Prettyinpinkgal: After a long hiatus, I return! I'm so sorry, you guys; I've been really busy, what with homework, school in general, going to my grandma's, and whatnot. Plus I have been going through this phase that I actually am really bored with Pretear, which I mentioned before in my other updated Pretear fanfic. But still, gomen nasai! But, um, please enjoy this new chapter! I know some parts of this fic will be different than how it is in the other anime series I'm using, but hey, it's fanfiction, right? It's supposed to differ from the actual story!

Thanks to:

Dreamgirllogan: Sorry there were no cookies in the previous chapter! I'll make sure to pass out sweets to you guys in this one ;)

Tabitha: Here's the update :)

Kongfoodork: You'll have to see:D

Disclaimer: I don't own Pretear. Or this other series (You guys have probably figured out by now what that series is, but even if you don't, you'll definitely find out in the next chappy) I'm using.

CHRONICLES OF A MOON PRINCESS

CHAPTER FOUR: TALKING HORSES AND TIME KEYS

"If you want, I'll tell you all you need to know," Pegasus/Helios said.

Himeno thought for a second. She wanted to know what the crud was going on, but at the same time, she was wary of trusting the winged horse. Actually, she was mainly concerned about trusting her own sanity. Maybe she was going crazy, due to the whole fighting evil concept.

Fighting evil by moonlight... Himeno got off her bed and purposely banged her head on the wall, hoping to get rid of some tune in her head talking about fighting evil by moonlight and winning love and some sailor or something. That's it. Hearing a song I could swear I'd never heard before PROVES I'm crazy!

"Wait," she said to herself, "isn't that the tune from the locket?"

"What's wrong, Chibi-Usa, or, as you call yourself, Himeno?" Helios asked, making Himeno scream, as she had forgotten all about him. The pegasus looked quizically at her.

"Oh, nothing," she said breezily. "It's just that I've finally realized I'm crazy. I suppose fighting Takako was too much for me; I'm suddenly talking to a flying horse who isn't real, hearing songs that I've never heard before, and I'm starting to believe that I was adopted. Maybe I'm schizophrenic. Yeah, that's it. That's why I'm seeing pictures that don't even exist. Or maybe I'm dreaming. Or maybe..." Himeno's red eyes were replaced by swirls as she got more and more confused.

"I can tell you this much; you're going to get more confused if you keep denying the truth. I know this must be quite a shock to you, but I suppose your life is filled with shocks. After all, you were announced as a Pretear by seven men that called themselves the Leafe Knights. I'm actually surprised that you're so shocked at seeing me."

The horse has a point, Himeno thought. This is reality. That means I'm not nuts. It just means that my life is about to get, oh, I don't know, about a billion times weirder. And I thought I had my fill of adventure when becoming Pretear...

"Okay, Horsey," she said, when the horse corrected her and said his name was Helios. "Okay, Helios. How did you know about me being Pretear?" She glared at him. "You're not on Tolani's side, are you?" She got in her karate pose, although without Preting, she was pretty weak against a magical enemy.

Helios looked alarmed. "Tolani? You mean you've already met Tolani?"

An anger mark appeared on Himeno's head. "Yeah! Now are you in league with her or not?"

"Of course I'm not. I'm on your side..."

"And you never answered my question! How do you know I'm the Pretear?"

"Well, Setsuna allows us to see into the past so we can watch you grow up. You've gone through some hard times, but you've become a remarkable young lady..."

Himeno blinked. "Aheh. See into...the past? Watch me grow up?" Her face turned serious. "What on earth...? Who exactly are you? How do you know me?"

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. "Miss Himeno! Breakfast is ready!"

Himeno called back, "Uh, right! I'll be right there!" The confused girl turned back to the Pegasus. "I have to go. Can I talk to you after breakfast?"

Helios looked hesitant, but nodded. "I'll try to be available. Hopefully, your mother and father won't catch me..." He looked around, his eyes widening. "Someone's coming. I must go now. Keep the key you found around when you and I speak again."

"Wait! You mentioned my mom and dad; who are they?" Himeno asked quickly.

"I'll explain everything later, but your mother and father are the rulers of Crystal Tokyo." With that, the sphere vanished, leaving Himeno to her thoughts.

Mawata poked her head in. "Himeno? Aren't you coming to breakfast?" Seeing her stepsister's thoughtful face, she grew worried. "Is something wrong?"

Himeno snapped out of it and put on a plastic smile. "Wha? Oh, yeah, sure. I'm starving; let's go!" Running up to Mawata, she took her hand and closed the door. How does Helios know me? Why did he call me Chibi-Usa? What's Crystal Tokyo? If my real mother and father are the rulers of it, does that mean I'm royalty? Does it mean I really am a princess? When he mentioned looking into the past, does that mean he's in the future? Unfortunately, these questions all lead to no answers.

Boy, did she have a story to tell the Leafe Knights.

Right after breakfast, after gobbling up her food as quickly as possible, Himeno Awayuki quickly ran out to gather the Leafe Knights. Once they all were gathered together, Himeno quickly told of the events that happened the day before and that morning.

"So..." Hayate said after a long silence. "This Helios guy knows you from before you were adopted?"

"Yeah, I guess so. I told him I'd try to contact him after breakfast. I wanted you guys to come to."

They all nodded, still trying to understand how a flying horse is connected to Himeno's past. When they arrived in Himeno's room, she thought for a moment and decided they'd be able to talk to Helios for a while in Leafenia, where there'd be no distractions.

When they got to Leafenia, Takako greeted them and Himeno. They filled her in, and Himeno tried to gain contact with Helios. Suddenly, he appeared.

"Hello, Chibi-Usa. Hello, Leafe Knights, Takako."

"Okay, Helios, spill. How do you know me?" Himeno said, looking serious.

"I'll tell you, but first, hold the Time Key up to the sky," Helios replied.

Himeno held up the small key he had told her to bring. "You mean this?" When he nodded, she held it up. "Now what?"

"Now close your eyes and imagining the sky opening up." The girl looked confused, but closed her eyes.

Suddenly, a light shot up from the Time Key. When Himeno opened her eyes, she gasped as she, the seven Knights of Leafe, and Takako began floating upwards. Shin began crying, and Mannen yelled, "What the heck is this?" Takako clutched onto Sasame as the ninesome floated and disappeared in a circle of clouds.

Himeno gasped. Before her was a long hallway-like place, completely dark except for the floor. At the end of the path was a light. It had a picture of that place she saw in the picture of her birth parents, the place she guessed was Crystal Tokyo.

Prettyinpinkgal: Such a long chapter! Yay! Please review!