This pertains mainly to the original Japanese manga. Therefore Umino and Naru are not dating. Kyuusuke and Momoko are (according to Hotaru and Chibiusa. Volume 16, Original, first act of it.
Sometimes it's not really what you want, it's sometimes what just happens. To protect the Earth Neo-Queen Serenity had done what was necessary. She had defeated the enemy one by one. She had purified her people because there was no other way. Those she could not purify she had banished. It was the way of things. Chaos had taken too much of a hold. It had followed them from the time that they came from the Cauldron, it was clear now. There were more wars on Earth at that time. It was slow in its coming, but it still held true. Buildings were destroyed, countries obliterated. She was the only one who could stop it.
Her husband, King Endymion was beside her. She would take the balcony. She was still weak from this morning. She was honestly still recovering, and the Ginzuishou was not resonating with her anymore. Her advisors had told her that she needed rest, to stay in bed. Even Mercury had told her to stay in bed. But she could not wait. This had to happen on this day. She had to secure the throne. Not only for her, but for her new daughter, Tsukino Usagi Small Lady Serenity.
Every doctor advised against it. They said she was still too weak, but this was to be her official coronation in front of the world. She needed to do it now. She needed to make the people feel secure on this planet and world.
She glanced at her husband. Endymion. He would be coronated this day too. He would be consort. He did not want to be in the spotlight. It was not his style. He would run most of the internal affairs of state, while she did many of the political functions. She would be among the people. He carried their new baby girl. He looked at her concerned. She still ached, and she'd promised him to make it short as possible. She would not strain herself. She knew the truth already. The Ginzuishou was starting to resonate to another beat. It was not the Silver Moon Crystal that she had--what?--9 months ago? While its energy was still in her body and would be for more than a thousand years more, it was not hers to command as much as it had been in the last few months.
Endymion whispered to his wife, "Happy Birthday!"
Neo-Queen Serenity struggled to keep her posture. There were doctors and Mercury on hand if something should go wrong. Personal troubles and politics were separate issues. This day had come with many hardships she did not like to remember, but most of all she wanted it to mean something. For all of the troubles that had happened, she needed to make this day mean something.
Neo-Queen Serenity had no memory of any of the future events now. Not even the pink-haired friend of her past. She took a step forward towards the door. A distant person called her name. The crowd roared with applause. The day had come.
Mamoru told Usagi he wanted to accompany her to visit Naru, Umino, Kyuusuke, and Momoko. It was going to be difficult to explain to the latter two why they needed to move with their families to Crystal Palace. Both of the families owned restaurants. Usagi was insistent that since the two were still dating after all this time that their families could be chefs to the royal family. Usagi knew Mamoru thought this was taking it a bit far. Usagi wanted Chibiusa's past friends to survive the attacks. Usagi didn't spend too much on the thought of paradoxes. It hurt her head to even think about such things even though she had most of a college education.
The edges of her memory about the future were already fading. Usagi wanted to hold onto the fact that Chibiusa had come to the past, but she knew she couldn't. The harder she tried to hang on, the more that the images of her once "cousin" slipped her mind.
Mamoru lagged behind her. She'd bought a bunch of things for their wedding on the way to Naru's. Usagi, of course, swore to eat better once she found out she got pregnant. That didn't exactly happen. She would help him carry the bags, but her hands were full. The open air shop of meat-filled sweet buns enticed her... She knew it was too early to really get cravings, but somehow eating things while pregnant made them taste better. Too bad she would only have one child.
Taking another bite she glanced behind her. She felt 14 again. That already seemed so long ago. So what if in a few minutes she would regret eating at all? Right now, they tasted so good!
Being pregnant didn't exactly improve her balance. She read that pregnancy can make people dizzy, but for some reason this also equated for her to a balance of a 3 year old. This was no longer a problem. Mamoru was back from Harvard. He was back now with a doctorate in medicine. He could treat any kind of injury she threw at him.
"C'mon Mamoru! Otherwise we'll be late to Naru's."
