The scene at the art museum was chaotic as the royal car pulled up. Medics swarmed about, helping victims to ambulances to be examined. Police and rescue units were clearing rubble as civilians watched with horrified expressions behind makeshift barriers. Wordlessly the king jumped from the car and hurried towards the medics, throwing his jacket over a piece of stone. Lena followed the queen as she rushed to the museum.
"Mako!" Serenity cried, her eyes searching the crowds. Lena saw a tall woman, Sailor Jupiter, run towards the queen, a small pink-haired girl clutched tightly in her arms.
"We're okay," Sailor Jupiter said, passing the girl to the queen. The girl grasped Serenity; Lena could see her face was tear-stained.
"Small Lady, thank goodness," Serenity whispered, hugging her daughter tightly. She glanced up at Sailor Jupiter, fear crossing her face. "Where are the others?"
"Sailor Mercury arrived moments after the blast. She's helping the medics now." Sailor Jupiter pointed; Lena saw a blue haired woman in her Sailor Soldier form pressing a bandage against a young boy's forehead. "Venus and Mars are on the other side where the explosion was. They're searching for whatever caused it."
"Let me know as soon as you discover something," the queen instructed. Sailor Jupiter nodded and ran back towards the museum. Serenity gave a hardened glance at the destruction and turned away, walking towards the car. She handed the pink haired princess to the driver. Placing a small kiss on her daughter's forehead, she nodded to the driver, watching as he helped the girl into the car.
"Lena!" she heard Michiru cry. Turning, she saw her cousin and Haruka - no, Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus, Lena corrected herself - running towards her. "What are you doing here?"
"I came with the queen and king," she answered, gesturing. "This is just awful."
"This is what's been happening while you've been away," Sailor Uranus said tightly. Neptune frowned, gently elbowing her. "I mean, not that you should have been here or anything," Uranus added quickly.
"Who is doing this?" Lena asked. She twisted a piece of her hair, a nervous habit she'd developed when she was younger. "How many attacks like this have there been?"
Neptune shook her head. "We don't know and entirely too many." She sighed and placed a hand on Lena's arm. "We have to get over there to help. Stay back here with the queen; you'll be safer."
Before Lena could protest her cousin and Uranus ran to the museum, immediately jumping in and helping to clear debris.
"I don't know if I'll ever get over the sting of no longer being able to go with them," Lena heard the queen say softly next to her. "There was a time when I would have been right there helping alongside them. But now all I can do is stand here and watch."
"Your majesty?" Lena asked. The queen smiled gently and gave a slight shake of her head.
"It's nothing," she said, watching the scene. Moments passed as rescue workers continued to tend to the injured, leading them away from the destruction. Lena heard the queen sigh. "I've always been in such awe of them. They always took my breath away by how courageous and good they were. They never hesitated to protect. Even now they still rush in to help, regardless of the danger." The queen paused, her head hanging slightly as she stared at her hands. "I don't feel like I have a purpose anymore, standing here, not doing anything. I'm helpless now. All I can do now is let others go in my stead."
Lena was silent, unsure what to say. She had heard the stories of the magnificent Sailor Moon, how she was strong and resilient. She always thought the queen reflected those same characteristics. Hearing Serenity now say that she felt helpless tugged at Lena's heart. Serenity caught Lena's apprehensive face and gave her hand a small squeeze.
"I'm sorry, Lena," she said softly. "We've only just met and I'm pouring out all my worries to you. I'm glad you're here with me."
Before Lena could reply Endymion jogged towards them. His sleeves had been rolled up and smudges of dirt and blood were on the front of his shirt.
"Small Lady?" he asked, his eyes filled with worry.
"She's okay. I sent her back to the palace with the driver, telling him to take her to her nurse. How is everything over there?"
The king shook his head. "No fatalities, thank goodness, but there are more injuries than we thought. Luckily most of the injuries are superficial. It seems like the explosion hit a wing that was empty, but the adjacent gallery's walls crumbled from the impact, which is where the majority of the victims were. "
Serenity inhaled sharply and gave a quick nod. "We must get to the bottom of these attacks and discover who is behind them. We cannot let another happen."
Michiru followed Lena into her new apartment late that evening. While those injured at the museum had already been taken care of, cleaning up the debris and investigating the scene had taken hours. Lena had stayed until Michiru insisted she go home, all but shoving her into a car. They had ridden in silence to Lena's apartment.
Lena sank onto the sofa and buried her face in her hands. A gentle brush of air blew against her as Michiru transformed from her Sailor Guardian form. She felt the cushion sink beside her as Michiru sat.
"Talk to me Lena."
"Michi," Lena started, turning her head so her cheek rested on her palm. "I don't know if I can do this."
~ Silver Millennium ~
"Is that the best you've got?" Michiru yelled. She placed her hands on her hips as she stared down at Lena, who had been knocked onto the ground. "You're supposed to be better!"
