Sailor Moon Aeons.
Book 2: Rebirth.
Act 7: The Senshi of Chaos.
Episode 100: Even more Senshi.

By Razor Knight
Last edited: June 13, 2017

Usagi had been feeling something, in the back of her mind, for the whole morning. It wasn't her 'special' power detecting anything, just... What one would call a hunch. She walked into her house and sighed - everything seemed normal there, so maybe it was just her imagination. "Mom, are you home?"

Ikuko walked out of the kitchen and sighed. "Usagi, there's... A visitor."

"Visitor?" Usagi asked, but then felt it, a surge of energy. She saw a small girl walk to her and flinched. "Who is she?"

"No idea, and she doesn't quite talk, but-"

Luna walked down the stairs. "There's no evil intent in her. Despite the energy you're surely sensing, she doesn't seem to be different than a human toddler."

"Chibi!" the girl squeaked.

Usagi looked at her. "Uh, hi?"

"Chibi!" the girl repeated.

"What's your name, little girl?"

"Chibi Chibi!"

Usagi stared at the small girl. She seemed cute and harmless, but the magic she was sensing- She noticed something, a strange yet familiar feel to that magic. And the girl's looks also gave her an odd feeling. She had her red hair tied in small, heart-shaped buns, something which reminded her of... "ChibiUsa?"

Ikuko heard Usagi say that, and then looked at the girl. "You mean this kid could be-"

"I don't know, and there's only one person who could answer that." She picked the girl up, who didn't protest, and sighed. "I'll go see if I can have a talk with her now. Teleport."

Ikuko blinked as Usagi and the small girl vanished, then looked at Luna. "Is it possible? That small girl being my grand-daughter's..."

Luna noticed Ikuko's mood and sighed. "It's a possibility. A very unlikely one, but we've seen enough impossibles by now to know it shouldn't be discarded. Also, we're not sure ChibiUsa herself won't be back. We thought she wouldn't come back the first time she was around, after all."

"Usagi's face when she saw her... Is that girl really a mage?"

"She has magic energy, but I'm not sure she can use it, she may be too young," Luna said, "the thing is, what I detected was enough to make me doubt I could beat her, if she is a threat to us."

There were some Senshi who had rarely visited the base in the last six months, but this particular Senshi was the one who had visited it the least since it was built. Usagi looked at the older woman. "You wouldn't be here if there wasn't something important you had to tell us."

Setsuna smiled. "I had to wait until those I wanted to speak to were here. I'm going to take the weakest of your group with me for special training. They must be ready for the wars you'll fight in the future."

"The weakest..." Rei looked at Yuichiro and Umino. "Uh, guess you're right, our normal training won't get them to our level anytime soon."

"Will you help us?"

Setsuna smiled at Usagi. "In due time, I will." She looked at the small girl. "And also, I know what you've come here for. Don't let anything happen to that girl, she'll also help us, when the time is right."

"What-"

"You should know I can't answer that," Setsuna said. "I can tell you this much, however. Despite her uncanny resemblance to the Princess, she is not related to her."

Hotaru had been silently looking at the girl, and sighed. "I have to admit I was surprised when I saw her."

"In any case, the sooner we leave, the sooner we'll be back. Kumada, Gurio, whenever you're ready."

Yuichiro walked to Rei and hugged her. "I'm not sure how much this will take, but I'll do my best."

Naru looked at Setsuna. "You could just train them and bring them back right away."

"I'll bring them back at the right time," Setsuna said.

Umino grinned. "Time for a level up!"

"Umino, can't we have a normal farewell?" Naru asked with a groan.

"If you wanted normal, you wouldn't be dating me," Umino said.

Naru hugged him and sighed. "Guess you're right. Good luck."

"I'll try to bring them back in one piece," Setsuna joked, "oh, and I'll be taking someone else soon," she added before the three vanished.

"Uh, what did that mean?" Ami asked.

"She was looking at Usagi," Ami noted. "Still, she should stop doing that, it's quite annoying."

Hotaru chuckled. "That's probably one of the reasons she does it."

"Damn, we forgot to ask her about Galaxia," Rei said.

Nova appeared in the room and looked around. "Oh, there you are."

Usagi saw the way Nova was looking at her. "What's wrong?"

"You lied to Shingo. Why?"

"I didn't-" Usagi stopped and looked at her. "Is this about him 'not wanting' to be a Senshi?"

"Yes. He said you didn't notice he was lying when he said he changed his mind. I don't think that's what happened. You're too good at reading people for something like that to go unnoticed."

Usagi smiled at Nova, despite her friend's tone and stare. "Thank you."

That made Nova's stare turn into a confused one. "Huh? Why?"

"For worrying about him so much. I'm glad you want to protect him, because that's just why I lied to him."

"... I don't follow."

