"What did you think of Lena?" Serenity asked as she walked down the hall of the palace with Rei and Minako.

"She was nice," Rei said.

"I like her," Minako agreed. "I think she'll do well."

"I still don't understand why Michiru is stepping down," Rei said with a frown. "She seems to have too much honor to give up like that."

"I agree," Minako said. "If either of them stepped down I figured it would be Haruka."

"No," Serenity said softly. "She'd never admit it, but Haruka loves being Princess Uranus. She's a natural leader; I think being princess has only helped her to grow as one. Michiru…" she trailed off, exhaling gently as she thought of how to continue. "Michiru explained to me that she loves her people and wants to serve them, but as their princess she isn't able to be the Outer Soldier she's always been. We all know that the Outer Courts are a bit more high maintenance than the Inner Courts, especially with the princesses being the heads of court. I understand her woes of not being able to be the Soldier her heart still tells her she is."

"Usagi…" Minako said, taking her friend's hand. "Just because you can't transform anymore doesn't mean you will ever stop being Sailor Moon."

"Yeah," Rei chimed in, taking Serenity's other hand. "Your heart has always been what made you Sailor Moon, not just your powers."

"Thanks guys," Serenity said. Her eyes began to water. She patted her pockets, searching for her handkerchief.

Sighing, Rei handed hers to Serenity. "Some things never change."

"Small Lady!"

The three women turned to see Serenity's pink-haired daughter running down the hall in her night gown. Behind her chased a harried looking Ami.

"Mama!" Small Lady exclaimed, throwing her arms around her mother's legs. Ami caught up to them, her breath coming in shallow pants.

"For someone so small she runs so fast," she said as she tried to catch her breath. Serenity gently pulled her daughter away from her legs and held her back a few spaces.

"Aren't you supposed to be getting ready for bed?" she asked sternly. "I told you it was time for bed an hour ago. Why are you still up, and worse running through the halls, making Ami chase you?"

Small Lady's lip trembled and she looked down at her feet. Serenity raised her eyes heavenward before kneeling next to her daughter. She took Small Lady's chin between her fingers, gently lifting her head until their eyes met.

"I expect you to mind me when I tell you to do something," she said, trying to keep her voice even. The tears in her daughter's eyes made it hard not to hug her tightly and forget the scolding. "You will apologize to Ami and go straight to bed. Do you understand?"

The small girl nodded, swiping at her nose. Serenity used Rei's handkerchief to wipe a tiny tear from the corner of her daughter's eyes, placed a kiss on her forehead, and gently pushed her towards Ami. With a small wink in Serenity's direction, Ami took Small Lady's hand. As they retreated down the hall, Serenity heard her daughter's small voice, apologizing profusely to Ami. When they had disappeared around the corner, Serenity's head dropped to her chest.

"Why is being a mother so hard?" she wailed. "She's always been this way! I think she does this on purpose just to upset me!"

"Usagi, she's two!" Minako laughed.

"Two hundred," Serenity corrected through clenched teeth. Rei patted her on the shoulder.

"Just think: only seven hundred more years to go until she finally starts growing up!"


Lena leaned against the dressmaker's windowsill. It was raining. For nearly a week the sky had stayed grey and gloomy, raining for hours at a time. Outside the colors were washed together in muted browns and greys and greens; occasionally a burst of color would appear as someone walked by carrying a colorful umbrella.

Behind her was a flurry of commotion as the dressmaker put the final touches on her dresses for the coronation and the coronation ball. The coronation dress, she had been told, was an exact replica of the dress Michiru wore a millennium ago when she became Princess Neptune. The gold dress was slender, with panels of ivory satin draped from the shoulders creating a train. Dark aquamarines lined the top of the neckline with deep gold threads weaving a pattern down the bodice and the floor length skirt.

It was heavy to wear. Lena felt as if she gained twenty pounds just slipping it over her head. She still had to add the royal Neptune diadem and crest, which she had only seen in pictures. They looked heavy as well.

Her ballgown was, thankfully, much lighter. The dressmaker had honored Lena's requests for a more simplistic gown, despite her mother's objections.

"Lena?" Aneko called. "Come away from the window. Maya is ready to do the final fitting."

With a sigh, Lena pushed away from the window and allowed the seamstress to usher her into a dressing room.

"Come on now," Maya said cheerfully as she held the dress open for Lena to step in. "Last fitting and we'll be finished!" She pulled the dress up, lacing the stays in the back. When Lena was cinched in, Maya gently pushed her to the room's mirrors, motioning for her to stand on the small stool centered in front of them.

"Do you think the shoulders need to be a little higher?" Aneko asked as she and Maya gazed at the dress.