Lena felt her blood begin to boil as she stared up at her cousin. Michiru's face was taunting, smug. In that moment Lena wanted nothing more than smash her face. Her fingers grasped at her weapon, tightening around the grip as she swung it at Michiru's legs, knocking the aqua-haired Soldier to the ground. Michiru gasped, glaring at Lena in surprise. Pushing herself up, Lena spat a bit of blood on the ground before storming away.
"That's my girl," Michiru whispered, rubbing her sore back.
Michiru was silent for a moment before taking Lena's hand in hers.
"I disagree," she said softly. Lena pulled away from her cousin and crossed the room.
"What good am I in situations like today's?" she cried, throwing her arm out in frustration. "I don't have powers like you, Michiru. I can't save anyone or anything. Maybe that's why the princesses have been the Sailor Soldiers instead of just average girls."
Michiru leaned back on the sofa and crossed her legs, her lips pressed together as she stared silently at Lena. With a sigh, Lena left the room, closing the bedroom door behind her. She went into the attached bathroom and turned on the shower, testing the water until it was hot. Undressing quickly, she leaned her head back, letting the warm water run over her head.
"...all I can do is stand here and watch." Neo Queen Serenity's words repeated in Lena's head. Although she had never been a Soldier, Lena understood the queen's feelings. It was hard to sit and watch others be heroes when your heart wanted to be there with them. Is that all I'll ever do, just stand there and watch?
When she had finished her shower and dressed, Lena went back into the living room. Michiru was still seated on the sofa as if she had not moved the entire time. She glanced up as Lena entered the room.
"Feel better?"
Lena nodded and sat next to Michiru. "I'm sorry I just left. I needed a moment."
"Of course," Michiru agreed. "Why don't I make tea?"
"Tea would be nice."
Michiru pushed herself from the sofa. Sounds of dishes rattling and cabinets closing soon came from the kitchen. Lena could smell the fragrant tea from where she sat. "Lena?" Michiru called.
"Yeah?"
"I still disagree. You can do this." Lena took the cup of tea from her cousin as Michiru sank back onto the couch. "Those situations? They don't always require strength and special powers. Just because you can't transform into a Sailor Soldier doesn't mean you won't play a vital role when attacks happen. No, you won't be able to rush in and fight whatever evil force may come. But afterwards? That's when a cool head and an open mind are important. That's when a need for justice and a forgiving heart matter most. That is the role you will play as Princess Neptune. Let me be there to fight for our queen, for our court. You be there to guide us to peace."
"So you're sure you didn't see anything, Mako?" Rei asked. Makoto gave the dark haired woman a pointed look.
"I'm positive I didn't see anything," she repeated for the third time. "We were in the gallery, looking at the exhibit, and then the wall blew in. After that it was chaos and my biggest concern was getting Small Lady out of it."
"I'm very glad you did," Serenity said, clasping her friend's hand and giving it a tight squeeze. "Mamo and I are both very glad."
"Where is the king?" Minako asked. Serenity frowned and gave a little sigh.
"He's with Small Lady. She didn't want to be alone so he offered to stay until she fell asleep."
"You didn't want to stay with her, too?" Ami asked from where she was laying on a small sofa. A bandage covered a large gash on her forehead, a souvenir from the day's earlier events.
Serenity frowned and nodded. "Of course I did, but this takes precedence." She ran a hand through her hair, knocking one of her signature buns off center. "I hate that this takes precedence over my daughter though. Nothing should be more important than her, and yet it seems like everything is."
"Usagi, stop that," Rei ordered, grabbing the queen's hand. "You're the queen now. Stop complaining about things that can't be helped."
"You don't have to be so blunt, Rei," Serenity mumbled.
"Do we have any idea of who could be behind these attacks?" Minako asked, quickly defusing the argument that was certainly coming. "There has to be some clue!"
"I think we're the clues," Ami said, opening her small laptop and typing quickly. "This makes the fourth attack at places where one of us has visited. The library where I was a couple weeks ago; the art store where Hotaru gets her supplies; the clothing boutique last week where you and Rei were shopping; and now the art museum where Mako was. He's creating a pattern of targeting places we go."
"Damon mentioned this pattern earlier. Only this time there was an anomaly in the pattern," Serenity said softly. Four sets of eyes slowly turned to stare at her, dumbfounded. Serenity scowled. "What? I can figure things out now, too."
"You're right," Ami said slowly, typing into her computer. "I must have hit my head harder than I thought."
"Ami!"
The blue haired woman waved an apologetic hand at Serenity. "Sorry, sorry! So he changed his pattern this time, choosing to attack while Mako was inside the building rather than after she had left. As Small Lady has never been to any of the places that have been previously attacked, I don't want to include her in the pattern yet."
