even at hand."
"But its the middle of summer!" Usagi cried. "Its not the least bit cold."
Rei seemed to snap at her words. Her head shot up and she turned around to look out the window behind her. "Uh, Luna. I think you might want to have a look at this."
Usagi turned around to face Rei to see what she was so worried about. Her curtains on her window were wide open to give them the perfect view of the outside. The wind was blowing, snow covered the ground. It had started.
"But...." Hotaru gasped. "It wasn't like this when I was coming over here."
"Its begun," Luna sighed.
"But...that's impossible!" Usagi cried. "Its the middle of winter! I'm not ready yet!" She started to cry uncontrollably. "It can't be. It just can't!"
Just then there was a beep. Usagi kept on crying as Rei went to her desk and picked up her comunicater. "Hello?"
"Rei?" said a tough voice. It was Haruka. Her face appeared on the little screen.
"Haruka-san!?"
"It's started, hasn't it?" Rei could only nod her head. "We thought so, too. It started raining rally hard, then snowing. Its unbeilevable. We didn't think it would be this soon."
Haruka was taken from the picture and replaced with Mitcheru. "We both felt it. It was yesturday. We felt a stong pull, and now this. Is it really true?"
Rei nodded. "Luna believes so."
"We should head back, then, shouldn't we?" Mitcheru asked.
Rei sighed. "I'm not sure. The future never told of the Outter Senshi protecting Neo Queen Serenity." She looked at Luna for help.
Luna nodded. "Thats right. They should saty where they are for now. We'll see what happens."
Rei nodded and relaid the message to Mitcheru.
"Its going to be hard just sitting here, knowing the world is about to end."
"Not for good, though," Rei said. "Maybe when its all over we can reunite again. I think for now, The Inner Senshi are whats best."
Haruka came back on. "Are you sure about this?"
Rei looked at Luna again, who only nodded. "Yeah, we're sure."
Haurka nodded. "Well, our grettings to everyone. Has Odango Atama opened her presents yet?"
Rei nodded. "She loved them. She'd tell you herslf but..." she trailed off and looked at Usagi. Artemus was trying to comfort her.
"We understand. Until next time, then, whenever that is." Haruka smiled, adn the communicater went off.
Rei sighed. "What do we do now, Luna?"
"I'm not entirly sure. King Endymion never told us what we were suppose to expect."
Rei nodded and closed her eyes, consentrating. Her eyes poped open and glanced over at the boxes. "Look!" She siad it so loud that even Usagi and Artemus had forgotten their odeal amd looked over to see what Rei was screaming about.
"What's wrong now?" Artemus asked.
"The only other present left should be Minako-chan's. But theres two more there!"
Usagi blinked her eyes. "So?"
"We all should know Minako-chan by now. She wrapped hers up in that heart paper. But who are the others from?"
"Good question," Luna said.
"I feel some kind of vibe from them. I can't tell if its good or bad."
Usagi blinked her eyes and picked up Minako's gift. She tore off the wrapper to reviel a jelwery box in the shape of a star. She opened it. Inside was a little statue of Sialor V dancing to the soft melody that came out of it.
Usagi set it aside so that she could listen to the music as she opend the mysterious gifts. The song somehow seemed familiar.
She picked up the smallest of the two stange boxes. It was barley the size of her fist. She slowly took off the wrapping, the music warping her mind. She lifted the lid of the white box. Inside, lying on white velvet, was a golden heart moon locket. It looked much like her eternal broach, but fancier. The crsent moon now layed in the bottom of the heart, the ends curving up to meet the hearts center. Colored jewels surrounded the moon: orange, blue, green, and res on one side and black, purple, yellow, and aqua green on the other.
"What...."
"Who is it from?" Hotaru asked, looking over her shoulder.
Usagi shook her head. She lifted the locket up to get a better look at it.
"Look!" Rei shouted. She reached her hand out to grap the tiny piece of paper Usagi hadn't seen out of the box.
"What does it say?" Artemus asked.
Usagi continued to look at her locket.
Rei read the little message: " 'The Extreme power of the moon awaits you.' " She looked up at them. "Signed Neo Queen Serenity."
"What!?" Luna cried. "Are you sure you read it right?"
Usagu snapped out of her trace and looked at the other box. She pinned the new locket to her dress and took the other box in hand. She pulled the wrapper off to behold but a single peice of paper on the light weight box.
" 'Be carful with this gift. This is the only one you'll get.' "
Usagi nodded to herself and looked around at her friends. Each one was waiting quielty for her. She took a deep breath and took off the lid.
***
"Usako-chan." A pause. "Usako-chan."
Usagi blinked open her eyes to a blinding white void. She seemed to be floating, once again, like in a pervious dream so many years ago. Only this time she stood naked, the white wings she had aquired during the Galaxy insident, spread out behind her. They were what seemed to be holding her up.
She looked about her for the voice that had called to her. She didn't know where she had heard it before, but she knew the voice was familiar. She just couldn't place a face with it. She thought back to her past. She knew that the voice came from her past and that it had a meaning, but try as she might, she had no idea who it was.
Her mind was a complete blank. Her memories or how she had got to this place didn't seem to exist. Who was she? Was her name Usako? How did she come to be here in place of white? Who did that voice belong to?
Then like a course, different voices rang out to greet her. And as they did, her memories slowly floated back to her.
"Usagi-chan!" She knew that voice. It was her adviser and friend: Luna. Her first memories of Luna hit her like a brick. Hurt cat....moon on forehead....in her room...talking to her...broach....Sailor Moon....
"Usagi!" More memories. Nerdy girl.....disk...evil...monster.....Sailor Mercury....
"Usagi-chan!" Fire....spirits....temple.....negaspace.....Sailor Mars.....
"Usagi!" Bully....fighter....cooking.....boys...Sailor Jupiter.....
"Usagi-chan!" Warrior....love....boys.....beauty.....Sailor Venus....
The memories of each of her friends came back to her. All the events and trurama they had gone though. Her being Sailor Moon....Pricess Serenity...and....
"Mamo-chan!" She cried, realizing whose voice had awakened her. "Minna-san!"
"Usako." Mamoru, garbbed in his prince outfit appeared, slowly coming out from the mist like void.
"We're here, Odango Atama," Rei said. Each scout stated coming forth from the mist.
"Minna-san," she whimpered.It had been so long since she had seen her friends. She didn't know why she felt that way.