Chapter 2: Star Maker
At the Sailor Senshi meeting, they had discussed their new enemy, Princess Lollipop, and also the issue of the Zodiac Senshi awakening. They decided that their own successors were probably going to be awakened soon, which is why Kou Taiki showed up at the Crystal Palace the day after the meeting, along with her daughter Kirameki. This was because it was very likely that Nanaka Tsukino, the youngest princess, was likely to inherit the Sailor Star Maker powers.
"But what about me?! Why is she going to be a Senshi first?!" Hikari Tsukino complained when she heard the news. She was the middle Tsukino sister, and she had always hoped that she would be a Sailor Senshi like her mother and older sister Chibi-Usa.
"I don't know exactly, but Taiki said that she feels like it's time for Nanaka to become a Senshi. I'm sure you will be one too, but you'll just have to be patient for when that comes," Serenity answered, "Maybe you should come with me and ask Taiki about it. Maybe Kirameki will be there too." That last thing perked up Hikari, and she followed her mother out to the main entrance room. Taiki, Diana and Kirameki were both waiting there, and Taiki was holding a black and lavender wand in her hand.
"Hi, Kirameki! I'm glad you're here, even if I don't get to be a Senshi yet!" Hikari exclaimed happily, and the two girls embraced romantically.
"Hello, Serenity. I assume you know why I have come here?" Taiki asked, getting straight to business.
"Of course. Please come inside, and I'll find Nanaka. I think she was in her room, the last I knew," Serenity said. Nanaka certainly was in her room, having an online email chat about school with Himeko Kaiou, Michiru's younger daughter. As it was April, they were both starting their 2nd year of elementary school, and Nanaka was excited about all the new things to learn and friends to meet.
"Hi, Mommy! Is Taiki here?" Nanaka asked, hearing her mother come in.
"Yes, she is. As I told you earlier, she is going to pass on her Sailor Star Maker powers to you. Do you remember what I told you about when I was Sailor Moon? It'll be like that," Serenity explained.
"I know, I read the book Daddy gave me about the Sailor Senshi, the one Hotaru wrote. I actually LIKE learning, unlike you," Nanaka teased.
"I'm sure Taiki will like to here that, she always seemed to be interested in books and learning too," Serenity said with a smile. All three of her daughters seemed to be smarter than she was, but that only made her prouder of them. Nanaka and Serenity went back to the main hallway, where Hikari and Kirameki were talking to each other. Taiki was watching them quietly.
"Hi, Taiki! Mommy says I'm the same Sailor Senshi as you were!" Nanaka called out.
"You are," Taiki agreed, "This is for you, Sailor Chibi Star Maker." She handed the wand to Nanaka, who took it in her hands. When she did, a lavender heart appeared on her forehead, showing that Taiki's choice was correct.
"Can I show this to Chibi-Usa? I bet she's going to be Sailor Chibi Moon again and we'll be Senshi together!" Nanaka exclaimed happily.
"Of course you can. But I'm not so sure Chibi-Usa IS going to be Sailor Chibi Moon again," Serenity said, sounding rather worried about something.
"What do you mean? She transformed before, right?" Nanaka asked.
"She did. But lately I've had the feeling that Hoshiko Mizuno is my real heir, like she could also become Sailor Chibi Moon. Chibi-Usa may have just been using those powers until now. I suspect she might inherit Endymion's powers, which would mean she's the Senshi of the Earth," Serenity explained, "I haven't told her yet, though, I still have to make sure." As if on cue, Chibi-Usa came into the room.
"Have you seen...Diana! I've been looking all over for you! You're usually really eager to have lunch!" Chibi-Usa exclaimed, half-relieved and half-annoyed.
"I'm sorry, Chibi-Usa. I should've told you I was going to visit Taiki. I left two hours ago and I didn't tell you because you were sleeping in," Diana apologized, "It's time for your sister Nanaka to be a Senshi."
"Taiki gave this to me! I'm going to be Sailor Chibi Star Maker!" Nanaka announced.
"That's great! I heard what happened at Makoto's house, so I kind of guessed that more Senshi would be awakening. I mean, I didn't think that Nozomi and I would be alone," Chibi-Usa said with a smile, "Then when Hikari gets her powers we can all be Senshi together and Akimi will stop worrying that we need to be protected."
"What's that thing behind you?" Nanaka suddenly asked, pointing to a spot behind Chibi-Usa's back. Chibi-Usa spun around and saw a red-haired girl appear in a flash of pale blue light.
"She's one of our enemies! She's dressed just like the girl who attacked Makoto and Nozomi!" Diana shrieked.
"You got that right, you little kitty. I'm Cookies n' Cream and I'm here to defeat you Sailor Senshi so you can get out of my leader's way. You COULD just step aside and let her take the Silver Crystal, if you wanted to avoid fighting me," the girl said with a smirk.