Usagi was rarely late these days. Well, she was occasionally, but not as bad as she'd been in the past.
Mamoru grumbled. Usagi wondered if the weight of having a pregnant fiancee was too much for him. He sometimes didn't look like he was getting enough sleep. But then she was calling him late at night when she was lonely. Her father was absolutely against her living with him first, even though it was common these days. Usagi didn't know what else Mamoru could do to make this situation worse. He couldn't get her more pregnant after all.
True, her parents hadn't taken the news too well, but she wasn't going to abort Chibiusa--she meant Small Lady. That slip would be fixed before Small Lady was born, she thought grimly.
Walking at a slow pace, they finally arrived at Naru's apartment. Naru had decided to become an OL. It was the only way she could meet potentially well-off guys. The company had provided her with a nice apartment. Naru was secretary for a manager at an architecture firm.
Usagi rang the doorbell. Naru answered and groaned as she walked on her feet. The high heels were killing her. An OL still had to serve coffee and to men. They also had to organize and clean the desks. Naru was constantly on her feet and when not on her feet, she was typing for her supervisor or someone else in the office. It was tiring work.
Naru shot a smile at Usagi.
"How is the little one?" she asked.
That was when Usagi felt something well up in her stomach. Suddenly the meat-filled buns came knocking into her throat. Usagi made wild motions. Naru pointed in the correct direction. It was so sudden that Usagi didn't have time to take off her outdoor shoes.
Mamoru came in behind Usagi. He was used to these episodes, and Usagi didn't need to be consoled anymore. He took off his shoes. He was beat. He dumped the bags on the couch. Naru, as an old High School friend, peered into the shopping bags. She had that look of someone who was both envious, and admiring of her friend's purchases.
Usagi came back smiling brightly, even if she looked a little green.
"I thought it's called morning sickness," Naru commented.
Usagi nodded, still trying to recover. Mamoru yawned and said dryly, "For many women it's 24 hour sickness. Should calm down in about another month or two."
Usagi nodded and added, "I've been getting better. The first week, I didn't see anything but a toilet or a bowl."
"You wanted to talk to me about something?" Naru asked politely.
Without any pretense--probably due to the recent mood swings that Usagi had been having--she shouted out her transformation phrase.
A slightly overweight Sailormoon appeared before Osaka Naru. The friend that Usagi had known since she was little. They had met in kindergarten and grown up together. Though they grew apart a little when Usagi had become Sailormoon, they still were good friends.
Naru opened her mouth and then said nothing.
The first thing that Sailor Moon blurted was, "Sorry! I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I'm sorry... sorry."
"It makes so much sense now..."
Naru smiled. She said, "Thank you. Now let's look through the wedding catalogs together... You're going to have 9 bridesmaids, ne? We'll need a dress for each one... how about as if they are brides themselves?"
Usagi's mouth dropped. Usagi began to cry. "Naru-chaaaaan."
Usagi hugged Naru. Naru smiled.
Mamoru cleared his throat and said, "Crystal Tokyo, Usa."
"Oh, yes, you must come to Crystal Palace once it's built, Naru-chan. I'll be Queen by then! Attacks are coming to Earth. Chaos is coming, you'll be safe there."
Usagi chattered happily about the grim events to come. She didn't see Naru's face suddenly change.
"You never told me about all of this. I was always on the outside, wasn't I Usagi? Was I a fool?"
Usagi shook her head violently, just realizing what she'd just said.
"I couldn't tell you... but now, now I want you to come to Crystal Palace. I want you to be safe Naru, Naruru and Ruruna too."
"To do what? To be what Usagi? So you can admire me? So you can talk about me to your new friends?"
"Naru--I, no.. That's not what I meant. I want you to be safe from the attacks that are to come... I didn't--"
Usagi fumbled. Naru wasn't the first one she called when she found out she was engaged. She wasn't the first one she told besides Mamoru and her family that she was pregnant. Naru didn't even know about Chibiusa. She wanted someone to share the memories of Chibiusa with. That's why she'd told the Senshi first. Naru must have found out that she'd told other people first.