"See, a part of him wants to be a Senshi, have the power to protect you... And me. But there was no- How to say it... When Terry risked turning into Dragon Saturn, I could see something in him, something that told me he was willing to risk his life - willing to take the chance despite the odds. I didn't see that in Shingo. He's full of doubt, scared, there's- There's no spark in him. Much despite myself, and I don't care if you don't like hearing this, we don't need a scared rookie who doesn't even trust himself. It may have worked - barely - back when I was fighting the Dark Kingdom, but... Not with the enemies we're facing now. He'll just get himself killed."

Nova seemed ready to shout at Usagi for a few seconds, but then shook her head. "Damn. I- You're right, Usagi. If he isn't sure he's up to the task, he'll just be in the way."

"Looking back, it was luck that kept us alive back then."

"And luck can turn against you," Terry said. "I think we know about that, eh Hana?"

Nova flinched at that. "Yes, of course." She looked at Usagi and smiled. "I won't tell Shingo what you told me. If a time comes when he's ready, then... I guess you'll know, right?"

"Right," Usagi said.

"I would love to stay, but there's a gang I'm hunting," Nova said, "I'll see you at school."

As Nova vanished, the others could see Usagi had a shocked face. Before they could ask, she chuckled. "I can guess the time will come sooner than I thought."

Terry looked at her, then muttered something in English the others couldn't hear. "So that's what Setsuna's last line meant?"

Usagi saw the girl staring at the base's computer. "Uh, don't touch that."

"Chibi?"

"Just don't, okay?"

"Chibi!" The small girl squeaked, and hugged Usagi's leg.

Rei smirked as Usagi picked the small girl up. "I would doubt that midget can help us at all, but... I can sense the energy in her."

Ami had been using her computer glove and visor to scan the girl. "Her latent power is beyond anything I've seen before. She's got enough power to beat us all."

"Chibi?"

"Good thing you're on our side," Usagi said to the small girl. "You are on our side, right?"

"Chibi!"

"Good."

Terry looked at Usagi. "Wait, you understand that Pokemon?"

Usagi smiled. "No, not at all."

"If she could speak, it would make things easier for us," Rei noted.

"It's never easy for us," Usagi said, "but I know we'll figure out what she's here for, eventually."

That night, Mamoru was standing right outside the Tsukino house. When Usagi opened the door, however, he blinked in awe. "So, this is the girl? What's her name?"

"Chibi Chibi," Usagi said. That was what the girl had said when she asked her name, after all.

Mamoru smiled as he looked at Usagi. "She looks a lot like-"

"Coincidences do exist," Usagi noted. "I'm sorry I didn't get ready for our date, I'll-"

"I don't mind, I'm in love with the girl, not the dress."

Usagi blushed at that. "Just let me give mom this small lady so she can keep an eye on... Her."

Mamoru noticed Usagi's face. "Small Lady, huh?"

"I miss her," Usagi said. "Silly me, right?"

"That's not silly, I miss her too," Mamoru said, "but unless there's something Pluto isn't telling us, we won't see her again for a long time-"

"Chibi!"

Usagi heard the small girl's squeak at the same time she sensed something. "Damn, that woman again."

The white-haired Senshi smiled coldly at them. "Just let me do my job, blonde joke."

Usagi understood what she meant and put Chibi Chibi down before glaring at the woman. "I won't let you touch him. Moon Cosmic Power!"

Mamoru saw Moon shoot an energy blast at the woman, who shrugged it off. Still... "Wait, you didn't-"

"Credit where credit's due," the woman said, "you are strong enough to not need to chant your attack's name. Still, you're not strong enough to hurt me."

Moon didn't say a thing, just rushed forwards, slashing at the woman with her sword. Or, rather, trying to, as the woman clutched her sword with her bare hand and then kicked her back. "Ugh, damn it, you..."

"The fact I'm not allowed to fight you doesn't mean I'll let you nag me for too long, weakling. Just be glad I didn't kick hard enough to break a few ribs." She tossed the sword away, then looked at Mamoru. "Hi there, cutie." She phased next to him and got his seed out. "Damn it, another dud. Galaxia's not going to be happy."

"Star Laser."

The woman was knocked to the ground by an attack, but stood up rapidly, looking in the direction the attack had come from. "You? We killed you!"

"Your merry gang of weaklings was too weak, but we didn't want to face Galaxia herself. That's why we let you think you had killed us."

"I'll just have to make sure you're dead now!" The woman said and shot a blast at whoever she was talking to.

"That's pointless, Iron Mouse," the figure said, walking out of the shadows, "you won't defeat me on your own."

Moon saw the newcomer had a strange suit, a black bra and a skirt that was too short even by Senshi standards - and skin-tight, too. The woman had long boots and gloves, too. Was that a Senshi? "Who are you?"

