Chapter 12: The Mistress of Time
Author's Comments
Sorry it took me so long to post a new chapter. My computer wasn't working for awhile and although I had internet access on my sister's computer, I had already written about half of this chapter on my computer and wasn't really wanting to rewrite it, but now my computer is up and running again. However, school is about to start once again. I'll try to continue writing this time.
Well anyway about the story, I tried to keep Setsuna and Hotaru in character, but they aren't in the story as much as everyone else is so it was harder. If I did them badly please, which I hope I didn't, please forgive me and I would appreciate help on getting their character down incase I have them show up in further chapters. Also I know its been 5 years since the defeat of Galaxia and I have Hotaru still in the same school, but I'm unsure of what grade she was in when her and Chibi-Usa started going to school together. Although I didn't mention it, in my story she is in 6th grade, thus this will be her last year at this school.
As for Usagi, she learns something from Setsuna in this chapter about Chibi-Usa. Its big news like finding out she can't get pregnant was, but don't hate me for what it is. At least Mamoru isn't cheating and will never be! Also keep in mind that I have been pulling stuff from both the manga and anime.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. :P
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"Brrring," a bell ran throughout the building.
Within moments a girl wearing a school uniform with dark shoulder length hair burst into the nurse's office shouting, "Aunt Setsuna, are you ready to go home?"
"Shh. Not so loud Hotaru, you'll wake her," replied the nurse sitting at her desk doing paperwork.
"I'm sorry," the schoolgirl said in a softer tone of voice and then asked, "wake whom?"
"Usagi," Setsuna stated and pointed to the curtain towards her left. "She's sleeping in there."
"What's she doing here?" Hotaru said with a puzzled look on her face.
The woman at the desk then stopped what she was doing and turned around to look at the girl behind her. Then she told the girl, "I'm not sure, but she didn't look well and she hasn't said anything since she arrived. I told her we could talk once she got some rest."
"I hope she's alright," the dark haired girl said sincerely.
"If you like you can go home without me. She's been asleep for quite a long time and I don't know how long it will be until she awakens so there is no need for you to stay and wait for me," Setsuna said.
"No," Hotaru said as she shook her head, "I'll wait with you. I'm worried too and I want to find out what's wrong. Besides I might be of some help to Usagi."
"Well then have a seat," the woman replied as she motioned towards a chair beside her desk.
"How long has she been sleeping?" the girl asked as she took a seat.
"A little over two hours," Setsuna replied.
"Oh," Hotaru said, "hopefully she wakes up soon."
"I have a feeling that she will," the nurse told the girl as she turned back around and continued with her paperwork.
Meanwhile, Usagi was standing in the center of a palace made of crystal. She was dressed in a long white dress with a gold crown upon her head and a silver staff was firmly grasped in her hand. Before her sat a gold and white cradle that was slowly rocking back and forth. She approached it and peaked inside to find a pink headed infant sleeping peacefully. Usagi smiled as she began to feel all warm and good inside.
It was then that she noticed a hand lying upon the side of cradle, which was gently rocking the child within. A woman was sitting in a rocking chair next to the sleeping infant. Usagi's eyes began to travel up the person seated before her. She had long wavy hair that was red at one end and it slowly changed to blonde at the other. Soon she found herself looking up at a familiar face. Two red eyes filled with hatred were staring directly at Usagi.
The pigtailed woman gasped and said, "Galaxia."
The woman said nothing in response, but slowly a smirk began to form upon her lips.
"No, this can't be," Usagi said with terror in her voice. "You're dead. I killed you."
Once again she did not speak and she continued to stare at the blonde woman before her.
"What do you want?" the pig-tailed woman asked as she watched Galaxia rise from her seat.
"Your child," she said as she finally spoke up. Suddenly she laid her hand upon the head of the infant in the cradle. Soon the child's body began to fade.
"NOOO!" Usagi began to scream. "Please stop, I beg of you!"
The red eyed woman began to laugh as the baby completely vanished. She turned and began to walk away. Soon she could be no longer seen but her laughter still haunted the pig-tailed woman.
Usagi dropped to the floor and began to sob loudly. "Chibi-Usa," she whispered as she closed her eyes.
Suddenly, as she sat there crying on the floor, she heard someone ask, "Are you alright?"