Usagi said, "Decide soon, or you'll forget."
Usagi put on her outdoor shoes again and bowed to Naru. Mamoru took the bags and bowed in apology.
Usagi walked slowly in time with Mamoru, wondering if it was always this way. She had sworn to tell Umino today too. She wondered if he would act the same as Naru. She wondered if she should save him over some random person on the street.
Umino Gurio's apartment was what one would call a bachelor's apartment. It was small even by Japanese standards. The bedroom, kitchen, living room and front hall were all one room. The only other room in the house was the bathroom. Despite its size, it was incredibly tidy. At best, it was six tatami mats from Usagi's estimations. She took off her shoes before entering.
Usagi's stomach threatened to rumble. Even though usagi was hungry, She didn't feel like eating anything more.
Umino-san and Usagi hadn't really been friends. At best he'd been an ugly looking bag of pus. But she still felt obligated to tell him. She got up cautiously from the step as Mamoru took off his shoes next to her. He braced her and looked up from the scattered bags.
"Usa?" he asked gently.
"I'm fine..." Usagi replied to his unspoken question.
"I'll be there in a minute..."
A handsome guy came out with lightly tousled hair. Usagi thought that perhaps Umino wasn't home.
"Usagi?" he said.
That was him? Usagi couldn't believe it. That voice was unmistakable.
"Yes... you said come in, so..."
"Oh don't worry about it!" Umino replied in very formal japanese.
Umino offered them tea, and then Usagi slowly told Umino the truth. he took it very well. He seemed very logical about it all. Usagi was careful not to mention Chibiusa. It was useless to do so. Even if she told him and he believed her, he wouldn't remember. Usagi had tried it before, and it never worked.
Somehow, Usagi was sad anytime anyone lost memories of her future daughter. Even if she was carrying her right now, she still felt that way, though for once she couldn't put it into words exactly why. She wondered if Mamoru felt the same.
After a while, Umino calculated the positives and negatives in a very scientific way. He wrote them down on a sheet, and then counted them one by one. He nodded. "Umm. Alright. I'll go to Crystal Palace."
Usagi noticed that he'd calculated the likelihood he would take someone's place that was important. She didn't want to dwell on such things. Mamoru looked around the apartment. The apartment was much smaller than his.
Umino thanked them, and they left. It was already sunset. Kenji-papa still wanted his daughter home by his assigned curfew. Mama would cover for her if she was late, but Usagi disliked putting her mother in such a position. Just as Umino's door closed, Usagi screamed, "I need to pee!"
Mamoru sighed. Usagi rang the doorbell and used Umino's bathroom. She came out with a refreshed smile.
"Mamo-chan! Let's go!"
Tomorrow, if her body and activity allowed, she was going to go to Juuban Junior High School. This was where Momoko and Kyuusuke were going to school. Some sense of pride--motherly, sisterly, cousinly, or whatever familial feeling it was--would not let her future daughter's best friends die in the future. The paradox of that was not completely lost on her, but she wasn't about to think too deeply about it.
Usagi woke up the next morning feeling completely lethargic. But she fought these feelings and got out of bed. Not only got out of bed, but did so in a relatively prompt manner. Mamoru was working a job during the day, but promised to get out of work early so he could meet her at Juuban Junior High School. Usagi had also promised her mother that she would consult her on the wedding preparations. She stretched and yawned. She was ready for today. If this was to be the last day she would remember Chibiusa, she wanted it to mean something. She trotted down to breakfast. She was hungry this morning.
Hotaru had promised to meet Usagi and Mamoru in front of the school. She was going to be leaving very soon for the Outer Solar System. It would make it easier for Usagi to reintroduce herself to Momoko and Kyuusuke. Hotaru was already getting ready to "transfer." Usagi thought they could meet Kyuusuke and Momoko on that pretense.