"But how would this person know we were going to be in specific places?" Rei asked. "The attacks haven't been on any official locations where we've been, but rather places we went to in our spare time."
"It would have to be someone inside," Minako said softly, lips pursed in thought. "Someone who would have access to our personal schedules."
"Wait," Makoto said, holding up her hands. "Are we suggesting that whoever is behind the attacks is someone on our staffs? I can't imagine accusing any of mine of planning these attacks!"
"I can't either," Serenity said. She sighed and stood, the others following suit. "Let's call it a night. I know you're all exhausted. We'll talk tomorrow morning when we're rested."
"We have a meeting with the new princess in the morning," Rei reminded her.
"Oh yeah," she said. "I don't want to involve her in this so soon. We'll hold off our meeting for now."
"The princess and the guardian survived, sir," the dark figure said, bowing his head apologetically.
"No matter, no matter," a tall man replied. He held his hands out towards the fireplace where a roaring fire burned. "It was never my intention for them to be killed."
"Sir," the figure started hesitantly. "If your intentions are not to kill the Guardian Soldiers and the royal family, why have we been attacking the city?"
The tall man chuckled, patting the other on the back. "Patience, my friend. Patience! This is only the beginning of our message to Neo Queen Serenity. It won't be long now before she understands just what we have been trying to tell her all along."
"Do you remember that time Usagi got drunk?" Minako laughed loudly, wiping a tear from her eye. "She was a disaster that night!"
"Minako!" Serenity hissed, her face flushing. Lena laughed with the other Guardians. What was originally intended to be a short meeting with the queen's Guardian Soldiers had turned into several hours of them reminiscing and teasing one another.
"Usagi, that's your fourth piece," Luna sighed as Serenity reached for the tray of coffee cake.
"You know," Ami said, putting her own plate down. "As you age your metabolism slows down, making it harder to lose the weight you put on from eating."
"And you're not getting any younger," Makoto pointed out.
Serenity paused, the slice of cake inches from her mouth. She looked down at herself and shrugged. "I'm the same size I was when I was 18."
"For now," Rei teased, poking Serenity in the stomach. She stuck her tongue out at her friend and took a large bite of the cake.
"Mamo will love me no matter what size I am," she said, her mouth full.
"Usagiā¦" Luna groaned as the table erupted into laughter.
"Lena," Ami said. "Michiru tells me you enjoy going to university and have a few degrees. What are they in?"
"I don't know if I 'enjoy' university," Lena said with a nervous laugh. "But I have three different degrees in art, advanced degrees in literature, history, and economics, and a very obscure degree in automotive engineering."
"Automotive engineering?" Minako asked, raising an eyebrow.
Lena frowned. "Haruka's influence. I'm still not sure what made me agree to that one."
"You're still working on a degree now, right?" Makoto asked. Lena nodded. "Are you going to be able to finish?"
"I-" Lena paused, her brow furrowing in thought. How am I going to be able to finish?
"Don't worry," Ami said brightly. "Once the coronation is over and you're settled, I'll be happy to start a study group with you!"
A collective groan came from the table. "Ami!"
Michiru placed a hand through the crook of Haruka's arm as they walked past the shop windows. They had dropped Lena off at the Crystal Palace hours ago, enjoying their afternoon off together.
"Cold?" Haruka asked. The sun was shining brightly but the temperature had dropped as the day grew longer. Michiru shook her head as something caught her eye. She came to a sudden stop in front of the shop's window, jerking Haruka backwards as her eyes widened at the window's display display.
"That's it," she whispered, leaning her head against Haruka's shoulder.
"Huh?" Haruka peered into the window of a jewelry shop. Sitting on a display surrounded by glittering jewelry was a yellow diamond ring. It was simple, its oval stone set into gold. "Yellow's not really your color. Besides," she added, tapping just below Michiru's collarbone where a ring with a rather large diamond hung from a thin chain. "You already got one, remember?"
"Silly Haruka," Michiru laughed, leaning up to kiss her fiancee. "Not for me; for you."
"But- I don't-" Haruka stammered as Michiru pulled her into the jewelry store. "Michiru!"
"It would be so simple, wouldn't it?" a soft voice whispered into a woman's ear. "No one would ever blame you."
The woman stood in her living room, staring down at the sleeping figure of her husband on the sofa. His light snores were the only sound in the room. Her body trembled with fear as she glanced down at the knife in her hand.
"There's nothing to be afraid of my dear," the voice said again, soothing her trembles. "He was never a good husband to you, working late, always so unappreciative. Think of all that you gave him, all that you gave up for him. This would make everything right."
She raised the knife into the air, her arm shaking as she tried to resist the voice.
"Come now," the voice whispered. "You'll be free."
With a tiny cry, the knife came down.
AN: Well, that took a darker turn than I had originally expected! I love an evil mysteriously bad guy! Thanks for reading!