The new fighter ignored that. "Leave now, Mouse."

Iron Mouse glared at her. "Hmph, if you interfere again, I'll destroy you!"

Moon saw Mouse vanish, and the other girl turn to leave. "Hey, wait! Won't you help me?"

"I'm not here to save your world, human."

So much for her being an ally, Moon thought with a frown. Still... She turned to see Mamoru standing next to her, but instead of a Dragon suit, he was wearing a silver chain mail. "Uh... You were already up?"

Mamoru nodded. "It would be most cowardly to attack an enemy while they're distracted."

Moon had by now figured what his 'evil' name was, and his actions confirmed it. "I see, you're a knight."

"Indeed, I'm Dragon Knight. Are you ready to face me?"

Usagi couldn't help but smile at that. He was still corteous and polite even when turned evil. "I'm going to hate myself for beating you up," she noted.

The 'knight' laughed at that. "It's good that you won't have to hate yourself at all, then."

Okay, so he could also be a bit of a jerk at times...

Ikuko had seen everything from inside the house, along with Kenji, Shingo and Luna. "Luna, won't you help her?"

Luna sighed. "If I see her losing badly, I will. But I think she will get some unexpected help."

Kenji looked around. "Hey, where's Shingo?"

Moon's dodging skills had been put to the test for the last minute, as this Dragon Knight was using a huge sword to try and chop her in half, and swinging it as if it was feather-light. Having to dodge constantly didn't leave her time to gather enough magic to attack him. If only she had her sword, she could-

"Moon Dragon Power!"

Dragon Knight had been about to slash down at Moon again, but stopped mid-slash and jumped back, just as someone hissed by. "Hmph, a squire interrupting a warrior's duel. How rude."

"Politeness is overrated," the new Dragon snapped. "Moon Flash!"

Dragon Knight staggered back, more out of surprise than pain, as the area around them lit up with a light brighter than the sun. "Such cheap tactics..."

Years ago, with something as unexpected as this, Moon would have been unsure of what to do, but once again, her training helped her think quick when she needed to. "Thanks, Shingo," she said before shooting a blast at point blank, which knocked the evil Dragon down. She noticed he was out cold and returned his seed. "I guess I should say 'welcome to the team.'"

"I was scared of-"

"I know," Moon said. "And I understand. I got scared all the time back when I started fighting, but I knew I had the chance to protect those who can't fight against these threats..."

"I still don't know how much I will help, I mean-"

Moon smiled. "There's a way for you to power up 'fast,' but it won't be easy, if what I heard from Haruka and Michiru is true."

"... What is it?"

"Sailor Pluto, the Senshi of Time, is right now training two of the Dragons, who joined up much later than the rest of us."

"Mars and Lilith."

Moon blinked at that. "Yeah... Did you find about that on the net?"

"No, Hana told me."

Mamoru woke up and groaned. "Ouch, my everything hurts."

"Sorry, I had to knock you out," Usagi explained.

"Don't worry, I'm used to it from training." He looked at the new Dragon. "Oh, we got a new Dragon?"

Ikuko walked out of the house right then, followed by Kenji. "I won't say I hadn't wondered about this," the man said, "but I didn't expect you to actually be one of them."

"Hey, if my sister can do it, so can-" Dragon Moon stopped as Moon knocked him down with a leg swipe. "Ow!"

"Your sister's gone through hellish training," Moon noted, "and so will you."

The Dragon was staring up at Moon in awe. "What-"

"When she gets serious, she can be quite scary," Mamoru admitted.

"I'm just preparing him for Pluto."

"You say that like I'm a torturer."

Moon blinked and turned back. "Hi, Setsuna."

"Hi."

"So, you'll start training him right away?"

Pluto looked at Moon. "The sooner he learns how to fight, the sooner he'll be able to help your team."

Ikuko looked at the woman. "No offense, but you look... Too old to be a Senshi."

Pluto smiled. "No offense taken. I'm much older than I look." She then bowed to Ikuko and Kenji. "It's an honor to finally meet the Princess' parents."

Ikuko nodded. "I've been told you don't usually socialize. Nice to meet you... Setsuna, is it?"

"That is my civilian name, even though I don't use it a lot."

Dragon Moon sighed. "Uh, I guess I'll see you later, mom, dad."

"Have fun," Kenji said, sarcastically.

"Yeah... I'm not sure that'll happen."

Pluto smiled. "I'll bring him back soon. Farewell."

Moon sighed and turned back to normal. "I don't envy him. Training with Hakko was hellish, but from what I've heard, she's even worse."

Mamoru looked around, noticing the neighbours had been gathering as they spoke. "You know, if we hurry, we can still watch that movie..."

Usagi wasn't in the mood for fans, so she nodded at him. "Let's go. Teleport."