Hotaru was waiting in her uniform. She usually smiled, but these days she seemed to be getting more and more sad. The shield on the Outer Solar System needed to be reinforced if Chaos was coming. If it was really bad, then Sailor Saturn and the others would have to stay at their castles. Usagi knew this had to be the case, but didn't want to say anything about it.
Kyuusuke and Momoko were arguing back and forth as they came out of the school.
"What do you mean that ramen is superior to Chinese food?" Momoko asked.
"Just what I said. Ramen can go with you anywhere. You can eat it any time. Chinese food you can't."
Right about then Usagi had a strong craving for Chinese ramen. Ramen with Chinese food, somehow made her drool. Maybe with seafood. No, not with seafood sauce, but sweet and sour sauce. Then afterwards, lots of ginger ice cream on chocolate cake. Mamoru took her out of her day dream by tapping her hand.
"...and this is Chiba Mamoru. They are my parents friends."
Both Mamoru and Usagi bowed at the same time.
"Very nice to meet you," Usagi said formally.
"What do you want? I can't be late for my mother's ramen," Kyuusuke said.
"I guess that ramen also makes you rude!" Momoko scolded him turning up her nose. "I'm sorry he's acting like this. He just can't see the superiority of Chinese food. Now what was it that you wanted to tell us? Hotaru-chan told us that you wanted to tell us something."
"Can I have Chinese ramen...?" Usagi asked, lazily.
She felt a bit hot and sticky, even though she realized that it was supposed to be chilly out.
"Sorry about that. She's a bit distracted we wanted to ask you if you would come to Crystal Palace once it's built and live there. You've seen it growing downtown, right?" Mamoru asked smiling at the pair.
Usagi pouted. She really, really wanted that Chinese ramen.
"You see Chibiusa-chan..." Usagi started, and then realized she was being absent-mined again.
"Chibiusa-chan?" Momoko and Kyuusuke asked in unison. Hotaru was forced to echo them. She glared at Usagi.
Usagi forgot that no one remembered Chibiusa anymore except the Senshi. Pluto's effects were efficient. All of the pictures that Chibiusa had been in had disappeared. Everyone forgot about the cone-odagoed little girl. This was to be the fate of Usagi's memories of Chibiusa as well. Even that nickname would fade with time.
"Ummm... sorry..." Usagi said finding it hard to concentrate.
"She means that if you would come with us and Hotaru we would like to show you something."
"Eccchhhiiii!" Momoko screamed.
Kyuusuke went to protect her.
Mamoru waved his hands in front of his face nervously as several onlookers stared.
"They'll buy your parents' food and then tell you which is better," Hotaru offered in the way of help.
Usagi looked expectantly at Mamoru. Kyuusuke and Mamoko soon followed suit. He laughed nervously and then reluctantly nodded.
As they walked towards the restaurants, Mamoru murmured, "If I buy, you have to judge!"
Usagi had no objections to that. She was starting to get hungry again.
After a game of "rock-paper-scissors" they started towards Kyuusuke's restaurant first. Hotaru silently rolled her eyes.
"This is so common..." she muttered to herself.
"Now what did you want to tell me?" Momoko asked.
"The time is coming when the Earth will end, or it will flourish." Hotaru replied.
"Oh, c'mon Hotaru-san" Kyuusuke said, "stop talking like that!"
"She's telling the truth," Usagi said.
"What! Is this some kind of joke?" Kyuusuke asked.
Usagi shook her head. They ducked into an alley and Hotaru transformed. Usagi soon followed suit. Someday this costume Usagi wore as Sailor Moon would not be hers anymore. She would wear only the dresses of Neo-Queen Serenity. All that she held dear now would slowly fade from her life. They both looked at Mamoru who just shook his head.
"I don't have a transformation..." he muttered. "This isn't anime you know... this is real life."
"Transform? What--who are you?" Momoko asked.
"The palace that's grown downtown and is expanding, I would like you two and your families to be chefs for!" Usagi announced.
