Chapter 3: Earth

"How could you lose your powers? Isn't that why you went to the past to train, because you would eventually be a real Sailor Senshi someday? You mean, even after training, you're not going to be a Senshi after all?" Hikari asked, horrified. How could Chibi-Usa just lose her powers like that? "I KNEW you should've had me go instead! Why didn't you choose me, Mom?!"

"Because we felt you were too young at the time, and Small Lady was the one I remembered visiting me in the past. So it would've contradicted time to have sent someone other than her," Serenity explained.

"Small Lady, you didn't lose the ability to become a Sailor Senshi. However, you will not be Sailor Chibi Moon. Instead, you are going to be my successor, Sailor Earth," Endymion said. "It's not quite time yet, but when it's time, Diana will create your transformation device like she did for Nanaka today." Chibi-Usa sighed with great relief.

"So I really will be a Sailor Senshi? But if I'm not Sailor Chibi Moon, then who is?" she asked.

"I think Ami's daughter Hoshiko, but I'm not quite sure yet. But you trained in the past for a reason, Small Lady. You definitely are destined to be a Sailor Senshi, even if you're not Sailor Chibi Moon," Serenity said. After hearing that, Chibi-Usa's mood lightened considerably. The Tsukino sisters had a peaceful, fun time visiting with Kirameki and Taiki that evening, and Chibi-Usa went to bed happy, feeling confident that her training in the past had not been useless.

The next morning, Chibi-Usa woke up feeling like there was a warm weight on her chest. When she opened her eyes, she found herself staring right at Diana's face.

"EEEEEK! Diana! Don't startle me like that! Why are you staring at me so fiercely?! Did I oversleep?!" she shrieked.

"Sorry, Small Lady. I just wanted to wake you up because it's finally time. You were so eager for it yesterday, I thought you would want to know right away," Diana said.

"Eager for what?" Chibi-Usa asked, confused at first, but then she remembered. The reason she couldn't transform wasn't because she had lost the ability to be a Sailor Senshi. It was because she was Sailor Earth now, although she was still unsure why or how her Senshi powers had changed, or why someone else would be Sailor Chibi Moon instead of her.

"Being a Sailor Senshi, of course! I'm ready to make your wand now, Endymion's going to help," Diana answered cheerfully.

"Okay. I'm still confused about why I'm Sailor Earth instead of Chibi Moon and why someone else is Chibi Moon instead of me, but I do want to be a Senshi again," Chibi-Usa said, getting out of bed. Endymion opened the door somewhat cautiously. He had assumed Chibi-Usa was awake, since he had heard her shriek, but he also didn't want to barge in on her. Diana began glowing as she concentrated, and the glow shrunk, a black Earth symbol appearing on her forehead. Endymion touched it, and the glow jumped to his finger. There was a flash of light, and a black wand topped with a red crystal formed and then clattered to the floor. Chibi-Usa took it gratefully, feeling like it was meant for her, even though she still wasn't sure why.

"Small Lady, we suspect the reason you were Sailor Chibi Moon when you were training is because you gave yourself the power of the Moon temporarily. Even when the Silver Crystal wasn't in your body, the effect lingered for quite awhile, and masked your true Senshi identity until after you returned from your training in the past. Now that the Chibi Senshi and the Zodiac Senshi are awakening, your true Senshi identity has emerged," Neo-Queen Serenity explained, "At least, that's the theory that Endymion and Luna have."

"You mean like when I tried to use the Silver Crystal and the Black Moon family attacked?" Chibi-Usa realized.

"Exactly. Unfortunately, there's no real way to test it, but it's the best guess we have so far," Endymion said.

"Oh well, at least I'll be able to defend myself if one of those girls comes back to steal the Silver Crystal again. And I'll be able to protect everyone at Crystal University, too," Chibi-Usa said happily, finding that she was relieved to find that she could still be a Sailor Senshi. After having spent her life expecting to follow in her mother's footsteps, it had been frightening to find herself suddenly powerless just when a new enemy had appeared.

"Speaking of that, you have plenty of time to get ready this morning. Diana was just excited, you didn't oversleep," Serenity said, "You know, I'm really proud of you, Small Lady. You're on your final year at Crystal University...I never even went to college! I'm sure you'll pass your Art major with flying colors, literally, even. And now you've graduated to become a full Sailor Senshi."

"Why are you gushing over me like that?! Are you THAT impressed that I'm not late for school, Mama?!" Chibi-Usa asked, surprised.

