Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and all its components are the property of Naoko Takeuchi. Apollo is my own creation, and if you wish to use her, please ask me first.

DAYBREAK

Episode 8

Usagi was walking from the temple when she heard someone yell her name. She turned around to see Ami running up to her.

"Usagi, I need you to come to the hospital with me," Ami said. She grabbed Usagi's hand and started pulling her towards the hospital.

"What is this all about?" asked Usagi.

"You'll see…"

"So, what are you going to tell her?" Haruka was very inquisitive about what Kurai would talk to Usagi about.

"Well, I'll just simply explain to her who I am, where I come from, and why I'm here."

"Sounds like a plan to me," Haruka replied. She looked over at Michiru, who was taking a nap in one of the chairs. Kurai noticed at the same time and smiled. Haruka got up and went over to Michiru. She lightly tickled Michiru's nose and the sleeping girl snorted. Kurai started laughing and Haruka left Michiru alone.

"She's close…" Kurai suddenly said. Haruka looked up just in time to see the door burst open and Ami push Usagi into the room.

"What's this all about?!" Usagi looked into the room and noticed Haruka sitting there. She grew nervous and saw Michiru sleeping in the chair. "Um…am I in the right room?"

"Yes, silly." Usagi looked over at the hospital bed and her mouth dropped.

"It's you! Sailor Sun!" she exclaimed.

"I told you we would meet again soon," Kurai reminded, motioning for Usagi to come closer to her. Usagi stood in shock, not able to move. Finally, Ami pushed her and she slowly made her way over to Kurai.

"I guess for obvious reasons I should call you Guardian…" Usagi suddenly remembered what Kurai had said to call her. Haruka lifted her head at the sound of the familiar name and she got a concerned look on her face.

"No. It's time you knew my real name…Kurai." Kurai extended out her right hand, which was bandaged. Usagi grabbed it and shook it gently. She let go and sat down in a chair next to the bed. Ami started to leave and motioned for Haruka to go with her. Haruka didn't notice so Ami woke Michiru up. She got the message right away and went over to Haruka. The inquisitive girl got a quick slap on her shoulder and she reluctantly left the room. Usagi waited until they left until she turned back to Kurai, barely able to speak because of shock.

"First of all, who are you really?" Usagi asked, wanting to get the most nagging question answered first.

"I am your sister, Princess Apollo. We were born 15 minutes apart, me being the older one. In the Silver Millennium, I was your most trusted advisor, protector, and friend. In the future, you, as Neo-Queen Serenity, will name me as the Guardian of the Universe…and Moon family. For now, though, I am only the protector of the Universe and Moon family, just like the Outer Senshi."

"Does that mean you're here to protect me?"

"Yes. You and Small Lady…" Usagi noticed Kurai's use of the same name Setsuna had used. But, she didn't say anything.

"Oh. Well, since we've answered that, where are you from? If you're my sister, how come you haven't been with me all my life?"

"You see, Usagi, I'm not like the rest of you. I'm a bit stronger than the rest of the Senshi, even Sailor Saturn. I had to first learn how to control my powers before I could come and help you. I lived in the Time Warp until I knew how to totally control my powers. Then, I trained until I knew I was ready to come to Earth."

"Have you ever met Sailor Pluto?" Kurai smiled at Usagi's question.

"Yes. She's one of my most trusted friends. Setsuna's the one who helped train me and assisted me in reaching you…"

"How do you know Haruka and Michiru?" Usagi interrupted. She had been confused for a long time as to why the two isolated Senshi were with her sister.

"To make a long story short, I met Haruka first through…a mutual friend," Kurai didn't want to tell Usagi about her being in Haruka's dreams. "Then Haruka introduced me to Michiru and this is the third day I've stayed with them."

"So you've only been here three days? Have you seen Tokyo yet?"

"Yes. Haruka showed me around…"

"Did you go to the temple?"

"Temple? No. We didn't visit a temple. Why?"

"Well, that's where the rest of my friends are right now…too bad you can't go meet them. Wait! I can call them and they can come here!" Usagi couldn't wait for all her friends to meet Kurai.

"Um, maybe some other day, Usagi. Right now I feel a bit tired." Usagi glanced down at Kurai and took a harder look at her wounds. She saw that there were many more than she had first counted. Usagi suddenly felt bad for wanting to tire her sister.

"Okay. Do you want me to go?" Usagi didn't really want to leave, but she thought that Kurai might want to sleep.

"No. Stay with me. It's been so long since I've seen you and had a full conversation with you, Usagi. Too long…"

"What do you mean?"

"Back in the Silver Millennium, we would talk about everything for hours on end. When you were killed and we were all reincarnated, I missed having those long conversations with you. Setsuna was there sometimes, but hardly ever did she have even 5 minutes to speak to me. I also missed seeing your familiar face…and hair." Kurai looked up at Usagi's hair. "Does Rei still call you "Odango Atama"?

"Yeah! She heard Mamoru call me that once and now it's all she calls me, especially when she wants to annoy me!" Kurai laughed and Usagi with her.

"I remember she called you that once and you got so annoyed that you asked me to attack her! I went over and asked her what she did and when she told me, I started laughing. You got so mad!"

"Hey, Kurai, how come you remember so much of the Silver Millennium?" Usagi wondered why she remembered practically nothing and Kurai remembered little details. Kurai became serious and gazed out the window.

"Because, unlike everyone else, I was reincarnated with my memory still intact. I remember every single detail from the Silver Millennium; in other words, besides Setsuna, I am the only link to the past left."

"That must be hard to have to carry around all those memories."

"It is…but it's something I accept. With the privilege of the knowing the past and future come certain responsibilities…"

"What'd you say about the future?!" Usagi's attention had totally focused on that one word in Kurai's sentence.

"Oh, did I say 'future'? I was mistaken…"