"Why would we do that?! Maker Sparkle Power, Make Up!" Nanaka yelled, holding up her new wand. Lavender lights swirled out of it and her clothes turned into an outfit that looked like the one Taiki used to wear as Sailor Star Maker, only it was Nanaka's size.
"Please, Mama, if you have my old brooch, I need to use it!" Chibi-Usa begged, not wanting to be left helpless.
"I don't know if you'll be able to use it again, but you can try," Serenity said. She started to hand the brooch to Chibi-Usa, but an ice shard from Cookies n' Cream knocked the brooch out of her hand. It clattered across the floor, away from its former owner.
"Don't steal my sister's powers from her! Star Primoridial Ooze!" Chibi Star Maker yelled. She spun around and then flung a giant ball of purple slime at Cookies n' Cream, who tried unsuccessfully to dodge.
"AAAAAH! You burned me, you little brat!" Cookies n' Cream screamed, it was obvious that the slime had a property that made it sting the victim's skin.
"Of course I did! You think I'm going to just LET you take Mommy's crystal?!" Chibi Star Maker retorted. Meanwhile Chibi-Usa took the chance to grab her brooch, since Cookies n' Cream was distracted.
"Moon Crisis, Make Up!" she called, but nothing happened. "Did I say the right thing? Um...Moon Prism Power, Make Up!"
"What's wrong with you? How come you can't transform like your little sister? I was hoping for a more exciting fight, but..."
"Star Primordial Ooze!" Chibi Star Maker shouted, interrupting Cookies n' Cream, who was hit by another ball of purple slime. "You want a fight, I'm the Senshi here!"
"No, Nanaka! Please don't fight alone! I'm sure it'll work! Maybe I just have to imitate what you said! Moon Sparkle Power, Make Up!" Chibi-Usa tried again, this time trying to mimic Nanaka's transformation phrase. Unfortunately, that didn't work either, and the battle was starting to turn in Cookies n' Cream's favor, since she had managed to fling several large balls of ice at Sailor Chibi Star Maker. Chibi Star Maker dodged a few of them, but others hit her, the barrage knocking her to the floor.
"You'll make a great popsicle for Princess Lollipop," Cookies n' Cream said with a smirk as she aimed a beam of pale blue energy at Chibi Star Maker's feet. Ice began to form around them, creeping up her ankles and moving on to her legs. Both Chibi-Usa and Neo-Queen Serenity tried to charge at Cookies n' Cream, but she shot two blasts of energy at them, ice forming over their hands and then creeping over their wrists.
"Why couldn't I transform, Mama? Can't you do something? Can't you use the Silver Crystal even if it's in the throne room?" Chibi-Usa whimpered as she sank to her knees, unable to free her arms from the ice.
"I don't know, Small Lady, but I'll try," Serenity said nervously.
"It's in the throne room? Thanks!" Cookies n' Cream chirped happily. She started to run towards the hallway so she could look for the throne room, but a sharp-stemmed rose suddenly flew by, slashed her face, and landed sticking up out of the floor in front of her. Angered, she produced another ice ball and spun around, looking for who had attacked her. King Endymion was standing in the doorway, dressed in his old Tuxedo Mask outfit.
"Popsicles are sweet treats meant to cheer people up on hot days. They are not meant to be used as weapons," he said pompously, and then he threw three more roses. Like swift daggers, they shattered the ice traps that held Serenity, Chibi-Usa and Sailor Chibi Star Maker, freeing them.
"It's Tuxedo Mask!" Chibi-Usa and Serenity squealed, pleasantly surprised.
"You broke my ice with roses?! ROSES?! I'll freeze your stupid roses!" Cookies n' Cream snapped. She held up the ice ball and was ready to throw it when Chibi Star Maker slammed a punch into her back. She fell to the floor and was about to get back up to fight when she heard a voice in her head. It was Princess Lollipop, calling for her to come back.
"She worries about me too much," Cookies n' Cream muttered, but she teleported out anyway, disappearing in a flash of pale blue energy. Chibi-Usa sighed with relief, and then with disappointment. Why couldn't she transform anymore?
"Where's Hikari and Taiki? They didn't get to see my first battle," Nanaka pouted as she detransformed. As if on cue, a door in the hallway opened and Hikari burst out of it angrily.
"Why didn't you let me fight, Taiki?! Why did you lock me and Kirameki in the media room with you?!" she shouted.
"Because you're not a Senshi yet and would be a liability in battle. You would just be one more person your sister would have to protect," Taiki explained coolly.
"But both of my sisters got to be Senshi and I didn't! And I'm the best at fighting!" Hikari whined.
"That's not true," Chibi-Usa said sadly, "I had to be rescued. I think I've lost my powers as Sailor Chibi Moon.