Chapter 7

Over the next two weeks, Serena was visited by only by the outer scouts. She decided to keep to herself until she thought that it was a good time to return to the city. Whenever the scouts were in trouble Darien, the outer scouts, and she would transport to the battle and helped the inner scouts defeat the enemy. But once the enemy was destroyed, they would all disappear. Serena had Michelle talk to the scouts for her, because she became terribly tired after returning home after the battles.
One day after a battle, the inner scouts decided to go see Serena. When they arrived they found Hotaru at the summerhouse.
"Hi, Hotaru," said Amy.
"Is Serena home?" asked Raye.
"She's upstairs sleeping," said Hotaru. "The battles are taking a lot of her energy these days."
"Is she okay?" asked Mina.
"Michelle's making sure Darien gets her to eat healthy thing even though she doesn't want to," said Hotaru.
Ring. The phone beside the door rang and rang. "Excuse me for a moment," said Hotaru as she answered the phone. "Hello."
"Hi, Hotaru," said Trista. "I'm just checking in. Is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine, Trista," Hotaru said.
"Has anyone come by today?" questioned Trista. "Like the inner scouts?"
"Yes, right now," Hotaru answered when she noticed the convertible pull up in the driveway. "Amara's here now."
"Good, make sure the girls don't disturb Serena," Trista said. "Have fun and make sure you eat something today."
"I will," Hotaru said. "Good bye."
Hotaru hung up the phone and returned her attention back to the inner scouts. "What did Trista need?" asked Amy.
"She wanted to know if everything was okay," Hotaru said as Amara came up the path to the house.
"Good afternoon," said Amara. "Didn't expect you four to be here."
"We were getting worried about Serena," said Lita.
"She's not feeling good," Amara said turning to Hotaru. "Go upstairs and check on Serena, please."
"Yes, ma'am," Hotaru said going upstairs.
"She's so well behaved," said Mina.
"Well look who raised her," said Amy.
"You would be saying something different if you saw what we put up with while she was growing up," said Amara in a low voice, inviting them in. "She was a little monster."
"That's how all little children are," said Lita. "Even you must have been a handful for your parents growing up, Amara."
"I don't remember much about my childhood," confessed Amara. "I remember meeting Michelle and finding my destiny. So I don't have time to look back."
"How sad," said Raye. "I can't even begin to think what it would be like not remembering my childhood."
"Me either," said Amy.
"I would be so different if I didn't remember my childhood," stated Mina. "But I do know that I started fighting the evil long before the rest of you found you powers."
"I can relate with Amara," confessed Lita.
"What?" exclaimed Raye and Mina.
"But it wasn't that long ago, Lita," said Raye. "How can you not remember your childhood."
"My parents died when I was young," Lita stated. "I lived with my grandparents for almost a year before moving out and living on my own. It hurt my grandmother to see me grow up so fast but I had too. The choice was mine to grow up fast, but I don't regret it. I'm actually glad that I made the choice."
"How sad," said Amy.
"No one should have to grow up faster than they have too," said Mina. "We all need those memories to keep us going."
Hotaru rejoined the group and reported to Amara. She then went into the kitchen and began making some tea and sandwiches. The girls agreed to stay for lunch incase Serena woke before they decided to leave.
"How's everything going in the city?" asked Amara.
"Everything fine," said Mina. "But its pretty boring without Serena."
Crash. A loud crashing noise came from the kitchen and then all was silent. The girls looked at each other as Amara stood and went to the door. Lita decided to follow and soon all the girls were behind Amara. When they entered the kitchen, Hotaru was pointing a knife at a young girl who looked almost exactly like Trista except she looked younger, didn't have the bun and her hair was blond, plus was dressed in a sailor scout uniform of black with gold bows.
Amara looked at her with narrowed eyes and asked, "Who are you and what are you doing here?"
The scout knelt before the girls and answered, "I am Sailor Cronus. The guardian of time."
"Wait you can't be the guardian of time," blurted Raye.
"Yeah," said Lita. "Trista is the guardian of time."
"She's Sailor Pluto," said Amy.
Sailor Cronus stood. "When Sailor Pluto was reborn here on Earth, I was allowed to guard the gates of time once again until." she said and then cut off.
"Until what?" asked Amara. "Until you die."
"Yes," said Cronus. "Which I pray won't be anytime soon. But Sailor Pluto still has her powers of time control."
"I have another question for you, Sailor Cronus," said Amara as Hotaru lowered the knife. "Why are you here?"
"I have come at the request of Sailor Pluto with valuable information," stated Cronus.
"And I thank you for coming so soon," said Trista entering the kitchen.
"Trista," said Hotaru.
"I wish to speak to Sailor Cronus alone," ordered Trista. "I need to speak with you too, Amara."
Amara nodded.
"Yes, ma'am," said Hotaru as she grabbed the tray with the food and tea on it.
The girls followed Hotaru into the living room where they sat around the table and ate their sandwiches. After about ten minutes, Amara and Trista emerged from the kitchen. Sailor Cronus had returned to her post at the Gates of Time.
Hotaru looked up and then returned to her cup of tea. The others kept their eyes on Trista as she ascended the stairs to the second floor. Amara joined the girls as they sat there in wonder. They decided not to ask incase it was a personal matter.
"That was a delightful lunch, Hotaru," said Amara. "Michelle would be very proud of you."
"Thank you, Amara," Hotaru said with a small smile.
"We should be going," said Amy. "We don't want to wake Serena if she's not feeling good."
"I agree with Amy," said Lita. "Thank you for the tea and sandwiches, Hotaru."
"Your welcome," she said piling the cups onto the tray.
"Tell Serena we say hello," said Raye.
"Of course," said Amara as she followed the girls outside. "Have a nice trip."
"Good bye," said the girls as they climbed into the car and drove down the road.
Amara closed the door and headed up stairs with Hotaru behind her. When they entered Serena's room they found her awake and sitting up on the bed with Trista beside her. There were beads of sweet running down Serena's face.
"It's time," said Trista.
"Hotaru, call Darien and tell him," ordered Amara. "Then call Michelle."
"Of course," said Hotaru as dug out the cell phone from her pocket.
Amara lifted Serena off the bed and, with Trista ahead of them and Hotaru behind them, made their way out to the car. Trista climbed into the front seat of the car with Hotaru while Amara sat in the back with Serena. Hotaru called Darien and then Michelle and told them what was going on.