"I don't think so," Maya replied. She reached up and pulled Lena's shoulders back. "You'll just need to stand straighter. They'll be high enough on their own that way!"

"Of course," Lena muttered. She glared at her reflection in the mirror. There was no question she looked the part of a princess now. She just didn't feel like one. She was an imposter, wearing the clothing of the real princess.

~ Crystal Tokyo, 150 years prior ~

"Do you ever think you'll tire of it?" Lena asked, a hand stacked under her head as she lay on the sofa.

"Hm?" Michiru murmured, staring at her mirror. Lena rolled onto her side, frowning at her cousin.

"Do you always have to stare at yourself in that thing?"

Michiru set the mirror down and stared sternly at her. "That 'thing' as you call it is my talisman and has helped me in more ways than you'll ever know. I'm not staring at myself, but am trying to read something. Now, what are you asking if I'll ever tire of?"

"Being the princess. Being Sailor Neptune."

"Lena, can you really tire of who you were destined to be? Of who you've always been?" Michiru asked softly. Lena returned to her back and sighed.

"I'm sure that you can."

"Lena, try not to look so sullen," her mother chided, catching her eyes in the mirror. "You'll never attract a husband that way."

Lena sighed. "Really, Mother? Are we back at this again?"

"Your coronation ball will be one of the biggest events of the season, Lena. It will be a perfect opportunity to meet the men who will become your peers. There are quite a lot of available young men who would be a very advantageous match for you."

Lena covered her face with her hands and let out a cry frustration. "I think I need more pins," Maya said with an awkward laugh. "I'll be right back!"

"Mother, I don't want to hunt for a husband at the ball," Lena argued after the door had closed behind the seamstress.

"Don't be ridiculous, Lena," her mother scoffed. "I'm just saying this will be a good chance to meet men, not marry the first man you dance with. I want to see you happy."

"I am happy!" Lena cried, throwing her hands in the air.

"Could have fooled me," her mother muttered, giving Lena a sideways glance. "There is also the matter of needing an heir. You can't be the last Neptune heir, you know."

Lena let out another cry of frustration.

"Lena?" a voice called. Lena and her mother turned to the door and saw a blonde head poking in.

"Princess Venus," Aneko said, giving the woman a formal bow. "It's good to see you."

"Hello, Lady Aneko," Minako said, coming all the way into the room. "I hope I'm not interrupting."

"You are! Thank you!" Lena said, hopping off the stool.

"Lena!" Aneko hissed, her cheeks darkening. Minako covered her mouth, hiding the tiny smile that grew.

"Rei and I were just about to head to the Crystal Palace. We have some documents to discuss and wanted you to join us," Minako explained. "Do you think you'd be able to come?"

"Of course!" Lena replied, moving to the dressing room. Aneko grabbed her wrist, giving Minako a questioning look.

"What type of documents? I'm sure Lena would be fine looking at them, but it might be better for Michiru to be present as well."

Minako waved her hands in front of her face, giving a nervous giggle. "Oh, no, it's nothing important like that. Just some things we had been discussing the other day when we met with Lena and we wanted to continue further."

Aneko dropped Lena's wrist and nodded. "Of course," she said. "I just wanted to make sure we didn't overstep anything before Lena is officially princess."

Lena rolled her eyes and went into the dressing room, quickly changing into her clothes. After draping the dress over a table and agreeing to meet her mother later for tea, Lena followed behind Minako.

A car was waiting outside the dressmaker's shop. The driver opened the door and Lena slid in after Minako. Rei was already seated inside.

"I was beginning to wonder if you got lost, Minako," she said with a grin. Minako laughed.

"Lena and her mother were having a special moment," she said, winking at Lena. "I didn't want to interrupt!"

"You mean you wanted to eavesdrop," Rei corrected. The car started up and the driver pulled away from the curb, starting towards the Palace.

"I don't know if I'd call it a 'special moment,'" Lena said, frowning. "More like a repeat of the same argument Mother and I have had for many, many years. Luckily Minako came in just as Mother was about to start in on the 'you need an heir' part of the argument."

"I understand, I understand," Rei and Minako both said, nodding understandingly.

"Lady Aneko is…" Minako trailed off, considering her next words.

"A pain in the-"

"Traditional!" Rei jumped in, cutting Lena off. Lena laughed and shook her head.

"Yes, Mother is very traditional. She likes to remind me that traditionally members of our family are married by my age. Thank goodness my dad is opposed the notion of a young marriage, otherwise Mother would have married me off to the first boy who asked me to a school dance!"