"It's not just that. I'm just so relieved you got your powers back. For a while there, I was afraid that you would be left defenseless, right when a new enemy is trying to steal the Silver Crystal and turn everyone into candy. I like candy, but I don't want to BE a candy and get eaten! And I wouldn't want YOU to be eaten, either. So I'm just glad that you will be able to defend yourself again," Neo-Queen Serenity admitted, "It's not that I think that you should be forced to be a Sailor Senshi, I know that days of peace are preferable and a lot more fun. And I know very well how scary it is to have to be the one to defend everyone else. But I also know that you've lived your life expecting to be a Sailor Senshi and those enemies ARE targeting you, or at least the Silver Crystal, and...you know what I mean, right? I don't want you to die or get hurt or have to sacrifice yourself, but I don't want you to be powerless when I know that you're going to probably be attacked again."

"It's okay, Mama. I'm proud to be Sailor Earth. You don't have to worry about me being upset at you and Papa. If I'm going to be the future Queen, then I'm going to protect this world myself, along with the other new Sailor Senshi. Why would I be upset at you? Would you want me to hate being a Sailor Senshi?" Chibi-Usa asked, confused as to what Serenity was saying.

"No, I just didn't want you to feel like we were pressuring you to get yourself hurt or feel like we didn't care what happened to you," Serenity said, "I don't ever want you to feel unloved again, not after what happened with the Wiseman."

"It's okay. I learned from that experience. Thank you, Papa, for choosing me to be your successor. I'll try to be the best Sailor Earth I can," Chibi-Usa said. She then headed for the palace dining room, with her parents following behind her. She had heard that the palace chefs were going to be making American-style chocolate chip muffins that morning, and she wanted to have at least one. The Queen was also eager for the treat, since as much as she and Chibi-Usa had both grown up, almost nothing would diminish their love of sweets. As the three of them neared the dining room, they heard shouts and screams, and a loud, clanging crash that sounded like something metal being thrown against the floor. Chibi-Usa and Serenity peeked into the dining room, unsure if this was an enemy attack or if it was something more mundane. They were greeted by a wave of very hot, liquid chocolate that slammed them backward into the hallway.

"AAAAOOWWW! I love chocolate, but not like this! Who did that?!" Serenity shrieked, running back to the door in anger. She then fell back again as Nanaka, in her Sailor Chibi Star Maker form, crashed into her.

"Mommy!" Chibi Star Maker exclaimed in surprise, "Tell the other Senshi! One of the new enemies is here, and she's powerful!"

"Let's leave and find reinforcements. We would only be in our daughters' way," Endymion said, pulling Serenity to her feet. She understood, and they hurried off.

"I can help this time. Earth Prism Power, Make Up!" Chibi-Usa yelled, holding up her new wand. Black ribbons and red rose petals swirled out of it, dressing her in a black Senshi outfit that sported red bows. On her feet were black high heels that had ankle straps, similar in style to the ones Sailor Venus wore.

"Please let me defeat you. I just want my Princess to be happy," pleaded a girl that Sailor Earth didn't recognize. She had peach-colored hair up in a bun, and a pair of glasses over her eyes. She also was wearing a frilly purple dress that was partially covered in Chibi Star Maker's slime.

"No way are we going to let you and your princess turn the world into a giant candy! Not if it means killing everyone and letting her EAT them! Passionate Rose Darts!" Sailor Earth called. She waved her arm and several red roses shot out at the peach-haired girl. The girl tried to dodge, but while a few of the roses missed her, others hit her, piercing her skin like floral arrows.

"Star Primordial Ooze!" Chibi Star Maker added, sending more purple slime at the girl, who collapsed, whimpering in both pain and fear. Hikari appeared, holding a frying pan in her hand.

"Tell us your name, and why you think it's a good idea to turn all the life on Earth into food for your princess. If you don't, I'll hit you again," Hikari threatened, raising the frying pan over her head.

"I'm Chocolate Cupcake. And I just want my princess to be happy. I thought everyone loved the idea of living in a candy land. I thought it was a dream that people here had, too," the girl whimpered.

"Not if it means they would get eaten themselves!" Sailor Earth exclaimed, annoyed, "Nor do we appreciate having burning hot chocolate thrown at us!"

"I'm sorry. I just think the world would be better if it was the way my princess wants it to be," Chocolate Cupcake pleaded.

"Would YOU want to be eaten?!" Chibi Star Maker demanded, "Do you want me to demonstrate by biting you?!"

"Not you, but I would let my princess eat me if that made her happy. She is calling me right now. Goodbye, Sailor Senshi. When my princess wants me to, I will come back and get rid of you for her," Chocolate Cupcake said. She shimmered with a purple aura and then disappeared, just like Cookies n' Cream had done