The blonde opened her eyes as she lifted her head only to find herself lying in a bed and staring at a green headed woman.
"Are you alright?" Setsuna repeated. "You were thrashing around and screaming in your sleep."
"A nightmare," Usagi said sadly as she wiped her eyes.
"Are you going to be ok?" softly asked another voice.
Usagi slowly pulled herself up into a sitting position and looked behind where she noticed a dark headed girl. "Hotaru..." she said, "What are you doing here?"
"I go to school here remember. Since school is out for the day so I came to see if Aunt Setsuna was ready to go home," the girl replied.
"Oh," Usagi said, "I had forgotten."
"Are you going to be ok?" Hotaru asked again.
"I don't know," the blonde said as she pulled her knees up to her chest as tears began to fall from her eyes.
"How come you aren't at home?" the girl asked.
"I don't want to be there," Usagi informed them.
"Why not? Did you and Mamoru have an arguement?" Hotaru questioned Usagi, but the blonde remained silent.
"Does he know where you are?" Setsuna asked.
Usagi shook her head in response.
"Why not? I'm sure he's worried about you," Hotaru told her.
Usagi refused to speak once again.
"I better call him," the nurse said as she went to her desk and picked up the phone. She dialed their home phone number, but no one except the answering machine picked up. "Hello, this is Setsuna. I thought you'd like to know Usagi's whereabouts. She's currently sitting in my office at school. Please call me back once you get this message," she said as she left a message and then hung the phone up. "Do you want to talk now?" Setsuna asked as she walked back over to Usagi's side.
The pig-tailed girl nodded and wiped her eyes.
"Ok then tell me what's wrong," the green haired woman said.
"Chibi-Usa," Usagi muttered quietly.
"I see," replied Setsuna, "You must have found out."
"What about Chibi-Usa, is she ok?" Hotaru asked worriedly.
"Small Lady is fine," the green haired woman reassured her.
"Then what's wrong?" the girl asked seemingly clueless to what was going on.
"They say I can't give birth to Chibi-Usa," Usagi blurted out before she started to cry even harder.
Hotaru gasped and asked, "It isn't true is it Aunt Setsuna?"
"I'm afraid it is," she replied.
"But you said Chibi-Usa was ok," Usagi said.
"And she is," stated Setsuna.
"How can that be possible?" the pig-tailed woman asked.
The green haired woman looked saddened and said, "I'm not allowed to tell you about things of the future, but please let the knowledge of Chibi-Usa's up coming birth be some comfort to you."
Hotaru had an extremely puzzled look on her face as she said, "You said earlier she can't have children, but now you say she will?"
"I know all this may seem confusing now, but in time it will become clear," Setsuna told them.
"But how can this be possible?" Usagi asked. "I don't get it at all."
"I'm sorry," the green haired woman said. "You know I can't reveal the future."
"How am I supposed to know? How will Chibi-Usa be born if I don't know?" the blonde demanded.
"I wish I could help, but its not my place to tell you such things," Setsuna said sadly.
"Aunt Setsuna..." Hotaru said, "What if it is?"
"You know that would be taboo for me to speak of such things," the green headed woman replied.
"What if Usagi doesn't find out on her own?" the girl questioned.
"But she must," Setsuna said.
"But what if she doesn't?" the girl said. "Are you certain you aren't the one who is supposed to tell her?"
"I'm uncertain," the green haired woman replied.
"Maybe you should tell her," Hotaru said.
"It's taboo," she protested.
"Please," Usagi begged with heartbreaking sadness in her tear filled eyes. "Please just tell me something. Anything, anything at all."
Setsuna dropped her head. She could no longer bear to see her princess in such pain and finally gave in, "Fine, but I will only tell you what you need to know the rest is up to you."
"Thank you," the pig-tailed woman said as a small smile formed on her lips.
"Biologically she isn't your child, but you shall be the one to give birth to Small Lady and you shall raise her as your own." she told her. "I can not tell you anymore than this. You have to find her mother by yourself."
Upon hearing this Usagi began to stare blankly at Setsuna. This wasn't the answer she had hoped to hear. She had hoped this had all been a scheme of a new enemy or at least that she would some how become healed, but none of this had happened and it wasn't going to. Finally she could no longer handle the news and collapsed backwards on the bed.