Rei and Minako burst into laughter. "Lady Aneko has a good heart," Rei said when they had finished laughing. "I've always admired her poise and diplomacy, but I admit she can be incredibly rigid at times. She and your father are going to make interesting advisors, if Michiru's stories about them are to be believed."

"Oh, they are," Lena muttered.

"At least your court advisor isn't a cat," Minako pointed out. "Artemis has become even more of a stickler for propriety these days."

"Artemis is perfectly fine and you know it," Rei argued. "He's always been good to you."

"Yeah, yeah," Minako said, smiling. "He has his moments, but he's better than your birds."

"Birds?" Lena asked, confused. Rei groaned.

"Phobos and Deimos, my once-crows-now-girls advisors."

"They're a bit flighty," Minako whispered loudly to Lena. She burst into laughter as Rei groaned at Minako's joke.


Michiru's reflection stared back at her, frowning. Everything looked wrong. Her hair refused to lay right. The shade of lipstick she had swiped on stood out too much. Even her favorite green earrings weren't sparkling like they normally did.

"What is it?" Haruka asked. Michiru caught her eyes in the mirror and shook her head.

"Something doesn't feel right about today. I've had a bad feeling about the coronation."

Haruka gently turned Michiru around so they were facing and pushed a lock of hair back. "Are you having second thoughts?"

"No, nothing like that," Michiru said with a slight frown. "The sea was calm when I woke up this morning. The reflection in my mirror was bright. There isn't anything that I've observed that tells me this, but I feel that something unfavorable will happen today."

Haruka stared silently at her, at a loss for words. With a small shrug Michiru turned back to the mirror and began fussing with her hair again. A knock came from the front door and, with a frown, Haruka left her in the bathroom to answer it.

"Lady Aneko," Haruka said, surprised. Aneko smiled in return, her hands clasped tightly in front of her. Although her long cranberry colored coat covered her from neck to ankle, Haruka guessed that Aneko was on her way to the coronation and this was merely a slight detour.

"Hello, Haruka," she said, giving the woman a small hug. Haruka awkwardly patted Aneko on the back, shocked by the older woman's display of affection. "I'm happy you will be with Michiru at today's events. It means a great deal to our family."

"Th-thank you," Haruka stuttered, closing the door behind Aneko. "I'm looking forward to seeing Lena today. I know she'll do well."

Aneko nodded, smiling warmly. "Thank you. I believe she will. Is Michiru here?"

"She's getting dressed," Haruka said, pointing towards Michiru's room. "Should I go get her?"

"Would you?"

Haruka gently knocked on Michiru's door and poked her head inside. She was standing in front of a full length mirror now, fastening a necklace behind her neck. "Can I help?"

Michiru turned and shook her head. "I've got it."

"Your aunt is here."

"Oh, good." Michiru went to her tall dresser and opened the middle drawer, pulling out a wooden box. As she walked past Haruka, she bumped her playfully with her hip. "Go get dressed. You can't show up at Lena's coronation in your bathrobe."

Aneko was staring wistfully at a small framed photo when Michiru walked into the room. "You and Lena were such beautiful children, but you gave Colm and me a devil of a time," she said, setting the picture of a younger Michiru and Lena back on the table. She chuckled softly. "You both still do most days."

"You wouldn't have it any other way though," Michiru said. She hugged her aunt tightly. When she pulled back she saw tears glittering in her aunt's eyes. With a quick shake of her head, Aneko's spine straightened and she reached into her coat pocket.

"I brought something for you, dear," she said, holding out a small black box. Michiru took it and lifted the hinged lid. A glittering blue diamond bracelet sat in the satin lined box. Her eyes darted to her aunt's.

"What is…" she trailed off.

"Your mother gave this to me the day of her coronation. Our father had given it to her for her sixteenth birthday and she wore it nearly every day for years. But just before her coronation, she slipped it off and clasped it around my wrist. She said she didn't want to be the only one receiving jewels that day."

"Aunt Aneko," Michiru whispered. She gingerly touched the bracelet. A dull pain clenched her heart as the memory of her mother appeared in her mind. "Thank you."

Aneko nodded slightly. "You're welcome. Your mother's words echoed in my head this morning. I thought it an appropriate gift for today."

"This means a lot to me." Michiru hugged her aunt again, squeezing her tightly. "And now, I have something for you. Or, rather, for Lena."

She picked up the wooden box she had brought into the room with her and handed it to her aunt. Aneko hugged it to her, smiling at it.

"It's all in there," Michiru said.

"Thank you," Aneko replied. She glanced at the mantle clock, her eyes widening slightly as she saw the time. "Oh dear, I need to be going. We'll see you at the cathedral in an hour. Don't be late," she added sternly, giving Michiru a pointed glare. She laughed and opened the door for her aunt. Some things will never change.


