Disclaimer: My sincere gratitude to Takeuchi-sensei who created this wonderful world for us to dream in. respectful bow in the general direction of Japan As we all know, all rights belong to her. I hope you enjoy my portrayal of her creations.
Revision Note/Setting the Stage: In this story, ChibiUsa (Princess Lady Serenity) looks to be the equivalent of about 15 years old. She is finally going through her growth spurt now that her powers have awakened and been trained. Picture 15 year old Usagi with pink hair in pointed odangos and dark pink eyes, and you have a picture of Lady. She has kept the level of Super that she obtained during her training.
And to help you paint your picture, here is a description of the outfits from Chapter 5: "Lady was wearing a simple white sundress with a dark blue short sleeved jacket. Bessa was wearing a red tee-shirt and jean shorts. June was in one of her running outfits. Today, it was a white tank top with loose green shorts. Celeste had gone with a pale yellow dress with a white lace trim. And Pallas was wearing a light blue sleeveless top over dark blue capris." I couldn't figure a way to include this below without interrupting the flow of the story, but I thought you would like to know. ^-^
I do not write for reviews, but I sure enjoy compliments, constructive criticism, and grammatical corrections. So if you feel like it, please press that little review button, and let me know what you think. - Raya
The Sleeper
Chapter 1 - Attack
"No no no no noooooo…." Princess Lady Serenity wailed as her friends laughed loudly. The two balls on the table ignored the royal command, and continued to roll. With a click, the black one landed in the net pocket attached to the side of the table. The white one teased her for a moment, balancing on the edge of the table before falling and landing on top of the black.
"Really, Lady-chan," her redheaded friend Bessa sputtered. "I know you were losing, but…" The rest of her sentence was lost in laughter at the disgruntled expression her princess's face. "Scratching on the eight ball," pink-haired Celeste, leaning on her cue-stick, continued the teasing. "Have to lose in grand style, huh?" "Um, Lady-chan," blue-haired Pallas said, barely maintaining a straight face. "We were playing stripes, not solids…" Green-haired June just rolled on the floor laughing as Lady's face became darker and darker.
"Alright, alright already!" Lady shook her cue-stick threateningly at June, who only rolled out of the way, laughing harder. "Geez…"
A different wail filled the room, cutting off whatever else the princess would have said. All five friends stiffened in surprise. "An alert?" Celeste asked. "Now?"
In one fluid motion, Lady threw her cue-stick onto the table, spun, and ran out the door. "Hey, wait!" "Hold up!" her friends called, chasing after her.
"Moon Crisis Power, Make-Up!" Pink pigtails steaming behind her, Super Sailor Moon sped down the hall, using a hand on the wall to help her turn corners sharply. Behind her, she heard her friends transform as well.
"Vesta Power, Make-Up!" "Ceres Power, Make-Up!" "Pallas Power, Make-Up!" "Juno Power, Make-Up!"
Within moments, they reached the Command Center. As they dashed into the room, they heard a voice. "Can't… hold them… Protect… her. They want…" Super Sailor Moon paled as she recognized the voice. "Uranus," she whispered, her hands going to her lips in shock. Her eyes flew to the blank video screen.
Then, another voice came across the communicator. "This is your end. You can't stop us. Haha, and if you can't stop us, they certainly can't. The Sleeper will be ours! Dark Avalanche!" A scream echoed around the room, then cut off abruptly.
"NOOOOO!!!!!" cried Neo-Queen Serenity. The gathered senshi looked at the communications panel in shock. "She… she must be…" Super Sailor Mars faltered, unable to say what they all feared.
Super Sailor Mercury shook herself abruptly. "The Sleeper? What or who is that?" she asked.
"It couldn't be…" King Endymion started, only to be cut off by Super Sailor Venus.
"Whatever or whoever it is, those creeps are coming here. We have to protect the Queen and the city!" All nine of the senshi nodded with determined agreement.
"Don't… don't awaken… sleeper…" Super Sailor Uranus's pain-filled voice whispered into the room. "We're… Don't let her waken!…" she ended fiercely, then screamed in pain once more. "Not dead yet? Hmm, how about another dose? Dark Avalanche!"
Super Sailor Mercury's face suddenly blazed with comprehension and the beginning of fear. "The Sleeper. Of course!" The others turned to look at her expectantly. "Well?" Super Sailor Jupiter demanded. "Don't keep us in suspense!"
"Who else would she call Sleeper?" Super Sailor Mercury riddled. Understanding finally flared on the faces of the Inner Senshi, the King and the Queen. "Oh no. Not that," Neo-Queen Serenity whispered. "We have to protect her. They can't have her!" she added more vehemently.
"And we will," Super Sailor Venus reassured her in a hard voice.
The younger senshi looked at the older with expressions of expectation fading into impatience. "Who!" Sailor Juno demanded. "Who is the Sleeper? Why do they want her?"
"There's no time!" Super Sailor Mercury said. "Right," Super Sailor Venus agreed. "Defense Position Iota 3. We must keep them out of the Palace at all costs."
"No." Super Sailor Mercury shook her head in disagreement. She turned to Super Sailor Moon and her guardians. "Do you remember the hidden passage in the north hall?" she demanded of Super Sailor Moon. As the girl nodded agreement, she continued "You five go into the maze. Her name will lead you to her. When you find her room, guard her."
"What?" Sailor Ceres cried in disbelief. "But we need to be here! We need to fight! To protect the Queen and the Palace!" "You can't send us away!" Sailor Vesta loudly agreed. "Come on, guys, let's get out there!" Sailor Juno cried. The Quartet turned to race outside.
"Stop." Super Sailor Venus' cold voice froze the four girls in their tracks. "Mercury is right. The most important thing is... the Sleeper. You five go into the maze. We'll hold them outside the palace."
"No way!" "You can't!" "We're not a bunch of kids!" "We have to fight, too!" The Quartet protested loudly, as a wide-eyed Super Sailor Moon whispered "Who is she? Her name will lead us?"
"ENOUGH!" Super Sailor Jupiter yelled, silencing everyone. "You have your orders. Now go follow them!" Her eyes gentled after a moment as she looked at the shocked, angry teenagers. "Trust us to know what we're doing. If we fall, you HAVE to stop them. And protect the Princess." She looked into the eyes of each of the Quartet, until the girls reluctantly agreed. "Come on, guys," Super Sailor Moon said. She turned, and ran out the door. Fading in the distance, she heard Super Sailor Venus say "Ok guys, it's up to us. Defense Position Delta 2. Serenity-san, you hold the Palace. Endymion-sama.."