Usagi had been dazing out again. Mamoru explained the situation in more detail, trying not inhale too deeply of the dumpster fumes in the alleyway. It took a while, but Kyuusuke and Momoko accepted it.
The ramen and Chinese food were so good that Usagi had a hard time deciding. When she couldn't decide, the Momoharas, and Sarashinas started to quarrel in person. By the time Usagi was done, she got the Chinese ramen she was craving, and was stuffed past capacity.
Hotaru in the arguing had disappeared. Mamoru didn't blame her own bit. He rather thought he should too, but was somehow forced into the eating contest.
"Say... Mamo-chan, why did you come with me?" said a completely stuffed Usagi. She knew she was going to really regret this one later. The threat of indigestion already was starting to shake it's fist in her stomach. She hoped that she ate so much that not all of it would come up.
"Because I know friends are important to you. And I wanted to remember Chibiusa for one last time with you."
He smiled at her. Usagi's eyes welled up. She didn't know if it was because of the pregnancy, or because he was just that sweet. She gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"Also because I know you'd want to spend money, but wouldn't have any to spend," he added with a guyish smirk.
"Mamo-chan!" Usagi objected.
Mamoru laughed. Usagi thought that guys all had a twisted sense of humor. But she let it go. He was going to be a great father, she reminded herself for the umpteenth time in the last few weeks he'd made such comments.
"Mamo-chan, why didn't you tell anyone about the attacks?" Usagi asked after coming from Juuban High School.
Mamoru smiled and said, "Because all of the people I want to know, already know."
"We'll never forget her, Mamoru, will we?" Usagi asked.
"Not truly, even if the memories are not physically there she is always a part of us," Mamoru replied softly.
Usagi blushed as he looked directly at her. He swept her in his arms. He turned her back to him and hugged her from behind. He held her stomach. Usagi knew that he meant her and Small Lady. For that, she turned her head to kiss him. They kissed in the falling dusk.
Neo-Queen Serenity did not remember the name Chibiusa anymore. However, beside her was her husband and her new daughter, Small Lady. She felt strength from that. She took the balcony as the cheers became deafening. She looked to the guardians of the family to her left. The Soldiers from the Outer Solar System were protecting the solar system at their castles. They could not attend. The Palace was complete. The Moon Castle had turned into Serenity Palace. The time had come for her to face destiny.
Notes:
- It's Tsukino Usagi Small Lady Serenity, Volume 5 of the tankoubon, said by King Endymion. Again showed in Volume 10, Volume 11, Picture Diaries, the anime, all kinds of merchandise, Materials Collection, etc. The surname is often determined in Japan by whose family is the more important/prominent. In this case it's Neo-Queen Serenity, so Tsukino as the last name of both mother and daughter. Now the question becomes if King Endymion's last name is Chiba or Tsukino...
- OL is Office Lady, who are responsible for pouring coffee, cleaning up the men's desks, organizing the men's areas, in addition to their regular jobs. They aren't to speak in important meetings either. Source: Three Japanese women I went to a ex-Tokyopop dinner with February 25, 2006. If you want to argue with me about the correctness of this information, you can argue with them first. All Office Ladies are required to wear a uniform, pantyhose, and high heels as far as I know. (Additional source: A book about FW's and OL's.)
- Apartments in Japan are measured by tatami mats...better than going all metric on you!
- Unlike the millions of pregnancy SM fics out there, I did research pregnancy. Sources: Jenny McCarthy's book (which I read while extremely bored), several pregnant women, several have-been pregnant women, and several websites of experiences. Being emotional, having to pee, and throwing up are not the only symptoms! There are a ton more that depends on the the individual, number of pregnancy (as in how many times they've been pregnant), and the baby itself. No two pregnancies are alike. Some say that the pregnancy often reflects the personality of the baby...
One more chapter to go!
Like it hate it, I want reviews with some content. Tell me what you liked or disliked about the story, and most importantly why. Critique Tolerance 10 (burn me like a witch). Thank you.