Michiru stood behind the closed cathedral doors, waiting for her cue to enter. As the former princess she would enter alone just before Lena entered with her parents. She glanced down at her Deep Aqua Mirror, blue eyes staring back at her. A ghost of green flashed in the mirror. Michiru frowned. That had been happening frequently over the past few days. She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to steady her nerves.

"Today will be okay," she whispered, dropping her hands, the mirror hanging lightly at her side. The sound of trumpets blaring signaled it was time for her to enter. Easing her shoulders back, she stood tall and stepped forward as the doors opened.

Hundreds of guests bowed their heads respectfully as she walked down the aisle. Seated at the front of the catherdal were Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion. While the king looked as stoic as ever, Michiru could tell the queen was holding back a wide grin. Her lips turned up slightly, fighting her own smile as she sank into a low bow before them.

"Everything alright?" Haruka whispered against her ear as Michiru took her place next to her. She nodded and grabbed Haruka's hand, giving it a squeeze.

The cathedral doors opened once more. Haruka and Michiru both strained to see over the audience as Lena began moving forward. Her parents, as the Neptune court advisors, preceded her, bowing low before the queen and king before taking their places next to Michiru.

"She looks radiant," she heard her aunt whisper. Michiru agreed wholeheartedly. Lena's curled hair had been pinned up with braided strands of gold intricately woven through her hair. It was more green than it had been the last time Michiru had seen her; although Lena's dark brown roots were still there, her deep aquamarine natural locks had been combed back in. Aunt Aneko must have gotten to her with the comb, Michiru thought with a quiet snicker.

Lena sank deeply in front of the queen and king, her golden dress pooled around her. Michiru remembered wearing almost the exact same dress and inwardly cringed as she remembered nearly tipping over from the weight of the dress as she rose. Lena executed it with perfection.

"Lena Colman, Neptune Heir Apparent," Serenity announced. Lena stood, her hands folded in front of her as she bowed her head. "Will you swear to uphold the laws and traditions of the Neptune court, and to uphold those same of Crystal Tokyo? Will you swear to do all in your power to allow justice and mercy to be used in all of your judgments, and will you swear to lead with the strength, courage, and wisdom of those who have come before you?"

Lena raised her head, her shoulders straightening. "I solemnly swear so to do."

King Endymion stepped forward, lifting a gold pendant from a stand near the dais. The Neptune crest, with its symbol surrounded by waves, hung from a glittering gold and jeweled chain. He smiled warmly at Lena as he placed it over her head, the pendant settling at her breastbone.

With a small inhale, Michiru walked to the stand. She caught Lena's eye and gave her a tiny wink. The wooden box she had given earlier to her aunt sat on the stand. Inside was the Neptune diadem. Gold and encrusted with pearls, five aquamarines sat on each of its points. Michiru lifted the piece and turned to her cousin, who lowered her head as the diadem was placed upon her. Lena raised her head, a small smile on her lips. Michiru leaned forward and placed a small kiss on Lena's cheek.

"I present to you, good people of Crystal Tokyo," Serenity announced as Lena turned to face the crowd. "Lena, Princess Neptune."

A sharp pain hit Michiru in the chest as Lena took a step forward. She raised a hand to her, pressing against the burning sensation growing inside her. From the corner of her eye she saw Haruka step towards her, but she waved her back. Inhaling a shaky breath, Michiru straightened and forced a smile onto her face.


She smiled broadly as Lena passed her, holding out her fingers to brush against the ivory satin of the princess's dress. The coronation had been splendid, a once in a lifetime event. She scowled at that thought. Words began to echo in her head. No one should reign forever. She turned to the front of the chapel, her scowl growing tighter as she watched Neo Queen Serenity lean her head against her husband. No one should should reign forever, indeed.


An hour later Lena found herself alone in a small chamber off the cathedral's sanctuary. Her new diadem dangled in her hand, its weight becoming too heavy at the moment. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back. The movement was too much for the headache that had suddenly arisen at the end of the coronation.

A gilt framed mirror hung over a marble topped table. Lena stood in front of it, leaning up on her toes as she inspected herself in the mirror. There wasn't a single mark on her face to explain the burning sensation on her forehead.


AN: Whew, this one took longer than I'd expected! LUCKILY... I'm a good bit into the next chapter, so that should be up (hopefully) soon. It's crazy how long it takes to get someone to the place where they need to be so something can happen! But what will happen now that Lena is Princess Neptune? Who is causing all this havoc in Crystal Tokyo? Where are the fight scenes? When will there be some kissing? Did Small Lady ever go to bed?! Tune in next time to find out! And, as always, thanks for reading!